• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2001

Rana ovarian follicles consist of oocyte, vitelline envelope, granulosa cells, and theca/epithelial layer. Using scanning electron microscopy, the surface structure of each follicular component was investigated. Changes in oocyte surface during oocyte maturation were also examined. Theca/epithelial layer was almost transparent and some blood vessels and granulosa cells were observed underneath in intact follicle. The number of granulosa cells was estimated to be 6700-7200 per oocyte. The granulosa cells partially overlapped each other and their microvilli penetrated the vitelline membrane via holes present in the vitelline envelope and seemed to be linked to oocyte microvilli. After removal of the vitelline envelope by microforcep, oocyte microvilli were observed on the surface of the devitellined oocyte. The oocyte microvilli formed partial clusters on the surface of white spot area which appears iust before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), whereas they were evenly distributed in other areas. The microvilli became shorter and less dense with oocyte maturation. The lengths of oocyte microvilli in the immature and mature oocyte were 1.5 $\mu$m and 0.6 $\mu$m, respectively. The present study suggests a fundamental structural change occurring on the oocyte surface during maturation.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2007

Oocyte surface in two Korean minnows, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus and R. kumgangensis was examined by light and electron microscope. In two species, the development of the oocyte was similar, but the follicular layer surrounding full-grown oocyte showed an evident difference. In R. oxycephalus, the follicular layer at the yolk vesicle stage became bilaminar with the retention of its outer squamous cell layer and the acquisition of an inner cuboidal or round cell layer just over the zona radiata. As the oocyte grows, the cuboidal cells of the inner follicular layer began to be replaced by columnar cells. At the yolk granule stage, the columnar cells secreted mucin to their cytoplasm (adhesive materials) and then surround the entire oocyte, as bundles of fence-shaped structures. Whereas, although the follicular layer of R. kumgangensis had an outer squamous layer and an inner cuboidal or round cell layer at the yolk vesicles as in R. oxycephalus, no inner cells were more changed with the retention of its cuboidal or round cells. Finally, in R. kumgangensis, the adhesive materials did not occur. In Korean two minnows, the structural difference in the oocyte surface seems to be related to their habitats and spawning characteristics as well as taxonomic characters.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2001

We have previously shown that oocyte maturation is induced by an immobilized progesterone, progesterone-3-carboxymethyloxime - bovine serum albumin conjugate (P-BSA) in Rana dybowskii. In this study, we confirmed the maturation inducing activity of P-BSA on Xenopus oocyte and examined the binding character of the immobilized progesterone on the surface of Xenopus oocytes after removal of the vitelline layer. P-BSA induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes but E-BSA failed to do so as observed in Rana. Binding of the immobilized progesterone, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled progesterone-3-0-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (P-BSA-FITC) on the devitellined oocytes surface was examined by fluorescence confocal microscopy. The binding affinity of P-BSA-FITC to the devitellined oocyte was higher than that of estrogen-BSA-FITC (E-BSA-FITC) or testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC). The binding disappeared in the presence of excess free progesterone but not in the presence of free estrogen. Maximum binding occurred after two-hours of incubation with P-BSA-FITC at pH 7.5. Stronger binding occurred in oocytes at stage Vl than stage IV, and in vitro treatment of hCG enhanced the binding. Taken together, these results suggest that a specific receptor for progesterone exists on the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes and that progesterone acts initially on this putative receptors and triggers generation of membrane-mediated second messengers during the early stage of oocyte maturation In amphibians.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.86-100
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• 1985

A observation of the ovarian development and oogenesis of Pieris rapae Linne has been carried out during metamorphosis using stereo-microscope, light microscope and electron microscope. The results obtained through this experiment are as follows: 1. The ovarian development and vitellogenesis begin at the 3-day old pupa and the 6-day old pupa respectively, and the adult ovary right after their emergence contains a few mature eggs. 2. The species described above are further observed at six different stages in oogenesis, and the results are summarized as follows. 1) Pieris rapae has polytrophic ovarioles. The cell organelles of the nurse cells are transfered to the oocyte through the ring canal at the early oogenesis. 2) At stage 2, the nuclear envelope of oocyte nucleus is less infolding than that of nurse cell nucleus. In the oocyte cytoplasm a large number of ribosomes are observed. 3) At stage 3 and 4, many micropinocytotic vesicles are observed in the oocyte cytoplasm. These vesicles are fused together to form large proteid yolks. 4) At stage 5, the vitelline membrane is laid down in the intercellular space between the follicle cells and oocyte. 5) At stage 6, the chorion is formed by the follicle cells. 6) A micropyle and a number of aeropyle are observed on the surface of a mature egg.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2000

