• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was the analysis of sperm ability in Specific Pathogen Free (SPE) miniature pig for production of bio-organ. The collected semen was diluted with extender and stored at $17^{\circ}C$t for up to 7 days. The semen samples were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage for analysis of sperm ability. Sperm ability was evaluated by examining viability, progressive motility, sperm abnormality and intensity of the sperm membrane. Also, the semen was processed according to the convenient freezing method, and frozen-thawed sperm was evaluated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Motility of spermatozoa of SPF miniature pig was significantly (P<0.05) lower on 3 days or later compared to the Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace in domestic boar. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Landrace were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in SPF miniature pig, Duroc and Yorkshire that had a similar percentage on 5 or 7 days of sperm storage. The percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tail decreased during the storage period but there were no significant difference. On the other hand, viability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa had a significantly (P<0.05) lower in SPF miniature pig than in other domestic boars. CTC patterns had no significant difference, but SPF miniature pig had higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa and lower percentage of acrosome-reacted it than domestic boars. Therefore, this study suggest that it is necessary to develop the suitable extender and freezing methods methods for the high viable rate and fertilizing ability in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential adverse effects of amitraz on pregnant dams after maternal exposure during the gestational days (GD) 1 through 19 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test chemical was administered orally to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/ day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights and reproductive findings on GD 20 were examined. In the 30 mg/kg group, an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs and death, a suppression in the body weight gain, and a decrease in the food consumption were observed. A decrease in the liver weight and increases in the kidneys, adrenal glands and heart weights were also found. Serum biochemical investigations revealed increases in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, and chloride. In addition, an increase in the fetal death and decreases in the litter size and fetal body weight were seen at caesarean section. Inthe 10 mg/kg group, an increase in the incidence of abnormal clinical signs, decreases in the food consumption and liver weight, increases in the total bilirubin and chloride, and a decrease in the fetal body weight were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights and reproductive findings in the 3 mg/kg group. Based on the results, it was concluded that the 19-day repeated oral dose of amitraz to pregnant rats caused increases in the clinical signs, kidneys, adrenal glands and heart weights, AST, total bilirubin and chloride and decreases in the body weight gain, food consumption and liver weight at the dose levels of above 10 mg/kg/day. Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of amitraz was considered to be 3 mg/kg/day.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-64
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the effect of Jaeumkanghwa-tang (JEKHT) on the propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced rat hypothyroidism. Methods: Six groups, each of 8 rats per group were used in the present study - intact vehicle control, PTU control, Levothyroxine ($LT_4$), JEKHT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg treated groups. JEKHT were administered once a day for 42 days as an oral dose of 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10 mg/kg for 28 days. The changes on the body and organ weight, serum hormone and lipid profiles, liver and testis antioxidant defense factors were observed with histopathology of organs. Results were compared with $LT_4$ 0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally treated rats in this experiment. Results: PTU treatment, marked decrease of body weight, increases of thyroid weight, decreases of liver, testis, epididymis and prostate weights, decreases of serum Tri-iodothyronine ($T_3$), and Thyroxine ($T_4$) level with increase of serum Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, decreases of serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level with increases of serum Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level, increases of serum High density lipoprotein (HDL), decrease of triglyceride content, increase of serum Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level, decreases of liver and testis antioxidant defense factors were observed. In addition, marked hyperplasia of follicular cells with decreases of follicular colloid contents and diameters was additionally demonstrated with the decrease of hepatocyte numbers per unit area due to hypertrophy of hepatocytes related to lipid droplet depositions, increase of a/oligospermatic epididymal tubules with epididymal atrophic changes, seminiferous tubular atrophy with decrease of stage I~II seminiferous tubules in testis, prostate tubular atrophic changes at histopathological inspections. However, these PTU induced hypothyroidism and related hepatic and male reproductive organ damages were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of JEKHT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, and JEKHT also effectively regulated the PTU-induced abnormal antioxidant defense factor changes in the both liver and testis. Conclusions: JEKHT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg dose-dependently inhibited PTU-induced hypothyroidism and related liver and male reproductive organ damages in rats.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Quality of seed in the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.) is determined by many important factors, wherein unfertilized eggs play an important role. Unfertilization of eggs are caused by several reasons such as, abnormality in the sexual organs of the male and female, abnormal development of the micropylar end of the egg, unfavorable environmental conditions during spinning, cocoon preservation, imperfect handling of moths, mating, ovipostion, cold storing of pupae / moths and indiscriminate use of male moths etc. Though the presence of unfertilized eggs would in no way affect the fertilized ones and their quality directly, the frequency of their occurrence underrates the quality and brings down the hatching percentage. Lower the occurrence of unfertilized eggs, higher is the rating of seed quality. Of the various intrinsic and extrinsic factors and events involved in egg deposition of an adult silk moth, mating is an instinct and a biological obligation for the ultimate perpetuation of the species and a must to provide stimulus for oogenesis and bring about biochemical changes in the spermatophore of the silkworm in order to ensure the presence of sufficient number of normal sperms and testicular fluid in the female reproductive organ, activating ovulation and accelerating oviposition behavior and egg deposition. An attempt has been made in this article to briefly elucidate the characteristics of unfertilized eggs, causes of their occurrence and its impact as well as the significance in silkworm seed production.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2004

