• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.705-709
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• 1996

A simplified dilutor for cock spermatozoa at ambient temperature was achieved by adjusting the 5% concentration of fructose in isotonic saline. Motility of cock spermatozoa was arrested completely for maximum 6 hrs without affection the survivability of spermatozoa by employing this sugar. To study the effect of high concentration of fructose on fertility, sperm were inseminated with or without fructose at different hrs. Fructose from semen samples was removed by centrifugation. High fertility obtained in the hens inseminated with fructose free sperm (washed). In addition, washed sperm maintained the 85.00% fertility for 6 hrs in winter season ($17-21^{\circ}C$) and 82.67% fertility for 3 hrs in summer season ($31-35^{\circ}C$). Whereas control groups showed 47.33 and 25.33% fertility in winter and summer season respectively. No significant difference was found in percent motility and live counts between the control and washed experimental groups during winter season. However, these measures differed significantly in summer. Washing of cock spermatozoa more than once, high speed centrifugation and more duration for centrifugation proved harmful to fertility. It may be concluded that fructose (5%) can be used as a motility or metabolic inhibitor of spermatozoa for short-term storage of cock semen at ambient temperatures.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 2009

Previously, we obtained the list of genes differentially expressed between GV and MII oocytes. Out of the list, we focused on functional analysis of Zap70 in the present study, because it has been known to be expressed only in immune cells. This is the first report about the expression and its function of Zap70 in the oocytes. Synthetic 475 bp Zap70 dsRNA was microinjected into the GV oocytes, and the oocytes were cultured in vitro. In addition to maturation rates, meiotic spindle and chromosome rearrangements, and changes in expression levels of transcripts of three kinases, Erk1/2, JNK, and p38, were determined. Zap70 is highly expressed in immature GV oocytes, and gradually decreased as oocyte matured. When dsRNA of Zap70 was injected into the GV oocytes, Zap70 mRNA specifically and completely decreased by 2 hr and its protein expression also decreased significantly. Absence of Zap70 resulted in maturation inhibition at meiosis I (57%) with abnormalities in meiotic spindle formation and chromosome rearrangement. Concurrently, mRNA expression of Erk2, JNK, and p38, were affected by Zap70 RNAi. Therefore, we concluded that Zap70 is involved in MI-MII transition by affecting expression of MAP kinases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.496-498
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• 2021

In Korea, based on the high fertility rate before 1980, the total population has been steadily increasing, and since the mid-1980s, the fertility rate has fallen sharply and has fallen below the level of population replacement. The cause of low birth rate in the region is not voluntary rejection, but rather, it is necessary to find out the cause by identifying the structural causes of the local community from various angles. We collected local Internet news and local representative cafe data, where many mothers participate, based on the budget area with a very low fertility rate among various areas. Factors of childbirth inhibition were analyzed by using the frequency of concurrent words that became issues related to population decline, low birthrate, and child-rearing welfare.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.381-392
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• 2019

Sperm function and male fertility are closely related to pH dependent $K^+$ current (KSper) in human sperm, which is most likely composed of Slo3 and its auxiliary subunit leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 52 (LRRC52). Onion peel extract (OPE) and its major active ingredient quercetin are widely used as fertility enhancers; however, the effect of OPE and quercetin on Slo3 has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of quercetin on human Slo3 channels. Human Slo3 and LRRC52 were co-transfected into HEK293 cells and pharmacological properties were studied with the whole cell patch clamp technique. We successfully expressed and measured pH sensitive and calcium insensitive Slo3 currents in HEK293 cells. We found that OPE and its key ingredient quercetin inhibit Slo3 currents. Inhibition by quercetin is dose dependent and this degree of inhibition decreases with elevating internal alkalization and internal free calcium concentrations. Functional moieties in the quercetin polyphenolic ring govern the degree of inhibition of Slo3 by quercetin, and the composition of such functional moieties are sensitive to the pH of the medium. These results suggest that quercetin inhibits Slo3 in a pH and calcium dependent manner. Therefore, we surmise that quercetin induced depolarization in spermatozoa may enhance the voltage gated proton channel (Hv1), and activate non-selective cation channels of sperm (CatSper) dependent calcium influx to trigger sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 1989

