• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 1993

This study was carried out to improve pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program through Assisted Hatching (AH) by the use of micromanipulation technique. Among 72 IVF patient, randomized 29 IVF patients were performed for AH by Partial Zona Dissection(PZD). Two to eight cell embryos were micromanipulated just before uterine transfer. The results were as follows: 1. The implantation rates of embryos between PZD group and control group were 10.0%, 4.9%, respectively. 2. The clincal pregnancy rates of both groups were 34.5%,20.9%, respectively. 3. Among 131 PZD embrys, only 2 embryos were damaged mechanically. Although there were no statistical difference in the rates of implantation and pregnancy between PZD group and control group due to small sample size, the PZD group had increasing trend in the rates of implantation and pregnancy. In conclusion, it would be thought that PZD could be adequately used to improve implantation rate and pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program as an assisted technique if much more studies were done. Also the risks resulting from this study can be reduced because of technical stability, which showed the low rate of damaged embryos.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.907-911
• /
• 2014

The function of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as second messengers in cell differentiation has been demonstrated only for a limited number of cell types. Here, we used a well-established protocol for BMP2-induced neuronal differentiation of neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) to examine the function of BMP2-induced ROS during the process. We first show that BMP2 indeed induces ROS generation in NCSCs and that blocking ROS generation by pretreatment of cells with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) as NADPH oxidase (Nox) inhibitor inhibits neuronal differentiation. Among the ROS-generating Nox isozymes, only Nox4 was expressed at a detectable level in NCSCs. Nox4 appears to be critical for survival of NCSCs at least in vitro as down-regulation by RNA interference led to apoptotic response from NCSCs. Interestingly, development of neural crest-derived peripheral neural structures in Nox4-/- mouse appears to be grossly normal, although Nox4-/- embryos were born at a sub-Mendelian ratio and showed delayed over-all development. Specifically, cranial and dorsal root ganglia, derived from NCSCs, were clearly present in Nox4-/- embryo at embryonic days (E) 9.5 and 10.5. These results suggest that Nox4-mediated ROS generation likely plays important role in fate determination and differentiation of NCSCs, but other Nox isozymes play redundant function during embryogenesis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2006

A optimal procedure for plant production via repetitive secondary somatic embryogenesis in Tilia amurensis is described. Somatic embryos were induced directly from the culture of zygotic embryos on medium with 1.0 mg/l 2,4.-D. Repetitive secondary somatic embryos formed on the surface of the cotyledons and hypocotyls except for the radicles when explants of somatic embryos were cultured on medium with 4.0 mg/l 2,4-D. The highest frequency of secondary embryo-genesis was obtained in the cotyledons (90%) and hypocotyls(83.33%) on MS medium with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D. The average number of secondary embryos per explant was 25.74 in cotyledon and 24.92 in hypocotyl. When the cotyledon and hypocotyl segments from somatic embryos at different developmental stages were cultured on MS medium with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D, the highest frequency of secondary embryogenesis was obtained from late cotyledonary secondary embryos. Somatic embryos were transferred to MS basal medium and then they germinated within 2 to 4 weeks of culture. Germinated somatic embryos grew normally into plantlets on WPM medium, producing new shoots. The converted plantlets were acclimatized on artificial soil mixture. These results indicate that the repetitive secondary somatic embryogenesis in T amurensis can offer the possibility to use in vitro culture system for the micropropagation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 1986

Follicle monitoring in the normal and clomiphene·stimulated cycles were analyzed in the Seoul IVF and ET (In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer) program. Ovarian follicular diameters were measured by the real·time sector scanner and plasma estradiol levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods during periovulatory period. The maximum follicular sizes of the clomiphene-stimulated and normal cycles were 21.1+-3.4mm and 19.2+-0.8mm, respectively. The peak levels of plasma estradiol in the clomiphene-stimulated and normal cycles were 10538+-553.6ng/ml and 298.3+-39.6pg/ml, respectively. Daily growth rate of the follicular diameters of the clomiphene-stimulated and normal cycles were 2.1mm and 1.9mm, respectively. Mean follicular number of the clomiphene-simulated and normal cycles were 2.28+-1.12 and 1.12+-0.21, respectively. There was a good statistical correlation between the mean follicular diameters and the plasma estradiol levels in the normal ovulatory and c1omiphene-stimulated ovulatory menstrual cycles (p<0.05). Our data revealad that the mean follicular diameter and the plasma estradiol level prior to HCG administration in IVF and program should reach at the level of 17.8+-3.0mm and 949.4+-487.1 pg/ml, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2011

