• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.665-671
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• 2005

Initiation and activation of sperm motility are prerequisite processes for the contact and fusion of male and female gametes at fertilization. The phenomena are under the regulation of cAMP and $Ca^{2+}$ in vertebrates and invertebrates. Mammalian sperm requires $Ca^{2+}$ and cAMP for the activation of sperm motility. Cell signaling for the initiation and activation of sperm motility in the ascidians and salmonid fishes has drawn much attention. In the ascidians, the sperm-activating and attracting factors from unfertilized egg require extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ for activating sperm motility and eliciting chemotactic behavior toward the egg. On the other hand, the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of protein is essential for the initiation of sperm motility in salmonid fishes. A decrease of the environmental $K^+$ concentration surrounding the spawned sperm causes $K^+$ efflux and $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the specific $K^+$ channel and dihydropyridine-sensitive L-/T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, respectively, thereby leading to the membrane hyperpolarization. The membrane hyperpolarization induces synthesis of cAMP, which triggers further cell signaling processes, such as cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation, to initiate sperm motility in salmonid fishes. This article reviews the studies on the physiological mechanisms of sperm motility and its cell signaling in aquatic species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is an essential event for egg activation and further development. $Ca^{2+}$ ion is originated from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-store via inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and/or $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This study was performed to investigate whether changes in $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) activity affect $Ca^{2+}$ influx during artificial egg activation with ethanol using $Ca^{2+}$ monitoring system and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Under $Ca^{2+}$ ion-omitted condition, $Ca^{2+}$-oscillation was stopped within 30 min post microinjection of porcine sperm factor, and ethanol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was reduced. To investigate the role of CaM KII known as an integrator of $Ca^{2+}$- oscillation during mammalian egg fertilization, CaM KII activity was tested with a specific inhibitor KN-93. In the eggs treated with KN-93, ethanol failed to induce egg activation. In addition, KN-93 inhibited inward $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$) in a time-dependent manner in whole-cell configuration. Immunostaining data showed that the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels were distributed along the plasma membrane of mouse egg and 2-cell embryo. From these results, we suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx during fertilization might be controlled by CaM KII activity.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2023

Objective: The conservation of Bali bulls, the Indonesian native breed of cattle, is crucial for cattle breeding in Indonesia. To guarantee the spread of Bali bulls through artificial insemination the quality of the frozen semen must be high. To this end, adding an extender material to semen that increases spermatozoa's survival during cryopreservation is important. Green tea extract (GTE) can be used as cryoprotectant because its high antioxidant activity can help avoid reactive oxygen species formation. Methods: Semen of five Bali bulls from the National Artificial Insemination Center at Singosari, Indonesia was collected routinely twice a week. First, fresh semen inspection was performed to determine the feasibility of using Bali bulls as animal samples. The extender used in this study was Tris-based egg yolk. The samples were divided into four treatments: T0, no GTE added to the extender; T1, 0.05 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; T2, 0.10 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; and T3, 0.15 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender. The semen freezing process was conducted according to standard procedures and sperm quality parameters, i.e., sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, and membrane integrity observed pre-freezing and post-thawing. Results: There were significant differences in total motility, progressive motility, viability, and integrity membrane of Bali bull sperm at both pre-freezing and post-thawing after adding GTE into the extender. In contrast, there were no differences in abnormalities among treatments. Conclusion: Adding GTE at a 0.15 mg into 100 mL Tris-based egg yolk extender can improve the quality of cryopreserved Bali bull sperm.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2005

The ultrastructures of the fertilized egg envelope from Hyphessobrycon serpae belonging to Characidae was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopes to get systematic fundamental data for classification of species and to confirm whether micropyle is a common trait of Characidae or not. The fertilized egg was of colorless, transparent, spherical, adhesive and demersal type. There were not oil droplets in vitelline membrane and attached structures in the outside of fertilize egg envelope. The egg envelope had a single micropyle resembling the pathway of sperm in the area of the animal pole. The micropyle was surrounded by 13 to 15 protruded lines of the egg envelope in a radiated form. The outer surface of fertilized egg envelope was covered by reticular adhesive fibrous structures and irregularly arranged by pore canals. The fertilized egg envelope consisted of three distinct layers an outer adhesive fibrous layer with high electron density, a middle layer with pore canals, and an inner layer consisting of 6 to 7 lamellae alternating layers with interlamellae of lower electron density. These ultrastructural characters of fertilized egg envelope form Hyphessobrycon serpae can be utilized in taxonomy of teleost, and as fundamental data for study on early development of fertilized egg. It seems that the morphology of micropyle is a common trait of Characidae

