• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2002

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are the chemicals that affect endocrine systems through activation or inhibition of steroid hormone response. It is necessary to have a good system to evaluate rapidly and accurately endocrine-disrupting activities of suspected chemicals and their degradation products. The key targets of EDs are nuclear hormone receptors, which bind to steroid hormones and regulate their gene transcription. We constructed a co-expression system of Gal4p DNA binding domain (DBD)- ligand binding domain of human estrogen receptor $\alpha$ or $\beta$, and Gal4p transactivation domain (TAD)-co-activator AIB-1, SRC-1 or TIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene under the control of CYC1 promoter and Gal4p binding site (GAL4 upstream activating sequence, GAL4$_{UAS}$). Expression of this reporter gene was dependent on the presence of estrogen or EDs in the culture medium. We found that the two-hybrid system with combination of the hER$\beta$ LBD and co-activator SRC-1 was most effective in the xenoestrogen-dependent induction of reporter activity. The extent of transcriptional activation by those chemicals correlated with their estrogenic activities measured by other assay systems, indicating that this assay system is efficient and reliable for measuring estrogenic activity. The data in this research demonstrated that the yeast detection system using steroid hormone receptor and co-activator is a useful tool for identifying chemicals that interact with steroid receptors.s.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2007

The present study demonstrates the changes in body weight (BW) and plasma sex steroid hormone profiles during artificial maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or salmon pituitary extract (SPE) injections in cultured eel, Anguilla japonica, kept in seawater for 3 months. In the weekly SPE-injected female group, BW was relatively stable during vitellogenesis. Following induction of vitellogenesis, females exhibited a rapid increase of BW, and the oocytes were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage at the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone (T) and $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and peaked at an average of 5.82 ng/mL and 4.76 ng/mL, respectively, at the end of the experiment. In the weekly control and HCG-injected female groups, BW slowly decreased during the experimental period, and the oocytes of the two groups were observed to be at the primary yolk globule stage. In the weekly HCG-injected female group, plasma T and $E_2$ levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and decreased afterward. In the control female group, however, plasma T and $E_2$ levels were not altered during the experimental period. Furthermore, plasma $17{\alpha},20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ (DHP) was not detected in all experimental groups. Fertility and hatching rates of SPE-injected females were significantly higher in those that ovulated 15 h after DHP injection than 18 h. These results indicate that long rearing in seawater increases responsiveness to SPE in ovarian maturation of the Japanese eel, resulting in shortened period from completion of vitellogenesis by sex steroid hormone production.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.186-188
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• 1996

곤충애 있어서 호르몬의 작용기작과 그 이용에 관하여 요야하면 다음과 같다. 곤충호르몬에는중추신경계의 신경분비세포에서 합성, 분비되는 peptide의 neuropeptide hormone (PTTH, bombyxin, diapause hormone등)이 있고, 상피계의 내분비선에서 합성, 분비되는 sesquiterpene의 유약호르몬 ( juvenile hormone)과 steroid의 탈피호르몬 (ecdysone)이 있다. 곤충호르몬은 특정한 표족세포에 있는 수용체와 높은 특이성과 높은 친화성을 가지고 결합해서 세포의 작용을 조절한다. 일반적으로 peptide hormone은 표적세포의의 세포막을 통과할 수 없으므로 표적세포의 막표면에 있는 수용체와 결합하는 것에 의해 세포내 대사제를 활성화시킴으로서 peptide hormone의 특이적인 발현이되는 것으로 알려지고 있다. 한편, ecdysone과 같은 steriod hormone이나 juvenlie hormone은 표적세포의 세포막을 용이하게 통과할수 있으므로 세포내의 세포막을 용이하게 통과할 수 있으므로 세포내로 들어가 수용체와 결합해서 hormone-receptor comlpex는 핵내로 들어가 DNA의 특이적인 영역에 결합하므로서 이들 호르몬 특이적인 기능이 발현되는 것으로 알려져 있다. Ecodysone의 활성이 있는 ecdysteroid가 여러 식물에서 발견되고 있어, 금후 양잠의 상족에 이용이 기대되고 있다. 또한, 향유약호르몬(AJH) 활성물지인 imidazole계 화합물은 양잠에 있어서 세섬도고치 생산에 그 이용이 기대되고 있다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.142-151
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• 2006