Objective: This study aimed to determine the safety and clinical effect of artificial shrinkage (AS) in terms of assisted hatching of fresh blastocysts. Also, we evaluated the correlation between patient age and the effect of AS on clinical outcome. Methods: Two AS methods, using a 29-gauge needle and laser pulse, were compared. Seventy-three blastocysts were shrunk using a 29-gauge needle and the same number of other blastocysts were shrunk by a laser pulse. We evaluated the shrunken blastocysts hourly and considered them viable if they re-expanded >70%. Blastocyst transfer cycles (n=134) were divided into two groups: a control group consisted of the cycles whose intact embryos were transferred (n=100), while the AS group consisted of the cycles whose embryos were replaced following AS (n=34). The implantation and pregnancy rates of the control group and AS group were compared ($p$ <0.05). Results: The re-expansion rates of the 29-gauge needle and laser pulse AS groups were similar (56 [76.7%] vs. 62 [84.9%], respectively). All of the remaining shrunken blastocysts were re-expanded within 2 hours. There was no degeneration of shrunken blastocysts. The total and clinical pregnancy rate of the AS group (23 [67.6%]; 20 [58.8%], respectively) was significantly higher than that of the control group (47 [47.0%]; 39 [39.0%], respectively). In the older patient group, there was no difference in the clinical outcomes between the AS and control groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that AS of blastocoele cavity, followed by the transfer, would be a useful approach to improve the clinical outcome in cycles in which fresh blastocyst stage embryos are transferred.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 1995

This study was conducted to find the factors affecting somatic embryogenesis in suspension culture of Rehmania glutinosa and investigate the possibility of artificial seed production by encapsulation of somatic embryos. Linsmeier-Skoog medium was appeared as proper for somatic embryogenesis. Sucrose with $3{\sim}5%$ as carbon sources was good for somatic embryogenesis, and both ammonium and nitrate nitrogen were necesary for normal somatic embryo production. BA with NAA or kinetin with NAA were better than the use of cytokinin alone for both somatic embryogenesis and numbers of somatic embryos. $AgNO_3$ as protectant for vitrification of seedlings in vitro culture had no harmful effect on somatic embryos. Sphericity of encapsulated seeds was good at 3% gel of sodium alginate but germination was better at 2.5% sodium alginate level. Artificial seeds were germinated and developed normal shoots and roots under in vitro condition.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.101-111
• /
• 2001

The present study was conducted to develop an in vitro culture system that would support bovine follicle growth from preantral to antral stage, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development. Bovine preantral follicles (150$\pm$1.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) surrounded by theca cell were isolated ezymatically and mechanically from ovarian cortical slides in Leibovitz L-l5 medium containing 1 mg/$m\ell$ collagenase and 0.2 mg/$m\ell$ DNase I and cultured for 25 days in the presence of different concentrations of bovine FSH and LH in $\alpha$MEM medium. The survival and growth rates of follicles cultured in the presence of FSH (10~150 ng/$m\ell$) were significantly higher than those of control group (P ＜ 0.001), but no significant differences were observed in survival and growth rates of follicles between the LH treatment groups (1~125 ng/$m\ell$) and the control. The survival (40%) and growth (244 $\pm$ 0.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) of follicles cultured with FSH (90 ng/$m\ell$) and LH (25 ng/$m\ell$) were higher than those of control (25%, 160 $\pm$1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$). Finally, 50% percent of healthy antral follicles were obtained, and almost 60% of them has complete meiotic division with 1st polar body (18.1%) and 10.0% have developed to the cleaved embryo and blastocyst stage. These results suggest that bovine preantral follicle with intact theca cell can grow to the antral stage using these culture conditions, and that oocytes from in vitro-matured bovine preantral follicle may acquire meiotic competence and can undergo fertilization and development.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.291-299
• /
• 2011

