• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2005

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sex hormones affect the proliferation of cells and are believed to play important roles in tumorigenesis. However, little is known regarding how these two factors interact to affect cell proliferation. In this study, hepal-6 cells were treated with ROS and sex hormones (testosterone and steroidal) either separately or in combination. The sex hormones had no significant influence the cell proliferation up to a concentration of $1{\mu}M$. However, cell proliferation was inhibited when the cells were treated simultaneously with $H_2O_2$, which alone was found to promote cell proliferation at the concentrations of $15{\mu}M$. In conclusion, this study indicates that instead of promoting the cell proliferation, ROS interact with sex hormones to inhibit the Hepa 1-6 cell proliferation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2013

To monitor the reproductive patterns of endangered orangutan, Time-resolved fluorescence immuno assay (TR-FIA) were used to analyze metabolites of sex hormones in feces. Orangutan had long-term interbirth intervals (amenorrhea) during lactation period in which the secretion of sex hormones was repressed. The concentration of progesterone in the serum of pregnant orangutan was 30fold higher than that in non-pregnant orangutan. However, the concentration of hCG during pregnant period was different from the result of other primates. The present study suggested that age is not the important factor in determining the reproduction capability, because it is rather greatly influenced by the combination of various factors. Tracing metabolites of sex hormones in orangutan feces seems to be provide the effective solution for the infertility in orangutan. This study result shows the basic data in operating conservation project for endangered orangutan.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 1994

The role of sex homones in hepatic lipid peroxidation, and in hepatic adehyde odidase and xanthine oxidase activites were investigated using rat liver homogenates. It was observed that male rt had a significantly greater content of malondialdehyde in liver than female. Among the sex hormones tested, estradiol, one of female hormones, markedly inhibited the formation of lipid peroxides in liver tissues in vitro. Especially, the inhibitory effect of estradiol appeared more remarkably in Fe-induced lipid peroxidation. The hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was decreased about 15% by $10\;^6\;M$ estradiol, wherease, the adehyde oxidase activity was almost completely disappeared at the same concentration of estradiol. It implies that sex differences in lipid peroxidation is attributed to the suppression of radical generating system by estradiol.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2023

Globally, esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer, and the male-to-female ratio in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is significantly imbalanced at 4:1 to 8:1. Obesity, reflux, and smoking are known risk factors for this sex difference; however, fully explaining this remains challenging. Studies have investigated the link between exogenous sex hormones and esophageal cancer occurrence. A meta-analysis revealed a lower risk of EAC in female who had undergone hormone replacement therapy. Androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer was associated with a decreased risk of EAC. Tissue-based studies have reported varied results regarding the relationship between estrogen receptor expression and survival in female patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Circulating hormone studies have suggested that higher testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels decreased EAC risk in men, and free testosterone was inversely correlated in female with ESCC. However, a high androgen-estrogen ratio in male patients with EAC was linked to increased odds of EAC. Sex hormones influence carcinogenesis, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and cell death. The studies were limited by the small sample size and varying hormone measurement methods; thus, future studies with definitive conclusions on the association between esophageal cancer and sex hormones are warranted.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2018

The incidence and mortality of various cancers are associated with sex-specific disparities. Sex differences in cancer epidemiology are one of the most significant findings. Men are more prone to die from cancer, particularly hematological malignancies. Sex difference in cancer incidence is attributed to regulation at the genetic/molecular level and sex hormones such as estrogen. At the genetic/molecular level, gene polymorphism and altered enzymes involving drug metabolism generate differences in cancer incidence between men and women. Sex hormones modulate gene expression in various cancers. Genetic or hormonal differences between men and women determine the effect of chemotherapy. Until today, animal studies and clinical trials investigating chemotherapy showed sex imbalance. Chemotherapy has been used without consideration of sex differences, resulting in disparity of efficacy and toxicity between sexes. Based on accumulating evidence supporting sex differences in chemotherapy, all clinical trials in cancer must incorporate sex differences for a better understanding of biological differences between men and women. In the present review, we summarized the sex differences in (1) incidence and mortality of cancer, (2) genetic and molecular basis of cancer, (3) sex hormones in cancer incidence, and (4) efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy. This review provides useful information for sex-based chemotherapy and development of personalized therapeutic strategies against cancer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2010

