• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1997

It is well known that the zona pellucidae of mouse oocytes become "hardened" when they are allowed to mature in vitro in the absence of serum components. To see if oocytes already undergone meiotic resumption in vivo exhibit similar zona hardening, hardening of ZP of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(CEOs) was examined after culture in vitro since their release from follicles various hours after hCG injection. When CEOs matured in vivo for 3h or longer were subjected to culture in vitro for 14h with BSA alone, zona hardening was significantly reduced compared to those cultured in vitro from the begining of maturation. However, when CEOs matured in vivo for 5h were freed from cumulus cells and then cultured in vitro with BSA alone, little reduction of zona hardening was observed. Preincubation of CEOs for 5h with fetuin, one of the well known inhibitor of in vitro zone hardening, did not prevent zona hardening during its subsequent culture of CEOs for 14h without fetuin. However, when CEOs precultured with both fetuin and PMSG for 5h and then further cultured with BSA alone for 14h, zona hardening was dramatically reduced. Under these conditions, the expansion of cumulus cell was observed. In addition, CEOs cultured with both BSA and dbcAMP to prevent their meiotic resumption showed a significant increase of zona hardening. Whether the observed zona hardening was correlated with the conversion of ZP2 to $ZP2_{f}$ was examined. Zona pellucida, isolated from CEOs matured for 5h in vivo and then further cultured with BSA alone was subjected to SDS-PAGE. Most of ZP2 molecules from these CEOs did not undergo conversion from ZP2 to $ZP2_{f}$. From these results, it is concluded that CEOs undergone meiotic resumption in vivo do not exhibit zona hardening when they were subsequently cultured in vitro without serum components. It appears that cumulus cells play an important role in this phenomenon.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the changes of follicular fluid (FF) and serum levels of cerebellin precursor protein 1 (cbln1) and betatrophin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. Methods: Twenty infertile women with PCOS and 20 control women diagnosed as poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation with a GnRH antagonist were included. Blood samples were obtained during ovum pick-up. Follicular fluid from a dominant follicle was collected from the subjects. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, FF and serum levels of cbln1 and betatrophin were measured in both groups of participants. Metabolic and hormonal parameters were also determined and correlated with each other. Results: Both groups of women had similar serum and FF betatrophin levels ($55.0{\pm}8.9ng/mL$ vs. $53.1{\pm}10.3ng/mL$, p=0.11). The serum and FF betatrophin levels of poor responders were found to be similar ($49.9{\pm}5.9ng/mL$ vs. $48.9{\pm}10.7ng/mL$, p=0.22). Conversely, the FF cbln1 levels of PCOS women were found to be significantly higher than the serum cbln1 levels ($589.1{\pm}147.6ng/L$ vs. $531.7{\pm}74.3ng/L$, p<0.02). The FF cbln1 levels of control participants without PCOS were significantly higher than their serum cbln1 levels ($599.3{\pm}211.5ng/L$ vs. $525.3{\pm}87.0ng/L$, p=0.01). Positive correlations were detected among body mass index, insulin resistance, serum insulin, total testosterone, and betatrophin levels in the PCOS group. Conclusion: Follicular fluid betatrophin and cbln1 concentrations may play a pivotal role on follicular growth in PCOS subjects undergoing IVF/ICSI with an antagonist protocol.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

The ultrastructural changes in germ cells during oogenesis of the melania snail, Semisulcospira libertina libertina have been investigated by light and electron microscopy. The ovary is located on the surface of the hepatopancreas in the spiral posterior region. The ovary exhibited greenish color in the gonadal mature season. The ovary was composed of a number of oogenic follicles. Oogenesis was divided into five stages with histological features: (1) oogonia, (2) previtellogenic, (3) initial vitellogenic, (4) active vitellogenic, and (5) mature stages. Oogonia were oval in shape, $4-6\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and had a large nucleus. Previtellogenic oocytes were about $20\;{\mu}m$ in diameter and the cytoplasm reacted with hematoxylin in H-E satin. Initial vitellogenic stage, oocytes were $60-80\;{\mu}m$ in diameter, and small yolk granules of low electron density are scattered in the cytoplasm. Oocytes in the initial vitellogenic stage were connected with ovarian follicle by egg stalk. Active vitellogenic oocyte were $100-120\;{\mu}m$ in diameter. Electron density, size and quantity of yolk granules that are distributed in the cytoplasm have increased from the previous stage. Result of TEM observations, the oocyte contains well-developed Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticula and tubular mitochondria in the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm of mature oocyte was filled with proteinaceous yolk globules of high electron density. In this stage, the length of microvilli in the egg envelope was approximately $1.1\;{\mu}m$.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

