• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 1995

In order to determine the optimum condition and timing for in vitro maturation of oocytes to metaphase of meiosis II (M II), the immatured follicular oocytes were recovered by puncturing the large(1.0~1.5 mm in diameter) and small(<1.0 mm in diameter) follicles in the ovaries of rabbits treated intramuscularly with a single dose of 100 TU PMSG 68 hours previously. The follicular oocytes were classified into three grades by the attachment of cumulus cells. The Grade I and II follicular oocytes from large follicles were cultured in BO-DM medium with 10% FCS, 35 $\mu$g /nl of FSH, 10 $\mu$g /ml of LH and 1 $\mu$g /ml of estradiol-17$\beta$ at 39t in a 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 11 to 23 hours. In 3 hours interval during the culture period, the oocytes were harvested and their cumulus cells were removed with hyaluronidase. The denuded oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and their meiotic status and extrusion of the first polar body (PB) were examined under a fluorescence microscope. Also the fragmentation of the first PB and the distance between the first PB and nucleus were examined. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean recovery rate of follicular oocytes from the large and small follicles was 59. 9 and 31.3%, respectively. The mean number of oocytes recovered per rabbit and the Grade I percentage were 14.6 and 94.4% in large follicles, but 2.1 and 61.1% in small follicles, respectively. All the parameters examined were different significantly (p<0.05) between both the folliclular size. 2. Most of the follicular oocytes(86.8%) were matured in vitro to M II phase in 14 hours in Grade I oocytes, but the significantly(p<0.05) less oocytes(45.5%) were matured in Grade II oocytes. 3. The first PB was extruded in most of the oocytes(94.7%) in 14 hours of culture with the fragmentation rate of 29.6%, but the fragmentation rate of the first PB increased significantly (p<0.05) as the culture period for maturation was longer to 20 hours(63.5%). 4. The distance between the first PB and nucleus was increased linearly (p<0.05) as the maturation time passed from 14(7.1$\mu$rn) to 23 hours(58.4$\mu$m). 5. From the above results it was concluded that the optimum time for in vitro maturation culture might be 14 hours in the follicular oocytes from rabbit primed with PMSG for 68 hours, expecially when these follicular oocytes were used for recipient cytoplasms in embryo cloning.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 1997

Large scale production of cloned embryos requires the technology of multiple generational nuclear transfer(NT) by using NT embryos itself as the subsequent donor nuclei. In this work we investigated comparatively the effects of enucleated oocytes treated with ionomycin and 6-DMAP on the electrofusion rate and in vitro developmental potential in the first and second NT embryos. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected from the mated does by flushing oviducts with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline(D-PBS) containing 10% fetal calf serum(FCS) at 47 hours after hCG injection. The recipient cytoplasms were obtained by removing the nucleus and the first polar body from the oocytes collected at 15 hours after hCG injection. The enucleated oocytes were pre-activated by 5 min incubation in 5$\mu$M ionomycin and 2 hours incubation in 2 mM 6-DMAP at 19~20 hours post-hCG before microinjection. In the first and second generation NT, the unsynchronized 16-cell stage embryos were used as nuclear donor. The separated donor blastomeres were injected into the enucleated activated recipient oocytes by micromanipulation and were electrofused by electrical stimulation of single pulse for 60 $\mu$sec at 1.25kV/cm in $Ca^2$+, $Mg^2$+ - free 0.28 M mannitol solution. In the non-preactivation group, the electrofusion and electrical stimulation was given 3 pulses for 60 $\mu$sec at 1.25 kV/cm in 100$\mu$M $Ca^2$+, $Mg^2$+ 0.28 M mannitol solution. The fused oocytes were co-cultured with a monolayer of rabbit oviductal epithelial cells in TCM-199 solution containing 10% FCS for 120 hours at 39$^{\circ}C$ in a 5% $CO_2$ incubator. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. In the first generational NT embryos, the electrofusion rate of preactivated and non-activated oocytes(80.4 and 87.8%) was not significantly different, but in the second generational NT embryos, the electrofusion rate was significantly(P<0.05) higher in the non-activated oocytes(85.7%) than in the preactivated oocytes(70.1%). 2) In the first and second generational NT embryos, the developmental potential to biastocyst stage was significantly(P<0.05) higher in the preactivated oocytes(39.3 and35.7%) than in the non-preactivated oocytes(16.0 and 13.3%). No significant difference in the developmental potential was shown between the first and second generational NT embryos derived from the preactivated oocytes. In conclusion, it may be efficient to use the oocytes preactivated with ionomycin and 6-DMAP for the multiple production of cloned embryos by recycling nuclear transfer.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2001

