• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1039-1045
• /
• 2014

This study analyzed whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) induces ER stress via the IRE/XBP1 pathway in mouse Leydig tumor (mLTC-1) cells. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the unfolding protein response (UPR) plays an important role in the expression of steroidogenic enzymes by modulating the ATF6 pathway, as well as ER stress-mediated apoptosis in hCG-stimulated Leydig cells. Although UPR signaling has been reported to regulate the IRE1/XBP1 pathway, it is not known whether hCG-induced ER stress in Leydig cells can activate the pathway. To investigate the activation of the IRE1/XBP1 pathway in mLTC-1 cells after hCG treatment, we performed a Western blot analysis to detect the phospho-IRE1 protein and an RT-PCR analysis to validate splicing of XBP1 mRNA. We used ER stress-activated indicator (ERAI) constructs for monitoring the activity of IRE1 and then analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The expression levels of the phospho-IRE1 protein markedly increased in response to the hCG treatment. In the mLTC-1 cells transfected with an F-XBP1-venus/F-$XBP1{\Delta}DBD$-venus construct, the hCG treatment led to the appearance of green fluorescent cells and detectable fluorescence in the nucleus and cytosol, respectively. In addition, splicing of XBP1 mRNA significantly increased after the hCG treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that hCG-induced ER stress leads to activation of the IRE1/XBP pathway in Leydig cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.864-872
• /
• 2017

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) consists of highly glycosylated ${\alpha}-$ and ${\beta}-subunits$ and is a unique member of the gonadotropin family, because it elicits the response characteristics of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in species other than the horse. To directly assess the biological function of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$, we constructed mammalian expressing vectors of equine luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors (eLH/CGR). The activity of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ in vitro assayed in transient transfected CHO-K1 cells and in stably transfected PathHunter Parental cells with eLH/CGR was investigated. $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ was efficiently secreted in the CHO-K1 suspension cell media, and the quantity detected was about 200 mIU/ml from 1 to 7 days after transfection. In the western blot analysis, the $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ protein was broadly identified to be about 40~45 kDa molecular weight. The cAMP stimulation in CHO-K1 cells expressing eLH/CGR was determined to evaluate the activity of $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$. The cAMP concentration increased in direct proportion to the concentration of the $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$. The $EC_{50}$ value in the transient transfected CHO-K1 cells was $8.1{\pm}6.5ng$. The stable cell lines of eLH/CGR were established in the PathHunter Parental cells expressing ${\beta}-arrestin$. We found that $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ had full LH activity in the PathHunter Parental cells expressing eLH/CGR. The $EC_{50}$ value in transient and stable cells was $5.0{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ and $4.5{\pm}5.2ng/ml$, respectively. These results suggest that $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ has a biological activity in a cell expressing eLH/CGR. These stable cells expressed in PathHunter Parental cells could be useful for elucidating the functional mechanisms of deglycosylated $rec-eCG{\beta}/{\alpha}$ mutants.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to examine whether efficiency of oocyte production from superovulated prepubertal goats. Fifteen prepubertal and twenty adult goats, maintained in a pen under natural day length and fed hay ad libitum, were pretreated with progestagen implanted CIDR for 10 days. Superovulation treatment of the goats received twice daily intramuscular injection of a total of 70 mg FSH for 3 days from Day 8 of CIDR. All the gonadotrophin treated goats were injected with 10 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ on Day 8 and 400~600 IU hCG in the afternoon on Day 10. Oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration or oviduct flushing at 35 to 40 h after hCG injection through mid-ventral incision. The in vivo matured oocytes was activated by ionomycin (5 min) and 6-DMAP (3.5~4 h). The activated oocytes were cultured in mSOF medium containing 0.8% BSA at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of 5% CO$_2$, 5% O$_2$, 90% N$_2$ for 7~8 days. There was no significant difference in the mean number of CL and in vivo matured and follicular oocytes recovered. But, quality of I + II grade follicular oocytes was lower (p<0.05) in the prepubertal goat (25.0%) than the adults (52.4%). The same results were also observed in the cleavage and blastocyst rate of activated oocytcs. The cleavage and blastocyst rate from prepubertal derived oocytes were lower (p<0.05) in the prepubertal goat (54.5%, 23.3%) than the adult goat (86.8%, 46.6%). Considering overall these results, we suggest that maturation of donor goats is a major factor affecting recovered oocytes quality and in vitro development of activated goat oocytes.

• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.87-114
• /
• 1994

1950년대부터 많은 개발도상국가들은 가족계획을 위주로 하는 인구제어정책을 추진하여 왔다. 특히 가부장제도를 중심으로하는 동아시아 국가들에 있어서는 남아선호관이 출산력 저하나 피임 실천율이 증대에 지대한 유해요인으로 일관해 왔다. Sheps(1963)는 실증적으로 2명의 아들을 갖기 위해서는 약 3.9명 정도의 자녀를 두어야 한다는 연구결과를 제시한바 있다. 이와 같은 남아선호관의 여파에도 불구하고 한국과 홍콩은 1980년대 증반에 이미 1.6명 수준의 저출산율을 이룩하였으며, 1970년대에 인구억제 정책을 시작한 중국도 2명 수준으로 저하되어 가족계획사업의 성공사례로 평가되어 왔다. 그러나 이들 국가들의 출산율은 지난 20-30년이라는 짧은 기간에 너무나 급진적으로 감소된 반면에 남아선호관의 상존으로 인한 성비(여자 100명당 남자수)의 불균형을 초래하게 되였다. 한 예로 한국의 경우 1960년도만 해도 6명 이상의 자녀를 출산하는 과정에서 1-2명의 아들을 둘 수 있는 확률은 매우 높았으나, 최근에는 출산율이 2명 이하로 저하되어 아들을 둘 수 있는 확률은 과거보다 3-4배 어려워졌기 때문에 인위적인 방법으로 아들을 두는 부모의 수가 증가하고 있다. 중국은 1970년대 중반기부터 강력히 추진되어온 소위 "한자녀 갖기 운동"으로 인하여 여아출산인 경우 영아살해 또는 출생의 미신고등 많은 사회적 물의를 야기하였고, 최근에는 초음파검사를통한 선택적 인공임신중절(태아가 여아인 경우)으 경우가 급격히 증가하고 있다. 우리 나라의 성비는 출산율이 급격히 감소된 1980년대 증반기부터 급격히 증가되었다. 즉 인구전체에 대한 성비는 1980년의 103.9명에서 1985년에 110명으로 증가하였고ㅡ 1990년 116.9명으로 증가되었다. 성비는 자녀의 수가 적을수록 높아지는 추세이다. 1991년 조사에서 출산을 종료한 부인의 경우 1자녀의 성비는 무려 206명이나 되고 있다. 이와 같은 결과는 한자녀를 원하는 부인이 아들을 둔 경우 1자녀에서 조산을 결심하기 때문인 것이다. 통계청 자료에 의하면 성비는 무엇보다도 자녀의 출산순위와 밀접하다. 1991년 출생신고자료의 경우 첫아이의 출생시 성비는 106.1명이고, 둘째아이가 112.8명이나, 셋째아이는 184.7명으로 크게 증가하고 넷째 이상의 경우는 212.3명이나 된다. 동일한 출산순위라도 이미 두고 있는 자녀의 성에 따라서 많은 차이를 보인다. 1991년도 3번째 출산의 경우 딸만 2명을 두고 있는 자녀의 성에 아들만 2명 또는 아들과 딸을 각각 1명씩 두고 있는 경우에 비해 높은 성비를 보이고 있다. 자녀를 출산하는데 있어서 처음에는 아들ㅇ르 기다리지만 딸의 수가 증가함에 따라 적극적으로 아들을 낳고자 하는 노력을 지속하게 됨을 알 수 있다. 이는 즉 임신한 자녀의 성이 딸로 판명되면 인공임신중절을 통해 임신을 종결시키고 있음을 의미한다. 최근 한국보건사회연구원에서 수행한 연구결과에 의하면 이미 출생한 자녀의 성구성은 임신결과를 결정하는 가장 중요한 변수로 부각되고 있다. 즉 임신이 인공임신중절로 귀착되는 확률은 부모가 이미 아들을 두고 있는 경우에 일관성 있게 증가되고 있음을 보이고 있다. 따라서 남아선호관은 임신결과를 결정할뿐 아니라 선택절 인공임신중절에 의한 성비의 불균형을 초래하는 주요 변수로써 할거되었다. 특히 피임실천이 보편화되고 선택적 인공임신중절의 이용이 손쉬운 현대사회에 있어서는 남아선호관이 출산력 저하에 저해요인으로서가 아니라, 인위적이던 자연적이던 간에 아들만 두면 단산하는 현행의 출산풍토하에서는 남아선호관이 오히려 출산력저하에 결정적으로 작용하고 있다고 하겠다. 태아의 성 판별을 통한 선택적 인공임신중절의 건수는 1990년 한해에 약 20,000건 정도가 되고, 1986-1990년 사이에 총 80,000건으로 추정된다. 이 수치는 출생한 여아수의 5%에 해당한다. 현재 출생시 성비의 불균형은 연간 총출생수의 10% 미만에 불과한 3번째 이상의 출산에서 발생되고 있기 때문에 인구학적인 측면에서는 큰 문제가 아니다. 그러나 앞으로 출산율의 감소와 더불어 선택적 인공임신중절이 년간 출생수의 90% 이상을 차지하고 있는 둘째, 첫째출산순위로 확산된다면 성비의 불균형은 급진적으로 가속화되어 전통적 결혼관습의 재연등 인간의 생태계를 파괴하는 새로운 차원에서의 사회인구학적인 문제가 야기될 것이다. 결론적으로 성비의 불균형을 초래하는 근본적인 원인은 우리 나라으 전통적인 의식구조인 남아선호관의 상종과 최신의 의료기술에 의한 선택적 인공임신중절에 기인된 것이기 때문에 이를 시정하기 위한 제반 사회제도적 극복정책은 지속적으로 강화되어야 할 것이다.되어야 할 것이다.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.09a
• /
• pp.21-36
• /
• 2005

