• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2013

Lipid metabolism in mature male mice may be different from immature male mice, but the relationship of lipid metabolism, especially n-6 fatty acid metabolism, and sexual maturation is not clearly established. This study was carried out to elucidate whether sexual maturation may affect the metabolism of functional n-6 fatty acids of lipid components by investigating the composition of fatty acids in the longissimus muscle tissues of mature and immature male mice with GC and analyzing the expression of genes and proteins for synthesis of n-6 fatty acids with real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Mature male mice showed significantly higher testosterone level in the sera. Similarly, n-6 fatty acids, levels of linoleic acid (LA 18:2n-6) and total n-6 PUFA (Polyunsaturated fatty acids) were increased, but the levels of ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid (GLA; 18:3n-6), dihomo-${\gamma}$-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3n-6) and arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4 n-6) were decreased in the mature male mice. mRNA levels of ${\Delta}5$-desaturase (FASD1) and elongase (ELOVL5) genes related to n-6 fatty acid metabolism increased. However, the level of FADS1 protein only increased in mature male mice. In conclusion, this study suggested that sexual maturation of male mice affected n-6 fatty acid metabolism by stimulating the expression of enzyme FADS1 of n-6 PUFA metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2010

The Induction of regeneration and maturation in the free-living gametophytes of Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura was studied at four temperatures (5, 10, 15, and $20^{\circ}C$), four levels of irradiance (5, 10, 20, and 40 ${\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) and three photoperiods (14:10, 12:12, and 10:14 h L:D). Female gametophyte fragments were maintained in active regeneration without reaching sexual maturity under $5{\sim}10^{\circ}C$, 10 ${\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, 10:14 h (L:D), whereas the conditions for male gametophytes were slightly different at $20^{\circ}C$, 40 ${\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, 10:14 h (L:D). The sexual maturation of female and male gametophytes was facilitated at $15^{\circ}C$, 20 ${\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, 14:10 h (L:D). These results provide basic information for controlling the regeneration and maturation of the free-living gametophytes for artificial seed production of E. stolonifera.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.329-339
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the sexual maturation, parenting attitude, maturity fear and emotional and behavioral problems of girls in elementary school, and to examine the relation between these variables and factors that influence emotional and behavioral problems. Methods: Participants were 128 second, third and fourth year students from 3 elementary schools. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: Emotional and behavioral problems were related to eating rate, eating breakfast, frequency of late-night snacks and main communicator on pubertal development. Emotional and behavioral problems showed a positive correlation with maturity fear and father's parenting attitude (strictness) and a negative correlation with parenting attitude and father's parenting attitude (intimacy). Maturity fear, father's parenting attitude, eating breakfast, and main communicator on pubertal development had significant influence on emotional and behavioral problems of girls in elementary school. Conclusion: Findings show that for effective management of emotional and behavioral problems in elementary school girls, programs including coping with maturity fear, supportive parenting of father, diet education, and functional communication with mother on pubertal development should be developed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1024-1032
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• 2018

The central mechanisms coordinating growth and sexual maturation are well conserved across invertebrates and vertebrates. Although mutations in the gene encoding makorin RING finger protein 3 (mkrn3) are associated with central precocious puberty in humans, a causal relationship has not been elucidated. Here, we examined the role of mkrn1, a Drosophila ortholog of mammalian makorin genes, in the regulation of developmental timing. Loss of MKRN1 in $mkrn1^{exS}$ prolonged the $3^{rd}$ instar stage and delayed the onset of pupariation, resulting in bigger size pupae. MKRN1 was expressed in the prothoracic gland, where the steroid hormone ecdysone is produced. Furthermore, $mkrn1^{exS}$ larvae exhibited reduced mRNA levels of phantom, which encodes ecdysone-synthesizing enzyme and E74, which is a down-stream target of ecdysone. Collectively, these results indicate that MKRN1 fine-tunes developmental timing and sexual maturation by affecting ecdysone synthesis in Drosophila. Moreover, our study supports the notion that malfunction of makorin gene family member, mkrn3 dysregulates the timing of puberty in mammals.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.770-776
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropin hormone (rJeGTH) produced in silkworms, with and without a carboxyl-terminal peptide from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), on the induction of sexual maturation in female eels Anguilla japonica. Experiments were conducted both in vivo and in vitro. In in vitro trials, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induction did not significantly differ between rJeFSH and $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments and the control group. However, previous studies did find that rJeLH and $rJeLH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments induced GVBD in female eels. Our in vitro exploration of $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels in immature ovarian tissues revealed significantly higher $E_2$ levels in the group treated with $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ $1{\mu}g/mL$ than in the control group. In contrast, the in vivo experiments showed no effect of recombinant hormones on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. Previous studies and our own in vitro results have clearly shown that rJeGTH and $rJeGTH{\cdot}eCG$ have a positive effect on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. To develop the activity of rJeGTH in vivo, further studies should confirm circulation time and activity of these hormones in eels' bloodstream, modify the structure of the recombinant gene, and implement additional glycosylation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 2007

