• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2002

Objective: To evaluate whether co-culture of oocytes on vero cell monolayers from Day 0 (Day 0 group) after egg retrieval results in an increase in developmental capacity such as fertilization rate, embryo quality, blastulation and clinical pregnancy rate compared with co-culture of oocytes from Day 1 (Day 1 group). Methods: Sperms were treated with Hams F-10 supplemented with 10% human follicular fluid (hFF). Vero cells for co-culture were prepared in TCM-199 with 10% FBS. Oocytes were co-cultured from Day 0 and fertilized oocytes were co-cultured from Day 1 on vero cell monolayers in DMEM with 10% and 20% hFF, respectively after egg retrieval. On day 1, 2 and 5, fertilization rate and grade of embryos and blastocysts were evaluated. Results (fertilization rate, cleavage rate, grade of embryos and blastocysts and pregnancy rate) were considered statistically significant when p value was less than 0.05 using t-test and $x^2$. Results: In sibling oocytes of same cycles, no differences were found in fertilization rate (94.6 vs. 91.4%), cleavage rates (94.6 vs. 91.4%), embryo grade (on day 2 and 3) and blastulation (65.6 vs. 57.0%) and their grade. In different oocytes of different cycles (patients), no differences were found in fertilization (79.8 vs. 78.3%), cleavage rates (77.7 vs. 76.4%) and blastulation (56.0 vs. 45.3%), but pregnancy rate was higher in the Day 0 group than in the Day 1 group (60.0 vs. 42.9%). Conclusions: This study revealed that the embryonic development capacities were not affected by the different co-culture time in the sibling oocytes of same cycles. Although no statistical significance, because of small size of study, there was a trend for higher pregnancy rates in Day 0 group compared to Day 1 group in different oocytes of different cycles.

• 한국가축번식학회지
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 1997

본 연구는 EGF와 anti-EGF가 초기 생쥐배아의 발생 및 부화에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 실행되었다. 초기 2세포기부터 상실배까지의 배아를 EGF와 anti-EGF를 각각 처리한 Ham's F10 배양액에서 배양하여 그 발생률과 부화율을 대조군과 비교하였다. EGF 처리시 배양시간에 따른 발생률은 증진되었으나 통계학적 유의성은 없었다. EGF 처리군에서의 부화율(57.5, 62.5, 65.0, 62.5%)은 대조군(35%)에 비하여 유의하게 (p<0.01) 높았다. Anti-EGF 처리시 각 발생시기별 1:1000 실험군의 발생률은 대조군과 차이가 없었다. 그러나, 1:100 실험군의 경우, 2∼4세포기의 배아는 모두 4∼8세포기에서 정지되었고, 8세포기와 상실배의 포배형성은 48시간 이상 지연되었으며 부화 역시 대조군에 비해 억제되었다(8세포기; 2%, 44%, 상실배; 6.2%, 58.3%). 이 실험에서, EGF는 생쥐 배아의 포배형성과 부화를 증진시키는 반면, anti-EGF는 이를 억제하였다. Anti-EGF 처리시 나타나는 발생정지 현상은 anti-EGF가 배아에서 만들어지는 EGF와 반응하여 EGF의 작용을 억제시키기 때문으로 사료된다. 그러므로 EGF는 paracrine mode로서 뿐만 아니라 antocrine mode로서 생쥐 초기배아의 발생에 중요한 인자로 작용함을 알 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the embryonic developmental capacity and pregnancy rates in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm or testicular sperm cycles. Materials and Methods: Fertilization was examined in the following morning after IVF (group I), ICSI (group II) or TESE-ICSI cycles (group III). Fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with Vero cells until embryo transfer (ET). On day 2 and $5{\sim}7$, grades of embryos (<4- or $\geq$4-cell) and blastocysts (BG1, 2, 3 or early) were evaluated. Clinical pregnancy rate was determined by detecting G-sac with transvaginal ultrasonogram. We analyzed the results by $X^2$ and Student's t-test and considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. Results: Fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I ($79.0{\pm}21.2%$) than in group II and III ($56.8{\pm}21.6%$ and $36.7{\pm}25.3%$). Cleavage and blastulation rate of group I ($95.8{\pm}13.8%$ and $59.5{\pm}25.3%$) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of group III ($83.4{\pm}18.6%$ and $40.4{\pm}36.5%$). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I and II (40.7% and 41.7%) than that in group III (12.5%). No differences were found in the rates of multiple pregnancy and abortion among three groups. Embryonic implantation rate was higher in group I ($15.1{\pm}20.2%$, p<0.05) and II ($14.7{\pm}20.6%$, NS) than that in group III ($5.1{\pm}15.6%$). However, embryonic implantation rate was increased in ET with blastocyst(s) among three groups. Conclusions: Fertilized oocytes obtained from TESE-ICSI were harder to be successfully cultured to blastocyst stage for 5$\sim$7 days than that from IVF cycles. However, all blastocyst(s) ET increased the embryonic implantation rate equally in IVF, ICSI and TESE-ICSI cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권2호
• /
• pp.125-134
• /
• 2010

