• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 1997

The studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cells and oviduct epithelial cells on the in vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of bovine follicular cocytes and to determine the optimum thawing temperature and equilibration time on in vitro developmental rate of frozen bovine embryos. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered Korean native cows. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TGM-199 medium containing 10 IU /ml의 PM SG, 10 IU /ml의 hCG, ip g/ml의 $\beta$-estradiol and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in incubator with 5% $CO_2$ in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$. The bovine embryos following dehydration by cryoprotective agents and a various concentration of sucrose were directly plunged into liquld nitrogen and thawed in 3$0^{\circ}C$ water. Survival rate was defined as developmental rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are sunanarized as followes :1. The in vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM499 medium were 75.0~76.8% and 17.3~27.6%, respect-ively. And in-vitro fertilization rates of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(55.4%)were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes (23.1%). 2. The in vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes co-cultured with l$\times$ l04cells /ml, 1 x l06cells /ml, lx l08cells /ml and 1 x l015cells /ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 74.5~77.8% and 15.7~21.20 respectively.3. The in-vitro fertilization and in vitro developmental rates of bovine oocytes cocultured in '1CM-199 media containing PMSG, hCG, PMSG+hCG. PMSG+$\beta$-estradiol, hCG+$\beta$-estradiol 0 to 40 hrs after insemination were 74.0~77.4% and l8.9~23.l%, re-spectiv ely.4.The survival rates of bovine embryos thawed after rapid freezing in the freezing medium containing a various concentration of sucrose added 1.5M and 2.OM glycerol,DMSO and propanediol were 23.5~31.4% and 20.6~34.l%, respectively. 5. The temperature thawed at 3$0^{\circ}C$ after rapid freezing of bovine embryos resulted in a significantly higher embryos survival rate than did at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 35$^{\circ}C$.6. The equilibration time on the survival rates of bovine embryos was attained after short period of time(2.5~5 min.) in the freezing medium higher than long period of time (10~20min.). (Key words : bovine embryos, co-culture, freezing, in vitro development)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 1993

Frozen semen obtained from 5 different Korean Native Cattle were used for in vitro fertilization of oocytes. The proportions(3∼11%) of oocytes penetrated in the basic medium with 13.9 mM glucose were very low in different semen. However, the penetration rates of oocytes in the presence of caffeine and heparin increased to 68∼84%. The proportions(10∼52%) of oocytes penetrated in the presence of caffeine alone were low at various glucose concentrations(0∼27.8 mM). In the medium with heparin, significantly(P<0.05 at least) higher penetration rate was obtained in the absence(94%) than in the presence(28∼45%) of 0∼27.8 mM glucose concentrations. The medium with caffeine and heparin, however, produced similar penetration rates(84∼97%) regardless of the various glucose concentrations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2003

Bovine embryos produced by in vitro maturation, feretilization and development was examined for presevation and transfer. The fertilization medium used BO medium with 5 mM/$m\ell$ caffeine and 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ heparin and adjusted to a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. The final concentration of spermatozoa was adjusted to 1$\times$$10^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$ motile sperm during fertilization in vitro. At 8~10 hrs after insemination, the oocytes were transferred into CR1aa medium and cultured for 7 days. Embryos were preserved by vitrification method for transfer. When the embryos of early, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages were frozen-thawed, the proportions of embryos with normal morphology 83.6, 88.1 and 85.2%. (중략)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 1986

As a part of in vitro fertilization(IVF) for farm animals, IVF experiment was conducted using New Zealand white rabbits with their sperm capacitated in vivo. The effect of uterine conditions on sperm capacitation and effect of sperm concentration and fertilization media on IVF rate and implantation of in vitro fertilized ova were studied. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. Acrosomal reaction, noted after staining, of sperm recovered from ligated and intact uterus of capacitators was 83.0% and 65.7%, respectively. 2. IVF rate of ova inseminated with sperm from ligated uterus tended to be higher in DM or with higher concentration of sperm than in the modified F12 medium or with lower sperm concentration. Cleavage rate of fertilized ova for 48hr in DM was 31.5% for 106/ml and 30.0% for 104/ml of sperm and that in modified F12 medium was 26.0% for 106/ml and 22.3% for 104/ml of sperm. 3. Using the sperm from intact uterus, cleavage rate of fertilized ova showed same tendency as those shown with ligated uterus. The rate was 82.0% for 106/ml and 66.5% for 104/ml of sperm in DM and was 69.0% for 106/ml and 56.5% for 104/ml of sperm in the medium. 4. When normal ova up to 48hr after IVF were cultured for 4 days in either DM or modified F12 medium, ova developed to blastocyst stage showed higher rate in the groups of higher sperm concentration in the both media. The rate was 80.9% and 60.0% for 106/ml and 104/ml of sperm in DM and 91.7% and 71.4% for 106/ml and 104/ml of sperm in the modified F12 medium, respectively. 5. Rate of implantation after transfer of 4- or 8-cell embryos was 36.8%.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2013

