• 한국환경생태학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.18-25
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• 2003

PCB가 산개구리 여포난자의 성숙과 프로제스테론 생성에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 배양액에 일정 농도의 PCB(Arochlor 1248)를 농도별로 첨가한 후 난자들을 20시간 배양하였다. 난자의 성숙과 프로제스테론 생성을 유도하기 위하여 FPH(Frog pituitary homogenate: 0.01p.e/$m\ell$)를 사용하였으며 여포난자의 성숙율은 난자 내의 핵막 붕괴율로부터 구하였고 프로제스테론 생성은 배양액내로 분비되는 양을 조사하였다. 실험 결과 PCB는 10ppb의 농도부터 여포난자의 성숙과 프로제스테론 생성을 현저히 억제하였으며 PCB 작용의 가역성을 조사하기 위해 3시간 동안 여포난자들을 PCB에 노출시킨 후 보통 배양액으로 옮겨 계속 배양을 해 본 결과 PCB 2.5ppb에서는 가역성을 나타내었으나 5 ppb에서는 비가역적인 손상을 주었다. 이와 같이 PCB는 낮은 농도에서 난자의 성숙과 프로제스테론의 분비 등을 억제하였으며, 개구리 난자 배양계는 환경오염물질의 독성 검정에 요긴하게 사용할 수 있음을 시사하였다

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.237-241
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• 2012

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is the first major transition that occurs after fertilization, and entails a dramatic reprogramming of gene expression that is essential for continued development. Although it has been suggested that EGA in porcine embryos starts at the four-cell stage, recent evidence indicates that EGA may commence even earlier; however, the molecular details of EGA remain incompletely understood. The RNA polymerase II of eukaryotes transcribes mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II can become phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain. The unphosphorylated form of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain (IIa) plays a role in initiation of transcription, and the phosphorylated form (IIo) is required for transcriptional elongation and mRNA splicing. In the present study, we explored the nuclear translocation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation dynamics of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain in immature pig oocytes, mature oocytes, two-, four-, and eight-cell embryos, and the morula and blastocyst. To this end, we used antibodies specific for the IIa and IIo forms of RNA polymerase II to stain the proteins. Unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II stained strongly in the nuclei of germinal vesicle oocytes, whereas the phosphorylated form of the enzyme was confined to the chromatin of prophase I oocytes. After fertilization, both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II began to accumulate in the nuclei of early stage one-cell embryos, and this pattern was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. The results suggest that both porcine oocytes and early embryos are transcriptionally competent, and that transcription of embryonic genes during the first three cell cycles parallels expression of phosphorylated RNA polymerase II.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.201-207
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• 2004

Objective: The Id family of helix-loop-helix proteins are thought to affect the balance between cell growth and differentiation by negatively regulating the function of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Ids (Id-1, -2, -3, and -4) in preimplantation mouse embryos at mRNA and protein levels. Methods: Oocytes and preimplantation embryos were collected from reproductive organs of female ICR mice following superovulation. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of Id genes and their protein were localized by immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Id-1 and Id-3 mRNAs were strongly expressed at the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and the blastocyst stages. Id-2 mRNA was expressed throughout preimplantation embryo development, but Id-4 was not expressed. Immunofluorescence showed that Id-1 and Id-2 were predominantly localized in cytoplasmic region, but the immunofluorescence signal of Id-3 was weak throughout preimplantation embryo development. Conclusion: These data show for the first time that Ids are expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and suggest that Ids may play an important role in early preimplantation embryo development and uterine physiological changes.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.21-29
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• 2007

본 연구진은 선행 연구에서 progesterone receptor membrane component 2 (pgrmc2) 유전자가 미성숙 난자에서 높게 발현하는 것을 발견하였다. 본 연구는 pgrmc2와 pgrmc1 유전자가 쥐의 생식소와 배아의 발달 단계에 따라 어떻게 발현하는지 알아 보기 위해 수행하였다. 이들 유전자는 난소, 정소, 배아, 그리고 난자의 다양한 발달 단계에서 발현하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 쥐 난자 세포막에 프로게스테론 수용체가 존재하는 것은 progesterone-3-O-carboxymethyl oxime-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate (P4-BSA-FITC)의 결합을 이용하여 확인하였다. 본 결과는 프로게스테론 수용체의 세포막 구성 요소들이 생쥐의 난자, 배아, 그리고 생식소에서 발현함을 최초로 확인한 연구 결과다. 스테로이드 수용체의 세포막 구성 요소들의 기능, 특히 프로게스테론 수용체의 세포막 구성 요소들의 기능을 알아 보기 위해 추후 연구가 계속되어야 할 것이다.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2001년도 춘계학술발표대회
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• pp.41-41
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• 2001

