• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1996

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in bovine oocyte maturation in the presence or absence of serum on subsequent fertilization and embryo development. In addition, various concent rations of these growth factors were evaluated for the ability to promote development of eight-cell stage embryos to the blastocyst stage. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from 2 to 6 mm follicles obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries and cultured at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours in TCM-199 (HEPES Modification) with or with out 20 % fetal bovine serum (FBS) to which the following growth factors were added TGF$\beta$ IGF-l or TGF $\beta$ + IGF-I, all at 10 ng/ml each. The matured oocytes were fertilized in IVF-TL medium with frozen-thawed semen at a concentration of 1 ${\times}$ 10$^6$ cells/ml of fertilization medium following Percoll separation. After 24 hours of sperm-egg incubation, the embryos were transferred to CZB medium without glucose for 48 hours and then cultured in TCM-199 with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 96 hours. The addition of growth factors to IVM medium in the presence of serum had no effect on cleavage and subsequent embryo devlopment to blastocyst. In the absence of serum, TGF- improved cleavage and development to blastocyst compared to control's(p<0.05) and no synergistic effeet of IGF-I + TGF-$\beta$ was observed. In the second experiment, eight-cell embryos obtained by in vitro maturation (IVM) in TCM-199 + 20% FBS without growth facrors and in vitro fertil-ization (IVF) were cultured in the in vitro cuiture (IVC) medium supplemented with 5, 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$ or 5, 10, 50, 100 ng/ml IGF-I. Cleavage rate and development to the blastocyst stage was observed during seven days of incubation. The supplementation of 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$ to lVC medium for eight-cell embryos improved development to blastocyst (p<0.05) compared to control. In conclusion, these data indicate that the supplementation of growth factors to IVM medium in the presence of serum does not influence cleavage and subsequent embryo development. However, significantly more oocytes matured in serum-free TCM-199 and eight-cell embryos cultured in lVC medium developed to blastocyst with supplementation of 10ng/ml TGF-$\beta$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 1999

Successful cryopreservation of bovine immature oocytes can increase availably of oocytes for the in vitro fertilization or nuclear transfer. However, it was not reported successful development to the blastocyst stage following in vitro fertilization of cryopreserved bovine immature oocytes. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of survival, meiotic maturation, fertilization and in vitro development of cryopreserved bovine immature by ultra rapid cooling methods. The oocytes were adversely affected by brief exposure to EFS40 solution in electron microscope grids and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. After such ultra-rapid cooled immature oocytes were warmed, 78% of oocytes were matured to the metaphase II stage, 50% of oocytes were fertilized after insemination, and 5% of oocytes were developed to the blastocyst stage. Different sodium concentration of sodium ion in the freezing medium did not affect survival, maturation, fertilization and in vitro development of cryopreserved oocytes. These results suggested that immature bovine oocytes can be cryopreserved by ultra-rapid cooling methods.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

Anti-phospholipid antihodies (aPL) have important roles in various pregnancy complications such as recurrent miscarrige, growth retardation, placental abruption and stillbirth. However, their biological actions on preimplantation development of oocytes are still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether either aPL containing sera or phospholipids could affect in vitro fertilization and development of mouse oocytes. Sera used in this study were collected from three patients and the presence of aPL in the sera was confirmed by enzymatic-linked immunosorbent assay. When mouse oocytes were cultured in a serum-free, Chatot, Ziomek and Bavister (CZB) medium (Experiment 1), addition of aPL-containing sera (10%) to CZB medium did not. significantly (P>0.05) influence sperm penetration of oocytes. However, development to the blastocyst stage was significantly (P<0.05) inhibited by serum addition, and formation of morulae (16-23% vs. 58%) and blastocysts (0-4% vs. 21%) was markedly reduced compared with no addition (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, pronuclear stage embryos were cultured for 96 h in GZB medium supplemented with 1 $\mu$g /ml phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 1 $\mu$g/ml phosphatidyl inositol or 1 $\mu$g /ml phosphatidyl choline. No increase in embryo development was found after addition of the phospholipids to CZB medium. These results suggest that 1) aPL have an inhibitory role in preimplantation development of mouse embryos, and that 2) the action of aPL may be related to a specific phospholid (s) rather than the tested phospholipids in the present study.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 1999

