• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2006

To examine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization, we monitored rates of soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in 41-year-old pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Gordon) stands growing on similar soil condition in central Korea. For this study, we used the buried-bag incubation method. Fertilizers were applied at three levels [control (C), 200 N kg/ha+25 P kg/ha (LNP), and 400 N kg/ha+50 P kg/ha(HNP)] on 5 June, 1996. Mineral soils (0~20 cm) were incubated 6 times with 45-day-interval from 5 June 1996 to 4 June 1997. Initial soil moisture contents were significantly different among sampling dates and between tree species. Initial soil moisture contents were 32% for C, 28% for LNP, and 26% for HNP at the P. rigida stand, and 31% for C, 31% for LNP, and 33% for HNP at the L. kaempferi stand, respectively. Mean daily N mineralization rates were significantly different among sampling dates and treatments. Annual net N mineralization and nitrification were also significantly different between the two tree species. The annual net N mineralization was 10.6 kg/ha/year for C, 23.3 kg/ha/year for LNP and 6.6 kg/ha/year for HNP at the P. rigida stand, and 2.0 kg/ha/year for C, 12.1 kg/ha/year for LNP and 16.7 kg/ha/year for HNP at the L. kaempferi stand. The annual nitrification was 2.8 kg/ha/year for C, 7.6 kg/ha/year for LNP and 4.3 kg/ha/year for HNP at the P. rigida stand, and 4.3 kg/ha/year for C, 14.8 kg/ha/year for LNP and 6.6 kg/ha/year for HNP at the L. kaempferi stand. The ratios of annual net nitrification to annual net N mineralization were 26% for C, 33% for LNP, 65% for HNP at the P. rigida stand, and 100% for C, 100% for LNP, 40% for HNP at the L. kaempferi stand, respectively. This study indicates that N mineralization in forest may be different by the predominant tree species and fertilization even under similar environments. It is likely that the quality of organic matter might control nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in soils.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2005

In order to obtain the aquaculture fundamental data far resources enhancelnent of the Protothaca jedoensis, the egg development and larva growth were investigated at different conditions such as water temperature, phytoplankton and density. Water temperature, at which P. jedoensis egg successfully completed development, ranged from $15{\~}30^{\circ}C$. The required time from fertilization to D-shaped larva was 39.7 hours at $15^{\circ}C$, 31.2 hours at $20^{\circ}C$, 26.8 hours at $25^{\circ}C$ and 26.2 hours at $30^{\circ}C$ P. jedoensis. In regard to water temporature, growth and survival rates of larvae were high at $30^{\circ}C$. In growth and survival rates of larvae with various rearing densities, the highest aver-age growth and survival rates were 4${\~}$6 ind./ml When larvae were fed mixed phytoplankton, such as Isochrysis galbana, Pavlova lutheri and Chaetoceros calcitrans, their growth and survival rates were the high among the groups. In growth and survival rates of larvae with various rearing food concentrations, the highest average growth and survival rates were $218{\mu}m$, and $45\%$ at the food concentration of $1{\times}10^4$ cells/ml, respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigative the effects of retinol supplement to IVM and/or IVC medium on maturation, fertilization and development of pig oocytes. North Carolina State University (NCSU) 23 medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF) was used as base medium. Each 1 uM, 5 uM and 10 uM concentration of retinol was supplemented to IVM and /or IVC medium. When the retinol was supplemented to maturation medium, the maturation rates were not different (p>0.05) among treatment groups ($66.7{\pm}6.0{\sim}69.2{\pm}5.3%$), but the developmental rate to blastocyst stage was higher (p<0.05) in $5{\mu}M$ group ($20.4{\pm}2.6%$) than in 0 uM ($13.6{\pm}2.1%$) and 10 uM groups ($9.7{\pm}1.7%$). Moreover, total cell number was significantly greater (p<0.05) in the 5 uM group ($37.0{\pm}1.6$) than in the other groups ($29.8{\pm}1.0{\sim}33.2{\pm}1.0$). Retinol supplement to maturation medium did not significantly affect the rates of fertilization and polyspermy (p>0.05). When the retinol was supplemented to culture medium or both maturation and culture medium, the rates of cleavage, and develop to morula and blastocyst stage were not affected, while those of 10 uM group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). These results indicate that 5 uM retinol supplement in maturation medium significantly stimulates embryo development, also improves the total cell number of blastocyst stage in pig.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2002

