• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2011

Objective: To evaluate sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and chromatin structure after 18 hours' incubation at room temperature. Methods: Twenty-eight male partners who participating IVF treatment were prospectively included in this study. Ejaculated sperm count and motility were assessed. The sperm was then immediately processed by the conventional swim-up method. After utilization of some of the sample for routine clinical use, the remainder of each of the samples was divided into two aliquots. One aliquot was immediately assessed for sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay) and chromatin structure (toluidine blue [TB] staining). The other aliquot was incubated at room temperature for 18 hours and then assessed by two methods. Only dark-TB sperms were considered as having abnormal chromatin structure. Data before and after extended incubation were compared using a paired Student's $t$-test. Results: Before and after extended culture, nuclear DNA fragmentation assessed by TUNEL was $4.9{\pm}4.7%$ and $7.0{\pm}6.4%$, respectively ($p$=0.008). The proportion of abnormal chromatin structure (dark-TB sperm) was $8.2{\pm}5.6%$ and $10.3{\pm}6.5%$ ($p$ <0.001), before and after incubation, respectively. Conclusion: After 18 hours' incubation at room temperature, sperm nuclear DNA and chromatin structure were significantly affected. The IVF practitioner should bear this information in mind when performing delayed insemination, especially for $in$ $vitro$ maturation cycles.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2017

Objectives: This study examined the effects of salvianolic acid B (SAB) on exhaustive exercise-induced cardiac muscle damage to rats. Methods: The study was carried out with 12-week-old young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty-six rats were divided into 3 groups; normal (n=12), exhaustive exercise group (ExS, n=12) and exhaustive exercise with SAB (ExS+SAB, n=12). Five days before exhaustive exercise, SAB were medicated for 5 days in ExS+SAB group. Rats in ExS and ExS+SAB group were forced to swim for 150 minutes and then they were sacrificed, while rats in normal group were sacrificed at rest. After that, blood was collected and cardiac muscle tissue damage indices were analyzed. Results: Serum aspartate transaminase activity and lactate dehydrogenase activity were significantly lower in ExS+SAB group than in ExS group. Serum creatine phosphokinase activity of ExS+SAB was significantly lower than ExS group. However, the content of serum creatinine had no difference between ExS and ExS+SAB group. In the H&E stained left ventricle myocardium, ExS group showed signs of myocardial damage such as sporadic fragmentation of myocardial fibers, interstitial edema, cytoplasmic eosinophilia and neutrophils infiltration. However, ExS+SAB group alleviated the severity of the signs of myocardial damage. In the myocardial dihydroethidium staining, optical density was remarkably decreased in ExS+SAB group compared to ExS group. Furthermore, the up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was observed in ExS+SAB group compared with ExS group. Conclusions: The above results suggest that SAB may protect cardiac muscle damage via antioxidant activity and prevention of apoptosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 1999

LB50016 was characterized as a selective and potent$ 5-HT_{1A}$ receptor agonist and evaluate it anxiolytic and antidepressant activities. It shows high affinity for $ 5-HT_{1A}$receptor, moderate affinity for $\alpha$2 adrenergic and $ 5-HT_{2A}$receptors and no significant affinity for other receptors tested. Hypothermia and increased serum corticosterone level were observed in LB50016-treated rats, which are mediated mostly by post synaptic $ 5-HT_{1A}$ receptor activation. In the mouse forced swim model for depression, LB50016-elicited dose-dependent reductions in immobility time, showing $ED_{50}$ of approximately 3 mg/kg i.p., which was blocked by pretreatment of NAN-190, $ 5-HT_{1A}$antagonist. In face-to-face test for anxiolytic activity in mice, estimated $ED_{50}$ was 2 mg/kg, i.p.. In isolation-induced aggression test with mice, fifty-fold increases in latency to attack were observed at 30 min and last up to 4 h after LB50016 treatment (3 mg/kg, i.p.). Taken together, LB50016-induced pharmacological activities are mediated by activation of $ 5-HT_{1A}$receptors, offering an effective therapeutic candidate in the management of anxiety and depression in humans.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1998

This study was performed to determine the effects of nitric oxide on human sperm cell function. Semen samples were obtained from normal healthy volunteers. Motile spermatozoas collected by swim-up method were incubated up to 24 hours in Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with a various concentration of sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide releasing agent). Sperm motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction rate, and acrosin activity were determined. The results are as follows; 1. 1mM of SNP resulted in a significant decrease in sperm motility ($44.8%{\pm}8.9%:78.1%{\pm}6.3%$, and hyperactivation $(10.4%{\pm}6.4%:47.7%:{\pm}9.5%)$ after incubation for 3 hours compared with the control group (Ham's F-10 alone), but had no effect on acrosome reaction. 2. At $100{\mu}M$ SNP, sperm motility was reduced after incubation for 6 hours $(54.8%{\pm}3.2%)$ compared with that of the control group $(82.7%{\pm}8.9%)$, but hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were not affected. 3. However, a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$) of SNP had no effect on sperm motility and hyperactivation for 8 hours of incubation but significantly decreased them when incubation periods were increased up to 24 hours compared with the control group. On the other hand, $1{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$ SNP significantly increased the acrosome reaction rate in both acrosomal status ($17.3%{\pm}5.2%$, $23.5%{\pm}4.7%$, respectively) and acrosin activity ($34.3{\mu}IU{\pm}10.5{\mu}IU,\;45.6{\mu}IU{\pm}5.6{\mu}IU$, respectively) as compared with the control group $(7.0%{\pm}4.0%,\;9.5{\mu}IU{\pm}3.4{\mu}IU)$. These results indicate that SNP, NO releasing agent, has a dose-dependent effects on the sperm cell function. Therefore it may positively affect the fertilization by promoting acrosomal reaction at a lower concentration (less than $10{\mu}M$).

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.73-83
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was investigated the effects of the root of Polygala tenuifolia (POL) on learning and memory impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats. Methods : Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion was produced by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (pBCAO). POL was administered orally once a day (130 mg/kg of water-extract) for 28 days starting at 4 weeks after the pBCAO. The acquisition of learning and the retention of memory were tested on 9th week after the pBCAO using the Morris water maze. In addition, effects of POL on $A{\beta}$ generation and expressions of APP and BACE1 were observed in the hippocampus of rats. Results : POL significantly prolonged the swimming time spent in target quadrant and significantly reduced the swimming time spent in the quadrant far from the target. POL significantly increased the percentage of swim in the targer quadrant in the retention test, while POL was not effective on the escape latencies in the acquisition training trials. POL significantly reduced the levels of $A{\beta}_{(1-40)}$ and $A{\beta}_{(1-42)}$ in the cerebral cortex and the level of $A{\beta}_{(1-42)}$ in the hippocampus produced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. POL also significantly attenuated the up-regulation of APP and BACE1 expression in the hippocampus produced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Conclusions : The results show that POL alleviated memory deficit and up-regulation of $A{\beta}$ and BACE1 expressions in the hippocampus. This result suggests that POL may exert ameliorating effect on memory deficit through inhibition of ${\beta}$-secretase activity and $A{\beta}$ generation.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2017

In 2015, a nervous necrosis virus (NNV) was isolated from sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, maintained in land-based aquaculture system at below $12^{\circ}C$ in winter. Mortality was up to 30% in brood fish, over 4 kg of body weight. Moribund fish showed clinical sings typical of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), also called viral nervous necrosis (VNN), such as uncoordinated, corkscrew-like swimming behavior, belly-up at rest, darkening of body, cloudy eyeball and hyperinflation of the swim bladder. Aetiology of the disease was confirmed by gross observation of clinical signs, histopathology and molecular diagnosis. Histological studies revealed severe vacuolation and necrosis in the brain. Molecular diagnosis by revere transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific to batanodavirus yielded a positive result. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR-amplified fragment were 99.48~100% similar to barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus (BFNNV) genotype and most closely aligned with Pacific cod betanodavirus (PCNNV). This is the first report of natural batanodavirus, NNV infection in sevenband grouper reared in low water temperature during winter (below $12^{\circ}C$) in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the UCP-1, UCP-3 mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue with glycometabolism according to intensity and duration of swimming in rat. F344 rat were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 in each group): control (CON), low-intensity swimming (LIS) groups, and high-intensity swimming (HIS) groups. Animals in the LIS group were forced to swim in swimming pool for 30min once a day for 8 consecutive weeks with a light intensity. In the HIS group, the rats repeated fifteen 20-s swimming bouts with a weight equivalent to 10% of body weight for 8weeks, respectively. The present result demonstrated that in LIS group, serum insulin and glucose levels significantly decreased in LIS group compared to CON. Brown adipose tissue UCP-1 and UCP-3mRNA expression was significantly increase in LIS group compared to CON and HIS groups. From those results, it can be suggested that low-intensity swimming may improve glycometablism control by up-regulating UCP-1 and UCP-3mRNA expression.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 1995

Blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus swim-up fry were fed,0, 1, 10, or 60 ppm $17\alpha-methyltestosterone$(MT) for 30 days (sex reversal period). Fish that had been fed 0 ppm MT during the sex reversal period were subsequently fed 0 ppm MT (0-0), 10 ppm MT (0-10) or 60 ppm MT (0-60) for the next 57 days (post sex reversal period) ; fish that had been fed 60 ppm MT during the sex reversal period were subsequently fed 0 ppm MT (60-0), 10 ppm MT (60-10), or 60 ppm MT (60-60) during the post sex reversal period. One group was fed 1 ppm MT (1-1), while another group was fed 10 ppm MT (10-10) during the entire 87-day experiment. There was a significant inverse relationship between concentration of MT and percentage body protein and percentage body fat at the end of the sex reversal period, while there was a significant positive relationship between concentration of MT and percentage body moisture. MT treatment during the post sex reversal period had greater effects on body composition of males at the end of the post sex reversal period than did MT treatment during the sex reversal period. There was a significant inverse relationship between MT concentrations, during both the sex reversal and post sex reversal periods, and gonosomatic indices (GSI) in males. In females, there was a significant inverse relationship between MT concentrations during the post sex reversal period and GSI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of porcine follicular oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected by aspiration from follicles of 2~7 mm in diameter from a local slaughterhouse. Oocytes were matured in vitro for 40~44 h, and spermatozoa were prepared by swim-up in the presence or absence of 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and then M II stages of the oocyte were either centrifuged or not centrifuged for the following injection of ooplasm. Injected oocytes were cultured in NCSU 23 medium for 6 to 8 days. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The rates of cleavage and development rates into blastocyst by ICSI were not significantly different between the with (53.0% and 19.7%) or without (48.3% and 23.8%) centrifugation, respectively (P＜0.05). 2. The cleavage and developmental rates to blastocyst after ICSI with or without 5 mM DTT treated-sperm were not significantly different (60.4% vs 16.4% and 45.5% vs 22.2%), respectively (P＜0.05). 3. The cleavage and the developmental rates to btastocyst were not significantly different between the zygotes obtained by IVF (51.8% vs. 22.4%) and ICSI (51.4% vs. 21.6%) (P＜0.05). 4. The number of blastomere in blastocyst stages after IVF or ICSI was not significantly different (46.7$\pm$2.9 and 41.9$\pm$4.6).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

Objective: To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Results: The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of ${\geq}111{\times}10^6/mL$, a motility of ${\geq}$ 51.4%, and RAPID ${\geq}$ 30.1% before preparation for IUI. Conclusion: Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.