• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.54-61
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• 2023

Background: Germ cells undergo towards male or female pathways to produce spermatozoa or oocyte respectively which is essential for sexual reproduction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential of trans-differentiation to the multiple cell lineages. Methods: Herein, rat MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and characterized by their morphological features, expression of MSC surface markers, and in vitro differentiation capability. Results: Thereafter, we induced these cells only by retinoic acid supplementation in MSC medium and, could able to show that bone marrow derived MSCs are capable to trans-differentiate into male germ cell-like cells in vitro. We characterized these cells by morphological changes, the expressions of germ cell specific markers by immunophenotyping and molecular biology tools. Further, we quantified these differentiated cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that only Retinoic acid in culture medium could induce bone marrow MSCs to differentiate germ cell-like cells in vitro. This basic method of germ cell generation might be helpful in the prospective applications of this technology.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.75-81
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• 2018

Objective: Recapitulation of the spermatogenesis process in vitro is a tool for studying the biology of germ cells, and may lead to promising therapeutic strategies in the future. In this study, we attempted to transdifferentiate Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) into male germ cells using all-trans retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium. Methods: Human WJ-MSCs were propagated by the explant culture method, and cells at the second passage were induced with differentiation medium containing all-trans retinoic acid for 2 weeks. Putative germ cells were cultured with Sertoli cell-conditioned medium at $36^{\circ}C$ for 3 more weeks. Results: The gene expression profile was consistent with the stage-specific development of germ cells. The expression of Oct4 and Plzf (early germ cell markers) was diminished, while Stra8 (a premeiotic marker), Scp3 (a meiotic marker), and Acr and Prm1 (postmeiotic markers) were upregulated during the induction period. In morphological studies, approximately 5% of the cells were secondary spermatocytes that had completed two stages of acrosome formation (the Golgi phase and the cap phase). A few spermatid-like cells that had undergone the initial stage of tail formation were also noted. Conclusion: Human WJ-MSCs can be transdifferentiated into more advanced stages of germ cells by a simple two-step induction protocol using retinoic acid and Sertoli cell-conditioned medium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.33-44
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• 2015

The generation of artificial gametes is a real challenge for the scientific community today. In vitro development of human eggs and sperm will pave the way for the understanding of the complex process of human gametogenesis and will provide with human gametes for the study of infertility and the onset of some inherited disorders. However, the great promise of artificial gametes resides in their future application on reproductive treatments for all these people wishing to have genetically related children and for which gamete donation is now their unique option of parenthood. This is the case of infertile patients devoid of suitable gametes, same sex couples, singles and those fertile couples in a high risk of transmitting serious diseases to their progeny. In the search of the best method to obtain artificial gametes, many researchers have successfully obtained human germ cell-like cells from stem cells at different stages of differentiation. In the near future, this field will evolve to new methods providing not only viable but also functional and safe artificial germ cells. These artificial sperm and eggs should be able to recapitulate all the genetic and epigenetic processes needed for the correct gametogenesis, fertilization and embryogenesis leading to the birth of a healthy and fertile newborn.

• 한국환경독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.178-179
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• 2003

The testis is composed of four cell types like supporting cells, steroid-producing cells, connective tissue cells and germ cells. Apoptosis is a common phenomenon during spormatogenesis. Apoptosis of germ cells can also be induced by exposure to radiation. Previous studies have shown that most types of germ cells are rather radiosensitive while somatic cells in testis are much more radio-resistant. The somatic cells in testis are divided to mainly Sertoli and Leydig cells. Though somatic cells are more radio-resistant than germ cells, radiation can induce the impairment of their function. This damaged function of somatic cells may accelerates degeneration of germ cell indirectly. Tn the present study, we have examined the apoptotic effect of mouse testis and irradiation effect of steroidogenesis of Leydig cells after irradiation.

