• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 1986

Recipients are an integral part of embryo transfer and they are expensive to maintain as a good recipient. Recipient management is one of the most important components in a successful embryo transfer program. Management includes selection and subsequent care of the animals. A good recipient is basically on "open" cows or heffers whose reproductive tract is capable of receiving one or two embryos and incubating it to term. Potential recipients should be always be healthy and cycling normally ranging from 18 to 23 days. A thorough veterinary examination is recommended for candidate of recipients and cattle for questionable health should be eliminated from the recipient herd. Age and size of recipients are particularly important considerations when heifers are used, because of most embryos available for transfer are from large dams and sires. Body condition can influence a recipient's production, reproduction and health. Obese and underconditioned cattle should be avoided for use. Transfer of fresh embryos especially requires precise synchronization of donors and recipients. For estrus synchronization, PGF$_2$$\alpha$ is injected twice 10 to 12 days apart and short4erm progestagen treatment is applied to potential recipient cattle by coil into vagina (PRID) or ear implant (Synchro-Mate-B). The highest pregnancy results are achieved in recipients at exact synchrony with donors or 12 to 24 hr earlier than donors. Estrus detection is a major factor in breeding efficiency. High accuracy can be achieved by use of heat mount detection alds or by obserbing cattle for 30-minute peroids 3 times daily. Assay progesterone in milk can be used to discrIminate between pregnant and nonprenant recipients. Rectal palpation on day 35 to 70 after is an accurate and safe method of pregnancy diagnosis. Embryonic mortality in recipients may be associated with factors such as high environmental temperature and nutritional or lactational stress in early lactation period. Achievement of short calving interval requires concentrated management activity during the first 90 days following calving. Acceptable candidate for a recipient should be routinely vaccinated for infectious diseases. Proper nutritional programs according to NRC requirements and body condition scoring system for recipient cattles are vital to the ultimate success of an embryo transfer program.r program.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2014

For successful embryo implantation, the communication of the maternal endometrium with the conceptus trophectoderm is required essentially. In pigs, conceptuses undergo morphological change in length to enlarge the physical contact area with the maternal endometrium and secrete estrogen to induce the maternal recognition of pregnancy during the peri-implantation period. Conceptus-derived estrogen prevents luteolysis by conversion in direction of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ secretion from the uterine vasculature to the uterine lumen as well as it affects on expression of the uterine endometrial genes. In addition to estrogen, conceptuses release various signaling molecules, including cytokines, growth factors, and proteases, and, in response to these signaling molecules, the maternal uterine endometrium also synthesizes many signaling molecules, including hormones, cytokines, growth factors, lipid molecules, and utilizes ions such as calcium ion by calcium regulatory molecules. These reciprocal interactions of the conceptus trophectoderm with the maternal uterine endometrium make development and successful implantation of embryos possible. Thus, signaling molecules at the maternal-conceptus interface may play an important role in the implantation process. This review summarized syntheses and functions of signaling molecules at the maternal-conceptus interface to further understand mechanisms of the embryo implantation process in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1365-1371
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• 2011

The intensity and duration of sexual behavior in Bos indicus was assessed through the continuous observation of sexual receptivity. Two groups of cows were formed: only synchronized (n = 50) and other group further superovulated (n = 20). An intravaginal implant that released progesterone over 9 d was used. After removing the implant, 25 mg of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was administered. In the superovulated group, the administration of 280 mg (Follicle stimulant hormone) FSH-P1 per cow with a decreasing dosage over 4 d was utilized. In both groups, behavioral observations began at the moment of implant removal. Sexual behavior was analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the mean of hours in estrus, effective mountings and number of mounts/hour during estrus. A nonparametric survival analysis was performed using the time in two ways: i) when an event happened it was placed in a 24 h timeframe and, ii) the time of observation in continuous form (96 h) assessing the difference between curves by the log rank test Chi-square. The only significant difference was the number of mounts/h during receptivity (p<0.05). In the superovulated group three periods of sexual activity during the day were identified, with these events being of greater frequency and duration than the synchronized group (p = 0.02); besides, the superovulated group began estrus before the synchronized group (p = 0.0035) when using the total period. In a simulation study, when the number of observations went from two (06:00-18:00) to three periods (06:00, 12:00 and 18:00) cows detected accurately (<6 h after the onset) increased more than 20%. The results show that superovulated cows presented greater intensity and duration of sexual activity in contrast with only synchronized animals.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.200-204
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• 2016

