• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to develop an in vitro culture system that would support bovine follicle growth from preantral to antral stage, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development. Bovine preantral follicles (150$\pm$1.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) surrounded by theca cell were isolated ezymatically and mechanically from ovarian cortical slides in Leibovitz L-l5 medium containing 1 mg/$m\ell$ collagenase and 0.2 mg/$m\ell$ DNase I and cultured for 25 days in the presence of different concentrations of bovine FSH and LH in $\alpha$MEM medium. The survival and growth rates of follicles cultured in the presence of FSH (10~150 ng/$m\ell$) were significantly higher than those of control group (P ＜ 0.001), but no significant differences were observed in survival and growth rates of follicles between the LH treatment groups (1~125 ng/$m\ell$) and the control. The survival (40%) and growth (244 $\pm$ 0.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) of follicles cultured with FSH (90 ng/$m\ell$) and LH (25 ng/$m\ell$) were higher than those of control (25%, 160 $\pm$1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$). Finally, 50% percent of healthy antral follicles were obtained, and almost 60% of them has complete meiotic division with 1st polar body (18.1%) and 10.0% have developed to the cleaved embryo and blastocyst stage. These results suggest that bovine preantral follicle with intact theca cell can grow to the antral stage using these culture conditions, and that oocytes from in vitro-matured bovine preantral follicle may acquire meiotic competence and can undergo fertilization and development.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.184-195
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• 2019

This study investigates the hair restoration efficacy of selected radish saponin extracts on nude mice. Nude mice genetically predisposed to pattern balding were used in this study. Our study revealed the underlying mechanism of stimulating hair growth in athymic nude mice by repair the nu/nu follicular keratin differentiation defect. Thus, the topical application of radish saponin may represent a novel strategy for the management and therapy of certain forms of alopecia. The term of hair density of PEE treated nude mice were significantly increase as compared with of control nude mice. Histological observation of skin sample showed no hair follicle or only distorted hair follicles were observed in the control samples, in contrast, by the PEE treatment groups showed a fully formed and increased the number of hair follicles up to three times higher than that of control group in terms of the number of hair follicles in nude mouse skin.PEE treated mice the number of BrdU-labeled keratinocytes per anagen follicle increased significantly, especially in the follicular bulbs and outer root sheath compared with the control mice. Moreover, PEE-treated nude mice also exhibited a significant increase in the number of BrdU-labeled epidermal keratinocyte proliferation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2006

Objective: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been suggested to play a role in ovarian folliculogenesis. The present study evaluated the effect of PACAP on the growth of preantral follicles. Methods: Preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from ovaries of 21-day-old rats and cultured in groups for 3 days in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of PACAP-38 ($10^{-6}M$). Results: Treatment with PACAP-38 resulted in an increase in follicle diameter by 75% whereas treatment with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increased follicle diameter by 65%. PACAP-38 treatment enhanced the granulosa cell proliferation as measured by thymidine incorporation analysis. Furthermore, the production of progesterone by cultured granulosa cells and GFSHR-17 cell line was stimulated by PACAP-38. Interestingly, PACAP enhanced FSH action on stimulation of SF-1 and aromatase gene expression. Conclusion: The present results demonstrate that PACAP stimulated preantral follicle growth by potentiating proliferation and by stimulating steroidogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2015

BP201, porcine lung tissue-derived phospholipids, consists of phosphatidylcholine as a major phospholipid species. BP201 promoted hair growth after application onto the shaved backs of BALB/c and C3H mice. Its effect was enhanced when applied together with minoxidil (MNX) in C3H mice. When the tissue specimens prepared from the shaved skins of BP201-treated and control mice were microscopically examined, the total numbers of hair follicles in both anagen and telogen phases of BP201-treated mice were significantly higher than those of control mice. The numbers of hair follicles in the anagen phase of BP201-treated mice were also higher than those of control mice. In combination with MNX, BP201 further increased the total number of hair follicles, but did not alter the percentage of hair follicles in the anagenic phase. BP201 also increased the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells. Collectively, BP201 possesses hair growth promoting potential, which would suggest its use singly or in combination for hair growth products.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2007

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) measured at ovulation triggering day reflect ovarian response in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: Forty-nine fertile women who undergoing superovulation and IUI were included. Superovulation was performed using clomiphene citrate (100 mg/d on day 3$\sim$7) in combination with human menopausal gonadotropin (150 IU every other day starting on day 5). Serum samples were obtained on the day of hCG administration and the levels of VEGF-A and estradiol were measured. The numbers of mature follicle $\geq$17 mm in diameter were also counted. Results: Serum VEGF-A levels did not correlate with the numbers of mature follicle count nor serum estradiol levels. Serum estradiol level was positively associated with mature follicle count. Serum VEGF-A levels tended to be lower in women with mature follicle count less than three or women with more than five. Conclusion: Our results indicate that serum VEGF-A levels do not have an association with superovulation outcome in IUI cycles. However, a tendency of lower VEGF-A level in poor and high responder suggests that those with extreme response to superovulation may be related with abnormal angiogenesis. Further studies should be warranted in larger populations.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2012

