• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.61-67
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• 2020

Objective: In this study, specimens from testicular biopsies of men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) were used to investigate whether RNF8 gene could serve as a biomarker to predict the presence of sperm in these patients. Methods: Testicular biopsy specimens from 47 patients were classified according to the presence of sperm (positive vs. negative groups) and investigated for the expression of RNF8. The level of RNF8 gene expression in the testes was compared between these groups using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression level of RNF8 was significantly higher in testicular samples from the positive group than in those from the negative group. Moreover, the area under the curve of RNF8 expression for the entire study population was 0.84, showing the discriminatory power of RNF8 expression in differentiating between the positive and negative groups of men with NOA. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that RNF8 expression had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 84%, with a cutoff level of 1.76. Conclusion: This study points out a significant association between the expression of RNF8 and the presence of sperm in NOA patients, which suggests that quantified RNF8 expression in testicular biopsy samples may be a valuable biomarker for predicting the presence of spermatozoa in biopsy samples.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 1998년도 제4차 학술발표대회 및 정기총회
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• pp.41-42
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• 1998

The changes in calcium binding protein(CBP) of mouse epididymal sperm during their post-testicular differentiation were analyzed by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. According to dpididymal maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa, both quantitative and qualitative changes of CBPs in the epididymal sperm was detected. It suggested that the development of fertilizing ability of epididymal sperm was closely related to the changes in the CBPs profiles of sperm during epidiyaml transit.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.73-80
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• 2008

The authors screened the pharmacological effects of 50% ethanol extracts of Yacon on spermatogenesis in rats. Numbers of sperm in animals treated with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks of Yacon tuber extracts (YTE) were approximately 1.51, 1.61 and 1.78 times higher, respectively, than in the untreated control group. Moreover, the spermatogenic effect of Yacon leaf extract was found to be $1.03{\sim}1.38$ times higher than that of YTE. The ameliorative effect of Yacon tuber extracts on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced toxicities in the rat were also investigated. Rats were assigned to three groups (6 rats/group), a control group, a TCDD exposed group, and a group treated with Yacon tuber extract (YTE) after TCDD exposure (TCDD/YTE group). 40 ${\mu}g/kg$ of TCDD was injected i.p., and 200 mg/kg/day of YTE was also administered for 4 weeks by oral gavage. The TCDD/YTE group showed a significant increase in sperm number as compared with the TCDD exposed group. In conclusion, TCDD induced testicular toxicity was significantly ameliorated by YTE. The results of the present study suggest that Yacon extract is a possible therapeutic for the treatment of spermatogenic disorder.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objective: Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is an effective method to avoid total fertilization failure in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. AOA performed using a calcium ionophore can induce calcium oscillation in oocytes and initiate the fertilization process. We evaluated the usefulness of AOA with a calcium ionophore in cases of total fertilization failure in previous cycles and in cases of severe male factor infertility patients with non-motile spermatozoa after pentoxifylline (PF) treatment. Methods: The present study describes 29 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-AOA cycles involving male factor infertility at Cheil General Hospital from January 2006 to June 2013. Patients were divided into two groups (control, n=480; AOA, n=29) depending on whether or not AOA using a calcium ionophore (A23187) was performed after testicular sperm extraction-ICSI (TESE-ICSI). The AOA group was further split into subgroups according to sperm motility after PF treatment: i.e., motile sperm-injected (n=12) and non-motile sperm-injected (n=17) groups (total n=29 cycles). Results: The good embryo rate (52.3% vs. 66.9%), pregnancy rate (20.7% vs. 52.1%), and delivery rate (10.3% vs. 40.8%) were lower in the PF/AOA group than in the control group. When evaluating the effects of restoration of sperm motility after PF treatment on clinical outcomes there was no difference in fertilization rate (66.6% vs. 64.7% in non-motile and motile sperm, respectively), pregnancy rate (17.6% vs. 33.3%), or delivery rate (5.9% vs. 16.7%) between the two groups. Conclusion: We suggest that oocyte activation is a useful method to ensure fertilization in TESE-ICSI cycles regardless of restoration of sperm motility after PF treatment. AOA may be useful in selected patients who have a low fertilization rate or total fertilization failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.34-42
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• 2021