This study investigated whether presynchronization with GnRH 6 days before initiation of the Ovsynch program improved reproductive outcomes in dairy cows. Additionally, postponement of initiation of the Ovsynch program for cows during the metestrus phase by 5 days was investigated to determine if it improved reproductive outcomes. To accomplish this, 941 Holstein dairy cows with unknown estrous cycle were randomly allocated into an Ovsynch group (n = 768; $100{\mu}g$ gonadorelin [a GnRH analogue], $500{\mu}g$ of cloprostenol [$PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ analogue] seven days later, $100{\mu}g$ gonadorelin 56 h later and timed artificial insemination [AI] 16 h after) and a G6-Ovsynch (n = 173) that received $100{\mu}g$ GnRH followed by the Ovsynch program 6 days later. Additionally, 272 dairy cows with known estrous cycle (metestrus stage) received the Ovsynch 5 days later (Day 5-Ovsynch group, n = 272). The odds ratio (OR) for pregnancy was analyzed by logistic regression using the LOGISTIC procedure in SAS. The treatment group (p < 0.001) and AI season (p < 0.05) significantly affected the probability of pregnancy, whereas farm, cow parity, calving to AI interval, and body condition score had no affect (p > 0.05). The Day 5-Ovsynch group had a higher probability of pregnancy (OR: 1.71) than the Ovsynch group, while that of the G6-Ovsynch group was intermediate (p > 0.05). Cows inseminated during winter had a higher OR (1.39) than those inseminated during spring. Overall, additional GnRH treatment 6 days before the Ovsynch did not improve reproductive outcomes, whereas postponement of the initiation of Ovsynch by 5 days for cows during metestrus improved reproductive outcomes.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.454-474
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• 2002

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a very potent dilatator and a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in the peripheral and the central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action of VIP were examined in aortic circular and in uterine longitudinal smooth muscle strips of the rat. The effects of sympathetic neurotransmitter were investigated in gastric and aortic circular muscle strips of the mouse and the rat. The effects of silver spike point, SSP, low frequency electrical stimulations of VIP, sympathetic neurotransmitter and $\beta$-endorphin were examined in plasma, serum and 24h urine from the healthy volunteer. In gastric smooth muscle strips from the mouse, adrenergic neurotransmitter norepinephrine was inhibitory effected, followed by caused phasic and tonic contraction to the, muscrine receptor agonist carbachol and acetylcholine, respectively. In urine from the healthy volunteer, both norepinephrine and epinephrine were significantly decreased in continue type and low frequency (3 Hz) of SSP electrical stimulations. The contractile responses to S-HT in uterine longitudinal smooth muscle strips of the rats were completely decreased by a VIP 1 $\mu$M. The contractile responses to PGF2$\alpha$ were not decreased by a VIP. In plasma and serum from the healthy volunteer, both VIP and $\beta$-endorphin were significantly increased in continue type and low frequency (3 Hz) of SSP electrical stimulations. Therefore, this study demonstrate that VIP has the capacity to relax vascular or gastric smooth muscles in part by stimulating the generation of NO, and silver spike point low frequency electrical stimulation has the capacity both to decrease sympathetic neurotransmitters and to increase VIP, $\beta$-endorphin.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.613-625
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• 2005