Follicular fluid(FF) of mammalian Graafian follicles contains various kinds of proteins and proteinases that are believed to play important roles during follicular growth oocyte maturation and ovulation of mature oocytes. Previous studies of human FF(hFF) demonstrated the presence of many serine/threonine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases such as gelatinases, however, little is known about the caseinases. Present study was aimed to examine the presence and the property of caseinolytic enzyme in hFF. Using casein zymographic method, it was found that hFF, human adult serum and cord serum exhibited one intense 80 kDa and another weak 78 kDa bands having caseinolytic activity. When inhibitors were added to the zymographic substrate buffer, caseinolytic activity of both 80 kDa and 78 kDa proteins were inhibited by othylenediarnine tetraacetic acid(EDTA) or soybean trypsin inhibitor(SBTI), but not by E-64, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride(PMSF) or 1,10-phenanthroline. Thus both enzymes appear to belong to a family of trypsin-like enzyme. Addition of EDTA to the zymographic substrate buffer almost abolished the caseinolytic activity of both enzymes. However, further addition of a divalent metal ion such as CaC $l_2$, MgC $l_2$, MnC $l_2$ or ZnC $l_2$ to the same buffer fully restored the enzyme activity at 5 mM concentration despite the presence of EDTA. Based upon these observations, 80 kDa and 78 kDa caseinolytic enzymes are present in human follicular fluid and they appear to be trypsin-like enzymes of which caseinolytic activity needs the presence of $Ca^{++}$, aM $g^{++}$, M $n^{++}$ or Z $n^{++}$././././.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 1995

This study was conducted to examine the efficiency of enucleation and blastomere isolation from recipient oocytes and donor embryos, respectively and to determine the effect of oocyte age and electric voltage on the fusion rate and in vitro development of the fused oocytes in rabbit nuclear transplantation. Immature oocytes collected from ovarian follicles were matured in vivo for 12 h in TCM-199 containing FCS and hormones and in vivo matured oocytes were collected 17 to 18 h post-HCG. The fresh and frozen donor embryos of 8- to 16-cell stage were collected from the oviduct of superovulated does. The proportion of successfully enucleated oocytes was greatly lower in in vitro matured oocytes (42.3%) than that (62.7%) in in vivo matured oocytes The level of cytochalasin B for in vivo matured oocytes did not affect the efficiency of enuleation, but 7.5 $\mu$g /mL cytochalasin B for in vitro matured oocytes showed a high enucleation rate significantly. The isolation efficiency of a single blastomere nucleus did not differ between 8- and 16-cell stage embryos. The percentage of single blastomeres isolated from 16-cell stage fresh embryos after 0.5% pronase treatment was greatly higher at 16-min treatment (94.4%) than at 8-min(78. 1%) and the blastomeres(61.5%) isolated from frozen-thawed embryos after 16-min pronase were significantly fewer than those of fresh embryos. The age of recipient oocytes affected nuclear fusion rate. The reconstituted oocytes fused at 24-h age showed slightly higher fusion rate (77.8%) than those (65.0%)fused at 18-h age. The fusion rate of in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes inserted with fresh blastomere did not differ among electric voltages, but the cleavage rate and development to morula-blastocysts of in vitro matured oocytes was more higher under 0.6 kV/cm than under 0.8 to 1.2 kV/cm, while the cleavage rate and development of in vivo matured oocytes was higher under 0.8 to 1.0 kV/cm than under 1.2 kV/cm. The fusion and cleavage rate fol1owing insertion with frozen-thawed blastomere was not different between the in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes and was similar to those from fresh blastomere insertion.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2004

