• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.169-173
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• 2013

Objective: To measure Irish opinion on a range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments. Methods: A nationally representative sample of Irish adults (n=1,003) were anonymously sampled by telephone survey. Results: Most participants (77%) agreed that any fertility services offered internationally should also be available in Ireland, although only a small minority of the general Irish population had personal familiarity with AHR or infertility. This sample finds substantial agreement (63%) that the Government of Ireland should introduce legislation covering AHR. The range of support for gamete donation in Ireland ranged from 53% to 83%, depending on how donor privacy and disclosure policies are presented. For example, donation where the donor agrees to be contacted by the child born following donation, and anonymous donation where donor privacy is completely protected by law were supported by 68% and 66%, respectively. The least popular (53%) donor gamete treatment type appeared to be donation where the donor consents to be involved in the future life of any child born as a result of donor fertility treatment. Respondents in social class ABC1 (58%), age 18 to 24 (62%), age 25 to 34 (60%), or without children (61%) were more likely to favour this donor treatment policy in our sample. Conclusion: This is the first nationwide assessment of Irish public opinion on the advanced reproductive technologies since 2005. Access to a wide range of AHR treatment was supported by all subgroups studied. Public opinion concerning specific types of AHR treatment varied, yet general support for the need for national AHR legislation was reported by 63% of this national sample. Contemporary views on AHR remain largely consistent with the Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction recommendations from 2005, although further research is needed to clarify exactly how popular opinion on these issues has changed. It appears that legislation allowing for the full range of donation options (and not mandating disclosure of donor identity at a stipulated age) would better align with current Irish public opinion.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support (LPS) on the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) in natural frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles via a meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies that met our selection criteria. Four online databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library) were searched between January 2017 and May 2017. Studies were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria and meta-analyzed using R software version 2.14.2. The main outcome measure was CPR. Results: A total of 18 studies were reviewed and assessed for eligibility. One RCT (n = 435) and three retrospective studies (n = 3,033) met the selection criteria. In a meta-analysis of the selected studies, we found no significant difference in the CPR (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.55) between the vaginal progesterone and control groups. An analysis of the two retrospective cohort studies that reported the live birth rate (LBR) following FET showed a significantly higher LBR in the vaginal progesterone group (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21-2.46). A subgroup meta-analysis of FET conducted 5 days after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin showed no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the CPR (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.90-1.55) or miscarriage rate (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.36-1.47). Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis of the currently available literature suggest that LPS with vaginal progesterone in natural FET cycles does not improve the CPR.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2019

Despite the development of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF), the poor ovarian response and endometrial receptivity remains clinically a major unmet need. Although these problems are difficulties to solve in infertility treatment, there are no good therapeutic option yet. Traditional herbal remedies and acupuncture, therefore are being proposed as alternative treatment. Our group found that traditional herbal medicines such as Paeonia lactiflora L.(PL, 芍藥), Cyperus rotundus L.(CR, 香附子), and Perilla frutescens (PF, 紫蘇葉) could improve endometrial receptivity. In this study, we found out Yeosin-san (如神散) as an optimal herbal formula via combination of the previously established herbal medicines. Yeosin-san is a traditional Korean medical formula which was established by Ziming Jin (陳自明) and recorded in Furendaiquanliangfang (婦人大全良方) at first. The formula traditionally used for treating abnormal uterine bleeding and leukorrhea. It showed a highest effect on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression and on the adhesion between trophoblastic cells and endometrial cells. In addition, it has been shown that the Yeosin-san not only increases the endometrial receptivity to improve the embryo implantation but also enhances the ovary function by expressing the angiogenesis-related genes. Here we suggest that Yeosin-san could be a novel and effective candidate for treating female infertility.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