The beneficial effect of glucose and phosphate ions in culture medium on the development of human embryos in vitro has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of fertilization and culture of embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium on pregnancy rates in IVF-ET program. The patients in 244 IVF-ET cycles received GnRH agonist + HMG regimens. A does of 10,000 IU HCG was administered when two or more dominent follicles reached 18mm in diameter. Thirty-six hours after HCG, oocytes were recovered transvaginally using ultrasound guidance. Aspirated oocytes were matured for 4 to 6 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% follicular fluid (FF). Insemination was carried out with 50,000 motile spermatozoa in TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% fetal cord serum (FCS) according to experimental design. After 6 h, oocytes were washed 3 to 4 times and cultured in each fresh medium. After 20 h, oocytes were freed from cumulus/corona cells and examined for the presence of pronuclei. Fertilized oocytes were transferred into each co-culture drops and cultured for further incubation. On day 3, embryo transfer was performed with grade 1 and 2 embryos. Monolayers for co-culture of embryos were prepared by plating $1{\times}10^5$ cumulus cells/ml in 10ul drop of TCM-199 + 10% FF or m-TALP + 5% FF + 5% FCS media 24 h prior to the onset of co-culture. Development to 4 to 16 cell stage was observed at 70x magnification following two days of incubation. Pregnancy was confirmed by detecting increasing serum ${\beta}$-hCG concentrations for 11 days following embryo transfer. Data were analyzed by ${\chi}^2$-test. Oocytes from 244 IVF-ET cycles were randomized. The number of cycles and mean age of patients were 97 and 147, 31.3 yrs and 31.2 yrs for TCM-199 (control) and m-TALP groups, respectively. The mean number of retrieved oocytes/cycle, fertilization rates, number of embryos transferred/ET and pregnancy rates were 11.1 and 10.3, 65.1% and 67.3%, 4.1 and 4.7, 28.9% and 43.8% for TCM-199 and m-TALP groups, respectively. Differences in the pregnancy rates were found between control and m-TALP groups (p<0.05). The pregnancy rate of patients divided according to maternal age groups of ${\leq}30$, 31-35, $36{\leq}$ were 44.4% and 49.0%, 26.1% and 41.3%, 29.2% and 41.2% for control and m-TALP groups, respectively. These data indicate that culture of human embryos in glucose/phosphate-free m-TALP medium improves pregnancy rates.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2002

To investigate the effects of two antioxidants, aesculeitin and taurine, expression of apoptosis related genes and antioxidant enzyme gene in preimplantation Hanwoo embryos was determined by modified semi-quantitative single cell RT-PCR. Hanwoo embryos derived from in vitro maturation /in vitro fertilization were cultured in 5% CO₂ and 5% O₂ in CR₁aa medium at 37℃. Aesculeitin and taurine were added to medium at concentration of l㎍/㎖ and 2.5mM, respectively. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.3-7
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• 2002

In vitro embryo culture techniques provide significant contributions not only for a basic research of fertilization and early embryogenesis, but also for a low cost mass production of bovine embryos for transfer, embryo diagnosis, nuclear cloning and the production of transgenic cows. This presentation introduces newly developed serum-free media (IVD101 and IVMD101) that are effective far high yields of transferable embryos of excellent quality from in vitro-matured and fertilized oocytes. Both serum-free media are superior to a conventional serum-containing medium on the increased rates of blastocyst formation, post-thaw embryo viability, and pregnancy after transfer. Furthermore, reduced risks of calf mortality and large calf syndrome are also observed for the serum-free-derived embryos. Serum-derived embryos contain a large number of lipid droplets and immature mitochondria in their cytoplasm that may account for the lower production of transferable embryos and poor embryo quality.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 1996

This study was carried out to investigate on the survival rates and in vitro developmental rates of bisected bovine embryos were by manipulator and micropipette. Bisected embryos were co-cultured in 20% FCS(v/v)＋TCM-199 media containing hormones, oviductal epithelial cells and cumulus cells 0 to 72 hrs after bisection. Survival rate and in vitro fertilization rate were defined as development rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The in vitro developmental rate of biseciton embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing PMSG, hCG, PMSG＋hCG, hCG＋$\beta$-estradiol 0 to 20 hrs and 20 to 40 hrs were 36.7, 26.7, 33.3, 40.0, and 30.0, and 30.0, 33.3, 30.0, 26.7, and 26.7%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones was significantly higher than that of non co-culture(25.0%). 2. The in vitro developmental rates of bisection embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing oviductal epithelial cells 4 to 5 hrs and 20 to 24 hrs were 40.0 and 33.3%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing oviductal epithelial cells was significantly higher than that of non co-culture(25.0%). 3. The in vitro developmental rates of bisection embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing cumulus cells 4 to 5 hrs and 20 to 24 hrs were 43.3 and 36.7%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing cumulus cells was significantly higher than that of non co-culture (25.0%).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2002

