• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2007

To establish an efficient and reliable microspore culture system for pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), the effect of light intensity used for donor plant's growth, microspore isolation methods, the composition of culture medium, and culture period in light on the production of embryos were investigated. The viability of microspores taken from the plants grown under the light intensity of 10,000 lux was almost same as that from the lower (5,500 lux) light intensity, and the embryo induction and development were a bit higher when donor plants were grown under the lower light intensity. This result implies that lower light intensity does not interfere with the embryo induction and development. However, it was very difficult to prepare microspores for culture since only a small number of flower buds could be harvested from plants grown under the light intensity of 5,500 lux. Microspore isolation methods greatly affected microspores viability; that is, when microspores were isolated by blending rather than maceration, the greater number of viable microspores were easily generated (about 13 times). Among media used for microspores culture in this study, MN medium was most efficient for embryo induction and development. Total number of embryos and the number of cotyledonary embryos were highest when microspores were cultured in dark for 4 weeks, and then in light for one week. These results will be provide valuable information to set up efficient microspore culture system of hot pepper with a high frequency of embryo production, which are applicable to gene transformation and mutagenesis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Cytochalasin B treatment on the survivability The different concentration and exposed times of CB of porcine embryos frozen by vitrification were observed. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The survivability rates of the porcine embryos treated CB(60.5%) were significantly higher than non-treated(32.8%)(p＜0.1). However the recovered with normal morphology rates(84.2%) were no significantly different than non-treated(81.9%). 2. We observed by different concentration of CB treatment, the group of CB treated with 7.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ were significantly showed a higher of normal morphology(44/45; 98%) and viability rate(33/45;73%) than other groups(morphology: 65∼70%, viability: 15∼74%)(p<0.05). While the control was lower as 70% of morphology and 38% of viability. 3. We examined exposed time of in-vitro CB treated embryos, the group of more than 20 minutes exposed were significantly were observed a higher rates of normal morphology and viability(p<0.05). And the group of 13 minutes, 14,000 rpm centrifuged(64%) were significantly higher than non-centrifuged(36%). Survivability of porcine embryos were improved in CB treated group. It suggested that 7.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ concentration of CB treatment, 20 minutes exposed times and 13 minutes, 14000 rpm centrifuged prior to vitrification improve normal morphology and survivability rates.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of L-cysteine on sperm characteristics and oocyte cleavage in vitro in Korean native cattle. For this study, the freezing of diluted semen were added with Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and/or 0, 5, 10 and 20 mM L-cysteine before cryopreservation. The viability in frozen-thawed sperm were estimated by SYBR14/PI double stain, acrosome damage with FITC-PNA, mitochondria intact with Rhodamin123 and hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) level with carboxy-DCFDA by flow-cytometry. The developmental capacity was also assessed with cleavage rates in oocytes fertilized in vitro by frozen-thawed sperm. In results, the sperm viability was significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). In addition, acrosome damage was significantly decreased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). The mitochondria intact was also significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, the cleavage rates were significantly increased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than 20 mM concentration of L-cysteine (p<0.05). The oocyte degeneration of oocytes were significantly decreased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than in 20 mM L-cysteine group (P<0.05). However, there are no significantly differences among the L-cysteine treatment groups. We suggest that concentration of 10 mM L-cysteine have beneficial impact for sperm cryopreserved in Korean native cattle. This result also could be recommended for artificial insemination program if supported by an improvement in the fertility results and required further study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.612-616
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• 2004

