• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.275-284
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• 1995

In sexing early mammalian embryos, viability of biopsied embryos and accuracy of sexing are both important. We have been previously developed efficient methods for biopsy of mouse embryos and sex identification from a single blastomere by PCR. In this study, squeeze method used for biopsy of mouse embryos was applied to bovine embryos. Compact bovine morulae were obtained by flushing uteri on Day 6 after the onset of standing estrus. A small number of blastomeres could be isolated from bovine morulae by the biopsy method. All 13 biopsied morulae were survived and 10 embryos developed to normal blastocyst after 24 h of culture. Subsequently, sex of the bovien embryos was identified from a few blastomeres by PCR amplifying a Y-specific bovine DNA sequence. Among 13 embryos analyzed, 7 embryos were determined as males and 6 embryos as females. Thus, bovine embryos at morular stage could be successfully biopsied by the squeeze method and sex of the bovine embryos determined from biopsied material by PCR.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 1994

These expriments were carried out to investigate existence of H-Y antibody in the rat serum immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cells and effect of H-Y antiserum on development of mouse male embryos. The results obtained were summerized as follows : 1. When mouse embryos were cultured for 48∼72 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing 16% of FBS(fetal bovine serum) or RNS(rat normal serum), percentages of embryos developed from 2, 4, 8 and 16-cell embryo to morulae were 20, 27, 94 and 100%, respectively, in FBS and 8, 7, 94 and 100%, respectively, in RNS. Eight to 16-cell embryos showed no difference in development rate between FBS adn RNS. 2. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS＋GPC(guinea pig complement) and RAS(rat antiserum)＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 100, 82.4 and 52.1∼53.6%(ave.52.9), respectively, so that it was suggested that rat antiserum suppressed development of male embryos. 3. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS, RNS＋GPC and RAS＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 94.5, 90.9, 82.3 and 47%, respectively, and the embryos developed in the medium containing RAS＋GPC seemed to be female. These results indicated that the antisera prepared through immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cell, possessed H-Y antibody which supressed development of male embryos.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.973-979
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• 2023

Objective: The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system, which is the most efficient and reliable tool for precisely targeted modification of the genome of living cells, has generated considerable excitement for industrial applications as well as scientific research. In this study, we developed a gene-editing and detection system for chick embryo sexing during the embryonic stage. Methods: By combining the CRISPR/Cas9 technical platform and germ cell-mediated germline transmission, we not only generated Z chromosome-targeted knockin chickens but also developed a detection system for fluorescence-positive male chicks in the embryonic stage. Results: We targeted a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene into a specific locus on the Z chromosome of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs), resulting in the production of Z^GFP-knockin chickens. By mating Z^GFP-knockin females (Z^GFP/W) with wild males (Z/Z) and using a GFP detection system, we could identify chick sex, as the GFP transgene was expressed on the Z chromosome only in male offspring (Z^GFP/Z) even before hatching. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas9 technical platform with chicken PGCs facilitates the production of specific genome-edited chickens for basic research as well as practical applications.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.155-165
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• 2018

Chicken feathers could be classified into early-feathering (EF) and late-feathering (LF) depending on the development and patterns of the wing and tail feathers. Currently, feather-sexing is a widely used chick sexing method in the industry. This study was carried out to suggest the method of classifying of EF and LF chicks to establish auto-sexing Korean native chicken (KNC) strains. The development and morphology of wing feathers and tail feathers in 856 KNCs from hatching to 55-days old were analyzed to classify EF and LF chicks. We also performed PCR analysis using K-specific gene primers to confirm the agreement between the phenotypes and genotypes of EF and LF chickens. In the results, the EF chicks had long primaries and coverts, and there was a significant difference in length between primaries and coverts. The LF chicks had shorter primaries and coverts than the EF chicks, and showed little difference in the length between primaries and coverts. LF chicks could be classified into four groups: LF-Less, LF-Scant, LF-Equal and LF-Reverse according to their wing feather patterns. EF chicks had 1.5 times longer primaries than LF chicks until they were 15-days old, but the lengths were almost the same at 50-days old. The tail feathers of the EF chicks were apparent at 5-days old, but those of the LF chicks were short and indefinite at that time. When EF and LF chicks were classified by the length of primaries being more or less than 9 mm, the classification accuracies for EF and LF chicks were 96.2% and 85.4%, respectively, compared to the PCR results. In conclusion, juvenile EF and LF KNC showed distinct differences in feather development and morphology, and could be easily distinguished at one day-old.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• no.11
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• pp.51-54
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• 1970

