• Title/Summary/Keyword: pregnancy rates

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The Effect of the Serum Progesterone and Estradiol Levels of hCG Administration Day on the Pregnancy and Fertilization Rate in IVF-ET Patients (체외수정 과배란 유도에서 hCG 주사 당일의 혈청 Progesterone과 Estradiol 농도가 수정율 및 임신율에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Eun-Sook;Lee, Sang-Hoon;Bae, Do-Hwan
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.51-59
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    • 1996
  • Controlled Ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) is generally used to obtain synchronous high quality oocytes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Many investigators have studied the relationship between serum hormone levels and outcomes of IVF-ET because there is no accurate estimation method of oocyte quality. Early premature luteinization of follicles before oocyte retrieval is the most troublesome problem in COH for IVF-ET. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists(GnRH-a) are used as adjuncts with gonadotropins for COH in patients undergoing in IVF. The possible benefits of GnRH-a pretreatment include improving oocyte quality, allowing a more synchronous cohort of follicles to be recruited, and preventing premature lueinization hormone surges. In COH of IVF cycles, we investigated whether an elevated progesterone(P4) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration indicates premature luteinization and is associated with a lower fertilization rate. Many investigators have studied that the lower fertilization rates seen in patients with elevated P4 levels might result from an adverse effect of P4 on the oocytes. We hypothesizes that serum P4 levels around the day of hCG may be helpful prediction of out come in IVF-ET cycles. Success rates after COH of IVF-ET cycles are dependent upon many variable factors. Follicular factors including the number of follicles, follicular diameters and especially serum estradiol(E2) levels as an indirect measurement of follicular function and guality have been thought to influence the outcomes of IVF-ET. To assess whether serum P4 and E2 levels affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate, we reviewed the stimulation cycles of 113 patients (119 cycles) undergoing IVF-ET with short protocol with GnRH-a, from March 1993 to August 1994 retrospectively. The serum P4 and E2 levels were compared on the day of hCG in the pregnant group, 45 patients(47 cycles) and in the non-pregnant group, 68 patients (72 cycles) respectively. The serum E2 level in non-pregnant group was $1367{\pm}875.8$ pg/ml which was significantly lower than that of pregnant group, $1643{\pm}987.9$ pg/ml( p< 0.01 ). And the serum P4 level in non-pregnant group was $2.1{\pm}1.4$ ng/ml which was significantly higher than that of pregnant group, $1.0{\pm}0.7$ ng/ml( p< 0.001 ). The fertilization rate was $61.3{\pm}21.3%$ in pregnant group which was higher than that of non-pregnant group, $41.1{\pm}20.2%$ (p< 0.01). We suggest that the serum levels of P4 and E2 on the day of hCG administration are additional parameters that predict the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.

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Comparison of IVF-ET Outcomes between GnRH Antagonist Multiple Dose Protocol and GnRH Agonist Long Protocol in Patients with High Basal FSH Level or Advanced Age (높은 기저 난포 자극 호르몬 수치를 가지는 환자와 고령 환자의 체외수정시술을 위한 과배란 유도에서 GnRH antagonist 다회 투여법과 GnRH agonist 장기요법의 효용성에 대한 연구)

