• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

This study was conducted to examine the role of intact cumulus cells during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on sperm penetration, male pronuclear (MPN) formation and subsequent embryo development of oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained from the slaughtered gilt ovaries were matured for 44 h in TCM199 containing 10% porcine follicular fluid, epidermal growth factor and hormones. After maturation culture, denuded oocytes or oocytes with intact cumulus cells were coincubated with frozen-thawed boar semen for 8h in a modified tris-buffered medium containing 5mM caffeine and 10mM calcium chloride. Putative zygotes were fixed and examined for sperm penetration and MPN formation (Experiments $1{\sim}3$), or cultured in North Carolina State University-23 medium fo. 156 h (Experiment 3). In Experiment 1, sperm penetration was examined after insemination of denuded oocytes and oocytes with intact cumulus cells at the concentration of $7.5{\times}10^5$ sperm/ml. Optimal sperm concentration for IVF of cumulus-intact oocytes was determined in Experiment 2 by inseminating intact oocytes with $2{\sim}5{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml. In Experiment 3, denuded or intact oocytes were inseminated at the concentrations of $7.5{\times}10^5$ and $4.0{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml, respectively, and in vitro embryo development was compared. Sperm penetration was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in cumulus-intact oocytes compared to denuded oocytes (35.2% vs. 77.4%). Based on the rates of sperm penetration and normal fertilization, the concentration of $4.0{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml was optimal for the IVF of intact oocytes compared to other sperm concentrations. The presence of intact cumulus cells during IVF significantly (p<0.05) improved embryo cleavage (48.8% vs. 58.9%), blastocyst (BL) formation (11.0% vs. 22.8%) and embryo cell number $(22{\pm}2\;vs.\;29{\pm}2\;cells)$ compared to denuded oocytes. In conclusion, these results suggest that intact cumulus cells during IVF inhibit sperm penetration but improve embryo cleavage, BL formation and embryo cell number of porcine embryos produced in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 1994

본 연구는 돼지 난포란으로부터 생산된 수정란의 체외발달에 미치는 아미노산, 우태아혈청 (FBS)과 Leukemia Inhibitry Factor의 영향을 조사하였다. 돼지난포란은 도살된 돼지의 난소로부터 회수하여 39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 배양조건하에서 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH-p, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml Estradiol-17$\beta$와 10%FBS가 첨가된 TCM-199 배양액내에서 42시간동안 성숙시켰다. 사출된 정자의 수정능 획득은 45와 90% Percoll density gradient법을 통한 원심분리에 의해 얻었으며, 이들 수정능획득된 정자를 성숙된 난포란이 함유된 배양액에 3$\times$105/ml의 농도로 주입하여 10$\pm$1시간동안 배양함으로서 체외수정을 유도하였다. 수정된 난포란은 ; 1) 10% FBS가 함유된 TCM-199, DMEM, mKRB 또는 CR1aa 배양액, 2) 아미노산 또는 10% FBS가 첨가된 CR1 배양액, 3) STO 세포 또는 mLIF (1,000 unit/ml) 첨가된 CR1aa(10%FBS) 배양액, 4) mLIF (1,000 unit/ml)를 수정 직후 또는 8-세포기 이후에 첨가된 CR1aa(10%FBS)의 네가지 배양조건에서 각각 분리 배양하였다. 그결과 체외수정란의 배반포까지 발달율은 아미노산과 10%FBS가 포함된 CR1 배양액에서 다른 배양액에서보다 양호하였고, 특히 8-세포기 이후에 mouse LIF를 첨가한 CR1aa(10% FBS) 배양액에서는 다른 배양조건보다 현저히 높은 결과를 보였으며, 부화 배반포까지도 배발달을 유도할 수 있었다. 따라서 돼지수정란의 발달에 있어서 배양액내에 아미노산과 FBS 및 mouse LIF의 첨가는 효과가 있으며, 특히 8-세포기 이후에 있어서 mouse LIF의 첨가는 돼지의 수정란을 배반포 이후의 단계에까지 발달시킬 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.301-307
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• 1995

