• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.185-193
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• 2023

Although increasing evidence of cause-and-effect relationship between BPA exposure and female reproductive disorders have been suggested through many studies, the precise biochemical and molecular mechanism(s) by which BPA interferes with steroidogenesis in the ovarian cells still remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to discover the steroidogenic biomarker(s) associated with BPA treatment in human granulosa cell line, KGN. In this study, our results obtained via the analysis of steroidogenesis-related protein expression in KGN cells using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses revealed that the expression levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and aromatase decreased considerably and gradually after BPA treatment in a dose-dependent manner under BPA treatment. Further, remarkable decreases in their expression levels at the cellular levels were also confirmed via immunocytochemistry, and subsequent StAR and aromatase mRNA expression levels showed profiles similar to those observed for their proteins, i.e., both StAR and aromatase mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased under BPA treatment at concentrations ≥0.1 μM. We observed that follicle stimulating hormone upregulated StAR and aromatase protein expression levels; however, this effect was suppressed in the presence of BPA. Regarding the steroidogenic effects of BPA on KGN cells, controversies remain regarding the ultimate outcomes. Nevertheless, we believe that the results here presented imply that KGN cells have a good cellular and steroidogenic machinery for evaluating endocrine disruption. Therefore, StAR and aromatase could be stable and sensitive biomarkers in KGN cells for the cellular screening of the potential risk posed by exogenous and environmental chemicals to female reproductive (endocrine) function.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.455-462
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the number of the growing and mature follicles in each stage of estrus cycle in mature rats. Eighteen mature rats(Sprague-Dawley, initially 190~230gm) were randomly alloted into 4 groups(proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus) according to estrus cycles. The uteri and ovaries of rats were collected and then alternative sections of paraffin embedding ovaries were stained with H-E. Numbers of large, middle and small follicles or only large and middle follicles from secondary and tertiary follicles were investigated by LM photography of preparations. Small follicles were defined as secondary follicles with 2~5 cell layers of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte, and middle follicles were defined as secondary follicles with more than 5 cell layers or with early signs of antral cavity or with more than one small cleft on either side of the oocytes and large follicles were defined as tertiary follicles with a single medium or large antral cavity. The number of follicles in a pair ovary per rat was appeared to be ranged from 207 to 370 and the mean number of these follicles was $270.4{\pm}52.6$ and the mean number of follicles per ovary was $134.9{\pm}32.0$. The mean number of large, middle and small follicles per ovary was appeared to be $16.4{\pm}4.4$($12.2{\pm}3.3%$), $36.2{\pm}8.6$($26.8{\pm}6.4%$), and $82.7{\pm}24.0$($61.3{\pm}17.8%$), respectively. The mean number of large and middle follicles in each stage group of estrus cycle was appeared to be $17.8{\pm}2.1$ and $38.3{\pm}7.4$ at proestrus stage group, $15.7{\pm}5.2$ and $38.0{\pm}10.0$ at estrus stage group, $16.5{\pm}3.5$ and $33.8{\pm}7.0$ at metestrus stage group, $16.7{\pm}5.8$ and $29.7{\pm}5.5$ at diestrus group, respectively. In histological findings of large follicles during each estrus cycle, the large follicles in proestrus group contain single small antrum, thick granulosa cell layers, and were $300{\sim}500{\mu}m$ in diameter and were growing follicles with PCNA-positive cells in the granulosa cell layers, and other luteinizing follicles of proestrus cycle stage were decreased in size and were thicker in wall thickness and more luteinized than those in metestrus and diestrus stage groups. The large follicles in estrus stage group contain thick granulosa cell layers and nonprominent cumulus-oocyte complexes in antrum, and were $400{\sim}700{\mu}m$ in diameter and were growing follicles with PCNA-positive cells in the granulosa cell layers. The large follicles in metestrus and diestrus stage groups contain enlarged antrums, thinner layers of walls and prominent cumulus-oocyte complexes, and were $700-950{\mu}m$ in diameter, and were nongrowing follicles without PCNA-positive cells or another large follicles contain cells with dark stainability and distinct boundary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.35-40
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• 1989

