• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.132-137
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• 2012

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a condition in which no oocytes are retrieved after an apparently adequate ovarian response to stimulation and meticulous follicular aspiration. EFS can be classified into 'genuine' and 'false' types according to hCG levels. It is a rare condition of obscure etiology. The existence of genuine EFS has been questioned and is still controversial. The limitation around EFS is that the definition of EFS is obscure. Management of patients with EFS is a challenge to physicians. No single treatment is known to be universally effective. However, patients should be adequately informed regarding the importance of correct hCG administration because improper hCG administration is a common and preventable cause of EFS. EFS is a syndrome that deserves additional study because such investigation could lead to a further understanding of ovarian biology and infertility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the impact of Rehmannioside D (RD) on ovarian functions of rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and its underlying mechanisms of action. A single injection of cyclophosphamide was performed to establish a DOR rat model, and fourteen days after the injection, the rats were intragastrically administrated with RD for two weeks. Rat estrus cycles were tested using vaginal smears. Ovarian tissues were histologically evaluated, the number of primordial, mature, and atretic follicles was calculated, and the apoptotic rate of granulosa cells. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E₂) levels were determined by ELISA assays. Protein levels of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), KLOTHO, Bcl-2, and Bax were investigated in ovarian tissues of DOR rats. The binding between FOXO1 and KLOTHO was verified by ChIP assay. High-dose administration of RD into DOR rats improved their estrus cycles, increased ovarian index, enhanced the number of primordial and mature follicles, reduced the number of atretic follicle number, and ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in addition to inhibiting FSH and LH levels and upregulating E₂ expression. FOXO1 and KLOTHO were significantly suppressed in DOR rats. FOXO1 knockdown partially suppressed the protective effects of RD on DOR rats, and KLOTHO overexpression could restore RD-induced blockade of DOR development despite knocking down FOXO1. FOXO1 antibody enriched KLOTHO promoter, and the binding between them was reduced in DOR group compared to that in sham group. RD improved ovarian functions in DOR rats and diminished granulosa cell apoptosis via the FOXO1/KLOTHO axis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.629-634
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• 2012

This study was conducted to improve the yield of mature oocytes from in vitro-culture of ovarian primary follicles by optimizing follicle retrieval from neonatal mice of different ages. Primary follicles of 75 to $99{\mu}m$ in diameter were collected daily from 7- to 14-day-old neonatal mice, and subsequently cultured in ${\alpha}$-MEM medium. Number of primary follicles isolated, growth of the follicle during in vitro-culture and maturation of intrafollicular oocytes were monitored. Overall, mean number of preantral follicles per animal was improved from 10.7 to 88.7 as the age of follicle donors was increased from 7 to 14-day-old. Number of primary follicles was increased gradually up to 11-day-old (35.7 follicle per an animal), then reduced to 29 in 14-day-old (p = 0.0013). More follicles retrieved from 10-day-old or 11-day-old females maintained their morphological normality at the end of primary culture than the follicles retrieved from 9-day-old. Of those cultured, primary follicles retrieved from 11-day-old mice yielded largest larger number of early secondary follicles than the follicles retrieved from in the other ages (39 vs. 13 to 29%). More than 3.3-times increase (0.86 to 2.86; p<0.05) in an average number of mature oocytes per animal was observed in the group of 11-day-old, compared with 9-day-old. However, no difference was found in the percentage of primary follicles developing into the pseudoantral stage (21 to 30%; p = 0.5222) and in the percentage of oocytes mucified (32 to 39%; p = 0.5792). In conclusion, a positive correlation between retrieval time and follicle growth was detected, which influences the efficiency to derive mature oocytes by follicle culture.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.769-775
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• 2000

This study was investigated the ovarian response following superovulation treatment at different day of diestrus. The criterion for the presence or absence of a dominant follicle based on their morphological examination. Dominant follicle was puntured 48 hrs before the oneset of superovulation treatment by ultrasonography guided aspiration needle. Superovulation was induced by subcutaneous administration of FSH twice a day for 4 day in a decreasing regimen. There was no significant different between presence of dominont follicle and progesterone concentration/diameter of corpus luteum in HanWoo. Number of corpus luteum of donor after superovulation treatment was not significantly different in FSH administration at day 9, 11 and day 13 of estrus($14.5{\pm}4.5$, $15.5{\pm}5.6$ and $11.0{\pm}5.5$, respectively). But, the diameter of CL was significantly correlate(R2 = 0.757) with progesterone levels on day of superovulatory induction. After 7 days of artificial insemination, the embryos at 7 days were collected by uterine flushing after dominant follicle aspiration and superovulation treatment, and evaluated their quality by morphological criteria. Fifty five embryos with excellent, good and fair grade were transferred into 24 recipient cows. Seventeen offsprings, 1 of triplet, 4 of twins and 6 of singlet, were yield from 10 recipient cow. In conclusion, the present study showed that 1) dominant follicle can be determined by ultrasonography with rectal palpation by morphological evaluations, 2) superovulation response after follicular aspiration was not differ at day 9, 11 and 13 of estrus, 3) dominant follicle did not affect to progesterone concentration and diameter of CL, and 4) diameter of CL was significantly correlate to the level of progesterone concentrations in HanWoo.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.505-513
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• 1995

