• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.32-41
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• 1979

A series of experiment was conducted to determine the concentrations of progesterone and estradiol and metabolite contents in the serum of 26 Korean native cows raised at Alpine Experiment Station during the period of late pregnancy. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture from individual cow at 5 day intervals from 30 days prepartum to 5 days prepartum and daily collected from 5 days prepartum to the day of parturition. Progesterone and estradiol concentrations in the serum were analyzed by Radioimmunoassay (R.I.A) method and serum metabolite contents were analyzed by autoanalzer MT II system. The following are summary of the results obtained: 1. Progresterone concentrations during the late preganacy were maintained at high level (5.12-11.70ng/$m\ell$) from 30 days prepartum to 8 days prepartum and fell rapidly from 5.12$\pm$1.07ng/$m\ell$ at 2 dyas prepartum to 1.48$\pm$0.32ng/$m\ell$ at 24 hrs prepartum. 2. Estradiol levles during the late pregancy increased gradually from 33.76$\pm$13.64pg/$m\ell$ at 30 days prepartum to 92.15$\pm$11.91pg/$m\ell$ at 11-15 days prepartum and increased thereafter sharply to a ranges of 161.76-238.4pg/$m\ell$ and were maintained at this increased levle until 24 hrs prepartum and decreased to 91.40pg/$m\ell$ at the parturition. 3. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.2440 for cholesterol-progesterone relationship and -0.2552 for cholesterol-estradiol relationship, but there were statistically insignificant. 4. The changes in total protein contents during the late pregnancy were similar patterns to those of globulin and were maintained at high level only from 15 days to 5 days prepartum. 5. Glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) levels were increased from 59.80$\pm$3.56u/$\ell$ at 90 days prepartum to 93.32$\pm$7.27u/$\ell$ at the day of parturition, but alkaline phosphatase levels were remained steady. 6. The levels of blood urea nitrogen, glucose and calcium remained almost constant during the late pregnancy. However, glucose concentration increased around the time of parturition.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.495-506
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of iron and magnesium and the effect of von supplementation during 8 weeks(from 20 to 28 weeks of gestation) on serum iron and magnesium status of 31 pregnant women in Kyunsin area. The age, weight, and height of the subjects before pregnancy were investigated by questionnaires. At 20 and 28 weeks of gestation, data for food and nutrient intake were obtained by questionnaires and serum sample was obtained. According to the frequency of iron supplementation, subjects were divided into two groups(4$\geq$/wk) The mean iron supplementation of 5 $\geq$/wk group(63.mg/day) was significantly higher than 4$_2$ intakes were much less than the Korean RDA. Especially, calcium, iron and magnesium intakes showed half the levels compared with Korean RDA. At 28 weeks of gestation the serum total protein(p<0.001), albumin(p<0.01) and globulin(p<0.001) were significantly decreased. Total iron binding capacity(TIBC) was significantly increased(P<0.001), but serum ferritin(p<0.01) and magnesium(p<0.01) concentrations were significantly decreased. However, even 28 weeks of gestation 5$\geq$/wk group showed higher serum iron and ferritin concentration and lower TIBC than 4$\geq$/wk group. Therefore, iron supplementation should be conducted with concerning the mineral balance like magnesium.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.285-288
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• 2000

Nine immature 30-day-old female rats were injected sc at 0800 hr with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin(PMSG) to induce ovulation and mating. Fifty-six hours later the animals were placed with mature male rats overnight (one female and one male). Five of 9 immature female rats treated with PMSG were pregnant and allowed to maintain the pregnancy to term. Three of 5 pregnant rats were failed to maintain pregnancy to term. Two of 5 pregnant rats seemed to be developed normally and increased abdominal enlargement as pregnancy progresses, but did not occurred parturition on day of 43 or 48 of pregnancy, respectively. On day 44 or 49, pregnant rats were killed and examined uterus and ovaries. There was no fetus but approximately 50∼60ml. of mucopurulent fluids were accumulated in the uterine cavity and 40 or 42 corpora lutea persisted in the ovaries. Pyometra was developed after coitus in PMSG-treated immature female rat.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 2008

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy and one of the main causes of adverse fetal-maternal outcomes. However, the pathogenesis of GDM has not been clearly stated. Adiponectin, an adipose tissue-derived plasma protein, is involved in regulation of insulin resistance and glucose hemostasis, and thus is a key modulator of insulin action and glucose metabolism. In this study, we investigated to compare serum adiponectin levels in pregnant women with diabetes, pregnant women who are without diabetes, and non-pregnant women, and to evaluate relationship between serum adiponectin. levels and metabolic parameters. Forty-one pregnant women with diabetes, fifty-nine pregnant women without diabetes and forty non-pregnancy women were recruited. Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in pregnant women with diabetes when compared to non-pregnant women and pregnant women without diabetes. Pregnant women without diabetes at second trimester had lower adiponectin levels compared to non-pregnant women. Adiponectin was negatively correlated with BMI, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the decreased level of adiponectin precedes the onset of abnormal glucose level during pregnancy and also normal pregnant women had lower adiponectin levels compared to non-pregnant women. This knowledge may help to identify strategies for lowering the occurrence of GDM in women who are at high risk of developing the disorder.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 1993

