• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.33-37
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial intact in frozen-thawed boar sperm. The boar semen was collected by gloved-hand method and cryopreserved using freezing extender containing 3 ng/mL ALA and/or $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ BSA. Cryo-preserved boar sperms were thawed in $37^{\circ}C$ water-bath for 45 sec to analysis. Viability, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial intact were analyzed using flow cytometry. In results, viability of frozen-thawed boar sperm was significantly higher in only ALA+BSA supplement group than control group (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference either in ALA or BSA supplement. However, acrosome reacted sperm in both of live and all sperm population were significantly decreased in all treatment groups than control (p<0.05). Interestingly, mitochondrial intact of boar sperm was enhanced in ALA and ALA+BSA groups compared with control (p<0.05). In this study, we showed that supplementation of ALA and BSA in freezing extender enhanced the sperm viability, mitochondrial intact and decrease acrosomal membrane damage. In conclusion, our findings suggest that quality of frozen-thawed sperm in mammalians could improve by using of ALA and BSA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.394-400
• /
• 1998

Cryopreservation of embryos by vitrification is a simple method to preserve bovine embryos for subsequent embryo transfer, but embryonic viability after vitrification has been inconsistent and low compared with conventional slow freezing. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of serum or serum albumin in a vitrification solution and epidermal growth factor(EGF) or fibroblast growth factor(FGF) on in vitro viability of bovine blastocysts frozen by vitrification. Bovine blastocysts were produced by in vitro maturation, fertilization of follicular oocytes and culture of embryos in a synthetic oviduct fluid medium(SOFM) containing BSA and 19 essential and nonessential amino acids. Blastocysts with excellent or good morphology were selected at 7 or 8 days after culture and utilized for vitrification. In experiment 1, blastocysts were vitrified in a solution containing semi-fetal calf serum(SFCS) or BSA(5 or 10mg/ml) and then their subsequent viabilities were examined by culturing thawed embryos in a SOFM containing BSA and 19 amino acids. Effect of EGF or FGF added to a SOFM containing polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) on the viability of vitrified-thawed blastocysts was investigated in experiment 2. BSA added at 5 or 10mg/ml to a vitrification solution showed significantly higher(p < 0.05) developmental rate to expanded and hatching blastocysts than SFCS, but there was no significant difference in the developmental rate to hatched blastocysts after thawing. Supplementation of a culture medium with EGF and/or FGF significantly increased(p < 0.05) embryo development to expanded blastocysts compared with control but showed no beneficial effect on the development to hatching or hatched blastocysts. Coculture of thawed embryos with granulosa cells in a TCM 199 containing 10% fetal calf serum(FCS) showed the highest developmental rate to expanded, hatching and hatched blastocysts among the groups tested. In conclusion, supplementation of a vitrification solution with BSA at 5mg/ml and culture of thawed blastocysts in a medium containing EGF and/or FGF can improve in vitro viability of bovine blastocysts frozen by vitrification.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.36-41
• /
• 2016

Changes in target strength (TS) values of sandfish when sandfish was alive and dead were investigated using ex-situ at 120 kHz. TS values measured by tilt angles with -50~+50 degrees showed ranges from -71.0 to -53.3 dB for live sandfish, -63.1~-46.3 dB for thawed sandfish, and -70.0~-50.4 dB after 24 hours from thawed, respectively. It was shown that while TS values were similar between the case of live and the case of after 24 hours from thawed, mean TS values were higher by approximately 5 dB in the case of immediate thawed sandfish. It was also seen that TS values were similar between the case of thawed sandfish and the case of after 21 hours from live. The results showed that TS values of live sandfish were different from those of frozen sandfish. It implies that when estimating TS of frozen fish, the influx of bubbles and changes of body should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.19-23
• /
• 1983

Present studies were conducted to investigate the developmental stage and the location of embryos in the reproductive tract at various times after ovulation, the morphologically normal after thawing of embryos preserved in liquid nitrogen, and the survival after transferring frozen-thawed embryos. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Embryo stage and location in the reproductive tract after hCG administration. For the investigation of embryo stage and location in the reproductive tract after ovulation, rabbits were laparotomized at 24, 40, 48, 72 and 120 hrs post hCG injection, simultaneously with mating. the oviducts and uteri were flushed out with PBS medium containing 50% rabbit serum, respectively. 1) Most of embryos was remained in the oviduct within 48 hrs, with the lapse of time, embryos were started to move to uterus and shifted in uterus at 72 hrs after hCG injection. 2) The representatives of embryos stage collected at 24, 40, 48, 72 and 120 hrs were 1-cell(60.4%), 8-cell to early morula (52.3, 39.3%), late blastocyst (95.5%) stages, respectively. 2. Morphological normality and survival of the frozen-thawed embryos. For the evalution of the quality and viability on the frozen-thawed embryos, immediately after thawing, embryos were assessed by morphologically normal under a dissecting microscope, and a further test of frozen-thawed embryos was made by transferring the morphologically normal embryos to the uteri of recipient rabbit induced pseudopregnancy by the injection of hCG at the time of hCG injection in donor rabbits. 1) The propotions of embryos which a, pp.ared morphologically normal was higher when 8-cell (85.7%) and morula(90.5%) were used for freezing than when 4-cell (66.7%) and blastocyst (75.8%) were used. 2) Preganacies were observed at Day 15 after transfer of frozen-thawed 8-cell (7/13), morula (19/42) and blastocyst (3/19) but not after transfer of embryos at 4-cell stage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 1999

