• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cord serum adiponectin (APN) and IGF-I concentrations and fetal growth. Methods : Umbilical cord serum APN and IGF-I concentrations were measured in healthy term singleton deliveries (n=72). The association of cord serum APN and IGF-I concentrations was evaluated in relation to birth weight, height, head circumference, gender, ponderal index, placental weight, feto-placental (F/P) weight ratio, maternal weight gain, and maternal body mass index (BMI). Results : The mean cord serum APN was 29.2${\pm}$10.46 $\mu$g/mL. The cord serum APN and birth weight demonstrated a bell-shape relationship. The cord serum APN concentration was higher in females than males (P=0.001). The cord serum APN was negatively correlated with maternal BMI (r=-0.301, P=0.027), but the mean cord serum APN concentration was not correlated with birth height, birth head circumference, ponderal index, placental weight, F/P ratio, or maternal weight gain. The mean cord serum concentrations of IGF-I was 51.26${\pm}$21.54 ng/mL. The cord serum IGF-I concentration was positively correlated with birth weight (r=0.312, P=0.009), but not birth height, ponderal index, placental weight, F/P weight ratio, or maternal BMI. Conclusion : APN demonstrated a bell-shaped relationship with birth weight in healthy term infants. IGF-I was highly correlated with fetal growth, especially birth weight.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 1990

This study was conducted to find out the changes of ovarian, placental and fetal weights and periods of pregnancy in rats implanted with progesterone-tube during the reproductive stages. One hundred and thirty-four mature rats, 10~13 weeks old, were offered for this experiment. The animals, which were implanted with silicon tubes filled with progesterone on day 15 of pregnancy, were sacrified at 18, 20, 21 and 22 days of pregnancy. The changes of ovarian, placental and fetal weights and the number of fetuses during late pregnancy were recorded. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. After progesterone-tube implantation, ovarian weight reached to a peak value of 92.0$\pm$0.9mg at 20 days of pregnancy, there after decreased significantly to 79.5$\pm$7.6 and 68.26$\pm$4.2mg at 20 and 22 days of pregnancy(P<0.01). 2. The placental weight increased rapidly during 15~18 days of pregnancy in control and progesterone treated rats. A peak value of 447.78$\pm$20.9mg was shown at 20 days of pregnancy after progesterone-tube implantation, and in control rats the value decreased significantly to 419.42$\pm$11.6 and 404.1$\pm$29.3mg at 20 and 21 days of pregnancy(P<0.01). 3. The fetal weights was not shown any significant differences between control and progesterone-tube implanted rats. 4. The number of fetuses in control rats were 14.75$\pm$0.4 at 8~10 days of pregnancy and 13.5$\pm$0.3 and 13.25$\pm$0.4 at 12 and 20 days of pregnancy. 5. The significant difference in periods of pregnancy was appeared between progesterone-tube implanted(27.3$\pm$0.3 days) and control(22.1$\pm$0.3 days)rats(P<0.01).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.686-695
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to assess the maternal iron status during pregnancy and to evaluate the relationships bet-ween the iron indices of maternal, umbilical cord serum, placenta and pregnancy outcomes. Venous bloods samples were drawn from 54 pregnant women just before delivery and cord bloods of their newborn babies were collected immediately after birth. And also, placental tissues were extracted. We investigated the difference of the iron status indices of maternal, umbilical cord serum and placental tissue between two gestational age group (PT group, NT group : preform delivery and normal term delivery at 34.9wk and 39.0wk of mean gestational length, respectively) and also assessed correlations of iron status indices of maternal, umbilical cord serum and placenta tissue. And lastly, we related between birth weight and iron status indices of maternal, umbilical cord serum and placental tissue. The concentrations of maternal serum ferritin and of placental iron were significantly higher in NT group (32.1 $\pm$ 21.1 ng/ml, 68.5 $\pm$ 16.7 $\mu$g/g), than those of NT group (20.8 $\pm$ 11.6 ng/ml, 53.2 $\pm$ 17.4 $\mu$/g) respectively (p<0.001). However the serum ferritin of umbilical cord were significantly higher in NT group (PT : 109.4 $\pm$ 65.7 ng/ml, NT : 147.0 $\pm$ 56.8 ng/ml) than those of PT group (p<0.05). Our results showed that a negative association between birth weight (r=-0.361) and maternal serum ferritin and that a positive association between birth weight and umbilical cord serum ferritin (r=0.261). Despite not a significant difference, there was tendency that highest concentration of maternal serum ferritin was associated with the lowest birth weight. These findings indicate that birth weight of newborn is dependent of multiple factors such as maternal iron status during pre-pregnancy, body size, general nutritional status. Although for women who enter pregnancy with low iron stores, enough intakes of iron during pregnancy could produce undesirable pregnancy outcome. Therefore we suggest for successful pregnancy outcome and delivery differential iron supplementation program will be carried out individual pregnant women on the basis of pre-pregnancy nutritional status.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 1990

