• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to evaluate the variation of fertilizing ability following the morphologically normal sperm ratio in porcine IVF using epididymal sperm The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: 1. When the penetration rate (PR), polysper my rate (PSR), pronuclei formation (2PNF) and mean number of sperm (MNS) per oocyte were evaluated according to the percentage of morphologically normal epididyrnal sperm at insemination($\leq$lO%, 10~30% and $\geq$50%). the PR and PSR of $\leq$50% group (82.4, 87.4%) were significantly higher than those of other two groups ($\leq$lO%; 29.7%, 22.6% and 10~30%; 20.3, 37.0%) (p<0.01). Also, the 2PNF per examined oocytes was significantly high in $\geq$ 50% group (p<0.01). 2. When the $\geq$50% group in epididymal sperm was adjusted to 100% (5x1$^5$ cells/ml) , the PSR and 2PNF were not different between epididymal sperm (86.7, 35.1%) and frozen-thawed ejaculated sperm (86.0. 39.4%) although the PR in epididymal sperm (79.7%) was significantly lower than that in frozen-thawed ejaculated sperm (95.5%)(p<0.01). 3. Also. when the PR, PSR, 2PNF and MNS of epididymal sperm were evaluated according to the oocyte: sperm ratio (1:6000, 1:6650. 1:7700 and 1: 10000) at insemination. the PR, PSR and MNS were increased as the oocyte:sperm ratio increases. However, this result indicated that the 2PNF was high in the oocyte:sperm ratio (1:6000 and 1:6650). Therefore. these results suggested that when the percentage of morphologically normal epididymal sperm was more than 50. the fertilizing a ability was very similar to that of frozen-thawed ejaculated sperm and that the detailed evalu¬a ation of morphological normality in porcine IVF using epididymal sperm should be prerequisite to obtain the more effective fertilizing ability.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2005

The ovaries from Hanwoo and Holstein were collected from labattoir and transferred to laboratory. Oocytes were aspirated and incubated in $CO_2$ incubator for 24 hours for maturation. Oocytes were coincubated with the sperms for 5 hours. Cleaved oocytes were selected 48 hours after coincubation and half of the medium was changed newly every 48 hour until blastocyst formation. Cleavage rate and blastocyst rate were investigated according to different breeds and different status of cumulus cells surrounding the oocytes. Blastocysts were either transferred to the recipients or frozen until use. The result of embryo transfer with fresh or frozen embryos was investigated. The rate of male offspring following embryo transfer was also investigated. The rate of cleavage was $66.4\%$ for Hanwoo and $62.4\%$ for Holstein oocytes. The rate of cleavage according to status of oocyte was shown highest in the oocytes completely surrounded with cumulus cells and lowest in denuded oocytes for both Hanwoo and Holstein oocytes. The rate of blastocyst from cleaved oocytes was $40.6\%$ for Hanwoo and $36.9\%$ for Holstein. The rate of pregnancy/delivery following embryo transfer with fresh IVF embryos was $57.2\%$ for Hanwoo and $53.3\%$ for Holstein. The rate of pregnancy/delivery following embryo transfer with frozen IVF embryos was $40.9\%$ for Hanwoo and $36.4\%$ for Holstein. The rate of male calf produced by embryo transfer was $63.6\%$ for Hanwoo and $50.0\%$ for Holstein.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.425-435
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• 1998

