• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 1997

This study was carried out to determine the effect of bovine follicular fluid(bFF), hormones, and fetal bovine serum(FBS) supplemented in the medium on the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine embryos. The ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir and placed in physiological saline kept at 30~32˚C and brought to the laboratory within 3~4 hours. The oocytes and follicular fluid were collected by aspiration from visible follicles, and the oocytes of grades I on the basis of the morphology of cumulus cells attached and the homogeneity of cytoplasmic granules were selected and used for maturation. The basal media used for oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development in vitro were Ham' F-10, TALP and TCM-199, respectively. The hormones supplemented in maturation medium were consisted of 35 pg /ml FSH, 10 pg /ml LH and 1 pg/mi estradiol-l7$\beta$. The bFF collected from 5~9 mm follicles was centrifuged, filtered and inactivated by heat-treatment at 56˚C for 30 min. FBS also was inactivated with the same method and kept at -20˚C until use. The embryos were co-cultured with the monolayer of bovine oviductal epithelial cells at 39˚C under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 9 days. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The fertilization rate of oocytes was found 87.4% from 10% FBS and hormones treatment for IVM, and 37.1% of these TVF embryos were developed to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS groups. Compared with this control system, the fertilization rate was decreased significantly(P<0.05) in the maturation without either FBS or hormones. These IVF embryos were developed to morula stage at the similar rate, but to blastocyst at significantly(P<0.05) lower rate in the embryo culture with or without FBS supplementation. The fertilization rate(82.9%) in hormones and 10% inactivated bFF was similar with 10% FBS and hormone groups(87.4%), but decreased significantly(P<0.05) in 20 or 30% bFF (61.0 or 66.0%), respectively. In vitro developmental competence to blastocyst stage in 10% FBS and 20% inactivated bFF(37.1% and 31.4%) was higher than in 10 or 30% inactivated bFF(20.0 or 19.2%) or 10, 20 and 30% fresh bFF(19.1, 21.0 and 17.5%) The results indicated that the in vitro fertillzation and development rate of the embryos should be improved in 10% FBS or 20% inactivated culture system and 20% inactivated bFF might be available economically for bovine oocyte maturation and embryo culture instead of fetal bovine serum.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.394-400
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• 1998

Cryopreservation of embryos by vitrification is a simple method to preserve bovine embryos for subsequent embryo transfer, but embryonic viability after vitrification has been inconsistent and low compared with conventional slow freezing. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of serum or serum albumin in a vitrification solution and epidermal growth factor(EGF) or fibroblast growth factor(FGF) on in vitro viability of bovine blastocysts frozen by vitrification. Bovine blastocysts were produced by in vitro maturation, fertilization of follicular oocytes and culture of embryos in a synthetic oviduct fluid medium(SOFM) containing BSA and 19 essential and nonessential amino acids. Blastocysts with excellent or good morphology were selected at 7 or 8 days after culture and utilized for vitrification. In experiment 1, blastocysts were vitrified in a solution containing semi-fetal calf serum(SFCS) or BSA(5 or 10mg/ml) and then their subsequent viabilities were examined by culturing thawed embryos in a SOFM containing BSA and 19 amino acids. Effect of EGF or FGF added to a SOFM containing polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) on the viability of vitrified-thawed blastocysts was investigated in experiment 2. BSA added at 5 or 10mg/ml to a vitrification solution showed significantly higher(p < 0.05) developmental rate to expanded and hatching blastocysts than SFCS, but there was no significant difference in the developmental rate to hatched blastocysts after thawing. Supplementation of a culture medium with EGF and/or FGF significantly increased(p < 0.05) embryo development to expanded blastocysts compared with control but showed no beneficial effect on the development to hatching or hatched blastocysts. Coculture of thawed embryos with granulosa cells in a TCM 199 containing 10% fetal calf serum(FCS) showed the highest developmental rate to expanded, hatching and hatched blastocysts among the groups tested. In conclusion, supplementation of a vitrification solution with BSA at 5mg/ml and culture of thawed blastocysts in a medium containing EGF and/or FGF can improve in vitro viability of bovine blastocysts frozen by vitrification.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 1997

