• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2015

Alteration in ion channel or transporter expression levels affects cell volume which is produced by movement of water and ion across the plasma membrane. In particular, aquaporin (AQP) channels among ion channels play a crucial role in movement of water across the cell membrane. This study was performed to identify whether AQP expression is changed in bovine follicular cystic follicles using microarray, RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses. In microarray data, AQP4 expression was decreased, whereas AQP7 was increased in cystic follicles. Additional experiments were focused on the AQP7 expression increased in cystic follicles. The microarray data was confirmed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis. AQP7 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in the cystic follicles (p<0.05). Application of estrogen ($10{\mu}g/ml$) to bovine ovarian cells showed a trend of increase in AQP7 expression. From these results, we suggest that the increase in AQP7 expression in cystic follicles may play an important role in movement of water in bovine ovary. In addition, AQP7, a aquaglyceroporin permeating water and glycerol, could be a good target in development of methods for the cryopreservation of bovine ovary.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of superovulation response and efficiency of embryo production induced with injection of FSH dissolved in polyethylene glycol (PEG) in Hanwoo. Eighty-eight cows were divided into four groups. In group 1, cattle were intramuscularly treated with twice-daily administration of 50mg FSH for 4 days. Group 2 and 3 were subcutaneously single injection of 400mg and 200mg FSH dissolved in 30% PEG, respectively. Group 4 were subcutaneously single injection of 200 mg FSH dissolved in 30% PEG at 7 day after CIDR insertion. The number of corpus luteum (CL) in group 2 resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to group 1, 3 and 4 (18.5 vs. 11.2, 13.1 and 13.9, respectively). However, the number of total ova $(7.9{\sim}10.4)$, transferable embryos $(3.7{\sim}4.7)$, degenerate embryos $(1.9{\sim}3.5)$ and unfertilized ova $(1.8{\sim}2.7)$ did not differ among treatment groups. No difference was observed in pregnancy rate after transferring the recovered embryos among groups $(36.0{\sim}50.0%)$. In addition, blood progesterone concentrations at embryo recovery did not differ among all groups. In conclusion, although no differences were observed in the number of total ova, transferable embryos and pregnancy rate after transfer, a single injection of reduced dose of FSH (200mg FSH) at 7 day after CIDR insertion is more practical for superovulation treatments than frequent injection because of reduction of stress in Hanwoo and decreases of cost and laber.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2016

Historically, Korea old cattle had been consisted with various lines of coat color brindle, black and white-brown breeds or more. The two rare lines of black and white coat color are maintained for animal resources and preserved critically. The present study was carried out to evaluate potential usage of cysteamine supplementation during in vitro matration (IVM) and in vitro culture/production of embryo (IVP) by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (Ovum Pick-Up: OPU) for the establishment of cryo-banking system. Immature slaughterhouse-derived cumulus-oocyte complexes (SL-COCs) were matured in IVM medium supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.3 or 0.9 mM cysteamine, and then cultured in mSOF-BAS for 8 days after in vitro fertilization. The treatment of 0.1 mM cysteamine on SL-COCs showed higher rate of blastocyst, so OPU-derived COCs from rare breeds were matured in TCM media supplemented with or without 0.1 mM cysteamine, FSH and 5% FBS. The embryos were evaluated their developmental stages on day 8. During IVM, cysteamine treatment significantly increased the embryo production rate of slaughterhouse-derived COCs (19.6% vs. 30.5%). The presence of cysteamine during IVM of OPU-derived COCs from rare Korean cattle breeds (albino white and black line) also increased embryo production rates than those from SL-COCs (27.4% vs. 41.9% and 36.4%). With these results, cysteamine treatment during IVM is one of key factors IVP of blastocysts to establish banking system of endangered rare Koarean cattle with OPU derived transferable blastocysts.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2000

This study was conducted to enhance the efficiency of embryo transfer and embryos produced in vitro according to select good quality blastocyst among in vivo or in vitro produced embryos. After middle blastocys(MB) and late blastocyst(LB) stages embryos that developed in vitro for 7∼8 days were treated hypertonic solution(380 mOsm or 600 mOsm) and the rate of development to hatched blastocyst(HB) was examined. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The proportion of embryos developed to HB was higher than that of control regardless of hypertonic solution treatment. However, it was related to culture time in hypertonic solution The propotrion of embryos developed to HB of morphologically recovered embryos in 380 nOsm solution ws higher than that of morphologically shrinked embryos. However, treatment time was not significantly different the rates of HB development. Especially, the proportion of embryos developed to HB of morphologically recovered embryos of the 30-min-treated group was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.05). The results suggest that hypertonic solution treatment should enhance the efficiency for criterion of transferable blastocyst quality.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2005

