• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.365-370
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• 2021

Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is present at high rates of density in tidal flats in Cheonsu Bay on the west coast of Korea, where clams often exhibit mass mortalities in late summer. We monitored the pathologic condition of clams at Hwangdo tidal flat (HD) to understand the parasitic impacts on clam fitness. Manila clams were fully ripe in July and spawned during August and September, as the histology indicated. The histology revealed that clams in HD tidal flats were heavily infected by the protozoa parasite Perkinsus olseni, as the monthly prevalence ranged from 53% (September) to 93% (August). In addition, Manila clams were co-infected by the metazoan parasite Cercaria tapetis and Parvatrema duboisi with the prevalence of 0-33% and 0-14%, respectively. Massive hemocyte infiltration and subsequent inflammation were commonly observed from the gills of P. olseni infected clams. Clusters of P. olseni trophozoites and heavy hemocyte infiltration were also observed from the female gonad, suggesting that P. olseni interferes with host gonad maturation. The larval trematode occupied almost the entire host gonad, resulting in gonad castration. In addition, Metacercaria of P. duboisi were observed from the subsurface of the mantle. Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium assay (RFTM) indicated that clams collected in August and September contained approximately 4.0×106 P. olseni cells/g gills. Condition Index (CI) declined gradually from spring to early summer, and the decline in CI was interpreted as a consequence of the heavy parasitism, as the parasites drain the host's net energy to be used in somatic growth and gamete production.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.437-445
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• 2021

Roughscale sole (Clidoderma asperrimum) is only wild caught because basic reproductive research on this species is lacking and gamete production in an artificial setting has not been successful. Exogenous hormone treatment has been used to induce gonadal maturation and final spermiation in wild-caught individuals. In this study, the effects of an exogenous hormone on spermiation in roughscale sole was investigated by implanting different concentrations of a salmon gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analog (sGnRH; 0, 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/kg body weight) into male fishes. The control group did not produce sperm after 21 days post-implantation, and the duration of spermiation was shorter compared to the other groups. The spermiation period and milt amount differed among the hormone-treated groups according to the hormone concentration used. Milt volumes in the groups treated with 25 and 100 ㎍/kg sGnRH increased compared to the control group, whereas exogenous hormone treatment had no effect on the movable sperm ratio. The spermatocrit was high at the beginning of spermiation in all groups and then tended to decrease gradually over time except in the experimental group treated with 100 ㎍/kg sGnRH. Plasma levels of testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one were not significantly affected by the sGnRH treatments. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to prolong the spermiation period and increase milt volume by treating male roughscale soles with an exogenous hormone. In addition, the artificial hormone treatment did not affect sperm motility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.26-32
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• 2022

Objective: We investigated the effect of supplementing fertilization medium and/or culture medium with astaxanthin (AST) on the two phases of in vitro fertilization: gamete fertilization and embryo development. Methods: Mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes were divided into four groups with 5 µM AST added to the fertilization medium (group 3, n=300), culture medium (group 2, n=300), or both media (group 4, n=290). No AST was added to the control group (group 1, n=300). Results: The fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the groups using AST supplemented fertilization medium (group 3, 79.0%; group 4, 81.4%) than those without AST (group 1, 56.3%; group 2, 52.3%). The blastocyst rate calculated from the two-cell stage was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the groups using AST-supplemented embryo culture medium (group 2, 58.0%; group 4, 62.3%) than in those without AST (group 1, 82.8%; group 3, 79.8%). The blastocyst rate calculated from the number of inseminated oocytes was highest in group 3 (189/300, 63.0%) and lowest in group 2 (91/300, 30.3%) with statistical significance compared to other groups (p<0.001). There were significantly higher numbers of cells in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm, as well as significantly higher total blastocyst cell counts, in group 3 than in the control group. Conclusion: An increased blastocyst formation rate and high-quality blastocysts were found only in the fertilization medium that had been supplemented with AST. In contrast, AST supplementation of the embryo culture medium was found to impair embryo development.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.70-76
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• 2023

