• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.641-645
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• 1995

This study was conducted to develop a method for production of nuclear transplant bovine embryos using in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes and to examine the effect of different conditions of electrofusion on fusion rate and developmental capacity of donor nucleus transplanted to enucleated oocytes. Eight- to sixteen-cell embryos derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro used as donor blastomeres and IVM oocytes were used as recipient oocytes. Oocytes were enucleated immediately after 23-24 h IVM and then reconstituted with a donor blastomere in two different micromanipulation media. Fusion rate and subsequent development of the reconstituted oocytes was compared under the different electric stimuli and recipient oocyte ages. Success rate of enucleation was significantly higher in TCM-199 medium containing FCS than in DPBS. The high fusion rate(75-94%) and development (6.4-14.8%) to morulae and blastocyst (M + B) were obtained from 0.6-0.75 kV/cm DC voltage, although total cleavage was not different among the electric pulses. Most optimal condition of electric stimulation for fusion and development was 1 DC voltage of 0.75 kV/cm, in which 80.5% of oocytes were fused, 80.0% and 31.7% of which was cleaved and developed to M + B, respectively. No M + B was obtained from 1.2 kV/cm DC voltage regardless of pulse frequency. Recipint oocyte age at electrofusion greatly affected the cleavage and subsequent development to M + B, showing high rate at 40-41 h oocyte maturation. These results suggest that a suitable condition of electrofusion for donor nuclei derived from IVF may be 1-2 DC pulses of 0.7 kV/cm for $70{\mu}sec$ and that processing of a transplanted nucleus in IVM oocytes may be affected by maturation age of recipient oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 1998

Enucleation of oocytes is an important limiting step for embryo cloning. We propose an enucleation technique based on the removal of chromatin after oocyte activation by aspirating the second polar body containing complemented chromatin. In a preliminary experiment to determine an optimal age of oocytes enucleation in rabbits, oocytes were enucleated at 15~20 hours post hCG. Recently ovulated oocytes were enucleated at a higher rate than aged oocytes. Microsurgical removal of the complemented chromatin in the second polar body was significantly more effective in enucleating than aspiration of a larger cytoplasm volume surrounding the first polar body of metaphase-arrested oocytes(96.8% versus 70.4%; P〈0.05). Moreover, compared with a nuclear transplantation protocol based on enucleation of metaphase-arrested oocytes and preactivated oocytes followed by treatment with 5 $\mu$M ionomycin for 5 min and 2 mM DMAP for 1 hr, there was no significant difference in the rate of blastocyst development. The ease with which modified technique can be performed is likely to render this technique widely useful for research and practice on mammalian cloning.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1988

In order to investigate the role of nuclei and cytoplasm in early embryogenesis, interspecific nuclear transplantation was carried out Nuclei of one species of amphibian was transplanted into enucleated egg of another species. In interspecific hybrids between Rana species, development was arrested before or right after the dorsal lip formation. In intergenetic hybrids between Rana, Xenopus and axolod, developmental arrest took place at late blastula stage. Comparing the developmental capacity of each nudeocytoplasmic hybrid, the more distantly related the species, the earlier does development arrest. The general rule is that nuclear transfers between any amphibian species will form a regulary cleaved late blastula. Two plausible factors relate to limitation of tite developmental capacity of nudeocytaplasmic hybrids. One is an irreversible change in grafted nuclei and another is tunctional incompatibility between the recipient cytoplasm and transplanted nucleus. The later is postulated a more possible cause of the arrestrnent.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2017

Nuclear factor I-C (NFI-C) plays a pivotal role in various cellular processes such as odontoblast and osteoblast differentiation. Nfic-deficient mice showed abnormal tooth and bone formation. The transplantation of Nfic-expressing mouse bone marrow stromal cells rescued the impaired bone formation in $Nfic^{-/-}$ mice. Studies suggest that NFI-C regulate osteogenesis and dentinogenesis in concert with several factors including transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$, $Kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like factor 4, and ${\beta}$-catenin. This review will focus on the function of NFI-C during tooth and bone formation and on the relevant pathways that involve NFI-C.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.124-132
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• 1990

