• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2020

Objective: Since sperm abnormalities are known to be a major reason for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), any defects in DNA structure and chromatin condensation can place embryos at risk in the early stage of development and implantation. As antioxidants such as vitamin C may play a protective role against the destruction of protamine genes in sperm chromatin, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C on chromatin and the expression of protamine genes in the male partners of couples with RPL. Methods: Twenty male partners of couples with RPL were selected as the intervention group and received vitamin C supplementation (250 mg daily for 3 months). Healthy fertile men (n = 20) were included as controls. Sperm chromatin, DNA integrity, and the expression levels of protamine genes were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: Significant differences were found in sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis between the two groups and before and after vitamin C administration. A significant change was found in mRNA levels of PRM1, PRM2, and the PRM1/PRM2 ratio after treatment. Conclusion: Daily oral administration of vitamin C may improve human sperm parameters and DNA integrity by increasing protamine gene expression levels in the male partners of couples with RPL. The beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation as an antioxidant for the male partners of couples with RPL could lead to improved pregnancy outcomes in these cases.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

The aims of the present study were to confirm that regulation of the PA and environment via TGF-β regulation of sperm by Percoll-separated in porcine uterine epithelial cells. And, it was performed to identify the cytokines (TGF-β1, 2 and 3, TGF-β receptor1 and 2; interleukin, IL-6, IL-8) and PA-related genes (urokinase-PA, uPA; tissue-PA, tPA; PA inhibitor, PAI; uPA-receptor, uPAR) by spermatozoa. The experiment used porcine uterus epithelial cells (pUECs) and uterine tissue epithelial cells, Boar sperm were separated by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%), and tissues were co-incubated with spermatozoa, followed by real-time PCR. PA activity was measured of sperm by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%) for 24 hours. To measure viability and acrosome damage of sperm double stained propidium iodide (PI) and SYBR-14 or FITC-PNA were used. In results, binding ratio of Percoll-separated sperm was found no differences, but sperms isolated from 90% Percoll layer reduced PA activity (p < 0.05). when co-cultured sperm selected Percoll in porcine uterus tissues epithelial cells, 90% layer sperm increased TGF-β R1, contrastively tPA and PAI-1 in comparison with control (p < 0.05). 45% sperm was decreased the expression of uPA (p < 0.05). TGF-β decreased PA activity in the supernatant collected from pUECs (p < 0.05). Especially, The group including uPA, PAI-1 were induce sperm intact, while it was reduced in sperm damage when compared to control (p < 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference group of tPA and tPA+I in the dead sperm and acrosome damage compared to control. The expression of tPA and PAI showed a common response. Percoll-separated spermatozoa in 90% layer reduced tPA and IL-related gene mRNA expression. Thus, Percoll-sparated sperm in 90% layer show that it can suppress inflammation through increased expression of TGF-β and downregulation of PA and IL in epithelial cells compared to 45% layer Percoll.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2002

ADAM은 metalloprotease/disintegrin domain을 가진 transmembrane glycoprotein 으로서 지금까지 30개 이상의 ADAM 및 10개 이상의 ADAMTS 단백질이 알려져 있다. 이들의 기능은 포유동물의 수정시 sperm-egg binding과 fusion, myoblast fusion, integrin과의 결합 등에 직접 관여하거나, TNF-alpha 등의 생체 신호전달물질이 세포로부터 분비될 때에 이들의 구조를 변화시켜 활성화시키는 효소작용, 그리고 dendritic cell differentiation 등에 관여하는 것으로 알려져있다. 그러나 자궁내막 조직에서의 유전자 및 단백질 발현 여부에 관해서는 거의 보고되어 있지 않고 있다. 먼저 RT-PCR 방법을 이용하여 자궁에서 mRNA의 양을 $\beta$-actin의 양에 대하여 상대적으로 측정한 결과, 임신 1일부터 5일까지는 ADAM-9, 10, 17, TS1의 mRNA 경우 거의 비슷하게 발현되었으며 ADAM-8과 15는 3일째, ADAM-12는 2일째와 4일째에 현저하게 증가하였다 임신 6일부터 8일까지의 자궁조직을 각각 embryo가 착상된 곳과 그렇지 않은 곳으로 나누어 조사한 결과 상대적으로 착상이 된 곳에서 mRNA가 많이 발현 되었으며 특히 ADAM-8, 12, 15의 mRNA의 경우 현저한 차이를 보였다. Immunoblotting 방법을 이용하여 임신 1일부터 5일까지의 단백질의 발현 양상을 조사한 결과 임신 ADAM-8은 3일 이후 감소되는 양상을 보였으며 ADAM-9, 15, TS1은 5일째에 증가하는 양상을 보였다. ADAM-10은 2일째 감소하다가 다시 증가하고 ADAM-12, 17은 3, 4일째 증가하다가 5일째 감소하는 상을 보였다. 한편 임신 6일부터 8일까지는 embryo가 착상된 곳이 그렇지 않은 곳보다 조사된 모든 ADAMs 단백질이 상대적으로 많이 발현되는 양상을 보였다. 이러한 결과로 미루어 ADAMs은 임신 초기 착상과정과 임신 단계에 따른 자궁의 조직 재구성에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Proteins play a key role in many functions such as metabolic activity, differentiation, as cargos and cell fate regulators. It is necessary to know about the markers involved in male fertility in order to develop remedies for the treatment of male infertility. But, the role of the proteins is not limited to particular function in the biological systems. Some of the proteins act as ion channels such as catsper and proteins like Nanos acts as a translational repressor in germ cells and expressed in prenatal period whose role in male fertility is uncertain. Rbm5 is a pre mRNA splicing factor necessary for sperm differentiation whose loss of function results deficit in sperm production. DEFB114 is a beta defensin family protein necessary for sperm motility in LPS challenged mice where as TEX 101 is a plasma membrane specific germ cell protein whose function is not clearly known u to now. Gpr56 is another adhesion protein whose null mutation leads to arrest of production of pups in rats. Amyloid precursor protein role in Alzheimer's disease is already known but it plays an important role in male fertility also but its function is uncertain and has to be considered while targeting APP during the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The study on amyloid precursor protein in male fertility is a novel thing but requires further study in correlation to alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2014

