• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.16-26
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• 2015

The female reproductive tract has two main functions: protection against microbial challenge and maintenance of pregnancy to term. The upper reproductive tract comprises the fallopian tubes and the uterus, including the endocervix, and the lower tract consists of the ectocervix and the vagina. Immune cells residing in the reproductive tract play contradictory roles: they maintain immunity against vaginal pathogens in the lower tract and establish immune tolerance for sperm and an embryo/fetus in the upper tract. The immune system is significantly influenced by sex steroid hormones, although leukocytes in the reproductive tract lack receptors for estrogen and progesterone. The leukocytes in the reproductive tract are distributed in either an aggregated or a dispersed form in the epithelial layer, lamina propria, and stroma. Even though immune cells are differentially distributed in each organ of the reproductive tract, the predominant immune cells are T cells, macrophages/dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and mast cells. B cells are rare in the female reproductive tract. NK cells in the endometrium significantly expand in the late secretory phase and further increase their number during early pregnancy. It is evident that NK cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are extremely important in decidual angiogenesis, trophoblast migration, and immune tolerance during pregnancy. Dysregulation of endometrial/decidual immune cells is strongly related to infertility, miscarriage, and other obstetric complications. Understanding the immune system of the female reproductive tract will significantly contribute to women's health and to success in pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제9권1_2호
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• pp.55-68
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• 1982

The present investigation has been undertaken to understand the mechanism of implantation process, by demonstrating the role of ovarian steroids in connection with phosphatase activity in the differentiation of uterine endometrium for implantation. The results obtained are as followings: The differentiation of the uterine endometrial tissue was closely influenced by the ovarian steroid hormones; at first, 17${\beta}$-estradiol initiated the differentiation of the uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells, and then progesterone induced differentiation of stromal cells, and thereby two steroids maintain decidualization of the uterine tissues. We observed that the phosphatase activities seem to be dependent upon the ovarian steroids; that is the activity showed higher level in progesterone treated group than in estradiol treated one, and the highest activity was found in the group treated with both estradiol and progesterone. Acid phosphatase showed the highest activity whereas alkaline phosphatase showed the lowest in the rat uterine endometrium during early pregnancy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.643-652
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• 2017

Objective: Prostaglandins (PGs) function in various reproductive processes, including luteolysis, maternal pregnancy recognition, conceptus development, and parturition. Our earlier study has shown that PG transporters ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C, member 4 (ABCC4) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 2A1 (SLCO2A1) are expressed in the uterine endometrium in pigs. Since several other PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 are known to be present in the uterine endometrium, this study investigated the expression of these PG transporters in the porcine uterine endometrium and placenta. Methods: Uterine endometrial tissues were obtained from gilts on day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and days 12, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 114 of pregnancy. Results: ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs were expressed in the uterine endometrium, and levels of expression changed during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Expression of ABCC1 and ABCC9 mRNAs was localized mainly to luminal and glandular epithelial cells in the uterine endometrium, and chorionic epithelial cells during pregnancy. Conceptuses during early pregnancy and chorioallantoic tissues from mid to late pregnancy also expressed these PG transporters. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ increased the expression of ABCC1 and SLCO5A1, but not ABCC9 and SLCO4C1 mRNAs and increasing doses of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ induced the expression of ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs in endometrial explant tissues. Conclusion: These data showed that several PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 were expressed at the maternal-conceptus interface, suggesting that these PG transporters may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating PG transport in the uterine endometrium and placenta in pigs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2000

연구배경: 본 연구는 마우스의 자궁에 있어 착상시 일어나는 자궁내막의 변화를 미세구조적 측면에서 관찰하고, 이러한 기초 자료를 바탕으로 마우스 자궁내막세포를 이용한 3차원적 체외 배양시스템을 확립하는데 있다. 실험동물은 임신이 유도된 $6{\sim}8$ 주령의 ICR을 이용하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 생검 조직은 hCG 접종 후 D1과 D5에 자궁 전체를 적출하여 획득하였다. 채취된 조직은 2.5% glutaradehyde와 1% osmium tetroxide를 이용하여 고정시킨 후, 탈수, 포매 및 절편 과정을 거쳐 염색시키고, 광학현미경, 투과전자현미경을 이용하여 관찰하였으며, 주사전자현미경을 이용한 관찰을 위한 표본은 고정된 조직을 탈수, 건조 및 코팅 과정을 거쳐 획득하였다. 결과: 1) 광학현미경상에서, 후기 분비기인 D5의 생검 조직은 초기 분비기인 D1의 조직에 비해 결합조직의 증가에 따른 기질층의 확장이 두드러졌으며, 이와 함께 자궁내막선과 혈관이 크게 발달되어 있었다. 2) 투과전자현미경상에서, 마우스 자궁내막의 미세구조는 단충원주형의 표면상피세포층, 기저층 및 기질층의 3층을 이루고 있었다. 또한, D5에서는 미세융모, 소포체, 골지체, 지질, 글리코겐 및 분비 과립 그리고 기저층의 표면적이 크게 확장되어 있었다. 3) 주사전자현미경상에서, 분비기가 진행될수록 마우스 표면상피세포의 주름의 정도와 미세융모의 분포가 크게 증가함을 알 수 있었으며, 특히 마우스의 착상시기인 D5에서는 자궁 수용성의 표지자인 자궁돌기의 출현이 두드러졌다. 마우스의 자궁돌기는 자궁내벽을 따라 불규칙적으로 좁은 지역에 분포하고 있었으며, 동일표본 내에서도 서로 다른 발달 단계를 보여주고 있었다. 결론: 마우스 자궁내막의 형태학적 변화에 관한 이러한 관찰 결과는 마우스의 자궁내막이 발정주기 중 특히 착상직전의 시기에 커다란 형태학적 변화를 경험함을 보여주었다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.379-391
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• 2018

