• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.38-47
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• 2003

Relationships between accumulations of endocrine disruptors and abnormalities in the reproductive organs in the adult male striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius, were reviewed. High levels of phenolic compounds were detected in the mice collected at an agricultural village in Gaduck island and at a place having a sewage problem in Samdong-myeon, Namhae. High levels of organo tin compounds were found in the mice collected at Jiri Mt. a tourist resort. Considerably high levels of phenolic or organo tin compounds were detected in mice with shrunken reproductive organs accounting for 14∼42% of the mice examined in each area, which suggests that the abnormality of reproductive organs may be induced by the endocrine disruptors. This hypothesis is strongly supported by histological observations of shrunken reproductive organs, such as necrosis of testicular germ and epithelial cells. This was found not only in the mice with shrunken reproductive organs but also in the mice with enlarged reproductive organs, both had accumulated high levels of endocrine disruptors in general.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 2013

In mammals, puberty is a process of acquiring reproductive competence, triggering by activation of hypothalamic kisspeptin (KiSS)-gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal circuit. During peripubertal period, not only the external genitalia but the internal reproductive organs have to be matured in response to the hormonal signals from hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (H-P-G) axis. In the present study, we evaluated the maturation of male rat accessory sex organs during the peripubertal period using tissue weight measurement, histological analysis and RT-PCR assay. Male rats were sacrificed at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 70 postnatal days (PND). The rat accessory sex organs exhibited differential growth patterns compared to those of non-reproductive organs. The growth rate of the accessory sex organs were much higher than the those of non-reproductive organs. Also, the growth spurts occurred differentially even among the accessory sex organs; the order of prepubertal organ growth spurts is testis = epididymis > seminal vesicle = prostate. Histological study revealed that the presence of sperms in seminiferous tubules and epididymal ducts at day 50, indicating the puberty onset. The number of duct and the volume of duct in epididymis and prostate were inversely correlated during the experimental period. Our RT-PCR revealed that the levels of hypothalamic GnRH transcript were increased significantly on PND 40, suggesting the activation of hypothalamic GnRH pulse-generator before puberty onset. Studies on the peripubertal male accessory sex organs will provide useful references on the growth regulation mechanism which is differentially regulated during the period in androgen-sensitive organs. The detailed references will render easier development of endocrine disruption assay.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.253-264
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• 2012

Nesfatin-1 is a recently discovered anorexigenic peptide which is distributed in several brain areas implicated in the feeding and metabolic regulation. Recently, it has been reported that nesfatin-1 is expressed not only in brain, but also in peripheral organs such as digestive organs, adipose tissues, heart, and reproductive organs. Nesfatin-1 is markedly expressed in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum. Eventually, the nesfatin-1 expression in the digestive organs may be regulated by nutritional status, which suggests a regulatory role of peripheral nesfatin-1 in energy homeostasis. Nesfatin-1 is also detected in the adipose tissues of humans and rodents, indicating that nesfatin-1 expression in the fat may regulate food intake independently, rather than relying on leptin. In addition, nesfatin-1 is expressed in the heart as a cardiac peptide. It suggests that nesfatin-1 may regulate cardiac function and encourage clinical potential in the presence of nutrition-dependent physio-pathologic cardiovascular diseases. Currently, only a few studies demonstrate that nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive system. However, it is not clear yet what function of nesfatin-1 is in the reproductive organs. Here, we summarize the expression of nesfatin-1 and its roles in brain and peripheral organs and discuss the possible roles of nesfatin-1 expressed in reproductive organs, including testis, epididymis, ovary, and uterus. We come to the conclusion that nesfatin-1 as a local regulator in male and female reproductive organs may regulate the steroidogenesis in the testis and ovary and the physiological activity in epididymis and uterus.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1999

Dry weights of leaves, stem and floral organs of 15-year-old Tilia amurensis RUPR., were measured twice on 1 June and 20 August 1995 to examine the difference in biomass production between the reproductive and vegetative twigs which are morphologically neighboring and alternative. The following results were obtained : (1) The biomass of the reproductive twigs was greater than that of the vegetative twigs in both June and August. (2) The ratio of stem to total biomass in the reproductive and the vegetative twigs was greater in August than that in June, while the ratio of leaf biomass was greater in June than that in August. The ratio of floral organ to the total biomass in the reproductive twigs was 14.6% and 27.1% in June and August, respectively. (3) The total twig biomass per leaf biomass was greater in the reproductive twigs than that in the vegetative twigs in both June and August. (4) Net assimilation rate in the floral organs showed 21% of that in the leaves in June and 37% in August.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.376-383
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• 2006

The chemical components, lipid class, and fatty acid composition of the viscera from male and female common squid, Todarodes pacificus, were examined to evaluate the possible utilization of the liver, reproductive organs, and gills. In male and female squid, the viscera comprise 21% and 27% of the body weight, respectively. The protein content of the viscera was slightly higher in females (17.7-19.5%) than in males (15.6-17.2%). This was especially marked in the female reproductive organs, while there was little difference in the gill. The liver contained the largest amounts of lipids (17.2-18.6%) and the levels were higher in males than in females (P<0.01). By contrast, the reproductive organs of females contained more lipids than did those of males (4.68% vs. 1.65%, p<0.01). The prominent non-polar lipid (NL) classes were triacylglycerol (51.9-55.4% of the NL content) and sterol ester (16.3-21.8%) in the liver, and free sterol (47.0-68.5%) and free fatty acids (31.5-41.2%) in the reproductive organs. However, there were no significant differences in the NL classes between sexes. The percentage of the most prominent phospholipid (PL) class, phosphatidylcholine (PC), was highest in the liver (78.1-79.6% of the PL content), and there was no significant difference between the sexes. By contrast, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was highest in the reproductive organs (33.4%), and was higher in males than in females (P<0.05). All the visceral organs contained 36.4-48.5% of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The DHA level was highest in female reproductive organs (32.3%), while EPA was high in male reproductive organs. These results demonstrate that the viscera of male and female common squid are a good source of DHA and EPA.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2007

