• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1988

Follicular fluid(FF) prostaglandin $E_2$(PG$E_2$) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ levels were compared in 3 groups of spontaneously ovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (CC) alone or with human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG) (14 patients), hMG(9 patients), or pure FSH/hMG(11 patients) for the purpose of in vitro fertilization. FF volume aspirated did not differ significantly according to the maturity of the oocyte. According to hyperstimulation regimens, the volume of FF from which preovulatory occytes were obtained was significantly less in the hMG-treated group than in the other groups. In follicles of preovulatory oocytes, FF PG$E_2$ values were significantly lower in the FSH treated group than in the Cc.treated or hMG-treated group, and FF $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ values were significantly higher in the hMG-treated group than in the CC-treated or FSH-treated group. In follicles of immature or atretic oocytes, there was no significant difference in FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ concentrations of the similar morphology of the oocyte according to hyperstimulation regimens. In all cycles, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ values of preovulatory oocytes were not significantly different from those of immature oocytes, but those of atretic oocytes were relatively lower than those of fertilizable oocytes and it was statistically signifincant in PG$E_2$ values of CC-treated group. In all treatment groups, FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ levels did not show and close relationship with the success of fertilization in vitro and of pregnancy after embryo transfer. Above results suggested that FF PG$E_2$ and PG$F_{2{\alpha}}$ be involved in oocyte maturation and ovulation, but their relationship with the success of in vitro fertilization was not found.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2002

This study was carried out to study the viability of oocytes when vitrified at various maturation stages. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from ovaries at a slaughter and then divided into five groups: control group(unvitrified oocytes), 0 hr. group(composed of oocytes vitrified before the onset of maturation) and 10, 14, and 20 hrs groups(vitrified at 10, 14 and 20 hrs after the onset of maturation, respectively). The oocytes remained vitrified for 24 hrs, and then were thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$. Survival and cleavage rates were investigated by results of in vitro culture and aceto-orcein staining or FDA test. No difference in the incidence of diploid oocytes was observed among the control, non-vitrified group(3.6%) and oocytes vitrified at 14 hrs(6.7%) or 20 hrs(1.7%). However, more diploid oocytes were detected after vitrification at 0 hr.(26.7%) and 10 hrs(21.7%) post maturation. The survival rate of all vitrified immature oocytes(12.0~38.0%) was low, 48.0% of unvitrified oocytes and oocytes vitrified before maturation or 0~ 10 hrs after the onset of maturation were higher than that of other groups. The overall fertilization and cleavage rates of vitrified immature oocytes (32.3 ~ 64.6% and 4.6 ~ 32.3%) were low, and 55.0% of unvitrified oocytes and the rate of immature oocytes were very higher than that of mature oocytes.

• 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 Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1996

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in bovine oocyte maturation in the presence or absence of serum on subsequent fertilization and embryo development. In addition, various concent rations of these growth factors were evaluated for the ability to promote development of eight-cell stage embryos to the blastocyst stage. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were recovered from 2 to 6 mm follicles obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries and cultured at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours in TCM-199 (HEPES Modification) with or with out 20 % fetal bovine serum (FBS) to which the following growth factors were added TGF$\beta$ IGF-l or TGF $\beta$ + IGF-I, all at 10 ng/ml each. The matured oocytes were fertilized in IVF-TL medium with frozen-thawed semen at a concentration of 1 ${\times}$ 10$^6$ cells/ml of fertilization medium following Percoll separation. After 24 hours of sperm-egg incubation, the embryos were transferred to CZB medium without glucose for 48 hours and then cultured in TCM-199 with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 96 hours. The addition of growth factors to IVM medium in the presence of serum had no effect on cleavage and subsequent embryo devlopment to blastocyst. In the absence of serum, TGF- improved cleavage and development to blastocyst compared to control's(p<0.05) and no synergistic effeet of IGF-I + TGF-$\beta$ was observed. In the second experiment, eight-cell embryos obtained by in vitro maturation (IVM) in TCM-199 + 20% FBS without growth facrors and in vitro fertil-ization (IVF) were cultured in the in vitro cuiture (IVC) medium supplemented with 5, 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$ or 5, 10, 50, 100 ng/ml IGF-I. Cleavage rate and development to the blastocyst stage was observed during seven days of incubation. The supplementation of 10 ng/ml TGF-$\beta$ to lVC medium for eight-cell embryos improved development to blastocyst (p<0.05) compared to control. In conclusion, these data indicate that the supplementation of growth factors to IVM medium in the presence of serum does not influence cleavage and subsequent embryo development. However, significantly more oocytes matured in serum-free TCM-199 and eight-cell embryos cultured in lVC medium developed to blastocyst with supplementation of 10ng/ml TGF-$\beta$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2002