소 체외수정란에 있어서 pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)를 연구하기 위해서, 한개의 체외수정란으로부터 glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH)의 활성을 효소증폭방법으로 측정하였다. Glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) 기질을 처리하지 않은 2, 4, 8세포기, 상실배 및 배반포기 수정란에서의 G6PDH 활성치는 각각 $25.5{\pm}3.3$, $27.8{\pm}3.4$, $40.9{\pm}6.2$, $34.9{\pm}3.6$ 및 $52.9{\pm}2.5{\times}10^{-8}mol/embryo/h$ 을 나타내었다. 즉, 8 세포기 이후 수정란들은 2 세포기나 4 세포기보다도 높은 효소활성치를 보여주었다 (P<0.01). 그리고 G6P 기질을 첨가한 2,4,8 세포기, 상실배기 및 배반포기 수정란의 G6PDH 활성치는 각각 $32.3{\pm}3.9$, $29.4{\pm}1.8$, $51.9{\pm}4.2$, $42.6{\pm}2.7$ 및 $52.9{\pm}2.5{\times}10^{-8}mol/embryo/h$ 로서 기질 무처리구와 마찬가지로 유의성이 인정되었다 (P<0.01). 전반적으로 수정란의 발달단계에 있어서 G6P 첨가한 수정란들에 G6PDH의 효소활성치가 기질을 처리하지 수정란들의 것보다도 높은 경향을 보였다. 한편, 소 체외수정란의 G6PDH 효소활성치와 발생능과의 관계를 알아보기 위하여, 4 세포기 수정란들을 효소활성치의 정량적 수준 (low, middle, high)에 따라 3 군으로 분류한 다음 $38.5^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$에서 5일간 난구세포들과 공동배양을 실시하였다. 그 결과, G6PDH 효소활성치 차이에 따른 수정란들의 체외발달율에는 유의성이 인정되지 않았다. 본 실험의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때, 소 체외수정란에 있어서 PPP 대사는 8세포기 이후부터 활발히 이루어지고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of EGF on meiotic maturation and pronuclear (PN) formation of porcine oocytes. Prepubertal gilt cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) aspirated from $2\~6mm$ follicles of abbatoir ovaries were matured in TCM199 containing 0.1mg/ml cysteine, $0.5{\mu}/ml$ FSH and LH, and EGF (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml) for 22 hr at $39^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of $5\%$ $CO_2$ in air. They were then cultured for an additional 22hr without hormones. In Experiment 1, to examine the nuclear maturation at 44hr of culture, the expanded cumulus cells were removed by vortexing for 1 min in 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase. The oocytes were fixed in acetic acid: methanol (1:3, v/v) at least for 48 hr and stained with $1\%$ orcein solution for 5 min. Nuclear status was classified as germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), prophase-metaphase I (PI-MI), and PII-MII under microscope. In Experiment 2, to investigate PN formation, oocytes were fertilized with Percoll-treated freshly ejaculated sperm $(1\times10^5\; cells/ml)$ in mTBM with $0.3\%$ BSA and 2mM caffeine for 5hr, and cultured in NCSU-23 medium with $0.4\%$ BSA. At 6hr of culture, the embryos were fixed in $3.7\%$ formaldehyde for 48hr and stained with 10ug/ml propidium iodide for 30 min. PN status was classified as no or one PN (unfertilized), 2 PN (normal fertilized) and $\geq3$ PN (polyspermy). Differences between groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after arc-sine transformation of the proportional data. The rate of oocytes that had reached to PII-MII were significantly (P<0.05) higher in all groups added EGF than that of non-treated group $(67\%)$, but it did not differ among the all added groups $(86\%,\;85\%,\;79\%\;and\;81\%$, in 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). No differences on the incidence of 2PN were observed in all treated groups $(25\%,\;30\%,\;33\%,\;29\%\;and\;29\%$, in 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively), however, in non-treated group, polyspermy tended to be increased ($66\%\;vs\;. 58\%,\;54\%,\;52\%\;and\;55\%$, 0 vs. 5, 10, 20, 40 ng/ml EGF, respectively). These results suggest that EGF can be effectively used as an additive for enhancing oocyte maturation and reducing the incidence of polyspermy in pig.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2017

Development of modern agricultural machinery and accompanying agricultural development cause soil compaction and reduce growth by stressing roots. Kalanchoe pinnata was used to investigate the impact of stress on rooting and changes in plant growth and reproduction. K. pinnata forms somatic embryos capable of asexual reproduction at the edge of leaves. Impact of root pressurization of K. pinnata on somatic embryogenesis and organ differentiation according to external stress factors was investigated by using a high concentration of agar and this phenomenon was studied histologically. Agar concentration in culture media ranged from 0.5%-1.5% to induce a compression effect on roots. The stem and leaf of K. pinnata were subjected to a microtechnique process to study changes in tissue. In vivo, K. pinnata produced 2nd and 3rd plantlets at edges of leaves from lack of water and excessive lighting conditions. In in vitro culture studies, the lower the concentration of agar, the higher the population and the higher the biomass, but plantlet did not occur in leaf bends. Conversely, as concentration of agar increased, increase in the number of individuals was low. Plantlet development occurred only in agar 1.5% medium. The difference in agar concentration was a stressor in the root of K. pinnata, and thus the pattern of asexual reproduction changed from the division method in root to a plantlet generation in leaf. This suggests root pressurization may act as stress and change in the plant reproduction pattern.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.693-700
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• 2007

