• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.874-880
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• 1996

The effects of an anabolic steroid, nandrolone phenylpropionate(NPP), on body weight gain and body protein, and muscle protein metabolism were inestigated in adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH)-treated male and female rats. Daily injections of 100ug/day of ACTH for 7-8 days caused a cessation of growth in females and a net loss of body weight in males which were associated with significant reductions in body protein content. However, food intake was not affected by ACTH in either sex. The weight, protein content and fractional rate of protein synthesis, measured in vivo, of gastrocnemius muscle were all significantly reduced in both sexes. NPP at a dose of 4mg/kg body weight prevented the reduction in body weight gain in ACTH-treate females but not in males. However, boy protein content was increased by NPP in both sexes which was associated with increases in the weight, protein content and fractional rate of protein synthesis of gastrocnemius muscle. ACTH treatment caused a marked increase in plasma concentrations of corticosterone in both sexes. NPP suppressed much of the increases in corticosterone concentrations in both sexes. The results of the present study suggest that NPP exerts at least part of its anabolic effect by reducing plasma concentrations of catabolic glucocorticoid hormones, through suppressing the response of the adrenals to ACTH.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2006

To understand the changes in plasma levels of sex steroids in the wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica during artificially maturing process, eels received weekly intraperitoneal injections of a water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsion with Freund`s incomplete adjuvant containing salmon pituitary extract (SPE; 20 mg pituitary powder/fish) were examined. In the weekly Eel's Ringer-treated control wild eels, the body weight (BW) changes of fish decreased slowly during the experiment period. Plasma testosterone (T), $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$ and $17a,20{\beta}-dihydroxyprogesterone$ (DHP) levels did not change significantly at the end of the experiment. In the weekly SPE-treated silver eels, however, rapid increase in BW changes occurred after 6 to 10 weeks, and the oocytes of all fish were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage. Furthermore, significant increase in sex steroid hormones (T and $E_2$) levels occurred from 6 weeks. In the weekly SPE-treated yellow eels, the BW changes of fish increased slowly at 6 weeks and then increased. In these fish, the oocytes were at the tertiary yolk globule stage even at the end of the experiment. Plasma sex steroid hormones profiles revealed individual variability in SPE-treated yellow eels. Plasma T and $E_2$ levels significantly increased at 8 weeks and after 6 weeks, respectively, in SPE-treated yellow eels. In the weekly SPE-treated wild eels (silver and yellow eels), however, plasma DHP levels did not change significantly during the experiment period. In silver eel, final maturation could be induced by weekly administration of SPE using W/O type emulsion.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.454-458
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• 2008

Sex steroid hormone receptors play a central role in modulating telomerase activity, especially in cancer cells. However, information on the regulation of steroid hormone receptors and their distinct functions on telomerase activity within the mesenchymal stem cell are largely unavailable due to low telomerase activity in the cell. In this study, the effects of estrogen ($E_2$) treatment and function of estrogen receptor alpha ($ER{\alpha}$) and estrogen receptor beta ($ER{\beta}$) on telomerase activity were investigated in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Telomerase activity and mRNA expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) were upregulated by treatment of the cells with $E_2$. The protein concentration of $ER{\alpha}$ was also increased by $E_2$ treatment, and enhancement of $ER{\alpha}$ accumulation in the nucleus was clearly detected with immunocytochemistry. When $ER{\alpha}$ expression was reduced by siRNA transfection into hMSCs, the effect of $E_2$ on the induction of hTERT expression and telomerase activity was diminished. In contrast, the transient overexpression of $ER{\alpha}$ increased the effect of $E_2$ on the expression of hTERT mRNA. These findings indicate that the activation of hTERT expression and telomerase activity by $E_2$ in hMSCs depends on $ER{\alpha}$, but not on $ER{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2008

To assess effects of contaminants on fish in Nakdong river, feral yellowfin goby Acanthogobius flavimanus were caugt in two different sites and its hepatic monooxygenase enzyme, including cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450R), NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R), ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were quantitatively determined. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and three sex steroid hormone (17$\beta$-estradiol, E2; testosterone, T; 11-ketotestosterone, 11-KT) levels of the fish were also investigated. HSI of fish from polluted site (site 1) were significantly higher than that of unpolluted site (site 2), but GSI levels were significantly lower in polluted site. No significant differences in plasma 11-KT and T levels were observed in two sites surveyed. E2 level was, however, significantly (p<0.05) higher in female fish from site 1 than site 2. In addition, hepatic EROD activity and CYP level of site 1 fish were lower than those of site 2 fish, whereas relatively high levels of P450R, b5R and GST activities were found in site 1. The results imply that yellowfin goby, especially female fish in Nakdong river estuary are affected from contaminants disrupting sex steroid hormone system.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 2000

Gonad and blood samples were taken from cultured greenling (Hexagrammos otakii), and changes of steroid hormone levels in serum were examined in relation to the gonadosomatic index (GSI). GSI of female and male were not changed significantly between March and August and then began to increase from September showing the highest value in January. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) of female was the highest in December,'then decreased gradually until May. $Estradiol-l7{\beta} (E_2)$ level in blood of female reached to the highest level in December, then decreased rapidly in January. The level was maintained low until August and started to increase In September. Testosterone (T) level in blood of female was similar to trend of $E_2$ in female. $17{\alpha}2{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17{\alpha}20{\brta}-OHP)$ level in blood of female reached to the maximum in January, and then decreased rapidly from Febuary and maintained low until July. T level in blood of male reached to the highest value in December, and it started to decrease from January and maintained low until July, after then increased again, while $17{\alpha}20{\beta}-OHP$ level of male was similar to trend of female's.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2010