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of the maturation media such as a modified TCM-199 (mTCM-199) medium, modified Waymouth MB 752/1 (mWaymouth MB 752/1) medium or NCSU-23 medium on penetrability of pig oocytes by liquid boar sperm. Oocytes (30~40) were transferred into each well of a Nunc 4-well multidish containing 0.5 $m\ell$ maturation medium. When immature pig oocytes were cultured in mTCM-199, mWaymouth MB 752/1 and NCSU-23 maturation media for 44 h in 5% $CO_2$, in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, the germinal vesicle breakdown (CVBD) rates of the oocytes were 95.6, 94.1 and 94.9%, respectively, and the maturation rates (metaphase II) of oocytes were 92.5, 90.1 and 91.1%, respectively. No differences were observed among the maturation media. The spermrich portion of ejaculates with greater than 90% motile sperm were used in the experiment. The semen was cooled 22 to 24$^{\circ}C$ over 2 h period. The semen was diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender at room temperature to give 2$\times$10$^{8}$ sperm/$m\ell$ in 100 $m\ell$ plastic bottle. Liquid boar semen of 30 $m\ell$ in 100 $m\ell$ plastic bottle was kept at 17$^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. The sperm with greater than 70% motility after day 5 of storage were used for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). After 44 h maturation of immature oocytes, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes (30~40) coincubated far 6 h in 0.5 $m\ell$ mTCM-199 and mTBM fertilization media with 2$\times$1061$m\ell$ sperm concentration. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 0.5 $m\ell$ mTCM-199 and NCSU-23 culture media for further culture 6 or 42 h. Sperm penetration, polyspermy and male pronuclear formation of oocytes at 12 h after IVF, and developmental ability of oocytes at 48 h after IVF were evaluated. The oocytes in combination with NCSU-23 medium for maturation and mTBM medium for IVF increased male pronuclear formation (48.0%) compared to those in combination with mTCM-199 media for maturation and IVF, and mWaymouth MB 752il medium for maturation and mTCM-199 medium far IVF. The rates of cleaved embryos (2~4 cell stage) at 48 h after IVF were 24.1% in combination with mTCM-199 media for maturation, IVF and culture, 43.6% in combination with mWaymouth MB 75211 medium fur maturation and mTCM-199 media for IVF and culture, and 71.2% in combination with NCSU-23 medium for maturation, mTBM medium for IVF and NCSU-23 medium for culture. In conclusion, we found out the oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized by liquid boar sperm stored in BTS extender at 17$^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. We recommend the simple defined NCSU-23 medium for nuclear maturation, mTBM medium and liquid boar sperm for IVF, and NCSU-23 medium for embryo culture.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 1997

This experiment was carried out to determine the possibility of using FDA on the selection of viable bovine immature oocytes. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows; 1. The rates of nuclear maturation (metaphase II) of bovine oocytes according to FDA concentration were 92.5% (37/40) in the control and those rates in the dilution on FDA to 1:400,000, 1:800,000 and 1:1,600,000 were 74.4% (67/90), 80.3% (38/46) and 71.1% (32/45), respectively. 2. The fertilization rate ( 2-cell) in the control was 72.2% (39/54) and those rates in the dilution of FDA to 1:400,000, 1:800,000 and 1:1,600,000 were 28.8% (23/80), 66.7% (32/48) and 62.2% (28/45), respectively. In these results, a, pp.opriate concentration of FDA to bovine immature oocytes was 1:800,000. 3. Effect of FDA treatment to the blastocyst development of bovine oocytes was indicated that control was 22.2% (18/81) and FDA treatment groups which were classified to strong, partial and weak were 21.4% (36/168), 14.5% (9/62) and 0% (0/15), respectively. This result suggested that in vitro development to the blastocyst was severely reduced except strong group according to the FDA fluorescent level (P<0.05) and that using FDA is possible to select of bovine oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 1998

In order to determine suitable conditions for rapid freezing of porcine embryos, the kind and concentration of cryoprotectants, sucrose concentrations, equilibration time and thawing temperature in freezing medium were examined in relation to the survival of frozen-thawed oocyte and embryos. The results obtained are as follows : 1. The suitable concentrations of cryoprotoctant in the freezing medium which consisted of TCM-199+20% FCS were 1.5M for glycerol, 2.0M for DMSO, 2.5M for ethylene glycol, and 2.0M for propanediol. The sucrose concentration of 0.25M in the medium was found to optimal because the survival rate was markedly higher at this concentration when compared to the others. The survival rate was relatively high when the frozen embryos were thawed at 30$^{\circ}C$ in the freezing medium containing 2.5M cryoprotectants. The equilibration periods of 2.0 and 5.0 minutes revealed the higher survival in the media containing 1.5 or 2.1M glycerol when compared to 10 and 15 minutes. 2. The fertilization rates of frozen-thawed follicular oocytes which matured in vitro for 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours were 6.7~26.7% depending on the maturation time, and the rates were relatively high for those matured for a short period of time. The survival rates of frozen-thawed oocytes which matured in vitro for certain periods and fertilized were 10.0~30.0% depending on the maturation time.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 1993