In order to study the follicular atretic mechanism in mammalian ovary, the relationship between pyknotic index (PI) of granulosa cells and the steroid concentrations in the follicular fluid of atretic follicle was investigated. Follicles were isolated from porcine ovary according to their sizes and the reproductive phases. Steroid concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. As PI increased, the concentration of progesterone was significantly increased(p<0.05), whereas testosterone and estradiol showed no significant changes in their concentration. As follicular size was increased, PI of follicular GC in the luteal phase was increased significantly(p<0.05) and the molar ratio of progesterone to testosterone was increased in the follicles of follicular phase. It can be concluded that progesterone accumulated in the follicular fluid as atresia of the follicles was progressed, and that PI of granulosa cells could be used as one of convenient and pratical criteria for the identification of follicular atresia.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 2006년도 The 5th Biannual Meeting of Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility
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• pp.6-11
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• 2006

Our previous study demonstrates a rapid activation of atypical PKC${\zeta}$ by the ovulatory dose of LH/hCG. The present study was therefore designed to identify PKC${\zeta}$ regulated-genes in rat ovarian preovulatory granulosa cells. Preovulatory granulosa cells cultured in the presence of myristoylated PKC${\zeta}$ pseudosubstrate peptide were subjected to identify differentially expressed genes by using anneling control primer RT-PCR. As a result, among sixteen genes identified, six genes (testin, glypican-4, retrovirus SC1, connective growth factor, aminolevulinic acid synthase1 and serum- inducible kinase) were rapidly stimulated by hCG. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that all these genes were rapidly stimulated by hCG and declined thereafter. In situ hybridization analysis revealed the expression of these genes in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. The present study demonstrates time- and cell-specific expression of PKC${\zeta}$-regulated genes, and may imply that these genes play a specific role(s) during LH-induced ovulation.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.523-530
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• 1995

돼지의 난소 조직내에 존재하는 심방이뇨 호르몬 수용체 분포를 알아 보기 위하여 자가방사법을 통해 125I로 표지한 rANP(1-28)의 특이적 결합 부위를 관찰하였다. 난소 조직 중 125I-rANP(1-28)의 강한 결합 부위는 난포의 과립막 세포층이었으며, 외난포막층에서도 125I-rANP(1-28)의 결합 부위가 관찰되었다. 그러나 내난포막층을 포함한 난소내의 다른 조직과 특히 황체에서는 125I-rANP(1-28)의 결합 부위가 나타나지 않았다. 난포의 과립막 세포층과 외난포막층에서의 이러한 125I-rANP(1-28)의 결합은 다량의 rANP(1-28)에 의하여 완전히 전위되었지만, 펩티드 호르몬인 angiotensin II 및 arginine vasopressin에 의해서는 과량의 농도에서도 전위되지 않아 125I-rANP(1-28)의 결합이 특이적임을 확인하였다. 또한 이러한 특이적 결하은 심방이뇨 호르몬의 생물학적 수용체 외에, 다른 기능을 담당하는 clearance 수용체의 특이적 ligand인 C-ANF에 의해서도 전이되었다. 이상의 결과는 돼지의 난소에 있어서 난포의 과립막 세포층 및 외난포막에 심방이뇨 호르몬의 생물학적 또는 coearance 수용체가 존재함을 보여주며, 이는 심방이뇨 호르몬의 수용체가 난자의 성숙에 관련된 난포의 발달과정에 관여할 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.115-121
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• 1995

We reviewed 45 cases of ovarian tumors treated at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1983 to 1993. Forty-five patients were operated upon for 52 ovarian tumors. The most common pathologic diagnosis was mature teratoma. The next were functional cyst, the tumors of epithelial cell origin, and those of stromal origin in order of frequency. Six patients(13%) had malignant tumor. There were one malignant teratoma, two dysgerminomas, one endodermal sinus tumor, and two granulosa cell tumors. Four cases were diagnosed as torsion of ovarian cyst preoperatively, and emergency exploratory laparotomy were performed. There were three cases of ovarian tumors associated with precocious puberty. The most widely used diagnostic tool was ultrasonography. In the treatment of these 45 patients, unilateral oophorectomy was done in 38 cases, unilateral oophorectomy with wedge resection of contralateral ovary was done in 5 cases, unilateral oophorectomy with contralateral simple cystectomy was done in one case and total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy was done in one case. Of the six cases of malignancy, five patients are alive 2 to 6 years after operation and one case was lost to be followed up.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2002

