• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

포유동물의 생식을 조절하는 다수의 호르몬 가운데 가장 중요한 것들로 난소로부터의 estrogen과 progesterone을 들 수 있다. 반면 다양한 스트레스 인자들은 암컷의 성 반응 행동과 번식을 억제함이 잘 알려졌다. 이러한 스트레스가 가해지는 동안 부신에서는 카테콜아민(catecholamine)이 다량 분비되어 위기 상황에 대처하며 이 과정에서 생식 현상의 억제가 일어나는 것으로 추정된다. 본 연구에서는 생식호르몬 분비와 성 행동 양식에 광범위한 영향을 미침이 알려진 카테콜아민 중 특히 부신의 norepinephrine(NE)과 epinephrine(E) 합성ㆍ분비 양상과 발정주기 간의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 이를 위해 HPLC-ECD를 사용하여 주기 중인 흰쥐 부신 수질내 NE와 E함량과 체외 배양한 부신으로부터의 분비를 조사하였다. NE 함량은 proestrus에서 증가하기 시작하여 diestrus I에서 최고에 도달하였고, diestrus II에 최소치로 감소하였다. 부신 내 E 함량의 최고치는 proestrus, 그리고 최저치는 diestrus II에서 관찰되었다. 흰쥐 부신 내 NE : E ratio는 diestrus I에서 1 : 4.81로 가장 낮았고 기타 시기에는 1 : 6.13～7.02였다. 체외 배양한 흰쥐 부신으로부터의 NE 분비는 diestrus II에서 가장 낮았으며 estrus에서 최고에 도달하였고, proestrus에서의 분비 역시 diestrus II 때보다 유의성있게 높았다. E분비의 최고치는 estrus에서, 그리고 최저치는 diestrus 떼서 II 관찰되었다. 한편 배양액 중 Ne : E ratio는 estrus에서 1 : 3.32로 가장 높았고 기타 시기에는 1 : 2.34～2.65였다. 본 연구 결과는 (1) 흰쥐 부신에서 카테콜아민 생성과 분비 양상이 발정주기 중 역동적으로 변화하며, (2) NE로부터 E로의 전환이 발정주기 중 stage-specific하게 일어남을 나타내는 것으로서, 이는 카테콜아민 합성율을 결정하는 rate limiting enzyme인 tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)와 NE에서 E로의 전환 과정을 매개하는 phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT)의 발현과 활성이 중추신경계에서와 유사하게 생식호르몬, 특히 estrogen and/or progesterone의 영향을 받음을 시사한다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.303-313
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• 2003

