• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.683-689
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• 2006

This study was established to investigate the effect of germanium-fortified yeasts on the serum lipid composition and immune system of human body. All 50 subjects with the age range of $50{\sim}75$ were entered in this clinical trial for 6 months. The effects were determined by the proliferative responses of immune-mediated cells, T-cell, B-cell and NK-cell during daily supplementation with/without germanium-fortified yeast. The results of hematology and blood chemistry didn't show any significant differences during administration periods. Serum lipid compositions also didn't show any significant differences during administration periods except triglyceride (TG) and VLDL-cholesterol. TG and VLDL-cholesterol levels were increased significantly by the consumption of germanium-fortified yeast (p<0.05). Immune mediated T-celt and NK-cell didn't increased in both control and test group supplemented with germanium fortified yeast, while B-cell increased in the germanium fortified yeast group after 8 week (p<0.05). Also $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased in the group of germanium fortified yeast after 8 week (p<0.05) but not in the control group. From the above results, germanium fortified yeast is expected to be useful on the improvement of the cellular immune response and protection of organs from various chronic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.995-1004
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• 2007

Purpose : Kawasaki disease is a systemic vasculitis, leading cause of pediatric acquired heart disease. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has functions as vascular permeability factor, plays an important role in coronary artery lesion (CAL). We studied the clinical significance of serum VEGF in Kawasaki disease. Methods : Kawasaki group was 49 patients, and control group was 15 patients. Diagnosis followed AHA (American Heart Association) diagnostic criteria, with blood sampling in acute, subacute, and convalescent phase. Echocardiographic abnormalities were defined and the definition of intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG)-responsive and IVGG-resistant was determined. Results : Serum VEGF of Kawasaki group was significantly higher than of control group. Comparison of serum VEGF between CAL and non-CAL group, between carditis group and non-carditis group showed no significant differences. Subacute serum VEGF was statistically higher in IVGG-resistant group than in IVGG-responsive group, and serum VEGF of IVGG-resistant group in subacute phase was statistically higher than in the other phases. Serum VEGF of convalescent CAL and non-CAL group in acute and subacute phase had meaningful differences. Total fever duration and subacute serum VEGF had positive correlation. Acute serum VEGF had positive correlation with ESR and CRP, all phases serum VEGF had also positive correlation with WBC. Acute and subacute serum VEGF had negative correlations with hemoglobin and albumin. Conclusion : Serum VEGF can help to determine the severity of Kawasaki disease, especially subacute serum VEGF seems to be used as a prognostic factor of coronary complication. Afterward, further studies needed with more strict diagnostic criteria and more study groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.790-800
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• 2017

As men get older, total testosterone levels decline gradually, and concentrations of free and bioavailable testosterone decline sharply with each decade beyond their 30s. Andropause or testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is defined as a decrease in sexual satisfaction or decline in general well-being accompanied by low levels of testosterone in older men. This male climacteric is characterized by nervousness, reduced potency, decreased libido, irritability, fatigue, depression, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and hot flushes. Cirsium japonicum (CJ) is used as a traditional medicine for hemorrhage, blood congestion, and inflammation in Korea. However, there is no report on the efficacy of CJ treatment for TDS. In this study, we observed the mitigating effect of CJ extract (CE) and fermented CJ extract (FCE) on symptoms of TDS. In elderly male rats, total and testosterone levels, hind limbs muscles, forced swimming time, and total and motile sperm counts significantly increased after daily intake of CE and FCE for 6 weeks. In contrast, sex hormone binding globulin, retroperitoneal fat, total serum cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in CE and FCE groups. However, there was no difference in prostate specific antigen, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels among all groups, which means CE and FCE did not have putative adverse effects. In a cell experiment, we also observed that CE and FCE enhanced expression of genes related to testosterone biosynthesis but reduced genes involved in testosterone conversion. On the whole, these positive effects on TDS were greater in FCE compared to CE. Thus, these results suggest the potential of FCE as a promising natural product for recovering testosterone levels and alleviating TDS.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.579-584
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• 2009