Objective : Heat shock protein family is related to protective mechanism of cells by environmental changes. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of cryopreservation on the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression in mouse ovarian tissue. Methods : Cryopreservation of mouse ovarian tissue was carried out by slow freezing method. The mRNA level of Hsp90 expression in both fresh and cryopreserved mouse ovarian tissue was analyzed by RT-PCR. The protein expression of Hsp90 was evaluated by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results: The mRNA and protein of Hsp90 were expressed in both fresh and cryopreserved mouse ovarian tissue. The amount of Hsp90 mRNA was increased in cryopreserved ovarian tissue after 60 and 90 minutes after thawing and incubation. The amount of Hsp90 protein was increased in the cryopreserved ovarian tissue after 6 hours of the incubation in Western blot analysis. In immunohistochemical study, Hsp90 protein was localized in cytoplasm of oocytes and granulosa cells. Significant level of immunoreactive Hsp90 protein was detected in theca cells contrast to the weak expression in ovarian epithelial cells. Conclusion: This results showed the increase of Hsp90 expression in both mRNA and protein level in the cryopreserved mouse ovarian tissue. It can be suggested that Hsp90 may play a role in the protective or recovery mechanism against the cell damage during cryopreservaion.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.19-29
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• 1993

Plasminogen activator (PA)-plasmin system in follicular fluid is involved in the process leading to follicular rupture at ovulation. It is well known that PA is closely associated with cellular differentiation and tissue remodeling on evidences from the study of normal and malignant tissues. This study was designed to ascertain a potential role of PA in the ovarian folliculogenesis. Immature Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, followed by injection of serine protease inhibitor (SPI; mixture of 1 mol/L benzamidine and 1 mol/L amino-caproic acid) into the unilateral ovarian bursa. In the control study, mechanical effect of bursal injection and contralateral ovarian effect SPI were ruled out. Total antral follicular areas relative to total ovarian cross-sectional areas was siginificantly lower in SPI-injected ovary than in saline-injected ovary. SPI injection decreased the relative antral follicular area by 33 % respectively. Electron microscopic finding of granulosa cell in the atretic follicle showed the presence of pyknotic nucleus, blurring of neucleolemma, degeneration of mitochondria and dilation of endoplasmic reticulum. After induction of ovulation with hCG, the number of oocytes released was significantly decreased in SPI-injected oviduct than in saline-injected oviduct. From above results, author discussed that PA may play a role not only in ovulation but also in some processes of folliculogenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권12호
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• pp.865-872
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• 2014

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a long-term adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment. However, current available treatment regimens are not optimal. Emerging evidence suggests that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could restore the structure and function of injured tissues, but the homing and restorative effects of BMSCs on chemotherapy injured ovaries are still not clear. In this study, we found that granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis induced by cisplatin was reduced when BMSCs were migrated to granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro. Chemotherapy-induced POF was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin in rats. BMSCs labeled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were injected into the rats via the tail vein to investigate the homing and distribution of BMSCs in vivo. The number of BMSCs in the ovarian hilum and medulla was greater than in the cortex, but no BMSCs were found in the follicles and corpus lutea. In addition, the BMSCs treatment group's antral follicle count and estradiol levels increased after 30 days, compared with the POF group. Hence, our study demonstrates that intravenously delivered BMSCs can home to the ovaries, and restore its structure and function in POF model rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

본 연구는 6 MeV LINAC에서 발생한 X-선을 생쥐 생체에 조사한 후 난소에서 난포의 형태적 변화 양상과 난포의 세포자연사가 일어나는 과정을 TUNEL 염색방법을 이용하여 광학현미경으로 관찰하였다. 정상난포와 퇴화난포 및 방사선이 조사된 난포에서 세포예정사가 발생하는 것을 확인하기 위해서 TUNEL 염색을 실시한 결과, 정상난소의 퇴화난포에서 양성반응을 보이는 과립층세포들은 갈색을 띠고 있었고, 핵은 응축되어 나타났다. 그러나, 정상난포에서는 양성반응이 나타나지 않았다. X-선을 조사한 난소의 난포는 TUNEL 염색에 강한 양성반응이 나타났고, 600 cGy의 X-선 조사에서 난모세포는 이미 세포예정사가 진행되어 파괴되었음을 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고 난포막을 형성하고 있는 난막세포의 핵들도 양성반응으로 나타나, 갈색으로 염색이 되었으며, 수질의 결합조직세포들의 핵도 갈색으로 염색되어 관찰되었다. 또한, 대부분의 세포들은 세포예정사가 진행되어 있으며, apoptotic body들이 난포 내에 산재되어 있었다. 이 시기의 난소조직의 전반적인 염색도는 저선량의 X-선 조사에서보다 더 현저히 강한 염색성이 나타났다.