• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to test whether ZP drilling using a 1.48$\mu$m diode laser beam on mouse IVF embryos becomes effective the hatching and normal in vivo development, as a preliminary test for obtaining the additional proof that the 1.48$\mu$m diode laser could be used safely for human applications. The results obtained in this experiment were as follows: when the hatched rates of mouse embryos by laser ZP drilling according to the embryonic stage were examined until 72 hr (in case of blast tocyst: day 4 after IVF) or 120 hr (in case of 4-cell: day 2 after IVF) after treatment, the d data of laser drilled blastocysts (81.8%) was significantly higher than those of control (hatching blastocyst: day 4 after IVF) (54.2%) and laser drilled 4-cell embryos (45.5%) (p<0.05). When the effect of laser drilling on implantation rates following embryo transfer in day 3 synchronized pseudopregnant recipients was examined, the l laser drilled group (48.7%) was slightly higher than that of control group (43.6%). In addition, when the several pregnant mice delivered in two groups were analysed their chromosomal normality and tested reproductive ability, all p pups were presented normal chromosomal number (n=40) and showed normal growth and reproductive ability. Therefore, these results dem-onstrated that ZP drilling using a 1.48$\mu$m diode l laser can increase the embryo hatching and ind duce the normal pregnancy of mouse embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

Objectives: We have previous reported that thawed testicular sperm and sperm extracted from seminiferous tubule could achieved optimal fertilization and pregnancy in azoospermic patients. However, thawed testicular sperm did not show motility in many cases. Therefore we studied viability of immotile sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule using hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test and eosin-Y test. Materials and Methods: After sperm extraction using for ICSI, the remained sections of seminiferous tubules were frozen with a computerized freezer. For thawing and preparation of testicular sperm, the seminiferous tubules were thawed by removing from $LN_2$ and letting them at room temperature for 10 min followed by %37^{\circ}C$ water bath for 10 min. The prepared samples were washed for free of preservation medium and sperm preparation method described previous. Sperm was suspended in 0.1 ml hypoosmotic solution. After 30 minutes, the type of distally coiled sperm were assessed. Results: In 44 cases of cryopreservation of seminiferous tubules in obstructive azoospennic patients, the fertilization rates with 2PN were 71.4% and pregnancy rates were 34.1%. The presence of motile spermatozoa on subsequent post-thaw testicular sperm remarked 15.1% and were increased to 77.3% just before ICSI. After sperm extracted from frozen-thawed seminiferous tubule, 3 hrs later in in vitro culture, the cases of presence of motile sperm, reaction of hypo-osmotic swelling test and viable sperm were 63.6% (28/44), 93.2% (41/44), and 77.3% (34/44), respectively. Conclusions: Just after post-thawed testicular sperm did not showed motility. Although motility was gained after in vitro culture, many cases showed non-motile sperm until optimal insemination time. However, HOS test showed positive reaction in non-motile sperm. Therefore, HOS test is an alternative method for the selection of viable sperm for ICSI.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the breeding status of farms to improve the production efficiency of Hanwoo calf. The study was conducted on 45 farms divided into two groups. This study was conducted to investigate the breeding size and breeding area of Hanwoo cows. The average age at first delivery of Hanwoo was 28.7 months. The number of artificial insemination per pregnancy was $1.45{\pm}0.32$, and the number of artificial insemination days after birth was 119.8 days. Conception rates were $75.2{\pm}16.93%$ for small farms and $70.6{\pm}17.46%$ for medium sized farms and $71.4{\pm}11.03%$ for large farms. When we looked at farming methods, 'the farmers using estrus observation aids' had 10.42% higher calf production rate than the 'unused farmers'. The farms vaccinated with IBR and BVDV for breeding cattle showed a 4.41% decrease in abortion, stillbirth and mortality. According to farming conditions, conception rate and delivery rate improved by 3.47% and 18.29%, respectively, when grazing and exercising were performed. Observation, immunization and grazing were found to be important indicators for improving calf production efficiency in Hanwoo farm. This study can be used as a research data to improve the reproductive rate of farmhouse sites through the survey on the breeding status of Hanwoo farmers.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2005

