• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Although IVF-ET is widely applied in the treatment of couples with male factor infertility, it may fail in many infertile couples with normal semen parameters, and certain couples cannot be accepted for standard IVF-ET due to unfertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes. Recently, several procedures of microassisted fertilization (MAF) using micromanipulation have been introduced, and pregnancies and births have been obtained after partial zona dissection (PZD), subzonal insertion (SUZI), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This clinical study was performed to develop and establish ICSI as an effective procedure of MAF in infertile couples who could not undergo standard IVF-ET repetitively because of failure in fertilization or extremely low fertilization rate of oocytes with the conventional fertilization technique in the previous IVF-ET cycles. From March, 1995 to May, 1996, 27 cycles of IVF-ET with ICSI in 19 infertile patients were included in study group, and the outcomes of ICSI were analyzed according to fertilization rate, cumulative embryo score (CES), and pregnancy rate. The number of oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was $10.50{\pm}6.13$ in 30 previous cycles, and $10.57{\pm}5.53$ in 27 ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the number of oocytes optimal for ICSI procedure was $7.89{\pm}4.30$, and the fertilization rate of $67.9{\pm}20.2%$ could be obtained after ICSI. The number of embryos transferred was $1.43{\pm}2.40$ in previous cycles, and $4.36{\pm}1.77$ with the mean CES of $41.8{\pm}27.4$ in ICSI cycles. In ICSI cycles, the overall pregnancy rate was 29.6% (8/27) per cycle and 42.1% (8/19) per patient with the clinical pregnancy rate of 22.2% (6/27) per cycle and 31.6% (6/19) per patient. In conclusion, MAF of human oocytes with ICSI is a promising fertilization method for IVF-ET patients, especially with the past history of failure in fertilization or low fertilization rate of oocytes in the previous IVF-ET cycles, and ICSI using micromanipulation procedures applied to human oocytes will provide a range of novel techniques which may dramatically improve the pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program and contribute much to effective management of infertile couples.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.45-55
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• 1981

Clomiphene citrate. antiestrogen, was given to 39 infertile males whose spermatogenesis were disturbed and the efficacy of the drug was evaluated at the Department of Urology in 1980. (Table 1). Patients were divided into 3 clinical observation groups such as group I composed of 19 cases of idiopathic azoospermia, group II consisted of 15 cases of oligospermia following the vasovasostomy, and group III comprised 5 cases of testicular azoospermia. (Table 2). Clinical characteristics of these patients were as follows: Age of the patients ranged from 26 to 43 years old with mean of 34, and that of their wives ranged from 24 to 41 years old with mean of 31. Duration of marital life ranged from 1 to 21 years with mean of 5 years. Sizes of testis ranged from 6 to 25 ml with mean of 16 ml. Coital frequency ranged from 0.5 to 6 per week with mean of 2.4 per week. Levels of plasma FSH ranged from 3.15 to 23.06 lU/1 with mean of 8.15 lU/1, those of LH ranged from 2.98 to 19.89 lU/1 with mean of 8.18 lU/1 and those of testosterone ranged from 3.09 to 9.97 ng/ml with mean of 6.48 ng/ml. (Table 3). Clomiphene citrate was given in dosage of 50 mg per day (in d.) orally to 31 patients for 3 to 9 months and in dosage of 100 mg per day (b.i.d.) orally to 8 patients for 3 to 9 months. (Table 8). Semen samples were analysed monthly on each patient by routine analysis techniques. For the assessment of the efficacy of Clomiphene citrate on faulty spermatogenesis following empirical criteria were used: For semen quality: Improvement (I) represents that semen parameter increased more than 25% from basal level after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that semen parameter increased less than 25% of basal level or not changed after the treatment and Deterioration (D) means that semen parameter decreased from basal level after the treatment. For fertility unit (total counts ${\times}$ motility ${\times}$ morphology ${\div}10^6$): Improvement (I) represents that fertility unit increased more than 10 units after the treatment, Unchange (U) expresses that fertility unit increased less than 10 units or not changed after the treatment, and Deterioration (D) means that fertility unit decreased after the treatment. (Table 4). Results obtained from the Clomiphene therapy were as follows: Changes of spermiograme before and after the Oomiphene therapy shown in the Table 5. Sperm counts increased from 23 to 31 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group I, from 17 to 29 ${\times}10^6$/ml in group II. Other parameters of spermiogramme were not changed significantly after the treatment. Fertility units increased from 14 to 18 units after the treatment in group I, and from 16 to 18 units after the treatment in group II. Effectiveness of Clomiphene citrate on spermatogenesis was summarised in the Tables 6 and 7. After the treatment, sperm count increased in 11 patients, motility increased in 6 patients, morphology increased in 4 patients and fertility units increased in 9 patients. No sperm could be produced by Clomiphene citrate in group III of testicular azoospermia. Dosage of 50 mg of Clomiphene citrate per day for 3 to 6 months was proved to be the most effective in the present series. (Table 8). Pregnancy occurred in 2 patients after the treatment. No particular side effects were noted by the treatment. Pharmacologic compounds used for male infertility were shown in the Table 9. Reported results of Clomiphene citrate were shown in the Table 10.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Wholemom (in favour of female gender) increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by approximately 85% without decrease of pregnancy rates. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of wholemom kits as combined with frozen-thawed bovine semen during in vitro fertilization on the in vitro fertilization and developmental efficiency and sex ratios such as some reproductive parameters in bovine. For this, 1,737 oocytes were in vitro fertilized and developed. Agglutination effects on bovine after treatment of Wholemom kit were observed by time passage and dose respectively. To determine sex of embryos, Bovine embryo Y-specific gene primers(ConEY) and Bovine specific universal primer(ConBV) were used as multiple PCR method. Fertilization rate of wholemom-treated group was significantly lower than its of control group[66.9% (1,156/1,737) in Wholemom-treated group; 75.0% (610/813) in control group]. However, developmental rate after fertilization of both wholemom-treated and control groups were not significantly different [26.1% (404/1,156) in Wholemom-treated group; 27.4% (224/610) in control group]. Sex ratio of in vitro fertilized embryo with frozen-thawed semen treated with wholemom kit was determined by multi PCR. Female ratio in wholemom-treated group [85.4% (173/201)] was significantly higher than its of control group [47.2% (66/141)]. In conclusion, wholemom treatments of semen used in the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine oocytes provided increase in female ratio with decrease of fertilization rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.245-249
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• 1998

