• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2005

This study were examined whether plasminogen activators (PAs) are produced by porcine fresh or frozen-thawed cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) and cumulus cell free-oocytes. In fresh or frozen-thawed COCs and oocytes for 0 hour cultured, no activity of PAs was detected. However, at 24 hours of culture urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was detected in COCs and denuded oocytes. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 24 hours, no PAs were observed. After COCs were cultured for 48 hours, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs only. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 48 hours, no PAs were observed. These results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by porcine COCs, but only uPA by oocytes during maturation for 24 hours. Only tPA, and tPA-PAI are produced by COCs cultured for 48 hours, and no PAs are produced by denuded-oocytes cultured for 48 hours. In all of the frozen-thawed groups, no PAs are observed by COCs and denuded-oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.523-527
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• 1997

The fatty acid compositions of oocytes, follicular, oviductal and uterine fluids of pig and cow were analyzed using gas chromatography. Myristic (C 14: 0), palmitic (C 16: 0), palmitoleic (C 16: 1), stearic (C 18 : 0), oleic (C 18: 1), linoleic (C 18: 2), linolenic (C 18: 3) and arachidonic (C 20: 4) acids were identified as the common fatty acid constituents with little exception. Oleic acid composition was the highest (21.90 to 36.24%) in both pig and cow followed by palmitic (18.61 to 31.90%) and stearic (10.34 to 20.39%) acid. The three polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids were detected in both pig and cow reproductive fluid samples. Myristic acid was not detected in pig oviductal fluid. Similarly, in cow oocytes myristic, palmitoleic and linolenic acids were not detected. Moreover, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid comprised about 80% (73.74 to 88.00%) of the total fatty acids in the different samples analyzed in both animals.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ on sperm motility, normal acrosome, and in-vitro fertilization and culture of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. The sperm-rich fraction (30~60 ml) of ejaculate was collected into an insulated vacuum bottle. Semen was slowly cooled to room temperature (20~23$^{\circ}C$) by 2 h after collection. Semen was transferred into 15 ml tubes, centrifuged at room temperature for 10 min at 800$\times$g, and the supernatant solution was poured off. The concentrated sperm was resuspended with 5 ml of lactose, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent to provide 1.0$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/ml at room temperature. The resuspended semen was cooled in a refrigerator to 4$^{\circ}C$ and preserved for 5 days to examine sperm motility and normal acrosome. The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified tissue culture medium (TCM) 199. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. Oocytes were inseminated with liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after collection. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ mTBM fertilization media with 0.2, 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ /ml sperm concentration, respectively. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${mu}ell$ Hepes-buffered NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 6, 48 and 144 h. There were significant differences in sperm motility and normal acrosome among preservation days and incubation times, respectively. The rates of sperm penetration and polyspermy were higher in 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 0.2 and 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Male pronuclear formation was lower in 0.2$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rate of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2~4 cell stage) was highest in 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ could be used for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. Also, we recommend 1$\times$10$^{6}$ ml sperm concentration for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 1996

In vitro cultrue systems for the growth of sma-II oocytes and for meiotic maturation are expected to provide a new source of a large population of oocytes as well as assistance in basic physiological studies of oogenesis. Mouse oocytes mid-growth phase can complete grovvth and acquire full developmental capacity in vitro. On the other hand, growing pig oocytes need some other factors. FSH at a low concentration maintains the viability of both oocytes and granulosa cells, and hypoxanthine promotes the meiotic competence of the oocytes during culture period. Considerable improvement in the culture systems for growth of pig oocytes, suggested from mouse studies, and for oocyte maturation could help to develop this technology in larger species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2002

