• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.217-228
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• 1994

These experiments were carried out to establish the optimal condition of electrostimulatin inducing cell fusion and oocyte activation for nuclear transplantation in mouse embryos. Eggs selected for cell fusion or activation by electrostimulation were equilibrated for 5~10 min. in 0.3M sucrose solution and electrostimulated for 60$\mu$sec using 1 pulse of 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 volts DC with electrodes 0.2 mm apart. Then they were cultured in 20${mu}ell$ dropsof Tyrode's solution. The results of these experiments are as follows : 1. When one pulse of 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 volts DC for 60$\mu$sec were applied to 2-cell embryos for fusion of blastomeres, fusion rates were 50.0, 81.7, 91.7, 100 and 100%, respectively ; and developmental rates of fused embryos to blastocyst were 76.7 to 81.5%. Higher fusion rates were observed in 90V and 100V. 2. The average cell number in fused embryos developed to blastocyst was about half of the cell number in diploid controls; and the cell number decreased with increasing of voltages. 3. When pulse numbers were increased, fusion rates improved, but developmental rates were not signficiantly different from the group for which the number of pulse was not increased. And the cell number of blastocyst decreased even more. 4. Oocytes aged for 6hrs after ovulation were electrostimulated for oocyte activation by the same method used for cell fusion. Rates of oocyte activated by electrostimulation were 45.3 to 60.4%, and fragmentation rates were 7.5~15.1%. The lysis rates were 17.0~34.0%. The results of these experiments indicate that the optimal condition for achieving cell fusion and activation is 1 pulse, duration 60$\mu$sec in 90 Volt. The results also show that this condition is suitable for nuclear transplantation using mouse eggs.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2010

For the studies of germ cell development and maturation in the ovary, the gametogenic cycle and the number of spawning seasons per year in female Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by quantitative statistical analysis using an Image Analyzer System. Compared with the results by qualitative and quantitative analyses, monthly variations in female gonad indice by qualitative histological analysis showed a pattern similar to that of the female gametogenic cycle calculated by quantitative statistical analysis. The number of spawning seasons occurred once per year, from June to October. In quantitative statistical analysis using an image analyzer system, monthly changes in the portions (%) of the ovary area to total tissue areas in females increased in March and reached a maximum in May, and then showed a rapid decrease from June to October when spawning occurred. And also monthly changes in portions (%) of follicle areas to the ovary area and in portions of oocyte areas to ovarian tissue areas in females began to increase in March and reached a maximum in May, and then. rapidly dropped from June to October when spawnig occurred. From these data, it is apparent that the number of spawning seasons occurred once per year, from June to October. Monthly changes in the number of the oocyte per $mm^2$ and in mean diameter of the oocyte in captured image which were calculated for each female slide showed a maximum in May and reached the minimum from December to February. Therefore, female R. philippinarum showed a unimodal gametogenic cycle during the year.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2003

Objective : To assess and compare the clinical outcomes between GnRH agonist long protocol and GnRH antagonist short protocol in oocyte donation program. Materials and Methods: Of total 18 oocyte donation cycles, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) were performed with GnRH agonist long protocol and GnRH antagonist short protocol in initial 9 cycles and later 9 cycles, respectively. Oral estradiol valerate and progesterone in oil we re administrated to all recipients for endometrial preparation. Oral estradiol administration was started from donor cycle day 1 after full shut down of gonadal axis with GnRH agonist in patients with ovarian function. Progesterone was injected from oocyte retrieval day of donor initially, then continuously till pregnancy 12 weeks if pregnancy was ongoing. We compared the parameters of clinical outcomes, such as number of the retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, high grade embryo production rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, COH duration, total gonadotropin dose for COH between GnRH agonist long protocol group and GnRH antagonist group. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, high grade embryo production rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate were $14.89{\pm}7.83$, 81%, 64%, 78%, 31%, 78%, respectively in GnRHa long protocol group and $11.22{\pm}8.50$, 79%, 64%, 67%, 34%, 56%, respectively in GnRH antagonist group. There was no significant differences in parameters of clinical outcomes between 2 groups (all p value >0.05). Duration and total gonadotropin dose for COH were $10.94{\pm}1.70$ days and $43.78{\pm}6.8$ vials in 18 cycles, $12.00{\pm}1.73$ days and $48.00{\pm}6.93$ vials in agonist group, $9.88{\pm}0.78$ days and $39.55{\pm}3.13$ vials in antagonist group, respectively. In GnRH agonist long protocol group, significantly longer duration and higher gonadotropin dose for COH were needed (p=0.012). Conclusion: In oocyte donation program, clinical outcomes from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH antagonist were comparable to those from GnRH agonist long protocol group, so controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH antagonist may be effective as GnRH agonist long protocol. At least there may not be harmful effects of GnRH antagonist on oocyte development and quality.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to access the effects of collection method, room temperature at oocyte recovery and culture media on the oocyte quality, fertilization and cleavage rates of in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes of Korean native goats. Ovaries obtained from a slaughterhouse were transported to the laboratory and were divided into 2 groups. One group of ovaries was maintained at 30 to 35$^{\circ}C$ of the room temperature and another group was remained at 20 to $25^{\circ}C$ during oocyte recovery. The oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration, slicing and aspiration+slicing methods from 3 groups of follicles according to size; <2 mm, 2 to 6 mm and >6 mm. The matured oocytes were inseminated with buck epididymal spermatozoa at a concentration of 3~3.5$\times$10$^{6}$ m1 and fertilization was identified when 2 pronuclei were present in the cytoplasm. Although the recovery rate per ovary obtained by the combination of follicle aspiration + slicing(19.6$\pm$2.2) method was higher than aspiration(11.7$\pm$1.1) and slicing(14.8$\pm$1.8) collection, optimal recovery according to oocyte grades resulted form ovarian slicing compared to aspiration or combined methods(P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the mean number(2.5$\pm$1.8; 3.3$\pm$3.3; 2.9$\pm$2.4) and the proportion of favorable oocytes(Grades I, II and III) recovered(31.6%, 36.0%, 36.4%,) according to follicle size(<2 mm; 2 to 6 mm; >6 mm). Fertilization rate was 60.0%, 67.7%, 70.6% and 56.4% and the proportion of embryos/zygotes was 11.1%, 7.1%, 5.0% and 2.8% in 20~$25^{\circ}C$/BO, 30~35$^{\circ}C$/BO, 20~$25^{\circ}C$/TALP and 30~35$^{\circ}C$ /groups, respectively.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.501-506
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• 1998

