• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

In this study, using FIV-based lentivirus vector system, we tried to express hG-CSF in tetracycline-controllable manner. hG-CSF influences the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of cells in the neutrophil lineage. To enhance stability and translation of hG-CSF transcript, WPRE sequence was also introduced into FIV-Tet-On vector at downstream region of either the hG-CSF gene or the sequence encoding rtTA. Primary culture cells (CEF, chicken embryonic fibroblast; PFF, procine fetal fibroblast) infected with the recombinant FIV were cultured in the medium supplemented with or without doxycycline for 48 hours, and induction efficiency was measured by comparing the hG-CSF gene expression level using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and ELISA. Higher hG-CSF expression and tighter expression control were observed from the vector in which the WPRE sequence was placed at downstream of the hG-CSF (in CEF) or rtTA (in PEE) gene. This FIV-Tet-On vector system may be helpful in solving serious physiological disturbance problems which has continuously hampered successful production of transgenic animals and gene therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 1998

This study was carried out to examine whether the developmental capacity of bovine immature oocytes frozen ultra-rapidly using electron microscope (EM) grids and EFS30 can be obtained. As freezing solution, we used EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, 18% ficoll and 10% FBS added in D-PBS. As criterior of oocyte viability, the rates of maturation, fertilization and embryonic development were determined. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: When ultra-rapidly frozen immature oocytes were thawed, 43.2% of them were survived. The rates of maturation (84.1%) and normal 2 pronuclei formation (57.5%) of frozen immature oocytes were not significantly different when compared to those of control (92.5, 65.0%). In addition, the rates of $\geq2$-cell (65.0%) and blastocyst formation (30.8%) of freezing group were not significantly different when compared to those of control (73.7, 35.7%). These results demonstrate that developmental capacity of frozen-thawed bovine immature oocytes can be successfully obtained when survived from the ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 1994

Mammalian oviductal epithelial cells have been known to improve in vitro fertilization and embryonic development. Recently, co-cultured human embryos with the epithelial cells in human genital tract has been reported to improve the pregnancy rate. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the epithelial cells of human genital tract on the development of mouse early embryos and human fertilized oocytes. The epithelial cells of human genital tract were collected from the fallopian tubes which were obtained during hysterectomy in fertile women and from the endometrium during endometrium biopsy. Collected human ampullary cells(HACs) and endometrial cells(HECs) were cultured for 10 days to establish primary monolayer. Second passaged HACs and HECs were obtained by trypsinization were cryopreserved in PBS with 1.5 M DMSO for later use. To investigate the effect when co-cultured with HACs and HECs, we tried to apply strict quality control on mouse embryo, from two cell to blastocyst prior to human trial. The results of quality control were as follows; In Group I (Ham's F10 with 10% FCS), Group IT (co-cultured with HACs) and Group ill (co-cultured with HECs), developmental rates to blastocyst were 63.3%(253/400), 76.0%(304/ 400),74.0%(296/400), respectively. Hatching rates were 36.8%(147/400), 41.80/0(167/400), 38.0%(152/400), respectively(p<0.05). To perform the human IVF, cryopreserved HACs were thawed at 37$^{\circ}C$ waterbath, seeded on the well dish and cultured for 48 hI'S. The pronuclear stage embryos were transferred to the seeded well dish. After 24 hRS, co-cultured embryos were examined and transferred to patient's uterus. The results of human IVF when co-cultured with HACs were that fertilization and developmental rates were 61.8% (256/414), 95.3% (244/256) as compared with 57.2% (279/488) and 94.6%(264/279) in Ham's F10 supplemented with 10% FCS(control). However, 62.9% (161/256) of co-cultured human embryos showed good embryos(no or slight fragmentation) as compared with 53.8 % (150/279) in control(p < 0.05). Pregnancy rate was 40.0% (12/30) when co-cultured with HACs whereas 30.6%(11/36) in control. In conclusions, co-culture system using HACs and HECs improved the developmental and hatching rates of mouse embryo. Also, in human IVF system when co-cultured with HACs, it improved both the quality of human embryos and the pregnancy rate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1600-1607
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• 2012