다이옥신은 단일 화학물질이 아니라 비슷한 화학적 구조와 독성작용을 갖는 화학물질들의 그룹이다. 다이옥신 중에 가장 많은 연구가 이루어졌고 독성도 강한 물질이 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD)인데, 다이옥신 혼합체의 독성을 평가할 때는 각 물질 별로 TCDD에 대한 상대독성을 고려하여 독성등가계수(TEQ)라는 지표를 만들어 사용한다. 일반인들의 평균적인 혈중 다이옥신에 대한 기준값은 명확하게 제시되지는 않고 있으나 관련 연구들을 종합할 때 대략 10-20 ppt $I-TEQ_{DF}$ 범위를 일반인의 평균적인 수준으로 볼 수 있다. 오염 가능지역의 주민들의 혈중 다이옥신 값은 지역에 따라 차이가 있으나 대부분 20ppt $I-TEQ_{DF}$ 이상의 값을 나타내고 있으며 특히 오염이 심한 지역의 주민들의 경우에는 직업적인 노출이 없는 일반 주민들임에도 불구하고 혈중 다이옥신 농도가 약 50 ppt $I-TEQ_{DF}$까지 상승할 수 있다. 다이옥신의 건강영향에 관해서는 수많은 역학적 연구들이 수행되었지만 혈액내에서 TCDD를 직접 측정하여 인체 노출을 비교적 정확하게 평가한 사업장 코호트나 세베소 지역 주민 코호트에서 나온 결과들이 보다 많은 신뢰를 받고 있다. 다이옥신 노출에 따른 건강영향은 크게 암발생과 암을 제외한 건강영향으로 구분할 수 있다. 국제암연구기구(IARC)나 미국 환경보호청(EPA) 모두 TCDD를 인체 발암물질로 분류하고 있으나 역학적 증거들이 충분한 상태는 아니다. TCDD를 제외한 나머지 다이옥신에 대해서는 IARC에서 발암성의 증거가 불충분한 물질(Group 3)로 분류하고 있다. 대부분의 장기에서 다이옥신의 건강영향에 대한 조사가 이루어져 왔다. 현재까지 비교적 다이옥신 노출과 관련성이 높은 것으로 평가되고 있는 것은 염소성여드름, 간 효소의 하나인 GGT의 상승, 그리고 생식호르몬의 변화 등이다. 그밖에 지질농도, 당뇨, 면역학적 영향, 심혈관계에 대한 영향, 갑상선기능, 신경계에 대한 영향, 소아 발달에 대한 영향 등에 대해서는 역학 연구들이 일관된 결과를 보여주지 못하고 있기 때문에 계속적인 연구를 필요로 하고 있다. 다이옥신의 독성은 수많은 동물실험을 통해 증명이 되었으나 인간을 대상으로 한 역학적 연구는 아직 기대만큼 명료한 결과들을 제시해주지 못하고 있다. 그러나 IARC나 EPA모두 인체발암물질로 분류하였고 다양한 건강영향에 대한 증거들이 있는 것은 분명한 만큼 다이옥신 노출을 최소화하려는 노력을 게을리 해서는 안 될 것이다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.127-131
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of EGF on meiotic maturation and pronuclear (PN) formation of porcine oocytes. Prepubertal gilt cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) aspirated from $2\~6mm$ follicles of abbatoir ovaries were matured in TCM199 containing 0.1mg/ml cysteine, $0.5{\mu}/ml$ FSH and LH, and EGF (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) for 22 hr at $39^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of $5\%$ $CO_2$ in air. They were then cultured for an additional 22hr without hormones. In Experiment 1, to examine the nuclear maturation at 44hr of culture, the expanded cumulus cells were removed by vortexing for 1 min in 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase. The oocytes were fixed in acetic acid: methanol (1:3, v/v) at least for 48 hr and stained with $1\%$ orcein solution for 5 min. Nuclear status was classified as germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), prophase-metaphase I (PI-MI), and PII-MII under microscope. In Experiment 2, to investigate PN formation, oocytes were fertilized with Percoll-treated freshly ejaculated sperm $(1\times10^5\; cells/ml)$ in mTBM with $0.3\%$ BSA and 2mM caffeine for 5hr, and cultured in NCSU-23 medium with $0.4\%$ BSA. At 6hr of culture, the embryos were fixed in $3.7\%$ formaldehyde for 48hr and stained with 10ug/ml propidium iodide for 30 min. PN status was classified as no or one PN (unfertilized), 2 PN (normal fertilized) and $\geq3$ PN (polyspermy). Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of the proportional data. The rate of oocytes that had reached to PII-MII were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all groups added EGF than that of non-treated group $(67\%)$, but it did not differ among the all added groups $(86\%,\;85\%,\;79\%\;and\;81\%$, in 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). No differences on the incidence of 2PN were observed in all treated groups $(25\%,\;30\%,\;33\%,\;29\%\;and\;29\%$, in 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively), however, in non-treated group, polyspermy tended to be increased ($66\%\;vs\;. 58\%,\;54\%,\;52\%\;and\;55\%$, 0 vs. 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). These results suggest that EGF can be effectively used as an additive for enhancing oocyte maturation and reducing the incidence of polyspermy in pig.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.33-40
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• 2010

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a heavily glycosylated glycoprotein composed of non-covalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. To study the function and signal transduction of tethered recombinant-eCG (rec-eCG), a single chain eCG molecule was constructed, and the rec-eCG protein was prepared. In this study, we constructed 5 mutants (${\Delta}1$, ${\Delta}2$, ${\Delta}3$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) of rec-eCG using data about known glycoprotein hormones to analyze the role of specific follicle stimulating homone (FSH)-like activity. Three amino acids of certain specific sites were replaced with alanine. The expression vectors were transfected into CHO cells and subjected to G418 selection for 2~3 weeks. The media were collected and the quantity of secreted tethered rec-eCGs was quantified by ELISA. The LH- and FSH-like activities were assayed in terms of cAMP production by rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. Then, the metabolic clearance rate analyzed by the injection of rec-eCG (5 IU) into the tail vein was analyzed. The mutant eCGs (${\Delta}l$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) were transcripted, but not translated into proteins. Rec-eCG A2 was secreted in much lower amounts than the wild type. Only the rec-eCG ${\Delta}3$ ($\beta$-subunit: $Gln^{94}-Ile^{95}-Lys^{96}{\rightarrow}Ala^{94}-Ala^{95}-Ala^{96}$) was efficiently secreted. Although activity is low, its LH-like activity was similar to that of tethered $eCG{\beta\alpha}$. However, the FSH-like activity of rec-$eCG{\beta\alpha\Delta}3$ was completely flat. The result of the analysis of the metabolic clearance rate shoed the persistence of the mutant in the blood until 4 hours after the injection. After then, it almost disappeared at 8 hours. Taken together, these data suggest that 94~96 amino acid sequences in eCG $\beta$-subunit appear to be of utmost importance for signal transduction of the FSH receptor.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2005

