• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.55-68
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• 1982

The present investigation has been undertaken to understand the mechanism of implantation process, by demonstrating the role of ovarian steroids in connection with phosphatase activity in the differentiation of uterine endometrium for implantation. The results obtained are as followings: The differentiation of the uterine endometrial tissue was closely influenced by the ovarian steroid hormones; at first, 17${\beta}$-estradiol initiated the differentiation of the uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells, and then progesterone induced differentiation of stromal cells, and thereby two steroids maintain decidualization of the uterine tissues. We observed that the phosphatase activities seem to be dependent upon the ovarian steroids; that is the activity showed higher level in progesterone treated group than in estradiol treated one, and the highest activity was found in the group treated with both estradiol and progesterone. Acid phosphatase showed the highest activity whereas alkaline phosphatase showed the lowest in the rat uterine endometrium during early pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.197-199
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• 1991

The role of estrogen in calcium metabolism has not been well documented. To further investigate the effects of endogenous estrogen on the calcium regulating hormones in women, we correlated the changes of estrogen level with those of calcium regulating hormones during ovulation induction in 12 hypogonadal and 8 normally menstruating women. During ovulation induction, the serum leveles of estradiol rose from 40.0 to 831.0pg/ml. There were no significant changes in the serum leveles of total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin. However, 1, $25-(OH)_2D_3$ rose significantly from 31.0 to 47.2pg.ml as the endogenous $E_2$ increaed (p<0.005).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 1988

These studies were undertaken to examine the relationship between tamoxifen and sex steroid hormones in rat uterine morphology and the effect of tamoxifen on sex steroid hormone levels, implantation and myometrial contraction. The results obtained were as follows : 1) The increase in height of the luminal epithelium caused by tamoxifen treatment was blocked by progesterone. The increase in height of luminal epithelium caused by $estradiol-17{\beta}$ treatment was blocked by tamoxifen. 2) When a single dose of tamoxifen(10, 20, $40{\mu}g$) was given on Day 2 of pregnancy, implantation was prevented. Plasma $estradiol-17{\beta}$ level fell in a dose-dependent manner but plasma progesterone level was constant. 3) In vitro, tamoxifen decreased rat uterine contractility in a dose-dependent manner.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.133-143
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• 2009

Pivotal roles of steroid hormones in uterine endometrial function are well established from the mouse models carrying the null mutation of their receptors. Literally androgen belongs to male but interestingly it also detected in female. The fluctuations of androgen levels are observed during reproductive cycle and pregnancy, and the functional androgen receptor is expressed in reproductive organs including uterus. Using high throughput methodology, the downstream genes of androgen have been isolated and revealed correlations between other steroid hormones. In androgen-deficient mice, uterine responses to exogenous gonadotropins are impaired and the number of pups per litter is reduced dramatically. As expected androgen has important role in decidual differentiation through AR. It regulates specific gene network during those cellular responses. Recently we examined the effects of steroid hormonal complex containing high level of androgen. Interestingly, on the contrary to the androgen-alone administration, the hormonal complex did not disturb the decidual reaction and the pubs did not show any morphological abnormality. It is suspected that the complexity of communication between other steroid hormone and their receptors are the reasons. In summary, androgen exists in female blood and it suggests the importance of androgen in female reproduction. However, the complex interactions with other hormones are not fully understood compared with estrogen and progesterone. The further studies to evaluate the possible role of androgen are needed and important to provide the in vivo rational for the prevention of associated pregnancy complications and help human's health.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1988

The contraception practice rate in Korea has steadily increased from 9% in 1964 to 72% in 1987. Accordingly, natural increase rate of population declined from 28.4 per 1,000 in 1964 to 12.4 per 1,000 in 1987. Notably in recent years, the acceptance of surgical contraception services has sharply increased in this country. Now the author analyzes various factors influencing successful vasectomy and vasovasostomy based on his experience in performing more than 8,000 vasectomies and 1,000 vasovasostomies during the past 25 years. These various factors consist of preoperative screening interview, surgical vasectomy technique, vas irrigation technique, open-ended vasectomy, complications from vasectomy, sperm granuloma formation, spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis after vasectomy, immunological consequences after vasectomy, prostatic diseases and vasectomy, late post-vasectomy syndrome, psychological effects after vasectomy, and success rates of vasovasostomy. Besides, the author makes more comments on the results of the clinical trials on new approaches to reversible vas occlusion technique with a new device of Intravasal Thread and to reversible suppression of spermatogenesis with long-acting sex hormones.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2011