This study was designed to evaluate impact of kinds of dietary grain and dietary lipid level on the glucose metabolism and antithrombogenic capacity in obesity induced rats. Total of 80 Sprague-Dawley male rats were raised for one month with control diet containing $50\%$ (w/w) well-milled rice powder and $20\%$(w/w) of dietary lipids. The rats were blocked into 8 groups and raised for two months with diets containing well-milled rice, brown rice, black rice, or glutinous barley powder and 8 or $20\%$(w/w) of dietary lipids. The contents of total dietary fiber in experimental grains were in following order; glutinous barley > black rice > brown rice > well-milled rice. Weekly food intake were lower in glutinous barley group among all experimental groups. Body weight gain was high in high level of fat groups ($50\%$w/w) than medium level of fat groups ($8\%$ w/w). Plasma glucose concentration was not different significantly in each groups. But brown rice group was a little lower than others. Plasma insulin concentration was lower in black rice and glutinous barley group than rice group. Plasma glucagon concentration did not differ significantly among all experimental groups. Hexokinase activities in skeletal muscle are different significantly according to level of dietary fat and grain variety factors. Brown rice group was significantly highest among all experimental groups in hexokinase activity. Plasma $TXB_2$ concentrations in black rice and glutinous barley groups were lower as compared to rice and brown rice groups. Plasma 6-keto-$PGF_{1\alpha}$ concentrations in glutinous barley group was higher as compared to others. In conclusion brown rice has a little lowering effect glucose concentration. Black rice and glutinous barley intakes enhance antithromboenic capacity. It is suggested that the intakes of mixed gains are recommend.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) injection on conception and parturition rates in normal or repeat breeding Hanwoo. We treated 462 cows containing 79 repeat-breeding cows of multiparous and allocating 5 treatment groups. Treatment 1 (T1) was injection of 2ml saline (for pseudo treatment), T2 was one injection of rbST 250mg into the tailhead region at the estrus, T3 was twice injection of rbST 250mg both at the time of insemination and again 10 to 14 day later, T4 was once injection of rbST 500mg at insemination and T5 was twice injection of 500mg rbST both at the time of insemination and again 10 to 14day later respectively. In rbST treated groups, timed artificial inseminations (TAI) were performed fellowing estrus synchronization. 100 us GnRH was injected into the scapula region on Day 0, 25mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was injected on Day 7 for degeneration of corpus luteum (CL) and 100ug GnRH was injected for inducing the synchronization. The results are as fellows; When normal Hanwoo were inseminated once with rbST administration, the pregnancy rate of T2 $(67.5\pm18.48\%)$ were higher than control $(52.4\pm9.72\%)$, while the pregnancy rate of T4 $(63.3\pm5.77\%)$ were significantly higher (p.<0.05) than control $(39.3\pm12.89\%)$ in repeat breeder Hanwoo. The parturition rates of normal Hanwoo were no differences among the treatments but were significant different in repeat breeder Hanwoo (p<0.05). When the estrous was induced by Ovsynch and inseminated once with rbST administration, the pregnancy rates of T2 was $12.5\%$ higher than control in normal Hanwoo, T4 $(80.0\%)$ was highest among the treatments (p<0.05) in repeat breeder Hanwoo. When normal Hanwoo were inseminated once with rbST administration, the pregnant period was $282.7\~284.8$ days and the body weight was $25.1\~25.9kg$, there were no difference among the treatments. The ratio of sex was almost same without T4 (male vs. female=18:9). In repeat breeder Hanwoo, pregnant period was 280.4~289.3 day and body weight was $23.0\~26.6kg$, it had no difference among the treatments. The sex ratio were similar to normal Hanwoo except T4 (M : F=2 : 8). In conclusion, the pregnancy and parturition rate by once insemination could be improved by the administration of rbST 250mg in normal Hanwoo or 500mg in repeat breeder Hawoo.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 1991

