• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.187-190
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• 2004

PKC는 그들의 cofactor-requirments에 따라 cPKC, nPKC 그리고 aPKC, 3그룹으로 나어진다. 마우스 난 성숙과정에 있어서 cPKC 및 nPKC의 activators인 PMA의 영향에 대한 많은 결과가 보고되었다. 그러나 각각의 그룹에 대한 차별화된 영향에 대하여는 밝혀져 있지 않다. Mezerein의 analog인 thymeleatoxin은 cPKC의 특이적인 activator로 보고되어져 있다. 본 연구에서는 specific cPKC activator인 thymeleatoxin의 마우스 난 성숙과정에의 영향을 제1감수분열 재개 능(germinal vesicle break down, GVBD)과 제1 극체 형성 능(1st polar body extrusion)을 조사하여 cPKC및 nPKC activator인 PMA와 비교 검토하였다. 그 결과 GVBD IC50는 thymeleatoxin에서 ～400nM, PMA에서는 ～50nM이었으며, 제1극체 방출의 IC50는 thymeleatoxin에서 ～200nM, PMA에서는 ～20nM이었다. 이들 결과는 Thymeleatoxin의 GVBD나 1st polar body extrusion 저해효과가 PMA에 비하여 1/8～1/10인 것으로 나타났다. 이들 결과는 GVBD나 제1극체 형성을 포함하는 난 성숙과정에서 cPKC보다 상대적으로 nPKC의 관여가 깊음을 보여 준다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2006

본 실험은 생쥐 난자의 성숙과 생존에 미치는 selenium의 영향을 알아보고자 수행하였다. 난자의 성숙은 현미경을 통해 관찰하였으며, 핵막 붕괴(germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD)와 극체 형성(polar body formation, PB)은 체외 배양 시작 후 각각 2.5, 13시간에 확인하였다. 난자의 생존은 72 시간동안 체외 배양하면서 형태학적 차이로 정상 난자와 비정상 난자를 판별하였다. 또한 각 단계별로 수집된 난자의 glutathione(GSH) 함량은 spectrophotometer를 사용하여 glutathione assay로 측정하였다. 결과는 다음과 같다; 저농도의 selenium($0.005\;{\mu}g/mL{\sim}0.5\;{\mu}g/mL$)은 핵막 붕괴율과 극체 형성률을 증가시켰지만, 고농도의 selenium($5\;{\mu}g/mL$)은 감소시켰다. 저농도의 selenium은 극체 형성 시기 난자의 생존율을 증가시켰지만, 고농도의 selenium은 대조군과 별 차이가 없었다. 저농도의 selenium은 난자내 GSH 함량을 높게 유지시켰지만, 고농도의 selenium은 GSH 함량을 감소시켰다. 또한 극체 형성 시기 난자내 GSH 함량은 핵막 붕괴 시기 난자에 비해 높았다. 본 실험으로 볼 때, 저농도의 selenium은 대사과정에서 발생하는 oxidative stress에 의한 손상을 감소시킴으로써 난자의 질적 향상을 도우며, 성숙률을 증가시키는 것으로 사료된다. 또한 저농도의 selenium은 난자내 GSH 함량을 증가시켜 극체 형성 난자의 생존율을 증가시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.1695-1701
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• 2002

