• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of chitosan oligomer (CO) molecular weight on the disorders of lipid metabolism and immune-related factors induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), that is a endocrine disrupter, using adult male rats (SD) for 3 weeks. These 40 animals were divided into five groups. Three kinds of CO were used by molecular weight (MW) (less than 1000, 1000~3000, and 5000~10000) and added 4% to basal diets respectively. TCDD (40 ${\mu}g$/kg B.W) was intraperitoneally injected into rats at the beginning of the experiment. The relative weights of the livers were increased in all rats treated with TCDD, and the brain and testis weights were increased in all CO diet groups, compared to the control and TCDD groups. The levels of white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrits (HCT), and platelets were significantly lowered by treating TCDD. By the way, RBC and HCT tended to recover by CO diets. The elevation of serum total and HDL cholesterol levels induced by TCDD treatment was significantly reduced by CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The apparent increasing of the total lipid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of rat livers induced by TCDD was tended to be suppressed in those fed CO diets. Especially, diets with less than 1000 MW significantly diminished liver triglycerides. The levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG1 and IgM were significantly high in rats fed CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The decreasing levels of IgE by treatment with TCDD tended to recover all the CO diet groups to the level of control group. In histochemical observation, the fat droplets and apoptosis of liver due to TCDD treatment were markedly alleviated in all CO diet groups. These results indicated that CO, though not regular according to molecular weight, can exert improving effects on lipid accumulation, hepatocytic disorders, abnormal blood cells, and some immunoglobulins induced by TCDD.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-541
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• 2014

This research investigated the reproduction cycle, litter size, and the effects of factors of red-tongue viper snake inhabiting in Jeju Island, to delve into their life strategy. Field survey was conducted in Jeju Island from May 2006 to November 2008. Reproduction cycle was analyzed through measurements of testis and follicle sizes in laboratory from March 2009 to December 2010. According to the research results, the sizes of red-tongue viper snake's testis and follicle clearly changed seasonally. The number of eggs within the oviduct were greater on the right side ($2.6{\pm}1.0$ eggs, n=16) than on the left side ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ eggs, n=16) (t=-2,721, p<0.05). Average (${\pm}SD$) of survival litter size (SLS) was $4.4{\pm}1.7$ (1~9, range), while total litter size (TLS) was $4.7{\pm}1.5$ (3~9, range), which were not statistically significant. However, their litter sizes were similar to the number of eggs within the oviduct (t=0.039, P>0.05). Relative litter mass (RCM) was $0.42{\pm}0.13$ (0.18~0.79, n=33), and tended to increase, as maternal condition of pre-parturition (MCPPI) was getting better. The sexual ratio of delivered litters showed no significant difference between male and female red-tongue viper snakes (♂:♀ = 1.15:1, n=73 ; ${\chi}^2$=0.342, P>0.5). Average neonate mass showed a weak correlation with maternal mass of pre-parturition (MMPP1) (r=0.387, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate Snout-vent length (SVL) also demonstrated a weak correlations with maternal SVL (r=0.399, P<0.05, n=33) and MMPP1 (r=0.344, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate mass and maternal SVL approached significant probability (r=0.323, P=0.067, n=33). This indicates that mother snakes can bear bigger litter due to its larger size. In some cases, litter's weight decreases as mother snakes are bearing more litter; however, the red-tongued viper snake did not show such exchange relationship. From this, it can be conjectured that a red-tongued viper snake has peculiarity of its own species. The research results are predicted to be used as the basis to find a life history of red-tongued viper snake.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2007

The morphology of gonad and reproductive cycle of ribbed gunnel (Dictyosoma burgeri) were investigated on the basis of histological observation. The specimens were monthly sampled in the coastal waters of Jeju from November 2001 to February 2003. The ovaries and testis of this species are categorized as cystovarian and lobule type, respectively. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female increased in November and maintained high values from December to February. The GSI of male was similar to that of female although it was decreased in February. The reproductive cycle can be grouped into the following successive stage in the ovary: growth (October to November), mature (November to February), spawning (January to February), and degenerating and recovery (March to September). And in the testis, the stage observed were: multiplication (August to November), growth (November to January), mature and spawning (November to February), and degenerating and recovery (January to September). The minimum maturation size of D. burgeri was over 15.0 cm and fecundity ranged from 2,194 to 6,581 eggs. The relationship between the fecundity and fish body was calculated in the fecundity (F) equation as: $F=0.4057TL^{3.1425}$ ($R^2=0.7621$) for total length (TL); $F=149.88BW^{0.9579}$ ($R^2=0.7982$) for body weight (BW), respectively. The fecundity was correlated positively with TL and BW. The histological observations of the gonads suggested that major spawning of this species probably occurs between January to February, when low water temperature ($13{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$) period.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2007