The ultimate function of the endometrium is to allow the implantation of a blastocyst and to support pregnancy. Cycles of tissue remodeling ensure that the endometrium is in a receptive state during the putative 'implantation window', the few days of each menstrual cycle when an appropriately developed blastocyst may be available to implant in the uterus. A successful pregnancy requires strict temporal regulation of maternal immune function to accommodate a semi-allogeneic embryo. To preparing immunological tolerance at the onset of implantation, tight temporal regulations are required between the immune and endocrine networks. This review will discuss about the action of steroid hormones on the human endometrium and particularly their role in regulating the inflammatory processes associated with endometrial receptivity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2021

Objective: Studies of the effects of estrogens on the male reproductive system have emphasized the role of these hormones in male fertility. Sesame oil has many phytoestrogenic compounds and may improve male fertility. This study investigated the effects of sesame oil and different concentrations of estrogen on sperm parameters and DNA integrity in male mice. Methods: Twenty old NMRI (The Naval Medical Research Institute) male mice (40 weeks; weight, 30-35 g) were treated with sesame oil or different concentrations of estrogen (estradiol, 1 and 10 μL/kg/day) or received no treatment (controls). After 35 days, sperm parameters and DNA integrity were assessed and analyzed. Results: Sperm count, progressive motility, and morphology were decreased in the group that received 10 μL/kg of estradiol. A remarkably lower percentage of DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency were detected in the group that received 1 μL/kg of estradiol. In the groups that received sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol, the numbers of spermatogonia and Leydig cells were higher than in controls. The combination of sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol led to improved sperm parameters and chromatin and testicular structure. Conclusion: Based on this study, consumption of sesame oil and a low concentration of estradiol may improve testicular function in older mice.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2015

The female reproductive tract has two main functions: protection against microbial challenge and maintenance of pregnancy to term. The upper reproductive tract comprises the fallopian tubes and the uterus, including the endocervix, and the lower tract consists of the ectocervix and the vagina. Immune cells residing in the reproductive tract play contradictory roles: they maintain immunity against vaginal pathogens in the lower tract and establish immune tolerance for sperm and an embryo/fetus in the upper tract. The immune system is significantly influenced by sex steroid hormones, although leukocytes in the reproductive tract lack receptors for estrogen and progesterone. The leukocytes in the reproductive tract are distributed in either an aggregated or a dispersed form in the epithelial layer, lamina propria, and stroma. Even though immune cells are differentially distributed in each organ of the reproductive tract, the predominant immune cells are T cells, macrophages/dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and mast cells. B cells are rare in the female reproductive tract. NK cells in the endometrium significantly expand in the late secretory phase and further increase their number during early pregnancy. It is evident that NK cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are extremely important in decidual angiogenesis, trophoblast migration, and immune tolerance during pregnancy. Dysregulation of endometrial/decidual immune cells is strongly related to infertility, miscarriage, and other obstetric complications. Understanding the immune system of the female reproductive tract will significantly contribute to women's health and to success in pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.611-615
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• 1993

A rapid, solid-phase microtitre plate enzyme immunoassay(EIA) to determine the concentration of progesterone and testosterone in dairy cow is described. Both steroid hormones were analysed employing antibodies against $11{\alpha}$-hemisuccinate-progesterone bovine serum albumin and 4-androsten-$17{\beta}$-ol-3-one-carboxymethyloxime bovine serum albumin, respectively. as primary antibodies and sheep Ig G as secondary antibody. The conjugated used as labels for progesterone and testosterone was progesterone-$11{\alpha}$-hydroxy-hemisuccinate- horseradish peroxidase and 4 ${\alpha}$-androsten-$17{\beta}$-ol-3-hemisuccinate- horseradish peroxidase, respectively. Detection limit of microtitre plate EIA was 6.7 pg/well for progesteone and 1.0 pg/well for testosterone.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.3_spc
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• pp.457-462
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Enteromorpha powder supplementation on reproduction-related hormones and genes in the late laying period of Zi geese. Methods: A total of 312 (1-year-old) Zi geese with similar laying rate were randomly divided into 2 groups with 6 replicates each, each with 21 female geese and 5 male geese. The control group was fed with a basal diet and the test group was fed with a diet containing 3% Enteromorpha powder. The trial period lasted for 7 weeks. Results: Our results showed that the laying rate was improved in the test group at each week of trial (p<0.01), and the levels of estradiol in serum and prolactin in ovary were increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on above results, Enteromorpha powder supplementation at 3% could promote reproductive performance during the late laying period of Zi geese.