• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

This paper deals with the morphology and taxonomy of the first reported species of echinostome belonging to the genus Himasthla Dietz, 1909, found from dunlins (Calidris alpina sakhalina) in Korea. Birds were captured with mist-nets at the tidal flat of Yeochari, Kanghwa-gun, Kyunggi-do, Korea. The worms were removed from avian intestines in physiological saline, fixed, acetocarmine stained and observed. Himasthla kusasigi Yamaguti, which was found in 1939, was characterized morphologically by a long and slender body (5.27 mm in length), besetting with spines and reniform head collar (0.27 mm) in a form of a single and uninterrupted row of 31 spines. The oral sucker (0.057$\times$0.0684 mm) is smaller than the ventral sucker (0.35$\times$0.29 mm). The ventral sucker was close to the anterior extremity of the body. The worm had two elliptical testes (anterior 0.47$\times$0.30 mm, posterior 0.59$\times$0.27 mm). The testes were close to the posterior end of the body. The uterus was very long, winding and extending through at least two thirds of the body length. The ovary (0.13$\times$0.14mm) was round and small. Below the ovary, a round and small seminal receptacle was found.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2017

Background: Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have reduced endogenous testosterone levels, but the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels, is inconsistent. Testicular volume is a known indicator of endogenous testosterone levels, male fertility, and male potency. In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship, between testicular volume and lung function. Methods: One hundred and eighty-one South Korean men age 40-70, hospitalized for urological surgery, were retrospectively enrolled, irrespective of the presence of respiratory disease. Study subjects underwent pulmonary function testing, prior to procedures, and testicular volumes were measured by orchidometry. Testosterone levels of patients in blood samples collected between $7{\small{AM}}$ and $11{\small{AM}}$, were measured by a direct chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: The 181 study subjects were divided into two groups, by testicular volume (${\geq}35mL$ vs. <35 mL), the larger testes group, had better lung functions (forced vital capacity [FVC]: $3.87{\pm}0.65L$ vs. $3.66{\pm}0.65L$, p=0.037; forced expiratory volume in 1 second [$FEV_1$]: $2.92{\pm}0.57L$ vs. $2.65{\pm}0.61L$, p=0.002; FVC % predicted: $98.2{\pm}15.2%$ vs. $93.8{\pm}13.1%$, p=0.040; $FEV_1$ % predicted: $105.4{\pm}19.5%$ vs. $95.9{\pm}21.2%$, p=0.002). In addition, the proportion of patients with a $FEV_1/FVC$ of <70%, was lower in the larger testes group. Univariate analysis conducted using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was correlated with FVC (r=0.162, p=0.029), $FEV_1$ (r=0.218, p=0.003), $FEV_1/FVC$ (r=0.149, p=0.046), and $FEV_1$ % predicted (r=0.178, p=0.017), and multivariate analysis using linear regression models, revealed that testicular volume was a significant predictive factor for $FEV_1$ % predicted (${\beta}=0.159$, p=0.041). Conclusion: Larger testicular volume was independently associated, with favorable indices of lung function. These results suggest that androgens, may contribute to better lung function.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2007

Metacercariae of Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae) were discovered from the shore crab, Macrophthalmus dilatatus, purchased at a market in a coastal town of Taean-Eup, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea. Their adult flukes were confirmed by experimental infection of rats. The metacercariae of G. squatarolae were elliptical ($391.1{\times}362.5{\mu}m$), and the excysted metacercariae had progenetic genital organs, including the ovary and testes. To obtain adult flukes, 6 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 500 metacercariae each, and killed at days 2, 4, and 6 post-infection. The adult flukes were identified as G. squatarolae (Yamaguti, 1934) Yamaguti, 1939, based on morphological characters, including 2 ventral suckers (1 large and 1 small), a large genital atrium equipped with the cirrus and the metraterm, separated male and female genital pores, a transversely long cirrus pouch, and extensive vitelline follicles. In the present study, it has been first proven that the shore crab M. dilatatus is a second intermediate host for G. squatarolae in the Republic of Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.944-951
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• 2016

