• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2011

Reproductive activity in the economically important insect, Antheraea mylitta is very important because the female reproduces only once in her life time and the aging is very rapid and costly. It is a capital breeder and strictly a monoandrous species. To know how strategically the insect behaves and the male allocates its ejaculate resource more prudently during its successive mating with virgin females to maximize its own fitness and the fitness of the female with whom it mated, both being most important to sericulture industry. So, the present study was undertaken and the results revealed fresh and virgin females always prefer to mate with fresh virgin males (84%) and receives high dose of ejaculates leading to higher hatchability than to virgin males of one day old (13.7%) and one day old males with mating experience (2.3%). The ejaculation size (as referred to eupyrene sperm count in the ejaculation) declined significantly over successive mating (r = -0.9931, P < 0.001), so also the male body weight (r = -0.9560, P < 0.001). The quantity of ejaculate passed to female also dramatically declined during aging (r = -0.9982, P < 0.001). It was found that male weight contribute substantially to the quantum of ejaculate (r = -0.9519, P < 0.001), so also higher fecund females receive relatively more ejaculate than the lower group to reach higher reproductive fitness. The life time fecundity was found to be $334{\pm}31$.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2006

Ethane 1,2-Dimethane sulfonate(EDS), a toxin which specifically kills Leydig cells(LC), has been widely used to prepare the reversible testosterone(T) depletion rat model. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated that the dramatic weight loss of the T-dependent accessory sex organs such as epididymis and seminal vesicle in this 'LC knock-out' rats. These weight loss could be derived from massive and abrupt death of the cells via apoptotic process. The present study was performed to test the effect of EDS administration on the expression of some apoptotic genes in the rat epididymis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats($300{\sim}350$ g B.W.) were injected with single dose of EDS(75 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed on Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Tissue weights and the numbers of the epididymal sperm were measured. The transcriptional activities of the bcl-2, bax, Fas and Fas ligand(Fas-L) were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. As expected, the weights and the sperm counts of epididymis declined progressively after the EDS treatment during Week 1 and 2. These decrements were discontinued with a gradual return towards normal during Weeks $5{\sim}7$, although the maximal recoveries of the epididymal weights(71%) and sperm count(38%) were subnormal on Week 7. The initial level of bcl-2 transcripts persisted to Week 6 then elevated significantly on Week 7. The level of bax transcripts significantly decreased on Week 6, and no remarkable change was found in the rest of the experimental period. The transcripts for the Fas in epididymis elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}2$, returned to normal on Week 3, and the level persisted to the Week 7. Similarly, the level of Fas-L transcripts elevated during Weeks $1{\sim}3$ and returned to normal after Week 4. Our results demonstrated the transient T depletion by EDS administration could induce the changes in expression of the apoptotic genes in rat epididymis. The activation of Fas and Fas-L in the epididymis of EDS-treated rats might be responsible for the initial apototic process and consequently the tissue damage and the sperm loss. Future studies will attempt to determine the precise molecular mechanism(s) of apoptosis in the rat epididymis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.239-249
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• 1999

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<$4{\times}10^6$ motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of $E_2$ on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively. The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2002

