• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2001

Precise mechanism by which the fetus can escape from mother's immune rejection is not well understood yet over the last 50 years. The clarification of immune mechanism at the feto-maternal interface is very important, because this can be a common pathogenesis of various pathologic conditions including spontaneous abortion, habitual abortion fetal growth restriction preeclampsia, implantation failure after assisted reproductive techniques, and fetal death. In this review, current hypothetical contents were described with the priority of importance: 1) The center of this mechanism is cross-talk between the expression of HLA-C, E, G on the extravillous cytotrophoblasts and their receptors on decidual NK cell, 2) immunomodulation, 3) innate immunity is the main immunologic mechanism, 4) various mechanisms besides HLA system(eq. complement) may be associated. The overall balance of immunomodulation among these mechanisms should result in the outcome of each pregnancy. Further researches regarding the regulation of HLA system, roles of cytokines, complements should be followed in the future.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.197-208
• /
• 1995

The purpose of this study is to describe specific system manifestations and suggested nursing interventions in patients with lupus. Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystemic disorder of the immune system. Antibodies are formed which react against the person's own normal tissue. This abnormal response can be very damaging and leads to the many manifestations of the lupus. Lupus can affect any part of the body, and patients experience symptoms in organs involved. So lupus patients have integumentary, blood, central nervous system, eye, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, kidney, heart and lining membranes, reproductive system involvement. The courses are unpredictable and very individualized. Lupus varies greatly in severity from mild cases requiring minimal interventions to those in which significant damage occurs to vital organs such as the lungs, heart, kidney and brain which ultimately can be fatal. In addition to direct physical care, the nursing professional has an excellent position from which to support the lupus patient. Patients need assistance with receiving current, accurate information about the disease process and also to be helped in developing realistic expectations and goals. Nursing interventions for the patient with lupus is challenge drawing on at the resources, knowledge and strengths the nursing teams have to offer. Because of the unpredictable, highly individualized and frequently changing the nature of the disease itself as well as the intricacy of the patient's needs. The nurse has a key role in its management. The patient and nurse, working together, have much to offer each other. These are of inestimable value to the patient. As the nurse listens to the patient and learns what problems the patient perceives, can guide the patient in a self-help program that allows to adapt to living with a chronic illness.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.444-452
• /
• 2022

Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of crude protein (CP) and two rearing systems (cage and floor), on blood parameters and digestive and reproductive organ development of brown laying hens. Methods: A total of 400 Hisex Brown laying hens between 30 and 45 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design and a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with main effects including two rearing systems (cage and floor) and levels of CP (140, 150, 160, and 180 g/kg), in a total of eight treatments and five replicates of 10 birds each with initial body weight of 1,877 g (laying hen in cage) and 1,866 g (laying hens in floor). The parameters evaluated were plasma total protein, albumin, uric acid, total cholesterol, relative weights of oviduct, abdominal fat, liver, gizzard, crest and dewlap, length of small intestine and oviduct. Results: The blood parameters were similar in birds reared in cage and floor systems. The birds reared on the floor showed greater small intestine and oviduct weight (%) and lower liver and pancreas weight (%). A significant interaction was observed between factors for the relative gizzard, crest and dewlap weight, serum protein, uric acid, and total cholesterol (p<0.05). The diets with 140 g/kg CP resulted in lower serum protein and lower cholesterol in birds reared in floor system, while birds reared in cage system showed no effect of CP on both parameters. Birds reared in cage and fed with 140 and 150 g/kg CP presented lower uric acid. The group of birds reared in floor system fed 180 g/kg had greater uric acid. Conclusion: The dietary protein level can be reduced up to 140 g/kg for Hisex Brown hens (30 to 45 weeks of age) without an important effect on metabolic profile and organ development in both rearing systems.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.111-115
• /
• 2002

5-Hydroxytryptamine(5-HT; serotonin) system has been implicated in the modulation of male sexual behaviors and the secretion of reproductive hormones. In human males, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are known to improve the major male sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation, through the central nervous system-mediated pathways. As numerous hormone and local factors, 5-HT may have peripheral role in the regulation of male sexual function. The expression of 5-HT receptor subtypes in the target tissue, however, has not been explored yet. The present study was undertaken to test whether the 5-HT receptor subtypes are expressed in the reproductive tissues of male rat, especially in ejaculatory machinery such as seminal vesicle and vas deferens. To do this, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis were employed. The transcripts for the 1A, 1B and 2C subtypes of 5-HT receptor were amplified in all the tested tissues. The present study demonstrated the expression of 5-HT receptor in the rat ejaculatory machinery, suggesting that 5-HT may play a pivotal role in the male sexual function via not only central pathway but also peripheral route. Further study on the receptor subtype-specific effect and their harmonized mode of action will be needed to establish the understanding of ejaculation mechanism and drug design.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 2006

