• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2000

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicle growth, and inhibits the follicle atresia in the immature rodent ovaries. The present study was carried out to know the histological changes of ovarian follicles after FSH treatment in the prepubertal mice. Ten i.u. of recombinant FSH was i.p. injected on 3 weeks old mice. After the treatment, at 1, 2 and 3 days, left ovaries were collected for the histological study. The atretic ratio of preantral follicles increased with time after FSH treatment. However, in the case of antral follicles, there was no significant change in the ratio. The degenerating follicles contained apoptotic granulosa cells, macrophage, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the follicular cavity. The present results suggest that follicular degeneration caused by FSH hyperstimulation could be mediated by apoptosis as well as the acute inflammation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1999

The present study was carried out to evaluate the morphological changes in the degenerating primordial follicles induced by $\gamma$-radiation. The prepubertal female mice of three weeks old ICR strain were whole-body irradiated with a dose of $LD_{80(30)}$ (8.3 Gy). The ovaries were collected at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h post-irradiation. The largest cross sections were prepared with histological semi-thin sections and then observed microscopically. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles was reduced significantly after 6th post-irradiation. At 6 h post-irradiation, the number of degenerated primordial follicles increased. Germinal vesicles disappeared, and lipid droplets increased. No more ooplasmic membranes were seen. Granulosa cells became round in shape, and apoptotic cells started to appear. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles in the control group was 62.50%. The ratio decreased with time after irradiation. The ratio decreased down to 51.61 %, 48.97 %, 11.11 %, and 7.14 % at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h, respectively. Taken together, ionizing radiation acutely induced the degeneration of primordial follicles. The patterns of degeneration are 1) apoptosis of one or more granulosa cells with relatively intact oocyte, 2) apoptosis of oocyte with intact follicle cells, or 3) apoptotic degenerations of both cells. The Present study can provide morphological clues for the identification of degenerating primordial follicles.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the toxi-cological effects of different vitrification solution on development of immature porcine oocytes in vitro. Oocytes were exposed to EFS solution [40% ethylene glycol (EG) + 18% Ficoll + 0.3M sucrose], ES solution (5.5M EG + 1.0M sucrose) or GE solution [10% glycol (G) + 20% EG], and these oocytes were transferred to sucrose solution directly. Maturation rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the ES solution (44.5%) and control (57.6%) than in the EFS solution (38.8%) and GE solution (22.4%). No differences among three solution were found in fertilization rates. Cleavage rates was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the ES solution (47.1%) and control (65.9%) than in the EFS solution (21.9%) and GE solution (19.0%), but no difference among three solutions was found in the blastocyst formation rates. These results indicate that combination of EG and sucrose solutions had effects on development of immature porcine oocytes.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.251-251
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• 2004

Plasminogen activators (PA)는 다수의 세포 형태에서 분비되는 것으로 알려진 serine protease이다. PA는 섬유소 용해, 배란, 유선 퇴화, 착상 및 수정 등 다양한 생리적인 과정에 관여한다. 본 연구는 난포액이 돼지 난자의 체외성숙에 미치는 영향을 검토하기 위하여, 다양한 조건하에서의 돼지 난자의 성숙과 난구세포-난자 복합체(Cumulus-Oocyte complexes: COCs) 또는 conditioned medium 내의 PA 활성을 검토하였다. 직경 2∼6m 난포로부터 COCs를 회수하여 일부는 난구세포를 제거하였다. (중략)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-110
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• 1992

돼지난포란의 안정된 체외배양 체계를 위하여 도살장에서 재취된 난소로부터 난포 및 난자난구세포체의 혀태적인 선정기준을 설정하고 이의 이론적 배경을 확립하였다. 난소를 난포상태 및 분포나 황체 존재 여부에 따라 A,B 및 C 의 세 가지 형태로 분류하고 각 type의 난소에서 직경 3-5mm인 난포로부터 난포란을 회수하였다. 회수된 난포란을 난구세포 부착상태에 따라 Good, Fair 및 Poor 의 세 가지 형태로 분류하여 각각을 호르몬이 첨가된 M16+FCS 배양액으로 35시간 동안 체외배양하여 성숙율을 비교 검토 하였다. 난소의 형태에 따라 회수된 난포란 중 Good 또는 Fair 형태는 Type A 및 C 난소에서 85%를 차지한 반면, Type B 난소에서는 53%에 불과하였다. 또한 이들 난포란을 체외배양한 결과 Type A 및 C 에서 회수된 난포란은 90 및 85%의 높은 성숙율을 보인 반면, Type C 의 난포란은 33%의 저조한 성숙을 나타냈다. 한편 핵형 분석 및 조직학적 분석에서도 Type C 난소의 경우 난포란의 핵형이 대부분 GVBD 및 퇴화 형태를 보였으며, 폐쇄포난포의 비율도 Type A 난소의 53%에 비해 월등히 높은 85%를 나타내어 성숙율 비교실험의 결과와 일치되는 경향을 나타내었다. 따라서 본 실험의 선별기준에 의한 돼지 난소 및 난포란의 형태적 분류 작업에 의해 난포란의 체외배양 성적 향상 및 안정된 배양체계의 확립이 가능하였다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

