• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권9호
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• pp.677-684
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• 2017

Postmenopausal atrophic vagina (PAV) is the thinning of the walls of the vagina and decreased lugae of the vagina. PAV is caused by decreased estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. However, the harmful effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have resulted in considerable caution in its use. Various estrogen agonist treatment options are available. Vitamin D is influences the regulation of differentiation and proliferation of various cells, especially tissues lining stratified squamous epithelium, such as the vaginal epithelium. In this study, we hypothesized that vitamin D could provide an alternative and a safe treatment option for PAV by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of the vaginal epithelium. Thirty six patients were enrolled in this case-control study. Vitamin D associated proteins in a vitamin D and sex hormone treated vaginal epithelial cell line as well as normal and PAV tissues were measured. To confirm of cell-to-cell junction protein expression, cell line and tissue studies included RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining, and immunoblot analyses. The expression of cell-to-cell junction proteins was higher in women with symptoms of atrophic vagina tissue compared to women without the symptoms. Vitamin D stimulated the proliferation of the vaginal epithelium by activating p-RhoA and Erzin through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The results suggest that vitamin D positively regulates cell-to-cell junction by increasing the VDR/p-RhoA/p-Ezrin pathway. This is the first study to verify the relationship of the expression of RhoA and Ezrin proteins in vaginal tissue of PAV.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.221-232
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• 1993

Morphological changes in the uterine and vaginal epithelial cells of the Korean native goats were studied in fifteen primiparous goats slaughtered on the day of parturition and on days 1, 3, 10 and 21 postpartum. 15 uterus and vagina from goats were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows : 1. Transmission electron microscopically, long microvilli which sometimes ramified were found until 10 days postpartum, while short microvilli were found at 21 days. The high electron dense irregular-shaped mitochondria were found in the cytoplasm and the crystalline structure of the mitochondrial matrix was also found from 1 day to 10 days postpartum. Well-developed rough-endoplasmic reticulum (rER) with dilated cisternae which contained the proteins materials was observed at 21 days postpartum. These materials were fused each other and then large granules were found in the free surface of the cytoplasm. A few lipid droplets were generally appeared in the cytoplasm, while numerous droplets were found at 21 days postpartum. A moderate number of ribosomes, a few multivesicular bodies, vesicles, lysosomes and macrophages were found. The globule leucocytes were observed from 0 to 3 days postpartum by transmission electron microscopy. The short microvilli, high electron dense cytoplasm and severe indentation of the nuclear enbelope were found in the vaginal epithelium. Numerouos small vesicles and a few vacuoles were observed in the apical cytoplasmic portion of the epithelium. A few mitochondria were high electron dense and irregular in shape. A moderate amounts of microfilaments, loose intercellular space and dilated rER were also found at 21 days postpartum. 2. Scanning electron microscopically, the folds of the uterine mucosa were generally deep. The long microvilli of the epithelium were found until 3 days postpartum, while short microvili were found at 10 and 21 days postpartum. The distinct intercellular boundary was seen. The apporcine secretory profile of the epithelium observed at between 3 and 10 days postpartum and the cells were somewhat protruded into the lumen. The short microvilli were found on the surface of the protruded cells, while polygonal microridge profile of the epithelium and some dome-shaped epithelium were also observed at 21 days postpartum. The folds of the vaginal mucosa were deep and epithelium was polygonal in shape. The microvilli of the epithelium were long until 3 days postpartum, while they were short at 10 and 21 days. The polygonal epithelium was invaginated into the center of the cell surface until 10 days postpartum. The microridge and dome in shape of the epithelium were found at 10 days postpartum, while the polygonal and exfoliating epithelium were observed at 21 days.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.317-324
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• 2002

흰쥐 발정주기와 난소절제에 따른 질의 GCs, ER-$\alpha$, c-fos 및 c-jun 변화를 조직화학적 및 면역조직화학적으로 관찰하였다. 질상피는 발정사이기와 발정전기로 이어 지는 점액세포화과정에서 현저한 GCs의 양적 증가를 관찰할 수 있으며 발정사이기의 SBA, 발정전기와 발정기의 Con A와 같이 발정주기에 따른 특이적 GCs가 관찰되었다. 난소절제시에는 매우 위축된 표면층 평평세포에서만 미량의 GCs가 관찰되었다. 질에서 ER-$\alpha$, c-fos, c-jun등은 주로 핵에서 반응을 나타내는데, ER- $\alpha$는 상피세포 중 바닥층에서 주로 관찰되며, 반응세포수로 보아 발정주기에 따른 변화는 없었으나 버팀질세포에서는 발정사이기부터 발정기사이에 가장 많이 관찰되었다. c-fos는 상피의 바닥층과 중간층세포 그리고 버팀질세포에서 발정전기와 발정기사이에 가장 많이 관찰되며 c-jun은 발정기의 상피 바닥층에서 가장 많이 관찰되나 버팀질세포에서는 발정기에만 관찰되었다. 난소절제시 ER-$\alpha$, c-fos, c-jun모두 상피의 적은 세포에서만 관찰되며 버팀질 세포에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 보아 발정주기와 난소절제에 따라 특이적인 GCs분포를 보일 뿐 아니라 ER-$\alpha$, c-fos, c-jun 같은 단백질의 상이한 분포를 보여 주고 있어 이들이 질상피세포의 증식과 분화에 관여함을 알 수 있다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.139-143
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• 2009