Objective: This study was to compare the characteristics between parthenogenetic mES (P-mES) cells and in vitro fertilization mES cells. Materials and Methods: Mouse oocytes were recovered from superovulated 4 wks hybrid F1 (C57BL/6xCBA/N) female mice. For parthenogenetic activation, oocytes were treated with 7% ethanol for 5 min and $5{\mu}g$/ml cytochalasin-B for 4 h. For IVF, oocytes were inseminated with epididymal sperm of hybrid F1 male mice ($1{times}10^6/ml$). IVF and parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in M16 medium for 4 days. Cell number count of blastocysts in those two groups was taken by differential labelling using propidium iodide (red) and bisbenzimide (blue). To establish ES cells, b1astocysts in IVF and parthenogenetic groups were treated by immunosurgery and recovered inner cell mass (ICM) cells were cultured in LIF added ES culture medium. To identify ES cells, the surface markers alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-1, 3,4 and Oct4 staining were examined in rep1ated ICM colonies. Chromosome numbers in P-mES and mES were checked. Also, in vitro differentiation potential of P-mES and mES was examined. Results: Although the cleavage rate (${\geq}$2-cell) was not different between IVF (76.3%) and parthenogenetic group (67.0%), in vitro development rate was significantly low in parthenogenetic group (24.0%) than IVF group (68.4%) (p<0.05). Cell number count of ICM and total cell in parthenogenetic b1astocysts ($9.6{\pm}3.1,\;35.1{\pm}5.2$) were signficantly lower than those of IVF blastocysts ($19.5{\pm}4.7,\;63.2{\pm}13.0$) (p<0.05). Through the serial treatment procedure such as immunosurgery, plating of ICM and colony formation, two ICM colonies in IVF group (mES, 10.0%) and three ICM colonies (P-mES, 42.9%) in parthenogenetic group were able to culture for extended duration (25 and 20 passages, respectively). Using surface markers, alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-l and Oct4 in P-mES and mES colony were positively stained. The number of chromosome was normal in ES colony from two groups. Also, in vitro neural and cardiac cell differentiation derived from mES or P-mES cells was confirmed. Conclusion: This study suggested that P-mES cells can be successfully established and that those cell lines have similar characteristics to mES cells.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.767-775
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• 2016

Mumps is an acute viral disease that affects the entire body, including inflammation of the salivary glands. Mumps is accompanied by unilateral or bilateral parotid gland swelling and pain. Mumps virus is spread to others by air, saliva, direct contact, and urine, and occurs in high-density population places such as schools, army, etc. Bilateral testicular involvement is seen in 10-60% of cases. If mumps orchitis affect post-pubertal men, approximately 50% of the infected people are said to experience severe testicular atrophy within 1-2 months as a complication. Mumps orchitis can alter the count, morphology, and motility of sperm and result in oligozoospermia and infertility caused by a rare azoospermia. When suspected of mumps orchitis, active initial symptomatic treatment can prevent infertility due to azoospermia in future adults. A case of mumps orchitis report two cases with references to the ultrasonnography and semen.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

Objective: Smoking has been reported to harm nearly every organ of the body, but conflicting results have been reported regarding the effects of smoking on assisted conception. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of positive urinary cotinine tests in infertile couples and whether cotinine positivity was associated with infertility treatment outcomes. Methods: A qualitative urinary cotinine test was administered to 127 couples who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF, n=92) or intrauterine insemination (IUI, n=35). Results: The overall prevalence of positive urinary cotinine test was 43.3% (55/127) in the male partners and 10.2% (13/127) in the female partners with similar prevalence rates in both genders in the IUI and IVF groups. Semen characteristics, serum markers of ovarian reserve, and number of retrieved oocytes were comparable among cotinine-positive and cotinine-negative men or women (with the exception of sperm count, which was higher among cotinine-positive men). The results of urinary cotinine tests in infertile couples were not associated with IVF and IUI outcomes. Conclusion: The presence of cotinine in the system, as indicated by a positive urinary cotinine test, was not associated with poorer outcomes of infertility treatment.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.257-274
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• 2013

Ecological and ethnomedicinal survey of plants was conducted in one hundred and twenty homesteads in Mbala, Amuda, Umuaku, and Nneato communities of Nneochi Local Governement Area, Abia State-Nigeria. A total of ninety-one medicinal plant species belonging to seventy-eight genera and forty-eight families, used in the treatment of malaria, yellow fever, fibroid, hepatitis, convulsion, hypertension, diabetes, insomnia, ulcer, rashes, low sperm count, snake bite, among others, were documented. Plant remedies were prepared mostly as infusions or decoctions from different plant parts with mainly water, and palm wine/gin sometimes. The highest number of medicinal plant species (73) was recorded in Mbala, followed by Amuda (71), Umuaku (68) and Nneato (61). Medicinal plant species diversity was highest in Amuda (Simpson 1-D=0.9621;H=3.663), followed by Umuaku (Simpson 1-D=0.9481; H=3.471), Mbala (Simpson 1-D=0.9345; H=3.341), and Nneato (Simpson 1-D=0.9307; H=3.277), respectively. Similarity in medicinal plant species was highest between Umuaku and Nneato (76.71%), followed by Amuda and Umuaku (75.95%), Mbala and Amuda (71.43%), while Mbala and Nneato had the lowest similarity (59.52%). The results of the study showed that traditional medicine is pivotal in the treatment of ailments in the study area, and that the indigenous people of Nneochi have recognized the need to conserve medicinal plants of importance ex situ within homesteads due to threats from unsustainable exploitation and deforestation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2015

