• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1999

The present study was carried out to evaluate the morphological changes in the degenerating primordial follicles induced by $\gamma$-radiation. The prepubertal female mice of three weeks old ICR strain were whole-body irradiated with a dose of $LD_{80(30)}$ (8.3 Gy). The ovaries were collected at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h post-irradiation. The largest cross sections were prepared with histological semi-thin sections and then observed microscopically. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles was reduced significantly after 6th post-irradiation. At 6 h post-irradiation, the number of degenerated primordial follicles increased. Germinal vesicles disappeared, and lipid droplets increased. No more ooplasmic membranes were seen. Granulosa cells became round in shape, and apoptotic cells started to appear. The ratio of normal to atretic follicles in the control group was 62.50%. The ratio decreased with time after irradiation. The ratio decreased down to 51.61 %, 48.97 %, 11.11 %, and 7.14 % at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h, respectively. Taken together, ionizing radiation acutely induced the degeneration of primordial follicles. The patterns of degeneration are 1) apoptosis of one or more granulosa cells with relatively intact oocyte, 2) apoptosis of oocyte with intact follicle cells, or 3) apoptotic degenerations of both cells. The Present study can provide morphological clues for the identification of degenerating primordial follicles.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 1993

These experiments were carried out to investigate whether zona hardening affect the efficiency of in vitro fertilization in mouse oocytes. The soluble properties for zona pellucida of oocytes matured in vivo, aged oocytes, and ovarian oocytes matured in vitro have been analyzed with proteolytic enzyme, 3mg/ml of $\alpha$-chymotrypsin. The mean solubility(t50) for the zona of unfertilized oocytes, oocytes not fertilized at the first inseminati and in vitro produced zygotes were 10.1, 20.3 and 32.3min., respectively. The t50 for zona lysis of fertilized oocytes was significantly difference than those observed for unfertilized oocytes and oocytes not fertilized at the first insemination(P<0.01). In addition, the t50 of zona in ovulated oocytes with and without cumulus cells incubated for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hr in vitro, t50 were 13.9, 11.1, 20.7 and 28.0min., and 22.3, 21.0, 30.0 and 33.5min., respectively. In these experiments, the zona pellucida showed a gradual increase in resistance to dissolution by $\alpha$-chyjotrypsin with in vitro aging for more than 6 hrs. This effect was greater in cumulus-free as compared to cumulus-intact oocytes. Finally, in cumulus-intact and cumulus-free ovarian oocytes matured for 0, 5, 10 and 15 hr in vitro the t50 of zona pellucida were 3.0, 10.6, 18.4 and 24.5 min., and 3.0, 14.0, 26.2 and 32.0 min., respectively. Clear differences in solubility between the zona pellucida of oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro. This data were found suggest that under in vitro conditions there is a gradual change in the soluble properties of the zona pellucida, particularly in the absence of the cumulus cells.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 1995

Intact mature zygotic embryos or their excised cotyledons of ginseng, were cultured on media containing various growth regulators such as auxin (2,4D, IAA) and cytokinin(BAP kinetin). In the culture of intact zygotic embryos, auxin inhibited germination but cytokinin did not Somatic embryogenesis occurred only from those of ungerminated embryos. In the culture of cotyledon segment, medium without growth regulators was the most appropriate to somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryos were produced sporadically over the surfaces of zygotic embryos on medium containing auxin, while on medium without growth regulators, or media containing cytokinin, somatic embryos formed only on the proximal region of cotyledon. on medium containing 2,4-D, somatic embryos originated from multiple cells which comprised epidermal and subepidermal layers of cotyledon, which resulted in poly-somatic embryogenesis. When these somatic embryos were cultured on the same medium, the primary somatic embryos procured secondary embryos, which arose from epidermal or subepidermal single cells.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of frankincense oil in skin aging animal model. Skin aging was induced by both the irradiation of UVB and the application of squalene monohydroperoxide (Sq-OOH) to the back of experimental animals for 4 weeks. And at the same time experimental materials were applied topically. Six to seven weeks female SHR-1 hairless mice were divided into five groups including normal (N: saline), control (C: UVB+Sq-OOH+saline), vehicle control (VC: UVB+Sq-OOH+jojoba oil), positive control (PC: UVB+Sq-OOH+0.01% retinoic acid) and experimental (E: UVB+Sq-OOH+3% Frankincense oil) groups, five animals each group. Lipid lamella and lipid content in stratum corneum of the E group were almost intact with a regular arrangement which were similar to the N group. Collagen fibers in dermis of the E group were almost intact with a regular arrangement which were similar to the N group. Relatively much less number of mast cells and inflammatory cells were found in the E group compared to the C group. The activities of XO, SOD and CAT were no significant difference between the E and N groups. In conclusion, the application of frankincense oil to the skin aging animal model reduced both the generation of free radicals and the damage of skin tissues. Therefore, frankincense oil can be used practically for the prevention or improvement of skin aging in terms of health promotion and beauty for the people.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.148-154
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• 2013