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of different levels of essential and nonessential amino acid in NCSU-23 medium on the in vitro-produced porcine embryo as it develops from the zygote to the blastocyst stage. Four experiments were performed, each with a completely randomized design involving 5 to 8 replications of treatments. In order to know the effect of nonessential amino acids in NCSU-23 medium, 0, 5, 10 and $20{\mu}/ml$ MEM were supplemented there to, (Exp. 1) and the medium was supplemented with same level of essential amino acids (Exp. 2). The combined effect of nonessential (0, 5, 10 and $20{\mu}/ml$ MEM) and essential amino acids (0, 5, 10 and $10{\mu}/ml$ MEM) in NCSU-23 medium (Exp. 3), first 72 h with non-essential amino acids (at 0, 5, 10 and $20{\mu}/ml$ MEM), and last 4 d with essential amino acids with the same level as NEAA (Exp. 4) were examined. The embryo development was monitored and the quality of blastocysts was evaluated by counting the number of total cells and determining the ratio of inner cell mass (ICM) to trophoectoderm (TE) cells. When Eagle's nonessential amino acids (MEM) added to NCSU-23 medium, it significantly increased the likelihood of development to the 2- to 4-cell stage and subsequent blastocyst development. Supplementation of different levels of essential amino acids in the NCSU-23 medium decreased cleavage rate, rate of morula and blastocyst development and the number of ICMs. In the case of the combined effect of essential and nonessential amino acids, better and significant results were found for blastocysts, hatching blastocysts and for ICM numbers which were also dose dependent. With respect to the biphasic effect of nonessential and essential amino acids, nonessential amino acids increased cleavage whereas essential amino acids increased the total cell number. Neither the nonessential nor the essential group of amino acids, on their own, affected blastocyst cell number or the differentiation of cells in the blastocyst. In conclusion, this study determined the role of nonessential and essential amino acids in the culture of the porcine embryo and showed that the embryo requires different levels of amino acids as it develops from the zygote to the blastocyst stage.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2002

Induction of embryogenic callus from Allium wakegi Araki explants was promoted on medium containing 2,4-D, and production of abnormal embryos from the embryogenic callus increased as 2,4-D concentration was raised. Shoot tip was found to be the best explant source for embryogenic callus formation followed in the order by bulb scale and leaf section. Medium containing 0.09 M sucrose was effective for embryogenic callus production. The regenerants from embryogenic callus on medium containing 2,4-D and BA at different concentrations was consisted of diploids, tetraploids and a few mixaploids of 2n＋4n, and their chromosomal aberration rate ranged from 8.0 to 33.3%. Frequency of chromosomal aberrants was the highest (18.7%) in the regenerants obtained from bulb scale-derived embryogenic callus among others. Plant regeneration rate was high (33.5%) from the shoot tip-derived embryogenic callus and the frequency of chromosomal aberrants was very low (7.0%). The plantlets regenerated on medium containing 0.26 M sucrose resulted in high chromosomal aberrants. The regenerants on medium containing sucrose at 0.09∼0.20 M produced chromosomal aberrants at around 15.2∼16.6%.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2010