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is novel DNA amplification methods that amplifies a target sequence specifically under isothemal condition. The present study was to assess the in vitro viability afier biopsy and sexing rate of different types of embryo biopsied. In vivo compact morulae and blastocyst embryos were obtained from Korean Native Cow (KNC) superovulated with FSH (Antorin, R-10) on 7 Day after artificial insemination. in vitro compact morulae and blastocyst embryos were obtained with KNC or Holsteins that were gained on 6, 7 or 8 day after in vitro fertilization(IVF) with frozen semen. Biopsy of bovine embryo was carried out in a $80{\mu}l$ drop with $Ca^{2+}-Mg^{2+}$ free D-PBS and the viability of biopsied embryos were evaluated in IVMD (IFP, Japan) medium at 12 hrs culture time. The sex ratio of biopsied Hanwoo embryos were male vs. female of $43.5\%\;vs.\;56.5\%$ in vivo and $33.9\%\;vs.\;49.2\%$ in vitro respectively, and male rate of biopsied Holstein embryos were significantly higher than female $(70.8\;vs.\;29.2\%)$. and indefinite rate of in vitro embryos was $16.9\%$ and in vivo was not. The degeneration rate of biopsied embryo, in vitro embryos were significantly higher than in vivo $(13.2\%\;vs,\;0.0\%,\;p<0.05)$. The survivability of in vivo embryo were between biopsied following punching method was significantly (P<0.05) higher than bisection method produced embryos $(100\%\;vs.\;83.3\%)$ and in vitro had no difference. However, the degeneration rate of biopsied embryo by bisection method was significantly higher than punching methods between in vivo and in vitro $(16.7\;vs.\;22.6\%,\;respectively,\;p<0.05)$. In conclusion, these results indicate that punching method was optimal and survivability after embryo biopsy was useful for reducing the damage caused by the embryo biopsy procedure for LAMP-based embryo sexing.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bST treatment on embryo recovery and pregnancy rate following embryo transfer. Donor cows were superovulated with Folltropin-V and PGF$_2$$\alpha$ combination method and then inseminated with frozen semen 3 times 12 hrs interval. Donor and recipient cows were assigned to control and bST group, of which was given a single injection of bST (500 mg, im) at insemination or estrus detection. Embryo collection of superovulated cows were flushed nonsurgical method at 7 to 8 days after artificial insemination. The percentare and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo was not significantly different between control and bST treatment (72.8%/5.9$\pm$4.5 vs. 83.7%15.1 $\pm$ 1.6). The percentage and Mean$\pm$S.E. of transferable embryo in non-summer season was significantly higher than in summer (81.8%/5.4$\pm$2.1 vs. 68.7%14.774.6; P<0.05). The pregnancy rate after embryo transfer in bST treatment was significantly higher than in control (64.0 vs. 47.1%; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate between summer and non-summer (51.6 vs. 61.5%; P>0.05). The results indicated that InST treatment in recipient cows could improve the efficiency of transferable embryo production and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer, and non-summer season may be better far superovulation treatment and embryo transfer.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2002