Three fertilization envelopes (FE) have been observed after the artificial insemination of U. unicinctus oocytes. The substances of the first fertilization envelope, which is an effective barrier against excessive sperm, come mainly from the surface coat of the oocyte. The secretions of the cortical granules take part in formation of the 2nd fertilization envelope. Histologically, the 3rd fertilization envelope is not amorphous as seen under light microscope, but contains numerous panicles under electron microscope, which would be contributed to harden the envelope by 60 min after the fertilization. With the substantial similarity between the 1st fertilization envelope and the surface coat of the oocyte, and the coincidence of retraction of microvilli and the formation of the 1st fertilization envelope, it is suggested that the microvilli contain the sperm receptors in U. unicinctus. Some granular substances from the distal part of the acrosome diffuse on the surface coat of the oocyte while the acrosomal tubules penetrate into the surface coat. The acrosomal tubules arise from the proximal part of the acrosome and pass through the acrosomal lumen.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2008

Surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) is one of the recently developed proteomic technologies which is based on capturing proteins and peptides by chemically modified surfaces and highly sensitive for the analysis of complex biological samples. In the present study, to gain insights into oocyte maturation and early embryo development, SELDI-TOF-MS was used to find the protein candidates that are specifically or prominently expressed in porcine oocytes at the in vitro matured metaphase II (MIIl) and germinal vesicle (GV) stages. By selected CM10 chip, 16 candidates were found to be up-regulated in GV stage oocytes compared with in MII stage oocytes, their molecular weights were 8,180 (2 candidates), 10,226 (5 candidates), 15,767 (5 candidates) and 16,770 (4 candidates) Da respectively. And the expression of 29 candidates were higher in MII than in GV stage oocytes, their molecular weight were 10,832 (3 candidates), 17,743 (8 candidates), 20,122 (3 candidates), 22,131 (3 candidates), 24,857 (7 candidates) and 33,507 (5 candidates) Da, respectively. The expression of selected 13 candidates (0.2 and 1.0 % error tolerances) were analyzed using real time RT-PCR. The proteins that differentially regulated during oocyte in vitro maturation in the pigs may be potential biomarkers of oocyte maturation and quality.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2001

The full-grown oocyte envelope of the two spined loaches, Niwaella multifasciata and Kichulchoia brevifasciata, was examined by electron microscopy. The oocyte is surrounded by its envelope, and an external modification (an adhesive structure) in the surface of the envelope is present. The envelope consists of two layers, a zona radiata externa which is the site of the adhesive structure, and a zona radiata interna, which has heterogeneous, electron-dense multi layers. The surface (zona radiata externa) of the envelope in N. multifasciata is equipped with short villuslike protuberances, which have a length of 1.5~2.5 ${\mu}m$ and are separated from each other by a distance of 2~2.5 ${\mu}m$. In contrast, K. brevifasciata has undulating or wave-like structures that extend over the entire oocyte surface. The waves are 1.5~2.5 ${\mu}m$ in length and are separated a distance of 2.5~3.3 ${\mu}m$ from each other.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2022

In vivo oocytes grow and mature in ovarian follicles whereas oocytes are matured in vitro in plastic culture dishes with a hard surface. In vivo oocytes show a superior developmental ability to in vitro counterparts, indicating suboptimal environments of in vitro culture. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an agarose matrix as a culture substrate during in vitro maturation (IVM) on the development of pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles (SAFs). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved from SAFs were grown in a plastic culture dish without an agarose matrix and then cultured for maturation in a plastic dish coated without (control) or with a 1% or 2% (w/v) agarose hydrogel. Then, the effect of the soft agarose matrix on oocyte maturation and embryonic development was assessed by analyzing intra-oocyte contents of glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of VEGFA, HIF1A, and PFKP genes, and blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis. IVM of pig COCs on a 1% (w/v) agarose matrix showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation, intra-oocyte GSH contents, and transcript abundance of VEGFA. Moreover, a significantly lower intra-oocyte ROS content was detected in oocytes matured on the 1% and 2% (w/v) agarose matrices than in control. Our results demonstrated that IVM of SAFs-derived pig oocytes on a soft agarose matrix enhanced developmental ability by improving the cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes through redox balancing and regulation of gene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 1988

