• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.847-852
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• 2006

This study was designed to investigate the effects of KH204 on the relaxation response and reproductive function in male. Strips of rabbit corpus cavernosum were prepared for mounting and isometric tension measurement in an organ bath. On cavernosal strips contracted with $1{\times}10^{-6}$ phenylephrine and KH204 was applied in increasing concentrations from 0, 61, 183 and 549 mg/L, causing dose-dependent relaxation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with 61, 183 and 549 mg/kg/day of KH204 for 10 weeks. We examined organ weights, testicular sperm head counts, epididymal sperm counts, motility and morphology. KH204 relaxed rabbit corpus cavernosal strip contracted by $1{\times}10^{-6}$ phenylephrine in a dose-dependent manner. In the male rat, testicular weight was increased significantly in the KH204 treated groups compared with control group. Also in the testicular sperm head counts, epididymal sperm counts were increased significantly in the KH204-treated rats. In conclusion, the data suggest that KH204 could enhance erectile and reproductive function.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Previously, we demonstrated that the shift and/or restriction of feeding time during relatively short-term period (4 weeks) could alter the pituitary gonadotropin expression and the weights of seminal vesicle and prostate in rats. We also found that the reverse feeding (RF) schedule (up to 8 weeks) might induce an adaptable metabolic stress and cause impairment of androgen-dependent reproductive tissues. In the present study, we extended the RF time regimen up to 12 weeks, and measured the reproductive tissue weights. After 4 and 8 weeks of RF, the weights of epididymis were not significantly different. After 12 weeks, however, epididymis weights of RF animals were significantly different (CON 12W : RF 12W = $48.26{\pm}0.62mg$ : $44.05{\pm}1.57mg$, p<0.05). After 4 and 12 weeks of feeding, seminal vesicle weights of RF animals were significantly decreased (CON 4W : RF 4W = $79.36{\pm}8.34mg$ : $46.28{\pm}2.43mg$, p<0.001; CON 12W : RF 12W = $72.04{\pm}3.76mg$ : $46.71{\pm}2.27mg$, p<0.001, respectively). Prostate weights were not changed by RF. Kidney and spleen weights of RF animals were significantly different on weeks 4 and 12 (Kidney, CON 4W : RF 4W = $249.72{\pm}4.20mg$ : $228.41{\pm}3.03mg$, p<0.001; CON 12W : RF 12W = $309.15{\pm}7.49mg$ : $250.72{\pm}6.13mg$, p<0.001, respectively, Spleen, CON 4W : RF 4W = $111.26{\pm}3.76mg$ : $96.88{\pm}4.69mg$, p<0.05; CON 12W : RF 12W = $123.93{\pm}10.72mg$ : $94.68{\pm}5.65mg$, p<0.05, respectively). Histology analysis of seminal vesicle revealed that the thinner epithelial cell layers, reduced complexities of swollen papilla folding in the exocrine glands on weeks 4 and 12 of RF. There was no histological difference between control and RF group on week 8. The present study indicates that up to 12 weeks RF induced differential changes in tissue weights of male mice. In particular, seminal vesicle, kidney and spleen seemed to temporarily adapted to the RF-induced metabolic stress on week 8 of feeding schedule. These results confirmed the our previous study that the RF might induce an adaptable metabolic stress and cause impairment of androgen-dependent reproductive tissues such as epididymis and seminal vesicle as well as non-reproductive tissues such as kidney and spleen. Further studies will be needed to achieve a better understanding of the how does mealtime shift affect the reproductive function and exact nature of adaptation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is currently being a matter of concern because of its toxicity. 3-MCPD produced during the acid hydrolysis of soybean products has been reported to be mutagenic, neurotoxic, nephrotoxic and spermatotoxic. Howerer, the carcinogenicity of 3-MCPD is a controversial issue over the past several decades. 3-MCPD characteristically showed a variety of toxicities in reproductive system such as, decrease in sperm number and sperm motility, infertility, loss of sperm function, and weight decrease in ovary. Due to the toxicity of 3-MCPD, exposure to 3-MCPD has been proposed to be reduced to as low a level as technologically feasible. 3-MCPD can be detected in soy sauce or non-soy sauce products. The legal limit for 3-MCPD this year has been suggested to be 20 ppb（$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg）in the European Community. In Korea, the permissible level of 3-MCPD is expected to be 0.3 ppm. In this study, 3-MCPD was toxicologically evaluated in terms of risk assessment in humans.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.169-181
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• 2004

Uterine bleeding is a physiologic monthly event occuring during the reproductive period of the nonpregnant woman. As with any other physiologic event, normal women have different menstrual patterns and at times, it is difficult to define when normality ends and abnormality begins. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is an all-inclusive term: its diagnosis usually bepends on the exclusion of local or systemic organic causes. The term dysfunctional refers to alterations in the physiologic mechanism controlling a multitude of cyclic events in the women's reproductive function. These mechanism are primarily neuroendocrine in nature. According to oriental medicine, the Metrorrhagia(崩漏) means an abnormal bleeding of femail genetalia, and is devided to bungjung and bungha. The etiological factors of metrorrhagia are heat of blood, asthenic coldness, asthenia of chong and ren channels, deficiency of blood, deficiency of vital energy, stagnated blood, and asthenia of spleen & stomach.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2013

