• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to study the determination of survival of vitrified and thawed mammal follicular oocytes by FDA-test. Oocytes were divided into 3 groups according to attachment of cumulus cell. Group A oocytes were tightly surrounded by cumulus cell, group B oocytes were partially surrounded by cumulus cell, and group C oocytes were poorly surrounded by cumulus cell. Vitrification solution developed by our previous study (Kim et al, 1992) which consisted of permeable agent (20 % glycerol + 10 % ethylene glycol) and nonpermeable agent (30 % Ficoll + 10 % sucrose). Oocytes (7~10) loaded into 0.25 ml straw after 10 min equilibration were plunged into liquid nitrogen (- 196$^{\circ}C$) directly. The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group A oocytes was higher in rat (4.2) than in rabbit (3.9), cow (3.8), mouse (3.4) and porcine (2.4), however that of cumulus cell was higher in rabbit (4.7) than in rat (4.1), cow (2.9), porcine (2.6) and mouse (1.4). The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group B oocytes were 3.1 (cow), 2.9 (rabbit), 2.9 (mouse), 2.6 (rat) and 2.5 (porcine), respectively. However that of cumulus cell was higher in rabbit (3.7) than in porcine (2.6), rat (2.3), cow (1.7) and mouse (0.3). The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group C oocytes was higher in mouse (4.1) than in cow (2.9), rabbit (2.6), rat (1.3) and porcine (1.1). As shown in the above results, The survival rates of oocytes were higher in group A than in group B and C except in mouse and cow. These results suggest that the survival of cumulus cell as well as follicular oocytes can be reliably judged by their fluorescence with FDA-test.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2015

Objective: Great advances have been made in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) since the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby was born in Korea. This study was designed to report on the current status of ART therapy in South Korea between January 1 and December 31 of 2010. Methods: A revised survey, originally developed by the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies, was sent to all available ART centers via email in 2013. Fresh embryo transfer (FET) cases were categorized into standard IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injections. These cases, the thawing embryo transfer (TET) cases, and other related procedures were surveyed. Results: Data from 30,785 ART procedures were provided by 78 clinics. Of the 28,200 cycles in which oocytes were retrieved, 92.2% of these cycles were completely transferred. In addition, 8,075 cycles were confirmed to be clinical pregnancies in the FET cycles, which represent a pregnancy rate of 28.6% per oocyte pick-up and 31.1% per embryo transfer. The most common number of embryos transferred in the FET was three embryos (37.3%) followed by two embryos (36.3%) and one embryo (14.0%). Of the 6,648 TET cycles transferred, 2,356 clinical pregnancies were confirmed by ultrasonography. The most common number of embryos in the TET group was two embryos (43.4%) followed by three embryos (25.4%) and one embryo (18.9%). Conclusion: The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer in the FET cycles was similar in 2009 and 2010. Among the FET cycles where one or two embryos were transferred, the clinical pregnancy rate per transfer slightly increased from 2009 (28.7%) to 2010 (32.9%).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2011

This study was carried out to confirm the effects of luteotrophin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and an anti-luteolytic agent, flunixin meglumin (FM), on pregnancy rates in Hanwoo with in vitro produced (IVP) embryo transfers (ET), and to research the effects on the estrus cycle. Treatments included hCG and FM administration 3~10 minutes prior to ET. Also, pregnancy rates were compared with lidocane treatment and FM treatment prior to ET. The results are shown below. 30-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the hCG-treated group and 75.7% in the FM-treated group. Both rates were higher than the 70% rate for the control group. 42-day pregnancy rate was 76.7% in the FM-treated group. This was higher than 66.7% recorded for both the hCG-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rate of the hCG-treated group was high at Day 30 (76.7%) but low at Day 40 (66.7%), and there were no differences from the FM-treated and control groups. The recurrent estrus rate of infertile individuals at 2 weeks after ET was 36.4% in the hCG-treated group, under 71.4% in the FM-treated group and 80.0% in the control group. The non-pregnancy rate of individuals without recurrent estrus was 18.2% in the hCG-treated group, which was higher than the 0% rate in both the FM-treated and control groups. The pregnancy rates were higher in the FM-treated group than the Lidocane-treated group with 72.3% versus 67.5% in the heifers and 48.9% versus 43.6% in the cows. From the above results, the FM treatment proved more effective than the hCG treatment and no treatment whatsoever in increasing pregnancy rates after ET. In addition, hCG treatment was shown to be undesirable due to the deviations it caused in the reproductive physiology of the hCG-treated recipients. Therefore, in our study, the FM treatment resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than either lidocaine treatment or no-treatment in the trials of ET.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2015