To improve the efficiency of nuclear transplantation in bovine, in this study the development in vitro of nuclear transferred (NT) embryos was compared by different activation regimens of the enucleated oocytes. The effect of developmental stage and culture system of donor nuclei on fusion and development in vitro of NT embryos were also evaluated. Oocytes were collected from Hanwoo ovaries obtained from slaughterhouse and matured in Ham's F-10 supplemented with hormones. After 20~22 h maturation, the oocytes were vortexed to be free from cumulus cells and subsequently their nucleus and the first polar body were removed. Enucleated oocytes were divided into 3 groups for activation; the oocytes of group I were activated with ionomycin for 5 min and subsequently incubated in 6-dimetylarninopurine (DMAP) for 4 h, Those of group II were treated with DMAP for 4 h at 39 h after onset of in vitro maturation (IVM) and those of group III were kept in room temperature ($25^{\circ}C$) for 3 h at 39 h after onset of IVM. After in vitro fertilization (IVF) the embryos for muclear donor were cultured either by group culture (20 embryos /50 ${mu}ell$ drop) or individually (1 embryo /50 ${mu}ell$ drop) for 4 day and 5 day. At day 4 and 5 after IVF, blastomeres were separated in calcium-magnesium free medium, and then classified into small (day 5: $\leq$ 38 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, day 4: $\leq$ 46 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) and large (day 5 : $\geq$ 38 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, day 4 ; $\geq$ 46 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). The separated blastomeres were replaced into enucleated and activated recipient cytoplasm. The blastomere-oocyte complexes were fused by electrically. The NT embryos were cultured in TCM-199 containing 10% FCS in 39$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 7 day. The results obtained were summarized as follows; There were no differences in fusion and development to blastocyst between groups as group I (68%, 10%), group II (75%, 14%) and group III (73%, 9%), respectively. However, the cell number in blastocyst of NT embryos in group III were significantly fewer than in the other groups (P＜0.05). No differences in fusion and development to blastocyst were found between individual or group cultured and between small or large blastomeres of day 4 and day 5 donor embryos. From these results, it was concluded that the combination of ionomycin and DMAP, or treatment of DMAP at 39 h after onset of IVM were useful for the efficient of production of NT bovine embryos, and the individual cultured embryos could be simply used as donor nuclei for NT bovine embryo.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1986

Follicular flxid (FF) and their matched oocytes were obtained from 58 follicles of 27 women who underwent an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure with ovarian hyperstimulation by clomiphene citrate(n=8), hMG(n=9),FSH/hMG(n=10). Follicular aspiration was performed 36 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin administration. The concentcation of androstendione (ADD), testosterone (T) was correlated with hyperstimulation regimens, the morphology of the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex (OCCC), oocyte fertilization, and the incidence of pregnancy after embryo transfer. The results were as follows. 1. According to hyperstimulation regimens, there was no significant differance in FF ADD and T concentrations of the similar morphology of OCCC. 2. In clomiphene-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF ADD concentrations of preovulatory oocytes were 43.09${\pm}$9.53 ng/ml and 59.46${\pm}$9.09 ng/ml, those of immature occytes were 96.98${\pm}$16.55 ng/ml and 116.13${\pm}$36.81 ng/ml, those of atretic oocytes were 246.5 ${\pm}$9.25 ng/ml and 634.25${\pm}$9.25 ng/ml respectively, reflecting the significant relationship between FF ADD level and morphologic maturity of OCCC (p<0.05). But in hMG-treated cycles, such relationship was not found (p>0.1). In clomiphene-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF T concentrations of preovulatory oocytes were 11.37${\pm}$2.38 ng/ml and 11.68${\pm}$1.73 ng/ml respectively which were significantly lower than those of atretic oocytes (25.1${\pm}$7.50 ng/ml and 23.25${\pm}$0.95 ng/ml respectively) (p<0.05). But in all cycles, FF T concentrations of immature oocytes were not significantly different from those of preovulatory oocytes, artetic oocytes (p>0.1). 3. In hMG-treated and FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF ADD concentrations of fertilized oocytes were 32.43${\pm}$4.09 ng/ml and 42.61${\pm}$4.82 ng/ml respectively which were significantly lower than those of non-fertilized oocytes (72.18${\pm}$17.31 ng/ml and 108.09${\pm}$17.32 ng/ml respectively) (p<0.05), but in clomiphene-treated cycles there was no significant difference (p>0.1). In FSH/hMG-treated cycles, FF T concentration of fertilized oocytes was 7.33${\pm}$1.06 ng/ml which was significantly lower than that of non-fertilized oocytes (20.3${\pm}$6.21 ng/ml) (p>0.02), but in clomiphne-treated and hMG-treated cycles there was no significant difference (p>0.1). 4. In all cycles FF ADD and T concentrations did not correlated with the success of pregnancy after embryo transfer. Above results suggested that FF ADD and T may play an important role in oocyte maturation and fertilization, but their relationship with the success of psegnancy was not found.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to examine the cell number of Total, ICM and TE cells of bovine blastocysts according to development progression cultured in CR1 medium, which was reported as successfully supporting medium for preimplantaion bovine embryo development to the blastocyst stage, by differential labelling of the nuclei with immunosurgery and polynucleot-ide-specific fluorochromes. Blastocysts were obtained at day 8 after in vitro fertilization and classified to early, middle, expanded stage according to the developmental morphology; blastocoel expansion and zona thickness. Also, bias tocysts in the same category were divided into two parts to check the Total cell number by using bisbenzimide only and ICM, TE and Total cell number by using immunosurgery and two polynucleotide-specific fluorochromes. 1) The development rate of blastocysts at day 8 after in vitro fertilization was 29.3% and classified bIas tocysts to early, middle, expanded and hatching stage were 8.7, 9.9, 7.6 and 3.1%, respectively. 2) The numbers of total blastomere using bisbenzimide in the classified blastocysts to early, middie and expanded were 46.9${\pm}$8.6, 66.2${\pm}$12.5 and 122.8 ${\pm}$ 14.4, respectively. This indicated that CR1 is a appropriate culture medium for bovine embryo development. 3) The count of ICM and TE cell number by using differential labelling with immunosurgery and polynucleotide-specific fluorochromes in the classified blastocysts to early, middle and expanded; ICM cell numbers of were 12.8${\pm}$5.9, 26.3${\pm}$8.4 and 35.5${\pm}$15.0, respectively and TE cell numbers were 30.5${\pm}$5.0, 4 41.3${\pm}$8.2 and 81.1${\pm}$13.4, respectively. These results presented that the increase of ICM and TE cell numbers averaged two and three doublings between early and expanded blastocyst stage and also total cell number counted from ICM nuclei and TE nuclei by using differential label-ling showed the increase pattern with development advance level and the results were similar to total cell number obtained from bisbenzimide treatment only. Therefore, the differential labelling of ICM and TE nuclei in situ is a very useful technique to evaluate embryo qualities and can be used as an indicator on study of preim-plantation embryo development.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 1991

