• Applied Microscopy
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.52-60
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• 1994

The developing ovarian oocyte of Dendrolimus spectabilis has been studied by using electron microscopical techniques. After yolk formation the vitelline membrane was laid down in the intercellular space between the follicle cell and the oocyte. But before the vitelline membrane formation the granules with high electron density that the vitelline membrane precusor are observed in the follicle cell. At the late vitellogenesis stage these granules were transported into the intercellular space between the follicle cells and the oocyte. These granules fuse to each other and larger bodies which eventually produce the vitelline membrane. The vitelline membrane was distinguished into the light inner and dark outer membrane. Next the chorion was laid down. It was apparent that the chorion was laid down in the intercellular space immediately adjacent to the vitelline membrane, and that it was formed by the follicle cells only.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2022

In response to luteinizing hormone (LH), a higher concentration of progesterone (P4) is produced in luteal cells of corpus luteum (CL). Mitochondria are an essential cellular organelle in steroidogenesis. The specific engagement of the concept regarding mitochondrial shaping with early stages of steroidogenesis was suggested in reproductive endocrine cells. Although the specific involvement of GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) with steroidogenesis has been demonstrated in luteal cells of bovine CL in vitro, its actual relationship with ovarian steroidogenesis during the estrous cycle remains unknown. In this study, while Fis1 and Opa1 protein levels did not show significant changes during the estrous cycle, Drp1, Mfn1, and Mfn2 proteins exhibited relatively lower levels at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. 3β-HSD showed higher levels at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. In addition, Drp1 phosphorylation (s637) was higher in proestrus than in estrus or diestrus. Immune-positive cells for Drp1, pDrp1 (s637), and 3β-HSD were all localized in the cytoplasm of luteal cells in the CL. The immune-positive cells for 3β-HSD were more frequently seen in the CL at proestrus than at estrus or diestrus. Immunoreactivity for Drp1 in luteal cells at proestrus was weaker than that at estrus or diestrus. However, pDrp1 (s637) immune-positive cells were mostly detected in luteal cells at proestrus. These results imply that steroidogenesis (P4 production) in the CL is closely related to phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 637. Taken together, this study presents evidence that Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 637 is an important step in steroidogenesis in the CL.

• 한국어류학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.237-243
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• 1994

감성돔을 대상으로 부화직후에서 양성생식소단계에 이르기까지 성분화과정을 규명하기 위해 시원생식세포의 출현과 원시생식소의 형성 그리고 자웅 성분화과정을 조직학적으로 조사하였다. 1. 시원생식세포 (primordial germ cell) 는 부화후 3 일 전장 2.4 mm된 전기 자어의 장관과 척색사이 체벽중배엽상피 위에서 크기 $6.8{\sim}7.2\;{\mu}m$인 3~4개의 세포가 섬유성 간충직에 묻혀 식별되었다. 2. 부화후 21일 전장 6.4 mm 개체에서, 색소세포가 다소 집착된 복막체강상피에 생식원세포(proto-gonial cell)가 위치한다. 3. 부화후 59일 전장 20.8 mm 개체에서, 섬유성 간충직으로 선상의 원시생식소를 따라 생식원세 포들은 후복막쪽으로 이동한다. 4. 부화후 186일 전장 7.8 cm 개체에서, 섬유질이 풍부하고 호산성 과립세포가 다수 분포하는 선상의 원시생식소에 유사분열중인 생식원세포들이 나타나고 있다. 5. 부화후 254일 전장 9.5 cm 개체에서, 섬유질이 풍부한 생식소내에 정모세포, 정세포 무리들이 나타나고 있다. 6. 부화후 13개월 전장 10.5 cm 개체에서, 생식소는 피층과 수층으로 구분된다. 피층에는 소수의 정모세포 무리들과 원생식세포 무리들이 나타나고, 수층에는 섬유질이 풍부한 간충직 조직과 소수의 원생식세포들이 드문드문 분포하고 있다. 7. 부화후 16개월 전장 14.7 cm 개체에서, 생식소는 섬유성 결합조직에 의해 정소부위와 난소부위로 구분되며, 정소부위에는 포낭내에 정원세포들이 분포하고, 난소부위에는 난소강과 주변인기 난모세포들로 구성된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.540-544
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• 2011