Through the development of organic synthetic skill, chemicals that mimic signaling mediators such as steroid hormones have been exposed to the environment. Recently, it has become apparent that this circumstance should be further studied in the field of physiology. Estrogenic action of chronic low-dose nonylphenol (NP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in mouse uterus was assessed in this study. Ten to twelve-week-old female mice (CD-1) were fed drinking water containing NP (50 or $500{\mu}g/L$) or DEHP (133 or $1,330{\mu}g/L$) for 10 weeks. Uterine diameter, the thickness of myometrium and endometrium, and the height of luminal epithelial cells were measured and the number of glands were counted. The expression levels of the known $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$)-regulated genes were evaluated with real-time RT-PCR methodology. The ration of uterine weight to body weight increased in $133{\mu}g/L$ DEHP. Endometrial and myometrial thickness increased in 133 and $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP treated groups, and in 50, $500{\mu}g/L$ NP and $133{\mu}g/L$ DEHP, respectively. The height of luminal epithelial cell decreased in NP groups. The numbers of luminal epithelial gland were decreased in NP groups but increased in $50{\mu}g/L$ DEHP group. The histological characters of glands were not different between groups. The mRNA expression profiles of the known $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) downstream genes, Esr1, Esr2, Pgr, Lox, and Muc1, were also different between NP and DEHP groups. The expression levels dramatically increased in some genes by the NP or DEHP. Based on these results, it is suggested that the chronic low-dose NP or DEHP works as estrogen-like messengers in uterus with their own specific gene expression-regulation patterns.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권16호
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• pp.6639-6641
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the clinical significance of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in PAP test in post-menopausal women and compare with reproductive age women. Materials and Methods: A total of 367 patients who referred to our gynecologic oncology clinic were included to the study between September 2012 and August 2013. Data for 164 post-menopausal (group 1) and 203 pre-menopausal (group 2) women with ASCUS cytology were evaluated retrospectively. Immediate colposcopy and endocervical curettage was performed for both groups and conization for all women with a result suggestive of CIN2-3. Histopathological results and demographic features of patients were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean age of the patients was $54.6{\pm}6.5$ years in group 1 and $38{\pm}6.6$ years in group 2. Some 14 (8.5%) of post-menopausal women and 36 (17.7%) of pre-menopausal women were current smokers (p=011). Totals of 38 (23.2%) post-menopausal and 64 (31.5%) pre-menopausal women were assessed for HPV-DNA. High risk HPV was detected in 7 (4.3%) and 21 (10.3%), respectively (p=0.029). Final histopathological results recorded were normal cervix, low grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), and high grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3). In group 1 results were 84.8%, 12.2% and 1.8%, respectively, and in group 2 were 71.9%, 23.2% and 4.9%. There were no cases of micro invasive or invasive cervical carcinoma in either group. Two cases were detected as endometrial carcinoma in the menopausal group (1.2%). Conclusions: In current study we found that preinvasive lesions were statistically significantly higher in pre-menopausal women than post-menopausal women with ASCUS. Cervicitis was more common in menopausal women. Therefore, we think that in case of ASCUS in a post-menopausal woman there is no need for radical management.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.919-928
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• 2011

The pig exhibits true epitheliochorial placentation, where the fetal membrane maintains attachment throughout pregnancy but does not invade into the maternal uterine endometrium. Accordingly, the expression and function of cell adhesion molecules are very important for embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. In our recent microarray analysis, we found that activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) was expressed in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy in pigs. To better understand the roles of ALCAM in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, we examined ALCAM expression in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that ALCAM was differentially expressed in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, with the highest levels on D12 of pregnancy. ALCAM mRNA was localized to the luminal and glandular epithelial cells and to the trophectoderm of conceptuses during early pregnancy. The steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone had no effect on ALCAM expression in an endometrial explant culture study. Further, we found that ALCAM expression in the uterine endometrium from gilts with somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived embryos was not different from that in gilts with embryos from natural mating. ALCAM was expressed in a pregnancy stage- and cell type-specific manner in the uterine endometrium and conceptuses during pregnancy. These findings suggest that ALCAM may play a role in the establishment of pregnancy. Further analysis of ALCAM will provide insight into the implantation process and establishment of pregnancy in pigs.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.141-150
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• 1994

