• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.228-232
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pretreatment with transdermal estradiol ($E_2$) compared to oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) response in normal responders undergoing fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) cycles. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of normal responders undergoing fresh IVF-ET cycles who received pretreatment with transdermal $E_2$ versus OCPs prior to fresh IVF-ET. The total days of ovarian stimulation, total dosage of gonadotropins, total number of oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved were noted. Pregnancy outcomes after ET were also recorded. Results: A total of 2,092 patients met the inclusion criteria: 1,057 and 1,035 patients in the transdermal $E_2$ and OCP groups, respectively. Patients in the OCP group had a longer duration of COS ($10.7{\pm}1.63days$, p< 0.01) than the $E_2$ group ($9.92{\pm}1.94days$). Patients in the OCP group also required higher cumulative doses of gonadotropins ($2,657.3{\pm}1,187.9IU$) than those in the $E_2$ group ($2,550.1{\pm}1,270.2IU$, p= 0.002). No statistically significant differences were found in the total and mature oocytes retrieved or in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage, and live birth between the groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that compared to OCPs, pretreatment with transdermal $E_2$ is associated with a shorter duration of ovarian stimulation and lower gonadotropin utilization, without compromising the oocyte yield or pregnancy outcomes in normal-responder patients undergoing fresh IVF.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

The functional expression of potassium $(K^+)$ channels has electrophysiologically been studied in bone cells from several species, however, their identity and regulation of gene expressions in bone cells are not well known. In the present study, to investigate how $K^+$ channel expressions are regulated by estrogen, we measured changes of transcript levels of various $Ca^{2+}$-activated ($K_{Ca}$) and ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels in rat osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells after treatment with estrogen. Application of 17${\beta}$-estradiol $(E_2)$ for 24 h and 48 h increased mRNA and protein expressions of inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel (Kir) 6.2 and type 2 small conductance $K_{Ca}$ channel (SK2), respectively. Combined treatment of cells with 17${\beta}-E_2$ and ICI 182,780, a pure antiestrogen, suppressed 17${\beta}-E_2$-induced alterations of SK2 and Kir6.2 mRNA levels. In addition, treatment of cells with U0126, a specific inhibitor of extracellular receptor kinases (ERK)1/2, and SP600125, a specific inhibitor of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) blocked the enhancing effects of 17${\beta}-E_2$ on SK2 and Kir6.2 protein expressions. On the other hand, blocking of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase had no effect. Taken together, these results indicate that 17${\beta}-E_2$ modulates SK2 and Kir6.2 expressions through the estrogen receptor, involving ERK1/2 and JNK activations.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.480-487
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• 1997

Vitellogenin (Vg) was purified from plasma of $estradiol-17\beta(E_2)-treated$ spotted flounder, verasper variegatus, by preripitation with cold distilled water, followed by fractionation using a Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. $E_2-induced$ protein was identified as Vg by SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis. The molecular weight of the purified Vg was estimated 175 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE. In order to measure the Vg level, monoclonal antibodies against Vg were produced by hybridoma technique. Purified Vg was immunized into Balb/c mice and then the spleen cells from mice were fused with NS-1 myeloma cells. The hybridoma cells were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (WLISA) and subcloned by limiting dilution. The hybridoma clones which secreted antibodies highly reactive to the purified Vg were designated as 4D6. Its specificity was demonstrated by western blot from plasma of untreated, $E_2-treated$ male fish, and purified Vg.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 1985

The present study was carried out to determine sex hormone levels in serum throughout estrous cycle in Korean native goats. LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone in serum analyzed every 2 days from the estrus (day 0) to the 20th day of estrous cycle by the radioimmunoassay. The concentration of serum LH was high level with 3.27 mIU/ml on the day of estrus, then decreased rapidly to l.05~1.73 mIU/ml from the day 2 of estrous cycle to the day 18. A similar tendency was observed in the prolactin concentration, however the ranges of variation were not so marked as those of LH concentration. FSH concentrations determined were below 1.25 mIU/ml in all observation time. The concentration of serum estradiol-$17{\beta}$ was the highest, 23.62 pg/ml on the day of estrus, but the levels of 4.56~9.75 pg/ml were maintained during the other days of estrous cycle. Progesterone concentrations were the lowest, 0.45 ng/ml on the day of estrus and thereafter increased gradually to 8.85 ng/ml on the day 14 of estrous cycle, then decreased again. Serum LH concentrations before and after estrus maintained high levels during the 12 hours, i. e., 6 hours before and 6 hours after estrus. The concentrations of FSH were below 1.25 mIU/ml during the observation period. Prolactin concentrations were observed high levels during 24 hours, i.e., 12 hours before and 12 hours after estrus. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ concentrations before and after estrus maintained high levels during the 24 hours, i.e., 12 hours before and 12 hours after estrus. The tendency of changes in progesterone concentrations were contrary to that of estradiol-$17{\beta}$.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1989