This study was carried out to study the survival rate of thawed Hanwoo embryos frozen by the slow-rate freezing or the cryotop vitrification method. Hanwoo cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from ovaries at a slaughter house, matured for 20~22 hours, fertilized with Hanwoo semen for 5~6 hours, and cultured for 7~9 days in $38.5^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. For freezing, Day 7~9 blastocysts were collected. Embryos for the slow-rate freezing were equilibrated in 1.8 M ethylene glycol (EG) with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (D-PBS). Programmable cell freezer was precooled down to $-7^{\circ}C$, and the straw was seeded during 8 minutes-holding time, and was cooled to $-35^{\circ}C$ at the cooling rate of $0.3^{\circ}C/min$, and then was plunged and stored in liquid nitrogen. Embryos for the cryotop vitrification were treated in TCM199 with 0.5 M sucrose, 16% EG, 16% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Embryos were then loaded individually onto cryotop and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. The survival rates of embryos frozen by these two freezing methods were evaluated at 12 to 24h post-thawing. The survival rates of frozen/thawed Hanwoo embryos by the cryotop vitrification method ($56.86{\pm}26.53%$) were slightly higher than those by the slow-rate freezing method ($55.07{\pm}26.43%$) with no significant difference. Using the cryotop vitrification and the slow-rate freezing of Hanwoo blastocysts on Day 7 following in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, the survival rates of frozen/thawed Hanwoo embryos were $72.65{\pm}18.3%$ and $79.06{\pm}17.8%$, respectively. The survival rates by the cryotop vitrification were higher than those by the slow-rate freezing on both Day 8 and 9 with significantly higher survival rate on Day 9 (p<0.05). Using the cryotop vitrification and the slow-rate freezing of Hanwoo embryos to compare between three different blastocyst stages, the survival rates of the blastocyst stage embryos were $66.22{\pm}18.8%$ and $45.76{\pm}12.8%$, respectively with higher survival rate by the vitrification method (p<0.05). And the survival rate of expanded blastocysts was higher than those of early blastocysts and blastocysts in two freezing methods with significantly higher survival rate by the slow-rate freezing method (p<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 1997

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) recently has been utilized widely as the most successful technique to overcome the unfertilization problem in cases of severe male infertility in couples who could not be treated by conventional IVF. Recently, indications of ICSI have been extended further and more fertilized oocytes become available. Thus, it is necessary to examine the efficiency of freezing the surplus embryos obtained from ICSI. We compared the survival rate and the future outcome of cryopreserved embryos obtained either after conventional IVF or ICSI during the same period. After ICSI or IVF, five best-quality embryos from each patient were transferred in the stimulation cycle and the surplus pronuclear (PN) stage oocytes or multicellular embryos were cryopreserved by slow freezing protocol with 1,2-propanediol (PROH) as a cryoprotectant. A total of 792 embryos from ICSI trial were thawed and 65.2% (516/792) survived. The survival rates of PN stage oocyte, multicellular embryo and PN + multicellular embryo were 63.5%, 68.2%, 64.0%, respectively. After 111 transfers, 34 pregnancies were achieved, corresponding to a clinical pregnancy rate of 30.6% per transfers. We thawed 1033 embryos from IVF trials and 57.5% (594/1033) survived. In IVF cycle, the survival rates of PN stage oocyte, multicellular embryo and PN + multicellular embryo were 58.2%, 65.2%, 40.2%, respectively. Thirty eight clinical pregnancies were established after 134 transfers, corresponding to a pregnancy rate of 28.4% per transfer. The cleavage rate of thawed PN stage oocytes from ICSI trial (61.3%) was significantly higher than those from conventional IVF (53.4%). The developmental rates of good embryo (${\geqq}$ grade II) in thawed PN stage oocytes obtained from conventional IVF and ICSI were 63% and 65%, respectively. We concluded that PN stage oocytes, multicellular embryos resulting from ICSI procedure can be successfully frozen/thawed with reasonable clinical pregnancy rates comparable to those of IVF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.122-125
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• 2013

