• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2023

Because multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) in cattle includes several benefits such as wide spreading of genetically superior offspring for long distance, this biotechnological method has been widely applied to Hanwoo. When the recipients are not stayed close after embryo recovery from donor, the embryos are moved to other farms via several vehicles (car, train, and airplane). However, air travel induces lesser oxygen level, increased vibration, lower air pressure, higher noise, and increased exposure of cosmic radiation to living things than ground level. It was still unknown that fresh embryos obtained from multiple ovulation of Hanwoo could maintain their fertility after being transported via air plane, the present case report introduced a clinical case of MOET in Hanwoo after shipping fresh embryos via air transportation. The donor was multi-ovulated via follicle-stimulating hormone series of injection, which was followed by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone injection and artificial insemination twice. The embryos were recovered by the uterine flushing, packed in ministraws, transported to recipients for 6 h including 1 h air flight, and then transferred to the synchronized recipients. During pregnancy diagnosis of early gestation period, 5 of 7 recipients (71.4%) presented no heat signs and showed fetal sacs with fluid under transrectal ultrasonography. After normal gestation period, all recipients naturally delivered healthy calves (male n = 2 and female n = 3) without abortion, stillbirth, and premature birth. The present case report indicated that transportation of fresh embryos for MOET via domestic flight in Korea did not affect to their fertility.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.215-224
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• 2023

Background: Reproductive management practices play crucial roles to maximize the reproductive performance of cows, and thus contribute to farm profitability. We aimed to assess the reproductive management of cows currently practiced in the dairy farms in an urban farming system. Methods: A total of 62 dairy farms were randomly selected considering all size of farms such as small (1-5 cattle), medium (6-20 cattle) and large farms (> 20 cattle) from selected areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The reproductive management-related parameters viz. estrus detection, breeding method, pregnancy diagnosis, dry cow and parturition management, vaccination and treatment of reproductive problems etc. were obtained in a pre-defined questionnaire during the farm visit. Results: The visual observation method was only used (100.0%; 62/62) for estrus detection irrespective of size of the farms; while farmers observed cows for estrus 4-5 times a day, but only for 20-60 seconds each time. Regardless of farm size, 89.0% (55/62) farms used artificial insemination (AI) for breeding the cows. Intriguingly, all farms (100.0%) routinely checked the cows for pregnancy at 35-40 days post-breeding using rectal palpation technique by registered veterinarian. However, only 6.5% (4/62) farms practiced dry cow management. Notably, all farms (100.0%) provided nutritional supplements (Vit D, Ca and P) during late gestation. However, proper hygiene and cleanliness during parturition was not practiced in 77.4% (48/62) farms; even though 96.7% (60/62) farms treated cows by registered veterinarian for parturition-related problems. Conclusions: While farmers used AI service for breeding and timely check their cows for pregnancy; however, they need to increase observation time (30 minutes/ observation, twice in a day: early morning and early night) for estrus detection, consider dry cow management and ensure hygienic parturition for maximizing production.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate artificial insemination (AI) failure status and frozen semen characteristics in Korean proven bulls' number (KPN) semen used for AI of Hanwoo cows in Gangwon East region (Gangneung, Donghae, Taebaek, Samcheok, Sokcho, Yangyang, Goseong). Among semen used for AI, AI failure rate showed lowest at KPN506 (27.6%), whereas highest at KPN593 (77.2%). Correlations of AI failure in between Korean proven bulls semen and cows was 0.2941, which means that AI failure rate of Korean proven bulls semen may have respectable effect on reproduction of Hanwoo cow. In addition, present study was conducted to investigate spermatozoal viability rate, ruptured acrosome rate and active mitochondria in frozen Korean proven bulls semen with flow cytometry. The semen of KPN593 showed significantly ($p$<0.05) higher viability rate in KPN593 (30.49%) than that in KPN637 (37.34%). Furthermore, percentage of ruptured acrosome was lower in KPN637 as 21.37% than in KPN637 (21.37%), but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, these results indicate that choice of Korean proven bulls semen may correlate positively with conception rate in Hanwoo cow. Therefore, KPN with high AI failure rate might be avoid to increase conception rate and characteristics of frozen semen might be evaluated before its use for AI.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to observe the reproductive behavior of the marine medaka, Oryzias dancena, and determine the factors of reproductive behavior to provide useful information for improving their artificial reproduction techniques. The reproductive behavior of the marine medaka was observed in laboratory aquaria. Once the experiment began, all of the males chased the females. The males attempted to stimulate the urogenital openings of the females. While chasing a female, a large male would bite a relatively small male's anus. Larger males expelled smaller males with biting, and the defeated males were barred from the female. After the other males were expelled, the remaining male approached and drew alongside the female. The male's dorsal and anal fins covered the female's body. Spawning began after complete covering took place. Spawning of males and females occurred simultaneously. The loadings for 2 factors were calculated. The calculation was restricted to 2 factors because these 2 factors explained about 81% of the total common variance (P<0.05) and the following factors possessed no practical significance. Two movements (biting, expelling) had high positive values for factor one. This factor related a male's defensive behavior to courtship behavior and spawning, and explained 23.1% of the total common variance (P<0.05). The second factor had high positive values for chasing, rejection, covering, and parallel swimming. This factor related a male's courtship behavior and female's defensive behavior to spawning, and explained 59.7% of the total common variance (P<0.05). This research provided basic biological data for the conservation of this species and useful information for improving their artificial reproduction techniques.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2020

