• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2018

In order to examine the effects of four different light spectra (white, red, green, and blue) on the oocyte maturation, the change of reproductive parameters, via brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis in grass puffer, were investigated. After exposure four different light spectra for 7 weeks, the abundance of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA which is a type of seabream (sbGnRH) and two different subunit of gonadotropin hormones mRNAs, follicle-stimulating hormone ($fsh{\beta}$) mRNA and luteinizing hormone ($lh{\beta}$) mRNA, were analyzed in the brain and pituitary. Histological analysis showed that the mature oocyte ratio in the green spectrum was higher than other light spectra-exposed groups. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and oocyte developmental stage were also investigated in the gonad based on histological observations. GSI value with the presence of yolk stage oocytes was significantly increased in the green spectrum-exposed group when compared to that of the other light-exposed groups (white, red, and blue) (p<0.05). The abundances of sbGnRH mRNA and $fsh{\beta}$ mRNA in the green spectrum-exposed group were also significant higher than those of the other light spectra-exposed groups (p<0.05). These results indicate that the maturation of oocyte in grass puffer can be accelerated by exposure to the spectrum of green. To better understand the molecular mechanism for the maturation of oocyte in grass puffer, further study examining the relationship between oocyte development and its related genes is required.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 1994

A clinical investigation was undertaken on primary male infertility patients of recent 5 years. The results obtained were as follow: 1. Suspective etiologic factors were: 1) testicular failure, 36.1 %; 2) varicocele, 18.7%; 3) endocrine abnormality, 13.5%; 4) obstruction, 13.5%; 5) idiopathic, 10.9%; 6) cryptorchidism, 2.6%; 7) necrospermia, 0.9%. 2. On semen analyses, azoospermia was found in 55.8%, single abnormal parameter in 21.5 %, and multiple/all abnormal parameter in 22.7% of the 163 cases. 3. For the evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of noninvasive variables in predict in obstruction as the cause of azoospermia in patient who had undergone testicular biopsy, the testicular size and serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) level revealed 100% of sensitivity. 4. Among the 43 patients with a testicular biopsy confirmed diagnosis there was a significant difference in testicular size, ejaculate volume(p<0.0001) and serum FSH(p<0.0001) between patients with testicular failure and those with ductal obstruction. 5. Of 93 treated patients with primary male infertility, 42 were managed by medical treatment including endocrine treament, retrograde ejaculation treatment, infection treatment and observation; 29 were managed by surgical treatment including varicocelectomy, vasovasostomy, vasoepididymostomy and TUR of ejaculatory duct; 20 were managed by sperm preparation treatment including artificial insemination(AI), electroejaculation plus AI and vibration ejaculation plus AI ; 2 were managed by microscopic epididymal sperm aspiration plus IVF, repectively. 6. 42 patients who could be followed-up, 21 patients(50%) impregnated their wives.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2018

Objective: Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin with potent estrogenic effects. Saffron is an herbal product that has antioxidant activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective role of saffron against reproductive toxicity induced by ZEA in female mice. Methods: Ninety 8-week-old female mice were randomly allocated into three treatment groups. The first group received an intraperitoneal injection of ZEA (2.5 mg/kg) on alternate days. The second group received ZEA (2.5 mg/kg) on alternate days plus oral saffron daily (50 mg/kg). The third group was treated with a vehicle of 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on alternate days, as a control. Ten mice were euthanized from each group at 30, 60, and 90 days of treatment. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol ($E_2$), and progesterone (P) were assessed. The uterus and ovaries were examined for changes in size or morphology. Results: Serum levels of LH, FSH, $E_2$, and P in the female mice treated with ZEA plus saffron were significantly higher than in those treated with ZEA alone, and were not significantly different from those treated with 1% DMSO. The female mice treated with ZEA alone showed a reduction in size of the uterus and abnormal architecture of the ovaries. Conclusion: The administration of saffron to female mice resulted in a significant reduction in ZEA-induced alterations in reproductive hormone levels, the size of the uterus, and the morphology of the ovaries.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2019

Objective: Bilateral uterine artery ligation (UAL) is a fertility-preserving procedure used in women experiencing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, the long-term effects of this procedure on ovarian function remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bilateral UAL compromised ovarian reserve and ovarian blood supply. Methods: This prospective study included 49 women aged between 21 and 36 years who had undergone a cesarean section for obstetric indications. Of these, 25 underwent uterine bilateral UAL to control intractable atonic PPH. The control group consisted of 24 women who had not undergone bilateral UAL. Standard clinical parameters, the results of color Doppler screening, and ovarian reserve markers were assessed in all participants at 6 months after surgery. The clinical parameters included age, parity, cycle history, body mass index, and previous medication and/or surgery. Color Doppler screening findings included the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) for both the uterine and ovarian arteries. The ovarian reserve markers included day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, antral follicle count, and $anti-M\ddot{u}llerian$ hormone (AMH) levels. Results: There were no significant differences in the ovarian reserve markers of day 3 FSH levels, antral follicle count, and AMH levels between the study and control groups (p> 0.05 for all). In addition, no significant differences were observed in the PI and RI indices of the uterine and ovarian arteries (p> 0.05 for all). Conclusion: In this study, we showed that bilateral UAL had no negative effects on ovarian reserve or ovarian blood supply, so this treatment should be used as a fertility preservation technique to avoid hysterectomy in patients experiencing PPH.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1987