  • Kim, JY;Kim, NK;Yoon, TK;Cha, SH;Kim, YS;Won, HJ;Cho, JH;Cha, SK;Chung, MK;Choi, DH
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.315-324
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    • 2005
  • Objectives: To compare the efficacy of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (MDP) with that of GnRH agonist long protocol (LP) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization in patients with high basal FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level or old age, a retrospective analysis was done. Methods: Two hundred ninety four infertile women (328 cycles) who were older than 41 years of age or had elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) were enrolled in this study. The patients had undergone IVF-ET after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (n=108, 118 cycles) or GnRH agonist long protocol (n=186, 210 cycles). The main outcome measurements were cycle cancellation rate, consumption of gonadotropins, the number of follicles recruited and total oocytes retrieved. The number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, the clinical pregnancy rates, and the implantation rates were also reviewed. And enrolled patients were divided into three groups according to their age and basal FSH levels; Group A - those who were older than 41 years of age, Group B - those with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) and Group C - those who were older than 41 years of age and with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL). Poor responders were classified as patients who had less than 4 retrieved oocytes, or those with $E_2$ level <500 pg/mL on the day of hCG injection or those who required more than 45 ampules of exogenous gonadotropin for stimulation. Results: The cancellation rate was lower in the GnRH antagonist group than in GnRH agonist group, but not statistically significant (6.8% vs. 9.5%, p=NS). The amount of used gonadotropins was significantly lower in GnRH antagonist group than in agonist group ($34.8{\pm}11.3$ ampules vs. $44.1{\pm}13.4$ ampules, p<0.001). The number of follicles > 14 mm in diameter was significantly higher in agonist group than in antagonist group ($6.7{\pm}4.6$ vs. $5.0{\pm}3.4$, p<0.01). But, there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate (24.5% in antagonist group vs. 27.4% in agonist group, p=NS) and implantation rate (11.4% in antagonist group vs. 12.0% in agonist group, p=NS) between two groups. Mean number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in GnRH agonist LP group than in GnRH antagonist MDP group ($5.4{\pm}3.5$ vs. $6.6{\pm}5.0$, p<0.0001). But, the number of mature and fertilized oocytes, and the number of good quality (grade I and II) and transferred embryos were not different between two groups. In each group A, B, and C, the rate of poor response did not differ according to stimulation protocols. Conclusions: In conclusion, for infertile women expected poor ovarian response such as who are old age or has elevated basal FSH level, a protocol including a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist appears at least as effective as that using a GnRH agonist, and may offer the advantage of reducing gonadotropin consumption and treatment period. However, much work remains to be done in optimizing the GnRH antagonist protocols and individualizing these to different cycle characteristics.

The Effect of Platelet Activating Factor on Development of Embryonic Cells at Co-culture in vitro with Human Salpingeal Cell in Mouse. (인간 난관세포와의 체외 공동배양과정에서 혈소판 활성요소가 생쥐배의 발달에 미치는영향)

  • Min, Bu-Kie;Kim, Kie-Seok;Lee, Hee-Sup;Hong, Kie-Youn;Kim, Heung-Gon;Shin, Mu-Cheol;Lee, Chan-Kun;Choi, Eun-Ha
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 1996
  • There are a number of problems during the process of culture in vitro on fertilization and embryo development compared to those on in vivo counterparts. And the platelet activating factor (PAF), which is found not only in mammalian spermatozoa but also preembryos, is implicated on reproductive process. To improve the environment of culture on in vitro fertilization and embryo development, coculture using salpingeal epithelial cells has been considered to accept the better result on pregnancy rate. This study was designed to determine if two different culture systems, coculture alone and PAF treated coculture, are positive or negative influence on process of in vitro fertilization and embryo culture in mouse. The cell cleavage rate reached to 2-4 cell stage at 24 hours of culture is 56.81% (50/88) and 48.21%(54/112) respectively, in PAF treated group which is added PAF on coculture and in coculture group. But the rate of cells cleavage was similar in both group after 48 hours of culture. The rate of unfertilization after insemination of oocytes was higher in coculture group(55..53%) than in PAF treated group(42.37%). And in assessment of undeveped embryos, the rate of equalized cell block was similar on both, coculture alone (35.3%)and PAF treated coculture(35.5%). while unequalized cell block was higher rate in PAF treated coculture(19.4%) than coculture alone (11.8%). But the rate of cytoplasmic degeneration of undeveloped embryos was significantly higher in PAF treated coculture than coculture alone. In conclusion, we have observed that PAF treated coculture is superior in the rates of in vitro fertilization and early embryo cell cleavage compared to those in coculture alone, but there is no difference on the rates of embryo develpments, cell degeneration, cell quality in both PAF treated coculture and coculture alone when the embryo cells were continuosly cultured for 48 hours or more.

