• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2020

Purpose: : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intrauterine insemination (IUI) success rate and to define the variables for predicting success. Methods: The secondary data analysis was used with data collected from infertile females who underwent IUI in Fertility and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) clinics, who benefited from the 'National Medical-aid Program for ART (assisted reproductive technology) in 2016', in which the data of 34,920 IUI cases were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome measure was the clinical pregnancy rate in elderly and young infertile females. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, χ2 test and logistic regression. Results: The pregnancy rate was 12.1% (2,095 cases) in elderly infertile females and 15.6% in young infertile females (2,758 cases) (χ2 = 87.90, p< .001). Using the logistic regression analysis, clinical pregnancy was positively associated with the ovulatory factor (OR= 1.48, p< .001) and male factor (OR= 1.19, p< .05) in elderly infertile females. It was positively associated with the ovulatory factor (OR= 1.30, p= .001) and the peritoneal cavity factor (OR= 0.58, p< .05) in young infertile females. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the pregnancy rate in young infertile females was higher than that in old infertile females, and the IUI is the effective option in pregnancies in all ages with infertility due to the ovulatory factor. Additionally, further studies are necessary to fully describe pregnancy experiences for all the infertile females.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 1997

Recent studies have demonstrated that apoptotic cell death plays an important role in the mechanism underlying follicular atresia and luteolysis. However, the mechanisms responsible for initiating these processes have not been elucidated. In in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs, it is highly possible that continuous and repeated administration of FSH/hMG and GnRH agonists for the usage of ovarian hyperstimulation may induce apoptotic death of granulosa cells leading to atresia in the human ovarian follicles. The present study was performed to investigate whether FSH/hMG and GnRh agonists used for a longer period in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has any effect on the apoptosis of granulosa-luteal (GL) cells obtained from hyperstimulated ovaries. To examine apoptotic cell death in the GL cells, cells were stained with acridie orange followed by observed in some of GL cells. Similar but distinct staining of apoptotic GL cells was observed when the cells were examined by using in situ TUNEL method. The healthy-looking cells with normal nuclear morphology were not stained, whereas cells with pyknotic nuclei or with apoptotic nuclei were intensively stained. After examining the ultrastructural features of GL cells by TEM, it was confirmed that the majority of cells seemed to have normal nuclei while GL cells undergoing apoptotic cel death were rarely found. The DNA extracted from GL cells showed a typical pattern of fragmentation following DNA electrophoretic analysis. We have confirmed that the apoptosis occurs in granulosa-luteal cells obtained from hyperstimulated ovaries. Technically, in situ apoptosis detection method is simple and reproducible and is well suited to identify the quality of oocytes retrieved from hyperstimulated ovaries.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2013

Cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols are important in genetic studies and applications to transgenic animals. Various studies about boar sperm cryopreservation have been studied for a long time. Those were about the use of extenders, the choice of sugars, the cooling and warming rates. The factors that influence the boar sperm are the dramatic changes in temperatures, osmotic and toxic stresses, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Among these factors, ROS generation is the main damage to DNA which is a principal genetic material and the most important for the practical applications. So we wondered whether ROS generation could be reduced. In previous study, monothioglycerol (MTG) was essential for the culture of embryo stem cells. Therefore we added MTG in the freezing extender based on lactose-egg yolk (LEY) with trehalose. For the assessment of the frozen-thawed sperm, we focused onmotility, membrane integrity and DNA damage. First, we used a computer-aided sperm analysis system for overall conditions of sperm such as motility and viability. Then we performed the sperm chromatin structure assay for DNA integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling test for membrane integrity. And our result showed the existence of MTG in the freezing extender caused less damage to DNA and higher motility in frozen-thawed boar sperm. Also we checked a relative antioxidant activity of MTG in modified Modena B extender. We concluded that this reagent can activate sperm mitochondria at MTG $0.2{\mu}M$, contribute to sperm motility and DNA integrity but there was no significant difference on membrane integrity. Also antioxidant activity of MTG in modified Modena B extender was proved.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 1988

The intrafo1licular echoes of cumulus oophoruses within ovarian follicles were assessed with the use of ultrasound in 86 women taking part in an in vitro fertilization(IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer(GIFT) program, stimulated with pure follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)/human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). When intrafo1licular echoes were clearly separated from the follicular wall or relatively dispersed within the follicle, they were considered to be a dissociated cumulus, and when they were only slightly prominent from the follicular wall, they were suspected to be a nondissociated cumulus. A cumulus was seen in 62.1% of the follicles larger than 10 mm diameter and 75.1% of them were dissociated. The larger the follicles in size, the more the cumuluses in number and dissociation. The number of follicles and intrafollicular echoes per woman was not different whether or not she would be pregnant, but the number of dissociated cumuluses was significantly more in pregnant women. The number of observed dissociated cumuluses correlated significantly with the number of recovered mature oocytes. When an intrafollicular echo is seen, it can be taken as evidence of a sign of maturity of that particular follicle and oocyte. Ultrasonographic monitoring of intrafollicular echoes and follicular size is very helpful to predict follicular maturation in ovulation stimulation cycles.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1995

