• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 1992

This study was carried out to set up the ovum bank for ovum donation and to determine the best freezing method for human immature oocytes. Human immature follicular oocytes were cryopreserved by slow freezing and rapid thawing method. Immature follicular oocytes were treated by propanediol(PROH) solution by 2 and 4 step method in protocols A & B, respectively. In protocol C, immature oocytes were exposed to sucrose prior to treatment of PROH by 4 step method. We compared survival rate, maturation rate, and fertilization rate of immature oocytes among three protocols. Results were as follows. 1. Oocytes treated by the protocol C showed the highest survival rate( 70.3 %) and maturation rate(34.6%) after thawing. 2. Survival rate of oocytes treated by the protocol C was significantly higher than that of the protocol B after thawing(p<0.05). In conclusion, treatment of oocytes with sucrose prior to expose PROH was the best freezing method. Sucrose may have reduced the toxic effect of cryoprotectant to oocytes. We failed to induce fertilization of oocytes, which were treated by any protocols, by conventional insemination method, but obtained 28.8% fertilization rate by using partial zona dissection(PZD) method. This result suggests that micromanipulation(PZD) of the thawed oocytes before insemination will improve the fertilization rate.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the in vitro fertilization rate of canine immature oocytes cryopreserved by vitrification freezing. The vitrification solutions of EPS and EDS were consisted of 40％ ethylene glycol 18％ Ficoll and 0.3M sucrose, and 20％ ethylene glycol, 16.5％ DMSO and 0.5M sucrose in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10％ FCS, respectively. The oocytes were exposed The developmental rate of in vitro cultured oocytes recovered from ovaries collected at different stages of the reproductive cycle were 3.8％, 10.7％, 46％, respectively. to EFS or EDS at $25^{\circ}C$ and loaded into straw fer 30 sec. The straws was slowly immersed into L$N_2$. Fertilization and survival rate was defined as development rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. 1. The fertilization rate after vitrification freezing of immature oocytes at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after collection from ovaries was very low(5.3％～31.4％) than the unfrozen oocyte(60.0％). And the fertilization rate after vitrification freezing of immature oocytes was very higher than that of mature oocytes. 2. The survival rate after vitrification freezing of immature oocytes at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after collection from ovaries was 55.0％, 40.0％, 28.6％ and 17.1％, respectively. And the survival rate after vitrification freezing of immature oocytes was slightly higher than that of mature oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 1998

This study was conducted to find out the recovery rate of oocyte according to the different size of follicles from porcine ovaries, and the effect of in vitro maturation of porcine immature oocyte at the different transportation temperature of ovaries from slaughter house. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. The number of follicles per ovary was 22.5. The number of A-and B-typed oocytes(type A: cumulus-enclosed oocyte, type-B : corona-enclosed oocyte) per ovary was 2.4. The proportion of A-and B-typed oocytes was 29.6% of the total recovery oocytes. 2. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at 5$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) rates of porcine oocytes were 32.5, 28.2, 22.6 and 25.9% respectively. There were no significant differences between all the culture time for GVBD. Especially, most of oocytes were observed to arrest the development beyond germinal vesicle(GV) stage. 3. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at $25^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the GVBD rates were 81.0, 90.0, 91.7 and 92.9%, and the maturation (Met-II) rates were 51.2, 78.8, 76.2 and 78.6%, respectively. 4. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at 38$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the GVBD rates were 93.9, 96.5, 96.5 and 95.3%, and the maturation rates were 62.2, 88.4, 84.7 and 86.0%, respectively. 5. The above results showed that the maturation rates of immature oocytes between $25^{\circ}C$ and 38$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary did not differ significantly.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2000

