• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.651-662
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• 2006

프탈레이트 에스테르는 플라스틱 가소제로서 이용되며 또한 유제품과 같은 음식에서 미량으로 발견되고, 종종 내분비 교란물질로 의심되고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 DBP, DINP 또는 DEHA의 주산기 노출이 랫트에 있어 성 성숙 후, 번식기능 특히 뇌의 성분화에 어떤 영향을 끼치는 지에 대해 조사하였다. 이를 수행하기 위해서, 어미에게 식물성 에스트로겐의 함유가 낮은 분말 사료에 다음과 같은 단계적 농도의 DBP (20, 200, 2000, 10000 ppm), DINP (40, 400, 4000, 20000 ppm), DEHA (480, 2400, 12000 ppm)를 혼합한 후, 임신 15일째부터 출생 후, 21일째 (이유기)까지 섭취 시켰고, 성 성숙 후, 혈청 성호르몬 및 성선자극호르몬의 레벨과 교배행동 및 성주기 회귀를 분석하였다. 그 결과, DBP, DINP 또는 DEHA의 주산기 노출에 의한 생후 20~21주째의 암수 랫트에 있어, 성호르몬 및 성선자극호르몬의 레벨뿐만 아니라 암컷의 성주기의 회귀에 대해 어떠한 영향을 주지 않았다. 이것은 시상하부－하수체－성선축의 내분비계를 제어하는 뇌의 성분화에는 이들 화학물질이 영향을 주지 않았다는 사실을 시사한다. 하지만, 수컷의 성행동 특히, 사정 (ejaculation)과 암컷의 로도시스 반응이 억제되는 것이 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과로부터 DBP, DINP 또는 DEHA의 주산기 노출은 성선자극 호르몬의 분비에는 영향을 주지 않지만, 성행동을 제어하는 시상하부의 어떤 영역에 직접적으로 작용할 가능성 즉, 뇌의 성분화에 영향을 끼쳐 성 성숙 후, 성 특이적 행동을 억제시킬 가능성을 시사한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.181-191
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• 2008

목 적: 본 연구에서는 에스트로겐 수용체의 agonist로 작용할 수 있는 내분비계 교란물질인 bisphenol A (BPA)가 정소 내 세포들의 유전자 발현 및 세포자멸사에 미치는 영향을 관찰하였다. 연구방법: 그룹 I의 7주령 수컷 생쥐들에는 sesame oil에 녹인 BPA를 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg를 1회 복강주사하여 급성 영향을 조사하였고, 그룹 II의 생쥐들에는 BPA 10 ${\mu}g/kg$, 1 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg를 하루에 1회씩 14일간 피하주사하여 장기적 효과를 보았다. 생쥐의 정소를 채취하여 정소의 다양한 표지유전자들의 발현을 RT-PCR로 조사하였고, 조직학적 관찰, 형광면역염색법과 TUNEL 염색을 수행하였다. 결 과: RT-PCR 결과, 정소의 표지유전자 중 특이적으로 Leydig cell의 표지유전자인 LHR가 고농도의 BPA 처리군에서 감소되어 있었다. 정원세포 표지유전자인 ERM은 장기간 BPA를 주사 받은 생쥐들의 정소에서 감소되었다. 1회의 BPA를 주사 받은 그룹에서는 조직학적 영향은 없는 것으로 보였다. 또한 세포자멸사의 표지인 Bax가 Leydig cell이 존재하는 정소의 interstitial area에서 BPA에 의해 증가된 것을 관찰하였으며 이는 TUNEL 염색이 positive하게 나타난 부분과 일치하였다. 결 론: 본 연구는 BPA가 정소에서 주로 Leydig cell에 영향을 주며 이는 Leydig cell이 에스트로겐 수용체와 에스트로겐 합성효소를 발현하는 내분비 세포라는 사실에 부합되는 것으로, 차후 그 분자적 기작을 밝히는 연구로 이어져야 할 것이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.225-230
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• 1999

