• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.69-73
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the influences of two human chorion gonadotrophins (hCGs) being injected into young or aged (45- to 65-week old) outbred (ICR) mice on developmental capacity of oocytes retrieved. In vitro-culture and parthenogenetic activation of oocytes retrieved were employed for the assessment. Superovulation was determined as being induced when more than 25 oocytes were retrieved. No aged mice were superovulated, while in contrast, 67-100% were superovulated in the 6- to 8-week-old (young) mice. In the aged, hCG injection yielded better retrieval (5 vs. 13 to 14.8 oocytes/mouse). Overall, no significant difference between two hCGs was detected but between the young and aged, significant differences in maturational arrest (0% vs. 39% MI arrest and 46% vs. 15% degeneration) and developmental capacity (24% vs. 46% 8-cell embryo development) were detected. In conclusion, hCG injection contributes to increasing oocyte retrieval from aged outbred mice, but the kinds of gonadotrophin influenced the efficiency of hyperstimulation induction in specific ages.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제65권6호
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• pp.1205-1213
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• 2023

The goals of the present study were to develop a simple method for obtain highly purified pig sperm hyaluronidase (pHyase) and to assess its activity, function, and safety. In mammals, sperm-specific glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored Hyase assists sperm penetration through the cumulus mass surrounding the egg and aids in the dispersal of the cumulus-oocyte complex. Recently, Purified bovine sperm hyaluronidase (bHyase) has been shown to enhance therapeutic drug transport by breaking down the hyaluronan barrier to the lymphatic and capillary vessels, thereby facilitating tissue absorption. Commercially available Hyase is typically isolated from bovine or ovine; which have several disadvantages, including the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, low homology with human Hyase, and the requirement for relatively complex isolation procedures. This study successfully isolated highly purified pHyase in only two steps, using ammonium sulfate precipitation and fast protein liquid chromatography. The isolated Hyase had activity equal to that of commercial bHyase, facilitated in vitro fertilization, and effectively dissolved high molecule hyaluronic acid. This simple, effective isolation method could improve the availability of pHyase for research and clinical applications.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.195-204
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• 2012

Recently, we reported growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) as a new maternal effect gene (MEG), that expressed in the oocytes but functioned principally during embryogenesis. Gas6 RNAi-treated oocytes developed to metaphase II (MII) stage but they have affected M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activity and incurred abnormal pronuclear (PN) formation during fertilization. Gas6 is a ligand of TAM family members (Tyro3, Axl and Mertk) of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Purpose of the present study was to evaluate the expression of Tyro3, Axl and Mertk transcripts in oocytes and early embryos. Expression of Gas6 and Mertk mRNA was detectable in oocytes and follicular cells, while Tyro3 and Axl mRNA was expressed only in follicular cells. Expression of Mertk mRNA was relatively constant during oocytes maturation and embryogenesis, but the other receptors, Tyro3 and Axl, were not expressed in oocytes and PN stage of embryos at all. Knockdown of Mertk mRNA and protein by using sequence-specific Mertk double strand RNA (dsRNA) did not affect oocytes maturation. In this case, however, contrary to the ligand Gas6 RNA interference (RNAi), MPF activity had not been changed by Mertk RNAi. Therefore, we concluded that the Gas6-Mertk signaling is not directly related to the oocyte maturation. It is still required to study further regarding the function of Mertk as the receptor of Gas6 during preimplantational early embryogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Objective: Autophagy contributes to the clearance and recycling of macromolecules and organelles in response to stress. We previously reported that vitrified mouse oocytes show acute increases in autophagy during warming. Herein, we investigate the potential role of Atg7 in oocyte vitrification by using an oocyte-specific deletion model of the Atg7 gene, a crucial upstream gene in the autophagic pathway. Methods: Oocyte-specific Atg7 deficient mice were generated by crossing Atg7 floxed mice and Zp3-Cre transgenic mice. The oocytes were vitrified-warmed and then subjected to in vitro fertilization and development. The rates of survival, fertilization, and development were assessed in the Atg7 deficient oocytes in comparison with the wildtype oocytes. Light chain 3 (LC3) immunofluorescence staining was performed to determine whether this method effectively evaluates the autophagy status of oocytes. Results: The survival rate of vitrified-warmed $Atg7^{f/f}$;Zp3-Cre ($Atg7^{d/d}$) metaphase II (MII) oocytes was not significantly different from that of the wildtype ($Atg7^{f/f}$) oocytes. Fertilization and development in the $Atg7^{d/d}$ oocytes were significantly lower than the $Atg7^{f/f}$ oocytes, comparable to the $Atg5^{d/d}$ oocytes previously described. Notably, the developmental rate improved slightly in vitrified-warmed $Atg7^{d/d}$ MII oocytes when compared to fresh $Atg7^{d/d}$ oocytes. LC3 immunofluorescence staining showed that this method can be reliably used to assess autophagic activation in oocytes. Conclusion: We confirmed that the LC3-positive signal is nearly absent in $Atg7^{d/d}$ oocytes. While autophagy is induced during the warming process after vitrification of MII oocytes, the Atg7 gene is not essential for survival of vitrified-warmed oocytes. Thus, induction of autophagy during warming of vitrified MII oocytes seems to be a natural response to manage cold or other cellular stresses.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.263-272
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• 2007

