• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2015

The sex of bivalves is classified into gonochorism and hermaphroditism, and hermaphroditism is further divided into simultaneous (synchronous or functional), and sequential (asynchronous). The sequential hermaphroditism signifies sex reversal in accordance with seasons. In general, in the case of gonochoristic bivalves, manifestation of sex as female and male, after having identified the morphological sex, is limited to a period of the life cycle in any given individual. In order to accurately identify sex, continuous monitoring of changes in the sex during life cycle is necessary by tagging the sex. In the bivalves, sex reversal and sequential hermaphroditism has been reported in the Ostreidae, Pectinidae, Veneridae and Arcidae etc.. Most of these studies have reached this conclusion based on evidence derived from sex ratio change in accordance with the age within same populations. Sex change in the sequential hermaphroditic bivalves normally occurs when the gonad is undifferentiated between spawning seasons. Two factors are involved in sex determination and sex change in bivalves, namely genetic and environmental. However, more detailed research is needed on the effect of the genetic and environmental factors involved in sex determination and sex change of bivalves.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2011

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are closely associated with the epigenetic change and the gene silencing through the regulation of methylation status in animal genome. But, the role of DNMTs in transgene silencing has remained unclear. So, we examined whether the knockdown of DNMT influences the reactivation of transgene expression in the transgenic quails. In this study, we investigated the expression of DNMT3a, and DNMT3b in blastoderm, quail embryonic fibroblasts (QEFs) and limited embryonic tissues such as gonad, kidney, heart and liver of E6 transgenic quails (TQ2) by RT-PCR. We further analyzed the expression of DNMT3a at different stages of whole embryos during early embryonic development by qRT-PCR. DNMT3a expression was detected in all test samples; however, it showed the highest expression in E6 whole embryo. Embryonic fibroblasts collected from TQ2 quails were treated with two DNMT3a-targeted siRNAs (siDNMT3a-51 and siDNMT3a-88) for RNA interference assay, and changes in expression were then analyzed by qRT-PCR. The siDNMT3a-51 and siDNMT3a-88 reduced 53.34% and 64.64% of DNMT3a expression in TQ2 QEFs, respectively. Subsequently the treatment of each siRNA reactivated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in TQ2 (224% and 114%). Our results might provide a clue for understanding the DNA methylation mechanism responsible for transgenic animal production and stable transgene expression.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

Biomphalaria alexandrina snails play an indispensable role in transmission of schistosomiasis. Infection rates in field populations of snails are routinely determined by cercarial shedding neglecting prepatent snail infections, because of lack of a suitable method for diagnosis. The present study aimed at separation and quantification of oxalic, malic, acetic, pyruvic, and fumaric acids using ion-suppression reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to test the potentiality of these acids to be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. The assay was done in both hemolymph and digestive gland-gonad complex (DGG) samples in a total of 300 B. alexandrina snails. All of the studied acids in both the hemolymph and tissue samples except for the fumaric acid in hemolymph appeared to be good diagnostic biomarkers as they provide not only a good discrimination between the infected snails from the control but also between the studied stages of infection from each other. The most sensitive discriminating acid was malic acid in hemolymph samples as it showed the highest F-ratio. Using the Z-score, malic acid was found to be a good potential therapeutic biomarker in the prepatency stage, oxalic acid and acetic acid in the stage of patency, and malic acid and acetic acid at 2 weeks after patency. Quantification of carboxylic acids, using HPLC strategy, was fast, easy, and accurate in prediction of infected and uninfected snails and possibly to detect the stage of infection. It seems also useful for detection of the most suitable acids to be used as drug targets.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2010

Reproductive biology of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus was investigated based on the samples captured in Jinhae Bay, the East China Sea from January to December 2002. The gonad index (GI) began to increase in January, reached the maximum value in March. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the early active stage (from November to January), the late active stage (from December to February), the ripe stage (from February to May and October), the spawned stage (from May to December), and inactive stage (from November to December). The spawning period was from April to December, and the main spawning occurred between June and August. The shell length at 50% group maturity was estimated to be 71.85 mm. The Sex ratio of this species was not significantly different a 1:1 sex ratio (P > 0.05).

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2000

The primordial germ cell of the sweet fish was recognized from the 2-day old fry (tl : 0.66 cm), when it began to protrude into peritoneal cavity between meaonephric duct and gut. The primordial gonad, with the formation of genital ridge, developed on the 30-day old fry. Ovarian differentiation was identified by the presence of ovarian cavity and meiotic oocytes from the 90-day old fry (tl : 3.42 cm). Testicular differentiation was identified by the presence of spermatogonial cells with efferent duct from the 100-day old fry (11 : 4.50 cm). Hence the sweet fish belongs to the differentiated type of gonochoristic teleost.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.1 s.56
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• pp.83-90
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• 2007

