• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1996

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of uterine epithelial cells on development of Korean native cattle(KNC) oocytes fertilized in vitro. Qocytes were collected from ovaries of slaughtered Korean Native Cows and matured in TCM199 with granulosa cells supplemented with 10% FBS, 5$\mu$g/ml FSH, 10 JU/ml hCG, and 1$\mu$g/ml estradiol-17$\beta$ for 24 hrs. For co-culture of in vitro development of fertilized ova, oviductal epithelial cells (l$\times$l0˚cells /ml) obtained from slaughtered cow and uterine epithelial cells(1$\times$10˚cells /ml) flushed from the superovulated holstein on Day 7 were incubated in 39$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$, 95% air. Frozen-thawed KNC sperm was capacitated with BO(Brackett & Oliphant, 1975) medium supplemented with 10mM, 5mM-caffein. Matured oocytes were inseminated for 20 hrs. And then fertilized oocytes were washed with culture medium and transferred to oviductal epithelial cells for in vitro development and three days later a portion of embryos were transferred to uterine epithelial cells. Stastical methods of developmental rates on KNC-IVF oocytes was ANOVA-test. Developmental rates of KNC-IVF oocytes was significant higher(P<0.01) when co-cul-tured with uterine epithelial cells(25.2%) than oviductal epithelial cells. Blatocyst cul-tured for 7 to 9 days were frozen by automatic freezer with 1.4M glycerol-PBS. Survival rates of blastocyst was 40.0%. Fourteen frozen-thawed blastocysts were transferred to five holstein heifers on day 7 after natural estrus. Three recipients were observed twin and one recipient was single by ultra-sound systems on days 45 after embryo transfer.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 1993

The studies on the carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with uterine fluids and uterine epithelial cells on the in-vitro fertilization and developmental rate of porcine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered swine. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% ECS for 46~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% $CO_2$ in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation of heparin. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows ; 1.The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with uterine fluids in TCM-199 medium were 68.0% arid 55.7%, the rates were higher than of control, 56.5% arid 38.7%. 2. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine uterine epithelial cells, the fertilization rate was 60.3%, the rates were higher than that of control, 35.7%. 3. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine uterine epithelial cells, the development rate to be blastocyst was 12.4%, the rates were higher than that of control, 9.2%(p<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2005

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) functions in epithelial growth and differentiation in many tissues and organs. KGF is expressed in the uterine endometrial epithelial cells during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs, and receptors for KGF (KGFR) are expressed by conceptus trophectoderm and endometrial epithelia. KGF has been shown to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of conceptus trophectoderm. However, the role of KGF on the endometrial epithelial cells has not been determined. Therefore, this study determined the effect of KGF on proliferation and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo using an immortalized porcine luminal epithelial (pLE) cell line and KGF infusion into the uterine lumen of pigs between Days 9 and 12 of estrous cycle. Results showed that KGF did not stimulate proliferation of uterine endometrial epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo determined by the $^3$H]thymidine incorporation assay and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining, respectively. Effects of KGF on expression of several markers for epithelial cell differentiation, including integrin receptor subunits $\alpha$4, $\alpha$5 and $\beta$1, plasmin/trypsin inhibitor, uteroferrin and retinol-binding protein were determined by RT-PCR, Northern and slot blot analyses, and immunohistochemisty, and KGF did not affect epithelial cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. These results show that KGF does not induce epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, suggesting that KGF produced by endometrial epithelial cells acts on conceptus trophectoderm in a paracrine manner rather than on endometrial epithelial cells in an autocrine manner.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2013

The endometrium undergoes a cyclic growth and tissue remodeling as changes of epithelial cells, and plasminogen activators (PAs) are related to endometrium tissue remodeling. This study was to evulate expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in porcine uterine epithelial cells. In results, the uPA and tPA were expressed in uterine tissue, epithelium and secretory glands in porcine endometrial cell. In addition, the uPA and tPA were expressed in cultured epithelial cells, and it were mainly expressed in cytoplasm. In porcine uterine tissue and epithelial cells, uPA activity was higher than activity in tPA. In PAs mRNA expression levels, uPA mRNA level was significantly higher than tPA mRNA level (P<0.05). The fluorescence intensity of uPA protein was also higher than fluorescence intensity of tPA protein, and uPA protein expression was significantly higher than in tPA protein expression (P<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that a physiological function in porcine uterine epithelial cells should be more influenced by uPA than in tPA during pre-ovulatory phase.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2004

