• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 1995

To investigate the metabolism of various substrates in preimplantation bovine embryos, uptake of glucose and pyruvate, and lactate production were measured in single IVF-derived bovine embryos by a non-invasive method. When the embryos were incubated for 5 h in culture medium supplemented with 1 mM glucose and 0.4mM pyruvate as substrates at each developmental stage, glucose uptake was increased with more advanced developmental stages while pyruvate uptake was decreased. Total lactate producton of 2-cell embryos was significantly higher than that of blastocysts (p<0.05). Both of glucose uptake and lactate production in normal morulae produced in vitro was significantly high compared to the degenerated embryos(p<0.05). The results obtained in the study suggest that pyruvate as an exogenous substrate may be support in bovine embryos until 8-cell stage, whereas glucose may be effective as an energy source after morula stage. In addition, it was proven thatlactate was not effective as an energy source in preimplantation development of IVF-derived bovine embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 1987

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information on splitting and culture of mouse and bovine embryos. Two-, four-, eight-, cell and morula mouse embryos were digested with pronase, splitted in vitro by micro-glass needel with hand, and bovine embryos were splitted by micromanipulator. The splitted embryos were cultured under 5% of CO2 gas in air at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 48-72 hours. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows: 1. The mouse and cattle were superovulated by 5IU of PMS and HCG, and 2500IU of PMS and 25mg of PGF2$\alpha$, respectively. The average number of embryos after superovulation were 32.5$\pm$8.2 and 7.5$\pm$3:1, respectively. 2. Out of total 122 embryos splitted, the successful splitting rate was 75.0%, 66.7%, 68.4% and 71.4% in 2-, 4-, 8- and morula embryos in mouse, respectively. There was no different splitting rate between mouse(71.4%) and bovine embryos(66.7%) in morula. 3. The successful culture rate of splitted embryos was 68.0% and 67.9% in mouse and bovine embryos, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1994

To verify in vivo viability of IVF-derived bovine embryos, morula and blastocysts that developed from in vitro matured and fertilized ova were transferred to the uteri of recipient cows and normal calves were produced. To produce IVF-derived bovine morula or blastocysts, ova matured and fertilized in vitro were cultured in culture medium for 7~8 days at 39$^{\circ}C$ under the humicified atmosphere of 5% CO2. Two different culture systems, a co-culture system with TCM-199 and bovine epithelial cells (BOEC) and CR1aa without somatic cell support, were compared. Cleavage rates to 2~8 cell stage and developmental rates of IVF-derived bovine embryos to blastocyst stage were not different between co-culture system (51.3 and 14.0%) and CR1aa medium (60.4 and 22.1%), respectively. Embryos were classified into three grades by embryo quality and then one or two embryos in higher quality(A and B grades) were transferred to the uterus of recipients. In this study Korean Native calf was first born after transfer of IVF-derived embryos. Total four live calves were normally developed to term from IVF-derived bovine blastocysts and one female fetus was still-born approximatedly 8 months of gestation, but there was no pregnancy after transfer of morula. Therefore, normal calves could be produced after transfer of IVF-derived bovine embryos cultured in CR1aa medium without somatic cell support. In addition, our results suggest that in transfer of IVF-derived bovine embryos blastocyst stage is better than morula.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

Sexing from bovine embryos which were fertilized in vitro implicate a possibility of the sex-controlled cattle production. This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of determining of embryo sex by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. FISH was achieved in in vitro fertilized bovine embryos using a bovine Y-specific DNA probe which constructed from the btDYZ-1 sequences. To evaluate Y-chromosome specificity of the FISH probe, metaphase spreads of whole embryos and lymphocytes were prepared and tested. A male-specific signal was detected on 100% of Y chromosome bearing metaphase specimens. Using the FISH technique with a bovine Y-specific probe, 232 whole embryos of 8 cell- to blastocyst-stage were analyzed. Observing the presence of the Y-probe signal on blastomeres, 102 embryos were predicted as male, and 130 embryos as female. The determining rate of embryo sex by FISH technique was about 93% regardless of embryonic stages. In conclusion, the FISH using a bovine Y-specific DNA probe is an accurate, reliable and quick method for determining the sex of bovine embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 1996

