• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.75-82
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• 2005

This study were examined whether plasminogen activators (PAs) are produced by porcine fresh or frozen-thawed cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) and cumulus cell free-oocytes. In fresh or frozen-thawed COCs and oocytes for 0 hour cultured, no activity of PAs was detected. However, at 24 hours of culture urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was detected in COCs and denuded oocytes. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 24 hours, no PAs were observed. After COCs were cultured for 48 hours, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs only. In the frozen-thawed COCs and cumulus cell free-oocytes cultured for 48 hours, no PAs were observed. These results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by porcine COCs, but only uPA by oocytes during maturation for 24 hours. Only tPA, and tPA-PAI are produced by COCs cultured for 48 hours, and no PAs are produced by denuded-oocytes cultured for 48 hours. In all of the frozen-thawed groups, no PAs are observed by COCs and denuded-oocytes.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.135-141
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of cumulus cells and porcine follicular fluid (pFF) on plasminogen activator (PA) activity and oocytes maturation in vitro in the pig. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and denuded oocytes (DOs) were incubated in NCSU-23 medium with or without 10% pFF for 0, 24, or 48 hr. In the presence of cumulus cells, the proportions of oocytes matured to metaphase-II stage were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium with pFF than without pFF (69.8 vs. 37.7%, respectively). When COCs and DOs were cultured in the presence of pFF, tissue-type PA (tPA), urokinase-type PA (uPA), and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI) were observed in COCs, and PA activities were higher at 48 hr than 24 hr. When COCs and DOs were cultured in the absence of pFF, tPA and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs, and PA activities were increased as duration of culture increased. No PA activities were detected in DOs regardless of pFF supplementation. When porcine oocytes were cultured in the presence of pFF for 24 and 48 hrs, the activities of tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA were observed in both COCs and DOs. In medium of absence of pFF, PA activities were observed in oocytes with cumulus cells only. On the other hand, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands (tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA) were observed in pFF cultures. Particularly uPA activity was higher than the other kinds of PA activity. When oocytes and cumulus cells were separated from porcine COCs at 0 hr of culture, tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA were detected in cumulus cells at 48 hr of culture, but no PA activities were in DOs. The presence of pFF and cumulus cells in maturation medium stimulated not only nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in porcine COCs, but also PA production by cumulus cells and COCs. It is possible that PAs produced by cumulus cells migrated through the gap junction between oocyte and cumulus cells. These results suggest that porcine oocytes have no ability to produce PA themselves.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.169-173
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• 2010

Correlations between cumulus cells and germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin configuration were examined in porcine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 2~6 mm follicles and divided into three categories according to cumulus cell morphology. "A" group was compacted COCs with more than three cumulus cell layers. "B" group was COCs with less cumulus cell layers than "A" group. "C" group was COCs with one or less layer of cumulus cells. Cumulus cells were removed 0.1% hyaluronidase, and denuded oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342. GV chromatin configuration was classified into GV-Con and GV-Dis. GV-Con meant that a nucleus was surrounded by condensed chromatin in a ring. GV-Dis meant that filamentous chromatin clumps were distributed in nucleus. The proportion (80.2%) of GV-Con in "A" group was significantly higher than "B" (62.0%) or "C" (44.9%). The proportion (55.1%) of GV-Dis in "C" group was significantly higher than "A" (19.8%) or "B" (38.0%). The meiotic competence of COCs was examined after 44 h culture. The proportion (90.0%) of oocytes reaching to metaphase II (M-II) in "A" group was significantly higher than "B" (76.5%) or "C" (45.5%). In conclusion, oocytes with good quality cumulus cell layers are synchronized early GV stage, and early GV stage is important for meiotic competence in pigs.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.212-221
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• 2019