Objective: Zona pellucida (ZP) has been thought to be the barrier of egg to sperm penetration before and after fertilization. The phenomenon of ZP hardening has been considered as a post-fertilization event until now, and it is generally accepted that it is caused by the secretory products of cortical granules released during the cortical reaction. Hardening of ZP could occur "spontaneously" in mammalian oocytes in standard culture conditions, and that it is probably not a consequence of cortical reaction. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of human amniotic fluid (HAF) on nuclear maturation (NM) and fertilization ability of mouse immature oocytes. Methods: HAF was obtained from patients undergoing amniocentesis at $16{\sim}20$ weeks of gestation. HAF from five to ten patients was centrifuged and the supernatants was pooled. Cumulusenclosed mouse immature oocytes were incubated in the medium containing HAF, and examined to confirm NM and fertilization. Female ICR mice (about 3 weeks old) were stimulated with 7.5 IU PMSG. Immature oocytes were isolated at $48{\sim}52$ hrs post PMSG injection and cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 20% HAF for 18 hrs. FBS was used as a control for the examination. Matured oocytes (MII) were fertilized with sperms collected from the epididymis of male mice (over 10 weeks old). Fertilization was in conducted T6 medium containing 15 mg/ml BSA, and confirmed at 6 hrs post-insemination. Fertilization rate was assessed in zona-intact or zona-free oocytes (denuded by trypsin). Evaluation of NM and fertilization was carried out by rapid staining method. ZP hardening was evaluated by incubating cumulus cell-free mature oocytes in 0.001% chymotrypsin at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. Results: There was no significant difference between the effects of HAF (86.6%) and FBS (87.7%) supplements on NM of immature oocytes. When maturation medium was supplemented with HAF, total fertilization rates (7%) were significantly lower (p<0.01) than that of FBS (85.1%). In HAF group, fertilization rate was increased (p<0.01) in zona-free oocytes (7% versus 100%). The resistance of mouse oocyte ZP to digestion by chymotrypsin after maturation in vitro was significantly higher (p<0.01) in HAF group (86.7%) than in FBS (6.7%). To culture oocytes in FBS were very effective in preventing ZP hardening. However cultured oocytes in HAF showed high rate of ZP hardening (p<0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that HAF can be used as a supplement for the NM of mouse immature oocytes in vitro. However, HAF induces spontaneous hardening of ZP of mouse immaure oocytes during maturation in vitro.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.258-258
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• 2004

Successful cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes would provide a source of materials for in vitro embryo production. This study was conducted to determine vitrification conditions for bovine immature oocytes using micro-drop method and, to examine maturation, fertilization and development of vitrified bovine immature oocytes. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1996

Bovine immature oocytes cultured for various times in TC-199 medium were inseminated with frozne-thawed spermatozoa in TC-199 medium supplemented with caffeine(5mM) and heparin(10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). Sperm penetraton was possible in oocytes at any stage of maturation, but penetration rates were lower in oocytes inseminated 0~16h (60~76%) than 20h (98%) after culture. Formation of male and female pronuclei were first observed in oocytes inseminated 8h after cultrue. Formation of male and female pronuclei were first observed in oocytes inseminated 8h after culture. The proportions of polyspermy were high(50~76%) in oocytes inseminated at any stage of maturation. Sperm penetration into oocytes at the GV stage started at 8h after insemination and the penetration rates gradually increased as time after insemination proceeds. The proportion(35%) of oocytes matured beyond metaphase-II 20h after sperm-oocytes incubation was low. When oocytes were incubated without spermatozoa in TC-199 medium, maturation rates were significantly higher (P<0.001) in those without(45 and 84% for 16 and 20 h) than with (0 and 36% for 16 and 20 h) caffeine and heparin. These results indicate that TC-199 medium with caffeine and heparin is not suitable for maturation and fertilization of immature oocytes and may inhibit male pronuclear formation in the cytoplasm.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1994

Purpose of the present study was to find the optimal culture conditions for the maturation and fertilization of immature oocytes by the use human body fluids and gonadotropins (Gn) in the mouse model. Cumulus-enclosed mouse immature oocytes were incubated in the medium containing various human body fluids with or without Gn in vitro, and examined to confirm nuclear maturation (NM) and fertilization. Female ICR mice were stimulated with 7.5 IU pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Cumulus-enclosed immature oocytes were isolated at 48-52 hr post PMSG injection and cultured in TCM 199 supplemented with various concentrations (20, 50, and 70%) of human body fluids such as fetal cord serum (hCS), follicular fluid (hFF), peritoneal fluid (hPF) and amniotic fluid (hAF) in the presence or absence of 10 IU/ml PMSG and 10 IU/ml human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for 18 hr. Fetal calf serum (FCS) was used as a control for the supplements. Matured oocytes were fertilized with sperm collected from the epididymis of male mice. Fertilization was conducted in T6 medium containing 15 mgl ml bovine serum albumin, and confirmed at 6 hr post-insemination. Evaluation of nucler maturation and fertilization was carried out by rapid staining using fuchin. There was no significant difference between the effects of human body fluids and FCS supplements on nuclear maturation of cumulus enclosed mouse immature oocytes. When maturation medium was supplemented with 20% hPF or 20% hAF, fertilization rates were significantly (P<0.01) lower than that of 20% FCS, hCS and hFF groups. However, higher concentrations of body fluids during IVM were not more beneficial on fertilizability of oocytes. The addition of Gn significantly increased the fertilization rates in hPF and hAF groups (hPF without Gn; 51.5%, compared with 85.1% for addition of Gn, and hAF without Gn; 30.1% compared with 85.8% for addition of Gn) at 20% concentration. These results suggest that human body fluids at 20% concentration and gonadotropins can be used as supplements for the maturation of mouse immature oocytes in vitro. When gonadotropins supplemented with the human body fluids in the maturation medium, fertilizability of mouse immature oocytes was increased in hPF and hAF groups. These results can be applied to maturation of human immature oocytes in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate in vitro/in vivo development of vitrified-thawed immature mouse oocytes. Immature mouse oocytes were vitrified with EFS40 (40% ethylene glycol, 18% ficoll and 0.5 M sucrose). Thawed oocytes were matured for 16 hr in vitro. Matured oocytes with the first polar body were fertilized with the concentration of 1~2$\times$10$^{6}$ $m\ell$ of epididymal sperm. After fertilization, cleavage ($\geq$ 2-cell) and in vitro/in vivo development rates were examined. $\pi$ Ie results were summarized as follows: in vitro maturation rate of immature mouse oocytes in vitrified-thawed group was similar to that in exposed group (67.5%) and control (66.3%), but cleavage rate of vitrified-thawed oocytes (64.9 %) and blastocyst formation rate (59.0%) were significantly different compared to those of exposed group (83.7 and 74.7%) and control (90.7 and 83.7%) (p＜0.05). However, when the blastocysts derived from immature mouse oocytes vitrified-thawed were transferred to pseudopregnant mouse, total implantation (31.3%) was slightly lower than that in control (40.8%), but live fetus formation rate (66.7%)was slightly higher than that in control (58.1%), there was not significantly different. Therefore, when the blastocyts produced in vitro were transferred into recipients, although the development in vitro of oocytes vitrified-thawed was decreased, live fetus formation rate was similar to that of control group. The present results indicate that immature mouse oocytes can be frozen successfully by vitrification with EFS40.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.191-197
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• 1998

