• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2010

Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes of gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist protocols in poor responders. Methods: A total of 172 cycles in subjects with less than 5 oocytes retrieved treated with either GnRH agonist long protocols or antagonist protocols were included. The outcome variables such as numbers of growing follicles and retrieved oocytes, and the fertilization rate were evaluated as the main outcome measures. Results: There was no difference in regard to the numbers of growing follicles and oocytes, and fertilization rate between the two groups. $E_2$ level on Day 7/8, mean gonadotropin dose, and the days of stimulation were shown to be statistically different (p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Considering that similar results were observed with less time and gonadotropin dose, GnRH antagonist protocol may be considered as a preferable choice over GnRH agonist protocols in poor responders.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2009

GnRH and its receptor are known to express locally in the ovary and to regulate the ovarian function by affecting on granulosa and lutein cells. It has been reported that GnRH directly causes apoptosis in the granulosa and lutein cells of the ovary. However, whether the apoptosis of the cells by GnRH is recovered by FSH as an anti-apoptotic factor is not yet known. In this study, we evaluated the apoptosis and the production of progesterone $(P_4)$ and estradiol $(E_2)$ after treatment with 5, 50, and 100 ng/$m\ell$ GnRH and 1 IU/ml FSH in the granulosa-lutein cells that are obtained during oocyte-retrieval for IVF-ET. Results of DNA fragment analysis and TUNEL assay demonstrated that DNA fragmentation and the rate of apoptotic cells were increased in a dose-dependent manner showing a significant increase in the cells treated with 100 ng/$m\ell$ GnRH. In addition, we found that FSH suppresses the apoptosis of the cells induced by GnRH. In the results of chemiluminescence assay for $P_4$ and $E_2$, $P_4$ production was decreased by GnRH treatment, whereas $E_2$ production was not changed. We also demonstrated that FSH inhibits the suppressive effect of GnRH on $P_4$ production as the result of apoptosis. The present results suggest that GnRH agonist using in ovarian hyperstimulation protocol might induce the dysfunction of the ovary, but its function could be recovered by FSH. These results also will be expected to use as the basic data to elucidate the physiological role of GnRH and to develop new ovarian hyperstimulation protocols for IVF-ET.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1994

The effects of gonadoropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and ovarian steroid hormones on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and its subunit mRNA levels were investigated in anterior pituitary cells in culture. LH concentration was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay and mRNA levels of u and $LH{\beta}$ subunits by RNA slot blot hybridization assay. GnRH stimulated LH release in a dose-dependent manner from cultured pituitary cells. However, the basal LH release in the absence of GnRH was not changed during the course of 24h culture, strongly suggesting that release of LH is directly controlled by GnRH. The treatment of the pituitary cells with GnRH increased $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner, reaching the maximum with $2\;{\times}\;10^{-10}M$ GnRH while no significant increase in ${\alpha}$ subunit mRNA levels was observed after GnRH treatment. Estradiol did not augment GnRH-induced LH release while progesterone augmented GnRH-induced LH release in a dose-dependent manner at the level of pituitary. However, estradiol and progesterone increased basal and GnRH-induced $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of estrogen antagonist, LYI17018 blocked the effect of estradiol on GnRH-induced $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner while progesterone antagonist, Ru486 tended to block the effect of progesterone on GnRH-induced $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA levels. It is therefore suggested that GnRH Playa a major role in LH release and subunit biosynthesis by influencing the steady state $LH{\beta}$ subunit mRNA loves and ovarian steroid hormones modulate subunit biosynthesis via directly acting on pituitary gonadotropes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.215-225
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• 2006

Precocious puberty is defined as the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before age 8 years in girls (or menarche before age 9 years) and before 9 years in boys. The age of onset of puberty is progressing to younger age. The pubertal activation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) release requires coordinated changes in excitatory or inhibitory amino acids, growth factors, and a group of transcriptional regulators. A number of factors affecting precocious puberty were explored, including the role of genetic factors, nutrition(body fat) and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In addition to the psychosocial disturbances associated with precocious puberty, the premature pubertal growth spurt and the accelerated bone maturation result in reduced adult height. Precocious puberty may be gonadotrophin-dependent premature activation of the GnRH pulse generator or gonadotrophin-independent. In rapidly progressing central precocious puberty, GnRH agonists appear to increase final height. However more data on the effect and long-term safety of GnRHa are needed.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2008

