• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2007

We analyzed the compositions of proximate and total fatty acids in the reproductive organs of male (testis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and spermatophore sac) and female (ovary, oviduct, oviducal gland, and nidamental gland) common squid. The protein contents were 12.1-22.7 and 13.2-19.4% for males and females, respectively, and the lipid contents were 1.0-2.7 and 2.1-8.0%, respectively. The prominent fatty acids in all reproductive organs were 22:6n-3, 20:5n-3, 16:0, 20:1n-9, 18:0, 18:1n-9, and 20:4n-6. Females had 28.6-32.0% of 22:6n-3 and 11.3-22.6% of 20:5n-3, while males had 20.8-26.8% of 22:6n-3 and 14.4-28.7% of 20:5n-3. These results indicate that the reproductive organs of both male and female squid are potential sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.166-180
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• 2012

This review summarizes the epidemiology of cancer of the female reproductive system and associated lifestyle factors. It also assesses the available evidence for occupational factors associated with these cancers. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, and cause significant cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, whereas vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube cancers, and choriocarcinomas are very rare. As several lifestyle factors are known to play a major role in the etiology of these cancers, very few published studies have investigated possible relationships with occupational factors. Some occupational exposures have been associated with increased risks of these cancers, but apart from the available evidence on the relationships between asbestos fibers and ovarian cancer, and tetrachloroethylene and cervical cancer, the data is rather scarce. Given the multifactorial nature of cancers of the female reproductive system, it is of the utmost importance to conduct occupational studies that will gather detailed data on potential individual confounding factors, in particular reproductive history and other factors that influence the body's hormonal environment, together with information on socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, including physical activity from multiple sources. Studies on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in the female reproductive organs are also needed in order to elucidate the possible role of chemical exposures in the development of these cancers.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.spc1
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• pp.198-202
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• 2006

We investigated the fecundity, egg size, reproductive output, and breeding frequency and season of Neocaridina denticulata denticulata and Latreutes planirostris which inhabit extremely different habitats. The marine shrimp Latreutes planirostris produced more eggs had at a given carapace length than the freshwater shrimp N. d. denticulata. However, N. d. denticulata had a larger egg volume and greater reproductive output than L. planirostris. The monthly gonadosomatic index (GSI) of the freshwater shrimp began to increase in April and reached a maximum in May, suggesting a single breeding period. In contrast, the GSI of the marine shrimp exhibited two breeding peaks: May-June and September. In both shrimps, the regressions between carapace length and ovarian weight were significant at the non-eyed and eyed embryo stages. For both species, an analysis of covariance revealed significant difference between the two regressions in elevation, but not in slope. These results indicate the potential for multiple ovulations within the reproductive season.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.185-197
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• 2010

The reproduction of animals is a means to maintain their species. The golden hamsters are seasonal breeders, and their reproduction is regulated by the photoperiod. The shifts of the sexual functions imply the changes of the protein expression, and those are reflected by the proteome. Thus the present study was to examine via two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2d PAGE), the physiological changes and the alterations of protein expressions in hypothalamus upon the reproductive situation related to the pineal gland. Among the pineal intact animals, the reproductive functions were sustained in animals housed in long photoperiod (LP) but regressed in animals housed in short photoperiod. And those pinealectomized animals showed high sexual activities regardless of photoperiod. Ultimately they were branched into dichotomy, sexually active and inactive animals. Apart from the changes of physiological parameters upon the reproductive conditions, there were obvious differences in proteins extracted from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus of LP animals presented high levels of enzymes which are involved in the production of energy, glycolysis and Krebs cycle. The increased energy might be related to the GnRH synthesis in hypothalamus and indirectly to the constant cell divisions in spermatogenesis. Taken together, the impacts of the photoperiodic information controlling reproduction could be observed through 2d PAGE. Therefore, the present results suggest the potential of biomarkers collectively to diagnose the fertility and the infertility by way of proteomics in organs with regard to the reproductive system, further could be applied to diagnose various diseases.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 1999