In this experiment, three different diets were produced to investigate the effects of Jeju native chicken eggs fed with citrus peel on the profiles of rats. The first diet did not contain any eggs (TS), the second diet contained 10% eggs and no citrus peels (T0), and the third diet contained 10% chicken egg with citrus peels (T1). These diets were provided to 11-week-old male rats for four weeks. The weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were not significantly different between the three treatment groups, TS, T0, and T1. The weight of the liver was significantly higher in T0 and T1 than TS (p<0.05), but the weights of the kidney and epididymal fat pad were not significantly different between the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The total lipid, phospholipid, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol did not significantly difference among the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The HDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/ total cholesterol of T1 were the highest among the groups, and the atherogenic index of T1 was the lowest among the groups (p<0.05). The total protein of TS was significantly lower in T0 and T1, and the albumin of T1 was the highest among the groups (p<0.05). The albumin/globulin ratio of TS was significantly higher in T0 and T1, but the creatinine of T0 was significantly higher in T0 and T1 (p<0.05). The blood sugar and blood pigment were not significantly different between the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The $\gamma$-GTP of T1 was the lowest among the groups (p<0.05), but the ALT, AST and ALP did not show significant difference among the TS, T0, and T1 groups.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-39
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• 1971

The purpose of present study was to investigate the possibility to immunize guineapigs and swine against Metastrongylus apri infection by the administration of irradiated infective larvae. Four main experiments were undertaken. Firstly, three groups of infective larvae irradiated at $3{\times}10^4r$, $4{\times}10^4r$, and $5{\times}10^4r$ respectively were inoculated to guineapigs and their immunogenic effects were examined from the clinical, anatomical, and serological viewpoints to decide the optimal dose of X-ray for the atenuation of them. Secondly, the migratory behavior of the larvae irradiated at the optimal dose was compared with that of normal infective larvae. Thirdly, pigs were inoculated with each 5,000 infective larvae irradiated at the optimal dose and the clinical, anatomical and serological responses of them before and after challenge were examined. Fourthly, the heated extract of adult M. apri which had been used as an antigen in the serological examinations was analyzed and compared with that of adult Ascaris suis and of adult Trichuris suis by immunoelectrophoretic method. The results obtained are summerized as follows: 1) The optimal dose of X-ray for the atenuation of the infective larvae which can minimize the pathogenecity but keep the antigenecity of the infective larvae was $5{\times}10^4r$. 2) Guineapigs could become completely resistant to subsequent challenge infection by the administration of 1,000 infective larvae irradiated at $5{\times}10^4r$, without showing any symptom of disease before and after the challenge. 3) There were some indication that guineapigs could acquire complete immunity after they overcome the infection with normal infective larvae. 4) It was shown that, in guineapigs, the $5{\times}10^4r$-irradiated larvae can migrate to the large intestine and mesenteric lymph node within a day, where they stay for as long as 16 days to stimulate the host's immunity. 5) It also was shown that, in guineapigs, the normal infective larvae challenged to resistant guineapigs can migrate to the large intestine and mesenteric lymph node, where they are affected by the immune mechanism of host within 10 days without further migration. 6) Pigs could become partially resistant to subsequant challenge by the administration of 5,000 infective larve irradiated at $5{\times}10^4r$; no clinical symptom occurred after the administration, but milder symptoms of parasitic bronchitis were observable after the challenge infection and fewer number of worms were detected from the lungs at autopsy compared with severe symptoms and much number of worms in control pigs. 7) It was shown that, in pigs, a few of the $5{\times}10^4r$-irradiated larvae can migrate to the lungs, where they stay for as long as 104 days in stunted and sterile states; their body-lengths were short and their uteri developted no eggs. 8) There was evidence that the male larvae were more susceptible to X-ray than the female larvae. 9) Antibodies relating to the administration with $5{\times}10^4r$-irradiated or normal larvae were detected from the sera of both guineapigs and pigs by means of indirect haemagglutination and agar diffusion precipitin tests. Relatively higher antibody titers were recorded by the former test, but precipitin bands were demonstrable only when the positive sera were concentrated in one tenth of original volume in the later one. 10) The antibody titers of pig sera began to rose on 14 days, kept their peak during the period from 14 th day to 21st day, and fell to a low level on 28 days after the administration of $5{\times}10^4r$ or normal infective larvae. 11) A slight increase in gamma globublin of the pig sera occurred following the administration. The gamma globulin level showed a tendency to fluctuate in acordance with the antibody level. 12) A marked eosionophilia occurred in pigs on 7 or 14 days following the administration. The eosinophil count showed the same tendency to fluctuate as the gamma globulin did. 13) It was shown that the serum antibodies detected by the heated extract of adult Metastrongylus apri react crossly with the heated extract of adult Ascaris suis but not with that of adult Trichuris suis in indirect haemagglutination and agar diffusion preciption reactions. 14) The heated extract of adult Metastrongylus apri could he divided into 9 antigenic components by immunoelectrophoresis, one (arc 4) of which was shown to be common to both extracts of adult Ascaris suis and adult Trichuris suis, and the other one (arc 9) to only the extract of adult Ascaris suis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.795-807
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• 1996

