• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.146-152
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• 2004

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide recently identified as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogues receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) and is involved in a novel system for regulating GH release. To understand the long-term effects of ghrelin, here we constructed six myogenic expression vectors containing the cDNA of swine mature ghrelin (pGEM-wt-sGhln, pGEM-wt-hGhln), ghrelin mutant of $Ser^3$ with $Trp^3$ (pGEM-mt-sGhln, pGEM-mt-hGhln) and truncated ghrelin derivative (pGEM-tmtsGhln, pGEM-tmt-hGhln) encompassing the first 7 residues of ghrelin (including $Ser^3$ substituted with $Trp^3$) and adding a basic amino acid, Lys (K) in the C-terminus. The constructs, pGEM-wt-sGhln, pGEM-mt-sGhln and pGEM-tmt-sGhln were linked with the ghrelin leader sequence, while the pGEM-wt-hGhln, pGEM-mt-hGhln and pGEM-tmt-hGhln were linked with a leader sequence from the human growth hormone releasing hormone (hGHRH). Intramuscular injection of 200 ${\mu}g$ pGEM-wt-sGhln or pGEM-tmt-sGhln augmented growth over 3 weeks in normal rats and peaked at day 21 or 14 post-injection respectively, whose body weight gains were on average approximately 6% or 19% heavier over controls. However, other injectable vectors had no such enhanced growth effects. Our results suggested that the efficacy of the ghrelin leader sequence was more effective than that of hGHRH in our system. Moreover, the results indicated that skeletal muscle might have the ability to posttranslationally modify the in vivo expressed ghrelin. And the most strikingly, the short ghrelin analog seems to mimic the biological effects more efficiently when compared with the full-length ghrelin.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2013

In mammals, puberty is a process of acquiring reproductive competence, triggering by activation of hypothalamic kisspeptin (KiSS)-gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal circuit. During peripubertal period, not only the external genitalia but the internal reproductive organs have to be matured in response to the hormonal signals from hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (H-P-G) axis. In the present study, we evaluated the maturation of male rat accessory sex organs during the peripubertal period using tissue weight measurement, histological analysis and RT-PCR assay. Male rats were sacrificed at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 70 postnatal days (PND). The rat accessory sex organs exhibited differential growth patterns compared to those of non-reproductive organs. The growth rate of the accessory sex organs were much higher than the those of non-reproductive organs. Also, the growth spurts occurred differentially even among the accessory sex organs; the order of prepubertal organ growth spurts is testis = epididymis > seminal vesicle = prostate. Histological study revealed that the presence of sperms in seminiferous tubules and epididymal ducts at day 50, indicating the puberty onset. The number of duct and the volume of duct in epididymis and prostate were inversely correlated during the experimental period. Our RT-PCR revealed that the levels of hypothalamic GnRH transcript were increased significantly on PND 40, suggesting the activation of hypothalamic GnRH pulse-generator before puberty onset. Studies on the peripubertal male accessory sex organs will provide useful references on the growth regulation mechanism which is differentially regulated during the period in androgen-sensitive organs. The detailed references will render easier development of endocrine disruption assay.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.203-206
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• 2002

The extracts of a lot of (different) plants were studied for inducing the secretion of growth hormone and IGF-1. In the cell test, it was found that the concentration of rat growth hormone was 88 - 99 ng/mL in a certain plant extract treatment group which was at least 6 times higher than the amount in control group. The concentration of IGF-1 in blood was 1,140ng/mL at 8 hours after the oral administration of YGF, which was remarkably much higher than that in control group. This meant that YGF maintained the level of IGF-1 secretion higher in the treated group. In addition, the increase of 6% in bone length was shown for the long-term oral administration of YGF. Thus, YGF seemed to affect significantly for inducing the secretion of IGF-1 which was essential for the physical growth and anti-aging.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

