• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2009

This study was to investigate pregnancy rate of IVM/IVF/IVC Korean cattle (registered in government) embryos according to transport time course. For the production of embryos, oocytes recovered from slaughtered excellent grade cow and highly motile frozen-thawed bull semen (purchased from LIMC, KPN#497) was used. In vitro produced embryos were cultured in CR1aa medium for 8 days and some of them were frozen. The rate of average cleavage (>2-cell) was 83.0% (308/371) and blastocyst rate at day 8 was 34.7% (107/308). Among in vitro produced blastocyst embryos at day 8, most healthy embryos were freshly transferred on production day and some frozen embryos were direct transferred on appropriate day. These embryos were produced in a laboratory, embryo transfer (ET) was planned in 10 areas of the remote island (Jeju) from the laboratory by airplane. Thus, we examined the pregnancy rate in recipient cow according to embryo of transport time course before ET. From embryo transferred 44 recipient cows, overall pregnancy was 40.9% (18/44), these 18 cows were all calved [single, 94% (17/18); twin, 6% (1/18)] and total embryo implantation rate was 26% (19/66). Comparing transport time in the base of 6 hr, pregnancy rate in ET group required less 4 hr (60%, 9/15) was significantly higher than that required more 6 hr (26.3%, 5/19). In direct ET of freezing embryos, the pregnancy rate was 40% (4/10). However, it was difficult to find the meaning of temperature, pH and corpus luteum quality of recipients on comparison of pregnancy rate. When the cell death level of embryos according to storage time in thermos (straw container) before ET was measured by TUNEL staining, apoptotic index was increased with storage time-dependent. These results demonstrated that long distance transfer of IVM/IVF/IVC embryos is possible and the time of embryo transport is very important for the pregnancy rate on field trial.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of additional alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) on nucleic maturation and embryo development of pigs. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated in IVM medium containing different concentration of ALA (25, 50 and $100{\mu}M$) for 44 h. After in vitro maturation, nuclear maturation of oocytes were evaluated by aceto-orcein stain. Mature oocytes with $50{\mu}M$ ALA were fertilized and cultured in IVC medium with ALA (25, 50 and $100{\mu}M$) during early-embryogenesis (48 hours after fertilization). Then, embryos were cultured with $25{\mu}M$ ALA during early embryogenesis and/or late embryogenesis (120 hours after early-embryogenesis). In results, oocyte maturation were significantly increased by $50{\mu}M$ ALA treatment groups compared with control groups (p<0.05). Treatment of $25{\mu}M$ ALA during early-embryogenesis enhanced cleavage rate of embryo compared with other groups (p<0.05), whereas formation and total cell number of blastocyst had no significant difference. Similarly, cleavage rate of embryos were increased by $25{\mu}M$ ALA supplement during early- or late-embryogenesis than ALA treatment both stage of embryogenesis (p<0.05), but did not influence to blastocyst formation. Interestingly, total cell number of blastocyst were enhanced in ALA treatment group during early-embryogenesis. These findings indicated that ALA supplement enhance the nuclear maturation of oocyte and embryo development, however, excessive ALA could negatively influence. Therefore, we suggest that ALA is used for improvement of in vitro production of mammalian embryo and further study regarding with functional mechanism of ALA is needed.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-285
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• 2017

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an important signaling molecule. Here, the effect and mechanism of LPA on the preimplantation development of porcine embryos during in vitro culture (IVC) was examined. Porcine embryos were cultured in porcine zygote medium (PZM-3) supplemented with $30{\mu}M$ LPA during different days. There was a significantly higher cleavage rate in Day 1-7 and significantly higher total cell number of blastocysts in Day 1-3 and Day 4-7. It was also found that messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of PCNA, BCL2 and BAX in blastocysts obtained from D1-7 group were significantly higher and BCL2/BAX mRNA ratio in D1-3 group was significantly lower than control group but Day 4-7 and Day 1-7 groups were comparable with control group. Treatment with $20{\mu}M$ PLC inhibitor significantly decreased the embryo cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate. Moreover, LPA as an activator of PLCs, enhanced the $30{\mu}M$ LPA + $20{\mu}M$ U73122 group embryo cleavage rate which similar with control group. In conclusion, the results suggest that treatment with LPA during IVC improves the porcine early embryo cleavage by activation of PLC signaling pathway and regulate the mRNA expression that contribute to total cell number of blastocysts during blastocyst formation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2012

