• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2011

Procymidone is a fungicide with anti-androgenic properties widely used to protect fruits from fungal infection, which induces an excessive reactive oxygen species production in male reproductive organs. In this study, to clarify whether procymidone affect the cellular antioxidant system of prostate at onset of puberty, gene expression patterns of the representative antioxidant enzymes such as cytoplasmic glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (PHGPx), selenoprotein P (SePP), cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and manganese SOD (SOD2) were investigated in the rat ventral prostates exposed to procymidone using real-time RT-PCR analyses. Seven-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats castrated at 6 weeks old were treated with procymidone (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg per day) orally for 7 consecutive days after testosterone propionate (0.4 mg/kg per day) administration by subcutaneous injection. As compared to normal control animals, GPx1 mRNA expression in prostates significantly increased by the administration with TP and/or procymidone. However, PHGPx and SOD1 mRNA levels significanatly decreased by over 25 mg/kg of procymidone treatment and SePP and SOD2 mRNA levels was significanatly reduced by over 50 mg/kg of procymidone treatment. These findings indicate that procymidone may affect the antioxidant system of prostatic cells in up-regulation mode of GPx1, but in down-regulation modes of PHGPx, SePP, SOD1, and SOD2, suggesting that procymidone may affect differently the cellular antioxidant system of prostate according to the exposure doses.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2010

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine protease that cleave plasminogen to form the active protease plasmin and may participate in mammalian fertilization. Although correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sperm function, the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. We determined the effects of ROS on sperm function and PA activities in boar spermatozoa preincubated under the X-XO system. When spermatozoa were treated with the X+XO group, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with that of the control group. However, when antioxidants were added to the medium with X+XO, the rate of acrosome reaction tended to decrease. Also, a significantly lower percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa was observed in the X+XO+catalase group at 6 hr of incubation compared with that of X+XO group. The density of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher in the X+XO group than in different treatment groups. In another experiment, incubation of spermatozoa in medium with X+XO was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity of tPA-PAI and tPA compared with the control group. Antioxidants decreased the increased activity of tPA-PAI and tPA by preincubation in the X-XO system. Also, a significantly lower (p<0.05) activities of tPA-PAI and tPA were observed in the X+XO+catalase group compared with the X+XO group. No significant differences, however, were observed in the activity of uPA. These results suggest that the increase of acrosome reaction by the X-XO system resulted in increase of PAs activity in the sperm incubation medium.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.272-282
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• 2011

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) has been shown to have anti-aging effects in animal and clinical studies. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ginseng exerts these effects remain unknown. Here, the anti-aging effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) in rat testes was examined by system biology analysis. KRG water extract prepared in feed pellets was administered orally into 12 month old rats for 4 months, and gene expression in testes was determined by microarray analysis. Microarray analysis identified 33 genes that significantly changed. Compared to the 2 month old young rats, 13 genes (Rps9, Cyp11a1, RT1-A2, LOC365778, Sv2b, RGD1565959, RGD1304748, etc.) were up-regulated and 20 genes (RT1-Db1, Cldn5, Svs5, Degs1, Vdac3, Hbb, LOC684355, Svs5, Tmem97, Orai1, Insl3, LOC497959, etc.) were down-regulated by KRG in the older rats. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of untreated aged rats versus aged rats treated with KRG showed that the affected most was Cyp11a1, responsible for C21-steroid hormone metabolism, and the top molecular and cellular functions are organ morphology and reproductive system development and function. When genes in young rat were compared with those in the aged rat, sperm capacitation related genes were down-regulated in the old rat. However, when genes in the old rat were compared with those in the old rat treated with KRG, KRG treatment up-regulated C21-steroid hormone metabolism. Taken together, Cyp11a1 expression is decreased in the aged rat, however, it is up-regulated by KRG suggesting that KRG seems enhance testes function via Cyp11a1.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2014