생쥐에 PMSG와 hOG를 주사한 후 난자-난구복합체의 미세구조의 변화를 환찰함으로세 난구세포의 분산현상을 규명하고자 본 실험을 행하였다. 난자는 PMSG 주사후 48시간까지 별 다른 변화가 없었고 다만 표면막에 miGrOVilli와 Coaled pit의 수가 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 그러나 PMSG-hCG주사 12시간 후에 배란된 난자의 표면은 microvilli와 coated pit가 사라져서 평평하게 되었다. 방사관세포는 PMSG주사 48시간 후메 밀착해 있던 투명대와 간격이 생기기 시작하였고, 투명대를 통관하여 난자의 표면막과 desmosome으로 연결되어 있던 세포질돌기도 퇴화의 징후를 보였다. PMSG-hCG주사 후에는 급속히 격리, 분산되고 세포질돌기는 퇴화하였으며 dermo-some도 사라겼다. 난구세포들은 대조군에서 밀집되어 있었고 거의 gap junction으로 연결되어 있었는데, PMSG주사 24시간 후에는 모양이 등글게 되고 더욱 밀집되었으며, 48시간 후에는 거의 loose junction으로 연결되었고 분산되기 시작하였다. 결국 PMSG-hCG주사 If시간 후에는 완전히 분산되었고 거의 모두 핵응축과 괴사현상을 보였다. 난자- 난구 복합체의 분산은 배란전에 PMSG에 의하여 시작되고 hCG에 의하여 촉진 완결된다는 것이 확실하다. The ultrastructural changes of the oocyte-cumulus complexes of mouse alter injection of PMSG and hOG have been investigated in order to elucidate expansion phenomenon of the cumulus cells. The oocytes until 48 hours after PMSC injection showed no change except a tendency of decrease in numbers of microvilli and the coated pelts on surface membrane. However, surface membrane of the ovulated oocytes 12 hours after PMSC-hCC injection changed to be smooth due to disapperance of microvilli and coated pits. Corona radiate cells tightly attaching to zona pe]lucida 48 hours after PMSC injection began to be detached and their cytoplasmic processes connected by desmosome to oocyte surface membrane showed a degeneration symptom. Thereafter the detachment and degeneration were accelerated by hCG injection and followed by disappearence of desmosome. The cumulus cells in control group were compacted and connected by almost 9aP junction each another. Ite cumulus cells 24 hours after PMSG injection were changed to be round form and more tightly compacted. However, the cumulus cells 48 hours after PMSG injection were connected by almost loose junction and showed the beginning of expansion. Eventuallv, the cumulus cells 12 hours a%or PMSG-hCG injection were completely expanded, and became pvknotic and necrotic in most It is clear that the expansion of oocyte-cumulus complex were initiated by PMSC, then accelerated and completed by hCG before ovulation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2018

Zona pellucida (ZP), a primarily representative coat of mammalian egg and embryo, has an extremely heterogeneous morphology during different developmental stages. The objective of the present study was to compare the morphological changes of the ZP surface of immature, in vitro and in vivo matured canine oocytes by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Canine ovaries were collected from local veterinary hospitals to recover immature oocytes. The ovaries were sliced and the released cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were washed with TL-HEPES. The selected COCs were randomly divided into two groups, first group was processed immediately at immature state and the second group was processed 72 h after in vitro maturation, and compared with in vivo derived oocytes. Oocytes were fixed, critical point dried and examined under SEM. The diameters of oocyte and outer holes of the ZP were measured on a total of 249 oocytes; the results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA. Our results showed that, the diameter of immature oocytes significantly differed (p < 0.05) from that of in vivo matured oocytes ($79.60{\pm}0.77{\mu}m$ vs. $101.46{\pm}1.07{\mu}m$, respectively). Similarly, a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the diameters between those of in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes were found ($79.51{\pm}2.36{\mu}m$ vs. $101.46{\pm}1.07{\mu}m$, respectively). Moreover, the diameters of the outer holes of the ZP were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in in vivo matured ($1.48{\pm}0.42{\mu}m$) than in vitro matured for 72 and immature oocytes ($1.10{\pm}0.16$ and $0.43{\pm}0.12{\mu}m$, respectively). Taken together, these data indicates that the ZP surface is related to oocyte maturity in canine.