• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2000

The ultrasound-guided oocytes cllection (ovum pick-up ; OPU) has become a substitution for superovlation in cattle. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of OPU frequency on the in vitro production of embryos in Hanwoo cattle. Six cycling Hanwoo cows were distributed into two groups for either once or twice weekly OPU sessions. Oocytes were collected by ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration(SA600) using a 6.5HMz transducer and attached with 18 gauge needle, with vacuum pressure of 40 mmHg. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected from each donor were matured in TCM 199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ for 22h and in vitro matured oocytes were co-incubated with sperm(separated by Percoll gradient) for 6h. The zygotes were co-cultured on cumulus cell monolayer in 10ul droplets in the same culture medium and conditions used for IVM for 7 days. On Day 7 of culture, development to blastocysts was examined. Although the number of oocytes collected was variable depending on individuals, overall embryo production in the twice per week OPU sessions was better that in the once per week sessions(6~21 vs 2~7 blastocysts produced, respectively). Two cows(E, A) were good oocyte donors and embryo production was superior in cow C ; however, cow F was a poor donor as compared to the others. In conclusion, these results suggest that for embryo production, twice weekly OPU sessions were better than once per week for producing embryos in vitro from Hanwoo cattle.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1993

To provide the optimal culture conditions for the developm,ent of in vit개 produced embryos, we have been investigated various culture media as well as co-cultrue systems using porcine cumulus cells or mouse fetal fibroblast cells. Porcine ovaries were brought to the laboratory from local slaughter house within 1 hour after slaughtering and cumulus oocytes complexes were recovered from antral follicles(3~5mm) with 23 gauge needle. To maturate follicular oocytes, cumulus oocytes complexes were washed three times with TCM-199 containing 25mM HEPES and incubated(39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 in air) in various maturation media for 42 hrs. Ejaculated and liquid storaged boar spermatozoa capacitated with different sperm capacitation methods and media were rpepared for fertilizing of matured follicular oocytes in vitro. Fertilization was performed by adding 5~10${\mu}\ell$ fo capacitated spermatozoa containing 1~5$\times$105 sperm/ml to droplets. Eighteen to twenty-eight hours after sperm insemination, fertilized eggs were washed three times with culture media and transferred to the various culture media, to the culture media with a monolayer of somatic cells. The in vitro development rates of 1-cell embryos cultured with three times with culture media and transferred to the various culture media, to the culture media with a monolayer of somatic cells. The in vitro development rates of 1-cell embryos cultured with three different media, m-KRB, BECM and TCM-HEPES were 0~1.0%, showing extremely lower rates. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, 32-cell and morula or blastocyst stage in co-culture with porcine cumulus cells and mouse fetal fibroblast cells were 61.1~67.0%, 59.0~58.0%, 42.5~43.1%, 28.4~30.2% and 20.4~21.0%, respectively. These development rates upto morula or blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the basic culture medium(P<0.01). These findings suggest that co-culture of in vitro fertilized eggs with porcine cumulus cells or mouse fetal fibroblast cells enhance the development of fertilized eggs to morula or blastocyst stage in vitro.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.123-123
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• 2003

This study was conducted to determine the ability of nuclear development of canine oocytes depend on the kind of maturation media and addition of serum sources. Ovaries were collected from a bitches at various stages of estrus cycle by an ovariohysterectomy. Oocytes were collected of cumulus oocytes complexes after slicing of ovaries with blade. The maturation medium was containing 0.6 mM/ml cysteine, 0.2 mM pyruvic acid, 20 ng/ml $E_2$ and 1 $\mu g/ml$ rbST Exp. 1, the oocytes were matured in four different maturation medium as follows: 1) TCM-199, 2) DMEM, 3) NCSU37 and 4) modified-NCSU37 with 10% FBS. Exp. 2: the oocytes were matured in mNCSU37 supplemented with different protein sources (10% FBS, 10% EDS, 0.3% BSA and 0.1% PVA) to select the optimal one. Oocytes were matured in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% $CO_2$ at $39{\circ}C$ for 72 hrs. The maturation rate were analyzed by Duncan's multiple range test using General Linear Models procedure in SAS. The rates of meiotic resumption to MI-MII depend on different culture media were achieved with TCM-199 (5.2%), DMEM (5.0%), NCSU37 (7.2%) and m-NCSU37 (5.9%), respectively. The rates of meiotic resumption to MI-MII according to addition of protein source were 10% FBS (13.3%), 10% EDS (25.0%), 0.3% BSA (25.0%) and 0.1% PVA (15.4%), respectively. In conclusion, the results obtained showed that in vitro maturation media and protein supplement to m-NCSU37 culture medium tested did not promote the final steps of IVM in canine oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.259-269
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• 1996