Embryos derived from pig oocytes matured in mSOF are able to develop to blastocysts after IVF. Experiment 1 evaluated the effects of two maturation media (TCM-199 vs mSOF) on maturation rate, fertilization parameters, including penetration, polyspermy, male pronuclear formation, and the mean number of sperm penetrated per oocyte. Experiment 2 and Experiments 3 examined the effects of two maturation media on zona pellucida solubility and cortical granule distribution by transmissible electron microscopy, respectively. Experiment 4 assessed the effects of two maturation media on the in vitro embryo cleavage rate and development to blastocyst. Lastly, experiment 5 examined the cell number of blastocyst. An effect of media (P<0.05) was detected for mSOF on the mean number of sperm per oocyte. In TCM group, zona digestion time (196.5$\pm$15.5 vs 131.6$\pm$20.1 before IVF, 397.5$\pm$30.3s vs 185.3$\pm$16.4s after IVF, p<0.05) was higher in TCM-199 group. No significant effects of media was observed on cortical granule distribution between two groups by TEM. An effect (P<0.05) was observed on embryo development to blastocyst (16% vs 8%) but not on cleavage rates. No significant effects of media was observed on total cell number of blastocyst. We found that the high mean number of sperm penetrated per oocyte and the weaker zona pellucida on the basis of the digestion time was shown in pig oocytes matured in mSOF, however, porcine oocyte maturation with supplemented synthetic oviduct fluid medium (mSOF) resulted in blastocyst cell numbers comparable to those observed with Tissue Culture Medium 199.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.754-758
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• 2001

Bovine oocytes with compact and complete cumulus cells were cultured for up to 24h in TCM199 buffered with 25mmol/l hepes and supplemented with 10% FBS (fetal bovine serum), 1mg/ml $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 20IU/ml hCG(human chorionic gonadotropin). All of the oocytes were divided into at 6 groups depending upon incubation times (control, 0 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 18 hours). To all experimental media, $200{\mu}g/ml$ puromycin was added at different incubation times mentioned above. Following these culture times, in vitro insemination was conducted with frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa in medium BO (Brackett and Oliphant medium for in vitro insemination) with $10{\mu}g/ml$ BSA(bovine serum albumin) and 10 mg/ml heparin added. After 22h culture, the oocytes were fixed with acetic alcohol solution and stained with orcein acetic solution to evaluate sperm nuclear progression. Addition of puromycin after 0, 6 and 12 h of culture resulted in near of oocyte maturation at the M1 stage. Contrariwise, puromycin addition after 12 h of culture led to restoration of nuclear progression to M2 stage. On the one hand, puromycin affected the synthesis of Cyclin B protein that may be involved in the oocyte maturation and sperm capacitation for in vitro fertilization. The present study suggests the participation of protein synthesis, cyclin B, in the oocyte development from M1 to M2 stages in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 1994

One consequence of fertilization in mammals is an increased resistance of the zona pellucida (ZP) to proteases and various chemical reagents. This phenomenon has been called 'zona pellucida hardening' (ZPH), and it is generally accepted that it is caused by the secretory products of cortical granules released by the egg at fertilization. ZP of mouse oocytes maturing in vitro in a chemically defined medium becomes progressively more resistant to solubilization by chymotrypsin ("Spontaneous" ZP hardening). In the present study, it was aimed to find the specificity of spontaneous ZPH in relation to its possible relevance to the cortical reaction and the physiological block to polyspermy. When a maturation inhibitors, cAMP analog(dbcAMP) and phosphodiesterase inhibitor (IBMX) was added to culture medium, it prevent spontaneous ZPH of mouse oocyte during in vitro culture. Thus spontaneous ZPH requires GVBD, since it is prevented by those agents, which inhibit GVBD in vitro. However, culture for 3 hours in the presence of PMA(lOng/ml), a protein kinase C activator, resulted in ZPH without GVBD, thus suggesting that ZPH may be regulated independently apart from the event of GVBD. Pretreatment of mouse oocyte with FBS result in partially inhibitory effect on subsequent spontaneous ZPH. Induction of GVBD in vivo had a inhibitory effect on the spontaneous ZPH, but subsequent spontaneous ZPH. Induction of GVBD in vivo had a inhinbitory effect on the spontaneous ZPII, but had no inhibitory effect on PMA-induced ZPH. Treatment with a microfilament formation blocker(cytochalasin-B) at 1${\mu}g$/ml concentration, resulted in the excellent inhibitory effect on spontaneous ZPH. However cytochalasin-B did not inhibit PMA-induced ZPH. Thus this suggesting that spontaneuse ZPH had a different mechanism from PMA-induced ZPH.