Although the main geology of Korea consists of granite and gneiss, it Is not uncommon to encounter anisotropy Phenomena in crosshole radar tomography even when the basement is crystalline rock. To solve the anisotropy Problem, we have developed and continuously upgraded an anisotropic inversion algorithm assuming a heterogeneous elliptic anisotropy to reconstruct three kinds of tomograms: tomograms of maximum and minimum velocities, and of the direction of the symmetry axis. In this paper, we discuss the developed algorithm and introduce some case histories on the application of anisotropic radar tomography in Korea. The first two case histories were conducted for the construction of infrastructure, and their main objective was to locate cavities in limestone. The last two were performed In a granite and gneiss area. The anisotropy in the granite area was caused by fine fissures aligned in the same direction, while that in the gneiss and limestone area by the alignment of the constituent minerals. Through these case histories we showed that the anisotropic characteristic itself gives us additional important information for understanding the internal status of basement rock. In particular, the anisotropy ratio defined by the normalized difference between maximum and minimum velocities as well as the direction of maximum velocity are helpful to interpret the borehole radar tomogram.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2008

Vinclozolin (VCZ) is a systemic fungicide commonly used in fruits, vegetables and the wine industry. VCZ and its metabolites, butenoic acid (M1) and enanilide (M2) derivatives, act as anti-androgens through actions on the androgen receptor. Although there is growing body of evidence that VCZ's action as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) in male reproductive physiology and pathphysiology, no evidence on the VCZ's EDC action in female is available yet. Previously we found that the prepubertal VCZ exposures could effectively delay the onset of puberty in female rats, suggesting the postponed or weakened activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (H-P-O) reproductive hormonal axis. The present study was performed to examine whether the VCZ administration affects the transcriptional activities of reproductive hormone-related genes in the same animal model. VCZ (10 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 21 (PND 21) through the day when the first vaginal opening (V.O.) was observed. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). As a result, treatment with VCZ significantly lowered the transcriptional activity of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) which is known to adjust gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the hypothalamus (p<0.01). Similarly, the mRNA levels of KiSS-1, G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) and GnRH were significantly decreased in hypothalamus (p<0.01) from VCZ-treated group. As expected, the transcriptional activities of luteinizing hormone-${\beta}$ (LH-${\beta}$) and follicle stimulating hormone-${\beta}$ (FSH-${\beta}$) in the anterior pituitary from VCZ-treated group were also significantly lower than those from the control group. The present study indicates that(i) the inhibitory effect of VCZ exposure on the onset of puberty in immature female rats could be derived from the reduced transcriptional activities of gonadotropin subunits and their upstream modulators such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine axis, and (ii) these inhibitory effects could be mediated by NO signaling pathway.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.287-295
• /
• 2010

It was recently reported that nesfatin-1/NUCB2, which is secreted from the brain, controls appetite and energy metabolism. The purpose of this research was to confirm whether or not the protein and its binding site should have been expressed in the mouse reproductive organs and to know the possible effects of nesfatin-1 on the reproductive function. Using the ICR female mouse ovary and uterus, the expression of NUCB2 mRNA was confirmed with the conventional PCR and the relative amount of NUCB2 mRNA in the tissues was analyzed with real-time PCR. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using the nesfatin-1 antibody to investigate the nesfatin-1 protein expression and the biotin conjugated nesfatin-1 to confirm the binding site for nesfatin-1 in the ovary. Furthermore, in order to examine if the expression of NUCB2 mRNA in the ovary and uterus is affected by gonadotropin, its mRNA expression was analyzed after PMSG administration into mice. As a result, the expression level of NUCB2 mRNA in the ovary and the uterus was as much as the expression level in hypothalamus. As a result of the immunohistochemical staining, nesfatin-1 proteins were localized at the theca cells, the interstitial cells, and some of the luteal cells. However, the granulosa cells in the follicles did not stain. Interestingly, the oocytes in the some follicles were stained with nesfatin-1. On the other hand, nesfatin-1 protein binding sites were displayed at the theca cells and the interstitial cells near the tunica albuginea. After PMSG administration the expression level of NUCB2 mRNA was increased in the ovary and the uterus. These results demonstrate that for the first time the nesfatin-1 and its binding site were expressed in the ovary and NUCB2 mRNA expression was controlled by gonadotropin, suggesting an important role in the reproductive organs as a local regulator. Therefore, further study is needed to elucidate the functions of nesfatin-1 on the reproductive organs.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.6
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 1988