Gametogenes, reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity(biological minimum size), sex ratio and larval development of the marsh clam Corbicula japonica were investigated monthly by histological observations. Samples were collected in brackish water of Gokgang stream, Kyungsangbuk-Do, Korea, from August 1997 to July 1998. Sexuality of Corbicula japonica is dioecious and the species are an oviparous clam. The gonads are irregularly arranged from the sub-region of mid-intestinal gland in visceral cavity to reticular connective tissue of foot. The ovary is composed of a number of ovarian sac which are branched arborescent. Oogonia actively proliferate along the germinal epithelium of ovarian sac, in which young oocytes are growing. The testis is composed of a number of testicular tubules, and the epithelium of the tubule has function of germinal epithelium, along which spermatogonia actively proliferate. A great number of undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells are abundantly distributed between developing oocytes and spermatocytes in the early developmental stages. With the further development of the ovary and testis these tissue and cells gradually disappear. Then the undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells are considered to be related to the growing of the oocytes and spermatocytes. The spawning period is from July to September, and the main spawning occur between July and August when seawater temperatures reach above 22$^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages; early active (February to April), late active (May to July), ripe (June to September), partially spawned (July to September), degenerative (September to October) and resting stage (October to February). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams ranging in length from 10 mm to 12 mm are over 50% and 100% for clams over 16.0 mm in shell length. Fertilized eggs or Corbicula japonica were 80-90 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter. In the early embryonic development of C. japonica, the appearance of polar body, trochophore and D-shaped veliger were observed around 40 min., 27 hours and 4 days after spawning, respectively, at a water temperature of 26.5-28.$0^{\circ}C$. The size of larvae of early umbo stage was about 185-210 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in shell length, 160-180 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in shell height around 7 days after fertilization. The correlation of relative growth between the culture day (D) and shell length (SL) was expressed by the following simple formula from D-shaped veliger to metamorphosing stage; SL = 13.300D + 209.36($r^2$= 0.9078).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.827-834
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of $36.5^{\circ}C$ and $38.5^{\circ}C$ incubation temperatures on the maturation of bovine oocytes and developmental competence of embryos. Methods: In experiment 1, oocytes were maturated in bicarbonate-buffered TCM-199 for 22 hours in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in the air at either $36.5^{\circ}C$ or $38.5^{\circ}C$ and nuclear maturation status were determined. In experiment 2, in vitro fertilized oocytes were allocated randomly into synthetic oviductal fluid medium with or without a mixture of 1 mM L-glutathione reduced and 1,500 IU superoxide dismutase and cultured in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, and 90% $N_2$ in the air at $38.5^{\circ}C$ for 8 days. Results: There were no significant differences between incubation temperatures in terms of oocyte maturation parameters such as cumulus expansion, first polar body extrusion and nuclear maturation. Incubation temperatures during in vitro maturation had no effects on developmental competence of embryos, but supplementation of antioxidants increased (p<0.05) developmental competence of the embryos. Blastocysts from oocytes matured at $38.5^{\circ}C$ had comparatively higher inner cell mass, but low overall and trophectoderm cell numbers (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of present study showed that maturation of bovine oocytes at $36.5^{\circ}C$ may provide a suitable thermal environment for nuclear maturation and subsequent embryo development.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2016