The ovarian follicles develop initially from primordial follicles. The majority of ovarian primordial follicles are maintained quiescently as a reserve for the reproductive life span. Only a few of them are activated and develop to an advanced follicular stage. The maintenance of dormancy and activation of primordial follicles are controlled by coordinated actions of a suppressor/activator with close communications with somatic cells and intra-oocyte signaling pathways. Many growth factors and signaling pathways have been identified and the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily plays important roles in early folliculogenesis. However, the mechanism of maintaining the dormancy and survival of primordial follicles has remained unknown for decades. Recently, since the first finding that all primordial follicles are activated prematurely in mice deficient forkhead box O3a, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) signaling pathway was reported to be important in the regulation of dormancy and initial follicular activation. With these informations on early folliculogenesis, clinical application can be expected such as in vitro maturation of immature oocytes or in vitro activation of follicles by PTEN inhibitor in cryopreserved ovarian cortical tissues for fertility preservation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.3 s.31
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• pp.34-54
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• 2006

The effects of four extracts of medicinal herbs, Rubus coreanum, Acorus calamus, Morus alba and Rehmannia glutinosa on hair growth activity and acnes control were investigated. In the course of screening natural extracts for hair growth, we found that the extract of dried root of Rubus coreanum has the hair growth promoting effect. After topical application of these extracts to the back of C57BL/6 mice, the earlier conversion of telogen-to-anagen phase was induced. The growth of dermal papilla cells and mouse vibrissae hair follicle cultured in vitro, however, was not affected by treatment of these extracts. Furthermore these extracts do not possesspotent inhibitory effect on $5{\alpha}-reductase$ I and II activity and anti-bacterial effect on Escherichia coli , Propionibacterium acnes, Pityrosporum ovale, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidemidis, and Candida albicans. RT-PCR analysis showed that these extracts did notinduce mRNA levels of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-I, keratinocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in dermal papilla cells. These results suggest that Rubus coreanum has hair growth promoting effect. However, the effects of these materials on the hair growth promotion are not mediated through inhibition of $5{\alpha}-reductase$ I and II activity, stimulation of hair follicle cells and expression of growth factors in the dermal papilla cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2021

Objective: Using domestic cats as a biomedical research model for fertility preservation, the present study aimed to characterize the influences of ovarian tissue encapsulation in biodegradable hydrogel matrix (fibrinogen/thrombin) on resilience to cryopreservation, and static versus non-static culture systems following ovarian tissue encapsulation and cryopreservation on follicle quality. Methods: In experiment I, ovarian tissues (n=21 animals; 567 ovarian fragments) were assigned to controls or hydrogel encapsulation with 5 or 10 mg/mL fibrinogen (5 or 10 FG). Following cryopreservation (slow freezing or vitrification), follicle viability, morphology, density, and key protein phosphorylation were assessed. In experiment II (based on the findings from experiment I), ovarian tissues (n=10 animals; 270 ovarian fragments) were encapsulated with 10 FG, cryopreserved, and in vitro cultured under static or non-static systems for 7 days followed by similar follicle quality assessments. Results: In experiment I, the combination of 10 FG encapsulation/slow freezing led to greater post-thawed follicle quality than in the control group, as shown by follicle viability (66.9%±2.2% vs. 61.5%±3.1%), normal follicle morphology (62.2% ±2.1% vs. 55.2%±3.5%), and the relative band intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor protein phosphorylation (0.58±0.06 vs. 0.42±0.09). Experiment II demonstrated that hydrogel encapsulation promoted follicle survival and maintenance of follicle development regardless of the culture system when compared to fresh controls. Conclusion: These results provide a better understanding of the role of hydrogel encapsulation and culture systems in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and follicle quality outcomes using an animal model, paving the way for optimized approaches to human fertility preservation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2000

This study was designed to examine the effect of Mori cortex radicis extract on cytarabine induced alopecia in young rat. cytarabine (50 mg/kg) was injected to Eight-day-old rats everyday for 7 days. After the injection, Mori cortex radicis extract was spread on the alopecia young rats for 12 days topically. The stimulative effect of hair growth was observed on 12th day of topical application. The stimulative effect of hair growth was best in MeOH extract group. And the same result was obtained in the experiment of hair follicle cross section.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.460-464
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• 2013

The progression of androgenetic alopecia is closely related to androgen-inducible transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ secretion by hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in bald scalp. Physiological levels of androgen exposure were reported to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In this study, rat vibrissae dermal papilla cells (DP-6) transfected with androgen receptor showed increased ROS production following androgen treatment. We confirmed that TGF-${\beta}1$ secretion is increased by androgen treatment in DP-6, whereas androgen-inducible TGF-${\beta}1$ was significantly suppressed by the ROSscavenger, N-acetyl cysteine. Therefore, we suggest that induction of TGF-${\beta}1$ by androgen is mediated by ROS in hair follicle DPCs.