Most captive canids and felids at Zoos in advanced countries have been examined enough to apply artificial reproductive techniques to them. We investigated reproductive hormones and vaginal epithelial cells of a 6-year-old, female coyote, hoping these data could eventually be extended to artificial insemination with frozen-thawed conspecific semen at Seoul Zoo. As a relative of pet dogs, coyote exhibited a similar appearance with only minor differences. In vaginal smear, an increase in the number of superficial cells suggests that the bitch has reached a state close to estrus. A sudden decrease of estradiol and increase of progesterone is considered as a preovulatory event. Vaginal epithelial cells and hormones might be useful for determining the optimal time of artificial insemination in coyotes' breeding.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.23-32
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• 1991

本 硏究는 한국 在來山羊에 있어서 分娩後 子宮粘膜 및 膣粘膜上皮의 形態學的 變化를 알아보기 위하여 遂行하였다. 子宮 및 膣은 分娩直後 및 分娩後 1, 3, 10 및 21日에 光學顯微鏡的으로 觀察하였던 바 다음과 같은 結果를 얻었다. 1. 光學顯微鏡的 觀察에서는 子宮粘膜上皮細胞의 높이는 分娩後 時間이 經過함에 따라서 減少하는 傾向이었으며 apocrine樣 分泌像은 分娩後 1日부터 10日째에 觀察되었다. Trichrom染色에서 明照細胞와 暗照細胞의 出現頻度는 分娩後 1日째에 多數 觀察되었으나 21日째에는 小數 觀察되었고 PAS 陽性細胞는 小數가 出現하였으나 分娩後 21日째에는 觀察되지 않았다. 한편 分娩後 1日째에 子宮粘膜上皮細胞間 또는 上皮下에서 globule leucocyte(GL)가 多數 觀察되었으나 그후는 약간 減少하였고 分娩後 10日째부터 上皮細胞에서 空胞內에 crystalline樣 構造가 觀察되었다. 2. 膣粘膜上皮細胞의 높이는 分娩後 3日째에 가장 높았고 時期가 經過함에 따라 減少하였으며 肥滿細胞의 出現頻度는 時期가 經過함에 따라 增加하였다. 分娩後 3日째와 10日째의 膣粘膜上皮의 表層細胞는 立方形을 나타내었으며 分娩後 10日과 21日째에 粘膜上皮細胞內에 空胞가 觀察되었다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.201-209
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• 2000

In association with the international validation program to establish a rodent uterotrophic assay, we conducted preliminary uterotrophic assay proposed by GECD using immature female rats. In the present study, oral and subcutaneous routes were chosen to compare the effects of estrogenic com-pounds in the two dosing regimens. The reference compound ethinyl estradiol (EE) and the antagonist ZM189154(ZM) were administered by gavage or subcutaneously (s.c.) to immature female SD rats from 20 to 22 days of age. For each study, sixty-six female rats were randomly assigned to eleven groups: Untreated control, EE 0,0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0,3.0 and 10.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, EE 3.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(gavage)/0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(s.c) & ZM 0.1 mg/kg, and EE 3.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg(gavage)/0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg (s.c) & ZM 1.0 mg/kg. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, and necropsy findings in any groups of two studies. The wet and blotted uterus weights increased dose-dependently. Histopathological examination revealed that diameter of uterine duct, height of uterine luminal epithelium. and height oj vaginal epithelium increased dose-dependently. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactive cells were increased in number dose-dependently. The estrogenic effects observed in the present studies occurred at $\geq$ 0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of oral dose and $\geq$ 0.1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of s.c. dose. An antagonistic effect of ZM against EE was found in both uterus weight and histopathological parameters. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that dose-dependence of the uterotrophic assay using EE and ZM was well demonstrated by gavage and subcutaneous administration and that the estrogenic effects of EE by s.c. dose were higher than those by gavage administration. In addition, blotted uterus weight was more sensitive than wet uterus weight and vaginal epithelial height was found to be the most sensitive parameter among the parameters examined.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 1991

