• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

Objective: The present study was done to clarify the effects of nicotine and nicotine tartrate on the mouse oocyte maturation in vitro. Methods: GV (germinal vesicle) oocytes were isolated from Graafian follicle of ovaries with sharp needles under a stereomicroscope from female mouse of ICR strain (4 weeks old). Collected oocytes were cultured for 17 hours at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air and 100% humidified condition in incubator. New MHBS was the basic medium used in which nicotine, nicotine tartrate, and mecamylamine (antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor) were added depending on the experimental group. GV oocytes were cultured in one of these media. Results: Nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) had no effects on GVBD (germinal vesicle breakdown) compared to the control, but increasing concentration of nicotine led to an decrease in the first polar body formation. However, nicotine ($10{\sim}500{\mu}M$) induced GVBD in a dose-dependent manner of GV oocytes in a medium containing dbcAMP. Nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) had no effects on GVBD compared to the control but, increasing concentration of nicotine tartrate led to an decrease in the first polar body formation. Mecamylamine $10{\mu}M$ added to the medium containing nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) showed higher percentage of the first polar body formation compared to the nicotine ($300{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) treatment group. Mecamylamine $10{\mu}M$ added to the medium containing nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) showed higher percentage of the first polar body formation compared to the nicotine tartrate ($50{\mu}M{\sim}5mM$) treatment group. Conclusion: The present study suggest that nicotine and nicotine tartrate have the harmful effects on the meiotic maturation of the mouse oocytes in vitro. However, mecamylamine block harmful effects of nicotine and nictine tartrate.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.188-197
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• 2010

Background: Lichen-derived glucans have been known to stimulate the functions of immune cells. However, immunostimulatory activity of glucan obtained from edible lichen, Umbilicaria esculenta, has not been reported. Thus we evaluated the phenotype and functional maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) following treatment of extracted glucan (PUE). Methods: The phenotypic and functional maturation of PUE-treated DCs was assessed by flow cytometric analysis and cytokine production, respectively. PUE-treated DCs was also used for mixed leukocyte reaction to evaluate T cell-priming capacity. Finally we detected the activation of MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ by immunoblot. Results: Phenotypic maturation of DCs was shown by the elevated expressions of CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC class I/II molecules. Functional activation of DCs was proved by increased cytokine production of IL-12, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\alpha}/{\beta}$, decreased endocytosis, and enhanced proliferation of allogenic T cells. Polymyxin B, specific inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), did not affect PUE activity, which suggested that PUE was free of LPS contamination. As a mechanism of action, PUE increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPKs, and enhanced nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50/p65 in DCs. Conclusion: These results indicate that PUE induced DC maturation via MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.628-635
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• 2014

2-(Trimethylammonium) ethyl (R)-3-methoxy-3-oxo-2-stearamidopropyl phosphate [(R)-TEMOSPho], a derivative of an organic chemical identified from a natural product library, promotes highly efficient megakaryopoiesis. Here, we show that (R)-TEMOSPho blocks osteoclast maturation from progenitor cells of hematopoietic origin, as well as blocking the resorptive function of mature osteoclasts. The inhibitory effect of (R)-TEMOSPho on osteoclasts was due to a disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, resulting from impaired downstream signaling of c-Fms, a receptor for macrophage-colony stimulating factor linked to c-Cbl, phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Vav3, and Rac1. In addition, (R)-TEMOSPho blocked inflammation-induced bone destruction by reducing the numbers of osteoclasts produced in mice. Thus, (R)-TEMOSPho may represent a promising new class of antiresorptive drugs for the treatment of bone loss associated with increased osteoclast maturation and activity.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2000

Hormone induction in maturation and ovulation was carried out with spotted halibut (Verasper variegatus) which normally does not spawn spontaneously in captivity. Prior to spawning females were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG 265-678 IU/kg BM) 17 ${\alpha}$-hydroxy 20-${\beta}$-dihydroprogesterone (17 ${\alpha}$ 20${\beta}$ OHP 0.5-1.0${\mu}$g/kg BW) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue pellet (LHRHa pellet 63-81 ${\mu}$g/kg BW) In all the trials HCG injection succeeded in inducing ovulation at 265-300 IU/kg BW. HCG at 620 or 678 IU/kg BW was ineffective in inducing a good rate of ovulation. Final maturation and ovulation were not stimulated by treatment of 17 ${\alpha}$ 20${\beta}$OHP and LHRHa pellet. These results suggest that HCG injection (around 300 IU/kg BW) is more effective compared with LHRHa pellet implantation.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1988