The present study was designed to develop a new method for the determination of estrogen receptor in porcine uterus using frozen sections. Cryostat sections were incubated with $^3H$-estradiol($^3H$-$E_2$) in the presence or absence of diethylstilbestrol(DES) and the radioactivity of 3H-E2 bound to estrogen receptor(ER) was detected. The level of specific estrogen receptor was determined by Scatchard analysis. The highest ratio of specific binding against total binding was achieved in 3 sec. tions(5mm x 5mm) which was corresponded to lOO${\mu}$/ml protein concentration. Optimal binding was obtained during incubation with $^3H$-$E_2$ for 30 minutes at 23$^{\circ}C$ after treatment of sections with acetone for 20 seconds. Three time-washing of sections was proved to be appropriate for the removal of unbound 3H-E2. 200-fold molar excess of DES was substituted for the binding of $^3H$-$E_2$ to ER sufficiently(binding efficiency of 54.8%). ER was saturated with 4nM of $^3H$-$E_2$ and its dissociation constant was 0.1nM. ER assay using frozen sections(Histological radioreceptor assay, HRRA) was significantly correlated with radioreceptor assay for estradiol(RRA, 0.976 , p

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2001

Steroid hormones control the expression of many cellular regulators, and a role thor estrogen in mouse oocytes has been well documented. The preovulatory $E_2$increment is generally accepted as the endocrine process regulating induction of in vivo oocyte maturation To address whether the activity of the T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel is altered by 17 beta-estradiol ( $E_2$), we examined the actions of $E_2$on the calcium channel of mouse oocytes and early embryos. Oocrtes were collected from the oviduct of mice treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human choronic gonadotropin (hCG). Whole cell voltage clamp technique and confocal microscopy were used to examine that $E_2$increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ ) via voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel (VDC) and estrogen receptor (FSR), and $E_2$concentration by the use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) were examined in mouse. The results obtained were as follows: The peak of $Ca^{2+}$ current induced by $E_2$increased 122% to 1.50$\pm$0.03 nA from 1.23$\pm$0.21 nA (n=15) in the presence of 5 mM extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([C $a^{2+}$]$_{o}$ ). The increased $Ca^{2+}$ current was temporally associated with $Ca^{2+}$ transients. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level increased 207%~30 s following the addition of 1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ $E_2$(relative fluorescence intensity: 836.4$\pm$131.2 for control, n=10, 1736.4$\pm$192.0 in the presence of $E_2$, n=10). $E_2$increased amplitude of $Ca^{2+}$ current and [C $a^{2+}$]$_{i}$ . $E_2$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ current and $E_2$concentration in blood were showed difference on the stage of embryo. These results suggest that $E_2$modulate $Ca^{2+}$ channel to increase $Ca^{2+}$ influx.$Ca^{2+}$ influx.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2000

Osteoporosis is the consequence of an imbalance between osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity, coupled with an increased rate of bone turnover observed with menopause. Estrogen is generally considered to maintain bone mass through suppression of bone resorption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rat femoral trabecular change not only in the deficiency of estrogen but also in the administration of estrogen following ovariectomy(OVX). 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral OVX or sham surgery(control). Groups of OVX were divided into 4 groups. The first group was injected daily with vehicle alone for 20 days after 20 weeks following OVX. The additional groups of OVX was injected daily with low, medium, or high doses of $17{\beta}-estradiol$(10, 25 or $50{\mu}g/kg$ BW, respectively). All rats were sacrified 23 weeks after OVX, and their femur were processed for H&E, MT stain and histomorphometry. The results were as follows; 1. In the histomorphometric analysis, the trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular seperation were respectively $31.2{\pm}8.3%$, $54.3{\pm}4.8{\mu}m$ and $280.7{\pm}16.4{\mu}m$ in vehicle treated OVX group and $48.6{\pm}7.3%$, $90.4{\pm}4.5{\mu}m$ and $126.3{\pm}5{\mu}m$ in sham operation group, and they showed statistical significance compare to control group. 2. The trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation were respectively $44.4{\pm}4.3%$, $109.5{\pm}12.3{\mu}m$ and $94.9{\pm}8.5{\mu}m$ in low doses of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ injected group and they showed statistical significance compare to OVX group. 3. The trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation were respectively $44.4{\pm}4.3%$, $109.5{\pm}12.3{\mu}m$ and $94.9{\pm}8.5{\mu}m$ in medium doses of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ injected group and they showed statistical significance compare to OVX group, but they didn't show statistical significance compare to low doses of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ injected group. 4. The trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation were respectively $46.4{\pm}4.5%$, $154.4{\pm}13.2{\mu}m$ and $113.7{\pm}12.8{\mu}m$ in high doses of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ injected group and they also showed statistical significance compare to OVX group, but they didn't show statistical significance compare to other experimental groups. From the above results, metaphyseal bone formation was markedly reduced in OVX rate but treatment of OVX rats with $17{\beta}-estradiol$ resulted in normalization of femur trabecular bone volume. But they didn't show statistical significance the effect of bone formation according to the dose dependency.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2014