Objective: Human infertility clinics have been faced the demand for improving clinical results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of microsurgical removal of damaged blastomeres (DB) in frozen-thawed embryos on the clinical outcomes. Methods: From January 2003 to May 2004, out of 258 thawing ET cycles were divided into three groups: Group-1 (n=46): Intact cleavaged embryos after thawing. Remained cycles with embryos containing DB were randomly divided into two groups. Group-2 (n=102): Drilling zona pellucida (ZP) of frozen-thawed embryos by acidified Tyrode's solution. Group-3 (n=110): Drilling ZP and removal of DB. Embryos after microsurgical manipulation were transferred into the uterus of patients. Results: Clinical profiles and the mean number of transferred embryos among three groups were not different. Pregnancy and implantation rates were similar in three groups. It were 30.4% and 9.3% in Group-1, 29.4% and 7.8% in Group-2, and 26.4% and 7.6% in group-3, respectively. Miscarriage rate in Group-3 (37.9%) was slightly higher than those in Group-1 and Group-2 (14.3% and 23.3%), but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Intact cleaving embryos after DB removal showed higher potent of pregnancy and implantation. We could not find any improvement of clinical outcome by removal of DB in frozen-thawed embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2016

Although piglets have been delivered by embryo transfer (ET) with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and blastocysts, a success rate has still remained lower level. Unlike mouse, human, and bovine, it is difficult to a production of piglets by in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of an inappropriate in vitro culture (IVC) system in pig. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate whether minimized exposure time in IVC can improve the pregnancy and delivery rates of piglets. Immediately after IVM, the oocytes were denuded and co-incubated with freshly ejaculated boar semen for 3.5 to 4 hours at $38.5^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. To avoid long-term exposure to in vitro state, we emitted IVC step after IVF. After that the presumptive zygotes were transferred into both oviducts of the surrogate on the same day or 1 day after the onset of estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 28 after ET and then was checked regularly every month by ultrasound examination. The 3 out of 4 surrogates were determined as pregnant (75%) and a total of 5 piglets (2 females and 3 males) were delivered at $118.3{\pm}2.5$ days of pregnancy period. In conclusion, a short-term exposure time may be an important factor in the production of IVP-derived piglets. It can be apply to the in vitro production system of transgenic pig by IVF, cloning, and pronuclear microinjection methods.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2011

This study was focused on improvement of milk production in Mongolian dairy industry by artificial insemination (AI) technology, supported by ODA of KOICA in Republic of Korea. This program was started in January 2009 and it is in $3^{rd}$ years. This manuscript summarized the data especially on estrus synchronization and pregnancy establishment in dairy cows (Holstein) this year. A total of 81 dairy cows from 4 private farms (38 from Undarmal milk and that of 30, 8 and 5 dairy cows from Onjin (Enkhbayer), Jargalant, and BRM School farms respectively) were synchronized with 5 ml Lutalyse (i.m.) in the dump of dairy cows and then estrus was detected 2 to 3 days after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection. The synchronized dairy cows were inseminated with 0.5 ml dairy frozen semen by conventional artificial insemination (AI) techniques. Pregnancy was diagnosed about 60 days after AI by palpation method. About 96.3% (78/81) of synchronized cows were responded to single $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection. Total 75 over 78 dairy cows (90.1%) inseminated were diagnosed as pregnant. The estrus induction and pregnancy rates were very effective using Lutalyse injection and conventional AI techniques in Mongolian dairy cow. The present results indicated that AI after estrus induction in Mongolian dairy cows could be applied to dairy breeding technology for improving breeding efficiency and milk production of the country.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2000

Objectives : These experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of the administration on Korean herbal medicines, Kyoaekungkue-tang, Bojungykki-tang, Kungso-san, Antae-eum, and Antaegumchul-tang, on the reproductive functions in pregnant mice. Methods : Prepared herbal medicines(Kyoaekungkue-tang, Bojungykki-tang, Kungso-san, Antae-eum, Antaegumchul-tang) were administered to three different pregnant staged mice. We designed 3 experiments as follows; prepared herbal medicine administered from ovulation to embryo implantation (Experiment I), or administered after implantation to fetal organogenesis (Experiment II) and lastly administered from end of organogenesis to parturition (Experiment III). At day 14 of pregnancy, the whole uteri of half of the treated mice were retrieved from the Experiment I and in the Experiment II the implantation and mean weight of the fetuses were examined. The mean numbers of offspring, sex ratio and mean birth weight were examined in the other half of the mice. Results : The results from these studies were summarized as followed; 1. From the experiment I (administered from ovulation to embryo implantation), the no. of implantation between control and herbal medicine treated groups were shown similar results. Litter size after parturition was significantly decreased in the herbal medicine treated groups, except for Antaegumchul-tang. However, the mean weight of offspring after parturition showed a tendency to increase in the three herbal medicine treated groups. 2. From the experiment II (administered after implantation to fetal organogenesis), the implantation rates from the herbal medicine treated groups increased more significantly than that of the control Also, litter size and birth weight in the herbal medicine groups, except Antaeeum, increased more significantly than that of the control group. 3. From the experiment III group (administered after organogenesis to parturition), the mean number of offspring in Kyoaekungkue-tang and Antaegumchul-tang treated groups were significantly increased than that of control However, the litter size of the Kungso-san treated mice was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. Compared with the control and other herbal treated groups, the mean weight of fetuses after parturition in the Kyoaekungkue-tang and Antaegumchul-tang treated groups increased significantly. Conclusions : From these results, it can be concluded that Antaegumchul-tang showed more beneficial effects on the reproductive functions, implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, litter size and mean weight than other herbs.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.258-264
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• 2020