Changes of sex steroid hormones in the plasma of yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus were investigated in relation to the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadal development. The GSI in females rose rapidly in November and remained high from December to May $(7.26\pm0.89­6.62\pm0.02)$. The Male's GSI also increased gradually from November and was highest in May $(0.16\pm0.08)$. The HSI in both sexes was in reverse correlation with the GSI, and the HSI was low during the spawning season (February-May). In females, the $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$ level increased during vitellogenesis (November and December) and reached its maximum $(8.13\pm2.87 ng/mL)$ at the maturing period, in January. $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$(17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP)$ gradually increased from October $(0.063{\pm}0.02ng/mL)$ to March $(0.16{\pm}0.02ng/mL)$ and increased rapidly in May. The level of testosterone (T) showed a similar tendency of $E_2$. In males, T increased gradually during spermatogenesis from September to December $(0.14{\pm}0.06­0.26{\pm}0.10ng/mL)$ and peaked in January $(0.36{\pm}0.29 ng/mL)$ when the spermatozoa filled the testis. 11-KT also rose markedly in January and then decreased. On the other hand, $17{\alpha}29{\beta}OHP$ in males did not show any clear tendencies.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

Our previous research has identified granulin (grn) and p130 genes as sex steroid-inducible genes in the rat hypothalamus, which might be involved in sexual differentiation of the brain. Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects hypothalamic sex steroid-inducible genes. The present study assessed the effects of perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA on sex steroid hormones levels and hypothalamic gm and p130 mRNA expressions at postnatal day (PND) 3 and 7. Pregnant rats were fed a soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD 3 or 7. At PND 3 and 7, perinatal exposure to these chemicals did not substantially affect serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. At PND 3, the expression of grn mRNA levels in males was decreased by DEHA, and that of p130 was decreased by DBP, DINP and DEHA, though the effects were not dose-dependent. At PND 7, the expression of gm gene in female pups was increased by higher doses of DBP and all the doses, except for 4,000 ppm, of DINP, while that in male pups decreased by 480 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA. Hypothalamic expression of p130 mRNA in males was increased by lower doses of DBP and all the doses of DINP, whereas that of females was decreased by 480 and 2,400 ppm of DEHA. These results suggest that these chemicals may affect the expression of gm and p130 genes by directly acting on the hypothalamus, thus leading to inappropriate expression of these genes.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.255-263
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• 2017

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP) as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers has been reported to most likely induce testicular toxicity. Administration of antioxidants, such as pentoxifylline (PTX) may reduce some Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of CDDP. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially protective effects of PTX on CDDP-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. For this purpose, 42 male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rats were orally pretreated with PTX at the 3 doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg once a day for 14 successive days. On the $14^{th}$ day of the study, they were intraperitoneally (IP) administered with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg). Finally, the sperm/testis parameters, serum levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as the pivotal endocrine factors controlling testicular functions, and histopathological changes of testis tissue were examined. Pretreatment with the two doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg PTX indicated significant increases in the sperm count and motility induced by CDDP administration. The right and significantly left testis weights were decreased following the treatment with 300 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP. However, 75 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP showed the best near-to-normal histopathological features. The results demonstrated that PTX alone enhanced some parameters, such as the sperm count, while reducing other parameters, including sperm fast motility and germ layer thickness. Furthermore, despite testosterone or LH levels, the mean serum FSH level was significantly augmented by the doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg. It was concluded that PTX administration cannot reduce CDDP-induced testicular toxicity even at high doses (e.g., 300 mg/kg), while it seemed to partially intensify CDDP toxicity effects at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Thus, further research is required in this regard.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2007

