• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2017

Objectives: To report the efficacy of traditional Korean medicine to an infertile patient who repeatedly failed in vitro fertilization. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with adenomyosis and failed in vitro fertilization 9 times. Her dysmenorrhea and physical symptoms were improved through traditional Korean medicine and she was pregnant with the 10th attempt of in vitro fertilization. She had bleeding during pregnancy due to adenomyosis and took herbal medicines to maintain stable condition. Results: During the treatment period, the uterine thickness due to adenomyosis was reduced and her dysmenorrhea was improved. She was pregnant by in vitro fertilization and gave birth to a healthy child by Caesarean section. Conclusions: This case report shows that traditional Korean medical treatments work to improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.362-367
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• 2021

Objective: The impact of early mechanical removal of cumulus cells on fertilization and embryonic development is not yet precisely known. This study aimed to investigate the effects of early and late cumulus cell removal on fertilization, polyspermy, embryonic development potential, blastocyst development, and clinical outcomes. Methods: A prospective study was conducted of patients who underwent in vitro fertilization between September 2019 and October 2020. Sibling oocytes were randomly allocated after insemination to early cumulus cell removal at 6 hours (group I) and late cumulus cell removal at 16-18 hours (group II). If total fertilization failure (TFF) was determined to have occurred at early cumulus cell removal, rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed. Fertilization, embryonic development, and pregnancy outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 912 oocytes were assigned to group I (458 oocytes) and group II (454 oocytes). Fertilization, polyspermy, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes were not significantly different between both groups. Rescue ICSI enabled fertilization of 79.2% of the TFF oocytes. Conclusion: Early cumulus cell removal at 6 hours had no significant difference in fertilization, polyspermy, embryo development, or obstetric and perinatal outcomes compared to late removal. Early cumulus cell removal combined with early rescue ICSI may have the potential to help couples with TFF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of conventional insemination (in vitro fertilization [IVF]) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the fertilization, developmental competence, implantation potential, and clinical pregnancy rate of embryos derived from in vitro matured oocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A prospective study was carried out among 38 PCOS patients who had undergone In vitro maturation (IVM) treatment. In total, 828 immature oocytes were collected from 42 cycles and randomly assigned for insemination by IVF (416 oocytes) or ICSI (412 oocytes). After fertilization, the embryos were cultured until the blastocyst stage and single embryos were transferred after endometrial preparation and under ultrasound guidance. Results: No significant differences were found in the maturation rate (78.1% vs. 72.6% for IVF and ICSI insemination, respectively; p= 0.076), fertilization rate (59.4% vs. 66.9% for IVF and ICSI insemination, respectively; p= 0.063), or the formation of good-quality blastocysts (40.9% vs. 46.5% for IVF and ICSI insemination, respectively; p= 0.314). Implantation and clinical pregnancy also did not show significant differences. Conclusion: There was a comparable yield of in vitro matured oocytes derived from PCOS patients in terms of fertilization, blastocyst formation, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy between IVF and ICSI insemination. These findings provide valuable insights for choosing assisted reproductive treatment in women with PCOS, as IVM offers promising outcomes and is less invasive and less costly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2013

This study was carried out to find growth increasing methods of Rhododendron mucronulatum in Mt. Biseul. 4 treatments(heavy pruning, light pruning, non-pruning+fertilization, non-pruning(control)) were used in the study area with different pruning methods. Growth characteristics of new shoot, number of creation of flower buds and leaf buds in new shoot were analysed. Significant differences were observed among the treatments and stem diameter degree. Diameter, length of new shoots and the number of flower buds, leaf buds per new shoots increased in the pruning treatments. But heavy pruning showed more effective growth increasing way than light pruning. Non-pruning and fertilization treatments were not effective to increase growth of Rhododendron mucronulatum. And pruning at the end of May was the most effective way for growth of new shoot.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 1990