The purposes of this study were to optimize the in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) systems of rabbit oocytes. Cytoskeletal structures in the germinal vesicle stage (GV) and during IVM are also investigated. Ovaries were transported from local slaughterhouses and the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from ovarian follicles (${\geq}1mm$). COCs were randomly allocated to TCM199-based medium ($T_1$, TCM-199) supplemented with $NaHCO_3$, glucose, sodium pyruvate and FSH ($T_2$), $T_2+E_2+LH$ ($T_3$), $T_3+FBS$ ($T_4$), or $T_1+E_2+LH+FSH+FBS$ ($T_5$), for IVM. In Experiment 1, COCs were retrieved from the follicles and 51 GV oocytes were fixed in the fixative (MTSB-XF) for nuclear and cytoplasmic examinations. In Experiment 2, progressive changes of both the nucleus and the cytoskeleton were examined at 0, 6, 16, and 20 h after IVM. Maturation (MR) and developmental rates were assessed in Experiment 3. Cytoplasmic microtubules (MT) were clearly observed in rabbit GV oocytes. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the appearance of MT structures in the GV stage ooplasm. Tremendous variations in cytoskeletal alterations were observed among treatments with the exception of the vitelline ring (VR), which is constantly visible and unchanged during maturation. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) does not occur at 6 h after onset of maturation culture. When the oocytes for IVM were collected within 2 h, results from Experiment 3 showed that rates of nuclear maturation were 42, 8, 42, 37 and 65% at 16 h of IVM for $T_1$ through $T_5$, respectively, in which $T_1$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ had significantly greater MR than those in other groups (p<0.05). Morula/blastocyst development after parthenogenetic activation ranged from 20 to 63% with significantly greater rates in $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ (p<0.05). These results suggested that oocytes recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries can be matured and parthenogenetically activated in vitro, but the MR remained low in this study. Addition of $E_2$ and LH in the medium may be beneficial for cytoplasmic maturation, but FBS exerts a nega- tive role in the subsequent development of parthenogenetic embryos when energy substrates are provided in the IVC media. More studies are required for improving the MR and further development of the GV stage rabbit oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.155-168
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• 2004

Objective: Melatonin, which is secreted by pineal gland play an important role in the regulation of ovarian function via seasonal rhythm and sleep in most mammals. It also has a role in the protection of cells by removing toxic oxygen free radicals brought about by metabolism. In the present study, effects of melatonin on the mouse oocyte maturation were examined using two different culture conditions provided with 5% or 21% oxygen concentration. Material and Method: Immature mouse oocytes were obtained from the ovarian follicles of $3{\sim}4$ weeks old ICR strain mice intraperitoneally injected with 5 I.U. PMSG 44 hour before. Under stereomicroscope, morphologically healthy oocytes with distinct germinal vesicle (GV) were liberated from the graafian follicles and collected using mouth-controlled micropipette. They were then cultured for 17 hour at $37^{circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 21% $O_2$ (95% air) or 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$ and 90% $N_2$. New modified Hank's balanced salt solution (New MHBS) was used as a culture medium throughout the experiments. Effects of melatonin were examined at a concentration of $0.0001{\mu}M$, $0.01{\mu}M$ or $1.0{\mu}M$. For the prevention of spontaneous maturation of immature oocytes during culture, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) and/or hypoxanthine were included in the medium. Results: Under 21% oxygen condition, oocytes cultured in the presence of $0.01{\mu}M$ melatonin showed a significantly higher maturation rates, in terms of germinal vesicle breakdown (95.0% vs 89.0%) and polar body formation (88.1% vs 75.4%), compared to those cultured with $0.0001{\mu}M$ or $1.0{\mu}M$ melatonin. However, no difference was observed in oocytes cultured under 5% oxygen whether they were treated with melatonin or not. In the presence of $0.01{\mu}M$ melatonin, oocytes either cultured under 21% or 5% oxygen exhibited no difference in the polar body formation (85.6% vs 86.7%). However, in the absence of melatonin, oocytes cultured under 21% oxygen exhibited lower polar body formation (74.7%). When oocytes were cultured in the presence of dbcAMP alone or with varying concentrations of melatonin, those treated with both compounds always showed better maturation, i.e., germinal vesicle breakdown and polar body formation, compared to those cultured with dbcAMP alone. At the same concentration of melatonin, however, oocytes exposed to 21% oxygen showed poor maturation than those to 5% oxygen. Similar results were obtained from the experiments using hypoxanthine instead of dbcAMP. Conclusion: Based upon these results, it is suggested that melatonin could enhance the meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes under 21% oxygen concentration, and release oocytes from the meiotic arrest by dbcAMP or hypoxanthine regardless of the concentration of oxygen, probably via the removal of oxygen free radicals.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2004년도 춘계학술발표대회
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• pp.241-241
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• 2004

