• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1574-1579
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• 2006

This study was performed to determine the developmental potentials of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos using life-span extended cells transfected with a foreign gene as donor cells. A life-span extended bovine embryonic fibroblast cell line was transfected with an expression vector in which the human type II collagen (BOMAR) and ear fibroblasts were used as a donor cell. Cytogenetic analysis was performed to analyze the chromosomal abnormality of donor cells. The fusion rate of 1.8 kV/cm for $15{\mu}sec$ given twice was significantly higher than that of other groups (p<0.05) and the embryos lysed were significantly higher after 1.8 kV/cm for $20{\mu}sec$ given once compared to other groups (p<0.01). The blastocyst development in the ear cell group was statistically significant compared to both BOMAR groups (p<0.01). Both BOMAR groups cultured more than 40 passages (>40 passages) had a lower number of chromosomes; however, fresh granulosa cell (GC) and BOMAR groups cultured less than 20 passages had normal chromosome numbers. Both >40 passages BOMAR groups had numerous obscure debris in metaphase spreads. The transfected foreign gene was expressed in all BOMAR groups, but not in the GC group. Based on these results, the lower developmental potential of NT embryos using life-span extended donor cells transfected with a foreign gene might be a cause of chromosomal abnormality in donor cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.146-151
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• 2016

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the effects of static culture, dynamic culture, and the combination of dynamic culture with specialized surfaces involving co-culture on human embryonic development. Embryos cultured using conventional static culture (SC) techniques served as a control group. We compared dynamic culture using micro-vibration culture (MVC) and micro-vibration with co-culture (MCoC), in which autologous cumulus cells were used as a specialized surface. Methods: We conducted a chart review of patients who were treated between January 2011 and November 2014 in order to compare embryonic development rates and pregnancy rates among the groups. Zygotes were cultured in micro-droplets, and embryos were subsequently selected for transfer. Some surplus embryos were cryopreserved, and the others were cultured for blastocyst development. A micro-vibrator was set at the frequency of 42 Hz for duration of 5 seconds per 60 minutes to facilitate embryo development. Results: No significant differences among the groups were present in patient's characteristics. However, the clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the MVC group and the MCoC group than in the SC group. No significant differences were found in the blastocyst development rate between the SC group and the MVC group, but the blastocyst development rate in the MCoC group was significantly higher than in the SC and MVC groups. Conclusion: The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly increased by the application of micro-vibration to the embryonic cultures of poor responders. The blastocyst development rate was significantly increased by the application of MCoC to surplus embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.101-105
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• 1993

This study was carried out to improve pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program through Assisted Hatching (AH) by the use of micromanipulation technique. Among 72 IVF patient, randomized 29 IVF patients were performed for AH by Partial Zona Dissection(PZD). Two to eight cell embryos were micromanipulated just before uterine transfer. The results were as follows: 1. The implantation rates of embryos between PZD group and control group were 10.0%, 4.9%, respectively. 2. The clincal pregnancy rates of both groups were 34.5%,20.9%, respectively. 3. Among 131 PZD embrys, only 2 embryos were damaged mechanically. Although there were no statistical difference in the rates of implantation and pregnancy between PZD group and control group due to small sample size, the PZD group had increasing trend in the rates of implantation and pregnancy. In conclusion, it would be thought that PZD could be adequately used to improve implantation rate and pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program as an assisted technique if much more studies were done. Also the risks resulting from this study can be reduced because of technical stability, which showed the low rate of damaged embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 1993

This study was carried out investigate the effect of water quality and the kind of media on the in vitro development of 1-cell and stage mouse embryos. $F_1$ hybrid mice were superovulated and timely mated. 1-cell stage and 2-cell stage mouse embryos were recruited and taken into Ham's F-10 or m-KRB media which was made of two of two kinds of water having different quality, highly purified water and tap water. 2-cell stage embryos grew up well in vitro to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst regardless of the composition of culture media, but 1-cell stage mouse embryo didn't develop well to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst in simple media like m-KRB. These results meant in vitro devleopment of 1-cell stage mouse embryo neded complex media like Ham's F-10 which contained abundant protein components. In case of quality control for water, in vitro fertilization program. observation of in vitro development of 2-cell mouse embryos up to blastocyst or hatching blastocyst media such as m-KRB would be efficatious in detecting the difference of water quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.300-305
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• 2020

