• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.135-141
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• 1997

The early studies demonstrated that the relative amount of FSH was important for stimulating normal ovarian activity and demonstrated the existence of a threshold level for FSH, above which follicular growth was activated. It was found that only a modest increase in circulating FSH level above the threshold (between 10 and 30%) was required to stimulate folliculogenesis. In addition, FSH is primary responsible for initiating estradiol production through the activation of the aromatase enzyme system in granulosa cells, follicular secretion and growth. LH on the other hand, plays a supportive role in ovarian steroidogenesis, stimulating the ovarian thecal cells to produce androgen, the precursor for estradiol synthesis. But there is now an increasing number of reports in the literature demonstrating an adverse effect of LH on fertility and miscarriage in infertile and fertile women. So HP-FSH is the drug of a highly purified FSH preparation which has a higher specific activity and far fewer impurities than FSH. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HP-FSH administered (SC; subcutaneous) versus FSH(IM; intramuscular) for ovulation induction. 20 candidates patients for ovulation induction were participated. All patients underwent pituitary desensitizing with a long gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol and ovulation induction was started with HP-FSH SC (10 patients; group I) or FSH IM (10 patients; group II). After ovulation, outcome of ovulation induction and local reaction of injection site were compared. There were no difference of outcome of ovulation in two groups except pregnancy rate/embryo transfer. Group I had a higher pregnancy rate/ embryo transfer than Group II (44.4% Vs 28.6%). Pain, redness, tenderness, bruising and itching when the injection received on the first 5 days of treated (50 SC and 50 IM injections) were assessed. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) in the incidence of tenderness, bruising and itching between the IM and SC injection. But IM injection (FSH) had a tendency of higher above incidence. The number of reports of pain, redness were significantly increased in IM injection group (P<0.05). These results indicate that SC administration of HP-FSH has been shown to be as effect for superovulation as traditional gonadotropins, with an improved safety profile due to the removal of extaneous proteins.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.117-117
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• 2002

The oocytes from most of animal species accumulate genetic information and other necessary materials during oogenesis for the later use in the early development. Over the years oocyte maturation has been studied extensively both in vitro and in vivo. Particularly, maturation of follicular oocyte in vitro becomes one of the important tools for the studies of basic cell biology, the in vitro technology of animal production, and in particular, the somatic cell cloning by nuclear transfer. We examined meiotic maturation and cumulus expansion in the presence of translation or transcription inhibitors for varying periods of in viかo maturation (IVM) of pig oocyte. In Experiment 1, the results revealed that translation and transcription inhibitors inhibited cumulus expansion and meiotic maturation during 35h of IVM. However, 50 to 60% of the oocytes underwent nuclear maturation without cumulus expansion during 75h of IVM. The rest of the oocytes were arrested at metaphase I (40-50%) in the presence of the inhibitors. In Experiment II, the OCCs were exposed to the drugs only for 15h to examine translation and transcription inhibitors on cumulus expansion and meiotic maturation. Transcription inhibitors for 15h did not arrest meiotic maturation when the oocytes were cultured for subsequent, necessary period of IVM, whereas cumulus expansion was completely inhibited, suggesting that initial 15h is critical transcription activity far cumulus expansion. Translation inhibitors for 15h exposure did not alter cumulus expansion and meiotic maturation during subsequent culture in the absence of the drugs. In Experiment III, the OCCs were exposed to the drugs only for later 30h to examine the influence of transcription and translation inhibitors on oocyte maturation. Interestingly, all meiotic maturation underwent normally with full expansion of cumulus. Similar results were obtained from Experiment IV where 5h of exposure from 15 to 20h of IVM culture to the drugs was performed and subsequently cultured for same period in fresh medium. Taken there results together, both transcription and translation are necessary for nuclear maturation and cumulus expansion, and first 15h IVM for cumulus expansion is critical. The arrested oocytes by the drugs were still capable of undergoing nuclear maturation, although cumulus expansion was affected.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to improve the reproductive ability of Thoroughbred mares with artificial estrous regulation by hormone treatments and artificial illumination. The results were as follows; Estrous detection in cycling mares which were treated $PGF_2{\alpha}$ or altrenogest administration was all 100%, and pregnancy rates were 95.2% and 71.4%, respectively. Estrous detection was 100% within March when altrenogest was administered alone or together with estradiol for non-pregnant mares in the previous year. Interval to estrous detection after altrenogest administration was 4.3 days in single administration of altrenogest and 3.7 days in combined administrations of altrenogest and estradiol, respectively Interval to ovulation after estrous detection were 2.7 and 2.5days, respectively. Pregnancy rate following single altrenogest administration was 80.0%. Estrous detection and pregnancy rates by artificial illumination in non-pregnant mares were 92.9% and 46.9%, respectively. These results show that estrous synchronization of mares during breeding season will be able to improve the pregnancy rate, and altrenogest administration in non-pregnant mares in the previous year will be able to induce early reproduction and improve pregnancy rate In racing horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.511-515
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• 1990