This experiment was conducted to examine the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$-induced changes in concentrations of ovarian and pituitary hormones of Korean native goats. Each goats received two injections of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ (5mg each ; 3 hours apart) on day 10 of the estrous cycle. Jugular venous blood samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours postinjection for quantification of LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$. The results were summarized as follows ; The blood serum concentration of progesterone was decreased from pretreatment level of $4.15{\pm}1.8ng/ml$ to $2.52{\pm}1.2ng/ml$ (about 60%) within 3 hours and to $0.81{\pm}0.3ng/ml$ at 12 hours of the $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ injection. After 12 hours, the concentrations of progesterone were less than 1.02ng/ml by 72 hours postinjection. The concentrations of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ following treatment increased (p < 0.05) over the 72 hours. Initial concentration of LH was $3.0{\pm}0.3{\mu}IU/ml$. After treatment with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, concentrations of LH increased within 12 hours but declined 12 and 72 hours from $4.1{\mu}IU/ml$ to $2.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Prior to administration of $PGF{2{\alpha}}$, mean concentration of FSH was $3.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}IU/ml$. Concentrations of FSH declined over time in goats treated with $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ on day 10 postestrus. The mean prolactin concentrations in the blood serum after $PGF{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were not significantly different from those of the pretreatment. It is concluded that the initial increase in LH is dependent on a decrease in serum progesterone and differences in patterns of secretion of gonadotropins might be caused by differences in progesterone or progesterone-estradiol ratio when luteal regression is induced on day 10 of the estrous cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.10
• /
• pp.1312-1317
• /
• 2008

Physicochemical changes were investigated for the shelf-life extension of cultured wild-ginseng roots during storage with various pre-treatments with blanching, CAMICA-SD and DF-100 and treatments with citric acid and vitamin C. The pH of cultured wild-ginseng roots showed the range of $6.06{\sim}6.42$ at $10^{\circ}C$, but showed higher ranges of $6.08{\sim}6.91$ and $6.08{\sim}8.68$ at 20 and $30^{\circ}C$, respectively. Browning index (a/b) was increased with increasing storage temperature, and the index at 10 and $30^{\circ}C$ were 0.405 and 0.469 after 2 weeks, respectively. Browning index and viable cell number of CAMICA-SD pre-treatment showed little changes compared to pre-teatment with blanching or DF-100. When the cultured wild-ginseng roots were treated with 1.0% citric acid and 0.2% DF-100 after pre-treatments with CAMICA-SD, viable cell number was slightly increased to $4.9{\times}10^2CFU/g$ for 3 weeks storage at $10^{\circ}C$. The mixture of citric acid and DF-100 was also used to prevent the growth of microbiology and to reduce browning reaction, especially enzymatic browning reaction. The mixture might effectively extend shelf life of the cultured wild-ginseng roots.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2018

Urban heat islands occur due to increases in the extent of artificial surfaces such as concrete, asphalt and high-rise buildings. In this regard, research into the use of satellite thermal infrared images for thermal environment analysis of urban areas is being carried out. However, such analysis of the characteristics of individual land cover with low-resolution satellite images suffers from limitations because land cover patterns in urban areas are complicated. Recently, UAV has been widely used, which can compensate for this limitation as it is able to acquire high-resolution images. In this paper, the accuracy of UAV infrared images is verified and the applicability of UAV in urban thermal environment analysis is examined by comparing the results with land surface temperatures from Landsat 8 thermal images. The results show a high positive correlation of temperature values at 0.95, and no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Comparisons of land surface temperature according to land cover showed that the largest difference observed was $4.63^{\circ}C$ in the Used area, and UAV images with small cell units reflected various surface temperatures. Furthermore, it was possible to analyze the surface temperatures of various green spaces such as wetlands and street tree areas, which can lower surface temperatures in urban areas, with street tree shadows reducing surface temperatures by about $4-6^{\circ}C$. UAV can easily and rapidly measure the surface temperature of urban areas and is able to analyze various types of green spaces. Thus, this is an effective tool for thermal environment analysis in urban areas to aid in the design or management of urban green spaces, as it can allow for land cover and the effects of the various green spaces.