• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.145-147
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• 2005

Autocrine or paracrine mediators released by the early embryo are implicated in the support of embryonic development. Their mechanisms and optimal embryo density in the medium, however, are uncertain. This study was conducted to establish the optimal embryo density and culture medium volume in mouse parthenogenetic embryo culture. In experiment 1, culture of parthenogenetirally activated oocytes at a concentration of $2{\~}4$ embryos/${\mu}L$ significantly improved development to the blastoryst stage ($72{\%}{\leq}$) compared with culture at the lower ($0.2{\~}1$e mbryos/${\mu}L,\;0\~37.5\%$) and the higher ($5{\~}6$ embryos/${\mu}L,\;30\~53\%$) concentration for 120 h when the oocytes were cultured in a 5 ${\mu}L$ drop under mineral oil In experiment 2, the embryos cultured at a concentration of $2{\~}4$ embryos/${\mu}L$ in a 10 ${\mu}L$ drop ($81.1{\%}$) showed significantly higher blastocyst rates than those in a 5 ${\mu}L$ drop ($68.5{\%}$). This study optimizes in vitro culture condition by modifying embryo density and the volume of culture medium It may give appropriate level of autocrine and/or paracrine factors to enhance viability and subsequent normal development of mouse parthenogenetic embryos in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.251-255
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• 2007

This study was carried out to examine on developmental competence of Hanwoo embryos cultured in vitro according to culture conditions and freezing methods. The in vitro developmental competence to blastocyst stage at Day 8 of culture in SOF was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in CR1aa (30.3% vs. 18.4%). The in vitro developmental rate of morula and blastocysts cultured in group culture was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in individual culture (41.4% and 36.0% vs. 21.1% and 10.5%, respectively). The cell number of Day 8 blastocysts in group culture was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in the individual culture ($120.1{\pm}12.8\;vs.\;94.1{\pm}12.1$, respectively). The survival rates of frozen-thawed balstocysts that were exposed in 1.5 M ethylene glycol or 1.5 M ethylene glycol containing 0.1 M sucrose were 77.5% and 78.7%, respectively. The survival rates of blastocysts cultured for 48 h in slow freezing and vitrification was not significantly different (73.3 and 74.0%). In conclusion, in vitro developmental competence of bovine embryos was influenced on the culture medium (SOF) and culture method (Group culture). Survival rate of frozen-thawed of bovine embryos was not influenced on freezing solutions and freezing methods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1117-1123
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of IGF-I and EGF on the development of blastocysts or hatched blastocysts during the in vitro culture of embryos from immature porcine oocytes. After the in vitro maturation and fertilization of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and their culture in vitro in PZM3 medium, we examined the embryo development rate for 168 h. When different concentrations of IGF-I (0, 1, 10, 20 ng/ml) were supplemented to fertilized porcine embryos in vitro, there were no significant differences in cleavage rate, blastocyst development rate or blastocyst hatching rate among the treated groups. On the other hand, when different concentrations of EGF (0, 1, 10, 20 ng/ml) were supplemented to the in vitro culture medium, blastocyst development rate was highest in the group in which EGF was not supplemented and, specifically, it was higher than in the 20 ng/ml treatment group (p<0.05). When 10 ng/ml IGF-I and 1 ng/ml EGF were supplemented separately or simultaneously, there were no significant differences among the treated groups in blastocyst hatching rate and the number of cells in each condition. This study demonstrated that the addition of IGF-I and EGF into PZM3 medium did not enhance development of the blastocyst stage and total cell number in blastocysts.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of antioxidant treatment during parthenogenetic activation procedure on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and in vitro development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. Porcine in vitro matured oocytes were activated by a combination of electric stimulus and 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DAMP) before in vitro culture. During the activation period, oocytes were treated with $50{\mu}M$ ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol (${\beta}$-ME), $100{\mu}M$ L-ascorbic acid (Vit. C) or $100{\mu}M$ L-glutathione (GSH). To examine the ROS level, porcine parthenogenetic embryos were stained in $10{\mu}M$ dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate ($H_2DCFDA$) dye 20 h after culture, examined under a fluorescence microscope, and the fluorescence intensity (pixels) were analyzed in each embryo. The parthenogenetic embryos were cultured for 6 days to evaluate the in vitro development. The apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay. The $H_2O_2$ levels of parthenogenetic embryos were significantly lower in antioxidant treatment groups ($26.9{\pm}1.6{\sim}29.1{\pm}1.3$ pixels/embryo, p<0.05) compared to control ($33.2{\pm}1.7$ pixels/embryo). The development rate to the blastocyst stage was increased in antioxidant treatment groups (32.0~32.5%) compared to control (26.9%, p<0.05), although, there was no difference in apoptosis among groups. The result suggests that antioxidant treatment during parthenogenetic activation procedure can inhibit the ROS generation and enhance the in vitro development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

