• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2013

Methoxychlor (MXC) was developed to be a replacement for the banned pesticide DDT. HPTE [2,2-bis (p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane], which is an in vivo metabolite of MXC, has strong oestrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. MXC and HPTE are thought to produce potentially adverse effects by acting through oestrogen and androgen receptors. Of the two, HPTE binds to sex-steroid receptors with greater affinity, and it inhibits testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells by inhibiting cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity and cholesterol utilisation. In a previous study, MXC was shown to induce Leydig cell apoptosis by decreasing testosterone concentrations. I focused on the effects of MXC on male mice that resulted from interactions with sex-steroid hormone receptors. Sex-steroid hormones affect other organs including the kidney and liver. Accordingly, I hypothesised that MXC can act through sex-steroid receptors to produce adverse effects on the testis, kidney and liver, and I designed our experiments to confirm the different effects of MXC exposure on the male reproductive system, kidney and liver. In these experiments, I used pre-pubescent ICR mice; the puberty period in ICR mice is from postnatal day (PND) 45 to PND60. I treated the experimental group with 0, 100, 200, 400 mg MXC/kg b.w. delivered by an intra-peritoneal injection with sesame oil used as vehicle for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed under anaesthesia. The testes and accessory reproductive organs were collected, weighed and prepared for histological investigation. I performed a chemiluminescence immune assay to observe the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Blood biochemical determination was also performed to check for other effects. There were no significant differences in our histological observations or relative organ weights. Serum testosterone levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner; a greater dose resulted in the production of less testosterone. Compared to the control group, testosterone concentrations differed in the 200 and 400 mg/kg dosage groups. In conclusion, I observed markedly negative effects of MXC exposure on testosterone concentrations in pre-pubescent male mice. From our biochemical determinations, I observed some changes that indicate renal and hepatic failure. Together, these data suggest that MXC produces adverse effects on the reproductive system, kidney and liver.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 1985

The mechanism of reproductive cycle of longchin goby Chasmichthys dolichognathus was investigated for the annual variations of gonadosomatic index(GSI), histological changes of gonad, reproductive cycle, and initiating and terminating factors of the breeding season. The experimental fish were captured in the tide pool of Tongbaeksom, Pusan, Korea from February 1983 to September 1984. Experimental fish for the study of initiating and terminating factors of the breeding season were maintained in filtered recirculating aquariums and exposed to various temperature and photoperiod regimes. The ovary is a pair of sac-shaped organ, and the testicular structure is tubular and it is connected to the seminal vesicle which is located at the posterior end of the testis. GSI began to increase from February when the water temperature began to increase and reached peak in April. It began to decrease from August, the top water temperature season, and maintained relatively low values until January. The annual reproductive cycle includes successive six developmental stages : early growing from December to February, late growing from January to March, early mature from February to May, late mature and ripe from March to August, spawning from April to July, degeneration and resting stage from May to December. An experimental study based on the reproductive cycle of this species indicated that rising temperature under long photoperiod during spring stimulated gonadal maturation, whereas terminating factor of the breeding season with recrudescence of the gonads was demonstrated as high water temperature during summer regardless of photoperiod.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1983

This study was carried out to investigate ontogeny of stomata and aerenchyma tissue in Trapa natans L. var. bispinosa Makino, an aquatic plant. Ontogeny of stomata in this plant was an aperigenous type surrounding with 5 to 8 epidermal cells without subsidiary cells. Stomata were distributed abundantly on the upper surface of leaf, however, no stoma was found on the lower surface of leaf, and on the epidermis of reproductive organ, petiole and stem. Ontogency of aerenchyma tissue was progressed with five steps; 1) formation of angular cells by division of cortex cells, 2) development of small and large globular cells in accompany with schizogenous intercellular space, 3) enlargement of globular cells and more expansion of intercellular space, 4) cell induction of long elliptic and triarmed shape, 5) completion of the largest intercellular space from endodermis toepidermis. During the growth period two types of leaf were appeared at each node of stems; one type was a submerged and early-fallen leaf, the other was a floating leaf on water surface.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.631-635
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• 2009