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Assessment of Cervical Cancer Risk in Women between 15 and 49 Years of Age: Case of Izmir

  • Sogukpınar, Neriman;Saydam, Birsen Karaca;Can, Hafize Ozturk;Hadımli, Aytul;Bozkurt, Ozlem Demirel;Yucel, Ummahan;Kocak, Yeliz Cakir;Akmese, Zehra Baykal;Demir, Dogan;Ceber, Esin;Ozenturk, Gulsun
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.2119-2125
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    • 2013
  • Background: The aim of the study was to determine risk factors for cervical cancer for women in Izmir. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive field covered a population of 4319 women of reproductive age (15-49) (household registration in the Mukhtar's office-2007). A total of 1,637 women were included in the sample given a four-part questionnaire through face-to-face interview by visiting the women in their homes in order to determine socio-demographic factors, obstetric history, genital hygiene and the use of family planning methods. In addition, during the data collection process, the women were given group training in order to raise awareness of cervical cancer. The number and percentage distributions of the data were calculated. Results: While the average age of the women was $31.9{\pm}9.77$ (Min: 15.00-Max: 49.00), education level of 43.4% of them was elementary school only. It was determined that 70.3% of the women experienced at least one pregnancy, 71.0% had vaginal delivery and 75.9% used a contraceptive method. In the study it was determined that among the cervical cancer related risks vaginal delivery, vaginal lavage and having three or more pregnancies had the highest rates, while having sexual intercourse before 16 years of age and having more than one sexual partner constituted lower rates. The rate of the women who stated not having a smear in the last three years was 82.4%. Conclusions: Considering the case in terms of having Pap smear test, women's awareness on the risk factors and early diagnosis of cervical cancer was found to be low. Due to this reason, awareness of women has to be raised through education.

Studies on the Production of Twins in Cattle (소의 쌍자 생산술 개발에 관한 연구)

  • Hwang Woo-Suk
    • Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.511-515
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    • 1990
  • Induction of twinning was attempted by transfer of two whole- or demi-embryos in Holstein cows and heifers. Cows were superovulated with follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) administered twice daily in intra-muscular injection. On day of 6.5 to 7 post-estrus, embryos were collected nonsurgically, Normal morulae and early balstocysts were obtained from superovulated cows. The embryos were hisected with a micro-blade made from a razor. Twenty seven pairs of half embryos were successfully produced and 23 pairs of half embryos were transferred to recipients( Group A). Twenty cows were treated with low unit of FSH (3mg${\times}$2,2mg${\times}$2 ; Group B1, 2mg${\times}$2, 1mg${\times}$2, 1mg${\times}$2 ; Group 32) to induce double or triple ovulations. The cows of Group B1 and B2 were Inseminated artificially(A1) at following estrus. Twenty four heifers were bred by A1 and received an additional embryo into the uterine horn contralateral to the corpus luteum(CL) 6 days later(Group C). One embryo was transferred into each uterine hem of 16 heifers 6 days after estrus(Group D). Fourteen heifers were received two embryos into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the CL at day 6 of estrous cycle(Group I). Pregnancy rates at 60 days in Group A, B1, B2, C, D and E were 34.8%, 70.0%, 60.0%, 66.7%, 62.5% and 57.1%, respectively. Twinning rates were 8.7%, 20.0%, 10.0%, 16.7%, 18.7% and 21.4%, respectively. The present experiments demonstrate that FSH treatment( Group 31) and ipsilateral transfer( Group I ) of two whole-embryos are more useful methods to produce twins than the others.

