• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of hyaluronidase during IVM on oocyte maturation, oxidative stress status, expression of cumulus expansion-related (PTX, pentraxin; GJA1, gap junction protein alpha 1; PTGS2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) and fatty acid metabolism-related (FADS1, delta-6 desaturase; FADS2, delta-5 desaturase; PPARα, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha) mRNA, and embryonic development of porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated with 0.1 mg/mL hyaluronidase for 44 h. Cumulus expansion was measured at 22 h after maturation. At 44 h after maturation, nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Gene expression in cumulus cells was analyzed using real time PCR. The cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were evaluated at Day 2 and 7 after insemination. In results, expansion of cumulus cells was suppressed by treatment of hyaluronidase at 22 h after maturation. Intracellular GSH level was reduced by hyaluronidase treatment (p < 0.05). On the other hand, hyaluronidase increased ROS levels in oocytes (p < 0.05). Only PTGS2 mRNA was enhanced in COCs by hyaluronidase (p < 0.05). Population of oocytes reached at metaphase II stage was higher in control group than hyaluronidase treated group (p < 0.05). Both of cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were higher in control group than hyaluronidase group (p < 0.05). Our present results showed that developmental competence of porcine oocytes could be reduce by hyaluronidase via inducing oxidative stress during maturation process and it might be associated with prostaglandin synthesis. Therefore, we suggest that suppression of cumulus expansion of COCs could induce oxidative stress and decrease nuclear maturation via reduction of GSH synthesis and it caused to decrease developmental competence of mammalian oocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 1983

In order to know the mode of the action of gondotrophic hormone on the expansion of cumuli oophori, oocyte-cumulus complexes isolated from Graafian follicles of mice were stimulated to expand in vitro with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and the effects of puromycin and actinomycin D on the expansion were examined. THe complexes were cultured in medium TC 199 containing 10% bovine serum in the presence or absence of HCG and the inhibitors. Puromycin in the medium (0.5-4 $\\mu$g/ml) suppresseed the HCG-induced cumulus expansion dose-dependently. This effect of puromycin was reversible. Puromycin affected the complexes throughout the HCG-stimulating stage (3 hours) and hyaluronic acid synthesis stage (3-18 hours). Actinomycin D also inhibited the expansion of the cumulus from the concentration of 0.025 $\\mu$g/ml. But the effect of actinomycin D was not completely reversible and the drug appeared to give an irreversible damage to the complexes at 0.1 $\\mu$g/ml. From the above results, it is suggested that RNA or protein synthesis is involved in the process in which HCG stimulates the cumulus cells to expand therefore cAMP elevated by te gonadotrophin may control expansion at the transcriptional or translational level.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 1990

These experiments were performed to know ultrastructural changes of the cumulus expansion in virot. SEM:In expanded oocyte-cumulus complex, the cell surface are characterized by the presence of many evaginations:they are relatively short and round shape. The mucous extracellular material were deposited between cumulus cells. TEM:In compact cumulus cells, golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum developed. In expanded cumulus cells, rough endoplasmic reticulum decreased and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum increased. Also, there were numbers of mitochondria. Extracellular mucous material which is presumed to be hyaluronic acid appears when cumulus cell were expanded. In expanded cumulus cell, numbers of smooth endoplasmic reticulum help cumulus cell to develop in steroidogenic cell.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2018

Ganglioside GM3 is known as an inhibition factor of cell differentiation and proliferation via inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation. Our previous study showed that the exogenous ganglioside GM3 reduced the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes and induced apoptosis at 44 h of in vitro maturation (IVM). However, the role of ganglioside GM3 in the relationship between EGFR signaling and apoptosis during porcine oocyte maturation has not yet been studied. First, porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in the NCSU-23 medium with exogenous ganglioside GM3 according to maturation periods (non-treated, only IVM I: 0 - 22 h, only IVM II: 22 - 44 h and IVM I & II: 0 - 44 h). We confirmed that the proportion of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) increased significantly in the IVM I treated group than in the control group. We also confirmed that the meiotic maturation until M II stage and polar body formation decreased significantly in the only IVM I treated group. Cumulus cell expansion and mRNA levels of the expansion-related factors (HAS2, TNFAIP6 and PTX3) decreased significantly in the IVM I treated group than in the control group. Protein levels of EGFR, p-EGFR, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 decreased significantly in the GM3-treated groups, during the IVM I period. In addition, cellular apoptosis, determined using TUNEL assay, and protein levels of Cleaved caspase 3, were increased significantly in the GM3-treated COCs during the IVM I period. Based on these results, ganglioside GM3 exposure of porcine COCs during the IVM I period reduced meiotic maturation and cumulus cell expansion via inhibition of EGFR activity in pigs.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 1988

