• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 1997

This study was carried out to determine the effect of bovine follicular fluid(bFF), hormones, and fetal bovine serum(FBS) supplemented in the medium on the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine embryos. The ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir and placed in physiological saline kept at 30~32˚C and brought to the laboratory within 3~4 hours. The oocytes and follicular fluid were collected by aspiration from visible follicles, and the oocytes of grades I on the basis of the morphology of cumulus cells attached and the homogeneity of cytoplasmic granules were selected and used for maturation. The basal media used for oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development in vitro were Ham' F-10, TALP and TCM-199, respectively. The hormones supplemented in maturation medium were consisted of 35 pg /ml FSH, 10 pg /ml LH and 1 pg/mi estradiol-l7$\beta$. The bFF collected from 5~9 mm follicles was centrifuged, filtered and inactivated by heat-treatment at 56˚C for 30 min. FBS also was inactivated with the same method and kept at -20˚C until use. The embryos were co-cultured with the monolayer of bovine oviductal epithelial cells at 39˚C under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 9 days. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The fertilization rate of oocytes was found 87.4% from 10% FBS and hormones treatment for IVM, and 37.1% of these TVF embryos were developed to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS groups. Compared with this control system, the fertilization rate was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in the maturation without either FBS or hormones. These IVF embryos were developed to morula stage at the similar rate, but to blastocyst at significantly(P<0.05) lower rate in the embryo culture with or without FBS supplementation. The fertilization rate(82.9%) in hormones and 10% inactivated bFF was similar with 10% FBS and hormone groups(87.4%), but decreased significantly(P<0.05) in 20 or 30% bFF (61.0 or 66.0%), respectively. In vitro developmental competence to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS and 20% inactivated bFF(37.1% and 31.4%) was higher than in 10 or 30% inactivated bFF(20.0 or 19.2%) or 10, 20 and 30% fresh bFF(19.1, 21.0 and 17.5%) The results indicated that the in vitro fertillzation and development rate of the embryos should be improved in 10% FBS or 20% inactivated culture system and 20% inactivated bFF might be available economically for bovine oocyte maturation and embryo culture instead of fetal bovine serum.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1995

Essential and non-essential amino acids supplemented to culture medium stimulate mammalian embryo development in vitro. Amino acids such as glycine, taurine and alanine are concentrated in the lumen of oviduct and uterus and it can he thought that these amino acids may have physiological role on fertilization and embryo development. Our aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of essential and non-essential amino acids, taurine or glycine supplemented to fertilization medium on the cleavage and subsequent in vitro development of bovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro. Immature oocytes were obtained from slaughtered Holstein cows and heifers and matured in TCM199 containing 10% fetal calf serum, 2.5 $\mu$g /mL of FSH and LH and 1 $\mu$g / mL of estradiol with granulosa cells in vitro. After maturation, oocytes were coincubated with sperm in fertilization medium supplemented with Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) essential and non-essential amino acids, taurine (3.75 mM) or glycine (10 mM) for 30 hours in vitro. Inseminated oocytes were cultured in synthetic oviduct fluid medium (SOEM) containing MEM essential, non-essential amino acids and 1 mM glutarnine up to 8 days after fertilization.Supplementation of fertilization medium with MEM essential and non-essential amino acids lowered significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.001) the cleavage rate after 30 hours of IVF (53.3%) and at Day 3 (62.7%: Day 0: the day of I VF) compared to control (64.3% and 77.3%, respectively). Subsequent developmental rates to morulae (Mo) and expanding blastocysts (ExBL) also significantly decreased (p<0.001 and p<0.05 for Mo and ExBL) when oocytes were coincubated with sperm in the medium containing MEM amino acids. Taurine added to fertilization medium have not increased the cleavage rate over the control, whereas glycine showed significantly lower (p<0.01) cleavage rate at Day 3 than that of taurine, but there was no significant difference in the developmental rates to Mo and ExBL of bovine embryos irrespective of the supplementation of taurine or glycine to fertilization medium. In conclusion, supplementation of fertilization medium with essential and non-essential amino acids, taurine or glycine has no beneficial effect on in vitro cleavage and development of bovine oocytes matured and fertilization in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2000