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Spatial Analysis of Skin Cancer Incidence in Iran

  • Pakzad, Reza;Ghoncheh, Mahshid;Pournamdar, Zahra;Pakzad, Iraj;Momenimovahed, Zohre;Salehiniya, Hamid;Towhidi, Farhad;Makhsosi, Behnam Reza
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.17 no.sup3
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    • pp.33-37
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    • 2016
  • Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, including in Iran. Variations in its incidence rate among geographical areas are due to various contributing factors. Since there has been a lack of studies on this topic in our country, the present spatial analysis of skin cancer incidence in Iran in 2009 was conducted using data from the cancer registry system for the country. The reported incidences of the disease were standardized on the basis of the World Health Organization population and the direct method. Then the data were inserted into the GIS software, and finally, using the analysis of hot spots (Getis-Ord Gi), high-risk areas were drawn. Provinces that were 1.9 SD higher or lower than the national average were considered hot spots or cold spots, with significance at the level of 0.05. In 2009, a total of 9,964 cases of skin cancer occurred, 3,696 in women and 6,268 in men (standardized incidence rates of 15.8 and 22.6, respectively). The results of the study showed that in men and women, the disease demonstrated high incidence in the central provinces and desert regions. In women, Yazd Province and in men, Qom Province had significant hot spots (p <0.05). While Isfahan, Markazi, Tehran and Kurdistan provinces were expected to be hot spots, the differences from the national average were not significant at the 0.05 level. As well, the provinces of Sistan Va Baluchistan, Kerman, and Hormozgan were identified as cold or low-risk disease regions (p <0.05). The central provinces of the country due to hot weather conditions, more solar radiation, and closer vicinity to the central desert of Iran demonstrated higher incidence rates for skin cancer, so further epidemiological studies into the etiology and early detection are essential in these areas.

Production of Transgenic Animals by the Testis-Mediated Gene Transfer II. Production of Transgenic Korean Native Goats (정소실질내 유전자 도입에 의한 형질전환동물의 생산 II. 형질전환 한국재래산양의 생산)

  • 윤창현;장규태;김성현;박미령;주학진;오석두;이병오
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.13-18
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    • 1999
  • The totipotential spermatogonial stem cells of adult testis which give rise to mature sperm cells is well-known to incorporate foreign DNA as well as those of somatic cells. Also, the integration rates of foreign DNA after haploid stages are generally known to decrease and /or is simply bound foreign DNA into the sperm plasma membrane. To overcome these problems, liposome and DNA complexes were used to determine how direct injection of these complexes into testis were integrated into sperm genome and resulted in transgenic offspring. To study this purpose, cation liposome was gently mixed with WAF/hGH DNA (1 : 2) and the complexes were injected into testis. At 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 days after direct injection into testis, mature sperm cells were recovered by using artificial virgin method from two goats and each semen except a part of semen used for DNA analysis such as PCR or Southern blotting was cryopreserved for the artificial insemination. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows. 1. By PCR, the presence of exogenous DNA was confirmed up to 80 days after injection with liposome/DNA complexes. The highest integration rates were obtained at day 40 after direct injection. This results suggested that spermatogonial stem cells were integrated exogenous DNA into their genome. 2. Among 23 Korean Native Goats which were artificially inseminated, 4 goats resulted in pregnancy and produced 7 young goats. 3. Two young goats were confirmed as a transgenic by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Therefore, our results suggested that testis-mediated gene transfer can be used as a feasible tools for the production of transgenic livestock.

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Morphological Observations of Ovaries in Relation to Infertility in Slaughtered Cows in Kyungnam Province 1. Appearance of follicles and corpus luteums in cow ovaries (경남지방의 도태우에 불임과 관련된 난소의 형태학적 관찰 1. 난포와 황체의 출현에 대하여)