The present study was carried out to examine the fertilizability of the mouse oocytes pre-ex-posed to dbcAMP which is a well-known inhibitor of the oocyte maturation. The oocytes once cultured in the dbcMP-containing medium for a certain length of, time were cultivated in the dbcMp-free medium to induced the maturation, then mixed with sperms, and observed following culture for 24 hours. The fertilization rate of cocytes was judged by the index of the number of 2-cell embryo developed 24hr following insemination. The fertilization rate of the oocyte previously incubated with dbcAMP (100 g/ml) for 2, 4, 8 16 hours was 32.3, 14.5, 4.7 and 8.8%, respectively, while that of the control was 53.3% indicating that the fertilizability was decreased as a function of time exposed to dbcAMP. The pretreatment of dbcMP, however, didn't affect the process of sperm penetration to egg. In addition, there is no prominent changes in the morphological architecture of fertielized eggs which has been exposed to dbcAMP as revealed by electron microscopic observation. Consequendy, it can be concluded that the mouse cocytes once inhibited their maturation by dbcMP may retain, in some extent, the fertilizability, although most of the fertilized egg may not proceed to further development because of the failure of pronucleus formation.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2021

In this study, an automated culture media replacement system was developed to analyze changes in the contraction characteristics of cardiomyocytes according to the state of the culture media. For the long-term storage of culture media, a Peltier refrigerator with a temperature of 5 to 8℃ was provided and a pH of 7.4 was maintained. The cell culture media of the cardiomyocytes was continuously replaced using interlocking pumps at a flow rate of 0.83 μl/h. The cardiomyocytes in which the culture media was replaced automatically demonstrated lower heartbeats per minute compared to samples in which there was no replacement. However, these cardiomyocytes moved more uniformly and produced greater displacement in one heartbeat cycle. It was observed that the sarcomere length of the cardiomyocytes increased due to the automated culture media replacement system. These cardiomyocytes were found to demonstrate better maturation compared to the control group. The maturation of cardiomyocytes was verified through staining images. The proposed automated culture media replacement system generates a uniform heart rate and improvements in contraction force. Based on the study, patient-specific drug toxicity assessments can be conducted using differentiated cardiomyocytes in induced pluripotent stem cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.357-365
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• 2022

Simultaneous myofibril and mitochondrial development is crucial for the cardiac differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Specifically, mitochondrial energy metabolism (MEM) development in cardiomyocytes is essential for the beating function. Although previous studies have reported that MEM is correlated with cardiac differentiation, the process and timing of MEM regulation for cardiac differentiation remain poorly understood. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of cells at specific stages of cardiac differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and human induced PSCs (hiPSCs). We selected MEM genes strongly upregulated at cardiac lineage commitment and in a time-dependent manner during cardiac maturation and identified the protein-protein interaction networks. Notably, MEM proteins were found to interact closely with cardiac maturation-related proteins rather than with cardiac lineage commitment-related proteins. Furthermore, MEM proteins were found to primarily interact with cardiac muscle contractile proteins rather than with cardiac transcription factors. We identified several candidate MEM regulatory genes involved in cardiac lineage commitment (Cck, Bdnf, Fabp4, Cebpα, and Cdkn2a in mESC-derived cells, and CCK and NOS3 in hiPSC-derived cells) and cardiac maturation (Ppargc1α, Pgam2, Cox6a2, and Fabp3 in mESC-derived cells, and PGAM2 and SLC25A4 in hiPSC-derived cells). Therefore, our findings show the importance of MEM in cardiac maturation.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.513-519
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• 1998