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of the follicles size, hormone supplementation, semen types and capacitation methods on in vitro maturation and fertilization of bovine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered Korean Native cows. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluid from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones, FCS, ECS, BFF and MCC for 24~48hrs. in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 18~20hrs. with motile capacitated sperm in the TCF(Tyroide calcium-free) solution containing 200$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of heparin. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The oocytes classified as "A, B, C, D and Degenerative" depending morphological integrity and those were 61.4%, 12.1%, 19.2%, 4.2% and 3.0% of the total oocytes recovered, respectively. The maturation and fertilization rate of the A, B, C class follicular oocytes, cultured in the TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% FCS were 89.1%, 78.0%, 52.6% and 78.1%, 66.1%, 33.3%, respectively. 2. The average number of the follicular oocytes recovered from follicles size, 1~2mm, 3~5mm and above 5mm in dimeter were 67, 98 and 63, respectively. The maturation and fertilization rate of the follicular oocytes, cultured in the TCM-199 medium were 56.7%, 82.5%, 46.0% and 44.8%, 71.4%, 28.6%, respectively. 3. The maturation and fertilization rate of follicular oocytes, cultured in the TCM-199 medium supplemented with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% FCS and hCG, HCG, $\beta$-estradiol were 76.0%~82.3% and 26.2%~70.0%, and those values were higher the supplementation of the hormone than the non-supplementation. 4. The fertilization and cleavage rate of the follicular oocytes, inseminated with spermatozoas of epididymis cauda, neat and frozen semen were 63.3%, 73.3%, 70.0% and 32.7%, 37.8%, 38.3, respectively. 5. The fertilization and cleavage rate of follicular oocytes, fertilized with capacitated spermatozoas by heparin, BFF and HIS methods were 70.0%, 53.8%, 34.2% and 38.3%, 23.1%, 17.1%, respectively. And the fertilization and cleavage rate were higher method of heparin than other methods.r methods.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2023

Objective: Although intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a way to deal with in vitro fertilization failure, 3% of couples still experience repeated fertilization failure after attempted ICSI, despite having sperm within normal parameters. These patients are a challenging group whose sperm cannot fertilize the egg during ICSI. Unfortunately, no test can predict the risk of fertilization failure. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and transition nuclear proteins (TNPs) are essential factors for chromatin packaging during sperm maturation. This study aimed to assess PLCζ1 and TNP1 expression in the sperm of patients with fertilization failure and the correlations among the DNA fragmentation index, PLCζ1 and TNP1 gene and protein expression, and the risk of fertilization failure. Methods: In this study, 12 infertile couples with low fertilization rates (<25%) and complete failure of fertilization in their prior ICSI cycles despite normal sperm parameters were chosen as the case group. Fifteen individuals who underwent ICSI for the first time served as the control group. After sperm analysis and DNA fragmentation assays, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to compare the gene and protein expression of PLCζ and TNP1 in both groups. Results: DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in the fertilization failure group. The qRT-PCR and Western blot results demonstrated significantly lower PLCζ and TNP1 gene and protein expression in these patients than in controls. Conclusion: The present study showed that fertilization failure in normozoospermic men was probably due to deficient DNA packaging and expression of TNP1.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2023

