• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2021

The incidence of infertility among individuals of reproductive age has been growing due to genetic and environmental factors, and considerable research efforts are focused on solving this issue. Ovarian development is an overly complex process in the body, involving the interaction between primordial germ cells and gonad somatic cells. However, follicles located in the center of the in vitro ovary are poorly formed owing to ovarian complexity, nutrient deficiency, and signaling deficiency. In the present study, we optimized methods for dissociating gonads and culture conditions for the in vitro generation of miniaturized ovaries. The gonads from embryos were dissociated into cell masses and cultured on a Transwell-COL membrane for 3-5 weeks. Approximately 12 follicles were present per in vitro ovary. We observed that miniaturized ovaries successfully matured to MII oocytes in vitro from 150 to 100 ㎛ gonad masses. This method will be useful for investigating follicle development and oocyte production.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2023

The follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is a glycoprotein hormone, that belongs to the GPCR superfamily. FSHR plays a major role in reproduction. The aberrant activation of FHS receptor leads to infertility and several reproductive disorders. The recently recognized roles of the FSHR in diverse extragonadal tissues is also closely related to Alzheimer's disease and cancers. Analysing the structural characteristics of the receptor is important in understanding the pathophysiology of diseases associated with the receptor. In this present study, homology modelling of FSHR-TM domain was developed using four different templates. Totally 20 models were developed using single template-based approach and selected three based on the validation of RC plot, RMSD, ProSA, QMEAN and ERRAT values. The developed models would be useful for further research on the structural characteristics and binding characteristics of the FSHR-TM domain.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.161.1-161
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• 1994

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.316-326
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• 2018

Objective: This study investigated the expression of genes in cashmere goats at different periods of their fetal development. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to evaluate data obtained by transcriptome sequencing of fetus skin samples collected from Inner Mongolia cashmere goats on days 45, 55, and 65 of fetal age. Results: We found that FoxN1, FoxE1, and FoxI3 genes of the Fox gene family were probably involved in the growth and development of the follicle and the formation of hair, which is consistent with previous findings. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction detecting system and Western blot analysis were employed to study the relative differentially expressed genes FoxN1, FoxE1, and FoxI3 in the body skin of cashmere goat fetuses and adult individuals. Conclusion: This study provided new fundamental information for further investigation of the genes related to follicle development and exploration of their roles in hair follicle initiation, growth, and development.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.302-305
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• 2003

It is difficult to obtain sufficient healthy skin for coverage of a wide area of skin wound. In the skin, an additional population of living epithelial cells is located in the outer root sheath (ORS) of hair $follicles.^{1),2)}$ ORS cells should be a good source of epithelium because they are easily obtainable and patients do not have to suffer from scar formation at donor sites. We modified ordinary primary culture technique for the purpose of solving such problem that epithelial cells have a low propagation and easy aging during culture periods. First of all, we improved primary cultivation methods. In the ordinary primary culture, average yield of human ORS cells was $2\;{\times}\;10^3$ cells/follicle by direct incubation with trypsin (0.1%)/EDTA (0.02%) solution for 15 min at $37^{\circ}C$ but we could obtain about $6.5\;{\times}\;10^3$ cells/follicle by two step enzyme digestion method with dispase (1.2 U/ml) and trypsin (0.1%)/EDTA (0.02%) solution. So we could achieve three times higher primary cultured ORS cell yield. Secondly, we could obtain total $2\;{\times}\;10^7$ cells in serum free medium and even more total $6\;{\times}\;10^7$ cells in modified E-medium with mitomycin C-treated feeder cells during 17 days. Using the cultured ORS cells, and we could make bioartificial skin equivalent in vitro and concluded that ORS cells were progenitor cells for skin epithelial cell.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1981

