• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.177-185
• /
• 2005

Objective: This study was conducted to find an optimal condition for the vitrification of mouse morulae and expanded blastocysts. Materials and Methods: Mouse embryos were obtained at 2-cell stage and cultured to morula and expanded blastocyst stage in Human Tubal Fluid (HTF) medium supplemented with 10% Serum Substitute Supplement (SSS). The vitrification solutions used were EFS30, EFS35 and EFS40 that contains 30%, 35% and 40% ethylene glycol, respectively, with 18% ficoll and 0.5 M sucrose diluted in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS) medium supplemented with 10% SSS. The vitrification procedure was performed in EFS solution with three steps, followed by thawing in 6 steps with 0.5 M sucrose, and then survival and hatching-hatched rate per embryos recovered were compared among six groups. Results: After 24 h culture in different vitrification and thawing solution, the survival rate of morula embryos was 94.1%, 85.4% and 59.7% for EFS30, EFS35 and EFS40 group, respectively. Hatching rate of morula embryos after 72 h culture was 30.6%, 25% and 11.3% for EFS30, EFS35 and EFS40 group, respectively. The survival rate of expanded blastocyst embryos after 24 h culture was 90.4%, 98.5% and 100% for EFS30, EFS35 and EFS40 group, respectively. Hatching rate of expanded blastocyst embryos after 48 h culture was 46.2%, 57.6% and 64.3% for EFS30, EFS35 and EFS40 group, respectively. Conclusion: The EFS30 solution was the best for vitrification of mouse morulae. The EFS40 solution was the best for vitrification of mouse expanded blastocysts. The mouse expanded blastocyst was better than mouse morula for vitrification of mouse embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제39권4호
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2012

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a condition in which no oocytes are retrieved after an apparently adequate ovarian response to stimulation and meticulous follicular aspiration. EFS can be classified into 'genuine' and 'false' types according to hCG levels. It is a rare condition of obscure etiology. The existence of genuine EFS has been questioned and is still controversial. The limitation around EFS is that the definition of EFS is obscure. Management of patients with EFS is a challenge to physicians. No single treatment is known to be universally effective. However, patients should be adequately informed regarding the importance of correct hCG administration because improper hCG administration is a common and preventable cause of EFS. EFS is a syndrome that deserves additional study because such investigation could lead to a further understanding of ovarian biology and infertility.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.393-400
• /
• 2009

NO released by myenteric neurons controls the off contraction induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in distal esophageal smooth muscle, but in the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-NAME, contraction by EFS occurs at the same time. The authors investigated the intracellular signaling pathways related with G protein and ionic channel EFS-induced contraction using cat esophageal muscles. EFS-induced contractions were significantly suppressed by tetrodotoxin ($1\;{\mu}M$) and atropine ($1\;{\mu}M$). Furthermore, nimodipine inhibited both on and off contractions by EFS in a concentration dependent meaner. The characteristics of 'on' and 'off contraction and the effects of G-proteins, phospholipase, and $K^+$ channel on EFS-induced contraction in smooth muscle were also investigated. Pertussis toxin (PTX, a $G_i$ inactivator) attenuated both EFS-induced contractions. Cholera toxin (CTX, $G_s$ inactivator) also decreased the amplitudes of EFS-induced off and on contractions. However, phospholipase inhibitors did not affect these contractions. Pinacidil (a $K^+$ channel opener) decreased these contractions, and tetraethylammonium (TEA, ${K^+}_{Ca}$ channel blocker) increased them. These results suggest that EFS-induced on and off contractions can be mediated by the activations Gi or Gs proteins, and that L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel may be activated by G-protein ${\alpha}$ subunits. Furthermore, ${K^+}_{Ca^-}$ channel involve in the depolarization of esophageal smooth muscle. Further studies are required to characterize the physiological regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ channel and to investigate the effects of other $K^+$ channels on EFS-induced on and off contractions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.645-652
• /
• 2000

