• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.85-93
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• 2020

The implantation process is highly complex and difficult to mimic in vitro, and a reliable experimental model of implantation has yet to be established. Many researchers have used embryo transfer (ET) to assess implantation potential; however, ET with pseudopregnant mice requires expert surgical skills and numerous sacrificial animals. To overcome those economic and ethical problems, several researchers have tried to use outgrowth models to evaluate the implantation potential of embryos. Many previous studies, as well as our experiments, have found significant correlations between blastocyst outgrowth in vitro and implantation in utero by ET. This review proposes the blastocyst outgrowth model as a possible alternative to animal experimentation involving ET in utero. In particular, the outgrowth model might be a cost- and time-effective alternative method to ET for evaluating the effectiveness of culture conditions or treatments. An advanced outgrowth model and further culture of outgrowth embryos could provide a subtle research model of peri- and postimplantation development, excluding maternal effects, and thereby could facilitate progress in assisted reproductive technologies. Recently, we found that outgrowth embryos secreted extracellular vesicles containing specific microRNAs. The function of microRNAs from outgrowth embryos should be elucidated in further researches.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.61-69
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• 2007

This study was designed to evaluate effects of BSA, PVA, gonadotropins and follicle shell during IVM of porcine oocytes and subsequent development to the blastocyst stage after IVF. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in TCM-199 media containing 4 mg/ml BSA and 1 mg/ml PVA during IVM for 44 hr. To compare the effect of gonadotropins on oocyte maturation, COCs were cultured with FSH+LH, FSH, LH and FSH-LH-free media during IVM. respectively. Also, different number of follicle shells (0, 2, 4 and 6) was used to examine whether the presence of follicle shell in culture medium affects oocyte maturation. The percentages of fertilization and blastocyst formation, respectively, were higher in the medium containing the PVA (49.0 and 17.9%) than those containing the BSA (40.0 and 12.2%). Significantly higher rates of Mil oocytes were in the presence of FSH+LH and FSH (88.6 and 85.1 %) compared to other treatments (64.0 and 53.4% at LH and FSH-LH-free media). Co-culture with inverted follicle shells in 2 ml maturation medium enhanced the developmental competence of porcine oocytes. In conclusion, PVA could be used as a macromolecules instead of BSA, and FSH and follicle shell played important roles in maturation of porcine oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.344-353
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• 2018

Objective: cAMP and mature promoting factor (MPF) play critical roles during the maturation of mammalian oocytes. The aim of this study was to produce the offspring from denuded oocytes (DOs) in mice by regulating cAMP and MPF. Methods: In this study, we used DOs at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage in mice and regulated levels of cAMP and MPF in DOs by adding Forskolin and PD166285 during in vitro maturation without follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, respectively. Results: Combined use of $50{\mu}M$ Forskolin for 3 h and $2.5{\mu}M$ PD166285 for additional 21 h enhanced the developmental competence of DOs, maturation rate of DOs was $76.71%{\pm}4.11%$, blastocyst rate was $18.33%{\pm}4.44%$ after parthenogenetic activation (PA). The DOs could successfully be fertilized with sperm in vitro, cleavage rate was $17.02%{\pm}5.82%$ and blastocyst rate was $5.65%{\pm}3.10%$. Besides, 2-cell in vitro fertilization embryos from DOs produced 4 normal live offspring (4/34). Conclusion: The results confirmed that the combination of Forskolin and PD166285 can induce DOs to complete meiosis process and produce normal offspring.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.245-255
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• 2004