The membranous adhesions could induce implantation failure despite transplantation of high quality of embryo. Clinically, of the patients who have membranous filmy adhesions, endometrial polyps have been found in not infrequently. Thus this study was tried to evaluate the features of endometrial polyps and the effect of endometrial polyps on formation and extents of membranous adhesions in uterine cavity of infertile patients under hysteroscopy. A retrospective study was conducted on 34 infertile patients who were diagnosed as endometrial polyps with membranous adhesions during hysteroscopy from July 2008 to July 2011. Number, size, location and morophologic type of endometrial polyps were investigated. If needed, methylene blue solution was instillated to endometrial cavity to identify membranous adhesions. Then, associations between membranous adhesions with features of endometrial polyps were evaluated. Mean size of endometrial polyp was $1.6{\pm}0.6$ cm, the bigger of endometrial polyps was, the larger of extents of membranous adhesions. (p<0.05). Endometrial polyps were locate evenly in endometrial cavity as follows: anterior uterine wall, 39.1%; posterior uterine wall, 34.8%; lateral uterine wall, 26.1%; upper: 29.4%, middle: 32.4%, lower segment, 35.3%. Mean number of endometrial polyps was $2.26{\pm}1.3$. The pedunculated type was 37.7% and sessile type was 32.4%. There was no statistically significant association of location, number and morphologic type of endometrial polyps with membranous adhesions. In conclusion, hysteroscopy before in vitro fertilization on infertile patients was worthy because of removing of endometrial polyps and membranous adhesions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.343-359
• /
• 1989

To study the effects of ibaraki virus on preimplantation mouse embryos collected from prepubertal ICR and BALB/cByJ mice (30~40days old) by superovulation, zona pellucidaintact(ZPI) or free(ZPF) embryos(n=774) of 4- to 8-cell and morulae were exposed to $10^{5.8}$ $TCID_{50}$ of the virus up to 96 hours. The embryos were examined morphologically by observing the degeneration and hatching rates, and virologically and immunologically by determining the presence of infection with the virus, in addition, the effect of washing the embryos to remove virus possibly attached to was also investigated. The ZPI 4- to 8-cell embryos and morulae exposed to the virus showed considerably higher degeneration rate than those not exposed, for 96, and for 72 to 96 hours, respectively(p<0.01). The ZPF 4- to 8-cell embryos and morulae exposed to the virus showed considerably higher degeneration rates than those not exposed, throughout the whole culture hours in vitro (p<0.01). The ZPI 4- to 8-cell embryos and morulae not exposed to the virus showed considerably higher rates of hatched blastocyst than those exposed (p<0.01). The virus infection rates of the ZPF 4- to 8-cell embryos and morulae were significantly higher than those of the ZPI embryos according to cell culture system. The viral antigen was detected exclusively on the zona pellucida of ZPI embryos, while the antigen was evenly distributed in the blastomeres of ZPF embryos by the immunofluorescent assay. In the ZPI embryos exposed to ibaraki virus, the virus was detected in the two times-washing groups, but not in the ten times-washing groups. The results indicated that zona pellucida of murine embryos would provide an effective protection and that ten times-washing of the ZPI embryos previously exposed to the virus was effective to remove virus from the embryos.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2008

Effects of growth regulators and culture conditions on seed germination, haustorium development, and callus formation of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi) were described. Histological examination showed that seed of V. album contained one or two zygotic embryos with rod shape, and actively dividing cells were mainly distributed in radicle region rather than cotyledon of zygotic embryo. The most significant factor for seed germination and haustorium development of V. album was the requirement of the light. Various growth regulators examined in this study failed to substitute the effect of the light on seed germination. The frequency of callus formation was highest at 27.3% when flower buds were cultured onto B5 medium containing $0.1\;mgl^{-1}$ IAA. Explants from other organs were recalcitrant in forming calluses. Culture conditions described in this study could be applied for production of useful metabolites and multiplication of V. album in future.