• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.94-100
• /
• 2020

The inverse correlation between maternal age and pregnancy rate represents a major challenge for reproductive endocrinology. The high embryo ploidy error rate in failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles reflects genetic misfires accumulated by older oocytes over time. Despite the application of different follicular recruitment protocols during IVF, gonadotropin modifications are generally futile in addressing such damage. Even when additional oocytes are retrieved, quality is frequently poor. Older oocytes with serious cytoplasmic and/or chromosomal errors are often harvested from poorly perfused follicles, and ovarian vascularity and follicular oxygenation impact embryonic chromosomal competency. Because stimulation regimens exert their effects briefly and immediately before ovulation, gonadotropins alone are an ineffective antidote to long-term hypoxic pathology. In contrast, the tissue repair properties (and particularly the angiogenic effects) of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are well known, with applications in other clinical contexts. Injection of conventional PRP and/or its components (e.g., isolated platelet-derived growth factors as a cell-free substrate) into ovarian tissue prior to IVF has been reported to improve reproductive outcomes. Any derivative neovascularity may modulate oocyte competence by increasing cellular oxygenation and/or lowering concentrations of intraovarian reactive oxygen species. We propose a mechanism to support intrastromal angiogenesis, improved follicular perfusion, and, crucially, embryo ploidy rescue. This last effect may be explained by mRNA upregulation coordinated by PRP-associated molecular signaling, as in other tissue systems. Additionally, we outline an intraovarian injection technique for platelet-derived growth factors and present this method to help minimize reliance on donor oocytes and conventional hormone replacement therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.573-579
• /
• 1998

The effects of supplementation with mixed fodder or concentrate were investigated on the performance of a) growth of male lambs and kids grazing extensively under oil palm trees and b) reproduction of ewes and goats stall-fed with native herbage. Supplemented kids and lambs had higher average daily weight gain than controls but the effect was only significant for those which received concentrate (p < 0.05). Final body weight was only significantly different from controls for lambs supplemented with concentrate (p < 0.05). The ages at puberty, first mating, first conception and first kidding of supplemented goats were about 110 days earlier than those for controls (p < 0.05 or better). Supplemented goats had first mating and conceived at lower body weights (p < 0.01) than those in control groups. Different feeding regimes had no effects (p > 0.05) on the reproductive performance of ewes apart from highest body weight of first lambing in animals supplemented with concentrate (p < 0.05). Native herbage available under oil palm trees of 5 years old was sufficient for growth and reproduction of sheep and goats. Concentrate was better than mixed fodder as supplement for enhancing the reproductive performance of goats but both appeared to have limited effects on the performance of reproduction in ewes and growth in male kids.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.144-150
• /
• 2003

Reproductive biology and population dynamics of Latreutes planirostris were investigated on the south western waters of Korea from June 2001 to May 2002. This paper describes sex ratio, population growth, and reproductive aspects of Latreutes planirostris. Brood size was an isometric function of female carapace length. Based on dry weight, reproduction effort (mass of eggs/mass of female) averaged 0.23. Ovarian examination showed that there was significantly higher gonadosomatic index from May to September, with a peak in June. Statistical analysis revealed that the ovarian dry weight of females with eyed eggs was significantly higher than that of those with non-eyed eggs. This suggests that females were potentially consecutive breeders. Sex ratio showed that female is more numerous than male. Growth parameters mortality and recruitment were estimated by monthly length-frequency data. Growth parameters were estimated, using the seasonalized von Bertalanffy growth function model $(L\infty\;=\;12.70\;mm\;CL,\;K\;=\;0.87yr^{-1},\;C\;=\;0.96,\;WP\;=\;0.59)$. The recruitment pattern was twice a year.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.646-653
• /
• 2003

Investigations were made on the population structure, sex ratio, growth, and recruitment patterns of Leptochela sydniensis in the southwestern coastal areas of Korea, between May 2000 and December 2001. Spawning period, fecundity, brood loss, reproductive output, and size at sexual maturity also were examined. The results of the sex ratio showed that females were more numerous than males during the overall study period. Parameters of growth were estimated using the modified von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) model incorporating seasonal variation into growth. Females grew somewhat faster and reached a larger size than males $(L\infty=12.80\;mm\;CL\;and\;K=0.70\;yr^{-1}\;or\;females,\and\;L\infty=12.08\;mm\;CL\;and\;K=0.69\;yr^{-1}$ for males). The structure of recruitment patterns obtained by the FiSAT program indicated one normally distributed group. Based on the occurrence of ovigerous females and the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the main spawning season was from June to August. Analysis of covariance indicated that brood loss was not observed during the incubation period. The size at which $50\%$ of females are mature is estimated as 5.48 mm CL.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.295-303
• /
• 1990

In this study, drought period when important agronomic characters of sesame plant is critical, was examined at different growth stages. Plant death by drought started at 40 days after drought in vegetative growth stage and 20 days, in reproductive growth stage. Obserbed by growth stage, drought damage in reproductive growth stage was more in jurious than vegetative growth stage. All the important agronomic characters was refreshed until 40 days and 20 days after drought in vegetative growth stage and reproductive growth stage respectively, but it could berefreshed after those times. Decrease rate of yield by drought ranged from 29 to 80% in vegetative growth stage and from 49 to 85% in respective growth stage. All the important agronomic characters except rate of ripeness showed positive association with grain yield under drought condition. Oil content in grain was decreaced by drought but composition of fatty acid was not affected by it.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.189-193
• /
• 2015