Purpose : Growth retardation is one of the serious problems in children with nephropathy requiring long-term steroid therapy. We observed the efficacy and safety of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) on the growth in children with long-term steroid therapy. Methods : We studied 60 children(male 47, female 13) with nephropathy who received rhGH(1 U/kg/week) for more than 0.5 years($1.39{\pm}1.12$). Their mean age was 11.0 years($11.17{\pm}2.62$). They received steroid therapy from January 1987 through July 2005, and the mean duration of steroid therapy was $4.32{\pm}2.97$ years. Among the patients, there were 32 nephrotic syndrome, 9 IgA nephropathy, 4 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 4 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, 2 Henoch $Sch\ddot{o}nlein$ nephritis, 2 Alport syndrome and 7 other cases. Data were gathered on the growth parameters, such as growth velocity, height standard deviation score(SDS), IGF-1, IGFBP-3, bone mass density(BMD) and general chemistry changes. Results : Height velocity increased significantly with rhGH therapy from $3.29{\pm}1.95$ to $8.66{\pm}3.75$(cm/yr) and height SDS decreased from $-0.72{\pm}0.93$ to $-1.04{\pm}0.86$ at one year after steroid therapy but increased to $-0.55{\pm}0.96$ at one year after rhGH administration(P<0.05). BMD improved from $0.71{\pm}0.14$ to $0.79{\pm}0.15g/cm^2$(P<0.05). IGF-1 increased from $445.09{\pm}138.01$ to $506.62{\pm}181.31ng/mL$(P<0.05). IGFBP-3 decreased from $4073.75{\pm}700.78$ to $3933.61{\pm}789.25ug/L$ numerically, but there was no statistically significant difference(P=0.533). Conclusion : The administration of rhGH in the short stature patients who received long-term steroid therapy showed improvement in growth parameters such as SDS, growth velocity, and BMD without significant side-effects or changes in the biochemical parameters.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

We used a mammalian GnRH antagonist, $[Ac-3,4-dehydro-Pro^1,\;D-p-F-Phe^2,\;D-Trp^{3.6}]$-GnRH, to examine the details of the salmon type gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) and GnRH agonist analog $(Des-Gly^{10}$[d-Ala^6]-ethylamide GnRH; GnRHa) functions in the control of maturational gonadotropin (GTH II) secretion, in precocious male rainbow trout, in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the in vivo study, plasma GTH II levels increased by sGnRH or GnRHa treatment, but the response was more rapid and stronger in the GnRHa treatment group. The increase in GTH II was significantly suppressed by the GnRH antagonist, while the antagonist had no effect on basal GTH II levels in both groups. The GnRH antagonist showed stronger suppression of GTH II levels in the sGnRH treatment fish than in the GnRHa treatment fish. In addition, plasma androgenic steroid hormones (testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone) increased by the sGnRH or GnRHa treatment. The GnRH antagonist significantly inhibited the increases in plasma androgenic steroid hormone levels stimulated by the sGnRH or GnRHa, while the antagonist had no effect on basal androgenic steroid hormone levels in both groups. In the in vitro study, treatment with sGnRH or GnRHa increased GTH II release from the cultured dispersed pituitary cells, but the response was stronger in the GnRHa treatment group. The increase in GTH II release by GnRH was suppressed by adding the GnRH antagonist, dose­dependently. On the other hand, basal release of GTH II did not decrease by the GnRH antagonist treatment in both groups. These results suggest that the GnRH antagonist, $[Ac-3,4-dehydro-Pro^1,\;D-p-F-Phe^2,\;D-Trp^{3.6}]-GnRH$, used in this study is effective in blocking the action of GnRH-induced GTH II release from the pituitary gland both in vivo and in vitro.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Background : In recent years, the glucocorticoid hormone has become a fundamental medication for asthma. However, a long period of hormone administration will result. in general. side effects on many body parts as well as hormone dependence, which has become a serious problem for western physicians. Objectives : We aimed to identify the clinical effects of Cheongsanghoha-tang and the steroid sparing effects of Cheongsanghoha-tang on. Materials and Methods : A subject group consists of 36 asthmatics who had been treated with Cheongsanghoha-tang for four weeks. Cheongsanghoha-tang is a herbal decoction, which has been used of the traditional therapeutic agent of asthma. PFT, QLQAKA, blood eosinophil, serum IgE, Serum IL-4. IL-5, IFN-${\gamma}$ were checked before and 4weeks after the treatment. Results : The only FVC% in ICSG among asthmatic patients was increased significantly compared to NICSG. Treatment of Cheongsanghoha-tang for four weeks resulted in significant increase in QLQAKA. The NICSG treated with Cheongsangboha-tang for four weeks were no significant difference in the blood eosinophil, serum IgE, IL-4 and IL-5. The PFT and QLQAKA in NICSG were increased significantly after 4 weeks treatment. But the serum IFN-${\gamma}$ in NICSG was decreased significantly after 4 weeks treatment. Discontinuation of treatment with inhaled corticosteroid in ICSG resulted in insignificant changes in PFT, the blood eosinophil, the serum IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-${\gamma}$ and significant increase in QLQAKA. As a result. 8 of 13 cases were cured with hormones completely and the rest of ICSG reduced the dose of ICS. Conclusions : This study shows that Cheongsanghoha-tang has the effects on the improvement of pulmonary function and cures asthmatic patients. These findings demonstrate that Cheongsanghoha-tang has the steroid sparing effect. Some satisfactory therapeutic results have been obtained in treating hormone-dependent asthma by Cheongsanghoha-tang. However. the concept and mechanism of hormone-dependent asthma have not been fully defined yet, and the standard for judging therapeutic effects have not been established. Obviously further researches concerning all these are still necessary.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2010