Objective: Embryo loading (EL) is a major step in embryo transfer (ET) and affect on the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aimed to compare the effect of two different EL techniques on the rates of pregnancy and delivery in IVF/ET cycles. Methods: 207 fresh ET and 194 Frozen-thawed ET (FET) cycles were included in this retrospective study. Two groups (A and B) were defined based on the EL technique used. In group A, the entire catheter was flushed with Ham's F-10 medium. The embryos were then drawn into the catheter using one air bracket. In group B, $70{\mu}L$ of air was aspirated into the syringe and the catheter was flushed using Ham's F10 medium. The medium, air, embryos, air, and finally another layer of medium were then sequentially drawn into the catheter. The main outcome measures were the pregnancy and delivery rates. Results: The groups did not differ with respect to the etiology of infertility, the source of spermatozoa, the quality of the embryos, the type of EL catheter, and the ease of transfer. The pregnancy rate was similar between two groups. In fresh ET cycles, a higher delivery rate was observed in group B than it group A (78.1% vs. 60%, p=0.1). In FET cycles, the rate of delivery was significantly higher in group B than in group A to a nonsignificant extent (88.9% vs. 58.8%, p=0.06). Conclusion: EL techniques did not have a significant impact on the delivery rate in either fresh or FET cycles.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1057-1064
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• 2005

Apoptosis may occur in early embryos where the execution of essential developmental events has failed, and gangliosides, sialic acid-conjugated glycosphingolipids, are proposed to regulate cell differentiation and growth. To evaluate the regulatory roles of ganglioside GM3 in early embryonic development, this study examined its expressional patterns in apoptotic cells during early embryonic development in mice. Pre-implanted embryos were obtained by in vitro fertilization, which were treated at the 4-cell stage with three the apoptosis inducers, actinomycin D, camptothecin and cycloheximide, for 15 h. All three inducers significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, as measured using a TUNEL method, but remarkably reduced the total cell numbers. The numbers of morula and blastocyst stages were significantly decreased by treatment of the embryos with the three apoptosis inducers compared with the control, with a similar result also observed in the number of blastomeres. Staining of early embryos with Hoechst 33342 revealed a significant percentage of apoptotic nuclei. Prominent immunofluo­rescence microscopy revealed a significant difference in the ganglioside GM3 expression in apoptotic embryos compared with the control, and RT-PCR also demonstrated a dramatic increase in ganglioside GM3 synthase mRNA in the apoptotic embryos. These results suggest that ganglioside GM3 may be pathophysiologically implicated in the regulation of early embryonic development through an apoptotic mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2002

Although successful pronuclear formation and apposition were seen in porcine oocytes following mouse sperm injection, little is known on the morphology of male and female pronuclei following sperm injection. The objective of this study is to describe the ultrastructure of porcine zygote following murine sperm injection in relation to the chronology of pronuclear S phase. At 40h ~ 44h following in vitro maturation, Cumulus cells were removed in TCM-HEPES with 0.1% hyaluronidase. Then, spermatozoa was injected into the cytoplasm of oocytes. After. injection, all oocytes were transferred to NCSU23 medium and cultured at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. Oocytes were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde in Dulbeccos phosphate-buffered saline and observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Nuclear precursor bodies were observed in each pronucleus. A cluster of large and small granules was attached in the nucleolus precursor body. After the apposition of male and female chromatin, chromatin condensation was observed throughout the nucleoplasm and nucleolus precursor bodies and condensed chromatin in contact with clusters of small and large granules and the nuclear envelope were found in apposed pronuclear regions. These results suggest that non-species specific nuclear cytoplasmic interactions take place during pronuclear formation and apposition following sperm injection.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2024

Objective: This study investigated the metabolic status of the spent culture media from embryos of patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in comparison with the embryos from healthy fertile women. Methods: Metabolite levels in spent culture media were assessed and compared between embryos from RIF patients (n=35) and oocyte donors as controls (n=15). Protein levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were determined using Western blotting. Concentrations of glucose, pyruvate, and lactate were measured using spectrophotometry. Ionic colorimetric assay kits were utilized to analyze the concentrations of sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium ions. High-performance liquid chromatography was employed to measure the concentrations of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, methionine, phenylalanine, and histidine. Results: Glucose consumption and lactate secretion were higher in the control group than in the RIF group. The magnesium concentration was significantly higher in the control group than in the RIF group, but glutamic acid and aspartic acid concentrations were lower in the control group than in the RIF patients (p<0.05). The levels of IGF-1, sodium, calcium, chloride, methionine, histidine, and phenylalanine did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: The metabolic profile of the culture medium of the embryos in the RIF group differed from that of the control group. These findings suggest potential factors that may affect implantation capacity in RIF patients and provide a new perspective on embryo selection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 1999

