• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1851-1854
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• 2009

This study correlated changes in the plasma levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) with changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ovarian development during the annual reproductive cycle of the pike eel Muraenesox cinereus, collected at the Tongyung coast region. Ovarian maturity was classified based on histological observations; the perinucleolus stage (November to February), the oil droplet stage (March to April), the early vitellogenic stage (April to May) and the late vitellogenic stage (June to October). Seasonal changes in the GSI were correlated with water temperature and reflected the degree of ovarian maturity. Plasma E2 levels were correlated with changes in the GSI, which increased from April to a peak in July, and the levels remained comparatively high until October. These data indicated that changes in the GSI and plasma E2 levels are correlated with the annual ovarian activity of the pike eel. In this study, however, female pike eels were not collected during the spawning stage. Therefore, spawning of this species seemed to be closely related to its migration toward the deep sea of offshore.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.95-106
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• 2012

It has been revealed that multiple cohorts of tertiary follicles develop during some animal estrous cycle and the human menstrual cycle. To reach developmental competence, oocytes need the support of somatic cells. During embryogenesis, the primordial germ cells appear, travel to the gonadal rudiments, and form follicles. The female germ cells develop within the somatic cells of the ovary, granulosa cells, and theca cells. How the oocyte and follicle cells support each other has been seriously studied. The latest technologies in genes and proteins and genetic engineering have allowed us to collect a great deal of information about folliculogenesis. For example, a few web pages (http://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov; http://mrg.genetics.washington.edu) provide access to databases of genomes, sequences of transcriptomes, and various tools for analyzing and discovering genes important in ovarian development. Formation of the antrum (tertiary follicle) is the final phase of folliculogenesis and the transition from intraovarian to extraovian regulation. This final step coordinates with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. On the other hand, currently, follicle physiology is under intense investigation, as little is known about how to overcome women's ovarian problems or how to develop competent oocytes from in vitro follicle culture or transplantation. In this review, some of the known roles of hormones and some of the genes involved in tertiary follicle growth and the general characteristics of tertiary follicles are summarized. In addition, in vitro culture of tertiary follicles is also discussed as a study model and an assisted reproductive technology model.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.166-180
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• 2012

This review summarizes the epidemiology of cancer of the female reproductive system and associated lifestyle factors. It also assesses the available evidence for occupational factors associated with these cancers. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, and cause significant cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, whereas vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube cancers, and choriocarcinomas are very rare. As several lifestyle factors are known to play a major role in the etiology of these cancers, very few published studies have investigated possible relationships with occupational factors. Some occupational exposures have been associated with increased risks of these cancers, but apart from the available evidence on the relationships between asbestos fibers and ovarian cancer, and tetrachloroethylene and cervical cancer, the data is rather scarce. Given the multifactorial nature of cancers of the female reproductive system, it is of the utmost importance to conduct occupational studies that will gather detailed data on potential individual confounding factors, in particular reproductive history and other factors that influence the body's hormonal environment, together with information on socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, including physical activity from multiple sources. Studies on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in the female reproductive organs are also needed in order to elucidate the possible role of chemical exposures in the development of these cancers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.325-330
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• 2003

There exists considerable evidence that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is involved in the regulation of ovulation rate and follicle development. IGF-I is believed to modulate the effects of gonadotropins on follicular growth and cell differentiation via paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. Therefore, this study was performed to relate the expression of IGF-I on ovaries and follicles with egg productivity at 60 wk. The egg productivity of 70 KNOC was recorded from 20 to 60 wk. Blood was taken every 10 wk and ovaries and follicles were taken at 60 wk. Serum IGF-I and IGF-I of ovaries and follicles were measured by radioimmunoassay. Based on egg production levels up to 60 wk and ovarian IGF-I expression at 60 wk, respectively. Chickens were divided into two groups, high and low. Egg production and serum IGF-I in the high IGF-I group were higher than those in the low group. Moreover, the IGF-I expression of follicles in the high ovarian IGF-I expression group was higher than that in the low group. These finding are consistent with the report that IGF-I indirectly regulates ovulation in chickens, suggesting that this regulation may play an important role in improved egg productivity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 1996