The effect of water deficits on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] could appear on seed quality through changes of morphological plant characteristics. Two Korean genotypes, Hwangkeum (determinate growth habit) and Muhan (indeterminate growth habit), were used to examine the influences of treatment stage and method of water deficit during reproductive growth period on yield and seed quality of soybean. Water deficit at R5 or R6 stages was as damaging to seed quality as double water-deficit treatments at R2+R5 or R2+R6. However, seed from double water-deficit treatment tended to have lower oxidation-reduction potential compare to the corresponding single water-deficit treatment. In comparison with Muhan, Hwangkeum had significantly greater oxidation-reduction potential value. Seed yield per plant in both genotypes depended greatly on seed yield of branches. However, the proportion of number of branch seed to total seed umber in Hwangkeum was increased as the water deficit was applied during later reproductive stage, whereas, in Muhan the proportion was lower. Water-deficit treatments including the single and double water-deficit treatments and non-stressed treatment were able to be classified into five groups for Hwangkeum and four groups for Muhan based on the influences on yield components, number of pod, number of seed, and single seed weight, using principal component analysis. In both genotypes, R2+R5 water-deficit treatment decreased number of pod and seed, but increased single seed weight. On the contrary, R6 or R2+R6 stress increased the pod and seed number, but decreased single seed weight.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2018

Queen honey bees (Apis cerana) can be reared artificially on demand by the use of grafting technique. The technique consists of grafting young worker larvae into queen cell cups and raising in a queenless strong colony. As the age of grafted larvae for queen rearing exhibited several aspects related to quality and reproductive potential of queen, this study were conducted to investigate the influence of age of grafted larva on morphological characteristics and lifespan of queen, and the growth of colony she headed. Our results demonstrated that queens reared from young worker larvae (i.e., less than 1-day old larvae) were significantly larger in size (i.e., body weight and thorax width) than that of queens reared from 2-day old worker larvae. Moreover, queens reared from younger worker larvae initiated egg-laying earlier, stored more spermatozoa in spermatheca and had a longer lifespan compared to queens raised from older worker larvae. We also found a significant positive effect of queen grafting age on the production of worker and drone brood, adult worker population in colonies headed by queens reared from younger larvae. These findings suggested that rearing queens from brood grafted at the earliest possible age could increase the reproductive potential of queen as well as fitness of colony she head.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.57-69
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• 2003

It is well known that many pesticides possess hormonal activity, and affect the developments of wildlife and mammals including human. Currently, pyrethroid insecticides are in worldwide use to control in and outdoor pests, providing potential far environmental exposure. Hormonal activities of these pyrethroid insecticides, however, have been little studied, and the developmental effects of them were no reported. Therefore, we firstly examined the potential estrogenic activities of some pyrethroid insecticides (permethrin, cypermethrin, tetramethrin, deltamethrin, sumithrin, fenvalerate and bioallethrin) by immature rat uterotrophic assay, luciferase reporter gene assay and Calbindin-D$\sub$9k/ (CaBP-9k) gene expression assay. Uterine wet weights were increased by permethrin and the permethrin-induced weights were inhibited by ICI 182780 in the uterolrophic assay. On the other hand tetramethrin significantly reduced uterine and vaginal wet weights, and also inhibited the E2-induced weight increases at all doses tested. Cypermethrin and sumithrin had a tendency to increase uterine weights, although not statistically significant. Permethrin and cypermethrin dose-dependently increased the luciferase activity in reporter gene assay. Northern blot analysis showed that permethrin induced CaBP-9k mRNA expression whereas tetramethrin inhibted. Subsequent studies were conducted to investigate the possible developmental effects of four pyrethroid insecricides (permethrin, cypermethrin, sumithrin and teramethrin). Either diethlbestrol (DES) or 17${\beta}$ -estradiol (E2) was used as a reference control in this study. Pyrethroid insecticides were administered to Sprague Dawley rats via subcutaneous injection at 6 to 18 days of gestation or 1 to 5 days after birth. In utero treatment of permethrin (10mg/kg/day) in female rat resulted in significant increases in uterine and ovarian weights while significant decreases in serum E2 concentration, uterine and ovarian ER${\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Sumithrin and permethrin led to acceleration in vaginal opening of female rat, while delay in preputial separation of male after neonatal treatment. Anogenital distances of PND 18 were significantly reduced in sumthrin-treated, and permerhrin-treated male rats after neonatal treatment. All the pyrethroid insecticides tested caused significant increases in uterine weights on PND 18, while significant reductions in the first diestrus phase when neonataly treated. In addition, exposure to pyrethroids in neonatal period led to significant reduction in relative brain weight in female rat on PND 18, but its weight was recovered in diestrus phase. In summary, Our experimental data demonstrate the possibilities of developmental effects of pyrethroid insecticides via estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.122-125
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• 2013