Objective: Studies of the effects of estrogens on the male reproductive system have emphasized the role of these hormones in male fertility. Sesame oil has many phytoestrogenic compounds and may improve male fertility. This study investigated the effects of sesame oil and different concentrations of estrogen on sperm parameters and DNA integrity in male mice. Methods: Twenty old NMRI (The Naval Medical Research Institute) male mice (40 weeks; weight, 30-35 g) were treated with sesame oil or different concentrations of estrogen (estradiol, 1 and 10 μL/kg/day) or received no treatment (controls). After 35 days, sperm parameters and DNA integrity were assessed and analyzed. Results: Sperm count, progressive motility, and morphology were decreased in the group that received 10 μL/kg of estradiol. A remarkably lower percentage of DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency were detected in the group that received 1 μL/kg of estradiol. In the groups that received sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol, the numbers of spermatogonia and Leydig cells were higher than in controls. The combination of sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol led to improved sperm parameters and chromatin and testicular structure. Conclusion: Based on this study, consumption of sesame oil and a low concentration of estradiol may improve testicular function in older mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.103-107
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• 1998

This case report describes the pregnancy following the transfer of embryos generated from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using frozen-thawed sperms obtained by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in patient with hypoplasia of vas deferens.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.16-31
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the different administration duration of Cynomorii Herba extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Methods : We used the 8-week-old ICR mice and administered 0.3mg/g extract solution of Cynomorii Herba once a day for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The control group was administered the normal saline in the same way and duration. We examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis. And we compared the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and treated groups by histochemical methods. At the end we observed the difference of sperm hyaluronidase activities between control and treated groups. Results : The significant differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group in 60 and 90 days groups. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group, respectively. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Cynomorii Herba has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm especially in 60 and 90 days administration group. We can suggest that Cynomorii Herba extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.301-310
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• 2009

목 적: 폐쇄성과 비폐쇄성 무정자증 환자에서 신선고환조직 정자와 융해고환조직 정자를 이용한 배발달과 임신결과를 비교 분석하였다. 연구방법: 폐쇄성과 비폐쇄성 무정자증 환자에서 총 222 주기의 TESE-ICSI를 시행하였다. 정자는 신선 또는 융해 고환조직으로부터 회수하였다. 수정은 ICSI 후 16~18시간째 확인하였으며, 배발달률과 임신율을 분석하였다. 결 과: 폐쇄성 무정자증군과 비폐쇄성 무정자증군에서 수정률은 유의하게 차이가 났으나 (75.2% 대 56.7%, p<0.05), 배발달률에서는 차이가 나지 않았다 (96.9% 대 98.0%). 마찬가지로 임상적 임신율 (33.9% 대 36.0%)과 분만율 (28.1% 대 28.0%)에서도 차이가 나지 않았다. 신선고환조직 정자의 경우, 수정률은 폐쇄성 무정자증군과 비폐쇄성 무정자증군에서 유의하게 차이가 났으나 (76.4% 대 52.9%, p<0.05), 배발달률, 임상적 임신율, 분만율에서는 차이가 나지 않았다. 융해고환조직 정자의 경우에서도 수정률은 폐쇄성 무정자증군과 비폐쇄성 무정자증군에서 유의하게 차이가 났으나 (74.7% 대 65.6%, p<0.05), 배발달률, 임상적 임신율, 분만율에서는 차이가 나지 않았다. 결 론: 폐쇄성과 비폐쇄성 무정자증 환자에서 신선고환조직 정자와 융해고환조직 정자를 이용하였을 경우 수정률에서는 차이가 있으나, 배발달과 임상적 임신 결과에는 차이를 보이지 않았다. 그러므로, 폐쇄성 또는 비폐쇄성 여부와는 관계없이 무정자증 환자에서 신선고환조직 정자 그리고 융해고환조직 정자를 이용하여 ICSI를 시행하면 적절한 임신 성적을 거둘 수 있다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.168-179
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• 2020

Objective: This study investigated testicular oxidative stress status and physiomorphological function in Wistar rats fed with yaji and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂). Methods: Sixty male albino Wistar rats (12 per group) were randomly assigned to five groups: group I (control), group II (300 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group III (500 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group IV (2.5 mg/kg.bw of CdCl₂), and group V (2.5 mg/kg.bw of yaji+4 mg/kg.bw omega-3). Each group was evenly subdivided into two subgroups and treatment was administered for 14 days and 42 days, respectively. Semen quality (sperm count, progressive motility, normal morphology, and gonadosomatic index), hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone), testicular oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malonaldehyde) and testicular histomorphological features were examined. Results: Yaji caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent reductions in semen quality, the gonadosomatic index, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Yaji also caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as increased testicular malonaldehyde levels. Yaji induced distortions in the testicular histological architecture. CdCl₂ damaged testicular function by significantly (p< 0.05) reducing semen quality, reproductive hormone levels, and oxidative stress markers in albino Wistar rats. CdCl₂ also altered the histology of the testis. Conclusion: This study shows that yaji sauce has similar anti-fertility effects to those of CdCl₂, as it adversely interferes with male reproduction by impairing oxidative stress markers and the function and morphological features of the testis.