• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.75
• /
• pp.302-309
• /
• 2006

To evaluate the biocompatibility of untreated and anodized titanium specimens, the specimens were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal region of female mice for two weeks. The reaction of connective tissue to specimens was histologically studied. The implants were encapsulated by fibrous connective. tissue consisting of fibroblast, fibrocyte and other cellss including neutroophil, macrophage and giant multinucleated cell. some newly formed blood vessels were located in the fibrous capsule surrounding the implant. Giant multinucleated cells were observed at the fibrous capsule adjacent to the implant. Kind of cell types and the thickness of fibrous capsules were examined quantitatively. Most of cell types located in the fibrous capsule were fibroblast and fibrocyte. The average thickness of fibrous capsules for the anodized specimens was much thinner than that of the untreated titanium specimen. Biocompatibility of titanium specimens were also studied by using cell culture method. The number of MG-63 cells was significantly increased on the anodized titanium specimens in vitro experiment. Our observations suggest that anodized titanium specimens are more effective for the improvement of biocompatibility in vivo and in vitro.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.31-31
• /
• 2003

The incidence of reproductive abnormalities in the male has been reported to have increased during the past 50 years. These changes may be attributable to the presence of chemical with oestrogenic activity in our environment. Present study was carried out to determine the effects of maternal exposure to xenoestrogens on the testicular development and on the transcriptional expression of the steroidogenic enzyme and subunits of inhibin/activin in testis of male offspring. Pregnant female mice were administrated with 4-tert-octylphenol (OP; 2, 20, 200mg/kg), Bisphenol A (BPA; 2, 20, 200$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg), $\beta$-estradiol 17-valerate (EV; 2$\mu\textrm{g}$/kg) or vehicle (CV; corn oil) during gestational days 11 to 17. Offsprings were sacrificed on gestational day 18 (fetal 18) and neonatal day 7. Body weights were significantly increased in groups treated with all doses of OP and BPA. Maximum seminiferous tubules diameter on gestational day 18 were not changed in any treatment group, however, they were significantly increased on the neonatal day 7 in the group treated with low-dose of OP (2 mg/kg) and BPA (2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg). Increased expression of the P450$_{17a}$-hydroxylase dehydrogenase (P450$_{17a}$), 3$\beta$-hydroxylase dehydrogenase (3$\beta$-HSD), and 17$\beta$-hydroxylase dehydrogenase (17$\beta$-HSD) on gestational day 18 were observed in the groups treated with 2 or 20 mg/kg of OP. However, expression of the steroidogenic enzymes were not changed in the groups treated with all the doses of BPA. In contrast with the results from fetal testis, no expressional changes of these enzymes was found in all the OP-treated group and increased expression of inhibin/activin $\beta$B subunit mRNA were obseued in the 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg BPA-treated group in the neonatal day 7. These results suggest that gestational exposure to low level of xenoestrogen causes a stimulatory effects on the transcriptional expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and subunits of inhibin/activin and on the seminiferous tubule development by their estrogen-like actions.ons.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.66-66
• /
• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate effect of different energy substrates on embryonic development of mouse embryos. Two cell embryos, recovered from ICR female mice (4 weeks old) at 44~52hrs after hCG injection (mated just after hCG injection), were cultured fur 72 hrs in the medium (MEM) supplemented with the three different energy substrates [glucose(G), pyruvate(P) and lactate(L)] and combinations (Control: 0 mM: group A: G 0.5; B: G 3.15; C: P 0.1; D: P 0.32; E: L 5.87; F: L 10.5; G: G0.5+P0.32+L10.5; H: G3.15+P0.1+L5.87; I: G0.5+P0.1+L5.87; J: G3.15+P0.32+L10.5). Blastocysts were stained differentially using PI and bisbenzimide. The 69.8% of the 2 cell embryos cultured in group F were developed the blastocysts. This was the highest (NS) than all other tested groups (44.2~62.8%). Blastocysts, cultured in the group E (60.4$\pm$26.9) and G (58.1$\pm$26.3), had significantly(p<0.05: group E vs. control, B, C, D; G vs. control, A, B, C, D) higher mean cell number compared with the other (42.6$\pm$25.8 ~ 55.2$\pm$31.3) and control (42.6$\pm$25.8) was at the basal level. The proportion of ICM (% ICM of total cells) in blastocysts cultured in group B (26.0$\pm$9.5%), C (29.6$\pm$22.8%) and J (26.0$\pm$11.8%) were significantly higher (p<0.05: control vs. group B, C, J: A vs. C, J; C vs. D, E, I) than those of other tested groups (15.0$\pm$10.6 ~ 23.8$\pm$ 12.9％) and control (15.0$\pm$10.6％) was at the basal level. These results showed that energy substrates supported the development of mouse 2 cell embryos, especially with greater embryo development in high dose of lactate added to media.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 2012

