• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.62-76
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• 2006

Purpose : These studies were undertaken to evaluate the effects of the Cynomorii Herba (CH) on the spermatogenic abilities such as the concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis, and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. Materials and Methods : We used the 2-month-old mice and administered 0.2ml extract solution of CH in the 0.1mg/ml, 1mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 100mg/ml once a day for 60days. The control group was administered the distilled water in the same way. After the administration of extract solution, we examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. We observed the histological changes of isolated testis and compared to the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and CH groups by histochemical method. Results : The concentration of total sperm and the motility of spermatozoa were significantly increased in the 1mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 100mg/ml CH groups, especially in 10mg/ml group, compared to the control group. The significant differences were observed in the normality of spermatozoa of the CH groups compared to the control group. In the histolocal analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the CH groups compared to the control group. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the CH groups compared to the control group. In the antioxidant activity analysis, the activities of testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase were significantly increased in the CH groups compared to the control group, respectively. Conclusion : This study shows that CH has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. We can suggest that CH extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.41-42
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• 1998

The changes in calcium binding protein(CBP) of mouse epididymal sperm during their post-testicular differentiation were analyzed by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. According to dpididymal maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa, both quantitative and qualitative changes of CBPs in the epididymal sperm was detected. It suggested that the development of fertilizing ability of epididymal sperm was closely related to the changes in the CBPs profiles of sperm during epidiyaml transit.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to report a successful pregnancy using completely immotile frozen-thawed spermatozoa selected by laser. A single laser shot was used to detect the presence of viable immotile spermatozoa in fresh and frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa. The viability rate was 55.8% after the laser detection, and cryopreservation was carried out immediately. The thawing test was performed on the day of oocyte pick-up, and no motile sperm were observed after extending the culture for another 4 hours, while a survival rate of 39.8% was detected using the laser. In all, five mature oocytes were injected, resulting in four cases of normal fertilization (80%) on day 1. Further, two high-quality day 3 embryos were transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Our study demonstrates that completely immotile spermatozoa are worth cryopreserving for further intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which provides a new insight into male fertility preservation in cases of completely immotile spermatozoa.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

Objective: The chief outcome of testicular torsion in clinical and experimental contexts is testicular ischemia. Curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has fascinated researchers and clinicians for its promise in the treatment of fertility diseases. Methods: Thirty-five fully grown male mice were randomly classified into five groups: control, sham, testicular torsion, treatment group 1 (testicular torsion+short-term curcumin), and treatment group 2 (testicular torsion+long-term curcumin). Thirty-five days later, spermatozoa from the right cauda epididymis were analyzed with regard to count and motility. Toluidine blue (TB), aniline blue (AB), and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining assays were used to evaluate the sperm chromatin integrity. In addition, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) test was used to assess apoptosis. Results: Treatment group 1 exhibited a remarkably elevated sperm count compared to the testicular torsion group. Additionally, notably lower sperm motility was found in the testicular torsion group compared to the control, treatment 1, and treatment 2 groups. Staining (CMA3, AB, and TB) and the TUNEL test indicated significantly greater testicular torsion in the torsion group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The data also revealed notably lower results of all sperm chromatin assays and lower apoptosis in both treatment groups relative to the testicular torsion group (p<0.05). Significantly elevated (p<0.05) AB and TB results were noted in treatment group 1 compared to treatment group 2. Conclusion: Curcumin can compensate for the harmful effects of testicular ischemia and improve sperm chromatin quality in mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 1995

In IVF-ET program, intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) has been performed with testicular sperm extraction(TESE) in case of no normal spermatozoon could be retrieved from the epididymis. We wished to see whether the quality of testicular sperm affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate in TESE-ICSI cycles(n=40). These cycles were classified into three groups by the total number of normal motile spermatozoa(TNMS) in the TESE sample: i) good sperm(GS) group(n=12), TNMS > 10,000; ii) moderate sperm(MS) group(n=19), 1,000 < TNMS < 10,000; iii) poor sperm(PS) group(n=9), TNMS < 1,000. Among 423 injected oocytes, 307(72.6%) oocytes were normally fertilized and 43 zygotes were cryopreserved. The fertilization rates of GS group(79.3%) and MS group(75.9%) were significantly(p<0.005) higher than PS group(60.2%). After the embryo transfer(n=40), clinical pregnancy was obtained in 14 cycles(35.0%) and on-going pregnacy in 13 cycles(32.5%). The clinical and on-going pregnancy rates were similar in each group. From these results it can be concluded that testicular spermatozoa are successfully used with ICSI in IVF-ET program in spite of very poor quality of TESE sample.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.264-274
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• 1989

