• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 1997

Spermatogenesis is known to be regulated by a number of genes and several factors such as hormones, growth factors, cytokines and others. This study was done to evaluate the relationship between HSPs and DAZ genes in human spermatogenesis; we observed the expression pattern of HSP gene in azoospermia men with DAZ gene that regulated the gene expression related with human spermatogenesis. RT-PCR method was used to detect DAZ, HSP70A, and HSP70B transcripts in all RNA samples. Total RNA was extracted from 21 testis tissues using TRIZOL reagent. cDNAs were synthesized with reverse transcriptase, AMV. All PCR reaction were performed on a PCR themocycler with DAZ, HSP70A, and HSP70B-specific primers. Semen analysis, karyotyping and testis histology were performed. DAZ gene, known as a candidate gene of azoospermia factor(AZF), was deleted in 2 of 21 patients. To evaluate the only effects of HSPs in this patients, 2 DAZ deleted cases were removed. We observed the mRNA of HSP70B in 5 whereas none could be seen with regard to HSP70A. Furthermore, the sperm of these 5 men were discovered to be immature. In conclusion, HSP70B as well ad DAZ gene seem to be involved causing spermatogenic failure. We suggest that HSP70B plays an important role in spermatogenesis and it is one of factors induced sperm maturation in human.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1557-1565
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• 2010

Methyl paraben (MP), which is used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic (shampoo) products, foods and beverages, enters into the aquatic environment and can pose a potential fish health hazard. In this experiment, effects of MP were evaluated in adult male common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by exposing them to fractions (1/$143^{rd}$ to 1/29th) of the $LC_{50}$ dose with every change of water for 28 days. Vitellogenin induction, metabolic enzymes, somatic indices and bioaccumulation were studied at weekly intervals. The $96^{th}$ h $LC_{50}$ of MP in fingerlings was 120 mg/L. Compared to the control, except for increases (p<0.01) in alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) and liver size, there were decreases (p<0.01) in activity of acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), and testiculosomatic index following exposure to any dose of MP. Vitellogenin induction was significantly higher (p<0.01) in exposed than unexposed (control) fish. The bioaccumulation of MP in testis, liver, brain, gills and muscle tissues of fish increased significantly (p<0.01) with increase of dose from 0.84 ppm to 1.68 ppm. Dose and duration of exposure (p<0.01) indicated that an exposure period of 1 to 2 weeks was sufficient to cause changes in the quantifiable parameters studied. Fish exposed to 4.2 ppm MP became lethargic after the $26^{th}$ d. Histologically, degeneration, vacuolization and focal necrotic changes in liver and fibrosis-like changes in testicular tissue were noted.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.184-191
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• 2000

포항 형산강 하구에 서식하는 참재첩, Corbicula leana을 대상으로 생식세포 형성과정 및 생식주기를 조직학적으로 조사하였다. 참재첩은 자웅이체로서 난생이며, 생식소는 완숙하면 암컷은 흑갈색, 수컷은 유백색을 띤다. 생식소관은 내장낭의 간중장선 하방으로 부터 근충의 외벽근층내에 있는 섬유성 망상결체조직까지 분포되어 있다. 난소는 수지상으로 연결된 난소소관으로 구성되어 있고, 정소 역시 많은 소관상의 정소소관으로 구성되어 있는데 이들 소관의 내강상피가 생식상피 기능을 하고 있다. 성숙난모세포는 배포의 변화로 알 수 있으며, 그 크기는 $70{\~}80{mu}m$ 정도이다. 난소 및 정소의 초기 발달에는 간충조직과 색소과립세포들이 영양세포로 관여하고 있으며 난소와 정소가 발달하면서 점차적으로 사라진다. 생식소 발달은 수온과 밀접한 연관성이 있고, 비만도의 변화도 주기성이 일치하였다. 생식주기는 분열증식기, 성장기, 성숙기, 방출기, 퇴화기 그리고 회복기 둥의 연속적인 주기로 구분할 수가 있다. 산란기는 6월 하순부터 9월 중순까지이고, 산란성기는 7월과 8월이었으며 생물학적 최소형은 10.0 mm 이상으로 조사되었다.