In vitro development of bovine embryos is affected by many factors such as energy substrates, amino acids, and some growth factors. It has been reported that mRNA of insulin, PDGF and their receptors are detected in cow embryos, and that some chelating agents such as EDTA and transferrin have beneficial role on mouse and bovine embryos. The author hypothesized that insulin, transferrin arid PDGF added to a culture medium increase in vitro development of bovine embryos by chelating toxic substance(s) or increasing cell growth and metabolism. Immature oocytes from slaughtered ovaries of Holstein cows and heifers were matured for 24 hours in a TCM199 containing 10% fetal calf serum, FSH, LH and estradiol with granulosa cells in vitro. Matured oocytes were coincubated with sperm for 30 hours in a modified Tyrode's medium (IVF). Embryos cleaved to 2- to 4-cell at 30 hours after IVF were selected and cultured in a 30-$\mu$l drop of a synthetic oviduct fluid medium (SOFM) containing 0.8% BSA, Minimum Essential Medium essential and non-essential amino acids, and insulin, transferrin or PDGF for 9 days. Supplementation of a SOFM with insulin, and /or transferrin did not increase develop-mental rate to expanding and hatching blastocyst of 2- to 4-cell bovine embryos compared with control. The highest developmental rate to hatching blastocyst was shown when PDGF was added at the concentration of 10 ng /ml among the supplementing doses tested in the present study (p<0.05). Addition of PDGF without insulin to a SOFM could not increase embrye development, but combined addition of PDGF with insulin significantly increased (p<0.05) embryo development to hatching blastocyst (50%) compared with control (38%). In conclusion, insulin and PDGF supplemented to a SOFM may act synergistically and have beneficial effect on in vitro development of 2- to 4-cell bovine embryos matured and fertilized in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate the inhibiting or promoting effect of fetal bovine serum fractionated by the molecular weight and to examine the effect of reconstruction of serum fractions on the development of 1- and 2-cell mouse embryos fertilized in vitro (IVEE) . The serum was separated by ultrafiltration or gel filtration methods and added in m-KRB medium for culture of IVFE. The developemental ability(cavitation and hatching) of embryos following culture of day 4 and 6 was compared among fractions. Small molecular weight fraction( <3 kDa) significantly inhibited the development of 1-and 2-cell IVFE to the blastocyst stages, compared with other fractions. One-cell IVFE were more sensitively damaged than 2-cell embryos by that fraction and arrested mainly at 2~4 cell stages. Moreover, small amount(<3%,v /v) of the inhibiting fraction acted even with protein rich fraction(100~30 kDa) and arrested the embryonic development. On the other hand, 100~30 kDa fraction promoted the embryonic development and no inhibiting effect was observed at the level of 50%(v /v) in culture medium In the experiment of gel filtraton, =30 kDa fraction showed the highest promoting effect on the embryonic development, but <4 kDa fraction inhibited significantly the development. These results suggest that serum contains not only small molecular weight inhibitory component(s) but also promoting one rather than albumin on embryonic development. And serum can be more effectively used in the IVF program after removal of inhibitory component(s) by one of above separation methods.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.20 no.3 s.32
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• pp.427-446
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• 1990