This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of antibiotic-free rearing system(ARS) on cortisol level, stress hormone, and fatty acid content in the edible muscle tissues, that were of M. longissimus in Hanwoo. These cattle were reared in two different systems including antibiotic-free (ARS) and conservative system (CRS). To increase the experimental reliability, the muscle samples were purchased 3 times from 3 Korean brands of beef produced with ARS or CRS. In the muscle tissue, cortisol level was significantly lower in ARS than CRS, (p=0.0176). But the levels of total saturated- and unsaturated-fatty acids were not significantly different between ARS and CRS (p>0.05). Of total fatty acids, the total saturated fatty acid tended to be greater in CRS and the total unsaturated fatty acid tended to be greater in ARS. However, of the total unsaturated fatty acids, the level of n-6 unsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher in ARS than CRS (p=0.0040). Especially, ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA) and ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid (GLA) levels were significantly higher in ARS (p<0.01). The n-6 fatty acid content and cortisol level in muscle tissue were negatively correlated at p=0.0140. In conclusion, ARS may produce beef with higher quality which contains lower cortisol and greater n-6 fatty acids, such as ALA and GLA.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2012

This study was examined for information of management of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus which is disturbance species of underwater ecosystem in Korea. Research of bluegill population was investigated spring-summer and autumn periods in the Han river system from 2009 to 2012. Bluegill inhabited mostly lakes, and restrictedly lived at still area in downstream. The range of relative abundance were 0.2~18.2% in individual number and 0.2~40.0% in biomass and it was subdominant or superiority species for the most part of the lakes. Population structure were analyzed r-strategy in Lake Soyang and Paldang and K-strategy in Lake Uiam and Cheongpyeong. But Lake Chungju was estimated transition period from K-strategy to r-strategy. Condition factor and body weight-total length relations were presented favorable condition. For the nesting, bluegill was formatted the group. And the water depth and the distance from shore were mean 56.3 cm and 191.9 cm respectively in nesting ground. Diameter and depth of nests were mean 42.4 cm and 9.7 cm respectively. These results are available for research of population dynamics and reproductive ecology of bluegill.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.104-104
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• 2017

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) is one of the most important crops for human and animal nutrition. Nonetheless, sorghum has a cyanogenic glucoside compound which can be degraded into hydrogen cyanide, toxic to humans and animals even with tiny amount. In consequence, breeding materials with a low cyanide level has been a top priority in sorghum breeding programs. To fulfill our long-term goal, we are screening sorghum accessions with low cyanide level, which would be an important breeding material for food safety. We collected seeds of various sorghum accessions and analyzed relevant metabolites to find useful breeding materials of sorghum accessions containing low cyanide. Fourteen wild relatives were obtained from the University of Georgia in US, a reference accession BTx623, and three local varieties from National Agrobiodiversity Center of Rural Development Administration in Korea, and one wild species from the Wild Plant Resources Seed Bank of Korea University in Korea. Sorghum plants were grown in plastic greenhouse under natural conditions. After growing, leaf samples were harvested at different developmental stages: seedling phase, vegetative phase (right before flowering), and reproductive phase (ripening). Using collected samples, quantification analysis were performed by an HPLC system for three metabolites (dhurrin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) in sorghum plants. Prior to metabolome analysis, specific experimental condition for HPLC system was set to be able to separate three metabolites simultaneously. Under this condition, these metabolites were quantified in each accession by HPLC system. We observed that the metabolite contents were changed differently by developmental stages and accessions. We clustered these results into five groups as patterns of their contents by developmental stages. Most of accessions showed that 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde content was very high at seedling stage and decreased rapidly at vegetative phase. Interestingly, the patterns of dhurrin content were very different among clusters. However, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid content was maintained at low levels by developmental stages in most accessions. The results would demonstrate how dhurrin and alternative degradation pathways are differentiated in each accession.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2011