Appropriate fertilization methods are required according to species to supply necessary nutrients to plants and prevent soil environmental contamination in nurseries. In this study, the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on the growth of Liriodendron tulipifera and soil characteristics were investigated. After 16 fertilization treatments (4 levels of nitrogen × 4 levels of phosphorus) were applied to one-year-old L. tulipifera seedlings at the Yongmun Nursery Station of the Korea Forest Service, height, root collar diameter (RCD), biomass, leaf nutrients, and soil characteristics were investigated. The height increased as the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization increased, and the RCD was the highest in the ×2 treatment. Biomass growth was on average 40.0% higher for the treatment with high nitrogen fertilization compared to the low nitrogen treatment. The seedling quality index was the highest with nitrogen and phosphorus ×2 treatment. Leaf phosphorus and magnesium concentrations decreased when nitrogen fertilization was applied, and leaf potassium concentrations decreased as nitrogen fertilization increased. Soil pH and exchangeable potassium decreased as the amount of phosphorus application increased, and exchangeable magnesium decreased as the amount of nitrogen application increased and increased as the amount of phosphorus application increased. Considering the growth of L. tulipifera seedlings and changes in the soil characteristics at the nursery stage, twice the standard fertilization amount is the appropriate fertilization amount for nursery of the Yongmun Nursery Station. It is expected that this study will contribute to improving nursery soil fertilization management technology for healthy seedling production.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate on the improvement of fertilizing ability of in vitro matured oocytes from sperm density, motility and polyvinylpyrrolidine (PVP) concentration, by intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) into the bovine oocytes. 1. The in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates of oocytes from 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 ($\times$106/ml) sperm concentration by IVF and ICSI of bovine oocytes were 45.0%~65.0%, 65.0%~90.0% and 10.0%~30.0%, 35.0%~70.0%, respectively. 2. The in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates of oocytes from 20, 40, 60, 80% of sperm motility by IVF and ICSI of bovine oocytes were 47.8%~75.0%, 78.3%~90.0% and 8.7%~25.0%, 34.8%~70.0%, respectively. 3. The in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates of oocytes from 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.05% of PVP concentration by microinjection of single into the bovine oocytes were 72.7%, 90.9%, 83.3%, 76.9% and 45.5%, 72.7%, 58.3%, 61.5%, respectively and these values of 0.02% addition of PVP were higher than other concentrations of PVP. 4. The in vitro fertilization and developmental rates of oocytes by IVF and ICSI methods were 63.3%~64.6%, 26.7%~29.2% and 88.2%, 47.1%, respectively. This ICSI method was improved high fertilization rates of bovined oocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2001

Objectives: This study was to investigate the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or partial zona dissection (PZD) of human and hamster sperm into hamster oocyte in in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, the possibility of clinical application was evaluated by the comparison of usefulness and difference of these method. Materials and Methods: Hamster immature oocytes were obtained from oviducts superovulated by PMSG and hCG, and hamster sperms were obtained from epididymis. The freezed human sperms were thawed before use. Fertilization were confirmed by two pronuclei, one pronucleus, swollen sperm head or/and two polar bodies at $7{\sim}8$ hour after ICSI or PZD. Results: The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of human sperm to hamster oocyte were 3.6%, 64.2%,73.6%, and 55.6% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that ICSI only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of hamster sperm to hamster oocyte were 11.1%, 51.2%, 39.6%, and 72.7% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that PZD only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). PZD showed significantly higher fertilization rate than ICSI (p<0.05). Conclusions: As for the fertilization rate by ICSI and PZD using hamster oocyte in IVF, ICSI technique was considered to be more useful for human sperm and PZD technique for hamster sperm. Therefore, ICSI technique was considered more appropriate for experimental application using human sperm and hamster oocyte.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2015

Objective: Sperm must be properly prepared in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) programs in order to control the fertilization rate and ensure that embryos are of high quality and have appropriate developmental abilities. The objective of this study was to determine the most optimal sperm preparation method for IVF. Methods: Patients less than 40 years of age who participated in a fresh IVF-ET cycle from November 2012 to March 2013 were included in this study. Poor responders with less than three mature oocytes were excluded. Ham's F-10 medium or sperm-washing medium (SWM) was used in combination with the density-gradient centrifugation/swim-up (DGC-SUP) or SUP methods for sperm preparation. A total of 429 fresh IVF-ET cycles were grouped according to the media and methods used for sperm preparation and retrospectively analyzed (DGC-SUP/Ham's F-10, n=82; DGC-SUP/SWM, n=43; SUP/Ham's F-10, n=181; SUP/SWM, n=123). Results: There were no significant differences among these four groups with respect to the mean age of the female partners, duration of infertility, number of previous IVF cycles, and retrieved oocytes. We determined that both the DGC-SUP and SUP methods for sperm preparation from whole semen, using either Ham's F-10 or SWM media, result in comparable clinical outcomes, including fertilization and pregnancy rates. Conclusion: We suggest that both media and both methods for sperm preparation can be used for selecting high-quality sperm for assistive reproductive technology programs.