• 한국양식학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.5-10
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• 2009

우리나라 서해 목포 연안에서 $2004{\sim}2005$년에 포획된 자연산 참조기 수컷을 이용해 정자 형성과정을 조직학적으로 조사하였다. 정자 형성과정은 정소 내 가장 빠른 성장 단계를 나타내는 배아세포를 기준으로 구분하였다. 그 결과 참조기의 정자형성 과정은 정원세포만이 존재하는 $8{\sim}9$월 휴지기, 정모세포가 출현하는 $10{\sim}1$월 성장기, 정모세포와 정세포가 공존하는 $12{\sim}2$월 성숙기, 정모세포, 정세포 및 정자가 함께 공존하는 $3{\sim}6$월 방정기, 퇴행성 정세포 및 정자가 관찰되는 $5{\sim}7$월 퇴화기와 같이 5단계로 나누어 볼 수 있었다.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.526-537
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• 2023

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide and its eradication is mandatory. Direct acting HCV polymerase inhibitors, such as Sofosbuvir (SOF), is an effective regimen. However, it has some side effects like mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and the impairment of testicular function. It is important to evaluate the safety of SOF on the ovary, as there are no studies yet. Increasing the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), causes oxidative stress, which affects ovulation process, female reproduction, and fertility. Accumulation of SOF in the cells was demonstrated to promote ROS generation. Vitamin E (Vit E) is an antioxidant agent that has an essential role in the female reproductive system, its deficiency can cause infertility. We explored the effect of SOF treatment alone and co-treated with Vit E on ovarian ROS level and ovarian morphology experimentally using biochemical and immunohistochemical studies. Significant changes in oxidative stress markers; nitric oxide and malondialdehyde lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes; catalase, super oxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione, proliferating markers; proliferation cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 antigen and caspase 3 apoptotic marker were demonstrated. It was shown that where SOF induced oxidative stress, it also aggravated ovarian dysfunction. The essential role of Vit E as an antioxidant agent in protecting the ovarian tissue from the effect of oxidative stress markers and preserving its function was also displayed. This could be guidance to add Vit E supplements to SOF regimens to limit its injurious effect on ovarian function.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.508-517
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• 2023

In cancer patients, chemo/radio therapy may cause infertility by damaging the spermatogenesis affecting the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In vitro differentiation of stem cells especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into germ cells has recently been proposed as a new strategy for infertility treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of SSCs using their co-culture with Sertoli cells and conditioned medium (CM) from adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs). Testicular tissues were separated from 2-7 days old neonate Wistar Rats and after mechanical and enzymatic digestion, the SSCs and Sertoli cells were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, 1X antibiotic, basic fibroblast growth factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. The cells were treated with the CM from AD-MSCs for 12 days and then the expression level of differentiation-related genes were measured. Also, the expression level of two major spermatogenic markers of DAZL and DDX4 was calculated. Scp3, Dazl, and Prm1 were significantly increased after treatment compared to the control group, whereas no significant difference was observed in Stra8 expression. The immunocytochemistry images showed that DAZL and DDX4 were positive in experimental group comparing with control. Also, western blotting revealed that both DAZL and DDX4 had higher expression in the treated group than the control group, however, no significant difference was observed. In this study, we concluded that the CM obtained from AD-MSCs can be considered as a suitable biological material to induce the differentiation in SSCs.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.175-183
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• 2023

The epididymal fat is a type of gonadal adipose tissue, which is localized closely to the testis. Even though it has been suggested that the epididymal fat is necessary for maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis, the influence of epididymal fat on expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes has not been examined. In the present research, expressional changes of steroidogenic enzymes in the mouse testis after 2 weeks of the surgical partial lipectomy of epididymal fat at different postnatal ages were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The transcript levels of all molecules at 2 months of postnatal age were significantly increased by the lipectomy of epididymal fat. However, the lipectomy at 5 months of postnatal age resulted in decreases of expression levels of all molecules examined in the testis. Except a reduced transcript level of hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, there were no significant changes of expression levels of other steroidogenic enzymes by the lipectomy at 8 months of postnatal age. At 12 months of postnatal age, the lipectomy caused a significant increase of transcript level of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and a significant decrease of transcript level of hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1, without any expressional change of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage, hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, and hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3 in the testis. These findings suggest that the substances derived from epididymal fat could differentially influence on expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis during postnatal period.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.253-261
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• 2023