Interferon induced transmembrane protein-1 (Ifitm-1) has been reported to have an important role in primordial germ cell formation, and it has expressed in female reproductive organ. In the present study, Ifitm-1 gene expression was identified in testes and all part of epididymis using western immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, Ifitm-1 expression was observed on the head of spermatozoa. To investigate the role of Ifitm-1 gene expression in behavior of spermatozoa after acrosome reaction, fresh sperm was incubated with calcium ionophore to induce acrosome reaction, whereas the expression of Ifitm-1 was not altered after the acrosome reaction. Then to identify the effect of Ifitm-1 in sperm motility and other seminal parameters, different concentration of Ifitm-1 antibody was incubated with spermatozoa, and seminal parameters were assessed using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Interestingly, motility, progressive, and VAP were increased in the sperm with Ifitm-1 antibody treated compared to rabbit serum, however other parameters such as straightness were not changed. In order to identify the functional significance of Ifitm-1 in fertilization, capacitated spermatozoa were pre-incubated with anti-Ifitm-1 antibody and subsequently examined the ability to adhere to mouse oocytes. However, any defection or alteration in sperm-egg fusion was not found, Ifitm-1 antibody treated or non-treated spermatozoa showed a normal penetration. Although the precise role of Ifitm-1 in sperm motility and following fertilization need to be elucidated, this study suggests that the activation of Ifitm-1 on the sperm may enhance the motility of spermatozoa in mice.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 1987

This study was carried out to determine the effects of cryoprotectants, freezing and thawing rates on the survival of 8-cell mouse embryos. The female ICR mice were induced to superovulated by intraperitoneal injections of 5 i.u. PMSG and 5 i.u. HCG given 48h apart and then were paired with males of the same strain. They were killed and embryos were flushed from the oviducts and uteri on 3 days after injection of HCG. Embryos were flushed with modified Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline and equilibrated with 1.5M-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or 1.5M-glycerol by 3-step procedure. The freezing rates of the embryos were 1$^{\circ}C$/min from room temperature to -5$^{\circ}C$ and the embryos were seeded at -5$^{\circ}C$. After being held for 3 min at the seeding temperature, the rates were 0.3$^{\circ}C$/min from -5$^{\circ}C$ to -35$^{\circ}C$. From -35$^{\circ}C$ to -7$0^{\circ}C$, the rates were divided into 0.1$^{\circ}C$/min, 1$^{\circ}C$/min and 1$0^{\circ}C$/min, respectively. After being held for 5 min at -7$0^{\circ}C$, the embryos were plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. The embryos were thawed at 4$^{\circ}C$/min and 12$^{\circ}C$/min from -196$^{\circ}C$ to 37$^{\circ}C$, and for 2 min in 37$^{\circ}C$ water bath, respectively. The average number of ovulation points and embryos recovered were 42.7 and 34 appearing 79.5% recovery rate. Eight cell embryos in the embryos recovered were 26.3. The survival rates of embryos according to the freezing rates in the presence of 1.5M-DMSO were 73.5~80.6% at 0.1$^{\circ}C$/min, 75.0~79.5% at 1$^{\circ}C$/min and 52.8~54.7% at 1$0^{\circ}C$/min, but in the presence of 1.5M-glycerol were 62.9~67.6% at 0.1$^{\circ}C$/min, 61.4~68.3% at 1$^{\circ}C$/min and 25.5~30.2% at 1$0^{\circ}C$/min. The survival rates of embryos were not affected by the thawing rates.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2001

