• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.213-221
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• 1990

This study was conducted to find out the changes of progesterone and estrone sulphate concentration in serum of Korean native goats throughout gestation, and to apply the serum levels of the hormones to pregnancy diagnosis. Serum concentration of progesterone and estrone sulphate were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Serum progesterone concentration was similar to its luteal phase values during early pregnancy and remained at the high level continually at 20∼140days and decreased rapidly at the day of parturition. Serum estrone sulphate concentration showed to increase markedly at 40∼50dyas gestation and steadily increased to the maximum of 7.13ng/ml at 140days, but declined sharply at the day of parturition. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by the measurement of serum progesterone at 20∼24days after mating was 85.7∼92.3% and that of non-pregnancy diagnosis was 100%, when the serum progesterone levels higher and lower than 3.0ng/ml were supposed to indicate pregnancy and non-pregnancy, respectively. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by the mearsurement of serum estrone sulphate was found to be nearly 100% since 50days after mating, when the serum levels of estrone sulphate higher then 0.5ng/ml were diagnosed to be pregnant. The optimal sampling time for pregnancy diagnosis was considered to be at 50 days after mating or to be later. It appears that estrone sulphate values above 7.0ng/ml at any time in gestation are highly indicative of twin. But there was found no significant difference(P<0.05) in serum estrone sulphate concentration and number of kids between does with single and twin kids.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.255-261
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to improve the efficiency of bovine embryo transfer by transferring of Hanwoo embryos into Hanwoo or Holstein recipients. The cryopreserved or fresh in vitro produced(IVP) embryos were transferred into uterine horn contralaterally or ipsilaterally to the corpus luteum. The recipients were inseminated by artificially on the next day of estrus. The pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation at 60∼90 days after transfer of the embryos. The pregnancy rate by transfer of one or two embryos was 78%(7/9) and 74%(31/42), respectively. The pregnancy rates according to the grade of corpus lutea of recipients was 75% (20/27) and 82.0%(18/22) at the grade of A and B, respectively. Ten(67.0%) of 15 Holstein recipients transferred with IVP Hanwoo embryos and 5(42.0%) of 12 Holstein recipients transferred with frozen IVP Hanwoo embryos were pregnant. The single and twin calving ratio in Hanwoos was 77.0%(10/13) and 23.0%(3.13) in the recipients transferred with IVP embryos and 64.0%(7/10) and 27.0%(3/10) in the recipients transferred with frozen IVP embryos, respectively. Twenty-four pregnant cows following transfer of IVP embryos, 21(88.0%) calved the normal calves, and 2(8.3%) aborted. When the frozen IVP embryos were transferred, 16 pregnant cows calved 14(88.0%) normal calves and 2(13.0%) aborted. In conclusion, when one or two IVP bovine embryos were transferred into recipients, the A and B grade of corpus luteum resulted in high pregnancy rates. For the production of twin calves, transfer of the IVP or frozen IVP embryos could be suitable.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

Diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy could be delayed because of insufficient clinical symptoms. Many clinician mistook the symptoms associated with ectopic pregnancy for the symptoms of complicated normal intrauterine pregnancy. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancies has been increased because of the use of various ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technologies. We experienced a case of bilateral tubal pregnancies and intrauterine twin pregnancy in polycystic ovary syndrome woman conceived after ovulation induction by clomiphene citrate. We report this case with a brief review of the literatures.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.167-175
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the result that in-vivo or in-vitro embryos of Hanwoo cows were transferred to Holstein cows. Seventeen Hanwoo cows were used as donors for production of in-vivo embryos and fresh hanwoo in-vivo embryos were transferred to 1,150 Holsteins. And 2 embryos were transferred to 188 Holstein recipients to produce twin calves. Diagnosis on pregnancy was performed by rectal palpation at $60\sim90$ days after transfer. The pregnancy rate of Holstein recipients was 55.8% after transfer with Hanwoo in-vivo embryos and 38.2% after transfer with Hanwoo in-vitro embryos. The delivery rate of pregnant Holstein recipients was 88.4% after transfer with Hanwoo in-vivo embryos and 75.6% after transfer with Hanwoo in-vitro embryos. The rate of delivery of Holstein recipients transferred with two Hanwoo embryos was 36.2% and the rate of twin production was 25.9%. The rate of twin production by embryo transfer with in-vivo embryos was 30.4%, whereas the fate with in-vitro embryos was 15.6%. The pregnancy rate according to the grade of corpus luteum of Holstein recipients transferred with Hanwoo in-vitro embryos was 41.5 and 36.0% for A and B grade, respectively. The pregnancy rate according to the transfer in site in the uterine lumen of recipients was 40.9 and 32.7% for anterior and middle site, respectively. The pregnancy rate according to day of embryo transfer after estrus of recipients was 45.5, 38.8 and 39.7% for day 6, day 7 and day 8, respectively. There was difference of pregnancy rate according embryo transfer technician ($30.5\sim45.8%$) individual dairy farm ($21.1\sim51.0%$). These results are supposed to indicate that the rate of pregnancy after transfer with Hanwoo embryos to Holstein recipients was similar to that within the same breed, and consequently that this method would be beneficial to enhance the productivity in Hanwoo reproduction.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.339-343
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• 2011

