• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 2023

The maturity and spawning of the large yellow croaker Larmichthys crocea were investigated using samples randomly collected in the Jeju coastal area, Korea. We analyzed monthly changes in maturity stages, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and egg diameter. Additionally, we verified fecundity by size class and total length (TL) at sexual group maturity at 50%, 75%, and 97.5%, as well as by sex ratio (female vs. male). The overall sex ratio of females to males was 1:0.42. The GSI values showed a peak in October, but the spawning season, revealed by the microscopic analysis of gonadal tissue of L. crocea was from October 2021 to March 2022, with the main spawning period from October to November. The fecundity (F) of female L. crocea ranged from 39,232 eggs at 20 to 29.9 cm to 251,003 eggs at 50 to 59.9 cm, with the relationship between TL and F being 80.244TL-1641.6. In females, TL at 50%, 75%, and 97.5% maturity was 22.4, 24.3, and 29.0 cm, respectively.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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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.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2012

Kisspeptin has been reported to facilitate sexual maturation and ovulation by directly stimulating GnRH neurons via its receptor, GPR54. The KiSS-GPR54 system is playing an important role in the reproduction of several mammalian species. However, little is known about their function in fish. The aim of this study is to understand the physiological function and evolutionary conservation of KiSS-GPR54 system in teleost fish blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus. In the present study, we have partial cloned KiSS1, KiSS2 GPR54 mRNAs from a brain samples. Tissue distribution analysis using RT-PCR revealed that the KiSS1, KiSS2, GPR54 transcripts were expressed in different tissue. The KiSS-GPR54 system in gonadal of immature and mature stage were analyzed using qRT-PCR. The partial sequence of KiSS1, KiSS2, GPR54 were 232 bp, 304 bp, 613 bp long, respectively. KiSS1, KiSS2, GPR54 mRNAs are shown common expression in the brain. The amount of KiSS1, KiSS2 mRNAs expression were significantly higher in mature stage than immature stage. However GPR54 mRNA expression was higher in immature stage. These results are in good agreement with the hypothesis that KiSS-GPR54 system plays an important role in the regulation of reproductive function in the blacktip grouper.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.395-408
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• 2013

Environmental condition can induce changes in early life-history traits in order to maximise the ecological fitness. Here I investigated how temperature change and variation in human aquatic activity/behaviour affect early life-history consequences in fish using a dynamic-state-dependent model. In this study, I developed a general fish's life-history model including three life-history states depend-ing on foraging activity, such as body mass, mass of reproductive tissue (i.e., gonadal development) and accumulated stress (i.e., cellular or physiological damage). I assumed the level of foraging activity maximises reproductive success-ultimately, fitness. The model predicts that growth rate, development of reproductive tissues and damage accumulation are greater in higher temperature whereas higher human aquatic activity rapidly reduced the growth rate and development of reproductive tissue and increased damage accumulation. While higher foraging activity in higher temperature is less affected by human aquatic activity, the foraging activity in lower temperature rapidly declined with human aquatic activity. Moreover, lower survival rate in higher temperature or human aquatic activity was independent on mortality rate due to human aquatic activity or mortality rate when foraging activity, respectively. However, the survival rate in lower temperature or human aquatic activity was dependent on these mortality rates. My findings suggest that including of early life-history traits in relation to climate-change and human aquatic activity on the analysis may improve conservation plan and health assessment in aquatic ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 1991