Background: Despite considerable technological advancements, polyspermy remains a significant challenge in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in pigs, disrupting normal embryonic development. Here, we aimed to determine whether optimal fertilization conditions reduce the polyspermy incidence in pigs. Methods: In vitro-matured oocytes were co-incubated with sperm according to a modified two-step culture system. Results: In the first experiment, oocytes were briefly co-incubated with sperm, washed in IVF medium, and then moved to fresh IVF medium for 5 or 6 h. Although the 6 h sperm-free cultured group had a higher penetration rate than the 5 h cultured group, the polyspermy rate significantly increased in the 6 h sperm-free cultured group. The gamete co-incubation period was either 20 or 40 min. The 40 min cultured group had a higher rate of blastocyst formation and number of total cells in blastocysts than the 20 min cultured group. In experiment 2, oocytes were inseminated with sperm separated by Pecroll treatment. Percoll treatment increased the rate of oocyte penetration and blastocyst formation compared to the control. In experiment 3, fertilized oocytes were cultured in 25 µL microdroplets (10 gametes/drop) or 500 µL (100 gametes/well) of culture medium in 4-well plates. The large volume of medium significantly reduced the number of dead oocytes and increased the rate of blastocyst formation compared to the small volume. Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate that various fertilization conditions, including modified co-culture period, active sperm separation, and culture medium volume, enhance fertilization efficiency and subsequent embryonic development by decreasing polyspermy occurrence.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.101-115
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• 2023

Environmental factors impact oyster growth, condition, and gonadal development, which is linked to gamete characteristics observed through histology. The reproductive cycle of bivalves is related to energy storage and utilization. Therefore, in this study, the year-round growth change and gonadal development of oysters were observed using histological analysis, and the biochemical composition changes were confirmed. The oysters used in this study are being nurtured in Gadeok-do, and 40 oysters were randomly sampled monthly from March 2021 to February 2022. Result of histological analysis of gonads, oysters were showed early development from December to February, late development from March and April, mature and ripe from May to July, spawned from August to October, and spent from November to December. Condition index values of oysters decreased in summer and autumn and increased again when entered the spent after spawning. The protein content of oysters was high in May, the maturity period, and the lipid content decreased during the spawning period. In addition, EPA and DHA, the major fatty acids of oysters, were low during the spawning period and high during the maturation period. As a result, this study suggested a close relationship between changes in oyster growth, biochemical composition, and the reproductive cycle.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.100-121
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• 2017

이 논문은 다세포 녹색식물의 조상으로 생각되는 단세포인 수염녹두말속(Chlamydomonas) 녹조의 복잡한 유성생식 과정을 종합적으로 이해하기 위해서 기술되었다. 모델생물로 알려진 클래미도모나스 레인하르티(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)의 유성생식 생활사는 배우자발생, 배우자 활성화, 세포융합, 접합자 성숙, 감수분열과 발아 등의 다섯 시기로 구별된다. 배우자발생은 서식지에서 질소가 결핍되어 시작된다. 그 결과, 교배형 유전자자리($MT^+$ 또는 $MT^-$)에 의해 조절된 두 가지 교배형($mt^+$ 및 $mt^-$)의 배우자들이 발생된다. 유성생식을 위한 두 번째 자극원인 청색광이 교배능력을 갖고 있지 않는 예비배우자 세포에 조사되면 교배능력을 가진 배우자로 분화된다. 배우자발생의 초기에, 두 배우자 세포들은 응집소(agglutin) 분자들을 합성한다. 즉, $mt^+$ 응집소 및 $mt^-$ 응집소는 상염색체에 있는 성응집(SAG1) 및 성접착(SAD1) 유전자들이 발현되어 각각 합성된다. 응집소들에 의해서 두 배우자 세포들의 편모가 접착되면 cAMP가 신호전달 경로를 작동시켜서 편모의 끝 부부을 활성화시킨다. cAMP의 신호에 반응하여 두 배우자들의 세포벽이 벗겨지고 2개의 편모 사이에서 각각의 교배구조(mating structure)가 발달한다. 교배구조의 원형질막에는 $mt^+$ 및 $mt^-$ 배우자-특이 융합 단백질인 Fus1 및 Hap2/Gcs1이 있다. 이 단백질들의 상호작용으로 두 교배구조가 접촉되면, 두 배우자 사이에 세포질이 연결되어 수정세관(fertilization tubule)이 발달한다. $mt^+$ 및 $mt^-$ 배우자들의 핵과 엽록체가 융합되면 2배체의 접합자가 형성된다. 그 후 배우자들의 특성은 사라지며 융합단백질들(Fus1 및 Hap2)이 분해되고 접합자-특이(zygote-specific) 유전자들이 활성화 된다. 접합자는 24시간에 걸쳐 두꺼운 세포벽을 가진 접합포자(zygospore)로 발달한다. 어린 접합자에서 교배 후 60분 이내에 $mt^-$ 엽록체 DNA와 $mt^+$ 미토콘드리아 DNA가 선택적으로 제거된다. 따라서 이 두 소기관들은 각각 $mt^-$ 미토콘드리아 DNA와 $mt^+$ 엽록체 DNA만 남아서 단친유전(uniparental inheritance)이 이루어진다. 적당한 조건이 되면 접합포자가 감수분열과 발아 과정을 거쳐 반수체 영양세포가 방출되어 새로운 세대가 다시 시작된다.

