• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2013

In this study, we used flow a cytometric assay to evaluate plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity in post-thawed sperm that was supplemented with ginsenoside-$Rg_1$. Varying concentrations of ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ (0, 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M/ml$) were used in the extender during cryopreservation to protect the DNA of thawed sperm, thereby increasing the viability and motility rate as evaluated using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) method. The results derived from CASA were used to compare the fresh, control, and ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ groups. Sperm motility and the number of progressively motile sperm were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the $50{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-Rg1 group ($61.0{\pm}4.65%$) than in the control ($46.6{\pm}7.02%$), $25{\mu}M/ml$ ($46.2{\pm}4.76%$), and $100{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ ($52.0{\pm}1.90%$) groups. However, the velocity distribution of post-thawed sperm did not differ significantly. Membrane integrity and MMP staining as revealed using flow cytometry were significantly (p<0.05) higher ($91.6{\pm}0.82%$) in the $50{\mu}M/ml$ ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ group than in the other groups. Here, we report that ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ affects the motility and viability of boar spermatozoa. Moreover, ginsenoside-$Rg_1$ can be used as a protective additive for the suppression of intracellular mitochondrial oxidative stress caused by cryopreservation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 1979

A, B and C dilutors were used to make Ka (A plus B (1 : 1)) and Na (B plus C(1 : 1)) dilutors in this experiment. Three aliqots of semen were respectivly diluted 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 (semen: dilutor) with Ka, Na and C dilutors and stored at 5$^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in order to study their livability during storage. Fertility was checked for the diluted semen with Ka, Na and C dilutors. Whole semen and extended semen with Na dilutos with and without DMSO were cold shocked at various temperatures for 10 min. Effects of different 1st and 2nd dilution with A, B, C and Na dilutors and of vessels on freezability of spermatozoa were investigtigated. 1. Extended semen 1 : 2 with Na and C dilutors showed highest live sperm index during storage for 7 days at 5$^{\circ}C$. 2. The components of Na dilutor per 100$m\ell$ were skim milk 2.5g, trisaminomethane 0.54g, citric acid 0.265g, glucose 2.835g, fructose 1.5g, sodium lauryl sulfate, 0.08g, penicillin 0.06g, streptomycin 0.075g, and egg yolk 10$m\ell$. 3. Fertility of diluted semen was higher than that of whole semen. Ka dilutor showed higher fertility than Na and C dilutors, and there was no difference in the fertility between Na and C dilutors. 4. Na dilutor with DMSO showed slightly higher livability than Na dilutor without DMSO during storage for 7 days at 5$^{\circ}C$. 5. Cold shock at 1$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. decreased greatly the sperm livalility of whole semen but not of extended semen with Na dilutor. Addition of DMSO to Na dilutor has no effect in prevention of cold shock. 6. The extended semen with C. C dilutor (1st and 2nd dilution with C and C dilutor) showed higher post-thawing sperm livability than A.A and Na. B dilutors. Na. B dilution shwed higher post-thawing sperm livability than A.A dilution. There was no difference in the post-thawing livability between semen in 1$m\ell$ straw and 10$m\ell$ aluminium package.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to examine the effects of $O_2$ concentrations and culture media (North Carolina State University (NCSU)-23, porcine zygote medium(PZM)-3 or PZM-4) on in vitro development of porcine IVM/IVF embryos. Porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in BSA-free NCSU-23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (10%), cysteine (0.9 mM), $\beta$-mercaptoethanol (25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$), epidermal growth factor (10 ng/$m\ell$) and hormonal supplements (PMSG and hCG: 10 IU/$m\ell$) for 20∼22 h. They were then cultured in the same medium but without hormonal supplements for an additional 20∼22 h. After culture, cumulus-free oocyte were coincubated with liquid boar spermatozoa for 5∼6h. Putative zygotes were transferred to NCSU-23, PZM-3 and PZM-4 medium under the condition of 5% $O_2$ or 20% $O_2$ concentrations. At 48 h, no mean differences were found in cleavage rates. However, the rates of blastocyst formation at day 7 after in vitro fertilization were significantly higher in PZM-3 medium under the condition of 5% $O_2$ concentration than other treatments (19.9$\pm$2.4 vs. 11.1$\pm$2.0 to 16.0$\pm$2.5%, P<0.05). The total cell numbers of blastocysts were significantly higher in 5% $O_2$ than in 20% O2 (P<0.05). However, no differences was found among the culture media within each $O_2$ concentrations. In conclusion, the use of PZM-3 medium in 5% $O_2$ concentration was effective on in vitro development of porcine IVM/IVF embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of catalase using xanthine (X)-xanthine oxidase (XO) system on in vitro maturation and fertilization in the pig. When follicular oocytes were cultured with X or XO, the maturation rates were not significantly different between in medium with and without catalase despite of different culture periods. However, significantly (P<0.05) higher maturation rates were obtained in culture with X-XO-catalase system. The rates of degenerated oocytes were increased with culture periods prolonged, and were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium without that than with catalase at 120 h of culture. On the other hand, the parthenogenetic oocytes were observed with high proportions at 72 h of culture, but were not different between the medium with and without catalase at various times of culture. In another experiment, the frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa treated with X-XO system for in vitro fertilization. The penetration rates were higher in medium with that than without catalase during the in vitro fertilization with none (P<0.05), XO and X+XO. On the other hand, when sperm were treated with none, X, XO and X+XO, lipid peroxidation were produced with higher rates in medium without that than with catalase, and consequently the changes in sperm penetration and lipid peroxidation showed opposite patterns. Under the above all conditions, however, sperm-SH group were higher detected by catalase. When the activity of sperm binding to zona pellucida was evaluated through binding to salt-stored porcine oocytes, sperm binding to zona pellucida in control group were higher than in medium with X, XO and X+XO groups. No significant differences, however, were observed between medium with and without catalase. In conclusion, the exposure of follicular oocytes and spermatozoa to X-XO-catalase system may be caused stimulating in vitro maturation and fertilization in the pig.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.8
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• pp.45-50
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• 1990