전자현미경에 의해 자궁부착 전후의 돼지 수정란의 형태형성 및 분화에 따른 배발생 과정을 검토하였다. 돼지 초기배는 자궁이주후 균일하게 자궁에 배분되기전 약 2~3일간은 자궁각의 proximal portion에 존재하며, 임신 4일째에 할구와 할구의 경계를 상실하는 tight한 gap junction을 가진 상실배로 발달한다. 배반포를 형성하는 시기에 estradiol 17$\beta$는 compact한 상실배를 cavitated blastocyst로 발달을 촉진시키면서, steroid hormone이 이후의 배발생을 지배한다. Hatching의 시기는 교배후 6~7일경 zona pellucida을 둘러사고 있는 glycoprotein의 thinning과 lysis에 의해 이루워지는데, hatching 과정은 embryo의 세포수와 무관하였으며, 이때의 embryo의 직경은 0.5~1.0mm인 것을 본 실험에서 확인하였다. 12일경부터는 embryo는 prostaglandins, IGF-binding protein, retinol binding protein, plasminogen activator등의 단백질이 풍부해 이들 인자가 elongation 개시 후보로 고려될 수 있었다. 또한 이 시기의 embryo는 embryonic disc로 발달시 progesterone과 estrogen을 estradiol 17$\beta$로 전활할 수 있으며, 이러한 변화와 함께 spherical stage로부터 tubular 혹은 filamentous form으로 변형되었다. Estrogen이 임신을 통해 prostagladins의 분비를 uterine lumen에 지시하는지는 알 수 없으나 13일 경을 전후해 conceptus estrogen이 uterine arterial blood flow, uterine vasular permeability을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났으며, 자궁에서 protein과 calcium, PGF2$\alpha$, plasminogen inhibitor를 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이 시기의 자궁 변화와 함께 embryo의 attachment는 trophoblast와 uterine membrane사이의 느슨한 결합에 의해 개시되었으며, 18일경 uterine과 trophoblastic microvili의 interdigitation에 의해 완성된다. 이 시기에 conceptus attachment를 위해 필요한 uterine microvili에서의 glycocalyx의 형성과 endometrial epithelium의 erosion을 야기하기 위해 plasminogen activator을 분비하였으며, 반면 자궁에서 plasminogen 역할을 하는 것은 estrogen이며, blastocyst cell 표면의 lectin binding이 attachment에 중요한 역할을 한다. 이상과 같은 일련의 과정을 거친 초기배는 성공적인 임신으로 유도된다고 본다. 따라서, 본 연구는 이상과 같이 착상을 전후한 시기의 배를 전자현미경에 의해 형태형성의 변화를 특히 착상을 전후해 배 취사율이 높은 시기를 대상으로 분석하였다. 이 분석 시기중 성공적인 착상성공율은 56%(71/126)였다.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.101-119
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) therapy on the experimentally-induced endometriosis in the rats. Materials and Methods: Endometriosis was induced in rats by autotransplanting uterine tissue to the peritoneum and divided them into three groups: (1) sham-operated group (n=8), (2) surgically induced endometriosis and untreated control group (n=8), (3) surgically induced endometriosis and HPP treated group. Sham-operated group and control group were inject with normal saline once a every other day for 30days, while treated group was injected with HPP extract once a every other day for same duration. Injected point of HPP and normal saline were subcutaneous tissue at Gwanwon (CV4) acupoint. Then we measured the body weight, the volume of endometriotic implants, the weigh of uterus and ovaries, and investigated the concentration of cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-${\alpha}$) in peritoneal fluids. Histopathology, immunohistochemisty for COX-2 and VEGF, and histochemistry for mast cell in transplanted uterine tissue were performed. Results: The volume ($mm^2$) of endometriotic implants in HPP treated group ($55.4{\pm}41.6$) was significantly decreased (p<0.01) compared with control group ($140{\pm}66.1$). And the concentration (pg/ml) of MCP-1 in peritoneal fluids in HPP treated group ($1117.6{\pm}60.5$) was significantly decreased (p<0.01) compared with control group ($1446.2{\pm}280.3$). The concentration (pg/ml) of TNF-${\alpha}$ in peritoneal fluids in HPP treated group ($80.6{\pm}31.4$) was decreased (p<0.01) compared with control group ($145.3{\pm}86.9$). Histopathologically, proliferation of endometriotic epithelia, infiltration of inflammatory cell and angiogenesis in transplanted uterine tissue of HPP treated group were weakly observed than those of control group. The COX-2 expression in endometrial, epithelial and stromal cells in transplanted uterine tissue of HPP treated group was decreased compared with control group. The VEGF expression of endometriotic epithelia, neovascular endothelia and stromal cell in transplanted uterine tissue of HPP treated group were weakly observed than those of control goup. Conclusions: HPP is effect on Endometriosis of rats by Experimentally-induced.