• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.177-181
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the effects of hCG treatment on pregnancy and delivery rates in the Hanwoo recipients. There were significantly higher pregnancy and delivery rates in the recipients treated with hCG at 7 days after artificial insemination (p<0.05), respectively. The SCNT embryos from bovine fetal fibroblast cells were transferred into the synchronized recipients. The recipients were administered saline (n=89) or hCG (1,500 IU) (n=48) at 7 days after heat, respectively. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the recipients treated with hCG compared to that of saline treated group (p<0.01), however, the delivery rate was not different in both treated groups. The concentration of plasma progesterone (P4) was not different in both groups before hCG treatment, but the P4 level was increased significantly in hCG treated group after hCG injection (p<0.05). Although the pregnancy rate was very high in early stage of pregnancy, it was decreased dramatically after 50 days of pregnancy and maintained basal level. Taken together, the treatment of hCG in the SCNT recipients after day 7 of heat was effective method to increase the P4 concentration and to increase the pregnancy rate. But it did not affect directly to delivery.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.188-201
• /
• 1996

One of the initial events required for periodontal regeneration is the attachment, spreading and proliferation of fibroblasts at the healing sites. These have been reported that minocycline stimulates the attachment of gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells and $TGF-{\beta}1$ enhances the proliferation of periodontal ligament cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and confirm the effect of minocycline and $TGF-{\beta}1$ on human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells. That gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells used in this study were obtained from the explants of healthy periodontal ligaments and gingival tissues of extracted 3rd molars or premolar teeth extracted from the patients with orthodontic treatment. The cells were cultured in ${\alpha}-MEM$(minimal essential medium) supplemented with antibiotics and FBS(fetal bovine serum) at $37^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% carbon dioxide-95% air. Cells were used between the 5th to 8th passage in this study. The attachment and activity of both cells were evaluated by MTT assay. The results were as follows: 1. Maximum gingival fibroblast attachment was seen at a $50{\mu}g/ml$ dose of minocycline, while maximum periodontal ligament cell attachment was seen at a $100{\mu}g/ml$, and exposure of both cells to minocycline above maximal attachment dose results in a decline from maximum attachment. 2. The activity values of both cells tested minocycline were below to the control activity values at all concentrations. 3. The attachment values of both cells tested $TGF-{\beta}1$ were below or similar to control attachment values. On the above the findings, minocycline stimulated the cell attachment of gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells and $TGF-{\beta}1$ enhances the cell activity of periodontal ligament cells.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.508-517
• /
• 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.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.623-634
• /
• 2005

Human periodontal ligament fibroblast(hPDLF) is very important to cure periodontal tissue because it can be diverged into various cells. This study examined the expression of MMP-1, TIMP-1, periodontal ligament specific PDLs22, Type I collagen, Fibronectin, TIMP-2, telomerase mRNA in a replicative senescence of hPDLF. The periodontal ligament tissue was obtained from periodontally healthy and non-carious human teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons at the Chosun University Hospital of Dentistry with the donors' informed consent. The hPDLF cells were cultured in a medium containing Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium(DMEM, Gibco BRL, USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS, Gibco BRL, USA) at 37C in humidified air with 5% $CO_2$. For the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis, the total RNA of the 2, 4, 8, 16, 18, and 21 passage cells was extracted using a Trizol Reagent(Invitrogen, USA) in replicative hPDL cells. Two passage cells, i.e. young cells, served as the control, and ${\beta}-actin$ served as the internal control for RT-PCR The results of this study about cell morphology and gene expression according to aging of hPDLF using RT-PCR method are as follows: 1. The size of hPDLF was increased with aging and it was showed that the hPDLF was dying in the final passage. 2. PDLs22 mRNA was expressed in young hPDLF of the two, four, and six passage. 3. TIMP-1 mRNA was expressed in young hPDLF of the two and four passage. 4. There was a tendency that MMP-1 mRNA was weakly expressed over eighteen. 5. Type 1 collagen mRNA was expressed in almost all passages, but it was not expressed in the final passage. 6. Fibronectin mRNA was observed in all passages and it was weakly expressed in the final passage. 7. TIMP-2 and telomerase mRNA were not expressed in this study. Based on above results, it was observed that PDLs22, Type 1 collagen, Fibronectin, MMP-1. and TIMP-1 mRNA in hPDLF were expressed differently with aging. The study using the hPDLF that is collected from healthy patients and periodontitis patients needs in further study.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.295-299
• /
• 2007

The detrimental effects of gene transfection on embryo development and the molecular mechanism behind the differential expression of genes related to early embryo development were assessed in the production of transgenic cow embryos through somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT). Parthenogenetic, IVF, and transgenic NT embryos derived from ${\alpha}_1$-antitrypsin transfected ear fibroblast cells was produced. To investigate the molecular mechanism behind lower developmental competence of transgenic NT embryos, the differential mRNA expression of three genes ($IFN-{\tau}$, Oct4, Fgf4) in the 3 types of embryo (Parthenogenetic, IVF, transgenic NT) was examined. RNA was extracted from ten blastocysts derived from 3 types of embryos and reverse-transcripted for synthesis of the first cDNA. The quantification of 3 gene transcripts ($IFN-{\tau}$, Oct4, and Fgf4) was carried out in three replicate by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Expression level of $IFN-{\tau}$ mRNA was significantly higher in transgenic NT embryos than parthenogenetic and IVF embryos (P<0.05). However, expression level of Oct4 and Fgf4 of transgenic NT embryos was significantly lower than IVF embryos (P<0.05). Altered levels of these three mRNA transcripts may explain some of the embryonic/fetal/neonatal abnormalities observed in offspring from transgenic NT embryos.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 2007

