• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제52권1호
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2009

목 적 : 어린시기에 genistein과 같은 식물성 에스트로겐의 섭취가 사회적 관심사로 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 어린 쥐에서 genistein에 노출이 사춘기 개시 및 생식기관에 미치는 영향을 알아 보았다. 방 법 : 이유기(3주령) 암컷 흰쥐를 저용량 genistein (10 mg/kg/day), 고용량 genistein (100 mg/kg/day), 대조군의 세 그룹 (각 그룹 당 n=6)으로 나누고 첫 번째 질구 개방이 확인되는 날까지 농도별로 각각 경구 투여하였다. 질구 개방일을 확인하고 생식 기관의 무게를 측정하며 난소와 자궁에서 $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$, PR 유전자들의 발현양상을 RT-PCR을 이용해 비교하였고, 난소와 자궁의 구조적 이상을 확인하기 위해 조직학적 분석을 실시하였다. 결 과 : 고용량 genistein 투여군은 저용량군 및 대조군에 비해 질구 개방일이 유의하게 촉진되었다. RT-PCR결과, $ER{\alpha}$, $ER{\beta}$, PR의 전사활성은 genistein에 노출된 쥐들의 난소와 자궁에서 유의하게 증가하였다. 그라프 난포와 황체는 genistein 투여군의 난소에서만 발견되었고, 대조군의 난소에서는 1차, 2차 난포들과 작은 미성숙 난포들만이 관찰되었다. Genistein 처리군의 자궁에서도 내막층 근막층 및 상피층이 과다성장상태였으나 대조군에서는 모든 세포층과 분비선이 미약하게 발달하였다. 결 론 : 결론적으로, 사춘기 이전 시기에 비교적 단기간의 genistein 노출이라도 미성숙 암컷 흰쥐에서 생식 내분비 활성을 일으켜 조기 사춘기와 성 스테로이드 호르몬 수용체의 발현 양상 변화를 초래할 수 있으며, genistein의 노출이 아동기 성성숙에 미치는 영향에 대한 더욱 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.281-287
• /
• 2013

In mammal, unfertilized oocytes remain in the oviduct or under in vitro culture, which is called "oocyte aging". This asynchrony negatively affects fertilization in pre- and post-implantation embryo development. Caffeine a phosphodiesterase inhibitor is known to rescue oocyte aging in several species. The objective of this study is to determine the cytoskeleton distribution in aged oocytes and the embryo developmental ability of aged oocytes in the present or absence of caffeine during maturation. Caffeine treatment increased the incidence of normal spindle assembly of aged oocytes (treatment, $67.57{\pm}4.11%$ aging, $44.61{\pm}6.4%$) and no significant differences compared to control group. Fluorescence values were compared using ROS (Reactive oxidation species) stain. Fluorescence values appear of control group intensity rate ($51.53.{\pm}3.80$), aging group ($68.10{\pm}5.54$) and treatment of caffeine ($45.04{\pm}2.98$). Aged oocytes that were derived from addition of caffeine to the IVM (in vitro maturation) medium had significantly increased 2-cell that developed to the blastocyst stage compared to the aging group. Blastocysts, derived from caffeine treatment group, significantly increased the total cell number compare aging ($90.44{\pm}10.18$ VS $67.88{\pm}7.72$). Apoptotic fragments of genomic DNA were measured in individual embryo using TUNEL assay. Blastocyst derived from caffeine treatment group decreased significantly the apoptotic index compared to blastocyst derived from aging group. In conclusion, we inferred that the caffeine treatment during oocyte aging can improve the developmental rate and quality in bovine embryos developing in vitro.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제41권4호
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2017

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is one of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and found mainly in the chloroplasts. Many studies have been reported that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mammalian oocytes were reduced by supplementation of ALA in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium. Based on these reports, we expected that ALA acts as an antioxidant during IVM of porcine oocytes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of ALA supplementation during IVM in porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated in IVM medium containing $200{\mu}m$ $H_2O_2$ or $H_2O_2$ with $50{\mu}m$ ALA for 44 h. Nuclear maturation stage of oocytes was evaluated using aceto-orcein method. For measurement of oxidative stress state, intracellular ROS and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured using carboxy-DCFDA and cell tracker red, respectively. In results, oocytes in metaphase-II (MII) stage development was significantly reduced in $H_2O_2$ group compared to non-treated control group $61.84{\pm}1.42%$ and 80.00%, respectively; p<0.05) and it was slightly recovered by treatment of ALA ($69.76{\pm}1.67%$; p<0.05). The intracellular GSH levels was decreased in $H_2O_2$ groups compared with control groups, but it was enhanced by ALA treatment (p<0.05). On the contrary, $H_2O_2$ treatment increased intracellular ROS level in oocytes and $H_2O_2$-induced ROS was decreased by treatment of ALA (p<0.05). Our findings suggested that ALA treatment under oxidative stress condition improve oocyte maturation via elevated GSH and reduced ROS levels in oocytes. Therefore, these results suggest that ALA have an antioxidative ability and it could be used as antioxidant in in vitro production system of porcine embryo.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2005