Genetic changes from improving female's reproductive rate through in vitro fertilization of large number of oocytes were studied. The breeding scheme employed was multiple ovulation and embryo transfer of juveniles and adults. Both balanced and unbalanced matings were examined for the four closed progeny population sizes, 10$^3$, 10$^4$, 105, 106. In balanced matings, all selected sires and dams were mated to each other(cross-classified mating) while unbalanced matings allowed selected dams and sires mated partially, eg. unbalanced matings allowed averages of .5 and .25 progeny per each mating. Various numbers of selected sires and dams were also examined in both balanced and unbalanced matings. In all mating schemes, selection of males and females was restricted to he one from each fullsib family to reduce the rate of inbreeding. The model calculations were deterministic and accounted for the effects of selection and inbreeding on loss of the genetic variation in succeeding generations. Balanced rectangular mating schemes, where more donors were selected than sires, resulted in larger selection responses than balanced square mating schemes, where equal numbers of sires and donors were selected, and unbalanced rectangular mating. The first round selection responses from the balanced rectangular matings of juvenile MOET, eg. number of progeny per mating equals 2 with 10 sires selected, were 1.192, 1.406, 1.580 and 1.735 times larger than the first round selection responses from the balanced square mating schemes for the given four progeny population sizes, 10$^3$, 10$^4$, 105 and 106, respectively. Similar results were obtained in adult MOET breeding schemes. However, balanced square matings gave greater selection responses than the unbalanced rectangular matings.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 1994

The influence of hypoxanthine and ovarian steroids on the meiotic maturation process of mouse oocytes was investigated for the qualified application of culture medium in in vitro fertilization(IVF). Mouse oocytes were cultured in hypoxanthine and various ovarian steroids(progesterone, estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone) and their effects on the oocyte maturation had been observed. When mouse oocytes were cultured in the various concentration(1-4mM) of hypoxanthine, meiotic maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes was inhibited by presence itself, which was a dose-dependent effect in meiotic arrest of mouse oocytes. The presence of progesterone, estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone have made the mouse oocyte mature properly. Meanwhile maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocyte was severely inhibited by 3 hoursculture in the media of progesterone supplemented with hypoxanthine. However the continuous presence lasting 24 hours of progesterone even supplemented with hypoxanthine had got rid of the inhibition of oocytes maturation. Not only estradiol-17${\beta}$ supplemented with hypoxanthine but also testosterone supplemented with hypoxanthine exert the severe inhibition of the maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes for 3-hours culture. However the continuous presence lasting 24 hours of estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone even supplemented with· hypoxanthine had relieved the inhibition of oocytes maturation. These results make us suggest that hypoxanthine inhibits the mouse oocyte maturation, particularly markedly in conjunction with ovarian steroids for short period, which indicated some sort of the synergistic inhibitory retationship between the ovarian steroids and hypoxanthine.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2013

Embryo transfer (ET) technology is of high importance in modern cattle breeding programs. ET is one step in the process of removing one or more embryos from the reproductive tract of an outstanding donor female and transferring them to one or more recipient females. Embryos also can be produced in the laboratory via techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). But the actual transfer of an embryo is only one step in a series of processes that may include some or all of the following: superovulation and insemination of donors, collection of embryos, isolation, evaluation and short-term storage of embryos, micromanipulation and genetic testing of embryos, freezing of embryos and embryo transfer. Cryopreservation and direct transfer of frozen-thawed embryos is common-place with pregnancy rates near that of fresh embryos. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology is currently being used for sexing embryos, and this technology will be used for "embryo diagnostics" and "embryo genomics" in the future. Although, many limitations and problems remain to overcome, these and other new technologies promise to change livestock breeding drastically in the next decade.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.56-56
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• 2003