Phasianus colchicus is not only a beautiful bird but also a great value in science and under the threat of endanger. Hence, the aim of this study was to isolate the pheasant male germ cells (mGCs) and then induce them into elongated sperm-like cells in vitro. The mGCs were purified and enriched by a two-step plating method based on the different adherence velocities of mGCs and somatic cells. The percentage of the c-kit positive cells and c-kit negative cells examined by flow cytometry analysis (FCA) was 92.87% and 2.57%, respectively. Subsequently, the mGCs were induced for 48h in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented factors such as retinol acid, testosterone and bovine FSH, followed by 5 weeks in culture. We found that some elongated sperm-like cells appeared initially in vitro under inducement of stimulated factors. The elongated sperm-like cells showed in the expression of changed morphology and post-transcriptional marker such as spermatid associated (SPERT), spermatid perinuclear RNA binding protein (STRBP), round spermatid basic protein 1 (RSBN1) and SPER1L. Moreover, in DNA content identified assay, induced cells showed that the 1C DNA population markedly increased in differentiated group but it was not change in undifferentiated group. Successful in vitro differentiation of pheasant testicular germline cells into spermatids appears to offer extremely attractive potential for the conservation of endangered birds and treatment of male infertility.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1997

Spermatogenesis is known to be regulated by a number of genes and several factors such as hormones, growth factors, cytokines and others. This study was done to evaluate the relationship between HSPs and DAZ genes in human spermatogenesis; we observed the expression pattern of HSP gene in azoospermia men with DAZ gene that regulated the gene expression related with human spermatogenesis. RT-PCR method was used to detect DAZ, HSP70A, and HSP70B transcripts in all RNA samples. Total RNA was extracted from 21 testis tissues using TRIZOL reagent. cDNAs were synthesized with reverse transcriptase, AMV. All PCR reaction were performed on a PCR themocycler with DAZ, HSP70A, and HSP70B-specific primers. Semen analysis, karyotyping and testis histology were performed. DAZ gene, known as a candidate gene of azoospermia factor(AZF), was deleted in 2 of 21 patients. To evaluate the only effects of HSPs in this patients, 2 DAZ deleted cases were removed. We observed the mRNA of HSP70B in 5 whereas none could be seen with regard to HSP70A. Furthermore, the sperm of these 5 men were discovered to be immature. In conclusion, HSP70B as well ad DAZ gene seem to be involved causing spermatogenic failure. We suggest that HSP70B plays an important role in spermatogenesis and it is one of factors induced sperm maturation in human.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1702-1709
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• 2016

The reproductive function of G-protein subunit Galphaq (GNAQ), a member of the G protein alpha subunit family, has been extensively studied in humans and rats. However, no data is available on its status in ruminants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression pattern of the GNAQ in the testis and epididymis of sheep by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mRNA expression levels were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and cellular localization of GNAQ in the testis and epididymis was examined by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, GNAQ protein was qualitatively evaluated via western blot, with the results indicating that similarities between GNAQ mRNA levels from sheep was highly conserved with those observed in Bos taurus and Sus scrofa. Our results also indicated that GNAQ exists in the caput and cauda epididymis of sheep, while GNAQ in the testis and epididymis was localized to Leydig cells, spermatogonial stem cells, spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, spermatid, principal cells, and epididymis interstitial cells. The concentrations of GNAQ mRNA and protein in the caput and cauda epididymis were significantly greater than those observed in the corpus epididymis (p<0.01) and testis (p<0.05). Our results indicated that GNAQ exists at high concentrations in the caput and cauda epididymis of sheep, suggesting that GNAQ may play an important role in gonad development and sperm maturation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2003