Sex and its tropic hormones influence the lacrimal system, corneal anatomy and disease, aqueous humor dynamics and glaucoma, crystalline lens and cataract, and retinal disease. Dry eye occurs especially frequently during pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and after menopause, during which androgen levels decrease. Androgen control development, differentiation, and lipid production of sebaceous glands throughout the body, and androgen deficiency also leads to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. On the other hand, estrogen causes a reduction in size, activity, and lipid production of sebaceous glands. Sex and its tropic hormones also influence the corneal anatomy and disease, and corneal thickening occurred on the second day of the menstrual cycle and around the time of ovulation and appeared to be related to estrogen levels. Fuchs' dystrophy is more commonly seen in postmenopausal women than men and may be linked to hormonal changes that occur with aging. In addition, overexpression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the conjunctiva of vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients. Serum progesterone levels also may be associated with intraocular pressure especially in pregnant women, and for the women. For women with cataracts, hormone levels were typical of menopause, and there was a significant negative correlation between estradiol and follicular stimulating hormone levels. In addition, serum testosterone levels are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy. Although the role of sex hormones on the eye is largely unknown, and the results should be interpreted with caution until replicated, the functions of sex hormones in ocular disease remains to be investigated, because they may be involved in structure and function of the ocular components, which are important in the pathogenesis of ocular disease.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2005

Transcript profiling is a particularly valuable tool in the field of steroid receptor biology, as these receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors and therefore exert their initial effects through altering gene expression in responsive cells. Also, an awareness of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their potential screening methods to identify endocrine activity have been increased. Here we developed an in-house cDNA microarray, named KISTCHIP-400 ver. 1.0, with 416 clones, based on public database and research papers. These clones contained estrogen, androgen, thyroid hormone & receptors, sex hormone signal transduction & regulation, c-fos, c-myc, ps2 gene, metabolism related genes etc. Also, to validate the KISTCHIP-400 ver. 1.0, we investigated gene expression profiles with reference hormones, $10^{8}\;M\;17{\beta}-estradiol,\;10^{-7}\;M\;testosterone\;and\;10^{-7}\;M$ progesterone in MCF-7 cell line. As the results, gene expression profiles of three reference hormones were distinguished from each other with significant and identified 33 $17{\beta}-estradiol$ responsive genes. This study is in first step of validation for KISTCHIP-400 ver. 1.0, as following step transcriptional profile analysis on not only low concentrations of EDCs but suspected EDCs using KISTCHIP-400 ver. 1.0 is processing. Our results indicate that the developed microarray may be a useful laboratory tool for screening EDCs and elucidating endocrine disrupting mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

We studied oocyte steroidogenesis in relation to oocyte development in the greenling, Hexagrammos otakii, a marine multiple spawner. Vitellogenic and mature oocytes were incubated in vitro in the presence or absence of $[^3H]-17\;{\alpha}-hydroxyprogesterone$ as a precursor. The major metabolites were androgens [androstenedione $(A)_4)$ and testosterone (T)] and estrogens [$17\;{\beta}-estradiol\;(E_2)$ and estrone ($E_1$)] in vitellogenic oocytes. The metabolic rate of T was lower in 1.08 to 12-mm oocytes, while that of $E_2$ increased with oocyte size. The endogenous productions of T, $E_2$ and 17 ${\alpha}-hydroxy$, 20 ${\beta}-dihydroprogesterone\;(17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP)$ were quantified using a radioimmunoassay in the non-precursor group. The endogenous levels of T and $E_2$ were highest in 1.08 to 12-mm oocytes and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP$ was produced only in 1.90 to 95-mm oocytes. The relationship between oocyte size and steroidogenesis showed that 1.08 to 12-mm oocytes are full vitellogenic following induction of the maturation process. Moreover, $17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP$ acts as a maturation inducing hormone in H. otakii.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.423-426
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• 2013

Females are more often affected by constipation than males, especially during pregnancy, which is related to the menstrual cycle. Although still controversial, alterations of progesterone and estrogen may be responsible. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to determine whether the female sex steroid hormone itself is responsible for development of constipation in both female and male mice. Administration of estrogen resulted in a decrease in weight of accumulated feces on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 in male mice and on day 5 in female mice, compared with the control group, but progesterone administration did not. Administration of estrogen resulted in a decrease in gastrointestinal movement, compared to normal; however, no significant change was observed by administration of progesterone. In conclusion, estrogen, rather than progesterone, may be a detrimental factor of constipation via decreased bowel movement in mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.72-76
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• 2015

$17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase are enzymes encoded by the CYP17A1 gene and are required for the synthesis of sex steroids and cortisol. In $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase deficiency, there are low blood levels of estrogens, androgens, and cortisol, and resultant compensatory increases in adrenocorticotrophic hormone that stimulate the production of 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone. In turn, the excessive levels of mineralocorticoids lead to volume expansion and hypertension. Females with $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase deficiency are characterized by primary amenorrhea and delayed puberty, with accompanying hypertension. Affected males usually have female external genitalia, a blind vagina, and intra-abdominal testes. The treatment of this disorder is centered on glucocorticoid and sex steroid replacement. In patients with $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase deficiency who are being raised as females, estrogen should be supplemented, while genetically female patients with a uterus should also receive progesterone supplementation. Here, we report a case of a 21-year-old female with $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase deficiency who had received inadequate treatment for a prolonged period of time. We also include a brief review of the recent literature on this disorder.