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shingi-whan(SG) on the male reproductive and sexual function, so we measured the spermatogenesis and the testicular toxicity in mice and the vasorelaxation in isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Methods : To evaluate effect on the spermatogenesis in mice, we prepared two groups, control group and SG group that was orally administered SG(1,000mg/kg) for 20 days, and compared. To analyze testicular toxicity in mice, we also prepared two groups, doxo group that was injected with doxorubicin (3mg/kg) on three times and doxo + SG group that was injected with doxorubicin and SG for 20 days, and compared. To investigate sexual function of SG in mice, we prepared three groups, normal group and aging elicited group consisting of 18-month-old mice, SG treated aging group that was orally administered SG for 60 days, and compared using histochemical staining on mice corpus cavernous tissues. In order to define the relaxation effects of SG, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}6mm$ sized strip. Then the dose-dependent relaxation responses of SG at 0.01-3.0 mg/ml in contracted strips induced by phenylephrine were measured. Results : The sperm density in dutus epididymis and the diameter of seminiferous tubules of SG group was significantly increased when compared to control group. The testicular weight and the diameter and height of epithelial layer of seminiferous tubules of doxo + SG group was significantly increased when compared to doxo group. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by SG extract In SG treated aging group, ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers and red blood cell count in venous sinus was increased as compared to aging elicited group. Conclusions : Our findings have shown that SG extract have effect on spermatogenesis and mitigating effect on doxo-induced testicular toxicity. Further, it also have the vasorelaxant effect on rabbit corpus cavernosum.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 1976

The human semen ejaculated in a form of liquid state, coagulates immediately after ejaculation, and then liquefies again. However, the mechanisms of neither coagulation and liquefaction of semen have not been explained clearly so far, and very limited numbers of report are available, although the spermatology and andrology made rapid progress. This clinical study has been undertaken to investigate the liquefaction phenomena and practicability of the results might be applied to fertility and infertility problems. As a preliminary study, in this report the liquefaction time of various semen groups is measured and analysed. The following results are obtained: 1. An average liquefaction time of semen of a total of 60 subjects: 25 minutes. 2. An average liquefaction time of semen according to sperm count: 1) Normospermia group (20 cases): 34 minutes. 2) Oligospermia group (20 cases): 21 minutes. 3) Azoospermia group (20 cases): 20 minutes. 3. An average liquefaction time of semen according to abstinence period: 1) Less than 3 days group (30 cases): 22 minutes. 2) More then 5 days group (30 cases): 28 minutes. In conclusion: 1. The liquefaction time of semen of the normospermia group is longer than oligospermia group or azoosermia group. 2. The liquefaction time of semen may not be greatly influenced by the various factors such as abstinence period, semen volume, semen pH, age of the subjects and so on. 3. In routine semen analyses, it is recommended to begin the analysis at least 25 minutes after the ejaculation. 4. Further studies are required in conjunction with practical application of liquefaction mechanism in infertility and fertility control.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2004

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of $Carnitil^{(R)}$ (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. Materials and Methods: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of $Carnitil^{(R)}$ daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. Results: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after $Carnitil^{(R)}$ treatment showed an increase in volume ($2.64{\pm}1.65\;ml$ vs. $3.10{\pm}1.60\;ml$), motility ($35.1{\pm}17.7%$ vs. $45.9{\pm}20.4%$) and viability ($51.4{\pm}20.3%$ vs. $59.3{\pm}13.6%$) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after $Carnitil^{(R)}$ treatment showed an increase in sperm count ($10.7{\pm}54.4\;million/ml$ vs. $38.4{\pm}32.5\;million/ml$) respectively. Conclusions: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.