• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 1998

This study was carried out to establish an effective system for embryo transfer techniques by analyzing several factors affecting in-vivo embryo transfer in Korean cattle. Embryos produced in-vivo were transferred into a total of 301 recipients. The results obtained in studies on the factors affecting pregnancy rate after embryo transfer by condition of embryos were as follow ; 1. The pregnancy rate of 301 recipients was 45.2% and higher with fresh embryos than with frozen embryos(63.5% : 21.4%, P<0.01). Embryos superovurated by FSH-P had slightly greater than by SUPER-OV in pragnancy rate, athough these were no difference between two treatments. 2. The pregnancy rates of transferred morulae and blastocysts showed no difference between fresh and frozen embryos(63.5% : 63~6% ; 20.0% : 25.8%). However, the pregnancy rates by quality of flesh and frozen embryos were significantly different(P<0~05). The pregnancy rates were outstandingly high in the grade A, B of fresh embryos(59.0~66.4%), and in the grade A of frozen embryos(43.6%). 3. The number of transferred embryos showed no difference in pregnancy rate, but when frozen embryos transferred, the pregnancy rate was slightly higher with two embryos than that with one embryo.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 1998

This study was carried out to establish an effective system for embryo transfer techniques by analyzing several factors affecting in-vivo embryo transfer in Korean cattle Embryos were transferred into a toral of 301 recipients. The results obtained in studies on the factors affecting pregnancy rate after embryo transfer by condition of transfer time were as follows ; 1. The pregnancy rate by the seasons of transferred fresh and frozen embryos were not different, but the pregnancy rate was slightly higher in summer(80.8%). 2. The pregnancy rate by the days of embryo transfer after estrus were not different when fresh embryos were transferred, but the pregnancy rate was highest at 8 days when frozen embryos were transferred(P<0.01, 40.0%). 3. The pregnancy rate at estrus synchronization was remarkably higher with PGF$_2$$\alpha$ treated than natural (P<0.05, 70.4%, 43.4%). 4. The pragnancy rate by the degree of estrus synchronization was best when the estrus was synchronized in both fresh and frozen embryos (83.3% and 29.7%, respectively), but the pregnancy rate was not different among $\pm$2 days. But the pregnancy rate of frozen embryos were slightly higher when the recipients exhibited estrus earlier than donors.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 1998

This study was carried out to establish an effective system for embryo transfer techniques by analyzing several factors affecting in-vivo embryo transfer in Korean cattle. Embryos produced in-vivo were transferred into a total of 301 recipients The results obtained in studies on the factors affacting pregnancy rate after embryo transfer by condition of recipients were as follows ; 1. The pregnancy rate by age and parity of recipients showed high in 5~8 and over 12 years old(72.7~73.9%), and 3rd~4th parity(82.1%) for fresh embryos(P<0.05). The pregnancy rate did not differ by age and parity of recipients in frozen embryos. The pregnancy rate of frozen embryos tended to be similar to that of fresh embryos(38.5% and 25.0~36.7%). 2. The number of observation for normal estrus cycles of recipients did not differ In pregnancy rate between one and 2 times in fresh embryos(64.9%, 69.8%). The pregnancy rate by transferred frozen embryos showed significantly higher after 2 times of observation(P<0.05, 16.3%, 37.5%). The pregnancy rate by days open did not differ between fresh and frozen embryos. But the pregnancy rate was slightly higher in 12 months and 6 months of days open for fresh and frozen embryos, respectively(70.1~71.1% and 24.5%, respectively). 3. The pregnancy rate of transferred fresh and frozen embryos into right and left side of uterine horn did not differ(62.1% : 65.9% 25.0% : 24.3%, respectively). The pregnancy rate by the grade of CL was not different in fresh embryos, but the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the grade A than B for frozen embryos(P<0.01, 43.2%, 16.2%).

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2002

The experiment was divided into two phases. In phase-I fresh embryos were transferred and in Phase-II frozen embryos were transferred. Embryos were collected by using Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline. In phase-I total of 65 ova were collected out of 107 ovulation in 18 goats. Recovery of ova was 60.74％, of which 51 (78.46％) was fertilized. Sixteen embryos were transferred to 10 recipient goats and kidding was observed in 6 goats, that produced 10 kids. Thus, 62.50％ embryo survival and 60％ kidding were achieved in phase-I. In phase-II of the experiment, 17 regular cyclic Black Bengal goats were used. The main purpose was to study the viability of caprine embryos after cryopreservation. In this phase the embryos were collected and frozen using Bio-cool freezers. A two step addition of cryoprotectants (5％ glycerol and 10％ glycerol) and three-step dilution of cryoprotectants with 1mole (M) sucrose was used. Embryos were preserved for 10 to 45 days. Out of 27 embryos preserved, 18 were recovered after freezing and thawing (37$^{\circ}C$ water bath) with 33.33％ embryonic loss. Seventeen frozen and thawed embryos were transferred in 9 recipient goats, out of which kidding was observed in 6 goats and 7 kids were produced, giving a 66.66％ kidding and embryo survival of 41.17％. The technique utilized for fresh and frozen embryo transfer can be successfully utilized to produce goats of superior genetic merits. The protocol used for addition of cryoprotectant, freezing, thawing and dilution was found suitable for caprine embryo freezing.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 1997