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2009

Chinese minnow, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus is a teleost belonging to Leuciscinae, Cyprinidae. The oogenesis and ultrastructure of egg envelope in Chinese minnow were investigated by light and electron microscopes. The ovary was of white yellowish and ellipsoidal shape with the major axis 30 mm and the minor axis 7mm. Cytoplasm of oogonia was basophilic and many nucleoli were located at inside of nuclear membrane. In primary oocytes, yolk vesicles were distributed only in the marginal area and egg envelope was not formed on the outside of an egg. In secondary oocytes, the egg envelope was formed and yolk vesicles in the cytoplasm were increased than the earlier stage. The basophilic substance of cytoplasm was changed to acidic. In case of matured egg, thickness of egg envelope and size of egg were increased. The yolk vesicles were changed to yolk mass in accordance with development. The outer surface of egg envelope was covered by microvilli-structures, and had a micropyle on the area of animal pole. Egg envelope consisted with 2 layers, an adhesive outer layer with microvilli-structures and fibrillar inner layer. In conclusion, the oogenesis of Chinese minnow was characterized by the increase in cell size, the formation and accumulation of yolk, and the decrease of basophilic substance in the cytoplasm. The oogenesis of Chinese minnow seems to share common patterns in Cyprinidae, but these ultrastructural unique characters of egg envelope can be utilized in taxonomy of teleost.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.397-406
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• 1998

Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) is very valuable as a natural preservative in food processing due to its selective bactericidal activity. HEWL which traditionally isolated by crystallization or freeze drying was simply separated from 13 different hen egg white (HEW) proteins by a single-step ultrafiltration. Freeze dried HEW (0.25%, w/v) dissolved in a citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 4.6) was ultrafiltered with a PM30 membrane under various operating conditions, by changing concentration, temperature, transmembrane pressure $({\triangle}P_T)$, and stirring speed. Optimum separation conditions were decided when maximal flux was obtained. Under the optimum separation conditions, the effect of membrane material and fouling on flux as time passed as well as lysozyme concentration, protein concentration, specific activity (SA) in the permeate were measured. Best separation conditions of HEWL with PM30 membrane were sample concentration 0.25%, temperature $35^{\circ}C$, ${\Delta}P_T\;30\;psi$, and stirring speed 300 rpm. During the first 12 min, the flux of YM30 was higher, but at the steady-state it was lower than that of PM30. The SA of the PM30 permeate was over 2 times higher in spite of the lysozyme and protein concentration being lower than that of YM30 permeate. The flux of 5 times used PM30 decreased 30% compared to a new PM30, but both had the same tendency in flux decrease when time passed. Both of them reached a steady-state after 35 min and remained at 70% of the initial flux. In the PM30 permeate, the lysozyme concentration and SA were 110 units/mL and 2,821 units/mg protein, respectively. Therefore, PM30 membrane separation was very effective for separation of antimicrobial lysozyme.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 1995

Through the histolosical observation of ovary in the nine species of the genus Cobitis, we found that specific adhesive membranes were attached to the outer zone radials during the vitellosenesis. These adhesive membranes could be classified into four forms as follows: 1) granular form of Colitis lutheri, C. striate, and C. sinensis, 2) villous form of C. longicorpus, C. konensis koreensis, C. k. pumilus, and C. granoei, 3) saw-like form of C. rotundicaudata, and 4) filamentous form of C. chou. The various forms of adhesive membrane of egg in the cobitid fishes are showed a species specificitv with reference to their habitats and spawning property.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 1987

Liposomes were studied as a drug delivery system. Multilamellar vesicles, small unilamellar vesicles and large unilamellar vesicles containing cytarabine were prepared using egg yolk lecithin and cholesterol. Large unilamellar vesicles showed the highest encapsulation efficiency of all and their encapsulation efficiency increased as the buffer volume decreased. Cholesterol increased the stability of liposomal drug products as drug carriers and reduced the permeability of drug across the liposomal membrane. The release rate of cytarabine increased with incubation temperature and decreased with cholesterol incorporation in liposomal membrane. The release mechanism of cytarabine from large unilamellar vesicles in vitro was chiefly due to simple diffusion across the liposomal membrane rather than liposomal rupture.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.143-145
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• 1998

식품공업 분야에서 특정 성분의 분리, 정제, 농축은 매우 중요한 단위공정으로써 추출(Extraction), 여과(Filtration), 증류(Distillation), 증발(Evaporation)등의 조작을 통하여 실시되고 있다. 최근 들어 화학공업, 기계공업, 식품공업의 지속적인 발전에 힘입어 단위조작을 효율적으로 실시할 수 있는 기술로써 국내의 산업화되고 있는 것이 분리막 기술이다. 현재 식품공업 분야에서 활용되고 있는 분리막공정의 종류는 정밀여과(Microfiltration), 한외여과(Ultrafiltration), 초정밀여과(Nanofiltration), 역삼투(Reverse Osmosis) 시스템으로 유제품, 조미료, 음료공업, 장유산업, 기능성 인자의 분리 등에 공업적으로 점차 그 도입 가능성이 증가하고 있다.