Liquid-Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology is known to be a sensitive and effective screening method for cervical neoplasm $MonoPrep^{TM},\;ThinPrep^{TM},\;and\;SurePath^{TM}$ methods have been recently used as Liquid-Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology techniques, and the $SurePath^{TM}$ method has been used in Sung-Yoon Reference Laboratory since 2003. The goal of Liquid-Based Uterine Cervicovaginal Cytology is to separate cervical epithelial cells from non-target cells, red blood cells and neutrophils. This report describes a study which evaluated cellularity, stainablilty, and cellular changes of epithelial cels in samples processed using a manual technique as compared to samples processed using $SurePath^{TM}$ automated method. The samples processed by means of a manual technique contained a cellularity of epithelial cells similar to that of the samples processed using the $SurePath^{TM}$ automated method. In addition, we compared variable density gradient reagents, including dextran, dextrose, and sucrose, to $SurePath^{TM}$ gradient media in order to evaluate cell fractionation and cellularity of epithelial cells. 10% dextran of gradient media shows good fractionation. The samples processed with 10% dextran demonstrated sufficient cellularity of epithelial cells and shows the fewest cellular changes. In conclusion, using a manual technique on these samples is easier to read than those results obtained using the $SurePath^{TM}$ automated method.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 1993

The studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cell, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrial cells on the in-vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of porcine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered swine. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM-199 meidum were 64.6%~74.5% and 37.5%~55.3%, respectively. And in-vitro fertilization rate of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(51.5%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes(21.7%). 2. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 53.5% and 37.2%, 61.7% and 46.8%, 54.5% and 31.8%, 42.2% and 26.7%, respectively. 3. The in-vintro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$106/ml, 1$\times$108/ml, 1$\times$1015/ml uterine endometrial cells in TCM-199 medium were 54.3% and 39.1%, 58.3% and 43.8%, 55.5% and 33.3%, and 45.7% and 30.4%, respectively. 4. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine cumulus cells, ovdiduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrial cells, the development rate to the blastocyst stage was 9.5%, 10.7% and 11.8%, respectively and the rates were higher than that of control, 2.1%(p<0.05).

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

To investigate the role of interleukin-l$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) in the embryonic development, in vivo and in vitro expression patterns of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the preimplantation mouse embryos were examined by RT-PCR, and the effects of explanted mouse ovi-duct and uterine epithelial cells on the expression of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the pleimplantation mouse embryos were examined by co-culture. IL-1$\beta$ mRNA was detected in the embryos from 4-cell stage to blastocyst stage in vivo and from morula stage to hatching blastocyst stage in vitro. This transcript was not detected from the GV stage to late 2-cell stage in vivo, and not at the 4-cell and 8-cell stages in vitro. For the co-culture of late 2-cell embryos with the explanted mouse oviduct and uterine epithelial cells, oviducts and uterine epithelial cells were isolated at 48 hour alter the hCG injection. The explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells in co-culture groups facilitated the IL-1$\beta$ gene expression of the mouse embryos in comparison with the control. Taken together these results suggest that the presence of IL-1$\beta$ plays an important role in preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, the up-regulation of IL-1$\beta$ gene expression by the explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells demonstrates that embryonic expression of IL-l$\beta$ gene may be regulated by the interaction with oviductal and uterine factor (s).

