• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2015

The present study was aimed at investigating the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg diet) on serum hormones, morphologic and apoptotic measurements of genital organs in post-weaning gilts. A total of twenty gilts ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) weaned at 21 d with an average body weight of $10.36{\pm}1.21kg$ were used in the study. Gilts were fed a basal diet with an addition of 0, 1.1, 2.0, or 3.2 mg/kg purified ZEA for 18 d ad libitum. Results showed that 3.2 mg/kg ZEA challenged gilts decreased (p<0.05) the serum levels of luteinizing hormone, however, serum levels of prolactin in gilts fed the diet containing 2.0 mg/kg ZEA or more were increased (p<0.05) compared to those in the control. Linear effects on all tested serum hormones except progesterone were observed as dietary ZEA levels increased (p<0.05). Gilts fed ZEA-contaminated diet showed increase (p<0.05) in genital organs size, hyperplasia of submucosal smooth muscles in the corpus uteri in a dose-dependent manner. However, the decreased numbers of follicles in the cortex and apoptotic cells in the ovarian were observed in gilts treated with ZEA in a dose-dependent manner. Degeneration and structural abnormalities of genital organs tissues were also observed in the gilts fed diet containing 1.1 mg/kg ZEA or more. Results suggested that dietary ZEA at 1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg can induce endocrine disturbance and damage genital organs in post-weaning gilts.

• 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.32 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2002

Spermatogenesis and sperm ultrastructure are investigated by means of light and transmission electron microscopy in the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis which is dominant bivalve in the east coast of Korea. In the active spermatogenic season, testis consists of numerous spermatogenic follicles which is contains germ cells in the different developmental stage. The spermatogonia attached to spermatogenic follicle wall and has a large nucleus with electron-dense nucleolus. The spermatocytes are characterized by appearance of synaptonemal complex and well-developed Golgi complex. Nucleus of spermatid consists of numerous heterogeneous granules with high electron density. Karyoplasmic condensation, acrosome and flagellum formations are observed during spermiogenesis. Testicular matured sperms of sperm bundle consists of head, midpiece and tail. The head is about $8.5{\mu}m$ long and comprises a long nucleus and a bullet-like acrosome ($8.5{\mu}m$ in length). Acrosomal rod of microfilaments is observed in the lumen between nucleus and acrosome. The midpiece has four mitochondria. And tail has the typical '9+2' microtubule system.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 1988

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects of culture temperature and time on the in vitro maturation and semen type and media on the in vitro fertilization of bovine follicular oocytes, and to asses in vitro fertilization rate of oocytes cultured by extraffollicular method following fertilization in vitro, or transfer into the pseudopregnant rabbit oviduct or uterus. The bovine oocytes recovered from follicles were cultrued for 18 hrs or 72hrs at 38$^{\circ}C$ with 5% CO2 in moist air. Flesh-diluted(2 folds) and frozen-thawed semen in 0.5ml straw from a fertile bull were used. In order to obtain capacitation of spermatozoa were treated with bovine follicular fluids(BFF) and Inophore A(IA). The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The oocytes were classified as "A, B, C, D and Degenerative" depending morphological integrity and those were 62.0%, 12.0%, 17.2%, 5.9% and 3.0% of the total oocytes harvested, respectively. 2. The oocytes matured to metaphase II were significantly increased between 24-48hrs of incubation and at 37-39$^{\circ}C$ with 5% CO2 in moist air. 3. The in vitro fertilization rate following transferred into rabbit oviduct or uterus with bull semen and in vitro matured oocytes were higher ligation than non-ligation of oviduct or uterus. 4. The in vitro fertilization rate of oocytes matured in vitro were higher neat than frozen semen and treatment of IA than BFF on the capacitation of spermatozoa. 5. The effects of semen types and media on in vitro fertilization of oocytes matured in vitro were higher fertilization rate of neat than friozen semen, and media was not significant.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 1997

