• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2007

Objectives : Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is the major component in commercial liquid epoxy resins, which are manufactured by co-reacting bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. This study was performed to show the developmental effects of prenatal and postnatal exposures to BADGE in male rat offspring. Methods : Mated female rats were divided into four groups, each containing 12 rats. The dosing solutions were prepared by thoroughly mixing BADGE in corn oil at the 0, 375, 1500 and 3000 mg/kg/day concentrations. Mated females were dosed once daily by oral gavage on gestation day (GD) 6 - 20 and postnatal day (PND) 0 - 21. Pregnant female dams were observed general symptoms and body weight. Also, male pups were observed the general symptoms, body weight, developmental parameters (e.g. anogenital distance, pina detachment, incisor eruption, nipple retention, eye opening, testis descent), organ pathologic changes and hormone levels of plasma. Results : Pregnant rats treated with BADGE died at a rate of about 70% in the 1500 mg/kg/day group and all rats treated with 3000 mg/kg/day died. Body weight, for male pups treated with doses of 375 mg/kg/day, was significantly lower than in the control group at PND 42, 56, and 63 (p<0.05). Evaluation of body characteristics including; separation of auricle, eruption of incisor, separation of eyelid, nipple retention, descent of testis, and separation of the prepuce in the BADGE treated group showed no difference in comparisons with the control group. AGD and adjusted AGD (mm/kg) for general developmental items in BADGE 375 mg/kg/day treated pups tended to be longer than in controls, however, these differences were not statistically significant. Relative weights of adrenal gland, lung (p<0.05), brain, epididymis, prostate, and testis (p<0.01) were heavier than in control in measures at PND 9 weeks. There were no significant changes in comparisons of histological findings of these organs. Loss of spermatids was observed in the seminiferous tubule at PND 9 weeks, but no weight changes were observed. The plasma estrogen levels were similar in the control and treatment groups at PND 3, 6 and 9 weeks. The plasma testosterone levels in the control group tended to increase with age. However, in the BADGE 375 mg/kg/day treated male pups it did not tend to increase. Conclusions : These findings suggest that BADGE is a chemical that has developmental effects consistent with it being an endocrine disruptor.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2011

Some characteristics of the formations of acrosomal vesicles during the late stage of spermatids during spermiogenesis and taxonomical charateristics of sperm morphology in male two species (Saxidomus purpurata and Meretrix petechialis) in the family Veneridae were investigated by electron microscope observations. In two species, the morphologies of the spermatozoa have the primitive type and are similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with five mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nuclear types of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae have the curved cylindrical and cylinderical type, respectively. And the acrosome shapes of two species are the same cap-shape type. In particular, the axial filament is not found in the lumen of the acrosome of two species, however, subacrosomal material are observed in the subacrosomal spaces between the anterior nuclear fossa and the acrosomal vesicle of two species. The spermatozoon of S. purpurata is approximately 46-$52{\mu}m$ in length, including a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.75{\mu}m$ in length), a long acrosome (about $0.40{\mu}m$ in length),and a tail flagellum (about 45-$47{\mu}m$ long). And the spermatozoon of M. petechialis is approximately 47-$50{\mu}m$ in length including a slightly curved sperm nucleus (about $1.50{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $0.56{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum (44-$48{\mu}m$ in length). In two species, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum of each species consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair of cental doublets at the center. Therefore, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9 + 2 structure. In particular, taxonomically important some charateristics of sperm morphologies of two species in the family Veneridae are acrosomal morphology of the sperm, The axial filament is not found in the acrosome as seen in a few species of the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. The acrosomal vesicle is composed of right, left basal rings and the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle. In particular, right and left basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics belong to the subclass Heterodonta, unlikely a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosomal structures. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae are five. However, the number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm in most species of Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta are four. Therefore, the number of mitochondria of the sperm midpiece of two species are exceptionally 5, and it is only exceptional case in the species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Except these cases, the number of mitochondria in the sperm midpiece in all families in the subclass Heterodontaare are 4, and now widely used in taxonomic analyses.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the expression of the circadian clock genes in the mouse ovary and testis at different developmental stages. Expression of Period1(Per 1), Period2(Per2), Period3(Per3), Cryptochrome1(Cry1), Cyptochrome2(Cry2), Clock Small and Prokineticin1 and Prokineticin2 receptor(Prok1r, Prok2r) genes in mouse ovary was explored by semiquantitative reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) according to the developmental stage(post partum day; ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). Immunohistochemistry using PER1 antibody was also analyzed. The differential expression pattern of clock genes was presented according to stages of the mouse ovarian development (ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). In the cases of ovaries, at the starting point of follicle growth at ppd 7 and 10, the clock gene expression patterns were changed vastly. According to the developmental stages, the clock genes were highly expressed at ppd 7 and 10 in mouse testis also. Receptors for Prok2, the circadian output molecule of SCN, were also expressed in ovary at ppd 7 and in testis at ppd 1 and 7, respectively. Immnunohistochemical analysis of PER1 showed positive signals in the cytoplasm of oocytes and granulosa cells. The level or PER1 expression was increased in cells at the spermatogonia and the condensing spermatids. The expression pattern of Perl and localization of PER1 were showed similar patterns according to the developmental stages in ovary and testis. Taken together, it could be observed that the expression of clock genes was highly correlated with gonadal development and germ cell differentiation in mice. Therefore, in this study, circadian programming of the genes in the ovary and testis is strongly imposed across a wide range of core reproductive cycles and normal development of gametes. Although the existence of circadian genes is clearly investigated, further studies on the direct evidence is required for the understanding of the relationship between circadian genes and regulation of gonadal differentiation and germ cell development.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.361-371
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• 2000

