• Applied Microscopy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 1982

Ultrastructural changes of the testis in Pieris rapae L. observed under the electron microscope during the metamorphosis from prepupa to pupa. The peritoneal sheath, epithelium of the follicle and cucticle have the maximum thickness at prepupa stage and afterthen gradually they began to degenerate. The epithelium of the follicle which formed by invagination of the peritoneal sheath is differently differentiationed from the peritoneal sheath and it is similar to the adult's from the pupa 2 days. The cell organelles begin to increase in the cytoplasm of the cyst cell enclosed the sperm bundles at pupa 3 hrs. The electron densed granules which observed in the peritoneal sheath and epithelium of the follicle at prepupa seem to be related with fusion of the testis.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 1992

In order to study the mechanism of follicle growth and maturation, and also to supplement the criteria identifying the follicle state of normal of atretic, the histochemical investigation on the ovarian follicles according to the ovarian cycle of mouse, rat and pig has been done. The intercellular space of granulosa cells, especailly Call-Exner body, and follicular fluid in the antrum showed positive to PAS, and blue stain by trichrome dye. The resutls suggest that the mucous polysaccharide was synthesized by the granulosa cells, and secreted into the antrum through Call-Exner body so as to be the components of the follicular fluid as the follicles proceeded to growth and maturation. The further the follicles proceeded to atresia the more densely their theca externa were stained blue by follicles proceeded to atresia the more densely their theca externa were stained blue by trichrome dye, and the more densely the granulosa cells were stained red by oil red 0 dye. Therefore, these staining methods can be applied to the criteria identifying the follicle atresia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.404-409
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• 1998

Nine cows were superovulated by administration of 8 injections of Folltropin each (2.5 ml/injection, 1.75 mg/ml) i.m spread over 4 days, beginning on Day 10 of oestrous cycle, and 30 and 20 mg prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ was given along with the 5th and 6th injections of Folltropin, respectively, to induce luteolysis. The animals were artificially inseminated 48, 60 and 72 h after the first prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ injection. The number of corpora lutea was recorded by palpation per rectum and by ultrasonography on Day 6 (Day 0 = day of oestrus). The ovaries were examined daily by ultrasonography on Days 3-9 of the oestrous cycle for following the growth and regression of the largest follicle, which was considered the morphologically dominant follicle. The animals were classified into two groups depending upon the presence (n = 4) and absence of a dominant follicle (n = 5). There was a high correlation (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) between the number of corpora lutea observed by palpation per rectum and that determined by ultrasonography. Mean (${\pm}SEM$) number of corpora lutea determined by ultrasonography ($11.20{\pm}3.71$ vs $3.25{\pm}0.75$) and by palpation per rectum ($10.40{\pm}3.91$ vs $2.25{\pm}0.75$) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the nondominant group compared to that in the dominant group. There was no difference in the numbers of follicles 2-3 mm ($13.80{\pm}4.49$ vs $8.00{\pm}1.08$), 4-6 mm ($7.00{\pm}1.87$ vs $3.50{\pm}1.33$), and the total number of follicles ${\geq}2mm$ ($22.00{\pm}5.95$ vs $12.50{\pm}1.26$) between the two groups, one day prior to initiation of superovulation. There was, however, a significant (p<0.01) positive correlation between the number of corpora lutea with the numbers of follicles 2-3 mm (r = 0.83), 4-6 mm (r = 0.80) and the total number of follicles ${\geq}2mm$ (r = 0.89) observed one day prior to initiation of superovulation. The results of this study indicate that the presence of a dominant follicle adversely affects the superovulatory response in cattle.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2009

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic performance of transabdominal ultrasound by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, in order to evaluate the usefulness in establishing the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Questionnaires were given to 8,793 reproductive women reviewed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. Ultrasound examinations were performed in 701 women with a transabdominal transducer. Transabdominal ultrasounds were performed in 185 normal control women (normal menstruation without hyperandrogenism or PCO morphology) and 248 PCOS patients according to National Institutes of Health (NIH) PCOS diagnosis criteria. ROC curves were calculated for ovarian volume and follicle number. Results: In normal control group, the mean age were $23.64{\pm}4.26$ years old and the mean ovarian volume and follicle number were $6.03{\pm}1.89\;cm^3$ and $6.49{\pm}1.93$, respectively. The ovarian volume showed an area under the ROC curve (AURC) of 0.761. A ovarian volume decision threshold >$9\;cm^3$ had a sensitivity of 51.0% and a specificity of 91.4% for the diagnosis of PCOS. The follicle number showed an AURC of 0.733. A follicle number decision threshold ${\geq}9$ had a sensitivity of 54.9% and a specificity of 87.0% for the diagnosis of PCOS. A follicle number decision threshold ${\geq}10$ had a sensitivity of 53.2% and a specificity of 90.4%. A follicle number and a ovarian volume did not have a high diagnostic power for screening for PCOS. Conclusion: Our results suggest that transabdominal ultrasound assessment is not effective for the detection of PCOS in young women of reproductive age.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 1992