Since the first success of animal cloning, somatic cell nuclear transfer presented various ideas in many research areas such as regenerative medicine. However, SCNT embryos has poor survival rate. Therefore, numerous researches carried out to enhance the developmental capability of porcine nuclear transfer embryos. Cytochalasin B, demecolcine, latrunculin A, cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine are efficient chemicals treated in post-activation procedure to increase the efficiency of SCNT. This review study is aim to investigate the effects of these chemicals applied to post-activation in porcine SCNT. Cytochalasin B, demecolcine, latrunculin A are cytoskeletal manuplators inhibit extrusion of pseudo-polar body. Cytochalasin B and demecolcine showed considerably higher blastocyst formation proportion (26-28%) compared to when they are not treated (16%). And when latrunculin A was treated for postactivation, blastocyst formation proportion was increased in SCNT embryos exposed to LA (38%) than those in control (14%). On the other hand, cycloheximide and 6-dimethylaminopurine are protein synthesis and kinase inhibitors. And they help to maintain $Ca^{2+}$ fluctuation in oocytes. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of NT embryos were increased when they were exposed to CHX (16.9% and 5.4% with no CHX).And 6-DMAP also showed higher blastocyst formation (21.5% compared to 15.7%, control). Although all these chemicals have different mechanisms, they showed developmental competence enhancement in NT embryos. However, there are only few studies comparing each chemical's post-activation effect. Therefore, further research and study should be conducted to find optimal chemical for improving the efficiency of SCNT.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 1992

The nudear changes of bovine oocytes during 24 hrs. of culture for mejotic maturation were examined. Bovine oocytes were collected from small(<2 mm), medium(2~6 mm) and large(>6mm) follicles and classified into three grades by their morphological characteristics. A total of 242 oocytes collected were obtained:from 184 small, 157 medium and 1 large follicles, respectively and were classified into 95 grade I, 155 grade H and 92 grade III oocytes. All the bovine oocytes collected and graded were washed with a basal medium and incubated in groups of 10 for 24 hrs in 5% $CO_2$ and 39$^{\circ}C$. The basal medium used was composed of TCM-199 supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, sodium pyruvate, streptomycin, penicillin G and 10% FCS. The oocytes were cultured in drops of 50,$\mu$l basal medium supplemented with 35$\mu$g /ml FSH, 10$\mu$g /ml LH and 1$\mu$g /ml estradiol-17$\beta$. The oocytes were fixed and examined on their chromosomal status by 1% acetorcein staining in the interval of 3 hrs. Most of the grade I oocytes developed to germinal vesicule stage at 0 to 3 hrs., germinal vesicle breakdown at 6 hrs., metaphase I at 9 to 15 hrs., anaphase I and telophase I at 18 hrs., and metaphase II and the first polar body at 24 hrs. after culture for meiotic maturation. However, it was found that compared to grade I oocytes, grade H and W oocytes reached earlier to germinal vesicle breakdown and most of them developed earlier to M II stage at 21 hrs. after culture.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin B (pantothenic acid, folic acid, and myo-inositol) that was supplemented to embryo culture medium on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) pig embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from slaughtered ovaries were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones (hCG and eCG) for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22 h. After maturation culture, metaphase II oocytes that extruded 1st polar body were electrically activated and treated with $5.0\;{\mu}g/ml$ cytochalasin B for 4 h. Then, PA embryos were cultured for 7 days in a modified NCSU-23 that was supplemented with pantothenic acid, myo-inositol, or folic acid at different concentrations ($3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M$) according to the experimental design. Myo-inositol added to culture medium did not show any beneficial or inhibitory effects on embryo cleavage and blastocyst formation. However, $300\;{\mu}M$ pantothenic acid significantly inhibited blastocyst formation compared to control (no addition) (24% vs. 36%, p<0.05). Folic acid ($300\;{\mu}M$) significantly (p<0.05) increased blastocyst formation (56%) compared to control (41%). Our results demonstrated that in vitro development of PA embryos was significantly influenced by vitamin B and addition of $300\;{\mu}M$ folic acid to culture medium improved in vitro development of pig PA embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2015