• 식물조직배양학회지
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.261-266
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• 1995

감귤류 속간교잡에 의하여 왜성화되고 내한성이 강한 신품종 개발에 대한 연구로서 황금유자와 탱자, 유자와 탱자의 정역교잡 및 잡종종자의 미숙배주 배양을 하였던 바 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 미숙배주의 callus형성은 탱자 < 유자 < 황금유자 $\times$ 탱자 < 황금유자 순서로 양호했는데, 1 ~ 3 mg/L + zeatin 0.5 mg/L 처리구에서 제일 좋았다. 황금유자와 탱자의 정역속간교잡 20주 후 기내에서의 발아율은 황금유자 $\times$ 탱자의 잡종이 41.3%, 탱자 $\times$ 황금유자의 잡종에서는 37.7%를 보였다. 황금유자 $\times$ 탱자의 F$_1$ 잡종 95%와 탱자 $\times$ 황금유자의 F$_1$ 잡종 100%는 탱자를 닮았다. 황금유자 $\times$ 탱자의 수분 후 3시간이면 화분은 계두상에서 발아하고, 24~28시간이면 화분관이 주공에 진입하며, 2일이면 극핵과 수정하며, 3일이면 난세포와 수정한다. 속간교잡의 결과율은 황금유자 $\times$ 탱자가 14.0%, 탱자 $\times$ 황금유자가 17.5%이었다. 황금유자와 탱자의 인공자가수정 결과율은 각각 45.4%, 27.5%이었으며 인공 타가수정 결과율은 34.2%, 39.5% 이었고, 단위결과율은 3.1%, 1.4%이였다. 또한 자연상 태에서의 결과율은 각각 13.0%, 3.0% 이었다. 황금유자, 유자, 탱자의 체세포와 생식세포 염색체수는 모두 2n=18, n=9 이었다.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.326-335
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• 2015

