• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.636-642
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• 2009

The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine gland that produces progesterone, a product required for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy, the production of progesterone in the CL decreases and the structure itself regresses in size. The life span and function of the CL are regulated by complex interactions between stimulatory (luteotrophic) and inhibitory (luteolytic) mediators. When an ovum is released from a mature follicle, angiogenesis and rapid growth of follicular cells form the CL. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether steroidogenesis, proliferation, and hypoxiarelated proteins are expressed in caprine CL. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor $1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) were determined in caprine CL during the estrous cycle. Cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage protein did not vary significantly during the estrous cycle; however, there was an increased expression of $3{\beta}$ -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the early and middle stages, which rapidly decreased in the late stage. The same observations were made with respect to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. Variations in progesterone content and expression of PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF were consistent with this result. Thus, the steroidogenic proteins, PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF in caprine CL are dependent on the stage of the estrous cycle.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2012

Purpose: Mass can compress around tissue and cause deviation of normal anatomical structures. Often, mass grows toward neurovascular pedicle and encircles depending on the nature of mature mass. Neglecting neurovascular involvement of the mass is a serious problem not to be overlooked. Authors have performed microscopic approach regarding mass involving the neurovascular pedicle in the hand. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 through February 2012, retrospective analysis for nine cases of mass involving neurovascular pedicles was done. Patients were evaluated preoperatively by ultrasonography or MRI and checked intraoperative finding. Masses were evaluated by site, preoperative evaluation, involved neurovascular pedicle, histopathologic diagnosis, complication, and recurrence. Results: The site of mass involving neurovascular pedicles was 4 cases on the wrist, 2 cases on the palm, 2 cases on the finger, 1 case on the hand dorsum. Involved neurovascular pedicles were 3 radial arteries and nerves, 3 proper digital arteries and nerves, 1 radial artery, 1 superficial branch of radial nerve, 1 common digital artery and nerve. The histopathologic diagnosis of mass were 3 ganglions, 2 giant cell tumors, 2 epidermal cysts, 1 fibroma, and 1 benign spindle tumor. There were 2 cases of recurrence and secondary excisions were performed. Conclusion: Neurovascular pedicle injury can lead to serious complication like sensory and motor disorders, distal part ischemia, and so on. In case of mass suspected neurovascular invasion, accurate preoperative evaluation such as ultrasonography or MRI is necessary. To prevent any neurovascular related complication during mass excision, delicate surgical technique using a microscope becomes essential.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.281-287
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• 2011

Background: Biodegradable polymers have increasingly been recognized for various biological applications in recent years. Here we examined the immunostimulatory activities of the novel poly(aspartic acid) conjugated with L-lysine (PLA). Methods: PLA was synthesized by conjugating L-lysine to aspartic acid polymer. PLA-nanoliposomes (PLA-NLs) were prepared from PLA using a microfluidizer. The immunostimulatory activities of PLA-NLs were examined in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs). Results: PLA-NLs increased the number of BM-DCs when added to cultures of GM-CSF-induced DC generation on day 4 after the initiation of cultures. Examination of the phenotypic properties showed that BM-DCs generated in the presence of PLA-NLs are more mature in terms of the expression of MHC class II molecules and major co-stimulatory molecules than BM-DCs generated in the absence of PLA-NLs. In addition, the BM-DCs exhibited enhanced capability to produce cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions also confirmed that the BMDCs were more stimulatory on allogeneic T cells. PLA- NL also induced further growth of immature BM-DCs that were harvested on day 8. Conclusion: These results show that PLA-NLs induce the generation and functional activities of BM-DCs, and suggest that PLA-NLs could be immunostimulating agents that target DCs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1735-1740
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• 2005