For safe preservation of Korean Native Pigs (KNP) as an animal genetic resources and a means to maintain the genetic diversity, we performed to investigate the optimal hormone levels for superovulated gilts and establish the cryopresevation methods of embryos. The reults were as follows; 1. The number of ovulated corpus luteums (CL) and follicles were 12.4, 13.6, 30.0 or 23.3 in hCG 500IU and PMSG 500, 750, 1,000IU or hCG 750IU and PMSG 1,000IU respectively. In the case of PMSG 1,000IU와 hCG 500IU, there showed highest number but were no significance among others. The recovery rate of embryos by the ovulated CL were 59.4-79.2％. 2. The morula stage embryos recovered on Day 4 after insemination were significantly higher than Day 5 (P<0.01), but blastocyst stage embryos recovered on Day 5 were sinificantly higher than Day 4 (P<0.05). 3. The survival rate of expanded blastocyst were 23.5％ in conventional freezing with 1.4 M glycerol.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2000

To investigate fatty acid constituents and relative compositions in the fluid of the follicles, oviducts, uterine ho군 and uterine body in sows, the fluids of the reproductive tract were analyzed using Gas chromatography. The samples were taken from various reproductive tract of 21 sows slaughtered. 1. Caprylic acid(C8: 0), capric acid(C10:0), lauric acid(C12:0), myristic acid(C14:0), palmitic acid(C16:0), plamitolele acid(C16:1), stearic acid(C18:0), oleic acid(C18:1), linoleic acid(C18:2) and arachidonic acid(C20:4) were found in the reproductive tracts of the sows, which made 10 kinds of fatty acid intotal. 2. Two kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and archidonic acid were found inthe reproductive tracts. 3. Palmitic acid among saturated fatty acids and oleic acid among unsaturated fatty acids were the hihgest level in all of the reproductive tracts. 4. Palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid showed higher rate with 44.89%, 23.69% and 14.36%, respectively, and lauric acid, capric acid, palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid ad myristic acid showed lower rate with 0.62%, 1.13%, 1.65%, 1.97% and 2.24%, respectively in the reproductive fluid. 5. The highest level of arachidonic acid was found in the uterine horn. 6. The sum of the palmitic acid and oleic acid were 66.91%, 70.41%, 66.14% and 73.36% in the fluid of follicle, oviduct, uterine horn and uterine body, respectively. 7. The relative composition of arachidonic acid was higher during the follicular stage than during the luteal phase in the fluid of oviduct and uterine. 8. The long chain fatty acids such as the palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid showed higher relative compositions during the follicular phase(93.18%∼96.83%) than during the luteal phase(82.56%∼88.37%). 9. Caprylic acid, luric acid and palmitoleic acid were undetected in the fluid of all of the reproductive tracts during the follicular phase. Low relative compositions of capric acid, myristic acid andarachidonic acid were found during the follicular phase, while the low relative compositions (<5%)of capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, plamitoleic acid and arachidonic acid were found during the luteal phase.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2004