The effects of in vitro maturation and sperm treatment condition on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and developmental capacity of bovine oocytes were investigated and the development of embryos was compared under the 2 different co-culture system, with GC or BOEC. The cultured embryo to 16 cell or morula wre transferred into recipients or frozen by 2 different freezing method. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. In vitro maturation rates of vovine follicular oocytes cultrued in TCM199 with 10% FCS or ECS were 64.0% and 72.7%, but the case of addition of 10% FCS or ECS to TCM199 co-cultured with granulosa cells were 81.3% and 84.0%, respectively. IVM rate of three TCM199 added to granulosa cells was higher than that of media without granulosa cells. 2. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC and then fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine, embryo developments of bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC were 38.4% and 51.4%, respectively. But those of bovine oocytes co-cultured with GC were 52.2% by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin. 3. Cleavage rates of bovine oocytes cultured with 10% FCS alone and fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin was 33.0%. 4. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of bovine ooctyes co-cultured with BOEC of GC were 46.0% and 50.2%, respectively. 5. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developed co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of the bovine oocyte co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 41.8% and 60.1%. But with FCS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 42.0% and 48.4%, respectively. 7. When Holstein's follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments fo the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 50.0% and 57.7%, but with ECS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 52.2% and 56.5%, respectively. 8. The viability of frozen-thawed embryos ranged from 60~80% and those of frozen-thawed embryos from vitrification was lower than that from conventional metiod. 9. The selected fresh embryos were transferred nonsurgically to 7 recipients but did not result in pregnancy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the fertilization and cleavage rates of human in vitro matured oocytes after fertilized by conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: A total of 135 GV stage oocytes were obtained from 59 women who received ovarian stimulation and IVF during Jan 2007 to Oct 2008. Ovarian hyperstimulation was performed using hMG or recombinant FSH with GnRH antagonist and then ovulation triggered by recombinant hCG. The immature oocytes obtained from stimulation cycles were cultured in IVM medium up to 48 hrs; commercial medium supplemented with rFSH 75 mIU/mL, rhCG 0.5 IU/mL and rEGF 10 ng/mL. The in vitro matured oocytes were fertilized by conventional IVF (41 GV oocytes) or ICSI method (94 GV oocytes). Results: Maturation rate were 51.2% and 59.6% in conventional IVF group and ICSI group, respectively. There was no significant difference in fertilization rates between two groups; 71.4% and 80.4%, respectively. The cleavage rate was also similar in two groups. Conclusion: The presented data suggest that conventional IVF has comparable fertilization and cleavage potential compared with ICSI as the insemination method of immature human oocytes obtained from stimulated cycle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine immature oocytes, and on subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development (IVD). COCs were collected from antral follicles of porcine ovaries collected from abattoir, and were maturated in modified NCSU-23 (mNCSU-23) with 10% pFF, 0.6 mM cysteine, 50 ${\mu}mM{\beta}-mercaptoethanol$, 1 mM dbcAMP, 10 IU/mL PMSG and 10 IU/mL hCG, which was supplemented with or without 10 ng/mL EGF and into which 50 or 15 COCs per droplet was put. 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, 10 ng/mL EGF supplement duplicated the percentage of C4 group of COCs(41% vs 81%). But the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and of nuclear maturation were not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet, and there was not a significant interaction between the two factors, either. 2. In the result of IVF, there was not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet, or was not a significant interaction between the two factors, in the rate of sperm penetration, in the percentage of oocytes with male pronucleus (MPN), and in the rate of polyspermy. 3. In the result of IVD, there was not significantly different between control and EGF supplemented, or between the number of COCs per culture droplet in the percentage of cleaved oocytes. There was not significantly different between the number of COCs per culture droplet, but between control and EGF supplemented (p<0.01) in the percentage of blastocysts, the number of inner cell mass (ICM), trophectoderm (TC) and total cells. There was no significant interaction between the two factors anywhere. These results suggested that 10 ng/mL EGF supplement into mNCSU-23 for IVM was effective in the production of more as well as better blastocysts during IVD through increasing the number of cells in those.