• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.193-202
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• 2011

Objective: We found previously that $interferon$ $regulatory$ factor ($Irf$)-1 is a germinal vesicle (GV)-selective gene that highly expressed in GV as compared to metaphase II oocytes. To our knowledge, the function of $Irf-1$ in oocytes has yet to be examined. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between retinoic acid (RA) and RA-mediated expression of $Irf-1$ and the mouse oocyte maturation. Methods: Immature cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected from 17-day-old female mice and cultured $in$ $vitro$ for 16 hours in the presence of varying concentrations of RA (0-10 ${\mu}M$). Rate of oocyte maturation and activation was measured. Gene expression was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cytokine secretion in the medium was measured by Bio-Plex analysis. Apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: The rates of oocyte maturation to metaphase II and oocyte activation increased significantly with RA treatment (10 nM-1 ${\mu}M$). With 100 nM RA treatment, lowest level of $Irf-1$ mRNA and cumulus cell's apoptosis was found. Among 23 cytokines measured by Bio-Plex system, the substantial changes in secretion of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\beta}$, eotaxin and interleukin-12 (p40) from COCs in response to RA were detected. Conclusion: We concluded that the maturation of oocytes and $Irf-1$ expression are negatively correlated, and RA enhances the developmental competence of mouse immature oocytes $in$ $vitro$ by suppressing apoptosis of cumulus cells. Using a mouse model, results of the present study provide insights into improved culture conditions for $in$ $vitro$ oocyte maturation and relevant cytokine production and secretion in assisted reproductive technology.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 1987

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of hormone addition(FSH, HCG, estrogen and progesterone) and composition (BSA and FCS) of mKRB on the in vitro maturation and fertilizability of follicular oocytes of the Korean native cattle. The ovaries were removed at a slaughterhouse, returned to laboratory in a thermostat (30-35$^{\circ}C$) within 4 hr, and collected by aspirating normal follicles which had diameters of 1 to 6 mm. The oocytes with cumulus cells were cultured for 8, 16, 24 and 30 hr in a modified KRB solution containing BSA or FCS and hormones. The in vitro matured oocytes in mKRB containing FCS, FSH and steroids were transferred in the rabbit uterus for examination of their in vivo fertilizability with bovine sperm preincubated 4 to 6 hr in the rabbit uterus. 1. The mean number of oocytes collected per cattle was 6.5 from 1-3mm follicles, 1.3 from 4-6mm follicles, and total was 7.7. 2. The meiotic division at 16hr-cuture in the oocytes from 1-3mm follicles was slightly stimulated by the addition of FSH in mKRB + BSA solution compared with the control. At 30hr-culture, their maturation rates(%Met II) were also increased by FSH of 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml(38.4%) and 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml(35.7%) as compared with the control (21.4%). The maturation rate at 30hr-culture in the oocytes from 4-6mm follicles was 53.8% and 57.1% by the FSH addition of 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. These rates were similar with the control(57.1%), but higher than those of oocytes from 1-3mm follicles. 3. The meiotic division at 16hr-culture in the oocytes from 1-3mm follicles was stimulated by the HCG addition of 1IU/ml and 5IU/ml. However, the maturation rate at 30hr-culture was greatly decreased by the HCG addtion (26.6% and 13.3%) compared with the control(53.3%) and these rates (30.8%) in the oocytes from 4-6mm follicles were also lower than that fo the control(58.3%). 4. Low maturation rate (37.5%) of the oocytes cultured in mKRB containing BSA and 5IU/ml HCG was increased (55.0%) when 15% FCS with HCG was added to mKRB instead of BSA. 5. When 16hr-cultured oocytes in mKRB containing BSA and gonadotropins (5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH and 5IU/ml HCG) were transferred in the medium without gonadotropins and recultured for 16hr, the maturation rate of HCG-treated oocytes was greatly improved. 6. The maturation rates of oocytes were greatly affected by steroids. The combined addition of FCS+FSH+estrogen or +progesterone to mKRB increased the maturation rate compared with the combination of BSA+FSH or FCS+FSH in mKRB. 7. The fertilization rate, presence of pronuclei, was increased by the combination of FCS+FSH+p in mKRB as compared with that (5.6%) of BSA+FSH and the rates of FCS+FSH+steroids ranged from 12.5 to 17.6%.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