본 연구는 발정주기에 따른 개의 미성숙난자의 체외배양 0시간째 핵의 발달단계를 비교ㆍ검토하였다. 발정주기가 다른 개의 난소를 적출 하여 항생제가 첨가된 38℃의 0.9% 생리식염수가 들어있는 보온병에 넣어 2시간 이내에 연구실로 운반하고 난소를 면도날로 세절하여 난포란을 회수하였고, 난구세포 제거 후 Chohan과 Hunter (2003) 방법에 준하여 10 ug/ml Hoechst 33342를 이용한 핵염색을 실시하여 핵의 모양을 판명하였다. 조사된 결과는 SAS 8.0 Package를 이용하여 통계분석을 실시하였다. (중략)

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.427-432
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• 1997

These studies were performed to approach the precise pathway inducing the meiotic inhibitory action of hypoxanthine on mouse follicular oocytes and to identify the cause of detrimental effect of hypoxanthine on viability of the oocyte in vitro. In addition, a correlation between the meiotic inhibitory effect and the detrimental effect of hypoxanthine was investigated. Mouse follicular oocytes at germinal vesicle(GV) stage were collected from the ovaries of ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with a fine needle, at 48 hours after PMSG injection. Oocytes were cultured in Modified Whittingham's T6 media containing hypoxanthine and several materials that involved in metabolism of hypoxanthine, and the effects of the materials on the actions of hypoxanthine were investigated by observing germinal vesicle breake down (GVBD), 1st polar body (PB) extrusion and viability of the oocytes. Phophodiesterase significantly reduced the meiotic inhibitory effect of dbcAMP but did not influence on the inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine. Allopurinol and 6-MP significantly enhanced the meiotic inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine, but the materials themselves also showed the meiotic inhibitory action like hypoxanthine. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase significantly enhanced the meiotic inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine, on the contrary HGPRT itself promoted meiotic resumption of the oocytes. Catalase did not induce any change in the meiotic inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine, but SOD increased the GVBD rate suppressed by hypoxanthine. The detrimental effect of hypoxanthine on viability of the oocytes was significantly reduced by allopurinol and catalase, but SOD increased the GVBD rate suppressed by hypoxanthine. The detrimental effect of hypoxanthine on viability of the oocytes was significantly reduced by allopurinol and catalase, but SOD did not reduce the deterimental effect of hypoxanthine. In conclusion, the meiotic inhibtory effect of hypoxanthine may be caused by guanyl dervartives converted from hypoxanthine via salvage pathway, and superoxide anion may partially participate in the inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine. The detrimental effect of hypoxanthine on viability of the oocytes be cused by hydrogen peroxide produced during the metabolism of hypoxanthine.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.123-130
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• 1997

Normal maturation of the mammalian oocytes is prerequisite for the fertilization and the early embryonic development. We have been tested the effects of purine and its de novo synthetic inhibitor, azaserine(Aza) on the maturation of germinal vesicle(GV) and germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) mouse oocytes. Denude-immature oocytes were cultivated in the media containing adenosine, guanosine, and/or azaserine, and checked the matruation stage by monitoring the prominent morphological changes. In GV stage oocytes, GV was arrested temporarily by the adenosine(1.0%) and protractedly by the guanosine(65.9%, P<0.001). The regression was increased significantly at the adenosine(90%, P<0.001) but decreased at the guanosine(1.6%, P<0.05). Inhibiting the de novo synthesis of purine, nuclear maturation rate was increase(90.4% : 96.7%), but GV arrest was significantly increased by cotreatment with guanosine(P<0.001). Polar body extraction significantly was increased at the Aza(P<0.05), but not in others. In GVBD oocytes, adenosine itself did not affect GVBD arrest. Guanosine, on the other hand, elevated GVBD arrest rate(P<0.001), but co-treated with Aza, decreased GVBD arrest(P<0.001). Aza increased GVBD arrest rate(20.2%, P<0.05) compared with control. From those results, we know that guanosine shows more prominent effect on the inhibition of nuclear maturation at the GV stage, and of the 1st polar body extrusion at the GVBD stage. Adenosine showed the cytoplasmic toxicity at GV stage oocyte. Our data speculate that cytoplasmic cAMP level is auto-regulated by endogenous adenylate cyclase while GVBD is inhibited by guanosine, since purine toxicity is not observed in the GVBD stage. And it is showed that purine metabolism is concerned with nuclear maturation, that the amounts of purine metabolism is not even during the oocyte maturation.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.75-83
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• 1993

