• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 1995

For the prevention of later contralateral hernia as well as unnecessary contralateral exploration in pediatric patients with unilateral inguinal hernias, a reasonable indication of contralateral exploration is required. To examine the contralateral positivity, a prospective selective contralateral exploration has been performed by the author from Sept. 1985 to Dec. 1993, at Pediatric Surgical Section of the Department of Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Among the total 1200 cases of pediatric inguinal hernias, 580 cases of contralateral side were explored at hernia operations, by the indications as; male with infant onset, 2)female of all age, 3)prematurity, 4)profuse ascites due to cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and 5)remarkable silk sign. Overall positive rate was 71.4%, and positive rates of each indication were 80.7%, 70.4%, 73.1%, 66.7%, and 72.0%, respectively. Right side hernia showed 67.0%, left s ide 75.7%, and positive familial history 71.8% of contralateral positivities. In male, getting older revealed lower positive rates and the rate suddenly dropped after 12 years of age. Birth order, mother's age at delivery, postmaturity did not show any significant differences between the rates. Recurrence was seen in 3(0.5%) ipsilateral and 2(0.3%) contralateral, both of which were negative esplorations on previons operations. Overall complication rate was 3.8%, including 1 infection, 14 fluid or blood accumulation, 5 edemas, 3 temporary testicular edemas, 2 persisting fevers, 2 enures is and one delayed recovery from anesthesia. Among 38 cases with contralateral hernias developed after unilateral surgery by authors(6 cases) or surgeons in other institutions, 14 were males with infant onset, 4 were prematurities and 9 were females. Therefore, 27(71.7%) cases were originally under the contralateral exploration indications. The primary site of the hermia was right in 25 and left in 13. With above results, the following indications for contralateral exploration could be suggested ; 1)under one year of age, both sex, 2)prematurity, 3) remarkable silk sign, 4)in the double checked suspicions among males with infant onset, all age females, ascites, left hernia and familial history. After 12 years of age, exploration is not required. Considering complications, contralateral explorations could be considered only in the following situations; 1)expert, experienced pediatric surgeon, 2)experienced pediatric anesthesiologist, 3)operations could be done smoothly in an hour, 4)good general condition of the patient.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2007

Embryonic and pre-leptocephalic larvae development of the eel, Anguilla japonica, are described following natural fertilization in the indoor tank of $23^{\circ}C$ water temperature. Following a routine hormone treatment technique for the brood stock, female eels were artificially matured by weekly intramuscular injections of salmon pituitary extracts (SPE) at a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) for a total of 10-14 doses to induce ovarian maturation, while male eels received weekly intramuscular injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at a dosage of 1 IU/g BW for a total of 6-10 doses to induce testicular maturation in a separate aquarium and induced natural spawning. Fertilized eggs of about 1.0 mm in diameter were pelagic and showed a typical discoidal cleavage. Hatching occurs 38 hrs after fertilization at a water temperature of $23^{\circ}C$. The newly hatched larvae measured about 3.0 mm in total length and the number of myomeres averages 42. Their mouths and anuses were opened at 4.5 days and the yolk sacs of the pre-leptocephalic larvae were almost absorbed at 6.5 days after hatching. Pre-leptocephalic larvae survive for 14.5 days. At this time they are $5.87{\pm}0.25mm$ in total length and have about 98 myomeres. However, morphological characterization of embryonic and pre-leptocephalic larvae were not different between natural fertilization and artificial fertilization by the dry method.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 1997

Cytogenetic observations of loss of the distal portion of the Y chromosome long arm were found to be associated with disrupted spermatogenesis. The existence of a gene involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis, the azoospermia factor (AZF), was postulated. In this study, we screened the AZF region including DAZ and DAZH genes and observed the expression pattern of DAZ and DAZH transcript in infertile men with azoospermia and oligospermia by using a sequence-tagged site (STS)-based PCR method. PCR primers were synthesized for 11 STSs that span Yq interval 6, SRY, DAZ, and DAZH, functional DAZ homologue on chromosome 3. Microdeletions were detected in 4/32 (12.5%) azoospermic men and 1/11 (9%) severe oligospermic men. Only 2 of 5 patients had microdeletions of Yq that contained the DAZ gene, whereas the other 3 patients had deletions extending from intervals 5L-6F proximal to the DAZ gene on Yq. Testis biopsies of the azoospermic patients revealed a variety from Sertoli cell-only syndrome to testicular maturation arrest. Of 4 men with clinical data available, average testis size was R: 13.8 cc, L: 13.8 cc, serum T was $4.0{\pm}1.25$ ng/ml, LH was $3.63{\pm}1.90$ mIU/ml, and FSH was $8.85{\pm}5.13$ mIU/ml. These values did not differ significantly from the remainder of the patients tested. We could not observed the DAZ transcript in 2 patients, who have no mature spermatozoa. In 11.6% of patients microdeletions of the AZF could be detected. These deletions in the AZF region seem to be involved causing spermatogenic failure. But the frequency of microdeletions proximal to DAZ suggests that DAZ is not the only gene associated with spermatogenic failure.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.185-195
• /
• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.109-109
• /
• 2002

