• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy outcomes and the live birth rate at 1-year age increments in women aged ${\geq}40years$ undergoing fresh non-donor in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET), and to identify predictors of success in these patients. Methods: This retrospective study was performed among women ${\geq}40years$ of age between 2004 and 2011. Of the 2,362 cycles that were conducted, ET was performed in 1,532 (73.1%). Results: The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in women ${\geq}40years$ significantly decreased with each year of increased age (p<0.001). Maternal age (odds ratio [OR], 0.644; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.540-0.769; p<0.001), basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (OR, 0.950; 95% CI, 0.903-0.999; p=0.047), the number of high-quality embryos (OR, 1.258; 95% CI, 1.005-1.575; p=0.045), and the number of transferred embryos (OR, 1.291; 95% CI, 1.064-1.566; p=0.009) were significant predictors of live birth. A statistically significant increase in live birth rates was seen when ${\geq}3$ embryos were transferred in patients 40 to 41 years of age, whereas poor pregnancy outcomes were seen in patients ${\geq}43years$ of age, regardless of the number of transferred embryos. Moreover, the cumulative live birth rate increased in patients 40 to 42 years of age with repeated IVF cycles, but the follicle-stimulating hormone in those ${\geq}43years$ of age rarely showed an increase. Conclusion: IVF-ET has acceptable outcomes in those < 43 years of age when a patient's own oocytes are used. Maternal age, basal FSH levels, and the number of high-quality embryos and transferred embryos are useful predictors of live birth.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of thymidine treatment during $in$ $vitro$ maturation (IVM) of porcine follicular oocytes on blastocyst development. Porcine oocytes were treated with thymidine (10 mM, 20 mM and 30 mM) for 2 or 6 hr in the preiods of IVM I and/or II. The survival rates of the blastocysts in the 6 hr treatment groups of 10 mM and 20 mM during IVM I period were significantly higher than those of control group ($p$<0.05). However, the survival rate of the blastocysts in the 2 hr treatment group of 20 mM during IVM II period was significantly higher than control group ($p$<0.05). Furthermore, the survival rate of the blastocysts in the 6 hr treatment group of 30 mM during IVM II period was significantly lower than control group ($p$<0.05). Consistent with the previous result, blastocyst development of both IVM I and II treatment group was also showed as similar pattern. Total and apoptotic cell numbers of blastocysts derived from thymidine treated porcine oocytes were examined by using Tunel assay. The results showed that there was no significant differences in total cell number of blastocysts between thymidine treated and untreated groups. However, apoptosis-positive cells in the thymidine treated group (6 hr IVM I) were significantly lower than those of other groups ($p$<0.05). Taken together, these results indicate that high quality oocytes were selected by DNA synthesis mechanism according to high concentration thymidine treatment during porcine oocyte maturation. Therefore, we concluded that presumptive selected oocytes by thymidine treatment during maturation periods improved the further embryo development and embryonic quality of IVF embryos by decreasing the incidence of apoptosis in preimplantation porcine embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제42권1호
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2015

Objective: Sperm must be properly prepared in in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) programs in order to control the fertilization rate and ensure that embryos are of high quality and have appropriate developmental abilities. The objective of this study was to determine the most optimal sperm preparation method for IVF. Methods: Patients less than 40 years of age who participated in a fresh IVF-ET cycle from November 2012 to March 2013 were included in this study. Poor responders with less than three mature oocytes were excluded. Ham's F-10 medium or sperm-washing medium (SWM) was used in combination with the density-gradient centrifugation/swim-up (DGC-SUP) or SUP methods for sperm preparation. A total of 429 fresh IVF-ET cycles were grouped according to the media and methods used for sperm preparation and retrospectively analyzed (DGC-SUP/Ham's F-10, n=82; DGC-SUP/SWM, n=43; SUP/Ham's F-10, n=181; SUP/SWM, n=123). Results: There were no significant differences among these four groups with respect to the mean age of the female partners, duration of infertility, number of previous IVF cycles, and retrieved oocytes. We determined that both the DGC-SUP and SUP methods for sperm preparation from whole semen, using either Ham's F-10 or SWM media, result in comparable clinical outcomes, including fertilization and pregnancy rates. Conclusion: We suggest that both media and both methods for sperm preparation can be used for selecting high-quality sperm for assistive reproductive technology programs.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.404-410
• /
• 2019