Recently the application of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist to superovulation in previous poor responders has resulted in the improved outcomes after in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. However, poor responders with poor estradiol $(E_2)$ rise or single dominant follicle are a particularly challenging group. Recent reports have also shown that patients with higher basal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level, result in poorer ovarian response and lower pregnancy rate. Analysis of the differences of superovulation outcomes according to the different protocols of GnRH agonist, long (L, n = 18) and short (S, n = 16) protocols, in patients with high basal FSH levels (>20mIU/ml) were undertaken at Seoul National University Hospital from June to October 1990. The administration of GnRH agonist was begun on day 21 of the cycle in long protocol, and on day 2 in short protocol. Ages of patients and husbands, basal FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and FSH/LH ratio did not differ significantly. Types and causes of infertility were evenly distributed. Whereas the duration of stimulation and the amounts of gonadotropins administered were significantly reduced in short protocol, the numbers of oocytes retrieved and cleaved, the cleavage rate and the number of embryos transferred were higher in long protocol without statistical signifieance. The pregnancy rate per ET was 16.7% (2/12) in short protocol, and 17.6% (3/17) in long protocol. These data suggest that both protocols result in the similar superovulation outcomes in patients with higher basal serum FSH levels.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2015

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol using corifollitropin alfa in women undergoing assisted reproduction. Methods: Six hundred and eighty-six in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were analyzed. In 113 cycles, folliculogenesis was induced with corifollitropin alfa and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH), and premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges were prevented with a GnRH antagonist. In the control group (573 cycles), premature LH surges were prevented with GnRH agonist injection from the midluteal phase of the preceding cycle, and ovarian stimulation was started with rFSH. The treatment duration, quality of oocytes and embryos, number of embryo transfer (ET) cancelled cycles, risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and the chemical pregnancy rate were evaluated in the two ovarian stimulation protocols. Results: There were no significant differences in age and infertility factors between treatment groups. The treatment duration was shorter in the corifollitropin alfa group than in the control group. Although not statistically significant, the mean numbers of matured (86.8% vs. 85.1%) and fertilized oocytes (84.2% vs. 83.1%), good embryos (62.4% vs. 60.3%), and chemical pregnancy rates (47.2% vs. 46.8%) were slightly higher in the corifollitropin alfa group than in the control group. In contrast, rates of ET cancelled cycles and the OHSS risk were slightly lower in the corifollitropin alfa group (6.2% and 2.7%) than in the control group (8.2% and 3.5%), although these differences were also not statistically significant. Conclusion: Although no significant differences were observed, the use of corifollitropin alfa seems to offer some advantages to patients because of its short treatment duration, safety, lower ET cancellation rate and reduced risk of OHSS.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2001