This study was carried out to study the viability of oocytes when vitrified at various maturation stages. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from ovaries at a slaughter and then divided into five groups: control group(unvitrified oocytes), 0 hr. group(composed of oocytes vitrified before the onset of maturation) and 10, 14, and 20 hrs groups(vitrified at 10, 14 and 20 hrs after the onset of maturation, respectively). The oocytes remained vitrified for 24 hrs, and then were thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$. Survival and cleavage rates were investigated by results of in vitro culture and aceto-orcein staining or FDA test. No difference in the incidence of diploid oocytes was observed among the control, non-vitrified group(3.6%) and oocytes vitrified at 14 hrs(6.7%) or 20 hrs(1.7%). However, more diploid oocytes were detected after vitrification at 0 hr.(26.7%) and 10 hrs(21.7%) post maturation. The survival rate of all vitrified immature oocytes(12.0~38.0%) was low, 48.0% of unvitrified oocytes and oocytes vitrified before maturation or 0~ 10 hrs after the onset of maturation were higher than that of other groups. The overall fertilization and cleavage rates of vitrified immature oocytes (32.3 ~ 64.6% and 4.6 ~ 32.3%) were low, and 55.0% of unvitrified oocytes and the rate of immature oocytes were very higher than that of mature oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2010

Effects of different salinity levels on spawning performance, embryonic development and early viability of a euryhaline medaka species, Oryzias dancena, were examined. O. dancena were able to spawn eggs in a wide range of salinity from 0 to 70$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, however, the spawning frequency was lowered in complete freshwater (0$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$) and in highly salted water (70$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$). Fertilization success was negatively affected when the environmental salinity was higher than the salt concentration found in normal seawater. Embryonic viability and hatching success were also inversely related with the salinity levels. Typical abnormality was observed in developing embryos incubated at high salinities (30, 45 and 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$). In addition, the time to hatch was significantly delayed with increasing salinities: peak hatching occurred at 12~14 days post fertilization (dpf) in freshwater and at least at 17 to 18 dpf in 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. Mean survival rates of the hatched larvae up to 7 days post hatching (dph) were at least 97% in salinity levels ranging from 0 to 30$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. However, larvae reared in 45 and 60$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$ experienced significant mortality, especially in the early phase, resulting in only 75% and 64% survival rates up to 7 dph, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 1993