Chromatin configuration and microtubule assembly were determined in porcine maturing and activated oocytes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Microtubule localization was confirmed using a mouse monoclonal antibody to $\alpha$-tubulin and detected using a fluorescent labeled goat anti-mouse secondary antibody. DNA was stained with propidium iodide. The image of microtubules and chromatin was captured using laser scanning confocal microscope. In germinal vesicle stage oocyte, sperm chromatin remained condensation and sperm derived microtubules were not observed at 8 to 12 h after sperm injection. At 24 h after injection, the sperm nucleus developed to the metaphase chromatin along the metaphase structure of female nucleus. In some metaphase I stage oocytes, sperm chromatin decondensed at 8 h to 12 h after injection, sperm aster was seen soon after sperm injection. At 24 h after sperm injection into metaphase I stage oocyte, male chromatin developed to the metaphase chromatin while female chromatin extruded first polar body and formed the metaphase chromatin. At 12 to 15 h after sperm injection into preactivated oocytes, condensed sperm nucleus was located in close proximity of female pronucleus. However, the condensed nucleus did not fuse with female pronucleus. In preactivated ocytes, injected sperm remained condensation, a few sperm organized small microtubular aster. Instead, maternal derived microtubules were organized near the female chromatin, which seem to move condensed male chromatin near to the female pronucleus. These results suggest that sperm nuclear decondensing activity and nucleation activity of centrosome during fertilization are cell cycle dependent. In absence of male functional centrosome, female origin centrosome takes over the role of microtubule nucleation for nuclear movement.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.483-488
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• 2015

We studied oocyte steroidogenesis in the blackfin flounder Glyptocephalus stelleri as a region-specific species, in the East Sea of Korea during the spawning season. Maturing oocytes (0.76, 0.82, 0.88, and 0.91 mm in oocyte diameter) were incubated in vitro in the presence of [$^3H$] $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP) as a precursor. Steroid metabolites were extracted from the incubated medium and oocytes, and the extracts were separated and identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major metabolites produced from $[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP were androgens [androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T)] and estrogens [$17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1)] and progestins [$17{\alpha},20{\alpha}$-dihydroxy-4-pregen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\alpha}P$) and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$)] in maturing oocytes. The metabolic rate of $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$ was elevated (29.04%) in oocytes measuring 0.88 mm (nucleus migration stage following the induction of germinal vesicle breakdown), but was very low in oocytes measuring 0.76, 0.82, and 0.91 mm (0.42, 0.67, and 2.62%, respectively). From these results, we suggest that $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ acts as a maturation-inducing steroid in the blackfin flounder.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.1407-1413
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• 2009

본 연구에서는 쥐의 미성숙 난자의 체외 성숙과정에서 매우 특이적으로 발현되는 후보 단백질 변화를 동정하려는 목적으로 체외 성숙 과정에서 GV 단계의 미성숙 난자와 MIl 단계의 난자를 실험 시료로 사용하였다. 그리고 단백질 Chip은 선행 실험에서 가장 효과적인 CM10을 사용하여 SELDI -TOF MS 분석 장치를 이용하여 후보단백질을 동정하였다. MIl 단계의 미성숙 난자와 비교하여 GV 단계의 미성숙 난자에서 16개의 후보단백질이 높게 발현되었으며, 이때 발현된 후보 단백질 각각의 분자량은 8180(후보단백질 2개), 10226 (5개), 15767(5개), 16770(4개) 달톤(dalton)이였다. 또한 29개의 후보단백질은 MIl 단계의 미성숙 난자에서 높게 발현되었고 이들의 분자량은 각각 10832(3개)17743(8개)20122(3개)22131(3개) 24857(7개) 33507(5개) 달톤 이였다. 한편 전체 후보 단백질 45개의 분석을 Real time RT-PCR에서 수행하여 13개의 잠재적인 후보단백질을 확인 동정하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.157-160
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• 1993

