• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.532-537
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• 2008

In order to investigate the factors affecting the culture of mouse preantral follicles in vitro, we examined the effect of culture media, protein supplements, and culture period on their growth. The oocyte diameter (initial size: $55.6{\pm}2.5{\mu}m$) was progressively increased during culture, and the maximum size ($72.0{\pm}2.4{\mu}m$) was reached on day 10 of the in vitro culture. The chromatin configuration in the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte progressively shifted from a non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN) to a surrounded nucleolus (SN). On day 10 of the culture, most of the oocytes progressed to the SN pattern. The survival and metaphase II rates of the oocytes in alpha-minimal essential medium (alpha-MEM) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in Waymouth and tissue culture medium (TCM)-199. As a protein source, fetal bovine serum (FBS) was more suitable for the culture of mouse preantral follicles as compared to human follicular fluid (hFF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA); the optimal concentration of FBS was 5%. These results suggest that in a culture of mouse preantral follicles, alpha-MEM and 5% FBS are an optimal medium and a protein source, respectively; further, the 10 days of culture is required for the complete growth of oocytes in this culture system.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1992

In viro fertilizatin is very important in both human clinical practice and animal breeding. However, the success rate of in vitro fertilization is not high. The purpose of this study ws to determine wheter in the vitro fertilization and culture of porcine oocyte using a hydrogel chamber were possible or not. Hydrogel chambers were made of polymerized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Matured follicular oocytes in Waymouth's medium and T L Hepes medium, tubal oocytes, and preincubated sperm in M199 medium were treansferred into the lumen of the hydrogel chambers. The chambers containing porcine oocytes and spermatozoa implanted into the mouse peritioneal cavity, and ova were examined after the recovery of the chambers at 84 hours after preservation start. The result was shown that fertilization and culture of porcine oocytes were successfully achieved inside of the hydrogel chamber.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1996

For evaluating the suitability of human follicular fluid(HFF) as protein supplement in ART, this preliminary study was performed to examine the maturation promoting activity of HFF on mouse follicular oocytes in vitro. Mouse follicular oocytes were collected from ovaries of 21-28 day old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with fine needle at 48 hours after PMSG injection. The oocytes were rinsed and cultured in modified Whittingham's $T_6$ medium containing purines or dbcAMP to maintain meiotic arrest, and different concentrations of HFF were added into the culture medium to examine the effect of HFF on releasing the oocytes from the suppressive influence of the meiotic inhibitors. As a control for HFF, the maturation promoting activity of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) was investigated and compared with the activity of HFF. While HFF was separated, by molecular weight(M.W), into high M.W. fraction(M.W>30,000) and low M.W. fraction(M.W<30,000) and the effects of the fractions on meiotic resumption were investigated in the presence of the meiotic inhibitors. Also hormone analysis was performed to compare the content of hormones in HFF with that in HFCS. Same concentrations of HFF and HFCS induced similar germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) rates of the oocytes meiotic arrested by purines(4mM hypoxanthine+0.75mM adenosine), but the extrusion rate of 1st polar body(PB) of the oocytes cultured in HFF(65.0%, P<0.05) was significantly higher than that(51.6%) in HFCS. While, in the presence of 200 M dbcAMP, the maturation promoting activity of HFF (GVBD: 70.5%, $p<10^{-6}$; 1st PB extrusion: 67.1%, $p<10^{-3}$) was significantly greater than that of HFCS(GVBD: 35.2%; 1st PB extrusion: 41.1%). The oocytes cultured in the fraction of HFF containing high M.W. components showed higher meiotic maturation rates than the oocytes cultured in the low M.W. fraction of HFF. Gonadotropins and $E_2$ were known to improve the completion of maturation changes, and the levels of these hormones were higher in HFF than in HFCS. Therefore, HFF was more effective than HFCS to use for promoting meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1990

These experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of cumulus cells for in vitro fertilization and 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 2~6 mm of diameter. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24~26 hours in a CO2 incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 39$^{\circ}C$. 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 hours in BO solution containing BSA(5mg/ml) and caffeine(2.5mM). Insemination was made by introducing about 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 HEPES(25mM), cultured for 7~8 days with 10~15 eggs/well in 4-well multidishes(Nunc Co.) forming cumulus cell monolayer. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows ; 1. The majority of the follicular oocytes with compacted cumulus cells existed in GV stage while those with dispersed or denuded cumulus cells existed GVBD and M II stage. 2. After 24~26 hours maturation, the maturation rates of the follicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 containing hormones were slightly higher than those of oocytes cultured in medium without hormones, and the frequency of cumulus compacted or denuded oocytes reaching M II stage cultured in medium containing hormones was 75.7% or 51.7%, respectively(P<0.05). 3. After 20 hours in vitro insemination, percentages of ova fertilized were 61.4% or 51.4%, respectively, for cumulus oophorus intacted or removed, and increased frequency of ova with both male and female pronuclei was found when cumuli were present(P<0.05). 4. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cell and morula or blastocyst stage after cocultured with cumulus cells were 65.0%, 45.3%, 34.7%, 28.0% and 22.7%, respectively. The results for momla or blastocyst stage were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the basic medium(P<0.05).

• 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.

