• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 1994

This study was conducted to examine the condition of in vitro culture system and the viability after embryo transfer of in vitro matured-in vitro fertilized (IVM-IVF) bovine embryos. The in vitro development to the blastocyst stage was enhanced by supplying bovine serum albumin(BSA) to co-culture medium with bovine oviduct epithelial tissue(BOET) compared with that in medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum(FBS) (41.2% vs. 26. 3%, P<0.05). After transfer of IVM-IVF blastocysts into the uterine horn of recipient females (Aberdeen Angus), one was pregnant to term and produced a head of male Korean native calf. These results confirm that the in vitro development of IVM-IVF bovine embryos is affected with different protein source in co-culture with BOET, and IVM-IVF embryos can develop to term after in vitro culture and embryo transfer.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 2004

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) duration on the development of Korean Native Cattle embryos. The time of blastocyst formation and the quality of blastocysts based on cell numbers were examined. The cleavage rate increased with the length of IVF duration in the groups of 18-hr IVM, but was constant in the groups of 24-hr IVM. The development rate to the 8-cell stage was significantly higher in the IVM 18: IVF 20 group than in the IVM 24: IVF 24 group. The development rate to the blastocyst stage was highest in the IVM 18: IVF 20 group, significantly different from that of the IVM 18: IVF 16, IVM 24: IVF 20 and IVM 24: IVF 24 group. The time of blastocysts formation tended to be shorter when IVM and IVF duration were decreased. The number of inner cell mass, trophoblast and the total cells were significantly higher in the IVM 18: IVF 16 group than in the IVM 24: IVF 24 group (P<0.05). These results demonstrated that the IVM and IVF duration should be adequate for the efficient production of bovine embryos, and it might particularly be essential to determine the proper combination of IVM and IVF duration.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 1997

This study was undertaken in an effort to product embryos through in vitro maturation(IVM), in vitro fertilization(IVF) and in vitro culture(IVC) after cryopreservation of immature and mature porcine oocytes. The experiments were conducted to investigate IVM rate of oocytes frozen with 3 different cryoprotectants and to examine IVF and IVC of frozen-thawed oocytes. The CEI(cumulus cells expansion index) after IVM of frozen-thawed immature oocytes was higher in oocytes frozen with PG＋PEG(propylene glycol plus polyethylene glycol) than those frozen with single cryoprotectant and this index was almost 90% of unfrozen oocyte's index(2.39 vs. 2.66). The IVF rate of all frozen oocytes was very low(68% of unfrozen oocytes) and the IVF rate of frozen immature oocytes was slightly higher than that of frozen mature oocytes(39.0% vs. 34.4%), but polyspermic penetration was higher in frozen immature oocytes(21.9% vs. 19.1%). The cleavage rate after IVF of frozen-thawed oocytes was 9.3% for frozen mature oocytes and 11.3% for frozen immature oocytes and this rate was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that of control(60.7%). The development to 8-cell stage was greatly lower in frozen mature oocytes than in frozen immature oocytes. The results indicate that the use of PG plus PEG as cryoprotectant may be very effective for vitrification of porcine oocytes and the frozen-thawed immature porcine oocytes can be used fro in vitro embryo production based on IVM, IVF and IVC system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2008

Somatic cells such as oviduct epithelial cell, uterine epithelial cell, cumulus-granulosa cell and buffalo rat river cell has been used to establish an effective culture system for bovine embryos produced in in vitro. But nitric oxide (NO) metabolites secreted from somatic cells were largely arrested the development of bovine in vitro matured/ in vitro fertilized (IVM/IVF) embryos, suggesting that NO was induced the embryonic toxic substance into culture medium. The objective of this study was to investigate whether BOEC co-culture system can ameliorate the NO-mediated oxidative stress in the culture of bovine IVM/IVF embryos. Therefore, we evaluated the developmental rate of bovine IVM/IVF embryos under BOEC co-culture system in the presence or absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a NO donor, and also detected the expression of growth factor (TGF-$\beta$, EGF and IGFBP) and apoptosis (Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2) genes. The supplement of SNP over 5 uM was strongly inhibited blastocyst development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos than in control and 1 uM SNP group (Table 2). The developmental rates beyond morulae stages of bovine IVM/IVF embryos co-cultured with BOEC regardless of SNP supplement (40.4% in 5 uM SNP+ BOEC group and 65.1% in BOEC group) were significantly increased than those of control (35.0%) and SNP single treatment group (23.3%, p<0.05: Table 3). The transcripts of Bax and Caspase-3 genes were detected in all experiment groups (1:Isolated fresh cell (IFC), 2:Primary culture cell (PCC), 3:PCC after using the embryo culture, 4: PCC containing 5 uM SNP and 5: PCC containing 5 uM SNP after using the embryo culture), but Bcl-2 gene was not detected in IFC and PCC (Fig. 1). In the expression of growth factor genes, TGF-$\beta$ gene was found in all experimental groups, and EGF and IGFBP genes were not found in IFC and PCC (Fig. 2). These results indicate that BOEC co-culture system can increase the development beyond morula stages of bovine IVM/IVF embryos, possibly suggesting the alleviation of embryonic toxic substance like nitric oxide.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 1996