Changes of the activities of the hepatic cells of female mud skipper, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris were investigated under transmission electron microscopy. Monthly changes of gonadosomatic index(GSI) and hepatosomatic index(HSI), variations of protein and nucleic acid contents(total RNA and DNA) of the liver tissues with the gonadal development phase were also studied. GSI began to increase from May(the growing stage), reaching the maximum value in late June(the mature stage), and then it began to decrease from late July(the degenerative stage), reaching the lowest value in late September. Monthly variations of HSI were negatively related to GSI. HSI decreased in the summer season when the ovary was getting mature and reached the maximum in mid October when the ovary was degenerating. In June(the mature stage), the female hepatic cells of the liver tissues became large and nuclei were hypertrophic. The amounts of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cells gradually decreased, while a number of granular endoplasmic reticulum increased. It was assumed that well-developed granular endoplasmic reticulum binding ribosomes are supposed to play the leading role in protein synthesis and deposition for vitellogenin in the cytoplasm. In July(the spawning period), glycogen particles and lipid droplets gradually increased, and then these substances were still observed in large quantity in August(the degenerative stage). The protein contents of the liver tissues with the gonadal phases of the ovaries were shown the maximum value($4.720{\pm}0.103\;mg/g$) in June, and afterwards gradually decreased being the minimum($3.640{\pm}0.130\;mg/g$) in July, and then gradually increased in August. The mean total RNA contents per gram of the liver tissues appeared the maximum($0.523{\pm}0.040\;mg/g$) in June, and afterwards gradually decreased to the minimum($0.158{\pm}0.006\;mg/g$) in July and slightly increased in August again. From these results, it could be assumed that protein contents were closely related to RNA contents. The mean total DNA contents per weight (gr) of the liver tissues appeared to be similar although there were some monthly fluctuations. The ratio of the mean total RNA/DNA were 0.745 in June, 0.262 in July, 0.341 in August respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.509-519
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• 1987

Annual reproductive cycle of the Damselfish, Chromis notatus collected monthly at the four coastal areas around Chejudo, Korea are studied on the bases of histological observations of gonadal tissue and various quantitative variables including gonadosomatic index (GSI), fatness, egg diameter composition and the first maturity. The ovary consisted of a pair of saccular structure with many ovarian sacs. Oogonia proliferated along the germinal epithelium of the ovarian sac. Young oocytes with basophilic cytoplasm showed several nucleoli along the nuclear membrane. When the oocytes reached about $450{\mu}m$ in diameter, nucleus migrate toward the animal pole, nuclear membrane disappeared and most of cytoplasm were filled with yolk materials and oil drops. After ovulation, residual follicle and growing oocytes remaining in the ovarian sacs degenerated. But early young oocytes without follicle layer were not degenerated, and growing continuously till the next year. The testis consisted of a pair of lobular structures in the right and left were united in the posterior seminal vesicle. Cortex of testis was composed of many sperm ducts connected with lobuli. GSI began to increase from March, starting season of longer day length and higher water temperature, and reached the maximum value between June and August. It began to decrease from September with the lowest value appearing between October and February without any evident variation. The annual reproductive cycle could be devided into five successive stage : growing(April to Many), mature(May to August), ripe and spent (June to August) and recovery and resting stage(September to March). The spawning peak occurred from June to August. According to the frequency distribution of egg diameter, Chromis notatus was a polycyclic species to spawn twice or more in a spawning season. Fatness, correlated with gonadal phases, was remarkably decreased by spawning. Percentage of the first maturity . in femate and male fish ranging from 7.0 to 7.9 cm were $50\%$ and from 9.0 to 9.9 cm in total length $100\%$.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

The ovarian structure and ultrastructural changes in germ cells during oogenesis of the spiny top shell, Batillus cornutus, have been investigated by light and electron microscopic observations. Specimens of the spiny top shell were collected from the subtidal zone of Wando, south coast of Korea. Spiny top shell was dioecious. The ovary was located on the surface of the hepatopancreas in the spiral posterior region. The ovary had greenish color in the gonadal mature season. The ovary comprised many ovarian lobules, and the ovarian lobule consisted of connective mesenchymal tissue and epithelial cells. Oogonium had a large nucleus with nucleolus of high electron density. In previtellogenic oocyte, small yolk granules of low electron density were scattered in the cytoplasm. Oocytes in the initial vitellogenic stage were connected with the ovarian lobule by egg stalk. The result of TEM observations showed that initial vitellogenic oocyte contained well-developed Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticula, tubular mitochondria and numerous yolk granules of various electron densities and sizes. The electron density, size and quantity of yolk granules which were distributed in the active vitellogenic oocyte were increased compared to the previous stage. Thickness of egg envelope in the late active vitellogenic oocyte was approximately 4.4 $[\mu}m$. Cytoplasm of ripe oocyte was filled with proteid yolk globules of high electron density and lipid yolk globules of low electron density. In this stage, the thickness of egg envelope was approximately 6.5 ${\mu}m$.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.486-491
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• 1999