• 한국가금학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국가금학회 2001년도 제18차 정기총회 및 학술발표 PROCEEDINGS
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• pp.40-46
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• 2001

The use of pluripotent stem cells has tremendous advantages for various purposes but these cell lines with proven germ-line transmission have been completely established only in the mouse. Embryonic germ (EG) cell lines are also pluripotent and undifferentiated stem cells established from primordial germ cells (PGCs). This study was conducted to establish and characterize the chicken EG cells derived from gonadal primordial germ cells. We isolated gonadal PGCs from 5.5-day-old (stage 28) White leghorn (WL) embryos and established chicken EG cells lines with EG culture medium supplemented with human stem cell factor (hSCF), murine leukemia inhibitory factor (mLIF), bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), human interleukin-11 (hIL-11), and human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I). These cells grew continuously for 4 months (10 passages) on a feeder layer of mitotically active chicken embryonic fibroblasts. These cells were characterized by screening with the Periodic acid-Shiff＇s reaction, anti-SSEA-1 antibody, and a proliferation assay after several passages. As the results, the chicken EG cells maintained characteristics of undifferentiated stem cells as well as that of gonadal PGCs. When cultured in suspension, the chicken EG cells successfully formed an embryoid body and differentiated into a variety of cell types when re-seeded onto culture dish. The chicken EG cells were injected into blastodermal layer at stage X and dorsal aorta of recipient embryo at stage 14 (incubation of 53hrs) and produced chimeric chickens with various differentiated tissues derived from the EG cells. The germline chimeras were also successfully induced by using EG cells. Thus, Chicken EG cells will be useful for the production of transgenic chickena and for studies of germ cell differentiation and genomic imprinting.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권10호
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• pp.1407-1415
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• 2016

Isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are attractive for production of genetic modified offspring. In the present study, buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were isolated, cultured and expression pattern of different germ cell marker genes were determined. To recover spermatogonia, testes from age 3 to 7 months of buffalo were decapsulated, and seminiferous tubules were enzymatically dissociated. Two types of cells, immature sertoli cell and type A spermatogonia were observed in buffalo testes in this stage. Germ cell marker genes, OCT3/4 (Pou5f1), THY-1, c-kit, PGP9.5 (UCHL-1) and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, were determined to be expressed both in mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining in buffalo testes and buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, respectively. In the following, when the isolated buffalo buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were cultured in the medium supplemented 2.5% fetal bovine serum and 40 ng/mL glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor medium, SSCs proliferation efficiency and colony number were significantly improved than those of other groups (p<0.05). These findings may help in isolation and establishing long term in vitro culture system for buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, and accelerating the generation of genetic modified buffaloes.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.521-529
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• 1996

In an effort to obtain basic data of carbohydrate metabolism during spermiogenesis of the sexually-matured Jindo dog, the glycogen distribution in the testis was investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. Periodic acid thiocarbohydrazide silver proteinate physical development(PA-TCH-SP-PD) staining method provided better results in the detection of glycogen granules from Sertoli cells and germ cells than the periodic acid schiff(PAS) staining method did. Pre-treatment of the tissue sections with ${\alpha}$-amylase elicited a significant decrease in PA-TCH-SP-PD stained granules, which suggested that the stained granules were of glycogen origin. High concentration of the glycogen granules were observed in the Sertoli cells, especially in its column, sheet-like processes, club-like processes, and tubular processes. The glycogen granules were unevenly distributed in some Sertoli cell columns. These results strongly indicated that the Sertoli cells of Jindo dogs showed vigorous activity of carbohydrate metabolism.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2004

Ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury of the rat testis causes germ cell death and infiltration of inflammatory cells. To investigate the mechanism of germ cell death in torsion of the rat testis, apoptosis and macrophage activation were studied using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling(TUNEL) method and immunohistochemistry in the testes of Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to 1.5 h of ischemia, followed by 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 h of reperfusion. Apoptotic, TUNEL-positive cells were found at the base of the seminiferous epithelia after I/R. TUNEL-positive cells were significantly increased 6 h after repair of the torsion, and there was a significant peak in apoptosis 24 h after reperfusion, as compared with normal or sham-operated controls. In contrast, histological evidence of germ cell necrosis in the seminiferous tubules was first visible 24 h after reperfusion. In the testis of sham-operated rats, ED2-positive resident macrophages were found diffusely in the interstitial space, while ED1-positive monocyte-like macrophages were rarely found. After I/R, ED1-positive cells were significantly increased beginning 12 h after reperfusion, while ED2-positive immunoreactivity did not change during the experimental period. Together, the results of this study confirmed that increased numbers of ED1-positive macrophages, but not resident ED2-positive macrophages, infiltrated the interstitial space surrounding damaged tubules and induced germcell death.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.403-407
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• 2000