• 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.27 no.4
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• pp.387-392
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• 2000

Objectives: 1) To compare the efficacy of urofollitropin (Follimon) to that of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) on the growth and maturation of mouse early preantral follicles in vitro, and 2) effect of vitrification on the growth and maturation of preantral follicles and oocytes . Methods: Isolated early preantra1 follicles (100-130 ${\mu}m$ diameter) were cultured for 12 days in 20 ${\mu}l$ ${\alpha}$-MEM media drop under the mineral oil. Follimon or rhFSH was added to the culture medium at various concentrations (0, 10, 100, and 1000 mIU/ml). Results: With Follimon, the dose of 10 mIU/ml showed the best follicle survival, growth, and MIl rate of oocyte than the other concentrations. Whereas the optimal dose of rhFSH was 100 mIU/ml. Despite the different optimal doses, the efficacy of two different FSHs on the follicle growth and maturation was similar. Isolated mouse preantral follicles were cryopreserved by vitrification and cultured in vitro for 12 days with 100 mIU/ml rhFSH. Despite the decreased follicular survival rate after thawing, the follicular growth and maturation rate of its oocyte were comparable to those of the fresh follicle. Conclusion: Results from the present study revealed that 1) the optimal doses of Follimon and rhFSH for in-vitro culture of mouse follicles are different, and 2) the frozen-thawed follicles develop normally after vitrification.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.323-332
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• 1992

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of oviduct epithelium and its conditioned medium on e development of early bovine embryos in vitro. Oocytes obtained from ovarian follicles of slaughtered cows were cultured in TCM199 with 10% fetal calf serum for 22-24hrs and then fertillzed in vitro using frozen-thawed semen treated with BO-caffein, BO-BSA(20mM heparin added). Oviduct epithelium was collected in each stage of the estrus cycle and conditioned medium was the medium in which oviduct epithelium in early luteal stage was cultured. In vitro fertilized bovine embryos of 1～2 cell were co-cultured with oviduct epithelium from different estrus cycles, cultured in conditioned medium, and cultured in rabbit oviduct. The cleavage rates of in vitro fertilized early bovine embryos co-cultured with oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal, luteal and follicular phase of estrus cycle(67.2～70.8%) and cultured in conditioned medium(56.7%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(44.2%) The rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage in oviduct epithelial cell co-culture(15.3～32.5%) from three phase of estrus cycles and conditioned medium(14.5%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of the control(5.2%). The oviduct epithelial cell from early luteal phase gave a significantly( p<0.05) higher rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage than both luteal and follicular phase. The results of in vivo culture in rabbit oviduct of early bovine embryos were 52.1% for the cleavage rate and 26.7% for the rate of development to morula or blastocyst stage.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2001

Recently, production of transgenic animal by nuclear transfer has been known as a useful method. The production of cloned offspring derived from nuclear transfer depends upon a variety of factors such as species, donor cells type and cell cycle, and source of recipient ova. Therefore, we attempted a different transgenic methods using follicular granulosa cells (GCs). In general, ovulated GCs undergoes lutenization and transformation in vitro which might defective effects on developmental potential. In order to avoid the GCs transformation in vitro culture system, we introduced a direct injection of retrovirus into the follicles and then collected them mechanically from ovaries of 6-8 week-old ICR mice. Retrovirus vector constructed with pLN $\beta$ EGFP was injected into the follicles. The follicles are cultured in $\alpha$ -MEM supplemented with human FSH, LH and ITS in Costar Transwell dish for 4 days. Survival rate of virus injected follicles was 52.1% (12/23) and expression rate of EGPP gene was 33.3% (4/12). In this study, we found GCs performed transgenesis in our culture system. In addition, the GCs in follicle may be developed in vivo like environment rather than in vitro environment. Thus, the use of GCs as donor cells may be useful in the nuclear transfer for cloning of genetic modification. Therefore, these results suggest that follicular GCs can be transfected by viral vector during folliculogenesis in vitro.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2005

The present study was performed to determine the ability of canine oocytes to achieve nuclear maturation according to oocyte diameter and different culture environments. All of the collected oocytes were classified by grade 1 to 3 and by their diameters such as $<100{\mu}m,\;<100{\mu}m\;to\;<110{\mu}m,\;<110{\mu}m,\;to\;<120{\mu}m,\;>120{\mu}m,$. Oocytes were cultured in culture medium supplemented with $10\%\;FBS,\;0.4\%\;BSA,\;10\%$ porcine follicular fluid (pFF), $10\%$ canine serum (CS), or $10\%$ canine estrus serum (CES). The mean number of oocytes recovered from estrus status ovaries was significantly higher than that of anestrus status ovaries (p<0.01). The maturation rate of grade 1 oocytes $(>120{\mu}m)$ was significantly higher than that of the other groups (p<0.05). Nuclear maturation to MI to MII in diameter of $>110{\mu}m$ groups was significantly higher than that in $<100{\mu}m$ group (p<0.05). The oocytes cultured in $10\%$ FBS­supplemented group were significantly higher rate of GVBD compared to the other supplemented groups (p<0.05), and oocytes maturation to MI to MII in $10\%$ FBS-, $0.4\%$ BSA-, and $10\%$ pFF-supplemented groups were significantly higher than those in $10\%$ CS-supplemented group (p<0.05). Based on these results, the estrus status and the size of oocyte affect positively to improve nuclear maturation of canine immature oocytes in vitro. Among several protein sources, porcine follicular fluid was the most effective supplementation to culture medium to achieve higher in vitro maturation rate.