This study was carried out to establish the techniques for producing the calves of genetically superior Korean Native cattle by transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. The effects of some factors related to embryo recovery following superovulation and pregnancy rate following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos were evaluated. Also calving state was investigated. The results obtained were as follows ; The mean number of total and transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow was 8.72 and 4.90, respectively, from a total of 72 superovulations using 34 donor cows. There were no significant differences in the number of total or transferrable embryos recovered per superovulated cow between products of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), years, seasons, and collection numbers. The pregnancy rate was found 44.44% following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos of Korean Native cattle to a total of 180 recipient cows including 82 Angus, 27 Charolais, 62 Hereford and 9 Korean Native cows. The pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of excellent (42.99) and good embryos (40.17%), compared with fair (5.90%) grade embryos. And the pregnancy rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the transfer of embryos of morula stage (43.86%) than blastocyst stage (15.51%). But there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates between natural and induced estrus estrus asynchrony of 1 days, breeds, and parities of recipient cows. The normal calving rate of 80 pregnant cows following transfer of frozen4hawed em-bryos was 87.5% and the other 10 pregnant cows showed abortion during the period from pregnancy diagnosis at 50~60 days to calving. The average gestation length of normally delivered recipients was 288.50 days and the average birth weight of 70 calves born was 24.22 kg. The gestation length was significantly (P<0.05) shorter in the recipients delivering female calves (286.70 days) than males (289.39 days). But there were no significant differences in gestation tength and birth weight of calves born between the recipient breeds.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.779-791
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess the effects of embryonic developmental stage, quality grade, and fresh or frozen/thawed conditions on the pregnancy rate and sex ratio of live offspring in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) cows. The quality and developmental stage of in vivo-derived (IVD) transferred embryos were evaluated using the standard criteria of the International Embryo Technology Society. The recipient cows were synchronized using conventional (estradiol benzoate and progesterone) protocols before embryo transfer. Embryos were transferred to 297 cows, and pregnancy was monitored for 60-70 days after embryo transfer. The pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen/thawed embryos were 56.90% and 52.49%, respectively. Pregnancy rates varied according to embryo quality (56.18% for grade 1 vs. 36.67% for grade 2). Pregnancy rates also varied by developmental stage and cryopreservation (67.86% vs. 63.49% for stage 4-1, 64.00% vs. 54.72% for 5-1, and 50.00% vs. 47.83% for 6-1, in fresh embryos vs. frozen/thawed embryos, respectively). For stage 7-1, the pregnancy rates were 72.73% for fresh embryos and 20.00% for frozen/thawed embryos. In 66 fresh embryos, the sex ratio of live offspring was 5:5, whereas it was 4(female):6(male) for frozen/thawed embryos among the 95 frozen/thawed embryos. The miscarriage rate was approximately 3% higher for frozen/thawed embryos than for fresh embryos (18.1% for fresh vs. 21.1% for frozen). Seasonal fertility rates were 33.3% in spring, 55.67% in summer, 52.8% in autumn, 60.0% in winter. The following male-to-female ratios were observed in different seasons: 6.7:3.3 in spring, 4.0:6.0 in summer, 5.5:4.5 in autumn, and 3.3:6.7 in winter. The current data revealed no significant differences in pregnancy rates between fresh and frozen/thawed IVD embryos. However, there was a lower pregnancy rate with advanced-stage frozen/thawed embryos (stage 7-1). The current study provides comprehensive results for the better optimization of embryo transfer in Hanwoo cattle to obtain the desired fertility rate, pregnancy rate, and sex ratio of calves. These results provide important insights into the factors that influence the viability and success of IVD embryo transfer in Hanwoo cows and may have practical applications for improving breeding programs and reducing production costs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2001

