• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.255-262
• /
• 2000

The aim of this work was to study the effects of ascorbic acid (Asc) and/or ferrous sulfate (Fe$^{2+}$) and spernatozoa preincubation on the in vitro fertilization in porcine. Porcine follicular oocytes matured in culture were inseminated with frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa preincubated for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5h. The penetration rates (37~51%) were not significantly different between durations of spermatozoa preincubation in medium with 0.1 mM Asc. The addition of 1.0 mM Fe$^{2+}$ during spermatozoa preincubation were not significantly affecting the penetration rates (41~56%). When spermatozoa were preincubated with Asc and Fe$^{2+}$, the penetration rates had a tendency to increase with time of spermatozoa preincubation, and were significantly (P<0.05) higher in spermatozoa preincubated with that than without Asc and Fe$^{2+}$ for 5 h. On the other hand, when spermatozoa were preincubated in fertilization medium without Asc and/or Fe$^{2+}$, the penetration rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium with Fe$^{2+}$ than with Asc or Asc and Fe$^{2+}$ for in vitro fertilization. The rate of polyspermy in penetrated oocytes in medium with Asc and Fe$^{2+}$ decreased with the period of spermatozoa preincubation. Despite different culture conditions for spermatozoa preincubation, no differences were observed in polyspermy rates in the presence of Asc and/or Fe$^{2+}$ These results indicate the advantage of preincubating spermatozoa with Asc and Fe$^{2+}$ and an addition of Fe$^{2+}$ during in vitro fertilization with spermatozoa preincubated maintain penetration potential without increased polyspermy rates on in vitro fertilization in porcine oocytes.on in porcine oocytes.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2002.06a
• /
• pp.39-39
• /
• 2002

The mechanisms underlying the visual assessment and resulting in optimum embryonic development following in vitro maturation, fertilization, and culture are unclear. It is known that in vitro produced embryos show more frequent occurrence of fragmentation, which result in poor developmental potential and decreased implantation rate. The objective of this study was to investigate the apoptotic rates in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and nuclear transferred (NT)bovine blastocyst. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2002.06a
• /
• pp.74-74
• /
• 2002

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of β-mercaptoethanol on lipid peroxidation and fertilization ability in vitro by xanthine (X)-xanthine oxidase (XO) system in boar spermatozoa frozen-thawed. When spermatozoa were inseminated in medium with X and/or XO, the penetration rates in all conditions were higher in medium with that than without β-mercaptoethanol. However, significant differences were not observed between medium with and without β-mercaptoethanol. The lipid peroxidation of sperm was evaluated on the basis of malondialdehyde (MDA) production. (omitted)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.469-481
• /
• 1993

Gametic biotechnologies involve the procedures which are utilized for procuring reproductive success through the mimicry of in vivo events as in in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer etc. With the realization that the oviduct performs most of the procedures mimicked in vitro under normal in vivo situations, the need to master the oviduct therefore, becomes paramount. The oviduct being an exocrine gland (with its output of glycoproteins) and possibly an ecdocrine gland must be implicated in all the preimplantational procedures of reproduction, which include ovulation, oocyte maturation, sperm capacitation, gametic and embryonal nutrition, fertilization, and implantation. The evidences in the literature for the implication of the oviduct in these processes are examined. It is concluded that there is a need for the mastery of oviductual activity in order to maximize the successes of the procedures in vitro, and provide gametic manipulations which will have high success rates in implantation that is the ultimate after of in vitro fertilization for reproductive success.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 1997

A total of 55 patients with various etiologies of infertility particitated in a study comparing two regimens of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with GnRH agonists and gonadotropins. Nineteen patients were given an ultra-short stimulation protocol when the agonist was administered for 3 day from Day 2 of the cycle. The remaining 36 patients were given a long stimulation protocol when the agonist was administered from the mid-luteal phase of the cycle preceding the stimulation cycle. The mean number of gonadotropins used per patient was not different between two groups. No significant differences were found in the mean number of oocytes recovered, fertilization rate and embryo cleavage rate between two groups. Pregnancy and delivery rates were higher in ultra-short protocol than in long protocol, but these were not significant. These results suggest that an ultra-short protocol is as effective as a long protocol in in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.301-310
• /
• 2009

Objective: To compare the embryonic development and pregnancy results using sperms retrieved from fresh and frozen-thawed testicular tissue in patients with obstructive (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Methods: A total two hundred twenty-two cycles of TESE-ICSI were performed in OA and NOA. Sperms were retrieved from fresh and frozen-thawed testicular tissue. ICSI was performed patient's own sperm. Fertilization was assessed 16~18 hrs after ICSI. Embryo development and pregnancy rates were analysed. Results: The fertilization rates were significantly different between OA and NOA patients (75.2% vs. 56.7%, p<0.05), however, embryo development did not differ between the groups (96.9% vs. 98.0%). Likewise, OA and NOA groups had no differences in their clinical pregnancy and delivery rates, 33.9% vs. 36.0% and 28.1% vs. 28.0%, respectively. With regard to sperm retrieved from fresh testicular tissue, fertilization rates were significantly different between the OA and NOA groups (76.4% vs. 52.9%, p<0.05); however, embryo development, clinical pregnancy and delivery rates were not different. For sperm retrieved from thawed testicular tissue, the fertilization rates were significantly different between the two groups (74.7% OA group vs. 65.6% NOA group, p<0.05); however, embryo development, clinical pregnancy and delivery rates were not different. Conclusions: Embryo development and clinical pregnancy did not differ in patients with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, whether sperm retrieved from fresh and thawed testicular tissue were used, although the fertilization rates were different. Therefore, ICSI with sperm retrieved from fresh and thawed testicular tissue could achieve relevant clinical pregnancy results in patients with azoospermia.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.137-141
• /
• 2011

