• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.147-151
• /
• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate DNA fragmentation status in human spermatozoa according to specific tail swelling patterns determined via hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Methods: Frozen semen samples from 21 healthy donors were thawed and prepared by the swim-up technique for use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The semen samples were treated for 5 minutes as part of the HOST procedure and then underwent the sperm chromatin dispersion test using a Halosperm kit. DNA fragmentation status (large halo, medium halo, small halo, no halo, or degraded) and the specific tail swelling pattern ("a"-"g") were assessed at the level of a single spermatozoon. A total of 42,000 spermatozoa were analyzed, and the percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation (as evidenced by a large or medium halo) was assessed according to the specific tail swelling patterns observed. Results: The HOST examinations showed that > 93% of spermatozoa across all types displayed no DNA fragmentation. The percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation was 100% in type "d", 98.67% in type "g", and 98.17% in type "f" spermatozoa. Conclusion: We found that the type "d" spermatozoa displayed no DNA fragmentation, but the other types of spermatozoa also displayed very low rates of DNA fragmentation. This result may be associated with the processing of the spermatozoa by density gradient centrifugation and the swim-up technique.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2003

정자의 동결보존을 위한 새로운 기술개발 목적은 동결과정에서 최소한의 손상으로, 응해 후 최대한 높은 활력도의 정자를 얻는 것이다 정자가 난자와 수정하기 위해서는 적당한 생존성과 운동성을 유지해야 하는데, 가장 일반적인 방법으로는 정자의 진진 운동성과 첨체의 정상 여부 및 형태 검사방법 등이 있다 본 연구는 사람 정액을 동결보존 할 때 semi-programmable freezer를 이용한 완만동결 방법과, 액체질소의 vapor를 이용한 급속동결 방법이 응해 후 정자의 운동양상과 생존율 및 형태에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 실시하였다. 동결-응해 후 정자의 MOT, VCL, VSL, VAP는 각각 급속 동결방법에서 47.40$\pm$20.06%, 38.12$\pm$15.58 $\mu$m/s, 28.19$\pm$14.10 $\mu$m/s, 33.64$\pm$15.15 $\mu$m/s로 완만 동결방법인 43.39$\pm$18.79%, 33.91$\pm$13.50 $\mu$m/s, 19.98$\pm$10.88 $\mu$m/s, 24.60$\pm$11.72 $\mu$m/s보다 유의적으로 높았으나(p<0.05), LIN은 완만동결 방법이 34.64$\pm$11.36으로 급속동결 방법인 28.83$\pm$10.35보다 더 좋은 성적을 나타내었다(p<0.05). 고 활력정자를 나타내는 HYP 역시 급속동결 방법에서 2.77$\pm$2.71%로 완만동결 방법의 1.33$\pm$1.57%보다 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(p<0.05). 그러나 정자의 운동양태를 나타내는 MAD, WOB, DNC, DNM에 있어서는 완만동결 방법이 급속동결 방법에 비해 조금 더 좋은 성적을 보였으나 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 동결-응해 후 정자의 생존율 및 정상형태의 정자는 완만동결 방법이 각각 62$\pm$2.1%, 44$\pm$8.3%, 급속동결 방법은 60$\pm$2.2%, 46$\pm$7.7%로 유의적인 차이가 없이 비슷한 결과를 보였다. 따라서 사람 정액의 동결 보존 시 많은 시간과 고가의 장비가 필요한 완만동결 방법보다는 짧을시간동안 액체 질소만으로 간단히 시행할 수 있는 급속동결 방법이 더 효과적이라고 사료된다.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2002

A benchmark dose (BMD) approach has been evaluated us a replacement for the traditional NOAEL methodology currently being wed to assess the noncancer effects of toxicants. The endocrine disrupt-ing effect of endosulfan which showed decrement of sperm count and testicular testosterone level in animals, was currently reported. The amount of endosulfan used as pesticide in the country has been continuously increased. The aim of this study was to suggest the permissible intake level (PIL), corresponding to Accept-able Daily Intake (ADI), based on endocrine disrupting effect wing BMD. Various animal data were collected by consideration of critical effect showing endocrine disruption and an animal data for reproductive toxicity was selected. The Power model from BMD software for induction of $BMD_10$ having meaning which is the dose at the 95% lower confidence limit on a 10% response was used due to that the form of selected dose-response animal data was continuous data. The $BMD_10$ was estimated to be 0.393 mg/kg/day based on reproductive toxicity showing decrement of sperm count. The permissible intake level (PIL) was calculated by dividing the $BMD_10$ by the uncertainty factors of 100 with consideration of from animal to human and human variability. The PIL as 0.004 mg/kg/day was compared with traditional ADI as 0.006 mg/kg/day based on the incidence of marked progressive glomerulonephrosis and blood vessel aneurysm in males.

