• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.498-502
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• 1998

The present study was designed, fIrst to develop the new methodology to measure the bioluminescence activity easily in live developing bovine embryos by photoncounting, and secondly to compare the expression efficiency of four luciferase reporter genes in bovine embryos at four- to 16-cell stages. In experiment 1, equimolar pSVlacZ and pSVEluc were microinjected into the pronucleus of fertilized bovine oocytes. At 2 days after micro injection, bioluminescence activity of these embryos was measured by photoncounting with a luminometer for 1 min, and lacZ gene expression in the same embryos was assayed by X-gal staining. All the luciferase-positive oocytes showed some bacterial ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity irrespective of the intensity. In experiment 2, four firefly luciferase genes (pTKEluc, pTK6WEluc, pSVEluc and pMiwluc) were introduced by micro injection, and the injected embryos were cultured for the following 2 days. Detection of the luciferase gene expression was done by photoncounting at 5 to 55 min. Over the measurement period, the luciferase activity was almost constant irrespective of the transgenes microinjected. The luciferase activity and expression efficiency at 2 days after microinjection were not significantly affected by the difference in the microinjected transgenes. The present results demonstrated that the bioluminescence activity in live developing bovine embryos could be measured quickly by photoncounting.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1996

Embryogenic callus was selected from callus induced from hypocotyl segment cultures of Daucus carota seedlings on MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D. Cell clumps prepared from the embryogenic callus were transferred to MS medium without 2,4-D for somatic embryo development. Cotyledonary abnormalities were frequently observed on somatic embryos developed after the incubation of cell clumps in MS basal medium with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D for one week and then subculture in the same medium but without 2.4-D for two weeks. The percentage of abnormalities was as follows: 5% one cotyledon, 21% three cotyledons, 6% four cotyledons, 5% five cotyledons, 0.2% six cotyledons and 1% trumpet-like cotyledons. On the other hand, the normal somatic embryo with two cotyledons appeared at 63%. The germination rate of somatic embryos was higher in two cotyledon somatic embryos than in multicotyledonary embryos. Trumpet-like somatic embryos did not germinate normally showing limited elongation and enlargement of roots and cotyledons without shoot development. From anatomical examination circular procambium in the root of somatic embryo began to branch around the middle regions of the hypocotyl which extended into the cotyledons through the cotyledonary nodes and the number of branched procambial strands in hypocotyl was equal to the number of cotyledons. Monocotyledonous somatic embryo always had larger cotyledon than that of somatic embryos with multicotyledons and had horseshoe-like cotyledons where the procambium was of the same structure.ucture.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 1996

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture cells and growth factors on in vitro culture of Korean native cattle(KNC) embryos fertilized in vitro. Two-eight cell embryos were cultured in vitro using 4 types of co-culture cells and 3 growth factors singly or in combination. The results were as follows, In the co-culture of 2~8 cell embryos with bovine oviductal epithelial cell(BOEC), granulosa cell(BGC), uterine epithelial cell(BUEC) and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) monolayers, the developing rate to blastocysts was significantly(P<0.05) higher with BUEC(32.1%) than with MEF(15.3%), BGC(13.2%) and non co-culture control(11.6%). When the morula co-cultured with BOEC for 5 days following in vitro fertilization were co-cultured with BOEC continuously or with BUEC, respectively, the developing rate to blastocysts was higher with BUEC(73.9%) than with BOEC(56.0%). To examine the effects of growth factors on in vitro development of 2~8 cell embryos, epidermal growth factor(EGF), transforming growth factor-$\beta$l(TGF-$\beta$l) and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) were added singly or in combination to TCM 199 maturation medium with respective concentration. In a addition of each 10, 30 and SOng /rnl EGF, the developing rate to blastocysts was the highest in lOng /ml EGF(25.3%). In addition of each 1, 2 and Sng /mi TGF-$\beta$1, the developing rate to blastocysts was the highest in lng /ml TGF-$\beta$1(28.8%). In addition of each 50, 100ng/ml JGF-l, the developing rate to blastocysts was higher in 100ng/ml IGF-l(16.5%) than in SOng/mi IGF-1(12.9%). When lOng /ml EGF and lng /ml TGF-$\beta$l was added singly or in combination, the developing rate to blastocysts was similar in groups added singly or in combination with EGF and TGF-$\beta$l (23.l~24.6%), although higher than in control(16.7%). In the co-culture of 2~8 cell embryos Wth BOEC + each 10, 30 and 5Ong /rnl EGF, the developing rate to blastocysts was significantly(p<0.05) higher in BOEC + long /ml EGF(32.3%) than in BOEC + 3Ong /ml EGF(18.9%) and BOEC + song /ml EGF(9.7%). In the co-culture of 2~8 cell embryos with BOEC + each 1, 2, Sng /ml TGF-$\beta$l the developing rate to blastocysts was higher in BOEC + Sng/rnl TGF-$\beta$l(28.2%) than in BOEC + lng /ml TGF-$\beta$l(21.7%) and BOEC + 2ng/ml TGF-$\beta$l(21.4%). In summary, higher developing rate to blastocysts were obtained with co-culture of BUEC for co-culture system, with addition of lOng /ml EGF or lng /ml TGF-$\beta$l for growth factor culture system, and with co-culture of BOEC + lOng /ml EGF or BOEC + Sng /ml TGF-$\beta$l for co-culture + growth factor culture system.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 1989

The development of 2-cell mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro has been used as quality control for the culture media and supplements employed for human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET). 2-cell mouse embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage in SECM, Medium 199-Earle's, Ham's F-10 I , Ham's F-10 II , Hoppe & Pitts, MEM and $HT_6$. The protein supplements contained in media were bovine serum albumine, fetal bovine serum and human fetal cord serum. The results were as follows; 1. The successful development was 81.3% in Medium 199-Earle’s, 91.9% in Ham’s F-10 I and 97.1% in $HT_6$. 2. 2-cell mouse embryos developed properly in all supplements but the best development was particularly noted in $HT_6$ media when HFCS was supplied as protein supplement.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

To investigate the role of interleukin-l$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) in the embryonic development, in vivo and in vitro expression patterns of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the preimplantation mouse embryos were examined by RT-PCR, and the effects of explanted mouse ovi-duct and uterine epithelial cells on the expression of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the pleimplantation mouse embryos were examined by co-culture. IL-1$\beta$ mRNA was detected in the embryos from 4-cell stage to blastocyst stage in vivo and from morula stage to hatching blastocyst stage in vitro. This transcript was not detected from the GV stage to late 2-cell stage in vivo, and not at the 4-cell and 8-cell stages in vitro. For the co-culture of late 2-cell embryos with the explanted mouse oviduct and uterine epithelial cells, oviducts and uterine epithelial cells were isolated at 48 hour alter the hCG injection. The explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells in co-culture groups facilitated the IL-1$\beta$ gene expression of the mouse embryos in comparison with the control. Taken together these results suggest that the presence of IL-1$\beta$ plays an important role in preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, the up-regulation of IL-1$\beta$ gene expression by the explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells demonstrates that embryonic expression of IL-l$\beta$ gene may be regulated by the interaction with oviductal and uterine factor (s).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2016

Since the first success of animal cloning, somatic cell nuclear transfer presented various ideas in many research areas such as regenerative medicine. However, SCNT embryos has poor survival rate. Therefore, numerous researches carried out to enhance the developmental capability of porcine nuclear transfer embryos. Cytochalasin B, demecolcine, latrunculin A, cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine are efficient chemicals treated in post-activation procedure to increase the efficiency of SCNT. This review study is aim to investigate the effects of these chemicals applied to post-activation in porcine SCNT. Cytochalasin B, demecolcine, latrunculin A are cytoskeletal manuplators inhibit extrusion of pseudo-polar body. Cytochalasin B and demecolcine showed considerably higher blastocyst formation proportion (26-28%) compared to when they are not treated (16%). And when latrunculin A was treated for postactivation, blastocyst formation proportion was increased in SCNT embryos exposed to LA (38%) than those in control (14%). On the other hand, cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine are protein synthesis and kinase inhibitors. And they help to maintain $Ca^{2+}$ fluctuation in oocytes. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of NT embryos were increased when they were exposed to CHX (16.9% and 5.4% with no CHX).And 6-DMAP also showed higher blastocyst formation (21.5% compared to 15.7%, control). Although all these chemicals have different mechanisms, they showed developmental competence enhancement in NT embryos. However, there are only few studies comparing each chemical's post-activation effect. Therefore, further research and study should be conducted to find optimal chemical for improving the efficiency of SCNT.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1993

