• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.245-255
• /
• 2002

In order to obtain the basic information for seedling production of venus clam, Protothaca jedoensis, the annual reproductive cycle was investigated mainly by histological observation from September 1998 to August 1999. P. jedoensis was dioecious. The gonads are located between the digestive diverticula and muscle tissue of the foot. The ovary was composed of a number of ovarian sacs, and the testis was composed of several testicular tubules. The condition index was reached its maximum (20.0) in February, and then decreased to 11.5 in June. In August, the value was the lowest (9.0) and then increased slowly. Minimum size for the sexual maturation of individuals were 38.4 mm in shell length. One the other hand, the size of mature oocytes was ranged to $50-60\mu{m}$ in diameter and testis-ova was observed in testis of the mature stage. The reproductive cycle of P. jedoensis could be classified into five successive stages: early active (December to February), late active (January to April), ripe (March to July), partially spawned (June to August) and spent/inactive (July to January) stages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.545-552
• /
• 2017

Increasing concern is being given to the association between risk of cancer and exposure to low-dose bisphenol A (BPA), especially in young-aged population. In this study, we investigated the effects of repeated oral treatment of low to high dose BPA in juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats. Exposing juvenile rats to BPA (0, 0.5, 5, 50, and 250 mg/kg oral gavage) from post-natal day 9 for 90 days resulted in higher food intakes and increased body weights in biphasic dose-effect relationship. Male mammary glands were atrophied at high dose, which coincided with sexual pre-maturation of females. Notably, proliferative changes with altered cell foci and focal inflammation were observed around bile ducts in the liver of all BPA-dosed groups in males, which achieved statistical significance from 0.5 mg/kg (ANOVA, Dunnett's test, p<0.05). Toxicokinetic analysis revealed that systemic exposure to BPA was greater at early age (e.g., 210-fold in $C_{max}$, and 26-fold in AUC at 50 mg/kg in male on day 1 over day 90) and in females (e.g., 4-fold in $C_{max}$ and 1.6-fold in AUC at 50 mg/kg vs. male on day 1), which might have stemmed from either age- or gender-dependent differences in metabolic capacity. These results may serve as evidence for the association between risk of cancer and exposure to low-dose BPA, especially in young children, as well as for varying toxicity of xenobiotics in different age and gender groups.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.312-319
• /
• 2020

Precocious puberty (PP) is defined as the early development of secondary sexual characteristics (before the ages of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys). The aim of this study is to identify characteristics of the dental maturity in girls with PP that discriminate them from normal healthy girls. This study included 99 girls aged 6 - 8 years with PP and 99 girls without past medical history of same chronological age (control group). The study was performed on 198 panoramic radiographs (99 PP girls, 99 control group girls). Demirjian method was used to evaluate the panoramic radiographs and determine dental maturity. Difference in dental maturity score and tooth formation stages between the two groups were analyzed. The PP group showed significant higher maturity score than control group. Among mandibular teeth, mandibular 2nd premolar and 2nd molar were significantly more mature in the PP group than control group. Logistic regression analysis showed that mandibular 2nd molar was only significant predictor for PP girls.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive ecology of the Korean Mandarin Fish, Siniperca scherzeri in Seomjin River and Imjin River from April to October 2008. After have investigating the relationship between standard length (SL) and Gonadosomatic index (GSI) of Siniperca scherzeri, we can conclude that the body length of maturation was over 200mm SL in case of females and over 180mm SL in males. The GSI of the females that were from Seomjin river was the highest in April (7.43%), and gradually decreased after May (5.55%) and June (3.58%). The GSI was decreased sharply in August and indicated the lowest value in September (0.44%). The GSI of the females that were from Imjin river showed similar tendency of females' GSI from Seomjin river. The GSI of males from Imjin river was totally higher than that of females, it was 5.96% in April, and 8.03% in May. It was lowered in early June, and late June, it indicated 2.12%. In September, it was the lowest value (0.20%), and increased after October (0.54%). The result of histological study of ovary presented similar result of the study of GSI in Seomjin river and Imjin river. The ratio that fishes constitute in stomach contents of Siniperca scherzeri was 92% in Seomjin river and 90% in Imjin river. Digestion of food organisms and the ratio of unidentifiable fishes in stomach contents was fairly high, and it was 50% in Seomjin river and 72.2% in Imjin river. In the period of study, eating ratio was very low 38.3% (36 ind.) in Seomjin river and 21.8 (53 ind.) in Imjin river.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.629-636
• /
• 1999