To overcome the difficulty of controlling stem cell fate and function in applications to regenerative medicine, a number of alternative approaches have been made. Recent reports demonstrate that a non-cellular niche modulating the biophysical microenvironment with chemical factors can support stem cell self-renewal. In our previous studies, early establishment was executed to optimize biophysical factors and it was subsequently found that the microgeometry of the extracellular matrix made huge differences in stem cell behavior and phenotype. We review here a three-dimensional, non-cellular niche designed to support stem cell self-renewal. The characteristics of stem cells under the designed system are further discussed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

The cold shock of spermatozoa is associated with oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of natural antioxidant green tea extract (GTE) in lactose-egg yolk (LEY) extender during boar sperm cooling prior to freezing. Spermatozoa were cooled to $5^{\circ}C$ for 3 h in LEY extender containing 0 (control), 1, 10, 100 or 1,000 mg/l of GTE, re-suspended with LEY-glycerol-Equex extender and cooled at $5^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. Sperm progressive motility, viability and phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation were evaluated. PS translocation was assayed by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit. The sperm function including progressive motility, viability and PS translocation was not significantly different regardless of GTE concentrations (P>0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated non-toxicity of GTE supplement in LEY extender during sperm cooling.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2021

As glucocorticoids are well-known as important regulators of stress and the immune system, their function and clinical use have elicited substantial interest in the field of reproduction. In particular, the effect of glucocorticoid therapy on endometrial receptivity during assisted reproduction, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, has led to a great deal of interest and controversy. However, previous studies have not been able to provide consistent and reliable evidence due to their small, non-controlled designs and use of different criteria. Considering the potential risk of exposure to glucocorticoids for mothers and fetuses in early pregnancy, the use of glucocorticoids in IVF cycles should be carefully evaluated, including the balance between risk and benefit. To date, there is no conclusive evidence that the use of glucocorticoids improves the pregnancy rate in IVF cycles with unselected subjects, and a further investigation should be considered with a proper study design.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10393-10396
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• 2015

Background: Endometral carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genital tract and the fourth most common cancer in women after breast, colorectal and lung cancers Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key transcription factor that regulates cellular response to hypoxia HIF-1 plays important roles in the development and progression of cancer through activation of various genes that are involved in crucial aspects of cancer biology, including angiogenesis, energy metabolism, vasomotor function, erythropoiesis, and cell survival. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between HIF-1 1772 C/T polymorphisms and endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: 75 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 75 patients whose underwent hysterectomy for non tumoral indication selected for evaluation of HIF-1 1772 C/T polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. Results: For the 1772 C/T polymorphism, the analysis showed that the T allele and genotype TT were significantly associated with endometrial cancer risk. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the C1772T polymorphism of the HIF-1a may be associated with endometrial cancers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2004

3-Monochloro-1,2-propanediol(3-MCPD) is a toxic compound, often present in different foods containing acid hydrolyzed(AH) protein, like seasonings and savory food products. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 3-MCPD on male fertility, sperm and testosterone secretion. In vivo male fertility test was performed for observing the adverse effects of 3-MCPD on the function of male reproductive system and pregnancy outcome. 0.01, 0.05, 0.25, 1 and 5 mg/kg b.w. of 3-MCPD was given daily by gavage to groups of 15 adult male SD rats for 4 weeks. At the end of pre-treatment period, males were mated overnight with normal females. Following morning, males demonstrating successful induction of pregnancy were sacrificed on that day to assess sperm parameters and histopathology of reproductive organs. The resulting pregnant females were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation to evaluate pregnancy outcome. As a result, four-week paternal administration with 3-MCPD resulted in adverse effects on male fertility and pregnancy outcome without remarkable histopathological changes in testes and epididymides; sperm motility, copulation index and fertility index were markedly decreased in the treated group and numbers of live fetuses showed steep dose-response curves. Also, spermatogenesis was investigated in this experiment. However, no effect was observed on production of sperm in testes treated with 3-MCPD for 4 weeks. Hormone assay was performed for observing the effects of 3-MCPD on testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) in blood and testes of male SD rats and cultured primary Leydig cell. In result, significant changes of related hormones did not observed by treatment of 3-MCPD. These results indicated that paternal treatment with 3-MCPD induced spermatotoxic effect, which caused an antifertility on male.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2019

We determined the risk factors for displacement of the abomasum (DA), and the relationships between DA and postpartum disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Initially, we identified the risk factors for DA using data regarding cow health and calving season from 2,208 lactations. Then, we compared the incidence of postpartum disorders, culling, death, and reproductive performance between cows with DA and their control herdmates (each n = 57). In addition, serum metabolites concentrations and milk yield were compared between cows with DA and controls (each n = 33). Ketosis (odds ratio [OR] = 9.27, p < 0.0001) and twin calves (p = 0.06) increased the risk of DA. Cows with a parity of three had a higher risk (OR = 5.23, p < 0.01) of DA than primiparous cows. Serum total cholesterol concentration was lower but non-esterified fatty acid, ${\beta}-hydroxybutyrate$, and alanine aminotransferase concentrations were higher after calving in cows with DA than in controls (p < 0.05). The removal rate from the herd by 2 months after calving was higher (p < 0.05) but milk yield 1 and 2 months after calving (p < 0.01) and the rate of first insemination by 150 days postpartum were lower (hazard ratio = 0.49, p < 0.05) in cows with DA than controls. In conclusion, higher parity, twin calves, and ketosis are risk factors for DA in dairy cows, which is associated with a higher removal rate from the herd, lower milk yield, a longer calving to first insemination interval, and unfavorable levels of metabolites related to energy and liver function.