• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.293-300
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• 2014

Direct cell-cell communication through connexin (Cx) complexes is a way to achieve functional accordance of cells within a tissue or an organ. The initial segment (IS), a part of the epididymis, plays important roles in sperm maturation. Steroid hormones influence on expression of a number of genes in the IS of adult animals. However, developmental effect of sex hormones on the gene expression in the IS has not been examined. In this study, estradiol benzoate (EB, an estrogen agonist) or flutamide (Flu, an androgen antagonist) was exogenously administrated at 1 week of postnatal age, and expressional changes of Cx genes in the IS were determined at 4 months of age by a quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Treatment of EB at $0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW) increased expression of Cx30.3, 31.1, and 43 genes. However, treatment of 1.5 mg EB/kg BW resulted in expressional decreases of Cx31, 32, and 45 genes and caused increases of Cx30.3 and 43 gene expression. Significant decreases of Cx31, 31.1, 32, 37, and 45 gene expression were detected with a treatment of $500{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW, while expression of Cx43 gene was significantly increased with a treatment of $500{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW. A treatment of $50{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW led to significant increases of Cx30.3, 32, 37, 40, and 43 gene expression. These findings imply that exogenous exposure of steroidal hormones during the early developmental period would result in aberrant expression of Cx genes in the adult IS.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

Among solute carrier proteins, the organic anion transporters (OATs) play an important role for the elimination or reabsorption of endogenous and exogenous negatively charged anionic compounds. Among OATs, SLC22A9 (hOAT7) transports estrone sulfate with high affinity. The net decrease of estrogen, especially in post-menopausal women induces rapid bone loss. The present study was performed to search the SNP within exon regions of SLC22A9 in Korean females with osteoporosis. Fifty healthy controls and 50 osteoporosis patients were screened for the genetic polymorphism in the coding region of SLC22A9 using GC-clamped PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Six SNPs were found on the SLC22A9 gene from Korean women with/without osteoporosis. The SNPs were located as follows: two SNPs in the osteoporosis group (A645G and T1277C), three SNPs in the control group (G1449T, C1467T and C1487T) and one SNP in both the osteoporosis and control groups (G767A). The G767A, T1277C and C1487T SNPs result in an amino acid substitution, from synonymous vs nonsynonymous substitution arginine to glutamine (R256Q), phenylalanine to serine (F426S) and proline to leucine (P496L), respectively. The Km values and Vmax of the wild type, R256Q, P496L and F426S were 8.84, 8.87, 9.83 and $12.74{\mu}M$, and 1.97, 1.96, 2.06 and 1.55 pmol/oocyte/h, respectively. The present study demonstrates that the SLC22A9 variant F426S is causing inter-individual variation that is leading to the differences in transport of the steroid sulfate conjugate (estrone sulfate) and, therefore this could be used as a marker for certain disease including osteoporosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.1080-1088
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• 2013

Our previous results showed that kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) injections via intraperitoneal (i.p.) once daily for three weeks notably promoted the egg laying rate in quails. In order to investigate the mechanism behind the effects of Kp-10 on enhancing the egg laying rate in birds, this study focused on the alternations of lipids synthesis in liver after Kp-10 injections. 75 female quails (22 d of age) were allocated to three groups randomly, and subjected to 0 (control, Con), 10 nmol (low dosage, L) and 100 nmol (high dosage, H) Kp-10 injections via i.p. once daily for three weeks, respectively. At d 52, quails were sacrificed and sampled for further analyses. Serum $E_2$ concentration was increased by Kp-10 injections, and reached statistical significance in H group. Serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations were increased by 46.7% in L group and 36.8% in H group, respectively, but did not reach statistical significance, and TG contents in liver were significantly elevated by Kp-10 injections in a dose-dependent manner. Serum total cholesterol (Tch) concentrations significantly decreased in H group, while in H group the hepatic Tch content was markedly increased. The level of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), apolipoprotein A1 and B (apoA1 and apoB) were not altered by Kp-10 injections. The genes expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), apolipoprotein VLDL-II (apoVLDL-II), cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and vitellogenin II (VTG-II) were significantly up-regulated by high but not low dosage of Kp-10 injection compared to the control group. However, the expression of SREBP-2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase ($ACC_{\alpha}$), malic enzyme (ME), stearoyl-CoA (${\Delta}9$) desaturase 1 (SCD1), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP2), 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A reductases (HMGCR), estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$($ER{\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$) mRNA were not affected by Kp-10 treatment. In line with hepatic mRNA abundance, hepatic SREBP1 protein content was significantly higher in H group. Although the mRNA expression was not altered, the content of $ER{\alpha}$ protein in liver was also significantly increased in H group. However, SREBP-2 protein content in liver was not changed by Kp-10 treatment. In conclusion, exogenous Kp-10 consecutive injections during juvenile stage significantly advanced the tempo of egg laying in quails, which was associated with the significant elevation in hepatic lipids synthesis and transport.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2005