This study was performed to investigate the seed morphological characteristics and dormancy type of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara that high valued medicinal crop and to select the disinfectants and light quality for germination rate improvement. The seed disinfection was carried out using distilled water (control), NaClO 4%, $H_2O_2$ 4%, and benomyl $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The light quality treatments were set to dark condition (control I), fluorescent lamp (control II), LEDs [red, blue, green, and combined RB LEDs (red:blue = 8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8)] with a photoperiod of 12/12 (light/dark) and light intensity $150{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ photosynthetic photon flux density. Although the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed was an underdeveloped embryo (E) and seed (S) with an embryo (E):seed (S) ratio of 0.4, it is germinated within 30 days, and seed moisture saturation was reached within 6 hours after immersion. After seed disinfection, the mold incidence rate was significantly inhibited, and the final germination rate was the highest at 87% in the benomyl seed disinfection. The final germination rate was the highest at 92% in the red light, and the mean daily germination was the lowest in the R2B8. Therefore, there is almost no dormancy in the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed, and benomyl seed disinfectant and red light were effective in the improvement of germination rate. So it is considered to the high value of use for medicinal crop Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara cultivation.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2015

Recently developed black waxy rice with a giant embryo ('Nunkeunheukchal', BGE) was selected and processed to produce high quality nutritional food. BGE contains high levels of several phytochemicals with antioxidant activities, as well as other reported health beneficial properties. In addition, the giant embryo has high protein, lipid, and amino acids contents. Within the free amino acids, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, has long been used for treating the aftereffects of brain injuries and stroke. A method for manufacturing pop-rice and black rice tea by popping process in BGE is provided to increase a taste, nutrition and functionality. The produced 'pop-rice' showed increased protein (11.3%) and lipid (3.7%) contents compared with control variety, IB ('Ilmibyeo'). In addition, melanoidin related products, polyphenol and functional amino acid contents were increased by the popping process. Pop-rice tea made of BGE showed the highest extraction of total sugar, glucose, raffinose and sucrose (4 times higher than brown rice) by hot water. Scavenging activity ($SC_{50}$) of processed BGE rice powder showed strong antioxidative activity of 0.24 mg/ml using DPPH and 1.82 mg/ml using ABTs method. Thereafter, these results suggested that the popping processed rice of BGE could be one of the promising materials for healthy food development.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제38권1호
• /
• pp.41-52
• /
• 2014

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is a highly complex phenomenon that is controlled at various levels. New studies have ascertained some molecular mechanisms that control EGA in several species; it is apparent that these same mechanisms regulate EGA in all species. Protein phosphorylation, DNA methylation and histone modification regulate transcriptional activities, and mechanisms such as ubiquitination, SUMOylation and microRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate development. Each of these regulations is highly dynamic in the early embryo. A better understanding of these regulatory strategies can provide the possibility to improve the reproductive properties in mammals such as pigs, to develop methods of generating high-quality embryos in vitro, and to find markers for selecting developmentally competent embryos.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
• /
• pp.29-48
• /
• 2003

It is remarkable that nuclear transfer using differentiated donor cells can produce physiologically normal cloned animals, but the process is inefficient and highly prone to epigenetic errors. Aberrant patterns of gene expression in clones contribute to the cumulative losses and abnormal phenotypes observed throughout development. Any long lasting effects from cloning, as revealed in some mouse studies, need to be comprehensively evaluated in cloned livestock. These issues raise animal welfare concerns that currently limit the acceptability and applicability of the technology. It is expected that improved reprogramming of the donor genome will increase cloning efficiencies realising a wide range of new agricultural and medical opportunities. Efficient cloning potentially enables rapid dissemination of elite genotypes from nucleus herds to commercial producers. Initial commercialization will, however, focus on producing small numbers of high value animals for natural breeding especially clones of progeny-tested sires, The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and human health increase the ability to genetically modify animals to enhance agricultural efficiency and produce superior quality food and biomedical products for niche markets. The potential opportunities in animal agriculture are more challenging than those in biomedicine as they require greater biological efficiency at reduced cost to be economically viable and because of the more difficult consumer acceptance issues. Nevertheless, cloning and transgenesis are being used together to increase the genetic merit of livestock; however, the integration of this technology into farming systems remains some distance in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 한국작물학회 2023년도 춘계학술대회
• /
• pp.157-157
• /
• 2023