Human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) and intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) treatment were attempted as a novel therapeutic approach for unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA). Forty-four and 3 women with a history of RSA were treated with hCG and IVIG, respectively, during pregnancy. Of these patients, serum blocking factor assay was performed before and after each treatment, in 15 patients; 12 cases with hCG and 3 cases with IVIG. The results were as follows: 1. Of 44 women who receive hCG during pregnancy, 24 delivered healthy infants at term, 10 patients suffered repeat abortion, and 10 women are still pregnant under 28 weeks. Over all success rate of hCG treatment was 70.6% (24/34). Although there is no statistical significance, absolute serm blocking level was decreased after treatment(N=12). 2. Of 3 women who receive IVIG during pregnancy, all 3 women are still pregnant under 28 weeks. Serum blocking level was increased after treatment, however, this increment was not statistically significant. Although no conclusion could be extracted from the patients who received IVIG, the therapeutic effect of hCG is comparable to that of the other therapeutic regimens, such as allogeneic leukocytes. It was postulated that actual etiology of unknown RSA would be classified as hormonal origin although combined etiologies are common in Korean women.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 1989

The experiment was carried out to study the profile of uterine specific protein during early pregnancy in sows and to test it's immunosuppressive activity. Uterine protein samples were obtained by flushing the uterine horn on Day 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 of the estrous cycle and the pregnancy respectively and the protein concentration of each sample was determined. The change of uterine protein was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)-PAGE. The immunosuppressive activity of uterine secretory protein was investigated according to the lymphocyte blastogenesis response to mitogen. The results of this experiment are summarized as follows ; 1. The uterine protein during estrous cycle and early pregnancy was relatively constant up to Day 9, but increased on Day 12. Maxium total protein values were found on Day 15. The concentration of serum proteins were about 82-95 mg during estrous cycle, but decreased to about 70-82 mg during early pregnancy. 2. The proteins components similar electrophoretic patterns(PAGE) that were no differences (band ; a, b, c, d, e, f, g, I) on Days 3, 6 and 9 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. But there were more 2 bands specifically on Day 12 of the pregnancy and on Day 15 of estrous cycle and showed more 4 bands on Day 15 of early pregnancy. They seemed to be acidoprotein and their average molecular weight were 38,000, 22,300 and 12,600. 3. When uterine protein were added 500$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, there was no immunosuppresive activity on Day 3 of estrous cycle and lymphocyte blastogenesis was slightly suppressed on Day 3 of pregnancy. The immunosuppressive activity on Day 9 of estrous cycle and pregnancy appeared in 500$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 150$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively the uterine protein on Day 12 and 15 showed immunosuppresive activity, which at the level of 150$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml during non-pregnancy and at the level of 100 to 125$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml during early pregnancy, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.589-599
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• 1989

A total of 13 synchronized dairy cattle(Holstein) were used to determine pregnancy rates in relation to plasma progesterone, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels and serum chemical values on the day of last $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection and day of frozen/thawed bovine embryo transfer. The pregnancy rate of recipients with 1.0~4.0ng/ml of progesterone levels at the day of last $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection was higher than that of recipients with below 1.0ng/ml or above 4.0ng/ml of progesterone levels. On the day of transfer, optimal progesterone levels were between 1.0ng/ml and 4.0ng/ml coinciding with a pregnancy rate of 88.9%. Pregnancy rate decreased when progesterone levels were below 1.0ng/ml(33.3%) or above 4.0ng/ml(0%). Corpus luteum grade did not affect pregnancy rate and this result revealed that manual palpation of corpus luteum was not valid criterion of corpus luteum function. Progesterone levels as well as pregnancy rate did not significantly differ whether the corpus luteum was on the right($1.62{\pm}1.33ng/ml$; 63.5%) or left ovary($1.99{\pm}0.61ng/ml$; 85.0%). Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels were not significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant recipients, but estradiol-$17{\beta}$ levels($82.2{\pm}13.5$ VS. $72.3{\pm}10.1pg/ml$) were higher at below 1.0ng/ml of progesterone, and pregnancy rates(33.3 VS. 80%) tended to be lower than above 1.0ng/ml of progesterone. Total cholesterol levels on the day of last $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection and day of transfer did not affect pregnancy rate. Calcium and inorganic phoshorus levels belonged to normal range in most of the recipients. These range did not affect pregnancy rate. In reviewing above results, plasma progesterone levels(1.0~4.0ng/ml) at the time of transfer are diagnostic value for screening recipients prior to transfer of frozen/thawed bovine embryos.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.243-252
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• 2015

