• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.269-275
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable PCR method for sexing of morula or blastocyst stage bovine embryo. BOV97M and bovine 1.715 satellite DNA sequences were selected for amplification of male and bovine specific DNA, respectively. But the unbalanced number of copies of these two repetitive sequences required some modification of PCR method. Karyotyping of blastomeres were carried for the confirmation of sex determination in bovine embryos. The coincidence rate of sex between biopsied-single blastomere and matched blastocyst was 80.0%. When in vivo- and in vitro- derived embryos were compared, 61.8% and 56.7% were male in in vitro- and in vivo-derived embryos, respectively. In vivo-derived embryos showed better hatching rate than in vitro-derived embryos following biopsy of blastomeres. In conclusion, rapid and effective PCR could be applied to sexing of bovine preimplantation embryos using single blastomere. The sensitivity of this assay may eliminate the need for biopsy of more than one nucleated blastomere and reduce trauma to the embryos derived from biopsy procedure.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.198-198
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• 2004

The identification of embryo-specific genes would provide insights into early embryonic development. However, the current methods employed to identify the genes that are expressed at a specific developmental stage are labor intensive and suffer from high rates of false positives. Here we employed a new and accurate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology that involves annealing control primers(ACPs) to identify the genes that are specifically expressed in porcine blastocysts compared to 2-cell stage embryos. (omitted)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1367-1372
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of transgenic rabbit production by DNA microinjection using EGFP (Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein) gene. In this experiment EGFP coding sequences fused to CMV promoter were microinjected into rabbit one-cell embryos, and then GFP expression and gene integration were evaluated in preimplantation embryos and fetuses recovered on day 15 of pregnancy to determine efficiency of transgenic rabbit production. Effect of DNA concentration was also tested on development in vitro following microinjection and transgene integration in fetuses. Development of embryos in vitro was decreased by DNA microinjection, but the rates of pregnancy and implantation were not significantly affected by microinjection. As development progressed in vitro percentage of GFP expression in rabbit embryos was decreased, resulting GFP expression detected in 37.5% of blastocysts. The efficiencies for production of transgenic fetuses were 4.0% and 7.6%, respectively, when $10ng/{\mu}l$ and $20ng/{\mu}l$ of DNA concentration were microinjected. Transgenic fetuses were confirmed by GFP expression and PCR analysis of fetus genomic DNA. These results indicated that DNA microinjection itself damaged embryo development and DNA concentration affected the efficiency of transgenic rabbit production.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the laboratory system for successful PGD using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the clinical outcome of PGD cycles in five years experiences. Methods: A total of 181 PGD-FISH cycles of 106 couples were performed, and diagnosed chromosome normality in the preimplantation embryos. The laboratory and clinical data were classified by the following optimization steps, and statistically analyzed. Phase I: Blastomere biopsy with two kinds of pipettes, removal of cytoplasmic proteins without treatment of pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with single medium; Phase II: Blatomere biopsy with single pipette, removal of cytoplasmic proteins with pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with single medium; Phase III: Blastomere biopsy with single pipette, removal of cytoplasmic proteins with pepsin and culture of biopsied embryos with sequential media. Results: A total of 3, 209 oocytes were collected, and 83.8% (2, 212/2, 640) of fertilization rate was obtained by ICSI procedure. The successful blastomere biopsies were accomplished in 98.6% (2, 043/2, 071) of embryos, and the successful diagnosis rate of FISH was 94.7% (1, 935/ 2, 043) of blastomeres from overall data. Embryo transfers with normal embryos were conducted in 93.9% (170/181) of started cycles. There was no difference in the successful rate of biopsy and diagnosis among Phase I, II and III. However, the pregnancy rate per embryo transfer of Phase III (38.8%, 26/67) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of Phase I (13.9%, 5/36) and Phase II (14.9%, 10/67). Conclusions: The laboratory optimization and experience for the PGD with FISH procedure can increase the pregnancy rate to 38.8% in the human IVF-ET program. Our facility of PGD with FISH provides the great possibility to get a normal pregnancy for the concerned couples by chromosomal aberrations.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2000

