• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.189-197
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• 2006

Prolactin (PRL) is a pituitary hormone involved in various physiological processes, including lactation, mammary development, and immune function. To further investigate the in vivo and comparative endocrine roles of PRL, mouse PRL cDNA fused to the cytomegalovirus promoter, was introduced into muscle by direct injection. Previously we studied the function of rat PRL using the same protocol. PRL mRNA was detected in the muscle following injection by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern blot analysis. PRL was also detected and Western blot analysis revealed a relatively high level of serum PRL. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected female mice, the estrous cycle was extended, especially in diestrus stage and the uterus thickening that was shown in normal estrous stage was not observed. In the pCMV-mPRL-injected male mice, new blood vessels were first found at 5 weeks of age and fully developed blood vessels were found after 8 weeks in the testis. The number of Leydig cells increased within the testis and the testosterone level in serum was observed high. Finally, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) increased in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. The augmentation of WBCs persisted for at least 20 days after injection. When injection was combined with adrenalectomy, there was an even greater increase in number of WBCs, especially lymphocytes. This increase was returned normal by treatment with dexamethansone. Taken together, our data reveal that intramuscularly expressed mouse PRL influences reproductive functions in female, induces formation of new blood vessels in the testis, and augments WBC numbers. Of notice is that the Leydig cell proliferation with increased testosterone was conspicuously observed in the pCMV-mPRL-injected mice. These results also suggest subtle difference in function of PRL between mouse and rat species.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.29-43
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• 1990

The purpose of this study is to investigate the vairous change in the toxicity of cadmium by the simultaneous administration of selenium and zinc, which have been reported to change -the toxicity of cadmium through the interaction with cadmium, to rat. For the experiment, 42 rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were used. The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups: a control group, a cadmium (100ppm) alone treatment group, a cadmium (100ppm) and zinc (100ppm) combined treatment group, and three cadmium (100ppm), zinc (100ppm) and selenium (1, 4, and 8ppm) combined treatment groups. The rats were allocated seven to each group and observed for seven weeks. The results of experiment are as follows: 1. The food consumptions of each group were reduced, compared with a control group, especially, in a cadmium and zinc combined treatment group and a cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium(1ppm) combined treatment group to the significant level compared with a control group (p < 0.05). The water consumptions of each group were reduced to the very significant level compared with a control group (p < 0.01). The feed efficiencies of each group were lower than a control group, and among them the highest group was cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium (8ppm) combined treatment group as 90% of a control group. 2. In all groups, the weight gains were highest in the second week and the total weight gains were reduced to the very significant level compared with a control group (p < 0.01). 3. In all groups, the relative weights of liver were reduced, compared with a control group, especially, a cadmium alone treatment group was reduced to the significant level (p < 0.05). The relative weight of kidney was high to the significant level in a cadmium alone treatment group (p < 0.05) compared with a control group. In all groups, the relative weights of testis were reduced, compared with a control group, but the levels were not significant. 4. The accumulation of cadmium was highest in the kidney and the order of height was in liver, testis and blood, respectively. In all groups, the amount of cadmium accumulation was high to the very significant level compared with a control group (p < 0.01). In liver, the amount of acdmium accumulation in. a cadmium alone treatment group was high to the significant level compared with a cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium (8ppm) combined treatment group (p < 0.05), and in kidney, the amount of cadmium accumulation in a cadmium alone tretment group was high to the very significant level compared with the cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium (4, 8ppm) combined treatment groups (p < 0.01). However, in testis, among the treatment groups the level was not significant and in blood, a cadmium alone treatment group was low to the significant level compared with the cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium (4, 8ppm) combined treatment groups (p < 0.05). 5. According to the histopathological finding on the testis, some of the seminiferous tubules of a group treated with cadmium alone showed severe necrosis and atrophy. But the testis of cadmium $\cdot$ zinc and selenium (8ppm) combined treatment group was similar to that of a control group. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the repeated simultaneous oral administration of large doses of selenium with the cadmium produces the partial amelioration of cadmium toxicity, whereas zinc does not.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2024

Present study aimed to investigate the temporal changes in expression of some reproductive hormones in testis, originally found in hypothalamus and pituitary. Rats were sacrificed on postnatal day 23 (PND23; immature), pubertal (PND53) and PND 81 (young adult). The testicular RNAs were extracted, and semi-quantitative PCRs for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), kisspeptin 1 (KiSS1), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), LH subunits and LH receptor were performed. Transcript levels of GnRH and KiSS1 at PND23 were significantly higher than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). PACAP mRNA level at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA levels of both testis type and pituitary type luteinizing hormone β subunit (tLHβ and pLHβ, respectively) at PND23 were significantly lower than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA level of glycoprotein hormone common alpha subunit (Cgα) at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). Present study revealed the intratesticular expression of KiSS1 and GnRH showed a very similar trend while the expression of PACAP in the testis showed reversed pattern. The expressions of LHβ subunits (tLHβ and pLHβ) were very low during immature stage then increased significantly during puberty and early adulthood. Our attempt to study the local role(s) of intratesticular factors will be helpful to achieve precise understanding on the testis physiology and pathology.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.351-360
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• 2008

These experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Gamdutang on the accumulation of cadmium in the body of groups of rats that received an 8-week administration of 1.7, 3.4 and $6.8{\mu}g$/g/day of cadmium, respectively, while the other groups of rats received an 8-week administration of a mixture of cadmium by concentration and Gamdutang. A comparative analysis of these groups was conducted in respect of weight, accumulated cadmium in blood and diverse organs and pathological findings from the kidneys. As for the cadmium accumulation in blood, livers, kidneys, and testis, with the lengthening of the experiment period, the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups tended to have reduced accumulation levels compared with the groups exclusively administered cadmium. Histopathological observation of the kidneys, observed in the cadmium exclusively administered groups showed hemorrhagic necrosis in glomeruli, swelling of tubules, epithelial shedding and necrosis of tubules; however, only mild tissue lesions were observed in the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups. Given the above results, Gamdutang is deemed to have the effects of reducing the accumulation of cadmium in blood, liver, and testis when low-concentration cadmium is administered to rats.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.537-545
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• 2006

CMTM/CKLFSF is a novel family of proteins linking chemokines and TM4SF. In humans, these proteins are encoded by nine genes, CKLF and CMTM1-8/CKLFSF1-8. Here we report the characteristics and expression profile of CMTM3/CKLFSF3. Human CMTM3/CKLFSF3 has a high sequence identity among various species and similar characteristics as its mouse and rat homologues. Established by results both of RT-PCR and Quantitative Real-time PCR, the gene is highly transcribed in testis, leukocytes and spleen. For further verification, we generated a polyclonal antibody against human CMTM3/CKLFSF3 and found that the protein is highly expressed in the testis and some cells of PBMCs. Therefore, CMTM3/CKLFSF3 is an evolutionarily conserved gene that may have important roles in the male reproductive system and immune system. Further studies are necessary to validate its functions in the two systems.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.55-61
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• 1985

Our country has been produced much amounts of panax ginseng roots which has a stimulating effects on the metabolism of protein, lipid and nucleic acids in the body. And the leaf trunk of panax ginseng were also produced a considerable amounts as the by - products. Therefore, this study was devised to observe the nutritional effect to rats feeding of rice diet supplemented with by - products of panax ginseng, male Albino rats of pure strain weighing 73.8 ${\pm}$ 0.7 g were used as experimental animal to investigate the changes of cholesterol in heart and testis. The animals were divided into sixteen diet group, they were the protein contents of 9%, 12%, 15% and 18% supplemented with 2% panax ginseng roots and its by - products respectively. The group without the supplements were used as the control. The diet group were again divided into 2 groups according to the feeding terms, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. It is concluded that the free from cholesterol and total cholesterol contents in the heart and testis with the supplements of panax ginseng roots and its by - products showed significant difference compared to the control group.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.385-389
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• 2004

A novel gene Jpk, originally isolated as a trans-acting factor associating with the position-specific regulatory element of murine Hox gene has been reported to be expressed differentially in the liver of diabetic animals. Therefore, in an attempt to develop a possible diagnostic marker and/or new therapeutic agent for the Diabetes Mellitus, we analysed the expression pattern of Jpk among organs of normal and diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Total RNAs were isolated from each organs (brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, blood, and testis) of diabetic and normal rats in both normal feeding and after fasting condition. And then RT (reverse transcription) PCR has been performed using Jpk­specific primers. The Jpk gene turned out to be expressed in all organs tested, with some different expression profiles among normal and diabetes, though. Upon fasting, Jpk expressions were reduced in all organs tested except kidney, muscle and brain of normal rat. Whereas in diabetes, Jpk expressions were increased in all organs except heart, muscle and testis when fasted. Compared to the normal rat, the Jpk expression level in blood was remarkably upregulated (about 15-30times) in diabetic rat whether in normal feeding or fasting conditon, suggesting that the Jpk could be a candidate gene for the possible blood diagnostic marker for the Diabetes Mellitus.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.133-144
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• 2000

Objective: Several water channels (aquaporins; AQP) that belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family have identified. In the selected tissues including red blood cells or renal tubules, water movements are abundant and/or physiologically important. Unexpectedly, a high water permeability of human and ram sperm has been reported. Recent studies showed that AQP7 and AQP8 are present in testes, so that the high water permeability of human sperm suggested to be mediated by AQPs. Method: To identify the identity of aquaporins expressed in testes, RT-PCR was performed using degenerative primers, which were designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences surrounding the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs in the aquaporins. New expressed AQP series were reconfirmed by immunohistochemical study using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Results: DNA sequencing of PCR products revealed that AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA as well as AQP7 and AQP8 are expressed in human and rat testes. In human and rat testes, AQP2 are expressed in spermatozoa, interstitial cells and myofibroblasts and AQP3 are expressed in myofibroblasts of semineferous tubules on immunocytochemical stain. Conclusion: These results indicate that multiple aquaporins are expressed in testes, and that they may have important roles in the spermatogenesis and the germ cell function of testis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.155-161
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• 2012

Germ cell-specific hyaluronidases such as sperm adhesion molecule 1 (SPAM1) and hyaluronoglucosaminidase 5 (Hyal5) are in part responsible for dispersal of the cumulus cell mass, which is a critical step in establishing fertilization in mammals. In this study, we identified two testis-hyaluronidases, SPAM1 and Hyal5, in hamster and rat. These two genes were expressed specifically in the testis. At the protein level, hamster SPAM1 and Hyal5 display 78.7% and 75.4% identity with mouse SPAM1 and Hyal5. Further, the activity of the enzymes with respect to cumulus cell dispersion did not differ, although we observed that the enzymatic activity differed in pH range. These studies suggest that different sperm hyaluronidases are capable of dispersing the cumulus cell mass despite differences in enzyme activity.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2005년도 춘계 국제심포지엄 및 학술대회
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• pp.190-190
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• 2005