The current study was undertaken to determine the effects of sex steroid hormones (estrogen, testosterone and 19-nortestosterone) on proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes of female and male pigs. The preadipocytes were isolated from the backfat of new-born female and male pigs by collagenase digestion and cultured in the $CO_2$ incubator. The concentration of $10^{-7}M$ and 10-6M sex steroid hormones were treated to the cultured preadipocytes. Regarding the effects on preadipocytes proliferation, high concentration ($10^{-6}M$) of all the three hormones increased proliferation of female preadipocytes,and only estrogen and testosterone increased proliferation of male preadipocytes. Regarding the effects on preadipocyte differentiation, all the three hormones increased differentiation of pig preadipocytes, regardless of hormone concentrations and sex of preadipocytes. The degree of stimulation of cell differentiation by sex steroid hormones was greater than that of cell proliferation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.593-598
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• 2007

The current study was undertaken to determine the effects of sex steroid hormones(estrogen, testosterone and 19-nortestosterone) on differentiation and proliferation of pig preadipocytes. The preadipocytes were isolated from the backfat of new-born female pigs by collagenase digestion. 10－8M and 10－7M sex steroid hormones were treated to the cultured preadipocytes. Sex steroid hormones treated during the early stage of cell growth did not affect differentiation and proliferation of preadipocytes. However, testosterone and 19- nortestosterone treated during the late stage of cell growth stimulated differentiation of pig preadipocytes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1409-1412
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• 2014

Sex hormones are important metabolites in vertebrates' development and reproduction. For rapid screening sex hormones, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the promising analytical platforms, but MALDI MS faces many challenges in detecting steroids such as low ionization efficiency and matrix background interference. One potential strategy to overcome matrix interference in the low m/z region is using a cyclodextrin (CD)-supported matrix for steroid analysis since CD-supported matrixes are known to effectively suppress matrix-related ion signals. In this study, we aimed to find the optimal CD-supported matrix for the analysis of the nonderivatized sex steroids. Our results showed that the ${\alpha}CD$-supported 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix efficiently ionized all three major classes of sex hormones, estrogens, androgens, and progestagens, with low or no matrix background and also with high sensitivity. In addition, the ${\alpha}CD$-supported DHB matrix mainly generated molecular ions or protonated ions of sex hormones, and this enabled us to obtain information-rich tandem mass spectra which potentially lead to unambiguous identification of steroid species from complex metabolite mixtures.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.154-162
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• 2018

Objective: The fallopian tubes play a critical role in the early events of fertilization. The rapid innate immune defense is an important part of the fallopian tubes. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), as a part of the innate immune system, plays an important role in detecting viral infections. In this basic and experimental study, the effect of sex hormones on the function of TLR3 in the OE-E6/E7 cell line was investigated. Methods: The functionality of TLR3 in this cell line was evaluated by cytokine measurements (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1b) and the effects of sex hormones on TLR3 were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Additionally, TLR3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and a TLR3 function-blocking antibody were used to confirm our findings. Results: The production of IL-6 significantly increased in the presence of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) as the TLR3 ligand. Using a TLR3-siRNA-ransfected OE-E6/E7 cell line and function-blocking antibody confirmed that cytokine production was due to TLR3. In addition, 17-${\beta}$ estradiol and progesterone suppressed the production of IL-6 in the presence and absence of poly(I:C). Conclusion: These results imply that sex hormones exerted a suppressive effect on the function of TLR3 in the fallopian tube cell line when different concentrations of sex hormones were present. The current results also suggest that estrogen receptor beta and nuclear progesterone receptor B are likely to mediate the hormonal regulation of TLR3, as these two receptors are the main estrogen and progesterone receptors in OEE6/E7 cell line.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for human health worldwide. The mechanisms of vitamin D in the male reproductive system are unknown. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were developed, doubts were raised about their possible effects on male fertility. Based on vitamin D's function in the immune system, its potential role as an adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines is intriguing. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of vitamin D first on sperm parameters and sex hormones, and then as an immune adjuvant on sperm parameters and sex hormones after study participants had received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Phase 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) included 72 men with idiopathic infertility, and phase 2 had 64 participants who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Both groups were instructed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice monthly for 3 months. Sperm parameters and sex hormones were assessed pre-and post-supplementation. Results: Regular vitamin D intake for 3 months significantly increased the participants' vitamin D levels (p=0.0001). Both phases showed a positive correlation between vitamin D intake and sperm parameters. Vaccination had no negative effects on sperm parameters and sex hormones. Vitamin D was associated with follicle-stimulating hormone (p=0.02) and testosterone (p=0.0001) in phase 2 after treatment. Conclusion: Our results support vitamin D supplementation as an immune adjunct to COVID-19 vaccination for improving sperm parameters and hormone levels. COVID-19 vaccination is not harmful for male fertility potential, and vitamin D is an effective factor for male fertility.