• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 1999

To investigate the maturational and development competece of porcine oocytes of different diameter groups, oocytes were obtained by aspiration from slaughterdhouse ovaries. After washing three times in NCSU23 medium, each cumulus-oocyte complex was transferred into a $8{mu}ell$ drop of the maturation medium (one oocyte per drop) under paraffin oil. The diameter without zona pellucida of oocytes was measured with micor-calibrator (Mikrometer, E. Leitz) on a screen connected to a VCR on an inverted microscope $(200\times)$. After being measured, the oocytes were divided into 6 groups according to their diameter size : <105, 105 to < 110, 110 to < 115, 115 to < 120, 120 to < 125 and > $125{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, and in vitro maturation (IVM), fertillzation (IVF) and production (IVP) of oocytes / embryo was performed. The rates of in vitro maturation on oocytes in the greater 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups(91.8~100%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the < 105 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group(66.7%). The rates of sperm penetration were significantly (P<0.05) low in < $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ group (50.0%) than others groups (81.6~85.5%). But the plyspermic fertilization rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in < $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ oocytes groups than in the $110\leq{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size groups. The rates of cleavage and development to blastocysts rose as oocytes diameter increased, however, while oocytes over $120{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter failed to develop to blastocysts. There results suggest that porcine oocytes have acquired full meiotic competece at a diameter of $105{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ but not yet attended full development competence to blastocyst and that oocytes have acquired full development competence at a diameter of $110{\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.97-108
• /
• 2000

The objectives of this study were performed to increase the efficiency of the culture conditions of embryos produced in vitro, and to assess the developmental potential after transfer of those embryos into recipients. The mean number of folliclular oocytes recovered from an ovary was 10.7. The rates of maturation and fertilization in Grade I oocytes were significantly (P＜0.05) higher than Graden and III. Developmental rate into blastocyst in the culture group of TCM-199 with BOEC were significantly higher (P＜0.05) than the groups of TCM-199 and conditioned medium (24.7% vs. 12.4% and 18.2%). The survivability of post-thawed blastocysts equilibrated for 3 min in EFS solution was significantly (P＜0.05) lower than l0 for 1 and 2 min (32.1% vs. 82.9% and 73.3%). Significantly higher (P＜0.05) survival rate in blastocysts was seen after freezing than in morulae stage embryos. Out of all 105 recipients, 49 (46.7%) were confirmed in pregnant. On pregnancy of cattle, 48 calves were born from 40 recipients. The ratio of twin and single calves was 30.5% (32/40 and 7.6% (8/40), respectively. However, the others composed of abnormal, as judging as 6 (12.2%) for abortion and 3 (6.1%) for stillbirth during the pregnant period.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the survival rate of AndroMed and Tris-egg yolk extender for cryopreservation of Korean Native Bull Semen (Chick Cow). Semen was collected from a Korean Native Bull Semen over 3 year's old. The semen was diluted 1:1 by AndroMed and Tris-egg yolk extender. The pellet was diluted to final sperm concentration of $5{\times}10^7$ cell/ml by doubling in every 10 minutes at $4^{\circ}C$ cold chamber. The semen was equilibrated for 1 hrs at cold chamber and packed to 0.5 ml straw. The semen straws were located above 5 cm of liquid nitrogen for 5 minutes. And then the frozen straw was plunged to LN2. The presented straws were examined the viability and motility after thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ water bath. The survival rates was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Tris-egg yolk extender than AndroMed extender ($89.7{\pm}19.8$ vs. $73.4{\pm}11.2$). However, motility was no significant differences ($78.4{\pm}18.7$ vs. $67.9{\pm}14.6$). Survival rate in time of equilibration between visual and CASA program had higher in 2 h ($86.33{\pm}9.4$ vs. $92.32{\pm}12.4$) than in 5 h ($78.20{\pm}7.8$ vs. $88.28{\pm}13.1$) 15 h ($65.24{\pm}6.6$ vs. $76.48{\pm}17.3$) 20 h ($56.26{\pm}4.6$ vs. $67.73{\pm}18.4$). The development rates to cleavage was higher in Tris-egg yolk extender than AndroMed extender (82.2% vs. 81.7%). Similarly, the development rates to blastocyst was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Tris-egg yolk extender than AndroMed extender (42.3% vs. 29.6%). In conclusion, the obvious impact of this study will be its practical application to improve viability and fertilizing ability of cryopreserved spermatozoa used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and AI, Which in turn will be beneficial to animal genetic resources conservation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.10
• /
• pp.1065-1070
• /
• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to determine whether early closure (within 7 d) of significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with indomethacin or ligation reduces neonatal morbidity when compared with delayed closure (after 7 d). Methods : Fifty-eight extremely-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU of Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 to May 2007 with PDA were studied retrospectively. Results : The mean gestational age (GA) was $26{\pm}2weeks$ (range, 23-32 wk), and the birth weight was $782{\pm}146g$ (range, 430-990 g). The delayed closure group was associated with early GA ($25.7{\pm}1.7wk$ vs $27.1{\pm}2.0wk$, P=0.013), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (55% vs 24%, P=0.017), and the absence of preeclampsia (5% vs. 34%, P=0.013). There was no difference in ductal size between the early closure and delayed closure groups. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (95% vs 65%, P=0.012) and intraventricular hemorrhage (70% vs. 39%, P=0.027) increased in the delayed closure group. Using regression analysis adjusted for gestational age, delayed closure correlated positively with the duration of ventilator support (P=0.008), hospitalization (P=0.020), time to full enteral feeding (P<0.001), and total parenteral nutrition (P=0.010). Conclusion : Delayed closure of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely-low-birth-weight infants is significantly related to the development of various morbidities. Thus, early closure of PDA is needed within the first week of life.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1998