The heat shock transcription factor (HSF) family consists of at least three members in mammals and regulates expression of heat shock proteins in response to heat shock and proteotoxic stresses. Especially, HSF1 is indispensable for this response. Members of this family are also involved in development of some tissues such as the brain and reproductive organs. However, we did not know the molecular mechanisms that regulate developmental processes. Involvement of HSFs in the sensory development was implicated by the finding that human hereditary cataract is associated with mutations of the HSF4 gene. Analysis of gene-disrupted mice showed that HSF4 and HSF1 are required for the lens and the olfactory epithelium, respectively. Furthermore, a common molecular mechanism that regulates developmental processes was revealed by analyzing roles of HSFs in the two developmentally-related organs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1995

DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, was administered at dose levels of 0, 0.2, 0.6 and 1.8 mg/kg/day intravenously to pregnant New Zealand White rabbits from day 6 through 18 of gestation. The does were subjected to the caesarean section on day 28 of gestation. Effects of test agent on general toxicity of does and embryonic development of F1 fetuses were examined. At 1.8 mg/kg, the organ weight for ovary of does was significantly decreased. The decrease in the number of corpus lutea, implantations and litter size, and the increase in the rate of resorptions were also observed. In addition, various types of external, visceral and skeletal malformations occurred in fetuses at an incidence of 7.7, 7.7 and 20.6%, respectively. The results show that the no effect dose levels (NOELs) of DA-125 are 0.6 mg/kg/day for does and F1 fetuses.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.234.2-234
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• 1998

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2001

The background control data were compiled from rat developmental toxicity studies con-ducted at Toxicology Research Center, KRICT during the 1993-1999 period. These data were assembled in order to provide background in formation for the maternal and fetal data collected in 13 developmental toxicity studies using Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 325 mated females were used in these studies during the seven-year period and overall pregnancy rate of these females was 93.8%. The present background control data included body weights, food consumption, hematological values, and organ weights of pregnant females, caesarean section data, and fetal examination data. These data can be used not only as a historical database for the meaningful interpretation of data from reproductive and developmental toxicity studies, but also as a contribution to biological characterization oj Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.160-160
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• 2003

Plasma melatonin in the seasonal light-period is circadian rhythmically secreted. Maximal secretion showed at 14 o'clock in summer- and winter-like period, but minimal secretion showed at 5 o'clock in summer-like period and at 8 in winter-like period. These times of minimal secretions were at the beginning of light period. Plasma melatonin in the light period is secreted 62.5% more than in the dark period in summer-like period and 45.9% more in winter-like period. Total plasma melatonin in winter-like period is secreted 56.5% more than in summer-like period. The weights of testis(-20.8%) and body(-7.1%) were reduced in the winter-like period. By the increase of plasma melatonin in mice, body- and testis-weights are decreased, on the contrary by the decrease of plasma melatonin in mice, body and testis weights are increased. In view of the results so far achieved melatonin changes on the body weight and reproductive organ in mice. It is presumed that melatonin effects on the metabolism and sex hormone.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2001

Endocrine disruption in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) living in the branch of Han River were examined. Vitellogenin level in plasma was measured using ELISA system and aromatase mRNA level in brain was observed using RT-PCR technique. In all female fish, vitellogenin levels were in the range of 20∼40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and aromatase mRNA expression could be detected on the agarose gel after RT-PCR. However, in case of males, vitellogenin level was elevated in only one fish, while vitellogenin was hardly detected in others. Aromatase was expressed in all males although the levels were relatively lower than the level in female fish. Testis-ova and any other histological changes of reproductive organ were not shown in both sexes.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2003

Plasma melatonin in the seasonal light-period is circadian rhythmically secreted. Maximal secretion showed at 14 o'clock in summer- and winter-like period, but minimal secretion showed at 5 o'clock in summer-like period and at 8 in winter-like period. These times of minimal secretions were at the beginning of light period. Plasma melatonin in the light period is secreted 62.5％ more than in the dark period in summer- like period and 45.9％ more in winter- like period. Total plasma melatonin in winter-like period is secreted 56.5％ more than in summer-like period. The weights of testis (-20.8％) and body (-7.1％) were reduced in the winter-like period. By the increase of plasma melatonin in mice, body - and testis -weights are decreased, on the contrary by the decrease of plasma melatonin in mice, body and testis weights are increased. In view of the results so far achieved melatonin changes on the body weight and reproductive organ in mice. It is presumed that melatonin effects on the metabolism and sex hormone.