We evaluated the effects of the substrate and inhibitors related to phosphatidylinositol metabolism on in vitro maturation and fertilization of porcine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured in mTLP-PVA medium supplemented with or without inositol (250 mM) fur 46h. Subsequently, these oocytes were inseminated with fresh boar semen in mTALP-PVA medium for 6h. At 6h after insemination, oocytes were cultured for further 12 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS (fetal bovine serum). The higher percentage of oocytes in inositol-supplemented medium reached metaphase of the second meiotic division compared to those in control (81.4% vs. 67.3%; P<0.()5). following 18 h of insemination, more number of male pronuclei were formed in the oocytes matured in inositol-supplemented medium than in those of control experiment (42.0% vs. 27.3%; P<0.05). When oocytes were cultured in medium with 10mM LiCl (chloride lithium) or 0.5mM dbcAMP (dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate) to determine the role of inositol on the maturation of oocytes, these two drugs inhibited the meiotic division of oocytes (P<0.05). However, addition of inositol to the culture medium did overcome the inhibitory effect of these drugs on the oocyte maturation. DbcAMP and verapamil supplemented synergistically arrested the meiotic division of oocytes. Addition of verapamil did not inhibit germinal vesicle breakdown, but it severly inhibited the second meiotic division of oocytes. These results suggest that inositol exert its improving effects on maturation, by activating the PI (phosphatidylinositol) cycle and causing beneficial changes in both cytoplasm and membrane of oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of embryos development following IVF of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF). When cumulus-enclosed oocytes were incubated in TCM 199 medium supplemented with (1) control group, (2) 10 ng/ml EGF, (3) 10${\mu}g$ml FSH and 10% FBS, or (4) 10 ng/ml EGF, 10 ${\mu}g$/ml FSH, and 10% FBS for 42 hr, the late developmental rates on NCSU (0.4% BSA) medium after fertilization were higher in (3) and (4) groups (13.4, 18.3%) than in (2) group (5.2%, p < 0.005), but (2) group is significantly higher than the development to blastocyst of oocytes of (1) group (1.2%). Also, when the cell number of total, ICM, and TE of those blastocysts at 6 day produced in vitro was investigated by double staining (PI and bisbenzimide), total cell number of (4) group (58.80${\pm}$ 11.90) was higher than that of (2) and (3) groups (42.17${\pm}$9.97, 49.07${\pm}$9.77, P < 0.05). ICM cell number of blastocysts of (4) group (11.69${\pm}$5.56) was higher than that of (2) and (3) groups (5.00${\pm}$4.24, 6.77${\pm}$4. 92, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of ICM in (4) group (19.0${\pm}$1.6) was higher than that in (2) and (3) groups (11.1${\pm}$3.0, 12. 7${\pm}$2.1). These results suggested that in vitromatured porcine oocytes treated with EGF alone can be developed to blastocyst, but high proportion on the development to blastocyst and number of total cell and ICM in blastocyst can be obtained when supplemented with additional FSH and FBS.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2006

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}\;(TGF-{\beta})$ has been shown to have a positive effect on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and has been reported to stimulate meiosis at follicular level in variety of species. The study was designed to determine the expression patterns of $TGF-{\beta}1,\;TGF-{\beta}$ receptors type I, II and Smads gene in bovine oocytes and embryos. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and their receptors were observed in the unfertilized oocytes. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and type II receptor were not expressed at the blastocyst stage, however, only type I receptor was exclusively observed at the same stage. The blastocyst stage, in particular, showed high levels of mRNA expression patterns containing a $TGF-{\beta}1$ type I receptor. The mRNA expression pattern of Smad 2 at all stages of embryonic development was similar in all respect with $TGF-{\beta}1$ type I receptor. On the contrary, Smad 3 and 4 were expressed with high and low level mRNA at the blastocyst stage. In conclusion. it is suggested that $TGF-{\beta}1$ signaling may be regarded as an important entity during the preimplantation embryo development.