• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the embryonic developmental capacity and pregnancy rates in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm or testicular sperm cycles. Materials and Methods: Fertilization was examined in the following morning after IVF (group I), ICSI (group II) or TESE-ICSI cycles (group III). Fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with Vero cells until embryo transfer (ET). On day 2 and $5{\sim}7$, grades of embryos (<4- or $\geq$4-cell) and blastocysts (BG1, 2, 3 or early) were evaluated. Clinical pregnancy rate was determined by detecting G-sac with transvaginal ultrasonogram. We analyzed the results by $X^2$ and Student's t-test and considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. Results: Fertilization rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I ($79.0{\pm}21.2%$) than in group II and III ($56.8{\pm}21.6%$ and $36.7{\pm}25.3%$). Cleavage and blastulation rate of group I ($95.8{\pm}13.8%$ and $59.5{\pm}25.3%$) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of group III ($83.4{\pm}18.6%$ and $40.4{\pm}36.5%$). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group I and II (40.7% and 41.7%) than that in group III (12.5%). No differences were found in the rates of multiple pregnancy and abortion among three groups. Embryonic implantation rate was higher in group I ($15.1{\pm}20.2%$, p<0.05) and II ($14.7{\pm}20.6%$, NS) than that in group III ($5.1{\pm}15.6%$). However, embryonic implantation rate was increased in ET with blastocyst(s) among three groups. Conclusions: Fertilized oocytes obtained from TESE-ICSI were harder to be successfully cultured to blastocyst stage for 5$\sim$7 days than that from IVF cycles. However, all blastocyst(s) ET increased the embryonic implantation rate equally in IVF, ICSI and TESE-ICSI cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 1997

Bypassing acrosome reaction and fusion process in intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI), most of injected spermatozoa still contain intact acrosome contents and plasma membrane. It Is not known yet what acrosome contents and plasma membrane of spermatozoa have effect on the development of embryo. For further understanding of fertilization process after ICSI, we studied the time of pronucleus formation, disappearance and first cleavage in human zygote, and pregnancy rate in relation to acrosome reaction rate of spermatozoa after ICSI. Seventy cycles undergoing ICSI program were randomly selected. Sperm suspension from 38 cycles were treated 50% human follicular fluid(hFF) for 3 hours in order to induce acrosome reaction, others were not treated as control. Acrosome reaction in hFF treated and non-treated group was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-conjugated Arachis hypogea(PNA) and Pisum sativum agglutinin(PSA). Oocytes were classified into 'good' and 'poor' according to their morphology. After ICSI, fertilization of oocytes were assessed by detection of two pronuclei at 16 hours. The pronuclei disappearance and first cleavage of zygotes were observed at 24 hours, and then embryos were transferred to uterus after culture for 72 hours. The rate of acrosome reaction of spermatozoa in hFF treated group was significantly higher than that in control(p<0.01). Fertilization rates of good oocytes were not different both control and hFF treated group(81.3%(174/206) vs. 72.1%(102/130)). But, in poor oocytes, the fertilization rates in hFF treated group(72.1%(149/183)) were increased compared than those of control group (63.6%(98/140), p<0.01). In either good or poor oocytes, the rates of pronuclei disappearance in hFF treated-spermatozoa injected oocytes were higher than control (59.1%(103/174), 56.4%(84/149) vs. 32.4%(33/102), 37.8%(37/98), p<0.01). Also, the rates of thirst cleavage were increased in hFF treated group (31%(54/174), 24.1%(36/149)) compared than those of control group (10.8%(11/102), 13.2%(13/98), p<0.01). The pregnancy rates of hFF treated group (42.1%(16/38)) were slightly higher than control group (28.1%(9/32), p>0.05). But, the pregnancy rate of group which possessed more than one cleavaged zygote at 24 hours was higher than group which did not (45.2%(19/42) vs. 21.4%(6/28), p<0.05). From these results, the development of zygotes were faster in higher acrosome reacted sperm group than lower acrosome reacted sperm group after ICSI. Our results may be explained that acrosomal membrane and plasma membrane are easily detached from spermatozoa in acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with acrosome intact sperm in the cytoplasm of oocyte during pronuclear formation. We conclude that the injection of acrosome reacted spermatozoa will increase the pregnancy rate as they can induce fast embryonic development in ICSI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1990

