• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.283-287
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• 2007

$TGF-{\beta}1$ induces Ig germ-line ${\alpha}$ ($GL{\alpha}$) transcription and subsequent class switching recombination (CSR) to IgA. In the present study, we investigated the roles of two E3-ubiquitin ligases, Smurfs (HECT type) and Arkadia (RING finger type) on $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA CSR. We found that over-expression of Smurf1 and Smurf2 decreased $TGF{\beta}1$-induced $GL{\alpha}$ promoter activity and strengthened the inhibitory effect of Smad7 on the promoter activity. Further, over-expression of Smurf1 and Smurf2 decreased both Smad3/4-mediated and Runx3-mediated $GL{\alpha}$ promoter activities, suggesting that the Smurfs can down-regulate the major $TGF-{\beta}1$ signaling pathway and decrease $GL{\alpha}$ gene expression. In parallel, the over-expressed Smurf1 decreased the expression of endogenous IgA CSR-predictive transcripts ($GLT_{\alpha}$, $PST_{\alpha}$, and $CT_{\alpha}$) and also $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA secretion. Conversely over-expression of Arkadia abolished the inhibitory effect of Smad7 on $TGF{\beta}1$-induced $GLT_{\alpha}$ expression and IgA secretion. Similar results were obtained in the presence of over-expressed Smad7 and Smurf1. These results indicate that Arkadia can amplify $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA CSR by degrading Smad7, which interacts with Smurf1. We conclude that Smurf and Arkadia have opposite roles in the regulation of $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA isotype expression.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.20-33
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• 2020

Objective: The differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) in terms of their adverse effects on male reproductive parameters have never been elucidated. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of the DM types in mice treated with multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) to mimic human T1DM and coadministered a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic human T2DM. Methods: The T1DM mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. The T2DM mice received an HFD for 14 days prior to STZ injection (85 mg/kg body weight), followed by continuous feeding of an HFD. Male reproductive parameters were evaluated. Results: The reproductive organs of the DM mice weighed significantly less than those of controls, and the seminal vesicles plus prostates of the T1DM mice weighed less than those of the T2DM mice. Increased sperm abnormalities and incomplete DNA packaging were observed in the DM groups. Sperm concentration and the proportion of normal sperm were significantly lower in the T1DM group. The seminiferous histopathology of DM mice was classified into seven types. The penises of the DM mice were smaller than those of the controls; however, tunica albuginea thickness and the amount of penile collagen fibers were increased in these mice. Round germ cells were abundant in the epididymal lumens of the mice with DM. Conclusion: T1DM adversely affected reproductive parameters to a greater extent than T2DM.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 1996

이 연구의 목적은 주입구의 위치에 따른 병아리 배아의 생존율을 서로 비교하고 가장 적합한 주입구 위치를 찾기 위하여 실시되었다. 멸균처리된 핀셋을 사용하여 난각의 첨단부와 둔단부 그리고 옆부분에 주입구를 각각 만들었다. 연구 결과, 둔단부에 주입구 (BE1)를 만든 수정란의 발생율이 가장 높았으나 내부난각막이 불투명하여 혈관내 미세주입이 어렵다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 첨단부에 주입구를 만든 다음 이 주입구를 통하여 약 2 $\mu$L의 DMEM 용액을 2.5일령된 배자의 혈관에 주입하였고, 주입부위의 출혈을 막기 위해 DMEM 용액을 주입한 후 공기방울을 넣은 결과 생존율이 약 17.0% 이었다. 따라서 이러한 주입구에 의한 방법은 생식세포가 조작된 germline chimera 또는 형질전환닭을 생산하는데 매우 유용한 시스템으로 이용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제35권3호통권99호
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• pp.232-236
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• 2002

한국산 꺽지 번식에 대한 연구의 일환으로 정소 및 정자의 형태적 특징을 조사하였다. 2001년 5월부터 10월에 걸쳐 북한강 지류인 수입천 지역에 서식하는 꺽지(Corecperca　herzi)를 채집하여 분석하였다. 정소는 흰색을 띄며 쐐기모양을 하고 복강의 등쪽에 좌우 균등하게 발달하였다. 동일한 정자형성 단계에 있는 생식세포들이소낭세포에 싸여 발달하며 여러 개가 모여 소엽구조를　형성한다. 각 소엽은 여러 개의 소낭들로 구성되며 소낭들은 각각 속에 들어 있는 생식세포의 정자형성 단계가　상이하였다. 정자는 길이는 43 ${\mu}$m로 둥근 형태의 두부는 2.2 ${\mu}$m 길이이며 0.5 ${\mu}$m길이의 중편이 두부 밑에 발달한다. 미부의 길이는 40 ${\mu}$m이다. omassie brilliant blue염색 결과 정자의 두부 선단에 강한 염색을 확인하였는데 첨체를 발달시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국해양생명과학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.23-30
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• 2021

북방전복 Haliotis discus hannai 웅성생식세포의 분화과정과 정자의 형태를 미세구조적으로 기재하였다. 정자의 분화과정은 정원세포기, 정모세포기, 정세포기 및 정자기의 4단계로 구분하였다. 정원세포기에서 정모세포기로의 분화과정은 형태학적 변화가 크지 않았다. 그러나 정자변태과정 동안 염색질 응축, 핵의 형태 변화, 첨체와 중편 및 편모 형성 등의 급격한 형태학적 변화를 나타냈다. 북방전복의 정자는 두부, 중편 및 미부로 구성되며, 두부의 길이는 약 5.3 ㎛로 전자밀도가 높은 핵과 총알형의 첨체로 이루어져 있었다. 중편은 기저체와 미토콘드리아로 구성되어 있었으며, 기저체를 중심으로 5개의 미토콘드리아가 한 층으로 배열되어 있었다. 미부의 횡단면은 "9+2"의 미세소관 구조를 보였다. 이러한 형태 및 구조적 특징은 북방전복의 정자는 원시형(primitive type) 정자임을 보여주는 결과이다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.59-67
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• 2019