We analyzed the compositions of proximate and total fatty acids in the reproductive organs of male (testis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and spermatophore sac) and female (ovary, oviduct, oviducal gland, and nidamental gland) common squid. The protein contents were 12.1-22.7 and 13.2-19.4% for males and females, respectively, and the lipid contents were 1.0-2.7 and 2.1-8.0%, respectively. The prominent fatty acids in all reproductive organs were 22:6n-3, 20:5n-3, 16:0, 20:1n-9, 18:0, 18:1n-9, and 20:4n-6. Females had 28.6-32.0% of 22:6n-3 and 11.3-22.6% of 20:5n-3, while males had 20.8-26.8% of 22:6n-3 and 14.4-28.7% of 20:5n-3. These results indicate that the reproductive organs of both male and female squid are potential sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 1994

The present study was conducted to examine the reprodutive performance and organs autopsy of culled dairy cows at alpine area. 795 culled dairy cows were managed and 206 culled dairy cows were examined by autopsy of reproductive organs at above 800m of sea level around the Daegwallryoung alpine area. The results of this study were at follows ; 1. Age and parity of culled dairy cows were 60.8 months and 3.0, respectively. 2. Age of first AI of heifer was 18.7 months, and age of pregnancy and parturition of heifer were 19.5 months and 28.6 months, respectively. 3. Al time per pregnancy was 1.7 and time of pregnancy after parturition, pregnancy period and calving interval were 140.9, 279.6 and 424.9 days, respectively. 4. Culled months after last parturition was 4.3 and the highest urogenital deseases of culled reason were 358(45.0%). 5. Reproductive organs deseases by autopsy were 120(58.4%), the highest ovary disease were 75(43.6%). 6. The highest ovary adhesions of reproductive organ diseases were 46(26.7%), infundibulum adhesion, obstruction of the oviduct and endometritis were 38(22.1%), 15(8.7%), and 14(8.2%), respectively. 7. In culled dairy cow for the reproductive organ disease, parity, age, culled months and AI number after last parturition were 3.2, 66.5 months, 7.9 months and 2.1, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.180-185
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• 2020

Objective: Tyrosine phosphorylation is an essential process in many biological systems, including the male reproductive system. The presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins has been well documented in male reproductive organs, but research in fertile females is still limited. Methods: The ovary, oviduct, and uterus of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats in the estrus phase were used to localize TyrPho proteins using an immunohistochemical technique. These proteins were separated and their expression patterns were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: TyrPho proteins were localized in the cytoplasm of the oocyte except the antral fluid; in the granulosa cells, theca cells, and stromal cells of the ovary; at the apical surface of oviductal epithelial cells; and in the basal epithelium and submucosa of the uterine wall. Moreover, we found that 72-, 43-, and 28-kDa TyrPho proteins were localized in the ovary, while 170-, 55-, and 43-kDa proteins were localized in the oviduct. In the uterus, we detected four major bands, corresponding to 61-, 55-, 54-, and 43-kDa TyrPho proteins. Conclusion: Given that these TyrPho proteins were found in major reproductive organs in the estrus phase, these proteins may play important roles in female fertility.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 1987

The epidermal structure and stomatal types in vegetative and reproductive organs of three species of Bryophyllum(B. crenatum, B. diagremontion, B. tubiflorum) were described. The epidermal cells were polygonal, isodiametric, and rectangular in the leaves and stems, and elongated cells in the stamens, styles, and ovaries. These cells were commonly thick, and arched or sinuous in the leaves, epiphylous bunds, petals and ovaries. They were straight in the stems, petioles, pedicels, and peduncles. In both vegetative and reproductive organs, the subsidiary cell walls were commonly thin and mostly arched in all the organs. The great majority of the mature stomata in all the organs were helicocytic type with a helix of four to six subsidiary cells. The mature stomata varied from organ to organ with regard to the number and arangement of subsidiary cells. The ontogenetic type of stomata in all the organs was mostly helico-eumesogenous type. This type was subdivided into three subtypes such as parahelico-eumesogenous, anomohelico-eumesogenous, and diahelico-eumesogenous stomata on the basis of the division angle fo the guard mother cell. Sometimes, the anisoeumesogenous type was found in various organs. This type was subdivided into three subtypes such as paraniso-eumesogenous, anomoaniso-eumesogenous, and dianisoeummesogenous stomata. The tetra-eumesogenous and duplotetra-eumesogenous types were rarely found; the former in the leaf of B. crenatum and the latter in the leaf of B. diagremontiana. Anomometric patterns in the mesogenous categorry of stomatal types was observed in a few organs of all the materials. A new stomatal type with tetra-eumesogenous stoma within a girdle of three subsidiary cells fo aniso-eumesogenous in the leaf of B. diagremontiana was firstly observed in the vascular plants. This stoma was termed the cotetra-aniso-eumesogenous type. Anormal stomata such as aborted stomata, single guard cells, stoma with a constricted part in the middle of large guard cells, and arrested stomata were found in the various organs of all the materials.