Testis of Pieris rapae L. was observed by using light microscope and electron microscope. The results were as follows 1. Pieris rapae L. possesses a ovoid single testis colored red. 2. Peritoneal sheath consists of three layers; outer cuticular layer, middle filamentous layer, inner layer with no filaments. 3. Follicles enclosed by peritoneal sheath are compacted by the folds of the. epithelium of follicle. They are opened together toward the duct of vas deferens. 4. Epithelium of follicle have high electron density and contain needle shaped structures and glycogen. Tracheoles are extended into the epithelium of follicle. 5. Cyst cells have a irregular shaped nucleus and cell organelles are abundant in cytoplasm. 6. Typical acrosomes were not observed, but the other structure smillar to the acrosome of the other insect or vetebrate were observed. 7. After releasing the sperm bundle, cyst cells seem to be autolyzed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to access the effects of collection method, room temperature at oocyte recovery and culture media on the oocyte quality, fertilization and cleavage rates of in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes of Korean native goats. Ovaries obtained from a slaughterhouse were transported to the laboratory and were divided into 2 groups. One group of ovaries was maintained at 30 to 35$^{\circ}C$ of the room temperature and another group was remained at 20 to $25^{\circ}C$ during oocyte recovery. The oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration, slicing and aspiration+slicing methods from 3 groups of follicles according to size; <2 mm, 2 to 6 mm and >6 mm. The matured oocytes were inseminated with buck epididymal spermatozoa at a concentration of 3~3.5$\times$10$^{6}$ m1 and fertilization was identified when 2 pronuclei were present in the cytoplasm. Although the recovery rate per ovary obtained by the combination of follicle aspiration + slicing(19.6$\pm$2.2) method was higher than aspiration(11.7$\pm$1.1) and slicing(14.8$\pm$1.8) collection, optimal recovery according to oocyte grades resulted form ovarian slicing compared to aspiration or combined methods(P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the mean number(2.5$\pm$1.8; 3.3$\pm$3.3; 2.9$\pm$2.4) and the proportion of favorable oocytes(Grades I, II and III) recovered(31.6%, 36.0%, 36.4%,) according to follicle size(<2 mm; 2 to 6 mm; >6 mm). Fertilization rate was 60.0%, 67.7%, 70.6% and 56.4% and the proportion of embryos/zygotes was 11.1%, 7.1%, 5.0% and 2.8% in 20~$25^{\circ}C$/BO, 30~35$^{\circ}C$/BO, 20~$25^{\circ}C$/TALP and 30~35$^{\circ}C$ /groups, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1830-1840
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• 2019

Loliolide is one of the most ubiquitous monoterpenoid compounds found in algae, and its potential therapeutic effect on various dermatological conditions via agent-induced biological functions, including anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, was demonstrated. Here, we investigated the effects of loliolide on hair growth in dermal papilla (DP) cells, the main components regulating hair growth and loss conditions. For this purpose, we used a three-dimensional (3D) DP spheroid model that mimics the in vivo hair follicle system. Biochemical assays showed that low doses of loliolide increased the viability and size of 3D DP spheroids in a dose-dependent manner. This result correlated with increases in expression levels of hair growth-related autocrine factors including VEGF, IGF-1, and KGF. Immunoblotting and luciferase-reporter assays further revealed that loliolide induced AKT phosphorylation, and this effect led to stabilization of β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Further experiments showed that loliolide increased the expression levels of the DP signature genes, ALP, BMP2, VCAN, and HEY1. Furthermore, conditioned media from loliolide-treated DP spheroids significantly enhanced proliferation and the expression of hair growth regulatory genes in keratinocytes. These results suggested that loliolide could function in the hair growth inductivity of DP cells via the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 1988

The intrafo1licular echoes of cumulus oophoruses within ovarian follicles were assessed with the use of ultrasound in 86 women taking part in an in vitro fertilization(IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer(GIFT) program, stimulated with pure follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)/human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). When intrafo1licular echoes were clearly separated from the follicular wall or relatively dispersed within the follicle, they were considered to be a dissociated cumulus, and when they were only slightly prominent from the follicular wall, they were suspected to be a nondissociated cumulus. A cumulus was seen in 62.1% of the follicles larger than 10 mm diameter and 75.1% of them were dissociated. The larger the follicles in size, the more the cumuluses in number and dissociation. The number of follicles and intrafollicular echoes per woman was not different whether or not she would be pregnant, but the number of dissociated cumuluses was significantly more in pregnant women. The number of observed dissociated cumuluses correlated significantly with the number of recovered mature oocytes. When an intrafollicular echo is seen, it can be taken as evidence of a sign of maturity of that particular follicle and oocyte. Ultrasonographic monitoring of intrafollicular echoes and follicular size is very helpful to predict follicular maturation in ovulation stimulation cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 1993

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients have a characteristic of high leuteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle -stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio. Usually, human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is used to induce ovulation in clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS patients. However, HMG contains two components, namely, LH and FSH, with 50%, respectively. Therefore, FSH is theoretically recommended to stimulate follicular maturation. From the pituitary, LH is secreted by pulsatile pattern. So, we have been using intermittent subcutaneous injection of pure FSH for ovulation induction in 10 PCOS patients from March, 1990 to August, 1992. We obtained good results by intermittent subcutaneous injection of pure FSH. Ovulation is 100% per patient, and 88.2% per cycle. Pregnancy rate is 80% per patient, and 23.5% per cycle. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is 50% per patient, 41.2% per all cycles, and 46.7% per all ovulated cycles. In comparison with HMG, pregnancy rate per cycle is relatively low. But, ovulation rate and pregnacy rate per person is higher than HMG. Because of the strict check of ovaries by the vaginal ultrasonography, OHSS rate is relatively high.