• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2019

These studies were conducted to evaluate developmental competence of follicular oocyte collected from the ovaries of Hanwoo cows with the high offspring meat quality (1++ and 1+ grade). Cumulus oocyte complexes from individual cows were matured, fertilized and cultured using protocols of in-vitro maturation (IVM), invitro fertilization (IVF) and in-vitro culture (IVC). The rates of blastocyst development from Hanwoo cows with the offspring meat quality grades of 1++ and 1+ were 18.6 and 21.2%, respectively. The rates of blastocyst development were 26.3, 20.7, 20.7, 17.2 and 31.2% from Hanwoo cows with the meat quality grades of 1++, 1+, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Fiftyseven transferable embryos were recovered from 11 Hanwoo donor cows (5.2/head) with the high offspring meat quality grades of 1++ and 1+ in vivo, and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was 61.1%. In conclusion, these results suggest that in vitro embryo production from the ovaries of cows with the high meat quality grades using individual culture system can be used an efficient method for livestock improvement. In addition, for the successful industrialization of embryo transfer, conception rate should be improved.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.546-557
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• 2021

Objective: If fertilization does not occur within a specific period, the quality of unfertilized oocytes in the oviduct (in vivo aging) or in culture (in vitro aging) will deteriorate over time. Icariin (ICA), found in all species of Epimedium herbs, has strong antioxidant activity, and is thought to exert anti-aging effects in vitro. We asked whether ICA protects oocytes against age-related changes in vitro. Methods: We analyzed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and expression of antioxidant, maternal, and estrogen receptor genes, and along with spindle morphology, and the developmental competence and quality of embryos in the presence and absence of ICA. Results: Treatment with 5 μM ICA (ICA-5) led to a significant reduction in ROS activity, but increased mRNA expression of glutathione and antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], SOD2, peroxiredoxin 5, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2), during aging in vitro. In addition, ICA-5 prevented defects in spindle formation and chromosomal alignment, and increased mRNA expression of cytoplasmic maturation factor genes (bone morphogenetic protein 15, cyclin B1, MOS proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase, and growth differentiation factor-9). It also prevented apoptosis, increased mRNA expression of antiapoptotic genes (BCL2-like 1 and baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 5), and reduced mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic genes (BCL2 antagonist/killer 1 and activation of caspase-3). Although the maturation and cleavage rates were similar in all groups, the total cell number per blastocyst and the percentage of apoptotic cells at the blastocyst stage were higher and lower, respectively, in the control and ICA-5 groups than in the aging group. Conclusion: ICA protects oocytes against damage during aging in vitro; therefore, it can be used to improve assisted reproductive technologies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.103-108
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• 1996

Through the previous studies(I,II), it was observed that human follicular fluid(HFF) was more effective than human fetal cord serum(HFCS) on promoting meiotic resumption of oocytes and improving embryonic development of mouse in vitro. On the basis of these results, we have gradually exchanged HFCS with HFF as protein supplement in human ART. This study was performed to investigate the efficiency of HFF on improving the pregnancy rate in ART. Oocytes were retrieved transvaginally from patients treated with pituitary suppression with GnRH-agonist and ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotro-pin(HMG) and pure follicle stimulating hormone(FSH). Aspirated oocytes were rinsed and cultured in TCM-199 containing HFF, and the concentrations of HFF were adjusted to 10, 20, and 30% according to the use for insemination, embryo growth and embryo transfer, respectively. As possible as, we tried to do embryo transfer into fallopian tube to mimic the coincidence of the cell stage with the place of sojourn in vivo, so we performed various ART programs(IVF & ET; in vitro fertilization, ZIFT; zygote intra fallopian-tube transfer, ZIFT & ET) according to the tubal conditions of patients. On the while, intra cytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) was used to assist IVF of the patients who had shown poor standard IVF results by immunological or severe male factor. Of the 255 cycles of ART programs using HFF as protein supplement, 118 cycles were turn out to be succeeded in pregnancy(46.2%, per cycle, p<0.05), while 21 pregnancies were achieved in the 69 cycles using HFCS(30.4%). The 255 cycles using HFF were subdivided into cycles with the type of ART programs, and each pregnancy rate of the ART programs were 44.7% (IVF & ET, 76/170 cycles), 53.4%(ZIFT, 31/58 cycles) and 40.7% (ZIFT & ET, 11/27 cycles), respectively. In the 61 ICSI cycles using HFF, 28 cycles succeed in pregnancy(45.9%), while 7 pregnancies were obtained in the 17 ICSI cycles using HFCS. Also the ongoing pregnancy rate in the group using HFF(78.8%, 93/118 cycles) was higher than that in the group using HFCS(61.9%). Therefore, we found that the use of HFF as protein supplement was more suitable and effective than the use of HFCS to improve the pregnancy rate in ART.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.174-183
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• 2001