For the ecological study on the gobioid (Favonigobius gymnauchen), samples were collected in the Korean coasts from 1983 to 1995, and the process of ovarian maturation, spawning season, settling period of young individuals and growth were investigated with the specimens collected from Kunsan coast. The ovarian egg development of this species underwent three stages; growth stage from March to April, maturity stage from May to June and spawning stage in July. All the adults died after spawning in late July. Young individuals of total length 10 mm began to live a bottom life in the tide pool of shallow waters in early and middle August. The total length of these individuals reached about 42.1 mm (mean 36.7 mm) in late November. The largest specimen examined in this study was 85.0mm of male. After that time, individuals of this species inhabited in subtidal zone from December to May of the next year. The Favonigobius gymnauchen is distributed at 17 areas of shallow waters and estuaries in the western and southern coasts of Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.725-734
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• 2018

Ovaries of 21 bitches presented with gynecopathies were surgically removed and histologically examined. Standard histological, as well as immunohistochemical, classification of 193 cystic structures resulted in the classification of 72 cysts of subsurface epithelial structures (SES), 61 follicular cysts (FCs), 38 cystic rete ovarii (CRO), 13 lutein cysts (LCs), and 9 non-classifiable cysts (NCCs). In addition to the histological classification, results were interpreted according to subject medical history, clinical examination outcome, and macroscopic observations during ovariohysterectomy. Dogs with ovarian cysts (OCs) and associated reproductive perturbations were mostly nulliparous, of large breed, and had an average of $9.5{\pm}3$ years. Prolonged or shortened inter-estrus intervals of past heats, however, seemed to be relatively low-risk factors for the development of OCs in dogs. Furthermore, we provide histological observations of a rarely seen canine LC including a degenerated oocyte in the central cavity.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.117-120
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• 2021

We experienced a case of Xq deletion -- 46,X,del(X)(q22.3) -- detected by abnormal noninvasive prenatal screening, subsequently diagnosed by amniocentesis. Genetic counseling was a challenge because there are few reports of prenatal diagnosis of Xq deletion. In each female cell, one X chromosome is inactivated at random early in development, and there may be a preferential inactivation of the abnormal X chromosome. But some proportions of genes escape inactivation. The most common manifestation in women with Xq deletion is primary or secondary ovarian failure. Critical regions for ovarian function may be located at the long arm of the X chromosome. But, the onset and the severity of ovarian failure may vary with diverse, intricate factors. We anticipate that noninvasive prenatal screening can identify the broader range of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities with the advances in technology and analytic methods. We report our case with a brief review of the literature.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.554-558
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• 2000

Reproductive biology of the female red tongue sole, Cynoglossus joyneri was investigated by means of histological methods. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) was the highest in June. Developmental pattern of oocytes was group-synchronous. Egg stalk and yolk nucleus were observed in the early growing oocytes. Reproductive cycle could be classified into the growing ($February{\~}May$), maturation ($May{\~}June$), ripe and spent ($June{\~}August$), and recovery and resting ($August{\~}February$). The absolute fecundity per individual ($TL 28.1{\~}30.8 cm$) was 2,197 and relative fecundity per g body weight was 18.0.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2012

The ovarian cycle, the biological minimum size, and artificial spawning frequency by artificial spawning induction of the female hard clam, Meretrix petechialis, were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data. The ovarian cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage, late active stage, ripe stage, partially spawned stage, and spent/inactive stage. The spawning period was from June to September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds over $20^{\circ}C$. The biological minimum size (shell length at 50% of first sexual maturity) in females were 40.39 mm in shell length (considered to be two years of age), and all clams over 50.1 mm in shell length sexually matured. In this study, the mean number of the spawned eggs by spawning induction increased with the increase of size (shell length) classes. In case of artificial spawning induction for the clams > 40.39 mm, the number of spawned eggs from the clams of a sized class was gradually decreased with the increase of the number of the spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawning). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning of this species was estimated to be 15-18 days (approximately 17 days).

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2000

This study was investigated to analyze the inactivating point mutation and expression level of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) receptor mRNA. In first experiment, we analyzed the point mutation. Peripheral blood was collected from each patient. To screen individuals for the C566T mutation, PCR was performed for exon 7 of the FSH receptor gene in 10 patients. No inactivating point mutation of FSH receptor gene was identified in women with premature ovarian failure. To analyze the expression level of FSH receptor, mRNA expressions were examined by RT-PCR method using specific primers for the FSH receptor. The amount of FSH receptor mRNA expressed in POF patients was lower than that in the control group. But it was not significantly different. These finding suggests that lower expression of FSH receptor in premature ovarian failure patients might be the cause of the low response to the gonadotropin during the hyperstimulation in IVF-ET cycles.