• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 1997

The studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cells and oviduct epithelial cells on the in vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of bovine follicular cocytes and to determine the optimum thawing temperature and equilibration time on in vitro developmental rate of frozen bovine embryos. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered Korean native cows. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TGM-199 medium containing 10 IU /ml의 PM SG, 10 IU /ml의 hCG, ip g/ml의 $\beta$-estradiol and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in incubator with 5% $CO_2$ in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$. The bovine embryos following dehydration by cryoprotective agents and a various concentration of sucrose were directly plunged into liquld nitrogen and thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$ water. Survival rate was defined as developmental rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are sunanarized as followes :1. The in vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM499 medium were 75.0~76.8% and 17.3~27.6%, respect-ively. And in-vitro fertilization rates of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(55.4%)were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes (23.1%). 2. The in vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes co-cultured with l$\times$ l04cells /ml, 1 x l06cells /ml, lx l08cells /ml and 1 x l015cells /ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 74.5~77.8% and 15.7~21.20 respectively.3. The in-vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes cocultured in '1CM-199 media containing PMSG, hCG, PMSG+hCG. PMSG+$\beta$-estradiol, hCG+$\beta$-estradiol 0 to 40 hrs after insemination were 74.0~77.4% and l8.9~23.l%, re-spectiv ely.4.The survival rates of bovine embryos thawed after rapid freezing in the freezing medium containing a various concentration of sucrose added 1.5M and 2.OM glycerol,DMSO and propanediol were 23.5~31.4% and 20.6~34.l%, respectively. 5. The temperature thawed at 3$0^{\circ}C$ after rapid freezing of bovine embryos resulted in a significantly higher embryos survival rate than did at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 35$^{\circ}C$.6. The equilibration time on the survival rates of bovine embryos was attained after short period of time(2.5~5 min.) in the freezing medium higher than long period of time (10~20min.). (Key words : bovine embryos, co-culture, freezing, in vitro development)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 1999

The present study was performed to improve the reproductive disturbance as well as the elimination of microbiological contamination for animals bred under conventional conditions followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer techniques including embryo and sperm freezing, using a mouse strain(M. m. molossinus-tt＠Kist) showing the abnormal behavior disorder derived from Korean wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus). Moreover, hematological and serum biochemical analyses were also carried out to obtain the basic data of this mouse strain The results are summarized as follows: 1. In comparison with hematological data, the numbers of RBC and platelet of this mouse strain were appeared as the higher value those that of the same aged inbred strains such as BALB/c, DBA/2, C57BL/6 and C3H /Hen. However, no differences were found in values of WBC, Hb and Ht. Moreover, total cholesterol of this strain showed a low value but triglyceride, total protein and albumin values were similar as in inbred strains. 2. The average numbers of superovulated oocytes treated with 2.5/2.5 IU and 5.0/5.0 IU of PMSG/hCG were 11.6 and 12.7, respectively. The fertilization rates of 2.5/2.5 IU PMSG /hCG treatment(87.9%) was higher than 5.0/5.0 IU treatment(52.0%) (p＜0.05) and the developmental rate of 2 cell stage embryos were 외 so appeared as higher value 99.0% and 90.6%, respectively. 3. The rates of in vitro fertilization treated with frozen sperm(24.8%) was significantly lower than of that fresh sperm(87.9%), (p＜0.05). 4. The five, six and ten heads of offspring were obtained from frozen-thawed 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilized, 2 cell embryos from in vitro fertilized by frozen-thawed spermatozoa. and 2 cell embryos by in vitro fertilization, respectively. These offspring developed the expected disease about 2 weeks after birth, which was confirmed that the disease character of this mutant mouse strain was reliably reproduced. 5. MHV(Mouse hepatitis virus) and Staphylococcus aureus were successfully eliminated from conventional animals by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and the use of SPF recipient animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2010