목 적: 난관수종액내의 사이토카인 농도를 측정하고, 사이토카인 농도가 다른 난관수종액을 이용하여 생쥐 배아 발생에 미치는 영향을 비교하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 난관수종액은 자궁난관 조영술에서 난관수종이 진단되어 복강경을 통한 난관 절제술을 시행하는 경우 난관 절제술 전에 난관으로부터 채취한 다음 3,000 rpm에서 10분간 원심분리시킨 후 상층액만을 $-20^{\circ}C$에서 보관하였다. 난관수종액의 사이토카인의 조성 및 농도를 확인하기 위하여 interleukin (IL)-$1{\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 등을 ELISA 방법으로 측정하였다. 기본 배양액에 난관수종액을 5%, 10%, 30%의 비율로 첨가하여 각 군별로 배반포로의 발달을 관찰하였다. 결 과: 난관수종액내에서 IL-$1{\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-$\alpha$, IFN-$\gamma$, VEGF, EGF, MCP-1가 검출되었으며, 그 농도에 있어서는 큰 차이를 보였다. 정상 혈청 농도에 비하여 난관수종액-1은 IL-6, IL-10이 증가되어 있었고, 난관 수종액-2는 IFN-$\gamma$, MCP-1 및 VEGF가 증가되어 있었다. 각 난관수종액의 Th1/Th2 비는 HSF-1의 경우 IFN-$\gamma$:IL-10이 3.69로 정상인 데 비하여 HSF-2의 경우 IFN-$\gamma$:IL-10이 61.14로 크게 증가되어 있었다. 난관수종액을 포함하지 않는 배양액에서는 배반포기 발달률은 76.7%이었고, 난관수종액-1군은 74%로 대조군과 차이를 보이지 않았지만, 난관수종액-2군의 경우 27.7%로서 대조군 및 난관수종액-1군과도 유의한 차이를 보였다. 난관수종액-1의 경우 난관수종액 농도에 따른 차이는 없었으며, 난관수종액-2군의 경우 농도에 증가함에 따라 배반포로의 발달이 감소하기는 하였지만 통계적으로 유의하지는 않았다. 결 론: 난관수종액마다 사이토카인의 조성이 다르며 이에 따라 생쥐 배아발달에 미치는 영향이 다를 수 있다. 염증성 사이토카인이 증가된 난관수종액이 배아발달에 악영향을 미칠 것으로 추정된다. 특정 사이토카인에 의한 작용을 규명하기는 위해서는 향후 지속적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 2002

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different media on blastulation, mean cell number, percentage of inner cell mass (ICM) of total cells and ICM : trophectoderm (TE) ratio in mice. Materials and methods: A total 552 two cell embryos were retrieved from ICR female mice (4 weeks old) at 48 hr after hCG injection (mated just after hCG injection) and cultured in MEM (n=276) or TCM (n=276) supplemented with 20% hFF. The grading of blastocysts from zona-intact (ZiB) to -escape (hatching and hatched, ZeB) was performed at 72 hours after culture. Total, TE and ICM cell numbers were analyzed by differential staining of blastocyst. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test with SigmaPlot-2001. P-values < 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant. Results: The blastulation rate in MEM ($64.9{\pm}4.95%$) was significantly higher (p=0.0031) than that in TCM ($57.2{\pm}5.22%$). No differences were found in the number of ZiB and ZeB between MEM ($31.9{\pm}2.62$, $33.0{\pm}4.58%$), and TCM ($27.2{\pm}4.28$, $30.1{\pm}4.58%$). A total 314 blastocysts (MEM=166; TCM=148) were stained differentially. Mean cell number of blastocysts was significantly higher (p=0.0002) in TCM ($73.1{\pm}3.3$) than in MEM ($61.7{\pm}2.5$). Differential staining was successfully performed in 155 blastocysts (MEM=77; TCM=78). The percentage of ICM was significantly higher in MEM than in TCM ($20.9{\pm}1.3$ vs. $17.1{\pm}1.2%$, p=0.0281). The ICM : TE ratio was higher in TCM than in MEM (1 : $4.85{\pm}0.68$ vs. 1 : $3.78{\pm}0.78$, NS). Conclusion: These results show that MEM increase the blastocyst formation and percentage of ICM of total cells comparing with TCM in mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.25-32
• /
• 2010