We investigated whether ${\beta}$-carotene (${\beta}-CA$) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of ${\beta}-CA$ or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by ${\beta}-CA$ treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that ${\beta}-CA$, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.16-25
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• 2022

In mammalian species, females are born with a number of oocytes exceeding what they release via ovulation. In humans, an average girl is born with over a thousand times more oocytes than she will ovulate in her lifetime. The reason for having such an excessive number of oocytes in a neonatal female ovary is currently unknown. However, it is well established that the oocyte number decreases throughout the entire lifetime until the ovary loses them all. In this review, data published in the past 80 years were used to assess the current knowledge regarding the changing number of oocytes in humans and mice, as well as the reported factors that contribute to the decline of oocyte numbers. Briefly, a collective estimation indicates that an average girl is born with approximately 600,000 oocytes, which is 2,000 times more than the number of oocytes that she will ovulate in her lifetime. The oocyte number begins to decrease immediately after birth and is reduced to half of the initial number by puberty and almost zero by age 50 years. Multiple factors that are either intrinsic or extrinsic to the ovary contribute to the decline of the oocyte number. The inflammation caused by the ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge is discussed as a potential contributing factor to the decline of the oocyte pool during the reproductive lifespan.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 1998년도 Advances in Ginseng Research - Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Ginseng -
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• pp.300-311
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• 1998

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), one of the most notorious toxic environmental pollutants, induces various toxic effects in many organs including testes and is regarded as an endocrine disruptor. Korean ginseng, on the other hand, has been well known for its preventive effects on lox- ins, diabetes melltus and hyperlipidemia. We investigated, histopathologically, the effect of Korean Red ginseng water extract (KR-WE) on guinea pig testes damaged by TCDD. Ninety guinea pigs were divided into 6 groups: normal control (NC) group received vehicle and saline; TCDD,1191kg b.w., was administered intraperitoneally to the single dose TCDD-treated (77) group; 100 mghg b.w.16 and 200mg1kg b.w./d KR-WE were injected intraperitoneally to the preventive groups (PIOO and P2OO, respectively) for 28 days from 1 week before TCDD injection, and to the therapeutic groups (CIOO and C2OO, respectively) for 14 days since 1 week after TCDD administration. Increment of body weight was retarded to a larger extent by TCDD. Moreover, body weight of the 77 group decreased significantly 7 days after TCDD exposure, while that of preventive groups kept increasing. Decrease in body weight was not observed in KR-WE-treated groups. Weight decrease in testes caused by TCDD was remarkably protected by KR-WE. Testicles in 77 group displayed decreased tubular size and maturation arrest at the primary or secondary spermatocyte stage. On the other hand, maturation arrest in germ cells by TCDD was improved in KR-WE treated groups. Almost complete protection of the testes was observed in PIOO and P2OO groups. In addition, the therapeutic effect was noticed in C 100 and C2OO groups. These results provided strong evidence that Korean Red ginseng might be a useful agent for the prevention and treatment of testicular damage induced by environmental pollutants.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.25-37
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• 2023

Acetaminophen [Paracetamol, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP)] is a common over-the-counter analgesic agent as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The high doses or the long-term treatment of acetaminophen via usual gavage feeding resulted in damage of testicles that presented recoverable impairment, as well as liver and kidney. The influence of acetaminophen was examined in male golden hamsters treated with acetaminophen-containing diet feeding. They were divided into 5 groups and subjected to this experiment for 4 weeks: animals housed in long photoperiod (LP) as LP control, animals housed in short photoperiod (SP) for 4 weeks as SP control (SP4), and groups of animals treated with low, middle, and high concentrations of acetaminophen (Low, Middle, High groups). Also animals housed in SP for 8 weeks were included (SP8) to contrast testicular activities, if necessary. As results, spermatozoa filled the seminiferous tubules of the testicles of animals in LP control and SP4 groups. The aspects were seen in the animals taken diets of low and middle doses of acetaminophen. The animals who fed high dose of acetaminophen showed large or small testicles. The large testicles displayed all germ cells at the steps of spermatogenesis. The small testicles presented no sperm as the animals housed in SP for 8 weeks. Thus these results indicate that acetaminophen invokes the antigonadal effects and accelerates the regressing process of the testicles in the animals compared to the animals exposed to SP.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2024

Glucocorticoids play a physiologic role in the adult male reproductive functions, modulating gonadal steroid synthesis and spermatogenesis, through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The expression of GR has been described in several key testicular cell types, including somatic cells and early germ cell populations. Nothing is known on GR in human spermatozoa. Herein, we explored the GR expression and its possible role in normal and testicular varicocele semen samples from volunteer donors. After semen parameter evaluation by macro- and microscopic analysis, samples were centrifuged; then spermatozoa and culture media were recovered for further investigations. By western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses we evidenced for the first time in spermatozoa the presence of GR-D3 isoform which was reduced in sperm from varicocele patients. By treating sperm with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEXA), we found that survival, motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction were increased in both healthy and varicocele samples. GR involvement in mediating DEXA effects, was confirmed by using the GR inhibitor mifepristone (M2F). Worthy, we also discovered that sperm secretes different cortisol amounts depending on its physio-pathological status, suggesting a defence mechanism to escape the immune system attach in the female genital tract thus maintaining the immune-privilege as in the testis. Collectively, our data suggests a role for glucocorticoids in determining semen quality and function, as well as in participating on sperm immune defensive mechanisms. The novelty of this study may be beneficial and needs to take into account in artificial insemination/drug discovery aimed to enhancing sperm quality.