• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy potential of immature (metaphase I or germinal vesicle stage) oocytes retrieved in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods: A total of 1,871 couples with infertility underwent 2,984 ICSI cycles. Cycles in which three or fewer oocytes were retrieved were included in this study in order to evaluate the pregnancy potential of immature oocytes. Cycles were divided into five groups (group I-V), according to the maturation status of the oocytes at the time of cumulus cell removal and ICSI. The fertilization and pregnancy rates after ICSI were analyzed and compared among the study groups based on the maturation status of the retrieved oocytes. Results: The retrieval of only immature oocytes was associated with a significant decrease in the fertilization rate ($76.1%{\pm}37.3%$ vs. $49.0%{\pm}49.1%$, $66.7%{\pm}48.7%$; group I vs. group II, group III, respectively) and the average number of transferred embryos ($1.5{\pm}0.7$ vs. $1.1{\pm}0.4$, $1.1{\pm}0.6$). The cycle cancellation rate was significantly higher when only immature oocytes were retrieved. The clinical pregnancy rate decreased significantly when the transferred embryos had originated from immature oocytes (16.9% vs. 10.3%, 1.2%). Conclusion: In ICSI cycles, the fertilization potential and pregnancy potential of the immature oocytes retrieved in ICSI cycles were inferior to those of mature oocytes. Therefore, increasing the number of injectable oocytes and transferrable embryos by using immature oocytes after their spontaneous in vitro maturation does not necessarily improve pregnancy outcomes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.462-471
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• 2021

Background: The number of synthesized chemicals has rapidly increased over the past decade. For many chemicals, there is a lack of information on toxicity. With the current movement toward reducing animal testing, the use of toxicity big data and deep learning could be a promising tool to screen potential toxicants. Objectives: This study identified potential chemicals related to reproductive and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated toxicities for 1135 cleaning products and 886 laundry products. Methods: We listed chemicals contained in cleaning and laundry products from a publicly available database. Then, chemicals that potentially exhibited reproductive and ER-mediated toxicities were identified using the European Union Classification, Labeling and Packaging classification and ToxCast database, respectively. For chemicals absent from the ToxCast database, ER activity was predicted using deep learning models. Results: Among the 783 listed chemicals, there were 53 with potential reproductive toxicity and 310 with potential ER-mediated toxicity. Among the 473 chemicals not tested with ToxCast assays, deep learning models indicated that 42 chemicals exhibited ER-mediated toxicity. A total of 13 chemicals were identified as causing reproductive toxicity by reacting with the ER. Conclusions: We demonstrated a screening method to identify potential chemicals related to reproductive and ER-mediated toxicities utilizing chemical toxicity big data and deep learning. Integrating toxicity data from in vivo, in vitro, and deep learning models may contribute to screening chemicals in consumer products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2019

Background: Korean Red Ginseng has been widely used in traditional oriental medicine for a prolonged period, and its pharmacological effects have been extensively investigated. In addition, Angelica gigas and deer antlers were also used as a tonic medicine with Korean Red Ginseng as the oriental herbal therapy. Methods: This study was conducted to evaluate the potential toxicological effect of KGC-HJ3, Korean Red Ginseng with angelica gigas and deer antlers, on reproductive and developmental functions including fertility, early embryonic development, maternal function, and embryo-fetal development. KGC-HJ3 was administered by oral gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats (22 animals per sex per group) at dose levels of 0 mg/kg (control), 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg to evaluate the potential toxicological effect on fertility and early embryonic development. In addition, KGC-HJ3 was also administered by oral gavage to mating-proven Sprague-Dawley rats (22 females per group) during the major organogenesis period at dose levels of 0 mg/kg (control), 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg to evaluate the potential toxicological effect on maternal function and embryo-fetal development. Results and conclusion: No test item-related changes in parameters for fertility, early embryonic development, maternal function, and embryo-fetal development were observed during the study period. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that KGC-HJ3 did not have toxicological potential on developmental and reproductive functions. Therefore, no observed adverse effect levels of KGC-HJ3 for fertility, early embryonic development, maternal function, and embryo-fetal development is considered to be at least 2000 mg/kg/day.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2003

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are frequently exposed to unfavorable environments during growing seasons and water is the most important factor limiting for the production system. The purpose of this study was to determine the leaf water potential changes by irrigation, and to evaluate the relationships of leaf water potential, growth and yield in soybeans. Three soybean cultivars, Hwangkeumkong, Shinpaldalkong 2, and Pungsannamulkong, were planted in growth chamber and field with irrigated treatments. Leaf water potential of three soybean cultivars was positively correlated with leaf water content during vegetative and reproductive growth stages in growth chamber and field experiments. Leaf water potentials measured for three soybean cultivars under growth chamber were higher than those of under field conditions. Higher leaf water potential with irrigated plots under field was observed compared to conventional plots during reproductive growth stages. Leaf water potentials of three soybean cultivars were continually decreased during reproductive growth stages under field and there was no significant difference among them. Number of leaves, leaf water content, pod dry weight, number of seeds and seed dry weight with irrigated plots were higher than those of conventional plots. The results of this study suggested that leaf water potential could be used as an important growth indicator during the growing season of soybean plants.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2008