Induction of twinning was attempted by transfer of two whole- or demi-embryos in Holstein cows and heifers. Cows were superovulated with follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) administered twice daily in intra-muscular injection. On day of 6.5 to 7 post-estrus, embryos were collected nonsurgically, Normal morulae and early balstocysts were obtained from superovulated cows. The embryos were hisected with a micro-blade made from a razor. Twenty seven pairs of half embryos were successfully produced and 23 pairs of half embryos were transferred to recipients( Group A). Twenty cows were treated with low unit of FSH (3mg${\times}$2,2mg${\times}$2 ; Group B1, 2mg${\times}$2, 1mg${\times}$2, 1mg${\times}$2 ; Group 32) to induce double or triple ovulations. The cows of Group B1 and B2 were Inseminated artificially(A1) at following estrus. Twenty four heifers were bred by A1 and received an additional embryo into the uterine horn contralateral to the corpus luteum(CL) 6 days later(Group C). One embryo was transferred into each uterine hem of 16 heifers 6 days after estrus(Group D). Fourteen heifers were received two embryos into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the CL at day 6 of estrous cycle(Group I). Pregnancy rates at 60 days in Group A, B1, B2, C, D and E were 34.8％, 70.0％, 60.0％, 66.7％, 62.5％ and 57.1％, respectively. Twinning rates were 8.7％, 20.0%, 10.0％, 16.7％, 18.7％ and 21.4％, respectively. The present experiments demonstrate that FSH treatment( Group 31) and ipsilateral transfer( Group I ) of two whole-embryos are more useful methods to produce twins than the others.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1562-1568
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• 2016

Monochromatic green light-emitting diodes (LED) light stimuli influences the posthatch growth performance of chicks. This study was undertaken with the following objectives: i) to examine whether the green LED light stimuli induces an overheating effect by determining weight loss rate of fertile eggs during incubation period; ii) to look for the development of eyes and other primary organs at different ages of embryos and newly hatched chicks. Arbor Acres fertile broiler eggs (n = 480) were randomly assigned to 3 incubation groups and exposed to continuous white light, green light, or a dark environment (control) from the first day to 19 d of incubation. The light sourced from LED lamps with the intensity of 30 lx at eggshell level. The results showed that either green or white light stimuli during incubation did not significantly affect the weight loss rate of fertile eggs, hatching time, hatchability, chick embryo, or body weight (BW), the weight percentage of heart, liver, and eyes, as well as obvious systematic abnormalities in eye weight, side-to-side, back-to-front, or corneal diameter from 15 d of embryogenesis to 6 d of posthatch (p>0.05). Compared with the dark condition, green light stimuli during incubation tended to increase feed intake (p = 0.080), improved the BW gain of chicks during 0 to 6 day posthatch (p<0.05), and increased the percentage of pectoral muscle to the BW on 3- and 6-day-old chicks. In addition, embryos or chicks in green light had lower weight percentage of yolk retention on 19 d of embryogenesis and 1 d of posthatch in comparison to those in dark or white group (p<0.05). These results suggest that providing 30 lx green LED light stimuli during incubation has no detrimental effect on the development of eyes, heart and liver of embryos and hatchlings, but does have potential benefits in terms of enhancement of the chick growth during the early posthatch stages. In addition, the fertile broiler eggs stimulated with 30 lx green LED light during incubation does not cause an overheating effect.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.323-330
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• 2000

Early life history and spawning for Odontobutis interrupta were observed in the laboratory during May-August 1999 with a condition of natural habitats in the field. Optimal water temperature for spawning was between 17.5 and 22.$0^{\circ}C$ and appropriate water depth and current velocity in the natural habitat ranged 0.3-0.6 m and 0.1-0.3 m/sec, respectively. Ovary maturation index peaked at about 100mm in the total length and their values gradually decreased after the size. Male fishes showed a territory and courtship behavior to adult females and the males frequently pushed upper-ventral part of females for egg releases. After females spawned, the males guarded the egg masses and supplied dissolved oxygen using pectoral fins. According to observation of egg development in the laboratory, blastodisc formed in 1hr 17 min after the fertilization, cleavaging at 36-minute interval regularly. Blastulation occurred in 7 hr 12 min after the fertilization, with gastrulation after 11 hr 11 mins and formation of york plug after 32 hr 48 min. Embryo was formed in 33 hr 45 min after fertilization and optic vesicles appeared in 47 hr 27 mins when 30-31 somites were formed. Cardiac primordium was formed in 65 hr 15mins and its beat averaged 44- 48 time/min. Pectoral fins were formed in 138 hr 40 min, air-bladder and black vesicles were observed in lower portion of young fish. Embryo hatched from she-11 membrane after about 10 days and juvenile was 5.8$\pm$0.2mm in total length 3.0$\pm$0.5mg in weight.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2012