This study was carried out to effects of ethylene glycol concentration, sucrose and culture day of in vitro production embryo on slow-down freezing in Hanwoo. 6, 7, 8 and 9 day embryos produced in vitro were frozen using 1.8M EG+0.1M sucrose, 1.8M EG+0.5% BSA and 1.5M EG+0.1M sucrose media. Survivability was confirmed after frozen-thawed 24 and 48h and ICM, TE cell number were counted by Hoechst 33342 and PI staining after frozen-thawed 24h. As a result, 1.8M EG+0.1M sucrose group was most significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with the other treatment groups on survivability, TE and total cell number after frozen-thawed 24h ($94.2{\pm}2.6%$, $94.67{\pm}3.4$ and $129.67{\pm}5.5$). ICM number did not found significant (p<0.05) differences between the three treatment groups. in 6, 7, 8 and 9 day of embryos using three types of freezing media, frozen-thawed, 1.8M EG+0.1M sucrose groups with embryos cultured 8 day was significantly (p<0.05) highest survivability to $98.3{\pm}1.7%$ after frozen-thawed 24h. 1.5M EG+0.1 sucrose group with embryos cultured 9 day was significantly higher survivability than group of embryos cultured 8 day after frozen-thawed 24 and 48h. In conclusion, 1.8M EG+0.1M sucrose media is considered to be effective to cryopreservation of embryos cultured 8 and 9 day.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

This study was performed to elucidate the effects of addition of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC) medium on porcine embryo production. The development rate to the 2 cell ($71.4{\sim}75.6%$) and blastocyst stages ($6.8{\sim}13.3%$) with different BSA concentrations in IVM medium were similar among treatment groups. Blastocyst hatching rate was significantly higher in the control group (0.0mg/ml) than in the group of 1.0mg/ml supplement (20.0% vs. 0.0%; p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell ($62.0{\sim}70.6%$) and blastocyst stages ($15.4{\sim}38.5%$) with different ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ concentrations in IVM medium was similar among treatment groups. The development rate to the blastocyst was significantly higher in the group of 1.0mg/ml(15.3%) than in the group of 0.5mg/ml supplement (7.6%, p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell and blastocyst stages following the first addition of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ in IVM medium was significantly higher in the control group (77.0% and 18.9%) and was $0{\sim}44\;hr$(77.2% and 16.9%) greater than that observed in other treatment groups (p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($68.1{\sim}74.8%$) and blastocyst stages ($9.2{\sim}12.7%$) with different BSA concentrations in IVC medium was similar among treatment groups. However, blastocyst hatching rate was significantly higher in the group of 3.0mg/ml supplement (30.0%) than in the control group (0.0%; p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($72.9{\sim}78.0%$), blastocyst ($7.1{\sim}14.2%$) and hatching stages ($33.3{\sim}38.1%$) were not different. The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($63.6{\sim}72.5%$), blastocyst ($8.4{\sim}16.1%$) and hatching stages ($18.2{\sim}37.5%$) at the different culture periods were similar among treatment groups. This study suggested that if the addition level and periods of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ addition are adjusted, it is possible to replace BSA in the in vitro porcine embryo production.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 1996

This experiment was carried out to investigate the ovarian responses of the ovulation point, ovarian weight and size, the number of ovarian follicles and collected embryos, and to study the effects of the developmental stages (oocytes, 2-4 cell. 8-16 cell and morulae), additional levels of Ficoll (0, 15, 30%) on the survival rate (FDA-test) of rat embryos frozen in vitrification solution (20% glycerol + 10% ethylene glycol + 10% sucrose). Sunanarized results was as follows; 1. The mean ovulation point per head was 7, and the weight of ovaries was 0.03g. The size of ovary was 5.9 mm(L) and 4.6 mm(W), and the number of ovarian follicles over and below 2 mm was 4.7 and 8.7, respectively. The number of the collected embryos per head was 5.5 (79%). 2. 2. The FDA score of embryos frozen in 20 G 10 E 10 S without Ficoll was 2.8 (oocyte), 2.6 (2-4 cell), 3.9 (8-16 cell) and 3.6 (morula), respectively. However, there were no significant differences among treatments. 3. The FDA score of embryos frozen in 20 G 10 E 10 S with 15% Ficoll was 3.4 (oocyte), 4.0 (2-4 cell), 4.7 (8-16 cell) and 4.8 (morulae), respectively (P>0.05). 4. The FDA score of embryos frozen in 20 G 10 E 10 S with 30 % Ficoll was 3.7 (oocyte), 3.2 (2-4 cell), 4.4 (8-16 cell) and 4.4 (morulae), respectively (P>0.05). 5. As shown in the above results, the higher survival rate was obtained in the treatment of 15% Ficoll than that of 30%. And the survival rate (FDA-test)of the oocytes and 2-4 cell stages of the rat embryos was lower than that of 8~16 cell and morulae stages. It was considered that 8-16 cell and morulae could be available for the successful freezing by vitrification of rat embryos with 15% Ficoll except for oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the inhibiting or promoting effect of fetal bovine serum fractionated by the molecular weight and to examine the effect of reconstruction of serum fractions on the development of 1- and 2-cell mouse embryos fertilized in vitro (IVEE) . The serum was separated by ultrafiltration or gel filtration methods and added in m-KRB medium for culture of IVFE. The developemental ability(cavitation and hatching) of embryos following culture of day 4 and 6 was compared among fractions. Small molecular weight fraction( <3 kDa) significantly inhibited the development of 1-and 2-cell IVFE to the blastocyst stages, compared with other fractions. One-cell IVFE were more sensitively damaged than 2-cell embryos by that fraction and arrested mainly at 2~4 cell stages. Moreover, small amount(<3%,v /v) of the inhibiting fraction acted even with protein rich fraction(100~30 kDa) and arrested the embryonic development. On the other hand, 100~30 kDa fraction promoted the embryonic development and no inhibiting effect was observed at the level of 50%(v /v) in culture medium In the experiment of gel filtraton, =30 kDa fraction showed the highest promoting effect on the embryonic development, but <4 kDa fraction inhibited significantly the development. These results suggest that serum contains not only small molecular weight inhibitory component(s) but also promoting one rather than albumin on embryonic development. And serum can be more effectively used in the IVF program after removal of inhibitory component(s) by one of above separation methods.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.335-341
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• 1997

The aims of this study are to establish a stable isolation method of blastomeres from bovine early embryos and examine their developmental potential in vitro Early embryos were produced by maturation and fertilizaion in vitro of bovine follicular oocytes. Blastomeres were isolated from 2~8-cell embryos in $Ca^2$+-, $Mg^2$+-free PBS+EDTA after removing the zonae pellucidae Isolated blastomeres were cultured in CZB containing BOEC for upto 240 hpi. Cleavage rates of them were 18.5%(10 /54) in 1 /2 blastomeres, 33.3%(16/48) in 1/4 blastomeres and 34.2%(14 /41) in 1/8 blastomeres, respectively. The rates of blastocystic vesicle formed were 8.7%(4 /46) in 1/2 blastomeres, 26.6% (17/64) in 1/4 blastomeres and 10.3%(8 /78) in 1/8 blastomeres, respectively. Blastomeres developed into various types of blastocystic vesicles and trophoblastic vesicles as evidenced by the Hoechst 33258 staining and morphology. This results suggest that the isolation method used and subsequent culture of isolated blastomeres from bovine early embryos should be useful to obtain extra embryonic cells for various analyses such as PCR and putative ES cell culture.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2008

Bone marrow (BM) cell harvesting is a crucial element in the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). A simple method for harvesting cat BM cells is described. The results show that a large number of BM cells can rapidly be harvested from the cat by this simple procedure. MSCs prepared by density-gradient method were spindle-shaped morphology with bipolar or polygonal cell bodies and strongly positive for CD9 and CD44 and negative for CD18 and CD45-like. They were capable of differentiation to adipocytic and osteocytic phenotypes when exposed to appropriate induction media. The advantages of this method are its rapidity, simplicity, low invasiveness, and low donor attrition and good outcome.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1579-1589
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the roles of LIM kinases (LIMK1 and LIMK2) during porcine early embryo development. We checked the mRNA expression patterns and localization of LIMK1/2 to evaluate their characterization. We further explored the function of LIMK1/2 in developmental competence and their relationship between actin assembly and cell junction integrity, specifically during the first cleavage and compaction. Methods: Pig ovaries were transferred from a local slaughterhouse within 1 h and cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected. COCs were matured in in vitro maturation medium in a CO2 incubator. Metaphase II oocytes were activated using an Electro Cell Manipulator 2001 and microinjected to insert LIMK1/2 dsRNA into the cytoplasm. To confirm the roles of LIMK1/2 during compaction and subsequent blastocyst formation, we employed a LIMK inhibitor (LIMKi3). Results: LIMK1/2 was localized in cytoplasm in embryos and co-localized with actin in cell-to-cell boundaries after the morula stage. LIMK1/2 knockdown using LIMK1/2 dsRNA significantly decreased the cleavage rate, compared to the control group. Protein levels of E-cadherin and β-catenin, present in adherens junctions, were reduced at the cell-to-cell boundaries in the LIMK1/2 knockdown embryos. Embryos treated with LIMKi3 at the morula stage failed to undergo compaction and could not develop into blastocysts. Actin intensity at the cortical region was considerably reduced in LIMKi3-treated embryos. LIMKi3-induced decrease in cortical actin levels was attributed to the disruption of adherens junction and tight junction assembly. Phosphorylation of cofilin was also reduced in LIMKi3-treated embryos. Conclusion: The above results suggest that LIMK1/2 is crucial for cleavage and compaction through regulation of actin organization and cell junction assembly.