In the goby Micropercops swinhonis, the development of its egg's enveloping layers could be divided into 4 stages. In the earliest developmental period, stage I, there is a simple oocyte surrounded by a layer of squamous follicular cells. Stage II corresponds to the yolk vesicle stage of vitellogenesis. Here the initial follicular layer has become bilaminar with the retention of its outer squamous cell layer and the acquisition of an inner cuboidal cell layer just over the zona radiata. The number and size of the cuboidal cells increases throughout this stage. Stage III corresponds to the yolk granule stage of true vitellogenesis. Here the cuboidal cells begin to be replaced by columnar cells. As the oocyte grows, the columnar cells increase in size. The columnar cells produce cytoplasmic neutral mucins and by the end of this stage their cytoplasm has been filled with this mucin. In stage IV a single layer of squamous cells still remained as the outer follicular layer of the oocyte. The secretory activity of the inner follicular layers' columnar cells has ceased and they had lost their cell wall integrity and ended as a series of bullet-shaped, neutral mucin deposits.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.835-842
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• 2013

Flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius is a commercially important fish in the coastal waters of Gangwon Province, which is its spawning ground and breeding habitat. A total of 1,669 gonads were sampled monthly from February 2011 to May 2013 to investigate ecological characteristics, such as variations in maturation and spawning by gonad index, visual maturity stage, histological observations and oocyte diameter. Males were numerically dominant over females in the fishing grounds year round. The spawning season was from January to April, and the peak was from February to March. Oocyte number as a measure of fecundity was between 27,372 and 915,209 eggs with a length range of 26.0-48.7 cm TL, while the largest oocyte grew to 0.9-1.4mm in egg diameter during its spawning season. The relationship between fecundity and total length was $F=0.0016TL^{5.2539}$. The smallest mature lengths of the females and males were 28.4 and 22.6 cm respectively, and the 50% mature lengths of females and males were 32.9, 26.9 cm respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2010