Objective: Azoospermia (the total absence of sperm in the ejaculate) affects approximately 10% of infertile males. Despite diagnostic advances, azoospermia remains the most challenging issue associated with infertility treatment. Our study evaluated transition nuclear protein 2 (TNP2) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) polymorphisms, azoospermia factor a (AZFa) microdeletion, and gene expression levels in 100 patients with azoospermia. Methods: We investigated a TNP2 single-nucleotide polymorphism through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using a particular endonuclease. An allele-specific PCR assay for SYCP3 was performed utilizing two forward primers and a common reverse primer in two PCR reactions. Based on the European Academy of Andrology guidelines, AZFa microdeletions were evaluated by multiplex PCR. TNP2, SYCP3, and the AZFa region main gene (DEAD-box helicase 3 and Y-linked [DDX3Y]) expression levels were assessed via quantitative PCR, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the diagnostic capability of these genes. Results: The TNP2 genotyping and allelic frequency in infertile males did not differ significantly from fertile volunteers. In participants with azoospermia, the allelic frequency of the SYCP3 mutant allele (C allele) was significantly altered. Deletion of sY84 and sY86 was discovered in patients with azoospermia and oligozoospermia. Moreover, SYCP3 and DDX3Y showed decreased expression levels in the azoospermia group, and they exhibited potential as biomarkers for diagnosing azoospermia (area under the curve, 0.722 and 0.720, respectively). Conclusion: These results suggest that reduced SYCP3 and DDX3Y mRNA expression profiles in testicular tissue are associated with a higher likelihood of retrieving spermatozoa in individuals with azoospermia. The homozygous genotype TT of the SYCP3 polymorphism was significantly associated with azoospermia.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.171-187
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• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.199-205
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• 1998

흰쥐 난소에서의 Luteinizing hormonoe (LH) subunit 유전자 발현과 LH polypeptide의 존재를 조사하였다. 이를 위해 LH subunit들에 대한 역전사 중합효소연쇄반응 (RT-PCR)을 시행하고, 난소내 LH 함량을 방사면역측정법으로 정량하였다. 뇌하수체와 정소에서 공통적으로 존재하는 LH-$\beta$ subunit$(LH-\beta})$의 exon에 해당되는 primer를 사용하여 RT-PCR을 시행한 결과 흰쥐 난소에서도 뇌하수체, 정소와 같이 306 bp band가 확인되었고, 정소특이적인 exon에 해당되는 primer를 사용한 결과 정소와 난소에서 예상대로 428 bp band가 검출되었다. 또한 LH, FSH, TSH 그리고 hCG에서 공통적으로 발현되는 common $\alpha$-subunit $(C_\alpha)$의 전사물질도 PCRdml 의해 증폭되었다. 방사면역측정법에서는 LH standard curve와 난소추출물을 사용한 curve가 동일하게 sigmoid 형태를 보임으로서 흰쥐 난소내에 immunoreactive LH가 존재함이 증명되었다. 인위적으로 성적인 성숙을 유도한 PMSG 주사 동물에서 혈중 LH 수준은 주사 후 48시간에 preovulatory LH surge와 유사한 최고 수준을 나타냈으나, 난소내 LH 함량의 경우 주사 24시간 후부터 급격히 감소하여 주사 48, 72시간군까지도 낮은 수준이 유지되었다. 이 결과는 흰쥐 난소의 LH가 생리적으로 조절되고 그 조절방식이 뇌하수체에서와는 다를 가능성을 시사하는 것이다. 본 연구는 흰쥐의 난소에서 LH가 유전자가 발현됨을 최초로 보고한 것이며, LH의 경우 내분비적 경로 (endocrine; 뇌하수체로 부터의 LH)외에도 국부적 경로 (autocrine이나 paracrine; 난소내에서 합성되는 LH)를 통해 난소의 생리와 기능 조절을 담당함을 시사한다.