Immature nocytes and in VitrO matured Oocytes collected from the slaughtered Korean cattle were frozen slowly with 10% ethylene glycol+5% polyvinyl pyrolidine+0.05M trehalose (l0EPT), 10% ethylene glycol+5% ficoll+0.05M sucrose (1OEFS), or 10% ethylene glycol+5% ficoll+0.05M trehalose (l0EFT) by cell freezer (experiment 1). And also,They were ultra-rapidly frozen with 30% ethylene glycol+10% polyvinyl pyrolidine+0.5M trehalose (3OEPT) or 30% ethylene glycol+18% ficoll+0.5M sucrose (3OEFS) using electron microscope grid (experiment 2). In experiment 1, the cleavage rate was 23.0% when immature oocytes were frozen slowly using various cryoprotectants descrihed above, and 5.1% of cleaved oocytes developed to over morula stage after in Vitro fertilization (IVF). There were no significant differences among these groups. When matured oocytes were frozen slowly, the total cleavage rate was 19.7%, and over morula stage was 3.2%. lOEPT (4.8%) and EFS (4.4%) were slightly more effective than l0EFT (0.0%) for development in vitro. Only in l0EFT treated group, immature oocytes have higher developmental capacity than matured ones, when they were frozen slowly and IVF after thawing. In experiment 2, oocytes were ultra-rapidly frozen using the electron microscope grid with two kind of cryoprotectants described above. In immature oocyte group, the cleavage rate was 13.9% and 5.8% of cleaved oocytes developed to over morula stage after IVF, and in matured group, 25.7 and 7.6%, respectively. There were no significant differences between two kind of cryoprotectants, but in ultra-rapid freezing using electron microscope grid, the efficiency is slightly higher in matured oocyte group.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 1987

The research of fused oocytes was conducted to investigate the in vitro mejotic maturation of immature oocytes (GV oocytes) fused with oocytes in germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD oocytes) in the presence of dbcAMP which is known as one of the strong inhibitors to GVBD. The immature oocytes fused together as well as those fused with GVBD oocytes proceeded to GVBD in 3 hr culture in plain medium. But in the medium containing dbcAMP (100$\mu$g/ml), the immature oocytes fused together did not show any GVBD and thus the fusion itself could not affect the inhibitory activity of dbcAMP. However, all of the immature oocytes fused with GVBD oocytes underwent GVBD in 3 hr culture despite of the presence of dbcAMP. When the culture was extended to 20 hr, nearly all of the immature oocytes fused together were still arrested at the GV stage in the presence of dbcAMP. But most of the fused oocytes which had shown GVBD during 3 hr culture developed to metaphase II stage extruding one or two polar bodies regardless of the presence of dbcAMP. In this experiment, it was found that two sets of the metaphase chromosomes were somewhat concomitant with a pair of the polar bodies in the fused egg. Upon the results of the present studies, it is assumed that there may be a maturation promoting factor(s) in the cytoplasm of the GVBD occytes, and this factor(s) possibly nullifies the function of dbcAMP.