• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.93-97
• /
• 1989

These experiments were carried out to develop the technique of nuclear transplantation necessary for elevating utilization efficiency of high quality embryos and the production of clone animals. Embryos of pronucleus stages were obtained from ICR mice. Removal of pronuclei and their transfer to recipient embryos were carried out by micromanipulation and virus mediation. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows ; 1. Total 337 pairs of pronuclear stage embryos were subjected to nuclear transplantatin and 247 pairs(73.3%) of them were successfully transplanted and the number of fused embryos between transplanted nucleus and cytoplasm was 188 pairs(55.8%). 2. Of the 188 fused embryos cultured in vitro, 174(92.4%), 131(69.7%) and 117(62.2%) embryos were developed to 2-cell, morula and blastocyst stages, respectively. 3. When total 104 nuclear transplanted embryos were transferred to uteri of recipient mice on day 2-3 of pseudopregnancy, 4 of 12 recipient mice were pregnant and the number of embryos developed to young was 28(26.9%).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 1988

우수정란의 이식전 성판별이 관한 연구를 수행하기 위하여 GTH와 PGF$_2$$\alpha$투여에 대한 난소반응과 회수난자의 발유단계별 동결융해후 생존성을 조사하였으며, 이식전 수정라느이 성판별을 위하여 H-Y항체 처리후 정상발육 난자의 염색체를 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 웅성 비장세포(male, spleen cells)를 면역원으로 mouse와 rat에 투여, 항혈청의 항체를 확인한 결과 mouse에서는 C57 BL계통과 rat에서는 DonRyu 계통이 항체생산능력이 우수하였다. 공란우 87두에 hormone(2500IU PMSG, 25mg PGF$_2$alpha)처리하여 평균 57.8%의 채란유과 두당 4.9개의 난자가 회수되었으며, 전체회수란자(427개)중 moula(162개)와 blastocyst(190개)의 정상발육란자는 82.4%였다. 동결융해후 회수된 난자 (312개)중, 형태적으로 정상인 난자(241개)의 비율은 77.2% 발육단계별 성적은 blastocyst(83.4%)가 morula(71.0%)보다 우수하였다. 항체와 보체(Guinea pig serum)로 처리된 82개의 morula중 15개(18.3%)가 blastocyst로 발육되어 이중 5개(33.3%)가 성이 판별되었으며, 모두 xx형 성염색체를 갖는 자성수정란으로 판명되었다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.133-140
• /
• 1990

This study was conducted to develop a simple and efficient technique for fusing 2-cell mouse embryos to obtain tertraploid embryos. Various concentration of PEG and exposure times were compared in order to determine the best condition for fusion and subsequent of fused embryos. The results obtained were follows ; 1. The incidence of fusion induction treated with 40% PEG(70.8%) and 45%(62.7%) for 60 sec. exposure were higher than those of 40% and 45% PEG for 30 sec., 90 sec., or 120 sec. exposure group. Also, the highest incidence of fusion induction(76.9%) was achieved with 120 sec. exposure at 50% PEG concentration. 2. Fused embryos after PEG treatment were cleavaged 2-to 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst at 20-24 hr., 30-34., 44-52 hr., respectively, and were not different from those obtained fleshly. 3. The high proportions of the embryos developed to blastocysts after blastomere fusion with 40% PEG for 60 sec., 45% PEG for 60 sec. and 50% for 120 sec. were 66.7%(42/63), 69.0%(29/42) and 32.0%(16/50), respectively, this trend indicated that the fusion rate was similar to the incidence of fused embryos forming blastocysts. 4. The cell number of blastocyst developed from fused embryos(18.7 2.6) was samller than that of untreated embryos(48.9 1.69)

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.283-288
• /
• 2010

During normal early embryonic development in mammals, the global pattern of genomic DNA methylation undergoes marked. changes. The level of methylation is high in male and female gametes. Thus, we cloned the cDNA of the porcine DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) gene to promote the efficiency of the generation of porcine clones. In this study, porcine Dnmt1 cDNA was sequenced, and Dnmt1 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) in porcine tissues during embryonic development. The porcine Dnmt1 cDNA sequence showed more homology with that of bovine than human, mouse, and rat. The complete sequence of porcine Dnmt1 cDNA was 4,774-bp long and consisted of an open reading frame encoding a protein of 1611 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of porcine DNMT1 showed significant homology with those of bovine (91%), human (88%), rat (76%), and mouse (75%) Dnmt1. The expression of porcine Dnmt1 mRNA was detected during porcine embryogenesis. The mRNA was detected at stages of porcine preimplantation development (1-cell, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages). It was also abundantly expressed in tissues (lung, ovary, kidney and somatic cells). Further investigations are necessary to understand the complex links between methyltransferase 1 and the transcriptional activity in cloned porcine tissues.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.02a
• /
• pp.20-20
• /
• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 2006