Forty-two single-bearing and 42 twin-bearing mature Angus${\times}$Hereford cows were allocated, seven per cell to 3 replications of 2 stocking rates (3.2 cows/ha; medium stocking rate [MSR], and 3.8 cows/ha; high stocking rate [HSR]) to graze summer-active and winter-active pastures from late pregnancy to the weaning of their calves. Cow liveweights and growth of calves were recorded as well as estimates of pasture quantity and forage intake. Pasture quantity did not differ in the paddocks grazed by single- and twin-bearing cows during pregnancy, nor effectively did forage intake. Subsequently, intake was higher during mid-lactation especially with twin-rearing cows (25% higher than single-rearing cows at the MSR; 9% at the HSR). However, quantity of pasture decreased for twin-rearing cows and was less than that available to single-rearing cows as lactation progressed. Liveweights of twinrearing cows decreased by 16% from late pregnancy to weaning at the MSR, and by 14% at the HSR, compared to decreases of 1% for single-rearing cows. Twin calves were lighter at birth, had slower growth rates, and were lighter at weaning than single calves. In spite of weaning smaller calves twinning increased the output (kg of calf weaned) per cow and per ha, and increased the efficiency (kg calf weaned per unit of forage eaten by the cow) over single calf production by 46% at the MSR and by 58% at the HSR. Twinning also increased the marginal returns from investment in high input pastures required by the enterprise.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.6 s.53
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• pp.705-714
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• 1995

Due to the great deal of effort that has gone into the study of osteoclastic differentiation and activation over the last few decades, the mechanisms of these two events have been discovered gradually. Nitric oxide($NO^-$), which is produced from arginine by a nitric oxide synthase, opened up a new area of biological research. Recently, it has been reported that $NO^-$ is produced by osteoblasts stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and several other cytokines. In this study, the effect of sodium nitroprusside(SNP), a donor of nitric oxide($NO^-$), on osteoclast-like cell formation and on mature osteoclast function was examined. To determine the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of SNP decreased not only the basal $^{45}Ca$ release but also thee bone resorption induced by PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3\;(1,25[OH]_{2}D_3)$. The inhibitory effect of SNP on bone resorption induced by PTH appeared 2 dyas after treatment, whereas SNP effect on inhibiting bone resorption induced by $1,25[OH]_{2}D_3$ appeared at the thhird days. When chicken and rat osteeoclasts were cultured on dentin slices, treatment of $300{\mu}M$ SNP resulted in a significant decrease in dentin resorption by osteoclasts in terms of total resolution area and average individual area. We also examind the effect of SNP on formation of osteoclast-like cells that is TRAP-positive multinucleated cells from chicken and rat bone marrow cells in the presence or absence of $10^{-8}\;M\;1,25[OH]_{2}D_3$. The addition of $300{\mu}M$ SNP inhibiteed the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells. The present data suggest that SNP, possibly as a $NO^-$ donor, inhibits the osteoclastic differentiation and osteoclastic activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2000

The observation using an electron microscope shows that the maturation of the oocyte of African giant snail, Achatina fulica, proceeds over three stages. The oocyte of stage 1 is a small elliptic cell $(220\times400{\mu}m)$ whose light nucleoplasm contains two nucleoli. In its cytoplasm, a number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticula, and ribosomes are found, while yolk granules are not. The nucleus of the oocyte of stage 2 is relatively large in comparison with the volume of cytoplasm, and contains one nucleolus. In the nuclear envelope comprising inner and outer double membrane, there are found a lot of nuclear pores for materials to pass through. A number of mitochondria, Golgi complex and lipid yolk granules appears in the cytoplasm, and proteinous yolk granules begin to form and mature in the vacuoles of various sizes ($0.8\sim3.0{\mu}m$ in diameter). The oocyte of stage 3 has an enlarged nucleolus. Material transportation through nuclear pore is not found any longer. The cytoplasm in this stage is filled with proteinous and lipid yolk granules. The microvilli are developed around the egg plasma membrane.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1998

The fine structure of spermatozoa of Pungtungia herzi was examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The spermatozoa of p. herzi are approximately 37.4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in length and a relatively simple cell with a spherical nucleus, a short midpiece and a tail. The acrosome is not present as in most teleost fishes. The ultrastructure of spermatozoa represents typical characteristics of cyprinid spermatozoa including the lateral insertion of flagellum, the organization of centriolar complex in shallow nuclear fossa, and the occurrence and asymmetrical arrangement of mitochondria. In the nuclear envelope and mitochondrion, however there were some morphological differences for their ultrastructure. The nuclear envelope is severely undulated and the shallow nuclear fossa contains two centrioles which are at the angle of some 130$^{\circ}$ each other. The most significant feature can be observed with the mitochondrion; five or more mitochondria, which are shown in primary spermatocyte, fuse to form a single one in the mature spermatozoon. The mitochondrial aspect is different from that of other cyprinid spermatozoa, where their mitochondria have a conventional aspect and never fuse to form a mitochondrial derivative. In terms of sperm evolution the fused mitochondria are regarded as the apomorphic character in comparison with the separate mitochondria. The single mitochondrion is not reported in cyprinid spermatozoon except the case of Rhodeus.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2001

