• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2017

Objective: Sperm morphology plays an important role in infertility, especially in cases of defects in the heads of spermatozoa. Tapered-head or elongated-head spermatozoa are examples of morphological abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare the semen parameters, levels of protamine deficiency, and frequency of apoptosis between patients with normozoospermia and those with teratozoospermia with tapered-head spermatozoa. Methods: Fifty-two semen samples (27 patients with tapered-head sperm and 25 fertile men) were collected and semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization criteria for each sample. Protamine deficiency and the percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa were evaluated using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. Results: Sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology in the tapered-head spermatozoa (cases) were significantly lower than in the normozoospermic samples (controls). CMA3-reactive spermatozoa (CMA3+) in the case group were more common than in the controls. Apoptotic spermatozoa (TUNEL-positive) were significantly more common in the cases than in the controls. Conclusion: This analysis showed that tapered-head spermatozoa contained abnormal chromatin packaging and exhibited a high rate of apoptosis, which can be considered to be an important reason for the impaired fertility potential in teratozoospermic patients with tapered-head spermatozoa.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.557-567
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• 2000

An optional ingredient, jasoja(Perillae semen), was adopted to improve the quality of Dongchimi. The final weight percentage of jasoja in Dongchimi was adjusted to 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0%, per radish, and sensory and microbiological characteristics were determined during fermentation at 10 for 45 days. The effect was varied depending on the amounts of jasoja, but Dongchimi fermented with 0.5% jasoja was most favored for color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability in sensory evaluation. According to a quantitative descriptive analysis for the product, the liquid portion of Dongchimi steadily became clearer and less sour in proportion to the amount of added jasoja. However, a strong off-taste was detected from 1.0% treatment. The viable cell numbers of total and lactic acid bacteria drastically increased during the first 2 days, and then gradually increased to their maximum values during fermentation and slowly decreased at the later stage. Dongchimi with 0.5% treatment showed a distinctive high number of microorganisms at the 15th-day of fermentation and this trend was maintained until the completion of fermentation. The lactic acid bacteria isolated and identified from Dongchimi were; Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus faecalis, and Lactococcus lactis. The combined number of Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum began to increase right after preparation to as much as 10$\^$7/CFU/㎖, then decreased to 10-10$^3$CFU/㎖ afterward. This study showed that the addition of jasoja retarded the initial fermentation of Dongchimi; however, too much jasoja at above 1% weight level per Chinese radish might accelerate fermentation at the later fermentation stage and shoud be avoided. A comparable fermentation pattern was observed among the samples; however, more acceptable Dongchimi could be prepared by fermenting for 11 to 30 days at 0.5% jasoja concentration per radish.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2024

Glucocorticoids play a physiologic role in the adult male reproductive functions, modulating gonadal steroid synthesis and spermatogenesis, through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The expression of GR has been described in several key testicular cell types, including somatic cells and early germ cell populations. Nothing is known on GR in human spermatozoa. Herein, we explored the GR expression and its possible role in normal and testicular varicocele semen samples from volunteer donors. After semen parameter evaluation by macro- and microscopic analysis, samples were centrifuged; then spermatozoa and culture media were recovered for further investigations. By western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses we evidenced for the first time in spermatozoa the presence of GR-D3 isoform which was reduced in sperm from varicocele patients. By treating sperm with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEXA), we found that survival, motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction were increased in both healthy and varicocele samples. GR involvement in mediating DEXA effects, was confirmed by using the GR inhibitor mifepristone (M2F). Worthy, we also discovered that sperm secretes different cortisol amounts depending on its physio-pathological status, suggesting a defence mechanism to escape the immune system attach in the female genital tract thus maintaining the immune-privilege as in the testis. Collectively, our data suggests a role for glucocorticoids in determining semen quality and function, as well as in participating on sperm immune defensive mechanisms. The novelty of this study may be beneficial and needs to take into account in artificial insemination/drug discovery aimed to enhancing sperm quality.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.577-583
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• 2007