It has been reported that hematoma is one of the most crucial factors in fracture healing since callus formation is disturbed by washing out the hematoma near a fracture site. However, it is not clear why the hamatoma is important and how it plays a role during the fracture healing. In order to investigate the role of hematoma in the process of fracture healing, the osteogenic potential by subperiosteal transplantation have been studied. Experimental fractures by operation were made at the mid-shaft of the tibia in New Zealand white rabbits. Removal of hematoma at the fracture site was done after 2 and 3 days from experimental fracture, and the removed hematoma was transplanted into the subperiosteal area at the mid-shaft of the ulna of each rabbit. As control groups, we have performed 3 different procedures 1) the hematoma was transplanted into the muscular layers at the thigh and forearm; 2) autologous blood clots were transplanted into the subperiosteal area of the ulna; and 3) sham operation without a transplantation into the subperiosteal area. After transplantation, serial bone scintigraphy and simple radiography were performed at 4 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks to detect an abnormality. The results of bone scintigraphy were positive in 5 of 6 experimental group. However, all in three control groups were negative. Histological observation of the positive bone revealed new bone formation with trabeculation. These results suggest the hematoma in fracture site has osteogenic potential in the subperiosteal area which can be demonstrable by bone scintigraphy and histologic findings. Therefore, it is considered that hematoma of the fracture site plays an important role in the process of fracture healing. Further biochemical investigation using various experimental models is mandatory to apply this preliminary result to the treatment of clinical delayed union or nonunion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.547-554
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the best condition for in vitro and in vivo culture after freezing and thawing of nuclear transplant 2 cell embryos. When nuclear transplant embryos were submitted to electrofusion, the significantly higher fusion rates of 2 cell donor nuclei were achieved at the electric field strength of DC 1.5 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$, DC 2.0 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$ than DC 1.0 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$(p<0.01). The significantly higher fusion rates of 4 cell donor nuclei were achievecl at DC 2.0 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$ than DC 1.0 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$(p<0.01). The fusion rates in 8 cell donor nuclei were 94.2~99.3%. The developmental potency to blastocyst in 2 cell donor nuclei was significantly higher in DC 2.0 kV/cm for $150{\mu}sec$ treated group(p<0.01). The significantly higher developmental potency to blastocyst in 4 cell donor nuclei were achieved at the electric field strength of DC 2.0 kV/cm for $150{\mu}sec$ than DC 1.5 kV/cm for 100 and $150{\mu}sec$, DC 2.0 kV/cm for $100{\mu}sec$ treated group(p<0.01). The develop mental potency to blastocyst in 8 cell donor nuclei was significantly higher in DC 2.0 kV/cm for $100{\mu}sec$ treated group(p<0.01). The developmental potency to blastocyst after nuclear transplantation was significantly higher in 2 cell donor nuclei than in 8 cell donor nuclei(p<0.01). When the recovered embryos in normal morphology were cultured in vitro, there were no significant differences in the developmental potency to blastocyst between the freezing methods and the concentrations of cryoprotectant(p<0.01). The production rates of offspring after transfer of nuclear transplant embryos to recipient mouse were no significant difference in 2, 4 and 8 cell donor nuclei.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.368-380
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• 2002

Purpose: Liver transplantation (LT), one of the therapeutic options of primary liver cancer has been suffering from recurrence caused by metastasis in 8-54% of patients. This study was performed to investigate whether FDG-PET is useful for detecting hidden metastasis in LT candidates. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients (male:female=23:3, mean age 55.7 years) underwent FDG-PET. Their previous conventional diagnostic studies (CDS) like abdomen US and CT, chest x-ray and CT, and bone scan were negative (n=22) or equivocal (n=4) for metastasis. Positive FDG-PET findings were confirmed by biopsy or clinical follow-up. Results: Among 4 patients with equivocal metastatic lesions on CDS, 3 had 6 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as metastasis and subsequently LTs were cancelled. Of these, 5 lesions were initially negative on CDS. Remained 1 patient underwent LT with a negative FDG-PET result. Among 22 patients without metastasis on CDS, 5 had 7 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET. One of these patients proved to have 2 metastatic lesions, and LT was cancelled. The other 4 patients had S hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as benign lesions, and 3 patients of them underwent LT. In summary, FDG-PET was useful in avoiding 4 unwarranted LT by detecting unsuspected metastatic lesions on CDS. A total of 17 patients underwent LT. In comparison with pathology, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for detecting viable primary liver cancer were 55.6% (5/9) and 87.5% (7/8), respectively. Conclusion: FDG-PET can detect additional hidden metastasis and contribute to reducing unwarranted LT in the patients with primary liver cancer.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.sup1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2008