Objective: This study was carried out to know whether cryopreservation of sibling 2PN zygotes could increase the cumulative delivery rates in the patients who had less than 10 fertilized zygotes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 138 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles with less than 10 fertilized zygotes during January 2003 to December 2007 in Cheil General Hospital. These cycles were divided into two groups. In Group I (n=86), all fertilized embryos were cultured to transfer on day 3 without cryopreserved embryos at the 2PN stage. In Group II (n=52), among fertilized zygotes, some sibling zygotes were frozen at the 2PN stage, the remainder were cultured to transfer. Clinical outcomes in fresh ET cycles and cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates after subsequent frozen-thawed (FT)-ET cycles were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in female mean age, number of retrieved oocytes and total fertilized embryos between two groups, Number of cultured embryos was significantly lower in Group II ($5.2{\pm}0.5$) than in Group I ($8.4{\pm}0.7$) (p<0.01). Also, number of transferred embryos was significantly lower in Group II ($3.3{\pm}0.6$) compared with Group I ($3.6{\pm}0.6$) (p<0.01). ${\beta}$-hCG positive rates and delivery rates (51.2 vs. 46.2 % and 41.9 vs. 34.6 %, respectively) after fresh ET were slightly higher in Group I than in Group II. However, the differences were not statistically significant. Also, the cumulative delivery rates after subsequent FT-ET cycles were not significantly different between Group I (48.8%) and Group II (50.0%). Conclusion: This study showed that cryopreservation of sibling 2PN zygotes from patients who had less than 10 zygotes in the fresh ET cycles did not increase cumulative delivery outcomes. But, it could provide an alternative choice for patients due to offering more chance for embryo transfers if pregnancy was failed in fresh IVF-ET cycles.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.919-927
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• 1996

In the last few years, methods for in vitro culture of early embryo stages from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro using suitable cell culture systems have been established. But the factors affecting pregnancy rates following transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro were not evaluated enough. So this study was performed to investigate the effects of quality and stage of embryos, parity and Corpus Luteum quality of recipients on pregnancy rates following non-surgical transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro. Oocytes aspirated from small antral follicles of ovaries obtained at a local slaughter house were matured, fertilized with frozen-thawed semen and co-cultured for 6-7 days by utilizing co-culture system with bovine oviduct epithelial cell in vitro. After co-culture, embryos were transfered to recipients on day 7 (estrus=day 0). Recipients were monitored by ultrasonic scanning method or observation for estrus and rectal palpation after 50 days from transfer. The results of this study are follows. 1. Of the 70 recipients, 70%(49 of 70) had not showed estrus sign between day 0 and day 50, but 22.9%(16 of 70) was diagnosed not pregnant. Therefore the overall pregnancy rate of this study was 47.1%(33 of 70). 2. The pregnancy rate of recipients transfered with excellent(66.7%) and good(54.5%) embryos were higher than that of recipients transfered with fair embryos(15.8%) (p<0.05). 3. The pregnancy rate of recipients transfered with morula, compacted morula, blastocyst and expanded blastocysts were 46.2, 55.0, 62.5 and 50.0%, respectively. 4. The pregnancy rates of recipients transfered to heifer and cow were 54.5 and 55.2%, respectively. 5. The pregnancy rates of recipients with CL score I, II(66.7, 63.6%) were higher than those of recipients with CL score III (10%), (p<0.05). Success of transfer of embryos produced in vitro depends on many variables. The important factors identified in this study were the quality of embryos and the CL score of recipient animals after non-surgical transfer of embryos matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2006

본 연구는 개 동결 정액 융해 시 straw 크기 및 융해 속도가 융해 정자의 질(quality)에 미치는 영향을 조사하고 최적의 융해 조건을 조사하는데 그 목적이 있다. 정상적인 번식능을 가진 비글 수컷 5마리에서 정액을 채취하여 원심 분리하여 정장을 버리고 남은 정자에 동결보호제인 glycerol이 첨가된 tris-glucose-egg yolk extender를 첨가하여 동결하고 액체질소에 보관한 후 융해하였다. 동결 융해 조건에 따른 효과를 알아보기 위해 straw는 0.25 ml과 0.5 ml크기를 사용하였고 융해 조건은 $75^{\circ}C$에 10초, $55^{\circ}C$에 12초 및 $37^{\circ}C$에서 120초로 하여 융해 후 정자의 활력도(vigor), 운동성(motility), Hypo-osmotic test(HOS test)를 이용한 생존성(viability) 및 $SperMac^{\circledR}$ 염색을 하여 정자의 membrane integrity를 비교 조사하였다. 조사 결과 0.5 ml 크기의 straw를 사용한 경우 $37^{\circ}C$ 융해가 $55^{\circ}C,\;75^{\circ}C$ 융해보다, 0.25 ml 크기의 straw를 사용한 경우에는 $37^{\circ}C,\;55^{\circ}C$ 융해가 $75^{\circ}C$ 융해보다 유의적으로 높은 활력 지수 및 생존성을 보였다(P<0.05). Straw크기에 따라 비교하였을 경우 0.5 ml 군에서 유의적으로 높은 활력도, 생존성 및 membrane integrity를 보였다(P<0.05). 결론적으로 개 정액이 동결 및 융해 시 0.5ml straw를 이용하여 동결한 후 $37^{\circ}C$에서 120초 동안 융해하는 것이 최적의 조건임이 사료된다.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2005

To find out the possible inefficiencies of artificial inseminators at rectovaginal insemination in cows, inseminators' skill were evaluated by controlling the semen thawing procedure adopted and by using the technique of dye deposition in the genital tract of slaughtered cows. This was followed by refreshment training for the inseminators. Thirty seven artificial insemination technicians regularly working in the government, cooperative and NGO (Non Government Organization) artificial insemination programmes at different places of Bangladesh were included in the study. Individual technicians were asked to thaw a semen straw and deposit dye in the genital tract of slaughtered cows following the procedures they would have adopted in their actual practices of insemination. The time and water temperature adopted by technicians were recorded and genital tract after sham artificial insemination was dissected to determine the site of dye deposition. Then, the inseminators took part in a three days intensive training program. The training program was ended up with the same tests for thawing frozen semen straw and dye deposition in the genital tract of slaughtered cows. At pre training evaluation, only $25\%\;and\;72\%\;(n=36)$ inseminators adopted co..ect thawing time and temperature, respectively. At post training evaluation, all inseminators thawed semen straws for proper time and temperature. At pretraining evaluation, $21(57\%),\;11 (30\%)\;and\;3(8\%)$ inseminators deposited dye at the body of uterus, in the vagina or in cervix, and into the horn of uterus, respectively. In $2(5\%)$ cases dye did not pass into the genital tract, instead back flowed through the space between the barrel of insemination gun and sheath. At post training evaluation, all inseminators successfully deposited dye in the body of uterus. Frequent evaluation of inseminators' skill and subsequent training would help improvement of the artificial insemination technicians' skill.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 1999

This study was performed to improve the development of the in vitro fertilized bovine embryos by the condition of in vitro maturation. COCs were matured in TCM 199 supplemented with 0.1% PVA, 10ng/ml EGF, Hormones (5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH, 10 IU hCG, 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$) or granulsa cell+Hormones atmosphere 39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2, 95% air for 24hrs. Matured oocytes were fertilized with frozen-thawed semen capacitated with 5mM caffein in BO medium for 20 hrs. IVF embryos were cultured in TCM 199 containing with hormones(same as matured medium), 10% FBS and co-culture with bovine oviduct epitherial cells. Maturation rates of COCs were showed 73.8%, 78.5%, 83.2% and 87.6% respectively, and were significant differences between PVA, EGF, and Hormones, GC+Hormones(p<0.05). The cleavage rates of IVF embryos were revealed 72.5%, 78.4%, 82.3% and 84.2% and showed same tendency as maturation rates(p<0.05). The blastocysts matured by above maturation condition and cultured for 7~10 days after fertilization had 34.4, 43.6, 52.3 and 59.3 cells had no differences among the treatments. These results suggest that high molecules as a substitutes of serum and growth factor may induce nuclear resumption of COCs but we need more study to produce transferable IVF blastocysts by use of that agents.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of adding TES to LEY and FGE freezing extender for the sperm viability, acrosomal morphology and DNA fragmentation from miniature pig sperm, we evaluated sperm characteristics in TFGE, TLE and LEY with various thawing condition ($37^{\circ}C$ for 20 sec, 45 sec and $75^{\circ}C$ for 5 sec, respectively), and in different concentration of glycerol at 1%, 1.5%, 3%. The sperm viability and normal acrosome intact(NAI) in TFGE (Viability : $60.3{\pm}2.4$, NAI : $58.6{\pm}2.2%$), TLE ($61.3{\pm}2.4$, $62.2{\pm}2.2%$) extender significantly(p<0.05) increased than that in LEY ($50.2{\pm}2.4$, $54.5{\pm}2.2%$) extender thawed at $75^{\circ}C$ for 5 sec. According to the results from glycerol concentration, the viability and NAI of miniature pig sperm in 1.5% glycerol TLE ($66.1{\pm}3.2$, $66.2{\pm}1.0%$) was highest among the experimental groups. In accordance with this, DNA fragmentation rates was the lowest in TLE ($43.3{\pm}0.5%$) while that in LEY ($63.5{\pm}2.3%$) is the highest. Therefore, these results suggest that TLE extender method for freezing- thawing of miniature pig sperm increased the viability after thawing.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between PSS-HSP70 gene polymorphism and artificial insemination (AI) reproductivity in the pigs. The RFLP polymorphism of PSS and the SSCP polymorphisms of HSP70 K1, K3 and K4 PCR product were detected different patterns. In the experiment for AI of fresh semen, spring and fall season showed higher litter size born of 10.89 head than 10.47 head of summer season. Landrace was showed higher litter size of 9.96 head than that of Duroc and Yorkshire (p<0.05). Stress relating PSS and HSP70 polymorphism of PSS-Normal, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-AB, K4-AA showd a highest litter size born of 10.97 head and litter size born alive of 10.69 head than that of the other polymorphisms(p<0.05). In the experiment for AI of frozen semen, effects of season and pig breeds were not showed for litter size born. The stress relating polymorphism of PSS-Carrier, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-BB, K4-AB showed highest litter size born of 11.29 head and litter size born alive of 10.82 head and PSS-Normal, HSP70 K1-BB, K3-AB, K4-AA showed the lowest litter size born of 8.48 head and litter size born alive of 7.33 head than that of the other polymorphisms(p<0.05). These results suggest that AI litter size born for the stress of forzen thawed semen may be affected by PSS and HSP70 polymorphism in pigs.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2000

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitrification on the implantation and the pregnancy of human blastocysts. Method: The transfer of the frozen-thawed blastocysts by the slow freezing or vitrification was performed between January 1998 and July 1999. The zygotes derives from IVF were cocultured with cumulus cells in YS medium containing 20% hFF for 5days. Two or three of the best balstocysts produced on day 5 were transferred into the uterus, and then supernumerary blastocysts were randomly divided into two groups. One was frozen by slow freezing and the other was frozen by vitrification method. The slow freezing procedure was performed in two steps (5% glycerol and 9% glycerol + 0.2 M sucrose for 10 min, respectively) using programmed freezer ($-2^{\circ}C$/min to $-7^{\circ}C$, manual seeding at $-7^{\circ}C$, $-0.3^{\circ}C$/min to $-38^{\circ}C$ and plunged into $LN_{2}$). The blastocysts frozen by slow freezing were thawed at $36^{\circ}C$ then removed glycerol in 7 steps. The vitrification procedure was performed in three steps (10% glycerol for 5 min, 10% glycerol + 20% ethylene glycol for 5 min, 25% glycerol + 25% ethylene glycol and directly $LN_{2}$ within 1 min). The blastocysts frozen by vitrification were thawed at $20^{\circ}C$ water then removed cryoprotectant in 3 steps. In each group, thawed blastocysts were cocultured with cumulus cells in YS medium containing 20% hFF for 18h and transferred into the uterus. The implantation rate was evaluated per transferred blastocysts and the pregnancy rate was evaluated per transfers. Results: The survival rate of vitrified group (74.5%) was higher than slow freezing group (68.0%), but not significant. When 98 thawed blastocysts of vitrification were transferred in 40 cycles, 19 pregnancies (clinical pregnancy rate; 47.5%) were established. One miscarriage occurred in the eighth week of pregnancy (ongoing pregnancy rate; 45.0%). 7 pregnancies were ongoing, 11 pregnancies went to term, and 16 healthy infants were born. The Implantation rate was 31.6%. These results were higher than those obtained by the slow freezing (clinical pregnancy rate; 40.3%, ongoing pregnancy rate; 32.5% and implantation rate; 25.3%), but not significant. Conclusion: Vitrification is a simple, quick and economical method when compared to slow freezing. It will be chosen as a good method of human embryo freezing in IVF-ET programs.