• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2004

Gametogenesis, changes of gonad bulk index (GBI), monthly variation in oocyte diameter, reproductive cycle and spawning with lunar cycle of the top shell, Trochus niloticus were investigated by histological examination. The specimens were sampled in the coastal waters of Chuuk Island, Micronesia, form November 1999 to September 2000. T. niloticus is a gonochorism, and the female and male were present in an approximately 1:1 ratio (p > 0.05). The ovary contained with the oocyte of yolk stage, the testis composed of the spermatid and spermatozoa at around the year. Monthly GBI were higher at February, March, April and June than the other months. Major spawning occurred between April and May, and June and July but the individuals of partially spawning were presented throughout the year. GBI with lunar cycle were higher at the full moon than the other lunar phase. These results suggest that the spawning occurred between the full moon and last quarter moon.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

Study on spermatid and spermatozoon of a Korean endemic freshwater fish, Microphysogobio yaluensis, has been carried out by transmission electron microscope. Spermiogenesis involves conspicuous modifications intercelluar movement such as centrioles and mitochondria migration, nuclear depression and structural changes for instance chroatin condensation, excess of cytoplasm. The mature spermatozoa are similar to those of other cyprinids as follows: a spherical nucleus with a shallow nuclear fossa, a short midpiece containing several mitochondria and encircling the basal body of the flagellum. However there are some differences in the orientation of the centrioles,the number of the mitochondria and distribution of vesicles from other cyprinids. It could be concluded that the M. yaluensis spermiogenesis belongs to type 2, and its mature spermatozoon is charaterized by a unique feature which may provide a useful systematic character.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.305-314
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• 1994

19-norandrostenedione(19-NORA) is known as an intermediate in the metabolic pathway from androstenedione to estrone. Administration of esterified 19-nortestosterone, anabolic steroid, reduces serum gonadotropin and testosterone concentration, and results in reversible azoospermia in men. 19-NORA have been isolated from testis, but its function in testis is not clear yet. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effect of 19-NORA on steroidogenesis and on spermatogenesis. 19-NORA was administrated by single intratesticular injection to adult male rats weighing 350-400 g in dose of 1 mg/50${\mu}l$. The serum and testis were collected on 1, 3, 7, 12, 48 hr after injection. The histological differences in testis were observed by routine paraffin method. The concentrations of testosterone and estradiol in serum and in left testis were determined by the conventional radioimmunoassays. One hour after 19-NORA treatment, serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol increased significantly, compared to those of pre-treated(0 hr) group, and reduced gradually to the control level on 7 hour after injection. The concentration of testosterone in left testis increased slightly 1 hour after injection, and estradiol level increased significantly(p<0.05). Also, testosterone and estradiol level of control group revealed no difference with pre-treated (0 hr) group. Gonad index, structure of seminiferous tubules, and the number of step 7 th spermatid were simillar to control group. The present study suggests that the elevation of testosterone level results from increment of estradiol followed by the rapid metabolism of 19-NORA at 7 hour after injection, and then testosterone concentration may be recovered to control level by feedback mechanism of hypothalamus-hypothysis-testis axis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2009

The reproductive cells in testes of Microphysogobio yaluensis were investigated using light and electron microscopes. The testis of Microphysogobio yaluensis consisted of numerous testicular cysts contained synchronized cells. Sperms were full in testicular sacs of mature testes. Leydig cells were located among testicular cysts. The nucleus of primary spermatocytes was round and mitochondria were congregated in cytoplasm. The size of secondary spermatocyte was smaller than that of primary spermatocyte and the nucleus of a secondary spermatocyte was round or oval. In spermatids, the nucleus was round and electron-dense. In spermiogenesis, the nucleus was condensed and a flagellum started to be formed. The mitochondria were rearranged along the flagellum. The sperm had a round head, the acrosome was not found and a motile flagellum consisted of an axoneme with a typical 9+2 pattern of microtubule.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.977-983
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• 2021