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family plays essential roles in physiological processes such as embryonic development, angiogenesis, wound healing, and tissue homeostasis as a consequence of MMPr capacity for breaking down many types of extracellular matrix proteins. Imbalanced regulation of MMP expression can also lead to pathological conditions such as tumor progression. We recently reported that the Drosophila Mmp1 gene is highly expressed in the digestive tract and is required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis such as by restriction of uncontrolled intestinal stem cell proliferation. However, the regulatory mechanisms of MMP gene expression in the intestine remain unclear. In this study, we determined that the expression of Mmp1 is regulated by the homeodomain transcription factor Caudal. Experiments using the targeted expression of Caudal under the regulation of Gal4-UAS system indicated that endogenous Caudal is required for the Mmp1 gene expression in the adult Drosophila intestine and that exogenous Caudal induces Mmp1 expression. Transient transfection experiments indicated that Caudal can activate the promoter activity of Mmp1 and that several putative Caudal binding sites in the 5'-flanking region of the Mmp1 gene may be critical to the upregulation by Caudal. Our data suggest that Mmp1 is one of the target genes of Caudal in physiological normal condition and in tumorigenesis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2003

Sperrnatogenesis, the process by which the male germ-line stem cells(GSCs; type A spermatogonia) divide and differentiate to produce the mature spermatozoa, occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testis. The GSCs proliferate actively to produce two types of cells: other GSCs and differentiating spermatogonia. GSCs have unipotentcy, devoted solely to the generation of sperm. The function of GSCs has broad implications for development, disease, and evolution. Spermatogenesis is fundamental for propagation of species and the defects of this system can result in infertility or disease. The ability to identify, isolate, culture, and alter GSCs will allow powerful new approaches in animal transgenesis and human gene therapy relating to infertility. Until recently, research on stem cells in the testis has been limited because of technical difficulties in isolating and identifying these cell populations. Here, we were trying to find out optimal conditions for in vitro culture of GSCs for identifying and isolating GSCs. We collected mouse GSCs from 3-days old mouse by two-step enzyme digestion method. GSCs were plated and grown on mouse embryonic fibroblasts in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 15％ fatal bovine serum, 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 1％ non-essential amino acids, 1 ng/$m\ell$ bFGF, 10 $\mu$M forskolin, 1500 U/$m\ell$ human recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Over a period 3∼5 days, GSCs gave rise to large multicellular colonies resembling those of mouse pluripotent stem cells. After 5th passages, cells within the colonies continued to be alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4 positive and tested positive against a panel of two immunological markers(Integrin $\alpha$ 6 and Integrin $\beta$ 1) that have been recognized generally to characterize GSCs. SSEA-1, SSEA-3, and SSEA-4 also showed positive signals. Based on our data, these GSCs-derived cultures meet the criteria for GSCs itself and even other pluripotent stem cells. We reported here the establishment of in vitro cultures from mouse male GSCs.

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

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2021

Background: Abnormal chloride (Cl-) transport has a detrimental impact on mucociliary clearance in both cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis. Ginseng is a medicinal plant noted to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The present study aims to assess the capability of red ginseng aqueous extract (RGAE) to promote transepithelial Cl- secretion in nasal epithelium. Methods: Primary murine nasal septal epithelial (MNSE) [wild-type (WT) and transgenic CFTR-/-], fisher-rat-thyroid (FRT) cells expressing human WT CFTR, and TMEM16A-expressing human embryonic kidney cultures were utilized for the present experiments. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and airway surface liquid (ASL) depth measurements were performed using micro-optical coherence tomography (μOCT). Mechanisms underlying transepithelial Cl- transport were determined using pharmacologic manipulation in Ussing chambers and whole-cell patch clamp analysis. Results: RGAE (at 30㎍/mL of ginsenosides) significantly increased Cl- transport [measured as change in short-circuit current (ΔISC = ㎂/㎠)] when compared with control in WT and CFTR-/- MNSE (WT vs control = 49.8±2.6 vs 0.1+/-0.2, CFTR-/- = 33.5±1.5 vs 0.2±0.3, p < 0.0001). In FRT cells, the CFTR-mediated ΔISC attributed to RGAE was small (6.8 ± 2.5 vs control, 0.03 ± 0.01, p < 0.05). In patch clamp, TMEM16A-mediated currents were markedly improved with co-administration of RGAE and uridine 5-triphosphate (8406.3 +/- 807.7 pA) over uridine 5-triphosphate (3524.1 +/- 292.4 pA) or RGAE alone (465.2 +/- 90.7 pA) (p < 0.0001). ASL and CBF were significantly greater with RGAE (6.2+/-0.3 ㎛ vs control, 3.9+/-0.09 ㎛; 10.4+/-0.3 Hz vs control, 7.3 ± 0.2 Hz; p < 0.0001) in MNSE. Conclusion: RGAE augments ASL depth and CBF by stimulating Cl- secretion through CaCC, which suggests therapeutic potential in both CF and non-CF chronic rhinosinusitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.703-712
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• 2023

Angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is a multistep process regulated by modulators of angiogenesis. It is essential for various physiological processes, such as embryonic development, chronic inflammation, and wound repair. Dysregulation of angiogenesis causes many diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and delayed wound healing. However, the number of effective anti-angiogenic drugs is limited. Recent research has focused on identifying potential drug candidates from natural sources. For example, marine natural products have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and wound-healing effects. Thus, this study aimed to describe the angiogenesis inhibitory effect of Hizikia fusiforms (brown algae) extract. The hexane extract of H. fusiformis has shown inhibitory effects on in vitro angiogenesis assays, such as cell migration, invasion, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) inhibited in vivo angiogenesis in a mouse Matrigel gel plug assay. In addition, the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal kinase, and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 decreased following treatment with H. fusiformis extracts. Our results demonstrated that the hexane extract of H. fusiformis (HFH) inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2006

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the isolation methods of inner cell mass from mouse blastocyst, types of feeder cells and treatment time of mitomycin C on the formation rate of ICM colony. Methods: The inner cells were isolated by conventional immunosurgery, partial trophoblast dissection with syringe needles and whole blastocyst co-culture method. Commercially available STO and primary cultured mouse embryonic fibroblast (pMEF) feeder cells were used, and mitomycin C was treated for 1, 2 or 3 hours, respectively. The formation rate of ICM colony was observed after isolation of ICM and culture of ICM on the feeder cells for 7 days. Result: The ICM colony formation rate on STO were significantly higher in partial trophoblast dissection group (58%) than that in immunosurgery (12%) or whole blastocyst culture (16%) group (p<0.05). The formation rate on pMEF feeder layer was higher in partial trophoblast dissection (88%) and whole blastocyst culture (82%) group than that in immunosurgery (16%) group (p<0.05). When mitomycin C treated to pMEF for 2 hours, the formation rate of 88% was significantly higher than those of other conditions. Conclusion: Above results showed that the efficient isolation method of ICM from blastocyst was the partial trophoblast dissection and the appropriate treatment time of mitomycin C was 2 hours. However, the subculture of ICM colony and characterization of stem cells should be carried out to confirm the efficacy of the partial trophoblast dissection method.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the timing and dose of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) on oocyte recovery, in vitro fertilization, and preimplantation development in superovulation of mouse. F1 hybrid($C57BL{\times}CBA$) mice were obtained and superovulation was induced in female mice by sequential intraperitoneal injection of PMSG and hCG. In the first series of experiments, mice received 5 IU of PMSG given intraperitoneally, and 48 hours later were injected 1 IU, 5 IU, or 10 IU of hCG respectively. In the second series of experiments, mice received 5 IU of PMSG given intraperitoneally and were injected 5IU of hCG 36, 48, or 60 hours later respectively. 1. When the mice received 5 IU of PMSG given intraperitoneally and 48 hours later were injected 1 ItT, 5 IU, or 10 IU of hCG respectively, there were no differences in the total number of the oocytes obtained from the three experimental groups. When the cultures were examined 48 hrs after the termination of insemination the proportion of unfragmented oocytes which had developed over two-cell stage was observer to be lowest in 10 IU hCG group. When the cultrues were examined 120 hour after termination of insemination the proportion of embryos which had developed to the blastocyst stage was observed to be significantly higher in 10IU hCG group than 5IU hCG group(p<0.05), but there was no difference between 10 IU hCG group and 1IU hCG group. 2. When the mice received 5 IU of PMSG and were injected 5 IU of hCG 36, 48, or 60 hours later respectively, there were no differences in the total number of oocytes obtained from the three experimental groups. When cultures were examined 48 hour after the termination of insemination the proportion of unfragmented oocytes which had developed over two-cell stage was observed to be significantly lower in 36 hour interval group than 48 hour interval and 60 hour interval group(p<0.05). When the cultures were examined 120 hour after termination of insemination the proportion of embryos which had developed to the blastocyst stage was found to be higher in 60 hour interval group than 36 interval or 48 hour interval group (P<0.05), and the proportion of hatching blastocyst was found to be higher in 60 hour interval group as well. In this study, it was concluded that the administration of adequate dose of hCG, and long (60 hour) PMSG-hCG interval were necessary in superovulation of mice($C57BL{\times}CBA$) in order to get a large number of oocytes which had an early oocytes which had an early embryonic developmental capability when fertilized in vitro, and especially it had better have been avoided to administer a large dose of hCG.