A total of 80 piglets ($5.18{\pm}0.61kg$ of BW; 16 d of age) were fed experimental diets to evaluate the effect of extruded full-fat soybean (EFS) on the growth of eatly weaned pigs. Pigs were allotted into five treatments based on body weight, in a completely randomized block design. Each treatment has 4 replicates of 4 animals each. Treatments consisted of diets representing substitutional ratios of EFS for soybean meal. 1) 100:0 (SBM), 2) 75:25 (EFS 25), 3) 50:50 (EFS 50), 4) 25:75 (EFS 75) and 5) 0:100 (EFS 100). During phase I (d 0 to 7), piglets were fed diets containing 3,340 kcal ME, 26% crude protein, 1.85% lysine, 1.0% Ca and 0.9% P. For phase II (d 8 to 21), piglets were fed diets supplying 3,340 kcal ME, 23% crude protein, 1.65% lysine, 0.9% Ca and 0.8% P. Urease activity (pH rise) of EFS (0.18) was three times higher than that of SBM (0.06) indicating that processing conditions were not efficient enough to inactivate urease activity. During the first week postweaning, pigs fed SBM had significantly greater average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to pigs fed FFS diets. Linear negative effect on growth rate was found as the inclusion rate of FFS increased. During d 8 - 21 postweaning, piglets fed EFS 50 diet showed the best ADG and FCR despite no significant difference between treatment SBM and EFS 25 have been observed. Overall, piglets fed diets up to 50% FFS inclusion rate exhibited similar weight gain. Only piglets fed EFS 100 diet showed a significantly decreased growth rate. No other significant effect was found in feed intake and feed conversion ratio. At d 7, dry matter digestibility was higher in pigs fed SBM diet than piglets fed EFS 75 diet (p<0.05) and crude protein digestibility was higher in piglets fed SBM diet than piglets fed EFS 50, EFS 75 and EFS 100 (p<0.05). At d 21, no difference other than in phosphorus digestibility was detected. This indicates that piglets at 21 d postweaning are capable of utilizing nutrients from FFS. No treatment effects were detected in blood metabolites. The data suggests that piglets at 16 d of age are not sufficiently mature to use extruded FFS in their diets. Nevertheless, FFS seemed to be able to replace upto 50% of SBM in weaned piglet diet.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.283-289
• /
• 2000

Objective: The study was performed to compare the survival rate and the development of day 2 mouse embryos which had freezing procedures done. Methods: We used three different vitrification solutions (EFS, VS14, DPS) and a ultrarapid freezing solution (UFS) for cryopreservation of day 2 mouse embryo. Results: We tested toxicity by exposing embryos to vitirification solutions and a ultrarapid freezing solution. The survival rates are 100%, 97.8%, 95.6% and 100% (EFS, VS14, DPS and UFS). After cultured for 96 hours, hatching rates of each group are 93.5% (no freezing), 95.6% (EFS), 86.4% (VS14), 93.0% (DPS), and 93.0% (UFS). There is no significant differences among groups. The survival rates after thawing cryopreserved embryos are 80.2%, 91.7%, 69.5%, 0% and 91.8% (slow freezing, EFS, VS14, DPS and UFS). Also cultured for 96 hours, the hatching rates are 93.5% (no freezing), 84.1% (slow freezing), 93.9% (EFS), 48.5% (VS14) and 70.1% (UFS). Conclusion: The survival rates of vitrification in EFS solution and ultrarapid freezing are higher than slow freezing (p<0.05). The hatching rate of vitrification in EFS solution cultured for 96 hours is highest, so vitrification of day 2 mouse embryos in EFS solution considered as more effective for cryopreservation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제14권5호
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2010