In mouse, the heat shock protein 70-2 (hsp70-2) is found to have special function in spermatogenesis. Based on the observation, the hypothesis that human hspA2 (human gene; 98.2% amino acid homology with hsp70-2) might have important function in spermatogenesis in human testes was proposed. To test the hypothesis, we examined the expression of hspA2 in human tissues. Expression vector pDMC4 for expression of the human hspA2 protein using pTricHisB (invitrogen, USA) was constructed and the expressed hspA2 protein was cross-reacted with antiserum 2A raised against mouse hsp70-2 protein. Based on the cross-reactivity, we determined the expression level of hspA2 protein in human tissues by western blot analysis using the antiserum 2A. We demonstrated that antiserum 2A antibodies detected human hspA2 protein with specificity which was produced in the E.coli expression system. On Western blot analyses, significant hspA2 expression was observed in testes with normal spermatogenesis, whereas a low level of hspA2 was expressed in testis with Sertoli-cell only syndrome. Also, a small amount of hspA2 was detected in breast, stomach, prostate, colon, liver, ovary, and epididymis. These results demonstrate that the hspA2 protein is highly expressed in male specific germ cells, which in turn suggests that hspA2 protein might playa specific role during meiosis in human testes as suggested in the murine model. However, further studies should be attempted to determine the function of hspA2 protein in human spermatogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the development rates of human embryos co-cultured with cumulus cells to each blastocyst stage. Human zygotes were co-cultured on cumulus cell monolayer in YS medium supplemented with 20% hFF. On day 2, if patient had four or more "good" embryos (regular blastomeres without fragmentation), embryos were further cultured for 72hrs. Blastocysts on day 5 were classified into early blastocyst (ErB), early expanding blastocyst (EEB), middle expanding Blastocyst (MEB), and expanded blastocyst (EdB) on the basis of their morphological aspects of trophectoderm cells and blastocoele. Subsequently, maximum 3 of best blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles. The results in this study were as follows: Patients who had four or more "good" embryos on day 2 were 498 persons, but patients whose embryos could not be transferred due to failure in development to the blastocyst stage on day 5 were 12 persons (2.4%). The development rate of embryos to the blastocyst stage was 58.2% (2,885/4,957) on day 5, and the rates that developed to the ErB, EEB, MEB, and EdB stage were 15.0% (743/4,957), 14.9% (739/4,957), 14.4% (714/ 4,957), and 13.9% (689/4,957), respectively. Total 1366 blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles (mean number=2.81). The implantation rate and the ongoing implantation rate obtained by observing the number of G-sac and FHB were 29.9% (409/1,366) and 22.5% (308/1,366), respectively. The clinical pregnancy rate was 51.2% (249/486), and the ongoing pregnancy rate' was 39.1% (190/486). Among women showing ongoing pregnancy, women with singleton were 50% (95/190), women with twin were 37.9% (72/190), and women with triplet were 12.1% (23/190). Although triplet pregnancy rate in this study was high such as 12.1%, because many blastocysts with high viability were produced in our co-culture system using cumulus cells on day 5, we really believe that a multiple pregnancy except twin should not occur by selecting good embryos for maximum two blastocyst transfer. These results demonstrate that autologous cumulus cells may be used for the production of blastocysts with high developmental competence, and the use of autologous cumulus cells to be collected easily, and to be treated conveniently at OPU must be an effective means for obtaining high implantation and pregnancy rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.419-432
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• 1999

Objective: To establish the evaluation system of the quality of oocytes on the basis of the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis, to investigate the relationships beween the incidence of cumulus cells and the outcomes of IVF-ET. Method: Thirth-four cycles undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET with tubal infertility (23 cycles) or unexplained infertility (11 cycles) were included in this study. Cumulus cell masses surrounding mature oocyte and co-culture of embryos with autologous cumulus cells during IVF-ET process. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells was assessed by apoptosis detection kit fluorescein. The effect of co-culture using cumulus cells and the incidence of cumulus cells apoptosis. Results: The results were as follows: 1. The incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells markedly increased in patients aged 40 or over, while the fertilization rate was greatly decreased in those age group. 2. Apoptosis in cumulus cells was found in both the fertilized oocytes and unfertilized oocytes, but the incidence of apoptosis was higher in unfertilized oocytes. 3. There is no clear correlation between apoptosis in cumulus cells and the number of oocytes retrieved. However, the incidence of apoptosis was increased when the number of oocytes retrieved was 5 and fewer in comparison with $6{\sim}10$. 4. Embryo grade was significantly affected by the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells. 5. Pregnancy rate of IVF-ET per cycle was 29.4%, and the pregnant group had the higher fertilization rate and a significantly lower incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells compared with the nonpregnant group. 6. When cumulus cells were used as helper cells in the co-culture of the embryo, in vitro activity of cumulus cells based on morphological change and proliferation did not influence the quality of embryo, but was closely associated with the implantation rate and pregnancy rate, which was enhanced when morphological changes and proliferation of cumulus cells was more active. 7. This difference in the outcome of IVF-ET according to in vitro activity of cumulus cells used for co-cultue was not associated with the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells; but rather had likely relations with the different secretion pattern of protein, which may be an embryo trophic factor by cumulus cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the incidence of apoptosis in cumulus cells can be used in predicting oocyte qualities and the outcomes of IVF-ET. And the effect of co-culture largely depends on the in vitro activity of cumulus cells as well.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.165-170
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• 2017

