• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.77-86
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• 1998

The uptake of glucose for metabolism and growth is essential to most animal cells and is mediated by glucose-transporter (GLUT) proteins. The aim of this study was to determine which class of glucose transporter molecules was responsible for uptake of glucose in the mouse early embryo and at which stage the corresponding genes were expressed. In addition, co-culture system with vero cell was used to investigate the effect of the system on GLUT expression. Two-cell stage embryos were collected from the superovulated ICR female and divided into 3 groups. As a control, embryos were cultured in 0.4% BSA-T6 medium which includes glucose. For the experimental groups, embryos were cultured in either co-culture system with vero cells or glucose-free T6 medium supplemented with 0.4% BSA and pyruvate as an energy substrate. 2-cell to blastocyst stage embryos in those groups were respectively collected into microtubes (50 embryos/tube). Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed. The products were analysed after staining ethidium bromide by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Blastocysts were collected from each group at l20hr after hCG injection. They were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, stained with hoechst, and mounted for observation. In control, GLUT1 was expressed from 4-cell to blastocyst. GLUT2 and GLUT3 were expressed in morula and blastocyst. GLUT4 was expressed in all stages. When embryos were cultured in glucose-free medium, no significant difference was shown in the expression of GLUT1, 2 and 3, compared to control. However GLUT4 was not expressed until morular stage. When embryos were co-cultured with vero cell, there was no significant difference in the expression of GLUT1, 2, 3 and 4 compared to control. To determine cell growth of embryos, the average cell number of blastocyst was counted. The cell number of co-culture ($93.8{\pm}3.1$, n=35) is significantly higher than that of control and glucose-free group ($76.6{\pm}3.8$, n=35 and $68.2{\pm}4.3$, n=30). This study shows that the GLUT genes are expressed differently according to embryo stage. GLUTs were detectable throughout mouse preimplantation development in control and co-culture groups. However, GLUT4 was not detected from 2- to 8-cell stage but detected from morula stage in glucose-free medium, suggested that GLUT genes are expressed autocrinally in the embryo regardless of the presence of glucose as an energy substrate. In addition, co-culture system can increase the cell count of blastocyst but not improve the expression of GLUT. In conclusion, expression of GLUT is dependent on embryo stage in preimplantation embryo development.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.329-338
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• 2010

목적: 본 연구에서는 10개 이하의 2PN 접합자를 얻은 환자군에서 전핵 단계 배아의 동결보관이 누적 분만율을 증가시키는 지를 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 2003년 1월부터 2007년 12월까지 제일병원 아이소망센터를 내원하여 과배란 유도에 의해 체외수정 및 배아이식술을 시행한 주기를 후향적으로 비교 분석하였다. 본 연구에서는 일반적 체외수정법 또는 세포질내 정자주입술을 이용하여 수정을 시도한 후 20~22시간에 8개의 수정란을 확인하거나, 또는 전핵이 1개만 보이는 접합자와 발달지연 배아를 포함하여 수정란이 10개 미만인 138주기의 체외수정 및 배아이식 주기를 대상으로 분석하였다. 분석대상을 두 군으로 나누었으며 그룹 I (n=86)은 배아의 동결 없이 모든 수정란을 배양하여 3일째 이식한 군으로 하였으며, 그룹 II (n=52)는 전핵 시기에 일부 수정란을 동결하고 나머지를 배양하여 3일째 이식한 군으로 분류하였다. 두 군간 신선배아 이식주기와 그 다음 동결-해동 이식주기 후의 임상적 임신율과 누적 임신율을 각각 비교하였다. 결과: 비교 대상군 사이에 여성의 평균 나이, 획득 난자의 수 및 수정란의 수에서는 통계적 차이를 보이지 않았다. 배양된 배아의 수는 그룹 II ($5.2{\pm}0.5$)가 그룹 I $8.4{\pm}0.7$)에 비하여 유의하게 적었다 (p<0.01). 또한 이식한 배아의 수 역시 그룹 II ($3.3{\pm}0.6$)가 그룹 I ($3.6{\pm}0.6$)에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하게 적었다 (p<0.01). 신선주기 배아이식에서 ${\beta}$-hCG 양성을 보인 환자 수와 분만을 한 환자의 수는 그룹 I이 그룹 II에 비하여 약간 높은 양상을 보였다 (51.2 vs. 46.2% and 41.9 vs. 34.6%). 동결-해동 배아이식 후 누적 분만율을 비교하였을 때 그룹 I (48.8%)과 그룹 II (50.0%)에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 관찰할 수 없었다. 결론: 적은 수의 수정란을 얻은 환자군에서 일부 전핵 단계에서의 동결보관이 누적 분만율을 향상 시키는 효과를 확인할 수 없었다. 그러나 일부 수정란의 동결보관은 해당 신선주기에서 임신에 실패하였을 경우 환자에게 추가적인 배아이식 기회를 제공해 줄 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있는 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.485-492
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• 2009