Objective: Mouse pre-antral follicles require the addition of gonadotropins (Gns) to complete maturation and ovulation of oocyte and antrum formation in vitro. However, we tried examination of in vitro growth of mouse pre-antral follicles in medium without Gns and/or phygiological factors. And also, pre-antral follicles were isolated from ovaries by mechanical method. Our present studies were conducted to evaluate on the growth of follicles and intra-follicular oocytes and antrum formation in vitro of mouse pre-antral follicles in two different media. Methods: Pre-antral follicles ($91{\sim}120{\mu}m$) were isolated mechanically by fine 30G needles not using enzymes from ovaries of 3-6 week-old female ICR mice. Isolated pre-antral follicles were cultured in $20{\mu}l$ droplets of TCM (n=17; follicles: $107.8{\pm}1.58{\mu}m$; oocytes: $57.9{\pm}1.2{\mu}m$) or MEM (n=12; follicles: $109.3{\pm}2.53{\mu}m$; oocytes: $55.4{\pm}1.6{\mu}m$) under mineral oil on the 60 mm culture dish. All experimental media was supplemented with 10% FBS without Gns and/or physiological factors. Pre antral follicles were individually cultured for 8 days. Antram formation and growth of pre-antral follicles and intra-follicular oocytes were evaluated using precalibrated ocular micrometer at X200 magnifications during in vitro culture. Results were analyzed using combination of Student's t-test and Chi-square, and considered statistically significant when p<0.05. Results: Antrum formation had started in two culture media on day 2. On day 8, antrum formation had occurred in 58.3% of pre-antral follicles cultured in DMEM, but only in 23.5% of those cultured in TCM (p=0.0364). Growth of pre-antral follicles and intra-follicular oocytes were observed on day 4 and 8. On day 4, follicular diameter was similar (p=0.1338) in TCM ($119.4{\pm}2.58{\mu}m$) and MEM ($125.4{\pm}4.52{\mu}m$). However, on day 8, diameters of pre-antral follicles cultured in MEM ($168.9{\pm}17.29{\mu}m$) were significantly bigger (p=0.0248) than that in TCM ($126.7{\pm}4.28{\mu}m$). On day 4 and 8, diameters of intra-follicular oocytes were similar in TCM ($67.1{\pm}1.3$ and $72.4{\pm}0.9{\mu}m$) and MEM ($65.2{\pm}1.7$ and $73.3{\pm}1.5{\mu}m$), respectively. Conclusion: We can conform that medium without Gns and/or physiological factors can be used for in vitro antrum formation and growth of pre-antral follicles and intra-follicular oocytes in mouse. In conclusion, MEM supplemented with FBS can be used for growth in vitro of mouse pre-antral follicles isolated mechanically.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2011

Objective: This study was performed to compare the efficiency of slow freezing and vitrification based on survival, development to blastocysts, and cell numbers of blastocysts. Changes in embryonic gene expression in fresh and frozen-thawed embryos were also examined. Methods: Eight-cell stage embryos were collected from superovulated female BDF1 mice. The collected embryos were randomly divided into three groups. One group was maintained as fresh controls (n=42), one was frozen by slow freezing (n=43), and one was cooled by vitrification (n=43). After thawing or cooling, survival rates, development to blastocyst, and cell numbers and inner cell mass (ICM) cell numbers of blastocysts were compared with those of the control group. The expressions of eight genes ($Rbm3$, $Birc5$, $Sod1$, $Sod2$, $Cirbp$, $Caspase3$, $Trp53$, $Hsp70.1$) were examined by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the fresh and frozen-thawed embryos. Results: There were no significant differences in the slow freezing and vitrification groups' survival rate after thawing (88.4% vs. 88.4%), development to blastocyst (100% vs. 97.4%), cell numbers ($107.0{\pm}21.0$ vs. $115.0{\pm}19.7$), or ICM cell numbers of blastocysts ($11.3{\pm}5.2$ vs. $11.1{\pm}3.7$). Cell numbers of blastocysts were significantly ($p$ <0.05) lower in the frozen-thawed embryos than the fresh embryos. There were no significant differences in the slow freezing and the vitrification groups' expressions of the eight genes. The expressions of $CirbP$ and $Hsp70.1$ were higher in the frozen-thawed embryos than in the fresh embryos but there were no significant differences. Conclusion: These results suggest that there were no significant differences between embryos that underwent slow freezing and vitrification.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.193-202
• /
• 2011