Objective: The feasibility of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) trigger in normal responders is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to compare the number of mature oocytes, the number of good-quality embryos, and the live birth rate in normal responders triggered by GnRHa alone, GnRHa and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; a dual trigger), and hCG alone. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the infertility clinic of a university hospital. Data from 200 normal responders who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection with a GnRH antagonist protocol between January 2016 and January 2017 were reviewed. The first study group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by GnRHa alone. The second study group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by both GnRHa and low-dose hCG (a dual trigger). The control group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by hCG alone. Results: The groups were comparable in terms of demographics and cycle characteristics. The numbers of total oocytes retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were similar between the groups. The total numbers of top-quality embryos were 3.2±2.9 in the GnRHa group, 4.4±3.2 in the dual-trigger group, and 2.9±2.1 in the hCG group (p=0.014). The live birth rates were 21.4%, 30.5%, and 28.2% in those groups, respectively (p=0.126). Conclusion: In normal responders, a dual-trigger approach appears superior to an hCG trigger alone with regard to the number of top-quality embryos produced. However, no clinical benefit was apparent in terms of live birth rates.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.210-214
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• 2022

Objective: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has received a considerable attention as an adjunct to fertility treatments, especially in women with very low ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency. Although recent studies have demonstrated that PRP led to improvements in folliculogenesis and biomarkers of ovarian reserve, the effect of intraovarian PRP administration on embryo genetics has not been studied. Methods: We report a pilot study of patients who had preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) before and then within 3 months following PRP administration. Twelve infertile women with at least one prior failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle underwent ovarian stimulation (cycle 1) with a gentle stimulation protocol and PGT-A performed at the blastocyst stage. Following cycle 1, autologous intraovarian PRP administration was performed. Within 3 months following PRP administration, the patients underwent cycle 2 and produced blastocysts for PGT-A. The percentage of euploid embryos between both cycles was compared. Results: The mean age of all participants was 40.08±1.46 years, and their mean body mass index was 26.18±1.18 kg/m². The number of good-quality embryos formed at the blastocyst stage was similar between cycle 1 and cycle 2 (3.08±0.88 vs. 2.17±0.49, respectively; p=0.11). Among all patients in cycle 1, 3 of 37 embryos were euploid (8.11%) while in cycle 2, 11 out of 28 embryos were euploid (39.28%, p=0.002). Three clinical pregnancies were noted among this patient group. Conclusion: This novel study is the first to present an improvement in the embryo euploidy rate following intraovarian PRP application in infertile women with prior failed IVF cycles. The growth factors present in PRP may exhibit a local paracrine effect that could improve meiotic aberrations in human oocytes and thus improve euploidy rates. Whether PRP improves live birth rates and lowers miscarriage rates remains to be determined in large trials.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2006

목 적: 본 연구에서는 착상전 생쥐 배아에서 분리한 할구를 이용하여 배아줄기세포주를 확립하고 그 효용성과 특성을 살펴보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 생쥐 (C57BL/6J)의 2- 또는 4-세포기 배아에서 투명대를 제거하고 할구를 분리하여 지지세포와 공동배양한 후 할구로부터 형성된 내세포괴를 분리하여 계대배양을 실시하였다. 계대배양 중인 세포주의 특성을 확인하기 위해 alkaline phosphatase 활성도와 표지 인자 및 관련 유전자 발현을 세포면역화학적 염색과 RT-PCR 방법으로 살펴보았다. 또한, 계대배양 중인 배아줄기 세포주의 염색체 분석을 실시하였다. 결 과: 전체적으로 2-세포기에서 분리한 할구와 4-세포기에서 분리한 할구에서 각각 3.0% (1/33)와 4.0% (1/25)의 효율로 배아줄기세포주를 확립할 수 있었다. 이는 4-세포기의 배아를 사용하였을 때의 16.7% (5/30)에 비해 현저하게 낮았다. 분리된 할구로부터 확립된 배아줄기세포주에서 SSEA-l 과 Oct-4의 발현을 관찰하였고, 이들에서 분화된 배아체에서 삼배엽성 분화 관련 유전자들의 발현도 확인할 수 있었다. 결 론: 본 연구에서는 동물모델을 이용하여 착상전 초기 배아에서 분리한 할구를 이용하여 배이줄기세포를 확립할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 지속적인 관련 연구를 통해 인간의 체외수정 및 배아이식술에서 배아의 파괴 또는 발생 능력에 손상을 주지 않고 새로운 인간 배아줄기세포주를 생산할 수 있는 방법을 개발하고 실용화할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Objective: In order to acquire the technique for the establishment of human embryonic stem cells (ESe) derived from the human frozen-thawed embryos produced in IVF-ET program, this study was performed to establish mouse ESC derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. Materials and Methods: After Fl hybrid (C57BL female $\times$ CBA mael) female mice were superovulated with PMSG and hCG treatment, their oocytes were retrieved and inseminated, and the fertilized embryos were cultured for 96-120 hours until the expected stages of blastocysts were obtained. To isolate the inner cell mass (ICM), either the blastocysts were treated with immunosurgery, or the whole embryos were cultured for 4 days. Isolated ICMs were then cultured onto STO feeder cell layer, and the resultant ICM colonies were subcultured with trypsin-EDTA treatment. During the subculture process, ESC-like cell colonies were observed with phase contrast microscopy. To identify ESC in the subcultured ESC-like cell colonies, alkaline phosphatase activity and Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor-4) expression were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. To examine the spontaneous differentiation, ESC-like cell colonies were cultured without STO feeder cell layer and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Results: Seven ESC-like cell lines were established from ICMs isolated from the in vitro fertilized embryos. According to the developmental stage, the growth of ICMs isolated from the expanded blastocysts was significantly better than that of ICMs isolated from the hatched blastocysts (80.3% vs. 58.7%, p<0.05). ESC-like cell colonies were only obtained from ICMs of expanded blastocysts. However, the ICMs isolated from the embryos treated with immunosurgery were poorly grown and frequently differentiated during the culture process. The established ESC-like cell colonies were positively stained with alkaline phosphatase and expressed Oct-4, and their morphology resembled that observed in the previously reported mouse ESC. In addition, following the extended in vitro culture process, they maintained their expression of cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells such as alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4. When cultured without STO feeder cell layer and LIF, they were spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the establishment of mouse ESC can be successfully derived from the in vitro fertilized embryos. The established ESC-like cells expressed the cell surface markers characteristic of the pluripotent stem cells and spontaneously differentiated into the various types of cells.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.287-292
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• 1998