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of EGF on meiotic maturation and pronuclear (PN) formation of porcine oocytes. Prepubertal gilt cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) aspirated from $2\~6mm$ follicles of abbatoir ovaries were matured in TCM199 containing 0.1mg/ml cysteine, $0.5{\mu}/ml$ FSH and LH, and EGF (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) for 22 hr at $39^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of $5\%$ $CO_2$ in air. They were then cultured for an additional 22hr without hormones. In Experiment 1, to examine the nuclear maturation at 44hr of culture, the expanded cumulus cells were removed by vortexing for 1 min in 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase. The oocytes were fixed in acetic acid: methanol (1:3, v/v) at least for 48 hr and stained with $1\%$ orcein solution for 5 min. Nuclear status was classified as germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), prophase-metaphase I (PI-MI), and PII-MII under microscope. In Experiment 2, to investigate PN formation, oocytes were fertilized with Percoll-treated freshly ejaculated sperm $(1\times10^5\; cells/ml)$ in mTBM with $0.3\%$ BSA and 2mM caffeine for 5hr, and cultured in NCSU-23 medium with $0.4\%$ BSA. At 6hr of culture, the embryos were fixed in $3.7\%$ formaldehyde for 48hr and stained with 10ug/ml propidium iodide for 30 min. PN status was classified as no or one PN (unfertilized), 2 PN (normal fertilized) and $\geq3$ PN (polyspermy). Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of the proportional data. The rate of oocytes that had reached to PII-MII were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all groups added EGF than that of non-treated group $(67\%)$, but it did not differ among the all added groups $(86\%,\;85\%,\;79\%\;and\;81\%$, in 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). No differences on the incidence of 2PN were observed in all treated groups $(25\%,\;30\%,\;33\%,\;29\%\;and\;29\%$, in 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively), however, in non-treated group, polyspermy tended to be increased ($66\%\;vs\;. 58\%,\;54\%,\;52\%\;and\;55\%$, 0 vs. 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). These results suggest that EGF can be effectively used as an additive for enhancing oocyte maturation and reducing the incidence of polyspermy in pig.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.328-335
• /
• 2009

This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of exposure and removal of four different cryoprotectants (CPAs) on the ATP content of cumulus cell-enclosed (COs) and cumulus cell-denuded (DOs) immature porcine oocytes. The in vitro nuclear maturation of the COs, exposed to and removed from the CPAs was also assessed. Both COs and DOs were exposed to 1.5 M concentrations of each CPA (ethylene glycol (EG); propylene glycol (PG); dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO); and glycerol (G)) for durations of 5, 15, and 30 minutes at room temperature ($23.5{\pm}1.5^{\circ}C$), and immersed in physiological saline supplemented with 20% (v/v) fetal bovine serum for 5 minutes ($39^{\circ}C$) to remove each CPA. Before, during and after exposure to each CPA, the ATP content of both the COs and the DOs was measured. After removal from each CPA an aliquot of the COs was matured for 44${\pm}$2 h, and their nuclear maturation rates were measured up to the metaphase stage of the second meiotic division (the M-II stage). The maturation rates up to the M-II stage were not significantly different between all the groups that were exposed to each CPA for 5 minutes. For 15 and 30 minute exposures, the maturation rates of the COs exposed to PG, DMSO and EG were almost the same as those of the control groups; however, the rates of G group exposed for 15 and 30 minutes were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control group. These groups were also found to have a decrease in the ATP content of COs and DOs during and after exposure for the same periods (p<0.05). In addition, although the ATP contents of the COs after exposure to EG for any period were the same as the controls, the ATP content of the DOs exposed to EG for any period were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of the controls. When the ATP content of the COs and DOs of each CPA were compared, the DOs exposed to PG were found to have a significantly greater level (p<0.05) than DOs exposed to G for any duration. In addition, the ATP content of DOs exposed to PG for 30 min and removal was also higher (p<0.05) than when exposed to DMSO for the same period. These findings indicate that PG may be a useful CPA for the cryopreservation of immature porcine oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2000

