• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.9
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• pp.139-154
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• 2000

This studies were examined in orther to investigate the object and the method of animal experimental papers on medicinal herbs of cancer therapeutic activities from the reported 23 literatures containing anti-cancer effects of medicinal herbs. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The oriental medicinal therapies on cancer were Pujeung(扶正法), Kuesa(祛邪法), Pujeungkuesa(扶正法邪法). 2. The experimental medicinal herbs of cancers therapy were 103 species, which was used for experimental cancer single or combine. Among then, Houttuyniae herba, Polyporus, Manitis squama, Evodiae fructus, Aucklandiae radix and Pharbitidis semen were effective for cancer treatment, while Houttuyniae herba inhibited tumor cells, but not normal cells. Also, Evodiae fructus, Aucklandiae radix and Pharbitidis semen showed strong cytoxicities on 20 different tumor cell lines, whereas Saururi herba seu rhizoma showed cytoxicity against HT-29 cell, melanoma, SK-MEL-5 cell, and Anemarrhenae rhizoma against ovarian tumor cell only, and Schizonepetae herba against HT-29 cell line only with a potent inhivitory activities. 3. P815 cell, Yac-1 cell, Sarcoma 180 cell, K 562 cell, and SNU-1 cells were frequently used as experimental cancer therapy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2002

Leptin, a product of the obese gene, is associated not only with obesity but also with female reproductive function, but it has not yet been ascertained whether leptin acts directly on the ovary or indirectly via the hypothalamus-pituitary pathway. Therefore, the object of this study was to investigate the expession of leptin and its receptor in the rat ovary by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR during the estrous cycle. Immunohistochemistry results showed that leptin was stained in the theca cells and in part of granulosa cells in atretic follicles, whereas leptin receptor was localized in the interstitial cells and ova in preantral follicies. In particular, leptin and its receptor in atretic follicles displayed more intensive staining compared to those in normal follicles. During the estrous cycle, the mRNA expression of leptin and its receptor in the ovary was detected by RT-PCR and estradiol, progesterone, and leptin levels in the serum was measured by ELISA. The leptin level in the serum on metestrous phase was significantly higher than that on estrous phase. Similar to leptin level, progesterone level increased on metestrous phase. Leptin mRNA was not detected throughout the estrous cycle, whereas leptin receptor mRNA was expressed on all phases of estrous cycle excepting the diestrous phase. These results suggest that leptin might be directly involved in the regulation of ovarian function in rat.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.48-72
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of Yongdamsagantang on the polycystic ovary(PCO) induced by estradiol valerate(EV) in rats. Methods: After administrating Yongdamsagan-tang to PCO induced rats, we measured the weight of body, ovaries, adrenal glands, and uterus of rats. The observation through naked eye and histopathological observation of ovaries were evaluated. Also, the number of follicle and corpora lutea and content of androstenedione(ADD) and total estrogen were evaluated. The expressions of nerve growth factor(NGF) and corticotropin releasing factor(CRF) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The breeding rate and number of implantation with normal male rats were evaluated. Results: - The weight(mg) of ovaries in YST treated group($73.8{\pm}7.6$) was significantly increased(p<0.001) compared with control group($54.3{\pm}4.5$). - The number of mature follicles in YST treated group($7.3{\pm}2.4$) was significantly increased(p<0.01) compared with control group($3.5{\pm}1.2$). - The number of atretic follicles in YST treated group($9.0{\pm}1.5$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($13.4{\pm}3.8$). - The number of cystic follicles in YST treated group($3.1{\pm}1.1$) was significantly decreased(p<0.01) compared with control group($6.0{\pm}2.0$). - The number of corpora lutea in YST treated group($3.8{\pm}2.1$) was significantly increased(p<0.001) compared with control group($0.3{\pm}0.7$). - The expression of NGF-immunoreactive cells in the ovarian granulosa cells in YST treated group was lesser observed than control group. - The expression of NGF-immunoreactive cells in the adrenal cortex in YST treated group was lesser observed than control group. - The breeding rate in YST treated group(100 %) was significantly increased (p<0.05) compared with control group(50 %). - The number of implantation in YST treated group($6.4{\pm}4.7$) was significantly increased(p<0.05) compared with control group($1.4{\pm}2.6$). Conclusions: We concluded that Yongdamsagan-tang activates the maturation of follicles, normal ovulation, breeding rate and number of implantation. Therefore, this may be effective for the treatment of anovulation, amenorrhea and sterility of PCOS patients.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-96
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• 1976