본 실험은 1.48$\mu\textrm{m}$ diode laser의 인간배에 대한 적용 가능성 여부를 조사하기 위한 예비실험으로, 체외생산된 생쥐배에 1.48$\mu\textrm{m}$ diode laser를 이용한 zona pellucida (ZP) drilling 처리가 배의 부화와 체내발달에 효과적인지를 조사하고자 실시하였다. 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 발달단계가 상이한(4-세포기배, 배반포기배) 생쥐배에 laser ZP drilling 처리한 후 72시간 (배반포기배) 또는 120시간 (4-세포기배) 동안 배양하였던 바, laser ZP drilling 처리를 받은 배반포기배의 부화율(81.8%)이 대조군 (54. 2%)이나 laser ZP drilling 처리를 받은 4-세포기배 (45.5%) 보다 유의하게 높게 나타났다(p<0.05). 또한, laser ZP drilling된 배반포기배를 가임신이 유도된 대리모에 이식하였던 바, 처리군 (48.7%)의 착상율이 대조군 (43.6%)보다 약간 높게 나타났다. 한편, 임신된 대리모 일부는 분만을 유도하였던 바, 태어난 모든 새끼는 처리군에 관계없이 정상적인 염색체수 (n=40), 정상적인 성장과 생식기능을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과는 1.48$\mu\textrm{m}$ diode laser를 이용한 ZP drilling이 생쥐배의 부화를 증진시키고 정상적인 임신을 유도할 수 있어 인간배에 대한 적용 간으성을 시사한다고 하겠다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.391-395
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• 2004

The demand for the production of gene-defective mice from embryonic stem (ES) cells is increasing to clarify decisive gene function in vivo. Although blastocyst injection is widely used to generate ES cell-mediated knockout mice, coculture method has been alternatively used because of several advantages, such as low cost and simple procedure. Thus, this experiment was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of the coculture method using J1 ES cells, which are known to be efficient for blastocyst injection. Eight-cell embryos were harvested from 2.5 days post-coitum (dpc), denuded with acid tyrode's solution, and transferred onto trypsinized J1 ES cells. Aggregation was carried out following two typical methods, which are simple coculture method and aggregation in groove prepared by aggregation needle. Successfully aggregated-embryos were developed to blastocysts for 24 h and transferred into uterus of pseudo-pregnant foster mother. Chimeric offspring was judged by coat pigmentation. In this study, we could obtain chimeric mice from all the two aggregation methods, but the chimera production efficiencies in coculture using groove were three times higher at least than those in the other group. In conclusion, these observations suggest that coculture method should be available for production of knockout mice from J1 ES cells. Presently, the germ-line transmission rates of the chimeras produced from the two methods are under investigation.