Objective: Zona pellucida (ZP) has been thought to be the barrier of egg to sperm penetration before and after fertilization. The phenomenon of ZP hardening has been considered as a post-fertilization event until now, and it is generally accepted that it is caused by the secretory products of cortical granules released during the cortical reaction. Hardening of ZP could occur "spontaneously" in mammalian oocytes in standard culture conditions, and that it is probably not a consequence of cortical reaction. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of human amniotic fluid (HAF) on nuclear maturation (NM) and fertilization ability of mouse immature oocytes. Methods: HAF was obtained from patients undergoing amniocentesis at $16{\sim}20$ weeks of gestation. HAF from five to ten patients was centrifuged and the supernatants was pooled. Cumulusenclosed mouse immature oocytes were incubated in the medium containing HAF, and examined to confirm NM and fertilization. Female ICR mice (about 3 weeks old) were stimulated with 7.5 IU PMSG. Immature oocytes were isolated at $48{\sim}52$ hrs post PMSG injection and cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 20% HAF for 18 hrs. FBS was used as a control for the examination. Matured oocytes (MII) were fertilized with sperms collected from the epididymis of male mice (over 10 weeks old). Fertilization was in conducted T6 medium containing 15 mg/ml BSA, and confirmed at 6 hrs post-insemination. Fertilization rate was assessed in zona-intact or zona-free oocytes (denuded by trypsin). Evaluation of NM and fertilization was carried out by rapid staining method. ZP hardening was evaluated by incubating cumulus cell-free mature oocytes in 0.001% chymotrypsin at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. Results: There was no significant difference between the effects of HAF (86.6%) and FBS (87.7%) supplements on NM of immature oocytes. When maturation medium was supplemented with HAF, total fertilization rates (7%) were significantly lower (p<0.01) than that of FBS (85.1%). In HAF group, fertilization rate was increased (p<0.01) in zona-free oocytes (7% versus 100%). The resistance of mouse oocyte ZP to digestion by chymotrypsin after maturation in vitro was significantly higher (p<0.01) in HAF group (86.7%) than in FBS (6.7%). To culture oocytes in FBS were very effective in preventing ZP hardening. However cultured oocytes in HAF showed high rate of ZP hardening (p<0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that HAF can be used as a supplement for the NM of mouse immature oocytes in vitro. However, HAF induces spontaneous hardening of ZP of mouse immaure oocytes during maturation in vitro.

• 한국석유지질학회지
• /
• 제2권2호
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 1994

의성지역 경상누층군에 대하여 유기지화학적 방법과 일라이트 결정도 측정방법을 사용하여 유기물의 열성숙도와 속성 작용정도를 연구하였다. 신동층군의 흑색셰일은 $0.5{\~}2{\%}$의 유기물을 함유하고 있으며, 이 유기물들은 타이프 Ⅲ에 해당하는 고등식물 기원이다. 열분석 Tmax 값은 $578{\~}595^{\circ}C$이며, 비트리나이트 반사도는 진주층에서 약 $2.9{\%}Ro$, 낙동층에서 약 $3{\~}4{\%}Ro$로 유기물의 열적 성숙단계가 건성가스 생성단계에 도달하였음을 보여준다. 비트리나이트 반사도 측정결과에 의하면, 유기물의 열적성숙은 주로 매몰에 의하여 이루어졌으며, 국부적으로 화성암체의 관입에 의하여 이차적인 영향을 받은 것으로 판단된다. 일라이트 결정도값은 층서상의 위치에 따른 규칙적 인 변화를 보이지 않으며, 낙동층, 하산동층, 진주층, 일직층 일부에서는 속성 정도가 속성 작용 영역과 앵키존 영역의 경계부에 해당된다. 이들보다 상위 지층인 일직층, 후평동층, 점곡층, 사곡층의 일라이트 결정도값은 앵키존의 중간부에 위치한다. 층서적으로 보다 상위인 일직층, 후평동층, 점곡층, 사곡층들의 변성도가 높게 나타나는 것은 이 지층이 분포하는 지역에 관입한 화성암체에 의한 열변질에 기인한 것으로 해석된다. 유기물의 열성숙도와 일라이트 결정도에 의한 탄화수소 생성단계는 서로 잘 일치하며, 비트리나이트 반사도와 일라이트 결정도는 모두 관입체의 영향을 지시한다. 연구지역의 속성작용은 전체적으로는 매몰에 의하여 이루어 졌으며, 국부적으로는 관입체에 의한 이차의 영향을 받은 것으로 해석되는 데, 매몰에 의한 고지온은 약 $200^{\circ}C$로 추정된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.319-325
• /
• 2015