Beta-catenin is very important in early development including involvement in cell adhesion, cell signaling, and developmental fate specification. Cell-cell interaction is an important process during mammalian embryonic development. In preimplantation embryos, embryonic compaction is the process of increased cellular flattening and adhesion of junctional complexes and results in a polarized distribution. Beta-catenin is associated with embryonic compaction in mammals. Here, we examined the relationship between beta-catenin expression and compaction in porcine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization. First of all, we investigated beta-catenin expression in each embryonic developmental stage and also focused on expression pattern according to full, partial and non-compaction at morula stage. We used the immunocyto-chemical method in this research. To confirm compaction affects on the embryonic development, we compared between compaction and developmental rates to the blastocyst. The result showed that compaction and non-compaction rates were 14.6% and 63.8% at 4 days after IVF, respectively The developmental rates to the blastocyst and their total cell number were 50.9% vs 36.4% and 41.4$\pm$11.5 vs 26.8$\pm$12.7 in compaction and non-compaction groups. Although no difference was detected in the ratio of ICM to total cells between two groups, total cell number of the blastocysts in compaction group was superior to that of the blastocysts in non-compaction group (P<0.05). Expression of beta-catenin appeared in the boundary of membrane surface between blastomeres in 2- and 4-cell stage, and observed irregular pattern from 8-cell to blastocyst stage. We also investigated beta-catenin expression pattern according to the degree of compaction in the 3 groups; full, partial (>50%) and non-compaction. The expression signal in fully compacted embryos was stronger than those of partial and non-compacted embryos. Especially, beta-catenin expression appeared various patterns in morula stage suggesting the aberrant distribution of beta-catenin is affected by compaction patterns. Our results suggest that abnormal beta-catenin expression was affected by embryo quality and further development in porcine embryos in vitro.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 1995

It is the most important to select optimal culture conditions to promote safe embryo growth in the technique of human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. It has been shown that the addition of biologic fluids, such as blood serum, of various origins, improved fertilization and early cleavage rates in numerous species. The purpose of this study is to attempt to measure developmental potential of mouse eggs fertilized and cleaved in Ham's F10 culture medium containing a chelating agent, EDTA and fetal cord serum. In this study, we selected 40 female mice and 20 male mice, and investigated optimal serum concentrations for mouse embryo growth. Two cell stage mouse embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 medium, Ham's F-10 medium with various concentrations of EDTA, or Ham's F-10 medium with EDTA and 10% human cord serum. Developmental ratios to morula in Ham's F-10 medium containing various concentrations of EDTA and/or 10% fetal cord serum were significantly higher than in unsupplemented Ham's F-10 medium (p<0.05). Developmental ratios to blastocyst in Ham's F-10 containing 10% fetal cord serum and $50{\mu}M$ or $100{\mu}M$ EDTA were significanltly higher than in unsupplemented Ham's F-10 medium (p<0.05). Developmental ratios to morula in Ham's F-10 containing 10% fetal cord serum and $100{\mu}M$ EDTA were significanltly higher than in Ham's F-10 with 10% fetal cord serum used commonly in many human IVF centers(p<0.05). Developmental ratio to blastocyst in Ham's F-10 containing 10% fetal cord serum and $100{\mu}M$ EDTA was significanlty higher than in Ham's F-10 with $200{\mu}M$ EDTA(P<0.05). In summary, embryo development to morula and blastocyst was significanlty higher in the presence of human cord serum or EDTA than in the unsupplemented medium. The most significanly development to morula and blastocyst was obtained at Ham's F-10 medium with $100{\mu}M$ concentration of EDTA and 10% fetal cord serum. These results suggest that Ham's F-10 medium containing 10% fetal cord serum and optimal concentrations of EDTA significantly promoted early cleavage of mouse zygotes, and these will be useful as basic data for the selection of culture medium in human in vitro fertilization.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2011

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of GnRH antagonist multiple-dose protocol (MDP) with oral contraceptive pill (OCP) pretreatment in poor responders undergoing IVF/ICSI, compared with GnRH antagonist MDP without OCP pretreatment and GnRH agonist low-dose long protocol (LP). Methods: A total of 120 poor responders were randomized into three groups according to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) options; GnRH antagonist MDP after OCP pretreatment (group 1), GnRH antagonist MDP without OCP pretreatment (group 2) or GnRH agonist luteal low-dose LP without OCP pretreatment (group 3). Patients allocated in group 1 were pretreated with OCP for 21days in the cycle preceding COS, and ovarian stimulation using recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) was started 5 days after discontinuation of OCP. Results: There were no differences in patients' characteristics among three groups. Total dose and days of rhFSH used for COS were significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1 or 2. The numbers of mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes and grade I, II embryos were significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 or 3. There were no significant differences in the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate among three groups. Conclusion: GnRH antagonist MDP with OCP pretreatment is at least as effective as GnRH agonist low-dose LP in poor responders and can benefit the poor responders by reducing the amount and duration of FSH required for follicular maturation.