External features of silkworms are not evident during stage of larvae and pupae like in the stage of imagines. In general, therefore, sexing of larvae has been depended on Herold's gland of males or Ishiwata' sexual spots (Anterior sexual spots and posterior sexual spots) of a female 2-3 days after of the 5th age since it is relatively easy to classify in this period. Sometimes. however, we made mistake of sexing since a pair of small spot around the abdomen of 9th abdominal of males and posterior sexual spot of females was found at the same position. This study has been conducted in order to obtain essential points of classifing the above it will be summarized as follows: A. Existence of the males small spots on 9th abdominal segment were varied by races. Through observation races by races the more larvae which had the small spots were found in chinese races than the Japanese, and 57 percent of the Chinese orgin larvae of the small spot were picked among total counted males. B. The small spots were more or less roundly shaped just as posterior sexual spots of females, and these spots were colored slightly even the colors were somewhat different by races. Milky color was seen in the case of the posterior sexual spots. The small spots were observed smaller than the posterior sexual spots. It is difficult classify the sexual spots during stage of mature larvae, but it was easily classified small spots by the naked eye even in the same stage. The small spots were found at the same site of the posterior sexual spots. C. After sexing by based on the small spots and Herold's gland, the sexing through purpae bodies were carried out again to confirm its correctness. Average 5. 2 percent of more opposite sex were found in the latter. This figures supposed to be caused the location of the small spots coincide with the posterior sexual spots. D. The moths, no disorder were found in daily activities and their generative functions depend on the existence of the small spot and thickness of its color. E. It is presumed that existence of the small spots were caused by races, heredity nature, voltinism, moulting, and etc.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2005

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is novel DNA amplification methods that amplifies a target sequence specifically under isothemal condition. The present study was to assess the in vitro viability afier biopsy and sexing rate of different types of embryo biopsied. In vivo compact morulae and blastocyst embryos were obtained from Korean Native Cow (KNC) superovulated with FSH (Antorin, R-10) on 7 Day after artificial insemination. in vitro compact morulae and blastocyst embryos were obtained with KNC or Holsteins that were gained on 6, 7 or 8 day after in vitro fertilization(IVF) with frozen semen. Biopsy of bovine embryo was carried out in a $80{\mu}l$ drop with $Ca^{2+}-Mg^{2+}$ free D-PBS and the viability of biopsied embryos were evaluated in IVMD (IFP, Japan) medium at 12 hrs culture time. The sex ratio of biopsied Hanwoo embryos were male vs. female of $43.5\%\;vs.\;56.5\%$ in vivo and $33.9\%\;vs.\;49.2\%$ in vitro respectively, and male rate of biopsied Holstein embryos were significantly higher than female $(70.8\;vs.\;29.2\%)$. and indefinite rate of in vitro embryos was $16.9\%$ and in vivo was not. The degeneration rate of biopsied embryo, in vitro embryos were significantly higher than in vivo $(13.2\%\;vs,\;0.0\%,\;p<0.05)$. The survivability of in vivo embryo were between biopsied following punching method was significantly (P<0.05) higher than bisection method produced embryos $(100\%\;vs.\;83.3\%)$ and in vitro had no difference. However, the degeneration rate of biopsied embryo by bisection method was significantly higher than punching methods between in vivo and in vitro $(16.7\;vs.\;22.6\%,\;respectively,\;p<0.05)$. In conclusion, these results indicate that punching method was optimal and survivability after embryo biopsy was useful for reducing the damage caused by the embryo biopsy procedure for LAMP-based embryo sexing.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2001

This lecture will begin by tracing some of the history behind techniques that we nowadays take for granted in the practice of embryo transfer, and in the application of the technique to various animal biotechnologies. It will be argued that an appreciation of such history can teach us a great deal about how we need to study and teach the subject, and about the best ways to conduct and finance the research that is essential to further progress. Examples in support of this argument will be taken from the changes that have occurred in the way embryos, particularly bovine embryos, have been collected, maintained in vitro, subjected to a variety of manipulations (sexing, division to produce identical animals, combination into chimeras, transfection with foreign genes), frozen and thawed, and transferred over the past 50 years. (omitted)

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2015

This study was designed to evaluate the possibility of increase through dairy female offspring's ratio by transfer of pre-selected transferrable blastocyst that was produced by pre-selected X-bearing semen with OPU derived oocytes. Elite dairy female cow is demanded strongly compared with male, the so called, farmer wants to produce only an elite female dairy offspring as a candidate female dairy cow for producing milk. In our study, we selected 2 elite dairy bull semen from National Agricultural Cooperative Federation to pre-select X-bearing semen and 5 elite dairy female cows as donor for collecting of OPU derived oocytes. OPU derived embryo production system was carried out an aspiration of immature oocytes from 5 donor cows 2 times per week, total 200 times for 2 to 7 months by an ultrasonographic guided follicular aspiration system and then produced in vitro-produced blastocysts by in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture. Dairy donor semen selected H-319, 320 bull in National Agricultural Cooperative federation was sorted X-bearing semen by flow-cytometer and frozen for using IVF with OPU derived oocytes. Donor cows were selected 5 elite dairy cows from Gyeongju Dairy Cow Community and then disease tests such as 4 kinds of disease before selecting was checked. Oocyte proportion of grade 1 to 3 from total collected oocytes was significantly lower in donor A and B than those in donor C, D and E (82.16 and 70.03% vs. 90.0, 91.78 and 93.57%), respectively (p<0.05). However, number of oocytes per session in donor A, C and E was significantly higher than those in donor B and D ($7.77{\pm}3.26$, $5.85{\pm}2.10$ and $7.03{\pm}2.14$ vs. $4.68{\pm}2.61$ and $5.21{\pm}1.97$ oocytes), but donor A was significantly higher than donor C (p<0.05). Development to blastocyst in donor B, C and E was significantly higher than those in donor A and D (31.0, 25.0 and 25.0% vs. 14.3 and 4.5%), but donor A was not different in donor C and E (p<0.05). Nine out of 10 blastocysts (90.0%) derived from OPU blastocysts were confirmed male embryos that was induced with Y-bearing semen to confirm sex ratio only. Total 96 blastocysts derived from female bearing semen were transferred into synchronized recipients and then confirmed 42 recipients (43.8%) pregnancy rate, 36 offspring (37.5%) and 91.7% female sex ratio (33 female vs. 3 male offspring). Taken together all data, elite dairy female offspring could be produced effectively by in vitro production system between pre-selected x-bearing semen and OPU derived oocytes that would be influential breeder in the breeding of dairy farm to increase effectively elite dairy offspring ratio as well as net income in the dairy farmer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2001