Tdrd12 is one of tudor domain containing (Tdrd) family members. However, the expression pattern of Tdrd12 has not been well studied. To compare the expression levels of Tdrd12 in various tissues, real time-polymerase chain reaction was performed using total RNAs from liver, small intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach, uterus, ovary, and testis. Tdrd12 mRNA was highly expressed in testis. Antibody against mouse TDRD12 were generated using amino acid residues SQRPNEKPLRLTEKKDC of TDRD12 to investigate TDRD12 localization in testis. Immunostaining assay shows that TDRD12 is mainly localized at the spermatid in the seminiferous tubules of adult testes. During postnatal development, TDRD12 is differentially expressed. TDRD12 was detected in early spermatocytes at 2 weeks and TDRD12 was localized at acrosome of the round spermatids. TDRD12 expression was not co-localized with TDRD1 which is an important component of piRNA pathway in germ cells. Our results indicate that TDRD12 may play an important role in spermatids and function as a regulator of spermatogenesis in dependent of TDRD1.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2020

Trematode specimens were collected from the intestine of a herring gull, Larus argentatus, which was found in a critical condition on the shore of a small island (Yubu-do, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do) located at the western coast of the Korean peninsula. Total 11 specimens of intestinal flukes, including 3 Cryptocotyle lingua (Heterophyidae), 1 Himasthla alincia (Echinostomatidae), 5 Cardiocephaloides medioconiger (Strigeidae), and 2 Diplostomum spathaceum (Diplostomidae), were recovered. C. lingua was morphologically characterized by the presence of a large ventrogenital apparatus and 2 obliquely tandem testes. H. alincia had an elongated body and a head collar equipped with 31 collar spines. C. medioconiger had a bisegmented body and a voluminous copulatory bursa containing the seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct. D. spathaceum also had a bisegmented body and its vitellaria extended up to the anterior border of the tribocytic organ. It is of note that C. lingua is potentially zoonotic that can occur in birds and humans. Three of them, i.e., C. lingua, C. medioconiger, and D. spathaceum, are new trematode fauna in Korea. Studies on trematode fauna of migratory birds should be continued in Korea.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2022

The 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development (DSD) is a rare condition in which 46,XX individuals develop testicular differentiation and virilization. Translocation of the sex-determining region Y (SRY) onto the X chromosome is the main cause of 46,XX testicular DSD, whereas dysregulation between pro-testis and pro-ovarian genes can induce SRY-negative 46,XX testicular DSD. Nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1), a nuclear receptor transcription factor, plays an essential role in gonadal development in XY and XX embryos. Herein, we report the first Korean case of SRY-negative 46,XX testicular DSD with a heterozygous NR5A1 p.Arg92Trp variant. The patient presented with a small penis, bifid scrotum, and bilateral undescended testes. Whole exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense variant (c.274C>T) of NR5A1. Our case highlights that NR5A1 gene variants need to be considered important causative factors of SRY-negative non-syndromic 46,XX testicular DSD.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2019

Tuberculosis in the foot progresses gradually; thus, diagnosis is usually delayed, and early treatment is rarely provided. If osteomyelitis occurs due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, surgical treatment should be considered. We report the case of a 46-year-old man with osteomyelitis of the calcaneus who was diagnosed with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and he was treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs. Bilateral adrenal masses, abscess of both testes and a small wound in the left plantar heel were observed. Both adrenal masses and abscess were regarded as paradoxical reaction of anti-tuberculosis treatment. After 1 month, he developed a pain in the left plantar heel that was compatible with calcaneal osteomyelitis in radiological features. He underwent right orchiectomy for right scrotal abscess aggravation and surgical treatment for left calcaneal osteomyelitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was immobilized by cast for 8 weeks and the heel pain gradually improved.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.314-320
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• 2021