Objective: To compare the mouse oocyte vitrification outcomes of the CryoLogic vitrification method (CVM) and the conventional open method using a Cryotop. Two CVM methods (original CVM and modified CVM) were tested. Methods: Mature oocytes obtained from female BDF-1 mice were vitrified by two-step exposure to equilibrium and vitrification solutions. Three vitrification protocols were tested on three groups: the CVM-kit, modified CVM, and Cryotop groups. After exposure to the two solutions, the oocytes were vitrified. After warming, the oocytes were fertilized in vitro, and the embryo development was assessed. Blastomeres positive for caspase were counted using an in situ assay kit. The spindle morphology and chromosome configurations of warmed vitrified oocytes were also assessed. Results: The modified CVM and Cryotop groups showed similar developmental capacities, and similar proportions of cells with intact spindles and chromosome configurations. The modified CVM protocol was superior to the original CVM protocol for developmental competence and intact spindle preservation. However, the CVM group showed a relatively higher number of apoptotic cells in blastocysts. Conclusion: Closed vitrification using the modified CVM protocol may be used as an alternative to the conventional open method, but strategies to decrease apoptosis in the blastomere need to be investigated.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 1988

Rat oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in verious media in order to induce maturation division in vitro. When the complexes were cultured in mKRB containing estrous rat serum (ERS) and FCS of 5% instead of BSA higher proportions(83.3 and 86.7%) of oocytes matured to metaphase II in 20h compared to control(75%) and t도 maturation rates in mKRB plus FCS were generally higher than those in mKRB plus ERS. Fertilization and early cleavage rates in vitro of the intact oocytes matured in mKRB containing BSA and FCS were generally higher than those of cumulus-removed oocytes and these rates were higher in mKRB containing 5% FCS than those in mKRB containing BSA. These results indicate that maturation rate in vitro was greatly increased by the addition of FCS instead of BSA to mKRB solution and the presence of cumulus cells around oocytes prior to sperm insemintion may be responsible for the increase of in vitro fertilization and early cleavage rates.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.387-397
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• 1993

To examine local response of adenosie(purine nucleoside) on the developing mammary gland, Elvax 40P implants containing adenosine were surgically implanted into mammary fat pad of the five week old female ICR mice. Inguinal(the 4th) mammary glands of anesthetized mice were exposed andplaced the implants for 12 days. One gland was treated with an adenosine implant, while the contralateral gland received a blank implant as control. For whole-mount preparations, glands were stained with alum carmine, and for histological observation, micro-selected mammary glands were stained with hematoxylin and eosin Y. Implantation with Elvax 40P did not affect on the damage of neighboring mammary tissue. Adenosie 25 or 250$\mu\textrm{g}$ per slow-release implant stimulated local mammary end bud formation of ovariectomized mice such as end bud size and numbers of end bud per gland in a dose dependent manner(P<0.05), and lower concentration of adenosie(2.5 or 25$\mu\textrm{g}$/implant) increased numbers of end bud(P<0.05) and end bud size(P<0.1) of intact mice. Adenosine treatment and intact ovarian function had moderate interation effects on the stimulation of end bud formation at 2.5$\mu\textrm{g}$ adenosine/implant(P<0.1). In histological observation, adenosine implants increased numbers of mammary epithelial type of cells at mammary duct in the presence or absece ofovary. These results indicate that adenosine should be one of regulators in mouse mammary ductal growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1021-1021
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• 2001