White blood cells (WBCs) are present in most human ejaculates, but abnormally high concentration of seminal leukocytes may reflect an underlying pathological condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined leukocytospermia as status of more than $10^6$ WBC/mL of semen. The purpose of this study was firstly, to compare the outcomes between conventional IVF and ICSI in leukocytospermia, and secondly, to investigate whether ICSI may be an alternative treatment for patients with leukocytospermia. Total 121 cycles of conventional IVF and ICSI candidates underwent IVF cycles at PL Infertility Clinic. Semen Parameters including concentration, motility, morphology of spermatozoa and concentration of leukocytes were assessed from the raw ejaculates. There was no difference in sperm concentration, motility and morphology. The rates of fertilization and good embryo development from ICSI were significantly higher than those from conventional IVF in leukocytospermia (63.9% & 48.6%, respectively for ICSI group and 33.4% & 24.1%, respectively for IVF group, p<0.001). The pregnancy rate after ICSI was also higher than that from conventional IVF (34.3% vs 21.6%, p<0.05). These results indicate that the presence of seminal leukocytes ($>1\times10^6$ WBC/mL of semen) is adversely related with fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy rate. Therefore the measurement of seminal leukocytes in routine semen analysis appears to be of prognostic value with regard to male fertilizing potential. In conclusion, it is suggested that ICSI is an alternative choice of treatment for patients with leukocytospermia.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.82-90
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• 2021

In the present study, we examined if deep uterine artificial insemination (DUAI) can improve the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination (AI) using epididymal spermatozoa (ES) in Hanwoo cattle. The estrus cycles of 88 Hanwoo cows were synchronized, and 17 cows were artificially inseminated using the DUAI method with ES, 20 cows were artificially inseminated via the uterine body (BUAI) method with ES, and as a control, 51 cows were inseminated by using the BUAI method with ejaculated spermatozoa from 1 proven bull after frozen thawing. The pregnancy rate of the DUAI method (58.8%) was higher than that of the BUAI method (25.0%, p = 0.0498). The motility of ES was examined immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation. The rapid progressive sperm motility of the control group was significantly higher than that of the ES group immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The straight line velocity and average path velocity of the ES group after 6 h of incubation were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The linearity and amplitude of lateral head of ES were lower than those at 6 h (p < 0.05). The flagellar beat cross frequency and hyperactivation of ES were lower than the control spermatozoa immediately after thawing and at 3 h (p < 0.05). These motility parameters suggested that ES had a low motility and fertilization ability compared to the control spermatozoa. After frozen-thawing and 3 h of incubation, the percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the ES was significantly lower than that in ejaculated spermatozoa (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the DUAI method can overcome the low pregnancy rate of ES, despite the low motility, viability, and fertilization ability of ES.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.177-184
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• 2023