Objective: To assess the association with autoimmune endocrine diseases and detection rate of autoimmune antibodies and its clinical significance in patients with premature ovarian failure. Methods: Twenty eight patients with primary or secondary amenorrhea manifesting hormonal and clinical features of premature ovarian failure (primary POF: 7, secondary POF: 21) were investigated. We tested them TFT, 75 g OGTT, ACTH and S-cortisol for thyroiditis, IDDM, Addison's disease, and antithyoglobulin antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, antinuclear antibody, rheumatic factor, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody for non-organ specific autoimmune disorders. Results: Only one patient was diagnosed as IDDM and no patients had abnormal TFT or adrenal function test. More than one kind of autoantibody was detected in 11 patients of all (39.2%): 5 patients (71.4%) of primary POF group and 6 patients (21.4%) of secondary POF group. Eleven patients (39.3%) had antithyroglobulin antibody, 4 (14.3%) had antimicrosomal antibody, 2 (7.1%) had antinuclear antibody, 2 (7.1%) had rheumatic factor, 1 (3.6%) had anti-smooth muscle antibody, 1 (3.6%) had anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody. Conclusions: Premature ovarian failure may occur as a component of an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, so patients should be measured with free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, fasting glucose and electrolytes. Measurement of thyroid autoantibodies in POF patients may be important in identifying patients at risk of developing overt hypothyoidism, but other autoantibodies may not be suitable for screening test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.7-8
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• 2003

Since it was first reported in 1997, somatic cell cloning has been demonstrated in several other mammalian species. On the mouse, it can be cloned from embryonic stem (ES) cells, fetus-derived cells, and adult-derived cells, both male and female. While cloning efficiencies range from 0 to 20%, rates of just 1-2% are typical (i.e. one or two live offspring per one hundred initial embryos). Recently, abnormalities in mice cloned from somatic cells have been reported, such as abnormal gene expression in embryo (Boiani et al., 2001, Bortvin et al., 2003), abnormal placenta (Wakayama and Yanagimachi 1999), obesity (Tamashiro et ai, 2000, 2002) or early death (Ogonuki et al., 2002). Such abnormalities notwithstanding, success in generating cloned offspring has opened new avenues of investigation and provides a valuable tool that basic research scientists have employed to study complex processes such as genomic reprogramming, imprinting and embryonic development. On the other hand, mouse ES cell lines can also be generated from adult somatic cells via nuclear transfer. These 'ntES cells' are capable of differentiation into an extensive variety of cell types in vitro, as well assperm and oocytes in vivo. Interestingly, the establish rate of ntES cell line from cloned blastocyst is much higher than the success rate of cloned mouse. It is also possible to make cloned mice from ntES cell nuclei as donor, but this serial nuclear transfer method could not improved the cloning efficiency. Might be ntES cell has both character between ES cell and somatic cell. A number of potential agricultural and clinical applications are also are being explored, including the reproductive cloning of farm animals and therapeutic cloning for human cell, tissue, and organ replacement. This talk seeks to describe both the relationship between nucleus donor cell type and cloning success rate, and methods for establishing ntES cell lines. (중략)

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.442-448
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• 2006

To obtain the 50% lethal dose (LD50), approximated lethal dose (ALD) and approximated target organs of 'Mahwangyounpae-tang' for further study like repeat dose toxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, single dose toxicity was tested in male ICR mouse according to KFDA Guideline 1999-61 [KFDA, 1999] at a dosage level of 2,000, 1,000, 500, 250 and $125\;mg/kg/10m{\ell}$. In this study, mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes and body weight gains, gross findings and weight of principal organs were detected during and/or after 14 days of single dosing. After 2 or 3 days of dosing, 1 or 2 animals in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups were died. Excitation and leaping response were observed as test article-treatment related clinical signs. These abnormal signs were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups and they were recovered to normal within 4 days after dosing in case of survivors. A significant decrease of body weight were observed in some periods of observation in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group from 1 days after dosing compared to those of vehicle control group. A significant decrease of body weight gains were observed in observation periods in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group compared to those of vehicle control group. Hypertrophy of heart and decoloration of kidney were observed as test article-treatment related gross findings. These abnormal findings were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. A significant increase of absolute and relative heart and kidney weight were demonstrated in 2,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. LD50 in this study was detected as 2,242.42 mg/kg. ALD in this study was detected as 1,000 mg/kg and the target organ was considered as the heart and kidney.