• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the collection time, co-culture and sperm penetration of canine oocytes on in vitro maturation and fertilization. The oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 media containing hormonal supplements (10% FCS, 10 IU/ml HCG, 10 IU/ml PMSG) at 5% $CO_2$, 95% air, $38^{\circ}C$. The in vitro maturation rate to MII stage of in vitro oocytes recovered from ovaries that collected at follicular, luteal and inactive phases of the reproductive phase for 44~72 hrs were 19.2%, 12.2%, and 6.0%, respectively. Follicular phases oocytes had a significantly higher in vitro maturation rate than oocytes collected at luteal and anestrus stage (p<0.05). The in vitro maturation rates to the MII stage of canine oocytes after 48 hrs of culture with glutathione, pyruvate, or glutathione + pyruvate were 12.5%, 10.7%, and 17.5%, respectively. This was higher than that in both alone or the combination of the two compared to the control group (19.0%). The sperm penetration rates of in vitro matured oocytes by fresh and frozen semen were 29/80 (36.3%) and 18/80 (22.5%), respectively. Although there are limited reports about canine oocytes co-culture and in vitro fertilization, our results on in vitro maturation is comparable to the results from other researches.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.517-519
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• 1990

In vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes collected from slaughtered bovine ovaries were investigated. Immature bovine extrafollicular oocytes were cultured for 24 hrs. in TCM 199 supplemented with fetal calf serum in a humidified CO$_2$ incubator. Fertilization in vitro was performed using frozen-awed bull semen which was treated by Ca Ionophore A23187. Fourty percentage of oocytes cultured had matured to the metaphase II ; There were-no effects of the concentration of fetal calf serum and of the addition of HEPES on the maturation rate. The mean proportions of in vitro fertilized eggs and of cleaved eggs were 23.1％ and 14.4％, respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2000

Techniques for manipulation of spermatozoa and oocytes have been widely used for in vitro production(IVP) of Hanwoo. This study was conducted to examine the effects of theophylline and heparin on frozen-thawed Hanwoo sperm for enhancing the efficiency of IVP technique. Oocytes were inseminated with forzen bull semen treated with either theophylline or heparin for examining the effect of each substance on fertilization and subsequent development. More (P<0.05) oocytes formed pronucleus and develop to the morula and blastocyst stages after inseminated with sperm treated with heparin than after inseminated with sperm treated with theophylline. The pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was higher after heparin treatment than after theophylline treatment, but did not differ significantly. There was no significant difference of offspring delivery between two groups. In conculsion, theophylline and heparin can be used for enhancing the efficiency of IVP system for Hanwoo. Considering characteristics of these substance, theophylline may be useful in the artificial insemination system, which requires vigorous sperm motility. While, heparin supporting sperm viability in vitro can be effectively used for improving in vitro-fertilization system.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 1992

To solve the logistical problems of the sperm penetration assay (SPA) to provide just a sufficient number of hamster ova exactly when they are needed, a new method to cryopreserve the ova has been devised (1-step dehydration and 2-step thawing). After freezing & thawing of zona-intact (ZI) and zona-free (ZF) hamster ova according to this new method, the frozen-thawed ova were compared with fresh, control ova (FO) in terms of the degree of sperm penetration in SPA using semen samples from fertile donors, subfertile, and infertile male. Each sperm sample was capacitated for 42 hours inTEST-Yolk Buffer before insemination in SPA. In fertile doner, both the penetration rate and penetration index were lower in SPA using frozen ova (ZI; 92.4%, 6.2, ZF; 63.7%, 3.9) than those of SPA using fresh ova (99.3%, 8.4). There was a significant correlation between the penetration index of SPA using FO and ZI (p<0.001), and between those of SPA using FO and ZF and ova (p<0.001). In subfertile patient, both the penetration rate and penetration index were lowered in frozen ova (ZI; 62.3%, 1.3, ZF; 21.8%, 0.4) than those of fresh ova (74.8%, 1.8). There were significant correlation between the penetration rate and penetration index in ZI ova (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). In infertile patient, both the penetration rate and penetration index were ZI; 3.1%, 0.0, ZF;0.0%, 0.0, respectively. There were significant correlation between the penetration rate and penetration index in ZI ova (p<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 1992

