• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2003

We have found that ginsenoside Rc and Re induce c-fos in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells at both the mRNA and protein levels. However, neither ginsenoside activated the expression of reporter gene under the control of AP-1/TPA response elements. We have also examined the possibility that ginsenoside Rc and Re act by binding to intracellular steroid hormone receptors that act as transcriptional factors in the nucleus in inducing c-fos mRNA in MCF7 human breast carcinoma cells. However, ginsenoside Rc and Re did not bind to glucocorticoid, androgen, estrogen, or retinoic acid receptors as examined by the transcription activation of the luciferase reporter genes in CV-1 cells that were transiently transfected with the corresponding steroid hormone receptors and hormone responsive luciferase reporter plasmids. These data demonstrate that ginsenoside Rc and Re act via other transcription factors and not via estrogen receptor in c-Fos expression.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.1
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• 1971

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.401-406
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• 1973

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 1997

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of gonadotropin administration on blood ovarian steroid hormone in angora rabbit. Mature angora rabbits were primed for superovulation with PMSG 100IU. Eighty hours later, the rabbit were induced to ovulate with HCG 100IU. In exp 1, blood progesterone and estradiol of superovulated does were measured by radiommunoassay. Blood progesterone concentration at 93, 99, 102 and 114 hours after HCG injection were 12.9$\pm$0.5, 34.8$\pm$5.1, 12.2$\pm$2.7 and 43.4$\pm$5.8ng/ml, respectively. Mean progesterone concentration of blood collected at 99 and 114 hours after HCG injection(p<0.05). However, mean blood estradiol concentration was not changed. In exp 2, superovulated does were unilaterally ovariectomized at 96 hours after HCG injection. Blood progesterone concentration was tend to be decreased after ovariectomy. Nosignificant changes in blood estradiol concentration was observed after ovariectomy. In exp 3, superovulated does were bilaterally ovariectomized at 96 hours after HCG injection Ovariectomized does were treated with progesterone. Blood progesterone level in the rabbits treated, twice daily, with 5mg progesterone after ovariectomy was similiar to that in the superovulated intact rabbits. Blood estradiol concentration of the rabbits after bilateral ovariectomy was beyond detection range. Blood progesterone concentration was significantly decreased to 7.6$\pm$3.0ng/ml wi thin 3 hours after ovriectomy(p<0.05). However, that value was increased to 34.8$\pm$8.2ng/ml by 5 mg progesterone treatment and this elevated level was significatnly decreased to 7.3$\pm$2.4ng/ml at 12 hours after progesterone administration(p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.466-471
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• 2006

We investigated the changes in body weight (BW), plasma sex steroid hormone profiles, and testicular development of cultured male eel Anguilla japonica during an artificial maturation process. Eels that received weekly intraperitoneal injections of eel's ringer solution containing human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) were examined. In the ringer-treated control, BW changes decreased slowly during the experimental period. Plasma testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) levels In the control remained low and did not show significant changes. Moreover, all germ cells in the testes of the control were spermatogonia. In the HCG-treated male eels, however, BW changes increased gradually from the fifth week and then decreased slowly. The plasma T level increased rapidly (p<0.05) in the second week and then decreased slowly. The plasma 11-KT level increased dramatically (p<0.05) in the second week and was maintained until the end of the experiment. The plasma DHP level increased progressively from the second week and peaked in the eighth week (p<0.05). The testes of HCG-treated male eels were more developed than those of the control; most were at the spermatozoa and spermatid stages and showed active spermiation. Thus, spermatogenesis and spermiation in the cultured eel can be induced by repeated injections of HCG.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2008

The objective of this study is to investigate the changes in concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and sex steroid hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in Korean cattle (Hanwoo) with reproductive disorders and to examine the relationship between BUN and body condition score (BCS) in Hanwoo. The concentration of BUN was 16.2 mg/dl, 17.8 mg/dl, 15.1 mg/dl, 17.9 mg/dl, and 28.3mg/dl in pregnancy, repeat breeding, follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and ovarian atrophy, respectively. In Hanwoo with BCS $2.0{\sim}2.9$, $3.0{\sim}3.5$ and $3.6{\sim}4.0$, the concentration of BUN was 15.8 mg/dl, 17.0 mg/dl, and 17.6 mg/dl, respectively. Fluoroimmunoassay showed that serum estrogen and progesterone levels were decreased in reproductive disorders Hanwoo, such as ovarian atrophy, endometritis, and weak estrus. The testosterone level was significantly decreased in Hanwoo with reproductive disorders compared to that in pregnant Hanwoo ($0.02{\sim}0.03\;ng/ml$ vs 0.13 ng/ml, p<0.05). The progesterone and estrogen concentrations in follicular fluid obtained from ovary with follicular cyst were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in normal follicle fluid. These results show that there is no relationship between BUN and BCS in Hanwoo, and the concentration of sex steroid hormone in serum and follicular fluid are changed in reproductive disorders Hanwoo.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2000