The present study was performed to determine whether estradiol, via cAMP mediation, induces prostaglandin synthesis by modulating phospholipase $A_2$ activity which hydrolyzes phospholipids into arachidonic acids, a precursor for prostaglandin synthesis, during the implantation process in rats. Uterine phospholipase $A_2$ activity was elevated on day 5 of pregnancy when implantation normally occurs in rats. Moreover, phospholipase $A_2$ activity was higher in the implant sites than in the non-implant sites of uterus on day 6. In delayed implantation model, phospholipase $A_2$ activity was increased at 12 hrs after estradiol administration and at 8 hrs after dbcAMP administration. In addition, higher activity of phospholipase $A_2$ was induced by the treatment of estradiol plus theophylline, compared with estradiol-only treated group. The simultaneous treatment of indomethacin with estradiol or dbcAMP did not alter phospholipase $A_2$ activity compared with estradiol or dbcAMP-only treated group although significant suppression was observed in uterine PGE and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ concentrations. These results suggest that estradiol or cAMP stimulates uterine phospholipase $A_2$ activity, thereby increasing prostaglandin synthesis during the implantation process in rats.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.349-353
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between estrous expression, body condition score (BCS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and number of transferable embryos for the purpose of improving reproductive performance in blood of Hanwoo donors. Sixty, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR. Four days later, the animals were superovulated with a total of 28AU FSH (Antorin, 2AU=1 ml) administered twice daily in constant doses over 4 days. On the 3th administration of FSH, CIDR was withdrawn and 25 mg PGF2 ${\alpha}$ was administered. Cows were artificially inseminated twice after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals. The cows received 100 ${\mu}g$ GnRH at the time of 1nd insemination. Embryos were recovered 7 or 8 days after the 1st insemination. The estrous inducement rate and estrous expression rate were significantly lower for cows with BCS below 2.25 than for cows with BCS above 2.25. There was 50.0% of rate of mounting in cows with BCS below 2.25 whereas the rate of mounting was markedly increased in cows with BCS above 2.25 (94.1% and 89.5% for BCS 2.25~2.75 and BCS above 2.75 cows, respectively). Cows with BCS <2.25, 2.25~2.75 and ${\geq}$2.75 had number of transferable embryos of $4.5{\pm}0.7$, $5.9{\pm}1.8$ and $5.6{\pm}2.3$ respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of vitamin or mineral supplements on the conception rates of dairy heifers when replacing the last injection of GnRH with hCG in ovsynch protocol (experiment 1) and also to investigate whether the estrus synchronization treatment in the heifer stage affects the conception rates after $1^{st}$ parturition (experiment 2). In experiment 1, 50 heifers were randomly assigned into 3 groups: 20 heifers each in groups 1 and 2, and 10 in group 3. All three groups were treated with an intramuscular injection of GnRH on day 0 (day 0 = the day of program start), $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ on day 7 and hCG on day 9, and were inseminated on day 10, 12~16h after hCG injection. In group 1 (vitamin group), the heifers were treated with an intramuscular injection of 5 ml of vitamin-ADE $500^{(R)}$, and group 2 (mineral group) was treated twice with an intramuscular injection of 30 ml of mineral supplement-LAPTOVET$^{(R)}$ on a one-week interval beginning on the day of hormone treatment (day 0 and day 7 respectively). Group 3 (control) was treated only with hormones. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography through a rectal probe. First service conception rates (FSCR) and average services per conception (ASPC) were recorded for all subjects. Of the total 50 heifers, 6 (2 in group 1, 3 in group 2, and 1 in group 3) heifers were eliminated due to accidents during experiment 1. FSCRs were 58.8% (10/17), 66.7% (12/18) and 44.4% (4/9) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. ASPCs were $1.53{\pm}0.72$, $1.27{\pm}0.59$ and $1.63{\pm}0.74$ in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Although there were no significant difference between the groups, relatively good results (higher FSCR and lower ASPC) were obtained in both group 1 and 2. In experiment 2, 11 primiparous cows from group 2 of experiment 1 in heifer stage which had been treated both with the hormones for estrus synchronizing and mineral supplements (ES group), and 12 primiparous cows treated only with minerals (non-ES group) were compared to examine the effects of estrus synchronization program on conception rates after $1^{st}$ parturition. Following the examination, postpartum ASPCs were $1.55{\pm}0.82$ and $2.17{\pm}1.47$ in ES group and non-ES group, respectively. The postpartum average days open (ADO) were $116{\pm}56$ and $197{\pm}93$ in ES group and non-ES group, respectively. Although there were no significant difference between the two groups, desirable results (lower ASPC and shorter ADO) were found in ES group after $1^{st}$ parturiton. In conclusion, experiment 1 indicates that vitamin or mineral supplement with ovsynch protocol may have some positive effect on FSCR and ASPC of dairy heifers, and in experiment 2, ES program in heifer stage had a positive effect on ASPC and ADO following $1^{st}$ parturition.