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) was known to play a key role in the regulation of cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation of mammalian cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC's) in vivo and in vitro. The present experiments were conducted to know how intracellular level of cAMP in these cells is controlled. Intracellular cAMP level was modulated by culturing mouse CGC's with an adenylate cyclase stimulator, forskolin, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyixanthine (IBMX), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The rate of cumulus expansion and germinal vesicle break-down (GVBD) was checked after culture and used as a biological end point. Forskolin in the medium began to stimulate the expansion of the complexes at 1 nM and induced maximum expansion (80~90%) at 0 1~10 $\mu$M. The expansion rate was reduced to 60% when forskolin concentration was increased to 100 $\mu$M. Oocyte GVBD occurred normally (75~82%) in the presence of 10 $\mu$M of forskolin, but partial suppression was appeared at 100 pM of the drug (40%). IBMX also stimulated the expansion from the concentration of 0.01 pM and induced full expansion (81~89%) between the concentration of 1-1000 $\mu$M. Meiotic resumption was occurred normally under 10 $\mu$M of IBMX, but suppressed drastically from the concentration of 100 $\mu$M. The minimum exposing time to hormone or drugs required to trigger cumulus expansion was two minutes with HCG, 15~30 minutes with FSH and fors kolin, and two hours with IBMX. The data presented here seemed to imply that intracellular cAMP level in cumulus cells is regulated by both adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase and cumulus expansion is induced by a peak of cAMP while meiotic arrest is maintained by continuous presence of cAMP.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.503-509
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gi exercises and soybean milk supplement on the body composition and the physiological parameters including blood level of lipids and related hormones in middle-aged women. The Gi exercise program was composed of warming-up(10 min), main exercise(40 min) and cooling-down(10 min). The 40 middle-aged women between 40 and 60 years old were divided into four groups; the control group(12 women), the Gi exercise group(14 women), the soybean milk supplement group(11 women), and the Gi exercise group with soybean milk supplement(14 women). The Gi exercise program was applied three times a week and two packs of the soybean milk per day were given. The result of this study was as follows 1. The control group showed the increase of body weight, percent body fat, and fat mass than other groups. 2. The blood level of T-C was increased in the control group and the Gi exercise group and exercise with supplemented group were decreased 3. The blood level of HDL-C was significantly decreased in the control group than other groups. 4. The blood level of LDL-C was significantly increased in the control group than other groups. 5. The level of TG were not significantly changed in all groups 6. The follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) hormone levels were not significantly changed in all study groups

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

Manganese ($Mn^{2+}$) is a trace element that is essential for normal physiology, and is predominantly obtained from food. Several lines of evidence, however, demonstrated that overexposure to $MnCl_2$ exerts serious neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and developmental toxicity, particularly in male. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0, 1.0, 3.3, and 10 mg/kg/day doses of $MnCl_2$ on the reproductive organs in the immature female rats. Rats (PND 22; S.D. strain) were exposed to $MnCl_2$ ($MnCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$) dissolved in drinking water for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed on PND 35, then the tissues were immediately removed and weighed. Histological studies were performed using the uteri tissue samples. Serum LH and FSH levels were measured with the specific ELISA kits. Body weights of the experimental group animals were not significantly different from those of control group animals. However, ovarian tissue weights in 1 mg and 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Uterine tissue weights of 3.3 mg dose $MnCl_2$ groups were significantly lower than those of control animals (p<0.01), while the 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 mg $MnCl_2$ dose failed to induce any change in uterine weight. Similarly, only 3.3 mg $MnCl_2$ dose could induce the significant decrease in the oviduct weight compared to the control group (p<0.05). Non-reproductive tissues such as adrenal and kidney failed to respond to all doses of $MnCl_2$ exposure. The uterine histology revealed that the $MnCl_2$ exposure could affect the myometrial cell proliferation particularly in 3.3 mg dose and 10mg dose group. Serum FSH levels were significantly decreased in 1mg $MnCl_2$ dose and 10 $MnCl_2$ mg groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In contrast, treatment with 1 mg $MnCl_2$ dose induced a significant increment of serum LH level (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that $MnCl_2$ exposure is capable of inducing abnormal development of reproductive tissues, at least to some extent, and altered gonadotropin secretions in immature female rats. Combined with the well-defined actions of this metal on GnRH and prolactin secretion, one can suggest the $Mn^{2+}$ might be a potential environmental mediator which is involved in the female pubertal process.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2004