Gonadal development, gametogenesis, reproductive cycle, egg-diameter and composition, condition factor, and the first sexual maturity of the clam, Potamocorbula amurensis were investigated by histological observation. Samples were collected monthly from the tidal flat of Moonpo, Puan-gun, Chollabuk-do, west coast of Korea from November 1996 to October 1997. P. amurensis is dioecious and oviparous. The gonads were composed of a number of gametogenic follicles. The oogonia and fully ripe oocytes were $9\~12\mu$m and $50\~60\mu$m in diameter, respectively. Each of the spermatogenic follicle formed stratified layers composed of spermatogonia, spermatocytes spermatids, and spermatozoa in groups on the follicular wall. The reproductive cycle of P. amurensis could be classified into five successive stages: early active, late active, ripe, partially spawned, and recovery. Spawning occurred twice a year from May to July and from September to October, the main spawning seasons also appeared twice a year between May and June, and in October when the water temperatures reached above $18^{\circ}C$. The monthly changes in the condition factor were closely related with the reproductive cycle. Minimum size for the sexual maturation of female and male were 8.1 mm in shell length. There were two patterns for the gametogenesis: 1. After spawning, the undischarged ripe oocytes and spermatozoa in the follicles were degenerated and absorbed, but in part, the existing follicles were not contracted significantly and then they took part in new gametogenesis within one or two months (especially, in summer). 2. After spawning, each follicle was contracted, thereafter gametogenesis again occurred in newly formed follicles.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2010

Captured specimens of the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and seasonal variations of reproductive organs were investigated. Molars of juveniles had not tooth wear and the height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, young adults had smooth tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear and the third molars also reached to the first and second molars. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variation of breeding was confirmed that breeding season of adult males was from early February to early October, having a peak of the breeding in April and July, and non-breeding season was from in the middle of October to late January. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules filling with numerous germ cells and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, Young and old adult males of the non-breeding season had the small testes with the extremely slender seminiferous tubules filling with only spermatogonia and the reduced caudal epididymides without spermatozoa. Males weighing more than 3.9 g in the body weight and 0.013 g in the testis and epididymis weight reached sexual maturation in breeding season, and the females weighing more than 3.8 g in body weight of the breeding season were pregnant condition having 5~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2002

Reproductive cycle of natural population and artificial control experiments of gonadal development by the conditions of water temperatures-feeding and starvation of Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by histological observations. The reproductive cycle of natural population in females and males can be categorized into five successive stages; early active (February to March), late active (April to May), ripe (April to August), partially spawned (May to October), and spent-inactive stage (August to March). In the artificial control experiments, gonadal development of this species was inhibited by the low water temperature (10$^{\circ}C$). In the experimental group which was exposed to artificial high water temperatures of 19$^{\circ}C$ and 22$^{\circ}C$, gonadal development was accelerated by the higher water temperatures and was faster (about one month) than that in natural populations. In the high water temperatures-feeding experimental group, the gonadal developmental phase was faster in the small-size group than that in the large-size group, and was faster in lower water temperature (10$^{\circ}C$)(p=0.01). The gonad developmental phases in the high water temperature (22-28$^{\circ}C$)-starvation experimental group showed faster (paired sample t-test, p=0.004) than those in the high water temperature-feeding group in females and males. In the high water temperature-feeding experimental group of female and male gonadal developments of small sized group were more sensitive than those in large sized group after 42 days cultivation, However, the gonadal development of male was more sensitive to the lower water temperature than female. On the whole, sexual maturation in the high water temperature experimental group was faster than those in the low water temperature group, and showed a significant difference (paired sample t-test, p=0.001) between female and male. In the starvation experimental group after 42 days, gonadal developments in the high water temperature-large male group showed faster than those in the high water temperature-large female group. However, in small size, gonad developmental phases showed the same pattern between feeding and starvation experimental groups. During the main spawning season, in the high water temperature-starvation experimental groups in females and males, their gonadal development showed faster than that in higher water temperature-feeding experimental group regardless of their sexes and individual sizes and showed a significant difference (paired sample t-test, p=0.004).