• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2000

Annual reproductive cycle of the file fish, Thamnaconus modestus (Gunther), was histologically investigated. Samples were collected monthly in the coastal waters of Chungmun, south of Cheju Island, Korea from July 1997 to June 1999. In males and females of T. modestus GSI values reached the maximum in June and May, respectively. Reproductive cycle could be divided into the following successive stages: in females, growing stage (March to April), mature stage (April to May), spawning stage (May to June), degenerative and resting stage (July to February), and in males, growing stage (January to March), mature stage (April to May), spent stage (May to June), degenerative and resting stage (July to December), respectively. To clarify the spawning cycle of female in T. modestus, some were examined, that is, the weekly changes of GSI, detail developmental stages in the ovary and the weekly changes of sex steroid hormones ($E_2$ and T) levels in plasma during the spawning period. Throughout histological observation of the ovary during the spawning period, T. modestus belonged to an asynchronous and multiple spawner. Changes of plasma $E_2$ and T levels were similar to the changes of GSI and ovary maturity.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2003

Reproductive cycle, gonadal development and the spawning period of the Korean anchovy Coilia nasus were investigated by histologhical observations. Samples were collected at the coastal area of Geumgang dyke which is connected to Gunsan and Janghang, Korea, from February 2002 to January 2003. C. nasus is dioecious; the ovary consists of a pair of saccular structure with many ovarian lobules, and the testis consists of a pair of lobular structure with many testicular lobules and connected to the posterior seminal vesicle. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) began to increase in April when seawater temperature increased and reached the maximum in June when the ovary was getting mature, the summer season of longer day length with higher water temperature. The reproductive cycle can be classified into five successive stage in females: early growing stage (February to March), late growing stage (March to April), mature stage (May to June), ripe and spent stage (June to July), and recovery and resting stage (July to January): in males, the cycle can be divided into four successive stages; growing stage (February to April), mature stage (May to July), ripe and spent (June to July), and recovery and resting stages (July to January). According to the frequency distributions of egg diameters in the spawning season. C. nasus is presumed to be summer spawning species and polycyclic species to spawn 2 times or more during the spawning season.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2016

The long lived iteroparous conifers produce male and female gametophyte for hundreds of years once they reach the reproductive stage, however, the production of seed is not frequent. This phenomenon of infrequent seed production in conifers is yet to be understood. An attempt to study this change in cone production in Cedrus deodara of Western Himalayas -a species reported to be mainly monoecious and rarely dioecious has been made. The observations recorded on selected trees of flowering/fruiting stage for four years at four different locations have shown the species to be dioecious with higher percentage of female trees during good seed year but with no definite or predictable pattern of reproduction in the trees. A decline in production of female trees was witnessed at all but one location immediately year after reaching the maximum (good seed year). The phenomenon of seed production has been observed to be cyclic and site specific. A change in the sexual behavior of the trees from male to female or vice-versa, male or female turning monoecious or vegetative and vegetative coming to reproductive was unpredictable.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2013

Although assisted reproductive technology is very useful to develop novel and therapeutic biomaterials for reproduction, research on molecular mechanism of folliculogenesis in pig is not clear. Therefore, the alteration of gene expression during follicular development in pigs was examined in this study. The expression of folliculogenesis-related genes was quantified in preantral ($250{\sim}300{\mu}m$) and antral (> $300{\mu}m$ in diameter) follicles, and overall gene expression was evaluated by a genome-wide microarray. The microarray results showed that 219 genes were differentially expressed, and of those, 10 and 22 known genes showed higher and less expression at the preantral stage than at antral stages, respectively. Among them, the expression of NR0B1, PPARG, GATA4, and ANXA2 genes related to folliculogenesis was validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The expression of PPARG and GATA4 genes were increased at antral stages, but a significantly stage-specific increase (p<0.05) was only detected in annexin A2 (ANXA2) in antral-stage follicles. The expression of NR0B1 genes was increased at preantral stage and these patterns of gene expression were comparable to the results obtained by microarray analysis. We propose that the systematical regulation of genes supporting specific follicle stage should be employed for improved in-vitro folliculognesis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.519-525
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• 2011

Growth hormone (GH) is obligatory for growth and development. But, there is controversy on the GH effect about reproductive processes of sexual differentiation, pubertal maturation, gonadal steroidogenesis, gametogenesis and ovulation. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of GH on estrus, ovulation and embryo implantation. The results obtained were as follows. GH stimulated to increase estrus rate (p<0.05), pregnancy rate (p<0.05), and total fetus number in mice treated for superovulation. Also, the correlation between GH and steroids, E2 and P4, at peri-estrus stage/ peri-ovulation stage/ peri-implantation stage of the superovulation-induced mice was examined. Consequently, GH co-injected with PMSG especially increased P4 level (p<0.05) at peri-estrus stage of superovulationinduced mice. In conclusion, GH co-treatment in superovulation system boosted the rate of estrus, pregnancy and total fetus by increasing progesterone level at peri-estrus stage of superovulation-induced mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.245-262
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• 2020