This study was performed to examine the effects of various macromolecules in in vitro growth (IVG) media on the growth, maturation, and parthenogenesis (PA) of pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles (SAF). Immature oocytes were cultured for two days in IVG medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10% (v/v) pig follicular fluid (PFF), 0.4% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (BSA), or 0.1% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and then maintained for 44 h for maturation. After IVG, the mean diameters of the SAF treated with FBS, PVA, and no IVG-MAF ($113.0-114.8{\mu}m$) were significantly larger than that of no IVG-SAF ($111.8{\mu}m$). The proportion of metaphase II oocytes was higher in PFF (73.6%) than in BSA (43.5%) and PVA (53.7%) but similar to that in the FBS treatment (61.5%). FBS and PFF increased cumulus expansion significantly compared to PVA and BSA while the intraoocyte glutathione content was not influenced by the macromolecules. Blastocyst formation of PA oocytes treated with FBS (51.8%), PFF (50.4%), and PVA (45.2%) was significantly higher than that of the BSA-treated oocytes (20.6%). These results show that the PFF and FBS treatments during IVG improved the growth, maturation, and embryonic development of SAF.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2014

The objectives of the study were to determine an effective culture dish, culture duration and protein supplementation in medium for in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes of native zebu cows in Bangladesh. The ovaries of cows were collected from local slaughterhouse followed by aspiration of follicular fluid. The cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) with more than 3 compact cumulus cell layers were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 for maturation. The maturation of oocytes was determined by observing polar body under microscope. To determine an effective culture dish, 130 COCs derived from 48 ovaries in a well of 4-well dish and 102 COCs derived from 36 ovaries in drops covered with mineral oil within 35 mm petri dish were cultured for 24 hours. The rate of maturation of oocytes did not vary between 4-well dish ($51.3{\pm}15.0%$) and drops in petri dish ($52.4{\pm}11.6%$). To determine the effective culture duration, 185 COCs derived from 62 ovaries were cultured in drops for 18, 21, 24 and 27 hours. The rate of maturation of occytes ranged from $51.9{\pm}9.4%$ (18 hours) to $59.0{\pm}17.1%$ (27 hours) and the difference in maturation rate among different culture durations was not significant (P>0.05). To determine an effective protein supplementation, 63 oocytes from 19 ovaries were cultured separately in TCM 199 supplemented with either fetal bovine serum (FBS) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The rate of maturation was significantly (P<0.01) higher in medium supplemented with FBS ($55.63{\pm}16.19%$) than that of BSA ($14.82{\pm}9.36%$). In conclusion, COCs of native zebu cows can be cultured for IVM either in 4-well culture dish or droplets in petri dish for 18 to 27 hours in medium supplemented with FBS.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.22-35
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3532-3536
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• 2012

Understanding of the maternal transcriptome increased to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of normal oocyte maturation, which depends on a precise sequence of changes in maternal genes expression. Previous reports that the translational potential of a maternal mRNA is generally determined by the length of the poly(A) tail, and deadenylation is usually the first sign of mRNA degradation. However, in vitro cultured system has the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We determined whether the role of molecular basis, four important maternal genes, C-mos, cyclin-B1 (regulatory subunit of MPF), BMP15 and GDF9, were selected for detection of their precise mRNA expression patterns by real-time PCR and for determination of their polyadenylation status by poly(A) tail PCR during oocyte maturation. In the present study. the abnormal expression of maternal mRNAs prior to zygotic genome activation, which results in suppression of the corresponding protein level, may be responsible for, at least in part, a profound defect in further embryonic development. Reasonable expression of maternal gene is crucial for proper oocyte maturation and further embryonic development.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 1997

This study was carried out to determine the effect of bovine follicular fluid(bFF), hormones, and fetal bovine serum(FBS) supplemented in the medium on the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine embryos. The ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir and placed in physiological saline kept at 30~32˚C and brought to the laboratory within 3~4 hours. The oocytes and follicular fluid were collected by aspiration from visible follicles, and the oocytes of grades I on the basis of the morphology of cumulus cells attached and the homogeneity of cytoplasmic granules were selected and used for maturation. The basal media used for oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development in vitro were Ham' F-10, TALP and TCM-199, respectively. The hormones supplemented in maturation medium were consisted of 35 pg /ml FSH, 10 pg /ml LH and 1 pg/mi estradiol-l7$\beta$. The bFF collected from 5~9 mm follicles was centrifuged, filtered and inactivated by heat-treatment at 56˚C for 30 min. FBS also was inactivated with the same method and kept at -20˚C until use. The embryos were co-cultured with the monolayer of bovine oviductal epithelial cells at 39˚C under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 9 days. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The fertilization rate of oocytes was found 87.4% from 10% FBS and hormones treatment for IVM, and 37.1% of these TVF embryos were developed to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS groups. Compared with this control system, the fertilization rate was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in the maturation without either FBS or hormones. These IVF embryos were developed to morula stage at the similar rate, but to blastocyst at significantly(P<0.05) lower rate in the embryo culture with or without FBS supplementation. The fertilization rate(82.9%) in hormones and 10% inactivated bFF was similar with 10% FBS and hormone groups(87.4%), but decreased significantly(P<0.05) in 20 or 30% bFF (61.0 or 66.0%), respectively. In vitro developmental competence to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS and 20% inactivated bFF(37.1% and 31.4%) was higher than in 10 or 30% inactivated bFF(20.0 or 19.2%) or 10, 20 and 30% fresh bFF(19.1, 21.0 and 17.5%) The results indicated that the in vitro fertillzation and development rate of the embryos should be improved in 10% FBS or 20% inactivated culture system and 20% inactivated bFF might be available economically for bovine oocyte maturation and embryo culture instead of fetal bovine serum.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 1993