• 한국가축번식학회지
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 1979

This experiment was carried out to clarify the methods of the F-body test in human and the B-body test in buil and hog. The effect of pH and albumin concentration on the migration of X- and Y- sperm was also investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. In the human semen, the frequency of sperm in which an F-body is visible was different by the fluorochrome. Namely, in case of quinacrine mustard, the F-body frequency was 48.8∼43.4 percent (average 49.6%), and in case of quinacrine dihydrochloride, that was 40.7∼50.8 percent (average 42.0%). 2. The frequency of a, pp.rance of B-body was 43.4${\pm}$1.3 percent in bull semen, and 45.5${\pm}$0.7 percent in hog semen. 3. A, pp.arance of B-body in bovine semen was increased due to duration of time after washing till 12 hours. 4. Separation of X- and Y- spermatozoa using diluents with different hydrogen ion concentration was impossible. 5. A, pp.arance of B-body separated in medium with 6, 10 and 20% ovalbumin was 51.1${\pm}$2.4, 50.6${\pm}$2.5 and 58.2${\pm}$3.0 percent, respectively, and those values were significiantly higher (p<0.01) than corresponding control values.

• 한국식품영양학회지
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.328-334
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Maca water and/or ethanol extract on the nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells HUVAC and on erectile dysfunction in rats. Maca was extracted due to both solutions, which are water and ethanol. Each Maca extract was applied to HUVAC, and NO production was checked. Additionally, three different dosages (250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg) of Maca ethanol extract was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks. All rats were sacrificed and each sample was collected for analysis. The control rats received only the saline vehicle. The NO production of HUVAC was significantly increased by domestic and homemade Maca water extracted at $60^{\circ}C$ group. Both NO generation and testosterone release were not influenced due to the oral administration of Maca. In the EtOH group rats, the number of sperm was reduced compared to that of the control group. All Maca groups had a high number of sperm and each sperm count had increased as a result of the Maca extract dose. The results of this research suggest that Maca has a positive effect on male erectile dysfunction, which need to be examined further in future studies.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한불임학회 2000년도 제39차 춘계 학술대회
• /
• pp.13-28
• /
• 2000

Human spermatozoa exhibit a capacity to generate ROS and initiate peroxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids in the sperm plasma membrane, which plays a key role in the etiology of male infertility. The short half-life and limited diffusion of these molecules is consistent with their physiologic role in key biological events such as acrosome reaction and hyperactivation. The intrinsic reactivity of these metabolites in peroxidative damage induced by ROS, particularly $H_2O_2$ and the superoxide anion, has been proposed as a major cause of defective sperm function in cases of male infertility. The number of antioxidants known to attack different stages of peroxidative damage is growing, and it will be of interest to compare alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid with these for their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. Both spermatozoa and leukocytes generate ROS, although leukocytes produce much higher levels. The clinical significance of leukocyte presence in semen is controversial. Seminal plasma confers some protection against ROS damage because it contains enzymes that scavenge ROS, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. A variety of defense mechanisms comprising a number of antioxidants can be employed to reduce or overcome oxidative stress caused by excessive ROS. Determination of male infertility etiology is important, as it will help us develop effective therapies to overcome excessive ROS generation. ROS can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the spermatozoa and the balancing between the amounts of ROS produced and the amounts scavenged at any moment will determine whether a given sperm function will be promoted or jeopardized. Accurate assessment of ROS levels and, subsequently, OS is Vital, as this will help clinicians both elucidate the fertility status and identify the subgroups of patients that respond or do not respond to these therapeutic strategies. The overt commercial claims of antioxidant benefits and supplements for fertility purposes must be cautiously looked into, until proper multicentered clinical trials are studied. From the current data it appears that no Single adjuvant will be able to enhance the fertilizing capacity of sperm in infertile men, and a combination of the possible strategies that are not toxic at the dosage used would be a feasible approach.