Pigs have been extensively used as mediators of xenotransplantation research. Specifically, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) miniature pig was developed to fix major histocompatibility antigens for use in xenotransplantation studies. We generated transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation using MGH pigs. However, it has not been studied yet whether these pigs show similarity of reproductive physiological characteristics to wild types of MGH miniature pig. In this study we analyzed the estrous cycles and pregnancy characteristics of wild type (WT) and transgenic MGH miniature pigs, which were ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase (GalT) heterozygous and homozygous knock-out, and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) inserted in its locus, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs. Estrous cycles of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $20.9{\pm}0.74$, $20.1{\pm}1.26$, and $17.3{\pm}0.87days$, respectively, and periods of estrous were $3.2{\pm}0.10$, $3.1{\pm}0.12$, and $3.1{\pm}0.11days$. The periods of gestation of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $114.2{\pm}0.37$, $113.3{\pm}0.67$, and $115.4{\pm}0.51days$, respectively. Litter sizes of WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were $4.8{\pm}0.35$, $4.8{\pm}1.11$ and $3.0{\pm}0.32$ respectively. There were no significant differences on estrous cycle, periods of estrous and gestation, and litter size among WT, $GalT^{-MCP/+}$ and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs, meaning that GalT knock-out and additional expression MCP of the MGH miniature pig did not effect on reproduction traits. These results provide relevant information to establish breeding system for MGH transgenic pig, and for propagation of $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pig to supply for xenotransplantation research.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.21-30
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• 1991

간흡충의 충체 부위별 항원성을 알아보고자 면역조직화차적 방법을 이용하여 간흡충의 소화기관, 생식기관, 배설기관, 흡반, 표피 등의 염색강도를 비교 관찰하였다. 간흡충 실험 감염 후 2~8주 된 토끼에서 담관 내 충체를 포함하는 간 조직을 얻어 중성 포르말린 용액에 고정하고 파라핀으로 포매한 다음 4 $\mu\textrm{m}$두께로 잘라 항원으로 이용하였다. 항-간흡충 항체(1차 항체)는 실험 감염 10주 된 고양이 혈청을 희석하여 사용하였고 peroBidaseconjugated goat anti-cat IgG를 2차 항체로 하여 간접 면역효소 염색을 시행하였다. 가장 적합한 1차 항체의 희석 농도는 1 : 1,000~1 : 2,000, 2차 항체의 희석 농도는 1 : 1,000이었다. 충체의 장 상피세포, 장 내용물 및 배설낭은 1차 항체 희석 농도 1 : 1,000~1 : 2,000에서 강한 양성 반응을 보인 반면, 자궁 및 일부 자궁 내 충란, 난관선, 웅성 생식기관 등은 1차 항체 회석 농도 1 : 1,000에서 미약한 양성 반응을 나타내었다. 한편, 흡반, 표피, 표피하 세포, 충체 실질 등은 1차 항체 회석 농도 1 : 1,000에서도 음성 반응을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면, 간흡충 감염시 숙주의 항체 반응은 충체의 소화-분비 기관에서 유래된 이른바 분비-배설 항원에 의해 가자 강력하게 유발되는 것으로 추측된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.153-165
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• 1997

In male reproducible health, fertility and IVF (in-vitro fertilization), semen analysis has been most important. Semen analysis can be divided into concentration, motional and morphological analysis of sperm. The existing method which was developed earlier to analyze semen concentrated on the sperm motility analysis. To provide more useful and precise solutions for clinical problems such as infertility, semen analysis must include sperm morphological analysis. But the traditional tools for semen analysis are subjective, imprecise, inaccurate, difficult to standardize, and difficult to reproduce. Therefore, with the help of development of microcomputers and image processing techniques, we developed a new sperm morphology analyzer to overcome these problems. In this study the agreement on percent normal morphology was studied between different observers and a computerized sperm morphology analyzer on a slide-by-slide basis using strict criteria. Slides from 30 different patients from the SNUH andrology laboratory were selected randomly. Microscopic fields and sperm cells were chosen randomly and percent normal morphology was recorded. The ability of sperm morphology analyzer to repeat the same reading for normal and abnormal cells was studied. The results showed that there was no significant bias between two experienced observers. The limits of agreement were 4.1%${\sim}$-3.8%. The Pearson correlation coefficient between readers was 0.79. Between the manual and sperm morphology analyzer, the same findings were reported. In this experiments the slides were stained by two different methods, PAP and Diff-Quik staining methods. The limits of agreement were 7.2%${\sim}$-5.7% and 6.0%${\sim}$-6.3%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients ware 0.76 and 0.91, respectively. The limits of agreement was tighter below 20% normal forms. In the experiments of repeatability, 52 cells stained by PAP and Diff-Quik staining methods were analyzed three times in succession. Estimating pairwise agreement, the kappa statistic for the pairs were 0.76, 0.81, 0.86, and 0.75, 0.88, 0.88 respectively. In this study it was shown that there was good agreement between manual and computerized assessment of normal and abnormal cells. The repeatability and agreement per slide of computerized sperm morphology analyzer was excellent. The computer's ability to classify normal morphology per slide is promising. Based on results obtained, this system can be of clinical value both in andrology laboratories and IVF units.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제61권1호
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• pp.109-115
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• 2022