생쥐의 난자는 특별한 첨가물이나 난구세포 없이 체외 배양해도 성숙율이 높은 반면 돼지 난자의 체외성숙율은 매우 낮다. 본 연구는 이러한 차이의 원인을 연구하기 위하여 생쥐와 돼지 난자의 에너지 생성에 관여하는 유전자인 malate dehydrogenase(Mor2)의 기능을 RNAi를 이용하여 비교 분석하였다. 생쥐와 돼지 각각의 Mor2 double-stranded RNA(dsRNA)를 제작하고, 생쥐는 난구세포를 제거한 미성숙(GV) 난자의 세포질에 mMor2 dsRNA를 미세 주입한 후 16시간 동안 배양하였고, 돼지는 난구세포를 제거하거나(DO) 혹은 그대로인 상태(COCs)로 pMor2 dsRNA를 미세 주입한 후 48시간 동안 배양하였다. 사용한 배양액은 M199에 10%의 porcine follicular fluid, pyruvate, p-FSH, EGF, cystein, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ 등이 첨가된 배양액을 사용하였고, 배양 후 난자의 형태학적 변화를 관찰하고, Mor2 mRNA양의 변화를 RT-PCR로 확인하여 RNAi 결과, 염기서열 특이적으로 Mor2 발현이 억제됨을 확인하였다. 돼지 난자의 pMor2 RNAi 결과, DO 난자에서는 약 58%의 난자가 MI에서 성숙이 억제되었으나, COCs에선 84.4%가 MII로 성숙하는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 이는 돼지의 난구세포가 난자 성숙에 매우 중요하며, 특히 malate 공급에 관여할 것임을 시사한다. 선행 연구 Mor2 RNAi 결과, 생쥐는 GV에서, 본 연구에서 돼지는 MI에서 성숙이 정지되었기 때문에 이러한 차이가 배양액의 차이인지 다시 mMor2 RNAi 후 생쥐 난자를 M199 배양액에 16시간 동안 배양한 후 성숙율을 관찰하였더니 MII로의 성숙율은 62%로 대조군과 비교하여 큰 차이가 없었다(non-injected: 76.8%, buffer-injected: 73.3%). 이는 mMor2 RNAi 결과가 배양액의 조성에 의해 극복될 수 있음을 보여준 결과다. 생쥐와 돼지에서 서로 다른 대사과정을 갖고 있음은 바로 이 두 종에서의 체외성숙율 차이의 원인이 될 수 있을 것이며, 앞으로 두 종에서의 난자와 난구세포간의 상호작용 및 대사 경로 등에 관한 심도 깊은 비교 분석 연구를 통하여 돼지의 체외성숙율을 증가시킬 수 있는 배양 시스템의 개발이 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.9-20
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• 1998

Phospholipase C (PLC)는 다양한 세포주에서 세포내 신호전달에 중요한 역할을 한다고 알려져 있으나, 생쥐 난자성숙 과정과 착성전 배아발생 과정에서 PLC의 역할과 발현은 아직 연구된 바 없다. 본 연구에서는 난자성숙과 착상전 배아발생 과정에서 생쥐의 PLC \beta 1과 \gamma 1의 유전자 발현을 조사하기 위하여 한 개의 난자 혹은 배아에서 추출된 total RNA를 사용하여 경쟁적 RT-PCR 방법으로 mRNA를 정량하였다. PLC \gamma 1의 유전자 발현을 조사하기 위하여 한 개의 난자 혹은 배아에서 추출된 total RNA를 사용하여 경쟁적 RT-PCR 방법으로 mRNA를 정량하였다. PLC \gamma 1의 유전자는 전혀 발현하지 않았다. 수정후 PLC \betta 1과 \gamma 1의 유전자 발현은 상실기 배아에서 증가하기 시작하여 포배기 배아에서는 현저히 증가하였다. 난자성숙과 착상전 배아발생 과정에서 protein kinase C(PKC) 신호전달체게에 의한 PLC의 역할을 조사하기 위하여 PKC의 억제제인 sphingosin, PKC의 촉진제인 $diC_{8}$, 그리고 PLC의 억제제인 U73122의 효과를 조사하였다. Spihingosine은 처리후 1시간 이내에 대조군에 비해 20% 정도의 난자성숙을 촉지하였으나 U73122는 유효한 효과를 보이지 않았다. U73122는 상실기 배아의 compaction을 억제하였으나 $diC_{8}$에 의하여 부분적으로 극복되었다. 이상의 결과는 PLC \beta 1과 \gamma 1 유전자가 생쥐의 착상전 발생단계에서 특이젖으로 발현하고 있으며, 난자성숙과 착상전 초기배아에서 PKC-PLC 신호전달체계가 관여하고 있으리라 사료된다.