Purine has been identified in the preparation of follicular fluid and shown an activity in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest. Therefore this study was performed to examine the inhibitory effect of purine on germinal vesicle break down(GVBD) in the presence and absence of human fetal cord serum(HFCS) or human mature follicular fluid(HMFF), as a protein source, in vitro culture. Immature oocytes(GV stage) were collected from ovaries of 21∼28 days old ICR mice by puncturing the antral follicles with a fine needle, at 48 hrs after PMSG injection. Some of the oocytes were denuded by drawing the cumulus-enclosed(complex) oocytes in and out of a pasteur pipet. Complex oocytes and denuded oocytes were cultured 3 hrs. in T6 media containing 0.75mM adenosine or/and 4mM hypoxanthine, with HFCS or HMFF. Their GVBD rates were observed at every 1 hr. during the culture time. Both adenosine and hypoxanthine have shown a time-dependent inhibitory effect on GVBD in complex and denuded oocytes and the inhibitory effect was maximized in culture medium containing hypoxanthine and adenosine. HFCS and HMFF increased the GVBD rates in the presence of the purines, thus HFCS and HMFF may contain a factor that could reverse the inhibitory effect of purines. Also complex oocytes were more sensitive to not only the inhibitory effect of purines but the promoting action of HMFF on GVBD than denuded oocytes. Therefore it was reconfirmed that granulosa cells play an important part in meiotic arrest and resumption.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2001

Objective: To verify the expression of leptin receptor (OB-R) in oocytes and preimplantation embryos, the involvement of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK or Erk1/2) in the leptin signaling, and effect of leptin on the oocyte maturation in mice. Method: RT-PCR analysis of OB-R was conducted in germinal vesicle (GV)-intact and MII stage oocytes, and 1, 2, 8-cell embryos and blastocysts. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB), polar body extrusion, monitored in the presence or absence of leptin ($1{\mu}M$). Following the leptin treatment, temporal changes in MAPK activity were verified by immunoprecipitation and in vitro kinase assay in MII oocytes. Results: The expression of OB-R mRNA was found in GV and MII oocyte but not in the embryos. MAPK activity of the MII oocytes was significantly increased by brief incubation in the HTF supplemented with leptin ($1{\mu}M$). Priming of PD098059, a MEK inhibitor to leptin treatment attenuated the activation of MAPK by leptin in MII oocytes. Following 24 hrs of culture of the GV oocytes, leptin significant increased the GVB and 1 st polar body extrusion. Conclusion: This result suggested that functional interaction between leptin and OB-R resulted in potentiation of MAPK (Erk1/2) activity in MII oocytes through MEK activation and that leptin might be a local regulator of meiotic maturation of the mouse oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.58-67
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• 2012

Objective: Previously, we identified that transketolase (Tkt), an important enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed at 2 hours of spontaneous maturation in oocytes. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the function of Tkt in meiotic cell cycle regulation, especially at the point of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Methods: We evaluated the loss-of-function of Tkt by microinjecting Tkt double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) into germinal vesicle-stage oocytes, and the oocytes were cultured in vitro to evaluate phenotypic changes during oocyte maturation. In addition to maturation rates, meiotic spindle and chromosome rearrangements, and changes in expression of other enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway were determined after Tkt RNA interference (RNAi). Results: Despite the complete and specific knockdown of Tkt expression, GVBD occurred and meiosis was arrested at the metaphase I (MI) stage. The arrested oocytes exhibited spindle loss, chromosomal aggregation, and declined maturation promoting factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities. The modified expression of two enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway, Prps1 and Rbks, after Tkt RNAi and decreased maturation rates were amended when ribose-5-phosphate was supplemented in the culture medium, suggesting that the Tkt and pentose phosphate pathway are important for the maturation process. Conclusion: We concluded that Tkt and its associated pentose phosphate pathway play an important role in the MI-MII transition of the oocytes' meiotic cell cycle, but not in the process of GVBD.