This experiment was carried out to investigate the recovery period of estrus cycle, the pseudopregnancy period, weights of ovary, placenta and fetus, and number of litter of female rats after unilateral ovariectomy(ULO). The results obtained are as follows : 1. The estrus cycle was inclined to become normal from the second time. 2. The pseudopregnancy period of rats in unilaterally ovariectomized group and control group, and no significant difference in pseudopregnancy period was shown between the two groups. 3. The ovarian weights of each ULO group were significantly(P<0.01) heavier than that of the control group throughout the observation periods of pregnancy. 4. The placental weights of ULO group were not different from that of the control group in 10 and 15 days of pregnancy. But they became significantly (P<0.05) heavier in 20 days. 5. The weights of fetus in ULO at 10 days of pregnancy was not different from that ofthe control group, but the weights in ULO group at 15 and 20 days of pregnancy were significantly(P<0.01) heavier. 6. The number of litter in ULO was smaller than that of the control groups.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like environmental endocrine disrupter, on the placental function and reproduction in rats. The mRNA levels of the placental prolactin-growth hormone(PRL-GH) gene family, placental trophoblast cell frequency and reproductive data were analyzed. Methods : The pregnancies of F344 Fisher rats ($160g{\pm}20g$) were detected by the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear, which marked Day 0 of pregnancy. Pregnant rats were divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with a sesame oil vehicle. The two remaining groups were injected with 50 or 500 mg/kg B.W/day of BPA, resuspended in sesame oil, on either days 7 to 11 or 16 to 20 of pregnancy, with the rats sacrificed on either day 11 or 20, respectively. The mRNA levels of PRL-GH and Pit-1a and b isotype genes were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The hormone concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, and the frequency of the placental trophoblast cells observed by a histochemical study. Reproductive data, such as the placental weight and litter size, were surveyed on day 20. The fetal weight was surveyed for 4 weeks after birth. A statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS program (version 8.1). Results : The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH gene family, such as placental lactogen I, Iv and II, prolactin like protein A, C and Cv, and decidual prolactin-related protein were significantly reduced due to BPA exposure. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1a and b isotype genes, which induce the expression of the PRL-GH gene family in the rat placenta, were also reduced due to BPA exposure. The PL-Iv and PL-II concentrations were reduced in the BPA exposed group. During the middle to last stage of pregnancy (Days 11-20), a high dose of BPA exposure reduced the frequency of spongiotrophoblast cells, which are responsible for the secretion of the PRL-GH hormones. Reproductive data, such as the placental and fetal weights and the litter size, were reduced, but that of the pregnancy period was extended in the BPA exposed compared to the control group. Conclusions : BPA disrupts the placental functions in rats, which leads to reproductive disorders.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of three proteases (trypsin, pepsin and chymotrypsin) on the hydrolysis efficiency of porcine placenta and the molecular weight (Mw) distributions of the placental hydrolysates. Because placenta was made up of insoluble collagen, the placenta was gelatinized by applying thermal treatment at $90^{\circ}C$ for 1 h and used as the sample. The placental hydrolyzing activities of the enzymes at varying concentrations and incubation times were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Based on the SDS-PAGE, the best placental hydrolysis efficiency was observed in trypsin treatments where all peptide bands disappeared after 1 h of incubation as compared to 6 h of chymotrypsin. Pepsin hardly hydrolyzed the placenta as compared to the other two enzymes. The Mw distribution revealed that the trypsin produced placental peptides with Mw of 106 and 500 Da. Peptides produced by chymotrypsin exhibited broad ranges of Mw distribution (1-20 kDa), while the pepsin treatment showed Mw greater than 7 kDa. For comparisons of pre-treatments, the subcritical water processing (37.5 MPa and $200^{\circ}C$) of raw placenta improved the efficiency of tryptic digestions to a greater level than that of a preheating treatment ($90^{\circ}C$ for 1 h). Consequently, subcritical water processing followed by enzymatic digestions has the potential of an advanced collagen hydrolysis technique.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 1992