Predetermination of sex in livestock of offpring is in great demand and is of critical importance to providing for the most efficient production of the animal ariculture. Such a sexing techlology would also enhance the economy of conventional artificial insemination(AI) and aid the porcine industry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of enriching X-bearing porcine sperm using discontinuous percoll gradients and PCR mefhod. Semen was collected from mature boars of proven fertility center (AI center KimHae). Sperm was leaded on the isotonic discontinuous percoll gradient and then it was centrifuged at 120 ${\times}$ g for 20 minutes. After centrifugation, sperm included in each fraction were recovered (7${\times}$10$^6$ sperms/ml) and then sperm genomic DNA was extractedfor the PCR. SRY gene was used to evaluate the ratio between X and Y sperm in the separated fractions. Ju viro ffrtilization wascarried out by adding the unseparated sperm (control) or separated (experimental poop) to the matured oocytes in TCM-199. Embryos for sex determination were obtained at 2 cell stage and then was used for SRY gene amplification. After centrifugation of discontinuous percoll gradient, the most motile sperm was obtained at 95% fiaction (94.4% ${\pm}$ 5.1%, p < 0.01). The PCR analysis evaluated that 30%, 50% and 65% fractions were Y sperm rich, whereas 80% and 95% fractions were X sperm rich. PCR analysis with each porcineembryo showed that 33.3% of control and 66.7% of experimental group were determined as female embryos. In conclusion, in vitro matured oocytes inseminated with sperms (95% fraction) prepared by percoll gradient centrifugation showed high fertilization rates and female embryos than control sperms.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1989

In order to determine the sex of preimplantation embryos prior to transfer in cattle, a series of experiments were carried out using 45 Holstein donor cows to examine the ovarian response on the gonadotropin and PGF2${\alpha}$, and the morphology of fresh embryos or frozen/thawed embryos after deep freezing at -196$^{\circ}C$. The sexing of embryos treated with the medium containing H-Y antiserum(10%, v/v) and FITC anti-mouse IgG(10%, v/v) were analysed by chromosomal analysis, and the sex of the embryos which survived were ascertain after delivering the pups. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. The average number of developed follicle and corpus luteum per cow were 13.5 and 8.1, and the ovalation rate was 60.1%. 2. Of 220-ova recovered, 75(34.1%) were morula and 91(41.4%) were blastocyst, and the morphological normal and abnormal rate of ova recovered were 75.5% and 24.5%, respectively. 3. Of 39 frozen/thawed embryos, the scores of normal morula and blastocyst, after thawing were 79.2%(19/24) and 73.3%(11/15). The average rate of frozen/thawed embryos which appeared morphologically normal post thawing was 76.9%(30/39). 4. The sex ratio was measured using the embryos treated with immunofluorescence assay to examine the relationship between embryo developmental stage, sex ratio of morula stage embryo was 42.2%(19/45) fluorescing and 57.8%(26/45) non-fluorescing, on the other hand, the ratio switched to 46.8%(29/62) fluorescing and 53.2%(33/62) non-fluorescing embryo in blastocyst stage. The sex ratio was also measured between fresh and frozen/thawed embryos, fresh and frozen/thawed treated embryos were indicated 45.8%(38/83) fluorescing, 54.2%(45/83) non-fluorescing and 41.7%(10/24) fluorescing, 58.3%(14/24) non-fluorescing. This trend indicated the approximal sex ratio was 1 : 1. 5. The result of karyotype test showed the successful rate of sexing embryo is fluorescing and non-fluorescing was 21.2%(7/33) and 29.6%(8/27). The female to male ratio within 33 fluorescing was 28.6 : 71.4, and the ratio of 27 non-fluorescing embryos was 87.7 : 12.5. 6. Of the embryo transferred after assignment of H-Y phenotype, five of the fluorescing embryos survived to term, all was males. Whereas six non-fluorescing embryos also survived to term and the sexes of the calves were 1 male 5 female.