Objectives: We investigated whether oriental medical therapy influences the results of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Methods: 19 women with infertility were treated by oriental treatment from August 1999 to June 2000 in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of an oriental medical center. The women were planning in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer after oriental medicine treatment. The data from the women was analyzed, we obtained the following results. Results: The average age of infertile women was $35.42{\pm}4.86$; infertility caused by male factor or tubal factor were the most frequent. The average number of previous failed IVF treatments was $2.21{\pm}1.81$. The number of aspirated oocytes was $9.00{\pm}6.09$ in IVF cycle before oriental therapy, increasing to $9.80{\pm}5.41$ after therapy, but it was not statistically significant. In IVF before oriental therapy, the average number of embryos transfer was $3.20{\pm}1.90$, and it significantly increased to $4.40{\pm}1.45$ after treatment. The quality points of embryos were $10.00{\pm}6.02$ before treatment, but statistically significantly improved to $14.07{\pm}4.98$ after. The characteristics of women being pregnant and non-successful women were compared with age, period of taking herbal medicine and the number of failed IVF treatments, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: Oriental treatment before IVF could be expected to have good results in treatment of infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.111-117
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• 2015

Objective: In order to increase the number of mature oocytes usable for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), we aimed to investigate the effect of co-culturing granulosa cells (GCs) on human oocyte maturation in vitro, the fertilization rate, and embryo development. Methods: A total of 133 immature oocytes were retrieved and were randomly divided into two groups; oocytes that were cultured with GCs (group A) and oocytes that were cultured without GCs (group B). After in vitro maturation, only oocytes that displayed metaphase II (MII) underwent the ICSI procedure. The maturation and fertilization rates were analyzed, as well as the frequency of embryo development. Results: The mean age of the patients, their basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, and the number of oocytes recovered from the patients were all comparable between the two study groups. The number of oocytes that reached MII (mature oocytes) was 59 out of 70 (84.28%) in group A, compared to 41 out of 63 (65.07%) in group B (p=0.011). No significant difference between fertilization rates was found between the two study groups (p=0.702). The embryo development rate was higher in group A (33/59, 75%) than in group B (12/41, 42.85%; p=0.006). The proportion of highest-quality embryos and the blastocyst formation rate were significantly lower in group B than in group A (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The findings of the current study demonstrate that culturing immature human oocytes with GCs prior to ICSI improves the maturation rate and the likelihood of embryo development.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin B (pantothenic acid, folic acid, and myo-inositol) that was supplemented to embryo culture medium on in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated (PA) pig embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from slaughtered ovaries were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones (hCG and eCG) for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22 h. After maturation culture, metaphase II oocytes that extruded 1st polar body were electrically activated and treated with $5.0\;{\mu}g/ml$ cytochalasin B for 4 h. Then, PA embryos were cultured for 7 days in a modified NCSU-23 that was supplemented with pantothenic acid, myo-inositol, or folic acid at different concentrations ($3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M$) according to the experimental design. Myo-inositol added to culture medium did not show any beneficial or inhibitory effects on embryo cleavage and blastocyst formation. However, $300\;{\mu}M$ pantothenic acid significantly inhibited blastocyst formation compared to control (no addition) (24% vs. 36%, p<0.05). Folic acid ($300\;{\mu}M$) significantly (p<0.05) increased blastocyst formation (56%) compared to control (41%). Our results demonstrated that in vitro development of PA embryos was significantly influenced by vitamin B and addition of $300\;{\mu}M$ folic acid to culture medium improved in vitro development of pig PA embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1993