This study was conducted to establish the optimal conditions for in vitro embryo production using oocytes derived from follicles of slaughter-house ovaries. The ovaries of Hanwoo were obtained from a local slaughter-house. The oocytes were aspirated from visible follicles of 2~7mm in diameter. The recovered oocytes which were completely surrounded by at least 2 layers of cumulus cells and a homogeneous cytoplasmic pigmentation were used. The selected oocytes were washed 3 or 4 times with D-PBS containing 10% bovine calf serum (BCS) and matured in vitor (IVM) in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 10% BCS or 0.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml epidermal growth factor(EGF) at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air for 24 hours. They were fertilizqed in vitro (IVF) with fresh sperm separated by Percoll density gradient or swim-up in TALP media. The zygotes were cultrued with or without bovine oviductal epitherial cells(BOEC) in media(HECM-6 supplemented with 11 amino acid and / or TCM-199 supplemented with 10% BCS) for 7 to 10 days. The results obtained were as follow: The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocyst after maturation and IVF were not significantly different between Ham's F-10 with EGF(76.0% vs. 44.0%) and BCS(75.9% vs. 43.6%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate to blastocyst after fertilizing by swim-up or Percoll method were not signifciantly(P<0.05) different between swim-up (80.2% vs. 29.2%) and Percoll(81.9% vs. 26.5%) (P<0.05). The cleavage rate in TCM 199(80.5) was signficiantly higher than that in HECM-6 (72.0%) (P<0.05). However, developmental rate to blastocyst using TCM 199 following HECM-6 for 3 or 4 days (42.2%) was significantly higher than that in TCM-199 alone(26.7%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate of embryos produced in vitro by exchange timing for HECM-6 media were not significantly different between in day 3(78.6% vs. 45.5%) and day 4(75.0% vs. 43.2%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocysts according to co-culture system were not significantly different between with (74.2% vs. 41.4%) and without BOEC(73.95 vs. 43.5%) (P<0.05). The number of blastomere in blastocyst stage after co-culture with or without BOEC was not significantly different (106.7$\pm$5.1 and 96.6$\pm$4.0). In conclusion, the most transferable IVP embryos could be produced from Ham's F-10 medium for IVM, Percoll density gradient method for IVF sperm separation and in vitro culture in HECM-6 until day 3 or day 4, and then transferred into TCM-199 until day 9 within adequate embryo density in culture droplets after insemination.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 1992

These studies were carried out to investigate optimal physological conditions for in vitro fertilization (IVF) of mouse ova. The unfertilized ova were obtained by superovulation from ICR mice of 4 to 6 weeks old. Tyrode's 280 solution was used as basal media, and pH and osmolality of basal media were adjusted with the supplementation of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride, respectively. The optimal pH, and osmolality of culture media and the optimum period of sperm preincubation were examined in fertilization in vitro of mouse ova and the subsequent culture in vitro of embryos. The pH range of media examined was designed from 6.5 to 7.5 with 0.2 interval and the range of osmolality from 250 to 370 mOsm with 20 interval, and the period of sperm preincubation examined was 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. The ova developed to 2-cell embryosafter 26hrs. of incubation with preincubated sperm were evaluated as in vitro fertilized ones. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The percentage of in vitro fertilized ova was highest (64.7%) in media of pH 7.1 and lowest (38.0%) in pH 6.7. No significant difference in % fertilized ova was found from the media of pH 7.1 to 7.5. Compared with the result from pH 7.1 medium, the pollyspermy was increased signifciantly (p<0.05) in the media of pH over 7.5 and below 6.9;, and the % degenerated ova was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the media of pH below 6.9. 2. The percentage of in vitro fertilized ova was highest (69.4%) in media of osmolality 330 mOsm and lowest (47.9%) in osmolality 250 mOsm. No significant difference in % fertilized ova was found from the media of osmolality 310 to 350 mOsm. Compared with the result from osmolality 330 mOsm in medium, the polyspermy aws increased significantly(p<0.05) in the media of osmolality over 350 mosmol and blow 290 mOsm, and the % degenerated ova was significantly (P<0.05) increased in the media of osmolality below 290 mOsm. 3. The percentate of in vitro fertlilized ova was highest (62.7%) in media of period sperm preincubation 180 min. and lowest (40.4%) in sperm preincubation 30 minutes. No significant difference in % fertilized ova was found from the media of sperm preincubation 120 to 180 minutes. Compared with the result from sperm preincubation 180 minutes in medium, the polyspermy was low differ no significantly(P<0.05) in the media of period sperm preincubation, and the % degenerated ova was signifciantly(P<0.05) increased in the media of sperm presincubation below 60 minutes.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effects of embryo developmental stage and superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the survival of frozen-thawed porcine embryos by open pulled straw(OPS) method. Porcine IVF blastocysts were frozen-thawed by OPS method and cultured for 48 h under the existence of SOD. There are no significant differences in the proportions of normal morphology among the early, mid- and expanded blastoryst stages $(30.8{\sim}38.6%)$. After culture of embryos, the developmental rates to the expanded blastocyst stage(38.7%) were significantly higher than those of other stages (P<0.05). The proportions of expanded and hatched embryos were higher in medium with 1 unit/ml SOD than 0 and 10 units/ml of SOD. The result indicates that OPS method can use for the pig embryo cryopreservation, especially for the late stage blastocysts. SOD may can reduce the demage of frozen-thawed porcine embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 1996

