• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 1991

The ability of fertilization in vitro and subsequent development of superovulated oocytes was assessed in a controlled environment using an in vitro fertilization technique. The in vitro fertilization percentage of oocytes with cumulus mass declined significantly(P<0.05) with increased doses from 4~10 to 16~40IU of PMSG for superovulation. However, the porportion of polyspermic penetration varied from 2.3 to 9.7% and there was no significant difference between treatments in incidence of polyspermy. When morphologically normal ova with cumulus mass were cultured for 66~72h in a plastic mini-straw to undergo fertilization in vitro, the mean percentage of embryos developed to 2-16 and 4-16cell stage was 61.8 and 17.6%; it was slightly(P<0.05) superior to the corresponding results from petri dish. A total of 52 two-cell embryos fertilized in a mini-straw were transferred to seven pseudopregnant rat. Among these recipients, two normal young were born from one recipient which received a total of six embryos. These results suggest that superovulated oocytes are proportionately less competent than normally ovulated oocytes to undergo fertilization in a controlled environment using an in vitro fertilization technique. Also, a plastic mini-straw designed was slightly superior to petri dish as a culture vessel for fertilization and embryo development in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.1076-1079
• /
• 2004

Antibiotics are common additives in culture media during in vitro embryo development, but their effects on oocyte maturation in vitro have not been tested. The effects of penicillin, streptomycin and gentamicin on the maturational competence and subsequent development potential of goat follicular oocytes were examined after parthenogenetic activation in vitro. Maturation rates at 24 h after in vitro maturation, and parthenogenetic development at 48 h after activation, were evaluated by observing the protruding first polar body and the 4 cell stage cleavage, respectively. When streptomycin was present in the maturation medium, the percentages of matured oocytes 24 h after activation were significantly (p<0.01) lower than those from the other groups (42.5-45.7% vs. 69.1-73.8%). Penicillin and gentamicin treatment did not affect the maturation rates or the percentages reaching the 4 cell stage 48 h after activation. There was no significant difference in cleavage rates among the different antibiotic treatments 48 h after activation. Therefore, streptomycin suppresses the in vitro maturation of immature goat oocytes, but does not influence their subsequent development.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.48-49
• /
• 2001

While transgenic manipulation in mice have been very successful the same is not true for cattle and pigs. The inability to isolate ES cells from the bovine and porcine has precluded the utilization of the gene targeting technology in these species. Fortunately new advances in cloning by nuclear transfer have opened up a unique opportunity to undertake precise genetic modification in cattle and pigs. The ability of a number of different laboratory groups to successfully clone cattle is due to numerous research programs focused on nuclear transfer in cattle, and the enormous base of knowledge developed over the last 20 years involving the application of assisted reproductive techniques in cattle. Successful and repeatable procedures for in vitro oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro embryo culture are now well established for cattle. In our laboratory we have utilized nuclear transfer to reproduce the genotypes of several animals, selected for cloning based on their inherent genetic value. Results that we have obtained to date are similar to those reported by other laboratories. (omitted)

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2021

Background: There are no guidelines for the optimal incubation time or temperature to improve pregnancy outcomes in testicular sperm extraction-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (TESE-ICSI) cycles. We aimed to evaluate whether a 24-hour in vitro culture of testicular spermatozoa affects pregnancy outcomes in TESE-ICSI cycles. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 83 TESE-ICSI cycles using testicular spermatozoa in 46 couples with male partners suffering from nonobstructive or obstructive azoospermia. Sperm retrieval was performed either on the oocyte retrieval (OR) day (65 cycles in 33 couples; group A) or on the day before OR (18 cycles in 13 couples; group B) followed by in vitro culture for 24 hours. The clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes, including the number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rates, embryo transfer rates, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates, were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no differences in terms of clinical characteristics except for the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in males. Group B had higher LH levels than group A (4.56±1.24 IU/L vs. 3.67±1.07 IU/L, p= 0.017). Group B showed higher fertilization rate (72.4%±32.1% vs. 59.2%±21.7%, p=0.045), implantation rate (35.0%±34.1% vs. 14.0%±21.5%, p=0.010), pregnancy rate per cycle (80% vs. 39%, p=0.033), and clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (80% vs. 37.5%, p=0.024) than those of group A. Conclusion: Testicular sperm retrieval performed on the day before OR followed by in vitro culture can potentially improve pregnancy outcomes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 1984

The success of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) & embryo transfer (ET) has focused attention on the culture conditions that can provide optimal development of the preimplantation embryo. Studies of in vitro fertilization using mouse have direct implications to human IVF, since similar conditions are used for both species. Mouse IVF as a quality control system for human IVF & ET was studied since Feb., 1984. The results were as follows: 1. Egg retrieval following superovulation in IeR mice was l5.1${\pm}$5.3 eggs ovulated/mouse (Mean${\pm}$ S.D.) 2. In vitro cleavage rate was 61.7% (1146 eggs cleaved/l858 eggs inseminated) and % blastocyst was 42.6%. 3. In comparison with two media of Ham's F-10 and m-KRB, in vitro cleavage rate were 40.9%/63.l% and %blastocyst were 44.3%/61.2% (P<0.05). 4. It was concluded that mouse IVF system has a valuable place in human IVF & ET as a quality-control system and in human reproductive physiology as a research model.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.307-313
• /
• 1997

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of quality and viability of bovine blastocysts derived from in-vitro culture(IVC) of in vitro matured and fertilized(IVM-IVF) oocytes during their transport 2 hours. Follicular oocytes were collected form ovaries obtained at a slaughterhouse and were cultured for 24 hours in TCM-199. The IVM oocytes were fertilized in vitro with caudal epididymis spermatozoa. Fertilized oocytes were cultured for 7 to 9 days, and embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage were used for the experiment. The blastocysts, packed in straws with storage medium that consisted TCM-199 with HEPES equilibratd in air and supplemented with 10% FCS were transported at 39~(2.0 h). The quality of blastocysts was assessed and ranked as A(excel-lent), B(Good), fair or poor after transportation. The percentages of A and B grade blastocysts after transport duration for < 1 hours(97.7%) were similar to the result from transport duration for 1~2 hours (92.9%) and 2~3 hours(89.6%), but significantly(P<0.05) higher than transpot duration for 3~4 hours(76.3%). The percentages of A and B grade blastocysts after transport duration for two hours from developed blastocyst at 7day(100%) and 8day(85.0%) were higher 9day(96.6%) and >9day (40.0%). And early to expanded blastocyst produced in vitro were transferred to recipient cow by additional embryos at 7 and 8th day after AI. Three of them were pregnant to term and produced four twin calves, and two calves was premature birth. The gestation lengths of male to female and female to female twin were 282 and 281 days, respectively. And birth weight of twin calves were male to female(22.Skg) and female to female twin(20.3Okg), respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of tissue inhibitor of matalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Activin A and Heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) on in vitro production of bovine embryos. In experiment 1, presumptive zygotes were cultured in the medium supplemented with TIMP-1 ($0.5{\mu}g/ml$), Activin A (100 ng/ml), or HB-EGF (100 ng/ml) at $39^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% (v/v) $CO_2$, 5% (v/v) $O_2$ and 90% (v/v) $N_2$. In experiment 2, TIMP-1 + HB-EGF or Activin A + HB-EGF combinations were supplemented in the culture medium. The developmental rate to blastocysts, hatching rate and total cell numbers of the blastocysts were evaluated in both experiments. The embryos cultured in medium without growth factor supplementation was used as control group. In experiment 1, the embryos cultured in medium supplemented with TIMP-1 and Activin A showed significantly higher developmental rate to blastocysts than those cultured with HB-EGF and control (36.9%, 34.1%, 21.2% and 23.1%, respectively) (P<0.0001). However, the hatching rate of blastocyst was significantly higher in embryos with HB-EGF than those with TIMP-1, Actvin A and Control groups (84.4%, 58.8%, 51.4% and 49.3%, respectively) (P<0.001). Total cell number per blastocyst was also significantly higher in embryos with HB-EGF group ($174.3{\pm}2.5$) than those with TIMP-1, Activin A (149.7 and 150.0, respectively) (P<0.05) and Control (119.0) (P<0.001). In experiment 2, embryos cultured with combined treatment of Activin A and HB-EGF resulted in significantly higher rates of blastocysts formation (48.0%), hatching rate (89.7%) and total cell number in blastocyst ($182.3{\pm}2.1$) than those with TIMP-1 and HB-EGF combination group (32.0%, P<0.001; 76.6%, P<0.05; $165.7{\pm}4.2$, P<0.001, respectively). Our data demonstrate that in vitro production of bovine embryos could be improved by combined supplementation of Activin A and HB-EGF in culture medium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.108-108