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of osmolarity of thawing diluents, seminal plasma added in thawing diluents on the sperm viability and the effects of thawing temperature, the temparature of the thawing diluents on the sperm viability and acrosomal morphology of boar spermatozoa by the straw method. The result obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The sperm viablilty after thawing of the frozen semen was shown greater in the high osmolarity(392~492mOsm) than low osmolarity(300mOsm) in thawing diluent. The added levels of seminal plasma in thawing diluent did not affect the viability of frozen-thawed boar semen. 2. In terms of thawing temperature, the sperm viability was shown higher in the frozen semen thawed at 5$0^{\circ}C$ for one min. (p<0.01) than those thawed at 2$0^{\circ}C$ or 37$^{\circ}C$ for one min. The sperm viability was not significant at the diluent temparature of 2$0^{\circ}C$or 37$^{\circ}C$ after thawing: but the sperm viability was higher in thawing diluent at 2$0^{\circ}C$ than in that at 37$^{\circ}C$. However, the effects of thawing temperature and diluent solution on normal acrosomal rate were not significant. 3. Cleavage rates of oocytes fertilized with frozen semen were 46.4% and 43.3%, respectively, which were thawed at 5$0^{\circ}C$ for one min. and then diluted in mBTS medium at 2$0^{\circ}C$or 37$^{\circ}C$. To sum up, the sperm viability was shown greater at the high of thawing diluents of frozen boar semen. In terms of thawing conditions, the sperm viability was shown greater, when semen was thawed at a high temperature for a short time and then diluted at the same temperature as that in the straw.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2009

In the present study, effects of concentration of cryoprotectant solutions on the nuclear maturation of vitrifiedthawed bovine oocytes were examined. Also, the developmental capacity of vitrified-thawed immature oocytes following ICSI was investigated. Oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 5% FBS at $38^{\circ}$C in 5% $CO_2$ and air. The in vitro maturation rate of vitrified oocytes was 24.5 ${\pm}$ 4.2%. The in vitro maturation rate of vitrified oocytes was lower than that of the control (72.0 ${\pm}$ 3.5%, p<0.05). The in vitro maturation rate of vitrified${\sim}$thawed oocytes incubated in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 1.0${\sim}$5.0 ug CB were 26.7 ${\pm}$ 3.2%, 35.7 ${\pm}$ 3.2%, 54.0 ${\pm}$ 3.0%, 42.5 ${\pm}$ 3.6%, respectively. The in vitro maturation rate (57.0 ${\pm}$ 3.0%) of the vitrified-thawed oocytes treated with 3.0 ${\mu}$g CB for 20 min was the highest of all vitrification groups, although the maturation rate were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of fresh oocytes. The in vitro maturation rates of the vitrified-thawed (with EDS and EDT) oocytes were 53.8 ${\pm}$ 3.4%, 51.1 ${\pm}$ 3.5%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group (72.0 ${\pm}$ 3.0%). The in vitro developmental rates of the vitrified-thawed oocytes following ICSI were 28.6 ${\pm}$ 4.5%, 25.6 ${\pm}$ 4.3%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group (40.0 ${\pm}$ 4.0%).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 1990