The objective of this study was to understand the major changes of craniofacial dimensions and spatial growth pattern during the late embryonic and fetal period of human fetures. This study was performed with the selective materials of normal fetuses received from the Registry of Congenital Malformation of Seoul National University Hospital. The specimens consisted of nineteen embryos and sixty-six fetuses. The photomicrographs from mid-segittal sections of embryos were used for angular measurement, and the lateral cephalograms taken with soft X-ray were also measured in liners and angular aspects. All of the anatomical landmarks for the tracing of the photomicrographs and cephalograms were referred to the previous reports on literature. The sequential changes of prenatal craniofacial dimensions and agles were analysed statistically and discussed on the focus about the developmental growth directions of human ore-facial structure arised from heterogeneous origins. The results are as follows, 1) Cranial base angle was almost formed at about 6 weeks old embryos with the average angle of $127.4{\pm}6.33^{\circ}$ (n=3) and it was almost constant onwards. 2) The linear increase rates of anterior cranial base length and anterior facial height exceeded those of the posterior cranial base length and posterior facial height, and the maxilla grows more rapidly on the horizontal dimension than the vertical dmension during the fetal period. 3) The angular relationship between the anterior cranial base and palatal plane decreasedslightly during the fetal period, disclosing $11^{\circ}$ at 12th week gestation and $5^{\circ}$ at 41th weeks gestation. 4) Genial angle was maintained almost constantly at about $130^{\circ}$ during the fetal period from 12 weeks to 41 weeks of gestation.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.22-22
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• 2001

To produce reconstituted rabbit embryos with fetal fibroblasts, the present study was evaluated the efficiencies of the different fusion and activation conditions as assessments of subsequent development and chromosome in the embryos. New Zealand White rabbits were used throughout the study. Fetal fibroblasts collected from 22-d of fetuses were cultured in DMEM ＋ 10% FBS in 5% $CO_2$ in air. The culture was maintained for 10 passages. In every passage half of cell suspension were kept In frozen. From rabbits treated with FSH in 30% PVP solution and hCG, oocytes were surgically collected from oviducts at 14 h post-hCG injection and stripped off their cumulus cells by re-pipetting in a 300 IU hyaluronidase solution. Oocytes with an extruded first polar body and dense cytoplasm were enucleated by micromanipulation in Ham's F-10 medium＋7.5 g/$m\ell$ cytochalasin B. Euncleation was confirmed under a fluorescence microscope after staining with 5 g/$m\ell$ bisbenzimide for 2 min. Each enucleated oocyte was injected with a fetal fibroblast into a perivitelline space. Reconstructed eggs were compared fusion rates either at 2.0 ㎸/cm or 1.6 ㎸/cm(60 sec, double pulses). After fusion, all eggs were activated with the combination of 5 M ionomycin (5 min) and 10 g/$m\ell$ cycloheximide (CHX, 3h), and cultured in CRlaa medium and transferred into TCM199＋10% FBS on day 3. Although there was not significantly differ in fusion rate between treatments (60%, 2.0 ㎸/cm vs. 79.4%, 1.6 ㎸/cm), none of them in the eggs fused with 2.0 ㎸/cm developed to blastocyst. In comparison of development and chromosome status between different activation treatments (Group 1; 5 M ionomycin/10 g/$m\ell$ CHX, Group 2; 5 M ionomycin/5 g/$m\ell$ CHX ＋ 2 mM DMAP after fusion with 1.6 ㎸/cm), there were not differ in cleavage and development rates (67.3% and 28.9% in Group 1; 67% and 33% in Group 2). All out of 8 embryos evaluated in Group 1 appeared a normal diploid chromosome sets and mean number of cells (Mean SEM) on day 4.5 of culture was 141.5 23.15 (n=8). It can be concluded that the use of cycloheximide has not happened in chromosome abnormalities, and fetal fibroblasts can be used for cloning in rabbit.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2002