P-lement의 germ line transformation을 이용하여 초파리 난소에서의 세포특이적 유전자발현 양상을 조사하였다. 표지유전자인 lacZ의 발현양상은 생식세포, 체세포, 두 종류의 세포에서 모두 발현되는 경우로 대별되며, 생식세포에서 lacZ의 발현은 조세포 또는 조세포와 난자에서 동시적으로 발현되는 경우로 구분되었다. 난자주변 난포세포에서의 lacZ 발현은 난자형성 9-10기 난포의 경우 모든 세포에서 균일하게 발현되거나 일부 세포에서만 발현되는 양상으로 구분되었다. 일부의 난포세포에서 발현되는 경우 난자와 조세포 경계의 난포세포에서 발현되는 경우, 이들을 제외한 난포세포에서 발현되는 경우로 구분되었다. 난자주위의 난포세포에서 난자의 전후축을 따른 구배현상도 관찰되었다. 극세포 또는 경계세포에서 발현되는 3개의 독립라인을 분리하였다. 독립된 EDL의 난소에서 나타난 lacZ의 발현양상은 초파리 난자형성에 관여하는 유전자의 시간과 공간적인 발현을 반영하며 이들 유전자 분리의 기초를 제공할 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.139-148
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• 2007

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1065-1074
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• 2016

Growth factors play an important role during early ovarian development and folliculogenesis, since they regulate the migration of germ cells to the gonadal ridge. They also act on follicle recruitment, proliferation/atresia of granulosa cells and theca, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation and luteinization. Among the growth factors, the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), belong to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily, have been implicated as essential for follicular development. The GDF9 and BMP15 participate in the evolution of the primordial follicle to primary follicle and play an important role in the later stages of follicular development and maturation, increasing the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression, plasminogen activator and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). These factors are also involved in the interconnections between the oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells, where they regulate absorption of amino acids, glycolysis and biosynthesis of cholesterol cumulus cells. Even though the mode of action has not been fully established, in vitro observations indicate that the factors GDF9 and BMP15 stimulate the growth of ovarian follicles and proliferation of cumulus cells through the induction of mitosis in cells and granulosa and theca expression of genes linked to follicular maturation. Thus, seeking greater understanding of the action of these growth factors on the development of oocytes, the role of GDF9 and BMP15 in ovarian function is summarized in this brief review.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.281-286
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• 1998

Premature ovarian failure is a condition causing amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism, and elevated gonadotropins in women younger than 40 years. Many causes of premature ovarian failure were reported, including genetic abnormalities, enzymatic defects, defects in gonadotropin secretion or action, autoimmune disorders, physical and idiopathic causes. Recently, Finnish group reported a point mutation in the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor gene in premature ovarian failure patients. But it was reported that the group from United States could not find any mutation in FSH receptor gene. So we analysed C566T point mutation of FSH receptor gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and compared the result between premature ovarian failure patient with idiopathic and known causes. But we did not find 556C${\rightarrow}$T mutation in the FSH receptor gene in both groups. These findings suggest that the missense mutation in the human FSH receptor gene reported in Finnish women with premature ovarian failure is uncommon in Korean women with premature ovarian failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.142-150
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• 2024

Objective: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a disorder characterized by impaired ovarian function. Sleep disorders are disruptions of the circadian rhythm, which appears to be closely linked to reproductive systems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of poor sleep quality on the ovarian reserve of childbearing-age women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in China from June 2021 to March 2023. In total, 102 participants diagnosed with chronic insomnia disorder were included in the study. Questionnaires were administered to assess participants' menstrual patterns, insomnia severity, anxiety, and depression. The anti-Müllerian hormone level and the basal antral follicle count were measured for ovarian reserve evaluation. Correlation analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were conducted. Results: The women with insomnia presented high percentages of hypomenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and dysmenorrhea (78.4%, 74.5%, and 46.1%, respectively). Severe sleep disorder in the past month was identified as an independent risk factor for hypomenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 2.64 and OR, 2.688; p<0.05). The prevalence of DOR among women with insomnia (33.3%) was significantly higher than the average reported in previous studies for young women. Insomnia duration exceeding 1 year was determined to be an independent risk factor for DOR in women aged 36 to 40 years (OR, 4.5; p=0.033). Conclusion: This study highlights the association between sleep disorders and menstrual problems. Prolonged poor sleep quality in women aged 36 to 40 years was identified as a significant risk factor for DOR. We should pay more attention to improving sleep quality in order to maintain normal ovarian function.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.15-23
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• 2006

목 적: 본 연구는 흰쥐 난소를 실험모델로 하여 미성숙 전동 난포의 성장에 대한 pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)의 영향을 얄아보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 미성숙 전동 난포를 생후 21일된 흰쥐로부터 분리하여 PACAP을 첨가하거나 첨가하지 않은 무혈청 배양액에서 3일 동안 배양하고, 푸로게스테론 호르몬의 생성, 난포의 성장, 과립막세포의 증식 및 유전자의 동태 등을 관찰하였다. 증식의 정도는 thymidine incorporation 방법으로 검색하고 유전자의 변동은 Northern 분석을 이용하였다. 결 과: PACAP으로 처리한 군은 난포의 직경이 75% 증가한 반면 난포자극호르몬인 FSH로 처리한 군은 65% 증가하였고, PACAP 처리는 과립막 세포의 증식을 강화시켰다. FSH와 PACAP 공히 배양된 흰쥐 난포의 과립막 세포와 FSH에 반응하는 세포주인 GFSHR-17에서의 프로게스테론 생성을 촉진시켰고, PACAP이 FSH의 작용을 증진시켜 SF-1과 아로마타제 유전자 발현을 촉진시켰다. 결 론: 본 연구는 PACAP이 과립막증식과 스테로이드합성을 통하여 전동 난포의 성장을 촉진함을 시사하였고, 또한, SF-1, 아로마타제 등에 대한 FSH의 작용을 도와주는 역할을 PACAP이 담당하므로 PACAP은 초기 난포성장에 필요한 난소국소인자임을 유추할 수 있었다.