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this is to investigate the effects of vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS) on in vitro survival of porcine embryos. Blastocysts were produced by in vitro fertilization of slaughterhouse-derived, in vitro matured oocytes with frozen-thawed boar semen, and subsequent culture on granulosa cell monolayer. After frozen-thawing, embryos were culture in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 4 mg/$m\ell$ BSA and 10 ng/$m\ell$ for 48 hrs to survival tests. When blastocysts were frozen-thawed by OPS methods, the embryos with normal morphology were 32.1, 34.5 and 38.9 % in early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyat stages. The rates of partial damaged embryos were significantly (P<0.05) higher in early biastocysts than expanded blastocysts. In another experiment, the embryos frozen by OPS methods were cultured for 48 hrs for survival and developmental rates in vitro. The proportions of embryos hatched were 11.8, 20.2 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. On the other hand, The proportions of embryo with normal morphology after culture were 23.5, 25.0 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. These finding indicate the possible broader application for OPS methods that this procedure described is relatively harmless, that it can be used for blastocysts of different developmental stages.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of type of culture media (BM, G2, OS, TCM, and MEM) on B6D2F1 mice oogenesis. In the present study, B6D2F1/CrljOri $F_1$ mice were utilized in order to maximize oogenesis. Also we used TCM-199, Dulbecco's medified Eagle's medium (DMEM), embryo culture medium (Fertilization medium, Cleavage medium, Blastocyst medium), G series medium and One step medium. In vitro maturation was highest in BM followed by the order of OS, MEM, TCM and G2 ($90{\pm}2.8%>88{\pm}3.2%>85{\pm}4.9%>78{\pm}10.2%>64{\pm}7.7%$, respectively). To note, the G2 group was statistically different compared to other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand the fertilization rate was highest in the G2 group followed by BM, OS, TCM, and MEM ($87{\pm}7.2%>85{\pm}6.9%>74{\pm}14.0%>71{\pm}13.8%>2{\pm}1.4%$, respectively). The MEM group was significantly lower compared to other groups (p<0.05). The developmental rate was highest in the OS group followed by the G2 group and the BM group albeit no statistical significance was noted ($73{\pm}11.6%>71{\pm}9.2%>66{\pm}10.4%$). Of note, all cells of the TCM and MEM groups were died during embryonic development. The zona hatched rate ($51{\pm}9.8%$ vs. $50{\pm}9.1%$ vs. $47{\pm}7.2%$ for BM, G2, and OS respectively) and attached rate ($45{\pm}12.3%$ vs. $38{\pm}16.1%$ vs. $37{\pm}11.5%$ for BM, G2, and OS respectively) were not different amongst groups. No difference was found in total cell numbers ($74{\pm}13.9$ vs. $64{\pm}9.2$ vs. $76{\pm}6.7$ for BM, G2, and OS respectively), ICM cell numbers ($20{\pm}1.9$ vs. $14{\pm}1.8$ vs. $15{\pm}2.1$), TE cell numbers ($55{\pm}12.5$ vs. $49{\pm}10.7$ vs. $61{\pm}5.9$), % ICM ($30{\pm}2.8%$ vs. $24{\pm}7.0%$ vs. $22.8{\pm}2.2%$) and ICM:TE ratio ($1:2{\pm}0.5$ vs. $1:3.1{\pm}0.8$ vs. $1:3.1{\pm}0.5$) amongst groups. In summary, these results can provide fundamental data to maximize culture condition for in vitro fertilization on B6D2F1 mice.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.281-294
• /
• 2021

Although somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is frequently employed to produce cloned animals in laboratories, this technique is expensive and inefficient. Therefore, the handmade cloning (HMC) technique has been suggested to simplify and advance the cloning process, however, HMC wastes many oocytes and leads to mitochondrial heteroplasmy. To solve these problems, we propose a modified handmade cloning (mHMC) technique that uses simple laboratory equipment, i.e., a Pasteur pipette and an alcohol lamp, applying it to porcine embryo cloning. To validate the application of mHMC to pig cloning, embryos produced through SCNT and mHMC are compared using multiple methods, such as enucleation efficiency, oxidative stress, embryo developmental competence, and gene expression. The results show no significant differences between techniques except in the enucleation efficiency. The 8-cell and 16-cell embryo developmental competence and Oct4 expression levels exhibit significant differences. However, the blastocyst rate is not significantly different between mHMC and SCNT. This study verifies that cloned embryos derived from the two techniques exhibit similar generation and developmental competence. Thus, we suggest that mHMC could replace SCNT for simpler and cheaper porcine cloning.