In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionized global healthcare and has been predicted to exert a remarkable effect on clinical medicine. In this context, the clinical use of nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and the management of infertility and other pathologies linked to pubertal development, menopause, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has substantial promise to fill the existing lacunae in reproductive healthcare. Of late, a number of clinical trials involving the use of nanoparticles for the early detection of reproductive tract infections and cancers, targeted drug delivery, and cellular therapeutics have been conducted. However, most of these trials of nanoengineering are still at a nascent stage, and better synergy between pharmaceutics, chemistry, and cutting-edge molecular sciences is needed for effective translation of these interventions from bench to bedside. To bridge the gap between translational outcome and product development, strategic partnerships with the insight and ability to anticipate challenges, as well as an indepth understanding of the molecular pathways involved, are highly essential. Such amalgamations would overcome the regulatory gauntlet and technical hurdles, thereby facilitating the effective clinical translation of these nano-based tools and technologies. The present review comprehensively focuses on emerging applications of nanotechnology, which holds enormous promise for improved therapeutics and early diagnosis of various human reproductive tract diseases and conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2004

We investigated the reproductive cycle with gonadal development of the female Cyclina sinensis by histological observations and seasonal changes in biochemical components of the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues were studied by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2001. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (February to April), late active stage (March to June), ripe stage (May to August), partially spawned stage (July to October) and spent/inactive stage (September to February). Total protein contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in February (early active stage) and appeared the minimum in June (ripe stage), while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in the late active and ripe stages (June) and gradually decreased from July (partially spawned stage) to November (spent/inactive stage). Changes in total protein contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.499, p = 0.099). Total lipid contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in January (the inactive stages) and their contents gradually decreased from February. Their contents in the visceral mass tissues, however, reached the maximum in June (late active and ripe stage) and gradually decreased from July (the partially spawned stage). On the whole, total lipid contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.631, p < 0.05). Therefore, These results indicate that the nutrient contents of the adductor muscle and visceral muscle tissues change in response to gonadal energy needs. Glycogen contents in the adductor muscle tissue reached the maximum in March (early and late active stages) and decreased from July to September (partially spawned stage). while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in June (late active and ripe stages) and gradually decreased from July (partially spawned stage). Thereafter, their levels gradually increased in November (spent/inactive stage). On the whole, changes in glycogen contents appeared negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues. However, they showed no significant different (r = -0.307, p = 0.331).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2000

Objective: To verify the effect of Matrigel, a ECM complex from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse sarcoma on the preimplantation development and apoptosis of mouse fertilized eggs. Method: Late pronucleus stage eggs were cultured through the blastocyst stage in the presence of Matrigel (0.5%, v/v). Characteristics of apoptosis and cell number assesed by Hoecst staining and TUNEL labeling at the blastocyst stage, respectively. Results: Morphological development, number of cells per embryo was significantly increased but rate and number of TUNEL positive nuclei of the embryo were decreased in the presence of Matrigel. Conclusion: This result suggested that at low concentration of Matrigel improves both viability and morphological development in the preimplantation mouse embryos.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2007

Gonadal development, reproductive cycle and sex ratio of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus were investigated monthly by histological observations. Samples were collected from May 2006 to April 2007 in the Gangjin Bay of Namhea, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The clams are dioecious. The gonads consist of a number of oogenic follicle and acinus. Monthly changes in the gonad index reached a maximum in April and a minimum in July. Monthly changes in the condition index reached a maximum in June and a minimum in November. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the recovery and resting stage (June to December), early active stage (January to April), late active stage (February to July), ripe stage (March to October), spent stage (April to October). The main spawning of the clam occurred in July and September in Gangjin Bay. The sex ratio of female to male was not significantly different from 1:1.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2010

Reproductive biology of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus was investigated based on the samples captured in Jinhae Bay, the East China Sea from January to December 2002. The gonad index (GI) began to increase in January, reached the maximum value in March. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the early active stage (from November to January), the late active stage (from December to February), the ripe stage (from February to May and October), the spawned stage (from May to December), and inactive stage (from November to December). The spawning period was from April to December, and the main spawning occurred between June and August. The shell length at 50% group maturity was estimated to be 71.85 mm. The Sex ratio of this species was not significantly different a 1:1 sex ratio (P > 0.05).