Objective: The majority of embryo transfers (ETs) to date have been performed on day 3 to reduce the potential risk of developmental arrest of in vitro cultured embryos before ET. Development of sequential media has significantly improved culture conditions and allowed blastocyst transfer on day 5. While day 5 ET provides higher clinical pregnancy outcomes with reduced risks of multiple pregnancies, it still has potential risks of developmental arrest of IVF embryos. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of day 4 ETs and compare the efficacy of day 4 ET with day 5 ET. Methods: From 2006 to 2009, a total of 747 fresh IVF-ET cycles were retrospectively analyzed (day 4, n=440 or and day 5, n=307). The cycles with any genetic factors were excluded. The rates of matured oocytes, fertilization, good embryos, and clinical pregnancy of the two groups were compared. The chi-square test and t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the mean age of the females and rates of matured oocytes. The pregnancy outcomes of day 4 ET (40.7%) were similar to those of day 5 ET (44.6%). The implantation rate of day 5 ET (24.2%) was significantly higher than that of day 4 ET (18.4%) (p=0.003). Conclusion: Day 4 ET can be chosen to avoid ET cancellation in day 5 ET resulting from suboptimal circumstances in the IVF laboratory, but the decremented quality of embryos for transfer and the decreased pregnancy rate must be taken into consideration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 1990

A reproductive potential trial using randomized complete block design with $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial, was conducted on 84 Baluchi yearling ewes. Ewes grazed on rangeland dominated by Artemisia maritime and Holoxylon grifthii with or without flushing and supplementation of barley grain (BG) and cotton-seed-cake (CSC) during premating, late pregnancy and lactation of 90 days. Analysis of variance revealed that conception rate which ranged 64.28 to 85.71, was significantly greater (p<.05) in ewes flushed with CSC followed by ewes under BG or control feeding regimes. During the gestation period, liveweight of ewes changed from 31.24 to 21.2 kg. A loss of 32% of initial body weight was observed at lambing. Losses in live weight of ewes, regardless the supplementation, were uniform and non-significantly different. Live weight of ewes at lambing and weaning were also similar. Birth weight of lambs was significantly different at p<.05. Lambs born to larger ewes seemed to be heavier than lighter ones. Lambs suckling to ewes with losses in body weight during lactation gained more weight which was significantly different at p<.05. In the paper, factors affecting the conception rate, changes in liveweight of ewes during gestation and lactation and subsequently growth of lambs are discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2010

Stem-cell therapy has the potential to improve vision in patients with untreatable retinal disease. Various types of cell source including fetal, embryonic and adult stem cells, intrinsic and extrinsic factors for differentiation into retinal progenitors and transplantation mode were discussed in this review. Experimental approaches have successfully induced photoreceptor precursor cells and retinal pigment epithelium. Stem-cell-based therapy is a promising treatment to restore vision in patients with retinal disease, in spite of the challenges.