This study was conducted to improve the in vitro maturation(JVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro developmental capacity of oocytes derived from slaughtered Korean native cattle. The recoverd oocytes, obtained from a local slaughter house, were used completely surrounded by at least 3 layers of cumulus cells in combination with a homogeneous cytoplasmic pigmentation. In vitro maturation was induced in TCM-199 or Ham's F-10 supplemented with LH(1O $\mu$g/rnl), FSH(35 $\mu$g/ml), estradiol-17$\beta$(1 $\mu$g/ml) at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 24 hours. Sperm from caudal epididyrnis and previously matured cumulus-oocytes complexes were cultured for 24 hours in 100 $\mu$l droplets of fertilization media under paraffin oil. The zygotes were cultured with media(TCM-199 with bovine oviductal epithelial cells or CRlaa) for 7 to 10 days. The cleavage rate of IVM-IVF oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher following maturation using Ham's F-10 (59.9%) than TCM-199 (51.6%). Development to the blastocysts among cleaved embryos was not signficantly different between maturation media: Ham's F-10 (16.0%) and TCM-199(11.9%). However, the hatching rate was affected significantly (P<0.05) on rnaturation media as 62.9% in Ham's F-10, compared with 41.2% in TCM-199. The cleavage rate of IVM-IVF oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher following IVF using m-TALP medium (80.1%) than BO medium (51.6%). The percentage of in vitro developed blastocysts among cleaved embryos was not signficantly different between fertimization media: BO (11.7%) and m-TALP (17.6%). The cleavage and the developmental rate to the blastocysts after IVF in m-TALP or condition medium(CM) with or without oviduct epithelial cell monolayer(OECM) was similar(80.1% and 17.6% in m-TALP, 83.8% and 19.4% in M-TALP with OECM. 82.9% and 18.9% in CM, 87.6% and 16.0% in CM with OECM, respectively). The percentage of in vitro developed blastocysts among cleaved embryos was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TCM-199 medium co-cul tured with bovine oviduatal epithelial cell monolayers(35.2%) than CRlaa medium(1.9%). These results stggest that the most transferable IVF embryos could be produced from Ham's F-10, m-TALP and TCM-199 medium with bovine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers for IVM, IVF and IVC, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.279-288
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of EGF on the development of IVM/IVF bovine embryos and their ICM and TE cell number. In addition, we examined the combined effect of EGF and coculture to the bovine embryo development and the expression of EGF-R protein on bovine embryos by indirect immunofluorescence. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: When the IVM/IVF 4- to 8-cell embryos were treated at 0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml of EGF, EGF treatment group showed improved development to blastocyst and increased pattern of ICM and TE cell number compared with control, although there is not significantly different. The stimulating effect of EGF (10 ng/ml) to the develop ment level of IVM/IVF bovine embryos significantly increased development rate to blastocyst after 8-cell stage (p<0.05), although there is no significant effect to the increase of ICM and TE cell numbers. Also, expression of EGF-R on the bovine embryonic stage by indirect immunofluor escence presents after 4-cell stage and the intensity of the EGF-R staining was variable with the development progression. On the other hand, embryos cultured in coculture group added either with or without EGF commonly indicated the significant difference in development rate to blastocyst and Total cell number compared with control. These results suggest that the a addition of EGF to the coculture may stimulate the coculture effect between IVM/IVF bovineembryos and cumulus cells. Therefore, EGF could promote preimplantation bovine embryo development by binding with expressed EGF~R after 4-cell stage, and stimulate the production of embryotrophic factors from the coculture environment. Also, the present study showed that there was no significant effect of EGF to the increase of ICM and TE cell number although the rate of blastocyst significantly increased when treated with EGF after 8-cell stage (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 1996

Predetermination of sex in mammalian species has many aspects of application including the prenatal diagnoses of genetic disorders in humans and sex-selected breeding programs in the animal industry. Embryos sexing can be carried out using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific sequences present in the sex chromosomes, or by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of specific probes to the X and Y chromosomes. A 3.3 kb porcine male-specific DNA fragment (pEM39) was cloned previously in our laboratory. In this study, FISH and PCR methods were employed to examine if the pEM39 can be used a sex-specific DNA probes Porcine ovaries were obtained from a local slaughter house and oocytes collected. All oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation followed by 1n vitro fertilization. Parthenogenetically activated embryos were served as a negative control. Embryonic samples were collected at the 2-cell stages and PCR was performed to analyze DNA. Among 10 embryos examined, four embryos were identified as males and six were females. The cloned male-specific DNA fragment showed male-specificity for the cells in the liver tissue and the porcine early embryos by FISH. It was also demonstrated that the cloned male-specific DNA is localized on the hetero chromatic region of the long arm in the Y chrom-osome (Yq) as shown by the FISH and karyotyping. The results suggest that the cloned male-specific DNA fragment may be useful for predetermination of sex with a few embryonic cells. The porcine male-specific sequence can be a reliable index for embryo sexing by PCR.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-66
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• 1991