It is well-known that electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contraction is mediated by a cholinergic mechanism and other neurotransmitters. NO, ATP, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P are released by EFS. To investigate the purinergic mechanism involved in the EFS-induced contraction, purinegic receptors antagonists were used. Suramine, a non-selective P2 receptor antagonist, reduced the contraction induced by EFS. NF023 ($10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M$), a selective P2X antagonist, inhibited the contraction evoked by EFS. Reactive blue ($10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}M$), selective P2Y antagonist, also blocked the contraction in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, P2X agonist ${\alpha}$,${\beta}$-methylene 5'-adenosine triphosphate (${\alpha}{\beta}MeATP$, $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$) potentiated EFS-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner. P2Y agonist adenosine 5'-[${\beta}$-thio]diphosphate trilithium salt ($ADP{\beta}S$, $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}M$) also potentiated EFS-induced contractions in a dose-dependent manner. Ecto-ATPase activator apyrase (5 and 10 U/ml) reduced EFS-induced contractions. Inversely, 6-N,$N$-diethyl-D-${\beta}$,${\gamma}$- dibromomethylene 5'-triphosphate triammonium (ARL 67156, $10^{-4}M$) increased EFS-induced contraction. These data suggest that endogenous ATP plays a role in EFS-induced contractions which are mediated through both P2X-receptors and P2Y-receptors stimulation in cat esophageal smooth muscle.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2008

Objectives: In this study the authors investigated effects of the ethanolic extract of Rhodjola Rosea(HKC) on fatigue and hypothalamic IEG expression in rat forced swimming(FS) model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were administered HKC extract(25 mg/100g, p.o.) for 3 days prior to FS, some rats underwent 10 min FS and others exhaustive forced swimming(EFS). In addition, other rats were administered extract at different times after EFS over 3 consecutive days. Results: When HKC administered before 10 mins of FS, serum actate dehydrogenase(LDH) and creatine phosphokinase(CPK) activities were significantly lower than control group. When HKC administered prior to EFS, blood lactate was significantly lower versus control group. When HKC was administered after EFS, blood lactate(at 6 and 24 hours after EFS) were significantly lower and serum LDH, CPK activities(at 24 hours after EFS) were significantly lower versus control group. When HKC was administered after EFS, c-Fos positive neurons in hypothalamic periventricular area(PVA), medial part(mPVN) and anterior hypothalamic nucleus caudal part(AHC) were significantly lower at 24 hours after EFS than in control group. HSP-72 positive neuron numbers in hypothalamus were significantly lower at 24 hours after EFS than in control group. Finally, when HKC was administered prior to 10 mins FS, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression in the gastrocnemius muscle was significantly increased. Conclusions: These results suggest that HKC extract has an anti-fatigue effect, and it reduces neuronal cell stress responses induced by physical stress by having a beneficial effect on lactate metabolism.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 1994

The present experirnents on cryopreservation were carried out to investigate effect of solution toxicity, equilibration time and cell stages on the post-thaw survival of mouse morulae and blastocyst embryos cryopreserved by vitrification in EFS solution. The mouse embryos were exposed to the EFS solution in one step at room temperature, kept in the EFS solution during different period for toxicity test, vitrified in liquid nitrogen and thawed rapidly. After the mouse morulae embryos were exposed to EFS solution for 2 and 5 ruin. at room temperature and then they were washed in 0.5 M sucrose solution and basal mediurn(D-PBS + 10% FCS), they were cultured to examined cryoprotectant toxicity induced injury during exposure, most of embryos developed to expanded blastocysts(100 and 90.0%). However, when the exposure time was extended to 10 and 20 min, these development rates dropped dramatically in 10 ruin. (75.0%) and 20 ruin. (4.5%), respectively. When the compacted morulae were vitrified in EFS solution after equilibration for 2 and 5 min, the embryos have developed to normal blastocyst following thawing, washing and culture processes was 89.3 and 89.6%. However, when the exposure time was expanded to 10 ruin, this survival rate dropped to 68.8%. When the blastocyst were vitrified in EFS solution after equilibration for 2, 5 and 10 minutes, the survival rate of embryos which developed to normal blastocyst following thawing and culture processing were 58.5, 46.7 and 22.4%, respectively. The optimal time of equilibration of mouse morula and blastocysts in EFS solution seemed o be 2 and 5 ruin.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.325-333
• /
• 1997

The use of hormonal stimulation in human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) leads to increased production of embryos for ET. So to avoid high pregnancies and to allow conception in future, unstimulated cycles, cryopreservation of spare embryos is desirable. One of the improvement of cryopreservation methods is vitrification. We cryopreserved mouse day 3 embryos by vitrification using the three different vitrification solution (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). EFS40 solution is consisted of 40% (v/v) ethylene glycol, Ficol170 30% (w/v) and 0.5M sucrose and VS11 is 6.0M ethylene glycol and 1.8M glycerol. And VS3a is 6.5M glycerol and 6% (w/v) BSA (bovine serum albumin). First we tested the toxicity of three vitrification solution by exposure to these solution during 3 min. After washing by thawing solution, the survival rates of each groups are 95.5%, 90.9% and 84.4% (EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). High percentages of them developed to expanded blastocyst and hatching embryos in culture 48hrs 94.2%, 97.7%, 100% and 97.4% (no treatment group, EFS40, VS11 and VS3a). So there is no significant differences among the each group. Second, after thawing of vitirfied embryos, the survival rates of each groups are 96.8% (slow freeze), 94.1% (EFS40), 85.5% (VS11) and 80.0% (VS3a, P vs. no freeze or EFS40 is 0.01). Vitrified embryos exhibited a high rate of development in vitro after 48hrs culture. The percentages of each group to blastocyst and hatching embryos are 88.7% (no freeze), 91.8% (slow freeze), 93.4% (EFS40), 87.7% (VS11) and 73.0% (VS3a, P vs. other group is 0.01). The results suggest that there is no significant differences in exposure of various vitrification solution and day 3 mouse embryos can be vitrified in solution EFS40 and VS11 by simple procedure.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2004

본 연구는 돼지 미성숙 난포란의 유리화 동결액에 노출시 독성과 삼투압 스트레스가 가장 적은 유리화 동결액을 조사하기 위하여 실시하였으며, 그 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 미성숙 난포란을 EFS(40% ethylene glycol +18% ficoll +0.3 M sucrose) 용액, ES(5.5 M ethylene glycol +1.0 M sucrose) 용액, GE(10% glycerol +20% ethylene glycol) 용액에 각각 노출하고 대조구로 아무 처리하지 않은 난포란을 체외성숙하여 관찰한 체외성숙율은 ES 용액과 대조구 에서 EFS 용액과 GE 용액보다 유의적으로 높았으며(P<0.05), 유리화 동결액의 독성에 의한 난포란의 퇴화율은 대조구, ES 용액, EFS 용액, GE 용액 순으로 유의적으로 낮은 퇴화율을 나타내었다(P<0.05). 미성숙 난포란을 EFS 용액, ES용액, GE용액에 각각 노출하고 대조구로 아무 처리하지 않은 난포란을 체외성숙, 체외수정하여 관찰한 정상 수정율은 대조구가 세 종류의 유리화 동결액보다 유의적으로 높았고(P<0.05), 유리화 동결액 간에는 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 다정자 침입율과 난자당 침입한 평균 정자수는 모든 처리구간에 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 미성숙 난포란을 EFS 용액, ES 용액, GE 용액에 각각 노출하고 대조구로 아무 처리하지 않은 난포란을 체외성숙, 체외수정, 체외 배양하여 관찰한 수정 3 일째의 분할율은 ES 용액과 대조구가 EFS 용액과 GE 용액보다 유의적으로 높았으며(P<0.05), 수정 7일째의 배반포 형성율은 모든 처리구간에 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 배양기간 동안 나타난 퇴화율은 대조구가 세 가지 유리화 동결액에 비해 유의적으로 낮았고(P<0.05), ES 용액은 EFS 용액과 GE 용액보다 유의적으로 낮은 퇴화율을 나타내었다(P<0.05).