This study was performed to identify the optimal timing for oocyte donor replacement during OPU procedure. OPU was carried out to collect oocytes from every donor at an interval of $3{\sim}4$ days (2 times a week). The collected oocytes were matured in vitro in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 10 mg/ml of FSH and 1 mg/ml of estradiol for 24 h. After 24 h of exposure to sperm, the presumptive zygotes were cultured in CR1aa medium supplemented with 4 mg/ml of BSA for 3 days before being changed to CR1aa medium with 10% of FBS for another $3{\sim}4$ days. The mean numbers of retrieved oocytes were remained constantly up to 3 months ($6.0{\pm}0.5$, $6.2{\pm}0.7$, $5.2{\pm}0.6$), but significantly decreased at over 4 to 6 months ($3.7{\pm}0.5$, $2.8{\pm}0.4$, $1.2{\pm}0.2$) (p<0.05). The blastocyst development potential was also very similar rate from 1 to 3 months (37.2%, 40.4% and 44.6%), but significantly decreased from 4 to 6 months (24.8%, 29.3% and 28.6%, respectively) (p<0.05). The production of OPU derived embryos in periods of 1 to 3 months ($2.2{\pm}0.3$, $2.5{\pm}0.3$ and $2.3{\pm}0.4$) were significantly higher than those in 4 to 6 months ($0.9{\pm}0.2$, $0.8{\pm}0.2$ and $0.3{\pm}0.2$, respectively) (p<0.05). In conclusion, the efficient periods for the production of OPU derived embryos was until 4 months, twice per week to produce over 64 transferable embryos and then replace new donor after 3 months use. The best replacement time is 3 months and could be maximized production of OPU derived embryos.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of EGF and IGF-I in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and development of porcine IVM/IVF embryos. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The rates of nuclear maturation, penetrated oocytes, pronuclear formation, polyspermic oocytes and mean numbers of the penetrated sperm were not different in NCSU-23 maturation medium with 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml EGF and IGF-I (P>0.05). 2. The rates of blastocyst formation at day 7 after in vitro fertilization in 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml EGF groups were $11.2{\pm}1.5%$, $15.0{\pm}8.3%$, $16.8{\pm}2.8%$ and $21.4{\pm}2.0%$, also 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml IGF-I groups were $11.2{\pm}1.5%$, $15.0{\pm}8.3%$, $16.8{\pm}2.8%$ and $21.4{\pm}2.0%$, respectively. In the total cells case, EGF groups were $22.8{\pm}3.7$, $25.7{\pm}5.5$, $26.0{\pm}4.2$ and $35.1{\pm}4.7$, also IGF-I groups were $21.5{\pm}3.7$, $25.2{\pm}2.8$, $26.2{\pm}2.9$ and $33.2{\pm}3.6$, respectively. Both 10 ng/ml EGF group and 10 ng/ml IGF-I group were significantly higher than those of other treatment groups (P<0.05). 3. The rates of blastocyst formation at day 7 in the NCSU23 culture medium of porcine IVF-produced embryos with 0, 1, 5, and 10 ng/ml EGF groups were $14.0{\pm}1.7%$, $16.2{\pm}1.4%$, $16.9{\pm}1.2%$ and $23.1{\pm}1.6%$, also 0, 1, 5, 10 ng/ml IGF-I groups were $13.6{\pm}1.7$, $15.7{\pm}4.5$, $16.0{\pm}0.2$ and $25.0{\pm}0.8$, respectively. And in the total cells case, EGF grups were $21.8{\pm}2.9$, $25.2{\pm}2.8$, $39.7{\pm}2.7$ and $46.2{\pm}3.6$, also IGF-I groups were $20.7{\pm}2.9$, $26.2{\pm}2.9$, $24.6{\pm}2.4$ and $46.1{\pm}3.5$, respectively. Both 10 ng/ml EGF group and 10 ng/ml IGF-I group were significantly higher than those of any other treatment groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggested that the addition of 10 ng/ml EGF and IGF-I were effective on the blastocyst formation and total cells of blastocysts.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 1999

The objective of this study was to optimize the freezing/thawing method of in vitro produced Hanwoo blastocysts. Day 7 blastocysts after IVF were vitrified using EFS40 (40% ethylene glycol, 18% ficoll, 0.3 M sucrose and 10% FBS added m-DPBS) as a freezing solution and electron microscope (EM) grid (V-G) or straw (V-S) as an embryo container. In both method, freezing/thawing were treated by 2-step, treatment time was required in V-G method and V-S method, for 2 min / 3 min and 3.5 min / 10 min, respectively. Embryo survival was assessed as re-expanded and hatched rates at 24 h and 48 h after warming, respectively. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: when the effect of exposure in vitrification solution and chilling injury from freezing procedure on in vitro produced expanded blastocysts were examined, at 24 h after warming, embryo survival in exposure group (100.0%) was not different compared to that in control group (100.0%), although those results were significantly different with two vitrified groups (V-G: 87.8, V-S: 77.8%) (P＜0.001). However, at 48 h after warming, hatched rates of V-G group (67.8%) were significantly higher than those of V-S group (53.3%) (P＜0.05). In addition, this hatched rate in V-G group was not different with that in exposure group (73.3%). When the effects of embryo developmental stage (early, expanded and early hatching blastocysts) and embryo container (EM grid and straw) to the in vitro survival of vitrified-warmed day 7 Hanwoo blastocysts were simultaneously examined, fast developed embryos were indicated the better resistance to freezing than delayed developed one, irrespective of embryo containers (early; 57.1 ＆ 24.4%, expanded; 84.7 ＆ 60.6%, early hatching; 91.7 ＆ 80.0%) (P＜0.001). Especially, in expanded and early hatching blastocysts, embryo survival of V-G group (67.8, 95.0%) was significantly higher than those of V-S group (53.0, 65.0%) at 48 h post warming, respectively (P＜0.05, P＜0.001). Therefore, this study indicates that Hanwoo blastocysts can be cryopreserved more simple, efficient and successful by vitrification method using EM grid.