During the rapid phase of gonadal development of the freshwater teleost, the catfish (Silurus asotus), the influence of hCG upon the inducement of final oocyte maturation and spawning was investigated electrophoretically and ultrastructurally. The electrophoretic patterns obtained were different in the presence and absence of some of the major or minor zones, because of the hormone level in catfish. The vitellogenin of hormone-treated fish was stained more intensively than that of sham-treated fish. These proteins showed some minor or main bands of egg extracts which migrated at positions corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 90,000. However, the thickness of electrophoretic band in molecular weight for hCG-treated fish was slightly lower than that for saline control. It seemed the plasma protein with molecular weight of approximately 45,000 in hCG-treated fish disappeared. In contrast to the control fish, the ovaries in the catfish treated with hCG shows a marked ultrastructural change under the electron microscope. No dilated profiles were seen in the granulosa cells of the mature oocyte before ovulation. After germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), the zona radiata interna (ZRI) becomes more compact, and there is a loss of all the processes from the pore canals. There is a wide space between the vitelline membrane and zona radiata. Also, during final maturation, the microvillar processes from the oocyte are seen no longer to penetrate deeply into the extracellular spaces of the overlying granulosa cells, and the reticulate patterns of the zona radiata interna becomes occluded, giving the zona radiata a more solid appearance. It has been possible to initiate 100% oocyte maturation in yolk granules and follicles in vivo by treatment with hCG and a high water temperature ($27^{\circ}C$). In hCG-treated fish, the percentages of successful artificial fertilization and hatching were maximal at 15 h after a single injection. It seems clear that a long acting preparation containing hCG can be successfully used in prespawning fish to advance the final events of gonadal maturation and initiate spawning. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential of hCG to either stimulate or inhibit the reproductive development of fish at other stages of the seasonal reproductive cycle.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2000

This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of administration of Agyoju or Mokhyang on the maintenance of pregnancy, delivery and sex ratio in the mice in different gestation periods. Adult female mice were administered orally at three different periods, from ovulation to implantation (Exp.1), from post-implantation to organogenesis (Exp.2), and from fetal growth to parturition (Exp.3). In Experiment 1, number of fetus implanted and mean body weight were not significantly different. However, the delivery of male offspring was significantly increased in Agyoju and Mokhyang administrated groups than control group. In Experiment 2, the number of fetuses implanted, live offsprins and their body weight at delivery were significantly increased in the Agyoju administered group than Mokhyang and control groups. In Experiment 3, the number of live offspring and sex ratio were not different in both treatments and control group. However, mean body weight at delivery was significantly increased in both treatment groups than that of control group. These results suggest that 1) Agyoju and Mokhyang have beneficial effects in maintenance of pregnacy, and that 2) The action of unknown component(s) in Agyoju may be related to selection of male spermatozoa for fertilization in vivo, and that 3) the administration of Agyju of Mojhyang during mid-and late-pregnance periods were shown the increment of body weight of live offspring without decrease of litter size.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.345-351
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• 2000

Objective: Hatching of the blastocyst from the zona pellucida (ZP) is a key event in mammalian implantation. In vivo, two factors have been identified as possible mediators of hatching: lysis of the ZP by substances elaborated either from the embryo or female reproductive tract and pressure exerted on the zona by expansion of the blastocyst. Two methods of zona manipulation were already in use to enhance the ability of embryos to hatch: mechanical PZD and chemical ZD by acidic Tyrode's solution. But several controversies of each method have been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pronase for mouse embryo hatching. Methods: Mouse embryos were obtained following ovulation induction of $F_1$ animals. Fresh and cryo-thawed morula embryos were exposed to 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 ${\mu}g/ml$ pronase in Ham's F10 for 72 hrs. Main outcome measures were the rates of partial hatching and completely hatched blastocysts, and cell number of it. Results: In fresh and cryo-thawed group, the rates of completely hatched blastocyst were significantly higher in 5 ${\mu}g/ml$ pronase treatment group than control group. There was no difference in completely hatched blastocyst total cell number between pronase treatment group and control group. This suggest that pronase treatment did not harmful in mouse embryo development. In pronase treatment group, zona pellucida were thinner than control group. Conclusion: The addition of pronase to culture media may accelerate the hatching of embryo. So, enzymatic treatment of the zona may provide a valuable and effective assisted hatching technique for human in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.571-578
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• 2006