To assess the radioprotective effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on ovarian follicles, 3 week-old female mice were irradiated with 8.33 Gy of ${\gamma}$-ray (group R) and followed by 5 IU ip-injection of FSH (group RF). For control groups, 5 IU of saline (group C) or 5 IU of FSH (group F) was ip-injected. Ovaries were collected 0h, 6h, 12h, 14, 2d, 4d, and 8d after irradiation or saline/FSH injection, and followed by fixation in neutral buffered formalin for routine histochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the status of follicles and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis for total DNA. Staining specific for apoptotic follicles showed high intensity at 6h and 12h in group R and RF On the other hand, staining specific for proliferating follicles showed noticeably high intensity at 8d in group R and Rf. DNA fragmentation of 185bp increased with time in all experimental groups. Especially 370bp appeared at 6h in group R, then disappeared after 1d. In case of group RF, it appeared at 12h and disappeared after 1d. From the above results, the irradiated antral follicles become completely disappeared from 4d to 8d, and then new follicles started to grow again at 8d. FSH had delaying or suppressing effects on follicular atresia after irradiation. In addition, it became clear that radiation-induced follicular atresia was mediated by granulosa cell apoptosis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.571-584
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• 2004

It is known widely that granulosa cell apoptosis leads follicular atresia and macrophages exert their effects directly and/or indirectly from the initiation to the completion of follicular atresia by phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies and secretion of various cytokines. However, the site of initiation, propagation routes and the elimination methods of apoptotic bodies, and the time and methods of penetration of macrophages into the follicles are not known completely. Using pig(Yorkshire-breed) ovary, immunohistochemical studies with TUNEL for apoptotic bodies and pig macrophage monoclonal antibody 4E9 for macrophages, and light and transmission electron microscopic observations were performed. In the pig, follicular atresia began with the granulosa cell apoptosis, and the apoptosis of theca intema cells occured at the same time. The apoptosis of granulosa cells initiated randomly within the granulosa cell layer and propagated rapidly into the whole layer. Ultrastructura1ly, apoptotic granulosa cells showed characteristic pyknotic and deformed nucleus and intracytoplasmic vesicles. Apoptotic bodies were eliminated by intact granulosa cells and macrophages. Intact granulosa cells ingested apoptotic bodies transiently, soon after they fell into the apoptosis. Finally, apoptotic bodies and degenerated oocyte were phagocytosed by macrophages. Macrophages entered the ovarian follicle at the time of initiation of granulosa cell apoptosis, and migrated with the progression of apoptosis. By elimination of theca cells, macrophages contributed the completion of follicular atresia These results will provide valuable informations on the study of the interrelation between macrophage and ovarian follicular atresia.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1999

This study was carried out to evaluate the biochemical and morphological effects of ionizing radiation on mouse ovarian follicles. Immature mice (ICR, 3 week-old) were irradiated with a dose of $LD_{80(30)}$ at KAERI. The ovaries were collected after 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, and 2 days post irradiation. With the morphological basis of the histological staining with hematoxylin-eosin, immunohistochemical preparation using in situ 3'-end labeling was evaluated. Flowcytometric evaluation of DNA extracted from the whole ovary was performed. The percentage of $A_0$ (subpopulation of cells with degraded DNA and with lower DNA fluorescence than $G_0/G_1$ cells), apoptotic, cells in the cell cycle was significantly higher in the irradiated group than in the control group. The number of in situ 3'-end labeled follicles increased at 6 hours post irradiation. All the analyses represented that the ionizing radiation-induced follicular atresia was taken place via an apoptotic degeneration. Such a degeneration underwent very fast and acutely. Therefore, it is concluded that the radiation-induced follicular degeneration is, like the spontaneous atresia, mediated by an acute apoptosis of follicular granulosa cells. Flowcytometric evaluation of cell cycles can make the role for quantifying the atretic follicles and understanding the mechanism of the radiation-induced cell death.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

This research investigated morphological changes of ovarian follicle according to dose of irradiation when adult mice were exposed to X-rays from 6 MeV LINAC. At day 3 after irradiation of 200 cGy, 400 cGy and 600 cGy X-ray to the hole body of mice, the ovaries collected and stained with TUNEL. The normal follicles and atretic follicles were identified to apoptosis by the staining with TUNEL. In the atretic follicles of the normal ovary, the apoptotic bodies were well appeared and stained brown color. Almost of the follicles following irradiation are stained with TUNEL, but the sensitivity of reaction is weaker than that in irradiation of 400 cGy and 600 cGy X-ray. The granulosa cells of the radiated normal follicle by 400 cGV are shown brown color. In this stage, the nucleus of granulosa cells in the atrectic follicles are condensed and picknotic feature. The size of the radiated follicle by 600 cGy are decreased than the normal follicles. The atropic follicles are filled with apoptotic bodies which change of granulosa cells and theca cells by influence of X-ray. All of cell in the follicles are strongly positive stained with TUNEL by irradiation of 600 cGy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.