Estrogen has dramatic effects on the development and function of the reproductive tract in mammals. Although diethylstilbestrol (DES) triggers the development of reproductive organs in immature animals, continued exposure to DES induces dysfunction of the female reproductive tract in mice. To investigate the effects of neonatal estrogen exposure on the reproductive tract of female chickens, we implanted DES pellets into the abdominal region of immature female chicks and then examined the effects of DES on the oviducts of both immature chicks and sexually mature chickens (30 weeks old). DES induced mass growth and differentiation of the oviduct in immature chicks. The chick oviduct increased by 2.7- and 29-fold in length and weight, respectively, following primary DES stimulation. In secondary DES stimulation, the length and weight of the chick oviduct increased by 4.5- and 74-fold, respectively. Additionally, DES treatments caused abnormal development of the infundibulum and magnum in hen oviducts. Furthermore, infundibulum abnormality gave rise to unusual ovulation of follicles and resulted in infertility and dysfunction of the magnum, such as less production of egg white proteins. Our results indicate that DES exposure during early developmental stages in chickens has detrimental effects on the development and maintenance of the female reproductive tract after sexual maturation.

• 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.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine the college students' and married adults' perceptions of the current low fertility and their motivations of parenthood. It also verifies the gender differences in the numbers of planned children between male and female college students. The sample population included 100 unmarried undergraduate students and 100 married adults. The measurements included in the questionnaire were based on recommendations from the literature review. The major findings of this study are as follows: Women reported higher levels of traditional-normal and altruistic-emotional motivations of parenthood than men did. College students reported higher levels of motivations of parenthood to strengthen biological family ties than married adults did, while adults reported higher levels of martial bond-strengthening, traditional-normal, and gene-preservative motivations of parenthood than students did. College students attributed the current low fertility to the tight labor market and high costs of childbirth and rearing while married adults attributed to gender-discriminating traditional family norms, increasing infertility, and poor conditions of pregnancy and childbirth. Female and adult respondents took the social problems caused by the current low fertility more seriously than their counterparts did.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.451-462
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• 2022

Dioscorea bulbifera tubers contain several phytochemicals of pharmaceutical value. They have been traditionally used for treating various ailments, including postmenopausal symptoms. In the present study, we analyzed the direct effects of Dioscorea tuber extract on mouse spermatozoa. Its contraceptive effect was also evaluated by an intravaginal application before copulation. Mouse spermatozoa were cultured in vitro with various concentrations of the extract. After culturing, the spermatozoa were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate peanut agglutinin or Coomassie blue to study the acrosome reaction, stained with trypan blue to study the viability, or treated with a hypo-osmotic medium to study the membrane damage. Estrous female mice were intravaginally injected with the extract and copulated with males. The extract induced acrosome exocytosis, viability loss, and membrane damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Female mice treated with the extract showed complete loss of fertility. These observations indicate that the Dioscorea bulbifera tuber extract could be used as a topical contraceptive. Infertility could be due to the precocious acrosome exocytosis of the spermatozoa or membrane damage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.127-131
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• 2012

Primordial follicles are formed prenatally in mammalian ovaries, and at birth they are fated to be activated to primary follicles, to be dormant, or to die. During the early stage of folliclulogenesis, the oocyte undergoes dynamic alterations in expression of numerous genes, which are regulated by transcription factors. Several germ-cell specific transcriptional regulators are critical for formation and maintenance of follicles. These transcriptional regulators include: Figla, Lhx8, Nobox, Sohlh1, and Sohlh2. A subset of these transcriptional regulators is mutated in women with ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Establishment of this oocyte pool is essential for fertility. This review focuses on these transcriptional regulators of female primordial follicles.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.103-110
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to assess whether herbal medicine and acupuncture is effective on clinical pregnancy. Methods: From february 2013 to july 2013, a prospective analysis study was performed in 6 patients after taking her medicine and acupuncture treatment. Results: After treatment, one patients naturally became pregnance and one patients became pregnance after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Conclusions: This study suggests that herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment shows possibility to increasing pregnancy rates.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2008

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a general term that refers to infection of the internal reproductive organs such as the female uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. PID is caused by germs that invade the genital organs, causing the acute inflammatory reaction, and chronic PID is to have a recurrence of PID because of the lack of effective treatment of acute PID. Symptoms of PID include pelvic pain, fever, leukorrhea, infertility, and fatigue. Treatments for PID can be improved by combining herb medicine therapy, intestinal irrigation, or the therapy that put herb medicine on the abdominal region with antibiotics, or analgesic drugs.