• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.77-81
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• 1984

Epididymal biopsy has been performed without consideration of the possibility of epididymal ductal severance and obstruction which result in obstructive azoospermia. An attempt was made to study the effect of the epididymal biopsy on the obstruction of the epididymal ducts. Bilateral epididymal biopsies were done in 8 healthy rabbits (New Zealand White strain) weighing over 3 kg, and then ejaculated semens have been analyzed 5 times every other week from 1 month after biopsies. Microscopic examination of the biopsied epididymides was also done after the 5th semen analysis. The results were as follows. 1. Semen analysis: 6 out of 8 rabbits showed azoospermia from the 4th semen analysis and 2 cases showed normal number of the sperms in the 5th semen analysis. 2, Microscopic examination: 6 cases of azoospermia showed complete obstruction of the biopsied sites of the epididymides, and abscence of sperms in epididymal ducts distal to the biopsied sites of the epididymides. However, recanalization of the epididymal ducts was noted in 2 cases showing normal sperm count. Therefore, it is concluded that the epididymal biopsy should be avoided in patients who want to be fertile, because it may cause the epididymal severance and obstruction of the epididymal ducts.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2020

The fat pad defined as the epididymal fat is located at the head part of the epididymis. However, another fat mass is present near the caudal epididymis, named tail epididymal fat. The present research was focused to determine the expression of adipocyte-associated molecules in the mouse tail epididymal fat at different postnatal ages, including 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of age. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed continuous increases of expression levels of delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1, leptin, and resistin as postnatally aged. The transcript level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was the highest at 5 months of age, remaining at a steady level until 12 months of age. Expression levels of fatty acid binding protein 4, leptin, and adiponectin were significantly increased until 8 months of age, persisting the level at 12 months of age. The transcript level of fatty acid synthase was significantly increased at 8 months of age, without a further change of the level at 12 months of age. These findings exhibited the expression of adipocyte-associated genes which were also detected at the ordinary epididymal fat pad. However, expression patterns of these genes in the tail epididymal fat are different with those in the distal and proximal epididymal fat, suggesting distinct characteristics and/or functions of the tail epididymal fat.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2019

The epididymal fat pad is a male gonadal adipocyte tissue and is histochemically separated into distal and proximal parts. The development of epididymal fat during postnatal period has not been examined in detail. A previous research showed that expression of adipocyte-associated molecules in the distal epididymal fat of mouse is generally increased as postnatally aged. In the present study, expressional patterns of same adipocyte-associated molecules in the mouse proximal epididymal fat at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of age were studied by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and were compared with those in the distal epididymal fat. The expressional levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), and fatty acid synthase (Fasn) at 5 months of age were significantly lower than those at 2 months of age, while transcript level of leptin (Lep) at 5 months was higher than that at 2 months of age. The transcript levels of all molecules at 8 months of age were significantly increased, compared with those at 2 and 5 months of age. At 12 months of age, expression of delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1) was further significantly increased, while there was no change on the transcript level of Pparg and significant decreases of Fabp4, Retn, Lpl, Lep, Fasn, and adiponectin (Adipoq) transcript levels. The current findings show that expressional patterns of molecules associated with adipocyte in the proximal epididymal fat is somewhat different with those of the distal epididymal fat, suggesting the existence of regional variance in the epididymal fat.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.264-274
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• 1989