This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine on the lipid and protein components or blood chemistry levels of the serum as well as the total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the rat(Sprague-Dawley, female) liver. Acute test were conducted to determine those effects. The acute test was conducted by dividing rats into 7 groups according to the time lapsed after a single oral administration of 100mg/kg caffeine(that is control, 2hrs, 4hrs, 8hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs and 72hrs lapsed group). The concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, A/G ratio, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipid as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were measured in the serum of each experimental groups. The concentrations of the carbonyl group, malondialdehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the serum, and total homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the rat liver. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. The concentrations of serum glucose were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(143.0mg/dl) and 8hrs(138.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(101.1mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). While on the other, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin(A/G) ratio in comparison to those of the control. 2. The concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) between 4(77.4mg/dl, total cholesterol) and 8hrs(64.7mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol) in comparison to those of the control(62.8, 46.7mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, the concentrations of triglyceride in serum were significantly lower(p<0.01) after 8hrs(38.8mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(66.5mg/dl). 3. The activities of AST in serum was significantly higher(p<0.05) from 2hrs(149U/L) to 8hrs(178U/L) in comparison to the control(112U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). The activities of ALT in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 4(45.5U/L), 24(49.3U/L), 48(46.8U/L) and 72 hrs(42.3U/L) in comparison to that of the control(39.7U/L) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the activities of ALP in comparison to that of the control. 4. The concentrations of free fatty acid in serum were significantly higher(p<0.01) at 8hrs(65.0mg/dl) in comparison to that of the control(37.6mg/dl) after a single oral administration of caffeine(100mg/kg). However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of carbonyl group and malondialdehyde within serum, and liver homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions in comparison to that of the control. 5. The patterns of SDS-PAGE in serum, mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of the liver showed no significant differences.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2002

Purpose : To determine wether varicella can be prevented by administration of oral acyclovir(ACV) during the incubation period of the disease. Methods : Starting 9 days after exposure to the index case in their families, ACV(40 mg/kg/day in four divided doses) was given orally to 20 exposed children for 5 days. Their clinical features was compared with those of 20 control subjects. Antibody titers to VZV were measured in both group 1 week and 4 weeks after finishing the oral ACV administration. Results : The mean age of family members with varicella(51.4 months) were significantly high compared to that of ACV prophylaxis group(28.5 months) and control group(31 months) (P<0.05). Among the 12 children with ACV prophylaxis who completed follow up blood sampling, nine children were diagnosed as VZV infection on the serologic test(75%). Among them six children showed positive VZV IgM on the first blood sample and two children showed serocoversion to positive IgM on the second test after ACV prophylaxis. One child who was negative on both IgM and IgG, showed positive IgG on the second test. The incidence of fever and severity of skin rashes were significantly low in children received oral ACV than in the control group. No or reduced number of maculopapular eruption were observed in the oral ACV group compared to multiple vesicles of the control group. Conclusion : In the present study, we observed that oral ACV prophylaxis to the family contacts is effective in reducing severity of skin lesion. It is likely that oral ACV 9 days after contact prevents or reduces blood dissemination of VZV. Little is known about clinical effect and immunity to the virus in exposed children with no varicella symptom after treatment. We propose the checking up antibody to VZV some period after oral ACV, and considering vaccination to whom with no antibody. But further more studies are needed to practical application of oral ACV for the postexposure prophylaxis of varicella.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.169-182
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• 2002