This study determined the effects of twin birth on subsequent postpartum disorders, culling and reproductive performance, and its risk factors in dairy cows. Detailed data related to reproduction, health, and calving events, including dates of artificial insemination (AI) and calving, hormonal treatment prior to conception, cow parity, twin birth, retained placenta, metabolic disorders, and endometritis were collected from 1,717 individual calvings on 9 dairy farms. The incidence rate of twin birth was 3.4%. Gestation length was shorter in cows with twin birth ($270.6{\pm}2.0$ days) than cows giving birth to singletons ($279.5{\pm}0.2$ days, P < 0.01). The incidence of retained placenta (47.5 vs. 16.0%), metabolic disorders (18.6 vs. 3.8%) endometritis (62.7 vs. 28.2%), and culling rate (32.2 vs. 16.5%) was greater in cows with twin birth than in cows giving birth to singletons, respectively (P < 0.01). The hazard of pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio, AHR) by 210 days in milk analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model was affected by calving season, in that the rate of pregnancy for cows calved during spring was less than for cows calved during winter (AHR = 0.80; P = 0.01); this was also true for endometritis (AHR = 0.46, P < 0.01). AHR was not affected by twin birth. Logistic analysis demonstrated that increasing the cow parity (P < 0.01) and hormonal treatment prior to conception (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 1.84, P < 0.05) increased the risk of twin birth. These results demonstrate that twin births are responsible for severe economic losses through the increased occurrence of postpartum disorders and culling; thus, appropriate management for the deleterious impact of twin birth, and/or reducing the risk factors by herd control regarding cow parity and the use of reproductive hormones prior to conception might be necessary.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.1-17
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• 1991

It is widely recognized that the embryonic or fetal loss after breeding is common in the cattle and that it is an important factor affecting reproductive efficiency. The causes of this loss have been subject of extensive researches and the results indicate that the embryonic mortality may he primary factor responsible for low pregnancy rates in non-embryo transfer bovine populations as well as embryo transfer programs. However, it's causes are still not clearly understood. The embryonic mortality or pregnancy rate has been influenced by various embryonic and maternal effects related to genetic and environmental factors. The timing and extent of embryonic mortality vanes greatly according to authors and estimating methods, because it is difficult to make direct measurements. The major important factors that may influence the embryonic losses or pregnancy rates after embryo transfer can be summeirized. 1.When an embryo is transferred to unmated recipients, the contralateral transfer to corpus luteum results in a lower survival rate than ipsilateral deposition. When the embryos are transferred for the production of twin calves, their survivals and twin pregnancies have quite inconsistent according to the transfer methods either to the unmated-synchronized or already mated recipients and more works are needed to accurrately clarify the previous results. 2.Although embryos can be cultured in vitro some hours without the great declines in pregnancy rates, the rates differ markedly among culture times and media but may be improved by co-transfer systems. 3.Embryo developmental stages and quality grades clearly affect the survival rate following freezing and the pregnancy rate after transfer and the selection of embryos without chromosome abnormalities and of high fertile semen may also be considered to increase the pregnancy rates. 4.Many researches have attempted to relate the plasma progesterone levels to pregnancy rates and others have done either direct progesterone supplementation or luteal stimulation by hCG treatment in order to increase the pregnancy rates. However, these effects on pregnancy rates are inconsistent and also contradictory. 5.The asynchrony between donors or embryos and recipients may he a major cause of embryo death and low pregnancy rate and the sensitivity to uterine asynchyony differs in according to the quality and stages of embryos. 6.The extremes of poor or over nutrition during early pregnancy in the recipients are detrimental to the survival of embryos and the good body condition is required to prevent a reduejion of pregnancy rates. The uterine pathogens in embryonic mortality or fertility have been questioned but the infection of C.pyogenes and Campylobacter fetus is still important pathogens. 7.The heat stress during early pregnancy may reduce conceptus weight and possibly increase the embryonic mortality.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2004