Purpose: Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hATSCs) can be differentiated into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including bone, cartilage, and muscle. And growth hormone play important roles in the normal growth and development of the CNS. In this study, we explored whether the transplanted hATSCs and growth hormones could improve functional recoveries from rats with contusive spinal cord injury. Methods: We divided 30 female rats, which were subjected to a weight driven implant spinal cord injury, into 3 groups with 10 rats each; Group A as a control group, group B with hATSCs transplantation on injured region, and group C with hATSCs transplantation and GH administration for 7 days. Then, we researched their neurologic functional recoveries before and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after transplantation using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. And we checked Y-chromosome positive cells by FISH(Fluorescent in situ hybridization) to identify the survival of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells. Results: After 4 weeks of transplantation, the group B and group C showed significant improvement of neurologic function on BBB locomotor rating scale in comparison with the group A(Group A: $13.1{\pm}0.58$, Group B: $14.6{\pm}0.69$, Group C: $14.9{\pm}0.56$). Moreover, the group C displayed meaningful recovery of neurologic function after 8 weeks in comparison with group B (Group B: $15.7{\pm}0.63$, Group C: $16.5{\pm}1.14$). The group A, the control one, improved for 5 weeks after injury, and had no more recovery. On the other hand, Group B and C showed the improvement of neurologic function continuously for 9 weeks after injury. Conclusion: In this study, we found out that hATSCs transplantation have an effect on neurologic functional recovery of spinal cord injured rat and GH injection seems to bring the synergistic results on this good tendency.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.163.4-163
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.309-317
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• 2009

As far as we know, there were no studies of the effect of L-arginine on bone metabolism in post-menopausal women or ovariectomized rats. The primary objective of the current study was to determine whether arginine supplementation was associated with alterations in femoral and spinal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone markers in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, Ovx and sham groups, which were each randomly divided into two subgroups that were fed control and arginine supplemented diet. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. Bone resorption was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co, Wisconsin, USA) in spine and femur. The serum and urine concentrations of Ca and P were determined. The plasma was analyzed for arginine. Diet did not affect weight gain, mean food intake, and plasma arginine concentration. Urinary Ca excretion was decreased by arginine supplementation in Ovx rats, but statistically not significant. The Ovx rats fed arginine-supplemented diet were not significantly different in ALP, osteocalcin, crosslinks value, PTH, calcitonin and IGF-1 compared to those fed control diet. The arginine-supplemented group had significantly higher serum Ca and growth hormone than control group. Spine and femur BMD were significantly increased by arginine supplementation on 5th and 9th weeks after feeding. Our findings indicate that dietary L-arginine supplementation decreased bone mineral density loss in Ovx rats. Therefore, dietary arginine supplementation may represent a potentially useful strategy for the management of osteoporosis.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.264-270
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of red-yeast-rice on blood lipids and also to investigated the relation of blood lipids, bone related hormones, and bone mineral density in overiectomized rats. Forty female rats (body weight $210\pm5$g) were divided into two groups. The rats in the first group were ovariectomized which the others received sham operation (SHAM). And then each rat group was further divided into control diet $(casein\;20\%)$ and red-yeast-rice powder supplemented $(0.1\%)$ diet group. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus in spine and femur. Bone formation and bone resorption were measured by serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks value. Serum growth hormone, IGF-1 and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the blood triglyceride concentration and had lower the blood total cholesterol concentration than casein group did in ovariectomized rats. And the red-yeast-rice group than casein group in ovariectomized rats. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the atherogenic index than control group within the ovariectomized groups. In the experimental rats, serum total cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with femur BMC and crosslink value. Crosslink value was negatively correlated with spine BMC and IGF-1. Osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with crosslink value. Growth hormone was negatively correlated with crosslink value and positively correlated with spine BMC. The findings of this study suggest that red-yeast-rices are beneficial for blood lipid in ovariectomized rats. And when considering a population-based public health approach to lowering cholesterol and bone loss, and preventing coronary heart disease and osteoporosis, the red-yeast-rice dietary supplement could provide a new approach for the maintenance of healthier cholesterol and bone.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2011

Objective: Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an important role in regulating cellular differentiation and proliferation in several types of mammalian cells. This report examined the expression of Prx isotype I in the rat ovary after hormone treatment. Methods: Immature rats were injected with 10 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to induce the growth of multiple preovulatory follicles and 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation. Immature rats were also treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), an estrogen analogue, to induce the growth of multiple immature follicles. Northern blot analysis was performed to detect gene expression. Cell-type specific localization of Prx I mRNA were detected by in situ hybridization analysis. Results: During follicle development, ovarian Prx I gene expression was detected in 3-day-old rats and had increased in 21-day-old rats. The levels of Prx I mRNA slightly declined one to two days following treatment with DES. A gradual increase in Prx I gene expression was observed in ovaries obtained from PMSG-treated immature rats. Furthermore, hCG treatment of PMSG-primed rats resulted in a gradual stimulation of Prx I mRNA levels by 24 hours (2.1-fold increase) following treatment, which remained high until 72 hours following treatment. In situ hybridization analysis revealed the expression of the Prx I gene in the granulosa cells of PMSG-primed ovaries and in the corpora lutea of ovaries stimulated with hCG for 72 hours. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the gonadotropin and granulosa cell-specific stimulation of Prx I gene expression, suggesting its role as a local regulator of follicle development.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 1994

Rat $\beta$-casein 유전자와 사람 성장호르몬 (hGH) 유전자의 융합유전자를 생쥐 수정란의 웅성전핵에 미세주입하여 형질전환생쥐 (transgenic mouse) 6계통을 확립하였다. 이들로부터 사람성장호르몬(hGH) 유전자의 발현 여부를 조사한 결과, 6계통중 4계통의 생쥐 유즙에서 hGH가 2~900 ng/ml 수준으로 발현되고 있었으며, 혈중에서는 hGH가 검출되지 않았다. 따라서 이들 형질전환생쥐에서 사람성장호르몬이 우선특이적으로 발현, 분비되고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 한편, 사람성장호르몬의 발현이 확인된 두 계통 (ChGH2-2, CChGH2)의 형질전환생쥐를 대상으로 하여 세대별, 산차별로 유즙내 사람성장호르몬의 함량을 조사한 결과, 3세대에 걸쳐, 또한 제1세대에서의 세차례 반복된 비유기에도 유즙내 사람성장호르몬은 지속적으로 분비되고 있었다. 이상의 결과는 형질전환생쥐에서의 외래유전자의 발현성은 반복되는 비유기와 여러 세대에 걸쳐 안정적으로 유지됨을 보여 주고 있다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2011

Sloan-Kettering virus gene product of a cellular protooncogene c-Ski is an unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. Ski plays multiple roles in a variety of cell types, it can induce both oncogenic transformation and terminal muscle differentiation when expressed at high levels. Ski protein is implicated in proliferation/differentiation in a variety of cells. The alternative fate of granulosa cells other than apoptosis is to differentiate to luteal cells, however, it is unknown whether Ski is expressed and has a role in granulosa cells undergoing luteinization. Thus, the aim of this study was, by means of immunohistochemical methods, to locate Ski protein in the rat ovaries during ovulation and corpora lutea (CL) formation to predict the possible involvement of Ski in luteinization. In addition, we performed to examine whether the initiation of luteinization with luteinizing hormone (LH) directly regulates expression of Ski in the luteinized granulosa and luteal cells after ovulation by in vivo models. In order to examine the expression pattern of Ski protein along with the progress of luteinization, follicular growth was induced by administration of equine chorionic gonadtropin to immature female rat, and luteinization was induced by human chorionic gonadtropin treatment to mimic luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. While no Ski-positive granulosa cells were present in preovulatory follicle, Ski protein expression was induced in response to LH surge, and was maintained after the formation of corpus luteum (CL). These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the luteinized granulosa cells and luteal cells of CL during luteinization, and suggest that Ski may play a role in luteinization of granulosa cells.