Background: Understanding what causes changes in the flux of free fatty acids (FFA) is important to elucidate the etiology of metabolic syndrome. The first aim of this study was to test whether or not hormones and the autonomic nervous system influence blood FFA levels. A secondary aim was to test by means of a multiple group path analysis whether the consumption of fermented red ginseng (FRG; Panax ginseng) would influence those causal relationships. Methods: Ninety-three postmenopausal women (age 50e73 yr) were randomly divided into two groups. One group (44 women; age, $58.4{\pm}5.9yr$; body mass index, $3.6{\pm}2.5kg/m^2$) was supplied place capsules and the other group (49 women, age $58.4{\pm}5.5yr$; body mass index, $22.9{\pm}2.4kg/m^2$) was supplied FRG capsules. Both prior to and after the study (2 wk), blood samples were collected from the participants and several blood variables were measured and analyzed. Results: Squared multiple correlations of FFA were 0.699 in the placebo group and 0.707 in the FRG group. The unstandardized estimate of estradiol (E2) for FFA was 0.824 in both groups. Conclusion: The path coefficients of cortisol and the branchial pulse for FFA were significantly different between the FRG group and the placebo group.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2000

The purposes of our study were to optimize the conditions of the screening and testing methods for endocrine disruptors, to characterize these assays using several compounds with well-defined endocrine activity, and to compare the sensitivity between these assays currently undergoing validation. Two in vitro test systems, MCF-7 cells proliferation (E-screen assay) and competitive binding to estrogen receptors (ER) were selected to evaluate the estrogenic effects. 17$\beta$-Estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were used as a positive control in vitro test. Also, E2 and ethinyl estradiol (EE) were used as a positive control in vivo uterotrophic assay. In in vitro test, E2 and DES showed a strong estrogenic response at concentration of 1.0 nM. In uterotrophic assay, E2 (0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) and EE (0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) produced a significant increase in uterus and vagina weight in both immature and ovariectomized rats. Although we did not com-pared the specificity between in vivo and in vitro assays, these assay systems may serve as a good tool for endocrine disruptors screening methods. Our data indicate that these assay systems exhibit some difference in their sensitivity to the same estrogenic compounds. Therefore, as a first rapid screening assay for estrogenic activity qf unknown chemicals, at least two assay systems should probably be carried out with a view of high sensitivity and standardization conditions. Also, a careful validation tests are necessary to obtain a reasonable degree of reproducibility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

Steroid hormone is known to cause the dynamic changes of mammalian uterus during reproductive cycle, which are modulated via hypothalamus-pituitary -gonad reproductive endocrine axis. Although there were so many studies about estrogenic regulation of uterine growth and differentiation. There is little information about the effect of estrogen on the expression of various transcription factors involved in gene expression. Thus the present study was designed to demonstrate E induced expression of c-fos, c-jun, hsp25 mRNA in rat uterus. Employing Northern blot analysis, we studied the temporal expressions of c-fos, c-jun, and hsp25 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) elicited by a single 17beta-estradiol (E) treatment in the uteri of bilaterally ovariectomized adult rats. c-fos, c-jun, and hsp25 mRNA levels were increased and peaked at 3h after E administration, and then c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were rapidly decreased to basal control level while, increased hsp25 mRNA levels were sustained till 12h post E treatment. To test the estrogenic effect on the increase of c-fos, c-jun, and hsp25 mRNA levels, we also examined the effects of antiestrogen (tamoxifen). Pretreatment with tamoxifen effectively blocked the E-induced increase of c-fos, c-jun, and hsp25 mRNA levels at 3h post E treatment. Present results suggest that transient increase of c-fos and c-jun protooncogene mRNA at the early time and simultaneous expression of hsp25 mRNA contribute to the response of uterine tissues to E in adult female rats.