Background: Allergic rhinitis(AR) is a heterogeneous disorder that despite its high prevalence is often undiagnosed. It is characterized by one or more symptoms including sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea. And it is frequently accompanied by symptoms involving the eyes, ears, and throat, including postnasal drainage. There are many different causes of rhinitis in children and adults. Approximately 50$\%$ of all cases of rhinitis are caused by allergy. In the case of rhinitis caused by allergens, symptoms arise as a result of inflammation induced by a gamma globulin E-mediated immune response to specific allergens such as pollens, molds, animal dander, and dust mites. The immune response involves the release of inflammatory mediators and the activation and recruitment of cells to the nasal mucosa. AR is similar to 鼻？, hypersensitive rhinitis in Oriental Medicine. I think hypersensitive rhinitis is including of AR, vasomotor rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis related with eosinophil increased and so on. Purpose: To perform a clinical analysis of hypersensitive rhinitis including allergic rhinitis and estimate the efficacy of Oriental Medical treatment. Objective: We studied 96 patients who had visited our hospital with complaints of nasal symptoms from March 2000 to February 2002; they had the signs more than 2 - nasal obstruction, watery discharge, sneezing and eye or nasal itching. Parameters Observed & Methods: We treated them with acupuncture & herb-medication. Sometime they used aroma oil or external medicine. 1) the distribution of sex & age groups 2) the clinical type based on duration & the severity of symptom 3) the breakdown of complication & pasl history of Otolaryngologic or allergic disease 4) the clinical assessment and classification of rhinitis(sneezers and runners & blockers) 5) the associated symptoms and signs 6) the classification of Byeonjeung 7) the classification of prescriptions and 8) the efficacy of treatment. Result: 1. In the clinical type of based on duration, the intermittent type was 42.7$\%$ and the persistent was 57.3$\%$. 2. We observed the severity of symptoms based on the quality of life. The mild type was 24.0$\%$ and the moderate-severe was 76.0$\%$. 3. In the clinical assessment and classification of rhinitis, the sneezers and runners type was 69.8$\%$ and the blockers was 30.2$\%$. 4. The most common family history with otolaryngologic or allergic disease were allergic rhinitis(17.7$\%$), urticaria, paranasal sinusitis and T.B.(3.1$\%$). 5. The most common past history with otolaryngologic or allergic disease were paranasal sinusitis(14.6$\%$), atopic dermatitis and asthma(8.3$\%$). It was 31.3$\%$ they had a family history and 44.8$\%$, past history. 6. The most common complication was paranasal sinusitis(15.6$\%$). In decreasing order the others were otitis media with effusion(9.4$\%$), GERD and headache(6.3$\%$), asthma, bronchitis, nasal bleeding and allergic dermatitis(5.2$\%$). 7. Classification through Byeonjeung : ⅰ) 39 cases(34.9$\%$) were classified as showing Deficiency syndrome. The insuffficiency of Qi was 17.7$\%$, deficiency of Kidney-Yang, 12.5$\%$ and Lung-Cold, 10.4$\%$. ⅱ) 57 cases(59.4$\%$) were classified as showing Excess syndrome. The Fever of YangMing-meridian was 35.4$\%$, Lung-Fever, 24.0$\%$. 8. The efficacy of treatments showed: an improvement in 22cases(22.9$\%$); an improvement partly in 24 cases(25.0$\%$); no real improvement or changes in 16 cases(16.7$\%$); and couldn't check the results 18cases(18.6$\%$). Conclusion: We suggest that this study could be utilized as a standard of clinical Oriental Medical treatment when we treat hypersensitive rhinitis including allergic rhinitis.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Background: ABO antibody titration is useful for the evaluation of ABO-incompatible bone marrow or solid organ transplantations, yet the results quite vary between different test methods used. We compared the results of microcolumn agglutination and tube methods. Methods: Anti-A and anti-B isoagglutionin titers were determined in 63 healthy individuals (23 O, 20 A, and 20 B blood groups) using 4 different methods: immediate spin tube (tube), microcolumn agglutination without anti-human globulin (AHG) (CAT), tube with AHG (tube-AHG) and microcolumn agglutination with AHG (CAT-AHG). Results: The median (range) titers of anti-A and anti-B in group O individuals by tube, CAT, tube-AHG, and CAT-AHG methods were 64 (8-512), 64 (8-512), 128 (8-2,048), and 128 (16-2,048); 64 (16-128), 128 (16-256), 128 (16-512), and 256 (16-512), respectively. The median (range) titers of anti-A in group B and anti-B in group A individuals by the four methods were 64 (16-128), 128 (8-128), 128 (8-256), and 256 (8-256); 64 (8-128), 64 (8-128), 32 (8-128), and 64 (8-256), respectively. The isoagglutinin titer measured by CAT-AHGmethod was the highest. The titers measured by CAT and CAT-AHG methods were 0-1 titer higher than those by tube and tube-AHG methods, respectively. Whatever method was used, the isoagglutinin titers were higher in women than in men. Conclusions: CAT-AHG was the most sensitive method among the four methods tested. Since AHG titer values are critical for the clinical management and CAT has less manual procedures than tube method, CAT-AHG method could be used for the standardization of ABO antibody titration in different institutions.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.68-74
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• 1970