This study was investigated to examine the effect of conditioned medium from bovine oviductal cell(BOEC) in the co-culture system with BOEC on in vitro development of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured for 24 hrs in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH and 21U hCG, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml oestradiol-17$\beta$ at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air. In vitro fertilization was performed with epididymal sperm and heparin (10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 15min.) or caffeine(2.5mM)-treated spermatozoa. Oocytes were incubated with 1$\times$106 spermatozoa/ml for 18 hrs and then cultured in various culture system for 7 days. The development rates of 16-cell or blastocyst stages were recorded on 4, 7 days, respectively, after incubating. The proportions ofembryonic development into molulae and blastocysts were higher in cumulus cell co-culture(23.4%) and BOEC co-culture(34.3%) than in M199-FCS(6.1%). Similarily, the development rates into molulae and blastocysts were significantly higher in BOEC-conditioned medium than those in M199-FCS. Therefore, it is suggested that BOEC co-culture and BOEC conditioned medium increase significantly the development of in vitro produced bovine embryos in in vitro system.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2003

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been implicated in the regulation of pre-implantation embryo development across several species. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) on development of porcine parthenotes and nuclear transferred embryos, and on their expression of implantation-related genes. In the presence of bovine serum albumin, mGM-CSF did not increase the percentage of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage and at day 7 did not increase oocyte cell number. Addition of 10 mM GM-CSF to protein-free culture medium significantly increased the compaction and blastocoel formation of 1- to 2-cell parthenotes and cloned embryos developing in vitro. However, cell number was not increased when they were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF. Semi-quantitative reverse transcripts polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that mGM-CSF enhances mRNA expression of the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor, but does not influence interleukin-6 or sodium/glucose co-transporter protein gene expression in blastocyst stage parthenotes. These results suggest that mGM-CSF may enhance viability of porcine embryos developing in vitro in a defined culture medium.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 1998

To investigate the role of oviductal environment in early mammalian development, we examined the effects of bovine oviductal fluid (bOF) on the development of mouse 2-cell embryos in vitro. All of the embryos cultured in medium containing 5% or more of bOF underwent degeneration after 48 hr, whereas only 5% of embryos cultured in the absence of bOF degenerated. When bOF was heated at 65 \circ C for 30 min and then added to the culture medium, the embryotoxic effect of bOF was not removed at all such that none of the embryos remained alive after 48 hr. However, when bOF heated at 90 \circ C for 30 min was added to the culture, nearly most (95%) of embryos was alive. Similarly, pretreatment of bOF with 0.1% chymotrypsin for 1 hr or overnight following heating at 65 \circ C resulted in the development of 95.5% of mouse 2-cell embryos to early blastula after 48 hr culture in the presence of treated bOF. Interestingly addition of an anti-oxidant removed the evbryotoxic effect of bOF so that 91.0% of 2-cell embryos developed to morulae or blastulae in the presence of both 5% bOF and 10 mM of glutathione (GSH) after 48 hr culture. Neither oxidized form of GSH (GSSG) nor other antioxidants, however, could support the embryonic development in the presence of bOF. From these results, it is suggested that bOF contains a protein-like factor(s) which becomes embryotoxic by exposing in vitro, probably via oxidation reaction.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.212-218
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of coculture for the development rate to morula/blastocyst stages of early porcine embryos, derived from oocytes matured and fertilized In vitro, with porcine cumulus cell monolayers(PCM) in the two different media, respectively. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8~16-cell and morula/blastocyst stage were 48.7, 40.5, 34.8 and 17.0% in Ham's F-10 with PCM, and 48.3, 35.6, 22.1, and 13.4% in TCM-HEPES with PCM, respectively. The above development rates to morula/blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without PCM(P<0.05). The in vitro development rates to the morula/blastocyst stage of I-cell embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without PCM were 0.0~1.0%. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. As shown in the above results, the coculture of in vitro fertilized porcine embryos with PCM in the two different media enhanced the development of fertilized eggs to morula/blastocyst stages in vitro. However, we didn't find out any difference for the in vitro development to morula/blastocyst stages between Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES media.