Objective: Reconstructed oocytes after polar body genome transfer constitute a potential therapeutic option for patients with a history of embryo fragmentation and advanced maternal age. However, the rescue of genetic material from the first polar body (PB1) through introduction into the donor cytoplasm is not yet ready for clinical application. Methods: Eighty-five oocytes were obtained following in vitro maturation (IVM) and divided into two groups: PB1 nuclear transfer (PB1NT; n=54) and control (n=31). Following enucleation and PB1 genomic transfer, PB1 fusion was assessed. Subsequently, all fused oocytes underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were cultured in an incubator under a time-lapse monitoring system to evaluate fertilization, embryonic morphokinetic parameters, and cleavage patterns. Results: Following enucleation and fusion, 77.14% of oocytes survived, and 92.59% of polar bodies (PBs) fused. However, the normal fertilization rate was lower in the PB1NT group than in the control group (56.41% vs. 92%, p=0.002). No significant differences were observed in embryo kinetics between the groups, but a significant difference was detected in embryo developmental arrest after the four-cell stage, along with abnormal cleavage division in the PB1NT group. This was followed by significant between-group differences in the implantation potential rate and euploidy status. Most embryos in the PB1NT group had at least one abnormal cleavage division (93.3%, p=0.001). Conclusion: Fresh PB1NT oocytes successfully produced normal zygotes following PB fusion and ICSI in IVM oocytes. However, this was accompanied by low efficiency in developing into cleavage embryos, along with an increase in abnormal cleavage patterns.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.578-588
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• 2017

Background: Elevated testicular temperature disrupts spermatogenesis and causes infertility. In the present study, the protective effect of enzymatically biotransformed Panax ginseng Meyer by pectinase (GINST) against chronic intermittent heat stress-induced testicular damage in rats was investigated. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 wk old, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups: normal control (NC), heat-stress control (HC), heat-stress plus GINST-100 mg/kg (HG100), and heat-stress plus GINST-200 mg/kg (HG200) treatment groups. Each dose of GINST (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was mixed separately with a regular pellet diet and was administered orally for 24 wk. For inducing heat stress, rats in the NC group were maintained at $25^{\circ}C$, whereas rats in the HC, HG100, and HG200 groups were exposed to $32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 2 h daily for 6 mo. At week 25, the testes and serum from each animal were analyzed for various parameters. Results: Significant (p < 0.01) changes in the sperm kinematic values and blood chemistry panels were observed in the HC group. Furthermore, spermatogenesis-related molecules, sex hormone receptors, and selected antioxidant enzyme expression levels were also altered in the HC group compared to those in the NC group. GINST (HS100 and HS200) administration significantly (p < 0.05) restored these changes when compared with the HC group. For most of the parameters tested, the HG200 group exhibited potent effects compared with those exhibited by the HG100 group. Conclusion: GINST may be categorized as an important medicinal herb and a potential therapeutic for the treatment of male subfertility or infertility caused by hyperthermia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.89-96
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• 1999

당뇨병은 생식내분비 조직의 구조나 기능 변화를 유발하여 호르몬 합성 및 분비량의 변화를 야기하고, 정자의 운동성 등에 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 왔다. 그러나 부정소와 수정관내 정자의 농도 변화나 수정능력 획득 및 침체반응에 미치는 영향은 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 본 실험에서는 Wistar 쥐에 streptozotocin을 투여하여 당뇨병을 유발시킨 후 3일과 14일에 부정소 각 부위와 수정관내 정자 농도 변화를 조사하고 부정소 꼬리와 수정관내 정자의 침체반응 유도 실험 (acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge test, ARIC test)을 이용하여 정자의 수정 능력을 평가하였다. Streptozotocin을 주사한 후 혈액내 인슐린 및 포도당 농도는 당뇨병 경과 기간이 길어짐에 따라 반비례 관계를 보였다. 부정소 머리와 몸통내 정자의 농도는 3일군에서부터 감소하기 시작하나 꼬리에서는 14일군 $(15.2{\pm}2.1)$에서 대조군 $(28.1{\pm}4.0)$이나 3일군에 $(24.8{\pm}2.9)$비해 유의하게 감소하였다. 수정관내 절자 농도는 14일군이 $0.025{\pm}0.013$으로 대조군과 $(0.108{\pm}0.03)$ 3일군에 $(0.067{\pm}0.046)$ 비해 유의하게 감소하였으며, 3일군도 대조군에 비해 유의한 차이를 보였다. 자발적 첨체반응율은 대조군의 부정소 꼬리정자는 $37.1{\pm}2.4$이고 수정관내 정자는 $49.3{\pm}2.4$로 두 부위간 유의한 차이를 보였다. 3일군과 14일군의 부정소 꼬리와 수정관내 정자의 자발적 첨체반응율은 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가하였다. 한편 14일군의 수정관내 정자의 자발적 첨체반응율은 대조군이나 3일군에 비해 유의하게 증가하였다. ARIC test 결과 대조군과 3일군에서는 20%이상 차이를 보였으나 14일군에서는 약 8.4% 차이를 보였다. 위의 결과가 부정소의 성숙 조절기능 이상 또는 정자형성 이상에 기인한 것인지는 더 연구되어야 하나 당뇨병 병력이 길어짐에 따라 정자의 수적인 감소, 자발적 침체반응의 증가나 침체반응의 약화가 유발되어 생식능력의 감소 원인으로 작용하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.305-312
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• 2007