The present experiments were focussed to modify a short slow-cooling protocol used for freezing of early stage embryo(Testart et al., 1986) and also to apply the modified method for the cryopreservation of hamster oocytes with Zona or without. The protocol was modified by changing the 4-step equilibration into 1-step and the 1-step thawing into 2-step. The oocytes were added in 1.5M PROH and 0.1M Sucrose, seeded at $-7^{\circ}C$, slow cooled($0.3^{\circ}C$/min) to $-30^{\circ}C$ before plunging to $-196^{\circ}C$. The oocytes were thawed at $23-25^{\circ}C$ air(20sec/150sec) and/or 33-35 water(10sec). The survival of the frozen-thawed oocytes was determined by morphologic criteria and their fertilizing ability was also estimated by Sperm Penetration Assay(SPA) system(Chang et al, 1990) using fertile men semen sample. One-step equilibration showed slightly higher survival rate(83.9% vs. 71.0%) and fertilization rate(83.9% vs. 71.0%) compared with four-step(p>0.05). And two-step thawing(air & water exposing) of oocytes frozen after 1-step equilibration showed significantly higher survival rate(96.3%) than one-step thawing at air(85.2%) or water(65.0%) only(p<0.05). Therefore, by the modified method(l-step equilibration & 2-step thawing), Zona-intact(ZI) and Zona-free(ZF) oocytes were frozen and thawed. ZI-oocytes showed significantly higher survival rate(95.4%, 308/323 vs. 67.6%, 240/355) than ZF-oocytes(P<0.01). But the survival of ZF-oocytes was as high as ZI-oocytes in fourteen of twenty-four replicates. ZI-oocytes was also significantly higher fertilization rate($92.4{\pm}8.9%$ vs. $63.7{\pm}18.5%$) and higher mean number of penetrated sperm($6.2{\pm}4.2$ vs. $3.9{\\pm}3.3$) than ZF-oocytes, but not higher than control(fresh oocytes;$99.3{\pm}2.4%$, $8.4{\pm}4.2$)(P<0.001). Conclusively, this modified method will contribute to freeze effectively the hamster oocytes for simplifing of the logical consideration of performing SPA and also to freeze the human and other animal oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2010

This studies were conducted to investigate the survival rate of frozen-thawed spermatozoa of Jindo Dog by monosaccharide and freezing rates. Experimental animals were prepared 12 males within 1~8 year's old and collected once in a couple of weeks by digital manuplation methods. Collected semen was diluted 1:1 with Tris-egg yolk extender and added 4, 6 or 8% of glycerol and none, 4 mM glucose or 4 mM fructose as cryoprotectant and was equilibrated for 2 hrs in $4^{\circ}C$. In monosaccharide groups, the freezing rate was 5 cm-5 min. above $LN_2$. The survival rates without monosaccharide were $50.7{\pm}19.0%$, $58.6{\pm}18.0%$, $40.0{\pm}10.0%$ in 4, 6 or 8% glycerol, respectively. In addition of glucose, the survival rates were $43.1{\pm}14.7%$, $38.1{\pm}16.5%$, $33.3{\pm}4.0%$ in 4, 6 or 8% glycerol, respectively and in fructose, were $47.9{\pm}21.1%$, $61.3{\pm}6.2%$, $34.3{\pm}12.6%$ in 4, 6 or 8% glycerol, respectively. There showed significantly different between glycerol groups and monosaccharides groups (p<0.05). The survival rates of freezing rate in 5 cm-5 min. group was $64.5{\pm}15.8%$, $51.9{\pm}27.6%$, $29.7{\pm}24.8%$ and in 10 cm-10 min. group was $62.5{\pm}20.3%$, $64.9{\pm}23.6%$, $34.5{\pm}27.4%$ in 4, 6 or 8% glycerol, respectively. There were significantly different between freezing rates (p<0.05). These results suggest that the addition of fructose with 6%-glycerol and slow freezing improve the survival of frozen-thawed sperm in Jindo Dog.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2020

The effects of the number of frozen-thawed ram sperm per single and double intra-cervical artificial insemination (AI) on fertility in ewes were studied. A total of 89 non-pregnant ewes were synchronized for oestrus with two doses of 100 ㎍ PGF_2α (Cloprostenol) 9 days apart. The ewes were randomly assigned to one of four groups; D200 (n = 23; double AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm), S200 (n = 24; single AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm), D100 (n = 24; double AI with 100 × 10⁶ sperm) and S100 (n = 18; single AI with 100 × 10⁶ sperm). Ewes were inseminated within 12 to 18 h for single AI and, within 10 to 12 h and 16 to 18 h for double AI after the onset of oestrus. The onset of oestrus ranged from 28 to 76 h (54.33 ± 1.28 h). The high percentage (29.2%) of ewes showed oestrus between 51 to 60 h. The non-return rates were highest in group D200 (56.5%) and differed significantly (p < 0.05) from group S100 (11.1%). No ewes were pregnant in group S100, and the pregnancy rates among the remaining groups did not differ. The mean gestation period was 152.8 ± 0.5 days and no difference was observed among the groups. The lambing and multiple birth rates were 100% in group D200. The single and twin lambing was highest in group D100 (33.3%) and group D200 (83.3%), respectively. Only one triplet lambing and the highest lambing size (2.2 ± 0.2) was recorded in group D200. In conclusion, double AI with 200 × 10⁶ sperm showed comparatively most practical for achieving high pregnancy rates and lambing performances in Bangladeshi ewes under field conditions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