This paper deals with the genetic properties of R plasmids in Salmonella originated from pigs and cattle. The plasmid DNA was examined for incompatibility, stability and fertility inhibition(Fi), and gel electrophoresis was performed for isolation of plasmid DNA. The results obtained were summerized as follows: 1. Among the 66 conjugative R plasmids from 44 pigs and 22 cattle, 61 R plasmids (92.4%) were $Fi^-$, whereas the remainder were $Fi^+$. 2. The Inc groups of 66 R plasmids were determined with 7 standard plasmids. Twenty-six R plasmids were classified into Inc group $I{\alpha}$, H1, H2 or F1, 40 R plasmids being not classified with standard plasmids used, and the Inc group $I{\alpha}$ (57.7%) was most frequent. 3. Inc groups $I{\alpha}$, H1, and F1 were identified in strains from swine, Inc groups H2 and F1 from cattle. 4. The plasmid DNA profiles in 16 Salmonella isolated from pigs and cattle were confirmed as being 1 to 10 fragments by the gel eletrophoresis. Their molecular weight ranged 1.0 to 90 megadalton. 5. The molecular weight of conjugative plasmids ranged 1.0 to 80 megadalton in 4 Salmonella (P-4, P-5, P-7 and P-8) isolated from pigs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.294-300
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• 2008

Cytokinins are essential hormones in plant development. $\underline{A}$rabidopsis $\underline{h}$istidine-containing $\underline{p}$hosphotransfer proteins (AHPs) are mediators in a multistep phosphorelay pathway for cytokinin signaling. The exact role of AHP4 has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated young flower-specific expression of AHP4, and compared AHP4-overexpressing (Ox) trangenic Arabidopsis lines and an ahp4 knock-out line. AHP4-Ox plants had reduced fertility due to a lack of secondary cell wall thickening in the anther endothecium and inhibition of IRREGURAR XYLEMs (IRXs) expression in young flowers. Conversely, ahp4 anthers had more lignified anther walls than the wild type, and increased IRXs expression. Our study indicates that AHP4 negatively regulates thickening of the secondary cell wall of the anther endothecium, and provides new insight into the role of cytokinins in formation of secondary cell walls via the action of AHP4.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1962

1) Germination rate was rather irregular than decreasing as increasing dose of radiation and there were no differences between Kyong-Sam and Chuong-Bang of Chinese cabbage. 2) In R1 generation, abnormal leaves from seedling of irradiated seeds were observed. These were more apparent in X-ray irradiation than in thermal neutron. 3) Seedling height was inhibited with increasing dose of X-ray and thermal neutrons. Growth inhibition was more remarkable in X-ray than in thermal neutron. Kyong-Sam demonstrated more sensitivity than Chyong-Bang in both X-ray and thermal neutron. 4) Seedling height produced from seeds subjected to thermal neutrons showed small variation around its mean value, while in X-irradiation there was a greater deviaton from the mean value. 5) Fertility was decreased as increasing with dose, while the frequency of abortive pollen was increased. There were variability of the fertility and frequency of abortive pollen among plants or branches of a plant. 6) The mutants were obtained more in thermal neutron irradiation than in X-ray. The types of mutations obtained in Chinese radish of R2 generation were abnormal leaf, densely glowing leaf, degeneration in growing point and dwarf. The maximum frequency of phenotypic mutations was abnormal leaf mutation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.15
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• pp.85-97
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• 1974

