• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권3호
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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.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.105-112
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• 2006

This study was undertaken to investigate the morphological changes between normal and atretic follicle after gamma irradiation and treatment of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The ovaries of each group of treated immature mice were prepared the paraffin sections after 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours (hrs) of those treatment. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain, reticulin stain, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) immunohistochemical stain were performed on the each paraffin sections. As the results of HE staining, the condensed nuclei of oocytes were observed in the atretic primordial follicles, on the other hand the condensations of granulosa cell nuclei were prominent in the atretic primary, preantral, and antral follicles. Only the granulosa cells of atretic follicle were stained specifically with TUNEL staining but not stained in the theca cells, which suggested granulosa cells degenerated through apoptosis. In the reticulin staining, the basement membranes of atretic follicle which was stained weakly showed irregular structure and detachment from the follicles. The ratio of normal to atretic follicle in control and FSH treated group was about 33% but this ratio increased rapidly over 90% in the 6, 12, and 24 hrs group after the irradiation. It could be suggested that the gamma irradiation is the useful tool far the induction of follicle atresia and immunohistochemical staining methods are essential in the study of follicle atresia.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 2004년도 제47차 추계학술대회
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• pp.56-57
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• 2004

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.87-92
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• 1999

본 연구는 감마선 조사 후 원시반포의 퇴화과정에서 나타나는 형태학적인 변화를 알아보기 위하여 시행되었다. ICR 계통의 생후 3 주된 미성숙 생쥐에 $LD_{80(30)}$의 선량인 8.3 Gy를 2 시간 동안 전신조사하였다. 방사선 조사 후 0 시간, 3 시간, 6 시간, 그리고 12 시간에 난소를 적출하여 조직절편을 제작한 후 가장 큰 절편을 관찰하였다. 정상 대 퇴화 난포의 비율은 조사 후 6 시간에 유의하게 감소하였다. 6 시간에 퇴화된 원시난포의 수가 증가하였으며, germinal vesicle이 관찰되지 않거나 지질방울이 증가하였으며, 난막이 사라진 것을 알 수 있었다. 과립세포의 모양은 둥글게 변하였으며, 세포자연사하는 세포가 관찰되었다. 대조군의 경우 정상 대 퇴화 원시난포의 비율이 62.50% 이었으나, 이 비율은 0 시간, 3 시간, 6 시간, 12 시간에 각각 51.61 %, 48.97 %, 11.11 %, 7.14 %로 감소하였다. 결론적으로 방사선에 의해서 윈시난포에 퇴화가 유발되는데 그 양상은 세 가지 유형을 나타내었다. 과립세포의 모양은 정상적이나 난자의 세포자연사, 난자의 형태는 정상적이나 한 개 혹은 그 이상의 과립세포가 세포자연사하는 경우, 혹은 난자와 과립세포 모두가 세포자연사 과정을 겪는 경우를 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 원시난포 퇴화를 형태학적으로 규명할 수 있는 단서가 제시되었다.

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2002년도 국제심포지엄
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• pp.98-98
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• 2002

Recruitment of primordial follicles(PMF) is crucial for female fertility. however, factors and mechanisms that regulate this process is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to obtain an inclusive view of the gene expression and to identify novel factors and their pathways of regulating PMF arrest and/or growth initiation. Ovaries from one-day neonatal(consists of oocyte and PMF) and five-day old(consists of PMF and primary follicles, PRIF) mice were collected, either total RNA or mRNA was isolated, and suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH) was used to isolate and clone genes that differentially expressed in day 1 and day 5 ovaries. Confirmation that some of these genes are differentially expressed in PMF and/or in PRIF was accomplished by using laser captured microdissection(LCM), RT-PCR. in situ hybridization(ISH) and/or immunohistochemistry(IHC). In toto, 357 clones were sequenced and analyzed by BLAST and RIKEN program. Sequences of 330 clones significantly matched database entries while 27 clones were novel. Forty-two and 47 different genes were identified as differentially expressed in day 1 and day 5 ovaries, respectively, while 7 genes were expressed in both stages of ovaries. Day 5-subtracted library included several genes known as markers far growing follicles, such as ZP2, MATER, and fetuin. Among the genes with assigned functions, 23.8% was associated with cell cycle/apoptosis regulation, 7.1% with cellular structure, 11.9% with metabolism, 26.2% with signal transduction, and 31.0% with gene/protein expression in day 1; while 10.6%, 17.0%, 23.5%, 25.5%, and 23.4% in day 5, respectively. Genes such as GDF-8, Lats2, Septin2, and Weel were the highly expressed genes in PMF, while HSP84, Laminin2, MATER, MTi7, PTP, and Wrn were highly expressed genes in PRIF. We have successfully discovered list of genes expressed in day 1 and day 5 ovaries and confirmed that some of them are differentially expressed in PMF and/or PRIF. Gene expression profile from the present study would provide insight for the future study on the mechanism(s) involved in primordial-primary follicular transition. This work was Supported by Korean Health 21 RND Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea (01-PJ10-PG6-01GN13-0002).