The effects of in vitro maturation and sperm treatment condition on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and developmental capacity of bovine oocytes were investigated and the development of embryos was compared under the 2 different co-culture system, with GC or BOEC. The cultured embryo to 16 cell or morula wre transferred into recipients or frozen by 2 different freezing method. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. In vitro maturation rates of vovine follicular oocytes cultrued in TCM199 with 10% FCS or ECS were 64.0% and 72.7%, but the case of addition of 10% FCS or ECS to TCM199 co-cultured with granulosa cells were 81.3% and 84.0%, respectively. IVM rate of three TCM199 added to granulosa cells was higher than that of media without granulosa cells. 2. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC and then fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine, embryo developments of bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC were 38.4% and 51.4%, respectively. But those of bovine oocytes co-cultured with GC were 52.2% by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin. 3. Cleavage rates of bovine oocytes cultured with 10% FCS alone and fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin was 33.0%. 4. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of bovine ooctyes co-cultured with BOEC of GC were 46.0% and 50.2%, respectively. 5. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developed co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of the bovine oocyte co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 41.8% and 60.1%. But with FCS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 42.0% and 48.4%, respectively. 7. When Holstein's follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments fo the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 50.0% and 57.7%, but with ECS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 52.2% and 56.5%, respectively. 8. The viability of frozen-thawed embryos ranged from 60~80% and those of frozen-thawed embryos from vitrification was lower than that from conventional metiod. 9. The selected fresh embryos were transferred nonsurgically to 7 recipients but did not result in pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to develop an in vitro culture system that would support bovine follicle growth from preantral to antral stage, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development. Bovine preantral follicles (150$\pm$1.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) surrounded by theca cell were isolated ezymatically and mechanically from ovarian cortical slides in Leibovitz L-l5 medium containing 1 mg/$m\ell$ collagenase and 0.2 mg/$m\ell$ DNase I and cultured for 25 days in the presence of different concentrations of bovine FSH and LH in $\alpha$MEM medium. The survival and growth rates of follicles cultured in the presence of FSH (10~150 ng/$m\ell$) were significantly higher than those of control group (P ＜ 0.001), but no significant differences were observed in survival and growth rates of follicles between the LH treatment groups (1~125 ng/$m\ell$) and the control. The survival (40%) and growth (244 $\pm$ 0.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) of follicles cultured with FSH (90 ng/$m\ell$) and LH (25 ng/$m\ell$) were higher than those of control (25%, 160 $\pm$1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$). Finally, 50% percent of healthy antral follicles were obtained, and almost 60% of them has complete meiotic division with 1st polar body (18.1%) and 10.0% have developed to the cleaved embryo and blastocyst stage. These results suggest that bovine preantral follicle with intact theca cell can grow to the antral stage using these culture conditions, and that oocytes from in vitro-matured bovine preantral follicle may acquire meiotic competence and can undergo fertilization and development.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.234-242
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• 2014

In this study, gametotoxicity and embryotoxicity experiments using Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus were carried out to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of bisphenol A (BPA). We examined the effects of BPA on fertilization and normal embryogenesis at various concentrations (0, 300, 500, 800, 1000, and 1500 ppb). The results demonstrated that the fertilization rates were not changed. The normal embryogenesis rates were gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and were significantly lowered following 800 ppb BPA treatment ($EC_{50}$=1056.1 ppb, 95% Cl=981.8~1163.9 ppb). The observed effective concentration and the lowest observed effective concentration of the normal embryogenesis rate were 500 ppb and 800 ppb, respectively. The embryos showed retarded development at each tested concentration, indicating the fact the embryonic development was delayed due to the increasing concentrations of BPA. Furthermore, we examined the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) mRNA at various concentrations of BPA in H. pulcherrimus. Interestingly, it was found that the expression level of GST mRNA was significantly increased in the experimental group exposed to BPA. Based on these results, we suggested that BPA at greater than 800 ppb has a toxic effect during the early embryonic stages of H. pulcherrimus, and GST mRNA may be used as a biomarker for risk assessment of BPA contamination.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.176-180
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• 2008

This study clarified biochemical overripeness characterization of ovulated eggs of Anguilla japonica and suggested a method maintained overripeness after ovulation for high hatching rates. In maturated Japanese eel eggs, the relationships between fertilization rate and hatching rate, and fertilization and survival rates were measured. DNA contents showed the significantly low 0.653 pg/ug protein in 20% downward hatching rate trial with decrease of hatching rate(P<0.05), whereas RNA/DNA ratio showed the significantly high 1.058 in 20% downward hatching rate trial(P<0.05). And activities of total alkaline protease and ACPase according to the hatching rate groups did not show the significant difference(P>0.05). The protein contents were assayed the significantly high 186.16 ug/mg protein in 20% downward hatching rate trial(P<0.05). However, the overripened eggs had lowed hatching rate, because of stimulate the overripening of normal maturated eggs due to the continuous supplement of protein (vitellogenin). We suggested that need to reduce supplement speed or interception of vitellogenin produced in live for prevent overripeness of maturated eggs after ovulation

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.239-249
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• 1999

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<$4{\times}10^6$ motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of $E_2$ on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively. The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.