Sestrin-2 (SESN2) as a stress-metabolic protein is known for its anti-oxidative effects as a downstream factor of PERK pathways in mammalian cells. However, the expression patterns of SESN2 in conjunction with the UPR signaling against to ER stress on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, have not been reported. Therefore, we confirmed the expression pattern of SESN2 protein, for which to examine the relationship between PERK signaling and SESN2 in porcine oocyte during IVM. We investigated the SESN2 expression patterns using Western blot analysis in denuded oocytes (DOs), cumulus cells (CCs), and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 22 and 44 h of IVM. As expected, the SESN2 protein level significantly increased (p < 0.01) in porcine COCs during 44 h of IVM. We investigated the meiotic maturation after applying ER stress inhibitor in various concentration (50, 100 and 200 μM) of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). We confirmed significant increase (p < 0.05) of meiotic maturation rate in TUDCA 200 μM treated COCs for 44 h of IVM. Finally, we confirmed the protein level of SESN2 and meiotic maturation via regulating ER-stress by only tunicamycin (Tm), only TUDCA, and Tm + TUDCA treatment in porcine COCs. As a result, treatment of the TUDCA following Tm pre-treatment reduced SESN2 protein level in porcine COCs. In addition, SESN2 protein level significantly reduced in only TUDCA treated porcine COCs. Our results suggest that the SESN2 expression is related to the stress mediator response to ER stress through the PERK signaling pathways in porcine oocyte maturation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.333-340
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• 2003

Objective: This study was performed to examine the maturation and the development to the blastocyst stage of immature oocytes collected from patients with high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Materials and Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected following only HCGpriming for non stimulated IVF-ET cycles of the patients. At the time of oocyte collection, COCs were classified into three groups in accordance with their appearance (Group I: oocytes with dispersed cumulus cells; Group II: oocytes with compacted cumulus cells; Group III: oocytes with sparse cumulus cells). The in vitro maturation and blastocyst development rates of the COCs were compared among these groups. From August 2001 to June 2002, 48 IVM/IVF-ET cycles from 42 patients (mean age: $32.4{\pm}3.8$ years) were performed. To prevent the occurrence of OHSS, the patients were primed with 10, 000 IU HCG alone 36 h before oocyte collection without gonadotropin stimulation. Oocytes were aspirated on cycle days from 7 to 13. The normal COCs were classified into three groups according to their appearance. The aspirated immature oocytes were cultured in YS maturation medium containing 30% (v/v) human follicular fluid (HFF), 1 IU/ml FSH, 10 IU/ml HCG and 10 ng/ml rhEGF. Fertilization was induced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). All zygotes were co-cultured with cumulus cells in $10{\mu}l$ YS medium containing 10% HFF until day 7 after oocyte collection. Blastocyst transfer was performed on day 5 after ICSI. Results: Th e mean number of oocytes cultured in the IVM/IVF cycles was $24.7{\pm}10.6$. Of 1185 COCs, those assigned to Group I, II and III were 470 (39.7%), 414 (35.0%) and 301 (25.4%), respectively. The maturation rate (94.5%, 444/470, p<0.05) in Group I was significantly higher than those of Group II (62.8%, 260/414) and Group III (73.1%, 220/301). Especially, 30.9% of COCs in Group I (145/470) was matured on the day of oocyte aspiration. There were no differences in the rates of fertilization and cleavage among the three groups. The development rate to the blastocyst stage in Group I (54.6%, 206/377, p<0.05) was also significantly higher than those in Group II (33.0%, 68/206) and Group III (30.1%, 52/173). Twenty-four clinical pregnancies (50.0%) was obtained and 22 pregnancies (45.8%) are ongoing. Implantation rate in the present study was 24.6%. Conclusion: These results suggest that there is a positive correlation between the appearance of COCs and the developmental competence of the immature oocytes in non stimulated IVM/IVF cycles.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.10-19
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• 2019