포유동물 난자의 체외수정은 외래유전자 도입에 의한 형질전환동물 생산과 우수한 형질을 가진 개체의 보존, 인간의 불임연구 등과 같은 수정란이식 기술로서 널리 이용되고 있다. 돼지 난포란을 이용한 체외수정란의 생산은 초기단계인 체외성숙 기술의 미확립, 그로인한 체외수정 시 높은 다정자 침입율과 불완전한 웅성전핵 형성 몇 체외발달능 정지현상(cell blocking) 등 어려움 때문에 아직도 다른 가축보다 양질의 수정란을 생산하기가 어려운 것으로 알려져 있다. 이와 같은 것을 해결하기 위하여 많은 연구자들은 배양액내에 hormon, growth factor, antioxdants 등과 같은 외인성 인자들을 첨가하고 있다. 이들 인자 중 antioxdant는 free radical을 소거하고 과산화물 생성을 억제하여 난자를 산화적 스트레스로부터 보호한다. 따라서 본 연구는 돼지 난포란으로부터 체외수정란의 생산에 있어서 배양액내 cysteine, catalase 및 glutathione의 첨가가 체외성숙, 체외수정 및 체외배양에 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 검토하였다. 실험 1은 체외성숙용 배양액인 TCM-199 용액에 catalase(100, 200, 500U/$m\ell$)와 glutathione(0.5, 1.0, 1.5mM/$m\ell$)의 첨가, 실험 2는 성숙된 난자의 체외수정용 배양액인 mTBM 용액에 cysteine(0.1, 1.6, 1.0mM/$m\ell$), catalase(100, 200, 500U/$m\ell$)와 glutathione(0.5, 1.0, 1.5mM/$m\ell$)의 첨가, 실험 3은 체외성숙 및 체외수정된 난자의 체외배양용 배양액인 NCSU-23 용액에 cysteine(0.1, 1.6, 1.0mM/$m\ell$), catalase(100, 200, 500U/$m\ell$)와 glutathione(0.5, 1.0, 1.5mM/$m\ell$)을 첨가하여 배반포로의 배 발달율을 관찰하였던 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 체외성숙시 catalase의 경우는 500U 첨가군의 27.2%로 무첨가군의 15.4%보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.05). 한편 glutathione의 경우 배반 포로의 배 발달율은 무첨가군과의 차이는 없었다. 그러나 1.0mM 첨가군에서 상실배까지의 배 발달율인 72%는 무첨가군의 53.9%보다 유의하게 높았다(p<0.05). 2. 체외수정시 여러 종류의 항산화제 첨가는 첨가하는 농도와 관계없이 배반포로의 배 발달율은 무첨가군과 차이가 없었다. 3. 체외배양시 여러 종류의 항산화제 첨가는 첨가하는 농도와 관계없이 배반포로의 배 발달율은 무첨가군과 차이가 없었다. 이상의 결과를 종합적으로 하면 돼지 난포란을 이용한 배반포의 체외생산에 있어서 배양액내 항산화제의 첨가는 체외성숙단계에서만 효과적이었다. 이것은 아마도 항산화제가 체외성숙 시 난포란 내에서 일어나는 여러 가지 생화학 반응의 처리시간과 관련하여 활성화시킴으로써 난포란의 생존력을 높인 것이라고 사료되기 때문에 앞으로는 돼지 난포란의 효율적인 체외성숙에 대해서 배양액내 첨가물질은 물론 나아가서 방법론적인 측면에서 더욱 연구되어져야 할 것이다.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.287-294
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• 2007

성판별을 위한 biopsy 후 수정란의 발달율 및 동결－융해 후의 생존율 조사는 다음과 같다. 한우 체내 및 체외 수정란의 성판별을 위해서 영양막 세포의 일부를 채취하기 위해서 수정란을 biopsy 하였다. biopsy된 수정란의 생존율 조사의 결과는 체내 수정란이 100% 그리고 체외수정란이 90.0%의 결과를 나타내어 체내 수정란이 체외 수정란 보다 biopsy 후의 생존율이 높게 나타났음을 알 수 있었다. 수정란의 성판별 비율은 체내 수정란에서는 암컷과 수컷의 비율이 46.3%와 53.7%로 각각 나타나 수컷의 비율이 암컷 보다 다소 높은 경향을 보였으며, 체외 수정란에 있어서는 암컷과 수컷의 비율은 40.0% 와 60.0%로 수컷의 비율이 높게 나타났으나 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았다. 성판별된 수정란의 동결－융해 후 생존성은 완만동결 방법에 의한 수정란의 생존율은 체내 수정란에서 58.8 %, 체외 수정란에서는 41.7% 그리고 초자화동결 방법에서는 체내 수정란의 생존율이 77.8%, 체외 수정란은 57.1%로의 결과를 보여 체내 수정란을 이용한 초자화동결 방법에서 상대적으로 더 높은 생존율을 보였다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.173-181
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• 2012