The structure of the ovary, ultrastructure of oocytes and morphological characteristics of vitellogenesis during oogenesis in female Gomphina veneriformis were investigated in clams collected from coastal waters of Samchok, Gangwon-do, Kore. In the previtellogenic oocytes, the Golgi complex was involved in the formation of a number of vacuoles. In the early vitellogenic oocytes, lipid droplets appeared among the Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the oocyte were involved in the formation of lipid droplets. Coated vesicles, resulting from endocytosis appeared at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The uptake of nutritive materials in the coated vesicles formed by receptor-mediated endocytosis appeared through the formation of coated endocytotic pits on the oolemma. In the late vitellogenic oocytes, large yolk granules were formed by a combination of small yolk granules. In the mature oocyte, a mature yolk granule in composed of three components: crystaline core, electron lucent cortex, and a limiting membrane. According to cytological and histological observations, vitellogenesis occurred by way of endogenous autosynthesis and exogenous heterosynthesis. Autosynthesis involved the conbined activities of the Golgi complex, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, whereas heterosynthesis involved endocytotic incorporation of extraovarian precursors at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The follicle cells which was attached to oocytes, were involved in the development of the previtellogenic and early vitellogenic oocytes as a kind of nutritive cells containing a number of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fructose that was supplemented to a chemically defined in vitro maturation (IVM) medium on oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenesis in pigs. The base medium for in vitro maturation (IVM) was porcine zygote medium (PZM) that was supplemented with 0.05% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or 10% (v/v) porcine follicular fluid (pFF). In the first experiment, when immature pig oocytes were matured in a chemically defined medium that was supplemented with 5.5 mM glucose or with 1.5, 3.0 and 5.5 mM fructose, 3.0 mM fructose resulted in a higher nuclear maturation (91.5%) than 1.5 and 5.5 mM fructose (81.9 and 81.9%, respectively) but showed a similar result with 5.5 mM glucose (94.2%). However, there was no significant differences among groups in the embryo cleavage (89.4-92.4%), blastocyst formation (37.5-41.1%), and mean cell number of blastocyst (30.8-34.2 cells). Fructose at the concentration of 3.0 mM (1.08 pixels/oocyte) resulted in a higher intra-oocyte glutathione (GSH) content than 1.5 and 5.5 mM fructose (1.00 and 0.87 pixels/oocytes, respectively) while the cumulus cell expansion was not influenced. In the second experiment, effect of individual and combined supplementation of a chemically defined maturation medium with 5.5 mM glucose or 3.0 mM fructose was examined. No significant effect was found in the nuclear maturation (86.3-92.6%). Embryo cleavage was significantly increased by the combined supplementation with glucose and fructose (95.2%) compared to that with 3.0 mM fructose only (85.7%) while blastocyst formation (37.3-42.8%) and embryonic cell number (33.3-34.1 cells) were not altered. Effect of supplementation of pFF-containing medium with glucose and fructose + glucose was examined in the third experiment. No significant effect by the supplementation with glucose and fructose or glucose alone was observed in the nuclear maturation of oocytes (90.7-94.1%) and blastocyst formation (51.0-56.5%). Our results demonstrate that 3.0 mM fructose was comparable to 5.5 mM glucose in supporting in vitro oocyte maturation and embryonic development after parthenogenesis and could be used as an alternative energy source to glucose for in vitro maturation of pig oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.279-286
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• 2000

This study was conducted to develop an improved method for oocyte pick-up(OPU) with finger-sensibility using ultrasound-guidance from ovarian follicles in Holstein heifers. Oocytes were aspirated from ovarian follicles of clear-outline (>2mm), obscure-outline and invisible($\leq$ 2mm) on ultrasound images with 3 different vacuum pressure(40, 80, 120mmHg). Total number of oocytes recovered/follicles were 309/237(130.4%). 113/80(141.3%) and 107/74(144.6%) with 40, 80 and 120 mmHg of vacuum pressure, respectively. Mean number of oocytes recovered was higher in 2 OPU/week (18.3$\pm$5.3) than 1 OPU/week(14.5$\pm$4.1), but this difference was not statistical1y significant. The recovery rates were not affected by the number of OPU as 135.6%(282 oocytes/208 follicles) in 1~20 OPU, 137.7% (168/122) in 21~40 OPU and 148.4%(92/62) in 41~60 OPU, respectively. The proportions of good oocytes (Grades I) recovered were not significantly different by the number of OPU until 40 OPU(12.4% in 1~20 OPU vs 16.7% in 21~40 OPU). However, a significantly(P<0.05) lower recovery rate resulted from more than 40 OPU compared to less than 40 OPU(7.6%). These results imply that more fertilizable oocytes can be produced from invisible-immature follicles by transvaginal aspiration with finger-sensibility from Holstein heifers.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2018

To improve survival rates of vitrified pig oocytes, the treatment of cytoskeletal stabilizer on an appropriate time is one of the possible approaches. However, the exact treatment timing and effect of cytoskeletal stabilizer such as cytochalasin B (CB) is not well known during oocyte vitrification procedures. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine optimal treatment timing of CB during vitrification and warming procedures. In experiment 1, the survival rates of the postwarming pig oocytes were analyzed by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assays with 4 classifications. In results, post-warming oocytes showed significantly (p<0.05) decreased number of alive oocytes (31.8% vs. 86.4%) compared to fresh control. In detail, the significant difference (p<0.05) was found only in strong fluorescence (18.2% vs. 70.5%) not in intermediate fluorescence groups (13.6% vs. 15.9%). In experiment 2, CB was treated before (CB-Vitri) and after (Vitri-CB) vitrification. In results, group of Vitri-CB showed significantly (p<0.05) higher (91.6%) survival rates compared to group of CB-Vitri (83.7%), significantly (p<0.05) and comparable with group of Vitri Control (88.7%) by morphological inspection. In FDA assay results, group of Vitri-CB showed significantly (p<0.05) higher (44.2%) survival rates compared to groups of CB-Vitri (36.7%) and Vitri Control (35.1%). In conclusion, the increased survival rates of post-warming pig oocyte treated with Vitri-CB method are firstly described here. The main finding of present study is that the CB treatment during recovery could be helpful to refresh the post-warming pig oocyte resulting its improved survival rates.