• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

Objectives : This study focuses on the effect of the extract which We manufactured by adding Aliium sativum to Ojayeonjonghwan on the amount of semen, the number and the activity of sperm. Methods : We observed any changes in the amount of semen, the number and the activity of sperm after orally administering the test drug for thirty days and taking semen samples from a selected group of men - healthy men in their 20s, as well as men in their 40s who were feeling a decrease in energy. Results : This experiment showed the result that the amount of semen increased by adding Aliium sativum to Ojayeonjonghwan in the case of men in their 20s, but did not show a statistically significant result. It showed the result that the amount of semen increased by a statistically significant level as well as the activity of sperm. Consequently, the result indicated that orally administering the extract added Aliium sativum to Ojayeonjonghwan increased the amount of semen, the number and the activity of sperm for men in their 20s. Men in their 40s who are feeling a decline in energy generally decreased the amount of semen, the number and the ratio of activity of sperm. However the amount of semen remarkably increased and the number and the activity of sperm increased but the result was not statistically significant after orally administering the test drug for thirty days. Conclution : Eventually, the result after orally administering the test drug to the group of men in their 20s and 40s for thirty days indicated that both groups increased the amount of semen, number of sperm and activity of sperm to a statistically significant degree.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2007

Carbohydrate-protein interactions are known to be important in gamete interactions. Several evidence indicated that a fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan was potential inhibitor of fertilization in vitro and thus fucose seemed to be part of the recognition signal of gamete interaction in mammals. In recent investigation we found that ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase activity was present in boar spermatozoa and it was related to sperm binding to and penetration into zona pellucida (ZP) in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of monosaccharide L-fucose and polysaccharide fucoidan on sperm ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase activity and relation to sperm-oocyte interaction in pig. Results indicated that the activity of sperm ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase was largely inhibited (62%) when sperm suspension was treated with monosaccharide L-fucose. It also significantly inhibited the number of sperm binding to ZP (32%) and penetration into zona-intact oocytes (72%), but did not inhibit penetration into zona-free oocytes when fertilization medium contained L-fucose. The chlorotetracycline (CTC) assessment showed that L-fucose did not affect induction of sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. In contrast, the activity of sperm ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase was not inhibited when sperm suspension was treated with polysaccharide fucoidan but sperm-ZP binding was greatly inhibited (85%) and completely blocked sperm penetration into zona-intact or zona-free oocytes. The CTC assessment showed that fucoidan increased the F pattern and decreased the AR pattern sperm. These results suggested that the different inhibitory mechanisms were present between monosaccharide L-fucose and polysaccharide fucoidan on sperm-oocyte interaction, the inhibition effect of ${\alpha}$-L-fucose on sperm binding and penetrating into ZP caused sperm ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase inhibited by ${\alpha}$-L-fucose.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of washing medium, breed and washing temperature of fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm on mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity by flow cytometry. More than $80\%$ of fresh sperm washed with mTLP-PVA medium at $20^{\circ}C$ exhibited an intact membrane and a functional mitochondrion. With frozen-thawed samples, a large number of sperm showed both damaged membrane $(36.4\~46.9\%)$ and nonfunctional mitochondrion $(55.1\~71.1\%)$ in the mTLP-PVA and BTS washing media at $20^{\circ}C$. There were no breed effects of fresh and frozen-thawed sperm on mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity. The percentages of damaged membrane of fresh and frozen sperm, respectively, were higher at $4^{\circ}C$ washing temperature than at $20^{\circ}C$ washing temperature in the mTLP-PVA medium. We found that washing medium and washing temperature of fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm were important for the analyses of mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity by flow cytometry.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.111-124
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the dose dependent effects of Panax Ginseng on the reproductive functions in mice. Methods : We used the 8-week-old mice, and administered 0.2ml extract solution of Panax Ginseng in the different concentration once a day for 60 days. The control group was administered 0.2ml normal saline in the same way and duration. We counted the total, motile and normal sperm number of the cauda epididymis and measured the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, peroxidase and catalase of the isolated testis tissues. And we observed histological changes of surgically isolated testis by histochemical methods. Results : All Panax Ginseng extract solution groups showed significantly dose dependent differences in the total number, the motility and normality of sperms compared with the control group, respectively. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, all Panax Ginseng extract solution groups showed the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent angiogenesis between seminiferous tubules. And the activity of typical sperm enzyme, hyaluronidase, was significantly increased in the Panax Ginseng extract solution groups compared to the control group. In the antioxidant activity analysis, the activities of peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased in the Panax Ginseng extract solution groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Panax Giseng has the beneficial effects on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and catalase. We can suggest that Panax Ginseng be useful for the treatment of male infertility.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2013