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

Despite of the importance of the primordial follicle (PMF) recruitment, factors and mechanisms for process are poorly understood. To evaluate expression and role of the follicular transition from PMF to PMF/primary follicles (PMIF) in the present study, we evaluated expression of lats1, lats2, cyclin A1, and cyclin A2 mRNA and protein, and elucidated and role of lats1-cyclin A in the follicular transition from PMF to PRIF. To analysis of differential expression in PMF and PMIF, each stage follicles were collected by day1 and day5 of immuno-compromised rats (ICR) and analyzed by real-time PCR for the genes. For localization of mRNAs and proteins of the genes, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed. We confirmed that the lats1, lats2, cyclin A1, and cyclin A2 mRNA were more expressed in PMF than PMIF. Localization of the four genes expression were observed in nuclei of oocytes from the arrested primordial, and in the surrounding granulosa cells of the growing follicles. The mRNA expressions were gradually decreased with follicular development. From immunohistochemistry studies, Cyclin A1 protein expression were observed in oocyte cytoplasmas of early stage follicles, while observed in granulose cells and oocyte nucleoli during growing follicles. This study suggested that the presence of lats gene family might perform negatively regulation of cell proliferation by modulation of the CDC2/Cyclin A complex activity. lats-cyclin A genes in oocytes of the early stage follicles might play a role in the meiotic cell cycle arrest of the primary oocytes at the primordial follicle stage as well as the follicular growth.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.173-183
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• 2021

The incidence of infertility among individuals of reproductive age has been growing due to genetic and environmental factors, and considerable research efforts are focused on solving this issue. Ovarian development is an overly complex process in the body, involving the interaction between primordial germ cells and gonad somatic cells. However, follicles located in the center of the in vitro ovary are poorly formed owing to ovarian complexity, nutrient deficiency, and signaling deficiency. In the present study, we optimized methods for dissociating gonads and culture conditions for the in vitro generation of miniaturized ovaries. The gonads from embryos were dissociated into cell masses and cultured on a Transwell-COL membrane for 3-5 weeks. Approximately 12 follicles were present per in vitro ovary. We observed that miniaturized ovaries successfully matured to MII oocytes in vitro from 150 to 100 ㎛ gonad masses. This method will be useful for investigating follicle development and oocyte production.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 2002년도 제43차 추계학술대회
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• pp.87.1-87.1
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• 2002

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.273-282
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• 1997

To observe the effect of Heulbuchuketang on endometriosis, surgically induced endometriosis in rats was treated with Heulbuchuketang for l00days. The result are as follows: 1. Fragments of right uterine horn were implanted at the serosal wall of small intestine and its adjacent aterial suppling branch. After 4 weeks later endometriosis was observed at the area of implantation of small intestine. 2. After l00-day-treatment, the size of the endometriosis of treated group was much smaller compared to those of the untreated group. Especially the result of the later 60-day-treatment was much better than that of the early 40-day-treatment. 3. In case of inflammation or pustula induced from endometriosis, the size of abnormal endometriosis tissue showed no change after the total treatment and fibrotic change was often founded there, which was not responding to Heulbuchuketang. 4. In the ovary of untreated group, primordial follicle, primary follicle, maturing primary follicle were easily founded and there was no difference in shape and size between the ovary of Heulbuchuketang treated group. From the upper 1 to 4 laboratory result it can be suggested that Heulbuchuketang can be specially effective to mild endometriosis with conservating the ability of fertility.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.347-356
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• 2000

포유동물의 난소 내에는 많은 수의 primordial follicles 과 preantral follicles 이 존재하고 있으며, 이것은 수정란을 체외생산하기 위한 잠재적인 난자의 공급원이 될 수 있다. 생쥐 preantral follicles 내에 존재하는 난자의 체외성장과 발달을 위하여 몇몇 배양체계가 개발이 되었으며, 적당한 배양조건에서 감수분열 능력이 없는 preantral follicles 내의 난자가 체외배양을 통하여 난자 직경이 증가하고 완전한 핵성숙을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 체외성장 및 성숙된 난자로부터 생쥐 산자의 성공적인 생산은 preantral follicles 내의 난자가 체외배양을 통해서도 완전한 발달능력을 얻을 수 있음을 입증하였다. 그렇지만, 생쥐 preantral follicle로부터 수정란의 체외생산능력은 매우 낮은 것으로 보고되고 있다. 한편 사람을 비롯한 돼지, 소와 같은 중ㆍ대가축의 경우에는 pre antral follicle의 체외배양을 통하여 감수분열능이 있는 단계의 난자로까지의 발달이 아직 보고가 되지 않고 있다. 따라서 지금까지의 연구결과들을 종합해 볼 때, preantral follicles의 체외배양조건을 개선하거나 새로운 배양체계를 개발에 대한 많은 연구가 요구되고 있다. 사람과 중ㆍ대가축의 preantral follicles의 체외배양체계의 확립은 우수한 형질을 가진 동물의 확장, 희귀동물 혹은 멸종위기 동물의 보존에 이용될 수 있을 것이며, 그리고 암치료를 위하여 화학적, 방사선 치료를 받아야 하는 여성에게서 향후에 불입치료를 위한 방법으로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.