• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2002

Follicular fluid (FF) contains an oocyte maturation inhibitor with unknown chemical properties. This study was carried out to chemically define the factor(s) inhibiting cumulus cell denudation (CD) and first polar body formation (PBF). Porcine FF (PFF) was extracted with methanol and the extract was serially separated using gel filtration on Superose 12 and Superdex columns. A Superdex fraction was derived with PITC and analyzed with an amino acid analysis column. The results obtained are as follows; PFF had an activity inhibiting both CD and PBF of porcine primary oocytes. Superdex fractions RV2.11 prepared from PFF exhibited an activity inhibiting CD and PBF. By amino acid analysis, the fraction RV2.11 appeared to be proline having the same activity inhibiting CD and PBF. In conclusion, PFF had oocyte maturation inhibitors, of which proline should inhibit CD and PBF.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2003

Gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH), which is secreted from the hypothalamus, has a pivotal role in the reproduction of mammals. Golden hamsters are seasonal breeding mammal and their sexual activity is determined by photoperiod(length of light per day). Long photoperiod(LP, $\leq$ 12.5 hours of light) maintains the reproductive activity and short photoperiod(SP, $\leq$ 12 hours of light) suppresses it. In order to investigate in detail, the sexual activity was individually examined in SP-housed male golden hamsters received a vector at three different concentrations which contains rat GnRH cDNA. The gonadal regression was significantly(P<0.05) accelerated by the highest concentrations of the vector at 8 and 10 weeks after the treatment in comparison to the other groups. In the light of pulsatile release of GnRH in maintaining reproductive activity, the vector containing GnRH cDNA might secrete the GnRH in a constant high level. These results suggest that the GnRH-containing vector might desensitize the anterior pituitary, leading to acceleration or testicular regression.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 1988

The effect of supplementary feeding on postpartum ovarian activity, reproductive performance and plasma progesterone concentrations in Cheju native cows was studies. The group with adequate nutrition had greater mean body weight than did the underfed group before and after calving. First ovulation occurred 19.5 days and first oestrus at 37.8 days postpartum in the standard group, however, there was delay in first ovulation and oestrus in the restricted group (73.4 days and 111.8 days). Progesterone concentraitons of full fed animals gradually increased from 6 weeks(0.5ng/ml) to 12 weeks(3.3ng/ml) after calving. However, progesterone concentrations of underfed animals had a slight increase in 10 weeks after dalving(0.80ng/ml).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2000

The chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya has been screened for the hormonal properties using ovariectomized female rats for estrogenicity, estrogen primed immature rats for progestogenicity and castrated adult male rats for androgenicity. The results revealed that the extract lacks progestogenicity and androgenicity as evident from the failure of the extract treated animals to mimic progestogen and androgen related changes in the target tissues. The increased weight of vagina and uterus, open status of vagina, cornified and epithelial cells in the vaginal smears and hypertrophy in the uterine epithelium, endometrium and stroma with increased glycogen and sialic acid content in the uterus of the chloroform extract treated animals, which are comparable to those of the ovariectomized estrogen treated animals, suggest that the chloroform extract possesses mild estrogenic activity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.55-68
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• 1982

The present investigation has been undertaken to understand the mechanism of implantation process, by demonstrating the role of ovarian steroids in connection with phosphatase activity in the differentiation of uterine endometrium for implantation. The results obtained are as followings: The differentiation of the uterine endometrial tissue was closely influenced by the ovarian steroid hormones; at first, 17${\beta}$-estradiol initiated the differentiation of the uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells, and then progesterone induced differentiation of stromal cells, and thereby two steroids maintain decidualization of the uterine tissues. We observed that the phosphatase activities seem to be dependent upon the ovarian steroids; that is the activity showed higher level in progesterone treated group than in estradiol treated one, and the highest activity was found in the group treated with both estradiol and progesterone. Acid phosphatase showed the highest activity whereas alkaline phosphatase showed the lowest in the rat uterine endometrium during early pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1991

