• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.377-381
• /
• 1999

Objectives: Recent studies, including our own, demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in rat gonads and uterus, indicating that the local production and action of the LH-like molecule. In the present study, we investigated whether human uterus also expresses the LH gene. Design: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified the cDNA fragments coding $LH_{\beta}$ polypeptide from human endometrium but not from myometrium. Presence of the transcripts for the ${\alpha}$-subunit in human endometrium was also confirmed by RT-PCR. Results: Transcripts for $LH_{\beta}$ subunit were detected in endometrial samples from women with endometriosis. The gene for LH/hCG receptor was expressed in both endometrium and myometrium, showing good agreement with previous studies. Increased level of $LH_{\beta}$ transcript was determined in the endometrium from follicular phase compared to that from luteal phase. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings demonstrated that 1) the genes for LH subunits and LH/hCG receptor are expressed in human uterus, 2) the uterine LH expression was changed during menstrual cycle, suggesting that the uterine LH may playa local role in the control of uterine physiology and function(s).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2018

The seed yield of summer plants is affected by climate change due to high temperature. High temperature during the reproductive growth period decrease pod, seed weight in soybean. This study was conducted at National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) during the growing season. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of high temperature on growth and seed yield responses of soybean varieties using a temperature gradient chamber (TGC). In 2017, the Daewonkong (DWK), Pungsannamulkong (PSNK), and Deapungkong (DPK) were grown in three TGCs. Four temperature treatments, Ta (near ambient temperature), Ta+1 (ambient temperature+$1^{\circ}C$), $Ta+2^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$2^{\circ}C$), $Ta+3^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$3^{\circ}C$), $Ta+4^{\circ}C$ (ambient temperature+$4^{\circ}C$), were established by dividing the rows along which the temperature gradient was created. In all three cultivars, beginning bloom (R1) delayed at elevated temperature in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$. In addition, the days to beginning of seed fill and maturity were longer under higher temperature. The numbers of pod, 100 seed weight, and seed yield increased at elevated temperature in DWK. In contrast, seed yield components of PSNK and DPK were reduced in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$. The results suggest that 100 seed weight and seed size of soybean was low by increased temperature in $Ta+4^{\circ}C$ of PSNK and DPK.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2003

Oviposition and egg laying is an important physiological and behavioural event in the life cycle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L). Oviposition and egg laying is dependent on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors viz., neural, hormonal, environmental, physical, behavioral etc for the perpetuation of population. Although, the virgin female moths have fully developed embryos but active egg laying begins under the influence of mating which provides essential copulation stimulus for oviposition. After mating drastic biochemical changes occurred that incites egg laying under the influence of optimum environmental conditions. Weight of pupae as well as larval density has significant role on oviposition and egg laying behaviour in the silkworm wherein high pupal weight and inadequate rearing space affects not only the biology, morphology and physiology but also the oviposition and egg laying. Surface topography, plane of inclination, mating length, age of male moth, temperature and photoperiod etc has significant effect on reproductive physiology of silkworm. An attempt has been made in this review article to elucidate briefly the works carried out on mating behaviour, direct and indirect copulation stimulus, vitellogenesis, influence of environmental factors besides effect of weight of pupae and or pharate adult and larval density on oviposition and egg laying behavior in the silkworm, B. mori and its significance in silkworm seed production.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.100-100
• /
• 2002

As an preliminary experiment for making transgenic animals producing human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH), we tried to express recombinant hFSH gene in vitro. hFSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland. The hormone is essential in the regulation of reproductive processes, such as follicular development and ovulation. Genes encoding the common gonadotrophin alpha subunit and FSH-specific beta subunit were inserted into retroviral vectors under the control of the rat beta actin promoter. Gene transfer to the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was done by infection of the retroviruses harvested from PT67 packaging cells transfected with recombinant retrovirus vector DNA. After selection with G4l8, PCR and RT-PCR analyses of the G4l8-resistant CHO cells showed successful transfer and expression of both ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ fragments of the FSH gene.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.251-259
• /
• 2016

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of P. ginseng, zearalenol and estradiol in tests on spermatozoal function. Methods: The affinity of these compounds for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and beta ($ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$)-was assessed in receptor binding assays. Functional tests on boar spermatozoa motility, movement and kinematic parameters were conducted using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. Tests for capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were performed using microscopic analysis. Results: Zearalenol-but not estradiol ($E_2$)- or ginseng-treated spermatozoa-decreased the percentage of overall, progressive, and rapid motile cells. Zearalenol also decreased spontaneous AR and increased chromatin decondensation. Ginseng decreased chromatin decondensation in response to calcium ionophore and decreased AR in response to progesterone ($P_4$) and ionophore. Conclusion: Zearalenol has adverse effects on sperm motility and function by targeting multiple signaling cascades, including $P_4$, $E_2$, and calcium pathways. Ginseng protects against chromatin damage and thus may be beneficial to reproductive fitness.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2024

