• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2004

It has been known for many years that administration of estrogen, a so-called female hormone, has harmful effects on male fertility. However, studies employing transgenic mice deficient in estrogen receptors reveal substantial roles for estrogen in male fertility. The aim of this article is to review and summarize the current knowledge on the estrogen receptor localization in male reproductive organs including male germ cells of rodents. Also, informations about the mice models with disrupted estrogen signaling and associated phenotypes will be provided.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble secosteroid responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, and other materials. Vitamin D3 deficiency, therefore, can cause health problems such as metabolic diseases, and bone disorder. Female sex hormones including estrogen and progesterone are biosynthesized mainly in the granulosa cells of ovary. In this study, we isolated granulosa cells from porcine ovary and cultured for the experiments. In order to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on the ovarian granulosa cells, the mRNA and protein levels of genes were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blot assay. The production of estrogen from the granulosa cells was also measured by the ELISA assay. Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3. These results showed that vitamin D3 is a powerful regulator of sex steroid hormone production in porcine granulosa cells, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may result in inappropriate sexual development of industrial animals and eventually economic loss.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.351-357
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• 2009

Phytoestrogens are the natural compounds isolated from plants, which are structurally similar to animal estrogen, $17{\beta}$-estradiol. Tectoridin, a major isoflavone isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis. Tectoridin is known as a phytoestrogen, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its estrogenic effect are remained unclear. In this study we investigated the estrogenic signaling triggered by tectoridin as compared to a famous phytoestrogen, genistein in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Tectoridin scarcely binds to ER ${\alpha}$ as compared to $17{\beta}$-estradiol and genistein. Despite poor binding to ER ${\alpha}$, tectoridin induced potent estrogenic effects, namely recovery of the population of cells in the S-phase after serum starvation, transactivation of the estrogen response element, and induction of MCF-7 cell proliferation. The tectoridin-induced estrogenic effect was severely abrogated by treatment with U0126, a specific MEK1/2 inhibitor. Tectoridin promoted phosphorylation of ERK1/2, but did not affect phosphorylation of ER ${\alpha}$ at $Ser^{118}$. It also increased cellular accumulation of cAMP, a hallmark of GPR30-mediated estrogen signaling. These data imply that tectoridin exerts its estrogenic effect mainly via the GPR30 and ERK-mediated rapid nongenomic estrogen signaling pathway. This property of tectoridin sets it aside from genistein where it exerts the estrogenic effects via both an ER-dependent genomic pathway and a GPR30-dependent nongenomic pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.48.1-48.1
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• 2007

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• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

The protein kinase $CK2{\alpha}$ (formerly Casein Kinase II) is implicated in tumorigenesis and transformation. However, the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in breast cancer have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in estrogen signaling. Estrogen increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity, and protein expression in estrogen receptor positive ($ER^+$) MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which were inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. $H_2O_2$ enhanced $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression. Human epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression in EGF receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing MCF-7 (MCF-7 HER2) cells, but not in MCF-7 cells. Estrogen induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The p38 inhibitor, SB202190, blocked estrogen-induced increases in ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and $CK2{\alpha}$ protein expression. The data suggest that ROS/p38 MAPK is the key inducer of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in response to estrogen or EGF.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2002

Cyclooxygenase(COX) metabolizes arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and thromboxanes. It has been reported that there is 'cross-talk' between COX-2 and nitric oxide synthase(NOS). Stimulation of eNOS of estrogen fed animal heart was not accompanied by the increase in COX-2 expression.(omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.151-163
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• 2003

연구목적: Estrogen은 포유류의 생리주기와 착상과정에서 중요한 조절인자로 작용한다. 본 연구에서는 난소 절제된 생쥐의 자궁에서 estrogen에 의해 직접 또는 간접적으로 조절되어 발현하는 유전자를 분석하고자 하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 생후 8주된 생쥐의 양쪽 난소를 절제하고 14일 동안 회복기간이 지난 후, estrogen (300 ng/mouse)을 피하로 주사하였다. Estrogen 주사 후 6, 12시간째 자궁을 적출하여 cDNA microarray와 laser capture microdissection (LCM) 기술을 이용하여 estrogen에 의해 조절되는 유전자의 시공간적인 발현 양상을 조사하였다. 결 과: Estrogen 주사 후 6시간째에는 조사된 전체 유전자 가운데 0.9% (증가 22, 감소 49), 12시간째에는 8.4% (증가 351, 감소 287)에 해당되는 유전자가 두 배 이상 증가 혹은 감소하는 결과를 보였다. 또한 일부 증감된 유전자를 선택한 후 LCM 기술을 이용하여 시공간적인 발현양상을 확인한 결과 자궁내막상피세포에서만 estrogen에 의해 유전자의 발현이 증가되는 일부 유전자를 선별하였다. 결 론: 이상의 결과들을 종합해보면 1) estrogen에 의해 조절되는 유전자의 수나 증감의 정도는 12시간 이후에 더 많고, 크게 조절되며, 2) 유전자의 조절부위가 자궁의 특이적인 세포층에서 시공간적으로 조절됨을 의미한다. 이러한 유전자의 정보는 생리주기 또는 착상과정의 분자생물학적 기작을 이해하는 데 도움이 될 것이다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2002

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Known as a female hormone, estrogen, performs important functions, and the activities of the hormone are mediated via the estrogen receptor. The principal objective of the present study was to assess the effects of a estrogen receptor agonist in male reproductive organs. In this study, the estrogen receptor alpha agonist, PPT, was injected subcutaneously into adult male mice. The effects of PPT on the murine reproductive system were histologically assessed at 3,5, and 8 weeks after treatment. In the treatment group, reductions were observed in the weight of the body, testis and epididymis. Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter in the testis, and epithelial cell height in the epididymis during the experiment. 8 weeks after treatment, spermatogenesis was not detected, nor was the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. In the fertility test, 1 week after PPT injection, the fertilizing ability of males was decreased, and on the 2nd and 3rd weeks, complete infertility was observed. In conclusion, the injection of high concentrations of PPT into adult males induced physiological changes, including infertility, and also induced morphological changes, including a reduction in the height of epithelial cells within the reproductive system.