The present study examined whether treatment of in vitro matured pig oocytes with calcium ionophore (A23187) could prevent polyspermic penetration in vitro. When oocytes cultured for maturation for 33, 36 or 44 h were subsequently treated with $50{\mu}M$ A23187 in medium with fetal calf serum (FCS) for 1, 2 and 3 h and then cultured for 12 h without spermatozoa, virtually no activation occurred. In the absence of FCS, however, 31-42, 45-49 and 56-64% of oocytes were activated, respectively. When oocytes treated with $50 {\mu}M$ A23187 in medium with FCS for 3 h were inseminated in vitro, the penetration rates (14-57%) were lower (p<0.01) with a higher (p<0.01) incidence (35-67%) of monospermy compared with untreated oocytes (69-80% penetration and 15-17% monospermy). However, sperm penetration was completely blocked in all oocytes treated with A23187 in the absence of FCS. When oocytes matured for 33 h were treated with different concentrations of A23187 for 3 h and inseminated in vitro, the penetration rate did not change but there was an increased incidence (p<0.05) of monospermy at $10-20{\mu}M$ and $2.5-5{\mu}M$ A23187 in the presence and absence of FCS, respectively, compared with at $0{\mu}M$ A23187. With these lower concentrations of A23187, treatment of oocytes for at least 60 and 30 min in the presence and absence of FCS, respectively, was required to increase the incidence of monospermy without reducing penetration rate. These results indicate that a high concentration ($50{\mu}M$) of A23187 in medium without FCS, but not in medium with FCS, stimulated in vitro matured pig oocytes to induce parthenogenetic activation and a complete block to sperm penetration in vitro. However, treatment of oocytes with lower concentrations of A23187 ( $10-20{\mu}M$ and $2.5-5{\mu}M$) both in the presence and absence of FCS maintained sperm penetration in vitro and increased the incidence of monospermy.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of activation agents on parthenogenetic activation of pig oocytes matured in vitro. The medium used for oocyte maturation was tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 supplemented with 26.19 mM sodium bicarbonate, 0.9 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml insulin, 2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml vitamin $B_{l2}$, 25 mM Hepes, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml bovine apotransferrin, 150 $\mu$M cysteamine, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 IU/ml hCG, 10 ng/ml EGF, 0.4% BSA, 75 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml sodium penicillin G, 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml streptomycin sulfate and 10% pFF. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. Cumulus-free oocytes involving first polar body were activated by exposure to various concentrations of ethanol and exposure time of ethanol in Hepes-buffered NCSU23 medium. Also, oocytes were activated by electric pulse alone or combination with ethanol. For electrical activation, oocytes were rinsed twice in 0.3 M mannitol solution supplemented with 0.1 mM CaC1$_2$, 0.2 mM MgC1$_2$, 0.5 mM Hopes and 0.01% BSA, and transferred to a chamber consisting of two electrodes 1 mm apart which was overlaid with the same activation solution. Oocytes were activated with a single DC pulse of 1.3 ㎸/cm for 30 $\mu$sec. After activation treatments, oocytes were washed three times with Hepes-buffered NCSU23 medium and were washed twice with NCSU23 culture medium containing 0.4% BSA, and then cultured in 500 ${mu}ell$ of the same medium for 20 h at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. The activation rates of oocytes were higher in 6, 7 and 8% ethanol concentrations compared with 0, 5, 9 and 10% ethanol concentrations. Significantly more oocytes (29.3~33.7%) were activated in the exposure for 8, 10, 12 and 15 min than those in the exposure for 0 and 5 min, but there was no difference due to exposure to 8% ethanol for 8 to 15 min. Electric pulse treatment followed by exposure to ethanol significantly improved the rate of oocyte activation (61.9%) compared with that of other 3 treatments. In conclusion, the optimal activation treatment of ethanol exposure alone for the in-vitro matured pig oocytes was 8% ethanol for 8 to 15 min. Electric pulse treatment followed by ethanol exposure significantly improved the rate of activation.n.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.50-50
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• 2002

During fertilization, morphological and molecular events in male and female chromatin are precisely controlled in time. However, little information is available on onset of pronuclear formation and first S-phase entry in the pig following intracytoplasmic sperm injection. To assess species specific paternal effect on the pronuclear formation and initiation of first S-phase in the pig, we examined time of onset of male and female pronuclear formation and onset of DNA synthesis in the oocytes following pig or mouse sperm injection. (omitted)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro culture media on embryonic development of in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes after parthenogenetic activation (PA) in pigs. Immature pig oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22~26 h. IVM oocytes were activated by electric pulses and cultured in porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3) and North Carolina State University-23 supplemented with essential and non-essential amino acids (NCSU-23aa). These media were further modified by supplementing 2.77 mM myo-inositol, 0.34 mM trisodium citrate, and $10{\mu}M$ ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol (designated as mPZM-3 and mNCSU-23aa, respectively). Culture of PA embryos in mPZM-3 significantly increased development to the blastocyst stage than culture in NCSU-23aa (36.2% vs. 24.8%, p<0.05). Modified PZM-3 showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation than NCSU-23aa in both groups of embryos that were activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM (51.0% vs. 35.5% and 49.0% vs. 34.2% in oocytes activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM, respectively). Irrespective of the follicle diameter where oocytes were collected, embryonic development to the blastocyst stage was increased (p<0.05) by the culture in mPZM-3 compared to culture in NCSU-23aa (25.9% vs. 34.2% and 32.9% vs. 44.8% in embryos derived from small and medium size follicles, respectively). Our results demonstrated that culture media had significant effect on preimplantation development PA embryos and that mPZM-3 was superior to mNCSU-23 in supporting development to the blastocyst stage in pigs. This beneficial effect of mPZM-3 on embryonic development was not impaired by other factors such as time of oocyte activation and origin of immature oocytes (small and medium size follicles).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1992

1. In vitro system, LR and FSR accelerated and facilitated meiotic progression, and LH selectively improved cytoplasmic maturation which is required to promote the formation of a male pronucleus. 2. Caffeine (2mM) in the fetilization medium was required not only for inducing zona penetrating ability of boar also for developing to the male pronucleus of the penetrat- ing spermatozoa in vitro. 3. The germinal vesicle (GV)stage was observed for the first 17.6 hr;germinal vesicle break-down (GVBD)stage between 17.6~26.4 hr ;metaphase I (M-I)from 26.4 - 30. 9hr;anaphase I(A-I)ranged from 30. 9~33.4hr;telophase I(T-I) at 33.4~34.4hr; and metaphase II(M-II) at 34.4-48hr. 4. The addition of 10%(v /v) pig follicular fluid (pFF) to maturation media significantly increased the rate of nuclear maturation of pig oocytes (p<0.01), whereas the rate of nuclear maturation of pig oocytes among three different media did not differ. 5. The presence of a primary culture of POEC promotes in vitro development of early cleavage stage pig embryos.