The individual toxicity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) has been investigated by using the sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) germ cell and pluteus-larvae. The gametotoxic and embryotoxic effects of Pb and Zn on H. pulcherrimus were each investigated at 31, 63, 125, 250, 500 ppb and 16, 31, 63, 125, 250 ppb, respectively. Spawning was induced by 0.5 M KCl solution and the fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates test were performed for 10 min and 64 h after fertilization, respectively. In exposure to Pb, the fertilization rate was not significantly changed compared with control but normal embryogenesis rate was significantly decreased with concentration dependent manner. Fertilization and normal embryogenesis rates showed a significant decreased with concentration dependent manner in exposed to Zn. The normal embryogenesis rates were significantly inhibited in exposed to Pb ($EC_{50}$=45.13 ppb, 95% Cl=40.12~50.05 ppb) and Zn ($EC_{50}$=19.82 ppb, 95% Cl=18.26~21.31 ppb). In exposure to Pb and Zn, the NOEC of normal embryogenesis rate was <31.25 and <15.63 ppb, respectively. The LOEC showed each 31.25 and 15.63 ppb in exposed to Pb and Zn. These results suggest that the early embryo development of H. pulcherrimus is highly sensitive to heavy metals such as Pb and Zn, H. pulcherrimus can be used as a test organism for risk assessment in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2017

This study was designed to determine the effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and early development of parthenogenesis (PA) embryos in pigs. Each IVM and IVC medium was supplemented with various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 5 mM) of MSG and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) depending on the experimental design. Immature pig oocytes were matured for 44 h and then oocytes reached metaphase II (MII) stage were electrically activated to induce parthenogenesis (PA). When immature oocytes were treated with MSG in the absence of NEAA during IVM, nuclear maturation (83.1-87.1%), intra-oocyte glutathione content, cumulus expansion, and cleavage (91.4-93.4%) of PA embryos were not influenced by MSG treatment at all concentrations. However, blastocyst formation of PA embryos was significantly increased by 5.0 mM MSG ($45.3{\pm}6.2%$) compared to control ($25.6{\pm}3.4%$). MSG treatment during IVM in the presence of NEAA did not show significant effect on nuclear maturation of oocytes and blastocyst formation after PA while 0.5 mM MSG ($89.3{\pm}1.9%$) decreased (P < 0.05) cleavage of PA embryos compared to 0.1 mM MSG ($94.6{\pm}1.1%$). When PA embryos were treated for 7 days with MSG during IVC, 5.0 mM MSG significantly decreased blastocyst formation ($27.8{\pm}4.9%$) compared to no treatment ($41.4{\pm}1.9%$) while no decrease in blastocyst formation was observed in 0.1 and 0.5 mM ($37.4{\pm}3.4%$ and $34.4{\pm}2.6%$, respectively). Our results demonstrated that 5 mM MSG in a NEAA-free chemically defined maturation medium showed positive effect on PA embryonic development while 5 mM MSG treatment during IVC was deleterious to PA embryonic development in pigs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2012

This study was carried out to develop reliable systems for somatic embryogenesis in oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), and to verify the somaclonal variants by RAPD analysis. Embryogenic callus was induced successfully on modified half-strength MS medium containing $NaH_2PO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$ and casein. Embryogenic callus was further developed to somatic embryo mass (SEM), which is very hard and bonded tightly each other. Plantlets were proliferated when SEM was cultured on modified MS medium containing half strength $NH_4NO_3$, casein and L-ascorbic acid. Plantlets were transplanted into pots containing artificial soils. When RAPD analysis was conducted using randomly selected 95 in vitro plantlets and 19 random primers, somaclonal variation was detected using BNR35 primer. There was missing band around 1 kb in #22, #28, #35, and #77 plantlets. In addition, bands obtained from #28, #35, and #77 was much stronger than other normal bands. The blast results at NCBI revealed that somaclonal variation observed in this study was related to chloroplast genome of oil palm. The results also revealed that oil palm reproduction system through somatic embryogenesis is quite reliable and early detection of somaclonal variants seem to be possible at in vitro stage by RAPD analysis.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.24 no.3 s.64
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• pp.141-149
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• 1985

Embryonic developmental rates of the Oriental tobacco budworm, Heliothis assulta Guenee, were compared at various constant temperatures and 16 hours of light, and detailed embryogenesis was also studied at $25^{\circ}C$. The egg was nearly globular in form and had an average equatorial diameter of 0.53mm. A single micropyle was in the center of the circular area at the anterior pole of the egg. Durations of embryogenesis at 20, 25, 30, and $35^{\circ}C$ were 147, 81, 61, and 67hrs, respectively. Embryonic death was especially higher at $35^{\circ}C$ than any other temperatures investigated. Embryogenesis progressed with changes in color and pattern, which are quite characteristic at each developmental stage of the embryo. At $25^{\circ}C$, organogenesis began in 14hrs after oviposition, formation of gut completed in 44hrs and eclosion occurred in 80hrs. The embryo formed along the long axis at early developmental stage, moved towards the equatorial plane in 24hrs, and made a half-turn on the plane in 36hrs. In 40hrs, head was oriented to the anterior pole of the egg until eclosion.