In the previous studies, the present author found that high proportion of the follicular oocytes from mouse and rabbit ovaries are able to resume their maturation division in the anterior chamber of the eye in which they have been incubated by auto- or homoplastic transplantation. Especially in the case of the homoplastic transplantation, it was known that no trouble has been detected in the process of resumption of the oval maturation in particular connection with the antigen-antibody reaction between donor and recipient. These findings provide a possibility that the follicular oocytes from various animals would be matured in the eye even after the xenoplastic transplantation. Under such an assumption, the present studies were performed to examine the behavior of the follicular oocytes in the eye chamber of the animals of different species. For the donor of the follicular oocytes, domestic rabbits, albino rats of Sprague-Dowley strain, and albino mice of A-strain bred in our laboratory were used. The oocytes obtained from the ovarian follicules were introduced to the anterior chamber of the eye of different species of animals, with an exception of rabbit in which only the female animals were used as a recipient. The procedures of collection of ova, introduction to the eye, harvest from the eye ball, fixation, and staining were the same as mentioned in the previous reports (Cho, 1967b; Cho and Kim, 1968). The conclusions obtained are summarized as below. 1. The rabbit follicular oocytes are able to mature in the eye chambers of both male mouse and rat, although the proportion of the maturation is lower than when they are incubated autoplastically in the eye. When the ova were incubated in the male mouse eye for 24 hours, 21 per cent of them showed chromosomes at metaphase I and II, whereas the rate was 32 per cent when they were incubated in the eye of the male rat. These are apparently low comparing to the rate of 52 per cent of autoplastic transplantation. 2. When rat follicular oocytes were transferred into the mouse eye chamber and recovered after 24 hours, 43 per cent of them produced the mataphase I and II chromosomes. This proportion was higher than the result of the homoplastic transplantation which yielded 23 per cent of the ova on maturation. 3. The most striking result was found in the experiment with mouse follicular oocytes. Seventy-six per cent of the oocytes resumed their maturation division within 24 hours after they were transferred into the male rat eye chamber, and this figure was significantly high compared to the result o 55 per cent obtained by the homoplastic transplantation. In the rat eye, the induction of the degenerative ova also was low (19%). On the other hand, the proportion of the oval maturation decreased to 45 per cent, while that of degeneration increased 33 per cent when they were incubated in the eye of the female rabbit. 4. It was apparent from the present experiments that the follicular oocytes can reveal their activation to maturation in the eye chamber which contains aqueous humor which is known to be composed of low protein content and of very little gamma-globulin which acts as an antibody(Oser, 1965), and that it shows higher osmolarity than blood serum(Levene, 1958). Taking these properities into consideration the humor may provide unfavourable environment to the cells and tissues incubated in. However, it could be noteworthy finding that only the follicular oocytes in the eye of the different species can grow in healthy condition although the maturation rates are varied with the animal species. The fact that the rabbit follicular oocytes show the lower proportion in maturation may be due to the greater amount of the yolk granules in the egg cytoplasm than those in the mouse and rat oocytes. That the mouse oocytes incubated in the eye of the rat mouse and rat oocytes. That the mouse oocytes incubated in the eye of the rat resumed their maturation process in greater proportion would e explained by the fact that the rat eye chamber particularly provides the better environment to the mouse oocytes than the eye chamber of mouse does.