It is important to obtain semen with good quality for efficient fertilization and pregnancy. To obtain these semen, various methods have been developed but most of these methods are time consuming and require costly equipment. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the usability of column filtration system as quick and simple method to get sperm with better quality. Ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and analyzed with basic quality parameters before each filtration. Sperm concentration was adjusted to $5{\times}10^7/ml$ after dilution. The experimental groups were divided into non-filtered group(control) and filtered groups(glass wool, Sephadex 5% and Sephadex 20%). Ejaculates were filtered through each filter system and assessed by recovery rate of sperm, motility, normal morphology, CFDA/PI stain and plasma membrane integrity(hypo-osmotic swelling test, HOST). The lowest recovery rate of spermatozoa was recorded in glass wool filtration group, followed by 20% Sephadex filtration group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between control(non-filtered) and 5% Sephadex filtration poop. Also, there was no significant difference of sperm motility assessed under light microscope among experimental groups. Morphological normality of canine spermatozoa was the highest in the glass wool filtration group and the lowest in the 5% Sephadex filtration group with no significant differences versus 20% Sephadex filtration and control group, respectively(p<0.05). Viability of canine sperm assessed by CFCA/PI staining was the highest in the glass wool filtration poop with no significant difference versus the control group, and the lowest in the 20% Sephadex filtration group with no significant difference versus 5% Sephadex filtration group, respectively(p<0.05). HOS values of canine sperm was the highest in the 20% Sephadex filtration group with no significant difference versus 5% Sephadex filtration group, and the lowest in the control poop with no significant difference versus glass wool filtration group, respectively(p<0.05). Therefore, these results indicated that filtration treatment for extended canine sperm would be useful method to get sperm with better quality by trapping the damaged sperm, consequently filter would be physical barrier against injured or immotile sperm.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.283-290
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• 2012

제주흑우의 동결 정액 제조시 동결 보존액에 첨가한 taurine과 hypotaurine은 동결 융해 후 정자의 운동성, 생존성 그리고 정자막 온전성을 개선시키는 것을 알 수 있었다. Taurine과 hypotaurine의 첨가는 유의적으로 높은 운동성, 생존성을 보였으며(p<0.05), 특히 hypotaurine은 다른 실험구에 비하여 유의적으로 높은 정자막 온전성을 나타냈다(p<0.05). 뿐만 아니라, hypotaurine은 유의적으로 높은 F pattern 비율을 유지하였으며(p<0.05), 이들 항산화물질을 첨가한 실험구에서는 대조구에 비하여 유의적으로 낮은 AR pattern을 나타내어(p<0.05) 동결로 기인된 수정능획득 유사 상태 정자의 비율을 유의적으로 감소시켜 조기 첨체반응 비율을 감소시켰다. 정자의 난자내 침투능력에 있어서 모든 처리구에서 대조구보다 높은 웅성전핵 형성율과 SFI를 나타냈으며, hypotaurine의 처리는 가장 높은 침투능력을 나타냈으나 처리구간의 유의적 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 본 연구결과는 멸실위험의 토종가축 생식세포 및 유전자원 보존과 토종가축 육성을 위한 번식 증대를 위한 제주흑우 동결정액 제조에 중요한 이용 방법이 될 것이며, 동결 융해 후 정자의 기능 개선을 위한 다양한 희석제 및 첨가제를 활용한 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.1879-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Owing to the lack of a breeding index for efficient and quick fertility evaluations of Holstein bulls when using traditional or genome-wide detection methods, this study aimed to determine whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) could be used as an indicator of conception rate of artificial insemination (AI). Methods: Conventional and sexed frozen semen from nine bulls were used for IVF and AI. Results: The IVF and AI conception rates of each bull were confirmed to be positively correlated between the conventional frozen and sexed frozen semen. The correlation coefficient R values of nine bulls between IVF and AI methods were 0.73 and 0.97 for the conventional frozen and sexed frozen semen, respectively. The average conception rate of three bulls undergoing AI was 69.5% and 64.2%, 61.8% and 58.8%, and 48.2% and 46.2% in first-, second-, and third-born cows when conventional frozen and sexed frozen semen were used, respectively, which showed a positive correlation with the fertilization rate in the same parity. We propose an evaluation standard to assess the fertilization ability of bulls based on their IVF test results, which is categorized into three grades: grade one, normal fertility bull with an AI conception rate of 40%±5% and IVF rate of 45% to 60%; grade two, higher fertility bull with an AI conception rate of 50%±5% and IVF rate of 61% to 80%; and grade three, highest fertility bull with an AI conception rate of 60%±5% and IVF rate of >80%. Conclusion: These findings reveal that IVF results can be used as a breeding index for bulls to evaluate their AI conception ability, which may shorten the time required to select bulls for breeding.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.101-105
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• 1991

Although many therapies have been advocated in the treatment of idiopathic male infertility, the results of treatment are poor. This probably seems to be due to a lack of one or more proteins constituting the key structures of the spermatozoa. We evaluated the functional structures of the spermatozoa in 11 infertile patients whose semen showed severe oligoasthenozoospermia with immunochemical method and found a case with spermatozoa lacking acrosin. Evaluation of the spermatozoal defect with immunochemical method is desirable in patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia, especially in cases unresponsive to medical therapy.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.147-154
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• 2012