Closely correlated expression patterns between ubiquitin specific peptidase 9X-linked (USP9X) and adherens junction formation factor (Afadin) in mouse testis development suggests that Usp9x regulates the deubiquitination of Af-6 (also known as Afadin, AFDN), and subsequently, the cell adhesion dynamics during gametogenesis. However, this relationship has not yet been tested in other domestic animals. The study was examined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of porcine USP9X and AFDN from the pre-pubertal to adult stages using real time-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we detected the transcripts of USP9X and AFDN in the testis of 1-, 6- and 12-months old boar, respectively. USP9X and AFDN were found to have similar expressions patterns, with basal expression after 1 month followed by a significant up-regulation from 6 months (puberty) onwards. In addition, neither the AFDN or USP9X proteins were detected in spermatogenic cells but they were expressed in the leydig cells and sertoli cells. USP9X was detected around the basal lamina during pre-puberty, and predominantly expressed in the leydig cells at puberty. Finally, in adult testis, USP9X was increased at the sertoli cell-cell interface and the sertoli cell-spermatid interface. In summary, closely correlated expression patterns between USP9X and AFDN in boar testis supports the previous findings in mice. Furthermore, the junction connections between the sertoli cells may be regulated by the ubiquitination process mediated via USP9X.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2021

The differentiation process of male germ cells and sperm morphology of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai were described in ultrastructure. The differentiation process of sperm was divided into four stages: spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatid and sperm. The process of differentiation from spermatogonium to spermatocyte did not show significant morphological changes. However, during the spermiogenesis there were distinct morphological changes such as chromatin condensation, morphological changes of the nucleus, and formation of acrosome, midpiece and flagellum. The sperm of the abalone consisted of head, midpiece and tail. The head of approximately 5.3 ㎛ in length was composed of a nucleus of high electron dense and bullet-shaped acrosome. The midpiece was composed of the basal body and mitochondria, and five mitochondria were arranged in single layer around the basal body. The cross section of the tail showed a "9+2" axonemal structure. These morphological and structural features are the result of showing that the sperm of H. discus hannai is a primitive type.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2008

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing the testicular sperm extraction (TESE) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with different histopathologic subgroups. Method: A total of 122 embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycles were compared among NOA subgroups; Germ-cell aplasia (GA, 40 cycles), Maturation arrest (MA, 32 cycles) and severe hypospermatogenesis (S-HS, 50 cycles). Obstructive azoospermia (OA, 667 cycles) patients were served as a control. TESE/ICSI outcomes such as fertilization rate (FR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) were evaluated. Results: The 2PN FR of embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycle was 58.1% in GA, 42.2% in MA and 48.0% in S-HS, which was significantly lower than that of OA (72.9 %, p<0.001). For ICSI-spermatozoa cycles, there were no significant differences in CPR (22.6%, 29.4% and 26.1%) and LBR (16.1%, 29.4% and 19.6%) among NOA subgroups. The CPR of ICSI-spermatid cycles was 0.0%, 9.1% and 0.0% without a live birth. For ICSI-spermatocyte cycles, no clinical pregnancies occurred in any group. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the FR of embryo-transferred TESE/ICSI cycles among NOA subgroups. The FR among all NOA subgroups was significantly lower than that of OA. Testicular histopathology in NOA did not affect successful pregnancy if spermatozoa extraction from the testis is successful and embryo transfer is possible.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2007

This study describes the spermatogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of the spiny top shell, Batillus cornutus using light and electron microscopy. The spiny top shells were collected by divers in the coastal water of Wandogun, Cheollanamdo, Korea(N $34^{\circ}13'$, E $126^{\circ}47'$) at May 2003. Spiny top shells of $60.0{\sim}69.9\;mm$ in shell height were used in this study. The testis comprises many spermatogenic follicles which contains germ cells in different developmental stages. The primary spermatocytes in the pachytene stage were characterized by synaptonemal complexes. The early spermatids were characterized by appearance of Golgi complex, increased karyoplasmic electron density and tubular mitochondria. In early spermatid the mass of proacrosomal granules consists of numerous heterogeneous granules with high electron density. From the mid-stage of spermiogenesis the well-developed mitochondria aggregate posterior to the nucleus, and surround the proximal and distal centrioles. In this stage, proacrosomal granules are condensed and form a acrosome with thin envelope. During the late spermiogenesis, the acrosome begins to elongate and then became conical. The sperm consists of head, mid-piece and tail. The head comprises a round nucleus and a conical acrosome. Acrosomal rod of microfibrous is observed between nucleus and acrosome. Five mitochondria observed in mid-piece. And tail has the typical "9+2" microtubular system originates from the centrioles.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.123-130
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• 2000