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has a many function involved proliferation, differentiation and survival of many cells. In this study, to investigate whether S1P improve the developmental competence of porcine embryos, 50 nM of S1P were supplemented during in vitro maturation (with EGF or without EGF) medium and/or in vitro culture (IVC) medium. Addition of S1P was significantly increased the rate of oocytes reaching metaphase II (MII) compared to the control (83.5 vs. 64.1%) in without EGF medium, but not with EGF medium (89.5 vs. 84.6%). When treated with $1{\mu}M$ of N1N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a sphingosine kinase inhibitor which is blocked endogenous generation of S1P, the meiotic progression rates to MII stage (without EGF: 45.2 and with EGF: 66.7%) were significantly decreased and degeneration rates (without EGF: 51.2 and with EGF: 30.1%) were increased in both medium compared to control group during IVM periods. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly increased in the S1P treated group compared to control group (29.0 vs. 19.2%) of EGF supplemented medium, whereas there were no effect in the EGF free medium (9.0 vs. 10.5%). After 12 h IVM, the phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, which is major signaling pathway of MAP kinase, were increased in the S1P group than that of control or DMS group. When supplemented of S1P during IVC, the rates of blastocyst formation and total cell number (30.2% and 40.6) were significantly increased in S1P-treated group compared with control (20.1% and 32.5), DMS (12.3% and 25.1), and S1P plus DMS group (24.7% and 33.6). The percentage of apoptosis nuclei in the S1P group was significantly decreased than other groups. Also, the rates of blastocyst formation (26.7 vs. 14%) and total cell number (42.8 vs. 32.5) were significantly increased in the S1P group than those of control group when S1P added during the entire IVM and IVC periods. Taken together, our results indicate that S1P supplementation in IVM and/or IVC medium affects beneficial effect of meiotic maturation and subsequent developmental competence of porcine embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.141-145
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to develop a simple method for porcine oocyte maturation without $CO_2$ regulation. In experiment 1, we evaluated that the effect of $CO_2$ non-supplement on porcine oocyte maturation. Cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 2~6 mm follicles and divided into three groups (Control, tube-$CO_2$, and tube-non-$CO_2$). For control, COCs were cultured in 4-well multidish in a $CO_2$ incubator. For tube-$CO_2$, COCs were cultured in a round-bottom tube in a $CO_2$ incubator, and for tube-non-$CO_2$, COCs were cultured in a round-bottom tube sealed tightly without $CO_2$ supplement in a dry incubator. The proportion of oocytes reached to metaphase II (M-II) was not significantly different among three groups (87.9% to 91.4%). In experiment 2, we evaluated the effect of $CO_2$ non-supplement during oocyte maturation on development of embryos. Oocytes with a polar body were divided into two groups (Control and tube-non-$CO_2$) and applied 1.1 kV/cm or 1.2 kV/cm voltages for parthenogenetic activation. After activation, embryos were cultured for 6 days and examined the development. The proportion of embryos cleaved was not significantly different among treatment (86.3% to 91.5%). The proportion of embryo reached to blastocyst stage was not significantly different among treatment (13.9% to 25.2%). The cell number of blastocysts was not significantly different among treatment (29.0 to 32.4). In conclusion, oocytes cultured in a dry incubator without $CO_2$ supplement have enough competence to development after parthenogenetic activation. These results would be useful for transporting oocytes or embryos a long distance.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the effects of biophoton treatment during in vitro maturation (IVM) and/or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte maturation and embryonic development in pigs. An apparatus capable of generating homogeneous biophoton energy emissions was placed in an incubator. Initially, immature pig oocytes were matured in the biophoton-equipped incubator in medium 199 supplemented with cysteine, epidermal growth factor, insulin, and gonadotrophic hormones for 22 h, after which they were matured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22 hr. Next, IVM oocytes were induced for parthenogenesis (PA) or provided as cytoplasts for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Treatment of oocytes with biophoton energy during IVM did not improve cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation, intraoocyte glutathione content, or mitochondrial distribution of oocytes. However, biophoton-treated oocytes showed higher (p < 0.05) blastocyst formation after PA than that in untreated oocytes (50.7% vs. 42.7%). In an additional experiment, SCNT embryos produced from biophoton-treated oocytes showed a greater (p < 0.05) number of cells in blastocysts (52.6 vs. 43.9) than that in untreated oocytes. Taken together, our results demonstrate that biophoton treatment during IVM improves developmental competence of PA- and SCNT-derived embryos.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권8호
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• pp.558-566
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• 2017

