• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro culture media on embryonic development of in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes after parthenogenetic activation (PA) in pigs. Immature pig oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22~26 h. IVM oocytes were activated by electric pulses and cultured in porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3) and North Carolina State University-23 supplemented with essential and non-essential amino acids (NCSU-23aa). These media were further modified by supplementing 2.77 mM myo-inositol, 0.34 mM trisodium citrate, and $10{\mu}M$ ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol (designated as mPZM-3 and mNCSU-23aa, respectively). Culture of PA embryos in mPZM-3 significantly increased development to the blastocyst stage than culture in NCSU-23aa (36.2% vs. 24.8%, p<0.05). Modified PZM-3 showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation than NCSU-23aa in both groups of embryos that were activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM (51.0% vs. 35.5% and 49.0% vs. 34.2% in oocytes activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM, respectively). Irrespective of the follicle diameter where oocytes were collected, embryonic development to the blastocyst stage was increased (p<0.05) by the culture in mPZM-3 compared to culture in NCSU-23aa (25.9% vs. 34.2% and 32.9% vs. 44.8% in embryos derived from small and medium size follicles, respectively). Our results demonstrated that culture media had significant effect on preimplantation development PA embryos and that mPZM-3 was superior to mNCSU-23 in supporting development to the blastocyst stage in pigs. This beneficial effect of mPZM-3 on embryonic development was not impaired by other factors such as time of oocyte activation and origin of immature oocytes (small and medium size follicles).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2007

The main purpose of this study was to improve the efficiency and quality of in vitro embryo production in Korean Native Cows (KNC). We examined the effects of ovarian morphologies (Experiment 1) and the culture vessel (Experiment 2) on in vitro maturation (IVM). We measured the subsequent development rates and cell numbers of blastocysts. In Experiment 1, the ovaries of KNC were divided into six groups, based on follicle and corpus luteum (CL) morphology. The development rates to the 2- and 8-cell stages were similar among the six groups. The development rates to blastocyst stages were significantly higher in the group without a CL or follicle (WOCL/F) than in the groups with follicular cysts (FCs), regressive CLs (RCLs) or cystic CLs (CCLs) (p<0.05). The cell number of the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts in the FCs and RCLs groups, and the number of cells in the trophectoderm (TE) in the WOCL/F group, FCs, growing CLs (GCLs) and RCLs were significantly higher than in other groups (p<0.05). The total cell number (TCN) in the WOCL/F, FC and RCL groups was also significantly higher than in other groups (p<0.05). The ICM cell number/TCN ratio was significantly higher in the FC and RCL groups than in the GCL and DF groups (p<0.05). In Experiment 2, oocyte IVM was carried out in culture dishes, in 0.25- or 0.5-ml straws used for freezing sperm. The development rate to the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in the 0.5-ml straw group than in the 0.25-ml straw group. The development rates to the blastocyst stage were similar in the dish and the two straw groups. There were no differences in the cell numbers of ICM, TE or TCN or ICM cell number/TCN ratios between groups.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 1997

In vitro culture has provided new information on the mechanisms involved in fertilization how sperm and oocyte fuse together. At the same time, results obtained in vitro have led to new questions. Techniques for In vitro maturation of porcine oocytes have progressed such that the problem of the low rate of pronucleus formation with in vitro matured oocytes after in vitro fertilization has been nearly improved. On the other hand, porcine spermatozoa have been shown to be capacitated if the fertilization medium contains caffeine and Ca$^2+$, but the incidence of polyspermy in IVM-IVF oocytes is still high. To prevent polyspermy, co-culture with oviductal cells, sperm preincubation with porcine follicular fluid or control of sperm concentration, have been examined with significant effects but still remarkably high rates of polyspermy. The under standing of these influences is a prerequisite to enhancing in vitro production of porcine em bryos.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.363-370
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• 2005

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of beta-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME) supplements to the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentration. Porcine cumulus-intact oocytes were matured in TCM-I99 medium containing porcine follicular fluid, sodium pyruvate, D-glucose, FBS, hormonal supplements, and $\beta$-ME (0, 25, 50 and 100 ${\mu}$M) for 36 to 46h. After culture, cumulus-free matured oocytes were co-incubated with epididymal spermatozoa for 18h. There were no significant differences in the maturation rate among treatment groups. However, increases (P < 0.05) in intracellular GSH concentration before and after. fertilization were observed in 50 ${\mu}$M $\beta$-ME supplements to the IVM medium. Also, increases (P < 0.05) in male pronuclear formation after IVF were observed in same treatment group. In conclusion, supplementing $\beta$-ME into the IVM medium increased intracellular GSH concentrations and increased fertilization in vitro.

