• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the embryonic developmental capacity and pregnancy rates in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm or testicular sperm cycles. Materials and Methods: Fertilization was examined in the following morning after IVF (group I), ICSI (group II) or TESE-ICSI cycles (group III). Fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with Vero cells until embryo transfer (ET). On day 2 and $5{\sim}7$, grades of embryos (<4- or $\geq$4-cell) and blastocysts (BG1, 2, 3 or early) were evaluated. Clinical pregnancy rate was determined by detecting G-sac with transvaginal ultrasonogram. We analyzed the results by $X^2$ and Student's t-test and considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. Results: Fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I ($79.0{\pm}21.2%$) than in group II and III ($56.8{\pm}21.6%$ and $36.7{\pm}25.3%$). Cleavage and blastulation rate of group I ($95.8{\pm}13.8%$ and $59.5{\pm}25.3%$) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of group III ($83.4{\pm}18.6%$ and $40.4{\pm}36.5%$). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I and II (40.7% and 41.7%) than that in group III (12.5%). No differences were found in the rates of multiple pregnancy and abortion among three groups. Embryonic implantation rate was higher in group I ($15.1{\pm}20.2%$, p<0.05) and II ($14.7{\pm}20.6%$, NS) than that in group III ($5.1{\pm}15.6%$). However, embryonic implantation rate was increased in ET with blastocyst(s) among three groups. Conclusions: Fertilized oocytes obtained from TESE-ICSI were harder to be successfully cultured to blastocyst stage for 5$\sim$7 days than that from IVF cycles. However, all blastocyst(s) ET increased the embryonic implantation rate equally in IVF, ICSI and TESE-ICSI cycles.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2006

It is well publicized that the existence of various endocrine disrupting chemicals threatens normal sexual development of many sedentary marine fishes in the coastal areas. However, a suitable marine fish species for efficient monitoring of this threatening has yet to be identified. One of the difficulties in estimating the effect of endocrine disruption in marine fish is the absence of clear distinction between testicular and ovarian structures at the early stages of sex differentiation. In search of a potential test species, we have investigated the microscopic structures of sexually undifferentiated and differentiated gonads and the susceptibility of gonadal differentiation to exogenous sex steroids during the sex differentiation period in a sedentary marine rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Male gonads in this species contained dark pigmentation that made them distinct from female gonads. Treatment either with $estradiol-17\;{\beta}(E_2)$ or $17\;{\alpha}-methyltestosterone$ (MT) significantly altered the sex ratios with the complete sex changes or the occurrence of ovotestis that was easily identified by the mixed structure of dimorphic gonads (coexistence of ovarian cavity/primary oocytes and dark pigmentation/seminiferous tubules). Results in this study suggest that S. schlegeli can be developed as a monitoring/test fish species for endocrine disruption in marine fish in the coastal areas.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 1989

CNS prophylaxis with 18 or 24 Gy cranial irradiation plus intrathecal methotrexate was given to 134 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who had got bone marrow remission (M1) after remission induction chemotherapy from August 1979 to December 1986. The rate of initial total CNS relapse was 14.2% (19/134), the rate of isolated CNS relapse was 5.2% (7/134), and the rate of CNS relapse concomittantly combined with bone marrow relapse or testicular relapse was 9% (12/134). Male sex or older age was accociated with higher CNS relapes and the initial peripheral leukocyte count over 50,000/ul had higher relapse rate. Relapse with radiation dose of 18Gy was somewhat lower than that with 24Gy. Within 4 years after CNS prophylaxis occurred 89% of the total CNS relapses, 100% of the isolated CNS relapses, and 83% of the combined CNS relapses. Adjusted to exposed cases to risk of CNS relapse, the total CNS relapse rate was 11.9% during maintenance chemotherapy and 4.9% after maintenance chemotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.613-618
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• 2007

Azoospermia factor(AZFa, b, and c) regions have been focused on their involvement in the spermatogenic process by frequent observation of microdeletion in male infertility. Among the azoospermia factors, RBMY1, CDY1, and VCY2 genes are strongly associated with the male germinal cell differentiation and development in testis. Using RT-PCR approach, expression patterns of RBMY1, CDY1, and VCY2 genes are examined in testicular biopsy specimens from 42 Korean azoospermic patients. No expression of RBMY1, CDY1, and VCY2 genes appeared as 34%, 66%, and 27% of the male infertility, respectively. Patients who had no expression of RBMY1 and VCY2 genes also showed negative expression of the CDY1 gene in their testis tissues. All Sertoli cell-only syndrome patients showed no expression of the CDY1 gene. Taken together, the CDY1 gene expression seems to be necessary factor to complete spermatogenesis in Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 1998

