• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2016

Although piglets have been delivered by embryo transfer (ET) with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and blastocysts, a success rate has still remained lower level. Unlike mouse, human, and bovine, it is difficult to a production of piglets by in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of an inappropriate in vitro culture (IVC) system in pig. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate whether minimized exposure time in IVC can improve the pregnancy and delivery rates of piglets. Immediately after IVM, the oocytes were denuded and co-incubated with freshly ejaculated boar semen for 3.5 to 4 hours at $38.5^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. To avoid long-term exposure to in vitro state, we emitted IVC step after IVF. After that the presumptive zygotes were transferred into both oviducts of the surrogate on the same day or 1 day after the onset of estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 28 after ET and then was checked regularly every month by ultrasound examination. The 3 out of 4 surrogates were determined as pregnant (75%) and a total of 5 piglets (2 females and 3 males) were delivered at $118.3{\pm}2.5$ days of pregnancy period. In conclusion, a short-term exposure time may be an important factor in the production of IVP-derived piglets. It can be apply to the in vitro production system of transgenic pig by IVF, cloning, and pronuclear microinjection methods.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of equilibration and dilution methods on the survival rate of vitrified IVM-IVF bovine blastocysts. Vitrification solution was composed with 20% glycerol, 20% ethylene glycol, 3/8 M sucrose and 3/8 M dextrose in D-PBS supplemented with 20% FBS (GESD). Embryos were equilibrated in 1 of 3 methods: 3-step (El), 2-step (E2), or 1-step (E3), and after loading into 0.25-ml straws, were plunged into liquid nitrogen. After warming in water bath at 2$0^{\circ}C$, cryoprotectants were diluted in 1 of 3 methods: 1) D1(VS+1/2 M sucrose, 1/2 M sucrose and l/4 M sucrose), 2) D2 (1/2 M sucrose and 1/4 M sucrose), or 3) D3(1/2 M sucrose only). All procedures except warming were conducted at room temperature. Survival and hatching rates of blastocysts and expanded blastocysts following equilibration methods were 50 and 83.6%, and 27.8 and 67.3%, respectively in El, which were significantly higher (P〈0.01) than those of E2 (16.7 and 23.2%, and 7.4 and 12.5%, respectively) and 23 (0 and 3.7%, and 0 and 0%, respectively). Survival and hatching rates of expanded blastocysts were significantly (P〈0.01) higher than those of blastocysts in El. Survival rates of blastocysts and expanded blastocysts following dilution methods were 52% and 80.6% in D2, which were significantly higher (P〈0.05) than those of D1 (29.6 and 48.3%) and D3 (47.2 and 63.8%). Hatching rates of blastocysts were similar in D1, D2 and D3, however in expanded blastocysts, that of D2(61.3%) was significantly higher (P〈0.01) than that of D1(34.5%). Survival rates of expanded blastocysts in D1 and D2, and hatching rates in D2 and D3 were significantly higher(P〈0.01) than those of blastocysts. These results indicate that the viability of vitrified blastocysts was improved by the several steps of equilibration, and by 2-steps dilution after warming, independently of their stage of development. The results also indicated that the expanded blastocysts are more profitable to vitrification than blastocysts.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2006

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether embryonic stem (ES) cells can be established from isolated blastomeres of mouse embryos. Methods: Blastomeres were separated from mouse (C57Bl/6J) 2- or 4-cell embryos. Isolated blastomeres or whole 4-cell embryos were co-cultured with mitosis-arrested STO feeder cells in DMEM supplemented with recombinant murine leukemia inhibitory factor and ES-qualified fetal bovine serum. After the tentative ES cell lines were maintained from isolated blastomeres or whole embryos, some of them were frozen and the others were sub-cultured continually. Characteristics of tentative ES cell lines as were evaluated for specific genes expressions with immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Results: One ES cell line (3.0%) was established from isolated blastomere of 2-cell embryo and one cell line (4.0%) from isolated two blastomeres of 4-cell embryo. And five cell lines (16.7%) were established from whole 4-cell embryos. Both cell lines from isolated blastomere and whole embryo expressed mouse ES cell specific markers such as SSEA-1, Oct-4 and alkaline phosphatase. Marker genes of three germ layers were expressed from embryoid bodies of both cell lines. Conclusion: This study suggests that mouse ES cells could be established from isolated blastomeres, although the efficiency is lower than whole embryos. This animal model could be applied to establishment of autologous human ES cells from biopsied blastomeres of preimplantation embryos in human IVF-ET program.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2001