The synthesis of steroid hormone starts from cholesterol. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) acutely transfers cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner in the early step of steroidogenesis. Many kinds of steroid hormone are mainly synthesized in adrenal grand, ovary, and testis. Among the steroid hormone, testosterone is synthesized in Leydig cells of the testis, the production of testosterone significantly increases in adult testis after puberty onset. Therefore, we think that the expression of StAR mRNA in testis will change according to the testicular development. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of StAR mRNA in immature and adult rat testes and to confirm the functions of StAR in these testes. Thus, in situ hybridization was used in rat testes of the 2, 4, and 10 weeks of age. StAR mRNA was expressed in Leydig cells. Positive signals of StAR mRNA were weakly detected in Leydig cells of the 2 weeks of age. But, StAR mRNA was strongly expressed in Leydig cells of the 4 and 10 weeks of age, where steroidogenesis actively occur. In our results, the pattern of StAR mRNA expression was similar to the pattern of testosterone production in immature and adult rat testes. In conclusion, we can suggest that StAR acts as an important factor to regulate the synthesis of testosterone in Leydig cells of the rat testis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2004

Plasma steroid hormone levels in the viviparous rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) were examined in relation to gonadal histology under controlled photoperiods and water temperatures. To investigate those effects in S. schlegeli the photoperiod was maintained at 15L:9D in June and then it was gradually decreased to 9L: 15D in October. It was then gradually increased to 12L:12D in January, followed by 14L:I0D in February. The water temperature was $19-20^{\circ}C$ in July. From August to October, it was from $18^{\circ}C\;to\;12^{\circ}C$. Then, it was dropped to a low of $19-11^{\circ}C$ in November to December and then gradually increased to $14-15^{\circ}C$ in February. In females, both plasma $estradiol-l7\beta\;$ (E2) and testosterone (T) levels from August to February showed a similar pattern in both the treatment and the control groups. In the treatment group, the peaks of plasma E2 and T were observed in November, and the peaks were closely correlated to histological observations. Oocytes contained many yolk globules (final vitellogenic oocytes), and oocytes at the migratory nucleus stage increased in size. Plasma levels of progesterone did not change much throughout the experimental period. However, in the control group, the peaks of E2, T, and progesterone were observed in February. These results indicate that the controlled photoperiod and water temperature accelerated sexual maturity, corresponding to the advancement of plasma E2 and T peaks by approximately 3 months. In males, plasma T levels showed a similar pattern from August to October in the treatment and control groups, though levels in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group. From histological observations, the treatment group copulated one month earlier.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2022

In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropins (rec-GTHs) on maturation induction in immature ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroid hormones in vivo in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. To study the in vitro effects of rec-GTHs on estradiol-17β (E2) production in immature ovarian tissues, ovarian tissues were incubated with different doses of rec-follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) or rec-luteinizing hormone (rec-LH). The results revealed that the E2 levels in the rec-FSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1 ㎍/mL)- and rec-LH (0.1 or 0.5 ㎍/mL)-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the female eels from the control group. Furthermore, to investigate the in vivo effects of rec-GTHs on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma sex steroid hormone levels, the eels were injected intraperitoneally with eel's ringer (control), salmon pituitary extract (SPE; for female eels), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; for male eels), rec-FSH, rec-LH, and rec-FSH + rec-LH once a week. The results revealed that except for the SPE and the hCG groups, none of the groups exhibited a significant difference in GSI values. However, in vivo plasma E2 levels increased at the end of 4 weeks after rec-FSH treatment in female eels. Based on these results, it is suggested that rec-GTHs may have a positive effect on sexual maturation in female eels; however, further studies on complementary rec-protein production systems and additional glycosylation of rec-hormones are needed to elucidate hormone bioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2001

Objective: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. Materials of Methods : The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. Results: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were $43.1{\pm}5.6$ and $40.6{\pm}7.2$ years, the weights were $63.4{\pm}7.3$ and $59.4{\pm}8.1\;kg$, and their heights were $155.4{\pm}4.8$ and $159.3{\pm}4.8\;cm$ respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy An, $11{\beta}$-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, a-cortolone, a-cortol, $\beta$-cortol, $11{\beta}$-OH Et/$11{\beta}$-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. $17{\beta}$-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. $17{\beta}$-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). Conclusion: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.