목 적: 본 연구에서는 일반적인 체외수정과 세포질내 정자주입술을 병행하여 시행하는 분할 수정법의 효용성을 정상적인 정자 소견을 나타내는 비남성요인 불임 환자의 체외수정 및 배아이식술에서 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 제일병원 아이소망센터에서 정자 소견상 결함이 없는 비남성요인 불임 환자에게 분할 수정법을 이용한 505주기의 임상 결과를 후향적으로 분석하였다. 획득된 난자는 무작위로 나누어 일반적인 체외수정이나 세포질내 정자주입술을 이용하여 수정을 시켰다. 수정란은 이식할 때까지 2$\sim$5일간 배양하였고, 잉여의 수정란과 배아는 동결보관하여 동결-융해 이식에 사용하였다. 수정 방법에 따른 임상 결과를 통계학적인 방법으로 비교하였다. 결 과: 획득된 난자의 수정율은 분할 수정법을 시행하였을 때 일반적인 체외수정보다 세포질내 정자주입술에서 통계적으로 유의하게 높게 나타났다 (52.9$\pm$28.0% vs 62.5$\pm$22.3%, p<0.01). 전체적인 수정의 실패는 분할 수정법을 시행한 505주기 중에서 단지 2주기에서만 (0.4%) 나타났으며, 수정 실패와 0$\sim$30% 이하의 수정률을 나타내는 빈도는 세포질내 정자주입술에서 일반적인 체외수정보다 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았다 (1.1% and 7.5% vs 8.5% and 22.0%, p<0.01). 분할 수정주기에서의 신선 배아와 동결-융해 배아이식 후 분만율은 각각 40.0% (185/462)와 35.0% (55/157)였으며, 일반적인 체외수정이나 세포질내 정 자주입술로 얻어진 배아의 착상률과 분만율은 유의적인 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 결 론: 결론적으로 비남성요인 불임 환자의 보조생식술에서 분할 수정법이 수정 실패와 낮은 수정율을 방지하고 성공적인 임상 결과를 제공할 수 있는 효과적인 방법으로 사료된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.227-233
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• 2017

Pig has been known to be one of the most feasible animals as a bioreactor to produce pharmaceuticals in milk and as a mediator in xenotransplantation research. Previously, we generated transgenic pigs for both purposes, which were expressing Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, and hEPO in milk, along with expression of MCP at GalT gene locus ($GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$) as well as expressing MCP at GalT gene loci with CD73 expression ($GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$). In this study, we performed comparative analyses of sperm parameters between wild type male (WT) pig and those transgenic males to examine the effects of transgenes integrated into the pigs on motility, morphology, viability, and acrosome integrity of the spermatozoa. Our results showed that the rates of actively motile spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 85.0%, 83.3%, 82.5%, 83.3%, 82.5%, 77.5%, and 78.7%, respectively. Whereas, the rates of morphologically normal spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 90.0%, 80.0%, 80.0%, 83.3%, 85.0%, 91.8%, and 80.8%, respectively. In addition, the viability in spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 93.9%, 82.4%, 89.9%, 83.9%, 87.4%, 92.8%, and 83.6%, respectively. The rates of spermatozoa with normal acrosome integrity in WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 98.1%, 98.6%, 98.6%, 98.7%, 98.1%, 99.5%, and 95.1%, respectively. There were no significant differences in motility, morphology, viability, and acrosome integrity of the spermatozoa among WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, and hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs. These mean that neither random integration nor targeted integration of the transgene into chromosome of pig effect on characteristics of spermatozoa. Ultimately, the transgenic male pigs subjected in this study could apply to propagate their progenies for production of human therapeutic proteins and advancing the xenotransplantation research.