This study was carried out investigate the effect of water quality and the kind of media on the in vitro development of 1-cell and stage mouse embryos. $F_1$ hybrid mice were superovulated and timely mated. 1-cell stage and 2-cell stage mouse embryos were recruited and taken into Ham's F-10 or m-KRB media which was made of two of two kinds of water having different quality, highly purified water and tap water. 2-cell stage embryos grew up well in vitro to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst regardless of the composition of culture media, but 1-cell stage mouse embryo didn't develop well to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst in simple media like m-KRB. These results meant in vitro devleopment of 1-cell stage mouse embryo neded complex media like Ham's F-10 which contained abundant protein components. In case of quality control for water, in vitro fertilization program. observation of in vitro development of 2-cell mouse embryos up to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst media such as m-KRB would be efficatious in detecting the difference of water quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.244-252
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• 2023

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed optimized in vitro culture (OIVC) dish for cultivating preimplantation mouse embryos. This dish minimizes the need for mineral oil and incorporates microwells, providing a stable culture environment and enabling independent monitoring of individual embryos. Methods: Mouse pronuclear (PN) zygotes and two-cell-stage embryos were collected at 18 and 46 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection, respectively. These were cultured for 120 hours using potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) to reach the blastocyst stage. The embryos were randomly allocated into three groups, each cultured in one of three dishes: a 60-mm culture dish, a microdrop dish, and an OIVC dish that we developed. Results: The OIVC dish effectively maintained the osmolarity of the KSOM culture medium over a 5-day period using only 2 mL of mineral oil. This contrasts with the significant osmolarity increase observed in the 60-mm culture dish. Additionally, the OIVC dish exhibited higher blastulation rates from two-cell embryos (100%) relative to the other dish types. Moreover, blastocysts derived from both PN zygotes and two-cell embryos in the OIVC dish group demonstrated significantly elevated mean cell numbers. Conclusion: Use of the OIVC dish markedly increased the number of cells in blastocysts derived from the in vitro culture of preimplantation mouse embryos. The capacity of this dish to maintain medium osmolarity with minimal mineral oil usage represents a breakthrough that may advance embryo culture techniques for various mammals, including human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2010

We investigated the cleavage rate and blastocyst yield for each culture condition to enhance tolerance of cryo-preservation of bovine IVF embryo with relatively lower cryo-tolerance compared to in vivo embryo. The cleavage rate and blastocysts yield for CR1aa, IVMD, IVD, CR1aa+10% FBS were 73.2, 69.3, 72.8, 68.5% and 44.1, 30.8, 33.3, 48.0%, respectively. The values did not differ among each treatments without serum. For embryo vitrification, In vivo and In vitro blastocysts were exposed to VS1(10% glycerin, 0.1 M glucose, 0.1 M sucrose, PEG 1%) for 5 min, and VS2 (10% glycerin, 10% EG, 0.2 M glucose, 0.2 M sucrose, PEG 2%) for 5 min and then VS3 (10% glycerin, 30% EG, 0.3 M glucose, 0.3 M sucrose, PEG 3%) for 1 min. The exposed embryos were then loaded into the 0.25 ml plastic straws and then plunged into liquid nitrogen. The straws were held for period of 1 to 2 weeks before thawing. In embryo viability, no differences in blastocyst re-expansion rates were found between in vivo and in vitro embryos. whereas expansion-BL rates was significantly higher for in vivo-derived embryos (72.7%) when compared to in vitro-derived embryos (51.4%), respectively (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results indicate that combined use of CRIaa culture medium with vitrification might enhance tolerance of cryopreservation for bovine IVF embryo production.