The pregnancy and abortion process involves a complex mechanism with various immune cells present in the implantation sites and several hormones associated with pregnancy, such as leptin, ghrelin and nesfatin-1. However, the mechanism underlying spontaneous abortion by maternal T helper 17 (Th17) present in the implantation sites and nesfatin-1, which is of anorexigenic hormones, is not fully understood so far. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the possible roles of Th17 cells present in the implantation sites and nesfatin-1 expressed in the uterus on spontaneous abortion using the $CBA/j{\times}DBA/2$ mouse model. Th17 transcription factor, ROR-${\gamma}t$ mRNA expression was significantly increased in the abortion sites compared with the implantation sites of abortion model mice on day 14.5 and 19.5 of pregnancy. In addition, the expression levels of IL-17A mRNA were significantly higher in abortion sites than in implantation sites on day 14.5 and 19.5. Moreover, the nesfatin-1/NUCB2 protein and mRNA levels were increased in abortion sites compared with levels in implantation sites of both normal pregnant and abortion model mice on day 14.5 of pregnancy. Interestingly, nesfatin-1/NUCB2 serum levels were not changed throughout the whole pregnancy in abortion model mice, but its serum level was dramatically increased on day 14.5, and then rapidly decreased on day 19.5 in normal pregnant mice. In this study, we showed for the first time the expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 mRNA and protein in implantation sites during pregnancy. The present results suggest that Th17 cells in the uterus may play an important role in the period of implantation and for maintenance of pregnancy. Furthermore, the present results suggest that Th17 cells in implantation sites may be a key regulator for maintenance of pregnancy and provides evidence that activation of these cells may be regulated by nesfatin-1/NUCB2. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of nesfatin-1 expressed in the uterus during pregnancy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.983-992
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• 1997

During pregnancy and lactation, folate status is important because folate requirements increase during the periods as well as maternal folate status influences on pregnancy outcome and human milk folate; especially folate deficiency around periconceptional period may induce neural tube defects(NTDs) of fetus. There have been a plenty of evidences that maternal folate status deteriorates during pregnancy of fetus. There have been a plenty of evidences that maternal folate status deteriorates during pregnancy and lactation if folate needed is not sufficiently provided. The Public health Service of the United States recommends all child-bearing is not sufficiently provided. The Public Health Service of the United States recommends all child-bearing women to intake 0.4mg of folate daily, and the Food and Drug Administration the folate status of child-bearing women and to reduce the rate of occurrence of NTDs. Many authors have insisted that the current recommended dietary allowances of folate for Americans are too low to maintain good folate status. There are little data about Korean folate status including pregant and lactating women. A couple of reports indicated that the folate intakes of Korean pregant and lactating women are below the Korean RDAs of folate and serum folate levels of them are subnormal. The authors pregnant and lactating women. Therefore, it is worth to review the assessment methods of folate status of pregnant and lactating women, folate RDAs for them, the relationships between maternal folate status and pregnancy outcome as well as human milk folate, the methods to increase folate intake, and the problems of large dose of folic acid supplementatiion.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2019

Embryos produced with serum show the alterations in their ultrastructure, impaired compaction, abnormal blastulation, aberrant mRNA expression profiles and large calf syndrome with greater incidences of stillbirths and deaths after birth. The aim of the present study was to describe in vitro embryo production by analyzing embryo production, fetal production and pregnancy rate in free-serum medium. The OPU-IVP data used in this study from 2016. Approximately, sixteen cows (Hanwoo), which belonged to the Institute of Gyeongsang National University, were used. Two experimental group is used in this study. Serum groups were conducted in March to July and free-serum group was conducted in September to December. The recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes were morphologically classified to four grades based on the compaction of cumulus cells layers and homogeneity of the cytoplasm. The number of oocyte was significantly greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (29.61 ± 0.63 vs. 15.6 ± 0.62; p < 0.05). Between serum and free-serum groups indicate that average of 1st and 2nd grade oocytes were no difference (2.38 ± 1.67 vs. 2.38 ± 1.48; p > 0.05), but number of 3rd and 4th grade oocytes were greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (7.31 ± 7.64 vs. 5.60 ± 6.29; p < 0.05). Embryo cleaved competence was higher in rate in free-serum groups than that in serum groups (62.1% vs. 58.3; p < 0.05). However, blastocyst developmental rate was no difference between serum and free-serum groups (33.1% vs. 43.5%; p < 0.05). 986 recipients were used for embryo transfer. Pregnancy rate was indicated that between serum and free-serum group was no difference (54.6% vs. 56.3%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, we developed the free-serum system for production of in vitro bovine embryos in order to meet the developmental and qualitative requirements for large scale commercial use.