• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of $H_2O_2$, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M$ concentrations of $H_2O_2$. After 1 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. Results: Incubation of sperms with 10 and $20{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and $80{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against $H_2O_2$ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1990

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of fetal calf serum(FCS), estrous porcine serum(EPS), porcine follicular fluid(PFF), hormone and matured cumulus cell(MCC) on in vitro maturation and fertilization of porcine follicular oocytes. The ovaries and testes were obtianed from slaughtered Landrace sow and boars, respectively. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluid from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm and the semen were prepared from boar's epididymal cauda. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones, FCS, EPS, PFF and MCC for 48hrs. in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 36$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 18~20 hrs. with $1.5\times$106/ml motile capacitated sperm in the modified Tyroide solution containing 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of heparin. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The maturation and fertilization rate of the follicular oocytes, cultured in the TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% FCS and PMSG＋HCG were 55.6~64.5% and 33.3~37.1%, respectively. 2. The maturation and fertilization rate of the follicular oocytes cultured in the TCM-199 medium supplemented with 20% EPS and PMSG＋HCG were 50.0~55.0% and 30.3~33.3%, respectively. 3. The maturation rate(59.0~64.2%) and fertilization rate(34.8~39.3%) of follicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented 20% FCS and 50% PFF were higher than those of follicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 5%, 10% and 15% FCS and 10% and 50% PFF. 4. The maturation rate(60.0%) and fertilization rate(40.0%) of follicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 20% FCS and granulosa cell (1$\times$106/ml) were significantly higher than those of fiollicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 5%, 10% and 15% FCS and granulosa cell.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 1997

The studies on the carried out to investigate the effective concentration of cryoprotectant agents and sucrose by one-step straw method of bovine embryos. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing 10 IU/ml PMSG(Sigma, USA), 10 IU/ml hCG(Sigma, USA), 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml $\beta$-estradiol(Sigma, USA) and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation of heparin. The bovine embryos following dehydration by cryoprotective agents and various concentrations of sucrose were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen and thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$ water. Survival and in vitro developmental rate was defined as devellpmental rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are smmarized as followes : 1. The high in vitro developmental rates of bovine frozen embryos after rapidly thawed in freezing medium was attained 2.0M glycerol, 2.0M DMSO, 1M or 2.0M propanediol. 2. The high in vitro developmental rates of bovine frozen embryos after rapidly thawed in freezing medium was obtained single cryoprotectant(6.7~17.4%) than mixed cryoprotectants(6.7~16.7%). 3. In vitro developmental rate of bovine embryos after rapid frozen-thawing in the freezing medium added 0.25M and 0.50M sucrose were higher cleavage rate than those of sucrose concentration of 0.75M and 1.00M. 4. The freezing methods on in vitro developemental rates of bovine embryos was attained slow freezing method(9.70~15.6%) higher than rapid freezing method(9.4~13.3%).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 1997

The studies on the carried out to investigate to determine the optimum thawing temperature and equilibration time and 1 step straw method of frozen bovine embryos. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing 10 IU/ml PMSG(Sigma, USA), 10 IU/ml hCG(Sigma, USA), 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml $\beta$-estradiol(Sigma, USA) and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation of heparin. The bovine embryos following dehydration by cryoprotective agents and various concentration of sucrose were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen and thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$ water. Survival and in vitro developmental rate was defined as developmental rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as followes : 1. The equilibration time on in vitro developmental rates of bovine embryos was attained after short period of time(2.5~5 min.) in the freezing medium higher than long period of time (10~20 min.). 2. The temperature thawed at 3$0^{\circ}C$ after rapid freezing of bovine embryos resulted in a significantly higher in vitro developmental rate than did at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 35$^{\circ}C$. 3. The thawing time on in vitro developmental rates of bovine embryos was attained after short period of time(1~5 min.) in the freezing mediuim higher than long period of time(10min.). 4. The in vitro developmental rates of bovine embryos after rapid frozen-thawing by 1 step straw method in the freezing medium added 1.5M, 2.0M glycerol, DMSO, propanediol and 0.25M, 0.50M, 0.75M, 1.00M sucrose were 12.5~19.4%, 10.0~15.6%, 9.1~13.8% and 6.7~12.9%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 1993

The studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cell, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrial cells on the in-vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of porcine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered swine. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM-199 meidum were 64.6%~74.5% and 37.5%~55.3%, respectively. And in-vitro fertilization rate of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(51.5%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes(21.7%). 2. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 53.5% and 37.2%, 61.7% and 46.8%, 54.5% and 31.8%, 42.2% and 26.7%, respectively. 3. The in-vintro maturation and fertilization rate of porcine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$106/ml, 1$\times$108/ml, 1$\times$1015/ml uterine endometrial cells in TCM-199 medium were 54.3% and 39.1%, 58.3% and 43.8%, 55.5% and 33.3%, and 45.7% and 30.4%, respectively. 4. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with porcine cumulus cells, ovdiduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrial cells, the development rate to the blastocyst stage was 9.5%, 10.7% and 11.8%, respectively and the rates were higher than that of control, 2.1%(p<0.05).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to identify the method on extended canine semen exposed to freezing as assessed by motility, survival and acrosomal changes following different freezing ramp rates. Five ejaculates collected by digital manipulation twice weekly from three dogs (Shih-Tzu) were added Tris-Egg Yolk (TE) buffer and divided into 4 aliquots according to formulation of our laboratory. After cooling to 4$^{\circ}C$ by ramp rate of 0.6$^{\circ}C$/min, the samples frozen by ramp rates of 1.6$^{\circ}C$/min to -$25^{\circ}C$, 3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$, 8.9$^{\circ}C$/min to -7$0^{\circ}C$ and 19$^{\circ}C$/min to -11$0^{\circ}C$, respectively, and then stored in L$N_2$for 2days. Each sample was evaluated on their motility, survivability and acrosome integrity at different thawing temperature. The ramp rate of 3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$/h for freezing and thawing temperature of 37$^{\circ}C$ obtained the highest results to improve survivability, motile spermatozoa and intact acrosome appearance than other onditions. In conclusion, we may suggest freezing semen for canine artificial insemination is more efficient with freezing at a ramp rate of -3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$ and thawing with a water bath adjusted to 37$^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 1992

Capacitated and acrosome~reacted spermatozoa were microinjected into the perivitelline space of bovine oocytes matured in vitro. Oocytes obtained from the ovaries of slaughtered heifers and cows were cultured in vitro in the TCM-199 supplemented with 20% FCS for 24 hr at 39$^{\circ}C$ under an atmosphere of 5% CO$_2$ 8% O$_2$. Fresh or frozen spermatozoa were incubated for 2 hr at 39°C under an atmos-phere of 5% CO$_2$, 8% O$_2$ in Ham's F-lO medium containing 0.75% BSA for capacitation, and kept for 30 min in culture medium containing 12 mM of dbcGMP and lOmM of immidazol for acrosome resction. One motile spermatozoon was injected into the perivitelline space of each oocyte. The 2nd polar body and the pronuclei were observed in 9.5% and 5.4% of oocytes, respectively. The rate of cleavage of oocyte over 2-cell stage was 4.1%(10 of 242), These results indicate that the microinjection may be a useful technique to study sperm-oocyte interaction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2018

We report the case of a 46-year-old Chinese male patient who visited our clinic complaining of infertility. Semen analysis revealed azoospermia, and azoospermia factor c region partial deletion (b1/b3) was detected using Y chromosome microdeletion analysis. Testicular sperm extraction was performed after genetic counseling. The bilateral ductus deferens and a portion of the epididymis were absent, whereas the remaining epididymis was expanded. Motile intratesticular spermatozoa were successfully extracted from the seminiferous tubule. On histopathology, nearly complete spermatogenesis was confirmed in almost every seminiferous tubule. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of b1/b3 deletion with a congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and almost normal spermatogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 1999

To evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of infertility, timed-intercourse and intrauterine insemination by husband in stimulated cycles with clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins were compared in a total of 105 cycles. Patients received 100mg of clomiphene citrate daily for 5 days starting on day 3 of the menstrual cycle followed by hMG or FSH. Doses of exogenous gonadotropins were adjusted by the follicular development and concentrations of serum estradiol $(E_2)$. More than 3 follicles reaching >16 mm were present in the ovary, 5,000 IU of hCG was administered intramusculary. Patients received a maximum of three intercourse or IUI cycles for the treatment. Severe male (<$10{\times}10^6$ motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. The overall clinical pregnancy rates were 17.1% per cycle (18/105) and 21.2% per patient (18/85). The pregnancy rates (per cycle) were 17.5% (11/63) in intercourse and 16.7% (7/42) in IUI groups, respectively. IUI had no significant improvement in pregnancy rate compared with timed-intercourse. The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% (1 twin and 1 triplet). No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation. Abortion rate was 28.6% (2/7) in IUI group only. The delivery and ongoing pregnancy rates were 15.2% per cycle (16/105) and 18.8% per patient (16/85). There were no differences in age, duration of infertility, follicle size and level of estradiol $(E_2)$ on the day of hCG injection in pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, total doses of gonadotropins were higher in pregnant group than in non-pregnant group (p<0.01). Pregnancy rate was not affected by ovulatory status at the time of insemination. These results indicate that well timed-intercourse in stimulated cycles is as effective as IUI for infertile couples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.433-440
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• 1999

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of CC+FSH or CC+hMG in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles for the treatment of infertility. Method: Patients received daily 100 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) for 5 days followed by hMG or FSH. A single IUI was performed at 36 h after hCG. Clinical pregnancy was classified if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 19.1% per cycle (17/89) and 21.5% per patient (17/79). More clinical pregnancies were recorded in CC+FSH (23.1%, 6/26) than CC+ hMG cycles (17.5%, 11/63), but this difference was not statistically significant. No differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, levels of estradiol ($E_2$) on the day of hCG injection and total motile sperm counts between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, more ampules of gonadotropins were used in pregnant group than non-pregnant group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Combination of CC and hMG may economically be more effective to induce ovulation for IUI compared to CC and FSH.