• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2004

Ninety-two heads of sire, ranging from 4 to 8 years old, and semen production records of 8,628 from those sire and the performance and carcass traits from 814 heads of those offspring were used to investigate the relationships of scrotal circumference(SC) of Hanwoo sire to semen characteristics and performance, carcass traits of those offspring. Average SC of sire were 38.7 cm. The semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm number at first and second ejaculation were 5.63 mL and 5.32 mL, $17.9{\times}108/mL$ and 15.0${\times}10^8$/mL, and 100.3${\times}10^8$/ ejaculation and 79.4${\times}10^8$/ejaculation, respectively. SC is positively correlated with semen volume(1st : ${\gamma}$=0.27, P<0.05 ; 2nd : ${\gamma}$=0.19, P<0.10), sperm concentration(1st : ${\gamma}$=0.21, P<0.05) and total sperm number(1st $:{\gamma}=0.38$, 2nd : ${\gamma}$=0.28, P<0.01). The live weights of those offspring were 49.2, 281.1, 436.3 and 534.4 kg at 6, 12, 18, 22 months old, respectively, and average daily gain(ADG) were 0.81 kg/day. And, carcass weight, longissimus dorsi area, backfat thickness and marbling score were 313.8 kg, 77.9 cm, 0.62 cm and 2.47, respectively. There were tended to be positive relationships between SC of sire and live weight of 6 months old(${\gamma}$=0.08, P<0.10), 12(${\gamma}$=0.18, P=0.10), 18(${\gamma}$=0.21, P<0.10), 22(${\gamma}$=0.20, P<0.10), ADG(${\gamma}$=0.25, P<0.05), carcass weight(${\gamma}$=0.18, P<0.10) and longissimus dorsi area(${\gamma}$=0.18, P<0.10) of those offspring. However, SC and backfat thickness, marbling score have no significant relationship. This results indicate that SC of sire was related to semen production and the gain weight of those offspring, positively. However, further investigation are needed to confirm the results.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2004

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether collection time affects results of oocyte recovery from superovulated goats. Fiftyty-one mature Korean native goats, maintained in a pen under natural day length and fed hay ad libitum, were pretreated with progestagen impregnated CIDR for 10 days and then the goats were divided into two groups. One group of the goats received a single intramuscular injection of 1,000 IU PMSG on Day 8 of CIDR insertion. The other group of the goats received twice daily intramuscular injections of a total of 70 mg FSH for 3 days from Day 8 of CIDR. All the gonadotropin treated goats were injected with 10 mg $PGF_{2\alpha}$ on Day 8 and 400 IU hCG in the afternoon on Day 10. For oocyte recovery, donor goats were fasted 24 h before operation. Anesthesia was induced by intravenous injection of 2% xylazine(0.2 mg/kg body weight) and ketamin(11 mg/kg body weight). In vivo oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration or oviduct flushing at 29 to 34, 35 to 40 and 41 to 50 h after hCG injection through mid-ventral incision. There was no significant difference in the mean number of CL and oocytes recovered. Oocyte collection at 29 to 40 h after hCG increased(P<0.05) the recovery rate of ovulated oocytes in oviducts compared to 41 to 50 h. The same results were also observed in the recovery of follicular oocytes. Oocyte grade was not affected by collection time. When oocytes were collected from follicular oocytes at 41 to 50 h after hCG, the recovery rate of Grade II oocytes was the lowest(P<0.05). From these results, it is suggested that oocyte recovery at 35 to 40 h after hCG will be successful for further use.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2005

This study is a part of research that development of effective genetic resources preservation system using the in vitro spermatogenesis, in vitro insemination and culture system. We aimed for establishment of in vitro culture system with in vitro activated porcine oocytes. The porcine oocytes were matured for 48 hours in $TCM199+10\%$ FCS and activated with $7\%$ ethanol. The activated oocytes were cultured for 7 days in $TCM199+10\%$ FCS or $NCSU23+0.4\%$ BSA medium. The activated oocytes were not developed to the blastocyst stage in $TCM199+10\%$ FCS medium. However in $NCSU23+0.4\%$ medium, those were developed to blastocyst with $3\%$ of treated oocytes. We extended maturation duration of porcine follicular oocytes fur 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, and 72 hours and activated with $7\%$ ethanol and cultured using $NCSU23+0.4\%$ BSA medium. The six percents of activated oocytes were developed to blastocyst in 48 hours and $10\%$ in 52 hours with comparatively low rates suggested to be not fully activated by regenerated MPF. Maturation durations from 56 hours to 68 hours supported to develop upto $11.9\~18.3\%$ of blastocysts. However the developmental rate was declined to $7.2\%$ at 72 hours of maturation duration because of cytoplasmic deterioration. The assumed time window for activation will be $56\~68$ hours of maturation duration. When the matured oocytes were activated with electric pulse of 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0kV/cm for $80{\mu}s$, although appling the electric current once was not enough for activation, appling twice with 1.6kV/cm for $80{\mu}s$ was shown the highest developmental rate with $11.3\%$. When those were compared with activating methods, $15.7%$ of blastocyst rate was obtained in the $7\%$ ethanol. That was higher than those in electric pulse with $9.5\%$ and calcium ionophore method with $5.8\%$. In this experimental condition, the $7\%$ ethanol treatment was the most effective method for activating porcine oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2001