Although some phytoes rogens might have beneficiary rather than adverse effects, most endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs) are considered to be harmful to human and wildlife health through interfering the endocrine system. Previously we found that prepubertal exposure to genistein(GS), a well-known isoflavone phytoestrogen, could activate the reproductive system of immature female rats resulting precocious puberty. Interestingly, di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate(DEHP) exposure brought inverse result, a delayed puberty, in the same experimental regimen. In this study, we examined whether prepubertal exposure to GS or DEHP affect the gene expressions of estrogen receptors($ER\;{\alpha}$ and $ER\;{\beta}$) and LH receptor(LHR) which represent the maturational status of ovary and uterus in immature rats. GS (100 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 to the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 32). Similarly, DEHP(l00 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 through the day when the first V.O. in control group was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 36). To determine the transcriptional changes in the hormone receptors, total RNAs were extracted from ovary and uterus and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). In the GS group, the transcriptional activities of $ER\;{\alpha}$, $ER\;{\beta}$ and LHR in uterus and LHR in ovary were significantly increased when compared to those of control group. In the DEHP group, the transcriptional activities of all the hormone receptors measured were significantly lowered when compared to those of control group. These alteration of the reproductive hormone receptor expressions in ovary and uterus might be represent the phenotypic aspects(secondary sexual characteristics) such as tissue weights and reproductive hormone levels during perinatal period in immature female rats.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.503-513
• /
• 2008

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a sensory organ that influences social and/or reproductive behavior and, in many cases, the survival of an organism. The VNO is believed to mediate responses to pheromones; however, many mechanisms of signal transduction in the VNO remain elusive. Here, we examined the expression of proteins involved in signal transduction that are found in the main olfactory system in the VNO. The localization of many signaling molecules in the VNO is quite different from those in the main olfactory system, suggesting differences in signal transduction mechanisms between these two chemosensory organs. Various signaling molecules are expressed in distinct areas of VNO sensory epithelium. Interestingly, we found the expressions of groups of these signaling molecules in glandular tissues adjacent to VNO, supporting the physiological significance of these glandular tissues. Our finding of high expression of signaling proteins in glandular tissues suggests that neurohumoral factors influence glandular tissues to modulate signaling cascades that in turn alter the responses of the VNO to hormonal status.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.151-162
• /
• 1996

Pseudorabies is caused by Pseudorabies virus (PRV: Aujeszky's disease virus) of Herpesviridae that is characterized by 100 to 150nm in size with a linear double-stranded DNA molecule with of approximately $90{\times}10^6Da$. This disease affects most of domestic animals such as swine, cattle, dog, sheep, cat, chicken, etc. causing high mortality and economic losses. In swine, young piglets show high mortality and pregnant sows, reproductive failures. However the adult swine reveals no clinical signs in general. But they become a carrier state and play an important role for propagation of the disease. In this study, the nucleotide sequence of major casid protein gene of PRV, Yangsan strain isolated from the diseased swine in Korea was analyzed, and the recombinant MCP was produced by expression of the MCP gene in Sf-9 cell using baculovirus transfer vector system. As result, in BamHI digestion, MCP gene locus of PRV YS strain showed different from that of Indiana S strain. The patterns of enzyme mapping were also found to be unidentical each other. The sequence of the MCP gene partially analyzed showed 98.09% identity to Indiana S strain. The expression of MCP in Sf-9 cell cotransfected by pVLMCP-44 baculovirus expression vector was characterized by Southern blot hybridization, immunofluoresent and immunocytochemical tests, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The rMCP with M.W. 142kDa was most effectively expressed in Sf-9 cells at the 3-4th days post inoculation of the recombinant baculovirus by 2 moi.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2014