Sexing and developing from splitted embryos which were fertilized in vitro implicate a possibility of production of the superior and sex controlled individuals. This study was carried out to investigate the production of transferable late blastocysts from in vitro fertilized embryos and to analyze sex by chromosome analysis from same embryos. In results, the ratio of cleavage and fertility of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro was 90% in co-cultured with granulosa cells. The competence of embryonic development from in vitro matured and fertilized bovine oocytes was 38% in co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cells. To produce a lot of transferable embryos, therefore, the best conditon of culture system was co-cultured with granulosa cells for immature bovine oocytes and then co-cultured with bovine oviductal eptithelial cells for matured and fertilized oocytes. In chromosome analysis, 93% of in vitro fertilized embryos were very important aspect in chromosome preparation from bovine embryos such as duration of colcemid treatment, weakening of zona pellucida, methods of hypotonic treatment and fixation treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1665-1672
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• 2008

Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) is a useful method to preserve endangered species and to study the reprogramming event of a nuclear donor cell by the oocyte. Although several studies of iSCNT using murine cells and bovine oocytes have been reported, the development of murine-bovine iSCNT embryos beyond the 8-cell stage has not been successful. In this paper, we examined the developmental potential of embryos reconstructed with a murine embryonic fibroblast as the nuclear donor and a bovine oocyte as the cytoplasm recipient. The reconstructed embryos were cultured in CZB (murine medium) or CR1aa (bovine medium). In addition, for the development of a murine-bovine iSCNT blastocyst, the antioxidant ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol (${\beta}ME$) was supplemented to CR1aa medium. Furthermore, to verify the mouse genome activation in murine-bovine iSCNT embryos, RT-PCR analysis of murine Xist was performed. The development of the murine-bovine iSCNT embryos cultured in CR1aa was significantly higher than that in CZB (p<0.05). With respect to the effect of BME on the development of the murine-bovine iSCNT blastocyst, addition of BME produced a significant increase in blastocyst development (p<0.05). Karyotype analysis confirmed that the reconstructed embryos were derived from murine cells (40XX). The Xist gene was gradually increased from the 8-cell stage to the blastocyst stage. This is the first report of blastocyst development of iSCNT embryos derived from murine somatic cells and bovine oocytes. These results demonstrate that bovine cytoplasm can support the development of later stages of a preimplantation embryo from murine-bovine iSCNT.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.269-275
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable PCR method for sexing of morula or blastocyst stage bovine embryo. BOV97M and bovine 1.715 satellite DNA sequences were selected for amplification of male and bovine specific DNA, respectively. But the unbalanced number of copies of these two repetitive sequences required some modification of PCR method. Karyotyping of blastomeres were carried for the confirmation of sex determination in bovine embryos. The coincidence rate of sex between biopsied-single blastomere and matched blastocyst was 80.0%. When in vivo- and in vitro- derived embryos were compared, 61.8% and 56.7% were male in in vitro- and in vivo-derived embryos, respectively. In vivo-derived embryos showed better hatching rate than in vitro-derived embryos following biopsy of blastomeres. In conclusion, rapid and effective PCR could be applied to sexing of bovine preimplantation embryos using single blastomere. The sensitivity of this assay may eliminate the need for biopsy of more than one nucleated blastomere and reduce trauma to the embryos derived from biopsy procedure.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.189-203
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• 1999