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the main problems associated with seed dormancy. PHS causes yield loss and reduction of grain quality under unpredictable humid conditions at the ripening stage, thus affecting the economic value of the rice crop. To resolve this issue, it is important to understand the molecular mechanism underlying seed dormancy in rice. Recent studies have shown that seed dormancy is affected by a large number of genes associated with plant hormones. However, the effect of heat stress on seed dormancy and plant hormones is not well understood. In this study, we compared the PHS rate as well as the transcriptome and small RNAome of the seed embryo and endosperm of two different accessions of rice, PHS-susceptible rice (low dormancy) and PHS-resistant rice (high dormancy) under three different maturation stages. We identified and verified the candidate genes associated with seed dormancy and heat stress-related responses in rice using quantitative real-time PCR. We newly discovered hormone-related genes, heat shock protein-related genes, and miRNAs potentially involved in PHS. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the dynamics of transcriptome and small RNAome of hormone- and heat stress-related genes, which affect PHS during seed maturation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제30권1호
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2003

Objective : To assess and compare the clinical outcomes between GnRH agonist long protocol and GnRH antagonist short protocol in oocyte donation program. Materials and Methods: Of total 18 oocyte donation cycles, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) were performed with GnRH agonist long protocol and GnRH antagonist short protocol in initial 9 cycles and later 9 cycles, respectively. Oral estradiol valerate and progesterone in oil we re administrated to all recipients for endometrial preparation. Oral estradiol administration was started from donor cycle day 1 after full shut down of gonadal axis with GnRH agonist in patients with ovarian function. Progesterone was injected from oocyte retrieval day of donor initially, then continuously till pregnancy 12 weeks if pregnancy was ongoing. We compared the parameters of clinical outcomes, such as number of the retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, high grade embryo production rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, COH duration, total gonadotropin dose for COH between GnRH agonist long protocol group and GnRH antagonist group. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, high grade embryo production rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate were $14.89{\pm}7.83$, 81%, 64%, 78%, 31%, 78%, respectively in GnRHa long protocol group and $11.22{\pm}8.50$, 79%, 64%, 67%, 34%, 56%, respectively in GnRH antagonist group. There was no significant differences in parameters of clinical outcomes between 2 groups (all p value >0.05). Duration and total gonadotropin dose for COH were $10.94{\pm}1.70$ days and $43.78{\pm}6.8$ vials in 18 cycles, $12.00{\pm}1.73$ days and $48.00{\pm}6.93$ vials in agonist group, $9.88{\pm}0.78$ days and $39.55{\pm}3.13$ vials in antagonist group, respectively. In GnRH agonist long protocol group, significantly longer duration and higher gonadotropin dose for COH were needed (p=0.012). Conclusion: In oocyte donation program, clinical outcomes from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH antagonist were comparable to those from GnRH agonist long protocol group, so controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH antagonist may be effective as GnRH agonist long protocol. At least there may not be harmful effects of GnRH antagonist on oocyte development and quality.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 1999

Successful produciton of seedlings for marine fish species are highly influenced by the aquisiton of sufficient number of good-quality eggs on required time. human chorionic gonadotropin has been used to induce successful ovulation for the purpose. Rabbitfish, siganus canaliculatus, is inhabited along the coast of Cheju Province and treated valuably for raw fish and fish roasted with seasoning. Female wild-captured rabbitfish (314 to 279 g in body weigth) were injected into intraperitoneal space with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) of 5,00,1,000, and 1,500 IU/kg body weight during spawning season of July 14 (trial 1), and July 27 (trial 2). Test fish in trial 1 were injected two times, first on July 14 and second on July 21 with one weekinterval because of no ovulation symptoms, but just one time in trial 2. All females injected both 1,000 and 1,500 IU/kg body weight ovulated in all trials. Among 500 IU/kg injection treatments, just one female ovulated in trial 1 showing 25% of ovulation rate, but none ovulated in trial 2. Ovulation was not occurred in control goups during test period. Time to reach ovulation after injection was 172 to 270 hours in trial 1 and 77 to 132 hours in trial 2, showing shorter as spawning season approached. Generally, ovulation of smaller females were late than that of larger ones. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and pseudo-gonadosomatic index (Pseudo-GSI) were ranged 22 to 33% and 19 to 28%, respectively. One female spawned 406,200 to 1,032,000 eggs, and obtainable eggs per 100g of body weight were calculated by 130,000 to 190,000. Spawning rates were comparatively high by 96.0 to 98.4%. Rates to reach embryo-formation and hatching were higher in 500 high by 96.0 to 98.4%. Rates to reach embryo-formation and hatching were higher in 500 and 1,000 IU/kg treatments than in 1,500 IU/kg treatment. The result of present study demontrates that HCG treatment during spawning season could become very useful for ovulation of rabbitfish and the suitable dosage was suggested as 1,000 IU/kg of body weight.