• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.132-137
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• 2012

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a condition in which no oocytes are retrieved after an apparently adequate ovarian response to stimulation and meticulous follicular aspiration. EFS can be classified into 'genuine' and 'false' types according to hCG levels. It is a rare condition of obscure etiology. The existence of genuine EFS has been questioned and is still controversial. The limitation around EFS is that the definition of EFS is obscure. Management of patients with EFS is a challenge to physicians. No single treatment is known to be universally effective. However, patients should be adequately informed regarding the importance of correct hCG administration because improper hCG administration is a common and preventable cause of EFS. EFS is a syndrome that deserves additional study because such investigation could lead to a further understanding of ovarian biology and infertility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the impact of Rehmannioside D (RD) on ovarian functions of rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and its underlying mechanisms of action. A single injection of cyclophosphamide was performed to establish a DOR rat model, and fourteen days after the injection, the rats were intragastrically administrated with RD for two weeks. Rat estrus cycles were tested using vaginal smears. Ovarian tissues were histologically evaluated, the number of primordial, mature, and atretic follicles was calculated, and the apoptotic rate of granulosa cells. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E₂) levels were determined by ELISA assays. Protein levels of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), KLOTHO, Bcl-2, and Bax were investigated in ovarian tissues of DOR rats. The binding between FOXO1 and KLOTHO was verified by ChIP assay. High-dose administration of RD into DOR rats improved their estrus cycles, increased ovarian index, enhanced the number of primordial and mature follicles, reduced the number of atretic follicle number, and ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in addition to inhibiting FSH and LH levels and upregulating E₂ expression. FOXO1 and KLOTHO were significantly suppressed in DOR rats. FOXO1 knockdown partially suppressed the protective effects of RD on DOR rats, and KLOTHO overexpression could restore RD-induced blockade of DOR development despite knocking down FOXO1. FOXO1 antibody enriched KLOTHO promoter, and the binding between them was reduced in DOR group compared to that in sham group. RD improved ovarian functions in DOR rats and diminished granulosa cell apoptosis via the FOXO1/KLOTHO axis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.629-634
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• 2012

This study was conducted to improve the yield of mature oocytes from in vitro-culture of ovarian primary follicles by optimizing follicle retrieval from neonatal mice of different ages. Primary follicles of 75 to $99{\mu}m$ in diameter were collected daily from 7- to 14-day-old neonatal mice, and subsequently cultured in ${\alpha}$-MEM medium. Number of primary follicles isolated, growth of the follicle during in vitro-culture and maturation of intrafollicular oocytes were monitored. Overall, mean number of preantral follicles per animal was improved from 10.7 to 88.7 as the age of follicle donors was increased from 7 to 14-day-old. Number of primary follicles was increased gradually up to 11-day-old (35.7 follicle per an animal), then reduced to 29 in 14-day-old (p = 0.0013). More follicles retrieved from 10-day-old or 11-day-old females maintained their morphological normality at the end of primary culture than the follicles retrieved from 9-day-old. Of those cultured, primary follicles retrieved from 11-day-old mice yielded largest larger number of early secondary follicles than the follicles retrieved from in the other ages (39 vs. 13 to 29%). More than 3.3-times increase (0.86 to 2.86; p<0.05) in an average number of mature oocytes per animal was observed in the group of 11-day-old, compared with 9-day-old. However, no difference was found in the percentage of primary follicles developing into the pseudoantral stage (21 to 30%; p = 0.5222) and in the percentage of oocytes mucified (32 to 39%; p = 0.5792). In conclusion, a positive correlation between retrieval time and follicle growth was detected, which influences the efficiency to derive mature oocytes by follicle culture.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.769-775
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• 2000

This study was investigated the ovarian response following superovulation treatment at different day of diestrus. The criterion for the presence or absence of a dominant follicle based on their morphological examination. Dominant follicle was puntured 48 hrs before the oneset of superovulation treatment by ultrasonography guided aspiration needle. Superovulation was induced by subcutaneous administration of FSH twice a day for 4 day in a decreasing regimen. There was no significant different between presence of dominont follicle and progesterone concentration/diameter of corpus luteum in HanWoo. Number of corpus luteum of donor after superovulation treatment was not significantly different in FSH administration at day 9, 11 and day 13 of estrus($14.5{\pm}4.5$, $15.5{\pm}5.6$ and $11.0{\pm}5.5$, respectively). But, the diameter of CL was significantly correlate(R2 = 0.757) with progesterone levels on day of superovulatory induction. After 7 days of artificial insemination, the embryos at 7 days were collected by uterine flushing after dominant follicle aspiration and superovulation treatment, and evaluated their quality by morphological criteria. Fifty five embryos with excellent, good and fair grade were transferred into 24 recipient cows. Seventeen offsprings, 1 of triplet, 4 of twins and 6 of singlet, were yield from 10 recipient cow. In conclusion, the present study showed that 1) dominant follicle can be determined by ultrasonography with rectal palpation by morphological evaluations, 2) superovulation response after follicular aspiration was not differ at day 9, 11 and 13 of estrus, 3) dominant follicle did not affect to progesterone concentration and diameter of CL, and 4) diameter of CL was significantly correlate to the level of progesterone concentrations in HanWoo.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.505-513
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• 1995