This paper deals with the reproductive ecology e.g., number of the pre-spawning moults, morphological characteristics of the pre-spawning moult the common moult, daily ration druing a molting cycle mating behavior, structures of spermatozoa and spermatophore, structure of vas deferens, mechanisms of the oviposition and brooding into the egg-chambers, a suitable time for the artificial mating and fertilization, time sequence of the oviposition and brooding into egg-chambers from the copulation, responses to temperature and chlorinity on the egg development and hatching, effect of temperatures on duration of egg development, physical mechanism of the egg hatching, to make an attempt for the artificial spawning and brooding to establish a suitable system of the artificial seedling-production for the aquaculture. 1. Females molted commonly $8{\~}10$ times at an interval of $17{\~}18$ days at $28^{\circ}C,\;3.26\~4.35\%_{\circ}$ while the prespawning moltings were $4{\~}5$ times at an interval of $13{\~}14$ days. The suitable state for artificial copulation was within 14 hours elapsed from the prespawning moltings (most suitable state was within 8 hours). Males discharged a gelatinous spermatophore and placed it on the females sternum during copulation. Oviposition was seen $6{\~}17$ hours after copulation. External fertilization was considered to take place at oviposition. Fertilized eggs held in egg-chambers forming between pleopods were about $5000{\~}6000$ in females those sizes about 6.5 cm in body length. 2. Eggs immediately after oviposition were elliptic shape, measuring $0.58{\times}0.48$ mm up to hatching. Their sizes increased with egg development and finally reached $0.85{\times}0.54$ mm up to hatching. The relationship between the long axis of the egg(Y in U) and days elapsed(X) was expressed as Y= 5.60194 + 0.007358X. The eggs performed superficial cleavage and their cleavage furrows became visible at the 4-daughter-nucleus stage. The eggs showed normal development up to hatching at water temperature range of $22{\~}30^{\circ}C$ (optimum temperature : $26{\~}28^{\circ}C$) and at chlorinity range of $0.00\~6.64\%_{\circ}$ (optimun chlorinity : $2.21{\%}_{\circ}$). The relationship between incubation period (Y in days) and water temperature(X in $^{\circ}C$) could be expressed as Y= 50.803-1.3555X. The eggs hatched $12{\~}13$ days after oviposition at $28.0{\~}28.6^{\circ}C$ 3. The pre-spawning moltings were appreciably different in the morphologic structure from those of common moltings. Breeding setae and dresses were formed on the thoracic regions, abdominal epimerae and the bases of the first to fourth pleopods in order to prepare and support oviposition, transfering and supporting eggs in egg-chambers up to hatching. These supplementary breeding organs were observed only at reproductive seasons.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2014

Implementation of smart embryo technologies in cattle e.g. ovum pick-up followed by in vitro embryo production (OPU-IVP). Seasonal variation is important factor for follicular growth, oocytes quality, quantity and developmental competence. Therefore the aim of present study was carried out to investigated whether the seasons (hot and cool) effect on follicular development, oocyte recovery and subsequent embryo development. Follicular oocytes were aspirated from Korean native cows (Hanwoo) by the ovum pick-up (OPU) method, which was performed 24 times during two different seasons, the hot (July to September) and cool (October to December), from OPU donors. The recovered oocytes were classified according to morphological categories and used for in vitro embryo production (IVEP). The mean number of total follicles was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the hot season ($18.32{\pm}2.26$) compared to cool season ($15.41{\pm}3.34$). Furthermore, seasons did not significantly effect on the number of oocytes recovered (hot season: 41.16% vs. cool season: 46.14%). However, the average number of Grade A oocytes was significantly greater during hot ($1.75{\pm}1.86$) season compared to the cool season ($1.00{\pm}1.46$), but there was no significant difference of other grades oocytes. The cleavage rate (hot: 66.67% vs. cool: 63.3%) and embryo development (hot: 58.95% vs. cool: 56.97%) did not differ significantly between the seasons. In conclusion, the results of present study suggest that the season (hot and cool) does not have effects on the oocyte recovery and embryo developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos.