• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2013

A new cold-adapted Arctic strain of Haematococcus pluvialis from Blomstrandhalv${\o}$ya Island (Svalbard) is described. This strain is predominantly always in non-motile palmelloid stage. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of very thick cell wall and abundant lipid vesicles in the palmelloids, including red and green cells. The external morphology of the non-motile palmelloid and motile bi-flagellated cells of our strain is similar to H. pluvialis; however it differs from H. pluvialis in physiology. Our strain is adapted to live and produce astaxanthin in the low temperature ($4-10^{\circ}C$), whilst the usual growth temperature for H. pluvialis is between $20-27^{\circ}C$. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene data showed that our strain nested within the Haematococcus group, forming a sister relationship to H. lacustris and H. pluvialis, which are considered synonymous. Therefore, we identified our Arctic strain as H. pluvialis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2018

In this study, two epididymal spermatozoa recovery methods in relation to sperm number, motility, viability and acrosome reaction were examined. Seven bulls were castrated and 7 testicles with epididymides were transferred to the laboratoy. Epididymis in each bull was randomly used for flushing and mincing methods with semen extender (Optixcell, IMV, France). The recovered spermatozoa with adjusted sperm concentration to $40{\times}10^6cells/mL$ was diluted with optixcell and cryopreserved. In experiment 1, the difference in the total number of spermatozoa using flushing and mincing methods was insignificant (2570.0 and $2505.2{\times}10^6cells/mL$, respectively). For experiment 2, the percentage of motile spermatozoa and motility parameters between flushing and mincing methods were studied through the use of sperm class analyzer after frozen-thawing. The percentage of total motile sperm between flushing and mincing methods was almost the same with $89.5{\pm}12.8$ and $91.4{\pm}7.9%$, respectively. The same is the case with experiment 3 wherein the viability and acrosomal integrity of frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa by flushing and mincing was insignificantly different. The results from the study showed that both flushing and mincing methods can be used for epididymal spermatozoa recovery in bull.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2018

The phototrophic dinoflagellate genus Scrippsiella is known to have a worldwide distribution. Here, we report for the first time, the occurrence of Scrippsiella lachrymosa in Korean waters. Unlike the other stains of S. lachrymosa whose cultures had been established from cysts in the sediments, the clonal culture of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was established from motile cells. When the sulcal plates of S. lachrymosa, which have not been fully described to date, were carefully examined using scanning electron microscopy, the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa clearly exhibited the anterior sulcal plate (s.a.), right sulcal plate (s.d.), left sulcal plate (s.s.), median sulcal plate (s.m.), and posterior sulcal plate (s.p.). When properly aligned, the large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was ca. 1% different from those of two Norwegian strains of S. lachrymosa, the only strains for which LSU sequences have been reported. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence of the Korean strain of S. lachrymosa was also ca. 1% different from those of the Scottish and Chinese strains and 3% different from those of the Canadian, German, Greek, and Portuguese strains. Thus, the Korean S. lachrymosa strain has unique LSU and ITS sequences. The abundances of S. lachrymosa in the waters of 28 stations, located in the East, West, and South Sea of Korea, were quantified in four seasons from January 2016 to October 2017, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method and newly designed specific primer-probe sets. Its abundances were >$0.1cells\;mL^{-1}$ at eight stations in January and March 2016 and March 2017, and its highest abundance in Korean waters was $26cells\;mL^{-1}$. Thus, S. lachrymosa has a nationwide distribution in Korean waters as motile cells.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-335
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• 1999

This study was carried out to find out the effect on fertilizing capacity according to sperm concentration of liquid boar semen. Four different doses with various motile sperm cells of 3.0$\times$10$^{9}$ , 2.5$\times$10$^{9}$ , 2.0$\times$10$^{9}$ , and $1.5\times$10$^{9}$ per 80$m\ell$ plastic bottle were inseminated twice 12 h interval after standing estrus in 6,818 sows. Farrowing rate and total piglets per litter were 82.2% and 10.9, respectively, with no significant differences among the other treatments. The presumption of optimal concentration of motile sperm cells in the liquid boar semen was best at 2.0~2.3$\times$10$^{9}$ per dose.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 1999

In the present study, we investigated the effect of maturity and motility of spermatozoa on the formation of pronuc-leus and subsequent developmental capacity of the human embryo in vitro. The fertilization was performed by means of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in HEPES-buffered m-TCM-199 medium. In the first part of the experiment, motile or im-motile human spermatozoa ejaculated were injected into cumulus-enclosed human oocytes matured in vivo. Significantly (p<0.002) higher proportion of oocytes that was injected with motile spermatozoa formed 2 pronuclei than the oocytes injected with immotile spermatozoa (79.8% vs 51.7%). In the second part of the experiment, cumulus-enclosed human oocytes matured in vivo were injected with motile or immotile spermatozoa collected from testes. There was no difference between motile and immotile spermatozoa. In the third part of the experiment, using modified Tyrode's medium containing 10.0 mM lactate, 0.5 mM pyruvate, 0.2 mM taurine, 1.0 mM glutamine, 2.22 mM MEM amino acids, vitamin and 10% human follicular fluid, we found that the development of oocytes that formed 2 pronuclei were able to develop to 9-16 cells regardless of maturity and motility of spermatozoa.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 1998