In order to study the influence of spermatozoa and testicular fluid on the component and composition of proteins in epididymal fluid of mice, histological differentiation of testis and epididymis were observed during sexual maturation, and the proteins in epididymal fluids collected according to the characteristics of lumination were analyzed by electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In 10 day-old mouse, both of,testis and epididymis were undifferentiated. In 20 day-old mouse, epididymis was primitively luminated, but testis was not. In 35 day-old mouse, both of testis and epididymis were luminated and eaithdymal epithelium was differentiated into principal cells and clear cells. Spermatozoa were not transfered into epididymis yet. However, in 80 day-old mouse, both of festis and epididymis were fully differentiated and spermatozoa were transfered into epididymis. In electrophoretic paftem of proteins in epididymal fluid, a total of 28 kinds of proteins were identified, which were different from those of their sera. 12 kinds out of these proteins were epididymal specific protein(ESP) detected in epididymal fluid only, and the other 16 kinds(TEP) were also detected in testicular fluid. The proteins in epididymal fluid changed during sexual maturation and 3 kinds of the proteins changed quantitatively according to epididymal regions in adult. It may be concluded from the above results that the component and composition of the proteins in epididymal fluid changed by the influx of testicular fluid including spermatozoa into epididymis and regulation of the protein synthesis, secretion and/or absorption by the epididymal epithelium. Therefore it is strongly suggested that ESP and TEP in epididymal fluid play somehow significant roles on the maturation of epididymal spermatozoa.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2001

Testicular development of the male African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen) was investigated histologically. The testis was found to be an elongated structure that possessed two distinct portions: an anterior spermatogenic part that was made up of a system of testicular tubules and a posterior vesicular part that invaded the kidney tissue. Spermatogenesis can be divided into five stages; primary spermatogonia, secondary spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatids and spermatozoa. Based on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and histological changes observed, the reproductive cycle can be divided onto four distinct stages: resting and quiescent (December to February), growing (March to June) ripe and spent (July to August) and postspawning (September to November). The GSI was the maximum on July when reproductive cells were mature, ripe and ready for spawning; and the minimum in August after fish spawned.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.683-697
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• 2023

The threat posed by increased surface temperatures worldwide has attracted the attention of researchers to the reaction of animals to heat stress. Spermatogenesis in animals such as stallions is a temperature-dependent process, ideally occurring at temperatures slightly below the core body temperature. Thus, proper thermoregulation is essential, especially because stallion spermatogenesis and the resulting spermatozoa are negatively affected by increased testicular temperature. Consequently, the failure of thermoregulation resulting in heat stress may diminish sperm quality and increase the likelihood of stallion infertility. In this review, we emphasize upon the impact of heat stress on spermatogenesis and the somatic and germ cells and describe the subsequent testicular alterations. In addition, we explore the functions and molecular responses of heat shock proteins, including HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP105, in heat-induced stress conditions. Finally, we discuss the use of various therapies to alleviate heat stress-induced reproductive harm by modulating distinct signaling pathways.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2019

A viable spermatozoon is a prerequisite for fertilization in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Thus, it is crucial to select viable but immotile spermatozoa on the day of ICSI. We report conflicting results in the identification of viable but immotile spermatozoa between the eosin-nigrosin staining and the laser test, which resulted in confusion for embryologists during assisted reproductive technology (ART). Three patients' semen samples that showed no motile spermatozoa are described in this report. To identify viable spermatozoa, we used both the eosin-nigrosin test and the laser test for each sample, and repeated the semen analysis twice in each patient. Viable but immotile spermatozoa selected by the laser test were used for ICSI. Viable spermatozoa were detected by both the eosin-nigrosin and laser tests in two patients (case 1, 95.00% vs. 24.21% and 92.68% vs. 22.22%; case 2, 41.18% vs. 23.48% and 39.81% vs. 22.52%), indicating consistent results between the two methods. In the third patient, the eosin-nigrosin test yielded viability rates of 20.75% and 19.14%, while the result of the laser test was 0%. Thus, testicular aspiration was performed to collect viable sperm from this patient. Normal fertilization was achieved after the injection of viable but immotile spermatozoa selected from these patients by the laser test, resulting in the birth of two healthy babies. Our study documents a case where the eosin-nigrosin test showed a limitation in identifying viable but immotile spermatozoa for ART, while the laser test may overcome this limitation. Larger samples may be required to corroborate the clinical value of the laser test.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

Objectives: We have previous reported that thawed testicular sperm and sperm extracted from seminiferous tubule could achieved optimal fertilization and pregnancy in azoospermic patients. However, thawed testicular sperm did not show motility in many cases. Therefore we studied viability of immotile sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule using hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test and eosin-Y test. Materials and Methods: After sperm extraction using for ICSI, the remained sections of seminiferous tubules were frozen with a computerized freezer. For thawing and preparation of testicular sperm, the seminiferous tubules were thawed by removing from $LN_2$ and letting them at room temperature for 10 min followed by %37^{\circ}C$ water bath for 10 min. The prepared samples were washed for free of preservation medium and sperm preparation method described previous. Sperm was suspended in 0.1 ml hypoosmotic solution. After 30 minutes, the type of distally coiled sperm were assessed. Results: In 44 cases of cryopreservation of seminiferous tubules in obstructive azoospennic patients, the fertilization rates with 2PN were 71.4% and pregnancy rates were 34.1%. The presence of motile spermatozoa on subsequent post-thaw testicular sperm remarked 15.1% and were increased to 77.3% just before ICSI. After sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule, 3 hrs later in in vitro culture, the cases of presence of motile sperm, reaction of hypo-osmotic swelling test and viable sperm were 63.6% (28/44), 93.2% (41/44), and 77.3% (34/44), respectively. Conclusions: Just after post-thawed testicular sperm did not showed motility. Although motility was gained after in vitro culture, many cases showed non-motile sperm until optimal insemination time. However, HOS test showed positive reaction in non-motile sperm. Therefore, HOS test is an alternative method for the selection of viable sperm for ICSI.