Mitochondrial serine protease로 알려진 human HtrA2 (hHtrA2)는 apoptosis 유도 과정에서 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있을 뿐만 아니라 hHtrA2가 motor neuron degeneration과 관련이 있다는 최근 연구 결과가 있으나, hHtrA2의 생리적 기능은 아직 명확하게 밝혀져 있지 않다. 이와 같이 생체내에서 필수적인 업무를 담당하는 hHtrA2의 기능을 심도 있게 연구하기 위해서는 적절한 동물모델 시스템이 필요하나 이에 대한 연구도 미흡한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 hHtrA2의 기능 분석을 위한 기본적인 실험으로 zebrafish라는 동물모델을 선택하여 hHtrA2의 발현 시스템을 정립하였다. 먼저 zebrafish에 hHtrA2를 발현시키기 위하여 zebrafish에서 일반적으로 사용되는 발현 시스템인 pCS2+ vector에 hHtrA2와 GFP를 cloning하고 plasmid를 HEK293 cell에 transfection한 후, hHtrA2-GFP fusion 단백질의 발현을 immunoblot과 immunofluorescence staining assay로 확인한 바 약 64 kDa의 hHtrA2 단백질의 발현을 확인할 수 있었다. Zebrafish에서 hHtrA2-GFP fusion 단백질의 발현양상은 immunofluorescence microscope으로 확인하였다. hHtrA2-GFP DNA와 mRNA를 zebrafish embyro에 microinjection하여 두 가지 component의 발현을 비교 분석한 결과, DNA는 dot 형태로 mRNA는 몸 전체에 퍼져보이는 형태로 발현 양상의 차이는 있었으나 둘 다 zebrafish embryo에서 잘 발현되는 것을 알 수 있다. 다음 DNA를 주 component로 microinjection하여 zebrafish embryo에서 발현을 확인한 결과 hHtrA2는 72 hpf 까지 발현이 지속되는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 정립한 hHtrA2의 zebrafish 발현 조건은 앞으로 zebrafish에서 hHtrA2의 생리적 기능을 심도있고 정확하게 연구하는 데 있어 기본적인 자료로 활용 할 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.157-162
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• 2006

소 난포란의 체외 성숙은 과립막 세포, 난자의 핵성숙을 촉진하는 미지의 혈청내의 물질뿐만 아니라, 호르몬이나 생리 활성 인자 등에 의해 촉진됨이 밝혀졌다. 이에 따라 체외 성숙 및 체외 발달에 사용되는 배양액의 조성도 복합 배양액에서 단순 배양액으로 전환을 시도하고 있으며, 체내의 조건에 보다 더 접근하고자 하는 시도들이 수행되고 있다. 본 연구는 한우 난포란의 성숙 시 FGF의 첨가가 체외 성숙율 및 체외 수정 후 배발달율에 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. 한우 난포란의 체외 성숙시 FGF를 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml를 첨가하였을 때 24 시간째에 Metaphase II 도달율은 각각 72.7, 70.0, 75.0%로서 무첨가 대조군의 37.5% 에 유의적으로 높은 성숙율을 보였다(p<0.05). 그러나 FGF 첨가 농도간에는 차이가 인정되지 않았다. FGF로 체외 성숙된 난포란의 체외 수정 후 배발달율은 0, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml FGF 첨가군에서 각각 25.0, 9.5, 0, 2.9%를 보여, 무첨가 대조군에 비해 FGF 첨가군에서 낮았다(p<0.05). FGF로 체외 성숙된 난포란을 체외 수정 후 10% FBS-HPM 199, 0.8% BSA-HPM 199 및 0.1% PVA-HPM에 배양한 결과 12.4, 12.8, 8.5%의 배반포 발달율을 보였으며, 무혈청 배양액인 IVMD, IVD에 배양한 결과 38.4 및 34.8%의 배반포 발달율로 유의적인 차이를 나타냈다(p<0.05). 결론적으로 FGF는 한우 난포란의 체외 성숙시 유용한 물질이나, 한우 난자의 체외 발달에는 단독의 효과를 기대할 수 없었으며, 다른 생리 활성 인자들 간의 상호 관계에 대하여 더 많은 연구가 요구된다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.119-122
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• 2004