Canine follicular oocytes were used to establish a reliable system for maturation and fertilization in vitro. Ovaries were obtained from either slaughter house or hormone-primed bitches of mixed breeds. The oocytes were recovered by mincing the ovaries in M2＋BSA. Good quality of oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) were selected and cultured in TCM 199 containing 15% fetal calf serum(FCS) for 24~56 h in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 39$^{\circ}C$. Maturation rate of follicular oocytes was >87% showing metaphase I. Unlike other domestic animals the cumulus expansion did not occur fully in canine OCCs although minimum expansion was found between the cumulus cells and corona radiata cells, the clear nuclear morphology was presented for the first time by rapid staining. The IVM system used in this study may be useful to obtain fully maturated metaphase I oocyte in dog.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 2001

The objectives of the present study were to examine the relationship between catalase (0.1 mg/$m\ell$) and xanthine (5 mM) on in vitro maturation of porcine follicular oocytes. At 48 h after maturation, the proportions of oocytes matured to metaphase-II stage were significantly higher (P＜0.05) in the medium with control (72%), catalase (73%) or catalase plus xanthine (70%) than of oocytes cultured with xanthine (54%). On the other hand, oocytes cultured in medium with catalase and/or xanthine for 30 h were not significantly different in maturation rates (6~l4%). At 36, 42 and 48 h after culture, however, the maturation rates were significantly (P＜0.05) higher in medium with (49~70%) that than without (29~50%) catalase regardless of presence of xanthine. When the oocytes were cultured with periods prolonged in medium with and without xanthine, the maturation rates did increase with high proportions at 72 h of culture. No significant differences, however, were observed in maturation rates between groups with and without catalase. On the other hand, degenerated oocytes were increased with culture periods, the proportions was significantly (P＜0.05) lower in medium with (28%) than without (47%) catalase at 120 h of culture. However, there were no significant difffrences between with and without catalase in medium added xanthine. The parthenogenetic oocytes were observed from 72 h after culture in medium with xanthine, but were no significant differences between with and without catalase. From these results, it is indicated that porcine oocytes nay respond to maturation stimulus by 72 h of culture in medium with catalase and xanthine and that parthenogenesis can be obtained with prolonged culture periods.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the effects of maturation media on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine immature oocytes, and on subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development (IVD). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from antral follicles of porcine ovaries collected from abattoir, and were matured in vitro in modified NCSU-37 (mNCSU-37), modified NCSU-23 (mNCSU-23), or TCM-199 supplemented with 10% porcine follicular fluid (pFF). Oocytes matured in vitro, were fertilized in vitro in modified Tris-buffered medium(mTBM) with the final motile sperm concentration of 1${\times}$105 sperm/mL, and subsequently putative embryos were developed in vitro in NCSU-23. The results are as follows. 1. In the result of IVM, the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and of nuclear maturation were not significantly different among the media, though numeric value of them were slightly lower in TCM-199 than in mNCSU-37 or in mNCSU-23. 2. In the result of IVF, though the rate of sperm penetration was not significantly different among the maturation media, the percentage of oocytes with male pronucleus (MPN) of ones matured in mNCSU-37 (88.0%) was significantly higher than in TCM-199 (71.1%) (p<0.05). 3. In the result of IVD, the percentage of cleaved oocytes of ones matured in mNCSU-37 (52.3%) or in mNCSU-23 (53.7%) was significantly higher than in TCM-199 (43.1%) (p<0.05), but the rate of blastocysts at day 6 was not significantly different among the maturation media, though putative embryos from oocytes matured in mNCSU-37 or in mNCSU-23 were developed more than in TCM-199. These results suggested that mNCSU-37 or mNCSU-23 was more appropriate than TCM-199 as IVM medium for porcine immature oocytes.