There are replete numbers of reports which have apparently shown that established patterns of methylation are critical for normal mammalian development. Here, we report expression of the DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) family during mouse early development. Transcription of Dnmt1o occurs in one-cell and morula stage embryos, whereas Dnmtls transcripts were detectable in all cells and tissues examined during the study. Dnmt3a1 transcript was detected in all cells and Dnmt3a2 transcript was particularly detected in the oocyte and 1-cell stages. Low level Dnmt3b1 transcripts were expressed ubiquitously in oocyte, 1-cell, and preimplantation embryos except $2{\sim}4cell$ stages. Dnmt3b3 transcripts were only detected in E7.5 embryo and ovary. Furthermore, Dnmt31 transcripts were detectable in all cells and tissues examined. Unlike Dnmtl, both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b proteins existed in the nucleus of preimplantation embryos till the morula stage. These Results suggest that differences Dnmts expression level exist and genomic DNA methylation patterns may be determined partly through differential expression of Dnmts during early development.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 1999

To investigate the role of interleukin-l$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) in the embryonic development, in vivo and in vitro expression patterns of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the preimplantation mouse embryos were examined by RT-PCR, and the effects of explanted mouse ovi-duct and uterine epithelial cells on the expression of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the pleimplantation mouse embryos were examined by co-culture. IL-1$\beta$ mRNA was detected in the embryos from 4-cell stage to blastocyst stage in vivo and from morula stage to hatching blastocyst stage in vitro. This transcript was not detected from the GV stage to late 2-cell stage in vivo, and not at the 4-cell and 8-cell stages in vitro. For the co-culture of late 2-cell embryos with the explanted mouse oviduct and uterine epithelial cells, oviducts and uterine epithelial cells were isolated at 48 hour alter the hCG injection. The explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells in co-culture groups facilitated the IL-1$\beta$ gene expression of the mouse embryos in comparison with the control. Taken together these results suggest that the presence of IL-1$\beta$ plays an important role in preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, the up-regulation of IL-1$\beta$ gene expression by the explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells demonstrates that embryonic expression of IL-l$\beta$ gene may be regulated by the interaction with oviductal and uterine factor (s).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2003

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different media on preimplatation embryo development and the expression of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, and Bok in mouse. Materials and Methods: Two-cell embryos were retrieved from ICR female mice (4 weeks old) at 48 hr after hCG injection and cultured in Ham's F-10, HTF, and G1.2 media. The developmental rate of 2-cell embryos was evaluated from 24 hr to 72 hr after culture. RT-PCR was performed for the detection of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, and Bok gene expression. Results: The rates of morula and blastocyst in HTF and G1.2 media (88%, 98.1%) were significantly higher than those in Ham's F-10 media (39.6%) at 48 hr. Likewise, the rates of hatching and hatched blastocyst in HTF and G1.2 media (21.9%, 52.9%) were higher than those in Ham's F-10 media (3.5%) at 72 hr. Bcl-2 and Bax mRNAs were highly detected in embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 when compared in embryos cultured in HTF and G1.2. In contrast, the expression of Mcl-1 and Bok was not significantly different. Conclusion: These results show that HTF and G1.2 culture media increase the rate of blastocyst formation and stimulate Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression in mouse preimplantation embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 1989