Sex differentiation of the brown croaker Miichthys miiuy (Basilewsky) is described from hatching to the 120th day post-hatching (dph) (water temperature $24^{\circ}C$). Primordial germ cells (PGCs) were observed on the 20th dph (10.4 mm total length (TL), 0.14 g body weight (BW), and began to protrude into the peritoneal cavity from the 40th dph (19.4 mm TL, 0.39 g BW). On the 65th dph (31.3 mm TL, 0.93 g BW, $1,560D^{\circ}$ (degree-days)), initial ovarian differentiation was identified by the PGCs with condensed chromatin, and their transformation into meiotic oocytes. By the 120th dph (4.60 mm TL, 1.38 g BW, $2,880D^{\circ}$), the oocytes were in the perinucleolus stage and had increased from 20 to $40{\mu}m$ in diameter. While ovaries gradually grew after sex was differentiated, testes continued to multiply from the 65th dph. On the 80th dph (37.9 mm TL, 1.39 g BW, $1,920D^{\circ}$), the beginning of testis lobule formation was indicated by the occurrence of spermatogonial cysts enveloped by somatic cells in some of the testes. On the 120th dph, the testis lobules of some of the fish contained all germ cell stages through to the spermatocytes. Therefore, the sex differentiation type of the brown croaker is identified as gonochoristic.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2001

Recently many studies have reported that total and bioavailable androgens reduced in male and female athletes and that physical exercise reduces the body weight and increases the reproductive abnormalities such as oligomenorrhea, anovulation, inadequate luteal phase, and delayed puberty in women by the inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis . In addition, high mileage endurance 겨nning, psychological stress, and military endurance training in men also reduce the secretion of reproductive hormones. To investigate the efffcts of physical endurance exercise on the secretion of reproductive hormones in men, androgenic hormones from adrenal glands and testis were measured in serum by the conventional radioimmunoassays after long-term (more than3 months), short-term (1 week), and acute (1${sim}$2 hours) physical exercises. Androgenic hormones from adrenal glands and testis such as total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (fT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione (A) decreased after thesestrenuous endurance trainings, whereas ACTH, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfetes (DHEAS) increased. Conadotropins (LH and FSH) were not idluenced by the physical exercises. Based upon the present results, we assume that the decrease in adrenal and testicular androgens by physical endurance exercises might be associated with the reproductive abnormalities in athletes by unknown factor(s) in addition to the HPG axis disturbance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-54
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• 1967

The changes in histopathology of various organs and growth inhibition of the chick embryos incubated with radioactive sulfur ($^{35}S$) were experimentally studied. The various doses of $^{35}S$ were injected into the yolk sac at different intervals and the weight changes of the embryos were evaluated to determine the growth inhibition rates. The embryos sacrified on various incubation days were used for the study of histopathological changes in organs such as the bone, liver, kidney, gonad, and eye. Following were the results: 1) The weight changes of the $^{35}S$ treated groups were as follows: i. Embryos treated on the 5 th incubation day: No weight changes were noted on the 8th incubation day, however, the growth inhibition rate of 32.1% was noted in the group treated with $50{\mu}C$ and of 38.2% in the group treated with $150{\mu}C$ on the 12th incubation day. The rates were 9.1 and 12.1% on the 15th incubation day, and 6.5 and 10.6% on the 18th incubation day respectively. ii. Embryos treated on the 8th incubation day: The growth inhibition rates on the 12th, 15th and 18th incubation days in the groups treated with $50{\mu}C$ were 20.9, 25.9 and 18.8% and in those treated with $150{\mu}C$ were 20.0, 14.9 and 16.9% respectively. iii. Embryos treated on the 12th incubation day: The growth inhibition rates on the 15th and 18th in the groups treated with $50{\mu}C$ were 13.6 and 21.1% and in those treated with $150{\mu}C$ were 26.7 and 6.5% and in those treated with $250{\mu}C$ were 10.6 and 12.6% respectively. iv. Embryos treated on the 15th incubation day: The growth inhibition rates on the 18th in the groups treated with $50{\mu}C$ were 6.5% and in those treated with $150{\mu}C$ were 10.1% and in those treated with $250{\mu}C$ were 8.5% respectively. In summary, the longer the incubation days, the less the growth inhibition rates. II) The histopathological changes in the various organs were as follows: i. Bone: Hyperplasia and edematous changes of the bone cavity, irregular distribution of immature granular cells and increased number of the myeloblast, megakaryocyte and reticuloendothelial cells were noted. ii. Liver: The embryos treated with $150{\mu}C\;of\;^{35}S$ on the 8th incubation day showed necrosis and nucleolysis of the liver cell and abnormal enlargement of sinusoid on the 12th incubation day. The longer the incubation days, the more severe the changes such as the pyknotic artophy of the liver cells and heterochromatism. The embryos treated on the 5th incubation day with 50 and $150{\mu}C\;of\;^{35}S$ showed little changes, but sight enlargement and accumulation of serous fluid in the sinusoid on the 8th incubation day. iii. Kidney: No particular changes except atrophic changes of epithelium were noted in early stage, however, the infiltration of the granular cell and monocyte into the cortex and pyknotic changes of vascular glomeruli were noted in later stage. These changes were not closely related to the doses of $^{35}S$ given. iv. Gonad: The degenerative changes such as destruction of the immature germ cells, hyperplasia and vacuolization of the stroma were noted in testis and ovary. v. Eye: A slight distortion of the cornea and sclera was noted. The hypertrophy of inner layer and blood cell infiltration into the vascular layer of the choroid membrane were noted in embryo groups on the 12, 15 and 18th incubation days.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Captured wild specimens of the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and height of molars, and seasonal variations of breeding and reproductive organs were examined. Juveniles had not tooth wear in molars and height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, and had only non-breeding condition. Young adults had little tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear in molars, young adults and old adults had breeding or non-breeding condition according to the season. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variations of breeding were confirmed that breeding condition of young and old adult males were continued from early February to early October although the breeding activity was the highest in April, that of females were continued from the end of March to October, males reached sexual maturity earlier than females. Whereas the breeding condition seems to cease for non-breeding season because of the deficiency of food resources, soil invertebrates. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules that were filled with numerous germ cells, and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, and were more than 10.0 g in the body weight and 0.03 g in the testis and epididymis weight. The females of the breeding season were pregnant condition with 4~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary, and were more than 9.6 g in the body weight.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.753-760
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• 2007