In recent reports, the multiple reproductive defects such as cryptorchidism, hypospadias, epididymal cysts, low sperm counts, and testicular cancers are increased in humans, and these changes were doubted by the chemicals with estrogenic or antiandrogenic activities in our environment. To compare the effects of neonatal exposure of di (n-butyl) phthalate and flutamide on the development of reproductive organs and to identify the specific mechanisms of these abnormalities related to the male reproducton, Sprague-Dawley neonate male rats were injected subcutaneously during 5-14 days after birth with corn oil (control), flutamide (0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/animal) and DBP (5, 10, and 20 mg/animal). Animals were killed at 31 (immature) and 42 (pubertal) days of age respectively and blood was collected from abdominal aorta for serum testosterone analysis. Testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, levator ani plus bulbocavernosus muscle (LABC), cowpers glands and glans penis were weighed. Expression of steroid hormone receptors (AR and ER) was examined in the testes and ventral prostate. At 31 days of age, ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, LABC, and cowpers glands significantly decreased in the flutamide (0.5 mg/animal) and DBP (20 mg/animal), but serum testosterone levels were not changed. Flutamide slightly delayed the testes descent at the high dose (0.5 mg/animal), but DBP did not show any significant effect on the testes descent at all doses. DBP and flutamide decreased the expression of AR protein in the testes but did not affect the expression of ERa and ER protein in the testes. At 42 days of age, ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, and cowpers glands weights were still significantly decreased at the high dose of flutamide (0.5 mg/animal) and DBP (20 mg/animal), but the weights of testes and epididymides were not different. Serum testosterone decreased significantly in DBP treated animals and slightly, not significantly, in flutamide group. While DBP still significantly decreased the expression of AR protein in testis, flutamide recovered from downregulation of AR protein and did not affect the expression of ERa and ER protein in the testes. Based on these results, flutamide and DBP have shown several similar patterns in reproductive abnormalitis, but some marked differences which may be caused by different acting mechanism.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.289-296
• /
• 2016

This report describes the sex differentiation of the Korean rose bitterling, Rhodeus uyekii, from hatching to 170 days post-hatch (DPH) in relation to total length (TL), body weight (BW), and integral water temperature (IWT). The growth curve of TL from just hatching to 83 DPH was $5.144e^{0.045t}$ ($R^2=0.961$; t, time), and that of BW was $2.398e^{0.086t}$ ($R^2=0.725$). Primordial germ cells (PGCs) were observed at 17 DPH (7.9 mm TL, 3.74 mg BW, $374^{\circ}C$ IWT), and thereafter began to protrude into the peritoneal cavity. At 21 DPH ($9.2{\pm}0.14mm$ TL, $4.8{\pm}0.07mg$ BW, $462^{\circ}C$ IWT), some PGCs contained condensed chromatin and oocyte were observed in meiotic prophase. In contrast to the ovaries, which grew gradually after sexual differentiation, testes began multiplying at 25 DPH (10.1 mm TL, 5.42 mg BW, $550^{\circ}C$ IWT), when testicular differentiation was first identified, and multiplied continuously thereafter. At 33 DPH (11.2 mm TL, 10.5 mg BW, $726^{\circ}C$ IWT), the developing testes contained spermatogonia that exhibited mitotic activity. No spermatocyte or sperm cell was observed until 83 DPH (18.9 TL, 48.2 mg BW, $1,826^{\circ}C$ IWT). At 170 DPH (32.5 mm TL, 270.1 mg BW, $3,740^{\circ}C$ IWT), which was the end point of this study, the mature ovaries showed germinal vesicle breakdown, while the mature testes contained observable spermatocytes and sperm cells. These results allow us to identify the sex differentiation type of the Korean rose bitterling as differentiated gonochoristic.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.72-81
• /
• 2004