The spermatogenesis of pale chub (Zacco platypus) was investigated morphologically. The testis of pale chub contained numerous testicular sacs. These testicular sacs were bounded on neighboring sacs by single layer of squamous cells. Also, differentiated sperms were filled in the sacs. In the stage of spermatogonium, the germ cells had a large nucleus and a distinct nucleolus, and mitochondrial development was prominent. In the primary and secondary spermatogonia, these cells had a round electron-dense nucleus, reduced cytoplasm, and mitochondria were congregated in the side of cytoplasm. The highly condensed chromatin of sperms was electron-dense, the acrosome was not found in the head of the sperm and a motile flagellum consisted of an axoneme with a typical 9+2 pattern of microtubules.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2016

The histology and anatomy of the olfactory organ in Luciogobius guttatus was investigated using a light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The paired olfactory organs in the dorsal part of the snout are situated in between the upper lip and the eyes. They consist of two nostrils, one anterior and the other posterior openings, and a single olfactory cavity. The anterior nostril, an incurrent opening, forms a short tubular structure from the skin. The posterior nostril, an excurrent opening, forms a circular structure opened to the exterior. The distributional pattern of the sensory epithelium is a continuous type. The sensory epithelium with numerous-motile cilia is made up of receptor cells, supporting cells, basal cells, and mucous cells. In contrast, the non-sensory epithelium is comprised of stratified epithelial cells and two types of mucous cells, acidic and neutral cells. The cilia number of the receptor cell is in range of 3 to 4 units. Such results in L. guttatus may reflect its ecological habit and microhabitat in the tidal zone with a periodic tide.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.472-478
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• 2009

Objective : Hyaluronidase (HAse), a degrading enzyme of hyaluronic acid (HA), is highly expressed in patients with malignant glioma. The purpose of this study was to verify whether HAse is related to the invasion of glioma cells. We also investigated if glioma cells with higher mobility in 2-dimensioal (2-D) method have also higher mobility at 3-dimensional (3-D) environment. Methods : Malignant glioma cell lines (U87MG, U251MG, U343MG-A, and U373MG) were used, and their HAse expressions were evaluated by HA zymography. The migration ability was evaluated by simple scratch technique. The invasiveness of each cell lines was evaluated by Matrigel invasion assay and HA hydrogel invasion assay. In HA hydrogel invasion assay, colonies larger than $150\;{\mu}m$ were regarded as positive ones and counted. Statistical analysis of migration ability and invasion properties of each cell lines was performed using t-test. Results : In scratch test to examine migration ability of each cell lines, U87MG cells were most motile than others, and U343MG-A least motile. The HAse was expressed in U251MG and U343MG-A cell lines. However, U87MG and U373MG cell lines did not express HAse activity. In Matrigel invasion assay, the cell lines expressing HAse (U251MG and U343MG-A) were more invasive in the presence of HA than HAse deficient cell lines (U87MG and U373MG). In HA hydrogel invasion assay, the HAse-expressing cell lines formed colonies more invasively than HAse-deficient ones. Conclusion : Malignant Glioma cells expressing HAse were more invasive than HAse-deficient ones in 3-dimensional environment. Therefore, it might be suggested that invasion of malignant gliomas is suppressed by inhibition of HAse expression or HA secretion. Additionally, the ability of 2-D migration and 3-D invasion might not be always coincident to each other in malignant glioma cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2024

It has been widely documented that stress conditions in aquatic ecosystems could trigger the release of stress hormone (dopamine) in fishes. Such hormone could attract pathogens (such as Aeromonas hydrophila) to initiate its infection in fishes. The major focus of this study was to investigate the effect of the catecholamine derived stress hormone (dopamine) on the motility and hemolytic activity associated with the virulence of A. hydrophila ATCC AH-1N, the causative agent of Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS). The density of bacterial cells used in this study was adjusted at 106 cells/ml. The results showed that dopamine increased swimming motility of A. hydrophila ATCC AH-1N and was proportional to both dopamine hormone concentration and the incubation period. Dopamine concentration of 100 µM in the medium resulted in the highest increment of swimming ability of A. hydrophila ATCC AH-1N. The dopamine hormone was also found to affect the hemolytic activity of A. hydrophila ATCC AH-1N. The optimum hemolytic activity of the pathogen was found at 50 µM dopamine concentration in the medium, and this hemolytic activity was found to decrease when the concentration of dopamine at greater than 50 µM. It can be concluded from this study that dopamine hormone increased the motility and hemolysis capability, as well as the growth rate of A. hydrophila, and hence increased its virulence.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.322-330
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• 2003

The unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis has recently attracted great inter-est due to its large amounts of ketocarotenoid astaxanthin, 3,3'-dihydroxy-${\beta}$,${\beta}$-carotene-4,4'-dione, widely used commercially as a source of pigment for aquaculture. In the life cycle of H. pluvialis, astaxanthin biosynthesis is associated with a remarkable morphological change from green motile vegetative cells into red immotile cyst cells as the resting stage. In recent years we have studied this morphological process from two aspects: defining conditions governing astaxanthin biosynthesis and questioning the possible function of astaxanthin in protecting algal cells against environmental stress. Astaxanthin accumulation in cysts was induced by a variety of environmental conditions of oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species, intense light, drought, high salinity, and high temperature. In the adaptation to stress, abscisic acid induced by reactive oxygen species, would function as a hormone in algal morphogenesis from veget ative to cyst cells. Furthermore, measurements of both in vitro and in vivo antioxidative activities of astaxanthin clearly demonstrated that tolerance to excessive reactive oxygen species is greater in astaxanthin-rich cysts than in astaxanthin-poor cysts or astaxanthin-less vegetative cells. Therefore, reactive oxygen species are involved in the regulation of both algal morph O-genesis and carotenogenesis, and the accumulated astaxanthin in cysts can function as a protective agent against oxidative stress damage. In this study, the physiological roles of astaxanthin in stress response and cell protection are reviewed.