These study was to investigate the in vitro fertilization and viability of fresh and vitrified oocytes. Also, the developmental capacity of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) oocytes were investigated. Then vitrification was performed with the use of 20% ethylene glycol + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose + 10% FCS + TCM-199 medium. Vitrification immature oocytes are cultured in vitrification solution for 10 min afterwards transferred to expose at room temperature for 5 min. and transferred to the ice water for 5 min. The oocytes were sealed in a 1.0 mm straw and placed in a $LN_2$ container. Frozen oocytes were rapidly thawed in a water bath at $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, and then placed in TCM-199 medium containing 0.5 M sucrose for 5 min each, respectively, at $38^{\circ}C$. After being washed for 2~3 times, using fresh medium the oocytes were cultured in TCM-l99 medium supplemented with 5% FCS at $38^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ and air. The normal morphology of fresh and vitrified-thawed oocytes were $87.1{\pm}2.1%$ and $54.8{\pm}2.5%$, respectively. The viability rates of fresh and vitrified-thawed oocytes were $70.0{\pm}2.2%$ and $41.9{\pm}2.6%$, respectively. Viability rates of vitrified-thawed oocytes were lower than that of fresh follicular oocytes (p<0.05). The in vitro maturation rates of fresh and vitrified oocytes were $45.1{\pm}3.6%$ and $28.9{\pm}4.4%$, respectively. The IVF rates of fresh follicular and vitrified-thawed oocytes were 34.00.2% and $20.2{\pm}2.6%$, respectively. The in vitro maturation and fertilization rates of vitrified-thawed oocytes were lower than those of the fresh follicular oocytes (p<0.05). A total of 350 oocytes were fixed and stained after co-incubation with spermatozoa, of which 88 had identifiable nuclear material. After IVF for 20 hrs, $25.1{\pm}3.4%$ of the oocytes found to have been penetrated by spermatozoas. Oocytes were fixed and stained after ICSI, and 105 oocytes contained identifiable nuclear material. After IVF and ICSI for 20 hrs, $34.3{\pm}3.4%$ and $59.0{\pm}2.0%$ of the oocytes were found to have been penetrated by spermatozoas. The developmental rates upon ICSI were significantly higher than those of the IVF method (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.187-194
• /
• 1998

In order to determine suitable conditions for rapid freezing of porcine embryos, the kind and concentration of cryoprotectants, sucrose concentrations, equilibration time and thawing temperature in freezing medium were examined in relation to the survival of frozen-thawed oocyte and embryos. The results obtained are as follows : 1. The suitable concentrations of cryoprotoctant in the freezing medium which consisted of TCM-199+20% FCS were 1.5M for glycerol, 2.0M for DMSO, 2.5M for ethylene glycol, and 2.0M for propanediol. The sucrose concentration of 0.25M in the medium was found to optimal because the survival rate was markedly higher at this concentration when compared to the others. The survival rate was relatively high when the frozen embryos were thawed at 30$^{\circ}C$ in the freezing medium containing 2.5M cryoprotectants. The equilibration periods of 2.0 and 5.0 minutes revealed the higher survival in the media containing 1.5 or 2.1M glycerol when compared to 10 and 15 minutes. 2. The fertilization rates of frozen-thawed follicular oocytes which matured in vitro for 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours were 6.7~26.7% depending on the maturation time, and the rates were relatively high for those matured for a short period of time. The survival rates of frozen-thawed oocytes which matured in vitro for certain periods and fertilized were 10.0~30.0% depending on the maturation time.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 1992

These experiments were undertaken to investigate the rate of in vitro fertilization of bovine follicular oocytes treated with glycosaminoglycans(GAGs). Bovine follicular oocytes were obtained from the ovary of slaughtered animal and matured in media containing the various concentrations of hydluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate or heparin for 26 hours. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated and insemination was made by introducing about 10~15 matured oocytes into the suspension of spermatozoa. Six hour after insemination the eggs were transferred to TCM-199 supplemented with FCS(10%) and then examined the embryo development. After in vitro insemination, percentages of ova fertilized were 61.3 or 48.3%, respectively, for the cumulus intact or removed in the percentages of GAGs. However, in case of cumulus-free oocytes treated with GAGs, the fertilization rates were 58.8, 62.1, 58.8, and 61.8%, respectively, showing significant effect compared to 48.3% in cumulus-free oocytes. Our findings suggest that cnondroitin sulfate and heparin are superior to hyaluronic acid in the fertilizatin and pronuclear formation of bovine oocytes.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.231-235
• /
• 2005

The European Iron Fertilization Experiment EIFEX studied the growth and decline of a phytoplankton bloom stimulated by fertilising $10km^2$ in the core of a mesoscale $(80{\times}120km)$ cyclonic eddy south of the Antarctic Polar Front with about 2 times 7 tonnes of iron sulphate. The phytoplankton accumulation induced by iron fertilization did not exceed $3{\mu}g\;chl\;a\;l^{-1}$ despite a draw down of $5{\mu}M$ of nitrate that should have resulted in at least double to triple the amount of phytoplankton biomass assuming regular Redfield-ratios for draw down after phytoplankton growth in the Southern Ocean. During EIFEX the fertilized core of the mesoscale eddy evolved to a hotspot for a variety of small and medium sized mesozooplankton copepods. In contrast to copepods, the biomass of salps (Salpa thompson)) that dominated zooplankton biomass before the onset of our experiment decreased to nearly extinction. Most of the species of the rnosozooplankton community showed extremely hiか feeding rates compared to literature values from Southern Ocean summer communities. At the end of the experiment, massive phytoplankton sedimentation reached the sea floor at about 3800m water depth.