The present study aimed to examine the effects of ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid (GLA) supplementation to in vitro culture (IVC) medium on in vitro developmental competence, freezability and morphology of in vitro matured and fertilized bovine embryos. In vitro produced (IVP) bovine zygotes were cultured in IVC medium supplemented with 0 (negative control), 15, 31, 62, 125, 250, 500 or 1,000 ppm GLA, 250 ppm linoleic acid albumin (LAA) and without any supplement as a control. Day 6 blastocysts derived from culture control were cultured in IVC medium containing either 62, 250 GLA or 250 LAA for 24 h, and at Day 7 were subjected to freezing or morphological examination by electron microscope. GLA 15 showed a tendency to have a higher cleavage rate at Day 2 (70.3%) than other groups. The hatching rate at Day 9 in LAA (38.2%) was significantly higher than the control and all treatment groups (p<0.05), while the blastocyst rate in LAA (32.4%) did not differ from those of 15 (30.5%), 31 (27.1%), and 62 GLA (33.1%) or the control (35.1%). GLA in concentrations of 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 ppm had significantly detrimental effect on the blastocyst rate compared to 15, 31 and 62 ppm GLA, LAA, and control groups (p<0.05). In contrast, the highest post-thaw survival rate (100%) was observed in the control group (p<0.01). Large lipid droplets were observed in the cytoplasm of trophoblastic cells, even in the control, but were abundant in GLA groups. Taking the results of the study into consideration, the addition of GLA to the culture medium for IVP bovine embryos at the dose of 15 ppm increased the developmental competence of zygotes and enhanced the cleavage rate up to Day 2. However, blastulation rate and post-thaw survival were not increased when GLA was added to the culture media.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제44권4호
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of laser-assisted hatching (LAH) and various vitrification times for embryonic development and blastocyst cell numbers. Methods: First, 2-cell and 8-cell embryos were collected by flushing out the oviducts. In the control groups, they were vitrified for 8 or 10 minutes without LAH. The LAH groups underwent quarter laser zona thinning-assisted hatching before vitrification (4, 6, and 8 minutes or 4, 7, and 10 minutes, respectively). After incubation, double-immunofluorescence staining was performed. Results: The hatched blastocyst rate 72 hours after the 2-cell embryos were thawed was significantly higher in the 2LAH-ES8 group (33.3%) than in the other groups (p< 0.05). In the control-8 group ($22.1{\pm}4.6$), the cell number of the inner cell mass was higher than in the LAH groups (p< 0.05). The number of trophectoderm cells was higher in the 2LAH-ES6 group ($92.8{\pm}8.9$) than in the others (p< 0.05). The hatched blastocyst rate 48 hours after the 8-cell embryos were thawed was higher in the 8LAH-ES4 group (45.5%) than in the other groups, but not significantly. The inner cell mass cell number was highest in the 8LAH-ES7 group ($19.5{\pm}5.1$, p< 0.05). The number of trophectoderm cells was higher in the 8LAH-ES10 group ($73.2{\pm}12.1$) than in the other groups, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: When LAH was performed, 2-cell embryos with large blastomeres had a lower hatched blastocyst rate when the exposure to vitrification solution was shorter. Conversely, 8-cell embryos with small blastomere had a higher hatched blastocyst rate when the exposure to vitrification solution was shorter.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different volume ($100{\mu}l$ vs. 2 ml) of microdrop culture on B6D2F1 mice oogenesis. In the present study, B6D2F1/CrljOri $F_1$ mice were utilized in order to maximize oogenesis. Also we used TCM-199, Dulbecco's medified Eagle's medium (DMEM), embryo culture medium (Fertilization medium, Cleavage medium, Blastocyst medium), G series medium and One step medium. Blastulation rate was not different between groups ($58.4{\pm}2.9%$ vs. $61.2{\pm}4.8%$). Zona hatched rate ($38{\pm}15.4%$ vs. $27{\pm}3.4%$) and attached rate ($55{\pm}13.9%$ vs. $46{\pm}3.9%$) did not differ by the volume of culture media. Total cell numbers ($59.8{\pm}9.7$ vs. $70.3{\pm}8.7$), ICM cell numbers ($15.8{\pm}0.6$ vs. $16.8{\pm}1.5$), TE cell numbers ($44.0{\pm}9.7$ vs. $53.6{\pm}7.3$), % ICM ($26.4{\pm}2.9%$ vs. $23.8{\pm}3.3%$) and ICM:TE ratio ($1:2.8{\pm}0.4$ vs. $1:3.2{\pm}0.6$) were not different between groups (i.e., $100{\mu}l$ vs. 2 ml). These results show that the capacity of the culture medium did not effect the cell numbers of B6D2F1 mice blastocysts. In summary, these results can provide fundamental data to maximize culture condition for in vitro fertilization on B6D2F1 mice.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.48-57
• /
• 2024