본 실험은 생쥐에서 부정소액내의 단백질 성분과 조성에 미치는 정소액과 정자의 영향을 알아보기 위하여, 성적 성숙시기에 따라 정소와 부정소의 조직분화 양상을 관찰하였으며, 강소분화 특징에 따라 체취한 부정소액은 전기영동법으로 단백질을 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 정소와 부정소는 생후 10일군에서 미분화 상태였고, 20일군에서 세정관의 강소는 형성되지 않았으나 부정소는 두부에서 미부에까지 강소가 형성되었으며, 35일군에서는 정소내 세정관의 강소가 형성되었고 정세포는 정자로 분화되었고, 부정소의 상피세포는 principal cell과 clear cell로 분화되었으나 부정소로 유입된 정자는 없었다. 80일군에서는 정소와 부정소가 완전히 본화되었고 부정소로 유입된 많은정자가 관찰되었다. 그리고 부정소액의 전기영동상에는 혈청내의 성분과 다른 단백질이 모두 28종이 나타났는데, 그 중 12종은 부정소액에만 존재하는 부정소 특이단백질이었고, 16종은 정소액에도 공통으로 존재하는 단백질이었다. 또한 이 단백질들은 성숙시기에 따라 종류가 다르게 나타났으며, 성체에서 나타난 3종의 단백질은 부정소의 부위에 따라 양적인 변화를 나타냈다. 이상의 결과로 보아 부정소액내 단백질의 성분과 조성은 정자를 포함한 정소액의 유입과 부정소 상피세포의 분비 및 흡수의 조절작용에 의하여 변화되는 것으로 사료된다. 따라서 부정소액내의 TEP와 ESP는 부정소 정자의 성숙에 어떤 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 1994

The effect of diets(high fat, high fat high energy, pectin, cellulose) on adipocyte of epididymal fat pads were investigated in 70 male rats for 8 weeks. The rats were assigned to a control(C), high fat(HF) and high fat high energy(HFHE) group for 4 wks. During the next 4 wks, reassigned to one of three treatments (high fat, pectin supplemented, cellulose supplemented) in the HF group and one of three treatment (high fat high energy, pectin, cellulose) in the HFHE group. Therefore, the total experimental groups were 7 (C, HF, HF-P, HF-C, HFHE, HFHE-P, HFHE-C). Parameters evaluated and compared for each diet were body weight, total energy intake, feed efficiency ratio and weight changes in epididymal fat pads. The results are summarized as follows ; 1) There was no significant difference in body weight gain among the groups. 2) Total energy intake was higher in the C group than other groups. 3) Feed efficiency ratio (F.E.R) of the HF and HFHE groups were greater than C group(2, 4 weeks). However, there were no significant differences between the HF and HFHE groups. 4) Epididymal fat pads(EFP 100g/B.W) of the FH and HFHE groups were higher than C group (2, 4 weeks). However, there were no significant differences between the HF and HFHE groups. There was no significant difference in weight gain of epididymal fat pads among the groups(8 weeks). 5) Cell number and cell size of epididymal fat pads of the HF and HFHE groups were higher than the C group. The pectin and the cellulose supplementation groups decreased cell number and cell size of epididymal fat pads. Especially, the pectin supplementation group decreased than the cellulose supplementation in HFHE group. Therefore, we can concluded that the HF and the HFHE diet has no effect on the epididymal fat pads.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제35권10호
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• pp.1023-1030
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• 2002

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activitiy in epididymal adipose tissue and lipid composition in serum of rats fed normal or high fat diet. Male Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100 $\pm$ 10 g were randomly divided into four groups, two normal diets and two high fat diets containing 1% cholesterol and 10% lard. Two normal diets were classified into a basal diet (normal group) and that with 10% xylooligosaccharide diet (NX group). The high fat diet groups were classified into a HF group without xylooligosaccharides diet and HFX group supplemented with 10% xylooligosacchride diet. Experimental diets were fed ad libitum to the rats for 4 weeks and then they were sacrificed. Body weight, epididymal weight and abdominal weight in HF group were hevier than the those of normal group, but HFX group was significantly reduced compared to HF group. Relative body weight to epididymal weight and relative body weight to abdominal weight in HF group were increased to 50%, 51%, respectively, compared to normal group, but HFX group was reduced 22%, 16%, respectively, compared to HF group. The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index in HFX groups were significantly lower than those of HF group, whereas HDL-cholesterol levels were significant increased. Triglyceride contents of epididymal adipose tissue in HF group was increased to 39%, compared to normal group, but HFX group was reduced to 15.8%, compared to HF group. Cholesterol contents of epididymal adipose tissue in HF group was increased 121%, compared to normal group, but HFX group was reduced to 26%, compared to HF group. The activity of LPL in epididymal adipose tissue was increased to 259% in HF group, compared to normal group and HFX group was reduced to 66%, compared to HF group. These result of this study suggested that improved lipid metabolism observed in rats fed xylooligosaccharides may be caused by an alteration of LPL activity in epididymal adipose tissue and lipid composition in serum.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 1998년도 제4차 학술발표대회 및 정기총회
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• pp.41-42
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• 1998