Palmaria palmata was integrated with Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus on a commercial farm for one year starting in November, with a temperature range of 0.4 to $19.1^{\circ}C$. The seaweed was grown in nine plastic mesh cages (each $1.25m^3$ volume) suspended in a concrete sump tank ($46m^3$) in each of three recirculating systems. Two tanks received effluent water from tanks stocked with halibut, and the third received ambient seawater serving as a control. Thalli were tumbled by continuous aeration, and held under a constant photoperiod of 16 : 8 (L : D). Palmaria stocking density was $2.95kg\;m^{-3}$ initially, increasing to $9.85kg\;m^{-3}$ after a year. Specific growth rate was highest from April to June (8.0 to $9.0^{\circ}C$), 1.1% $d^{-1}$ in the halibut effluent and 0.8% $d^{-1}$ in the control, but declined to zero or less than zero above $14^{\circ}C$. Total tissue nitrogen of Palmaria in effluent water was 4.2 to 4.4% DW from January to October, whereas tissue N in the control system declined to 3.0-3.6% DW from April to October. Tissue carbon was independent of seawater source at 39.9% DW. Estimated tank space required by Palmaria for 50% removal of the nitrogen excreted by 100 t of halibut during winter is about 29,000 to $38,000m^2$, ten times the area required for halibut culture. Fifty percent removal of carbon from the same system requires 7,200 to $9,800m^2$ cultivation area. Integration of P. palmata with Atlantic halibut is feasible below $10^{\circ}C$, but is impractical during summer months due to disintegration of thalli associated with reproductive maturation.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2001

Some of endocrine disruptors with sexual hormone-like effects have been increasingly reported to be immunotoxic in many species in recent several years. Phthalate esters have possible effects on the endocrine system. Prenatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) has been reported to impair the androgen-dependent development of the male reproductive tract in rat. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of DBP was investigated in the developing immune system of fetal and neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Timed-bred pregnant SD rats were given to the doses of 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$ body weight /day by gavage once a day from gestational day (GD) 5 to 18. On GD19 or GD22/postnatal day one (PD1), the dams were euthanized, and the changes in organ weights and thymus phenotypes were examined for their offsprings. At 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day in maternal exposure group, GD19 fetuses showed decreases in body weight. The spleen/body weight ratios were reduced in GD 19 fetuses from the dams exposed to 500 and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day. There were no significant changes in thymus and spleen cellularities though these cellularities showed a tendency to decrease in a dose dependent way. In the DBP-exsposed GD22/PD1 offsprings, the body weights, the relative organ weights and the cellularities did not exhibit alteration. Additionally, the percentages of CD3$^{+}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) and CD3$^{-}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) thymocyte subsets were not changed in any DBP-treated group. The proliferative responses of splenic T cells to Con A and B cells to LPS were decreased in all DBP-exposed GD22/PD1 offsprings.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2012

The shortage of human organs for transplantation has induced the research on the possibility of using animal as porcine. However, pig to human transplantation as known as xeno-transplantation has major problem as immunorejection. Recently, the solutions of pig to human xenotransplantation are commonly mentioned as having a genetically modification which include alpha 1, 3 galatosyl transferase knockout (GTKO) and immune-suppressing gene transgenic model. Unfortunately, the expression level of transgenic gene is very low activity. Therefore, development of gene overexpression system is the most urgent issue. Also, the tissue specific overexpression system is very important. Because most blood vessels are endothelial cells, establishment of the endothelial-specific promoter is attractive candidates for the introduction of suppressing immunorejection. In this study, we focus the ICAM2 promoter which has endothelial-specific regulatory region. To detect the regulatory region of ICAM2 promoter, we cloned 3.7 kb size mini-pig ICAM2 promoter. We conduct serial deletion of 5' flanking region of mini-pig ICAM2 promoter then selected promoter size as 1 kb, 1.5 kb, 2 kb, 2.5 kb, and 3 kb. To analyze promoter activity, luciferase assay system was conducted among these vectors and compare endothelial activity with epithelial cells. The reporter gene assay revealed that ICAM2 promoter has critical activity in endothelial cells (CPAE) and 1 kb size of ICAM2 promoter activity was significantly increased. Taken together, our studies suggest that mini-pig ICMA2 promoter is endothelial cell specific overexpression promoter and among above all size of promoters, 1 kb size promoter is optimal candidate to overcome the vascular immunorejection in pig to human xenotransplantation.