Objective: The effects of cryopreservation with or without coculture on the in vitro development of blastomere-biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos were investigated. This experimental study was originally designed for the setup of a preclinical mouse model for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in human. Methods: Eight-cell embryos were obtained after in vitro fertilization (IVF) from F1 hybrid mice (C57BL(표현불가)/CBA(표현불가)). Using micromanipulation, one to four blastomeres were aspirated through a hole made in the zona pellucida by zona drilling (ZD) with acid Tyrode's solution (ATS). A slow-freezing and rapid-thawing protocol with 1.5M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 0.1M sucrose as cryoprotectant was used for the cryopreservation of blastomere- biopsied 8-cell mouse embryos. After thawing, embryos were cultured for 110 hours in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 0.4% bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the coculture group, embryos were cultured for 110 hours on the monolayer of Vero cells in the same medium. The blastocyst formation was recorded, and the embryos developed beyond blastocyst stage were stained with 10% Giemsa to count the total number of nuclei in each embryo. Results: The survival rate of embryos after cryopreservation was significantly lower in the blastomere-biopsied (7/8, 6/8, 5/8, and 4/8 embryos) groups than in the non-biopsied, zona intact (ZI) group. Without the coculture, the blastocyst formation rate of embryos after cryopreservation was not significantly different among ZI, the zona drilling only (ZD), and the balstomere-biopsied groups, but it was significantly lower than in the non-cryopreserved control group. The mean number of cells in embryos beyond blastocyst stage was significantly higher in the control group ($50.2{\pm}14.0$) than in 6/8 ($26.5{\pm}6.2$), 5/8 ($25.0{\pm}5.5$), and 4/8 ($17.8{\pm}7.8$) groups. With the coculture using Vero cells, the blastocyst formation rate of embryos after cryopreservation was significantly lower in 5/8 and 4/8 groups, compared with the control, 7/8, and 6/8 groups. The mean number of cells in embryos beyond blastocyst stage was also significantly lower in 4/8 group ($25.9{\pm}10.2$), compared with the control ($50.2{\pm}14.0$), 7/8 ($56.0{\pm}22.2$), and 6/8 ($55.3{\pm}25.5$) groups. Conclusion: After cryopreservation, blastomere-biopsied mouse embryos have a significantly impaired developmental competence in vitro, but this detrimental effect might be prevented by the coculture with Vero cells in 8-cell mouse embryos biopsied one or two blastomeres. Biopsy of mouse embryos after ZD with ATS is a safe and highly efficient preclinical model for PGD of human embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of eCG and various concentrations (20, 40, and 80 ${\mu}g/ml$) of porcine FSH on nuclear maturation and intracellular glutathione (GSH) level of oocytes, and embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pigs. Immature pig oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones (10 IU/ml hCG and 10 IU/ml eCG or $20{\sim}80{\mu}g/ml$ FSH) for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-tree medium for an additional 22 h. Nuclear maturation of oocytes ($85{\sim}89%$) was not influencem foreCG and various concentrations FSH. Embryonic development to the cleavage stage ($86{\sim}94%$) and mean number of cells in blastocyst ($33{\sim}37$ cells) after PA were not altered but blastocyst formation e-treignificaddlor(p<0.05) improvem forthe supplementation eith 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ FSHr(64%) compared to 47%, io8%, iand 47% in oocytes that were treated with eCG, 20,i and 40 ${\mu}g/ml$ FSH,i numectivelo. In SCNT, fusion ($78{\sim}83%$) of cell-cytoplast couplets and siosequent embryo cleavage ($82{\sim}88%$) were not influencem fordifferent gonadotropins but blastocyst formation tended to increase forthe supplementation eith 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ FSHr(25% vs. $11{\sim}18%$). Our nuults demonstrated that oocyte maturation and embryonic development after PA and SCNT e-frinfluencem fortype of gcem fortype of gits concentration. In this study, supplementation of maturation medium eith 80 ${\mu}g/ml$ FSHrimproved preimplantation development of PA and SCNT pig embryos, probably by increasing intracellular GSH concentration of matured oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1680-1688
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• 2013