• 한국가금학회지
• /
• 제26권2호
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 1999

Hen's eggs have been regarded as one of the best animal bioreactors to produce biologically active peptides originated from many organisms including human. Despite the last decade's efforts to produce transgenic chicken for any commercial purposes, the results so far reported are very disappointing, indicating that hen's eggs are very difficult to crack for transgenesis. Comparatively large female gamete with enormous amount of yolk may be one of the major obstacles in achieving a similar feat to those of other vertebrate species including mouse, sheep, fish and frog. The delay or less efficiency evidenced may instruct to try an alternative way of gens transfer into chicken egg. Sperm-mediated gene transfer is one of them, and may require a great deal of understanding of mechanisms involved in early fertilization and embryonic development. In other animals where the technique was successful, basic mechanisms have been well studied and established only by painstaking efforts for decades. This paper discusses the accumulated knowledge on early fertilization mechanism in the chicken and how can this information be utilitzed to find the alternative gene transfer in making transgenic chicken.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제49권2호
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study investigated the impact of two stimulation protocols using highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (HP-hMG) on the endocrine profile, follicular fluid soluble Fas levels, and outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods: This prospective clinical trial included 100 normal-responder women undergoing ovarian stimulation for ICSI; 55 patients received concomitant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plus HP-hMG from the start of stimulation, while 45 patients received FSH followed by HP-hMG during mid/late follicular stimulation. The primary outcome was the number of top-quality embryos. The secondary outcomes were the number and percentage of metaphase II (MII) oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate. Results: The number of MII oocytes was significantly higher in the concomitant protocol (median, 13.0; interquartile range [IQR], 8.5-18.0 vs. 9.0 [8.0-13.0] in the consecutive protocol; p=0.009); however, the percentage of MII oocytes and the fertilization rate were significantly higher in the consecutive protocol (median, 90.91; IQR, 80.0-100.0 vs. 83.33 [75.0-93.8]; p=0.034 and median, 86.67; IQR, 76.9-100.0 vs. 77.78 [66.7-89.9]; p=0.028, respectively). No significant between-group differences were found in top-quality embryos (p=0.693) or the clinical pregnancy rate (65.9% vs. 61.8% in the consecutive vs. concomitant protocol, respectively). The median follicular fluid soluble Fas antigen level was significantly higher in the concomitant protocol (9,731.0 pg/mL; IQR, 6,004.5-10,807.6 vs. 6,350.2 pg/mL; IQR, 4,382.4-9,418.4; p=0.021). Conclusion: Personalized controlled ovarian stimulation using HP-hMG during the late follicular phase led to a significantly lower response, but did not affect the quality of ICSI.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.131-141
• /
• 1995

This study was designed to determine the relationship between sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge(ARIC) and hamster ovum sperm penetration assay(SPA) as assessment of fertilizing capacity of male. ARIC test and SPA were performed in 23 fertile and 19 subfertile men. The results were as follows; Sperm concentration was significantly higher in fertile group compared with subfertile group: $114.6{\pm}64.40$ vs $61.3{\pm}46.50{\times}10^6/ml$. However, there were no significantly differences in seminal volume, motility and motility index, respectively. There was a significantly correlation between spontaneous and induced AR in fertile and subfertile group, respectively. ARIC value was significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $12.0{\pm}5.57%$ vs $2.6{\pm}4.96%$. Both Penetration rate(PR) and Penetration index(PI) were significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $97.4{\pm}7.40%$ vs $64.9{\pm}36$. 20% and $5.4{\pm}2.88$ vs $1.5{\pm}1.47$, respectively. The Positive predictive value(PPV), Negative predictive value(NPV), sensitivity and specificity of ARIC test (cut-off: 8.5) and SPA(PI cut-off : 3.0) in predicting fertility were 95.0%, 81.8%, 82.6%, 94.7% and 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.0% and 94.7%, respectively. There was no significantly difference in predicting fertility between ARIC test and SPA. In conclusion, ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing capacity comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay. Therefore, ARIC test may be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology instead of SPA.

• 한국가축번식학회지
• /
• 제16권3호
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 1992

Many transgenic mice expressing human growth hormone gene were infertile. To investigate the infertility of these transfenic mice, it was looked into the estrus cycle and sexual behaviour and also tested through in vitro fertilization whether the germ cells of these mice normal or not. The infertile female transgenic mice were mated to the fertile males of ICR strain, but in almost all of them the vaginal plugs were not detected and their estrus cycles by vaginal smear were almost irregular which kept up estrus or diestrus stage. Many male transgenic mice did not have the ability of sexual behaviour. Therefore the viability of germ cells in infertile male transgenic mice was investigated by in vitro fertilization, but the sperm were normally fertilized with the eggs and the transgene of parent was passed on to the progeny. These results consequently suggest that the infertility of transgenic mice experssing human growth hormone gene may be due to the physiological activity of human growth hormone, not germ cells.