• 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.23 no.4
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• pp.291-298
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• 2008

We separately cultured follicular oocytes collected from individual ovaries of slaughtered Korean native cows and examined both the embryonic development rate and pregnancy rate after embryo transplantation according to the meat yield and quality grades of the source beef carcass. Oocytes from meat yield grade B cows exhibited a higher fertilization rate and embryonic developmental rate to the eight-cell stage than oocytes from grade A or C animals (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in rate of development to the blastocyst stage among meat yield grades A, Band C. The oocyte cleavage rate and development rate to the eight-cell stage from meat quality grade 3 cattle was higher than grades 1++, 1+, 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Embryos derived from grade animals displayed a development rate to the blastocyst stage of 19.4%, which was also higher than all other meat quality grades (p<0.05). Transplantation of in vitro-cultured oocytes from meat yield grade A ovaries led to a higher pregnancy rate (64.2%) than in vitro-cultured oocytes from meat yield grade B ovaries (56.5%), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in pregnancy or abortion rates. In conclusion, embryonic development rate and pregnancy rate has a close relation to meat quality grades of the source beef carcass, this results is to give information for the Korean native cows improvement of breed.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.70-70
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• 2002

Sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P) is one of the sphingolipid metabolites which affect a variety of cellular processes including the proliferation, differentiation, growth, survival, migration and gene expression. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of SIP on nuclear maturation of porcine oocytes. In vitro maturation frequency of porcine oocytes were compared in three different media; group Ⅰ: NCSU23＋0.1% PVA, group Ⅱ: NCSU23＋10% PFF(porcine follicular fluid), and group Ⅲ: NCSU23＋10% PFF＋10 ng/㎖ EGF＋2.5 mM β-mercaptoethanol. Each group containing 0.1 ㎎/㎖ cysteine was divided into 4 sub-groups of SIP concentration(0, 50, 500 and 5000nM). Porcine oocytes were incubated in each maturation medium supplemented with hormones(10 IU/㎖ PMSG and 10 IU/㎖ hCG) for 22h and then further cultured in the same medium without the hormones for 22h. After completion of in vitro maturation, the oocytes were fixed and stained to examine nuclear maturation by using a rapid stain method. In the group Ⅰ, the proportions of metaphase Ⅱ stage among oocytes cultured in 0nM(control), 50 nM, 500nM and 5000nM S1P were 45.5%, 66.7%, 56.6% and 48.7%, respectively. (omitted)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 1997

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of superovulation treatments on ovarian responses, oocyte recovery rates and grades of collected oocytes using an ultrasound-guided transvaginal approach in Korean native cows. Superovulation in cows was induced with two different regimenes: 1) FSH-decreasing dose(n=8): the cows were received twice per day for three days of the total dose of 400 mg of FSH-p, 2) FSH-single dose(n=9): the cows were administrated a single dose of 400 mg of FSH-p in 25% PVP. The Observation of visible follicles and collection of oocytes were performed 12 hours following the last FSH in FSH-decreasing dose group and 48 hours after the FSH-single dose injection. All visible follicles larger than 6 mm were punctured and aspirated with a 6.5 MHz convex-array ultrasound transducer designed for intravaginal use. The mean number of visible follicles(> 6 mm) was significantly(P<0.05) higher in the FSH-decreasing dose treatment (22.811.9) and FSH-single dose treatment (20.612.0) groups than the non-treatment group(7.0$\pm$8). The mean recovery rate of oocytes was not significantly(P<0.05) different between the treatment and control groups, but the mean number of collected oocytes was significantly(P<0.05) higher in the FSH-decreasing dose treatment( 12.611.5) and FSH-single dose treatment (11.813.6) groups than the non-treatment group(3.7$\pm$0.5). In conclusion, the FSH-single dose treatment at superovulation in cows for ultrasound-guided aspiration might increase the number of aspiratable follicles and the recovery rate of follicular oocytes as the FSH-decreasing dose treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-33
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• 2017

Objective: Superstimulatory treatment of one-month-old lambs can achieve synchronous development of numerous growing follicles. However, these growing follicles cannot complete maturation and ovulation. Oocyte maturation and competence are acquired during follicular development, in which granulosa cells play an essential role. Methods: In this study, we applied RNA sequencing to analyze and compare gene expression between prepubertal and adult superstimulated follicle granulosa cells in sheep. Results: There were more than 300 genes that significantly differed in expression. Among these differently expressed genes, many extracellular matrix genes (EGF containing Fibulin Like Extracellular Matrix Protein 1, pentraxin 3, adrenomedullin, and osteopontin) were significantly down-regulated in the superstimulated follicles. Ingenuity pathway and gene ontology analyses revealed that processes of axonal guidance, cell proliferation and DNA replication were expressed at higher levels in the prepubertal follicles. Epidermal growth factor, T-Box protein 2 and beta-estradiol upstream regulator were predicted to be active in prepubertal follicles. By comparison, tumor protein P53 and let-7 were most active in adult follicles. Conclusion: These results may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the development of granulosa cells in the growing follicle in prepubertal sheep.