Bovine oocytes with compact and complete cumulus cells were cultured in 6 groups for up to 24h in TCM199 buffered with 25 mmol/1 HEPES and supplemented with 10% FCS, 1 mg/ml $17{\beta}$-estradiol, 20 IU/ml hCG. Half of the oocytes at each group cultured in the presence of $25{\mu}g/ml$ cycloheximide at different times during maturation (0, 6, 12, 18, 20, 22 h) were fixed at 24 h of maturation to examine the nuclear progression. The rests of them were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa in medium BO with 10 mg/ml BSA and 10 mg/ml heparin and fixed after additional 18-20 h culture to evaluate the sperm head transformation. When a protein synthesis inhibitor was added at the onset of the maturation, the oocytes were prevented to proceed GVBD. A few of the oocytes (16%) were able to be penetrated and sperm head decondensation was inhibited either. Addition of cycloheximide after 6-12 h of culture resulted in an increasing percentage of GVBCD (more than 80%), but the oocytes became arrested in M-I (69.2%). More than half of the oocytes was penetrated with a decondensing sperm head. Formation of male pronucleus was first obtained at 12 h of culture in the presence of cycloheximide. When cycloheximide was added from 18 h of culture onwards, nuclear progression to M-II was increasingly restored (80.4-85.5%). The proportion of male and female pronuclear formation increased from 17.9% to 46.2%. It is concluded that protein synthesis is necessary not only for GVBD and development from M-I to M-II, but also for sperm head decendensation and male pronuclear formation in bovine oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2015

Objective: To assess compliance with Korean guidelines for embryo transfer, the possible reasons for non-compliance, and multiple pregnancies according to each specific condition in compliant cycles. Methods: A single-institution, retrospective study was conducted of 256 fresh in vitro fertilization cycles during 2012-2014. To assess compliance with Korean guidelines, the maximum recommended number of embryos transferred (according to criteria of age, transfer day, and presence of favorable conditions) was compared with the actual number of embryos transferred. Clinical pregnancy rate (PR) was assessed as the percentage of pregnant women resulting from each set of transfer conditions, including the number of embryos transferred. The multiple pregnancy rate (MPR) was calculated as the percentage of pregnant women with a multifetal pregnancy. Results: The compliance rate with the Korean guidelines was 96.5% (247/256). Non-compliance occurred in nine cycles owing to poor embryo quality, repeated implantation failure, or hostile endometrium. In compliant cycles, the PR was 31.2% (77/247), and the MPR was 27.3% (21/77; 20 twins and one triplet). Higher MPR was noted in two types of transfer conditions: transfer of three cleavage embryos in women aged 35-39 years with favorable conditions (66.7%; primarily from those aged 35-37 years) and transfer of two blastocysts in women aged ${\geq}40$ years with favorable conditions (50%). Conclusion: Under the Korean guidelines, compliance rate was high in our center. Multiple pregnancies occurred primarily in group with favorable conditions. In high-risk groups for multiple pregnancies, reducing number of embryos transferred should be considered than suggested in the guideline.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2015

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside, isolated from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. It possesses a broad range of biological and pharmacological activity including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant by acting as a free radical scavenger. Therefore, in this study, the effects of catalpol on blastocyst development, expression levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic index were investigated in porcine embryos. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, porcine embryos were cultured for 6 days in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3) supplemented with catalpol (0, 100, 200 and $400{\mu}M$, respectively). Blastocyst development not significantly improved in the catalpol treated group when compared with control group. Otherwise, the intracelluar levels of ROS were decreased and the numbers of apoptotic nuclei were reduced in the catalpol ($100{\mu}M$) treated porcine blastocysts (P<0.05). On the other hand, blastocyst development was significantly improved in the catalpol ($100{\mu}M$) treated group when compared with the untreated catalpol group under $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). Otherwise, the intracellular levels of ROS in catalpol ($100{\mu}M$) treated group were significantly decreased in the untreated catalpol group under $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). Furthermore, the total cell numbers of blastocysts were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the catalpol ($100{\mu}M$) treated group under $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) induced oxidative stress, whereas numbers of apoptoic nuclei were significantly reduced (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results indicate that treatment of catalpol may have important implications for improving developmental competence and preimplantation quality of porcine embryos through its anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effect.