The effect of preincubation on in vitro maturation and fertility were investigated using preovulatory oocytes with and without cumulus cells obtained from superovulated ouot-bred ICR mice. Oocytes were recovered from fully grown folicle at 10 hr after hCG administration. A part of oocytes recovered were treated with the solution of 0.1% hyaluronidase to remove cumulus cells. Both intact and treated oocytes were then incubated for 0 to 6hr in mT6 medium containing 0.3% BSA. After incubation for various times, a part of oocytes were subjected to the investigation of nuclear maturation and the remaining oocytes were used fro the induction of in vitro fertilization by adding them into medium containing capacitated mice epididymal spermatozoa. Above all, the percentage of preovulatory oocytes at the stage of metaphase II after preincubation for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr was 15.8, 36.4, 47.5 and 66.7%, respectively, suggesting the in vitro maturation of oocytes during their incubation. On the other hand, fertilizatin rate of oocytes preincubated for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 41.0, 58.7, 68.7 and 75.6%, and 50.0, 45.1, 37.8 and 39.2%, respectively. No significant differences in fertilization rate between preovulatory oocytes preincubated for 6hr with cumulus cells and naturally ovulated were observed. These results suggest that cumulus cells take very important role in maturtion of oocytes in vitro. The precentage of preovulatory oocytes developed to 2-cell stage in vitro fertilization following preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells ranged from 48.5 to 82.4% and 36.9 to 56.1%, respectively. Also, the rates of oocytes developed to blastocyst in vitro fertilization after preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 28.1, 39.3, 42.5 and 44.0% and 12.5, 32.6, 24.4 and 15.5%, respectively. From these results, it could be said that fertility of preovulatory oocytes with cumulus cells could be improved to the level of that of naturally ovulated oocytes by adquate preincubation in vitro. Cumulus cells may, therefore, affect in vitro maturation, fertilization and following development of oocytes by influencing zona hardening.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1993

This studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cells, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrium cells on the in-vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of bovine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered Korean native cows. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. The in vitro maturatin and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM-199 medium were 64.0~74.1% and 40.0~58.6% respectively. And in-vitro fertilization rate of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(55.4%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes(23.1%). 2. The in-vitro maturatin and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 59.3% and 40.7%, 64.0% and 48.0%, 58.3% and 37.5%, 52.0% and 32.0%, respectively. 3. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml uterine endometrium cells in TCM-199 medium were 56.0% and 36.0%, 60.7% and 42.9%, 59.3% and 37.0%, 52.0% and 36.0%, respectively. 4. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with cumulus cells, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrium cells, the development rate to be blastocyst was 12.2%, 15.6% and 11.7%, respectively and rates were higher than that of control, 2.1%(P<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objective: We evaluated the fertilization potential of immature oocytes obtained from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles of patients undergoing ICSI. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 463 ICSI cycles containing at least one immature oocyte at oocyte denudation. ICSI was performed on mature oocytes at oocyte denudation (metaphase-II [MII] oocytes) and the oocytes that extruded the first polar body between oocyte denudation and ICSI (MI-MII oocytes). Fertilization and early embryonic development were compared between MII and MI-MII oocytes. To investigate the pregnancy potential of MI-MII oocytes, the pregnancy outcome was analyzed in 24 ICSI cycles containing only immature oocytes at retrieval. Results: The fertilization rate of MI-MII oocytes (37.0%) was significantly lower than that of MII oocytes (72.3%). The rates of delayed embryos and damaged embryos did not significantly differ. Eighty-one immature oocytes were retrieved in 24 cycles that retrieved only immature oocytes and 61 (75.3%) of them were in the MI stage. ICSI was performed on 36 oocytes (59.0%) that extruded the first polar body before ICSI and nine MI-MII oocytes (25.0%) were fertilized. Embryo transfers were performed in five cycles. Pregnancy was observed in one cycle, but it ended in biochemical pregnancy. Conclusion: In ICSI cycles, oocytes that extruded the first polar body between denudation and ICSI can be used as a source of oocytes for sperm injection. However, their fertilization and pregnancy potential are lower than that of mature oocytes. Therefore, ovarian stimulation should be performed carefully for mature oocytes obtained at retrieval, especially in cycles with a small number of retrieved oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 1990