도살장에서 구입한 소의 난소로부터 회수한 미성숙 난포란을 체외에서 성숙, 수정시킨 후, 2~8세포기 수정란을 CR$_1$aa 체외배양액에 일정량의 aesculetin, taurine을 첨가하여 체외배양을 실시한 두 처리구간의 항산화 효과를 비교 검토하고, aesculetin과 taurine에 growth factor(EGF, PDGF)를 첨가배양하여 체외수정란의 체외발육에 항산화제와 growth factor의 상호작용 효과를 검토하였다. 대조구, aesculetin(1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) 및 taurine(2.5mM)을 첨가하여 체외수정란을 체외배양시킨 결과 상실배이상 발육된 체외발육율은 각각 46.5%, 64.3% 및 60.5%로서 대조구보다 aesculetin과 taurine 첨가구가 유의하에 높은 성적을 얻어, aesculetin과 taurine이 체외수정란의 체외발육에 높은 효과를 나타냈다. 대조구, aesculetin (1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) ＋ PDGF (1ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구, aesculetin (l$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) ＋ EGF (10ng/$m\ell$)첨가구, taurine (2.5mM) ＋PDGF (1ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구 및 taurine (2.5mM)＋EGF (10ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구에서 배반포기 발육율은 각각 46.0%, 70.0%, 58.0%, 56.0 및 66.0%로써 처리구가 무첨가구에 비해 유의하게 높은 성적을 얻어(P<0.05), 항산화제와 growth factor의 첨가 배양이 체외수정란의 체외발육에 상승효과가 있음이 입증되었다. 배양액에 천연추출 aesculetin과 상품화된 aesculetin을 첨가하여 체외배양을 실시한 결과 배반포기 발육율은 대조구, 천연추출 aesculetin 및 상품화된 aesculetin 첨가구에서 각각 38.6%, 54.6% 및 53.5%로써 첨가구가 무첨가구보다 높은 성적을 얻어, aesculetin의 항산화 효과가 입증되었다(P<0.05). 그러나 모든 처리구에서 배반포까지 발육된 체외수정란의 세포수에는 커다란 차이가 인정되지 않았다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 1994

소 체외수정란의 체외 발육에 $CO_2$와 $O_2$의 농도가 미치는 영향에 대하여 두가지 배양액과 서로 다른 Co-culture 체계를 이용하여 검토하였다. 체외 수정후 40~44시간에 회수간 2~8 세포기 수정란을 여러가지 gas조건하의 다른 배양조건에서 무작위로 옮겨 실험을 수행하였다. 5% $CO_2$와 $O_2$,10% $O_2$및 20% $O_2$조건에서 배양을 실시한 결과, 상실배가 이상 발육된 체외 발육성적은 각각 22.1% 15.0% 및 21.1%였다.(p<0.05). 한편 배양액에 따른 헤외 배양성적은 KOSM배양액(19.1%)의 경우가 Menezo's B2 배양액(13.7%)에서 배양한 경우보다 더 높은 성적을 얻었다.(p>0.05,Table 1). 2~8세포기 수정란을 5% $CO_2$또는 10% $CO_2$와 5%, 10% 및 20%의 $O_2$조건 하에서 체외 배양을 실시한 경우 각각 15% 와 8%의 체외 발육 성적을 얻었고(P>0.05), $O_2$조건의 경우 10% $O_2$(17%)와 20% $O_2$(20%)의 배양조건을 이 5% $O_2$(26%)보다 낮은 성적을 나타냈다. (P<0.05), (Table2). 체외 수정 후 얻은 2~8세포기 수정란을 단순 배양액 과 두개의 다른 공동 배양체계를 이용하여 5% $CO_2$와 5% 및 20% $O_2$의 배양 조건하에서 체외 배양을 실시한 결과 상실배와 배반포기 까지 발육된 체외 발육 성적은 배양액과 공동배양 체계에 따른 차이는 인정되지 않았다(p>0.05). 그러나 $O_2$의 농도는 소 체외 수정란의 체외 발육성적에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.(Table 3). 본실험은 $CO_2$와 $O_2$의 농도가 소 체외수정란의 체외 배양할때 배양체계에 따라 다른 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