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of cooling rate and equilibration time on the survival, in vitro maturation and development to embryos of frozen-thawed bovine immature oocytes(Germinal Vesicle Stage). The cryoprotectants are used 10% ethylene glycol(EG) as permeating cryoprotectant and 0.05M soc.ose(S) or trehalose(T) as low molecular weight nonpermeating cryoprotectants and 5% ficoll(F) or polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) as high molecular weight nonpermeating cryoprotectants. Four freezing solution were uysed in this experiment(EFT: 10% EG + 5% F + 0.05M T, EFS: 10% EG + 5% F + 0.05M S, EPT: 10% EG + 5% P + 0.05M T, EPS: 10% EG + 5% P + 0.05M S). The best equilibration time and freezing solution was 15 min in EPT(83% survival rate of frozen-thawed bovine immature oocytes). When frozen-thawed bovine oocytes were cultured following IVM and IVF, there was no significant difference in cleavage and development rates among the EFT, EFS, EPT and EPS solutions. When 9 blastocysts derived from frozen bovine oocytes were transferred to 6 recipients, two recipients were pregnant. And one was aborted at 45 days of pregnancy and the other had a stillbirth.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2007

Oxytocin is a neurohypophyseal hormone which has multiple functions in mammals. Mainly, oxytocin regulates milk ejection and has an effect on uterine contraction and is related to maternal behavior. Maternal behavior is believed to be suppressed by stress and facilitated by oxytocin. In the cesarean section, oxytocin may be administrated into uterus to promote uterine involution. The present study aimed to test the effect of oxytocin into uterus on maternal behavior of rats with cesarean section. It was measured the effects on maternal behavior of oxytocin infused into uterus in rats with cesarean section as a stressor. In the first experiment, pup survival rate of between a control group and a group with laparotomy as a stress in natural parturition rats was compared. In the second experiment, survival rate for 2 weeks and maternal pup searching behavior (MPSV) were observed in one cesarean sectioned group without oxytocin and the other cesarean sectioned group with oxytocin. Infanticide was observed in stressed group in the first experiment while a normal maternal behavior was observed in a control one. In the second experiment, MPSV was only observed in a cesarean sectioned group with oxytocin and infanticide was observed in two groups except one rat which is thought to be affected by oxytocin as operated relatively late. This is the first study to show that the administration of oxytocin into uterus in the cesarean section is not involved in the regulation of maternal behavior in rats. In conclusion, this study proves the needs of oxytocin into brain in cesarean section related rats model and further study of maternal behavior list, like MPSV.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of various estrous behavior and ovulation time in dairy cows and heifers. In total, 73 ovulations and 61 estrous detection were observed in 89 Holstein cows. Various estrous behavior were observed during 72 hours from two days after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ injection and their relation with the time of ovulation(ultrasound examinations at 4-h intervals) was investigated. In estrous periods, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 81%, 78%, 78% and 56%, respectively in cows. In heifers, the rate of sniffing, chin resting, mounting and standing heat was 61%, 68%, 82% and 76%, respectively. Ovulation in cows and heifers occurred $25.58{\pm}7.94\;and\;25.55{\pm}5.72h$ after onset of estrus, and $13.42{\pm}7.14\;and\;7.48{\pm}7.41h$ after end of estrus, respectively. Interval between onset of estrus and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for standing heat ($17.33{\pm}5.83\;h$) than for mounting, sniffing and chin resting ($23.58{\pm}5.12\;h,\;24.25{\pm}6.09\;h,\;23.42{\pm}6.04\;h$) in cows but not significantly different in heifers. Interval between end of standing heat and ovulation time was significantly (p<0.05) shorter for heifer($6.38{\pm}4.80$) than for cows($13.05{\pm}4.53$). Our results show that characteristics of estrous behavior and ovulation in dairy heifers are different to that of cows.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hormones treated (progesterone, and combination of progesterone and estradiol) on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle. The intravaginal CIDR was inserted in the vagina of cow on day 14 (P-7, PE-7), 16 (P-5, PE-5) and 18 (P-3, PE-3) post-insemination to stimulate progesterone secretion with (PE) and without estradiol(P). The CIDR was removed on 7 (P-7, PE-7), 5 (P-5, PE-5) and 3 (P-3, PE-3) days after. The cows for control group were not treated with CIDR or hormones. Conception rate, the duration needed for conception after AI and the number of AI services needed for conception were measured. Conception rate in control, CIDR without estradiol (P-7, P-5 and P-3) and CIDR treated (PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3) cows were 15.8%, 40.0%, 31.5%, 28.6%, 62.5%, 50.0% and 0%, respectively. The days needed for conception after AI in control, P-7, P-5, p-3, PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3 were 64.9, 63.0, 59.1, 8.0, 0.0, 18.9 and 83.3 days, respectively. The days needed for conception in cows treated with CIDR (PE-7) has shown longer than control and PE-3 (p<0.05). The number of AI services needed for conception in control, CIDR (PE-7, PE-5 and PE-3) and CIDR without estradiol treated cows (P-7, P-5 and P-3) were 27, 2.3, 1.9, 1.3, 1.0, 1.7 and 2.8 times, respectively. The number of AI services needed for conception have shown significantly lower in PE-7 compared to control and PE-3.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine whether efficiency of oocyte production from superovulated prepubertal goats. Fifteen prepubertal and twenty adult goats, maintained in a pen under natural day length and fed hay ad libitum, were pretreated with progestagen implanted CIDR for 10 days. Superovulation treatment of the goats received twice daily intramuscular injection of a total of 70 mg FSH for 3 days from Day 8 of CIDR. All the gonadotrophin treated goats were injected with 10 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ on Day 8 and 400~600 IU hCG in the afternoon on Day 10. Oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration or oviduct flushing at 35 to 40 h after hCG injection through mid-ventral incision. The in vivo matured oocytes was activated by ionomycin (5 min) and 6-DMAP (3.5~4 h). The activated oocytes were cultured in mSOF medium containing 0.8% BSA at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of 5% CO$_2$, 5% O$_2$, 90% N$_2$ for 7~8 days. There was no significant difference in the mean number of CL and in vivo matured and follicular oocytes recovered. But, quality of I + II grade follicular oocytes was lower (p<0.05) in the prepubertal goat (25.0%) than the adults (52.4%). The same results were also observed in the cleavage and blastocyst rate of activated oocytcs. The cleavage and blastocyst rate from prepubertal derived oocytes were lower (p<0.05) in the prepubertal goat (54.5%, 23.3%) than the adult goat (86.8%, 46.6%). Considering overall these results, we suggest that maturation of donor goats is a major factor affecting recovered oocytes quality and in vitro development of activated goat oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1999