This study was carried out ot investigate the effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) and gonadotropins supplemented to the medium on maturation and fertilization in vitro of porcine follcular oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from gilts at local slaughter-house. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were recovered by puncturing the ovarian follicles(3~5 mm in diameter). The complexes from individual ovaries were pooled in a $0.4m{\ell}$ droplet of medium covered with paraffin oil, then washed twice in fresh droplet and cultured for 36hrs in culture media according to experimental conditions. Boar epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by preincubation for 4hrs in m-KRB medium and the preincubated spermatozoa were insemenated in the fertilization medium containing the cultured oocytes. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The maturation rates of oocytes cultured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS were 82 and 37%, respectively. When PMSG, hCG. and PMSGt hcG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to the media supplemented to 10% FCS, the maturation rates were 66, 58 and 68%, respectively. 2. Expansion of cumulus cells was not occured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS. However, when PMSG, hCG and PMSG+hCG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS, the expansion rates of cumulus cell layers were 92, 13 and 91%, respectively. 3. When oocytes were mltured in m-KRB, the rates of penetration and formation of male pronucle: were 93 and 7%, respectively. By adding FCS and gonadotropin to m-KRB, the penetration and formation of male pronuclei were 100 80%, respectively.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.150-157
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• 2018

The Zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1) gene is known to affect early embryonic development in various vertebrates. In this study, we performed the association analysis to check whether there is any significant relationship between semen kinematic characteristics and the ZAR1 gene. To determine semen kinematic characteristics, we measured motility (MOT), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), and beat cross frequency (BCF) of spermatozoa in boars. In order to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we extracted genomic DNA from multiple Duroc boars, and then subsequently used them in sequencing reactions. As a result, three SNPs were detected in the intronic region of ZAR1 gene (g.2435T>C in intron 2, g.2605G>A and g.4633A>C in intron 3 ). SNPs g.2435T>C and g.2605G>A were significantly associated with MOT (p<0.01) and VSL (p<0.05), and g.4633A