In order to determine the sex of preimplantation embryos prior to transfer in cattle, a series of experiments were carried out using 45 Holstein donor cows to examine the ovarian response on the gonadotropin and PGF2${\alpha}$, and the morphology of fresh embryos or frozen/thawed embryos after deep freezing at -196$^{\circ}C$. The sexing of embryos treated with the medium containing H-Y antiserum(10%, v/v) and FITC anti-mouse IgG(10%, v/v) were analysed by chromosomal analysis, and the sex of the embryos which survived were ascertain after delivering the pups. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. The average number of developed follicle and corpus luteum per cow were 13.5 and 8.1, and the ovalation rate was 60.1%. 2. Of 220-ova recovered, 75(34.1%) were morula and 91(41.4%) were blastocyst, and the morphological normal and abnormal rate of ova recovered were 75.5% and 24.5%, respectively. 3. Of 39 frozen/thawed embryos, the scores of normal morula and blastocyst, after thawing were 79.2%(19/24) and 73.3%(11/15). The average rate of frozen/thawed embryos which appeared morphologically normal post thawing was 76.9%(30/39). 4. The sex ratio was measured using the embryos treated with immunofluorescence assay to examine the relationship between embryo developmental stage, sex ratio of morula stage embryo was 42.2%(19/45) fluorescing and 57.8%(26/45) non-fluorescing, on the other hand, the ratio switched to 46.8%(29/62) fluorescing and 53.2%(33/62) non-fluorescing embryo in blastocyst stage. The sex ratio was also measured between fresh and frozen/thawed embryos, fresh and frozen/thawed treated embryos were indicated 45.8%(38/83) fluorescing, 54.2%(45/83) non-fluorescing and 41.7%(10/24) fluorescing, 58.3%(14/24) non-fluorescing. This trend indicated the approximal sex ratio was 1 : 1. 5. The result of karyotype test showed the successful rate of sexing embryo is fluorescing and non-fluorescing was 21.2%(7/33) and 29.6%(8/27). The female to male ratio within 33 fluorescing was 28.6 : 71.4, and the ratio of 27 non-fluorescing embryos was 87.7 : 12.5. 6. Of the embryo transferred after assignment of H-Y phenotype, five of the fluorescing embryos survived to term, all was males. Whereas six non-fluorescing embryos also survived to term and the sexes of the calves were 1 male 5 female.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.109-113
• /
• 1998

Objective: To ananlyze the direct effect of nitric oxide (NO), generated from sodium prusside (SNP) on the embryo developments in reproductive process. Design: Ova from mouse were treated to allow fertilization in in vitro culture. And the samples of fertilized ova were alloted into five alliqutos. Each alliquot was cultured in media treated with either concentration at 0 (n=92), $25{\mu}M$ (n=84), $50{\mu}M$ (n=80), $100{\mu}M$ (n=77), $500{\mu}M$ (n=54) of SNP. Main Outcome Measure: Rates of embryonal cell cleavages, viability and cell morphology were assessed during in vitro fertilization and culture. Results: As analyse the cell cleavage at 24 hours after in vitro culture of fertilised egg in variuos NO concentration, all of egg cells of each alliquot were developed to $2\sim4$ cell stage. But the alliquot of egg cells treated with $50{\mu}M$, which were totally degenerated. And also all embryonal cells of each alliquot were developed to 8 cell stage and morula stage on culture continuosly. And the embryonal cells of each alliquot were analysed at 24 and 48 hours following the in vitro culture. The rates of cell fragmentation and fusion were $4.2{\pm}3.4%$ in control group which is not treated with NO, while experimental groups was high, as rated $23.4{\pm}6.2%$ in $25{\mu}M$, $28.2{\pm}5.7%$ in $50{\mu}M$ and $32.1{\pm}6.4%$ in $100{\mu}M$ concentration of NO. Accordingly the rate of abnormal morphology of embryonal cell in control was lower significantly than that in each alliquot of experimental groups (p<0.05). And the degenerated rates of embryonal cells were 0% in control, $17.8{\pm}6.7%$ in $25{\mu}M$, $23.6{\pm}4.7%$ in $50{\mu}M$ and $26.8{\pm}11.2%$ in $100{\mu}M$ at 8 cells and morula on culture of 48 and 72 hours. On the examination of embryonal cells developed to blastocyst through in vitro culture, the rates of degenerated cells were $16.8{\pm}7.2%$ in control, $37.5{\pm}6.2%$ in $25{\mu}M$, $73.4{\pm}4.6%$ in $50{\mu}M$, 100% in $100{\mu}M$. Conclusion: This results suggeted that the NO in any concentrations is harmful on embryos in view of morphology as well as viability of cell, and the toxicity of NO on embryo is stronger at condition in higher concentration of NO.