• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.157-161
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• 2014

The study aimed to determine the physical characteristics of estrus mucus and conception rates in dairy cattle. Samples of estrus mucus from the cervix were collected from 108 dairy cattle during heat and were examined for color and consistency. Samples were taken from bred animals at starting from day of breeding to the completion of one estrus cycle. The color of the cervical mucus was studied based on its transparency while the consistency was based on the thinness and thickness of the cervical mucus. The dairy cattle were bred and the pregnancy diagnosis was performed at the $60^{th}$ day post breeding. Findings showed that the estrus mucus of the dairy cattle was transparent in 58.3%, turbid in 31.5% and dirty in 10.2%. It was further observed that the mucus consistency of the dairy cattle was thin in 74.1% and thick in 25.9%. In the pregnant group, 67.3% mucus samples were found transparent, turbid in 23.6% and dirty in 9.1%. However, the corresponding figures for the non-pregnant group had 49.1%, 39.6% and 11.3%. The consistency of cervical mucus was found to be thin in 74.1% and thick in 25.9% of dairy cattle. The conception rates of dairy cattle with thin and thick consistency of cervical mucus were 81.8% and 18.2%, respectively. Pregnant was associated with consistency of cervical mucus (p<0.10). Findings indicated that dairy cattle with thin consistency of cervical mucus and had clear discharge were pregnant cows.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2013

This study was conducted among 120 different breed cows at selected areas of Sirajgonj district from March to July 2010 to compare the reproductive performance of crossbred and Desi cows at farmer's level. The results showed that the average daily milk yield of Desi, Shahiwal ${\times}$ Desi, Friesian ${\times}$ Desi and Jersey ${\times}$ Desi cows was $2.3{\pm}0.2$, $4.9{\pm}0.9$, $6.0{\pm}1.0$ and $5.7{\pm}0.9$ liters, respectively. The milk yield of crossbred cows ($5.5{\pm}0.6$ liters/day) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than Desi cows ($2.3{\pm}0.2$ liters/day). The average age at puberty of Shahiwal ${\times}$ Desi, Friesian ${\times}$ Desi and Jersey ${\times}$ Desi was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of Desi breed. The crossbred cows had significantly (p<0.01) lower pubertal age ($20.4{\pm}1.2$) than Desi ($25.9{\pm}1.1$). The age at first calving in Desi cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher ($37.6{\pm}1.1$ months) than crossbred cows ($31.2{\pm}1.3$ months). The average gestation length of Desi, Shahiwal ${\times}$ Desi, Friesian ${\times}$ Desi and Jersey ${\times}$ Desi was $289.9{\pm}1.4$, $285.0{\pm}0.0$, $285.0{\pm}4.2$ and $282.1{\pm}2.4$ days, respectively. It is suggested that the overall reproductive performance of Friesian ${\times}$ Desi, Jersey ${\times}$ Desi and Shahiwal ${\times}$ Desi cows were better than that of Desi cow.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2018