The effects of the number of frozen-thawed ram sperm per single and double intra-cervical artificial insemination (AI) on fertility in ewes were studied. A total of 89 non-pregnant ewes were synchronized for oestrus with two doses of 100 ㎍ PGF_2α (Cloprostenol) 9 days apart. The ewes were randomly assigned to one of four groups; D200 (n = 23; double AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm), S200 (n = 24; single AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm), D100 (n = 24; double AI with 100 × 10⁶ sperm) and S100 (n = 18; single AI with 100 × 10⁶ sperm). Ewes were inseminated within 12 to 18 h for single AI and, within 10 to 12 h and 16 to 18 h for double AI after the onset of oestrus. The onset of oestrus ranged from 28 to 76 h (54.33 ± 1.28 h). The high percentage (29.2%) of ewes showed oestrus between 51 to 60 h. The non-return rates were highest in group D200 (56.5%) and differed significantly (p < 0.05) from group S100 (11.1%). No ewes were pregnant in group S100, and the pregnancy rates among the remaining groups did not differ. The mean gestation period was 152.8 ± 0.5 days and no difference was observed among the groups. The lambing and multiple birth rates were 100% in group D200. The single and twin lambing was highest in group D100 (33.3%) and group D200 (83.3%), respectively. Only one triplet lambing and the highest lambing size (2.2 ± 0.2) was recorded in group D200. In conclusion, double AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm showed comparatively most practical for achieving high pregnancy rates and lambing performances in Bangladeshi ewes under field conditions.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1999

The totipotential spermatogonial stem cells of adult testis which give rise to mature sperm cells is well-known to incorporate foreign DNA as well as those of somatic cells. Also, the integration rates of foreign DNA after haploid stages are generally known to decrease and /or is simply bound foreign DNA into the sperm plasma membrane. To overcome these problems, liposome and DNA complexes were used to determine how direct injection of these complexes into testis were integrated into sperm genome and resulted in transgenic offspring. To study this purpose, cation liposome was gently mixed with WAF/hGH DNA (1 : 2) and the complexes were injected into testis. At 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 days after direct injection into testis, mature sperm cells were recovered by using artificial virgin method from two goats and each semen except a part of semen used for DNA analysis such as PCR or Southern blotting was cryopreserved for the artificial insemination. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows. 1. By PCR, the presence of exogenous DNA was confirmed up to 80 days after injection with liposome/DNA complexes. The highest integration rates were obtained at day 40 after direct injection. This results suggested that spermatogonial stem cells were integrated exogenous DNA into their genome. 2. Among 23 Korean Native Goats which were artificially inseminated, 4 goats resulted in pregnancy and produced 7 young goats. 3. Two young goats were confirmed as a transgenic by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Therefore, our results suggested that testis-mediated gene transfer can be used as a feasible tools for the production of transgenic livestock.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 1992

The present study was carried out to establish a practical regimen for artificial parturition induction using prostaglandin F2$\alpha$(PGF2$\alpha$) and estradiol-benezoate in Korean native goats. The effect of parturition induction and the time intervals to induced parturition after injection were investigated. The birth weight and body weight of kids at 15 days of age were measured. A total of 24 pluriparous goats were offered for this experiment. The animals were divided into 4 goats per treatment by the injection time(142, 145 or 148 day of pregnancy) and dosage(5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg). The results obtained were summarized as follows : A total of 24 pregnant goats were intramusculary treated with 5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg of PGF2$\alpha$ and estradiol-benzoate for parturition induction of Day 142, 145 or 148 of gestation. Parturition was induced in all of the goats(100%) treated. The kids produced from induced parturition were all healthy. The time intervals to induced parturition after PGF2$\alpha$ and estradiol-benezoate injection of 5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg to pregnant goats on Day 148(23.22$\pm$0.51~23.40$\pm$1.26hrs) were significantly(P<.01) shorter than those of the 142 days of the gestation(26.34$\pm$2.22~28.39$\pm$3.02hrs). No significant difference was found in the time intervals between the doses(5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg) treated for parturition induction. The birth weight of kids from induced parturition was no significant difference between on Day 148 and on Day 142 of gestation. However, the birth weight of kids from parturition induced on Day 148 was found significantly(P<.01) heavier than that of the 142 days of gestation. The body weight of kids at 15 days old was also significantly(P<.01) lighter in the parturition induced on day 142 than those on Day 142. The birth weight and body weight of kids at 15 days old were not affected by 5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg injection of PGF2$\alpha$ and estradiol-benzoate for inducing parturition. From the above results, it was concluded that the parturition induction by PGF2$\alpha$ and estradiol-benezoate injection of 5.0$\times$10 or 7.5$\times$7.5mg on Day 142 of gestation, which was correspondent to 8 days before expected spontaneous parturition, was available without any significant troubles.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2015

