• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2015

The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of sperm derived from the epididymis in regard to sperm motility, sperm penetration to oocyte and subsequent development of the embryo. Frozen-thawed sperm from epididymis showed similar percentage of motile sperm (VSL ${\geq}25{\mu}m/sec$) as compared to that of commercial sperm (control). Sperm penetration of frozen-thawed epididymal and commercial sperm was not significantly different. Moreover, cleavage and blastocyst rates were similar in both epididymal and control. Sperm derived from the epididymis also showed fertilizability and subsequent embryonic development.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1992

These experiments were undertaken to investigate the rate of in vitro fertilization of bovine follicular oocytes treated with glycosaminoglycans(GAGs). Bovine follicular oocytes were obtained from the ovary of slaughtered animal and matured in media containing the various concentrations of hydluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate or heparin for 26 hours. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated and insemination was made by introducing about 10~15 matured oocytes into the suspension of spermatozoa. Six hour after insemination the eggs were transferred to TCM-199 supplemented with FCS(10%) and then examined the embryo development. After in vitro insemination, percentages of ova fertilized were 61.3 or 48.3%, respectively, for the cumulus intact or removed in the percentages of GAGs. However, in case of cumulus-free oocytes treated with GAGs, the fertilization rates were 58.8, 62.1, 58.8, and 61.8%, respectively, showing significant effect compared to 48.3% in cumulus-free oocytes. Our findings suggest that cnondroitin sulfate and heparin are superior to hyaluronic acid in the fertilizatin and pronuclear formation of bovine oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1993

This study was investigated to examine the effect of conditioned medium from bovine oviductal cell(BOEC) in the co-culture system with BOEC on in vitro development of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured for 24 hrs in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH and 21U hCG, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml oestradiol-17$\beta$ at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air. In vitro fertilization was performed with epididymal sperm and heparin (10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 15min.) or caffeine(2.5mM)-treated spermatozoa. Oocytes were incubated with 1$\times$106 spermatozoa/ml for 18 hrs and then cultured in various culture system for 7 days. The development rates of 16-cell or blastocyst stages were recorded on 4, 7 days, respectively, after incubating. The proportions ofembryonic development into molulae and blastocysts were higher in cumulus cell co-culture(23.4%) and BOEC co-culture(34.3%) than in M199-FCS(6.1%). Similarily, the development rates into molulae and blastocysts were significantly higher in BOEC-conditioned medium than those in M199-FCS. Therefore, it is suggested that BOEC co-culture and BOEC conditioned medium increase significantly the development of in vitro produced bovine embryos in in vitro system.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 1989

These experiments were carried out to obtain the basic information for in vitro fertilization and development of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells were collected by puncturing follicles with 2-6mm of diameter. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24-26 hours in a CO2 incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 39$^{\circ}C$. The medium used for maturation was TCM199 supplemented with hormones, pyruvate, FBS and antibiotics. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by in vitro culture for 2-3 hours in BO solution containing bovine serum albumin(5mg/ml) and caffein(2.5mM). Insemination was made by introducing about 10-15 matured oocytes into the suspension of capacitated spermatozoa. Six hour after inseminatin the eggs were transferred to TCM 199 supplemented with FBS(10%) for in vitro development. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The maturation rate of oocytes following incubation for 24-26 hours was 78.4%(228/291). 2. Of total 250 oocytes, 172 embryos extruded 2nd polar body following in vitro culture with spermatozoa for 20 hours, and the rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cells and morula or early blastocyst were 64.0, 39.2, 22.0, 15.2 and 11.2%, respectively. 3. The time needed for development to 2-, 4-. 8-, 16-cell stage and morula was 42.5$\pm$5.4, 58.0$\pm$9.2, 74.4$\pm$11.5, 96.1$\pm$13.4 and 119.0$\pm$18.2 hours, respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.664-669
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• 2008

Znf230, the mouse homologue of the human spermatogenesis-related gene, ZNF230, has been cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). This gene is expressed predominantly in testis, but its expression in different testicular cells and spermatogenic stages has not been previously analyzed in detail. In the present study, the cellular localization of the Znf230 protein in mouse testis and epididymal spermatozoa was determined by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. It is primarily expressed in the nuclei of spermatogonia and subsequently in the acrosome system and the entire tail of developing spermatids and spermatozoa. The results indicate that Znf230 may play an important role in mouse spermatogenesis, including spermatogenic cell proliferation and sperm maturation, as well as motility and fertilization.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1999

The aim of the present study was to investigate with transmission electron misroscope the comparative morphology of epididymal spermatozoa in two species of the Korean insectivorous bats belonging to 'prolonged sperm storage' type (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai) and 'delayed implantation' type (Miniopterus schreibersi fuliginosus). Sperm head of the R. ferrumequinum korai was bullet shaped and that of M. schreibersi fuliginosus was spatula shaped. The nuclei of the sperm head of the R. ferrumequinum korai and M. schreibersi fuliginosus occupied two-third and a half of it, respectively. The segmented columns of R. ferrumequinum korai were about 12 to 14 in number, and those of the M. schreibersi fuligincsus were about 10 to 12. Particularly, a pile of the satellite fibers in middle piece of R. ferrumequinum korai remained the inner aspect of the outer dense fibers, but those of the M. schreibersi fuliginosus were not.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.448-452
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• 1997