Immunohistochemical and Electron Microscopical Studies on the Initial Skin Lesions Induced Experimentally by Very Virulent Strain of Marek\`s Disease Virus in Chickens Marek\`s disease virus (MDV), which is an avian herpesvirus, causes malignant CD3+CD4+CD8-T cell lymphomas at many sites including visceral organs, muscles, peripheral nerves and skin. In the early skin lesions induced by MDV, corelationship between the translational activity of MDV early gene, pp38 and demonstration of MDV particles in the lymphoid cells are not well studied. Therefore, skin biopsies taken at weekly intervals for 2 weeks from the same specific-pathogen free chicknes inoculated with Md/5 MDV were examined immunohistochemically and electron microscopically. In the skin biopsies sampled at 1 week and 2 weeks post inoculation (PI), feather follicle epithelium (FFE) exhibited usually strong positive reaction for pp38, whereas only few lymphoblasts, which were infiltrated around FFE revealed positive reaction. Electron microscopically, small lymphocytes were detectable in the dermis and subcutaneous skin tissues sampled at 1 week PI. The number of small lymphocytes was increased and pleomorphic lymphoblasts, which were medium to large in size were scattered among the small lymphocytes at 2 weeks PI. Some of lymphoblasts revealed degenerative and necrotic changes. FFE contained a lot of MDV particles in the nucleus including mature and immature ones. Infrequently, immature virus particles were observed not only in the degenerative and necrotic lymphoblasts, but also rarely in the health lymphoblasts. From the present results, spontaneous MDV activation including translational activity of MDV pp38 gene and formation of MDV particles was occurred in the lymphoblasts of early MD skin lesions.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

This study focused on spawning season, induce spawning, spawning and larval development of the Jicon scallop in Daehuksan Island of southwestern waters in Korea. The condition index and gonadosomatic index were used to investigate the reproductive pattern of the Jicon scallop. The major spawning season was from July to August, showing an unimodal gametogenic cycle per year. Several different tests were carried out to induce spawning of the mature male and female C. farreri. For females, the injection of serotonin, temperature induction technique and the combination of the both treatments produced significantly faster gamete release. Unlike females, males spawned only in response to the UV rays irradiation stimulation. Mean size of fertilized eggs was 69.5 $\mu$m in diameter. After fertilization, the zygote could be divided into 2 cells as early as 2 hours. It took about 8 hours to develop the 8-cell stage, about 20 hours to hatch trochophore larvae, and about 40 hours to be D-shaped larvae.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1989

To study the structure of opposite wood in the angiosperms. samples were cut from stems and branchs of 10 spcies growing in Korea. The opposite side was defined as being along a line passing from the most wide annual ring of the tension wood on the upper side to the pith and extrapolated through the opposite side. lateral sides being on the right and left of this line. The stem woods growing almost horizontally were surveyed the structural features of the well-developed opposite wood for the tension wood. In the annual-ring of the well-developed opposite woods. an investigation was made on how the dimension of elements, microfibril angles. and cell wall layers change from tension side to opposite side. The structural characteristics of opposite wood in hardwoods realized in this study are as follows: 1. The vessel diameters increased continuously to ward the opposite side in which the values were maximum. The vessel length also increased toward opposite side. but the rates of increase were smaller than those in the vessel diameters. 2. The wood fiber length were decreased from tension toward opposite side. but the rates of decrement were f1actuated within the sampled species. 3. The microfibril angles had the minimum values on the tension side. then increased steeply toward the opposite side in which the values maximum. 4. In the percentage of elements the vessel elements increased continously at a relative rate from the tension to opposite side, whereas the values of the wood fibers were lower in the opposite than the tension side, but the' variation patterns of rays were not seem distinctly. 5. The component layers of the wood fiber in the opposite woods were very similar to the lateral woods.