• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 1998

The present study was carried out for the comparative study on the collection of bovine follicular oocytes by ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up(OPU) and slaughterhouse-derived (SHD) ovary aspiration and in vitro production of bovine embryos with the follicular oncytes in Korean native cows. Bovine follicular nocytes were observed with a 6.5 MHz convex-array ultrasound transducer designed for intravaginal use and the oocytes were collected with the aspiration equipment attached to the ultrasonograph. Bovine ovaries were collected and transported in phosphate buffered saline from the local slaughterhouse, the follicular oocytes were collected by the aspiration method. The collected follicular oocytes in good quality were matured, fertilized and cultured in the media. The total number of the visible follicles and the recovery rate of follicular oocytes were increased in ultrasonography following follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) treatment in Korean native cows. The mean recovery rate of oocytes was 66.2, 52.8 and 41.7% in the FSH-OPU, non-treatment-OPU and SHD ovaries, respectively. The mean number of recorved oocytes per cow were not significantly(P<0.05) different between the FSH-OPU(14.0$\pm$11.54) and SHD(17.1i6.21) groups, but the numbers in both groups were significantly(P<0.05) higher than the number in the non-treatment-OPU(3.7$\pm$1.57) group. The mean number of usable nocytes in Grade T /11 per ovary was 6.3, 4.8 and 1.3 in the cows of the SHD, FSH-OPU and non-treatment-OPU groups, respectively. The in vitro developmental rate to the blastocyst was not significantly different between the oocytes obtained via OPU(37.1%) and SHD(29.3%). Therefore, the ultrasound-guided OPU technique can be applied to the production of excellent embryos from the high-quality cows, and for the large scale production of in vitro bovine oocytes and embryos, the SHD ovary aspiration method is valuable.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.314-319
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• 2005

To compare two different schemes, continuous scheme (CS) and discontinuous scheme (DCS), of once-weekly ovum pick up (OPU) with ultrasound-guided follicular puncture technique, Holstein heifers were randomly divided into two groups of five. After characterization of their two normal estrous cycles, the heifers were subjected to consecutive 20 weeks of once-weekly OPU under two schemes: the CS (one week interval between continuous OPU, total 100 OPU sessions performed) and the DCS (OPU fixed to the day 3 and day 10 of each estrus). Then, the status of ovaries and artificial insemination results were observed. On oocyte yield, the total number of punctured follicles using DCS was lower than that using CS, but the mean numbers of punctured follicles and recovered oocytes per session were higher in DCS than CS group. So the total number of recovered oocytes was similar in both groups. There were also no differences in the quality of recovered oocytes, nor in the developmental ability of oocytes fertilized in vitro between groups. The heifers in the DCS group showed regular estrous cycles with stable estrous signs through the periods of before, during, and after OPU, while those in CS group showed longer estrous cycles and less estrous signs during and/or after OPU compared with before period. Furthermore, the mean number of inseminations required for obtaining pregnancy after completion of the experiments was lower in DCS than CS group. The research demonstrates that similar quantity and quality oocytes can be achieved, and the side effects on donors are lower in DCS that needs fewer OPUs than CS group, and DCS is superior to CS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.98-102
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• 2011

Objective: To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), IVF outcomes, and follicular fluid (FF) cytokine concentrations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Eighty-six infertile patients with PCOS resistant to clomiphene citrate were randomized to receive pioglitazone (30 mg/day) or placebo on the starting day of oral contraceptive (OC) pretreatment, followed by an IVF protocol using a GnRH antagonist. Pioglitazone or placebo was administered once daily from the starting day of OC to the day of hCG injection. Results: Total dose and days of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone administered, and the numbers of retrieved and mature oocytes, were significantly lower in the pioglitazone group than in the control group. FF tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations at oocyte retrieval were also significantly lower in the pioglitazone group. The clinical pregnancy rate was higher and the incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was lower in the pioglitazone group, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Pioglitazone reduces FF TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels, and may improve ovarian response to COS in patients with PCOS.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 1997

This study was carried out to establish the techniques for producing the calves of genetically superior Korean Native cattle by transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. The effects of some factors related to embryo recovery following superovulation and pregnancy rate following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos were evaluated. Also calving state was investigated. The results obtained were as follows ; The mean number of total and transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow was 8.72 and 4.90, respectively, from a total of 72 superovulations using 34 donor cows. There were no significant differences in the number of total or transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow between products of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), years, seasons, and collection numbers. The pregnancy rate was found 44.44% following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos of Korean Native cattle to a total of 180 recipient cows including 82 Angus, 27 Charolais, 62 Hereford and 9 Korean Native cows. The pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of excellent (42.99) and good embryos (40.17%), compared with fair (5.90%) grade embryos. And the pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of embryos of morula stage (43.86%) than blastocyst stage (15.51%). But there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates between natural and induced estrus estrus asynchrony of 1 days, breeds, and parities of recipient cows. The normal calving rate of 80 pregnant cows following transfer of frozen4hawed em-bryos was 87.5% and the other 10 pregnant cows showed abortion during the period from pregnancy diagnosis at 50~60 days to calving. The average gestation length of normally delivered recipients was 288.50 days and the average birth weight of 70 calves born was 24.22 kg. The gestation length was significantly (P<0.05) shorter in the recipients delivering female calves (286.70 days) than males (289.39 days). But there were no significant differences in gestation tength and birth weight of calves born between the recipient breeds.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2020