In the present study, we investigated the effect of photoperiod and water temperature on the gonadosomatic index (GSI), histological stage of the testes, and plasma levels of sex steroid (testosterone, T; 11-ketotestosterone, 11-KT) hormones in cultured male small yellow croakers (Larimichthys polyactis). In a photoperiod experiment, small yellow croakers were reared under a natural photoperiod (NP, 10L:14D-11L:13D), long photoperiod (LP, 14L:10D), and short photoperiod (SP, 10L:14D) at 17℃ for 90 days. The GSI was significantly higher in the LP group than in the other groups at 30 and 60 days. The plasma 11-KT levels were significantly higher in the LP group than in the other groups at 30 days. In a water temperature experiment, small yellow croakers were reared under natural water temperature (NT, 19.1-15.0℃), or at 17℃, 21℃, or 25℃ under a LP (14L:10D) for 60 days. The GSI was significantly lower for the 25℃ group than for the other groups at 30 and 60 days. The plasma 11-KT levels were significantly lower for the 25℃ group than for the other groups at 60 days. Therefore, the sexual maturation of cultured male yellow croakers was promoted by LP and inhibited at water temperatures above 25℃. These findings suggest that the sexual maturation of cultured male small yellow croakers is controlled by both the photoperiod and the water temperature.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.267-274
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• 2016

Cichlid fish species exhibit characteristic sexual behaviors according to not only reproductive stages but also social status. In a reproductive season, Astatotilapia burtoni males compete for females and a small number of dominant winners finally obtain the chance of spermiation. In addition to the characteristic behaviors, the dominant males have relatively bigger gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) neurons in the preoptic area (POA) of brain compared to those of subordinate males. Although the stimulatory effect of GnRH1 in vertebrate reproduction is well established, little is known about the triggering signal pathway to control GnRH1 neurons and GnRH1-mediated sexual behavior. In the present study, we evaluated the potential effect of TOR inhibitor rapamycin in relation to the cichlid male behaviors and GnRH1 neuron. After 14 h and 26 h of intraventricular injection of rapamycin, behavior patterns of chasing and courtship display did not show significant changes between rapamycin- and DMSO-injected males. Behaviors of spawning site entry increased in rapamycin-injected fish at 26 h post-injection than at 14 h post-injection significantly (P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a tendency that GnRH1 neurons' soma size in the POA shrank by rapamycin injection, whereas the testes did not show notable changes. Taken together, these results suggest the possible role of TOR signal on GnRH1-mediated sexual behavior in cichlid dominant males, although further biological characterization of the TOR signaling pathway will be required to clarify this matter.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the histological changes of sperm cells in testis, obtained from 100 of 3-year-old male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) collected and analysed from March in 1992 to February in 1993. Especially, the ultrastructural changes of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa were examined to describe the reproductive cycles of this species. The results obtained in this study were as follows: The ultrastructures of the gonadotrophs largely parallel the cyclical changes in the testes. Each nest of cells belongs to one spermatogenetic stage, although nests at different stages can be found within the one lobule. At first keterochromatin is dispersed and then is condensed. In mature gamete, the nucleus is dense and homogeneous. The nuclear membrane appeared at the beginning of differentiation. In spermatogonia, Sertoli cells are located at the periphery of their cytoplasm. In the primary spermatocytes, the small mitochondria are abundant over the outer cytoplasm. During cell differentiation, the cytoplasm decreases and the nucleus increases. In spermatids, the protein masses moved towards the posterior part of the nucleus. In late spermatids, the two large mitochondria are located over the cytoplasm. In spermatozoa, two spheroidal mitochondria (about 145nm long) are situated in parallel between the nucleus and the axoneme. Spermatozoa mitochondria are assembled into an organized sheath surrounding the outer dense fibres and axoneme of the flagellar midpiece. The two centrioles are quite separate and the central pair and sheath complex of the flagellum is inserted into the base of the distal centriole.