본 연구에서는 제주흑우의 유전자원 보존과 증식에 있어 성공적인 인공수정을 위한 안정적인 동결정액 제조법을 수립하고 동결 융해 후 정자의 품질을 개선하기 위하여 제주흑우의 동결 정액 제조시 LDL, taurine, hypotaurine 그리고 trehalose를 첨가하여 이들이 동결 융해 후 정자의 성상에 미치는 영향에 대하여 알아보고자 수행하였다. 제주흑우의 정액 동결 시 LDL, LDL-taurine, LDL-hypotaurine 그리고 LDL-trehalose의 첨가는 ($63.40%{\pm}7.39$, $69.70%{\pm}6.12$, $67.25%{\pm}3.21$, $64.55%{\pm}2.43$) 대조구에($56.25%{\pm}6.42$) 비하여 모두 유의적인 생존율의 증가를 나타냈다 (p<0.05). 정자막 온전성 검사를 통한 꼬리막 팽창 정자의 비율은 LDL-taurine을 첨가 실험구에서 $70.55%{\pm}5.16$, LDL-hypotaurine 첨가 실험구에서 $64.45%{\pm}5.85$, LDL-trehalose 실험구에서 $64.50%{\pm}2.78$, LDL 단독 첨가 실험구에서 $61.65%{\pm}5.18$로 대조구 $51.90%{\pm}9.99$보다 모두 유의적으로 높은 결과를 나타냈다 (p<0.05). 동결 융해 후 정자의 첨체막 변화 양상에 있어서는 B pattern의 비율은 대조구와 실험구 모두 유의적 차이가 없었으며, F pattern은 LDL-taurine의 조합만이 대조구와 유의적인 차이를 나타내며 증가하였다 (p<0.05). 그러나 AR pattern의 비율은 LDL-taurine, LDL-trehalose, LDL-hypotaurine 그리고 LDL 처리의 순으로 대조구에 비하여 모두 유의적으로 낮은 수준의 AR pattern의 비율을 나타냈다(p<0.05). 정자의 수정능력 평가에 있어 LDL-taurine, LDL-hypotaurine 그리고 LDL-trehalose 모두 대조구에 대하여 유의적으로 높은 웅성전핵 형성율과 SFI를 나타냈으며 (p<0.05), 특히 LDL-taurine의 첨가는 LDL의 단독 처리에 비하여도 유의적으로 높은 수준의 웅성전핵 형성율과 SFI를 나타냈다 (p<0.05). 또한, decondenced sperm 비율에 있어 LDL, LDL-taurine, LDL-hypotaurine 그리고 LDL-trehalose 실험구 모두 대조구에 비하여 유의적으로 높은 결과를 나타냈다 (p<0.05). 본 연구의 결과는 제주흑우 정액의 동결정액 제조에 있어 안정적인 제조법을 공급할 수 있으며, 동결 융해 후 정자의 기능 개선 방법에 보다 많은 정보를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.73-80
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• 1991

We compared fertilizing potential measurements by the zona-free hamster egg penetration assay with the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program was evaevulated for their ability to fertilize zona free hamster egg. Spermatozoa from 12 presumeably fertile donors and from the male partners of 56 infertile couples were evaluated for their ability to fertilizing potentials. Penertration rates of fertile donors were $36.2{\pm}27.7%$ ; Fertilization rates of infertile couples between with normal semen parameters and with abnormal semen parameters were $28.7{\pm}19.1$, $5.7{\pm}8.9%$, respectively. Sperm motility of couples with penetration rates between on 15-30% and on 30> were $54.1{\pm}4.6$, $55.5{\pm}8.3%$ respectively. Hamster penetration rates of couples participating in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program was $38.9{\pm}29.9%$. But in one case, a positive fertility assessment was obtained in the absence of fertilization of the wife's eggs attributable to egg immaturity. This method may have potential value as a diagnostic tool in evaluation human sperm fertilization capacity which avoids the ethical and logistical problems associated with fertilizing of human eggs in vitro.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.228-232
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• 2005

Damaged spermatozoa are supposed to be trapped in glass wool. In the respect of this, two glass wool filtration spermatozoa groups (0.5 cm, 1 cm depth) were compared with control group to assay sperm motility, HOS values, and vital rate by CFDA/PI staining method following glass wool filtration. The motility of canine sperm extended with PBS+PVP after glass wool filtration was lower in both filtrated groups than that of the control group (p<0.01) and the same significant difference was also shown in canine semen extended with Tris buffer (p<0.01). The motility of canine sperm diluted with PBS+PVP was higher than that diluted with Tris buffer in the same experimental groups (p<0.05). The motility of control group was not significantly decreased until 2 hours immediately after extending, however, the motility of both glass wool filtrated spermatozoa were significantly decreased as time passed until 2 hours after filtration (p<0.01). At each time for assay (immediately, 30 min, 2 hours after filtration), the motility of canine sperm of control group was higher than the filtrated groups (p<0.05), whereas the motility of 0.5 cm depth group was higher than 1 cm depth group at the immediate time after filtration (p<0.05), 30 minutes later (p<0.05) with no difference at 2 hours. No difference was shown among the experimental groups in HOS values of canine sperm after glass wool filtration. The vital rate assayed by CFDA/PI staining of both filter groups was higher than the control group (p<0.05).