The human follicular f1uids(F.F.) may be considered to contribute the maturation of the oocytes on the in vitro culture. To investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (E.G.F.), which is present in mature and immature follicular fluids, we had experiments of mouse oocytes maturation in vitro. The endpoints assayed were rated as percentage of oocytes undergoing germinal vesicle breakdown(G.V.B.D.) and polar body(P.B.) formation at 12 hours after in vitro culture. The rates of G.B.B.D. were 87% in mature F.F. 68% in immature F.F. and 78% in Ham's F-10 medium respectively. And overall the mature F.F. seem to stimulate on in vitro oocyte maturation compared with either immature F.F. or Ham's F-10 medium. As the concentration of addition of E.G.F. in immature F.F., the rates of G.V.B.D. and P.B. formation were 82 %, 23% in addition with 2 ng/ml while 84%, 32% in addition with 4 ng/ml respectivly. And at the concentration of addition of E.G.F. in Ham's F-10 media as well, the rates of G.V.B.D. and P.B. formation were 84%, 40% and 82%, 44% in addition with each 2ng, 4ng. AccordinglY there was no influence on the oocytes maturation at the addition of E.G.F. to each immature F.F. and Ham's F-10 medium. In conclusion, the E.G.F. is not able to induce oocyte maturation independent of it's effects in immature F.F. and Ham's F-10 media.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.234-237
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• 2011

Objective: During stimulated IVF cycles, up to 15% of oocytes are recovered as immature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend of oocyte maturity in repeated ovarian stimulation for IVF. Methods: One hundred forty-eight patients were selected who underwent two consecutive IVF cycles using same stimulation protocol during 2008 to 2010. Ovarian stimulation was performed with FSH and human menopausal gonadotropin and flexible GnRH antagonist protocol in both cycles. Oocyte maturity was assessed according to presence of germinal vesicle (GV) and the first polar body. Immature oocyte was defined as GV stage or metaphase I oocyte (GV breakdown with no visible polar body) and cultured up to 48 hours. If matured, they were fertilized with ICSI. Results: Percentages of immature oocytes were 30.8% and 32.9% ($p$=0.466) and IVM rates of immature oocytes were 36.2% and 25.7% ($p$=0.077), respectively. A significant correlation was noted between percentage of immature oocytes in the two cycles (R=0.178, $p$=0.03). Women with >40% immaturity in both cycles (n=21) showed lower fertilization rate of $in$ $vivo$ matured oocytes (56.4% vs. 72.0%, $p$=0.005) and lower pregnancy rate (19.0% vs. 27.1%, $p$=0.454) after the second cycle when compared with women with <40% immaturity (n=70). In both groups, female age, number of total retrieved oocyte and embryos transferred were similar. Conclusion: In repeated ovarian stimulation cycles for IVF, the immature oocyte tended to be retrieved repetitively in consecutive IVF cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.118-125
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• 2015

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy potential of immature (metaphase I or germinal vesicle stage) oocytes retrieved in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods: A total of 1,871 couples with infertility underwent 2,984 ICSI cycles. Cycles in which three or fewer oocytes were retrieved were included in this study in order to evaluate the pregnancy potential of immature oocytes. Cycles were divided into five groups (group I-V), according to the maturation status of the oocytes at the time of cumulus cell removal and ICSI. The fertilization and pregnancy rates after ICSI were analyzed and compared among the study groups based on the maturation status of the retrieved oocytes. Results: The retrieval of only immature oocytes was associated with a significant decrease in the fertilization rate ($76.1%{\pm}37.3%$ vs. $49.0%{\pm}49.1%$, $66.7%{\pm}48.7%$; group I vs. group II, group III, respectively) and the average number of transferred embryos ($1.5{\pm}0.7$ vs. $1.1{\pm}0.4$, $1.1{\pm}0.6$). The cycle cancellation rate was significantly higher when only immature oocytes were retrieved. The clinical pregnancy rate decreased significantly when the transferred embryos had originated from immature oocytes (16.9% vs. 10.3%, 1.2%). Conclusion: In ICSI cycles, the fertilization potential and pregnancy potential of the immature oocytes retrieved in ICSI cycles were inferior to those of mature oocytes. Therefore, increasing the number of injectable oocytes and transferrable embryos by using immature oocytes after their spontaneous in vitro maturation does not necessarily improve pregnancy outcomes.