• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

연구목적: 난포가 폐쇄되는 동안의 생화학적 변화를 규명하기 위하여 미성숙 돼지의 정상 및 폐쇄 난포 내 lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 활성도 변화 및 동일 난포액 내 스테로이드호르몬의 농도변화를 알아보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 재료 및 방법: 난포액 (FF), 과립세포 (GC), 협막세포 (TC) 내 LDH의 활성도를 측정하였으며, 난포액 내 progesterone ($P_4$), testosterone (T), estradiol ($E_2$)의 농도변화를 방사면역측정법으로 정량하였다. 결　과: 정상 및 폐쇄 난포에서 $P_4$의 농도변화를 보이지 않았다. 그러나 폐쇄 난포액 내 T의 농도($3.85{\pm}1.50ng/ml$)는 정상 난포 ($1.29{\pm}0.54ng/ml$)에 비해 현저히 높았으며 정상 난포 내 $E_2$의 농도 ($43.29{\pm}19.51ng/ml$) 는 폐쇄 난포 ($18.82{\pm}7.27ng/ml$)에 비해 현저히 높은 것으로 나타났다. 정상 난포액 내 $P_4$의 농도는 난포의 크기에 정의 상관관계 (r=0.75)를 보였다. 정상 난포 내 T:$P_4$의 비율 ($8.14{\pm}3.35$)은 폐쇄 난포 ($1.39{\pm}0.60$)에 비해 현저히 높았으며, 정상 TC ($433.63{\pm}102.40{\mu}U/{\mu}g$ DNA) 및 FF ($246.86{\pm}58.96{\mu}U/{\mu}l$) 내 LDH 활성도는 폐쇄 난포 (각각 $83.7{\pm}10.5$와 $38.71{\pm}9.00$)에 비해 현저히 높게 나타났다. 정상 난포의 GC 및 FF 내 LDH 활성도는 $E_2$의 농도와 부의 상관관계를 보였지만, 폐쇄 난포의 TC 내 LDH 활성도는 $P_4$, T, $E_2$의 농도에 대해 정의 상관관계를 나타내었다. 결　론: 본 실험의 결과, 미성숙 돼지 난포의 폐쇄는 TC 내 LDH 활성도 감소와 밀접한 관계를 갖는 것으로 사료된다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2022

In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropins (rec-GTHs) on maturation induction in immature ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroid hormones in vivo in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. To study the in vitro effects of rec-GTHs on estradiol-17β (E2) production in immature ovarian tissues, ovarian tissues were incubated with different doses of rec-follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) or rec-luteinizing hormone (rec-LH). The results revealed that the E2 levels in the rec-FSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1 ㎍/mL)- and rec-LH (0.1 or 0.5 ㎍/mL)-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the female eels from the control group. Furthermore, to investigate the in vivo effects of rec-GTHs on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma sex steroid hormone levels, the eels were injected intraperitoneally with eel's ringer (control), salmon pituitary extract (SPE; for female eels), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; for male eels), rec-FSH, rec-LH, and rec-FSH + rec-LH once a week. The results revealed that except for the SPE and the hCG groups, none of the groups exhibited a significant difference in GSI values. However, in vivo plasma E2 levels increased at the end of 4 weeks after rec-FSH treatment in female eels. Based on these results, it is suggested that rec-GTHs may have a positive effect on sexual maturation in female eels; however, further studies on complementary rec-protein production systems and additional glycosylation of rec-hormones are needed to elucidate hormone bioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1987