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2019

Background: Preterm labor and miscarriage may occur in stressful situations, such as a surgical operation or infection during pregnancy. Pharyngeal and buccal abscess and facial bone fractures are inevitable dental surgeries in pregnant patients. Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic that is commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Nonetheless, no study has investigated the effects of remifentanil on amniotic epithelial cells. This study evaluated the effects of remifentanil on the factors related to uterine contraction and its mechanism of action on amniotic epithelial cells. Methods: Amniotic epithelial cells were preconditioned at various concentrations of remifentanil for 1 h, followed by 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. MTT assays were performed to assess the cell viability in each group. The effects of remifentanil on factors related to uterine contractions in amniotic epithelial cells were assessed using a nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot examinations of the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), and RT-PCR examinations of the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Remifentanil did not affect viability and nitric oxide production of amniotic epithelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that remifentanil preconditioning resulted in decreased expressions of NF-κB and PGE2 in the cells in LPS-induced inflammation, and a tendency of decreased COX2 expression. The results were statistically significant only at high concentration. RT-PCR revealed reduced expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusions: Preconditioning with remifentanil does not affect the viability of amniotic epithelial cells but reduces the expression of factors related to uterine contractions in situations where cell inflammation is induced by LPS, which is an important inducer of preterm labor. These findings provide evidence that remifentanil may inhibit preterm labor in clinical settings.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.795-803
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• 2013

Various endometrial genes in ruminant ungulates are regulated by conceptus interferon tau (IFNT). However, the effect of each IFNT isoform has not been carefully evaluated. In this study, the effects of 2 IFNT isoforms, paralogs found in utero, and interferon alpha (IFNA) on uterine epithelial and Mardin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells were evaluated. Expression vectors of the bovine interferon (bIFNT) genes bIFNT1, bIFNTc1, and bIFNA were constructed, and recombinant bIFNs (rbIFNs) were produced by 293 cells. Bovine uterine epithelial or MDBK cells were cultured in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of each rbIFN for 24, 48, or 72 h. Transcript levels of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) ISG12, ISG15, MX1, and MX2 were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These messenger RNAs were up-regulated by rbIFN in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In the epithelial cells, the ISG12 transcript level increased at 48 h after rbIFN treatment but slightly decreased at 72 h, whereas the transcript level of ISG15 increased at 24 h and was maintained through 72 h. Expressions of MX1 and MX2 increased at 72 h after rbIFN treatment. MX1 expression increased in all treatment groups, but MX2 increased only by bIFNTc1. In MDBK cells, the expression of ISG12 was increased by bIFNT1 and bIFNTc1 after 24 and 72 h; however, it was unchanged by rbIFNA. ISG15 increased following the same pattern as that seen in uterine epithelial cells, and MX1 showed a similar expression pattern. MX2 expression was increased by bIFNTc1 treatment in uterine epithelial cells, and its expression was increased by both bIFNT1 and bIFNTc1 in MDBK cells. These results show that epithelial and MDBK cell responses to IFNs differ, suggesting that IFNs possess common functions, but may have acquired different functions following gene duplication.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to investigate the regulatory mechanism of plasminogen activators (PAs) activation by $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) and progesterone ($P_4$) in porcine uterine epithelial cells (pUECs). pUECs were collected from porcine uterine horn and cultured at 80% confluence. Then, 0.1% (v/v) DMSO, 20 ng/mL $E_2$, and $P_4$ with or without fetal bovine serum (FBS) treated to cultured cells for 24 hours. The supernatants were used for measurement of PAs activity and expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA), tissue-type PA (tPA), uPA specific receptor (uPAR), and type-1 PA inhibitor (PAI-1) mRNA were analyzed by real-time PCR. The expression of PAs-related genes was not affect by steroid hormones in both of serum treatment groups. However, PAs activity was increased by treatment of $E_2$ compared to 0.1% DMSO treatment in serum-free group (p<0.05). Then, $E_2$ and $P_4$ were diluted with 0.002% (v/v) DMSO for reduction of its effect and treated to cultured cells without FBS. Only tPA mRNA was significantly increased by $E_2$ treatment (p<0.05). PAs activity was enhanced in $E_2$ treated group compared to control groups (p<0.05). These results indicate that serum-free condition is more proper to evaluate effect of steroid hormones and activation of PAs in pUECs was mainly regulated by estrogen. These regulation of PAs activation may be associated with uterine remodeling during pre-ovulatory phase in pigs, however, further studies are needed to investigate precise regulatory mechanism.