The present study was examined to clarify the role of calcium ion as a factor for the maturation of mouse oocytes. Follicles and cumulus-enclosed oocytes were isolated with two sharp needles under a stereomicroscope from female mouse (ICR) ovaries which were treated PMSG 5 IU 45-46 hours previously. Isolated follicles and cumulus-enclosed oocytes were cultured for 14-16 hours in an organ culture system at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air and 100% humudified in incubator. MHBS was the basic medium used from which A23187, verapamil, $NiCl_{2.}$ $6H_2O$ and $LaCl_{3.}$ $7H_2O$ were added depending on the experimental groups. In follicle- or cumulus-enclosed oocytes wre cultured in these differently treated media. Following results were obtained from the present study. 1. The calcium ionophore A23187 directly or indirectly seems to stimulate GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. Increasing concentration of ionophore A23187 1ed to an increase in oocytes degeneration from the cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes. 2. The organic $Ca^{++}$ channel blocker, verapamil does not induce GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. Specially, higher dose of 1 mM verapamil induced GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. However, cytoplasm of GVBD oocytes in 1 mM verapamil treated groups appeared shrunk. In the cumulus-enclosed oocytes, polar body formation was reduced in verapamil treated groups and degeneration increased. Verapamil inhibit oocyte maturation (polar body formation). 3. The $Ca^{++}$ inhibitor, Nickel ($NiCl_{2.}$ $6H_2O$) inhibits maturation of the follicle-enclosed oocytes. In the cumulus-enclosed oocytes the progression to MII (PB formation) was reduced and degeneration of mouse oocytes increased as the concentration of $Ni^{++}$ increase. The results indicates that nickel act as an inhibitor of calcium. 4. The $Ca^{++}$ inhibitors, Lanthanum ($LaCl_{3.}$ $7H_2O$) has shown different effect from that of nickel. In follicle-enclosed oocytes, 0.01mM lanthanum induced maturation of mouse oocytes. Polar body formation was reduced in the cumulus-enclosed oocytes all lanthanum treated group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2016

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common and tissue-specific autoimmune disease of hair follicle resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Hair follicles is a unique organ because it has its own immune system and hormonal milieu and has a different immune state at each hair cycle stage. The collapses of anagen-dependent hair follicle immune privilege arise autoimmune attack, inducing ectopic MHC class I expression in the hair follicle epithelium and autoantigen presentation to autoreactive CD8+T cells, which results in AA. Clinical and experimental studies have pointed that psychological stress may also influence the hair follicle immune/hormone systems and contribute to the induction of AA. The key pathogenesis of AA is associated with immune privilege guardians (including ACTH, ${\alpha}-MSH$, and $TGF-{\beta}$), natural killer group 2D-positive (NKG2D+) cells (including NK and CD8+T cells), and stress hormones (including CRH and substance P). Effective treatments for AA are still demanded. One of the future targets of treatment will be the modification of hair follicle immune privilege including stress. Recent studies have reported that JAK inhibitors and immunomodulators used in other autoimmune disease, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, Tregs, platelet-rich plasma therapy, statins, and prostaglandin anaolgues are effective for AA. Here the article reviews the recent understanding in the pathogenesis associated with perifollicular endocrine/immunology and new treatments of AA.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.191-194
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• 2007