Objective: The majority of embryo transfers (ETs) to date have been performed on day 3 to reduce the potential risk of developmental arrest of in vitro cultured embryos before ET. Development of sequential media has significantly improved culture conditions and allowed blastocyst transfer on day 5. While day 5 ET provides higher clinical pregnancy outcomes with reduced risks of multiple pregnancies, it still has potential risks of developmental arrest of IVF embryos. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of day 4 ETs and compare the efficacy of day 4 ET with day 5 ET. Methods: From 2006 to 2009, a total of 747 fresh IVF-ET cycles were retrospectively analyzed (day 4, n=440 or and day 5, n=307). The cycles with any genetic factors were excluded. The rates of matured oocytes, fertilization, good embryos, and clinical pregnancy of the two groups were compared. The chi-square test and t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the mean age of the females and rates of matured oocytes. The pregnancy outcomes of day 4 ET (40.7%) were similar to those of day 5 ET (44.6%). The implantation rate of day 5 ET (24.2%) was significantly higher than that of day 4 ET (18.4%) (p=0.003). Conclusion: Day 4 ET can be chosen to avoid ET cancellation in day 5 ET resulting from suboptimal circumstances in the IVF laboratory, but the decremented quality of embryos for transfer and the decreased pregnancy rate must be taken into consideration.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2003

연구목적: 일반적으로 IVF-ET에서 가장 높은 임신율을 얻는 방법은 5 day ET (배반포기 배아 이식)이지만 장기간 배양이 적절하지 못한 경우에는 $2{\sim}4$일째에 ET를 실시하고 나서 $5{\sim}7$일째에 배반포기에 도달한 배아를 재이식 (SET)하여, SET의 효용성에 대하여 조사하고자 실시하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 48주기의 환자에서 회수한 난자와 수정란은 10%와 20% hFF가 첨가한 DMEM에서 이식 직전까지 각각 공배양하였다. 채란 2일 (group I, day 2 ET), 5일째 이식 (group II, day 5 ET) 또는 재이식 (group III, SET; 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 3-5, 4-7일)을 실시하면서 수정률, 할구분할률 및 임신율을 각각 비교하였다. 결과에 대한 통계 분석을 SAS (version 6.2)를 이용한 Duncan's Multiple Range Test를 이용하여 p값이 0.05 보다 작을 때 통계적으로 유의차가 있는 것으로 하였다. 결 과: 수정률은 group II (90.5%)가 다른 군에 비하여 높게 (p<0.05) 나타났다 (group I: 80.6%; group III: 82.9%). 할구분할률은 군간에 차이가 없었다 (수정란 당 $93.3{\sim}99.1%$). 임상적 임신율은 group II와 III (각각 58.3%)가 group I (33.3%) 보다 높게 나타났다. 그러나 처리군이 적어서 통계적인 차이는 없었다. 결 론: 배반포기 배아를 단독 이식하는 것이 임신율을 높일 수 있는 최선의 방법으로 나타났지만, 채란수가 적거나 수정률이 저조한 경우에는 $2{\sim}4$일째에 ET를 실시한 후 여분의 배아를 배반포기까지 배양한 다음 $5{\sim}7$일에 재이식 (SET)하면 blastocyst ET에서 나타날 수 있는 이식 자체의 실패를 방지할 수 있으면서 임신율을 높일 수 있는 이식 기법이 될 것이다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 1994

본 연구는 종모우의 선발방법으로 난포란을 이용하여 실험실내 정자의 수정능력을 직접 검정하여 평가코자 시도되었다. 즉 본 실험은 후대검정중에 있는 한우 후보종모우 15두의 동결융해정자의 수정능력을 평가하기 위하여 정액을 고장액(HIS)에 처리한 후 DM에서 6시간 그리고 소 난포액이 20% 첨가된 DM에서 4시간 전배양하여 수정능을 획득시켜 정자의 활력과 첨체 반응율을 조사하였고 전배양된 정자의 체내(토끼 난관) 또는 체외수정능력을 조사하기 위하여 FCS 15%, 발정암소혈정(CSS) 10%가 첨가된 mKRB에서 체외성숙된 한우난포란과 수정시켜 수정능력을 평가하였으며 인공수정에 의한 개체별 수태율과도 비교 검토한 바 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 한우 난포란의 체외성숙율은 BSA 첨가구 에서 43.8%, FCS 15% 첨가구에서 67.4%, CSS10% 첨가구에서 69.9%이었다. 2. 토끼 난관에서 체외수정율은 BSA 참가구에서 43.8%, FCS 15% 참가구 41.2% 및 CSS 10% 참가구 35.0% 이었다. 3. 후보종무우 15두의 정액을 HIS-DM으로 처리후 6시간 전배양하였을 때 정자의 활력지수는 9-32%였고 첨체반응율은 19-44% 이었으며 20% 난포액을 첨가하여 4시간 전배양 하였을 때 정자의 활력지수는 9-13% 이었고 첨체반응율은 20-43%로 개체간에 차이가 있었다. 4. 체외수정율은 6.6-85.7%였으며, 발정암소혈청(CSS) 10%가 첨가된 mKRB에서 성숙시킨 난포란이 FCS 15% 첨가된 mKRB에서 성숙시킨 난포란보다 다소 높았으나, 정자수정능획득방법간에는 차이가 없었 다. 5. 체외수정율에 있어서 전배양후 정자활력지수와는 부의 상관이 었으며, 첨체반응율과는 낮은 정의 상 관을 나타냈다. 6. 종모우의 수태율은 체외수정율, 정자활력지수 및 첨체반응율과 낮은 정의 상관관계를 나타냈다. 7. 종모우의 개체간 수태율 우열순위에서는 수정율순위와의 사이에 더욱 낮은 부의 상관관계를 보였다. 8. 이상의 연구결과 비록 후대정검중의 제한된 자료로 인하여 종모우 수태율과 체외수정율간에 유의적 인 상관관계는 없었으나, 연결 한우 수정율 평가에 대한 실험실내의 검정가능성을 찾을 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2002