The present investigation has been undertaken to elucidate the functional role of ovarian steroids on the mechanism of oviduct differentiation during early embryonic development in rat. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) was measured in the oviduct tissue under different steroids treatment regime on day 9 pregnancy. The ALPase activity of the oviduct of pseudopregnant rat was compared with that of normal pregnant rat. The results of day 9 pregnancy rat oviduct clearly demonstrated that $17{\beta}-estradiol$ and progesterone were effective in pseudopregnant rat oviduct. In the ovary intact group the ALPase activity was similar in both of normal and pseudopregnant oviduct, but in the $17{\beta}-estradiol$ treated group the ALPase activity in normal pregnancy was significantly higher than that in pseudopregnancy. The effect of estradiol on the normal pregnant rat oviduct was apparently found on day 3 and day 9 pregnancy. This study, therefore, clearly demonstrates that $17{\beta}-estradiol$ is much potent in oviduct tissue differentiation. It is suggested that absence of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ effect on pseudopregnant rat oviduct is due to there is no embryo passing througth the oviduct.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2020

Objectives : US extract is a mixture of each extract of Ulmi cortex and Smilacis rhizoma. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and ovoprotective effects of US extract in in vitro model to identify potential candidates for improving female reproductive function. Methods : The antioxidant activity of US extract was measured using 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl free radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. The anti-inflammatory effect of US extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and western blots analysis. The antibacterial activity of US extract against vaginitis infection microorganisms were determined with disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The ovoprotective effect of US extract on 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-induced ovotoxicity in CHO-K1 cells were evaluated with a cell viability assay. Result : US extract showed good antioxidant capacity and inhibited LPS-induced NO production as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 without affecting the cell viability. It showed significant clear zones for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans but did not indicate the clear zones for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium. VCD-induced ovotoxicity in CHO-K1 cells was significantly reduced by US extract pre-treatment. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that US extract has antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects on the LPS-stimulated macrophages, antibacterial activity against vaginitis infection microorganisms, and protective effects on the ovarian cells against VCD-induced ovotoxicity. These findings suggest that the US extract can be used as new prescriptions, supplements, functional foods, and cosmetics for improving female reproductive function.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.296.2-296.2
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• 2002

Our previous study demonstrated that 2.3', 4.4'. 5- Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 118) showed an antiestrogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In the present study. we examined the effect of PCB 118 on postnatal reproductive development in female rats. PCB 118 (0.001. 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg/day) was administered to pregnant female SD rats from gestation day (GO) 6 to 18 via subcutaneous injection. and developmental parameters such as vaginal opening were determined. PCB 118 significantly delayed vaginal opening of female offsprings at dose of 0.1 ${\mu}g$/kg/day. whereas had no effects on body weights. In addition. in utero treatment of PCB 118 caused significant decreases in serum levels of E2, T3 and T4 in female oftsprings at certain doses on postnatal day (PND) 22. Our data of results indicate that in utero exposure to PCB 118 may postnatal reproductive development in female rat through its antiestrogenic activity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.166-180
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• 2012

This review summarizes the epidemiology of cancer of the female reproductive system and associated lifestyle factors. It also assesses the available evidence for occupational factors associated with these cancers. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, and cause significant cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, whereas vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube cancers, and choriocarcinomas are very rare. As several lifestyle factors are known to play a major role in the etiology of these cancers, very few published studies have investigated possible relationships with occupational factors. Some occupational exposures have been associated with increased risks of these cancers, but apart from the available evidence on the relationships between asbestos fibers and ovarian cancer, and tetrachloroethylene and cervical cancer, the data is rather scarce. Given the multifactorial nature of cancers of the female reproductive system, it is of the utmost importance to conduct occupational studies that will gather detailed data on potential individual confounding factors, in particular reproductive history and other factors that influence the body's hormonal environment, together with information on socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, including physical activity from multiple sources. Studies on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in the female reproductive organs are also needed in order to elucidate the possible role of chemical exposures in the development of these cancers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 1998

To study e(feces of Korean Binseng (Parfax ginseff C. A. hfeyer) total saponin fraction on spermidine and spermine metabolism in rat reproductive systems, we administrated the saponin fractation to rats for 2 years. Then, we determined the activities of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), the quantitation of the enzyme protein and the amounts of spermidine and spermine contents In prostate and testis. In young sexually immature stage, administration of Korean ginseng saponin fraction showed no effect on SAMDC activities. The stimulatory effect on the activities of SAMDC gradually increased and reached maximal activities in test groups of prostate and testis at sexually mature stage. The amounts of SAMDC protein in test groups were paralleled by the changes of SAMDC activities in test groups, indicating that all of the increased activity occurring in administration of ginseng saponin fraction was not due to the activation of SAMDC activity but to the Increase in enzyme protein. However, the spermidine and spermine contents of test groups showed small increase in compared to that of control groups. From these results, we suggest that administration of ginseng saponin fraction alter the spermidine and spermine metabolism in sexually mature and aged reproductive systems in rats.