Hypoparathyroidism has abnormally decreased secretion of parathyroid hormon which responds to the blood calcium level. Wherease, Pseudohypoparathyroidism has normal activity of thyroid hormon, but end-organs, such as urinary tract and osteoclast, do not respond to parathyroid hormon. The cause of this disease is due to the mutation of Guanine stimulating(Gs) protein regulating Gs gene, which is the receptor to this hormon. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is usually noted before 20 years old on average of 8-9 years old. The clinical features of this disease includes delayed growth and development, round face, obesity, soft tissue calcification, ectopic ossification, shortening of metacarpals and metatarsals by epiphyseal closure in advance of age. The mutation of Gs gene which are found in brain, endocrine organs, and chondrocytes is the cause of those features. Reaction to Glucagon, gonadal hormon, and thyroid stimulating hormon is not expected in both cases. The common dental manifestations include enamel hypoplasia, delayed eruption, agenesis of tooth, hypodontia, dysplastic short roots, widened pulpal space, microdontia, intrapulpal calcification, and malocclusion are also often reported. This case which is diagnosed to Pseudohypoparathyroidism showed short and under-developed root of permanent troth, delayed eruption, and non-eruption of premolars and molars. And morphogenesis imperfecta of first and second premolars were also found.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 1987

Gonadal development, the annual reproductive cycle and the first sexual maturity of hen clam, Mactra chinensis were studied histologically. Sexuality of the species was dioecious. The gonads were irregularly arranged from the subregion of mid-intestinal 91an4 in visceral cavity to the reticular connective tissue of the foot. The ripe eggs were about $50-60\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and they were surrounded by gelatinous membrane. The spawning period was from May to September when the water temperature ranged $18.5-27.0^{\circ}C$, with the peak in June and July. The annual reproductive cycle of Mactra chinensis could be classified into five successive stages; multiplicative, growing, mature, spent, and degenerative and resting. The monthly changes of the fatness coefficient closely correlated with the annual reproductive cycle. Percentages of the first sexual maturity of female and male clams were over $50\%$ among those individuals ranging from 3.5 to 3.9cm, and $100\%$ in those over 5.0cm in shell length.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 1983

A Gymnophallid cercaria was found in the gonadal tissue of Tapes philippinarum, and was described as a new species, Cercaria tapes n. sp. The host clams were collected from the intertidal zone of Seo-myon, Seo-chon gun, Korea from September 1980 to August 1981. The size of sporocysts was $380-650{\times}130-160{\mu}m$. The anterior part of the cercaria bears a subterminal opening and pharynx. The sporocyst bears ca. 30 cercariae and germ balls. The cercaria is elliptical in shape. The dimension of body is $160-187{\times}62-77{\mu}m$. the tail stem is $47-52{\times}17{\mu}m$, and the tail furcae is $67-72{\times}12-15{\mu}m$. Excretory bladder is Y-shaped, and the flame cell formula is 2(1)+(1)=4. The infection rate of the cercaria to the host clam was $2.01\%$ (42 infected/2,086 short-necked clams observed). The highest infection rate ($5.74\%$) was found in March, and the lowest one ($0.4\%$) observed in January. No infection was detected in May and June. The infection rates varied with the size of the short-necked clam. It was the clams of host of 2.1-3.0 cm, 3.1-4.0 cm and 4.1-5.0 cm in shell length are $0.38\%,\;15.3\%$ and $0.09\%$ respectively. The cercaria was not observed in the specimens smaller than 2.0 cm in shell length.