This study was carried out to confirm whether the developmental capacity of bovine mature oocytes frozen ultra-rapidly using electron microscopic(EM) grids and EFS30 can be obtained, and whether the cryoprotectants and the freezing method used in this study effect detrimentally to the bovine oocytes by indirect immunocytochemistry. As freezing solution, we used EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, 18% ficoll and 10% FBS added in D-PBS. The results obtained in this experiment were summarized as follows: When the effects of cryoprotectant and freezing procedure on the microtuble, micrfilament and chromatin morphology of oocytes were evaluated using indirect immunocytochemistry, the results of freezing as well as exposure group were not different with that of the control oocytes. When the fertilization abnormality after ultrarapid freezing of bovine mature oocytes was examined by Hoechst staining, the rates of total penetration(96.7, 9.0%), normal two pronuclei formation(74.6, 68.9%) and mean number of sperm / oocyte(1.50, 1.44) were not different between control and freezing group. In addition, when the developmental capacity of frozen-thawed of oocytes(85.5%) was survived, 74.5% of them were cleaved and 31.4% of cleaved embryos were developed to blastocyst. These data were similar to those of the control(76.0%, 34.6%) and exposure(74.5%, 33.0%) except survival rates. Also, when the total cell number of blastocysts produced from the each treatment at day after IVF was examined by hoechst staining, there were not different among groups. There results demonstrate that developmental capacity of frozen-thawed bovine mature oocytes can be successfully obtained by ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30 solution.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2001

OSBA(oocytes-sperm binding assay) is a tool developed for rapid test of optimal condition of IVF medium and protein source by binding ability of mouse sperm and egg. Mouse oocyte-cumulus complexes were prepared by removing of the cumulus cells with 0.1% hyaluronidase. 10$\pm$2 oocytes per 30 ${mu}ell$ medium drop were inseminated with 3 ${mu}ell$ sperm suspension and were cultured f3r 3 hours and 24 hours, respectively. And the oocytes were recovered gently and the No. of sperm bound on oocytes were counted. In the Exp. 1, the ratio of oocytes bound with one sperm at least were 60.2%(50/83), 2%(2/77) and 100%(79/79) in the medium with no protein, FBS(15%, v/v) and BSA(0.4%. w/v), respectively, Fetal bovine serum(FBS) seriously inhibited sperm binding on oocyte, although bovine serum albumin(BSA) promoted the binding ability. The inhibiting effect of FBS was dependent on the concentration of FBS. The sperm binding ability according to oocyte maturity was tested in the Exp. 2. There was no significant difference between Met. II (mature) and Met. I (intermediate mature) oocytes in the number of oocytes bound with sperm and the number of sperm bound on oocytes. Finally, in Exp. 3, two batches of Ham's F10 medium with good and poor quality by OSBA were tested (The ratios of embryos developed from PN 1-cell stage to hatched blastocyst; 25% vs. 70%). In the medium with good quality, sperm binding ability was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05). The ratio of oocytes bound with one sperm at least was 66% and 90% in the medium with poor and good quality, respectively. Conclusively, It was possible to test IVF medium condition rapidly and easily by OSBA.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2001

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of cooling rate and equilibration time on the survival, in vitro maturation and development to embryos of frozen-thawed bovine immature oocytes(Germinal Vesicle Stage). The cryoprotectants are used 10% ethylene glycol(EG) as permeating cryoprotectant and 0.05M soc.ose(S) or trehalose(T) as low molecular weight nonpermeating cryoprotectants and 5% ficoll(F) or polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) as high molecular weight nonpermeating cryoprotectants. Four freezing solution were uysed in this experiment(EFT: 10% EG + 5% F + 0.05M T, EFS: 10% EG + 5% F + 0.05M S, EPT: 10% EG + 5% P + 0.05M T, EPS: 10% EG + 5% P + 0.05M S). The best equilibration time and freezing solution was 15 min in EPT(83% survival rate of frozen-thawed bovine immature oocytes). When frozen-thawed bovine oocytes were cultured following IVM and IVF, there was no significant difference in cleavage and development rates among the EFT, EFS, EPT and EPS solutions. When 9 blastocysts derived from frozen bovine oocytes were transferred to 6 recipients, two recipients were pregnant. And one was aborted at 45 days of pregnancy and the other had a stillbirth.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to access the effect of collection methods on the collection efficiency, blastocyst rate and pregnancy rate after IVP embryo transfer. The ovaries of Hanwoo were obtained from an abattoir and kept on 25 to $28^{\circ}C$ and transported to laboratory within 4 hrs. The oocytes were collected by aspiration of follicles $(2\~6\;mm)$ with or without slicing of ovaries after aspiration. The oocytes were matured in vitro (IVM) for 20 to 24 hrs in TCM-199 supplemented with $10\%$ fetal bovine serum at $39^{\circ}C$ under $5\%\;CO_{2}$ in air. Following routine IVM/IVF procedure, the oocytes and presumed zygotes were cultured for three day in CRlaa medium with BSA. The cumulus cells at 2 to 8-cell stage of embryos removed then the embryos and were cultured in CRlaa medium containing $10\%$ fetal bovine serum in $5\%\;CO_{2}$ at $39^{\circ}C$. The fresh blastocysts cultured for 7 to 9 days were transferred into recipients. The numbers of oocytes recovered form two different methods, the aspiration and slicing after aspiration, were compared to know what. The number of oocytes per ovary was 8.2 and 6.5 in aspiration combining slicing, and aspiration groups, respectively (p<0.05). The cleavage rate in aspiration method are significantly (p<0.05) high than those in slicing post aspiration $(27.9\%)$, and aspiration $(25.5\%)$. The pregnancy .ate in aspiration method $(62.5\%)$ was high than that in slicing method after aspiration $(54.4\%)$. The pregnancy rates of aspiration method and slicing method after aspiration in nullipara $(58.1\%\;vs\;68.2\%)$ was high than that in pluripara $(49.5\%\;vs\;53.2\%)$. The results obtained that the increased number of oocytes per ovary in slicing method after aspiration could be better than that in aspiration method. Pregnancy rate in aspiration method was slightly higher in than that in slicing method after aspiration.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develop a serum-free, defined medium of IVM of pig oocytes. The TCM-199 with supplemented with polyvinylalcohol(PVA), polyvinylpyrrollidone(PVP) and porcine follicular fluid(pFF) were used as basal medium. The effects of the these additives on the rates of maturity and development under in-vitro fertilization and in vitro culture were examined and subsequently considered on the possibilities be sustituted for the bovine serum albumin(BSA). Maturation rate of pig oocytes in IVM media containing PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than that of PVP(78.6％). Cleavage rate after IVF of PVP(64％) was significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of PVA(73％), pFF(77％) and BSA(73％) supplements. in vitro development rates to morulae and blastocyst on PVP(54％) were also significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of the supplements of PVA(63％), pFF(69％) and BSA(65％). In comparison of maturation and fertilization rates of pig oocytes in each supplements, the maturity rates of PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly lower(P<0.05) than that of PVP(72.4％) and while, the fertilization rates of pFF(87.1％) and BSA(89.1％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than these of PVA(78.0％) and PVP(70.6％). It may be concluded that PVA and pFF can be substituted far BSA in medium for culturing pig oocytes; however, it may be considered that PVP were limited to for BSA in the in vitro culture of the embryos.