Calculating break-even price of calf production is closely associated with reproductive efficiency. To determine the price, we need data from reproduction records including number of claves weaned, number of cows exposed for breeding, and annual cash coast per cow, and average weaning or market weight of claves sold and retained. Unfortunately, the data were not available in Korea native cow (Hanwoo). To evaluate the performance and the price, we collected calving interval from about 60,000 cows for last 10 years and estimated reproductive performance. Calving interval was increased 4.3% and pregnancy rate was decreased about 1.4~2.8% year-on-year. Increases in growth rates of number of cow and semen per calf supported the low reproductive performance. Finally, break-even price was calculated using estimated percent calf crop and demonstrated that growth rate of break-even price is larger than that of annual cash per cow, suggesting cow-calf profitability and financial efficiency in Korea native cow (Hanwoo) is getting worse.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2013

A herd of polish lowland local sheep was divided into two equal groups: the first group was kept under an overhead shelter, and the second group was kept in a warm barn. The effect of maintenance on ewe's reproductive performance, survival as well as the growth rate of lambs, and their carcasses quality was investigated. The lack of differences in fertility and prolificacy of ewes as well as in the survival and growth rate between the groups confirmed a good adaptation of $\dot{Z}$ela$\acute{z}$nie$\acute{n}$ska sheep to low temperature. Harsh environmental conditions did not cause a significant decrease of the body weight growth; however, they brought in an (insignificant) reduction of subcutaneous fat thickness and meatiness of the loin part of a lamb's body. The fat content of carcasses obtained from lambs reared under the overhead shelter was significantly lower, with no differences of meat and bones contribution between the groups.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.177-181
• /
• 2003

Variation in seasonal growth, phenology and periodicity in spore shedding in Polysiphonia platycarpa $B{\oslash}rgesen$ occurring on the coast of Visakhapatnam, India, have been described to know the growth behaviour, reproductive periodicity and spore producing capacities. This alga occurs for a short period from December to May in the intertidal region of the Visakhapatnam coast, showing maximum growth during January/February. Tetrasporophytic, carposporophytic and antheridial plants were observed in all months of their occurrence in the field. But the vegetative plants were not seen in January and February and all the plants collected were reproductive. The tetraspore and carpospore shedding was observed during all the six months of their occurrence.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.385-398
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the influence of different dietary crude protein (CP) levels during the growth phase on reproductive characteristics and reproductive efficiency as well as the body development of adult male Japanese quail. Methods: Three hundred one-day-old male quails were distributed into five treatments with diets containing different CP levels (18%, 20%, 22%, 24%, and 26%) in a completely randomized design, with six replicates of ten birds each. The CP diets were applied only during the growth phase (1 to 35 days). At 36 days of age, the birds were transferred to 30 laying cages with three males and nine females each, and all birds received the same diet formulated to meet production-phase requirements until 96 days of age. Results: The growth rate of the birds increased linearly (p<0.01) with increasing dietary CP, but the age of maximum growth decreased (p<0.05). At growth maturity, all birds had the same body weight (p>0.05). At 35 days of age, higher weight gain was obtained (p<0.05) with diets containing 22% CP or higher. No effects on feed conversion were observed in this phase. The increase in dietary CP enhanced (p<0.01) nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion but did not affect (p>0.05) nitrogen retention. Testis size, seminiferous tubular area, number of spermatogonia, and germinal epithelial height at 35 days of age increased linearly (p<0.05) with dietary CP, while the number of Leydig cells decreased (p<0.01). The Sertoli cell number at 60 days of age increased linearly (p<0.01) with dietary CP. Dietary CP levels did not affect cloacal gland size, foam weight, foam protein concentration, semen volume, or flock fertility at 90 days of age. Conclusion: Dietary CP concentration affected body and testicular development in male Japanese quails but did not affect reproductive efficiency.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2005

Reproductive and developmental toxicology is concerned with various physical or chemical agents interfering with fertility in both gender or normal growth of offsprings. Reproductive and developmental toxicology is rather a complex science, with many fields, i.e., various endpoints are involved and many different mechanisms of action. For that reason, diverse aspects must be considered when attempting to assess possible adverse health effects in the area of reproductive and developmental toxicology. The thalidomide tragedy made it clear to regulatory authorities around the world that systematic, comprehensive evaluation of the reproductive cycle was needed to adequately evaluate the potential of medicinal drugs to impair the process of reproduction or the development of embryos, fetuses, and children. International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed a guideline to assess the reproductive and developmental toxicity. Also these guidelines have since been applied to the detection and regulation of environmental toxicants, food additives, and so on. Although it was hoped that testing procedures of guideline would be updated constantly to reflect the current state of the science in reproductive and developmental toxicology, it was not until this decade that regulatory guidelines and testing methods have been altered in a significant way. In this paper, we would like to present the recommended approaches and recent trends for improvement of testing guidelines or experimental methods in reproductive and developmental toxicology.