The present study was designed to evaluate how environmental factors in a dry-summer subtropical climate in Terceira-Azores (situated in the North Atlantic Ocean: $38^{\circ}43^{\prime}N27^{\circ}12^{\prime}W$) can affect dairy cow (Holstein) fertility, as well as seasonal influence on in vitro oocytes maturation and embryos development. Impact of heat shock (HS) effects on in vitro oocyte's maturation and further embryo development after in vitro fertilization (IVF) was also evaluated. For such purpose the result of the first artificial insemination (AI) performed 60 to 90 days after calving of 6,300 cows were recorded for one year. In parallel, climatic data was obtained at different elevation points (n = 5) from 0 to 1,000 m and grazing points from 0 to 500 m, in Terceira island, and the temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated. For in vitro experiments, oocytes (n = 706) were collected weekly during all year, for meiotic maturation and IVF. Further, to evaluate HS effect, 891 oocytes were collected in the cold moths (December, January, February and March) and divided in three groups treated to HS for 24 h during in vitro maturation at: C (Control = $38.5^{\circ}C$), HS1 ($39.5^{\circ}C$) and HS2 ($40.5^{\circ}C$). Oocytes from each group were used for meiotic assessment and IVF. Cleavage, morula and blastocyst development were evaluated respectively on day 2, 6, and 9 after IVF. A negative correlation between cow's conception rate (CR) and THI in grazing points (-91.3%; p<0.001) was observed. Mean THI in warmer months (June, July, August and September) was $71.7{\pm}0.7$ and the CR ($40.2{\pm}1.5%$) while in cold months THI was $62.8{\pm}0.2$ and CR was $63.8{\pm}0.4%$. A similar impact was obtained with in vitro results in which nuclear maturation rate (NMR) ranged from 78.4% (${\pm}8.0$) to 44.3% (${\pm}8.1$), while embryos development ranged from 53.8% (${\pm}5.8$) to 36.3% (${\pm}3.3$) in cold and warmer months respectively. In vitro HS results showed a significant decline (p<0.05) on NMR of oocytes for every $1^{\circ}C$ rising temperature ($78.4{\pm}8.0$, $21.7{\pm}3.1$ and $8.9{\pm}2.2$, respectively for C, HS1, and HS2). Similar results were observed in cleavage rate and embryo development, showing a clear correlation (96.9 p<0.05) between NMR and embryo development with respect to temperatures. Results clearly demonstrated that, up to a THI of 70.6, a decrease in the CR occurs in first AI after calving; this impairment was confirmed with in vitro results.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2004

Gastrodia elata has been cultivated using mycorrizal fungi including Armillaria mellea as an energy source (myco-hetrotrophy) because it is aphyllous and achlorophyllous archid. But the yields of G. elata have been recently decreased owing to the degeneration of spawn tuber arised from successive asexual reproduction. Therefore, this study was carried out to solve this degeneration by seed germination, namely sexual reproduction. The seed germination of G. elata was excellent on the fallen leaves medium of oak tree. The fruetification rate of the capsule of G. elata by artificial pollination was 94.1% and better than natural pollination. The living weight of capsules of G. elata suitable for seeds germination was above 31 mg. The middle-matured seeds and matured seeds of capules were largely germinated, while the immatured seeds was small germinated. The storage temperature of the cropped capsules suitable for a favorable seed germination was $0{\sim}5^{\circ}C$ and the storage period of it was one month.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.449-462
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• 2021

We analyzed the effects of temperature on the survival, development, and reproduction of the non-diapause Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). A 16:8 h light:dark photoperiod was supplied to the non-diapause stages of O. furnacalis. The insects were raised on an artificial diet at seven constant temperatures between 15 and 35℃ for immature stages, and eight temperatures between 13 and 33℃ for the adult stage. The survival rate of eggs exceeded 70% at all temperatures, whereas survival of larvae was as low as 7.4% at 15℃. The developmental periods of the immature stages decreased with increasing temperature, but the larval period did not decrease further at 35℃. The pupal weight increased with increasing temperature, but the female weight decreased at 35℃. Variations with different last larval instars within the colonies at different temperatures were observed. Adults produced offspring at all tested temperatures. Adult longevity and the pre-oviposition and oviposition periods decreased with increasing temperature, but the pre-oviposition period increased at 33℃. Total fecundity exceeded 400 viable eggs at 22℃ and 31℃. The mean daily fecundity during the oviposition period and the mean daily fecundity on the day of oviposition increased with increasing temperature, but decreased at 33℃. Daily fecundity sharply increased at earlier adult ages and slowly decreased thereafter. The simulated oviposition frequency was greatest at 22℃. The lower developmental threshold temperatures were estimated to be the lowest at 9.7℃ for the first instar larva and the highest at 14.7℃ for the 5th to last instar larval stage, using a linear model.