2-Bromopropane, important industrial chemical, specially in electronic industry at Yangsan in Korea has been reported to cause amenorrhea for female and azoospermia, oligozoospermia or reduced sperm motility for male. 2-BP was investigated through 21 days of repeated dose in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The dose levels per body weight were 0 (control), 250,500 and 1,000 mg/kg. 2-BP dissolved in vehicle olive oil was injected into the intraperitoneum 6 times per week for 3 weeks, but 1,000 mg/kg dose group was 2 weeks because of serious illness. Male rats showed significant decreases in body weight and right and left testis showed typical weight losses depending on the 2-BP. The number of white blood cell and red blood cell , percentage of monocytes, and hemoglobin decreased significantly in high dose (P< 0.05). Red cell volume distribution width increased significantly in the high dose (P< 0.05). Histopathological findings of testes showed a decrease of spermatogenic cells, exfoliation of spermatid and spermatocyte, vacuolization of Sertoli cells and hyperplasia of Leydig cells. Protein band density between 113,000 dalton ($\beta$-galactosidase) and 53,900 dalton (ovalbumin) has decreased in 250 mg/kg dose group, but it has gradually increased to the higher density in 1,000 mg/kg dose group than in control group.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-58
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• 1985

The morphological study on different types of cells of reproductive organ including spermatogenesis in the adult planaria was performed to observe their cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics. 1. Spermatogenesis The circular luminated material appears immediately inside the nuclear envelope of early spermatid and is found also in the nucleus of sperm, but typical acrosomal structures cannot be observed. Approximately ten of small-sized mitochondria occur around the nucleus in the transitional phase from primary spermatocyte to secondary spermatocyte, but in sperm a long mitochondrion is closely associated with nucleus, parellel to long axis of it. The sperm has a relatively long head connected with two tails via hollow neck. 2. Reproductive organ The penis bulb and the bursa stalk were observed. (1) Penis bulb The cells constituted penis bulb are classified into six types on the basis of ultrastructure of the cells and cytochemistry of the cytoplasmic granules. 1) A-type cells: These cells exhibiting low electron density are mainly occupied by large nucleus. These cells possess two different types of granules: highly electron-dense round granules with an average size of $0.9{\mu}m$, and electron-dense granules exhibit PAS-positive reaction. 2) B-type cells contain PAS-positive granules with the size of about $0.4{\mu}m$. They are rich in free ribosomes and mitochondria. 3) C-type cells are found to be dark cells due to high electron-density. These cells are largely occupied by large nucleus. 4) D-type cells: These cells are seen as light cells which have poorly developed cell organelles. 5) E-type tells: These cells contain a large number of glycogen granules which occupy most of cell. 6) F-type cells: These arc parietal epidermal cells surrounding the genital antrum. These cells are characterized by their finger-like shapes and the presence of a number of electron-dense, irregularly-shaped structures inside cells. The relatively large electron-lucent granules can be also found. The F-type cells possess numerous microvilli on their free surfaces. (2) Bursa stalk The cells constituted bursa stalk are classified into 3 types on the basis of cell shapes and presences of electron-dense or electron-lucent granules. 7) G-type cells with a long cytoplasmic process. They have large nuclei and poorly developed cell organelles. 8) H-type cells: These cells are characterized by the presence of a long cytoplasmic process and relatively highly electron-dense cytoplasmic profile. They have poorly developed cell organelles. 9) I-type cells contain large electron-lucent granules which exhibit negative reactions with three kinds of cytochemical staining methods used in this experiment. The fine electron-dense structures can be found inside these granules.