In order to investigate the effects and acting mechanism on ovaries, thyroid glands and hypophyses of rabbits in short term administration of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) as medical dose, a total of 90 virgin albino rabbits (mean body weight, 1,362g) were selected at random and alloted to two groups. Rabbits in one group served as controls and the others were administered SDM of 50 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks, and then reared without medication for 4 weeks. Pathological changes of the three organs were observed each week for 9 weeks and the results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Mean body weights of both groups manifested slow increasing tendency but mean hypophysis weights fluctuated throughout the experimental term. Mean ovary weights of experiments were decreased significantly from the 3rd to 6th week but mean thyroid weights of experiments were increased significantly from the 1st to 6th week compared with those of controls. 2. Many ovarian follicles of each developing stage showed follicular atresia accompanying atrophy or necrosis of oocytes and of disintegrated follicular cells. Theca interna cells and sudanophilic interstitial cells showed atrophy and diminished sudanophilic granules and also liquor folliculi were diminished. These changes icreased from the 1st week, remaining so for 5 weeks and returned to normal status in the 8th or 9th week. 3. The thyroid gland showed a typical hyperplastic goiter. Hypertrophic and hyperplastic epithelia follicular manifested cuboidal or columnar form showing tiny or small vacuoles in cytoplasm. The follicles showed atrophy and decreasing colloidal materials. Necrotic and regenerative changes were also present. The interfollicular vessels showed congestion and hemorrhage. These changes increased from the 1st week, remaining so for 5 weeks and returned to normal status in the 9th week. 4. The rates of differential cell counts of hypophyses revealed increase of basophils (gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs) and decrease of chromophobes. Basophils which had diminished granules stainable with HE, PAS and AF revealed hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and increasing of tiny or small vacuoles in cytoplasm. These changes increased from the 1st week, remaining so for 5 weeks and returned to normal status in the 8th or 9th week. As summarized above histologically, administration of SDM led thyrotrophs and gonadotrophs of pituitary glands to hyperactivity but revealed retrogressive and compensatory changes with functional disturbance in ovaries and thyroid glands. These changes were transitional and attributed to direct actions of the drugs on the ovaries and thyroid glands.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-144
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• 2012

Background : Peripheral nerves more rapidly recover than central nerves. However, it has been known that the degree of reaction of axons of peripheral nerves is affected by distinctive characteristics of axons and environmental factors near the axons. Taxol is a widely used medicine as for ovarian, breast, lung and gastric cancer. However it causes patients difficulties under treatment due to its toxic and side effects, which include persistent pain. Objectives : This study reviewed how SJT extract in vitro and in vivo affects nerve tissues of a sciatic nerve damaged by Taxol. It also studied how SJT extract in vivo affects axons of the sciatic nerve after the sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing. Methods : After vehicle, Taxol, and Taxol plus SJT were treated respectively for tissue of the sciatic nerve in vitro and then tissues were observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, ${\beta}$-tubulin, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3 and anti-cdc2. SJT was also oral medicated by injecting Taxol into the sciatic nerve of in vivo rats. Tissues of the sciatic nerve and axons of DRG sensory nerves were then observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, ${\beta}$-tubulin, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3 and p-Erk1/2. After inflicting pressing damage to the sciatic nerve of in vivo rats, tissues of the sciatic nerve and DRG sensory nerve were observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3, anti-cdc2, phospho-vimentin, ${\beta}1$-integrin, Dil reverse tracking and p-Erk1/2. Results : The group of in vitro Taxol plus SJT treatment had meaningful effects after sciatic nerve tissue was damaged by Taxol. The group of in vivo SJT treatment had effects of regenerating Schwann cells and axons which were damaged by Taxol treatment. The group of in vivo SJT had effects of regenerating axons in damaged areas after the sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing, and also had variations of distribution in Schwann cells at DRG sensory nerves and axons. Conclusions : This study confirmed that SJT treatment is effective for growth of axons in the sciatic nerve tissues and improvement of Schwann cells after axons of the sciatic nerve tissues was damaged. After tissues of sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing in vivo, SJT treatment had effects on promoting regeneration of axon in the damaged area and reactional capabilities in axons of DRG sensory nerves.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.267-271
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• 1997

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is posulated to occur in granulosa cells in ovarian follicular atresia. bcl-2 gene serves as protector from apoptosis and, thus, is associated with increased cell survival. TRPM-2 gene expression has been implicated as a trigger of apoptosis in rat prostate, uterus and mammary gland. Our objective was to determine if bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are expressed in luteinized human GC and, therefore, have regulatory functions for apoptosis in GC. Human GC were obtained via oocyte retrival from the infertile patients stimulated with exogeneous gonadotropins while undergoing IVF. GC were isolated from follicular fluid using Percoll gradient centrifugation. The GC were further purified with anti-CD45 magnetic beads to remove contaminating WBC's. RT-PCR were performed to analyze the mRNA expression of bcl-2 and TRPM-2 in the GC. The PCR primers were designed to amplify a 195 bp fragment of bcl-2 and a 174 bp fragment of TRPM-2. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 4% agarose gel. Three separate experiments indicated that both bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed in human GC. We cultured granulosa cells with FSH (1 ng/ml) for 1 day to investigate the relative changes of TRPM-2 mRNA level with RNAse protection assay. When we cultured GC with serum free medium for 1 day TRPM-2 mRNA level increased with 1.3 fold, however it was decreased 0.64 fold with FSH. Therefore we conclude that bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed and that the interaction of their products may be involved in GC apoptosis. And TRPM-2 may be regulated with FSH.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.360-369
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• 2019

