• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.127-131
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of parity and season on the embryo production in superovulated Hanwoo cows. Superovulation was performed from 1 to 8 times by repeated superovulation treatment of Hanwoo cows (n = 22). Irrespective of estrous cycle, donor cows were received a CIDR, progesterone (50 mg) and estradiol benzoate (2.5 mg). After 4.5 days, the donor cows were superovulated with total 28AU FSH (Antorin R-10) administrated twice daily in a decreasing dose for 4 days. On $6^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ of FSH injection, 2.5 mg and 15 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ were injected i.m, respectively. CIDR was removed at the $7^{th}$ FSH injection. The donor cows received $200{\mu}g$GnRH at 48 hrs after $1^{st}$ $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection. The donor cows were artificially inseminated three times after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals and embryos were recovered 7 days after estrous detection. The mean number of total ova, transferrable embryos, degenerated embryos and unfertilized oocytes were $11.6{\pm}7.9$, $5.5{\pm}4.4$, $3.0{\pm}3.3$ and $2.6{\pm}4.1$ per donor cows, respectively. A higher number of total ova were recovered in parity 3~5 ($14.3{\pm}1.3$) than 1~2 ($8.9{\pm}1.9$, P<0.05). The number of recovered normal embryos is significantly higher in parity 3~5 ($7.3{\pm}0.8$) than that of over 6 ($3.7{\pm}1.5$). Significantly higher number of total ova and normal embryos were recovered in summer ($16.4{\pm}2.3$, $8.1{\pm}1.4$) than in autumn ($10.1{\pm}1.8$, $4.5{\pm}1.1$) and winter ($6.3{\pm}1.8$, $3.3{\pm}1.1$), respectively (P<0.05). Transferable embryos were significantly higher in summer ($7.6{\pm}1.3$) than in winter ($3.0{\pm}1.0$, P< 0.05). The results were showed that parity and season affecting on the production of embryos in superovulated Hanwoo.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

This study was carried out to improve of effective culture system on development of IVM/IVF/IVC bovine embryos. The cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) collected from Korean cattle ovaries harvested at a local abattoir were matured in 50 ${mu}ell$ of TCM199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and hormones (35 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ FSH, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ LH, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ estradiol 17 $\beta$ under paraffin oil at 39$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$in air. At 24 hrs after culture, matured oocytes were fertilized in vitro for 22~24 hrs with motile semen in which obtained by centrifugation of a frozen thawed semen on Percoll-density gradients (45% vs. 90%) at 500 g for 20 min. The presumptive zygotes were divided into three experimental groups. Single egg (Group 1), 25 (Group 2) or 50 eggs (Group 3) were cultured on cumulus cell in 50 ${mu}ell$ TCM199 supplement with 10% FBS for 6~9 days after fertilization. In vitro developmental rates into the blastocysts in the groups 2 and 3 were significantly (P＜0.05) higher than those of group 1 (37,27 vs. 6%, respectively). Cell number of blastocysts obtained in groups 2 and 3 at day 8 were significantly (P${mu}ell$) resulted in higher developmental competence and cell number of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro than those the culture of single embryos with cumulus cells.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.585-592
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• 2004

Our previous studies demonstrated that relaxin in concert with estrogen promotes development of the mammary parenchyma during the last third of gestation in gilts, and the specific relaxin-binding sites were present in the mammary gland. This study was conducted to determine if relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland were functional relaxin receptors. Three cycling cross-bred gilts were bilaterally ovariectomized on day 0 of the experiment. Beginning on day 15 and continuing through day 29 post-surgery, the gilt received an im. injection of estradiol benzoate at 12-hr intervals. Beginning on day 22 post-surgery, highly purified porcine relaxin was administered(lug/hr) into the left fourth mammary gland from the anterior end via miniature osmotic pump. Physiological saline was administered to the right fourth mammary gland. The gilt was sacrificed on day 29 post-surgery and histological characteristics of the mammary parenchyma were examined. The mammary glands treated locally with saline showed little, if any, lobulo-alveolar development, whereas the mammary glands treated with relaxin showed not only marked lobulo-alveolar development but also prominent secretions in the alveoli. The saline-treated glands were characterized by relatively dense and highly organized collagen fiber bundles. Whereas, in the relaxin-treated mammary glands, collagen fiber bundles were dispersed and loosely organized. In conclusion, relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland are functional relaxin receptors and relaxin acts directly on the pig mammary gland to promote development of the alveoli and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 2007