In order to clarify the inducing conditions and cause of sterility in rice plants, 4 varieties were cooled at 3 different levels of temperature combined with 3 different levels of treatment period. And 19 varieties were tested to examine the varietal difference of cold resistance. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. There were significant varietal differences in the effect of cooling treatment at meiotic stage. Suwon 213-1 was induced heavy sterility by 3 day cooling treatment at 17.5$^{\circ}C$ whereas Hayayuki, Nongpaik and Jinheung were induced a little sterility by 3 day cooling treatment at 15$^{\circ}C$ and 5 day treatment at 17.5$^{\circ}C$. The per cent of grain fertility was correlated significantly with the delayed days to heading, the degree of panicle extraction (Suwon 213-1, Nongpaik, Jinheung), culm length (Nongpaik, Suwon 213-1), and Auricle distance (Suwon 213-1). The degree of sterility was able to be estimated from the linear regression equation between the degree of panicle extraction (distance from panicle neck to flag leaf) and fertility percentage. In the case of heavy cold damage by the treatment of low temperature at meiotic stage, the rice plant had somewhat lower pollen density per anther, small and ununiform anther and pollen in size, and more sterile pollen grains. Suwon 213-1 showed anthesis in almost all spikelets, while Nongpaik, Jinheung and Hayayuki indicated considerable number of indehisced anther at 5 days after heading. 2. The fertility were not generally higher in cooling treatment at heading stage than at meiotic stage treatment. And significant correlation was found between the percentage of grain fertility treated at above two stages. Nongpaik and Jinheung were not affected in percentage of fertility by 5 day treatment at 15$^{\circ}C$ when these were treated at heading stage. Indehisced anthers were not found in Suwon 213-1 and Hayayuki, but Nongpaik and Jinheung showed more anthers which did not show anthesis 3. There was different varietal response to low temperature which was indicated by the decrease of grain fertility resulted from cooling treatment at meiotic stage. Jaekeun and Jinheung did not show low fertility but Milseong, Suwon 210, Satominoli and Suwon 213-1 showed outstanding decrease in fertility percentage by the cooling treatment at meiotic stage. The varieties which had low fertility were likely to have low pollen density per anther, abnormal anthers, small size po]]en grains and many sterile pollens. 4. Remarkable varietal difference of cold resistance was found in heading stage cooling treatment. Nongpaik, Jinheung, Jaekeun, Paltal, Akibare, Milseung and Palkeong were not affected in grain fertility by cooling treatments but Nonglimna No. 1, Suseong, Hayayuki, Suwon 213-1 and Suwon 210 showed significantly high sterility as treated by cool temperature. Most of the varieties showed higher fertility by cooling treatment at heading stage than meiotic stage but Hayayuki, Suseong and Nonglimna No.1 showed lower fertility when these were treated at heading stage than meiotic stage. There were two grops of varieties in the response to cooling treatment, one was somewhat non-anthesised and the other showed full anthesis. 5. In cold injury test of young seedlings, the result of observation was not accorded with the degree of growth inhibition. As a general, Palkeum and Suseong were highly torelant to cool temperature but Suwon 213-1, Jaekeun, Paltal, Shirogane, Palkeong, Mankyung were highly susceptible. 6. There is no significant correlation between the degree of young seedling cold damage and or the degree of growth retardation at seedling stage and grain fertility resulted from coding treatment both heading and meiotic stage.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 2002

Licorice has been wed in clinical medicine for thousands of years. However it is only in recent times that we have been able to employ scientific methods to prove its efficacy and to give us a better understanding of its mechanism of action. One of important mechanisms for its efficacy is related to mineralocorticoid activity increased by glycyrrhizic acid, the active ingredient in licorice. Also the main undesirable side-effects of Licorice relate to is mineralocorticoid activity resulting in a state of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME). These therapeutic and undesirable effects are explained by the inhibition of 11-$\beta$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-$\beta$-HSD) activity. Recently, the reduction of serum testosterone in men by licorice was reported which would have important health implications in the context of fertility and sexual dysfunction. Here, health implication of licorice were reviewed In term of its pharmacodynamic and toxicodynamic mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2017

The indica ${\times}$ japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars released in Japan since 1980 are high-yielding. However, occasionally in these cultivars their high yield potentials cannot be realized, particularly depending on climate conditions. The objectives of this study were to identify the reason for yield instability and the critical yield component factor causing lower grain yield in these high-yielding cultivars. Standard-yield japonica, high-yielding japonica-dominant, and indica-dominant cultivars were grown in western Japan. Rough grain yield (RY) in these high-yielding cultivars ranged from 450 to $980g\;m^{-2}$, and was positively correlated with potential grain yield (PRY). By fluctuations of solar radiation, RY changed with spikelet number (SNO), and SNO was correlated with cumulative radiation during the panicle formation period of 30 days before heading. Even if higher SNO was achieved under higher radiant conditions, RY was lower than PRY. The lower grain-filling in plants bearing higher SNO resulted from a lower filling percentage of spikelets (%F, RY/PRY), and %F was strongly correlated with spikelet fertility (%S) across all cultivars. %S was highly influenced by cumulative radiation per PRY during pollen development and establishment around heading. Inhibition of assimilation by leaf removal lowered %S. Conversely, stem thinning and removal of upper panicles around heading increased %S in spikelets of the lower part of the panicle in which sterility was higher. These results suggest that limitation of assimilate-supply due to low irradiance at the spikelet-formation and flowering stages restrains the potential of the high-yielding cultivars, depending on reduction of SNO and %S, respectively.