The purpose of the present study was to set up basic information of size and status of ovaries by using ultrasonography to retrieve in vivo matured oocytes with ovum pick- up method. Ovaries were collected from the abattoir in Jeju in May and June which is breeding season. When the size of ovaries on ultrasonography was compared with real size measured by caliper, no significant difference was shown (p<0.05). The number of preovulatory follicles (>21mm) was investigated with ultrasonography and naked eyes. Ultrasonography group had 0.83 preovulatory follicles per ovary and naked-eye group had 0.75 preovulatory follicle per ovary and their average size was 2.86 cm and 2.34 cm, respectively. The average number of follicle was 4.25 with ultrasonography and 4.38 with naked eyes. There was no significant difference considering the size of follicle and number of follicle between ultrasonography and actual size except for the size of preovulatory follicle, suggesting that information of ultrasonography is able to use for OPU or other reproductive technology of mare.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to find out the effect of yeast on hair loss treatment and the role of hair follicle stem cell activator, which is important in hair growth. The authors have recently produced a substance, which has no disgusting odor, does not precipitates and does not easily corrupt, to use instead of yeast acquired from raw rice wine(Makgeolli). The substance is named Yeast Constituent Extract(YCE). In this research, the Produced YCE was applied on the hair loss area of 10 Androgenic alopecia patients, twice every day for 6 months, in order to test the effect of hair loss treatment and the role of stem cell activator. As a result, all of the patients showed a significant growth of hair after 3 months of test, and showed much more growing, thickening and strengthening of hair after 6 months. As a result of measuring the number of hair strings in the same scalp region of the patients after 6 months, it is found that the density of hair has increased, indicating that the hair loss treatment was effective. Also the hair follicle stem cell was isolated from the patients and the contents of growth factors (IGF, VEGF, FGF, HGF) derived from hair follicle stem cell were measured with ELISA. As result, the amount is found to be about 10 times greater than before the test. The hair follicle stem cell contains many growth factors that affect growth of hair, so it takes a highly important role in hair loss treatment. The YCE that the authors have produced was found to be effective in increasing the contents of growth factors that are derived from hair follicle stem cell. Thus it can be inferred that the YCE plays a role as a stem cell activator that activates the hair follicle stem cells. In conclusion, the YCE is considered to be highly effective for hair loss treatment and to have a role as a stem cell activator.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2008

Objective: Significant portion of premature ovarian failure patients ovulate intermittently and even can achieve pregnancy. The clinical features and reproductive potentials of Korean women with premature ovarian failure have never been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to assess ovarian follicular growth and ovulatory potential. Methods: Complete medical records of fifteen women with idiopathic premature ovarian failure were reviewed retrospectively. Subjects with more than 6 ultrasonographic scans and 36 months of follow-up period were included. Once the ovarian follicle was found by ultrasonography, the follicular growth was serially monitored. The result of ovulation induction of 6 cycles in 4 patients were also evaluated. Rate of positive ovarian follicle by ultrasound, rate of natural follicular growth and response of ovulation induction were assessed. Results: Among the 15 patients, 6 women (40%) had ovarian follicle in random ultrasonography. But the chance of positive follicle per ultrasonography scan was 7% (8 out of 115 scans). One out of 6 women eventually ovulated during the follow-up scan. In remaining 5 subjects, size of follicles remained unchanged. None of 6 ovulation induction cycles resulted successful ovulation. Conclusion: Incidence of positive ovarian follicle in Korean premature ovarian failure patients is lower than that of Western counterpart. This result, however, could not be directly compared because of the differences of study design. The ovulation rate by medical ovulation induction in this group is 0%, which is worse than the reported success rate of Western studies.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 1988

The pattern of progesterone production and secretion of frog(R. dybowskii) follicles was investigated in follicle culture in vitro. Involvement of cAMP in the regulation of the steroid production by the follicles was also investigated by manipulating endogeneous cAMP level with forskolin and/or 3-isoburyl- 1 - methylxanthine(IBMX). Endogeneous follicular progesterone level increased rapidly in one hour of culture by treatment of frog pituitary homogenate(FPH) and reached peak level at 2 hours or later. But the absolute amount of progesterone produced (60-300 pg/follicle) or the peak time of the honnone level was different between individual animals. Basal level of progesterone in untreated sister follicles was very low (around 10 pg/follicle) and nearly undetectable in most cases regardless of culture lime. Secretion level of progesterone by the follicles obtained by measunng the honnone in the culture media was just the reflection of the intrafollicular level. Exogeneously added forskolin, an adenylate cyclase stimulator, and/or IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could mimic FPH action in terms of progesterone production and secretion. Thus, it seems clear that FPH regulates progesterone production via cAMP system in the follicle cells.