Many different approaches have been developed to improve the efficiency of animal cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), one of which is to modify histone acetylation levels using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) such as trichostatin A (TSA). In the present study, we examined the effect of TSA on in vitro development of porcine embryos derived from SCNT. We found that TSA treatment (50 nM) for 24 h following oocyte activation improved blastocyst formation rates (to 22.0%) compared with 8.9% in the non-treatment group and total cell number of the blastocysts for determining embryo quality also increased significantly ($88.9{\rightarrow}114.4$). Changes in histone acetylation levels as a result of TSA treatment were examined using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy scanning. Results showed that the histone acetylation level in TSA-treated embryos was higher than that in controls at both acetylated histone H3 lysine 9 (AcH3K9) and acetylated histone H4 lysine 12 (AcH4K12). Next, we compared the expression patterns of seven genes (OCT4, ID1; the pluripotent genes, H19, NNAT, PEG1; the imprinting genes, cytokeratin 8 and 18; the trophoblast marker genes). The SCNT blastocysts both with and without TSA treatment showed lower levels of OCT4, ID1, cytokeratin 8 and 18 than those of the in vivo blastocysts. In the case of the imprinting genes H19 and NNAT, except PEG1, the SCNT blastocysts both with and without TSA treatment showed higher levels than those of the in vivo blastocysts. Although the gene expression patterns between cloned blastocysts and their in vivo counterparts were different regardless of TSA treatment, it appears that several genes in NT blastocysts after TSA treatment showed a slight tendency toward expression patterns of in vivo blastocysts. Our results suggest that TSA treatment may improve preimplantation porcine embryo development following SCNT.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to determine the mRNA expression patterns of several putative imprinted genes in in vivo and in vitro fertilized, parthenogenetic, and cloned porcine preimplantation embryos. Both maternally (Dlk1, IGF2, Peg1/Mest and Ndn) and paternally (IGF2r, H19 and Xist) imprinted genes were selected. We have used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to investigate gene expression patterns in the porcine embryos. IGF2 transcripts were detected in the most of embryos. In nuclear transfer (NT), Peg1/MEST transcripts showed fluctuating pattern. Dlk1 was only expressed partially from the morula and blastocyst stage of NT embryos. Ndn gene expression was started somewhat early for in vivo embryos. However, the expressions of maternally imprinted genes were similar in all types of blastocysts (NT, in vivo and in vitro fertilized, and parthenogenetic embryos). The IGF2R gene expression level was somewhat irregular and varied among samples. However, for the majority samples of all types of embryos, IGF2R expression was diminished after one- to two-cell stages and reappeared at the morulae or blastocyst stage embryos. H19 gene was only expressed early in parthenogenetic and in vivo embryos. For NT embryos, H19 was only expressed in blastocysts. Xist expression was detected in all blastocysts with the earliest being in vivo 8-cell stage embryos and the last one being NT blastocysts. These putative imprinted genes appeared to have stage specific expression patterns with a fluctuating pattern for some genes (Peg/Mest, IGF2r, H19). These results suggest that stage specific presence of imprinted genes can affect the embryo implantation and fetal development.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.279-288
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of EGF on the development of IVM/IVF bovine embryos and their ICM and TE cell number. In addition, we examined the combined effect of EGF and coculture to the bovine embryo development and the expression of EGF-R protein on bovine embryos by indirect immunofluorescence. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: When the IVM/IVF 4- to 8-cell embryos were treated at 0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml of EGF, EGF treatment group showed improved development to blastocyst and increased pattern of ICM and TE cell number compared with control, although there is not significantly different. The stimulating effect of EGF (10 ng/ml) to the develop ment level of IVM/IVF bovine embryos significantly increased development rate to blastocyst after 8-cell stage (p<0.05), although there is no significant effect to the increase of ICM and TE cell numbers. Also, expression of EGF-R on the bovine embryonic stage by indirect immunofluor escence presents after 4-cell stage and the intensity of the EGF-R staining was variable with the development progression. On the other hand, embryos cultured in coculture group added either with or without EGF commonly indicated the significant difference in development rate to blastocyst and Total cell number compared with control. These results suggest that the a addition of EGF to the coculture may stimulate the coculture effect between IVM/IVF bovineembryos and cumulus cells. Therefore, EGF could promote preimplantation bovine embryo development by binding with expressed EGF~R after 4-cell stage, and stimulate the production of embryotrophic factors from the coculture environment. Also, the present study showed that there was no significant effect of EGF to the increase of ICM and TE cell number although the rate of blastocyst significantly increased when treated with EGF after 8-cell stage (p<0.05).