Morphology of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) at germinal vesicle (GV) stage as one of the evaluation criteria for oocyte maturation quality after in vitro maturation (IVM) plays important roles on the meiotic maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in pigs. When cumulus cells of COCs are insufficient, which is induced the low oocyte maturation rate by the increasing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in porcine oocyte during IVM. The ROS are known to generate including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from electron transport system of mitochondria during oocyte maturation in pigs. To regulate the ROS production, the cumulus cells is secreted the various antioxidant enzymes during IVM of porcine oocyte. Our previous study showed that Mito-TEMPO, superoxide specific scavenger, improves the embryonic developmental competence and blastocyst formation rate by regulating of mitochondria functions in pigs. However, the effects of Mito-TEMPO as a superoxide scavenger to help the anti-oxidant functions from cumulus cells of COCs on meiotic maturation during porcine oocyte IVM has not been reported. Here, we categorized experimental groups into two groups (Grade 1: G1; high cumulus cells and Grade 2: G2; low cumulus cells) by using hemocytometer. The meiotic maturation rate from G2 was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased (G1: $79.9{\pm}3.8%$ vs G2: $57.5{\pm}4.6%$) compared to G1. To investigate the production of mitochondria derived superoxide, we used the mitochondrial superoxide dye, Mito-SOX. Red fluorescence of Mito-SOX detected superoxide was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in COCs of G2 compared with G1. And, we examined expression levels of genes associated with mitochondrial antioxidant such as SOD1, SOD2 and PRDX3 using a RT-PCR in porcine COCs at 44 h of IVM. The mRNA levels of three antioxidant enzymes expression in COCs from G2 were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than COCs of G1. In addition, we investigated the anti-oxidative effects of Mito-TEMPO on meiotic maturation of porcine oocyte from G1 and G2. Meiotic maturation and mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) recovered in G2 by Mito-TEMPO ($0.1{\mu}M$, MT) treatment (G2: $68.4{\pm}3.2%$ vs G2 + MT: $73.9{\pm}1.4%$). Therefore, our results suggest that reduction of mitochondria derived superoxide by Mito-TEMPO may improves the meiotic maturation in IVM of porcine oocyte.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to study the effect of magnetized water on porcine cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs). Oocytes obtained from female pig were cultured in a medium magnetized at 0, 2000, 4000, and 6000 Gauss (G) for 5 minutes using the neodymium magnet. Subsequently, intracellular hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) concentration, glutathione (GSH) activity, oocyte membrane integrity, anti-apoptosis factor Bcl-xL expression, and nuclear maturation were analyzed. The intracellular $H_2O_2$ levels in COCs cultured for 44 hours were not significantly different among the variously magnetized samples. However, GSH activity were significantly higher in the magnetized samples compared to the 0 G sample. The Bcl-xL mRNA expression in COCs cultured for 44 hours was higher in the 4000 G sample than other treatment groups. Membrane damage in COCs cultured for 22 and 44 hours was significantly lower in 4000 G group than control group. On the other hand, nuclear stages as maturation indicator significantly increased in 2000, 4000, and 6000 G groups compared to 0 G group. These results indicate that incubation of porcine oocytes and cumulus cells in magnetized medium improves intracellular GSH levels, membrane integrity and nuclear maturation, and inhibits apoptosis in vitro.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2003년도 학술발표대회 발표논문초록집
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• pp.57-57
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• 2003

수정란의 체외생산(IVP)기술은 동물생산기술의 적용과 생리학이나 세포생물학의 기본 연구에 새로운 biotchnologies의 발생에 있어 매우 중요하고 흥미로운 사건으로서 여러 종류의 포유류에 적용되고 있다. 이러한 기술은 3가지의 절차를 밟아야 하는데 In vitro maturation(IVM), In vitro fertilization(IVF) 및 In vitro development(culture)(IVD)가 그것이다. 그런데 돼지는 다태동물로서 난소의 난포가 성장할 때 난포간 meiotic competence가 난자에 의하여 진행되므로 난포내의 난포액에 의하여 난자의 발육이 좌우된다고 보고 있다 돼지WP에 사용되는 난자는 난포의 직경이 3~5mm에서 수집하고 cumulus-oocyte complexes(COCs)의 형태에 따라 선택하는 것이 보편화되어 있다. 실험목적은 돼지 난소의 antral follicles이 성장할 때 크기에 의하여 oocyte meiotic competence의 방출에 어떤 영향을 주는지를 난자의 체외성숙과 체외수정 및 체외발육 비율을 각각 조사하여 미성숙 난자의 체외배양 기술을 개선할 목적이었다. 수행내용은 도축돈 난소의 난포크기별 3mm<, 3~5mm, 5mm)로 나누어, 다시 말해서 preantral stage, antral stage, postantral stage으로 구분하여 채취한 COCs를 IVM, IVF, IVC 상태에서의 COCs 형태, cell cleaved rate, developmental rate 등을 조사하였다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.173-183
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• 2004