Human umbilical cord blood(HUCB) contains a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cell precursors. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) in HUCB are multipotent stem cells, differ from hematopoietic stem cells and can be differentiated into neural cells. We studied on transdifferentiation-promoting conditions in neural cells and cholinergic neuron induction of HUCB-derived MSCs. Neural differentiation was induced by addingdimethyl sulphoxide(DMSO) and butylated hydroxyanisole(BHA) in Dulbeco's Modified Essential Medium(DMEM) and fetal bovine serum(FBS). Differentiation of MSCs to cholinergic neurons was induced by combined treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), retinoic acid(RA) and sonic hedgehog(Shh). MSCs treated with DMSO and BHA rapidly assumed the morphology of multipolar neurons. Both immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of a number of neural markers including $\beta$-tubulin III, GFAP and MBP, was markedly elevated during this acute differentiation. The differentiation rate was about $32.3{\pm}2.9%$ for $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cells, $11.0{\pm}0.9%$ for GFAP, and $9.4{\pm}1.0%$ for Gal-C. HUCB-MSCs treated combinatorially with bFGF, RA and Shh were differentiated into cholinergic neurons. After cholinergic neuronal differentiation, the $\beta$-tubulin III-positive cell population of total cells was $31.3{\pm}3.2%$ and of differentiated neuronal population, $70.0{\pm}7.8%$ was ChAT-positive showing 3 folds higher in cholinergic population than neural induction. Conclusively, HUCB-derived MSCs can be differentiated into neural and cholinergic neurons and these findings suggest that HUCB are alternative cell source of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.343-353
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This aim of this study was to effectively isolate mesenchymal stem cells (hSMSCs) from human submandibular skin tissues (termed hSMSCs) and evaluate their characteristics. These hSMSCs were then chemically induced to the neuronal lineage and analyzed for their neurogenic characteristics in vitro. Materials and Methods: Submandibular skin tissues were harvested from four adult patients and cultured in stem cell media. Isolated hSMSCs were evaluated for their multipotency and other stem cell characteristics. These cells were differentiated into neuronal cells with a chemical induction protocol. During the neuronal induction of hSMSCs, morphological changes and the expression of neuron-specific proteins (by fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) were evaluated. Results: The hSMSCs showed plate-adherence, fibroblast-like growth, expression of the stem-cell transcription factors Oct 4 and Nanog, and positive staining for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) marker proteins (CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, and vimentin) and a neural precursor marker (nestin). Moreover, the hSMSCs in this study were successfully differentiated into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Neuron-like cell morphology and various neural markers were highly visible six hours after the neuronal induction of hSMSCs, but their neuron-like characteristics disappeared over time (24-48 hrs). Interestingly, when the chemical induction medium was changed to Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), the differentiated cells returned to their hSMSC morphology, and their cell number increased. These results indicate that chemically induced neuron-like cells should not be considered true nerve cells. Conclusion: Isolated hSMSCs have MSC characteristics and express a neural precursor marker, suggesting that human skin is a source of stem cells. However, the in vitro chemical neuronal induction of hSMSC does not produce long-lasting nerve cells and more studies are required before their use in nerve-tissue transplants.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.821-838
• /
• 1999

On the basis of the evidences that electrical stimulation could enhance proliferation and differentiation of bone cells and promote healing and regeneration of bone, this study was performed to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts in vitro, which also have important roles in regeneration of periodontium, and to evaluate the potential of clinical application of electrical stimulation. Human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts were primarily cultured from the root surface of extracted premolar and the adjacent gingiva without periodontal diseases. In control group, the cells ($5{\times}10^4$ cells/ml)were incubated only in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium contained with 10% fetal bovine serum. In test groups, electrical stimulation was given at the current intensity of $0.25{\mu]A$(test group 1), $1.0{\mu}A$(test group 2), and $2.5{\mu}A$(test group 3) for 12 hours to the same culture media with the control group. After 12 hour exposure of electrical stimulation, the cells were incubated for 2 and a half days(60 hours), and then each group of cells was analyzed for cell proliferation, protein level, and activity of alkaline phosphatase. The results were as follows ; 1. The Rate of cell proliferation of every test group increased significantly in both periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts, and in periodontal ligament cells, test group 3 showed significantly increased proliferation compared to the other test groups(p<0.05). 2. In the protein levels, neither periodontal ligament cell nor gingival fibroblast showed statistically significant differences between control and test groups. 3. The activity of alkaline phosphatase in periodontal ligament cells increased significantly in all test groups(p<0.05), but there were no significant differences between 3 test groups. In gingival fibroblasts, the activity of alkaline phosphatase increased significantly only in test group 3(p<0.05). From the above results, it is concluded that electrical stimulation may have beneficial effects on the regeneration of destructed periodontal tissue in regard of the stimulation of periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts as well as electrically stimulated bone formation that has been known, and that electrical stimulation may have the potential of clinical application.