This study was investigated the effort of growth and gonadal development in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus exposed to PCBs Effluent Allowance Concentration, 3.0 ppb in Korea. Total length, body weight and weight gam of fish were no significant differences between two treatments (control: T.L.-110.0 mm, T.W.-9.61 g: treatment: T.L.-112.8 mm, T.W.-9.68 g), however, weight gain of fish unexposed to PCBs wat observed to increase gradually from 100 days after hatching (30 days after treatment). In the indifferentiated gonad to the juvenile stage, the differentiation of the ovary occured at 60 days after hatching (20 days after treatment) and that of the testis occured at 70 days after hatching (30 days after treatment) in two groups. In the ovary, the oogonia and ovarian lamellar appeared 130 days after hatching (50 days after treatment). The spermatogonia and resticular lobule of the testis were observed at 130 days after hatching (50 days after treatment). Testicular cyst appeared 140 days after hatching (60 days After treatment). There was no difference on the development of ovary and testis. There was no obvious difference of sex ratios. Therefore, These results considerate that PCBs have any effect for growth and gonadal development, but a little act for early growth in olive flounder.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1981

Testis of Pieris rapae L. was observed by using light microscope and electron microscope. The results were as follows 1. Pieris rapae L. possesses a ovoid single testis colored red. 2. Peritoneal sheath consists of three layers; outer cuticular layer, middle filamentous layer, inner layer with no filaments. 3. Follicles enclosed by peritoneal sheath are compacted by the folds of the. epithelium of follicle. They are opened together toward the duct of vas deferens. 4. Epithelium of follicle have high electron density and contain needle shaped structures and glycogen. Tracheoles are extended into the epithelium of follicle. 5. Cyst cells have a irregular shaped nucleus and cell organelles are abundant in cytoplasm. 6. Typical acrosomes were not observed, but the other structure smillar to the acrosome of the other insect or vetebrate were observed. 7. After releasing the sperm bundle, cyst cells seem to be autolyzed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.408-414
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• 1999

A number of chemical released into the environment eliciting their effects by disrupting normal hormonal pathways. Endocrine disrupting compounds are present in the aquatic environment and pose potential health consequences to wildlife and humans. This review are designing fur xenobiotic estrogens based on induction of the egg-yolk precursor protein vitelloge-nin. In fish of aquatic environment, it may result in decrease fertility and egg production in females or lead to reduced gonad size or feminization of genetic male fish. It has been known that male fish exposed to estrogenic compounds show induced production of vitellogenin. Vitello-genin production is normally restricted to adult females, which have elevated estrogen levels during egg production. However, vitellogenin can be induced in males by Pollution of environmental endocrine disruptors. Consequently, the presence of vitellogenin in male fish can serve as an indicator of exposure of environmental endocrine disrupting compounds. In immature fish pol-luted at low levels of environmental endocrine disrupter, vitellogenin can serve as a reliable biomarker for exposure to endocrine disrupter. This review demonstrates the utility of vitellogenin as a biomarker fur exposure to estrogenin agents in auqatic environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.449-458
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• 2013

This study investigated purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus on its gonadal development, reproductive cycle and shell length (age) at 50% female group maturity from January to December 2011 in Jinhae Bay, Korea. This species is dioecious. The gonad index (GI) began to increase in January, reached the maximum value in May and to decrease in June, reached the minimum value in September then to increase slowly in October again. The reproductive cycle of the clams can be divided into five successive stages: the early active stage (Ea, from February to March), the late active stage (La, from January to March and October to December), the ripe stage (R, from January to May), the spawning stage (S, from June to December) and the degenerative and inactive stage (Ia, from January to February and November to December). The spawning periods were from June to December and the main spawning periods were from July to October. The shell length at 50% female group maturity (SL50) was estimated to be 63.6 mm, which can be converted as sexual maturity age of 2.2 year.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 1989

Guppy fry were treated for the first 40 days of life with 0, 20, 40, 60 & 100$\mu\textrm{g}$ of estradiol per gram of food in order to change the sex of normal males to functional females(genetic male). The present investigation deals with the effects of steroid hormones, such as $\beta$-estradiol and testosterone, on the sex differentiation in guppy and tilapia. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. In B (20$\mu\textrm{g}$/g diet) group 17$\beta$-estradiol-treated, 67.8% of male offsprings were produced. 2. In D (60$\mu\textrm{g}$/g diet) group 17$\beta$-treated, 67% of female offsprings were produced. 3. B, D groups of genetic male brooders had significantly different effects (P<0.01) upon sex ratios of their progeny. 4. This strongly indicates that sex direction has been achieved and that the male is the heterogametic sex. 5. The group that produced the highest percentage of male offspring(male percentage of observed number to expected number was 91%) contained only full-sibling male brooders to the sex-reversed female brooders. 6. After 7 months following treatment, the sex-reversed males had ovarian portion in the anterior region and a testicular portion in the posterior region of the same intersexual gonad, respectively. 7. At 7 months after treatment, the ovareis revealed a complete arrest of the ovarian formation, and appearances of spermatogenetic cell cysts among surviving auxocytes. 8. In most of sex-reversed fish, anterior portion of test is was devoid of sperm ducts including the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. 9. The male transferrin showed two strong bands, while the female transferrin showed a single weak band. 10. One of the two bands of male transferrin showed the same mobility with band of female transferrin.