The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic induction by benzyldihydroxyoctenone (BDH), a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp., have been previously published in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Apoptotic induction of BDH-treated LNCaP cells was associated with downregulation of Bcl-xL that caused, in turn, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and activation of procaspases and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the patterns of apoptotic induction by BDH in non-prostate, ovarian cancer PA-1 (androgen-independent and -insensitive) cells and prostate cancer cells with different androgen responsiveness, such as C4-2 (androgen-independent and -sensitive), 22Rv1 (androgen-dependent and -low sensitive), and LNCaP (androgen-dependent and -high sensitive) cells. We found that BDH-treated LNCaP cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis via downregulation of the androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), as well as antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein. However, the levels of BDH-mediated apoptotic induction and growth inhibition in 22Rv1 cells were apparently lower than those of LNCaP cells. In contrast, the induction of apoptosis and antiproliferative effect in BDH-treated non-prostate cancer PA-1 and hormone refractory C4-2 cells were not detectable and marginal, respectively. Therefore, BDH-mediated differential apoptotic induction and growth inhibition in a cell type seem to be obviously dependent on its androgen responsiveness; primarily on androgen-dependency, and then on androgensensitivity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.5703-5707
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• 2015

Background: Medicinal plants, especially examples rich in polyphenolic compounds, have been suggested to be chemopreventive on account of their antioxidative properties. Melissa officinalis L. (MO), an aromatic and medicinal plant, is well known in thios context. However, toxicity against cancer cells has not been fully studied. Here, we investigated the selective anticancer effects of an MO extract (MOE) in different human cancer cells. Materials and Methods: a hydro-alcoholic extract of MO was prepared and total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined by colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging activity. MTT assays were used to evaluate cytotoxicity of different doses of MOE (0, 5, 20, 100, 250, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) towards A549 (lung non small cell cancer cells), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer cells), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: Significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences were observed in comparison to negative controls at all tested doses ($5-1000{\mu}g/ml$). In all cancer cells, MOE reduced the cell viability to values below 33%, even at the lowest doses. In all cases, $IC_{50}$ values were below $5{\mu}g/ml$. The mean growth inhibition was 73.1%, 86.7%, 79.9% and 77.8% in SKOV3, MCF-7 and PC-3 and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a hydro-alcoholic extract of MO possess a high potency to inhibit proliferation of different tumor cells in a dose independent manner, suggesting that an optimal biological dose is more important than a maximally tolerated one. Moreover, the antiprolifreative effect of MO seems to be tumor type specific, as hormone dependant cancers were more sensitive to antitumoral effects of MOE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.304-310
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• 2019

Interleukin-21 is a common ${\gamma}$-chain cytokine that controls the immune responses of B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. Targeting IL-21 to strengthen the immune system is promising for the development of vaccines as well as anti-infection and anti-tumor therapies. However, the practical application of IL-21 is limited by the high production cost. In this study, we improved IL-21 production by codon optimization and selection of appropriate signal peptide in CHO-K1 cells. Codon-optimized or non-optimized human IL-21 was stably transfected into CHO-K1 cells. IL-21 expression was 10-fold higher for codon-optimized than non-optimized IL-21. We fused five different signal peptides to codon-optimized mature IL-21 and evaluated their effect on IL-21 production. The best result (a 3-fold increase) was obtained using a signal peptide derived from human azurocidin. Furthermore, codon-optimized IL-21 containing the azurocidin signal peptide promoted $IFN-{\gamma}$ secretion and STAT3 phosphorylation in NK-92 cells similar to codon-optimized IL-21 containing original signal peptide. Collectively, these results indicate that codon optimization and azurocidin signal peptides provide an efficient approach for the high-level production of IL-21 as a biopharmaceutical.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.135-141
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• 1997

The early studies demonstrated that the relative amount of FSH was important for stimulating normal ovarian activity and demonstrated the existence of a threshold level for FSH, above which follicular growth was activated. It was found that only a modest increase in circulating FSH level above the threshold (between 10 and 30%) was required to stimulate folliculogenesis. In addition, FSH is primary responsible for initiating estradiol production through the activation of the aromatase enzyme system in granulosa cells, follicular secretion and growth. LH on the other hand, plays a supportive role in ovarian steroidogenesis, stimulating the ovarian thecal cells to produce androgen, the precursor for estradiol synthesis. But there is now an increasing number of reports in the literature demonstrating an adverse effect of LH on fertility and miscarriage in infertile and fertile women. So HP-FSH is the drug of a highly purified FSH preparation which has a higher specific activity and far fewer impurities than FSH. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HP-FSH administered (SC; subcutaneous) versus FSH(IM; intramuscular) for ovulation induction. 20 candidates patients for ovulation induction were participated. All patients underwent pituitary desensitizing with a long gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol and ovulation induction was started with HP-FSH SC (10 patients; group I) or FSH IM (10 patients; group II). After ovulation, outcome of ovulation induction and local reaction of injection site were compared. There were no difference of outcome of ovulation in two groups except pregnancy rate/embryo transfer. Group I had a higher pregnancy rate/ embryo transfer than Group II (44.4% Vs 28.6%). Pain, redness, tenderness, bruising and itching when the injection received on the first 5 days of treated (50 SC and 50 IM injections) were assessed. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) in the incidence of tenderness, bruising and itching between the IM and SC injection. But IM injection (FSH) had a tendency of higher above incidence. The number of reports of pain, redness were significantly increased in IM injection group (P<0.05). These results indicate that SC administration of HP-FSH has been shown to be as effect for superovulation as traditional gonadotropins, with an improved safety profile due to the removal of extaneous proteins.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.93-102
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• 1996