Sexual maturation and reproductive cycle of the goldeye rockfish, Sebastes thompsoni were investigated under photomicroscopy. Samples were collected monthly in the coastal water of Samcheonpo ($34^{\circ}55'N$ ), Korea from November 1995 to October 1996, The ovary consists of several ovarian lamellae originated from ovarian outer membrane. Oogonia which are originated from the inner surface of the ovarian lamella protrude to the ovarian cavity in oocyte stage, and they ave suspended by the egg stalk. The testis is seminiferous tubule type in internal structure. Seminiferous tubule consists of many testicular cysts which contain numerous germ cells in same developmental stage. Biological minimum size of female and male were 19.5 cm and 21.5 cm in total length, respectively. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female was the highest (9.56) in March and the lowest (0.15) in August. GSI of male was the highest (0.25) in February and the lowest (0.04) in July. Reproductive cycle was classified into the following successive stages: in female, growing (October and November), maturation ( $December\~February$), gestation (March), parturition and recovery ($April\~June$) and resting ($July\~September$), and in male, growing ($September\~November$), maturation ( December and January), ripe and copulation ( February and March) and degeneration and resting ($April\~August$).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 1997

폐색성 혹은 비폐색성 무정자증에서 부정소 정자채취법 등이 부적절하다고 여겨질때는 정소 조직을 일부 절제하여 그 조직으로부터 정자를 직접 채취하게 되는데 일반적으로 이렇게 정소로부터 추출한 정소정자는 운동성이 전혀 없거나 매우 약한 운동성을 보이는 경우가 많다. 본 연구의 목적은 이러한 정소정자를 Vero cell과 공배양을 시킴으로써 운동성을 획득시키거나 향상시키고 이를 수정시키는 시기까지 지속시킴으로써 정소정자추출술 (TESE)을 시행하는 환자나 의료진들에게 보다 편안하고 융통성있는 시간대를 부여하고, 아울러 정자직접주입술 (ICSI)을 보다 용이하게 하여 성공적인 수정률과 임신율을 얻음에 있다. 또한 ICSI를 시행한 후, 운동성이 향상된 잉여의 정소정자를 냉동보존함으로써 차후에 TESE을 다시 시행치않고도 시험관 아기 시술을 시도할 수 있는 부가적인 잇점도 있다고 할 수 있다. 대상환자군은 정관폐색증(n=11) 혹은 비정관폐색증(n=2)을 보이는 13명의 무정자증의 남성불임환자였으며 난자회수예정일 3일전에 TESE를 시행하여 정소정자를 얻은 후 이를 정자직접주입술이 시행되는 당일까지 Vero cell과 공배양을 실시하였다. Vero cell과의 공배양에 의하여 운동성이 있는 정소정자의 수는 공배양전과 비교하여 평균 3.3배가 증가하였으며, 특히 공배양전에 운동성이 있는 정소정자의 수가 50,000/ml이하의 미약한 운동성만을 보였던 경우 (n=5)에는 공배양 후에 운동성이 있는 정소정자 수의 평균증가율이 7.7배였다. 공배양전 정자운동성이 전혀 없었던 2례의 비정관폐색증환자중 3일간의 공배양을 통하여 1례에서 운동성을 획득한 정소정자를 얻을 수 있었으며 (14,300/ml), 정자직접주입술을 통하여 성공적인 수정 및 임신에 도달할 수 있었다. Vero cell과 공배양을 하고 ICSI했던 결과, 평균 수정률은 75.0% 이었으며 임신율은 61.5%였다.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.120-139
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• 2014