The purpose of the present study was to determine the elaborate characteristics of ovarian changes including follicles and corpus luteum, and hormonal patterns of gonadotropin surge mode secretions during the normal consecutive estrous cycle in three dairy cows. Non-lactating and multiparous Holstein cows (n=3) used as experimental animals. The cows were assigned to examine the relationship among ovarian changes (follicle, corpus luteum), ovarian steroids (estradiol, progesterone) and gonadotropin (LH, FSH) surge mode secretion during the successive estrous cycles by rectal palpation, ultrasonography and hormonal assay. The mean length of the estrous cycle for the three cows was $23.1{\pm}1.44days$ (${\pm}SEM$), with a range of 20-28 days. In six estrous cycles, the number of two follicular waves, three follicular waves and four follicular waves was 2, 3 and 1, respectively. The sequential ultrasonographic monitoring showed that the corpus luteum with ${\geq}10mm$ in diameter detected from Day 2 (Day 0 is ovulation) in six estrous cycles of all cows. Preovulatory increases in estradiol concentration reached $10.36{\pm}1.10pg/ml$ on the 2 days before ovulation of the last dominant follicle. All cows exhibited a preovulatory rise in estradiol concentration followed by a typical preovulatory LH and FSH surge. The mean interval from the peak of LH/FSH surge to ovulation of the last dominant follicle was $31.3{\pm}1.76h$ (${\pm}SEM$). In these results, each dairy cow showed that ovarian morphological changes and gonadotropin surge mode secretion will be regulated by various environmental factors including age, breeds, nutrition, breeding conditions, etc.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the motility and kinematics of boar sperm that while stored at 4C. The samples of fresh boar semen were place into an extender, Androhep, and stored at $4^{\circ}C$. In three of these samples, cryoprotectants were added. The sperm's motilities and kinematics were evaluated by using microscope (${\times}400$) and the viability status was evaluated by using with eosin staining method. The 5 sample groups are; Goup A:Androhep (extender), stored at $17^{\circ}C$. Group B:Androhep (extender), stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Group C:Androhep (extender), + 3% glycerol (cryoprotectant), stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Group D:Androhep (extender), + 3% DMSO (cryoprotectant), stored at $4^{\circ}C$. Group E:Androhep (extender), + 3% ethylene glycol (cryoprotectant), stored at $4^{\circ}C$. In group A, the sperm's motility was reduced. On day one the sperm's motility was ($85.7{\pm}2.3$) and day 5 the motility was ($43.9{\pm}3.3$). In group B, C and D the sperm's motility were reduced to 0 on day 5. In group E the sperm's percentage of motility decreased. On day one the sperm's motility was ($42.0{\pm}0.5$) and day 5 the motility was ($2.3{\pm}0.3$). When comparing cryoprotectant in samples of boar sperm there is a slight improvement in the results when the use of Androhep Lite (extender), + 3% ethylene glycol (cryoprotectant), stored at $4^{\circ}C$ are used. Based on these results, ethylene glycol can protect sperm from heat shock at $4^{\circ}C$, but not satisfactory level. However, it showed the possibilities of liquid semen preservation at $4^{\circ}C$ by using cryoprotectant.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2004

Microinjection of DNA is a general method for generating transgenic animals, but the rate of transgenesis in chickens is very low. So it was carried out to investigate the efficiency of liposome-mediated gene transfer in stage one cell of chicken embryo with GFP expression vector. In order to determine efficiency and duration of the introduced foreign gene, it was microinjected DNA with liposome or naked DNA into the germinal disc of stage one cell or stage-X chicken embryo. Analysis of reporter gene expression in day-4 embryos showed that GFP expression was observed only in the liposome-mediate embryo groups and detectable up to day-8 embryos. The results suggest that stable integration of the introduced gene using liposome is a rare event. Nevertheless the liposome-mediated gene transfer may be a useful method to transfer a foreign gene into the stage one cell of chicken embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.283-287
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• 2014

Sexed semen is commonly used for the production of calves of the desired gender. Gender selection is important in animal production industries. For example, female cattle are required for the dairy industry while males are preferred in the beef cattle industry. The present study was to assess the in vivo embryo production efficiency using the semen separated according to sex during superovulation in Hanwoo. Seventy Hanwoo donor cows were flushed on day 7 of estrus cycle with same FSH and artificial insemination by the same technicians. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third insemination by flushing the uterus with embryo collection medium. KPN semen straws used artificial insemination contained 20 million sperm (total number 60 million per donor). Sex-sorted semen straws contained 4 million sperm (total number 12 million per donor). The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates on KPN semen 87%, and sexed semen 100%, respectively. The mean numbers of total embryos are each $12.58{\pm}8.31$ and $13.25{\pm}7.86$. The mean numbers of transferable embryos, sexed semen were significantly lower than KPN semen ($3.75{\pm}1.98$ vs. $8.23{\pm}6.07$, P<0.05). The rates of unfertilized embryos from superovulation using sexed semen were significantly higher than KPN semen (50% vs. 15%, P<0.05). The rate of degenerated 2-cell embryos from sexed and KPN semen was 60.87% and 11.11%, respectively (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that superovulation using sexed semen was useful, but efficient embryo production was important to reducing the damage caused by the Flowcytometer-based sperm sorting procedure.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2008