The number of abandoned dogs is increasing with the worsening of the economy and the rising of feed value. It was becoming a serious social problem because of the disease transmission and destruction of natural ecosystems by abandoned dogs been wild animal. In order to solve these problems, companion dogs necessary to secure its own genetic information and to establish the systematic tracking system. Using multiplex-PCR method with 27 microsatellite marker (MS marker) divided 3 set, various alleles occurring to 6 dog breed (Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, English Springer Spaniel, Belgian Malinois, Jindo Dog, PoongSan Dog) make use of markers to determine allele frequency and heterozygosity. MS marker FH2834 and FH2790 have only two allele and most were found in 13 alleles at FH3381 and FH3399. Average heterozygosity of MS marker is 0.534 and especially, heterozygosity represented the highest value of 0.765 at FH3381. So, it was recognized appropriate allele frequency for individual identification and paternity diagnosis in companion dogs. Using multiplex-PCR method with MS marker, various alleles occurring to dog breed make use of markers to deter mine individual identification and paternity diagnosis, traits associated biomarkers and breed-specific marker for faster, more accurate and ways to reduce the analysis cost. Based on this result, a scientific basis was established to the existing pedigree data by applying genetics additionally. Animal registration system is expected to be conducted nationwide in future. The method expects to very useful this system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2015

In order to achieve successful in vitro production of embryo, it is necessary to establish intrauterine environment during in vitro culture. Thus, this study was investigated to establish embryo culture system using co-incubated collagen matrix gel (CM) with endometrial epithelial cells (EC). Endometrial epithelial cells were isolated from porcine endometrium at follicular phase, the cells seeded in insert dish for co-incubation with CM-coated culture dish. Then, culture media treated with/without 2.0 IU/ml hCG or 10 ng/ml $IL-1{\beta}$. After incubation for 24 h, the co-incubated insert dishes were removed from CM-coated culture dish before embryo culture. Embryos at 48 h after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured on the dish for 120 h with porcine zygote medium. We determined PTGS-2 expression in the ECs, VEGF protein in co-incubated CM with EC and observed cleavage rate and blastocyst development of embryos at 168 h after IVF. In result, expression of PTGS-2 was higher at co-incubated EC with hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$ groups than EC without hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$. The VEGF protein was detected at co-incubated CM with EC, EC treated with hCG and $IL-1{\beta}$ groups higher than CM group. Also, cleavage rate was no significantly difference among all group, however, blastocyst development was significantly higher in co-incubated CM with EC treated with hCG group than un-treated groups (p<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that novel embryo culture system using co-incubated collagen matrix gel with endometrial epithelial cells treated with $IL-1{\beta}$ is beneficial and useful for enhancing the production of porcine blastocysts in vitro.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the current status of management skill such as participation of consulting, vaccination program, financial projects, etc, and manures treatment system in pig farms. Data surveyed from a total of 100 farms including reproductive sow and fattening pig were collected and analyzed. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Farmers participated in consulting education of 4.56 times per a year. Evaluation of vaccination program was 3.86 of 5 points. The control of hygiene and disinfection was evaluated with the average of 3.27 points. Financial management showed the low level with 2.82 points. And then, the level of technical skill on raising was evaluated with average of 3.21 points. 2. The fields of competitive strength in farms, first of all, were the disease disinfection and therapy for pigs (43.4%). Secondly, farmers answered the productive skill for environmental-friendly animal products (37.4%). 3. Collection systems of manures were mainly used the slurry system (44.0%), and scraper method (43.0%) in pig farms, respectively. 4. Manures collected from farms have been treated and utilized with form of land-return after organic matters resolution (32.3%).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2023

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), used in a variety of products in modern society, are hormone-like substances that cause various diseases. Humans are exposed to EDCs through their inclusion in pesticides, plastics, cosmetics, detergents, and drugs. Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the representative endocrine disruptors, is an estrogen-like substance that has been widely used commercially in plastic and epoxy resins. BPA is a chemical that can disrupt the endocrine system, leading to reduced reproductive function, obesity, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Since the adverse health effects of BPA began to be reported the use of BPA has been regulated worldwide. Various alternatives to BPA have been widely used worldwide; representatively, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are the most commonly used in commercial contexts. BPS and BPF may cause endocrine-disrupting effects like those of BPA due to their similar chemical structures. Recent studies have reported that BPS and BPF disrupt the neurodevelopmental process and cause neurodevelopmental disorders. Therefore, future studies will be required for safety verification of BPA alternatives and the development of new alternatives to BPA for brain health. In this review, we reviewed the effects of BPA and the alternatives, BPS and BPF, on the nervous system.