Cadherins are essential transmembrane proteins that promote cell-cell adhesion and maintain the corpus luteum structure in the ovary. This study examined the influence of prostaglandin F2 alpha ($PGF2{\alpha}$) on E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and adhesion in luteal theca cells (LTCs). The luteal cells were isolated from the mid-phase corpus luteum, and the LTCs were cultured separately from the luteal heterogeneous cells according to the morphology of the mesenchymal cells and to determine if steroidogenic and endothelial cells of LTCs, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($3{\beta}$-HSD), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mRNA were used. The LTCs were then incubated in the culture medium supplemented with 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ for 24 h, and the E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins in the LTCs were detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results revealed $3{\beta}$-HSD mRNA expression in the LTC but no VEGF2R mRNA expression. The E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins of the LTCs were damaged in the 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment groups, and the expression of the N-cadherin protein was reduced significantly in 0.01 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ compared to the 0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment groups (P<0.05). In addition, the number of attached LTCs were significantly lower in the 0.01 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment group than in the 0 mM $PGF2{\alpha}$ treatment group (P<0.05). In conclusion, $PGF2{\alpha}$ affected the disruption of cadherin proteins and cell adhesion in LTCs. These results may help better understand the cadherin and adhesion mechanism during corpus luteum regression in the ovary.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of human follicular fluid and gonadotropin (FSH+HCG+rhEGF) on in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of human immature oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected following for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles of the patients. At the time of oocytes collection, oocytes were classified into MII, MI and GV in accordance with their appearance (MII: Fully mature oocyte at metaphase II of meiosis; MI: Nearly mature oocytes at metaphase I of meiosis; GV: Immature oocytes at prophase I of meiosis). After controlled ovarian stimulation using gonadotropin(FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in 70 ICSI cycles, 158 MI to MII matured oocytes were intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ${\sim}4$ h after in vitro culture and 553 MII oocytes were ICSI after denudation. The aspirated MI and GV oocytes were cultured in culture medium containing 10% (v/v) serum protein substitute (SPS), 10% (v/v) human follicular fluid (hFF) and 10% (v/v) serum protein substitute (SPS)+1 IU/ml FSH+10 IU/ml HCG+10 ng/ml recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF). The maturation rate of immature oocytes was similar among the three group. When maturation medium was supplemented with 10% SPS, 10% hFF or gonadotropins, the fertilization rate of in vitro matured oocytes was higher in 10% SPS (80.0%), but there was no statistical significance (78.2%; hFF, 76.9%; gonadotropin, p>0.05). The development rate of human embryos developed to $6{\sim}8$ cells were not significant difference in the medium containing SPS, hFF and gonadotropins (65.6%, 65.9% and 66.7%). The results of these study suggest that human follicular fluid and gonadotropins supplemented in the culture medium was not effected on the in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of human immature oocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 1996

Endosomes lower their internal pH by an ATP-driven proton pump, which is critical to dissociation of many receptor-ligand complexes, the first step in the intracellular sorting of internalized receptors and ligands. Endosomes are known to exhibit n great range of pH values that can vary between 5.0 and 7.0 within a single cell although the factors that regulate endosomal pH remain uncertain. To evaluate the morphological and topological differences of endosomes in the different stages, confocal microscopy was used. The early endosomes labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran for 10 min at $37^{\circ}C$ were identifiable at the peripheral and tubule-vesicular endosome compartment. In contrast, the late endosomes formed by 10 min pulse and 20 min trace were located deeper in the cytoplasm and showed more vesicular features than early endosomes. For the purpose of determining whether ATP-dependent acidification was heterogeneous and whether the differences in acidification were attributed to differences in the activity of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase and/or $Cl^{-}$ channel, endocytic compartments were fractionated into subpopulation using percoll gradient and measured ATP-dependent acidification. While all fractions exhibited ATP-dependent acidification activity, both the initial rate of acidification and extent of proton translocation were lower in early endosomes and gradually increased in late endosomes. Phosphorylation by PKA and ATP enhanced ATP-dependent acidification in both early and late endosomes, hut there was no difference in the degree of enhancement by phosphorylation between two subpopulations. When ATP-dependent acidification was determined in the presence or absence of vanadate ($Na_{3}VO_{4}$) or ouabain, only early endosomes exhibited the vanadate or ouabain dependent stimulation of acidification activity, suggesting the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase. Therefore, it seems probable that the inhibition of early endosome acidification by $Na^{+}-K^{+}$-ATPase observed in vitro at least in part plays a physiological role in controlling the acidification of early endosomes in vivo.