In vitro matured porcine oocytes have very small volume of perivitellinspace (PVS). In these respect, the effect of sucrose and polybrene on the efficiency of gene transfer was investigated. As a gene (hGH) transfer vehicle, vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein pseudotyped retroviral vector (VSV-G) was used. Sucrose treatment has no detrimental effect on the rates of cleavage and resulted in the enlargement of PVS for the efficient introduction of retroviral vector stocks. Introduction rates of retrovirus in 0.5, 1, 2, 3 % sucrose treatment group were higher than that of the non-treatment group (39.3, 43.3, 35.7, 40.7 % vs. 8.3 %), respectively. In addition, we observed that sucrose pretreatment during injection procedure significantly reduce the frequency of polyspermy. In general, polybrene is a polycation essential for retrovirus transduction. The groups with the addition of 0.5, 5, 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ polybrene exhibited a significant effect on gene transfer compared to that of the non-addition group (56.5, 50.0, 57.1 % vs. 34.6 %), respectively But, when the oocytes were co-injected with retrovirus and 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ polybrene, the rates of cleavage and blastocyst development were 43.3 and 4.6%, respectively. This rates were lower than those of the non-addition group (70.0 and 17.3 %). In conclusion, sucrose pretreatment have increased efficiency of retroviral mediated gene transfer in porcine oocytes with no damage on in vitro fertilization and embryo development. In addition, sucrose pretreatment was beneficial in polyspermy inhibition. Presence of polybrene during microinjection showed a beneficial effect on the gene transfer in porcine oocytes, in low concentration. And these results will provide an useful tool for production of transgenic pigs by retroviral mediated gene transfer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2002

In most mammals, mature oocyte-cumulus complexer(OCCs) ovulate into the oviduct where fertilization by sperm takes place. However, the complex that fail to fertilize eventually undergoes degeneration while they reside in the oviduct. Yet there is no blown mechanism how both oocyte and cumulus cells degenerate. Using human follicular fluid (hFF), bovine oviductal tissue extract (BOX) and mouse OCC, the present study aimed to find how the oviduct influence the viability of the oocyte and cumulus cells in vitro. There was no difference of oocyte maturation rate between the control and BOX-treated groups. However, there was a significant difference in the survival of cumulus cells between two groups. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of hFF alone underwent initially expansion and then they formed monolayer in the culture dish. Even after 72 hr, they proliferated well and showed fibroblast-like morphology. Cumulus cells cultured in the presence of both hFF and BOX also expanded after 24 hr, however, after 72 hr culture, they eventually detached and degenerated. Cumulus cells cultured in the BOX alone gave a similar drastic result. When the cumulus cells cultured in the presence of BOX were stained with DAPI, their nuclei showed partial condensation and fragmentation. After detailed analysis of these cells by TUNEL assay, many nuclei of them exhibited well stained spots indicating the signs of apoptosis. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that BOX might possess a factor that leads mouse cumulus cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro.