• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1996

Cobitis striata testes were paired, with elongate form and suspended on the dorsal body wall. The testicular structure of immature testes composed of many seminal lobules with regular arrangement, whereas mature testes anastomose neighbouring seminal lobules. The spermatozoa of C. striata were anacrosomal aquasperm type and have spherical nucleus. The mid piece of spermatozoa was $0.8{\mu}m$ in length and contained 5~8 ring-shaped mitochondria. The flagellum of the spermatozoa in the present species was uniflagellate consisting of a typical 9+2 axoneme without fins.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.317-321
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• 2008

Members of the large family of Asb proteins are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues; however, the roles of individual Asb and their function in the developmental testes have not been reported. In this report, we isolated a murine Asb4 from mouse testis. Northern blot analysis revealed that mAsb-4 was expressed only in testes and produced in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenesis. It was expressed in murine testes beginning in the fourth week after birth and extending into adulthood. Pachytene spermatocytes had the highest level of expression. Interestingly, the human homologue of mAsb-4, ASB-4 (hASB-4) was also expressed in human testis. These results suggest that ASB-4 plays pivotal roles in mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.215-221
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• 2017

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia, MC) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating diabetes. In addition, some reports were emerged, showing the antifertility activities of MC in mammals. We investigated the effects of ethanolic MC extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic capacity is controlled by their photoperiods. The animals were divided into 4 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control, and LP animals treated with MC. The animals were orally ingested with low (0.03 g/kg) or high (0.15 g/kg) concentrations of the ethanolic extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control animals received the vehicle. The animals were then mated with age-matched females, experienced pregnancy. As results, the LP control animals showed active large testes but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testes. The animals treated with both concentrations of MC extracts demonstrated large testes, indicating fertile activity as animals in LP. LP control animals had litters as expected, but SP controls had no litters at all. MC extract showed the same results as LP animals in generating offsprings. These results suggest that the MC extract does not change the photoperiodic influence on reproductive activity of male golden hamsters.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2010

A trematode species belonging to the genus Prosthogonimus (family: Prosthogonimidae) was collected in August, 2004 from the bursa of Fabricius of a single Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis, caught in Chuncheon, Korea. Five specimens were collected in total and fluke morphology was examined under using a light microscope. The average parasite size was 5.6 ${\times}$ 3.2 mm (length ${\times}$ width; based on 4 specimens). The genital pore was located on the anterior right margin of the oral sucker. The cirrus sac was strongly sinuous and extended beyond the intestinal bifurcation to the ventral sucker. The prepharynx was extremely short and the pharynx was small. The vitellaria consisted of 6 follicle bunches and extended from the ventral sucker to the posterior of the testes. Finally, the uterus filled the body cavity posterior to the testes. In addition, there were no heavy slings occurred anterior to the testes. Based on these morphological characteristics, the parasites were identified as P. cuneatus. The discovery of P. cuneatus within a Little Grebe constitutes a new host identification and a new geographical record. This is the first reported case of Prosthogonimus infection within wild birds in Korea.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.382-386
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• 2003

Reductive amination of N-succinyl-chitosan (1) and lactose using sodium cyanoborohydride in 1/15 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) for 6 d was suitable for the preparation of lactosaminated N-succinyl-chitosan (2). At 8, 24 and 48 h after i.v. administration of fluorescently labeled 1 (1') or 2 (2'), Peyer's patch, mesenteric lymph nodes, testes, prostate, preputial grand, intestine (small intestine plus cecum), femoral muscle, backbone and peritoneum were taken. Peyer's patch and mesenteric lymph nodes were put together as lymph nodes. Over 10% of dose/g tissue was distributed to the prostate and lymph nodes at 48 h post-administration in both l' and 2'.2' was easily distributed into not only the liver but also prostate, intestine, preputial gland and lymph nodes. Although galactose receptors are known to exist not only on the liver parenchymal cells but also on prostate and testes, the selective distribution of 2' into the prostate and the testes were not observed clearly. This study suggested that 1 and 2 should have possibilities for both the prevention and cure of lymph node metastasis as drug carriers.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2012

Sulfur has been used as a general physical strengthening agent from ancient times in Asia. On the basis of this point, we measured spermatogenic effect of sulfur and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) which is used a functional food for arthritis in rats. MSM, a kind of organic sulfur, is used as an alternative of sulfur by some people. Sulfur was administered as a dietary supplement and MSM was administered orally as a solution to 7 week old rat for 6 weeks. All sulfur administered groups showed a significant dose dependent increase in the number of sperm in the testes compared with the control group. Moreover, a histological examination showed an apparent increase in the number of seminiferous tubular cell layers in the testes of the sulfur treated rats. However, there were no observed any increase of sperm in MSM dosing group. In sulfur treated rats, the weights of body, liver, spleen, kidney, testes and epididymides didn't show significantly differences compared with the control. Histopathological examination was not revealed any morphological change in the liver, spleen and kidney. Thus, sulfur may be effectively used to treat sperm deficiency of men, but not MSM.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 1985

The work was conducted to clarify the development of testes and histological changes of the Seminiferous tubules that is the Surface area, diameter, length of the tubules and the process of Spermatic cells growth in Seminal epithelium in relation to Sexual maturity of the meat-type cockerels. In addition the present experiments were planned to gain some basic data helpful for the study of reproductive physiology in meat-type cockerels and also to compare the histological changes Seminiferous tubules between egg and general purpose type cockerels. 1. The growth pattern of body weight, testes and comb was classified into four phase according to age. Body weight increased up to about 2kg at 2nd stage and to 4.3kg at 4th stage while at 3rd stage the growth rate of body weight was slower. The tests developed slowly until 22 weeks of age with no correlation to the growth of body weight. However, it grew rapidly afterwards, reaching 27.79$\pm$9.26gm and 42.46$\pm$5.33 gm at 24 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. The spermatozoa was seen first at 24 weeks of age. On the other hand, comb grew at similar rate to the testes, weighing on the average 21.78$\pm$6.48gm and 41.42$\pm$1.25gm at 24 and 28 weeks of age, respectively. 2. The areal rate of the Seminiferous tubules to interstitial tissues was 66%:34% at 2 weeks of age and the rate of the former increased in comparison to that of the latter as they grew older, becoming 94%:7% between at 24 weeks of age, when the testes weight increased rapidly too. 3. Diameter of Seminiferous tubules at 2 weeks of age was 42.76$\pm$1.04$\mu$m and then it gradually increased as the testes grew until 22 weeks of age, when it grew rapidly, increasing about 2.9 times of those of 2 weeks and at last increased up to 5 times at 24 weeks. 4. Length of Seminiferous tubules was 4.5cm at 2 weeks and then it was gradually increased. At 22 weeks old the length of tubules was icnreased rapidly being 321 meter and increased more than double, being 658 meter at 24 weeks old. 5. The cells of Seminal epithelium developed poorly and the number of cells were relatively few until 16 weeks old. Afterwards the cells increased rapidly in number and at 18 weeks, the number became twice of those of 16 weeks, reaching 140.43$\pm$43.6. At 24 weeks the cells increased more rapidly, reaching to 10 layers and Spermatozoa were first time seen.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.40.1-40
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 1995

A male patient with subnormal intelligence and schizoaffective symptoms was confirmed to have Klinefelter's syndrome with the karyotype of 47,XXY by the chromosomal analysis. He was shown to have a peculiar appearance of tall height, long extremities, gynecomastia and small ears. The hormonal study revealed decreased testosterone and increased FSH concentrations in the serum of the patient. He was also found to have small testes by the ultrasonography, which seemed to be sterile by the semen analysis. We reported this rare case and reviewed related articles.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Golden hamsters reproduce in a limited time of a year. Their sexual activities are active in summer but inactive in winter during which day length does not exceed night time and environmental conditions are severe to them. The reproductive activities are determined by the length of light in a day (photoperiod). Melatonin is synthesized and secreted only at night time from the pineal gland. Duration of elevated melatonin is longer in winter than summer, resulting in gonadal regression. The present study aimed at the influences of continuous melatonin treatments impinging on the gonadal function in male golden hamsters. Animals received empty or melatonin-filled capsules for 10 weeks. They were divided into long photoperiod (LP) and short photoperiod (SP). All the animals maintained in LP (either empty or melatonin-filled capsules) showed large testes, implying that melatonin had no effects on testicular functions. Animals housed in SP displayed completely regressed testes. But animals kept in SP and implanted with melatonin capsules exhibited blockage of full regression by SP. These results suggest that constant release of melatonin prohibits the regressing influence of SP.