Spermatogenesis, the reproductive cycle, and the size at first sexual maturity in male Mactra chinensis were investigated by cytological and histological observations. The spermatozoon exhibits a primitive type morphology and is similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with four mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species are cylindrical and modified cap-like, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately $40-45\;{\mu}m$ in length including the sperm nucleus (about $1.46\;{\mu}m$), acrosome (about $1.20\;{\mu}m$) and tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure. The spawning period of this species lasts from June to September, and the main spawning occurs in July and August, when the seawater temperature is greater than $20^{\circ}C$. The percentage of individual male clams at first sexual maturity was 56.5% for those whose shell lengths were 35.1-40.0 mm, and 100% for over 45.1 mm. Accordingly, harvesting clams <35.1 mm in shell length could potentially cause a drastic reduction in recruitment, and a measure indicating a prohibitory fishing size should be taken for adequate fisheries management.

• Proceedings of the Malacological Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.2-4
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• 1999

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.327-331
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• 2001

There is a critical developmental period during which brain sexual differentiation proceeds irreversibly under the influence of gonadal hormone. Recently, kinesin superfamily-associated protein 3 (KAP3) gene expressed during the 'critical period' of rat brain differentiation was identified by us (Choi and Lee, 1999). KAP3 functions as a microtubule-based motor that transports membranous organelles anterogradely in cells, including neurons (Yamazaki et al., 1996). mRNA level of KAP3 gene markedly increased before the initiation of puberty. Neonatal treatment of estrogen clearly inhibited the prepubertal increase in KAP3 mRNA level (Choi and Lee, 1999). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as endocrine disruptors (EDs) on the expression of KAP3 gene during the 'critical period' of rat brain development. In our data, PCBs significantly decreased the expression of KAP3 gene in the fetal (day 17) and the neonatal (day 6 after birth in) male and female rat brains. The body weight and the breeding ability were significantly decreased in the PCBs-exposed rats compared with the control. These results showed that PCBs affect the transcriptional level of brain sexual differentiation related gene, KAP3, in the fetal and the neonatal rat brains. The maternal exposure to the PCBs may lead to toxic response in embryonic brain sexual differentiation and breeding ability after sexual maturation. This study indicates that KAP3 gene may be useful as a gene marker to analyze the molecular mechanism of toxic response in the animal brain development and sexual maturation exposed to PCBs.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2002

Studies till date suggest the existence of a fetal biological clock in suprachiasmatic nuclei entrained by the circadian signal from mother. Melatonin from maternal pineal gland reaches to the fetus by crossing every biological barrier including placenta, hence fetuses were exposed to similar melatonin variation as their mother. Experimental modulations of maternal pineal gland activity of pregnant females either by exposing the them to different photoperiodic schedules or by exogenous melatonin treatments till the date of parturition, regulated the fetal plasma level of melatonin, thereby the prenatal (fetal) growth and development. This clearly suggests the maternal transport of melatonin to their fetus through placenta since fetal retina-hypothalamic tract was incomplete. An extension of experimental schedules till 60 days of post-partum period regulated the neonatal pineal gland activity and gonadal maturation along with their plasma levels of melatonin and sex steroids suggesting clearly the phenomenon of maternal transfer of melatonin to their young ones during the post-natal period, when the neonates were solely dependent on the mother's milk for their nutrition and energetic demands. On the basis of above observations we may suggest that the maternal pineal gland activity regulate the prenatal development by passing its melatonin to fetus via placenta and post-natal growth and sexual maturation by passing maternal melatonin to neonates via milk. Hence, the photoperiod perceived by mother is translated into the maternal plasma level of melatonin which not only regulates the prenatal but also the post-natal growth and sexual maturation of neonates.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence maturity fears in elementary school girls. Methods: The participants were 118 3rd and 4th grade students from 3 elementary schools in 3 cities in Korea. Data were collected using questionnaires which included measurement scales for the relative variables and demographic data. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchial regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: The significant predictors of maturity fears were weight, father-child communication, frequency of maturity communication with father, and close relation with mother. Conclusion: For effective management of maturity fears in elementary school girls, programs including weight control, functional communication with father and supportive nurturance of mother should be developed.