• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1986

As a preliminary experiment to establish the process on the sexing of mouse embryos by chromosomal analysis, present studies were carried out with inbred (ICR, C57BL) and F1 hybrid [(ICR${\times}$C57BL) = F1 ${\times}$ ICR] mice to investigate the blastomere numbers and mitotic indices (M.I.) to the developmental stage of embryos recovered, the optimum periods of anti-mitotic agent administration, the successful rates of sexing and sex-ratio. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The blastomere numbers (mean${\pm}$S.E.) of the morula and blastocyst were 18${\pm}$0.4 and 54${\pm}$0.7, respectively. 2. Whereas the M.I. of F1 hybrid (16${\pm}$0.2%) was higher than that fo inbred ICR (15${\pm}$0.1%) and C57BL (12${\pm}$0.6%) in the different strains, the morula (7${\pm}$0.6%) was higher than that of blastocyst (6${\pm}$0.4%) in the case of embryo stages. 3. Following to anti-mitotic agents treated, the M.I. of embryos cultured with Colcemid (17${\pm}$1.1%) was superior to that fo embryos cultured with Velban (12${\pm}$0.9%) and the Colcemid injection (7${\pm}$0.4%). 4. The successful rate of sexing in the blastocyst (38.7%; 124/320) was superior to the morula (35.9%; 52/145), and the F1 hybrid (48.1%) was higher than that of inbred ICR (42.4%) and C57 BL (28.2%). 5. In the successful rate of sexing to the methods of administration, the embryos cultured with Colcemid (46.0%) was superior to that of embryos cultured with Velban (39.0%) and the Colcemid injection (38.8%). 6. Of 98 embryos sexed after culture with Colcemid, 89(90.8%) were observed between 2 and 4 hrs. In the case of Velban treatment, 83.1% (74/89) was observed between 2$\frac{1}{2}$ and 4$\frac{1}{2}$ hrs. 7. Out of 761 prepared embryos it was possible to sex 311; 157 were male and 154 were female, i.e.a sex-ratio of 50% a, pp.oximately.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 1990

Single nuclei from two-, four- and eight-cell mouse embryos were transplanted into enucleated two-cell mouse embryos by micromanipulation and sendai virum mediated fusion. no significant difference in successful injectin rate and fusion rate was found between the cell stages of nuclear donor embryos. There nuclear transplant embryos receiving different cell stage nuclei were cultured in vitro for 96 hours. 75.3% of 255 embryos receiving 2-cell nuclei, 68.2% of 236 embryos reciving 4-cell nuceli and 46.9% of 228 embryos receiving 8-cell nuclei were developed to blastocyst, respectively. The number of blastomeres was significantly(P<0.05) reduced in the embryos receiving 8-cell nuclei, compared with the embryos receiving 2-cell, 4-cell nuclei or the intact embryos. Also the size of blastocysts was significantly(P<0.05) smaller in the embryos receiving 8-cell nuclei, compared with the intact or other nuclear transplant embryos. These results suggest that single nuclei introduced into the enucleated two-cell embryos are able to support the in vitro development of the reconstituted embryos to blastocysts. The prominant retardation of blastocoele formation and cell division was shown in nuclear transplant embryos receiving eight-cell nuclei when they were cultured in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 1995