A total of 301 Thoroughbred mares were investigated the characteristics of breeding in the local areas in Jeju during the period from February 2000 to July 2001. The pregnancy rate and foaling rate in 143 mares were 93.0%, 72.0%, respectively, and mean gestational length was 339.3 days in 2000. The pregnancy rate in 158 mares was 86.7% in 2001. Mature follicles were ovulated in right(46.0%), left(45.2%), and bilateral(7.8%) ovary. The incidence of multiple pregnancies in 158 mares between 15 days and 45 days after mating were 89.3%(single), 10.1%(twin), and 0.6%(triple). The incidence of EED was 13.3%. Also uterine cyst and fluid had an bad influence on mare's pregnancy. These results suggest that regular monitoring of the pregnancies and maintaining of good uterine condition improve the pregnancy rates and foaling rates during breeding season.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.75-77
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate optimal time of artificial insemination (AI) to Hanwoo female after natural estrus. AI was occurred 12 and 24 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient then pregnancy and parturition rates were estimated. Results indicated that AI performed at 24 hours after natural estrus showed significant (p<0.05) higher pregnancy rate in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups with significantly (p<0.05) higher abortion rate. However, there are no significant differences of parturition rate, twin birth and sex ratio in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups. Therefore, our results may suggest that performance of AI at 24 hours after natural estrus promise higher pregnancy rate than AI at 12 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 1994

This study was carried out to produce monozygotic twin calves by transfer of bisected embryos. Four Korean native cattle donors were superovulated with FSH and flushed to collect embryos on day 6 or 7 of the estrus cycle. Morula and early blastocyst embryos showed 1 or 2 grade were bisected with microblade and each set of demi-embryos without zona pellucida were transferred nonsurgically to 10 recipients respectively. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Twenty four demi-embryos (92.3%) were separated from 13 original embryos and among them 20 demi-embryos (83.3%) had normal appearance without severe damage. 2. Four sets of fresh demi-embryos were transferred to 4 recipients and one recipient was twin pregnant 3. Six sets of frozen-thawed demi-embryos were transferred to 6 recipients. Two recipients were pregnant, one of them twin.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.11-24
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• 1996

The number of multifetal pregnancies has increased dramatically as a result of the widespread clinical use of ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology(ART) in infertile patients. In multifetal pregnancies, the adverse outcome is directly proportional to the number of fetuses within the uterus, primarily because of an increased predisposition to premature delivery. It is extremely difficult to counsel patients about the expected outcome of pregnancies involving three or more fetuses. To increase the chances of delivering infants mature enough to survive without being irreversibly damaged by the sequelae of marked prematurity, selective fetal reduction(SFR) to the smaller number of fetuses should be considered in multifetal pregnancies. From January, 1991 to December, 1992, transabdominal SFR in multifetal pregnancies was performed in 22 patients including 13 triplet, 7 quadruplet, 1 quintuplet and 1 heptuplet pregnancies. Transabdominal SFR using intracardiac KCI injection and aspiration of amniotic fluid was carried out in 8-13 weeks of gestation. After procedure, 20 patients were remained as twin pregnancies, and 2 patients as triplet pregnancies. There have been 11 sets of twin delivery including 2 stillbirths, 2 sets of triplet delivery including 1 stillbirth, and 1 singleton delivery. Six cases were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 4 cases in 33 - 37 weeks, and 1 case in 30 weeks. Unfortunately, 3 stillbirths occurred in 20-24 weeks of gestation, and 4 cases were aborted. As 7 losses of pregnanancy including 1 case of septic abortion occurred, the delayed fetal loss rate was 38.9%(7/18) in transabdominal SFR. All babies born after 30 weeks of gestation were healthy, and no fetal anomaly directly related to the procedure was encountered. From July, 1993 to February, 1995, transvaginal SFR was performed in 20 patients including 15 triplet, 4 quadruplet and 1 quintuplet pregnancies. Transvaginal SFR using the same method as transabdominal SFR was carried out in 8-11 weeks of gestation. After procedure, 19 patients were remained as twin pregnancies, and 1 patient as singleton pregnancy. There have been 13 sets of twin delivery including 2 stillbirths, and 1 singleton delivery. Six cases were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 5 cases in 36-37 weeks, and 1 case in 30 weeks. Unfortunately, 2 still-births occurred in 20 weeks and 21 weeks of gestation, respectively, and 2 cases were aborted. As 4 losses of pregnancy including 1 case of septic abortion occurred, the delayed fetal loss rate was 25.0%(4/16) in transvaginal SFR. No fetal anomaly directly related to the procedure was encountered. It is suggested that transvaginal SFR could be performed more easily and earlier with the lower fetal loss rate as compared with transabdominal SFR. In conclusion, SFR is a rather safe and ethically justified procedure that may improve the outcome of multifetal pregnancies.