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary tumor in the liver. FDG PET has been applied for staging and treatment planning of hepatocellular carcinoma. It could reflect tumor prognosis because glucose metabolism assessed by FDG PET is known to have correlations with the differentiation and aggressiveness of the tumor. Although the ability of FDG PET to detect well-differentiated or low grade tumors and intra-hepatic lesions is not good, it is expected to playa major role in pre-surgical assessments for liver transplantation because it is useful in detecting extra-hepatic lesions and unexpected distant metastases with a better diagnostic performance than other conventional imaging modalities. Additionally, FDG PET has an advantage to screen other cancers through whole body scanning. As a new tracer for PET, Acetate demonstrates higher sensitivity and specificity to FDG in evaluating hepatocellular carcinoma. It thus seems that simultaneous use of Acetate PET with FDG PET could be helpful in diagnosis, especially detecting extra-hepatic metastases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.722-727
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• 2016

Cardiomyopathy is a major cause of death worldwide. Based on pathohistological abnormalities and clinical manifestation, cardiomyopathies are categorized into several groups: hypertrophic, dilated, restricted, arrhythmogenic right ventricular, and unclassified. Dilated cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by dilation of the left ventricle and systolic dysfunction, is the most severe and prevalent form of cardiomyopathy and usually requires heart transplantation. Its etiology remains unclear. Recent genetic studies of single gene mutations have provided significant insights into the complex processes of cardiac dysfunction. To date, over 40 genes have been demonstrated to contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy. With advances in genetic screening techniques, novel genes associated with this disease are continuously being identified. The respective gene products can be classified into several functional groups such as sarcomere proteins, structural proteins, ion channels, and nuclear envelope proteins. Nuclear envelope proteins are emerging as potential molecular targets in dilated cardiomyopathy. Because they are not directly associated with contractile force generation and transmission, the molecular pathways through which these proteins cause cardiac muscle disorder remain unclear. However, nuclear envelope proteins are involved in many essential cellular processes. Therefore, integrating apparently distinct cellular processes is of great interest in elucidating the etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy. In this mini review, we summarize the genetic factors associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and discuss their cellular functions.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 1997

To examine the efficiency of nuclear transplantation the influence of electrical preactivation of recipient cytoplasm on the in vitro developmental potentyl in the nuclear transplant rabbit embryos were evaluated. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected and synchronized to G1 phase of 32-cell stage. The recipient cytoplasms were obtained by removing the first polar body and chromosome mass by non-disruptive microsurgery procedure. The separated G1 phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were put into the non-preactivated and/or the preactivated recipient cytoplasm by electrical stimulation. After culture until 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused. The fused nuclear transplant embryos were co-cultured with rabbit oviduct epithelial cells and monitored every 24h to assess for developmental rate. After in vitro culture for 120h, the nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33342 and their blastomere were counted. The electrofusion rate was similar to the non-preactivated and preactivated recipient cytoplasm(81.8 and 85.7%, respectively). However, the in vitro developmental rate to blastocyst stage with the non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm (57.1%) was found significantly (P<0.05) higher, compared to the preactivated recipient cytoplasm(20.8%). The cell counts of nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastosyst stage were increased significantly (P<0.05) more in the non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm (163.7 cells), as compared with the preactivated recipient cytoplasm(85.4 cells). These results considered better that non-preactivated oocytes, MII phase oocytes, were used for recipient cytoplasms in the rabbit nuclear transplant procedure.