• 한국잠사곤충학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.1-7
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• 1973

잠란 난령별 추출액을 항원으로 토끼의 항혈청을 만들고 이들 항원과 항체와의 사이에 생기는 반응에 의하여 항원성을 비교하였다. 그 결과는 아래와 같다. 1) 잠란내 난령별 조성물질은 토끼의 이정맥에 주입하였을 경우에 대부분의 잠란항원 A.B.D.G.H.J는 항체를 형성하였으나 그 일부의 항원 C.E.F.I에서는 항체 형성이 식별되지 않았다. 2) 잠란 잠령별 잠란내 조성물질은 생종인 대조 A구, B구와 대조 B구와 AKT 흑종 48시간구 D, 흑확잠 103과 잠 104에 있어서 G.H와 J는 서로 공통항원을 가지고 있었으나 그 일부 즉 AKT의 E.F 잠 104의 20시간구 I에서는 특이적인 항원항체반응을 인정할 수 없었으며 타 항체, D.E.F와의 사이에서는 비특이적인 항원항체반응을 인정할 수 있었다. 3) 각 난령별 잠란내에는 공통항원성 물질이 존재하는 것으로 사려되며 각 난령에 따른 특수항원성을 보기 위해서 흡습법에 의한 시험을 한 결과 B.D.G.J의 4개의 특이적인 항원을 인정할 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 1981

면역학적인 방법을 사용하여 가돈 여포액내의 특이단백질의 존재여부와 이들을 추출하여 난자성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과 다음과 같았다. 1. 가돈 혈청 및 혈장에는 존재하지 않는 면역학적으로 특이한 두 단백질이 가돈 여포액내에서 검출되었다. 2. 이들 두 단백질은 전기영동적으로 각각 fast alpha-I globulin 과 beta-globulin 의 이동성을 나타냈다. 3. 이들 두 단백질은 생쥐 여포난자의 성숙을 억제시켰다. 본 실험의 결과로 미루어 가돈 여포액내에는 난자성숙을 억제시키는 특이단백질이 존재하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2007

During early embryo development, Oct-4 is an important transcription factor for the early differentiation the present study was first examined methylation status in distal enhancer and promoter region of Oct-4 during mouse pre-implantation embryo development. In oocyte and sperm, high methylation was observed in both distal and proximal of promoter in Oct-4. Following fertilization relatively high methylation level remained until 8-cell stage embryos, but decreased at the morula and blastocyst stage. Specific gene knock down of Oct-4 by siRNA injection into zygote induced higher methylation rates of both distal and proximal region of promoter of Oct-4. These results suggest a functional link between the DNA methylation status of distal and promoter resign in the Oct-4 gene and the gene sequence-specific transcriptional silencing by exogenous siRNA injection during mouse preimplantation embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.217-221
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• 2010

When fully grown oocytes are removed from their follicles, they can resume meiosis and mature spontaneously under in vitro conditions. However, nuclear maturation under in vitro condition is not accompanied by complete cytoplasmic maturation, which is essential for successful fertilization and the initiation of zygotic development. This study analyzed change of proteins in follicular fluids during the porcine follicular development. Follicular fluids were collected from follicles of diameter 1~2 mm, 2~6 mm and 6~10 mm in ovary of slaughtered pigs. Total proteins were extracted from follicular fluids by M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. We confirmed totally 27 same spots, 1 spot from follicle fluid of 2~6 mm follicle and 5 spots from follicle fluid of 6~10 mm in diameter were analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and searched on NCBInr. In results, spot No. 28 from 2~6 mm follicle was Ig lambda chain C region, and spot No.32 and 33 from 6~10 mm was Apolipoprotein A-(APOA4). Spot No.29 and 31 were failed to analyze. These results indicate that the porcine oocyte during in vitro maturation depend on specific different expressed proteins may play an important roles in the sequence of molecular events in porcine oocyte maturation and follicular development.