This study investigated the effect of variation in the number of somatic-cell-cloned embryos and their developmental stage at transfer on pregnancy, as well as the influence of the estrus status of recipient pigs on in vivo development of cloned porcine embryos after embryo transfer. For somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), fibroblast cells were obtained from a male porcine fetus. Recipient oocytes were collected from prepubertal gilts at a local abattoir and then cultured. After SCNT, reconstructed embryos of different numbers and developmental stages were transferred into recipient pigs. The developmental stage of the cloned embryos and the number of transferred embryos per surrogate showed no significant differences in terms of the resulting cloning efficiency. However, the pregnancy rate improved gradually as the number of transferred cloned embryos was increased from 100-150 or 151-200 to 201-300 per recipient. In pre-, peri-, and post-ovulation stages, pregnancy rates of 28.6%, 41.8%, and 67.6% and 16, 52, and 74 offspring were recorded, respectively. The number of cloned embryos and estrus status of the recipient pig at the time of transfer of the cloned embryo affect the efficiency of pig production; therefore, these variables should be particularly considered in order to increase the efficiency of somatic cell pig cloning.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to study the maternal risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) with a special emphasis on assessing the proportions of maternal genitourinary and periodontal infections among Indian women and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A hospital-based prospective study comprising 790 pregnant women visiting the obstetrics clinic for a routine antenatal check-up was undertaken. Once recruited, all study participants underwent clinical and microbiological investigations for genitourinary infections followed by a dental check-up for the presence of periodontitis. The study participants were followed up until their delivery to record the pregnancy outcomes. Infectious and non-infectious risk factors for PTB and LBW were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Independent risk factors for PTB and LBW were reported in terms of adjusted relative risk (ARR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Rates of PTB and LBW in the study population were 7.6% and 11.4%, respectively. Previous preterm delivery (ARR, 5.37; 95% CI, 1.5 to 19.1), periodontitis (ARR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.9), Oligohydramnios (ARR, 5.23; 95% CI, 2.4 to 11.5), presence of Nugent's intermediate vaginal flora (ARR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.1), gestational diabetes mellitus (ARR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.0 to 8.3), and maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1) were risk factors for PTB, while periodontitis (ARR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9), gestational hypertension (ARR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.3 to 10.8), maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.1) and genital infection during later stages of pregnancy (ARR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.1) were independent risk factors for LBW. Conclusions: Our study findings underscore the need to consider screening for potential genitourinary and periodontal infections during routine antenatal care in developing countries.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

Objective: In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes can be useful for some infertile patients. In IVM programs, the rates of embryo formation and pregnancy are low. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the main factors involved in regulating oocyte maturation in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and cumulus cell (CC) supplementation in IVM medium on the rates of embryo formation and viability of human blastocysts. Methods: A total of 80 germinal vesicle oocytes from stimulated cycles underwent an IVM program. The oocytes were divided into four groups, where group I consisted of IVM media only and served as the control, group II consisted of IVM+CCs, group III consisted of IVM+GDF9 (200 ng/mL), and group IV consisted of IVM+CCs+GDF9 (200 ng/mL). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on the IVM oocytes, and the cleavage embryos that were generated were vitrified. Following thawing, the embryos were cultured for 3 additional days, and the viability rates of the developed blastocysts were determined. Results: The maturation rate of the oocytes did not differ significantly across the four groups. The fertilization rate in group II was significantly higher than that in the control group (76.5% vs. 46.2%). Embryo formation was significantly more frequent in all experimental groups than in the control group, while blastocyst formation did not show significant differences in the three experimental groups compared to the control. The mean viability rates in groups II, III, and IV were 58.16%, 55.91%, and 55.95%, respectively, versus 37.78% in the control group (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation of IVM culture media with GDF9 and CCs enhanced the fertilization, embryo formation, and viability rates of blastocysts generated from vitrified cleavage embryos.