Sprague-Dawley rats aged six weeks divided into four groups and group 1, 2, 3 and 4 of rats were given an intrapertioneal injection of diethylnitrosamine at 200 mg/kg body weight. Group 4 was Control. Two weeks after beginning of the experiment, group 1 of rats were begun to feed on water containing 0.05% phenobarbital sodium as a promoter for six weeks, and CP-2 were intrapertioneally given to rats of group 2(20mg/kg) and group 3(1mg/kg). Three weeks after beginning of the experiment, partial hepatectomy was performed in all rats. Preneoplastic foci were identified histopathologically by glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) activity. In the Immunohistochemical quantitative analysis of carcinogen-induced foci, it was concluded that CP-2 was not carcinogen.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.803-812
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• 1997

The influences of dietary supplements of vitamin E on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis have been studied, Placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area, antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase(GST)), glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) activities, and lipid peroxidation of mecrosomes(thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) contents) were investigated. For is purpose , we used the murine chemical hepatocardinogenic procedure induced by modified Ito model, which consists of 200mg/kg body weight diethylinitrosamine (DEN) injection, 0.01% 2-acethlaminoflurene(2-AAF) feeding for 6 weeks, and partial hepatectomy on week 3. Weanling Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed pulverized Purina rat chow with 15, 000IU/kg diet vitamin E from initiation or promotion stages. We found that vitamin E supplement decreased the area of GST-P positive foci. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. GST activities, and TBARS contents were decreased. On the other hand G6Pase activities were increased by vitamin E supplement. It seemed that vitamin E supplements helped endogenous defense systems against carcinogenesis by decreasing TBARS contents, $H_2O$$_2$ and organic peroxides. So, vitamin E seemed to protect cell from free radical damage in carcinogenesis. Anticarcinogenic effects of vitamin E were more effective at intiation that at promotion stage. These results suggest that vitamin E has suppressive effects on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis, probably through antioxidant effects against TBARS contents $H_2O$$_2$ and orgainc peroxides.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1495-1503
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with BCAA (branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine) on improving the growth of rats in a malnutritional IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Retardation) model, which was established by feeding restriction. In the experimental treatment, rats were fed purified diets supplemented with BCAA (mixed) during the whole gestation period, while arginine and alanine supplementation were set as the positive and negative control group, respectively. The results showed that, compared to the effect of alanine, BCAA reversed IUGR by increasing the fetus weights by 18.4% and placental weights by 18.0% while fetal numbers were statistically increased. Analysis of gene and protein expression revealed that BCAA treatment increased embryonic liver IGF-I expression; the uterus expressed higher levels of estrogen receptor-$\alpha$ (ER-$\alpha$) and progesterone receptor (PR), and the placenta expressed higher levels of IGF-II. Amino acid analysis of dam plasma revealed that BCAA supplementation effectively enhanced the plasma BCAA levels caused by the feed restriction. BCAA also enhanced the embryonic liver gluconeogenesis by augmenting the expression of two key enzymes, namely fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). In conclusion, supplementation of BCAA increased litter size, embryonic weight and litter embryonic weight by improving the dam uterus and placental functions as well as increasing gluconeogenesis in the embryonic liver, which further provided energy to enhance the embryonic growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.341-347
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• 1999

Pregnant Yorkshire gilts were utilized to investigate the efficacy of exogenous administration of pST and/or insulin in enhancing prenatal piglet survival, uteroplacental and umbilical cord growth and development. Gilts were randomly assigned in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement to four treatment combinations consisting of either daily i.m. injections of 5 mg pST (P, n=23); 0.50 IU/kg of insulin (I, n=23); combination of pST and insulin (P+I, n=23); or 1 ml of saline as control (C, n=23) from gestation Day 30 to 70. All gilts were sacrificed on gestation d 113 to evaluate piglet survival and uteroplacental or umbilical cord development Uteri were longer (346.3 vs 325.7 cm; p<0.05), and heavier (3122.8 vs 2940.7 g; p<0.05) in insulin treated gilts. Only placental macroscopic surface area was enhanced by maternal insulin injections (p<0.05) Incidence of umbilical cord abnormalities were low (14.3%), and they were independent of maternal treatment, occurring more in short cords than in long ones (21 vs 12%; p<0.05). A 6% increase in cord length (53.2 vs 48.6 cm; p=<0.05) was observed in piglets from treated gilts compared with controls. Significant sex differences (in favour of males) were observed in piglet weight, crown rump length and for most umbilical or placental parameters. Gilt weight gains from breeding to Day 113 of gestation were 10% and 15% greater in pST and insulin treated gilts compared with controls. These data indicate that prepartum injections of pST and/or insulin to gestating gilts seem to have a beneficial effect on uteroplacental or umbilical cord development and promote conditions conducive for perinatal piglet survival.