It has been recently reported that 2-bromopropane (2-BP) induces male reproductive toxicity in both human and experimental animals. However, delayed effects of 2-BP on male reproductive system have not been investigated in detail. The present study was conducted to investigate the testicular toxicity of 2-BP and to determine the recovery of normal spermatogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats aged 5 weeks were administered 1,000mg/kg 2-BP by gavage daily for 4 weeks and sacrificed sequentially at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 12 weeks after initiation of 2-BP treatment. Testicular toxicity was evaluated qualitatively by histopathological examinations and quantitatively by reproductive organ weights, spermatid head count, and repopulation index. In the 2-BP treated rats, the body weights was significantly suppressed and the weights of testes and epididymides were also decreased in a time-dependent manner. On histopathological examination, spermatogonia in stages I-VI and preleptotene and leptotene spermatocytes in stages VII-IX were strongly depleted at 1 week of dosing. Spermatogonia were depleted extensively in all spermatogenic stages at 2 weeks. Continuing with the evolution of spermatogenic cycle, zygotene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids were sequentially depleted at 2, 3, and 4 weeks of dosing due to the depletion of their precursor cells. Vacuolization of Sertoli cells and spermatid retention were also observed at all time points, suggesting that 2-BP induced Sertoli cell dysfunction. At 12 weeks, after 8 weeks recovery, most of the tubules appeared severely atrophic and were lined by Sertoli cells only. Leydig cell hyperplasia in the interstitial tissue was also found. In addition, dramatic reductions in the number of spermatid heads and repopulation index were observed, indicating that 2-BP-induced testicular injury is irreversible. These results indicate that 4 weeks repeated-dose of 1,000mg/kg 2-BP results in a progressive germ cell loss due to the depletion of spermatogonia followed by long-term testicular atrophy in SD rats.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.563-574
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• 1986

The structure of gonads, gametogenesis and reproductive cycle of the jackknife clams, Solen strictus and Solen gordonis were investigated mainly by histological observation. The first species used were monthly sampled at the coastal area of Dadaepo, Pusan, Korea and Naechodo, Kunsan, Korea for one year from February 1982 to January 1983. The second species were monthly sampled at the sand beach of Dadaepo, Pusan, Korea, from February 1982 to January 1983. Sexualities of Solen strictus and Solen gordonis are dioecious, and these species are oviparous. The gonads are irregularly arranged from the subregion of mid-intestinal gland in visceral cavity to reticular connective tissue of foot. The ovary was composed of a number of small ovarian sacs and the testis was composed of several testicular lobuli which from the tubular structure. Early multiplicating oogonium was about $10{\mu}m$ in diamater. Nucleus and nucleolus, at that time, were distinct in appearance. Each of the early growing oocytes made an egg-stalk, connected to the germinal epithelium of the ovarian sac. A great number of undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells are abundantly distributed in the ovarian sacs in the early development stages. With the further development of gonad, these tissue and cells gradually disappeared. Then the undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells function as nutritive cells in the formation and development of the early stage germ cells. Mature oocytes were free in the lumen of ovarian sacs and gradually become round or oval. Ripe oocyte was about 80 to $90{\mu}m$ in diameter. With the further development of testis, each of the testicular lobuli formed stratified layers composed of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa in groups on the germinal epithelium. After spawning, the gonad gradually degenerated, and disorganized completely. Then new differentiated tissues were rearranged next year. The annual reproductive cycle of those species could be classified into five stages; multiplicative, growing, mature, spent, degenerative and resting stage. It seems that the spawning season is closely related to the water temperature, and the spawning of Solen strictus occurs from June to July at above $20^{\circ}C$ in water temperature. The peak spawning season appeared in June at Dadaepo and in July at Kunsan, The spawning of Solen gordonis occurs from May to June with the peak spawning season in June. Percentages of the first maturity in female of Solen strictus ranging from 5.1-6.0 cm and 7.1-8.0 cm in shell length were $50\%$ and $100\%$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.629-636
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• 1999

Gonadal development, gametogenesis, reproductive cycle, egg-diameter and composition, condition factor, and the first sexual maturity of the clam, Potamocorbula amurensis were investigated by histological observation. Samples were collected monthly from the tidal flat of Moonpo, Puan-gun, Chollabuk-do, west coast of Korea from November 1996 to October 1997. P. amurensis is dioecious and oviparous. The gonads were composed of a number of gametogenic follicles. The oogonia and fully ripe oocytes were $9\~12\mu$m and $50\~60\mu$m in diameter, respectively. Each of the spermatogenic follicle formed stratified layers composed of spermatogonia, spermatocytes spermatids, and spermatozoa in groups on the follicular wall. The reproductive cycle of P. amurensis could be classified into five successive stages: early active, late active, ripe, partially spawned, and recovery. Spawning occurred twice a year from May to July and from September to October, the main spawning seasons also appeared twice a year between May and June, and in October when the water temperatures reached above $18^{\circ}C$. The monthly changes in the condition factor were closely related with the reproductive cycle. Minimum size for the sexual maturation of female and male were 8.1 mm in shell length. There were two patterns for the gametogenesis: 1. After spawning, the undischarged ripe oocytes and spermatozoa in the follicles were degenerated and absorbed, but in part, the existing follicles were not contracted significantly and then they took part in new gametogenesis within one or two months (especially, in summer). 2. After spawning, each follicle was contracted, thereafter gametogenesis again occurred in newly formed follicles.