Contrast to mouse where its in vitro maturation rates are high without specific supplements or presence of the cumulus cells, there are some species, such as porcine, where its in vitro oocyte maturation rates are still very low. This comparative study was conducted to investigate the role of malate dehydrogenase(Mor2) during oocyte maturation by RNAi in the mouse and porcine. The Mor2 double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) was prepared speciesspecifically and microinjected into the cytoplasm of denuded germinal vesicle(GV) oocytes. Oocytes were cultured for 48 h(porcine) and 16 h(mouse) in M199 with 10% porcine follicular fluid, pyruvate, p-FSH, EGF, cystein, and estradiol-$17{\beta}$. We measured changes in oocyte morphology, maturation rates and mRNA levels after Mor2 RNAi. We confirmed gene sequence-specific knock down of Mor2 mRNA in both species after Mor2 RNAi. In contrast to our previous finding that mMor2 RNAi resulted in GV arrest in the mouse, we found that pMor2 RNAi resulted in MI arrest in denuded porcine oocytes(58%), but developed to MII(84.4%) in COCs. To determine whether this difference between mouse and porcine RNAi is due to differences in culture media, we cultured mouse oocytes in the M199 media for 16 h after mMor2 RNAi. Mouse oocytes were developed to MII stage(62%) and there was no statistical difference compared to that of non-injected(76.8%) and buffer-injected(73.3%) control groups. Therefore, we concluded that the mouse and porcine oocytes are having different metabolic systems in relation to malate dehydrogenase for oocyte maturation. This could be a basis for differences in maturation rates in vitro in two species. Further scrutinized studies on the metabolic pathways would led us in finding better culture system to improve oocyte maturation rates in vitro, especially in more challenging species like the porcine.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

In boars, unlike the cases in males of other species, gonadal hormones suppress voluntary feed intake. for this reason, barrows, compared with gilts or boars, eat too much feed resulting in excessive fat deposition. Two experiments were performed in the present study to investigate the effects of implantation of Revalor H[Experiment(Exp.) I: 140mg trenbolone acetate(a synthetic androgen) + 14mg estradiol-$17\beta(E_{2}\beta)$] and Compudose(Exp. II; 24mg $E_{2}\beta$) on growth efficiency, carcass characteristics and circulating concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3(IGFBP-3). In Exp. I, sixty-four cross-bred finishing barrows weighing approximately 60kg were randomly divided into eight pens under a 2[control vs Revalor implant] $\times$ 2(ad libitum vs $80\%$ ad libitum feeding) $\times$2[control($103\%$ NRC-recommended level) vs low-energy($87\%$ NRC recommendation) diet] arrangement of treatments. In Exp. II, effects of Compudose were studied using 80 finishing barrows(10 animals/pen). In both Exps., all the animals were slaughtered at 100- to 110-kg body weight. Both Revalor and Compudose implants caused a decrease in feed intake and backfat thickness without affecting major physicochemical characteristics of the carcass and an increase in circulating IGF-I concentration. Moreover, Revalor implant exhibited greater effects than restricted feeding, low-energy diet, or Compudose in these variables. In addition, Revalor implantation suppressed weight gain, but enhanced the feed efficiency without exhibiting any interaction with the diet or feeding. In summary, results suggest that 1) both androgen and estrogen suppress voluntary feed intake and backfat deposition and enhance IGF-I secretion and 2) these effects of the gonadal steroid hormones in growth are likely to be mediated, in part, by IGF-I in finishing barrows.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.456-463
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 types of medicinal herbs (Glycyrrhizae radix, Astragali radix and Dioscorea rhizoma) extracts on estrogen-like activities, proliferation and differentiation in osteoblast. Human breast cancer cell line MCF7 was transfected using an estrogen responsive luciferase reporter plasmid for measure the estrogen-like activity. Estrogen-like activities of extracts were in the range of 1.11~5.73 fold to that of negative control. The extract of G. radix showed the strongest estrogen-like activities. The estrogen-like activities of 50 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ extracts of G. radix were similar to that of $10^{-8}$ and $10^{-7}$ M standard solution ($17{\beta}-estradiol$), respectively. G. radix extract showed no cytotoxicity against osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells at $1{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/ml$. The extract of A. radix showed no significant proliferation of osteoblast. However, the extract of G. radix and D. rhizome showed maximum 148% and 133% proliferation effects. The extract of G. radix also increased alkaline phosphatase activity and the maximum was 122% at $100{\mu}g/ml$ compared to that of control. The nodule formation by the method of the Alizarin red S staining increased compared to control. These results suggest that G. radix is able to perform the bone formation and prevent osteoporosis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of a mixture of fenugreek seeds and Lespedeza cuneata extracts on testosterone synthesis in TM3 cells that were oxidatively stressed with $H_2O_2$. In order to oxidatively stress TM3 cells, the cells were treated with $50{\mu}M$ hydrogen peroxide for 4 hr in serum-free media. Yagwanmun-horopa mixture (YHM) showed neither cytotoxicity nor increment of cell proliferation in the oxidatively stressed TM3 cells in any concentration. When the cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide, testosterone levels decreased, but the testosterone level was returned to that of the control level in the presence of YHM. In order to find out the reasons for the increase of testosterone, the expression of the genes involved in the synthesis or disintegration of testosterone. On the other hand, the levels of $3{\beta}$-HSD4 and 17, 20-desmorase, which are involved in testosterone synthesis, were decreased through the use of hydrogen peroxide and were recovered through YHM treatment. Aromatase and $5{\alpha}$-reductase2, which convert testosterone to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone, respectively, were increased through the use of hydrogen peroxide, and were returned to control level through YHM treatment. These results suggest that YHM does not affect TM3 cell proliferation. However, YHM increases the expression of testosterone-synthesizing enzyme, which was decreased through oxidative stress, and decreases the expression of testosterone- converting enzyme, which was increased through oxidative stress. Therefore, it is reasonable that YHM has strong recovery activity on testosterone to normal level, even in the oxidatively stressed TM3 cells which mimics the andropause state.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2008