Rapidly progressive interstitial renal fibrosis has recently been reported in young women who have been on a slimming regimen including chinese herbs. Aristolochic acid, suspected as the causal factor of this renal disease, is a well known carcinogen. It has been known that Madouling (Aristolochiae fructus) contains aristolochic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Madouling, Madouling-tang, which are the extract mixture from 10 different chinese herbs including Madouling, and aristolochic acid on reproductive and developmental toxicity. Female rats were administered orally with the extracts of Madouling, madouling-tang, and aristolochic acid from 14 days before mating to day 17 of gestation. Madouling (8mg/kg) decreased fertility in the 8mg/kg group, but Madouling-tang and aristolochic acids did not. Significant decrease of mean fetal body weights were observed in the 16mg/kg group of aristolochic acids. External, visceral and skeletal malformation of fetuses were not observed with treatment. Histopathological examination showed the discrete damage of kidney in the 8mg/kg group of Madouling and 16mg/kg groups of aristolochic acid. In whole embryo culture, Madouling and Madouling-tang caused the retardation of growth and development of embryo in the dose of 1 $\mu$g/ml and 0.02 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg, respectively while aristolochic acids showed the similar effect in the dose of 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg. These results indicate that Madouling, up to 0.05mg/kg (prescription dose to human) has no adverse effects on the fertility, reproduction and development of Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of vitrification procedure for the cryopreservation of porcine oocytes and the utilization of vitrified oocytes as recipient cytoplasts for somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT), and observed that porcine oocytes are evaluated by pronuclear formation, and parthenogenetic development. Single fetal donor cells were deposited into the perivitelline space of vitrified enucleation oocytes, followed by electrical fusion and activation. NT embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 5% FBS, at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ and air. 1. When the developmental rates of the oocytes after being culture for $0{\sim}10$ hours vitrified with EDS and ETS were 42.0%, 38.0%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group(62.2%). 2. When the developmental rates of the oocytes after being culture for $0{\sim}10$ hours vitrified-thawed with sucrose and glucose, 5% PVP, NCSU-23 supplemented with 10% FBS were 33.3%, 25.9%, respectively. This results were lower than the control group(55.6%). 3. The fusion and development to the blastocyst stage between the NT embryos constructed with the vitrified and non-vitrified oocytes were significant differences. Developmental rate of oocytes and NT embryos constructed with the vitrified or non-vitrified oocytes were $13.0{\pm}2.4%\;and\;23.2{\pm}2.4%$, respectively.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2018

Background: To evaluate whether ${\geq}3$ adjunct acupuncture sessions accompanying embryo transfer, increases the chance of pregnancy amongst post-myomectomy women aged ${\geq}35$ years. Methods: This was a prospective study carried out at Nordica Fertility Center. Following written informed consent, 75 patients undergoing assisted reproduction therapy and who had good quality embryos, were age-matched and grouped into post-myomectomy (n = 24) and normal women who had no evidence of fibroids or previous myomectomy (n = 51). Between 1 and 3 sessions of acupuncture were performed on 6 post-myomectomy and 19 infertile women who had not undergone myomectomy, while > 3 acupuncture sessions were performed on 18 post-myomectomy and on 32 normal patients, approximately 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. Results: A positive pregnancy test was defined as ultrasonographic evidence indicating presence of a fetal sac 6 weeks after embryo transfer. Of the 5 post-myomectomy women who were pregnant, only 1 (20.0%) received 1-3 adjunct acupuncture sessions whilst the remaining 4 (80.0%) received > 3 acupuncture sessions. Of the 11 normal pregnant women, 5 (45.4%) received 1-3 adjunct acupuncture sessions while 6 (54.5%) received > 3 adjunct acupuncture sessions. Conclusion: Pregnancy rates in infertile post-myomectomy women may be improved by > 3 adjunct acupuncture sessions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2000

The purpose of reproductive toxicity studies is to evaluate all effects resulting from paternal or maternal exposure that interfere with conception, development, birth, and maturation of offspring. In 1966, the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) published guidelines for a three-segment study for drug testing to examine adverse effects on fertility and pregnancy. Three segments were proposed: Segment I, Study of Fertility and General Reproductive Performance, to provide information on breeding, fertility, nidation, parturition, neonatal effects and lactation: Segment II, Teratological study, to provide information on embryo toxicity and teratogenicity: and Segment III. perinatal and Postnatal Study, to provide information on late fetal development, labour and delivery, neonatal viability, and growth and lactation. The classic guideline is still used to this day with only monor modification throughout the world. In the present review, the principles and methods of reproductive toxicity studies are discussed with special attention given to scientific issues.