This study was carried out to clarify the effects of various kinds of cryoprotectants which were frequently used in freezing embryos of domestic animals on the survival of frozen-thawed mouse embryos. Mouse embryos were collected by hyperstimulation induction of ICR mouse. The samples were slowly cooled ($l^{\circ}C/min$) to temperatures between $-7^{\circ}C$ and $-30^{circ}C$ before direct transfer to liquid nitrogen ($-196^{\circ}C$) and thawed rapidly ($-500^{\circ}C$/min). As cryoprotectants, Glycerol, DMSO, Ethylene glycol and Propylene glycol were used and applied each 2 cell, 8 cell, morula in embryo stage. After normal mouse embryos developed to blastocyst by in vitro culture, we observed recovery rate and developing rate of embryos at thawing. The results obtained in these experiments were as follows : 1. The in vitro development rate from the frozen-thawed 2 cell embryos to the blastocyst were 67.7% in ethylene glycol, 65.7% in Propylene glycol, 55.2% in glycerol and 50.0% in DMSO respectively. 2. The in vitro development rate from the frozen-thawed 8 cell embryos to the blastocyst were 83.6% in DMSO, 75.7% in glycerol, 52.2% in propylene glycol respectively. 3. The in vitro development rate from the frozen-thawed morula to the blastocyst were 84.2% in glycerol, 80.0% in DMSO, 66.6% in propylene glycol and 55.2% in ethylene glycol respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to increase the viability of bovine frozen4hawed in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and pregnancy rate by direct transfer method. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from excised Hanwoo ovaries and matured in TGM 199 for 20~22 hours at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in 2% $CO_2$ in air. Matured oocytes were fertilized with capacitated sperm for 6 hours and then co-cultured with cumulus cells for 9 days. 63% of the oocytes cultured was deaved and 29% out of them developed into blastocysts. Good or excellent grade of blastocysts on D 7 or 8 were frozen with 1.8M ethylene glycol as a cryoprotectant for direct transfer. Frozen embryos were thawed at 2$0^{\circ}C$ water for 10 sec following 4~5 second in air. For the survival assay of frozen4hawed lVP blastocysts, they were cultured in TCM 199 supplemented with 100$\mu$M $\beta$-mercaptoethanol and 20% FCS for 72 hours. The percentage of embryos developed to re-expanded or hatched after 72 hours culture was 95. 5 and 77.3%, respectively. When frozen-thawed Ivp embryos were transferred to 43 synchronized recipients by direct transfer method, eighteen recipients (41.8%) was pregnant. The highest pregnant was in naturafly synchronized recipients (71.4%), but induced estrus by using PRID(29.2%) and PGF$_2$$\alpha$(20.0%) was showed lower pregnancy rate. The pregnancy rate was higher in day 7 blastocysts(56.0%) than day 8 blastocysts(22.2%). (Key words: in vitro produced, blastocyst, frozen-thawed, direct transfer)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.75-90
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to establish the techniques for producing the calves of genetically superior Korean Native cattle by transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. The effects of some factors related to embryo recovery following superovulation and pregnancy rate following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos were evaluated. Also calving state was investigated. The results obtained were as follows ; The mean number of total and transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow was 8.72 and 4.90, respectively, from a total of 72 superovulations using 34 donor cows. There were no significant differences in the number of total or transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow between products of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), years, seasons, and collection numbers. The pregnancy rate was found 44.44% following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos of Korean Native cattle to a total of 180 recipient cows including 82 Angus, 27 Charolais, 62 Hereford and 9 Korean Native cows. The pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of excellent (42.99) and good embryos (40.17%), compared with fair (5.90%) grade embryos. And the pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of embryos of morula stage (43.86%) than blastocyst stage (15.51%). But there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates between natural and induced estrus estrus asynchrony of 1 days, breeds, and parities of recipient cows. The normal calving rate of 80 pregnant cows following transfer of frozen4hawed em-bryos was 87.5% and the other 10 pregnant cows showed abortion during the period from pregnancy diagnosis at 50~60 days to calving. The average gestation length of normally delivered recipients was 288.50 days and the average birth weight of 70 calves born was 24.22 kg. The gestation length was significantly (P<0.05) shorter in the recipients delivering female calves (286.70 days) than males (289.39 days). But there were no significant differences in gestation tength and birth weight of calves born between the recipient breeds.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2021

Vitrification methods are commonly used for mammalian reproduction through the long-term storage of blastocyst produced in vitro. However, the survival and quality of embryos following vitrification are significantly low compared with blastocyst from in vitro production (IVP). This study evaluates that the survival of frozen-thawed bovine embryos was relevant to mitochondrial superoxide derived mitochondrial activity. Here we present supplementation of the cryopreservation medium with Mito-TEMPO (0.1 µM) induced a significant (p < 0.001; non-treated group: 56.8 ± 8.7%, reexpanded at 24 h vs Mito-TEMPO treated group: 77.5 ± 8.9%, re-expanded at 24 h) improvement in survival rate of cryopreserved-thawed bovine blastocyst. To confirm the quality of vitrified blastocyst after thawing, DNA fragmentation of survived embryos was examined by TUNEL assay. As a result, TUNEL positive cells rates of frozen-thawed embryos were lower in the Mito-TEMPO treated group (4.2 ± 1.4%) than the non-treated group (7.1 ± 3.5%). In addition, we investigated the intracellular ROS and mitochondrial specific superoxide production using DCF-DA and Mito-SOX staining in survived bovine embryos following vitrification depending on Mito-TEMPO treatment. As expected, intracellular ROS levels and superoxide production of vitrified blastocysts after cryopreservation were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) according to Mito-TEMPO supplement in freezing medium. Also, mitochondrial activity measured by MitoTracker Orange staining increased in the frozen-thawed embryos with Mito-TEMPO compared with non-treated group. These results indicate that the treatment of Mito-TEMPO during cryopreservation might induce reduction in DNA fragmentation and apoptosis-related ROS production, consequently increasing mitochondrial activation for developmental capacity of frozen-thawed embryos.