  • 양재훈;표병민;서득록;고필옥;강정부;김종섭;곽수동
    • Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.147-152
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    • 2002
  • Ovaries from total 192 slaughtered cows, 154 Korean native cows and 38 dairy cows were collected during the slaughtering process in Kimhae, Changyoung and Yangsan abattoirs in Kyungnam province from January 2001 to January 2002. Rates of pregnant and non-pregnant and ovarian findings were invested. Rates of pregnant cows in 192 slaughtered cows were 12.5% (24 cows) and in difference of cow breeds, 11.0% (17 cows) in 154 Korean native cows and 18.4% (7 cows) in 38 dairy cows from total 192 cows, respectively. Ages of fetuses in pregnant Korean native cows were mostly less than 4 months and ages of fetuses in dairy cows were mostly about 7-8 months. Cows which each diameter of follicles and corpus luteums in same cow was more than 5-6 mm in diameter were 69.8% (134 cows) in total 192 slaughtered cows and in difference of cow breeds, 64.7% (11 cows) in 17 Korean native cows and 57.1% (4 cows) in 7 dairy cows. Mean diameter of foliicles and corpus luteums in Korean native cows are 13.7$\pm$5.6$\times$ 11.2$\pm$4.6mm and 17.5$\pm$4.6$\times$14.6$\pm$4.0 mm in non-pregnat cows, and are 11.0$\pm$4.8$\times$9.1 $\pm$ 2.6mm and 21.2$\pm$2.9$\times$18.3$\pm$ 2.7 mm in pregnant cows, respectively. Mean diameter of follicles and corpus luteums in dairy cows are 15.8$\pm$7.1 $\times$ 14.3$\pm$ 6.0 mm and 20.3$\pm$5.9$\times$16.9$\pm$ 5.8 mm in non-pregnant cows, and are 10.1 $\pm$ 3.0$\times$9.2$\pm$2.3 mm and 23.0$\pm$ 1.7$\times$20.1 $\pm$ 1.3 mm in pregnant cows, respectivley. The above findings indicate that the co-appearance rate of follicles and corpus luteums in same cows are higher in both pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Compared in pregnant and non-pregnant cow ovaries, mean size of follicles are smaller in pregnant cows but size of corpus luteums are more larger in pregnant cows than in non-pregnant cows. Correlation of the follicle size (Y) and corpus luteum size (X) in same cows developed each other in inversive size. Those correlative formulas appeared to be Y = -0.2022X+17.175 in Korean native cows and Y= -0.5754 X+24.153 in dairy cows.

Studies on Production and Efficient Utilization of Livestock Embryos by In Vitro Fertilization and Micromainipulation II. Effects of Embryonic Development on Survival after Freezing Transfer in Bovine Oocytes Fertilized In Vitro (체외수정 및 미세조작에 의한 가축(胚)의 생산과 효율적 이용에 관한 연구 II. 소 체외수정 난포란의 발생단계별 동결가 이식후의 생존성)

  • 정영채;김창근;윤종택;최선호;정광조
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.233-242
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    • 1993
  • The effects of in vitro maturation and sperm treatment condition on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and developmental capacity of bovine oocytes were investigated and the development of embryos was compared under the 2 different co-culture system, with GC or BOEC. The cultured embryo to 16 cell or morula wre transferred into recipients or frozen by 2 different freezing method. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. In vitro maturation rates of vovine follicular oocytes cultrued in TCM199 with 10% FCS or ECS were 64.0% and 72.7%, but the case of addition of 10% FCS or ECS to TCM199 co-cultured with granulosa cells were 81.3% and 84.0%, respectively. IVM rate of three TCM199 added to granulosa cells was higher than that of media without granulosa cells. 2. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC and then fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine, embryo developments of bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC were 38.4% and 51.4%, respectively. But those of bovine oocytes co-cultured with GC were 52.2% by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin. 3. Cleavage rates of bovine oocytes cultured with 10% FCS alone and fertilized in vitro by sperm treated with caffeine-heparin was 33.0%. 4. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of bovine ooctyes co-cultured with BOEC of GC were 46.0% and 50.2%, respectively. 5. When bovine follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developed co-cultured with BOEC or GC were 45.2% and 51.4%, respectively. 6. When Korean Native cow's follicular oocytes matured in TCM199 with 10% FCS and GC, embryo developments of the bovine oocyte co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 41.8% and 60.1%. But with FCS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 42.0% and 48.4%, respectively. 7. When Holstein's follicular oocytes were matured in TCM199 with 10% ECS and GC, embryo developments fo the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 50.0% and 57.7%, but with ECS 10% those of the bovine oocytes co-cultured with BOEC and GC were 52.2% and 56.5%, respectively. 8. The viability of frozen-thawed embryos ranged from 60~80% and those of frozen-thawed embryos from vitrification was lower than that from conventional metiod. 9. The selected fresh embryos were transferred nonsurgically to 7 recipients but did not result in pregnancy.