To determine sex of bovine embryos using hamster histocompatibility Y(H-Y) antibodies, bovine compact morulae were incubated for 6 hours in TCM199 supplemented with 10% hamster H-Y antiserum and the embryos with developmental arrest were diagnosed as male embryos, while the embryos showing development during the incubation as female embryos. This presumptive embryo sexing was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method. 1. In the result of hamster sperm cytotoxicity test to measure H-Y antibody titer, the rate of dead sperm was considerably lower in H-Y antiserum absorbed with hamster male splenocytes than in H-Y antiserum absorbed with hamster female splenocytes or H-Y antiserum unabsorbed with splenocytes(p<0.01). 2. The rate of oocytes fertilized in vitro and the rate of blastocysts of the fertilized oocytes were 58.5% and 32.4%, respectively. The rate of blastocysts on day 8 was 15.9%, denoting the highest rate during whole culture period posterior to in vitro fertilization (IVF). 3. The bovine 16 cell and compact morulae embryos incubated in the medium supplemented with hamster H-Y antibodies showed 37.1% and 48.9% of developmental arrest which were diagnosed as male, respectively, and rates of redeveloped embryos from the arrested were 24.1% in 16 cell and 44.3% in compact morulae embryos, respectively, denoting higher rate of sex determination and rate of redevelopment in compact morulae than 16 cell embryos. 4. Bovine compact morulae of Korean cattle and Holstein were treated with hamster H-Y antibodies for sex determination and the rates of developmental arrest(diagnosed as male) were 48.4% for Korean cattle and 47.9% for Holstein, respectively. The rates of redeveloped embryos to blastocyst after treatment were 42.6% for Korean cattle and 41.8% for Holstein, respectively, showing no significant differences of sex determination and redevelopment between both breed. 5. The sex determination of bovine embryos(Korean cattle and Holstein) using hamster H-Y antibodies was diagnosed by PCR for confirmation, denoting the rates of 86.1% for Korean cattle and 85.9% for Holstein male embryos, respectively, and the rates of 91.9% for Korean cattle and 90.1% for Holstein female embryos, respectively, with no significant differences of sex determination between both breed. These results indicated that hamster H-Y antibodies can be usable for sex determination of bovine embryos of Korean cattle and Holstein, the viability of bovine embryos was sustained while being cultured in the medium supplemented with hamster H-Y antibodies of appropriate titer and sex determination of bovine embryos by PCR can be feasible for confirmation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2000

The possible use of micromanipulative biopsy and PCR of the biopsied embryonic cells was tested to produce sexed bovine embryos in practical terms. By micromanipulation and PCR techniques, higher survival rate and accurate sexing of demi-embryos were btained. Bovine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro were co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cell (BOEC) monolayer in USU-6 medium supplemented with 15% FBS, and the embryos of 37% (327/885) were developed to blastocysts. Among 111 blastocysts produced by invitro, only 7 (6.3%) embryos were found unable to determine their sex, probably due to the loss of cells, since no PCR product was found from those cells. All the remaining 104 (93.7%) demi-embryos survived micromanipulation and demonstrated male-specific product or bovine-specific product alone suggesting that correct sexing of the sample. Forty-three point one percent(25/58) of manipulated and cryopreserved demi-embryos after thawing were survived. Final verification of the sexed embryos is necessary to make sure the same sex in fetus and newborn calf upon embryo transfer. The established sexing method on a large number of bovine embryos from previous and this study suggests that this a could be used practically in the field.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.253-256
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• 2004

Porcine fibroblasts were transferred into enucleated bovine oocytes for the interspecies nuclear transfer (NT). After NT, the embryos were cultured in three different culture systems. The media used for the experiment were CR1aa and NCSU23. The culture systems used for the experiment were: 1. Culture in CR1aa for 7 days (CR). 2. Culture in CR1aa for 2 days and subsequently in NCSU23 for 5 days (CR-NC). 3. Culture in NCSU23 for 7 days (NC). Bovine (intraspecies) NT group was used as a control. The oocytes in bovine NT group were treated the same as interspecies NT embryos except using bovine fibroblasts as nuclear donors. Regardless of their nuclear origin (interspecies vs bovine), the embryos in CR (68.4% vs 77.2%) and CR-NC (67.8% vs 70.5%) showed better developmental competence to the 2-cell stage (p<0.05) than those in NC (41.0% vs 10.0%). Bovine NT embryos in CR-NC did not develop over the 4-cell stage after the medium replacement, while interspecies NT embryos in CR-NC continued to develop and could reach over the 8-cell stage (12.2%). Blastocysts were only found in bovine NT group (17.4%), but no blastocyst was found in interspecies NT group. This study suggests that the development of interspecies NT embryos mostly depends on their recipient cytoplasm during the culture in vitro.