일부 malignant tumor에 Pt-complex의 임상 응용 과정에서 신장독성등의 심한 부작용이 문제점으로 지적되고 있다. 이 연구에서는 기존의 cisplatin보다 항암효과는 우수하면서, 부작용을 감소시킨 새로운 Pt complex의 개발에 역점을 두었다. 본 연구에서 합성한 Pt(II) complex는 carrier ligand로서 1,2-diaminocyclohexane(dach)을 사용하였고, leaving group으로는 diphosphine류인 1,3-bis (diphenylphosphine의 propane(DPPP) 을 도입하였으며, 물에 대한 용해도를 높이기 위해 dinitrate로 만들었다. 새로이 합성한 [Pt(II)(cia-dach)(DPPP)].$(NO_3)_2$ 은 원소 분석, IR 및 $^{13}C-NMR$ 분석 data에 의하여 위의 물질임이 확인되었다. PC-1은 MTT assay method에 의한 항암활성 연구를 통하여 SKOV-3, OVCAR-3 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells에서 항암효과가 인정되었으며, 이 항암효과는 대조 약물로 사용된 cisplatin과 유사하였다. PC-1은 토끼의 신세뇨관 세포와 인체의 신피질 세포를 이용한 cytotoxity 및 thymidine 섭취율과 인체 신피질 조직 배양을 이용한 glucose consumption 실험을 통하여 모두 cisplatin보다 신장독성이 현저히 감소되었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 Pt(II) complex는 carrier ligand와 leaving group의 선택에 따라 항암활성의 증가와 신독성의 감소를 일으키는 요인으로 보여지며, 이 연구에서 만들어진 새로운 Pt(II) complex는 앞으로 다각적인 검토를 거쳐 새로운 anticancer chemotherapeutic agent로 개발될 가능성이 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.207-216
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• 2005

Objective: To understand the crucial requirement for the normal early folliculogenesis, we evaluated molecular as well as physiological differences during in vitro ovarian culture. Among the important regulators for follicle development, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and FSH Receptor (FSHR) have been known to be expressed in the cuboidal granulosa cells. Meanwhile, it is known that c-kit is germ cell-specific and GDF-9 is also oocyte-specific regulator. To evaluate the functional requirement for the competence of normal follicular development, we investigated the differential mRNA expression of several factors secreted from granulosa cells and oocytes between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. Materials and Methods: Ovaries from ICR neonates (the day of birth) were cultured for 4 days (for primordial to primary transition) or 8 days (for secondary follicle formation) in ${\alpha}$-MEM glutamax supplemented with 3 mg/ml BSA without serum or growth factors. The mRNA levels of the several factors were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Freshly isolated 0-, 4-, and 8-day-old ovaries were used as control. Results: The mRNA of AMH and FSHR as granulosa cell factors was highly increased according to the ovarian development in both of 4- and 8-day-old control. However, the mRNA expression was not induced in both of 4- and 8-day in vitro cultured ovaries. The mRNA expression of GDF-9 known to regulate follicle growth as an oocyte factor was different between in vivo and in vitro developed ovaries. In addition, the transcript of GDF-9 was expressed in the primordial follicles of mouse ovaries. The mRNA expression of c-kit was not significantly different during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. Conclusion: This is the first report regarding endogenous AMH and FSHR expression during the early folliculogenesis in vitro. In conclusion, it will be very valuable to evaluate cuboidal granulosa cell factors as functional marker(s) for normal early folliculogenesis in vitro.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a widely used herbal medicine for pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, leprosy, and venomous wounds in Asia, particularly in China. Although HJ has certain physiological activities, such as longitudinal bone growth, antioxidation and alleviation of rheumatism, its anticancer activities, other than in colorectal and ovarian cancer, are yet to be studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and mechanism of methanol extracts of HJ (MeHJ) against human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeHJ suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), which was demonstrated using the MTT and Live & Dead assays. Furthermore, MeHJ effectively inhibited colony formation of FaDu cells, even at non-cytotoxic concentrations, and significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-9, -3, -7, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and through the downregulation of BCL-2 and upregulation of BAX in FaDu cells, as determined by DAPI staining, flow cytometry, and western blot analyses. Collectively, these findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of MeHJ on the growth and colony formation of oral cancer cells may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, MeHJ has the potential to be used as a natural chemotherapeutic drug against human oral cancer.