Objective: To investigate the effects of aromatase inhibitor on reproductive hormone profiles and evaluate it's ovulation inducing capability in anovulatory infertile women. Methods: We quantified the blood levels of reproductive hormones from 30 healthy normal cycling women in natural cycle (control) and letrozole medicated cycle (study). LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S were quantified on third, 11th, 21th day in both cycles, and on 21th day, progesterone was added. Sixth anovulatory infertile women received either letrozole or clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction (n=30 in each groups). We compared the clinical parameters such as ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, the day of LH surge, number of follicles and endometrial thickness, cervical mucus amount, spinnbarkeit, mean diameter of follicles on the day of LH surge. Results: Letrozole had no effect on the LH, FSH, estradiol, DHEA-S secretion but there were significant increase in testosterone level on day 11 and progesterone level on day 21 in letrozole medicated cycle compared than control cycle ($0.40{\pm}0.16$ vs $0.28{\pm}0.11\;ng/ml$, p=0.002, $18.18{\pm}13.07$ vs $8.38{\pm}7.64\;ng/ml$, p=0.001, respectively). In comparison between letrozole and clomiphene groups, there were no significant difference in ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, number of mature follicle, mean diameter of follicles, but showed earlier LH surge, thicker endometrium, more cervical mucus, and higher spinnbarkeit in letrozole group ($12.12{\pm}2.46$ vs $14.52{\pm}3.18$ days, p=0.006, $10.48{\pm}1.23$ vs $8.52{\pm}0.93\;mm$, p=0.000, $2.04{\pm}0.61$ vs $1.57{\pm}0.59$, p=0.012, $6.00{\pm}1.12$ vs $4.95{\pm}1.61\;cm$, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Letrozole may augment folliculogenesis and improve the endometrial condition for implantation in normal cycling women. Ovulation efficacy of letrozole in anovulatory women was comparable to clomiphene citrate and letrozole may be more physiological in ovulation induction.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 2018

This study investigated the effect of LED light wavelength (color) on reproductive hormones and egg production of brown laying hens raised on floor. Red, blue, green and white colors of LED light were four treatments with four pens per treatment. One hundred forty four Hy-line brown laying hens (47 wks old) were allocated in a floor pen for six weeks trial. Egg production, egg quality, yolk cholesterol and hormones ($17{\beta}$-estradiol, progesterone) concentrations in plasma and oviduct were analyzed. Egg production of red group was higher (P<0.01) than that of green group. Haugh unit of eggs from red group was higher (P<0.01) than that of blue and green groups. Egg weight of green group was heavier (P<0.05) than that of red group. Shell of blue group was stronger (P<0.05) than that of red and white groups. Shell color of white group was browner (P<0.01) than that of blue and green groups. Yolk cholesterol of red group was higher (P<0.01) than that of others. Plasma $17{\beta}$-estradiol of red group was higher (P<0.05) than that of others at $3^{rd}$ week, but that of white group was highest (P<0.05) at $6^{th}$ week. Oviduct progesterone of green group was higher (P<0.01) than that of others. The result showed that the LED colors affect the reproductive hormone concentrations, egg production, egg weight and egg quality. This study suggested that red LED would be the most appropriate color for floor raising brown laying hens to sustain the egg production when it begins to decline with aging.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.634-639
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• 2008

Purpose : There has been considerable disagreement regarding the most appropriate dosage of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in cases of central precocious puberty. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate dosage for suppression of the puberty in girls with central precocious or early puberty. Methods : Twenty-two girls with early puberty were randomly subjected to 3 types of dosages of leuprolide acetate for at least 6 months. The number of cases in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 7, 7, and 8, and dosages were 70, 90, and $110{\mu}g/kg/-month$, respectively. Height, weight, bone age, Tanner stage of breast development, and serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol, and progesterone were measured before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. The number of cases of puberty suppression was compared using a modified puberty suppression score with a nonparametric chi-square test. Results : There were no significant differences of chronologic and bone ages among the groups. There was a significant decrease in height SDS gain after 6 months in group 3 (P<0.05) compared with groups 1 and 2. Serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone were all significantly decreased after treatment in all 3 groups (P<0.05). The number of cases of puberty suppression in each group were 4 (57%), 5 (71%), and 8 (100%). There was a significantly increased proportion of suppression of puberty in group 3 (P<0.05). Conclusion : It was necessary to use a higher dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to suppress early puberty in girls; however further longitudinal study will be needed for their prognosis of final adult height.