The present study was undertaken to examine the critical effect of $Ca^2$+ concentration on electrostimulation and post-electrostimulation media for electric activation of in vitro matured oocytes of Korean Native Cattle. Oocytes collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in TCM 199 containing FSH, estradiol-17$\beta$ and FBS with granulosa cell monolayer for 24 hours and denuded with hyaluronidase. And then cumulus-free oocytes were submitted to a DC field of 1.0 kV/cm for 60 $\mu$sec in electroporation media(0.28 M mannito' and PBS) with different $Ca^2$+ concentations (0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mM). Stimulated oocytes were stained and examined for pronuclear formation after incuhation in SOF for 12 hours. The rates of pronuclear formation in hovine oocytes electrically stimulated in 0.28 M mannitol with 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mM $Ca^2$+(60.3, 82.2 and 75.0%) were significantly higher than without $Ca^2$+(6.3%) at 12 hours after an electric pulse(p<0.005). The activation rates of Korean Native Cattle oocytes stimulated in PBS supplemented with 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mM $Ca^2$+(71.0, 75.8 and 75.4%) were significantly higher than without $Ca^2$+(23.5%) after post-stimulation incubation(p<0.005). After incubation of oocytes in SOF with and without $Ca^2$+ following electric stimulation in 0.28 M mannitol with 0.10 mM $Ca^2$+, the rates of pronuclear formation of bovine oocytes in $Ca^2$+-free SOF(85.7%) was significantly higher than in SOF with 1.71 mM $Ca^2$+(62.5%, p<0.05). When oocytes were stimulated in two electrostimulation media supplemented with $Ca^2$+ and incubated in $Ca^2$+-free SOF, there were no significant differences in the rates of pronuclear formation hetween 0.28 M mannitol and PBS. These results indicate that a single electric pulse could induce activation of Korea Native Cattle oocytes in 0.28 M mannitol and PBS supplemented with $Ca^2$+. Furthermore, to improve the activation rates, it was hetter that stimulated oocytes were incubated in $Ca^2$+-free SOF after electric stimulation than in SOF with $Ca^2$+.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2003

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different IVM-IVC culture media factors, such as development rates according to the maturation media, collecting times from slaughter to initiation of incubation and with cumulus cells, on in vitro maturation of oocytes collected from 3∼5mm diameter follicles of the swine abattoir The development rates significantly(p<0.05) higher when the oocytes were matured TCM-199 media than NCSU-23 media. In comparing with TCM199 medium in presence of Earle's salts and Hank's salt, there were no significantly differences between each salt balance in cleaved rate and in number of morulae plus blastocyst. Among 1,455 immature oocytes, 999(68.6％) of oocytes were cleaved. The number of development to the morulae and blastocysts were 617(61.8％) include 62 balstocysts(6.2％).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro culture media on embryonic development of in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes after parthenogenetic activation (PA) in pigs. Immature pig oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22~26 h. IVM oocytes were activated by electric pulses and cultured in porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3) and North Carolina State University-23 supplemented with essential and non-essential amino acids (NCSU-23aa). These media were further modified by supplementing 2.77 mM myo-inositol, 0.34 mM trisodium citrate, and $10{\mu}M$ ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol (designated as mPZM-3 and mNCSU-23aa, respectively). Culture of PA embryos in mPZM-3 significantly increased development to the blastocyst stage than culture in NCSU-23aa (36.2% vs. 24.8%, p<0.05). Modified PZM-3 showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation than NCSU-23aa in both groups of embryos that were activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM (51.0% vs. 35.5% and 49.0% vs. 34.2% in oocytes activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM, respectively). Irrespective of the follicle diameter where oocytes were collected, embryonic development to the blastocyst stage was increased (p<0.05) by the culture in mPZM-3 compared to culture in NCSU-23aa (25.9% vs. 34.2% and 32.9% vs. 44.8% in embryos derived from small and medium size follicles, respectively). Our results demonstrated that culture media had significant effect on preimplantation development PA embryos and that mPZM-3 was superior to mNCSU-23 in supporting development to the blastocyst stage in pigs. This beneficial effect of mPZM-3 on embryonic development was not impaired by other factors such as time of oocyte activation and origin of immature oocytes (small and medium size follicles).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.777-784
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• 2001