Semen cryopreservation induces the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the ROS cause sperm damage. We aimed to investigate the effects of the antioxidative enzyme catalase (CAT) on sperm quality and ROS during cryopreservation. Sperm rich fractions collected from five Duroc boars were cryopreserved in freezing extender with (200 or 400 U/mL) or without CAT (control). After thawing, sperm motility, viability, normal morphology, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial function and intracellular ROS were evaluated. CAT significantly improved total sperm motility at a concentration of 400 U/mL (P < 0.05), but didn't improve progressive sperm motility, viability, morphological defects, plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial function in frozen-thawed boar sperm. In evaluation of ROS, CAT had no effect on reduction in ${\cdot}O_2$, but scavenged $H_2O_2$ in viable frozen-thawed boar sperm at concentrations of 200 and 400 U/mL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CAT was not enough to improve quality of frozen-thawed sperm, but can reduce $H_2O_2$ generation in viable boar sperm during cryopreservation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.257-262
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• 2009

This study was to investigate pregnancy rate of IVM/IVF/IVC Korean cattle (registered in government) embryos according to transport time course. For the production of embryos, oocytes recovered from slaughtered excellent grade cow and highly motile frozen-thawed bull semen (purchased from LIMC, KPN#497) was used. In vitro produced embryos were cultured in CR1aa medium for 8 days and some of them were frozen. The rate of average cleavage (>2-cell) was 83.0% (308/371) and blastocyst rate at day 8 was 34.7% (107/308). Among in vitro produced blastocyst embryos at day 8, most healthy embryos were freshly transferred on production day and some frozen embryos were direct transferred on appropriate day. These embryos were produced in a laboratory, embryo transfer (ET) was planned in 10 areas of the remote island (Jeju) from the laboratory by airplane. Thus, we examined the pregnancy rate in recipient cow according to embryo of transport time course before ET. From embryo transferred 44 recipient cows, overall pregnancy was 40.9% (18/44), these 18 cows were all calved [single, 94% (17/18); twin, 6% (1/18)] and total embryo implantation rate was 26% (19/66). Comparing transport time in the base of 6 hr, pregnancy rate in ET group required less 4 hr (60%, 9/15) was significantly higher than that required more 6 hr (26.3%, 5/19). In direct ET of freezing embryos, the pregnancy rate was 40% (4/10). However, it was difficult to find the meaning of temperature, pH and corpus luteum quality of recipients on comparison of pregnancy rate. When the cell death level of embryos according to storage time in thermos (straw container) before ET was measured by TUNEL staining, apoptotic index was increased with storage time-dependent. These results demonstrated that long distance transfer of IVM/IVF/IVC embryos is possible and the time of embryo transport is very important for the pregnancy rate on field trial.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.320-324
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• 2018

In this study, we examined effect of sperm penetration of oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with cauda epididymal spermatozoa in Hanwoo bull after feeding of timothy hay. One testicle with epididymides was castrated from one Hanwoo bull (14 months of age) and spermatozoa recovered from cauda epididymis and cryopreserved. As control, frozen Hanwoo semen was used. Matured cumulus oocyte complexes were co-incubated with frozen-thawed cauda epididymal spermatozoa for 12 or 18 hours. After IVF, presumptive zygotes were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid. In experiment 1, we examined sperm penetration rate at 12 hours of IVF with epididymal sperm. Total penetration rate among cauda epididymis and control was similar(mean${\pm}$standard error, cauda epididymis and control vs. $49.7{\pm}11.3$ and $54.4{\pm}12.8%$). In experiment 2, cleavage and blastocyst developmental rate were evaluated at day 2 and day 8 after IVF for 18 hours. Cleavage rate among cauda epididymis and control was similar(cauda epididymis and control vs. $81.2{\pm}3.4$ and $82.7{\pm}2.5%$). However, blastocyst developmental rate of cauda epididymis group was significantly higher than that of control group(cauda epididymis and control vs. $24.4{\pm}1.6$ and $12.2{\pm}2.8%$, p<0.05). In conclusion, cauda epididymal spermatozoa in Hanwoo bull has high embryo developmental competence and can be used as an alternative to ejaculated frozen sperm in vitro.