• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.674-682
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy on the hair follicle growth of skin 5 days and 10 days by macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. The results were as follows : Macroscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was more increase than that of control group. Microscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase VI and that of control group and weak moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase IV. Immunohistochemical observations on the expression of various growth factors, enzyme and receptor in hair follicle cycle after local treatment of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy are as follows: Expression of fibroblast growth factor was more intense in epidermis in plum-blossom needle treated group, epidermis and secondary hair germ cells in strong moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of epidermal growth factor was more intense in epidermis in all experimental groups, and secondary hair germ cells in moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of c-kit receptor was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was more intense in epidermis, bulge, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group than control group. We concluded that acupuncture & moxibustion therapy related to the expression of various growth factors, enzymes and receptor on the hair growth cycle for hair growth.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.377-377
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.233-233
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• 2004

PURPOSE: Gene expression and apoptosis in testicular germ cells has been demonstrated in many transgenic animals. However, little is known about the transgenic pig and rates of apoptosis during spermatogenesis. METHODS : Morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis reported in other species were used to confirm that the TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay is an acceptable mothos for idendtification and quantification of apoptotic transgenic germ cells in histological tissue section from transgenic pig testis. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 1992

Many transgenic mice expressing human growth hormone gene were infertile. To investigate the infertility of these transfenic mice, it was looked into the estrus cycle and sexual behaviour and also tested through in vitro fertilization whether the germ cells of these mice normal or not. The infertile female transgenic mice were mated to the fertile males of ICR strain, but in almost all of them the vaginal plugs were not detected and their estrus cycles by vaginal smear were almost irregular which kept up estrus or diestrus stage. Many male transgenic mice did not have the ability of sexual behaviour. Therefore the viability of germ cells in infertile male transgenic mice was investigated by in vitro fertilization, but the sperm were normally fertilized with the eggs and the transgene of parent was passed on to the progeny. These results consequently suggest that the infertility of transgenic mice experssing human growth hormone gene may be due to the physiological activity of human growth hormone, not germ cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2013

Ultrastructural characteristics of the germ cells and accessory cells in testis during spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by the transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. The testis is the diffuse organ that consists of branching acini containing developing germ cells and accessory cells associated with spermatogenesis. The morphology of the spermatozoon is of the primitive type and is somewhat different to those of other bivalves. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a cylinderical type and a modified cone shape, respectively. As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part, while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part. These characteristics of sperm belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part. In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-51{\mu}m$ in length, including a long acrosome (about $2.4{\mu}m$ in length), a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.40{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2002

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the progenitors of the sperms or eggs of adult. Evidence suggests that the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the mammalian embryo does not depend on maternal determinants. Recent previous studies in the mouse has shown that several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are required for the formation of PGCs. However, there is no study about the effect of BMPs on avian PGCs. Here, we studied the effects of recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) and recombinant human BMP-4 (rhBMP-4) on chicken blastodermal cells in culture. As a results, the addition of rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-4 increased the number of SSEA-1 positive cells in dose-dependent manner. However, there is no synergic effect by using both rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-4.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2015

Germ cell development and cyclic changes in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle of the male rapa whelk, Rapana venosa, were investigated by cytological and histological observations. The process of germ cell development can be classified into five stages: (1) spermatogonial, (2) primary spermatocyte, (3) secodary spermatocyte, (4) spermatid, and (5) spermatozoon. In particular, four atypical cells (Type IA, IB, IIA and IIB cells) occur among normal germ cells in the acini during spermatogenesis. Presumably, the atypical cells, which have lysosome-like vacuoles or lysosome-like bodies in the cells, are involved in breakdown and absorption themselves in the acini. However, atypical cells were not found in the epithelial cells of the inner layer of the seminal vesicle. A considerable amount of spermatozoa are transported from the testis towards the the seminal vesicles until late July. The main coupulation period is between June and July. The process of the cyclical changes of the seminal vesicles can be classified into three phases: (1) resting, (2) accumulating, and (3) spent. Yellow granular bodies are involved in resorption or digestion of residual spermatozoa.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.895-903
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• 2015

Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the translation of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) involved in the growth and development of a variety of cells, including primordial germ cells (PGCs) which play an essential role in germ cell development. However, the target mRNAs and the regulatory networks influenced by miRNAs in PGCs remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a novel miRNAs control PGC development through targeting mRNAs involved in various cellular pathways. We reveal the PGC-enriched expression patterns of nine miRNAs, including miR-10b, -18a, -93, -106b, -126-3p, -127, -181a, -181b, and -301, using miRNA expression analysis along with mRNA microarray analysis in PGCs, embryonic gonads, and postnatal testes. These miRNAs are highly expressed in PGCs, as demonstrated by Northern blotting, miRNA in situ hybridization assay, and miRNA qPCR analysis. This integrative study utilizing mRNA microarray analysis and miRNA target prediction demonstrates the regulatory networks through which these miRNAs regulate their potential target genes during PGC development. The elucidated networks of miRNAs disclose a coordinated molecular mechanism by which these miRNAs regulate distinct cellular pathways in PGCs that determine germ cell development.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 1999

In recent years, numerous researches have been carried out in author's laboratory to develop several kinds of methods for producing transgened chicken, leaving a lot of new findings. Some of them are very useful to search for new approaches necessary to improve the efficiency of hatchability and the survival rate of developing trasgened embryos. The results obtained hitherto might be summarized as follows: (1) foreign gene(Lac Z/ Miw Z) introduced into blastodermal cells of developing embryos was successfully transferred to embryos, leading to the production of primordial germ cells(PGCs) carrying foreign DNA. However, hatched hickens failed to show the incorporation of introduced gene into the gonads. (2) When foreign gene was introduced into germinal crescent region (GCR), the gene was also efficiently incorporated into germ cells, resulting in the production of transgened chickens(offspring) which produced fruther offspring having foreign gene in the gonads. In this case, 2nd and 3rd generations of chickens were obtained through the reproduction of transgened birds. (3) In another way, the gene was injected into blood vessels of developing embryos at stage 13∼15, creating PGCs having foreign gene, and produced some transgened chickens. In this work, the PGCs were transfered between embryos, resulting in the production of transgenic chickens. (4) in these experiments, PGCs were effectively employed for producing transgenic birds, developing some kinds of chimeric chickens from homo- or hetero-sexual transfer of the PGCs from embryos. This means that the gonads from donor PGCs developed in some degree to the stage of hatching. However, these gonads showed slightly abnormal tissues similar to ovotestis like organs through histological examination. (5) Avian Leukosis Virus(ALV) induced B cell line(DT40) successfully carried foreign genes into chicken embryos, suggesting the possibility of the cells as a vector in this field of study in the future. (6) Inter-embryonic transfer of the PGCs also gave us some.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the testicular toxicity of environmental toxicant, 2-bromopropane(2-BP) recently caused occupational intoxication in Korea by light microscopy and electron microscopy. To evaluate the effect on spermatogenesis and find target germ cell 10 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 5g/10m ℓ/kg/day of 2-bromopropane for 3 consecutive days orally and observed on day 1 or day 7 after treatment. 2-BP induced depletion of spermatogonia and early spermatocytes on stages I-IX or extensive degeneration of germ cells on the other stages on day 1. But extensive degeneration of germ cells without stage specificity was observed and round spermatid formed multinucleated giant cells in the lumen of seminiferous tubules on day 7. Electron microscopically Sertoli cells showed irregular shape of nucleus and cytoplasmic vauolation. And spermatocyte showed a extensive heterochromatin and cytoplasmic vacuolation. But there was no histopathological changes in the interstial cells. On the base of the results the target germ cell was spermatogonia in the early of the study but Srtoli cells also effected by high-dosed 2-BP in the late of the study.