Previously, we reported adverse effects of low-dose nonylphenol (NP) exposure on the reproductive parameters of F1 female mice. In the present study we further investigated the pathohistological effect of NP exposure on the reproductive organs in F1 female mice. NP exposures were continuously conducted from parental pre-mating period until the postnatal day (PND) 33 of F1 offspring for vaginal examination. Mice were sacrificed on PND 30 and the reproductive tissue weights were measured. The initial (at PND 21) body weights of the NP-50 group animals were significantly lower than those of control group animals, and the weight deficit were recovered when the terminal (PND 33) body weights were measured. Early vaginal opening was found in NP group animals (p<0.05). Pathohistological studies revealed that NP-treated F1 animals showed prominent increase in the ovarian follicle numbers (p<0.01), and decrease in the diameter of uterine myometrium (p<0.01), and increase in the diameter of luminal epithelium (p<0.05). The present study demonstrated that the subchronic low-dose NP exposure induced early beginning of puberty and pathohistological abnormalities in ovary and uterus of F1 mice. Further studies are needed to achieve a better understanding on the action mechanism of NP in pubertal onset and to find a way to avoid a hazardous situation provoked by NP exposure.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-75
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• 2021

Objectives: The hair follicle is composed of more than 20 kinds of cells, and mesoderm derived dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes cooperatively contribute hair growth via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We are to investigate β-catenin expression and regulatory mechanism by CBD in alopecia hair tissues and dermal papilla cells. Methods: We performed structural and anatomical analyses on alopecia patients derived hair tissues using microscopes. Pharmacological effect of CBD was evaluated by β-catenin expression using RT-PCR and immunostaining experiment. Results: Morphological deformation and loss of cell numbers in hair shaft were observed in alopecia hair tissues. IHC experiment showed that loss of β-catenin expression was shown in inner shaft of the alopecia hair tissues, indicating that β-catenin expression is a key regulatory function during alopecia progression. Consistently, β-catenin expression was decreased in testosterone or PMA treated dermal papilla cells, suggesting that those treatments are referred as a model on molecular mechanism of alopecia using dermal papilla cells. RT-PCR and immunostaining experiments showed that β-catenin expression was decreased in RNA level, as well as decreased β-catenin protein might be resulted from ubiquitination. However, CBD treatment has no changes in gene expression including β-catenin, but the decreased β-catenin expression by testosterone or PMA was restored by CBD pretreatment, suggesting that potential regulatory effect on alopecia induction of testosterone and PMA. Conclusion: CBD might have a modulating function on alopecia caused by hormonal or excess of signaling pathway, and be a promising application for on alopecia treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2022

In mammalian species, females are born with a number of oocytes exceeding what they release via ovulation. In humans, an average girl is born with over a thousand times more oocytes than she will ovulate in her lifetime. The reason for having such an excessive number of oocytes in a neonatal female ovary is currently unknown. However, it is well established that the oocyte number decreases throughout the entire lifetime until the ovary loses them all. In this review, data published in the past 80 years were used to assess the current knowledge regarding the changing number of oocytes in humans and mice, as well as the reported factors that contribute to the decline of oocyte numbers. Briefly, a collective estimation indicates that an average girl is born with approximately 600,000 oocytes, which is 2,000 times more than the number of oocytes that she will ovulate in her lifetime. The oocyte number begins to decrease immediately after birth and is reduced to half of the initial number by puberty and almost zero by age 50 years. Multiple factors that are either intrinsic or extrinsic to the ovary contribute to the decline of the oocyte number. The inflammation caused by the ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge is discussed as a potential contributing factor to the decline of the oocyte pool during the reproductive lifespan.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2002

Under normal conditions, women produce a single dominant follicle that participates in a single ovuation each menstrual cycle. But Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) conditions, folliculogenesis does not proceed normally. This condition leads to the accumlation of large numbers of small graffian follicles in which the theca interstitial cells (TIC) produce abnormally large amounts of androgen. PCOS is probably the most common endocrine disorder, affecting women of reprodutive age with 5-10% prevalence estimate. Chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, obesity, infertility and polycystic ovaries are clinical hallmarks of women with PCOS. Its etiology remains unknown. To investigate the gene expression pattern of ovary in PCO-induced rat, we used cDNA expression analysis. Total RNA was extracted from the ovary of PCO-induced rat and reverse-transcribed in the presence of［$\alpha$$^{32}$P］-dATP Which were hybridized to Atlas$^{TM}$ Rat Toxicology 1.2 array (Clontech) representing approximately 1176 rat genes. We compared gene expression between ovary of pco-induced immature female rats and control. Differential gene expression profiles were revealed (LIFR-alpha, ADRA1A, Heat shock 90-kDa protein A, PDGFRA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to validate the relative expression pattern obtained by the cDNA array. The precise relationship between the altered expression of genes and PCO is a matter of further investigation. This study was supported by Korea Science and Engineering Foundation(KOSEF)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.103-117
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• 1988