To establish the differential diagnosis and functional status in ovarian cystic cows, progesterone(P$_4$) and estrogen(E$_2$) level of cystic follicular fluid, ultrasonography for measuring the cystic diameter and thickness of cystic wall, and histological findings were investigated in cystic ovaries from slaughtered Korean native cows. Ovarian follicles were classified as systic if the diameter was greater than 25 mm by ultrasonography. Ovarian cysts < 3 mm of cystic wall thickness, < 10 ng/ml P$_4$ concentration and >10 ng/ml E$_2$ concentration were classified follicular cyst, ovarian cysts 3 mm of cystic wall thickness, 10 ng/ml P$_4$ concentration and <10 ng/ml E$_2$ concentration were classified luteal cyst, and ovarian cysts 3 mm of cystic wall thickness, < 10 ng/ml P$_4$ concentration and <10 ng/ml E$_2$ concentration were classified non-functional ovarian cyst, respectively. Also ovarian cysts were classified 8 types by anatomical and hisctological findings. Ovarian cysts with corpus luteum were 3 of 73 cows and ovarian cysts without corpus luteum were 70 cows. The incidence rates of 8 various types of ovarian cysts were as follows; 2Aa 56.2%, 2Ba 20.5% and 2Ab 15.1%, respectively. The incidence rates of ovarian cysts without corpus luteum were follicular cyst 76.7% and luteal cyst 19.2%. The thickness of cystic wall were lAb 3.9 mm, 2Ab 3.3 mm and 2Bb 3.2 mm, and the cystic fluid P$_4$ concentrations were above 10.0 ng/ml in lAb, 2Ab and 2Bb, respectively. There was significantly correlations between the thickness of cystic wall and cystic fluid P$_4$ concentration in ovarian cysts(p<0.05). The ovarian cyst was classified follicular cysts, luteal cyst and non-functional ovarian cyst by hormone analysis. The luteal cyst was accuratly dignosed by cystic wall thickness. But follicular cysts was misdiagnosed 13 cows of 56 cystic cows. The 13 cystic cows was determined as had non-fuctional ovarian cysts. The cystic fluid P$_4$ concentration was 3.3 ng/ml in follicular ovarian cysts and 30.1 ng/ml luteinized ovarian cysts. There was significantly positive correlations between thickness of cystic wall and serum P$_4$ concentration in follicular(r$^2$ =0.59, p<0.001) and luteal cysts(r$^2$=0.65, p<0.001). These results indicated that ovarian cysts had various stages of degeneration and luteal cyst was accuratly diagnosed measurement of cystic wall thickness by ultrasonography, but follicular cysts was not diagnosed only cystic diameter and cystic wall thickness. In conclusion, it is suggest that ovarian cysts was diagnosed by combination of clinical sign and anatomical cystic features.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1996

This study was conducted to study the reproductive cycle in female fusilier, Caesio diagramma by using the histological methods. Histological changes of the ovary were well correlated with the patterns of gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI). GSI was increased in April as the value of HSI increase and reached to its maximum in May and June. Oocytes at the chromatin-nucleolus and peri-nucleolus stages were observed in the ovary throughout the year. In April, oocytes containing yolk appeared in ovaries of a few fishes. Most oocytes appearing in May and June belonged to the tertiary yolk stage. Frequency of oocytes appearance at the tertiary yolk stage in May and June was higher than that of the other months. Moreover, the empty follicles and atretic oocytes were observed in the ovaries with many vitellogenic oocytes during these two months. Thereafter, oocytes of the yolk stage disappeared in September. The spawning period of C. diagramma is from the month of April to June, and this species belongs to an asynchronous and multiple spawner.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.487-495
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• 2007

The objectives of the present study were to initiate cloning of Korean native goat by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) and to examine whether unovulated (follicular) oocytes can support the same developmental ability of NT embryos as ovulated (oviductal) oocytes after hCG injection in stimulated cycles of the goat. The in vivo-matured and immature oocytes were collected from the oviducts and follicles of superovulated does, respectively, and the immature oocytes were maturated in vitro. Ear skin fibroblasts derived from a 3-yr-old female Korean native goat were used as the donors of nuclei or karyoplasts. Following fusion, activation and in vitro culture to a 2- to 4-cell stage, 49 in vitro-derived and 105 in vivo-derived embryos were transferred to 6 and 17 recipient does, respectively. One doe and three does of the respective groups were identified as pregnant by ultrasonography on day 30 after embryo transfer. However, only one doe, which had received in vivo-derived embryos, delivered a normal female kid of 1.9 kg on d 149. The cloned kid gained more weight than her age-matched females as much as 87% during the first 4 mo after birth (17.7 vs. $9.4{\pm}0.8$ kg) and reached puberty at 6-mo age a few months earlier than normal female does. The telomere length of the kid, which was similar to that of the donor fibroblast at 2-mo age, decreased 8% between 2- and 7-mo ages. Moreover, at 7-mo age, she had 21% shorter telomere than her age-matched goats. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which a cloned animal born with a normal weight exhibited accelerated growth and development. The unusually rapid growth and development of the cloned goat may have resulted from SCNT-associated epigenetic reprogramming involving telomere shortening.