Cellular prion protein (PrP^C) encoded at Prnp gene is well-known to form a misfolded isoform, termed scrapie PrP (PrP^SC) that cause transmissible degenerative diseases in central nervous system. The physiological role of PrP^C has been proposed by many studies, showing that PrP^C interacts with various intracellular, membrane, and extracellular molecules including mitochondrial inner membrane as a scaffold. PrP^C is expressed in most cell types including reproductive organs. Numerous studies using PrP^C knockout rodent models found no obvious phenotypic changes, in particular the clear phenotypes in development and reproduction have not demonstrated in these knockout models. However, various roles of PrP^C have been evaluated at the cellular levels. In this review, we summarized the known roles of PrP^C in various cell types and tissues with a special emphasis on those involved in reproduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.48-58
• /
• 1990

This study was attempted to assess the effects of a long term regular sex education on the knowledge about anatomy and physiology of human reproductive organs and the attitude toward sex of second grade high school girls. The study population included 1,678 high school girls(542 educated second grade girls, 972 not educated second grade girls and 164 pre-educated first grade girls) attending in 3 high schools located in Kyungnam province. The data was collected by guestionnaire to assess knowledge of sexual anatomy and physiology and the attitude toward sex from 21 to 24 December 1988. The results were as follows: Most of students (educated group 99.3%, not educated group 98.1%) agreed to necessity of sex education. Among students 70.8% did not talk about their sexual problems with their parents and 30.1% of educated group obtained spxual knowledge from their teachers. There were significant differences between level of knowledge on anatomy and physiology of reproductive organs, secondary growth spurt, V D, pregnancy and contraceptives of educated group and not educated group (P < 0.01). There was significant difference between positive attitude about sexual intercourse before marriage, artificial abortion and family planning slogan of educated group and not educat.ed group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were significant differences between degree of agreement about acquaintance with the other sex, knowledge of acquaintance with the other sex, talk freely with friend, parent and teacher of educated group and not educated group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Statistics revealed that high school girls of not educated group had less knowledge about acquaintance with the other sex than educated group (P < 0.01).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.89-101
• /
• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 1984

The success of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) & embryo transfer (ET) has focused attention on the culture conditions that can provide optimal development of the preimplantation embryo. Studies of in vitro fertilization using mouse have direct implications to human IVF, since similar conditions are used for both species. Mouse IVF as a quality control system for human IVF & ET was studied since Feb., 1984. The results were as follows: 1. Egg retrieval following superovulation in IeR mice was l5.1${\pm}$5.3 eggs ovulated/mouse (Mean${\pm}$ S.D.) 2. In vitro cleavage rate was 61.7% (1146 eggs cleaved/l858 eggs inseminated) and % blastocyst was 42.6%. 3. In comparison with two media of Ham's F-10 and m-KRB, in vitro cleavage rate were 40.9%/63.l% and %blastocyst were 44.3%/61.2% (P<0.05). 4. It was concluded that mouse IVF system has a valuable place in human IVF & ET as a quality-control system and in human reproductive physiology as a research model.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.131-138
• /
• 1989

The present study was designed to develop a new method for the determination of estrogen receptor in porcine uterus using frozen sections. Cryostat sections were incubated with $^3H$-estradiol($^3H$-$E_2$) in the presence or absence of diethylstilbestrol(DES) and the radioactivity of 3H-E2 bound to estrogen receptor(ER) was detected. The level of specific estrogen receptor was determined by Scatchard analysis. The highest ratio of specific binding against total binding was achieved in 3 sec. tions(5mm x 5mm) which was corresponded to lOO${\mu}$/ml protein concentration. Optimal binding was obtained during incubation with $^3H$-$E_2$ for 30 minutes at 23$^{\circ}C$ after treatment of sections with acetone for 20 seconds. Three time-washing of sections was proved to be appropriate for the removal of unbound 3H-E2. 200-fold molar excess of DES was substituted for the binding of $^3H$-$E_2$ to ER sufficiently(binding efficiency of 54.8%). ER was saturated with 4nM of $^3H$-$E_2$ and its dissociation constant was 0.1nM. ER assay using frozen sections(Histological radioreceptor assay, HRRA) was significantly correlated with radioreceptor assay for estradiol(RRA, 0.976 , p