These mxperiments were carried out to investigate the effect of rabbit anti-bovine cumulus cell antibodies on in vitro fertilization and following development of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells were collected by puncturing follicles with 2~6mm of diameter. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24~26hrs in a CO2 incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 39$^{\circ}C$ and subsequently cultured in medium containing cumulus cell antibody for 1 hour. The medium used for maturation was TCM-199 supplemented with hormones, pyruvate, FCS and antibiotics. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by in vitro culture for 2~3 hrs in BO solution 10~15 matured oocytes into the suspension of capacitated spermatozoa. Six hour after insemination the eggs were transferred to TCM-199 supplemented with FCS(10%) and then cultured for 7 days. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. When the follicular oocytes matured in vitro were treated with antibody to intact cumulus cells, the fertilization rate of cumulus intact and removed oocytes was ranged to 45.0 to 53.7%. These value is slightly lower than that(64.3%) of follicular oocytes not treated with the antibody, and increased frequency of both male and female pronuclear formation was found in cumulus intact oocytes cultred in medium without the antibody(p<0.05). 2. The fertilization rate of cumulus intact and removed oocytes treated with antibody to solubilized cumulus cells was ranged 45.0 to 52.5%, significantly lowre than that(62.8%) of oocytes cultured in antibody free medium, and increased frequency of ova with male and female pronuclei was found when cumulus cells were present(p<0.05). 3. The rates of cumulus cell intact and removed oocytes developed to 8-, 16-cell and morula or blastocyst after treatment of intact and solubilized cumulus cell antibody were ranged 7.1 to 14.5, 2.9 to 5.9 and 1.5 to 2.9%, respectively, slightly lower than 18.6, 10.0 and 8.6% of cumulus intact oocytes cultured in medium without the antibody. The results of this stduy indicate that cumulus cells promote not only normal fertilization with proper pronuclear formation, but embryo development and that the beneficial effect of cumulus cell to the pronuclear formation and embryo development is blocked by the action of antibody to cumulus cell.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.385-391
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of anti-sperm antibody (ASA) on the fertilization processes using conventional IVF and ICSI procedure in human and hamster oocytes. In human IVF, we have observed restricted fertilization with sperm testing positive for ASA. ($23{\sim}90%$ IgA, 60-97 % IgG). However, if ICSI was perform in the next IVF cycle with the same patients, we could successfully fertilize the oocytes (37%; p<0.001), thus achieving pregnancy and delivery. When the sperm were cocultured in medium containing ASA, there were binding of ASA to sperm surface. In addition, the mean rate of the acrosomal reaction in an in vitro acrosome reaction test was lower for Ab-bound sperm (43.5%) than for Ab-free sperm group (51.3%, p<0.05). We used human sperm and hamster oocytes to confirm the negative effects of the ASA on fertilization. The sperm and/or oocytes have been expose to medium containing ASA before IVF and ICSI. In this experiment, the ASA was bound to the oocyte and sperm surface. The following results were obtain by using various combinations of ASA free or ASA bound sperm with ASA free or ASA bound oocytes for IVF. When ASA free sperm were inseminate with ASA free and ASA bound hamster oocytes, the fertilization rates are 89.6% and 74.3% respectively. However, when ASA bound human sperm were use the results were 62.5% and 55.6% respectively. These shows the fertilization rate was significantly decreased in both ASA bound and ASA free oocytes when using ASA bound sperm. No difference found when ASA are present on the oocyte surface. When the hamster oocytes was treated by ICSI with ASA free or ASA bound human spermatozoa, no significant difference was found. These results showed that ICSI is the most promising method for couples who fertilization was not possible by conventional IVF because of ASA.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ on sperm motility, normal acrosome, and in-vitro fertilization and culture of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. The sperm-rich fraction (30~60 ml) of ejaculate was collected into an insulated vacuum bottle. Semen was slowly cooled to room temperature (20~23$^{\circ}C$) by 2 h after collection. Semen was transferred into 15 ml tubes, centrifuged at room temperature for 10 min at 800$\times$g, and the supernatant solution was poured off. The concentrated sperm was resuspended with 5 ml of lactose, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent to provide 1.0$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/ml at room temperature. The resuspended semen was cooled in a refrigerator to 4$^{\circ}C$ and preserved for 5 days to examine sperm motility and normal acrosome. The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified tissue culture medium (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. Oocytes were inseminated with liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after collection. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ mTBM fertilization media with 0.2, 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ /ml sperm concentration, respectively. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${mu}ell$ Hepes-buffered NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 6, 48 and 144 h. There were significant differences in sperm motility and normal acrosome among preservation days and incubation times, respectively. The rates of sperm penetration and polyspermy were higher in 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 0.2 and 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Male pronuclear formation was lower in 0.2$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rate of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2~4 cell stage) was highest in 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ could be used for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. Also, we recommend 1$\times$10$^{6}$ ml sperm concentration for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2003

This study was to investigate the effects of fertilization time and culture medium of pig oocytes matured in-vitro by liquid boar sperm. The sperm rich fraction (30∼60 ml) was slowly cooled to room temperature (20∼23$^{\circ}C$) by 2 h after collection. Semen was transferred into 15 ml tubes, centrifuged at room temperature for 10 min 800 ${\times}$ g, and the supernatant solution was poured off. The concentrated sperm was resuspended with 5 ml of the LEN diluent to provide 1.0${\times}$10$^{9}$ sperm/ml at room temperature. The resuspended semen was cooled in a refrigerator to 4$^{\circ}C$. The medium used for oocyte maturation was TCM-199 supplemented with 26.19 mM sodium bicarbonate, 0.9 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml insulin, 2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml vitamin B$_{12}$ , 25 mM HEPES, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml bovine apotransferrin, 150 $\mu$M cysteamine, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 IU/ml hCG, 10 ng/ml EGF, 0.4% BSA, 75 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml sodium penicillin G, 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml streptomycin sulfate and 10% pFF. 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. Oocytes were inseminated with liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after collection. Oocytes were coincubated for 1, 3, 6 and 9 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ mTBM fertilization media with 1.0${\times}$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml concentration, respectively. Thereafter, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${mu}ell$ NCSU-23, HEPES buffered NCSU-23, PZM-3 and PZM-4 culture media, respectively, for further culture of 6, 48 and 144 h. The rates of sperm penetration and male pronuclear formation were higher in the fertilization times for 6 and 9 h than in those for 1 and 3 h. The rates of cleaved oocytes were higher in the fertilization times for 6 and 9 h (85.0 and 84.6%) than in those for 1 and 3 h (61.1 and 76.8%). The percentage of blastocyst formation from the cleaved oocytes was highest in the fertilization time for 6 h (33.6%) than in that for 1, 3 and 9 h (11.4, 23.0 and 29.6%). Mean cell numbers per blastocyst were 32.9, 27.6, 26.3 and 24.4 in the fertilization times for 6, 9, 3 and 1 h, respectively. The rate of blastocyst from the cleaved oocytes and the number of cells per blastocyst were higher in HEPES buffered NCSU-23 culture medium than in NCSU-23, PZM-3 and PZM-4 culture media. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ could be used for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. Also, we recommend the coincubation time of 6 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ TBM fertilization medium with 1${\times}$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml concentration and the HEPES buffered NCSU-23 culture medium for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1990

The technique for maturation of follicular oocyte has been devised to provide such a low cost and in ptentifut number supply of bovine embryo. Some of problems concerning production of bovine embtyo in vitro were discussed in this paper. Bovine follicular oocytes cultured in vitro achieved normal fertilization but cleavage rates to blastocyst were low compared to the oocyte matured in vivo. It has been concluded that a deficient cytoplasmic maturation occurs in the oocytes matured in vitro. These results indicate that the studies for maturation of bovine follicular oocytes in vitro need improvement of culture conditions and to define the characteristics that might be indicative of healthy oocyte.