The objectives of the present study were to select an effective basic medium including its hormone and protein supplementation for IVM of oocytes of indigenous zebu cows. The ovaries of cows were collected from slaughter house and the follicular fluid was aspirated from 2 to 8 mm diameter follicles. The COCs with more than 3 cumulus cell layers and homogenous cytoplasm were selected for maturation. The oocytes were matured in media for 24 hrs at $39^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$ in humidified air. The maturation of oocytes was evaluated by examining the presence of first polar body under microscope. An efficient basic medium was determined after culturing COCs in either TCM 199 or SOF medium in Experiment 1. An efficient hormone supplementation was determined after culturing COCs in either FSH or gonadotrophin supplemented TCM 199 in Experiment 2. An efficient protein supplementation was determined after culturing COCs in either FBS or Oestrous cow serum (OCS) supplemented TCM 199 in Experiment 3. The oocyte recovery rate per ovary was 3.35. The overall rate of IVM was 74.6%. The maturation rate was $75.5{\pm}3.9$ and $62.2{\pm}20.2%$ in TCM and SOF medium, respectively (P>0.05). The maturation rate of oocytes was significantly higher ($76.6{\pm}13.2%$) in FSH supplemented medium than gonadotrphin supplemented counterpart ($69.7{\pm}10.8%$) (P<0.05). The maturation rates of oocytes were $81.7{\pm}12.9$ and $85.7{\pm}12.7%$ in medium supplemented with FBS and OCS, respectively (P>0.05). In conclusions, both TCM 199 and SOF supplemented with either FBS or OCS, and FSH may be used as medium for IVM of indigenous zebu oocytes in Bangladesh.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2011

In vitro maturation and activation of oocytes are primary steps towards biotechnological manipulation in embryology. The objectives of the present study were to determine the oocyte recovery rate per ovary, in vitro maturation rates of oocytes and rates of parthenogenetically activation of matured oocytes in Black Bengal goats. All visible follicles were aspirated to recover follicular fluid from individual ovaries (number of ovaries = 456). The immature cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 1289) were cultured in tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 27 hours at $39^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$ in humidified air. The matured oocytes (n = 248) were activated with 5 ${\mu}M$ ionomycin for 5 minutes followed by treatment with 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 4 hours. After activation, oocytes were cultured for another 14 hours in TCM-199 supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) at $39^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$ in humidified air. The pronucleus formation in activated oocytes was determined by staining with 1% orcein (whole mount technique). Matured oocytes (n = 176) without activation stimuli were used as control. The mean number of oocytes recovered per ovary was $3.5{\pm}0.5$. The proportion of oocytes matured in vitro, confirmed by the presence of first polar body, was $42.1{\pm}4.7%$. Parthenogenetic activation, evidenced by formation of pronucleus, occurred in $37.2{\pm}15.8%$ of matured oocytes. No pronucleus formation was observed in control oocytes. In conclusion, a combination of ionomycin and 6-DMAP induces activation in one third of Black Bengal goats' oocytes.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2001

Chromatin configuration and microtubule assembly were determined in porcine maturing and activated oocytes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Microtubule localization was confirmed using a mouse monoclonal antibody to $\alpha$-tubulin and detected using a fluorescent labeled goat anti-mouse secondary antibody. DNA was stained with propidium iodide. The image of microtubules and chromatin was captured using laser scanning confocal microscope. In germinal vesicle stage oocyte, sperm chromatin remained condensation and sperm derived microtubules were not observed at 8 to 12 h after sperm injection. At 24 h after injection, the sperm nucleus developed to the metaphase chromatin along the metaphase structure of female nucleus. In some metaphase I stage oocytes, sperm chromatin decondensed at 8 h to 12 h after injection, sperm aster was seen soon after sperm injection. At 24 h after sperm injection into metaphase I stage oocyte, male chromatin developed to the metaphase chromatin while female chromatin extruded first polar body and formed the metaphase chromatin. At 12 to 15 h after sperm injection into preactivated oocytes, condensed sperm nucleus was located in close proximity of female pronucleus. However, the condensed nucleus did not fuse with female pronucleus. In preactivated ocytes, injected sperm remained condensation, a few sperm organized small microtubular aster. Instead, maternal derived microtubules were organized near the female chromatin, which seem to move condensed male chromatin near to the female pronucleus. These results suggest that sperm nuclear decondensing activity and nucleation activity of centrosome during fertilization are cell cycle dependent. In absence of male functional centrosome, female origin centrosome takes over the role of microtubule nucleation for nuclear movement.