Gangliosides exist in glycosphingolipid-enriched domains on the cell membrane and regulate various functions such as adhesion, differentiation, and receptor signaling. Ganglioside GM3 by ST3GAL5 enzyme provides an essential function in the biosynthesis of more complex ganglio-series gangliosides. However, the role of gangliosides GM3 in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation and early embryo development stage has not yet understood clear. Therefore, we examined ganglioside GM3 expression patterns under apoptosis stress during maturation and preimplantation development of porcine oocytes and embryos. First, porcine oocytes cultured in the NCSU-23 medium for 44 h after $H_2O_2$ treated groups (0.01, 0.1, 1 mM). After completion of meiotic maturation, the proportion MII (44 h) was significantly different among control and the H2O2 treated groups ($76.8{\pm}0.3$ vs $69.1{\pm}0.4$; 0.01 mM, $55.7{\pm}1.0$; 0.1 mM, $38.2{\pm}1.6%$; 1 mM, P<0.05). The expressions of ST3GAL5 in $H_2O_2$ treated groups were gradually decreased compared with control group. Next, changes of ST3GAL5 expression patterns were detected by using immunofluorescene (IF) staining during preimplantation development until blastocyst. As a result, we confirmed that the expressions of ST3GAL5 in cleaving embryos were gradually decreased (P<0.05) according to the early embryo development progress. Based on these results, we suggest that the ganglioside GM3 was used to the marker as pro-apoptotic factor in porcine oocyte of maturation and early embryo production in vitro, respectively. Furthermore, our findings will be helpful for better understanding the basic mechanism of gangliosides GM3 regulating in oocyte maturation and early embryonic development of porcine in vitro.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제35권3호
• /
• pp.221-225
• /
• 2011

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between in vitro maturation and plasminogen activators (PAs) activity on porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) exposed to oxidative stress. When COCs were cultured in maturation medium with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the proportion of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and oocytes maturation were decrease with addition of $H_2O_2$, and were significantly (p<0.05) lower in medium with 0.1 mM $H_2O_2$ than control group. Also, the rate of degenerated oocytes was increased in as $H_2O_2$ concentration in eased. When COCs were cultured for 48 h, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands were observed: tissue-type PA (tPA); urokinase-type PA (uPA); and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI). PA activity was quantified using SDS-PAGE and zymography. When $H_2O_2$ concentration was increased, tPA and tPA-PAI activities also increased in porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h, but not uPA. In other experiment, embryos were divided into three groups and cultured in (1) control medium, (2) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ and (3) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ along with catalase in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. $H_2O_2$ decreased the rate of GVBD and maturation in porcine COCs but catalase revealed protective activity, against oxidative stress caused by $H_2O_2$. In this experiment, tPA and tPA-PAI activities were higher in media with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ alone. Increasing concentration of catalase decreased tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes. These results indicate that the exposure of porcine follicular oocytes to ROS inhibits oocytes maturation to metaphase-II stage and increase the oocytes degeneration. Also, we speculated that increased ROS level may trigger tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes matured in vitro.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제26권4호
• /
• pp.251-256
• /
• 2011

Presently, the effect of 0.5 mM dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP)-supplemented maturation medium during different incubation time on meiotic arrest (germinal vesicle) and resumption (metaphase II) of porcine oocytes and embryonic development of porcine oocytes following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or parthenogenetic activation (PA) was determined. Porcine cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in 0.5 mM dbcAMP for 17, 22, 27, or 42 h, and an additional 22 h without 0.5 mM dbcAMP. The nuclear status was examined at each time point. Oocytes cultured from 39~49 h displayed more than 80% meiotic resumption. More than 85 % of meiotic arrest was presented at 17~22 h. Oocytes were cultured for 22 h with 0.5 mM dbcAMP and additional 22 h without dbcAMP to assess developmental potential following IVF or PA. There were no significant differences in blastocyst rates among the dbcAMPIVF, IVF, dbcAMP-PA, and PA groups, although cleavage rate of IVF group was significantly higher than those of dbcAMP-PA, and PA groups. In conclusion, 0.5 mM dbcAMP influenced meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes depending on incubation time of oocyte, although embryonic development was not improved in both IVF and PA.