본 연구는 pFF, cysteine, ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol, 성선자극호르몬 등 여러 가지 체외성숙 촉진 물질이 첨가딘 성숙배양액에 EGF 첨가가 돼지 미성숙 난포란의 체외성숙에 효과적인지 또한 그 효가는 배양소적당 COC의 수에 영향을 받는지을 구명하고자 EGF의 첨가 유무와 배양소적당 COC수(50개 또는 15개)를 조합한 $2{\times}2$ 요인시험을 실시했다. 도축돼지의 난소에서 채취한 COCs를 각 처리별로 mNCSU-23 에서 성숙배양하고 mTBM에서 운동정자의 최종동도가 $1{\times}10^5$sperm/mL 의 농도로 체외수정한 다음 NCSU-23 에서 체외발달을 유도한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 대조구와 EGF 첨가구에서 C4군의 COC 비율이 각각 41%dhk 82%로써 EGF 첨가가 난구세포의 팽화 정도를 크게 향상시키는 것으로 나타났으나, 난핵포 붕괴율과 핵성숙율에서는 EGF 첨가 여부나 배양소적당 COC 수에 따른 차이가 나타나지 않았고 두 요인간 상호작용도 없었다. 2. 정자 침투율, 웅성전핵 형성율 및 다정자수정 발생율에서도 EGF 첨가 여부나 배양소적당 COC 수에 따른 차이가 유의적인 것이 아니었고, 두 요인간 상호작용 역시 유의적이지 않았다. 3. 난분할율에서는 처리간에 유의적인 차이가 나타나지 않았으나 배반포 발달율, 배반포의 ICM 세포수, TE 세포수 및 총세포수에서는 EGF 첨가구가 모두 유의적으로 높았다(p<0.01). COC수에 따른 차이나 두 요인간 상호작용에서는 유의성이 인정되지 않았다. 결과적으로 돼지 미성숙 난포란을 mNCSU-23에서 성숙배양할 때 10 ng/mL EGF 첨가는 성숙배양 단계에서 난구세포의 팽화를 더욱 심화시키고, 발달배양단계에서 배반포의 세포수와 배반포발달율을 증가시키는데 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.157-162
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• 2006

소 난포란의 체외 성숙은 과립막 세포, 난자의 핵성숙을 촉진하는 미지의 혈청내의 물질뿐만 아니라, 호르몬이나 생리 활성 인자 등에 의해 촉진됨이 밝혀졌다. 이에 따라 체외 성숙 및 체외 발달에 사용되는 배양액의 조성도 복합 배양액에서 단순 배양액으로 전환을 시도하고 있으며, 체내의 조건에 보다 더 접근하고자 하는 시도들이 수행되고 있다. 본 연구는 한우 난포란의 성숙 시 FGF의 첨가가 체외 성숙율 및 체외 수정 후 배발달율에 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. 한우 난포란의 체외 성숙시 FGF를 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml를 첨가하였을 때 24 시간째에 Metaphase II 도달율은 각각 72.7, 70.0, 75.0%로서 무첨가 대조군의 37.5% 에 유의적으로 높은 성숙율을 보였다(p<0.05). 그러나 FGF 첨가 농도간에는 차이가 인정되지 않았다. FGF로 체외 성숙된 난포란의 체외 수정 후 배발달율은 0, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml FGF 첨가군에서 각각 25.0, 9.5, 0, 2.9%를 보여, 무첨가 대조군에 비해 FGF 첨가군에서 낮았다(p<0.05). FGF로 체외 성숙된 난포란을 체외 수정 후 10% FBS-HPM 199, 0.8% BSA-HPM 199 및 0.1% PVA-HPM에 배양한 결과 12.4, 12.8, 8.5%의 배반포 발달율을 보였으며, 무혈청 배양액인 IVMD, IVD에 배양한 결과 38.4 및 34.8%의 배반포 발달율로 유의적인 차이를 나타냈다(p<0.05). 결론적으로 FGF는 한우 난포란의 체외 성숙시 유용한 물질이나, 한우 난자의 체외 발달에는 단독의 효과를 기대할 수 없었으며, 다른 생리 활성 인자들 간의 상호 관계에 대하여 더 많은 연구가 요구된다.