To examine the critical effect of oxygen concentration on embryonic development, in vitro fertilized embryos were cultured in media(TCM199 vs. SOF) supplemented sera(1O% FCS vs. 10% HS) with and without bovine oviduct epithelial cells under two gas atmosphere (5% $CO_2$ in air vs. 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$). Oocytes, obtained from abattoir ovaries, were matured in EGF containing TCM199 medium co-cultured with BOEC for 24 hours, followed by exposure to frozen-thawed, heparin4reated spermatozoa in TALP for 30 hours. And then early embryos(1~2 cell) were cultured in both TCM199 and SOF supplemented with 10% FCS or 10% RS under 5% $CO_2$ in air or 5% COi, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$. Development to morulae and blastocysts was recorded on days 7, after the start of in vitro fertilization. The developmental rates of in vitro fertilized embryos to morulae and blastocysts cultured in SOF with BOEC under 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$(24.4%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cultured in SOF with BOEC under 5% $CO_2$ in air(14.1%) at seven days after in vitro fertilization. When early bovine embryos were cultured in TCM 199 and SOF under two different gas atmosphere, there were no significant differences in the developmental rates to morulae and blastocysts between supplements of 10% FCS and 10% HS. The rates of development to morulae and blastocysts were significantly(p<0.01) higher in TCM 199 with BOEC(24.7%) than TCM199 without BOEC(10.9%) under 5% $CO_2$ in air, otherwise SOF without BOEC(36.4%) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in SOF with BOEC (24.4%) under 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$. In summary, these experiments have proved that the culture system in SOF supplemented 10% ES is effective on in vitro development of early bovine embryos under 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$. In addition, it is effective to development of bovine embryos that TCM 199 should be co-cultured with BOEC and SOF should be cultured without somatic cells under two different gas atmosphere.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate on the survival rate and in vitro developmental rate of bisected porcine embryos and immature oocytes by manipulator and micropipette. Bisected embryos and immature oocytes cultured for 1∼5 days in TCM 199 medium with 20% FCS. Survival rate was defined as development rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The survival rate of bisected porcine embryos and oocytes were 26.1%, 22.7%, respectively. The survival rate of bisected embryos and oocytes was significantly lower than that of non-bisection embryos(62.5%). 2. The survival rate of bisected porcine embryos in cultured for 12, 24, 48, 72 hrs with 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium were 26.9%, 19.2%, 19.2% and 11.5%, respectively. 3. The in-vitro developmental rate with and without zona pellucida of bisected porcine embryos by micromanipulator were 30.8%, 25.0%, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.323-332
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• 1992

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of oviduct epithelium and its conditioned medium on e development of early bovine embryos in vitro. Oocytes obtained from ovarian follicles of slaughtered cows were cultured in TCM199 with 10% fetal calf serum for 22-24hrs and then fertillzed in vitro using frozen-thawed semen treated with BO-caffein, BO-BSA(20mM heparin added). Oviduct epithelium was collected in each stage of the estrus cycle and conditioned medium was the medium in which oviduct epithelium in early luteal stage was cultured. In vitro fertilized bovine embryos of 1～2 cell were co-cultured with oviduct epithelium from different estrus cycles, cultured in conditioned medium, and cultured in rabbit oviduct. The cleavage rates of in vitro fertilized early bovine embryos co-cultured with oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal, luteal and follicular phase of estrus cycle(67.2～70.8%) and cultured in conditioned medium(56.7%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(44.2%) The rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage in oviduct epithelial cell co-culture(15.3～32.5%) from three phase of estrus cycles and conditioned medium(14.5%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(5.2%). The oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal phase gave a significantly( p<0.05) higher rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage than both luteal and follicular phase. The results of in vivo culture in rabbit oviduct of early bovine embryos were 52.1% for the cleavage rate and 26.7% for the rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 1993

Bovine embryos at 2-to 8-cell produced by in vitro matured/in vitro fertilized(IVM/IVF) were cultured in TCM 199 or Synthetic oviduct fluid(SOF) with 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS) or cocultured with cumulus or bovine oviduct epithelial cell(BOEC) in TCM-199 or SOF medium. In experiment 1, the proportions of embryos developed to morula and blastocysts stages in TCM 199 medium were higher when they were co-cultured with cumulus cell(29%) or BOEC(33%) than that of TCM 199 with 10% FBS(12%, P<0.01). In experiment 2, embryos deived from IVM/IVF were cultured in SOF with 10% FBS or cocultured with cumulus cell or BOEC in same medium. The higher development rates of IVM/IVF embryos developed beyond morula stages were obtained in cumulus cell co-culture group(39%) than those of BOEC group(26%) and SOF with 10% FBS group(17%, P<0.01). The present results indicated that the early development of IVM/IVF embryos can be maintained efficienty in SOF with cumulus cell co-culture.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 1992