A commonly held view in studies of character displacement is that character states of both species are shifted in areas of sympatry. This view has been confirmed in an overwhelming number of cases for ecological character displacement. Excluding species pairs in which one of the two interacting species is found only within the distribution of the other species and species displaying gynogenesis, the pattern of reproductive character displacement is asymmetrical in that the shift in character states between areas of symaptry and allopatry occurs in only one of the two interacting species. Hypotheses for the reasons behind this asymmetry in reproductive character displacement include (1) homogenization by gene flow, (2) other mechanisms of reproductive isolation, and (3) sufficient reproductive isolation being provided by one of the interacting species exhibiting a pattern of reproductive character displacement. Because reproductive isolation can be achieved by divergence at any point in a sequence of premating reproductive behaviors and postmating developments, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of reproductive isolation of two interacting taxa in areas of sympatry and allopatry and to analyze the relative contributions of potential factors to reproductive isolation to disentangle hypotheses for the patterns of asymmetry.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.74-75
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• 2004

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.89-90
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• 1999

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2022

Objective: The present study assessed the biological characteristics of human spermatozoa at different time intervals (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 hours) after incubation at 37℃. Methods: Twenty-five normozoospermic semen samples were incubated at 37℃. Incubation was performed at four time intervals of 0 (after liquefaction), 1, 1.5, and 2 hours. The samples were evaluated for sperm parameters at each time interval. Results: The rate of sperm progressive motility decreased at 1.5 hours compared to 0 hours as well as 2 hours compared to 1 hour and 0 hours. The rate of non-motile spermatozoa also decreased after 2 hours compared to after 0 hours. No significant changes were observed in sperm viability (p=0.98) and non- progressive motility (p=0.48) at any time intervals. Abnormal sperm morphology increased at 1.5 hours of incubation time (p<0.001). No significant changes were observed in DNA fragmentation at 1 hour compared to 0 hours (median [interquartile range]: 19.5 [4] vs. 19 [4]), as well as at 1.5 hours compared to 1 hour (20 [5]). However, a significant increase in DNA fragmentation was observed at 1.5 hours compared to 0 hours. The mitochondrial membrane potential decreased remarkably after 1 hour of incubation time. No significant differences were observed in the acrosome reaction or malonaldehyde levels at any time point (p=0.34 and p=0.98, respectively). Conclusion: The incubation of normozoospermic samples before use in assisted reproductive technology should be less than 1.5 hours to minimize the destructive effects of prolonged incubation time on general and specific sperm parameters.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objective: We evaluated the fertilization potential of immature oocytes obtained from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles of patients undergoing ICSI. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 463 ICSI cycles containing at least one immature oocyte at oocyte denudation. ICSI was performed on mature oocytes at oocyte denudation (metaphase-II [MII] oocytes) and the oocytes that extruded the first polar body between oocyte denudation and ICSI (MI-MII oocytes). Fertilization and early embryonic development were compared between MII and MI-MII oocytes. To investigate the pregnancy potential of MI-MII oocytes, the pregnancy outcome was analyzed in 24 ICSI cycles containing only immature oocytes at retrieval. Results: The fertilization rate of MI-MII oocytes (37.0%) was significantly lower than that of MII oocytes (72.3%). The rates of delayed embryos and damaged embryos did not significantly differ. Eighty-one immature oocytes were retrieved in 24 cycles that retrieved only immature oocytes and 61 (75.3%) of them were in the MI stage. ICSI was performed on 36 oocytes (59.0%) that extruded the first polar body before ICSI and nine MI-MII oocytes (25.0%) were fertilized. Embryo transfers were performed in five cycles. Pregnancy was observed in one cycle, but it ended in biochemical pregnancy. Conclusion: In ICSI cycles, oocytes that extruded the first polar body between denudation and ICSI can be used as a source of oocytes for sperm injection. However, their fertilization and pregnancy potential are lower than that of mature oocytes. Therefore, ovarian stimulation should be performed carefully for mature oocytes obtained at retrieval, especially in cycles with a small number of retrieved oocytes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of shell height on reproductive potential of the female Rapana venosa in three regions of different salinities (the coastal zone of the Gwangyang Bay (S-1); the upper reaches (S-3); lower reaches (S-2) of the Seomjin River). The number of egg capsules, egg capsule height, and fecundity associated with reproductive potential of larger female rapa whelks were higher than those of smaller individuals in all three regions. Correlation analyses showed that there is a significant positive correlation between egg capsule and female shell height. Mean of shell heights, egg capsule heights, the number of egg capsules in an egg mass, and fecundity in an egg capsule produced from female individuals inhabiting S-1 region were markedly higher than those inhabiting S-2 and S-3 regions. In particular, the fecundity of the rapa whelk increased with the salinity and shell height. Although large rapa whelks produced a large number of egg capsules at S-1 region, those at S-3 habitat laid less egg capsules with smaller size. If these rapa whelks were put into S-2 region, the number of egg capsules produced by a female at S-2 region was slightly larger than those produced by a female at S-3 region. This provides a clear evidence that the number of the egg capsules can be controlled by the salinity. In the coastal zone of the Gwangyang Bay and the upper reaches of Seomjin River, the fecundity of this species was estimated to be approximately 182,000-1,302,000 eggs/ind./yr.