To investigate the maturational and development competece of porcine oocytes of different diameter groups, oocytes were obtained by aspiration from slaughterdhouse ovaries. After washing three times in NCSU23 medium, each cumulus-oocyte complex was transferred into a $8{mu}ell$ drop of the maturation medium (one oocyte per drop) under paraffin oil. The diameter without zona pellucida of oocytes was measured with micor-calibrator (Mikrometer, E. Leitz) on a screen connected to a VCR on an inverted microscope $(200\times)$. After being measured, the oocytes were divided into 6 groups according to their diameter size : <105, 105 to < 110, 110 to < 115, 115 to < 120, 120 to < 125 and > $125{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and in vitro maturation (IVM), fertillzation (IVF) and production (IVP) of oocytes / embryo was performed. The rates of in vitro maturation on oocytes in the greater 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups(91.8~100%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the < 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group(66.7%). The rates of sperm penetration were significantly (P<0.05) low in < $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group (50.0%) than others groups (81.6~85.5%). But the plyspermic fertilization rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in < $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ oocytes groups than in the $110\leq{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups. The rates of cleavage and development to blastocysts rose as oocytes diameter increased, however, while oocytes over $120{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter failed to develop to blastocysts. There results suggest that porcine oocytes have acquired full meiotic competece at a diameter of $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ but not yet attended full development competence to blastocyst and that oocytes have acquired full development competence at a diameter of $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-119
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hormones (progesterone, and combination of progesterone and estradiol) on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle. The intravaginal CIDR was inserted in the vagina of cow on day 14 post-insemination to stimulate progesterone secretion with and without estradiol. The CIDR was removed on the day of next expected estrus. The cows for control group were not treated with CIDR or hormones. Conception rate, estrus interval, estrus intensity and serum progesterone were measured. Conception rates in control, CIDR without estradiol and CIDR treated cows were 15.4, 38.9 and 60%, respectively. Estrus interval in cows treated with CIDR was 26.5 days compared with 37.1 and 48.5 days in control and CIDR without estradiol treated cows. Estrus signs were more intense in cows treated with CIDR compared with control and CIDR without estradiol treated cows. Pregnant cows treated with CIDR showed higher serum progesterone concentration than pregnant and non-pregnant cows in control group. Particularly, serum progesterone was significantly higher in CIDR treated pregnant cows compared to non-pregnant cows at days 1, 2 and 6 of gestation. It may be concluded from present results that CIDR treatment is better than CIDR without estradiol to improve conception rate in dairy cattle.