생쥐에 PMSG와 hOG를 주사한 후 난자-난구복합체의 미세구조의 변화를 환찰함으로세 난구세포의 분산현상을 규명하고자 본 실험을 행하였다. 난자는 PMSG 주사후 48시간까지 별 다른 변화가 없었고 다만 표면막에 miGrOVilli와 Coaled pit의 수가 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 그러나 PMSG-hCG주사 12시간 후에 배란된 난자의 표면은 microvilli와 coated pit가 사라져서 평평하게 되었다. 방사관세포는 PMSG주사 48시간 후메 밀착해 있던 투명대와 간격이 생기기 시작하였고, 투명대를 통관하여 난자의 표면막과 desmosome으로 연결되어 있던 세포질돌기도 퇴화의 징후를 보였다. PMSG-hCG주사 후에는 급속히 격리, 분산되고 세포질돌기는 퇴화하였으며 dermo-some도 사라겼다. 난구세포들은 대조군에서 밀집되어 있었고 거의 gap junction으로 연결되어 있었는데, PMSG주사 24시간 후에는 모양이 등글게 되고 더욱 밀집되었으며, 48시간 후에는 거의 loose junction으로 연결되었고 분산되기 시작하였다. 결국 PMSG-hCG주사 If시간 후에는 완전히 분산되었고 거의 모두 핵응축과 괴사현상을 보였다. 난자- 난구 복합체의 분산은 배란전에 PMSG에 의하여 시작되고 hCG에 의하여 촉진 완결된다는 것이 확실하다. The ultrastructural changes of the oocyte-cumulus complexes of mouse alter injection of PMSG and hOG have been investigated in order to elucidate expansion phenomenon of the cumulus cells. The oocytes until 48 hours after PMSC injection showed no change except a tendency of decrease in numbers of microvilli and the coated pelts on surface membrane. However, surface membrane of the ovulated oocytes 12 hours after PMSC-hCC injection changed to be smooth due to disapperance of microvilli and coated pits. Corona radiate cells tightly attaching to zona pe]lucida 48 hours after PMSC injection began to be detached and their cytoplasmic processes connected by desmosome to oocyte surface membrane showed a degeneration symptom. Thereafter the detachment and degeneration were accelerated by hCG injection and followed by disappearence of desmosome. The cumulus cells in control group were compacted and connected by almost 9aP junction each another. Ite cumulus cells 24 hours after PMSG injection were changed to be round form and more tightly compacted. However, the cumulus cells 48 hours after PMSG injection were connected by almost loose junction and showed the beginning of expansion. Eventuallv, the cumulus cells 12 hours a%or PMSG-hCG injection were completely expanded, and became pvknotic and necrotic in most It is clear that the expansion of oocyte-cumulus complex were initiated by PMSC, then accelerated and completed by hCG before ovulation.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 1993

Canine follicular oocytes were used to establish a reliable system for maturation and fertilization in vitro. Ovaries were obtained from either slaughter house or hormone-primed bitches of mixed breeds. The oocytes were recovered by mincing the ovaries in M2＋BSA. Good quality of oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) were selected and cultured in TCM 199 containing 15% fetal calf serum(FCS) for 24~56 h in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 39$^{\circ}C$. Maturation rate of follicular oocytes was >87% showing metaphase I. Unlike other domestic animals the cumulus expansion did not occur fully in canine OCCs although minimum expansion was found between the cumulus cells and corona radiata cells, the clear nuclear morphology was presented for the first time by rapid staining. The IVM system used in this study may be useful to obtain fully maturated metaphase I oocyte in dog.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2013