Vinclozolin (VCZ) is a systemic fungicide commonly used in fruits, vegetables and the wine industry. VCZ and its metabolites, butenoic acid (M1) and enanilide (M2) derivatives, act as anti-androgens through actions on the androgen receptor. Although there is growing body of evidence that VCZ's action as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) in male reproductive physiology and pathphysiology, no evidence on the VCZ's EDC action in female is available yet. Previously we found that the prepubertal VCZ exposures could effectively delay the onset of puberty in female rats, suggesting the postponed or weakened activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (H-P-O) reproductive hormonal axis. The present study was performed to examine whether the VCZ administration affects the transcriptional activities of reproductive hormone-related genes in the same animal model. VCZ (10 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 21 (PND 21) through the day when the first vaginal opening (V.O.) was observed. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). As a result, treatment with VCZ significantly lowered the transcriptional activity of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) which is known to adjust gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in the hypothalamus (p<0.01). Similarly, the mRNA levels of KiSS-1, G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) and GnRH were significantly decreased in hypothalamus (p<0.01) from VCZ-treated group. As expected, the transcriptional activities of luteinizing hormone-${\beta}$ (LH-${\beta}$) and follicle stimulating hormone-${\beta}$ (FSH-${\beta}$) in the anterior pituitary from VCZ-treated group were also significantly lower than those from the control group. The present study indicates that(i) the inhibitory effect of VCZ exposure on the onset of puberty in immature female rats could be derived from the reduced transcriptional activities of gonadotropin subunits and their upstream modulators such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine axis, and (ii) these inhibitory effects could be mediated by NO signaling pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

Objective: To evaluate if there is any correlation between the growth rate of dominant follicles and clinical characteristics or outcome variables in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Methods: This study was performed in 313 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) were measured on day 3 of menstrual cycle, and serial ultrasonographic measurement of the diameter of growing follicles was performed. The growth rates of dominant follicles calculated by diameter difference divided by days were correlated with clinical characteristics and outcome variables. Results: There was no significant difference in the growth rate of the dominant follicles between gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and antagonist cycles. No significant correlation was found between the growth rates and evaluated factors such as age, body mass index, LH, FSH, $E_2$, retrieved oocytes and fertilization rate. Conclusion: The Growth rate of dominant follicles seems to show an independent feature of basal characteristics and ovarian response.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1993.05a
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• pp.90-95
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• 1993

수력, 화력, 원자력 다음으로 제 4의 전원으로서 관심의 대상이 되고 있는 연료전지는 연료가 가지고있는 화학에너지를 직접에너지로 변환시키는 점에서 종래의 발전 기술과는 원리적으로 다르며, 카르노(Carnot)사이클에 의한 에너지 변환 효율의 제한을 받지 않기 때문에 효율이 높으며 공해가 없는 특징을 가지고 있다. 연료전지의 발전 방식은 작동 온도, 전해질 등에 의해서 분류되나 현재 실용화단계의 기술은 인산형연료전지 발전이다. 인산형 연료전지의 발전용 연료는 천연가스, 메탄올, 납사 등과 같은 탄화수소 계열의 다양한 연료를 사용할 수 있으며, 이들 연료들을 수소가 많이 함유된 가스로 변환시켜 연료전지에 공급하여야 한다. 연료전지발전시스템 개발은 주로 전력이용 측면에서 천연가스를 개질연료로 사용하는 연구가 주류를 이루었으나, 최근에는 전 세계적으로 대기 공해에 시달리고 있는 도시의 환경개선을 위하여 도심용 버스 및 대형 트럭 등에 응용하기 위한 무공해 수송용 자동차엔진의 개발, 국방용 이동전원 개발 및 100㎾ 미만의 현지설치용 및 낙도용 전원으로서 메탄올을 연료로 한 연료전지의 개발이 활발히 진행되고 있다. 한국에너지기술연구소는 한국전력 기술연구원과 공동으로 1989년부터 1992년까지 본체를 제외한 5.9㎾급 인산형 연료전지 발전시스템 즉, 메탄올 연료 개질장치, 운전자동화 시스템, 배열이용 시스템, 종합 배관 등을 설계 구성하여 발전 플랜트의 운전 특성 연구를 수행하였으며, 본 고에서는 이들 설비들의 운전 특성과 발전 플랜트로서의 효율 특성에 대한 고찰을 수행하였다. 본 시스템은 연료개질기가 연결되고 배열을 이용하는 국내최초의 종합적인 연료전지 발전 시스템으로서 개질된 연료로 운전하였을 경우 본체의 효율은 31.9%, 배열을 회수한 종합발전 플랜트의 효율은 45.2%였다.로서, 흰쥐 유선이 LH의 생성처이면서 동시에 작용처이며 유선에서 합성된 GnRH의 조절하에 국부적인 인자로 작용할 가능성을 시사한다.f variation)가 10% 내외로 만족할 만한 범위에 들었다. 본 실험 방법을 타액과 혈청내 testosterone 농도 측정에 응용하여 RIA의 결과와 비교하여 본 바 상관관계가 타액에서 r=0.969, 혈청에서 r=0.990으로 두 결과가 잘 일치하였다. 본 실험에서 측정된 한국인 여성의 타액내 testosterone농도는 107.7$\pm$12.0 pmol／l이었고, 남성의 타액내 농도는 274.2$\pm$22.1 pmol／l이었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 본 연구에서 정립된 EIA 방법은 RIA를 대신하여 소규모의 실험실에서도 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사려된다.또한 상실기 이후 배아에서 합성되며, 발생시기에 따라 그 영향이 다르고 팽창과 부화에 관여하는 것으로 사료된다. 더욱이, 조선의 ${\ulcorner}$구성교육${\lrcorner}$이 조선총독부의 관리하에서 실행되었다는 것을, 당시의 사범학교를 중심으로 한 교육조직을 기술한 문헌에 의해 규명시켰다.nd of letter design which represents -natural objects and was popular at the time of Yukjo Dynasty, and there are some documents of that period left both in Japan and Korea. "Hyojedo" in Korea is supposed to have been influenced by the letter design. Asite- is also considered to have been "Jap