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Development of a Device for Estimating the Optimal Artificial Insemination Time of Individually Stalled Sows Using Image Processing (영상처리기법을 이용한 스톨 사육 모돈의 인공수정적기 예측 장치 개발)

  • Kim, D.J.;Yeon, S.C.;Chang, H.H.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.49 no.5
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    • pp.677-688
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    • 2007
  • 돼지를 포함한 대부분의 동물은 일정한 발정주기를 가지고 일정한 시기에 배란을 하는 자연배란동물이지만, 토끼, 고양이, 밍크 등의 암놈은 교미자극에 의해 배란이 일어나는 유기배란동물이다. 또한 1년에 한 번만 발정하는 단발정동물과 1년에 수차례 발정하는 다발정동물이 있다. 이 중에서 모돈은 1년에 수차례 발정하는 다발정 동물로서 발정기에 들면 비발정기와는 다른 행동을 나타낸다(Diehl 등, 2001). 양돈가의 수익을 최대화하기 위해서는 비생산일수를 최소로 줄여야 한다. 모돈의 비생산일수를 줄일 수 있는 한 가지 방법은 성공적으로 교배를 시키는 것이다. 이처럼 성공적으로 교배를 시키기 위해서는 수정적기를 정확히 예측해야 한다. 만약 수정적기를 정확히 판단하지 못하여 수태가 되지 않으면, 비생산일수가 늘어나 손실을 입게 된다. 따라서 수정적기를 정확히 판단하는 것은 모돈의 성공적인 인공수정에 있어서 중요한 요소이다. 수정적기는 배란이 일어나기 전 10시간에서 12시간 사이이며, 발정이 시작되는 시점을 기준으로 하였을 때 경산돈의 경우 26시간에서 34시간 사이이고 미경산돈의 경우는 18시간에서 26시간 사이이다(Evans 등, 2001). 현재 하루에 두 번 모돈의 발정을 확인하는 것이 일반화되어 있으며, 이 때 웅돈을 접촉시키거나 육안관찰을 통하여 발정 유무를 판단한다. 이러한 방법에는 숙련된 기술과 풍부한 경험이 요구될 뿐만 아니라 총 소요노동력의 30% 정도가 요구된다(Perez 등, 1986). 하루에 두 번밖에 발정을 감지하지 않기 때문에 발정이 언제 시작되었는지를 정확히 알 수 없으며, 또한 발정의 대부분이 새벽에 시작되므로 수정적기를 정확히 판단하기란 매우 어렵다. 만약 발정을 감지했더라도 적기에 인공수정을 하지 못한다면, 수태율이 낮아지므로 경제적 손실이 초래된다. 현재 이러한 문제점 때문에 2회에서 3회에 걸쳐 인공수정을 하고 있으나 이에 따른 소요비용과 소요노동력 등은 양돈가의 부담을 가중시키는 요인이 되고 있다. 돼지는 발정기가 되면 비발정기에 나타내지 않던 외음부의 냄새를 맡는 행동, 귀를 세우는 행동 및 승가허용 행동 등을 나타낸다(Diehl 등, 2001). 또한 돼지는 비발정기에 비하여 발정기에 더 많은 활동량을 나타낸다(Altman, 1941; Erez and Hartsock, 1990). Freson 등(1998)은 스톨에서 개별적으로 사육되고 있는 모돈의 활동량을 적외선센서를 이용하여 측정함으로써 발정을 86%까지 감지하였다고 보고하였다. 그러나 이 연구는 단지 모돈의 발정을 감지하였을 뿐 번식관리에 있어서 가장 중요한 수정적기의 판단 기준을 제시하지 못하였다. 따라서, 본 연구는 스톨에서 사육되는 모돈의 활동량을 측정함으로써 발정시작시각을 감지하고 이를 기준으로 인공수정적기를 예측할 수 있는 인공수정적기 예측 장치를 개발한 후 이의 성능을 농장실증실험을 통하여 시험하고자 수행되었다.