ADAM은 metalloprotease/disintegrin domain을 가진 transmembrane glycoprotein으로서 지금까지 30종류 이상의 ADAM 및 10종류 이상의 ADAM-TS 단백질이 알려져 있다. 이들의 기능은 포유동물의 수정 시 sperm-egg binding과 fusion, myoblast fusion, integrin과의 결합 등에 직접 관여하거나, TNF-alpha 등의 생체신호전달물질이 세포로부터 분비될 때에 이들의 구조를 변화시켜 활성화시키는 효소로서의 작용, 그리고 dendritic cell differentiation 등에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 난소가 제거된 생쥐를 이용하여 자궁조직의 ADAM-8, -9, -10, -12, -15, -17 그리고 -TS1의 gene의 발현이 $17 \beta $-estradiol에 의하여 조절되는 지를 알아보았다. 생후 6 - 8주 된 암컷 생쥐의 난소를 제거하고, 2 주 후에 $17 \beta $-estradiol ($E_2$), progesterone ($P_4$) 혹은 이 둘 혼합액 ($E_2 + P_4$)을 sesame oil에 녹여 근육주사하였다. 2, 6, 12 시간 후 각각 자궁 조직을 얻고 유전자의 발현 양상을 알아보기 위하여 시료로부터 total RNA을 추출하여 역전사 중합효소반응 (RT-PCR)을 실시하였다. Densitometry를 이용, rpL7에 대한 ADAMS의 mRNA 발현 양을 상대적으로 분석하였다. 그 결과 ADAM-8과 -15는 6시간째에서, ADAM-10과 -TS1은 2시간째에서 sesame oil을 주사하거나 $P_4$만을 주사한 군보다 E$_2$를 주사한 군에서 mRNA의 양이 현저하게 증가하였고 ADAM-12는 2시간째에서 ADAM-17은 12시간째에서 sesame oil을 주사하거나 $P_$만을 주사한 군보다 E$_2$를 주사한 군에서 mRNA의 양이 현저하게 증가하였다. 이러한 결과로 미루어 ADAM-8, -10, -15 그리고 TS1은 progesterone에 의하여, ADAM-12와 17은 $17 \beta $-estradiol에 의하여 유전자의 발현이 upregulation 되는 것으로 생각되어진다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2011

This study was performed to identify the differentially methylated region (DMR) and to examine the mRNA expression of the imprinted H19 gene in day 35 of SCNT pig fetuses. The fetus and placenta at day 35 of gestation fetuses after natural mating (Control) or of cloned pig by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) were isolated from a uterus. To investigate the mRNA expression and methylation patterns of H19 gene, tissues from fetal liver and placenta including endometrial and extraembryonic tissues were collected. The mRNA expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and methylation pattern was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing method. Bisulfite analyses demonstrated that the differentially methylated region (DMR) was located between -1694 bp to -1338 bp upstream from translation start site of the H19 gene. H19 DMR (-1694 bp to -1338 bp) exhibits a normal mono allelic methylation pattern, and heavily methylated in sperm, but not in oocyte. In contrast to these finding, the analysis of the endometrium and/or extraembryonic tissues from SCNT embryos revealed a complex methylation pattern. The DNA methylation status of DMR Region In porcine H19 gene upstream was hypo methylated in SCNT tissues but hypermethylated in control tissues. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of H19 gene in liver, endometrium, and extraembryonic tissues was significantly higher in SCNT than those of control (p<0.05). These results suggest that the aberrant mRNA expression and the abnormal methylation pattern of imprinted H19 gene might be closely related to the inadequate fetal development of a cloned fetus, contributing to the low efficiency of genomic reprogramming.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2020

Coiled-coil domain containing 110 (CCDC110, KM-HN-1) is a protein containing C-terminal coiled-coil domain (CCD) which was previously discovered as a member of the human cancer/testis antigen (CTA). In addition, CCDC110 has both nuclear localization signal sequence and the leucine zipper motif. Although the functional role of CCDC110 has yet to be fully identified, the mRNA expression levels of CCDC110 are known to be highly elevated in various cancer types including testis, implying its relevance to cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we first developed several monoclonal antibody (mAb) hybridoma clones targeting CCDC110 and further isolated clone by characterizing for its specificity using immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation approaches with basal parenchymal sperm cells in testis tissue. Next, using these mAbs, we showed that the Tet-inducible overexpression of CCDC110 protein delayed the entry of G2/M phase in U2-OS osteosarcoma cells. Based on these results, we propose that CCDC110 plays a crucial role in cell cycle progression.