The present investigation was focussed on histochemical and electron microscopical observations of utero-vaginal(U-V) glands in U-V junctions of domestic hens. In histochemical observations, fine granules by PAS technique for mucopolysaccharides and nile blue stain for acidic lipids were slightly stained on the cytoplasm of U-V glandular epithelium. Larger granules by Sudan black B stain for neutral fat and phospholipids and Sudan III stain for neutral fat were heavily stained on the perinuclear region of the U-V gland epithelial cells. These positive materials were heavily stained on the U-V glandular epithelium of lowfecundity hens and non-laying hens. In scanning electron microscopic findings of the U-V junction surface, the orifices of U-V glands are seen as the crater-like invagination. The neck of the U-V gland and the epithelium of U-V iunction were covered by ciliated epithelial cells. Aggregates of spermatozoa are observed often to be on the necks of the U-V gland. These spermatozoa heads are embedded in the glandular tubules and many spermatozoa tails are free on the epithelium of uterine surface. In transmission electron microscopic findings, the epithelial cells of the U-V glandular orifices were ciliated, columnar cells. The apical regions of these cells contained numerous electrondense, round secretory granules of uniformly size. The epithelial cells of the U-V glandular tubule were columnar or pyramid shape with round or oval nuclei. These epithelial cells have numerous microvilli and also contained electron-dense, round secretary granules of uniformly size and electron-lucent vesicles of various size. Spermatozoa are seen as the cross-sections of various regions of heads and tails in glandular tubules. Also spermatozoa arranged longitudinally parallel within the glandular tubules.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.323-335
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• 2002

Object: The present study was accomplished to obtain a gene expression profile of the luminal epithelium during embryo apposition in comparison of implantation (1M) and interimplantation (INTER) sites. Material and Method: The mouse uterine luminal epithelium from IM and INTER sites were sampled on day 4.5 (Day of vaginal plug = day 0.5) by Laser Captured Microdissection (LCM). RNA was extracted from LCM captured epithelium, amplified, labeled and hybridized to microarrays. Results from microarray hybridization were analyzed by Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) method. Differential expression of some genes was confirmed by LCM followed by RT-PCR. Results: Comparison of IM and INTER sites by SAM identified 73 genes most highly ranked at IM, while 13 genes at the INTER sites, within the estimated false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.163. Among 73 genes at IM, 20 were EST/unknown function, and the remain 53 were categorized to the structural, cell cycle, gene/protein expression, immune reaction, invasion, metabolism, oxidative stress, and signal transduction. Of the 24 structural genes, 14 were related especially to extracellular matrix and tissue remodeling. Meanwhile, among 13 genes up-regulated at INTER, 8 genes were EST/unknown function, and the rest 5 were related to metabolism, signal transduction, and gene/protein expression. Among these 58 (53+5) genes with known functions, 13 genes (22.4%) were related with $Ca^{2+}$ for their function. Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that 1) active tissue remodeling is occurring at the IM sites during embryo apposition, 2) the INTER sites are relatively quiescent than IM sites, and 3) the $Ca^{2+}$ may be a crucial for apposition. Search for human homologue of those genes expressed in the mouse luminal epithelium during apposition will help to understand the implantation process and/or implantation failure in humans.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.14-28
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• 1991

The present study was designed in order to clarify ultrastructural characteristies of the spermatogenetic process and to examine survival state of the spermatozoa introduced into the female reproductive tract after autumnal coitus in the Korean greater horseshoe bats(Rhinolophus ferrumeguinum korai). The general morphological characteristics of spermatogenesis were principally similar to those of the other mammalian species; acrosomal formation, flagellar formation, middle piece formation and concentration of the spermatozoan nucleus. The spermatozoa introduced into the vagina were found to be dead forming a vaginal plug, the opaque central core of which consisted of trapped dead spermatozoa. Some spermatozoa introduced into the uterus were observed to be phagocytized by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes infiltrated into the uterine glandular lumen. The oviductal epithelium, consisted of ciliated and secretory cells; the luminal surface of secretory cells were covered by a number of microvilli with well developed glycocalyx, suggesting a close relationship to nutrient (e.g. glycogen) supply for the spermatozoa during hibernation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.5-10
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• 2000

The chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya has been screened for the hormonal properties using ovariectomized female rats for estrogenicity, estrogen primed immature rats for progestogenicity and castrated adult male rats for androgenicity. The results revealed that the extract lacks progestogenicity and androgenicity as evident from the failure of the extract treated animals to mimic progestogen and androgen related changes in the target tissues. The increased weight of vagina and uterus, open status of vagina, cornified and epithelial cells in the vaginal smears and hypertrophy in the uterine epithelium, endometrium and stroma with increased glycogen and sialic acid content in the uterus of the chloroform extract treated animals, which are comparable to those of the ovariectomized estrogen treated animals, suggest that the chloroform extract possesses mild estrogenic activity.