• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2009

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a simple phospholipid-derived mediator implicated in diverse biological actions, acts through the specific G-protein coupled receptors, LPA receptor (LPAR) $1{\sim}5$. Our previous study showed that LPAR3 is expressed in the uterine endometrium in a cell type- and stage-specific manner and LPA via LPAR3 increases PTGS2 expression in the uterine endometrium during the period of implantation. Although LPAR3 is considered to be predominant LPA receptor in the uterine endometrium, other LPA receptors might playa role to mediate LPA functions in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy. Among LPARs, we investigated expression of LPAR1 during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in this study. Uterine endometrial tissue samples were collected from day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and from D12, D15, D30, D60, D90 and D114 of pregnancy. Northern blot analysis determined that LPAR1 mRNA was constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrial tissues during the estrous cycle and pregnancy of all stages. Analysis by immunoblotting revealed that LPAR1 proteins were present in the porcine uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that LP AR1 protein was localized to endometrial epithelium and stromal cell, specifically to nuclei of these cell types. Results in this study show that LPAR1 is constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. These results suggest that LPA via LPAR1 may playa role in the uterine endometrial function throughout pregnancy in pigs.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.199-203
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to investigate the genetic effects of candidate genes on the growth of spleen and liver tissues using dietary Curcuma longa (C. longa) supplementation. Expression analyses of candidate genes regarding animal growth was performed in order to determine the factors affecting the growth related to immune components of Curucumin, Turmerone, and Zingiberene as the bile secretion Paratolyl methyl carbinol (PTMC). The animals were divided into four groups of five chicks supplied with experimental diets of C. longa at 0.25, 0.5 and 1% and controls. The 19 growth-related genes were known to cell maturation, differentiation significant expression patterns in this analysis. Expression of growth response-related genes in chicks supplemented with 1% of C. longa showed better growth performance than chicks with 0.25 and 0.5% in spleen (p<0.05). The IGF1, MSTN, POU1F1, ADCYAP1 gene were known to central roles in mediating gonadotropin function, regulating steroidogenesis and promoting oocyte growth and maturation. Sex steroids, androgen and estrogen can affect sex differentiation and also can affect muscle development. On the other hand, GHSR and FABP3 gene showed significant expression patterns in this analysis. The results would be used as basic information for the variation of growth-related genes expression on the cell growth, sex cell growth, and sex hormones according to dietary supplementation with C. longa in chickens.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.142-155
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• 2005

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the dose dependent effects of Epimedii Herba extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis, and the activities of spermhyaluronidase and antioxidants. Materials and Method: We choose the 2-month-old mice, and administered the extract powder of Epimedii Herba in the different concentration once in a day for 60 days. The control group was administerde to normal water in the isolated testis tissue. Also we observed changes of isolated testis at the before and after administration of Epimedii Herba extracts in the mice. And we compared to the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and treated group by histochemical methods. Results: The significant dose dependent differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups compared than that of control group, respectively. In the histological analysis of the testicular lobes were observed in the Epimedii Herbaextract administered groups than control group, respectively. Also, the activity hyluronidase was significantly increased in the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups than that of the control group. In case of antioxidant activity analysis, the activity of peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased in the Epimedii Herba extract administered groups than that of control group, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that Epimedii Herba can effect the count and motility of sperm, the important ractor in male fertility and also promote the activity of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.13-34
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of administration of Guibitang on ovarian functions and differential gene expressions related cell viabilities caspase-3, MAPK and MPG in female mice. Methods: We administered the Guibitang to 6-week-old female ICR mice for 4, 8, or 12 days. Then, the female mice were injected PMSG and hCG for ovarian hyperstimulation. The mice divided into 3 different groups for each experiment. To compare the differences, we set a control group treated with plain water at the same volume by the same way. Results: administration of Guibitang, the mean number of total ovulated oocytes and the number of morphologically normal oocytes increased significantly compared to control group. And the rates of blastocyst formation from 2-cell stages alsa increased significantly compared to control group. Capase-3 gene expression which is known to maker gene for cell apoptosis were significantly lower than that of control group. And MAPK and MPG gene expressions for cell viability and DNA repair were same that of control group. Conclusion: From our results suggested that the medication of Guibitang has beneficial effect on reproductive functions of female mice via prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damaging and promotion of cell proliferation.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.91-110
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• 2007

Purpose : These experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of administration of Palmultang on ovarian functions and differential gene expressions related cell viabilities caspase-3, MAPK and MPG in female mice. Materials and Methods : We administered the Palmultang to 6-week-old female ICR mice for 4, 8, or 12 days. The female mice were injected PMSG and hCG for ovarian hyperstimulation. And then recovered ovaries were minced and extracted mRNA and analyzed cell viability related gene expression. We chose the caspase-3 for cell apoptosis, MAPK and MPG genes for cell viability and DNA repair. To compare the differences, we set a control group treated with plain water at the same volume by the same way. Results : In case of administration of Palmultang, the mean number of total ovulated oocytes and the number of morphologically normal oocytes increased significantly compared to a control group. We were also examined the embryonic developmental competence in vitro. The administration of Palmultang in a concentration with 10 and 100 mg/ml were beneficial effect of embryonic development in preimplantation period. The administration of Palmultang play a role of prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damages and also increased cell proliferation resulted in ovarian functions. Conclusion : From our results suggested that the medication of Palmultang has beneficial effect on reproductive functions of female mice via prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damaging and promotion of cell proliferation.

• Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology : HEB
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.815-826
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• 2018

The intense drought affecting olive production in Northern Chile underscores the need to research non-traditional irrigation strategies to obtain the best crop performance. Accordingly, this study aimed to obtain preliminary data to guide future research on this topic. Different water replenishment levels on crop evapotranspiration ($ET_c$ ; 13.5, 27.0, 40.5, and 54%) were established in a young orchard, cv. Arbequina, from the end of fruit drop (EFD) to full bloom in the next season. We evaluated the influence of plant water status (${\Psi}_{stem}$ ) and crop load, considered as function of fruit number divided by trunk cross-sectional area, on reproductive and productive variables using multiple linear regressions. Our results show that crop load and ${\Psi}_{stem}$ measured from EFD to harvest affected yield components. Nevertheless, ${\Psi}_{stem}$ had the strongest influence on fruit size, pulp development, oil accumulation, and yield. Oil content and yield were reduced by 54% and 50% for each MPa, respectively, from ${\Psi}_{stem\;EFD-H}$ -1.8 MPa, an effect that intensified as crop load increased. During the period of flower development (September-November), the number of flowers per inflorescence and percentage of perfect flowers were reduced when ${\Psi}_{stem}$ was less than -2.0 MPa. These preliminary results showed that bud differentiation, inflorescence and flower formation are highly sensitive to water deficit.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.157-162
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• 2019

Our previous study found that two novel cancer-related genes, PRR11 and SKA2, constituted a classic gene pair that was regulated by p53 and NF-Y in lung cancer. However, their role and regulatory mechanism in breast cancer remain elusive. In this study, we found that the expression levels of PRR11 and SKA2 were upregulated and have a negative prognotic value in breast cancer. Loss-of-function experiments showed that RNAi-mediated knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. Mechanistic experiments revealed that knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 caused dysregulation of several downstream genes, including CDK6, TPM3, and USP12, etc. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that wild type p53 significantly repressed the PRR11-SKA2 bidirectional promoter activity, but not NF-Y. Interestingly, NF-Y was only essential for and correlated with the expression of PRR11, but not SKA2. Consistently, adriamycin-induced (ADR) activation of endogenous p53 also caused significant repression of the PRR11 and SKA2 gene pair expression. Notably, breast cancer patients with lower expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2, along with wild type p53, exhibited better disease-free survival compared to others with p53 mutations and/or higher expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2. Collectively, our study indicates that the PRR11 and SKA2 transcription unit might be an oncogenic contributor and might serve as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.315-322
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• 2020

Aquaporin channels (AQPs) are known to play an important role in the development of ovarian follicles through their function in water transport pathways. Compared to other AQPs, research on the role of AQP4 in female reproductive physiology, particularly in cattle, remains limited. In our previous study, gene chip microarray data showed a downregulation of AQP4 in bovine cystic follicles. This study was performed to validate the AQP4 expression level at the protein level in bovine follicles using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation assays. Immunostaining data showed that AQP4 was expressed in granulosa and theca cells of bovine ovarian follicles. The ovarian follicles were classified according to size as small (< 10 mm) or large (> 25 mm) in diameter. Consistent with earlier microarray data, semi-quantitative PCR data showed a decrease in AQP4 mRNA expression in large follicles. Western blot analysis showed a downregulation of the AQP4 protein in large follicles. In addition, AQP4 was immunoprecipitated and blotted with anti-AQP4 antibody in small and large follicles. Accordingly, AQP4 exhibited a low expression in large follicles. These results show that AQP4 is downregulated in bovine ovarian large follicles, suggesting that the downregulation of AQP4 expression may interfere with follicular water transport, leading to bovine follicular cysts.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권8호
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Methods: We investigated the ability to induce decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells and invasive ability of human trophoblast cells by water extract of three types herbal medicines (Dangguijakyak-san, Siryung-tang, Antae-eum) and ethanol extract on Scutellariae Radix. Results: In the process of decidualization of endometrial stromal cells, three herbal medicines including Dangguijakyak-san, Siryung-tang, and Scutellariae Radix increased the production of decidual markers such as prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1). However, Antae-eum increased mRNA levels of PRL and IGFBP and secretion of IGFBP in decidual stromal cells, but not PRL. Four herbal medicines inhibited the invasion of trophoblast cells. Conclusions: Four herbal medicines may play a role in implantation in women with reproductive failures. However, further studies are warranted to elucidate whether these medications are helpful in the maintenance of pregnancy.