Sexually matured guppies (Poeiria reticulata) were exposed to TBTCI (0.1, 0.32, 1, 3.2, 10, 25, 32, 50, 75 and 100 $\mug/l$) for 144 hours to determine the bioaccumulation rate and effects on the reproduction and behavior. The ratio of TBT residues to $\SigmaBTs\; (TBT:\SigmaBTs)$ was 67% or higher in all the guppies exposed to TBTCl, and the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the higher the ratio of TBT:∑BTs, suggesting that the higher the level of TBTCl exposed, the lower the metabolism rate of the fish. TBTCl exposure led to a poor reproductivity and an abnormal sexual behavior in the fish, i.e. a reduced number of the male sexual sigmoid display and of spermatophore in the efferent duct was observed in the fish exposed to 0.1 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, and a decreasing ratio of the testicular spermatophore cyst to the whole germ cell cysts was observed in the fish exposed to 0.32∼10 $\mug/l$)of TBTCl. The reduced ratio of the spermatophore cyst seems to be an effect of the endocrine disrupter inhibiting spermiogenesis. In the fish exposed to 25 $\mug/l$ and higher levels of TBTCl, more serious effects, such as a rapid increase of mortality, the necrosis of most of the germ cells, great damages in Sertoli cells and epithelial cells of the efferent duct, a significant increase of abnormal swimming behavior, and a cessation of feeding were observed, which suggest the acute toxicity of TBTCl inhibiting not only the reproduction and behavior but also the survival of the fish itself.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.10-19
• /
• 2017

Anabolic steroids have similar structures to testosterone, both of which promote the growth of muscle mass and increase strength. However, the side effects of anabolic steroid use may lead to heart attacks or strokes. Additionally, the excessive use of steroids inhibits the production of the sex hormones in the body via a negative feedback loop, which results in testicular atrophy in males and amenorrhea in females. Currently, the method of choice used to test for the presence of anabolic steroids is GC-MS. However, GC-MS methods require chemical derivatization of the steroid sample to ensure compatibility with the analytical method; therefore, analysis of many different samples is difficult and time consuming. Unlike GC-MS, the liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) method is suitable for many samples. Twenty-two different anabolic steroids were analyzed by LC-Q-TOF-MS with various collision energies (CE). Accurate mass spectral data were obtained using a Q-TOF-MS equipped with an electro-spray ionization source and operated in the positive MS/MS mode for several classes of steroids that are often the targets of testing. Based on the collected data, fragmentation pathways were carefully elucidated. The high selectivity and sensitivity of the LC-Q-TOF-MS instrument combined with these fragmentation pathways offers a new approach for the rapid and accurate screening of anabolic steroids. The obtained data from the 22 different anabolic steroids will be shared with the scientific community in order to establish a library to aid in the screening of illegal anabolic steroids.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.141-144
• /
• 2002

Environmental estrogens are natural or synthetic substances present in the aquatic environment, especially in effluent from sewage treatment. However, the adverse effects of these estrogenic substances on fish reproduction are unknown. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is the most common phthalate, which Ps used as a plasticizer in polyvinylchloride (PVC), and it is widespread in the environment and has been found in aquatic organisms and sediments. Therefore, juvenile common carps (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to nominal concentrations of 17$\beta$-estradiol (E2) (0.5, 5, 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) and DEHP (10, 100, 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L) for 21 days, to determine the adverse reproductive effects of these compounds on plasma vitellogenin (VTG) induction, sex steroid level, and gonad weight. Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that much of VTG was induced in fish exposed to 5 and 50 E$_2$ $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, but none of DEHP exposure showed induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that VTG was significantly induced in fish exposed to 5 and 50 E$_2$ $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, and combination of 50 E$_2$ $\mu\textrm{g}$/L with 10 and 500 DEHP $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, but none of DEHP exposure showed induction. Analysis of sex steroid levels in some fish revealed that testosterone (T) was detected in both male and female fish of the control and DEHP exposures, but none of fish exposed to 22 concentrations had detectable testosterone level. On the other hand, E$_2$ exposure induced 17$\beta$-estradiol in plasma of male fish, but there was no induction of 17$\beta$-estradiol in plasma of male fish exposed to DEHP. Comparison of gonadosomatic index (GSI) revealed that maximal E$_2$ exposure inhibited ovarian growth, but maximal DEHP exposure stimulated testicular growth. The results indicated that those comparisons can be a useful bio-indicator for determining adverse reproductive effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.171-187
• /
• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.