35 patients of normal reproductive age group (22-37 yrs) were selected for ovulation induction using $Clomid^{(R)}$ and HMG. Correlation between canalization of cervical mucus and estradiol level in plasma. morphological ovarian follicular change by ultrasonogram, Ferning and Spinnbarkeit were studied in the induced ovulatory menstrual cycles. By retrospective analysis, the results were following; 1. Canalization appeared on the eighth day of the menstrual cycle in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group, and seventh day of HMG group. And the number of the channels increased gradually until the ovulation time. 2. The mean number of channels increased from 12${\pm}$12 in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group, 19${\pm}$14 in HMG group (Day-6) to a maximum of 46${\pm}$22 in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group (Day-1). 3. The maximum plasma estradiol(E2) level was 812${\pm}$722pg/ml in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group (Day-1), 1792${\pm}$504 pg/ml in HMG group (Day-1), and there was a good statistical correlation between the number of channels and the plasma E2 level. 4. The maximal follicular diameter was 19.4${\pm}$6.7 mm in $Clomid^{(R)}$ Group (Day-1) 19.3${\pm}$4.6mm in HMG group (Day-1) and after than decreased. There was a good statistical correlation between the number of channels and the follicular diameter. 5. When grade of ferning was I, the number of channels were 19.4${\pm}$6.7 in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group, 38${\pm}$26 in HMG group. When grade of ferning was III, the number of channels were 54${\pm}$30 in $Clomid^{(R)}$ group, 71${\pm}$36 in HMG group. 6. The maximum score of Spinnbarkeit was 2.6${\pm}$0.5 in Clomid group (Day-0), 2.6${\pm}$0.5 in HMG group (Day-2). In conclusion, the phenomenon of cervical mucus canalization showed the value of the clinical use as an ovulatin marker.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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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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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.495-499
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• 2014

Estrogens are considered the major breast cancer risk factor, and the carcinogenic potential of estrogens might be attributed to DNA modification caused by derivatives formed during metabolism. $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$), the main steroidal estrogen present in women, is metabolized via two major pathways: formation of 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH $E_2$) and 4-hydroxyestradiol ($4-OH\;E_2$) through the action of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1, respectively. Previous reports suggested that $2-OH\;E_2$ has putative protective effects, while $4-OH\;E_2$ is genotoxic and has potent carcinogenic activity. Thus, the ratio of $2-OH\;E_2/4-OH\;E_2$ is a critical determinant of the toxicity of $E_2$ in mammary cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of berberine on the expression profile of the estrogen metabolizing enzymes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Berberine treatment produced significant induction of both forms at the level of mRNA expression, but with increased doses produced 16~ to 52~fold greater induction of CYP1A1 mRNA over CYP1B1 mRNA. Furthermore, berberine dramatically increased CYP1A1 protein levels but did not influence CYP1B1 protein levels in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, we present the first report to show that berberine may provide protection against breast cancer by altering the ratio of CYP1A1/CYP1B1, could redirect $E_2$ metabolism in a more protective pathway in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1987

It has been well known that estrogens stimulate the uterine contractility and progestins inhibit it. Then, one may expect that the uterine contractility and sensitivities to oxytocin (OT) and prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}\;(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ would be different among the estrus cycle. These hypotheses were tested using the mature female rat. Spontaneous isometric contractions of isolated uterine strips $(1{\times}0.3\;cm)$ from cyclic rats in various stages of the estrus cycle, bilateral ovarectomized rats and hypophysectomized rats were recorded in absence or presence with $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$, progesterone $(P_4)$, OT and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. The results were summarized as follows: 1) The spontaneous uterine contractile force was the highest in the estrus rat and the lowest in the ovarectomized or the hypophysectomized rat. In the proestrus rat, the contractile frequency was the lowest (2.7 beats/10 min) and the contractile duration was the longest (70 sec). In the other groups, there were no any differencies in frequency (9 beats/10 min) and in duration (30 sec). 2) OT and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ stimulated the uterine contractility in all groups tested except in the hypophysectomized rat in which OT failed to stimulate the uterine contraction. $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was more effective in stimulating the uterine contraction than OT in all groups tested except in the estrus rat. OT-induced contraction was the highest in the estrus rat and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}-induced$ contraction was the lowest in the hypophysectomized rat. 3) Uterine contractilities were not changed by the in vitro treatments of $E_2$ or $P_4$ under the influence of endogenous steroids, however, $E_2$ and $P_4$ stimulated the uterine contraction in the ovarectomized rat in which endogenous steroids were almost abolished. 4) Increased uterine contraction by the treatment of OT was suppressed by in vitro $E_2$ or $P_4$ in the estrus rat, while it was potentiated by the $P_4$ in the proestrus rat. In other groups, exogenous $E_2$ or $P_4$ did not affect the OT-induced uterine contraction. 5) $PGF_{2{\alpha}}-induced$ uterine contraction was suppressed in the ovarectomized rat by $E_2$ and $P_4$, in the diestrus and proestrus rats by $P_4$ and in the hypophysectomized rat by $E_2$. In other groups, exogenous $E_2$ or $P_4$ was ineffective in altering the $PGF_{2{\alpha}}-induced$ uterine contraction. According to the above results, it may conclude that the mechanisms of the different uterine contractility and the different uterine sensitivity to OT or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ according to the estrus cycle are not explicable with only the serum concentrations of steroids, OT and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ but also other unknown factors.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.391-397
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• 2006