P-lement mediated enhancer detector lines (EDla) were screened for reporter gene (1acZ expression In the ovary of Drosophila mejanogaster Cell-type spedfic 1acZ expression can be grouped Into three parts such as in the geimline, soma, and both. LacZ expression In germline cells was devided into 2 types; expression in nurse cells or in both of the nurse cells and oocote. In the stage-9 to stage-lO follicles, lacZ expression was observed either In the whole follicle cells around oocote or in the subpopulation of follicle cells in egg chamber. lacZ expression in the subset of follicle cells are showed in the centripetal follicle cells or the columnar follicle cells except centripetal follicle cells. Several lines showed anterior to postedor gradient pattern of lacZ expression in the follicle cells. Interestingly there were 3 lines in which lacZ was expressed In the polar cells and/or the horder cells of egg chamber. These lacZ expression patterns in the different ovarian cells of independent EDla reflect the cell type-spedflc expression of maternal genes nesr the P-element insertion, and might provide a basis for cloning of genes involved in oogenesis of Drosophila.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2007

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1065-1074
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• 2016

Growth factors play an important role during early ovarian development and folliculogenesis, since they regulate the migration of germ cells to the gonadal ridge. They also act on follicle recruitment, proliferation/atresia of granulosa cells and theca, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation and luteinization. Among the growth factors, the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), belong to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily, have been implicated as essential for follicular development. The GDF9 and BMP15 participate in the evolution of the primordial follicle to primary follicle and play an important role in the later stages of follicular development and maturation, increasing the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression, plasminogen activator and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). These factors are also involved in the interconnections between the oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells, where they regulate absorption of amino acids, glycolysis and biosynthesis of cholesterol cumulus cells. Even though the mode of action has not been fully established, in vitro observations indicate that the factors GDF9 and BMP15 stimulate the growth of ovarian follicles and proliferation of cumulus cells through the induction of mitosis in cells and granulosa and theca expression of genes linked to follicular maturation. Thus, seeking greater understanding of the action of these growth factors on the development of oocytes, the role of GDF9 and BMP15 in ovarian function is summarized in this brief review.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.281-286
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• 1998

Premature ovarian failure is a condition causing amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and elevated gonadotropins in women younger than 40 years. Many causes of premature ovarian failure were reported, including genetic abnormalities, enzymatic defects, defects in gonadotropin secretion or action, autoimmune disorders, physical and idiopathic causes. Recently, Finnish group reported a point mutation in the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor gene in premature ovarian failure patients. But it was reported that the group from United States could not find any mutation in FSH receptor gene. So we analysed C566T point mutation of FSH receptor gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and compared the result between premature ovarian failure patient with idiopathic and known causes. But we did not find 556C${\rightarrow}$T mutation in the FSH receptor gene in both groups. These findings suggest that the missense mutation in the human FSH receptor gene reported in Finnish women with premature ovarian failure is uncommon in Korean women with premature ovarian failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2006

Objective: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been suggested to play a role in ovarian folliculogenesis. The present study evaluated the effect of PACAP on the growth of preantral follicles. Methods: Preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from ovaries of 21-day-old rats and cultured in groups for 3 days in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of PACAP-38 ($10^{-6}M$). Results: Treatment with PACAP-38 resulted in an increase in follicle diameter by 75% whereas treatment with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increased follicle diameter by 65%. PACAP-38 treatment enhanced the granulosa cell proliferation as measured by thymidine incorporation analysis. Furthermore, the production of progesterone by cultured granulosa cells and GFSHR-17 cell line was stimulated by PACAP-38. Interestingly, PACAP enhanced FSH action on stimulation of SF-1 and aromatase gene expression. Conclusion: The present results demonstrate that PACAP stimulated preantral follicle growth by potentiating proliferation and by stimulating steroidogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.52-60
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• 1994

The developing ovarian oocyte of Dendrolimus spectabilis has been studied by using electron microscopical techniques. After yolk formation the vitelline membrane was laid down in the intercellular space between the follicle cell and the oocyte. But before the vitelline membrane formation the granules with high electron density that the vitelline membrane precusor are observed in the follicle cell. At the late vitellogenesis stage these granules were transported into the intercellular space between the follicle cells and the oocyte. These granules fuse to each other and larger bodies which eventually produce the vitelline membrane. The vitelline membrane was distinguished into the light inner and dark outer membrane. Next the chorion was laid down. It was apparent that the chorion was laid down in the intercellular space immediately adjacent to the vitelline membrane, and that it was formed by the follicle cells only.