징거미새우의 정소는 간췌장의 배면 측상부에서 심장사이에 위치하며, 한 쌍의 소엽으로 이루어져 있고 각 소엽의 선단은 서로 연결되어 있다. 그리고 각 소엽은 수많은 세정관이 결합조직으로 연결되어 있다. 각 세정관은 생식세포와 지주세포가 밀착되어 있는 생식세포대를 제외한 부분은 낮은 입방상피에 의해 내강이 형성되어 있고, 세정관의 제일 바깥은 단층편평상피로 둘러싸여 있다. 세정관 사이에는 결합조직 외에 Leydig cell-like cell도 관찰된다. 단층편평상피세포는 얇은 측면으로 연결되어 있고 종종 이웃한 세포와 포개져 있다. 지주세포는 생식세포에 비해 그 수가 현저히 적고, 대부분 생식세포대의 가장자리에 위치하고 있다. 지주세포의 세포질은 기저판과 접해 있어 기저면과 생식세포 사이는 지주세포의 원형질에 의해 분리되어 있다. 지주세포의 핵은 대부분 각져 있고, 크고 현저한 인이 핵의 중심부에 위치하고 있다. 낮은 입방상피세포는 세정관의 기저판과 접하고 있는 기저면과 일부는 생식세포대와 내강 사이에 위치하고 있다. 입방상피세포의 세포질에서는 횡 방향의 크리스테가 발달된 미토콘드리아, 층상구조의 조면소포체 그리고 Golgi 복합체들이 매우 발달되어 있다. 그리고 조면소포체와 Golgi 복합체의 볼록한 형성면 사이에는 전이소낭이, Golgi 복합체의 성숙면에서는 분비소낭이 관찰되며, 상피세포의 선단에 수많은 홈들이 존재하는 점으로 보아 exocytosis에 의해 내강으로의 물질 분비가 이루어지는 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.9-19
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• 2015

피뿔고둥, Rapana venosa의 정소소엽 내에서 정자형성과정 중에 생성되는 정상적인 생식세포의 발달과 함께 섞이어 일정 시기에만 출현하는 비정형세포들을 미세구조적으로 관찰하였고, 또한 정소 발달단계에 따른 저정낭 내층 상피세포들의 주기적 변화를 조직학적 관찰에 의해 조사하였다. 생식세포의 발달단계는 정원세포기, 정모세포기, 정세포기, 정자기로 나누어지며, 정모세포기는 다시 제1 정모세포기와 제2 정모세포기로 세분할 수 있어, 총 5 단계로 구분할 수 있었다. 정상적인 웅성생식세포들의 분화와 발달과정은 다른 복족류 종들과 유사하였다. 정자는 길이가 대략 $50{\mu}m$ 정도이었다. 정자의 미부 편모의 악소님 (axoneme) 은 주변에 9쌍의 미세소관들과 중앙에 1쌍의 미세소관들로 구성되어 있다. 즉, 9+2 구조를 이루고 있다. 특히, 대형 복족류 중 뿔소라과 피뿔고둥의 경우는 예외적으로 다른 이매패류나 두족류 등과 달리 정소소엽 내에서 정자형성과정 중에 정상적인 생식세포들 사이에서 총 4종 (Type IA, IB, Type IIA, IIB) 의 비정형세포들 (atypical cells) 이 함께 출현하는 특징을 보이고 있는데, 이러한 현상은 대형 복족류의 단지 소수의 종들에 한하여 출현하는 예외적인 특이한 현상이라 할 수 있다. 그러나 비정형세포들은 저정낭의 여러 단계 중 내층 상피세포들 내에서는 발견되지 않았다. 추측컨대 몇 가지 비정형세포들은 리소좀-모양의 공포들이나 리소좀-모양의 소체들을 가지는데, 이들은 정소소엽 내에서 붕괴나 그 자신들의 흡수에 관여하는 것으로 추정된다. 상당량의 정자들이 정소소엽 내에서 형성되어, 그들의 일부는 7월 말까지 정소에서 저정낭으로 이동된다. 교미 성기는 6-7 월 사이이었다. 피뿔고둥 저정낭 발달단계의 주기적 변화는 (1) S-1 단계 (휴지단계), (2) S-II 단계 (축적단계), 그리고 S-III 단계 (배정단계) 의 3 단계로 구분되었다.