Ovulation induction was done with 3 different regimens as clomid combined with HMG, HMG only, and FSH combined with HMG in 28 menstrual cycles for IVF-ET and GIFT program. The appearance of endogenous LH surge, estradiol plateau, atypical LH surge, and time from initiation to peak of LH surge in serum and urine were observed and compared in 3 groups. 1. The estradiol concentration of serum LH surge day was similar in three groups but 1st group (Clomiphene Citrate+Sequential HMG) was slightly higher at $1924.0{\pm}865.1\;pg/ml$. In regards to the existence of serum estradiol plateau, 3rd group (FSH+Sequential HMG) was highest at 60%, and 1st group and 2nd group (HMG only) were similar at 33% and 44% respectively. 2. The number of ovarian of ovarian follicle which was more than 18mm in diameter was $4.1{\pm}2.0$, $4.2{\pm}2.1$ respectibely for 2nd group and 3rd group. Although the numbers were slightly higher thean 1st group for each ovarian follicle, serum estradiol value per follicle was higher for 1st group at $583.0{\pm}261.2pg/ml$. 3. When measuring the urine LH surge according to Hi-Gonavi and according to the standard set by three different types of surge, simultameous satisfaction for 1st group, 2nd group, 3rd group was two cases, five cases, four cases respectively at 40%, and the remained cases were composed of numorous type combination which satisfied the two definition, simultaneously in this study, the LH surge starting time was determined only in the cases tow combination were satisfied simultaneously at first, but there are something to study more. In one case of the 3rd group. 4. The concentration of LH surge start in urine and serum of 2nd group was highest at306. $0{\pm}287.2IU/l$ and $34.0{\pm}9.9mIU/ml$ and 1st group was low at $116.6{\pm}66.1IU/l$ and 7.4mIU/ml. The urine and serum value of LH was highest at $1644.4{\pm}988.8IU/l$, $65.9{\pm}15.0mIU/ml$ for 2nd group, 1st group was low at urine, and 3rd group was low of serum. With pregnancy established, the LH concentration of urine was relatively high but on the contrary the LH concentration of serum was low compared to urine concentration. 5. Time from LH surge start to the maximun of urine and serum value was highest at 15. $7{\pm}9.1$ hrs and $10.8{\pm}4.9$ hrs for 1st group and 3rd group. With pregnancy established, time was shortened for urine but on the contrary serum showed an increase in time. 6. The concentration of LH which increases with time on urine was highest at 2nd group ($194.6{\pm}76.8\;IU/hour$). The lowest increase for serum was at 3rd group (2.1mIU/hour). With pregnancy established, urine showed more increase than control group ($266.5{\pm}47.4\;IU/hour$) and for serum there was similar increase ($3.4{\pm}0.8\;mIU/hour$). 7. There were two examples of non-typical surge from 1st group and 3rd group each. Among these three cases showed a reestablishment of LH surge after 10-24 hours. 8. Endogenous spontaneous Lh surge occurs once for each 2nd group and 3rd group.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.395-406
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to examine the developmental capacity of mouse oocytes within prenatal follicles cultured various concentrations of FSH and LH and the expression of cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and cytochrome P450 17 $\alpha$ -hydroxylase (P450)$_{17{\alpha}}$ mRNA, as luteinization and atretic marker, in these culture conditions. In addition, we investigated the concentrations of progesterone and testosterone in culture medium. The developmental potential up to blastocyst of the oocytes grown in vitro was higher in the FSH alone (30.2%) and 10 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH treated (28.0%) groups than in the 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH treated group (22.0%). And the mean numbers of cell per blastocyst was higher in the FSH alone (50.9$\pm$26.1) and 10 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH treated (51.0$\pm$21.1) groups when compared to the 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH treated group (45.2$\pm$15.1). The expressions of P450scc and P450$_{17{\alpha}}$ mRNA in the oocyte -cumulus complexes were increased with increasing of LH concentration, and also the secretions of progesterone and testosterone were increased. Especially, in the 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH treated group, the expression of P450scc and P450$_{17{\alpha}}$ were significantly increased, and the secretion of progesterone and testosterone were significantly increased. Therefore, these data show that gonadotrophins are essential for the in vitro culture of preantral follicles, but that increasing of LH concentration is reduced the developmental capacity of oocytes. The cause of these findings may be due to increasing of progesterone and testosterone secretion by the enhance of P450scc and P450$_{17{\alpha}}$ mRNA expressions, as markers of luteinization and atresia. Conclusively, this study suggest that supplementation of 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH or 10 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ LH and 100 $m\ell$U/$m\ell$ FSH may be optimal condition for the culture of mouse pre antral follicles.