This study examined the motility of either the unattached(upper) or attached(lower) Hanwoo sperm to bovine oviduct epithelial cell(BOEC) monolayers to determine whether there are any changes in their motility during co-culture. The cleavage and blastocyst development rate were compared among different preincubation methods in-vitro, after oocytes were fertilized in-vitro with Hanwoo sperm on BOEC monolayers. The motility of frozen-thawed sperm in BOEC co-culture group was significantly higher than controls, especially at 5 hours and 6 hours (p<0.05) of incubation, in sperm treatment medium without heparin and caffeine. The motility of frozen-thawed sperm in BOEC co-culture group was significantly higher than controls, especially at 3 hours (p<0.05) and 6 hours (p<0.01), in sperm treatment medium containing heparin and caffeine. The motility of the attached( lower) sperm was significantly higher than the unattached(upper) sperm during co-culture with BOEC at all times(p<0.01 or p<0.05), except for 6 hours. After Hanwoo oocytes were fertilized in-vitro with the sperm that had been co-cultured with BOEC in sperm treatment medium containing heparin and caffeine, we determined the cleavage and blastocyst development rate, according to the preincubation methods. Both the cleavage and blastocyst development rate from 2 hour preincubation group were the highest, but significant difference was not recognized. These results show that BOEC plays an important role on sperm hyperactivation related to capacitation regardless of heparin and caffeine in sperm treatment medium. However, oviduct epithelial cell had no significant effect on the development of embryos after in-vitro fertilization in the presence of added heparin and caffeine in sperm treatment medium.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2003

This study was to investigate the effects of fertilization time and culture medium of pig oocytes matured in-vitro by liquid boar sperm. The sperm rich fraction (30∼60 ml) was slowly cooled to room temperature (20∼23$^{\circ}C$) by 2 h after collection. Semen was transferred into 15 ml tubes, centrifuged at room temperature for 10 min 800 ${\times}$ g, and the supernatant solution was poured off. The concentrated sperm was resuspended with 5 ml of the LEN diluent to provide 1.0${\times}$10$^{9}$ sperm/ml at room temperature. The resuspended semen was cooled in a refrigerator to 4$^{\circ}C$. The medium used for oocyte maturation was TCM-199 supplemented with 26.19 mM sodium bicarbonate, 0.9 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml insulin, 2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml vitamin B$_{12}$ , 25 mM HEPES, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml bovine apotransferrin, 150 $\mu$M cysteamine, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 IU/ml hCG, 10 ng/ml EGF, 0.4% BSA, 75 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml sodium penicillin G, 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml streptomycin sulfate and 10% pFF. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. Oocytes were inseminated with liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after collection. Oocytes were coincubated for 1, 3, 6 and 9 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ mTBM fertilization media with 1.0${\times}$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml concentration, respectively. Thereafter, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${mu}ell$ NCSU-23, HEPES buffered NCSU-23, PZM-3 and PZM-4 culture media, respectively, for further culture of 6, 48 and 144 h. The rates of sperm penetration and male pronuclear formation were higher in the fertilization times for 6 and 9 h than in those for 1 and 3 h. The rates of cleaved oocytes were higher in the fertilization times for 6 and 9 h (85.0 and 84.6%) than in those for 1 and 3 h (61.1 and 76.8%). The percentage of blastocyst formation from the cleaved oocytes was highest in the fertilization time for 6 h (33.6%) than in that for 1, 3 and 9 h (11.4, 23.0 and 29.6%). Mean cell numbers per blastocyst were 32.9, 27.6, 26.3 and 24.4 in the fertilization times for 6, 9, 3 and 1 h, respectively. The rate of blastocyst from the cleaved oocytes and the number of cells per blastocyst were higher in HEPES buffered NCSU-23 culture medium than in NCSU-23, PZM-3 and PZM-4 culture media. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ could be used for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. Also, we recommend the coincubation time of 6 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ TBM fertilization medium with 1${\times}$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml concentration and the HEPES buffered NCSU-23 culture medium for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 1985

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 1991

This study was conducted to find out the suitable in vitro media for fertilization and culture on the pig oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro. The results obtained were as follows; A comparison of fertilization media on the oocytes matured in vivo was made between M199 with 10% FCS versus TL Hepes with 1% BSA Fertilization rate was significantly higher in the TL Hepes medium. But polyspermic incidence did not favor in the TL Hepes medium. Embryos were cultured in TL Hepes wash and culture medium for 48h after insemination. A total of 53 embryos were cultured and 39(73.6%) cleaved. Of these 39 embryos, 31(79.5%) cleaved equally to the 2-8 cell stage. Immature oocytes cultured in Waymouth's maturation medium were much more able to induce sperm swelling than immature oocytes cultured in TL Hepes maturation medium, however, most ova were polyspermic and did not develope to the 4 cell stage during 48h culture in TL Hepes wash and culture medium.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.692-697
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of salinity and medium used on the induction of sexual reproduction for the mass production of the resting eggs in the marine rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis for 9 days. After exposure to various salinities, the mixis rate in all treatments began to increase on the third day and decreased after the 4th or 5th day. The resting eggs appeared on the 4th day at 10‰, 15‰, 20‰, 25‰. In particular, the fertilization rates with 33.3% and 31.3% at 20‰ and 25‰ on day 6 were higher than those of the others, respectively. Mean mixis rate for 9 day at 0‰ and 20‰ were the highest with 25.3% and 20.2%, respectively, and the fertilization rate (14.0%) at 25‰ was the highest. In the medium experiment used, the mixis rate in all treatments were similar to the results of the salinity experiment. The resting eggs were only found at 0% and 25% of the used medium treatments. While there were no significant differences in the mean fertilization rate of all treatments, the mean mixis rate (22.3%) in the 25% treatment was higher than that of the control (0% treatment). As a result, salt stress was more effective than using the used medium to induce sexual reproduction in B. rotundiformis. The optimal salinity was considered to be 20-25‰, which caused a high mixis and fertilization rate in the rotifer. These results provide basic data for the mass production of rotifer resting eggs.