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is toxic heavy metal that accumulates in organisms after passing through their respiratory and digestive tracts. Although several studies have reported the toxic effects of Cd exposure on human health, its role in embryonic development during preimplantation stage remains unclear. We investigated the effects of Cd on porcine embryonic development and elucidated the mechanism. Methods: We cultured parthenogenetic embryos in media treated with 0, 20, 40, or 60 µM Cd for 6 days and evaluated the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation. To investigate the mechanism of Cd toxicity, we examined intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Moreover, we examined mitochondrial content, membrane potential, and ROS. Results: Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates began to decrease significantly in the 40 µM Cd group compared with the control. During post-blastulation, development was significantly delayed in the Cd group. Cd exposure significantly decreased cell number and increased apoptosis rate compared with the control. Embryos exposed to Cd had significantly higher ROS and lower GSH levels, as well as lower expression of antioxidant enzymes, compared with the control. Moreover, embryos exposed to Cd exhibited a significant decrease in mitochondrial content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and expression of mitochondrial genes and an increase in mitochondrial ROS compared to the control. Conclusions: We demonstrated that Cd exposure impairs porcine embryonic development by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings provide insights into the toxicity of Cd exposure on mammalian embryonic development and highlight the importance of preventing Cd pollution.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.305-310
• /
• 2019

Embryos produced with serum show the alterations in their ultrastructure, impaired compaction, abnormal blastulation, aberrant mRNA expression profiles and large calf syndrome with greater incidences of stillbirths and deaths after birth. The aim of the present study was to describe in vitro embryo production by analyzing embryo production, fetal production and pregnancy rate in free-serum medium. The OPU-IVP data used in this study from 2016. Approximately, sixteen cows (Hanwoo), which belonged to the Institute of Gyeongsang National University, were used. Two experimental group is used in this study. Serum groups were conducted in March to July and free-serum group was conducted in September to December. The recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes were morphologically classified to four grades based on the compaction of cumulus cells layers and homogeneity of the cytoplasm. The number of oocyte was significantly greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (29.61 ± 0.63 vs. 15.6 ± 0.62; p < 0.05). Between serum and free-serum groups indicate that average of 1st and 2nd grade oocytes were no difference (2.38 ± 1.67 vs. 2.38 ± 1.48; p > 0.05), but number of 3rd and 4th grade oocytes were greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (7.31 ± 7.64 vs. 5.60 ± 6.29; p < 0.05). Embryo cleaved competence was higher in rate in free-serum groups than that in serum groups (62.1% vs. 58.3; p < 0.05). However, blastocyst developmental rate was no difference between serum and free-serum groups (33.1% vs. 43.5%; p < 0.05). 986 recipients were used for embryo transfer. Pregnancy rate was indicated that between serum and free-serum group was no difference (54.6% vs. 56.3%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, we developed the free-serum system for production of in vitro bovine embryos in order to meet the developmental and qualitative requirements for large scale commercial use.