개 난자의 체외성숙율을 높이기 위하여 다양한 방법들이 시도되고 있지만 여전히 그 효율성은 낮다. 본 연구는 개 난자의 체외성숙 시, 성선 자극 호르몬인 황체형성호르몬(LH)과 난포자극호르몬(FSH), 상피세포성장인자(Epidermal growth factor, EGF) 그리고 시스테인(cysteine)을 각각 첨가하여 72시간 동안 체외성숙시킨 후 핵성숙율(GV: germinal vesicle, GVBD: germinal vesicle break down, MI: metaphase I, MII: metaphase II, UK: unknown stage)을 확인하였다. LH와 FSH를 첨가하였을 때 첨가하지 않은 군과 GV, MI 및 MII율에는 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 하지만 GVBD율은 첨가군이 유의적으로(p<0.05) 높았다. 성선 자극 호르몬을 첨가한 배지에 10ng/ml의 EGF를 첨가하였을 때 MII율이 첨가하지 않은 군보다 유의적으로(p<0.05) 높았다(4.54% vs. 7.06%). cysteine을 첨가하였을 경우, 핵성숙율에 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았지만 전반적으로 핵성숙율이 향상된 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 개 난자의 체외성숙 시, $10 {\mu}g/ml$의 LH와 FSH, 10ng/ml의 EGF 그리고 0.57mM의 cysteine을 첨가하는 것이 핵성숙율을 향상시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.245-249
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• 2007

The aim of present experiment was to examine hatching rate as in vitro indicator of viability of porcine embryos before early stage embryo transfer such as zygotes or 2-cell stage embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected from ovaries were matured in North Carolina State University 23 (NCSU-23) containing 10% porcine follicular fluid (pFF), 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF), $10{\mu}g/ml$ follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), $35{\mu}g/ml$ luteinizing hormone (LH), and 1mg/ml cysteine. After 24 hours, the COCs were transferred to the same medium without hormones. After 65h of maturation, oocytes were exposed to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with 7% ethanol (v/v) for 7 minutes, and then the oocytes were washed and cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 containing 5 ug/ml cytochalasin B for 5h at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air with high humidity. After cytochalasin B treatment, the presumptive parthenotes were cultured in porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 and cleavage of the parthenotes was assessed at 72h of activation, Normally cleaved parthenotes were cultured for an additional 8 days to evaluate their ability to develop to blastocyst and hatching stages. The fetal bovine serum (FBS) were added at Day 4 or 5 with concentrations of 2.5, 5 or 10%. The blastocyst rates were ranged within $39.1{\sim}70%$ in each treatment. However hatching rate was dramatically decreased in non-addition group. In this experiment, embryo viability in female reproductive tract may be estimated before embryo transfer with in vitro culture adding FBS by hatching ability.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.37-47
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the current characteristics and prescriptions of outpatients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Methods: We searched medical records from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 and found out 31 patients who first visited with PCOS. Results: The average age of PCOS patients was $26.48{\pm}5.15years$ old, average height was $162.16{\pm}5.56cm$, average weight was $55.27{\pm}9.34kg$, and average BMI was $21.01{\pm}3.48kg/m^2$ A total of 24 patients who had received western treatment for PCOS in the past, 13 people received oral contraceptions, 4 hormones, 2 metformin, one hormone and metformin, also 4 people were treated for assisted reproductive technologies due to infertility. There were only two patients who combined Korean and Western treatments. The most common menstrual-related symptoms of PCOS patients were oligomenorrhea (48.4%) and dysmenorrhea (22.6%). Other symptoms were the highest in the cold symptoms (54.8%), followed by infertility (9.7%). The average number of patients visiting the hospital was $6.26{\pm}7.2$, with 22 (71.0%) coming from 1 to 5. The average treatment period for patients was $10.1{\pm}10.8weeks$, with 41.9% the largest for 1 to 4 weeks. Acupuncture (93.5%), moxibustion (96.8%) herbmed (96.8%) was treated to most PCOS patients. The most commonly used herbal medicines were Ongyeong-tang (35.5%), Ijin-tang-gami (19.4%), Dodam-tang-gami (12.9%), and Jogyeongjongok-tang-gami (12.9%). Conclusions: These results could be helpful to treat PCOS patients in Korean gynecologic clinical fields.