무척추동물에서 척추동물에 이르기까지 대부분의 난생동물들의 난황 단백질의 전구체를 vitellogenin(VTG)이라 한다. 난생 척추동물에서 VTG는 간에서 합성되어 혈액을 통해 난세포로 전이된다. 암컷 어류는 정상적인 생식주기에서 난황단백전구체 형성이 시작되면 혈중 농도는 급격히 증가하게 된다. 수컷도 VTG의 유전자를 가지고 있기 때문에 낮은 수준의 내인성 에스트로겐으로 아주 적은 양의 단백질이 있을 수 있다. 그렇지만 수컷에 외인성에스트로겐 유사물질에 노출되면 그 양은 증가하게 된다. 따라서 어류에서 VTG는 내분비계 장애물질 효과를 조사하는 유용한 생물학적 추적자로 사용할 수 있다. 이 연구에서는 에스트로겐 유사물질에 오염된 지역에 서식하는 망둑어류의 혈중 VTG의 수준을 정량할 수 있는 방법을 제공하고자 한다. 이러한 목적을 위해 꾹저구(Chaenogobius annularis)의 VTG를 분리하고, 이에 대한 단클론 항체와 다클론 항체를 제작하여 혈중 VTG 수준을 정량할 수 있는 sandwich 경합 ELISA system을 만들었다. 난황 단백질에 대한 단클론 항체와 다클론 항체를 사용한 ELISA system에 대한 타당성 검토를 하였다. 순차적으로 희석한 암 컷의 혈청에 대한 흡광도 곡선은 VTG 표준농도의 곡선과 평행하였으나 수컷의 혈청에 대한 흡광도 곡선은 평행하지 않았다. 이 VTG에 대한 sandwich ELISA system으로 꾹저구(C. annularis)의 혈중 VTG의 수준을 정량뿐만 아니라 문절망둑(Acanthogobius flaviman)과 풀망둑(A. hasta)의 혈중 VTG 수준을 정량할 수 있다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.85-91
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• 2005

Much of the interest on the chemopreventive properties of herbs and plants has been raised, whereas little is regarding to anti-tumor effect of farming and aquatic products. In the present study, the anti-tumor effect of hot-water extract of a seaweed, BLC (Sargassum fulvellum) and BLC/HEN egg was investigated using MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo systems. We found that the BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, which might be mediated through up-regulation of p53. Furthermore, this test compound can directly induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which might be mediated through up-regulation of a pro-apoptotic Bax protein and down-regulation of a anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, not by immune system. Nude mice bearing established breast tumors (with exogenous estradiol) were treated with BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg. Treatment BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg caused a 42% and 71% inhibition of tumor growth, respectively. Both agents caused a significant inhibition of volume and weight growth of estrogen independent human breast tumors established from MCF-7 cells. Our results suggested that BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg have the efficacious effect of human breast cancer not only in vitro but also in vivo.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제56권7호
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• pp.26.1-26.10
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• 2014

Background: Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substance, interfere with the endocrine system, and disrupt hormonal functions. However, the effect of endocrine disruptors in different species has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), genistein (GEN) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), on capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. In this in vitro trial, spermatozoa were incubated with $0.001-100{\mu}M$ of each chemical either 15 or 30 min and then assessed capacitation status using chlortetracycline staining. Results: E2 significantly increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction after 30 min, while the acrosome reaction after 15 min incubation in mouse spermatozoa. Simultaneously, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were induced after 15 and 30 min incubation in porcine spermatozoa, respectively. Capacitation was increased in porcine spermatozoa after 15 min incubation at the lowest concentration, while the acrosome reaction was increased in mouse spermatozoa after 30 min (P < 0.05). E2 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa, but only at the highest concentration examined (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in bovine and mouse spermatozoa treated for 15 min (P < 0.05). The same treatment significantly increased capacitation in porcine spermatozoa (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased capacitation in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). GEN significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa treated for 15 and 30 min and in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). OP significantly increased the acrosome reaction in mouse spermatozoa after 15 min (P < 0.05). Besides, when spermatozoa were incubated for 30 min, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were higher than 15 min incubation in E2 or GEN. Furthermore, the responsiveness of bovine, mouse and porcine spermatozoa to each chemical differed. Conclusions: In conclusion, all chemicals studied effectively increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. Also we found that both E2 and P4 were more potent than environmental estrogens in altering sperm function. Porcine and mouse spermatozoa were more responsive than bovine spermatozoa.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.164-172
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• 2002

유방암세포는 여러 종류의 성장인자 수용체를 가지며, 이를 통해 성장신호를 전달한다. 따라서, 이러한 수용체들의 신호전달 경로에 있는 공통적인 2차전달자들의 조절기작을 밝히는 것이 중요하다. 이 연구는 MCF-7 cell에 있어서, 에스트로젠과 TGF-$\alpha$ , EGF와 같은 성장인자의 mitogenic signal을 전달하는 second messenger에 폴리아민이 어떤 영향을 미치는지, 또 membrane-associated proteins의 인산화에 폴리아민이 어떤 조절기작을 가지는지를 알아보고자 한다. 폴리아민 생합성 억제제인 DFMO는 154, 134, 116, 104 kDa의 membrane-associated proteins의 인산화를 억제하였고, DFMO에 의해 억제된 단백질 인산화는 폴리아민 첨가로 다시 회복 되었다. $E_2$, TGF-$\alpha$, EGF, DFMO는 모두 단백질의 타이로신 인산화에는 크게 영향을 미치지 않았으나, 처리해준 폴리아민에 의해 154, 134, 116 kDa의 단백질의 타이로신 인산화는 급격히 증가하였다. 또한 $E_2$, TGF-$\alpha$, EGF는 모두 같은 단백질에서 유사하게 인산화를 유도하였다. 이러한 결과로 볼 때, $E_2$와 TGF-$\alpha$, EGF와 같은 성장촉진인자의 signaling pathway는 154, 134, 116, 104 kDa 단백질을 기질로 하는 여러 가지 다양한 종류의 protein kinase를 통해서 서로 cross-talk하고 있으며, 폴리아민은 154, 134, 116, 104 kDa와 같은 여러 가지 membrane-associated proteins의 인산화를 조절함으로서 이러한 cross-talk pathway에 관여하고 있는 것으로 사려된다.