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed to establish a prediction table of parturition date in pregnant Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih-tzu and Miniature Schnauzer bitches. The inner chorionic cavity diameter and fetal head diameter in 45 pregnant bitches were converted retrospectively based on the day of parturition. The data of inner chorionic cavity diameter obtained from Day-44 to Day-25 and fetal head diameter obtained from Day-25 to Day-1 were used to compile a equations of prediction of parturition date. The 70 pregnant bitches with unknown mating time were examined to assess an accuracy of the equations established in this study. And these results were applied to the prediction of parturition date and compared to actual parturition date. The accuracy for parturition date within 0, $\pm$1, and $\pm$2 days interval using the equations of prediction of parturition date were 64.3%, 22.8% and 12.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy of prediction table of parturition day based on the ICCD and HD was 100% accurate within $\pm$2 days. Therefore, the prediction table seems to be a useful tool of the prediction of parturition day in practice.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.215-217
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• 2011

This is about the successful use of eCG and hCG for producing a Siberian tiger pup born from 10-year-old, primiparous, albino Siberian tiger. From February 2010 to July 2010, natural breeding had been tried three times with no conception. During this period of five months, estrus behaviors appeared to be typically normal and a lot of matings were observed. After consecutive failures, 1000 IU eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) were intramuscularly injected on the day showing estrus behavior, followed with an injection of 750 IU hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) 80 hours later. The tiger stopped recurrence of estrus, and a cub, weighed 780 gram, was born alive 104 days after hCG injection. This study is the first report showing the unique, successful use of exogenous hormones as one of artificial breeding programs in the long history of captive breeding of carnivorous zoo animals in Korea.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2010

We report herein the successful results of estrus induction, sperm cryopreservation and kids born by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat. Flugestone acetate (FGA: 60 mg) was inserted into vagina for 15 days. The goat was intramuscularly injected with 400 IU PMSG and 200 IU hCG ($PG600^{(R)}$: Intervet, Korea) a day before withdrawal of the FGA sponge. Follicles and corpora lutea were identified on both ovaries by laparoscopy. Artificial insemination was performed 46 hours after removal of FGA sponge. The concentration of frozen-thawed semen was $3.975{\times}10^8/ml$ and 0.5 ml of frozen-thawed semen was transcervically inseminated into uterine body under anesthesia. Three kids, all females, were born 144 days after artificial insemination. This is the first report producing kids by transcervical insemination of frozen-thawed semen in a Saanen goat of which the estrus was induced by FGA sponges, PMSG and hCG during non-breeding season in Korea.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to compare two different serum-free media, modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) and modified potassium simplex optimization medium (mKSOM) containing 20% RD (RPMI1640 + DMEM, 1:1 v/v) (RD-mKSOM), for in vitro culture (IVC) of bovine embryos. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, the presumptive zygotes were cultured in two different serum-free conditions for 7 days and 9 days to evaluate blastocyst formation and hatching, respectively. Serum supplemented conventional CR2 medium was used as control. After 7 day of culture, there was no significant difference in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates among three groups (mSOF, 59.3 and 30.1%; RD-mKSOM, 65.0 and 41.5%; control, 51.6 and 38.0%, respectively). Hatching rate was significantly higher in control (69.0%) than other experimental groups (mSOF, 22.0%; RD-mKSOM, 39.5%) (P<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). Although both serum-free conditions showed lower hatching rates than serum-added control, in serum-free groups, RD-mKSOM showed significantly higher hatching rate than mSOF (P<0.001). In addition, one-step using RD-mKSOM may facilitate IVC procedure than two-step culture system. In conclusion, the results indicate that one-step RD-mKSOM is more suitable defined culture system for IVC of bovine embryos than two-step mSOF.