Objectives: The tendency of experimental studies on the male infertility was analyzed through focusing on domestic theses for a degree to indicate the hereafter direction for its study in oriental herbal medicine. Methods: 35 domestic theses for a degree published after 2003 were analyzed. And theses were classified by year, study design, degree and subjects. Results: The followings are the results of this study. 1. 35 theses were reviewed. 11 master dissertations and 24 doctorate dissertations 2. In the annual publishing tendency, the number of theses began to increase from 2003 and the theses have been published actively from 2005. 3. Classified by study design, 19 in vitro & in vivo and 16 in vitro experimental studies were performed. 4. In the medication and prescription, the studies with single medication were 32, and prescription were 3. In the studies with single medication, four studies on Ginseng Radix (人蔘) were the most. 5. In theses related to single medication, BoYang-Yak was most prefered, followed BoYeum-Yak, BoKi-Yak, SabJung-ChukNyo-JiDae-Yak. 6. Analysed 35 theses by subject, concentrational experiments were 23, periodical experiment were 3, concentrational & periodical experiment was 1. 7. In theses related to herb medication, the themes were Body & testicular weight, sperm parameters, testosterone level, CREM mRNA level & CREM protein, seminiferous tubule and antioxidant activity. 8. Related to herb medication's antioxidant activity efficacy were 7 theses. Conclusions: If there are more diverse studies on medication, prescription, external treatment methods and experiment methods in the future, this will be very helpful for the clinical treatment of male infertility.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2021

This study sought to reveal spawning period and sex inversion of black seabream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii collected off the coast of Tongyeong, Korea. The monthly gonodosomatic index (GSI) showed the same pattern of between both sexes, and it was estimated that black seabream spawned once a year (between April and May). Histological examination revealed the transition from male to female sex, size of fork length bisexual gonad with ovarian (primary hermaphrodite; progress from male to female, MF) was seen at 20.5 to 39.6 cm and bisexual gonad with testicular (post hermaphrodite; female development and Male degeneration, FM) was seen at 26.4 to 50.2 cm. The egg diameters was in the range of 0.02 to 0.60 mm, with the smallest average egg diameter of 0.09 mm in February, the highest average egg diameters of 0.43 mm in August, and the range of fecundity was number of eggs 277,148 (33.9 cm) to 2,772,421 (34.1 cm).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2021

Adult echinostomes having 37 collar spines collected from the intestine of Pitalah ducks in Aceh Province, Indonesia in 2018 were morphologically and molecularly determined to be Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 (Digenea: Echinostomatidae). Among 20 ducks examined, 7 (35.0%) were found to be infected with this echinostome, and the number of flukes collected was 48 in total with average 6.9 (1-17) worms per duck. The adult flukes were 7.2 (6.1-8.5) mm in length and 1.2 (1.0-1.4) mm in width (pre-ovarian or testicular level) and characterized by having a head collar armed with 37 collar spines (dorsal spines arranged in 2 alternating rows), including 5 end group spines, and variable morphology of the testes, irregularly or deeply lobed (3-5 lobes) at times with horizontal extension. The eggs within the worm uterus were 93 (79-105) ㎛ long and 62 (56-70) ㎛ wide. These morphological features were consistent with both E. miyagawai and Echinostoma robustum, for which synonymy to each other has been raised. Sequencing of 2 mitochondrial genes, cox1 and nad1, revealed high homology with E. miyagawai (98.6-100% for cox1 and 99.0-99.8% for nad1) and also with E. robustum (99.3-99.8% for nad1) deposited in GenBank. We accepted the synonymy between the 2 species and diagnosed our flukes as E. miyagawai (syn. E. robustum) with redescription of its morphology. Further studies are required to determine the biological characteristics of E. miyagawai in Aceh Province, Indonesia, including the intermediate host and larval stage information.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2020

The identify of biomarkers in living tissues is useful to understand the characteristics and functions of the cells. Proteins such as protein gene product 9.5, promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger, NANOG, and stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 have been identified as markers for porcine undifferentiated spermatogonia. In this study, the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), a newly discovered porcine spermatogonia marker and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a protein regulator of IGFBPs, were characterized in 5-day-old porcine testis. To analyze the function of IGFBPs, RT-PCR was performed. IGFBP 2, 3, 4, and 6 were detected in porcine spermatogonia and PAPP-A was detected in basement regions in 5day old porcine seminiferous tubules. PAPP-A was not expressed in spermatogonia, but it was expressed in Sertoli cells. These results suggest that the expression of PAPP-A protein in Sertoli cells may regulate the development and differentiation of testicular cells through the IGF axis in porcine neonatal testis.