To investigate the effect of co-transfer of trophoblastic vesicle (TV) with frozen-thawed in vitro Produced (IVP) bovine embryo on pregnancy rate, IVP blastocysts were transferred to synchronized recipients. Elongated blastocysts were recovered at Day 13 to 15, and dissected more than 4 pieces to removed the embryonic disc. Throphoblastic fragments were cultured for 48 hours to make throphoblastic vesicles (TVs). TVs were cryopreserved in ethylene glycol or vitrification solution and frozen-thawed TVs were co-transferred to recipients with frozen-thawed IVP embryos. 1 The recovery rate of elongated blastocyst on Day 13 to 15 was 22.5% (18/80) and the size of recovered elongated blastocysts was 0.2∼5.0mm. 2. Eighteen elongated blastocysts were dissected into 88 pieces and 61.4% of those pieces were formed to TV (54/88) 3. The viability of frozen-thawed TV in ethylene glycol was higher than in vitrified solution (92.8% vs. 68.8%) 4. The pregnancy rate in co-transfer with frozen-thawed TV and IVP blastocyst was better than transfer only IVP blastocysts (50.0% vs. 23.1%).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of frozen mixed double-embryo transfer (MDET; the simultaneous transfer of day 3 and day 5 embryos) in comparison with frozen blastocyst double-embryo transfer (BDET; transfer of two day 5 blastocysts) in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF). Methods: A total of 104 women with RIF who underwent frozen MDET (n = 48) or BDET (n = 56) with excellent-quality embryos were included in this retrospective analysis. All frozen embryo transfers were performed in natural cycles. The main outcome measures were the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rate. These measures were compared between the patients who underwent MDET or BDET using the chi-square test or the Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Results: The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in patients who underwent MDET than in those who underwent BDET (60.4% vs. 39.3%, p=0.03 and 52.1% vs. 30.4%, p=0.05, respectively). A significantly lower miscarriage rate was observed in the MDET group (6.9% vs. 10.7%, p=0.05). In addition, the multiple pregnancy rate was slightly, but not significantly, higher in the MDET group (27.1% vs. 25.0%). Conclusion: MDET was found to be significantly superior to double blastocyst transfer. It could be regarded as an appropriate approach to improve in vitro fertilization success rates in RIF patients.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 1996

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of equilibration time, sucrose concentration and age of embryo on survival and developmental rates of bovine IVF expanding blastocysts frozen-thawed by direct transfer method. The bovine oocytes were collected from 2~5mm follicles, matured for 20~24hrs in 5% $CO_2$incubator and then fertilized with frozen-thawed semen. Expanding blastocysts at day 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 after IVF were frozen in 1.8M ethylene glycol(EG). Survival and hatching rates of frozen-thawed IVF embryos were examined. The results were as follow ; Survival and hatching rate of TVF expanding blastocysts after 10, 20, 3Omin exposure in 1.8M EG were 100,0,90.9, 47.1, 85.0, 75.0 and 62.5% respectively. Survival rates of IVF expanding blastocysts frozen with 1.8M EG and various concentration(0, 0.25, 0.5, 1M) of sucrose were 73.3, 25. 0, 16.7, 9.1% respectively. Survival and hatching rates of IVF expanding blastocysts frozen-thawed according to age of embryo(Day 7, 8, 9,10, 11) were 86.1, 84.8, 79.3, 61.4, 51.3, 74.2, 76.9, 71.7, 63.0 and 65.0% respectively. In conclusion, the age of the embryo(Day 7, 8) is very important for the successful freezing of IVF bovine embryos and 1.8M ethylene glycol not containing sucrose may be effective cryoprotectant for direct transfer method.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2002

To investigate the usability of frozen canine embryos for embryo transfer in the dog, 19 donors, 3 recipients, and 6 male dogs were used for the experiment. Natural mating or artificial insemination was performed for breeding the bitches in natural estrus. Vaginal smear test along with progesterone titre test were performed to detect the appropriate mating time and the bitches were bred twice during 3-6days following LH surge. Embryo collection was done on 8, 9-11, 12-13 days after the second mating to collect morula and blastocyst. Embryos were frozen using a programmable freezer and preseued in LNE tank. Embryos were thawed in 37$^{\circ}C$ water for 15 seconds and transferred into each uterine horn within 30 minutes. Embryos were collected from 13 bitches of 19 donors(68.4%) and the collected embryos were from between 9 and 13 days after 2nd mating. Embryos were produced both by natural mating(60.0%, 9115) and AI with frozen semen(100.0%, 4/4). Embryos were collected from the donors weighed between 2.5 and 30 kg and their age was from 1.5 to 3 years. 52 embryos were collected from 13 donors and the mean number of embryos was four. The stage of embryos was from 2-cell to gastrula and morulae were colledted mostly from 10 to 11 days after 2nd mating. Embryos were collected evenly from each uterine horn and the rate of embryo collection for the number of corpus luteum was 83.9%. Embryos were transferred to 3 recipients(morula 8, blastocyst 1, gastrula 8), however, no offspring was produced.