감귤은 전 세계적으로 가장 많이 생산되는 주요 과수작물이고 비타민 C와 구연산 및 감귤 고유의 플라보노이드를 비롯한 다양한 기능성 성분으로 인해 건강 기능성 식품 소재로도 각광받고 있다. 그러나 긴 유년기와 배우체 불임, 주심배 발생 및 고도의 유전적 잡종성 등 감귤 특유의 생식생물학적 특성으로 인해 교배를 통한 전통 육종의 품종개발에 있어서는 가장 어려운 작물에 속한다. 지구 온난화, 소비자 욕구 변화 등으로 인해 고품질 감귤의 안정적 생산과 품종 다양화를 위한 체계적 육종 프로그램의 도입이 시급한 실정이다. 감귤에서도 분자 육종 프로그램을 통한 품종 육성을 위해 세계적으로 가장 많이 재배되는 스위트 오렌지와 클레멘타인 만다린에 대한 고품질 표준 유전체 정보가 최근에 확보되었다. 표준유전체 서열을 기반으로 다양한 품종 및 교배집단들에 대한 유전체 해독, 비교유전체 분석, GBS 등을 통해 형질연관 마커 발굴, 유전자 기능 연구 등이 이루어질 것으로 전망된다. 아울러 다양한 전사체 분석이 이루어지고 있으며, 유전자 기능 및 유전자 co-expression 네트워크의 이해를 증진할 수 있을 것이다. 유전체 및 전사체 분석을 통해 확보한 대규모 SNP, InDel 및 SSR의 다형성 분자마커 big data를 이용한 고밀도 연관 및 물리 지도 작성이 이루어지고 있고, 궁극적으로 통합지도 작성이 이루어지게 될 것이다. 이를 통해 가까운 장래에 감귤 특이 주요 농업형질 연관 유전자의 정확도 높은 map-based 클로닝 및 빠르고 효율적인 분자표지 선발육종이 이루어질 것이다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.336-343
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• 2011

The neurotrophins, required for the survival and differentiation of the nervous system, are known to be important for the development of the reproductive tissues. However, the signals initiating the growth of follicles, gamete development, and transport and the development of zygote in the reproductive system of cows remain ambiguous. The purpose of the present study was to identify the transcripts and proteins of Neurotrophin 4 (NT4) and its receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) in bovine reproductive tissues. The transcripts and immunoreactivity of NT4 and TrkB proteins were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Using immunohistochemistry, the specific immunoreactivity of NT4 and TrkB were detected in the oocytes of primordial follicles and in the growing primary follicles. The NT4 and TrkB immunoreactivity was predominantly observed in granulosa cells, cumulus granulosa cells, cumulus oocyte complexes, theca cells of mature follicles, as well as in the oviduct epithelial cells, uterine gland cell, and epithelium cells of the uterus during the follicular and luteal phases in cows. Expressions of NT4 and TrkB mRNAs were not significantly different among the ovary, oviduct, and uterus of the follicular phase. For the luteal phase, the expression of NT4 mRNA in the ovary was significantly higher than that in the oviduct and uterus, and the expression of TrkB mRNA in the oviduct was significantly higher than that in the ovary and uterus, as determined by fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression of NT4 mRNA was significantly higher than that of TrkB mRNA in the ovary and uterus, whereas NT4 mRNA expression was lower than that of TrkB mRNA in the oviduct during the luteal phase. The present study hypothesizes that NT4 participates in the regulation of both gonads and extra-gonadal reproductive tissues in cows.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제90권6호
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• pp.717-724
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• 2001

본 연구는 1979년에 조성된 해송 채종원에서 6년간(1995~2000년) 개화량를 조사하여 얻은 자료를 토대로 생식과정에 관계된 몇 가지 특성들을 계량화 하고자 하였다. 전체 60개 클론 중 18개 클론(30%)이 차지하는 자화의 상대적인 기여도는 0.37(1999)~0.46(1995), 웅화는 0.44(1999)~0.57(1995)로 자화보다 다소 높게 나타났으며 소수 클론에 의해 편중되는 현상이 다른 수종에 비하여 작게 나타났다. 배우체(v♀, v♂) 수준에서 상대적인 유효집단수는 각각 0.59(1995)~0.91(1999)과 0.56(1995)~0.83(1998), 접합체($v_b$) 수준에서는 0.72(1995)~0.93(1999)으로 추정되어 자성배우체가 웅성배우체보다 많게 나타났다. 웅화 개화량에 대한 평균지수는 전체 클론의 73% 이상이 0.4~0.6($0.5{\pm}0.1$)의 값을 나타내었으며, 연도간에는 73%(1996)~100%(2000)로 다양하게 나타났다. 성적 불균형도($A_s$)는 0.09~0.26으로 추정되어 다른 수종에 비해 상대적으로 낮아 높은 유전적 균일성을 나타내었다. 모든 유효집단수 간에는 정의 상관을 보였으며, 성적 불균형도는 모든 유효집단수와 부의 상관을 나타내었다.