The current study was undertaken to determine the effects of sex steroid hormones (estrogen, testosterone and 19-nortestosterone) on proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes of female and male pigs. The preadipocytes were isolated from the backfat of new-born female and male pigs by collagenase digestion and cultured in the $CO_2$ incubator. The concentration of $10^{-7}M$ and 10-6M sex steroid hormones were treated to the cultured preadipocytes. Regarding the effects on preadipocytes proliferation, high concentration ($10^{-6}M$) of all the three hormones increased proliferation of female preadipocytes,and only estrogen and testosterone increased proliferation of male preadipocytes. Regarding the effects on preadipocyte differentiation, all the three hormones increased differentiation of pig preadipocytes, regardless of hormone concentrations and sex of preadipocytes. The degree of stimulation of cell differentiation by sex steroid hormones was greater than that of cell proliferation.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2007

Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok) is an endangered fish species in East Asia including the Korean peninsula. To establish a method for artificial propagation and to improve our understanding of the reproduction in the species, we have produced recombinant gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (r-mtFSH) and luteinizing hormone (r-mtLH), which may play central roles in reproductive activities. In the present study, the biological activities of the recombinant hormones were analyzed by gonadosomatic index (GSI), ovarian follicle diameter, and sex steroid levels in mature rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In the 6th day post-injection, FSH-injected fish were slightly decreased in the GSI value, although there were no significant differences among those of control, r-mtFSH, and r-mtLH treatments. Injection of the r-mtFSH increased follicle diameters significantly as compared with those of control- and r-mtLH-injected fish. The plasma steroid levels showed wide differences in the groups at 1, 3, or 6th day post-injection. Despite the variable steroid levels, three individuals receiving either r-mtFSH or r-mtLH showed a great increase in a maturation-inducing steroid, $17{\alpha},20{beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, at 3 and 6 days. Taken together, these results suggest that biological efficacies of the recombinant FSH and LH should be further studied in the Manchurian trout.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.649-658
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• 2010

Myogenic satellite cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that activate and differentiate into myotubes. These stem cells are multipotent as they transdifferentiate into adipocyte-like cells, nerve cells and osteocytes. The effects of steroid hormones ($E_2$ and testosterone) were studied as a further step toward understanding the mechanism of MSCs proliferation and differentiation. In this study, MSCs were grown continuously for 87 days, implying that there may be a group of MSCs that continue to proliferate rather than undergoing differentiation. Isolated MSCs were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium supplemented with adult male, female or castrated bovine serum to observe the effect of steroid hormones on MSC proliferation. Cell proliferation was the highest in cultures supplemented with male serum followed by female and castrated serum. The positive effect of male hormone on MSC proliferation was confirmed by the observation of testosterone-mediated increased proliferation of cells cultured in medium supplemented with castrated serum. Furthermore, steroid hormone treatment of MSCs increased lipid accumulation in myotubes. Oil-Red-O staining showed that 17${\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) treatment avidly increased lipid accumulation, followed by $E_2$+testosterone and testosterone alone. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lipid accumulation in myotubes due to steroids in the absence of an adipogenic environment, and the effect of steroid hormones on cell proliferation using different types of adult bovine serum, a natural hormonal system. In conclusion, we found that sex steroids affect MSCs proliferation and differentiation, and lipid accumulation in myotubes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1981

The purpose of this study was to measure the serum content of progesterone, estradiol 17${\beta}$ and cortisol. Blood samples collected from day 20 prepartum to day 20 postpartum in 8 sows. Progesterone and estradiol-17${\beta}$ were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods and cortisol was determined by competitive protein-binding methods. Progesterone levels began to decline on day -4, reached 1.9ng/ml by day +2 and remained quite constant thereafter. Progesterone levels remained fairly constant(18.4 to 20.0 ng/ml) from 20 to 6 days before parturition. Estrdiol-17${\beta}$ increased from 205 pg/ml at day 6 prepartum to 425 pg/ml at the time of parturition. Cortisol reached a peak level of 86.5 ng/ml at day 0.