In order to develop the breeding techniques to increase Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) population, the present study was performed 1) to establish the treatment protocol on reproductive disorders with GnRH or PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／, 2) to improve intraovarian PG $F_{2}$$\alpha$／ administration for reducing open period. Among total of 43 diagnosed, high percentage of cows (41.9％, 18 cows) were diagnosed as silent heat, followed by inactive ovaries (32.6％, 14 cows), ovarian cysts (9.3％, 4 cows), persistent corpus luteum (7.0％, 3 cows), endometriosis (4.7％, 2 cows), pyometra (2.3％, 1 cow) and luteal cysts (2.3％, 1 cow). To treat silent heat, 18 cows were administrated with 25 mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／, heat-detected, artificially inseminated and monitored pregnancy. All treated cows were heat-detected and 16 cows (88％) were successfully pregnant. With 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$ GnRH treatment, 7 cows (70％) with inactive ovaries and 3 cows (75％) with ovarian cysts were successfully pregnant. Administration with 25mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／, successfully treated 3 cows (100％) with persistent corpus luteum and 1 cow (100％) with luteal cysts, followed by 100％ pregnancy rate. With the combined treatment of 25 mg PG $F_{2}$$\alpha$／and antibiotics, 2 cows (100％) with endometriosis were effectively treated and got pregnant after. artificial insemination (AI). In order to reduce open period, 5 mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／ was administrated intraovarian to 20 days cows after delivery, heat-detected, artificially inseminated and monitored pregnancy. In the first experiment, in order to recover uterus, 5mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／were administrated, followed by administration of 5mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／ at the interval of 14 days. As results, 74％ (17／23 cows) of pregnancy rate after AI. In order to further reduce the open period, 5 mg PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／was administrated at the interval of 11 days without the period of uterus recovery, resulted in 94％ (16／17 cows) pregnancy rate. In conclusion, these results showed that PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／ and GnRH treatment were effective hormonal treatment resume in Hanwoo with various reproductive disorders. In addition, modified protocol of intraovarian PGF／sub 2$\alpha$／ administration could be the effective method for reducing the open period.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the physiological effects of bovine follicular fluid (bFF) or anti-inhibin serum (AI) on follicular development in Hanwoo. Saline (0.95%), bFF or AI (total of 40 ml) were administered into the jugular vein in 9 Hanwoo cows. The plasma inhibin, estradiol-17 $\beta$ (E2), and progesterone (P4) levels were measured using RIA or ELISA kit and the number of ovarian follicles was observed by ultrasonography at 72 hr after ovulation. The plasma inhibin level in bFF treatment group was significantly increased and maintained higher level from 102 hr after ovulation compared to that of saline and AI groups (p<0.05). In plasma E2 level, AI treatment group showed significantly higher level from 36 hr to 108 hr after ovulation than that of saline and bFF groups (p<0.05). After that it showed decreasing tendency. The plasma P4 level was increased in control and AI treatment groups at 68 hr after ovulation. However, it was maintained significantly lower level in bFF group from 84 hr to 180 hr compared to that of saline and AI group (p<0.05). As a result of ultrasonography at 72 hr after ovulation, higher number of follicles was shown in AI treatment group compared to bFF groups, although the difference was not statistically significant. Taken together, it can be postulated that a treatment of synthesized AI inhibits the secretion of inhibin, stimulates FSH secretion inhibited by inhibin, and induces follicular development and estrogen secretion. According to these results, a development of ovarian follicle immediately after ovulation is associated closely with inhibin in Hanwoo heifers.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the conventional slow freezing and vitrification methods for cryopreserving in vivo and in vitro-produced bovine embryos. Morphology of post-thawed embryos was evaluated and normal embryos were used for successive culture for 72 h. In experiment I, In embryo viability, There was no significant differences in blastocyst re-expansion rates were found between in vivo and in vitro embryos(89.6% vs. 81.5%). whereas hatched-BL and total cell number rates was significantly higher (p<0.05) for in vivo-derived embryos (76.9%, 136${\pm}$3.6 vs. 43.4%, 107${\pm}$3.8). In experiment II, There was no significant differences in blastocyst re-expansion and Expansion-BL rates were found between in slow freezing and vitrification methods (91.3% vs. 85.7% and 71.4% vs. 75.0%, respectively). in conclusion, These results suggested that the field application for bovine embryo transfer is in part supported by improvements of technologies in embryo conventional slow freezing and vitrification cryopreservation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2000

This study was conducted to establish the optimal conditions for in vitro embryo production using oocytes derived from follicles of slaughter-house ovaries. The ovaries of Hanwoo were obtained from a local slaughter-house. The oocytes were aspirated from visible follicles of 2~7mm in diameter. The recovered oocytes which were completely surrounded by at least 2 layers of cumulus cells and a homogeneous cytoplasmic pigmentation were used. The selected oocytes were washed 3 or 4 times with D-PBS containing 10% bovine calf serum (BCS) and matured in vitor (IVM) in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 10% BCS or 0.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml epidermal growth factor(EGF) at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air for 24 hours. They were fertilizqed in vitro (IVF) with fresh sperm separated by Percoll density gradient or swim-up in TALP media. The zygotes were cultrued with or without bovine oviductal epitherial cells(BOEC) in media(HECM-6 supplemented with 11 amino acid and / or TCM-199 supplemented with 10% BCS) for 7 to 10 days. The results obtained were as follow: The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocyst after maturation and IVF were not significantly different between Ham's F-10 with EGF(76.0% vs. 44.0%) and BCS(75.9% vs. 43.6%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate to blastocyst after fertilizing by swim-up or Percoll method were not signifciantly(P<0.05) different between swim-up (80.2% vs. 29.2%) and Percoll(81.9% vs. 26.5%) (P<0.05). The cleavage rate in TCM 199(80.5) was signficiantly higher than that in HECM-6 (72.0%) (P<0.05). However, developmental rate to blastocyst using TCM 199 following HECM-6 for 3 or 4 days (42.2%) was significantly higher than that in TCM-199 alone(26.7%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate of embryos produced in vitro by exchange timing for HECM-6 media were not significantly different between in day 3(78.6% vs. 45.5%) and day 4(75.0% vs. 43.2%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocysts according to co-culture system were not significantly different between with (74.2% vs. 41.4%) and without BOEC(73.95 vs. 43.5%) (P<0.05). The number of blastomere in blastocyst stage after co-culture with or without BOEC was not significantly different (106.7$\pm$5.1 and 96.6$\pm$4.0). In conclusion, the most transferable IVP embryos could be produced from Ham's F-10 medium for IVM, Percoll density gradient method for IVF sperm separation and in vitro culture in HECM-6 until day 3 or day 4, and then transferred into TCM-199 until day 9 within adequate embryo density in culture droplets after insemination.