We examined effects of co-culture with human oviduct epithelial cells (HOEC) on the development of mouse and human embryos from early embryonic· stage to late morula or blastocyst stage (LM or B). In human, embryos were transferred and pregnancy rate was investigated. The HOEC, collected from surgically removed fallopian tube, were cultured in medium-199 supplemented with 20 % fetal cord serum (FCS). The HOEC were characterized by using immunocytochemical staining with anticytokeratin antibody and then used for cultures of mouse and human embryos. Results obtained from co-culture system were as follows. Development rate of mouse embryos was improved by co-culture system at late developmental stage (p<0.025). Human supernumerary embryos remained after transfer, unsuitable for freezing because of their poor quality, were co-cultured for 72hrs. Co-culture (78.79%) or conditioned medium (78.26%) system improved the developmemt rate, significantly, in comparision with control (11.11%)(p<0.00l). Co-cultured (85.71%) human zygotes for 24hrs showed the better development rate in comparision with control (50.00%) (p<0.01). When we transferred embryos cultured with the HOEC to patients, we obtained one pregnancy. Co-cultured human zygotes for 24hrs showed the better quality and viability for the replacement in comparision with control (p<0.01). In addition, improved pregnancy rate was obtained. Our results suggest that the co-culture system can rescue early degenerating embryos by improving early development and yield a resonable number of blastocyst for the appropriate replacement. The effect provided by cultured HOEC is not species specific for the development of embryos and it can be used to overcome in vitro blocks for the development. And also the co-culture system offers the possibility to freeze embryos at blastocyst stage which is more sucessful stage for the freezing. The HOEC monolayer may provide some stimulus via specific factor, which is unknown, to the development of embryos. Our results showed that the co-culture system with HOEC can be an alternative to conventional culture system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2007

In vitro development of porcine embryo is affected by culture condition. One possible factor is osmolarity of culture medium. 1his study examined whether high osmolarity of culture medium at the early culture stage improves development of preimplantation porcine in vitro fertilization (IVF) and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. NT and IVF embryos were divided into three groups and the basic medium was PZM-3 ($250{\sim}270$ mOsmol, control group). The control group of embryos was cultured in PZM-3 for whole culture period. Other two groups of embryos were cultured in a modified PZM-3 with 0.05 M sorbitol or 0.05 M sucrose ($300{\sim}320$ mOsmol, sorbitol or sucrose group) for the first 2 days, and then cultured in PZM-3 for further culture. NT embryos cultured in sucrose group showed a significantly higher developmental rate to the blastocyst stage with a decreased apoptosis rate compared to the sorbitol (p<0.05). For IVF, sucrose group showed a significantly increased the blastocyst formation rate with a decreased apoptosis rate compared to the control (p<0.05). This study represents that the high osmolarity in the early embryo culture stage can enhance the in vitro development of porcine NT and IVF embryos to the blastocyst stage with reduced apoptosis of cells.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 1994

These experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of human follicular fluid (hFF) as a protein supplement on development of mammalian embryo as well as to find out ways toward effective use of hFF. The developmental rates of mouse embryos to the blastocyst and implantation stages were significantly higher in T6 ＋hFF than T6＋hFCS. Classified hFF according to the maturity of contained oocytes (M-hFF and Im-hFF), and compared the rates of development of mouse embryo cultured in M-hFF or Im-hFF to culture medium T6. Total protein, albumin and estradiol concentrations were higher in M-hFF than Im-hFF (P<0.05). The developmental rates of mouse embryos to the blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stages cultured in Im-hFF were significantly lower than those in M-hFF and the basic medium. In accordance of the results of human IVF, hFF has been divided into 4 groups. The developmental rates of mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage in presense of hFF from pregnant patients, who have good grade embryos, were significantly higher than those in hFF from patients who have poor grade embryos or were not pregnant. In addition, the rates of development of human embryo were compared in presense of BSA, hFF or hFCS. The developmental rates of human embryos cultured in Ham's F10＋hFF were significantly higher than those in the Ham's F10＋BSA. These results suggests that the culture system using hFF could improve the development ability of mammalian embryos and the viability of blastocysts cultured in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 1994

These expriments were carried out to investigate existence of H-Y antibody in the rat serum immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cells and effect of H-Y antiserum on development of mouse male embryos. The results obtained were summerized as follows : 1. When mouse embryos were cultured for 48∼72 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing 16% of FBS(fetal bovine serum) or RNS(rat normal serum), percentages of embryos developed from 2, 4, 8 and 16-cell embryo to morulae were 20, 27, 94 and 100%, respectively, in FBS and 8, 7, 94 and 100%, respectively, in RNS. Eight to 16-cell embryos showed no difference in development rate between FBS adn RNS. 2. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS＋GPC(guinea pig complement) and RAS(rat antiserum)＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 100, 82.4 and 52.1∼53.6%(ave.52.9), respectively, so that it was suggested that rat antiserum suppressed development of male embryos. 3. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS, RNS＋GPC and RAS＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 94.5, 90.9, 82.3 and 47%, respectively, and the embryos developed in the medium containing RAS＋GPC seemed to be female. These results indicated that the antisera prepared through immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cell, possessed H-Y antibody which supressed development of male embryos.