Polyclonal antibody of the boar sperminogen was used to characterize the boar sperm proteinase sperminogen. Boar sperminogen was purified from the acid extracts of the washed epididymal spermatozoa by gel filtration through a Sephadex G-100 column. followed by preparative SDS-PAGE. The sperminogen band was sliced out and was eluted from the gel matrix. The purified sperminogen was used to produce the polyclonal antibody of the boar sperminogen. When characterized on a Western blot, the final preparation of sperminogen appeared as a homogenous protein with a molecular weight of 32 kDa. The relative migration of sperminogen was distinctly different from the major components of the proacrosin-acrosin system as well as all the observable proacrosin activation by-products detected on the Western blot. The sperminogen antibody, however. cross-reacted with the proacrosin-acrosin system.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 1997

생쥐의 부정소에서 진행되는 정자 성숙과정 동안의 첨체반응 능력의 변화를 조사하였다. 자발적 첨체반응 및 난포액, 프로게스테론, 또는 A23187에 의해 유발되는 첨체반응은 모두 정자의 성숙에 의존저긍로 일어났다. 두부 부정소의 매우 적은 정자만이 난포액 및 프로게스테론에 반응하여 첨체반응을 일으켰으며 체부 및 미부 부정소간에 첨체반응율에 차이가 없었다. 반면 A23187 처리시 상당수의 두부 부정소 정자가 첨체반응을 진행하였다. 이러한 결과에서 두부 부정소를 거쳐 체부 부정소에 도달한 생쥐 정자는 첨체반응 능력을 획득하여 이 과정에서 정자의 원형질막 표면에서는 첨체반응을 유발하는 물질과 상호작용에 필요한 변화가 진행되는 것으로 사료된다. 반면 정자내로의 $Ca^{2+}$ 유입 후 진행되는 막융합과 첨체내용물의 분비에 필요한 능력은 두부 부정소 정자도 일부 갖고 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.159-172
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• 1991

It has been investigated what could be the selective marker distinguishing the immature from mature spermatozoa and whether fi -glucuronidase and fi -glucosidase are dependent on androgen in the luminal fluid of the epididymis or not. The contents of hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid in the epithelial cells, luminal fluid and spermatozoa of the epididymis were examined and the patterns of protein bands were compared in each group of the luminal fluid by SDS-PAGE. Lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, Na+ -K+ -ATPase and MgNa-ATPase showed higher activities in the cauda than the caput epididymal spermatozoa but only $Mg^2$+-ATPase activity appeared to be changed significantly. When the contents of hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid were analyzed and compared quantitatively, those of hexose were significantly different in the luminal fluid of caput and cauda epididymis, those of hexosamine in the epithelial cells and those of sialic acid in the epithelial cells and luminal fluid. When SDS-PAGE has been performed in each group, the band of MW 33-37 KD which was absent in the luminal fluid of caput epididymis appeared obviously in the luminal fluid of cauda epididymis and ako apeared in the cauda sperm crude membrane fraction. In addition, $\beta$ -glucuronidase and $\beta$ -glucosidase activities and their dependence on androgen were measured and the SDS-PAGE patiems of proteins and/or glycoproteins in the luminal fluid were examined. The activities of these two enzymes in the luminal fluid of the epididymis decreased significantly from the 5th day after castration. When testosterone was injected, the activity of $\beta$ -glucuronidase began to increase significantly from the 5th day following injection and that of $\beta$ -glucosidase from the loth day. On the other hand, the band of about MW 21 KD was newly observed in the lumen of caput epididymis when testosterone was administered.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2011

The study aim is to investigate the free radicals scavenging and spermatogenic potentials, as well as to analyze any reproductive toxicity of ethanolic extract of Mucuna prureins (M. pruriens) Linn. in spermatozoa, under different dosages in normal male rat. Normal rats were randomly selected and suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dosages of 150, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the different groups of male rats (n=6) once in a day for 60 days and grouped as group II, III and IV respectively. Saline treated rats served as control -group I. On the $60^{th}$ day the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm were subjected to various analyses like level of ROS production, LPO, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant, morphology, morphometry, chromosomal integrity and DNA damage. Results showed significant reduction in ROS production and peroxidation and significant increase in both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in all concentration treated groups when compared with control. Results from all the drug treated groups showed good sperm morphology, increased sperm count and motility. There was no DNA damage and showed normal chromosomal integrity even in 250 mg/kg dose. When compared with control all the three extract treated groups showed increased ROS scavenging activity. However, group II (200 mg/kg) showed significant changes in all the parameters. From the present study it was confirmed that the M. pruriens has potential to improve the sperm qualitatively and quantitatively through scavenging the excess ROS with any adverse side effects. These observations suggest that ethanolic seed extract of M. pruriens may serve as anti-oxidant that can exploit to treat the oxidative stress mediated male factor infertility.