난황형성과정(Vitellogenesis)은 발달하는 난모세포에 난황이 축적되는 과정으로, 이 과정의 개시는 알형성과정(oogenesis)을 제어하는 주요 메커니즘이다. 곤충생리학 모델인 노랑초파리(Drosophila melanogaster)에서 난황형성과정은 성충으로 우화한 직후 시작하여 성적 성숙이 일어나는 2-3일간 지속된다. 성숙한 난모세포가 충분히 만들어지고 성적 성숙이 종료되면, 짝짓기 후 알형성과정이 다시 시작될 때까지 난황형성과정은 멈춘다. 수컷 초파리의 정액 단백질인 성 펩타이드(Sex peptide, SP)는 짝짓기의 신호로서 알라타체(corpora allata)를 자극해 유약호르몬(Juvenile hormone, JH) 생합성 및 분비를 유도하며, 혈림프(hemolymph) JH 농도의 증가는 난황형성과정을 자극한다. 최근 연구 결과에 따르면, SP수용체 뉴런은 자궁 내막의 수상돌기를 통해 교미 중 정액과 함께 자궁으로 전달된 SP를 감지함으로써, 축삭돌기를 통해 중추신경계인 복부 신경절에 짝짓기 신호를 보내는데, 이러한 중추신경계 SP 신호가 JH 생합성 및 분비, 그리고 난황형성과정을 유도하는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 짝짓기 후 암컷에서의 난황형성과정은 일주기 리듬을 보이는데, 노랑초파리의 일주기 리듬은 중추 신경계 뉴런들에 의해 제어된다. 본 종설은 성적 성숙, 짝짓기 신호, 그리고 일주기 리듬에 따라 난황형성과정을 제어하는 신경 메커니즘에 관한 최근 연구 성과를 다룬다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2005

무척추동물에서 척추동물에 이르기까지 대부분의 난생동물들의 난황 단백질의 전구체를 vitellogenin(VTG)이라 한다. 난생 척추동물에서 VTG는 간에서 합성되어 혈액을 통해 난세포로 전이된다. 암컷 어류는 정상적인 생식주기에서 난황단백전구체 형성이 시작되면 혈중 농도는 급격히 증가하게 된다. 수컷도 VTG의 유전자를 가지고 있기 때문에 낮은 수준의 내인성 에스트로겐으로 아주 적은 양의 단백질이 있을 수 있다. 그렇지만 수컷에 외인성에스트로겐 유사물질에 노출되면 그 양은 증가하게 된다. 따라서 어류에서 VTG는 내분비계 장애물질 효과를 조사하는 유용한 생물학적 추적자로 사용할 수 있다. 이 연구에서는 에스트로겐 유사물질에 오염된 지역에 서식하는 망둑어류의 혈중 VTG의 수준을 정량할 수 있는 방법을 제공하고자 한다. 이러한 목적을 위해 꾹저구(Chaenogobius annularis)의 VTG를 분리하고, 이에 대한 단클론 항체와 다클론 항체를 제작하여 혈중 VTG 수준을 정량할 수 있는 sandwich 경합 ELISA system을 만들었다. 난황 단백질에 대한 단클론 항체와 다클론 항체를 사용한 ELISA system에 대한 타당성 검토를 하였다. 순차적으로 희석한 암 컷의 혈청에 대한 흡광도 곡선은 VTG 표준농도의 곡선과 평행하였으나 수컷의 혈청에 대한 흡광도 곡선은 평행하지 않았다. 이 VTG에 대한 sandwich ELISA system으로 꾹저구(C. annularis)의 혈중 VTG의 수준을 정량뿐만 아니라 문절망둑(Acanthogobius flaviman)과 풀망둑(A. hasta)의 혈중 VTG 수준을 정량할 수 있다.