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.127-127
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• 2003

본 연구의 목적은 젖소에서 다배란유기법의 확립을 위해서 호르몬을 처리법을 달리한 결과이다. 난포의 발생을 자극하는 FSH 호르몬을 하루에 2번의 호르몬 주사를 하는 데, 이는 혈액내에 난포자극호르몬의 농도를 연속적으로 유지하여 난소에서 다난포 발생의 목적을 달성하고자 하는 방법이다. 하지만 빈번하게 호르몬을 주사하는 방법은 처리하는 노력이 필요하고 공란우도 스트레스로 작용한다. 이러한 단점을 극복하기 위해 한번에 많은 난포의 성숙을 유도하는 다배란처리법에 대한 보고가 많이 있어, 본 연구에서 이 다배란처리 효과를 비교하고자 젖소를 이용하였다. 방법으로는 다회주사법(8회)과 일회주사법(1회)에서 황체수와 수정란의 생산수 등을 조사하였다. 다회주사법은 생리식염수에 융해한 FSH를 1일 50mg씩 2회(12시간 간격)주사하는 법으로 CIDR 질내 주입 9일째부터 4일간 주사하였으며, 질내에 CIDR를 주입하고 11일째되는 날에 PG(25mg, 루텔라이스, 한국)를 주사하고, 12일째는 CIDR를 제거하여 일회주사법과 주기를 맞추었다. 일회주사법은 CIDR를 질내에 주입하고 나서 9일째 되는 날에 400mg의 FSH을 생리식염수에 융해하여 일회주사를 하고 다회주사법과 같이 인공수정과 채란시간을 맞추었다. 인공수정은 황체퇴행제(PG)를 주사하고 나서 48, 72시간에 2회 인공수정을 실시하여 1주일 후 수정란을 채란하였다. 인공수정시는 반드시 GnRH(2.5mg)를 동시에 주사하였다. 채란은 인공수정 후 7일째 되는 날에 비외과적으로 채란을 실시하여 우수한 수정란은 동결을 실시하였다. 다회주사법에서 14두, 일회주사법에서 14두를 공시하여 황체수, 회수수정란수, 배반포수, 동결란수를 조사하였다. 다회주사법에서는 황체수는 8.07$\pm$6.62개, 회수정란수는 6.78$\pm$5.96개, 배반포율은 58.9%, 동결란 생산율은 52.6%의 성적을 얻었으며, 일회주사법에서 황체수는 12.07$\pm$8.07개, 회수수정란수는 10.0$\pm$9.24개, 배반포율은 27.1%, 동결란 생산율은 25.0% 수준의 결과를 얻었으나 결과에 대한 통계분석시 다회주사법과 일회주사리법 간에 유의적인 차는 인정되지 않았다(student T-test, P<0.05). 본 실험의 결과에서 나타나듯이 생리식염수를 용매로 이용한 FSH 1회 주사법이 다회주사법과 비교하였을 때에 수정란 생산효율에서 유의적인 차이가 없으므로 이 방법을 이용한 다배란유기는 노동력과 공란우에 대한 스트레스를 경감할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the hormonal regulation of RGS-2 in the rat ovary. Methods: Immature rats were injected with 10 IU of PMSG to induce multiple growth of preovulatory follicles and 10 IU of hCG to induce ovulation. Northern blot analysis performed for gene expression and in situ hybridization performed for mRNA localization. Results: Northern blot analysis revealed that pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) treatment did not affect RGS-2 mRNA levels. In contrast, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment of PMSG-primed rats resulted in an increase in RGS-2 expression within $1{\sim}3\;h$. The major cell-types expressing RGS-2 mRNA were oocytes regardless of follicle size. Interestingly, hCG treatment caused the stimulation of RGS-2 gene expression in granulosa cells of preovulatory and growing follicles. In contrast, cell types expressing RGS-2 protein were theca cells regardless of hCG treatment. Like in vivo, treatment of preovulatory granulosa cells with LH in vitro stimulated RGS-2 levels within 1 h. Interestingly, GnRH antagonist II enhanced the stimulatory action of LH. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the LH/hCG induction of RGS-2 in preovulatory granulosa cells and suggests a role of RGS-2 in Gq protein signaling pathway during ovulation.