This study correlated changes in estradiol-l7$\beta$ ($E_2$), testosterone (T), 17$\alpha$,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), and vitellogenin (VTG) levels with changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ovarian histology during the annual reproductive cycle of the wild marbled sole, Limanda yokohamae. Synchronous oocyte development occurs in this fish. Ovary maturity was classified into four periods, based on histological observations: the spawning (December to February), post-spawning (February to April), recovery (May to August), and vitellogenic (September to November) periods. Seasonal changes in the GSI were inversely correlated with water temperatures and reflected the degree of ovarian maturity. Plasma VTG levels were correlated with changes in the GSI, which increased from September to a peak in January, and levels remained comparatively high until February. Estradiol-17$\beta$ was at baseline levels (<0.11 ng/mL) during the spring and summer, and peaked rapidly (1.55$\pm$0.445 ng/mL) from October to January. Plasma T and DHP levels had a similar profile; they rose markedly during the spawning period and remained low (or were not detectable) from spring through autumn. These data indicate that changes in plsama steroid hormones and VTG levels are correlated with the annual ovarian activity of the marbled sole. Based on these results and published reports, it appears that in this species DHP is the most important maturation-inducing steroid and that T is also related to final maturation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.212-218
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• 2000

Osteoporosis is a bone disease associated with reduced bone mineral density resulting in debilitating bone fractures. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of ovariectomy(OVX) on serum level of sex steroid and bone metabolism, as well as bone mechanical property, in OVX subjects in comparison with controls. Body weight and food intake was significantly increased in OVX subjects than in controls. The serum level of estradiol(E2) was significantly lower in OVX subjects than in controls. The serum level of calcium and alkalin phosphatae were significantly increased in OVX subjects than in controls. The bone strength, based on the three point bending test, was not significantly different. Seven weeks after ovariectomy, the cavities in the bone reached 223% of the normal. In conclusion, seven weeks after ovariectomy osteoporo sis was evidently appeared.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 2005

The effects of chlorination on the elimination of three estrogenic chemicals such as $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2), nonylphenol (NP) and bis-phenol A (BPA) were investigated using yeast two-hybrid assay (YTA), estrogen receptor competition assay (ER-CA), and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer (LC/MS). Results of YTA, ECA and the analysis of LC/MS indicated that the estrogenic activity of above mentioned three endocrine disruptors were significantly reduced as the result of chlorination. The decrease in estrogenic activity paralleled with decrease in estrogenic chemicals under the influence of free chlorine. One common characteristic of estrogenic chemicals is the presence of a phenolic ring. Considering that a phenolic ring is likely to undergo some sort of transformation in aqueous chlorination solution, the above mentioned results may be applied to the rest of the other estrogenic chemicals in natural waters.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 1997

A total of 55 patients with various etiologies of infertility particitated in a study comparing two regimens of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with GnRH agonists and gonadotropins. Nineteen patients were given an ultra-short stimulation protocol when the agonist was administered for 3 day from Day 2 of the cycle. The remaining 36 patients were given a long stimulation protocol when the agonist was administered from the mid-luteal phase of the cycle preceding the stimulation cycle. The mean number of gonadotropins used per patient was not different between two groups. No significant differences were found in the mean number of oocytes recovered, fertilization rate and embryo cleavage rate between two groups. Pregnancy and delivery rates were higher in ultra-short protocol than in long protocol, but these were not significant. These results suggest that an ultra-short protocol is as effective as a long protocol in in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.