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the immunocastration on the growth performance, the characteristics of carcass and meat quality in boar. Total 45 piglets(Landrace×Yorkshire) were prepared from the birth and were fed the experimental diet by the time to be slaughtered at around 110 kg of body weight. The experimental groups consisted of five piglets per pen with 3 replicates in three treatment groups, non castrated(NC), surgically castrated(SC), and GnRH antagonist(GA). In SC group, all piglets aged 3-4 days after birth were castrated by the surgical method. For the immunocastration, 2ml of GnRH antagonist(Improvac, Pfizer, Australia) were subcutaneously injected into piglets twice on the 16th and 20th week after the beginning of the trial in the GA group. The immunocastration did not make any significant influences on the growth performance, as compared with the other treatments. The different castration method used in either GA or SC group pigs had similar effects on the dressing percentage and body fat content as carcass parameters. In respect of a meat quality, the meat color, pH, shearing force and cooking loss were not significantly different in all treatment groups. Testosterone concentration in serum was shown to be similar between GA and SC group at 2 weeks after the 2nd injection of GnRH antagonist. The weight of bulbourethral gland and the radius and weight of testis were significantly smaller in GA than in NC(P=0.002). All together, this study suggested that the castration by immunocastration can be an alternative method for the surgical castration without any changes in growth performance, the characteristics of carcass and meat quality shown in surgical castration group.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Captured specimens of the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and seasonal variations of reproductive organs were investigated. Molars of juveniles had not tooth wear and the height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, young adults had smooth tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear and the third molars also reached to the first and second molars. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variation of breeding was confirmed that breeding season of adult males was from early February to early October, having a peak of the breeding in April and July, and non-breeding season was from in the middle of October to late January. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules filling with numerous germ cells and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, Young and old adult males of the non-breeding season had the small testes with the extremely slender seminiferous tubules filling with only spermatogonia and the reduced caudal epididymides without spermatozoa. Males weighing more than 3.9 g in the body weight and 0.013 g in the testis and epididymis weight reached sexual maturation in breeding season, and the females weighing more than 3.8 g in body weight of the breeding season were pregnant condition having 5~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.662-668
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• 2007

Studies have shown that onions exhibit a wide variety of health-promoting properties. The health benefits by the onion have been attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals, to reduce blood lipids, to lower blood pressure, and to inhibit platelet aggregation. This study was performed to investigate whether onion extract supplementation would affect the blood markers of ethanol-induced fatty liver in rats. Initially, male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed singly in a room of controlled temperature and lighting and had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G and deionized water. The rats were trained for meal feeding to prevent a decline in food intake, as inevitably observed following an ethanol feeding. After the training period, rats were weight-matched and assigned to the following three groups: 1) a control group, fed the AIN-93G diet alone (control); 2) an ethanol group, fed the AIN-93G diet with ethanol at 4 g/day/kg body weight (ethanol); and 3) an onion group, fed the AIN-93G diet with ethanol plus supplemental freeze-dried onion powder at 500 mg/day/rat (ethanol + onion). All three group were meal-fed 7.0 g of their respective diets at 0900 h and 7.5 g at 1600 h for 28 days. At 0, 2, and 4 wk, blood was collected via the orbital sinus and organs were collected following overnight food deprivation. Both control and experimental groups continually gained weight throughout the study. No significant differences in the weights of the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, and testis were observed. However, the serum level of triglycerides was significantly increased by ethanol but significantly decreased by onion extract. The activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) at 4 wk were significantly increased by ethanol feeding but were significantly decreased by onion supplementation. However, no differences among groups were observed in the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, bilirubin, and protein. These results provide that onion extract favorably affect alcoholic fatty liver by decreasing the serum concentration of triglyceride and the activities of GOT and GPT.