We determined the effects of follicular fluid fractions in the maturation medium on bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development, as well as on number of cells in blastocysts following culture. Follicular fluid and oocytes from bovine follicles less than 5 mm in diameter were collected from the ovaries of slaughtered cows. Follicular fluid was separated into different molecular weight fractions by untrafiltration through a membrane using a centrifuge at 500$\times$g, for 2h. For the maturation medium, follicular fluid fractions (30%, v/v), whole fluid (30%) or PVP(3mg/ml) were added to TCM 199(0.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol-17$\beta$, 100IU hCG). After maturation for 24h, oocytes were fertilized in vitro with bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa and cultured on a monolayer of granulosa cells for 9 days after fertilization. There were no differences in maturation rates or fertilization rates among any maturation conditions. The rates of development to >2-cell stage of the oocytes were significantly decreased when fraction of follicular fluid below 10,000 MW were added into maturation medium, compared with control and fraction above 10,000 MW(26.0% vs 40.8% to 64.0%, respectveily. p<0.01). Likewise, the rates of development to blastocysts of fertilized oocytes were significantly decreased in maturation medium containing fraction of follicular fluid (<10,000 MW). The average cell number of blastocysts derived from oocytes that matured in the fraction(>10,000 MW) of follicular fluid was 154.7$\pm$13.7. These embryos contained more cells than those matured in whole follicular fluid, or the fraction(<10, 000 MW) of follicular fluid or control(107.0$\pm$8.4, 91.8$\pm$11.8 and 95.8$\pm$6.2, respectively). In conclusion, we found that fractions of follicular fluid contained factors stimulating or inhibiting oocyte cytoplasmic matruation. These suggest that a factor(s) inducing cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes may exist in >10,000 MW fraction of follicular fluid.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.155-159
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to determine physiological and mechanical factors effecting on the pregnancy rates following artificial insemination in dairy cattle. Estrus for artificial insemination of cows was checked whether the outflow of mucus from the elements was out flow or not. There were no significant difference of gestation rates with mucus release (31.76%) and without mucus release (24.03%). The pregnancy rates were 39.02% in 10~20mm of follicle size group and 27.08% (p<0.05) in 20~30mm diameter of the follicles. There were not different pregnancy rates between twice inseminated dairy cattle and more than 3 times inseminated cattle. The pregnancy rate was 28.57% under automatic milking system. In contrast, under artificial milking system pregnancy rate was 56.85%. Two systems significantly (p<0.05) were different. These results suggest that pregnancy rates were not effected by physiological system, but mechanical condition.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2015

The objectives of the present study were to select an effective basic medium including its hormone and protein supplementation for IVM of oocytes of indigenous zebu cows. The ovaries of cows were collected from slaughter house and the follicular fluid was aspirated from 2 to 8 mm diameter follicles. The COCs with more than 3 cumulus cell layers and homogenous cytoplasm were selected for maturation. The oocytes were matured in media for 24 hrs at $39^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$ in humidified air. The maturation of oocytes was evaluated by examining the presence of first polar body under microscope. An efficient basic medium was determined after culturing COCs in either TCM 199 or SOF medium in Experiment 1. An efficient hormone supplementation was determined after culturing COCs in either FSH or gonadotrophin supplemented TCM 199 in Experiment 2. An efficient protein supplementation was determined after culturing COCs in either FBS or Oestrous cow serum (OCS) supplemented TCM 199 in Experiment 3. The oocyte recovery rate per ovary was 3.35. The overall rate of IVM was 74.6%. The maturation rate was $75.5{\pm}3.9$ and $62.2{\pm}20.2%$ in TCM and SOF medium, respectively (P>0.05). The maturation rate of oocytes was significantly higher ($76.6{\pm}13.2%$) in FSH supplemented medium than gonadotrphin supplemented counterpart ($69.7{\pm}10.8%$) (P<0.05). The maturation rates of oocytes were $81.7{\pm}12.9$ and $85.7{\pm}12.7%$ in medium supplemented with FBS and OCS, respectively (P>0.05). In conclusions, both TCM 199 and SOF supplemented with either FBS or OCS, and FSH may be used as medium for IVM of indigenous zebu oocytes in Bangladesh.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 1998