Regular monitoring on experimental animal management found the fluctuation of ART outcome, which showed a necessity to explore whether superovulation treatment is responsible for such unexpected outcome. This study was subsequently conducted to examine whether superovulation treatment can preserve ultrastructural integrity and developmental competence of oocytes following oocyte activation and embryo culture. A randomized study using mouse model was designed and in vitro development (experiment 1), ultrastructural morphology (experiment 2) and functional integrity of the oocytes (experiment 3) retrieved after PMSG/hCG injection (superovulation group) or not (natural ovulation; control group) were evaluated. In experiment 1, more oocytes were retrieved following superovulation than following natural ovulation, but natural ovulation yielded higher (p < 0.0563) maturation rate than superovulation. The capacity of mature oocytes to form pronucleus and to develop into blastocysts in vitro was similar. In experiment 2, a notable (p < 0.0186) increase in mitochondrial deformity, characterized by the formation of vacuolated mitochondria, was detected in the superovulation group. Multivesicular body formation was also increased, whereas early endosome formation was significantly decreased. No obvious changes in other microorganelles, however, were detected, which included the formation and distribution of mitochondria, cortical granules, microvilli, and smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum. In experiment 3, significant decreases in mitochondrial activity, ATP production and dextran uptake were detected in the superovulation group. In conclusion, superovulation treatment may change both maturational status and functional and ultrastuctural integrity of oocytes. Superovulation effect on preimplantation development can be discussed.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.111-122
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• 2017

The objective of this experiment was to explore the effects of Roscovitine (Rosco) prior to in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature pig oocyte. Brilliant cresyl blue test has been used to select the good quality of oocyte. Specifically, the effects of Rosco exposure on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, diameter, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), and gene expression levels in SCNT embryos have been measured. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) have been exposed in $75{\mu}M$ of Rosco for 22 and 44 h. The COCs that were matured in the IVM for 44 h without Rosco used as control group. Diameter of matured porcine oocytes 44 h culture with Rosco was significantly lower than 22 h culture with Rosco and control groups. GSH was higher in control group than 22 h and 44 h with Rosco but reduction of ROS in 22 h than 44 h with Rosco. In PA, exposure with Rosco 44 h oocytes group has been significantly lower than 22 h and control group in rates of maturation, cleavage and blastocyst formation. Similarly, in SCNT embryos rates of maturation, cleavage and formation of blastocyst have been also significantly lower in 44 h Rosco treated group than other two groups. SCNT embryos treated with Rosco 22 h showed greater expression levels of POU5F1, DPPA2 and NDP52Il mRNA compared with other two groups. Our results demonstrate that Rosco treatment with 22 h prior to IVM improves the development competence of porcine oocyte.