Ovulation of maturing femal mandarin fish, Siniperca scherzeri was induced using single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue (GnRH-a), GnRH-a plus prostaglandin F2 (PG$F_2$) or GnRH-a plus pimozide. The response was evaluated by fertilization, embryo-formation and hatching rate after insemination. Those rates were generally higher in GnRH-a group than in HCG group. The higher hatching rat of above 89% was achived using a dosage of 5,000 IU/kg HCG plus 10 ${\mu}$g/kg GnRH-a, 10${\mu}$g/kg GnRH-a plus 500 ng/kg PGF2, and 10 ug/kg GnRH-a plus 1-5 mg/kg pimozide. Ovulation was induced in all female injected with sex-maturation hormones and stimulator, but blocked in female injected with HCG plus GnRH-a plus dopamine combination, and GnRH-a plus PGF2 plus indometacin combination. These results show that the mandarin fish in spawning period secrete a sex-mutruation assosiated hormones and gonadotropin-releasing -inhibiting factor(GRIF).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1996

For evaluating the suitability of human follicular fluid(HFF) as protein supplement in ART, this preliminary study was performed to examine the maturation promoting activity of HFF on mouse follicular oocytes in vitro. Mouse follicular oocytes were collected from ovaries of 21-28 day old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with fine needle at 48 hours after PMSG injection. The oocytes were rinsed and cultured in modified Whittingham's $T_6$ medium containing purines or dbcAMP to maintain meiotic arrest, and different concentrations of HFF were added into the culture medium to examine the effect of HFF on releasing the oocytes from the suppressive influence of the meiotic inhibitors. As a control for HFF, the maturation promoting activity of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) was investigated and compared with the activity of HFF. While HFF was separated, by molecular weight(M.W), into high M.W. fraction(M.W>30,000) and low M.W. fraction(M.W<30,000) and the effects of the fractions on meiotic resumption were investigated in the presence of the meiotic inhibitors. Also hormone analysis was performed to compare the content of hormones in HFF with that in HFCS. Same concentrations of HFF and HFCS induced similar germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) rates of the oocytes meiotic arrested by purines(4mM hypoxanthine+0.75mM adenosine), but the extrusion rate of 1st polar body(PB) of the oocytes cultured in HFF(65.0%, P<0.05) was significantly higher than that(51.6%) in HFCS. While, in the presence of 200 M dbcAMP, the maturation promoting activity of HFF (GVBD: 70.5%, $p<10^{-6}$; 1st PB extrusion: 67.1%, $p<10^{-3}$) was significantly greater than that of HFCS(GVBD: 35.2%; 1st PB extrusion: 41.1%). The oocytes cultured in the fraction of HFF containing high M.W. components showed higher meiotic maturation rates than the oocytes cultured in the low M.W. fraction of HFF. Gonadotropins and $E_2$ were known to improve the completion of maturation changes, and the levels of these hormones were higher in HFF than in HFCS. Therefore, HFF was more effective than HFCS to use for promoting meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1420-1430
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• 2018

Objective: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major ingredient of catechin polyphenols and is considered one of the most promising bioactive compounds in green tea because of its strong antioxidant properties. However, the protective role of EGCG in bovine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of EGCG on IVM of bovine oocytes. Methods: Bovine oocytes were treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$), and the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, cumulus cell expansion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, the early apoptosis and the developmental competence of in vitro fertilized embryos were measured. The mRNA abundances of antioxidant genes (nuclear factor erythriod-2 related factor 2 [NRF2], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4]) in matured bovine oocytes were also quantified. Results: Nuclear maturation which is characterized by first polar body extrusion, and cytoplasmic maturation characterized by peripheral and cortical distribution of cortical granules and homogeneous mitochondrial distribution were significantly improved in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated group compared with the control group. Adding $50{\mu}M$ EGCG to the maturation medium significantly increased the cumulus cell expansion index and upregulated the mRNA levels of cumulus cell expansion-related genes (hyaluronan synthase 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6, pentraxin 3, and prostaglandin 2). Both the intracellular ROS level and the early apoptotic rate of matured oocytes were significantly decreased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG group, and the total antioxidant ability was markedly enhanced. Additionally, both the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes after in vitro fertilization than in the control oocytes. The mRNA abundance of NRF2, SOD1, CAT, and GPX4 were significantly increased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes. Conclusion: In conclusion, $50{\mu}M$ EGCG can improve the bovine oocyte maturation, and the protective role of EGCG may be correlated with its antioxidative property.