There is a lot of difficulty in the diagnosis of follicular lesions of the thyroid by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). The main purpose of this report is offering more guidance regarding the cytologic appearance to distinguish follicular neoplasm from nodular golfer and laying stress on the presence of mixed group. The histologic and cytologic findings of 23 follicular neoplasms and 13 nodular (adenomatous) getters were reviewed. Histologic specimens were classified into the microfollicular(MIF), mixed(MIX), and nodular getter(NG) groups. The comparison of histologic patterns with histologic diagnosis revealed that all the lesions with predominantly microfollicular, trabecular, or solid pattern were follicular carcinoma and all the lesions with predominantly macrofollicular pattern were nodular goiter. The distinguishing cytologic features for the MIF group were irregular cell arrangement in cell groups(100%, p=0.00001), absence of atrophic follicular cells(100%, p=0.0007), abundant microfollicles(100%, 0=0.002), pleomorphic nuclei(100%, p=0.002), not predominant syncytial smear pattern(100%, p=0.002), heterochromatin(100%, p=0.032), absence of macrofollicles(100%, p=0.038), scant colloid(100%, 0=0.04), clear back-ground(83%, p=0.00006), and uniform sized follicles(83%, p=0.014). And regular cell arrangement(honeycomb appearance) in cell groups(85%, p=0.0000), atrophic change of follicular cells(69%, p=0.0002), syncytial smear pattern(54%, p=0.000), monomorphic nuclei(85%, p=0.008), and hemorrhagic background(100%, p=0.027) were characteristic features of the NG group. Seventeen out of 36 cases(47%) were the MIX group composed of combined cytologic features of the MIF and NG groups. Therefore the frequent presence of the MIX group is considered to be main cause of the difficulty in the diagnosis of follicular lesions by FNAC. The mixed morphologic feature may support the hypothesis of a biologic 'continuum' between nodular goiter and follicular neoplasm of thyroid gland.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1995

The immune system is partially under the control of the sympathetic and parasymphathetic nervous systems through the regulatory feedback loop. Methamphetamine (MA) is a neurotoxic chemical which affects the neurotransmitter system. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunotoxic effect of MA on the major immune target organ and lymphocyte proliferation to the various mitogens. Female Balb/C mice, 15 to 20 g, were injected subcutaneously with 0, 0.5, or 5 mg MA/kg for 14 consecutive days. In MA treated mice, the body weight gain and relative spleen and thymus weight were decreased in doserelated manner. Histopathologically, there was a paucity of lymphold follicles and germinal centers in the spleen, and thymic cortical atrophy with lymphophagocytosis was prominent. Apoptosis also occurred in germinal centers of spleen and thymic cortex. The threshold and peak of lymphocyte proliferation at various concentration of mitogens showed similar patterns. However, the response to lipopolysaccaride (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in the 5 mg MA/kg treated group showed threshold and peak proliferation at high concentration of mitogens (25${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for MA vs 15${\mu}g$ LPS/ml for control; 60${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for MA vs 45${\mu}g$ PWM/ml for control), which suggest that MA impairs T cell dependent-B cell function. This preliminary study indicated that MA affected the lymphold organs and immune function.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine the hair growth effects of lavender oil (LO) in female C57BL/6 mice. The experimental animals were divided into a normal group (N: saline), a vehicle control group (VC: jojoba oil), a positive control group (PC: 3% minoxidil), experimental group 1 (E1: 3% LO), and experimental group 2 (E2: 5% LO). Test compound solutions were topically applied to the backs of the mice ($100{\mu}L$ per application), once per day, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks. The changes in hair follicle number, dermal thickness, and hair follicle depth were observed in skin tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and the number of mast cells was measured in the dermal and hypodermal layers stained with toluidine blue. PC, E1, and E2 groups showed a significantly increased number of hair follicles, deepened hair follicle depth, and thickened dermal layer, along with a significantly decreased number of mast cells compared to the N group. These results indicated that LO has a marked hair growth-promoting effect, as observed morphologically and histologically. There was no significant difference in the weight of the thymus among the groups. However, both absolute and relative weights of the spleen were significantly higher in the PC group than in the N, VC, E1, or E2 group at week 4. Thus, LO could be practically applied as a hair growth-promoting agent.