Sample presentation, which means how to set samples to an NIR instrument, is very important in Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy. When sample presentation is not suitable for the samples that you use, very good spectra can not be obtained even if you use a sophisticated NIR instrument. In my presentation, various NIR sample presentations for agricultural products such as intact fruits, single grains, vegetable juice and the others will be explained. In case of peaches with thin peel, the fiber optics of Interactance can be used. However, the fiber optics are not suitable for oranges with relatively thick peel. In this case, transmittance method is useful. As for a small sample such as single grains, a specially designed cell is needed. The cell in transmittance mode has been developed and then applied to single kernels of rice and soybean. In this case we also used the fiber optics. As regards liquid type of sample, a cuvette cell made of quartz in transmittance mode is popular. However, it is time-consuming to wash and dry it. In order to compensate this disadvantage the sample presentation using normal test tubes as sample cells have been developed and applied to milk, rumen juice and urine of a milking cow. An individual test tube can be used for each sample if you use the calibration equation with sample cell compensation. The test tube cell has also been applied to spinach juice for determination of undesirable constituents. It is concluded that sample presentation is most important for NIR Spectroscopy.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2016

Purine metabolism is known factor for nuclear maturation of oocytes through both follicle cells and oocyte itself. However, it is largely unknown the roles of purine metabolism in the oocyte competence for fertilization and early development. In this study, the effects of adenosine in oocyte competence for development were examined using adenosine and its synthetic inhibitors. Adenosine treatment from GV intact stage for 18 hr (fGV) caused of decrease the fertilization rate but of increase the cleavage rate compared from the other stage treatment groups. Hadacidin did not effect on fertilization rate but increased cleavage rate without stage specificity. Adenosine did not block the effects of hadacidin with the exception of fGV group. Inhibition of purine synthetic pathways the fertilization rate was decreased in the fGV and fGVB groups but increased in the fMII group. Exogenous adenosine caused of decrease fertilization rate in the fGVB group but increase in the fMII group. Cleavage rate was dramatically increased in the adenosine treatment with synthetic inhibitors. It means that the metabolism of purine has stage specific effects on fertilization and cleavage. Exogenous adenosine had only can improve oocyte developmental competence when it treated at GV intact stage. On the other hand, endogenous synthesis in all maturation stage cause of increase the cleavage rate without effects on fertilization. These data suggest that adenosine at GV stage as a paracrine fashion and inhibitions of endogenous adenosine in all stage improve oocyte developmental competence.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2006

A series of no-choice olfactory response tests using water pre-conditioned with females, with intact and surgically removed ventral glands, at various reproductive states were conducted to determine whether male Hynobius leechii discriminates among females in different reproductive states based on chemical cues. Similarly, ventral gland extracts were tested, and ventral glands were examined histologically. Males’ responses to putative odors of females in four (ovulating, ovulated, ovipositing, and oviposited) reproductive states were independently measured by: i) the latency time to initiate male behavioral response, ii) the arrival time at a fixed point of putative odor source, and iii) the staying time close to the odor point source. Male salamanders showed significant olfactory responses to recently ovulated and ovipositing female odors by quickly arriving at odor sources and staying longer at the origin of the source, but the olfactory responses to the earlier staged ovulating females and the later stage of already oviposited females were not different from controls. Olfactory responses of test males to water preconditioned by intact females or females with ventral glands excised were not different. In addition, ventral gland extracts did not induce significant olfactory responses of test males although the lumens of alveoli in ventral glands of oviposited females were smaller than those of ovulated females. These results indicate that male H. leechii recognizes ovulated and ovipositing females based on chemical cues released but not from the ventral glands.