Objective: We found previously that $interferon$ $regulatory$ factor ($Irf$)-1 is a germinal vesicle (GV)-selective gene that highly expressed in GV as compared to metaphase II oocytes. To our knowledge, the function of $Irf-1$ in oocytes has yet to be examined. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between retinoic acid (RA) and RA-mediated expression of $Irf-1$ and the mouse oocyte maturation. Methods: Immature cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected from 17-day-old female mice and cultured $in$ $vitro$ for 16 hours in the presence of varying concentrations of RA (0-10 ${\mu}M$). Rate of oocyte maturation and activation was measured. Gene expression was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cytokine secretion in the medium was measured by Bio-Plex analysis. Apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: The rates of oocyte maturation to metaphase II and oocyte activation increased significantly with RA treatment (10 nM-1 ${\mu}M$). With 100 nM RA treatment, lowest level of $Irf-1$ mRNA and cumulus cell's apoptosis was found. Among 23 cytokines measured by Bio-Plex system, the substantial changes in secretion of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\beta}$, eotaxin and interleukin-12 (p40) from COCs in response to RA were detected. Conclusion: We concluded that the maturation of oocytes and $Irf-1$ expression are negatively correlated, and RA enhances the developmental competence of mouse immature oocytes $in$ $vitro$ by suppressing apoptosis of cumulus cells. Using a mouse model, results of the present study provide insights into improved culture conditions for $in$ $vitro$ oocyte maturation and relevant cytokine production and secretion in assisted reproductive technology.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 1998

To assess the radioprotective effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on ovarian follicles, 3 week-old female mice were irradiated with 8.33 Gy of ${\gamma}$-ray (group R) and followed by 5 IU ip-injection of FSH (group RF). For control groups, 5 IU of saline (group C) or 5 IU of FSH (group F) was ip-injected. Ovaries were collected 0h, 6h, 12h, 14, 2d, 4d, and 8d after irradiation or saline/FSH injection, and followed by fixation in neutral buffered formalin for routine histochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the status of follicles and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis for total DNA. Staining specific for apoptotic follicles showed high intensity at 6h and 12h in group R and RF On the other hand, staining specific for proliferating follicles showed noticeably high intensity at 8d in group R and Rf. DNA fragmentation of 185bp increased with time in all experimental groups. Especially 370bp appeared at 6h in group R, then disappeared after 1d. In case of group RF, it appeared at 12h and disappeared after 1d. From the above results, the irradiated antral follicles become completely disappeared from 4d to 8d, and then new follicles started to grow again at 8d. FSH had delaying or suppressing effects on follicular atresia after irradiation. In addition, it became clear that radiation-induced follicular atresia was mediated by granulosa cell apoptosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2001

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of embryonic stage, cryoprotectant, and freezing-thawing method on the rates of survival and development of the cryopreserved mouse early embryo and finally to establish the cryopreservation method of surplus embryos obtained during assisted reproductive technology (ART). Materials and Methods: Two to eight cell embryos were obtained from oviducts of mated $F_1$ hybrid female mice superovulated by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Two-step 1,2-propanediol (PROH), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and 4-step PROH DMSO were used as cryoprotectant and dehydration and rehydration method of embryos, and slow-cooling or rapid-cooling method was used as frozen program. The survival rates of embryos were measured after thawing and rehydration, and the developmental rates of embryos were compared and observed during culturing embryos for 24, 48, 72, 96 hrs. Results: As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to embryonic stage, the survival rate of 2 cell stage in PROH and DMSO was significantly higher than 4-8 cell (64.5% versus 62.1 %,79.7% versus 73.2%) (p<0.01, p<0.01), but the development rates of 4-8 cell embryos in PROH and DMSO were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos for whole culture period (p<0.01) and the development rates of 4-8 cell embryos in PROH were significantly higher than 2 cell embryos in DMSO (p<0.01). As for the survival and development rates of embryos according to cryoprotectant, the survival rate of 2 cell embryo in DMSO was significantly higher than that in PROH (74.4% versus 64.5%) (p<0.01), whereas the development rate of embryos was not differ till 24 hrs. The developmen1 rate from morular to hatching blastocyst, however, was significantly higher in PROH than in DMSO during 48 hr (p<0.01). The survival rate of 4-8 cell embryo was 62.1% in PROH and 73.2% in DMSO. The development rates of embryo in PROH were significantly higher for whole culture periods (p<0.01, 0.05). In respect to the effect of freezing and thawing program on the survival and development rates of embryos, method of slow cooling and rapid thawing was more effective than that of rapid cooling and rapid thawing. Conclusions: The survival rate of embryo in 2 cell stage was higher than in 4-8 cell stage, and PROH appears more effective cryoprotectant than DMSO because PROH showed better development rates of embryos in 2 and 4-8 cell stage. Moreover, slow cooling and rapid thawing method was considered as the best cryopreservation program.