A specific inhibitor of RNA polymerase II, ${\alpha}$-amanitin is broadly used to block transcriptional activities in cells. Previous studies showed that ${\alpha}$-amanitin affects in vitro maturation of cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC). In this study, we evaluated the target of ${\alpha}$-amanitin, and whether it affects oocytes or cumulus cells (CCs), or both. We treated ${\alpha}$-amanitin with different time period during in vitro culture of denuded oocytes (DOs) or COCs in comparison, and observed the changes in morphology and maturation status. Although DOs did not show any change in morphology and maturation rates with ${\alpha}$-amanitin treatment, oocytes from COCs were arrested at metaphase I (MI) stage and CCs were more scattered than control groups. To discover causes of meiotic arrest and scattering of CCs, we focused on changes of cumulus expansion, gap junctions, and cellular metabolism which to be the important factors for the successful in vitro maturation of COCs. Expression of genes for cumulus expansion markers (Ptx3, Has2, and Tnfaip6) and gap junctional proteins (Gja1, Gja4, and Gjc1) decreased in ${\alpha}$-amanitin-treated CCs. However, these changes were not observed in oocytes. In addition, expression of genes related to metabolism (Prps1, Rpe, Rpia, Taldo1, and Tkt) decreased in ${\alpha}$-amanitin-treated CCs but not in oocytes. Therefore, we concluded that the transcriptional activities of CCs for supporting suitable transcripts, especially for its metabolic activities and formation of gap junctions among CCs as well as with oocytes, are important for oocytes maturation in COCs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1007-1020
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• 2024

Objective: We increased the nuclear maturation rate of antral follicle derived oocytes by using a pre-in vitro maturation (IVM) culture system and improved the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes by supplementing with melatonin. Furthermore, we investigated the expression patterns of genes involved in cumulus expansion (HAS2, PTGS2, TNFAIP6, and PTX3) derived from small and medium antral follicles before and after oocyte maturation. Methods: Only the cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs) derived from small antral follicles were induced with [Pre-SF(+)hCG] or without [Pre-SF(-)hCG] the addition of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period before undergoing the regular culture system. The mature oocytes were investigated on embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). Melatonin (10^-7 M) was supplemented during in vitro culture (IVC) to improve the developmental potential of these porcine pathenotes. Results: A pre-IVM culture system with hCG added during the last 7 h of the pre-IVM period [Pre-SF(+)hCG] effectively supported small antral follicle-derived oocytes and increased their nuclear maturation rate. The oocytes derived from medium antral follicles exhibited the highest nuclear maturation rate in a regular culture system. Compared with oocytes cultured in a regular culture system, those cultured in the pre-IVM culture system exhibited considerable overexpression of HAS2, PTGS2, and TNFAIP6. Porcine embryos treated with melatonin during IVC exhibited markedly improved quality and developmental competence after PA. Notably, melatonin supplementation during the IVM period can reduce and increase the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the Pre-SF(+)hCG culture system increases the nuclear maturation rate of small antral follicle-derived oocytes and the expression of genes involved in cumulus expansion. Melatonin supplementation during IVC may improve the quality and increase the blastocyst formation rate of porcine embryos. In addition, it can reduce and increase the levels of ROS and GSH, respectively, in mature oocytes, thus affecting subsequent embryos.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cumulus expansion, oocyte mortality and meiotic maturation of porcine cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured in two different models when gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were presented or not. And the interaction between NO and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME), a free radical scavenger was also investigated. Two models refer to spontaneous maturation model and hypoxanthine (HX) medium model. All the 3,433 eligible CEOs were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ and the cumulus expansion, oocyte morphology and nuclear phase were evaluated 44 h after incubation. (1) In spontaneous maturation model, NO stimulates the cumulus expansion and $\beta$-ME delayed it. NO doesn't affect the oocyte meiotic resumption but inhibits the oocytes to develop to metaphase II. (2) In HX medium model, NO or $\beta$-ME doesn't affect the expansion in the absence of gonadotropins, but in the presence of gonadotropins, NO or $\beta$-ME inhibits the expansion. In the presence of gonadotropins, NO inhibits the oocyte meiotic resumption and it especially inhibits the oocyte to develop to metaphase II, and $\beta$-ME reverses such inhibitory effects. The cooperation of gonadotropins and $\beta$-ME stimulates the meiotic resumption and especially, promotes the CEOs to develop to metaphase II in both models. Moreover, HX might contribute to the fragility of oocyte zona pellucida and gonadotropins, nitric oxide and $\beta$-ME could alleviate it separately, and cooperatively. It is concluded that NO exerts different functions in two models and $\beta$-ME affected the functions of NO in different models.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.105-105
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• 2005