The changes in calcium binding protein(CBP) of mouse epididymal sperm during their post-testicular differentiation were analyzed by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. According to dpididymal maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa, both quantitative and qualitative changes of CBPs in the epididymal sperm was detected. It suggested that the development of fertilizing ability of epididymal sperm was closely related to the changes in the CBPs profiles of sperm during epidiyaml transit.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.74-80
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• 2001

Objectives : Ma-huang is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf and other Ephedra species, used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis. It contains 0.5-2.5% by weight of total alkaloids, of which ephedrine accounts for 30 to 90%. Recently, Ma-huang has been used as a source of ephedrine in many dietary supplements formulated for the treatment of obesity, since ephedrine has been found to be effective in inducing weight loss in the obese. In this study the effects of the methanol extract of Ma-huang on the adipocyte of epididymal and brown fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet for six weeks were studied. Methods : Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing an average 94g (4 weeks old) were fed either a regular diet (RE) or a high fat diet (HF), and the HF group was subdivided into a Ma-huang methanol extract (30mg/100g body weight) group (HF+MH). The weight of epididymal fat pad and brown adipose tissue were measured. The cell size and cell number per unit area of epididymal fat pad were investigated. Results : The yield weight of methanol extract of Ma-huang was 3.63mg per l00g of Ma-huang. The body weight gain of the HF group was similar with that of the HF+ MH but higher than that of the RE. The weights of the epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissue of the RE group were lower than those of HF and HF+MH groups. The cell sizes and numbers per unit area of epididymal fat pads of the RE and HF+MH groups were larger than those of HF group. The cell numbers per unit area size of epididymal fat pads were the smallest in the RE group. Conclusions : It could be concluded that the Ma-huang extract has no effect on the epididymal fat pads in rats fed a high fat diet and the clinical application of Ma-huang for the treatment of obesity should be re-considered.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The epididymal fat of mouse is a part of visceral fat deposit and is divided into the distal or proximal part based on its histochemical characteristics. Even though the formation of the epididymal fat pad begins before the birth, a detailed adipogenic procedure of the epididymal fat has not been revealed. The epididymal fat pad becomes enlarged and expended with age, and expressional changes of numerous genes are associated with the maturation of fat tissues. In the present research, expressional patterns of adipose tissue-related genes in the distal epididymal fat of mouse at 2, 5, 8, and 12 months of postnatal age were determined by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The lowest transcript levels of fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), delta like non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (Dlk1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg), leptin (Lep), adiponectin (Adipoq), and resistin (Retn) were detected at 2 months of age, except fatty acid synthase (Fasn) showing the lowest level at 5 months of age. Even though expression of Lep and Fabp4 were gradually increased until 12 months of age, significant increases of Pparg and Adipoq transcript levels were continued until 8 months of age. The transcript levels of Lpl, Rent, Dlk1, and Fasn were significantly increased at 8 months of age, compared with those at 2 months of age. The current findings suggest that the expansion of the distal epididymal fat of mouse during postnatal period would be companied with differential expression of various adipocyte-associated molecules.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.175-183
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• 2023

The epididymal fat is a type of gonadal adipose tissue, which is localized closely to the testis. Even though it has been suggested that the epididymal fat is necessary for maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis, the influence of epididymal fat on expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes has not been examined. In the present research, expressional changes of steroidogenic enzymes in the mouse testis after 2 weeks of the surgical partial lipectomy of epididymal fat at different postnatal ages were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The transcript levels of all molecules at 2 months of postnatal age were significantly increased by the lipectomy of epididymal fat. However, the lipectomy at 5 months of postnatal age resulted in decreases of expression levels of all molecules examined in the testis. Except a reduced transcript level of hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, there were no significant changes of expression levels of other steroidogenic enzymes by the lipectomy at 8 months of postnatal age. At 12 months of postnatal age, the lipectomy caused a significant increase of transcript level of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and a significant decrease of transcript level of hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1, without any expressional change of cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage, hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3, and hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 3 in the testis. These findings suggest that the substances derived from epididymal fat could differentially influence on expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis during postnatal period.