This study was carried out to compare the semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and testosterone concentration and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development of in vitro matured pig oocytes between two Yorkshire boars. Semen and blood samples were collected once per week from October to November 2002 from two adult Yorkshire boars at 18 months of age with 170 kg body weight. Sperm were deep frozen in 5 ml maxi-straws with lactose-egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent and stored in liquid nitrogen. Blood samples were obtained at 10 a.m. by inserting a 21 gauge, hypodermic needle attached to 10 ml syringe into surface veins in the ear. The concentration of testosterone was determined by Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay. Ovaries were collected from prepubertal gilts at a local slaughter house. Cumulus oocyte complexes were aspirated from antral follicles (3 to 6 mm in diameter). The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified TCM 199. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at $38.5^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. For IVF, one frozen 5 ml straw was thawed at $52^{\circ}C$in 40 sec and was diluted with 20 ml Beltsville thawing solution at room temperature. Sperm were washed 2 times in mTLP-PVA and inseminated without preincubation after thawing. Oocytes were inseminated with $2{\times}10^7$/ml sperm concentration. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${\mu}$l mTBM fertilization medium. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${\mu}$l NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 48 and 144 h. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, motility, normal acrosome morphology and sperm concentration of raw semen between A and B of Yorkshire boar. However, motility and normal acrosome of boar A were higher than those of boar B at 0.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h incubations of frozen-thawed sperm. Testosterone concentration (3.75 ng/ml) of boar A was higher than that (2.34 ng/ml) of boar B. The rate of blastocyst formation (15.1%) of boar A was higher than that (10.4%) of boar B. In conclusion, serum testosterone concentration of boar showed very important role for the frozen-thawed sperm viability and the blastocyst formation of pig oocytes matured in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various factors such as recipient parity, delivery season, offspring number, pregnancy period, delivery type, midwifery type and dystocia, on the viability of calves derived from embryos produced in vitro. There was no difference in the abnormality of calves among treatments ($0\~25\%$, respectively). The incidence of a disease was significantly higher in delivered by multiparous $(40\%)$ than nulliparous$(9.9\%)$, in eutocia than dystocia group, in delivered on spring $(20.4\%)$ and winter $(22.7\%)$ than summer$(4.3\%)$ and autumn $(0\%)$, in single offspring $(18.4\%)$ than twin offsprings $(6.7\%)$, and in eutocia group $(17\%)$ than dystocia $(2.7\%)$, respectively (p<0.05). The rate of mortality was significantly higher when transferred into mulliparous $(22.3\%)$ than multiparous$(0\%)$, when were delivered within 270 day $(53.3\%)$ than over 270 day $(14.3\~16.1\%)$, when were dystocia $(41.7\%)$ than eutocia$(14.1\%)$ group, when were induced delivery $(44.4\%)$ than self-delivery $(18.1\%)$, when were non-midwifery $(34\%)$ than midwifery$(10.8\%)$, and when delayed midwifery $(31.6\%)$ than earlier midwifery$(11.5\%)$, respectively (p<0.05). The present study suggested that the proper treatment of parturition may be increased the viability of calves derived from in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 1998

The present study was to assess the effect of ultrarapid freezing on the development of 1-cell mouse zygote using cryoprotectants, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) or PROH (1,2-propanediol). We investigated the effect of the type and concentration of cryoprotectant, and of the temperature and time of prefreezing equilibration on their capacity to develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro. The concenration, the equilibration temperature, and the exposure time seemed to serve as an important factor in ultrarapid freezing of 1-cell mouse zygotes. In addition to the exposure time and the concentration of cryoprotectant appeared to playa key role in the development of the embryo. In general, the development of the embryo was more effective at $3^{\circ}C$ than $23^{\circ}C$ and 4.5 M than 3 M for 3 to 5 minutes. At $23^{\circ}C$ the development of the embryo was stimulated by DMSO while at $3^{\circ}C$ it was stimulated by PROH. Thus it has been suggested that there exists a correlation between the concentration of cryoprotectants and exposure time in the development of the embryo. In conclusion, we found that for ultrarapid freezing of mouse 1-cell embryos in DMSO, or PROH-based solution, viability shown optimum depending on the cryoprotectant, the concentration of the cryoprotectant and on the temperature and the duration of equilibration.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of slow freezing with that of vitrification method for the cryopreservation of human embryos. Human embryos were derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the mixed solution of propanedial (1.5, 1.0, 0.5M PROH) and sucrose (0.1M), ethylene glycol (7.5, 15%), dimethyl sulfoxide (7.5, 15% DMSO), sucrose (0.5, 1.0M) and SPS (Serum Protein Substitute) was used for a cryoprotectant for slow freezing and vitrification solution, respectively. Rates of recovery after thawing, morphological normality, post-thaw viability, arrest, morphological abnormality and preimplantation development were compared between two protocols. After freezing-thawing, recovery and survial rate of slow freezing was (88.6% and 73.4%), whereas vitrification was (99.2% and 96.2%) (p<0.05). The arrest rate of slow freezing was significantly lower compared with those of vitrification(8.7% vs 29.9%) (p<0.05). Preimplantation development to the 2-cell (83.8% vs 67.7%), 4-cell (69.0% vs 47.2%) and 8-cell (62.4% vs 37.8%) stages 24, 48 and 72 h after thawing, respectively, were higher in the slow freezing than the vitrification. After slow freezing and vitrification of human embryo at 2-8cell stage, the rate of recovery rate, survival rate and partial damage rate were 92.0% vs 100%, 80.4% vs 96.2% and 52.2% vs 19.0%, respectively. And partial damage rate was significantly lower than those of slow freezing method (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that a slow freezing using PROH is more efficient than a vitrification for cryopreserving the human zygotes, although the vitrification yielded better recovery, survival and partial damage of frozen-thawed 2-8 cell stage embryos than slow freezing method.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