This study was carried out to confirm whether the developmental capacity of bovine mature oocytes frozen ultra-rapidly using electron microscopic(EM) grids and EFS30 can be obtained, and whether the cryoprotectants and the freezing method used in this study effect detrimentally to the bovine oocytes by indirect immunocytochemistry. As freezing solution, we used EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, 18% ficoll and 10% FBS added in D-PBS. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: When the effects of cryoprotectant and freezing procedure on the microtuble, micrfilament and chromatin morphology of oocytes were evaluated using indirect immunocytochemistry, the results of freezing as well as exposure group were not different with that of the control oocytes. When the fertilization abnormality after ultrarapid freezing of bovine mature oocytes was examined by Hoechst staining, the rates of total penetration(96.7, 9.0%), normal two pronuclei formation(74.6, 68.9%) and mean number of sperm / oocyte(1.50, 1.44) were not different between control and freezing group. In addition, when the developmental capacity of frozen-thawed of oocytes(85.5%) was survived, 74.5% of them were cleaved and 31.4% of cleaved embryos were developed to blastocyst. These data were similar to those of the control(76.0%, 34.6%) and exposure(74.5%, 33.0%) except survival rates. Also, when the total cell number of blastocysts produced from the each treatment at day after IVF was examined by hoechst staining, there were not different among groups. There results demonstrate that developmental capacity of frozen-thawed bovine mature oocytes can be successfully obtained by ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30 solution.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.1073-1078
• /
• 2006

Purpose : This study was performed to assess how a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease affects parents, as regards pregnancy management and care of infants after birth. Methods : Database search to find out abnormal fetal echocardiography performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1988 to June 2003 revealed 370 examinations. After excluding both arrhythmias without structural cardiac disease and multiple pregnancies, 299 pregnancies remained and this data formed the basis of this analysis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records with special attention to pregnancy outcomes and also tried to find out factors influencing parental decisions on whether to continue or terminate pregnancy. Results : In this study, the mean gestation age at diagnosis was $28{\pm}6.0weeks$. The mean age of mothers was $30{\pm}3.9$ years old. Younger gestational ages at diagnosis(P=0.000), more severe grades of fetal heart disease(P=0.002) and younger mothers(P=0.014) correlated with terminations of pregnanies. But the grades of fetal status, the grades of associated anomaly, whether in-vitro-fertilization was carried out or not and numbers of previous children were not significant. Conclusion : This study found that the earlier gestational ages at diagnosis, younger maternal age and higher grades of fetal heart disease tended to lead parent to select abortions. Fetal echocardiographies were performed too late. Moreover Koreans have a biased view that malformation is a something incurable and a tragedy not only to oneself, but also to a family. So parents select terminations of pregnancy, even in curable cases. This is very unethical.