소 체외성숙시 난포란에 영향을 주는 과립막세포와 난자의 핵성숙을 촉진하는 물질이 확인되지 않은 혈청내의 물질 뿐만 아니라 호르몬이나 생리활성인자 등에 의해 촉진됨이 밝혀졌다. 이에 따라 체외성숙 및 체외발달에 사용되는 배양액의 조성도 복합배양액에서 단순배양액으로 전환을 시도하고 있으며, 체내의 조건에 보다 더 접근하고자 하는 시도들이 수행되고있다. 본 연구는 한우 난포란의 체외성숙율 및 체외수정 후 배발달율을 향상시키기 위하여 TGF-${\beta}$의 첨가가 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. 한우 난포란의 체외성숙시 TGF-${\beta}$ 0.1, 1. 10ng/ml를 첨가하였을 때 24시간에 MetaphaseⅡ 도달율은 95.8%, 95.8%, 100%를 나타내었으며, 농도간의 유의적인 차이는 없었다. TGF-${\beta}$로 체외성숙된 난포란을 체외수정 후 TGF-${\beta}$가 체외성숙 배양액을 동일하게 체외발달을 유도하였으나, 0~0.8%의 배반포율을 보였으며, TGF-${\beta}$로 체외성숙된 난포란을 체외수정 후 TCM 199_10% FBS, 0.8% BSA, 0.1% PVA에 배양한 결과 12.4%, 12.8%, 8.5%의 배반포 발달율을 보였고, 무혈청 배양액인 IVMD, IVD에 배양한 결과 38.4%, 34.8%의 배반포 발달율을 보였으며, 유의적인 차이를 나타냈다(P<0.005). 결론적으로 TGF-${\beta}$는 한우 난포란의 체외성숙시 상당히 유용한 물질이나, 체외발달에는 만족할 수 없어, 이외의 생리활성 인자들간의 상호관계에 대하여 더 많은 요구가 요구된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.155-163
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• 2004

본 연구는 도축돈의 난소로부터 난자를 채취하여 체외배양시킨 후 세포 안정제와 원심분리 그리고 OPS를 이용한 유리화동결 하였다. 동결 융해한 수정란을 경산돈에 외과적 또는 비외과적으로 이식하여 자돈을 생산하는 것을 목적으로 수행하였다. ${\cdot}$ 도축돈 난소로부터 채란되어진 돼지 미성숙난은 Funahashi 등(1994) 방법에 따라 체외 성숙-수정-배양하였다. 체외배양액은 glucose-free NCSU 23을 이용하였으며, 5일째에 10% Fatal bovine serum (FBS)을 첨가 배반포로 발달을 유도하였다. ${\cdot}$ 체외배양된 수정란은 7.5${\mu}$g.mL cytochalasin B에 30분 처리 후 13,000 rpm에 13분간 원심 분리하였고, ethylene glycol(EG) 동결액으로 처리한 뒤 OPS를 이용하여 동결${\cdot}$융해하였다. ${\cdot}$ 동결수정란과 비동결수정란을 plastic straw에 loading 한 후 3두에는 경산돈에 외과적 방법으로 각각 100개, 100개의 동결수정란과 대조군으로 34개의 비동결수정란을 이식하였고 다른 3두에는 비외과적 방법으로 각각 150개, 150개의 동결수정란과 대조군으로 100개의 비동결수정란을 각각 이식하였다. 외과적이식돈의 대조군에 사용한 신선수정란은 비경산돈 3두에서 채란하였다. ${\cdot}$이식 결과 6두 모두 지연성 발정을 보였으며 이중 동결수정란 이식돈은 임상적으로 정상이였으나 비동결수정란은 이식한 경우는 자궁내막염과 복강탈장이 관찰되었다. 주요 원인은 시술시 기술의 미숙과 야외수술에 의한 감염, 난자의 이동과 수송에 의한 영향 그리고 주입 미숙 등이 주요 원인인 것으로 생각되며 융해 후 생존효율이 높은 수정란의 준비, 이식 기술의 개선과 자궁상태가 청결한 비경산돈의 이식으로 임신율을 높일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.