Objective: To compare COH characteristics and IVF outcomes among IVF-ET patients who were treated with various therapeutic modalities for ovarian endometriomas and to propose effective pre-cyclic therapeutic modalities to improve IVF-ET outcomes in the patients with ovarian endometriomas. Methods: All cases that had undergone IVF-ET after laparoscopy between January 1997 to August 2003 were reviewed. Forty-eight patients with tubal factor were assigned to Group I. Twenty seven, 22 and 38 patients diagnosed as severe pelvic adhesion with ovarian endometriomas by laparoscopy received only medical therapy (Group II), cyst aspiration (Group III), and sclerotherapy (Group IV), respectively. Laparoscopic cystectomy was performed in 20 patients (Group V). Resistance index was measured on day administering hCG. Results: As compared with Group I, in Group II resistance index increased (p<0.05) but number of oocytes, good-quality oocyte ratio (mature and intermediate oocytes/total retrieval oocytes), fertilization rate, and embryo development rate decreased (p<0.05). In Group III fertilization rate and embryo development rate decreased (p<0.05). There was no difference between Group IV and Group I in all parameters except basal FSH which increased (p<0.05). In Group V basal FSH, and resistance increased (p<0.05) and number of oocytes and good-quality oocytes ratio decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: Sclerotherapy is an effective therapeutic option which can be done prior to IVF-ET cycles in the patients with ovarian endometriomas. Further studies on a large scale are necessary to confirm these data.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2009

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) has the potential to increase the rates of genetic improvement in cattle. Thus this study was performed to investigate several factors influencing in vivo embryo production in Holstein cattle under field conditions. The donors were superovulated with Folltropin-V and $PGF_2{\alpha}$ combination method. From Day 10 onward, donors were superovulated by i.m., twice daily, administration of 400mg Folltropin-V given in a series of decreasing doses over a 4-day period: on the first day, 3.5ml; on the second day, 3.0ml; on the third day, 2.0ml; and on the fourth day, 1.5ml (20ml in total, equivalent to 400mg of NIH-FSH-P1). Estrus was induced by i.m. administration of 25mg prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ on the sixth and seventh of FSH treatment. Estrus detection was performed twice daily beginning 24h after the first prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ injection. Donor cows were artificially inseminated 12 and 24 h after first standing estrus with semen from a proven Holstein sire. Embryos used in this study were recovered Day 7.5 of the cycle (Day 0: first standing estrus). From 195 superovulated dairy cows, 2,104 eggs were recovered, of which 1,172 were classified as transferable embryos based on morphological evaluation of quality. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The numbers of recovered and transferable embryos did not significantly differ among the capacity of milk production that were < 10,000kg/305days (group 1), $10,000{\sim}12,000\;kg$/305days (group 2) or > 12,000kg/305 days (group 3) (p>0.05, Table 1). 2. No differences in the numbers of recovered and transferable embryos were found among the donor's postparient days (p>0.05, Table 2). 3. Also, the numbers of recovered and transferable embryos of each superovulation seasons did not significantly differ among the four groups (p>0.05, Table 3).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.420-427
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• 2010

Purpose : Several complications can occur in patients who received bone marrow transplantation (BMT) during childhood and adolescence. This study aims to investigate endocrine dysfunctions after BMT so that better care can be provided to care for long-term survivors of BMT. Methods : One hundred patients (61 males, 39 females) were included in this study. Clinical parameters such as initial diagnosis, age at BMT, conditioning regimen, presence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), growth pattern, thyroid function, and pubertal status were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate risk factors associated with endocrine dysfunction. Results : Height standard deviation score (SDS) at BMT, after 1 year of BMT, and at the last visit were $0.08{\pm}1.04$, $-0.09{\pm}1.02$, and $-0.27{\pm}1.18$, respectively (P =0.001). Height SDS significantly decreased in patients who received total body irradiation (TBI) (P =0.017). One of the patients who received TBI demonstrated growth hormone deficiency. Thirty (31.9%) of 94 patients had compensated hypothyroidism. Incidence of compensated hypothyroidism was higher among those who had GVHD (odds ratio 2.82, P =0.025). Of the 32 patients (17 males, 15 females) who were over 14 years in male and 13 years in female at the last visit, 16 (3 males, 13 females) had increased luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Abnormal elevation of LH or FSH was more common in females (odds ratio 30.3, P =0.001). Conclusion : The most common endocrine dysfunction was ovarian insufficiency. Regular check-up for endocrine function needs to be required due to high incidence of endocrine dysfunction in patients with BMT.