Evaluation of the granulosa cell (GC) monolayers developed from small (<5 mm) and large (>5 mm) follicles on the meiotic competence of caprine oocytes during in vitro maturation was done in this study in comparison to the granulosa cell coculture. Ovaries were collected from the local abattoir and follicular contents were aspirated for the monolayer culture. For IVM the oocytes were collected by puncturing the nonatretic follicles (>4 mm). Results revealed that at the same seeding rate, small follicular granulosa cell monolayer achieved confluence 24-48 h earlier than large follicular granulosa cell monolayer. GC monolayers significantly p (<0.05) improved the rate of meiotic resumption and nuclear maturation (84.76% vs 74.74%) after 27 h of culture in comparison to GC coculture. Statistically there was no significant difference in the maturation rate between the caprine oocytes matured over small or large follicular GC monolayers. It is concluded from the present study that GC monolayers support better nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of growing caprine oocytes which is evident by better maturation rate over GC monolayer as compared to the oocytes matured with GC coculture. Granulosa cells from small and large follicles can be used for IVM with more or less in the same efficiency after conditioning them with maturation media in 18-24 h before the onset of culture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitrification solution(VS) on in vitro developmental competence of immature porcine oocytes. The immature porcine oocytes were exposed to the following vitrification solution, at RT. 1) EFS sol. : 20% ethylene glycol (EG) 3 min, 40% EG + 18%(w/v) Ficoll(MV70, 000) + 0.3 M sucrose 30 sec, 2) GE sol. : 10% glycerol 5 min, 10% G + 20% EG 5 min, 25% G +25% EG 30 sec, 3) EG sol : 1.5M EG 2.5 min, 5.5 M EG + 1.0 M sucrose 30 sec. Oocytes were immediately transferred into 1.0 M, 0.5 M, 0.25 M, 0125 M, 0 M sucrose solution for 2.5 min each at RT. After removal of VS, immature oocytes were matured in vitro and subsequently all oocytes were subjected to IVF followed in vitro culture for 7 days. Maturation rates of oocytes were 38.8%, 44.5%, 22.4% and 57.6%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, maturation rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.01). Fertilization rates of oocytes in Control was significantly higher than other treated groups(P<0.05), but no difference were observed among treated groups. Polyspermic rates were no significant difference among four groups. Cleavage rates of oocytes were 21.9%, 47.1%, 19.0% and 65.9%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, cleavage rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.05), but blastocyst formation rates were no significant difference among four groups. These results suggested that the use of EG solution could be a great challenge for reaching a successful vitrification of immature porcine oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of maturation media on penetrability of pig oocytes by liquid boar sperm coincubated with different sperm concentrations in a modified Tris­buffered medium (mTBM). Follicular oocytes collected from ovaries of prepubertal gilts were matured in a modified TCM-199 (mTCM-199) medium, modified Waymouth MB 752/1 (mWaymouth MB 752/1) medium or NCSU-23 medium. Oocytes (30~40) were transferred into each well of a Nunc 4-well multidish containing 0.5 $m\ell$ maturation medium. The sperm­ich 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$^{\circ}C$ far 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 in 5% $CO_2$in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, cumulus cells were removed and oocytes (30~40) were coincubated for 6 h in 0.5 $m\ell$ mTBM fertilization medium with five different (1$\times$10$^{6}$ , 2$\times$10$^{6}$ , 4$\times$10$^{6}$ , 6$\times$10$^{6}$, 10$\times$10$^{6}$ $m\ell$) sperm concentrations. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 0.5 $m\ell$ NCSU-23 culture medium fur further culture of 6 h. At 12 h after IVF, sperm penetration, polyspermy and male pronuclear formation of oocytes were evaluated. Oocytes of NCSU-23 maturation medium decreased polyspermy and increased male pronuclear formation compared to those of mTCM­199 and mWaymouth MB 752/1 maturation media. Of oocytes matured in NCSU-23 medium and inseminated in mTBM medium with 2~4$\times$10$^{6}$ $m\ell$ sperm concentrations, 50.8~50.9% showed sperm penetration, 13.3~19.5% polyspermy and 43.9~45.4% male pronuclear formation. In conclusion, we found out that oocytes matured in NCSU­23 medium and inseminated in mTBM medium showed superior in­vitro fertilization compared to those matured in mTCM­199 and mWaymouth MB 752/1 maturation media and inseminated in mTBM medium. The optimum sperm concentrations for in-vitro fertilization of oocytes matured in NCSU-23 medium by liquid boar semen stored at 17$^{\circ}C$ for 5 days were 2~4$\times$10$^{6}$ $m\ell$.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1991

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of co-culture with granulosa cells on in vitro fertilization and cleavage of early bovine embryo development. Bovine oocytes were matured for 20-24 hrs in vitro with granulosa cells or without and then fertilized in vitro using frozen-thawed spermatozoa treated with BO-caffeine, BO-BSA(2OmM heparin added). At l8hrs after insemination, oocytes were fixed and examined or further cultured in TCM 199 for 48hrs. The fertilization rates between the control(70.4%) and the groups of co-cultured with granulosa cell(2.5$\times$106 cells/ml; 71.6%, 5.0$\times$ 106/ml; 71.9%, l.0$\times$ 107/ml; 71.1%) did not differ significantly. The cleavage rates in the groups co-cultured with granulosa cell(2.5$\times$ 106 cells/mi; 43.6%, 5.0$\times$ 106/ml; 46.8%. l.0$\times$ 107/ml; 45.0%)were significantly higher than that of without granulosa cell, respectively(P<0.05). However there were no significant differences between the groups co-cultured with granulosa cells. The result indicated that co-culture with granulosa cell was effective means to cleavage of bovine follicular oocytes but did not affect the in vitro fertilization.