In this study, we used flow a cytometric assay to evaluate plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity in post-thawed sperm that was supplemented with ginsenoside-$Rg_1$. Varying concentrations of ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ (0, 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M/ml$) were used in the extender during cryopreservation to protect the DNA of thawed sperm, thereby increasing the viability and motility rate as evaluated using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) method. The results derived from CASA were used to compare the fresh, control, and ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ groups. Sperm motility and the number of progressively motile sperm were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the $50{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-Rg1 group ($61.0{\pm}4.65%$) than in the control ($46.6{\pm}7.02%$), $25{\mu}M/ml$ ($46.2{\pm}4.76%$), and $100{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ ($52.0{\pm}1.90%$) groups. However, the velocity distribution of post-thawed sperm did not differ significantly. Membrane integrity and MMP staining as revealed using flow cytometry were significantly (p<0.05) higher ($91.6{\pm}0.82%$) in the $50{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ group than in the other groups. Here, we report that ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ affects the motility and viability of boar spermatozoa. Moreover, ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ can be used as a protective additive for the suppression of intracellular mitochondrial oxidative stress caused by cryopreservation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1763-1769
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the pig semen characteristics during storage. Methods: Spermatozoa samples were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 5 groups: 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM L-carnitine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and antioxidant parameters (total reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) were evaluated after 0, 3, 5, and 10 day cooled-storage at 17℃. Moreover, ATP content, mitochondria activity as well as sperm-binding and in vitro fertilizing ability of preserved boar sperm were also investigated. Results: Supplementation with 50 mM L-carnitine could effectively maintain boar sperm quality parameters such as sperm motility and membrane integrity. Besides, we found that L-carnitine had positive effects on boar sperm quality mainly through improving antioxidant capacities and enhancing ATP content and mitochondria activity. Interestingly, by assessing the effect of L-carnitine on sperm fertility and developmental potential, we discovered that the extender containing L-carnitine could improve sperm quality and increase the number of sperms bounding to zona pellucida, without improving in vitro fertility and development potential. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the proper addition of L-carnitine to the semen extender improved boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17℃.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2013

We screened the pharmacological effects of a 50% ethanol extract of Yacon tubers and leaves on spermatogenesis in rats. As a result, we found that Yacon tuber extracts increased sperm number and serum testosterone level in rats. It has been reported that the crude extract of Yacon tubers and leaves contain phenolic acids, such as, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid by HPLC/MS analysis. We were interested in the contributions made by phenolic acid, particularly chlorogenic acid of Yacon tuber extract to the spermatogenic activity. After administering Yacon tuber extract or chlorogenic acid to rats for 5 weeks, numbers of sperm in epididymis were increased by 34% and 20%, respectively. We also administered ferulic acid, which has been reported to be a metabolite of chlorogenic acid and a constituent of Yacon tuber extract to investigate its spermatogenic activity in rats. Yacon tuber extract and ferulic acid increased sperm numbers by 43% and 37%, respectively. And, Yacon tuber extract, and chlorogenic acid showed significantly inhibition effect of testoeterone degradation in rat liver homogenate. We considered that the spermatogenic effect of Yacon tuber extract might be related to phenolic compounds and their inhibitory effect of testosterone degradation. Yacon showed the possibility as ameliorable agents of infertility by sperm deficiency and late onset hypogonadism syndrome with low level of testosterone.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.63-76
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• 2006

Objective: These studies were undertaken to evaluate the effects of the different administration duration of Morindae Radix extract solution on spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testes and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Materials and Method: We used 8-week-old ICR mice and administered 0.3mg/g extract solution of Morindae Radix once a day for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The control group was administered normal saline in the same way and duration. We examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis. We also compared the testicular tissue, especially seminiferous tubules, between the control and treated groups by histochemical methods. Finally, we observed the difference of sperm hyaluronidase activities between the control and treated groups. Results: Significant administration duration-dependent differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Morindae Radix extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the Morindae Radix extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the Morindae Radix extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Conclusions: This study shows that the beneficial effect of Morindae Radix extract solution on the concentration, motility and morphology of sperm, the testicular tissues and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase increased the greater the duration the mice were administered it. We suggest that Morindae Radix may be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunction and infertility.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.644-650
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• 2023

We examined the effects of serotonin on the spawning response, sperm motility, and D-shaped larva production in Eastern Gooeyduck clam Panopea sp. based on the sperm densities at fertilization and washing after mixing the eggs and sperm. The highest spawning induction was found showed in females and males injected with 1 mL of 2 mM serotonin. The spawning responses in females and males were higher at concentrations greater than 1 mM and 0.75 mM, respectively. Regarding the activities of sperm in sea water after serotonin injection, the sperm showed activity at >90.0% until 120 mins. We also examined the effects of sperm concentration at the fertilization and washing times after mixing the eggs and sperm. We confirmed that washing within 1 minute at a concentration of 1,500 sperms/mL or less can prevent egg destruction by polyspermy and secure a large number of D-phase larvae. These results should be useful for developing the aquaculture process for Eastern Gooeyduck clam, Panopea sp.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2017

In the field of reproductive medicine, assessment of sperm motility is a key factor for achieving successful artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, or intracellular sperm injection. In this study, the motility of boar sperms was estimated using real-time imaging via confocal microscopy. To confirm this confocal imaging method, flagellar beats and whiplash-like movement angles were compared between fresh and low-temperature-preserved ($17^{\circ}C$ for 24 h) porcine sperms. Low-temperature preservation reduced the number of flagellar beats from $11.0{\pm}2.3beats/s$ (fresh sperm) to $5.7{\pm}1.8beats/s$ and increased the flagellar bending angle from $19.8^{\circ}{\pm}13.8^{\circ}$ (fresh) to $30.6^{\circ}{\pm}15.6^{\circ}$. These data suggest that sperm activity can be assessed using confocal microscopy. The observed motility patterns could be used to develop a sperm evaluation index and automated confocal microscopic sperm motility analysis techniques.