In order to improve the cryopreservation by vitrification or slow freezing of nuclear transplant rabbit embryos, the effects of factors affecting embryo cryopreservation such as cryoprotectants, equilibration, cooling rate and post-thaw dilution on post-thaw survial and development were determined using intact embryos of morular stage. And the post-thaw development of nuclear transplanted embryos cryopreserved under the optimal conditions examined was compared between vitrification and slow freezing. The cryoprotectant solution used was ethyleneglycol-ficoll-sucrose (EFS) or ethyleneglycol-poly-vinylpyrrolidone-galactose- I (EPG- I ) for vitrification, and EPG- II for slow freezing. To examine the viability of frozen-thawed embryos, the nuclear transplanted embryos were co-cultured in TCM-199 plus 10% FBS with bovine oviduct epithelial cells(BOEC) for 24 hrs and the intact morulae were co-cultured with BOEC for 5 days and 3 days to hatching blastocyst stage in 39 ˚C 5% $CO_2$ incubator. The results obtained were as follows: Following vitrification with EFS, the post-thaw development of rabbit morulae to hatching blastocyst was significantly(P<0.05) higher in compacted stage(82.4%) than in early morular stage(60.0%). The post-thaw development of compacted morulae to hatching blastocyst was similarly high in vitrification with EFS(82.4%), EPG- I (85.0%) and in slow freezing with EPG- II (83.3%). Following vitrification with EPG- I, the post-thaw development of intact rabbit morulae to hatching blastocyst was similar as 78.0% and 85.0% in 1-step and 2-step post-thaw dilution, respectively. The post-thaw development of nuclear transplanted rabbit embryos of compacted morulae stage to hatching blastocyst was similarly 43.6% and 40.0% in vitrification with EPG- Iand slow freezing with EPG- II, respectively. These results indicated that the rabbit nuclear transplant and intact embryos of morulae stage could be well cryopreserved with either vitrification or slow freezing procedure.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 1999

본 연구는 돼지 정액의 동결과정동안 flow cytometric 분석에 의한 정액내 생존정자의 비율을 조사하여 주관적으로 평가되는 활력 및 정상첨체율(normal apical ridge ; NAR)과 비교하여 정자의 손상과 생존성에 대한 적절한 평가법을 찾기 위하여 실시하였다. 동결과정 중 정액채취, 냉각, 예비동결 및 동결융해 후에 flow cytometric 분석에 의한 정자 생존율은 각각 93.0$\pm$3.6, 85.1$\pm$3.9, 28.9$\pm$6.8 및 26.1$\pm$5.9%이었다. 동결처리동안에 생존율은 예비동결 및 동결융해 후 가장 많은 정자사멸로 동결상태 이전의 생존율보다 유의적으로 낮게 나타났다. (p<0.05). 평가기법으로 정액 채취시 활력, NAR율 및 생존율을 조사한 결과 각각 91.0$\pm$4.2, 96.8$\pm$2.5 및 92.2$\pm$3.2%로 NAR율이 생존성 및 활력보다 높게 평가되었으며, 생존율이 활력보다 다소 높게 평가되었다. 그러나 동결융해 후에는 각각 44.0$\pm$8.9, 49.0$\pm$7.9 및 35.6$\pm$9.7%로 활력이 생존율보다 다소 높게 평가되었다. 전체적으로 NAR율은 활력은 생존율보다 높게 평가되었으며, SYBR-14 / PI(propidium iodide) 이중형광염색법에 의한 flow cytometric 평가법으로 생존율은 동결되지 않은 정액에서의 활력 및 NAR 평가보다 다소 민감하게 나타났다. 이러한 결과로 미루어보아 SYBR-14 / PI 형광염색에 의한 flow cytometry의 생존성 평가는 동결되지 않은 정액의 평가방법으로는 적절하지만 동결된 정액의 생존성 평가는 부적절한 것으로 사료되었다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-thawed characteristics of leopard cat semen. In this experiment, semen was collected from two leopard cats (A and B) at wild animal center in Seoul Grand Park in Korea. After collection, the sperms were washed with D-PBS and diluted by the freezing medium (Irvine science, USA) and stored in liquid nitrogen. The post-thawed concentration was $357{\times}10^6sperms/ml$ for A and $97{\times}10^6sperms/ml$ for B. The viability of post-thawed sperm from A and B individual was 24.0% and 19.0%, respectively. Pre-freezing motility of A and B individual semen was 68.54% and 56.65. Leopard cat A had more normal sperm than that of B (69.5% vs. 54.5%). Acrosome integrity analysis detected live (14.5% vs. 9.0%), damage (39.0% vs. 44.0%) and dead (46.0% vs. 47.0%) in leopard cat A and B, respectively. The present results concluded that leopard cat semen can be collected successfully by electro-ejaculation method and cryopreserved successfullyfor future use in different assisted reproductive technologies. The cryopreservation protocol needs to be modified for increasing post-thawed viability of leopard cat spermatozoa.