This study was conducted to improve the production efficiency of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos in Korean Native cows. The optimal conditions and procedures for in vitro maturation(IVM), in vitro fertilization(IVF) and in vitro culture(IVC) of bovine follicular oocytes and IVP embryos were evaluated. Immature follicular oocytes were collected fiom the follicles of bovine ovaries obtained from abattoirs. The oocytes of Grade I and II for IVM were cocultured with monolayered bovine oviductal epithelial cells(BOEG) or granulosa cells in TCM-199 solution supplemented with follicle stimulating hormone, lutenizing hormone, estradiol-17$\beta$ and heat inactivated fetal calf serum at 39$^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air for 14 to 24 hours. Most of the oocytes(93%) matured to metaphase II in 24 hours. The cocultured IVM oocytes were fertilized in vitro at significantly(P<0.05) higher rate with BOEC(83.8%) and with granulosa cells(84.6%) than the non-cocultured IVM oocytes(73.6%). The IVM-IVF embryos developed to morula and blastocyst at significantly(P<0.05) higher rate in coculture with BOEC(41.2%) than with granulosa cells(23.1%) or conditioned medium(23.4%).

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to determine the expression of the antioxidant enzyme(CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD and GPX and apoptosis gene(caspase-3) for in vitro culture in in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization(IVM/IVF) embryos in porcine. Porcine embryos derived from IVM/IVF were cultured in NCSU23 medium under 5% $CO_2$ in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$. The patterns of gene expression for several antioxidant enzyme and apoptosis genes during preimplantion porcine embryo development were examined by the modified semi-quantitative single cell reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Preimplantation porcine embryos produced by IVM/IVF have expressed mRNAs for CuZn-SOD and GPX, whereas transcripts for Mn-SOD have not detected at any developmental stages. Expression of caspase-3 mRNA was detected at 2 cell, 8 cell, 16 cell and morula stages. The fas ligand transcripts were detected in porcine blastocyst. These results suggest that various antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis genes play crucial roles in in vitro culture of porcine IVM/IVF embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 1995

The experiments reported here take advantage of the large number of in vitro matured and in vitro fertilized(IVM /IVF) bovine oocytes which can be produced, permitting the design of controlled experiments to establish a simple defined medium for the study of early embryo requirements. A total of 1,386 IVM /IVF oocytes were used to compare a simple defined medium(KSOM) with more complex culture conditions used successfully for culture of bovine embryos but do not permit study of specific requirements. All experiments were extensively replicated factorials. In Experiment 1, KSOM was superior to Menezo B$_2$ medium in producing morulae plus blastocysts from IVM /IVF oocytes(33 vs 20%, P<0.()5). The yield of morulae plus blastocysts with KSOM was 22% and with BRLC added was 30%. In Experiment 2, (a 2x2 factorial of KSOM with or without BRLC and 0, 1 ng /ml of platelet derived growth factor, PDGF) more morulae plus blastocysts (40%) were produced in KSOM-BRLC co-culture containing 1 ng /ml PDGF than in the control KSOM(12%). In Experiment 3, there was no dose response when 0, 1 and 5 ng /ml of PDGF were added. The results with simple defined KSOM medium are sufficiently promising to indicate that specific requirements of the embryo may be examined in future studies with KSOM as a base.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.980-987
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cell status of BOEC on development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos and gene expression in BOEC before or after culturing of embryos. The developmental rates beyond morula stage in the BOEC co-culture group was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). In particular, blastocyst production in the BOEC co-culture group (28.3%) was dramatically increased compared with the control group (7.2%). In the in vitro development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos according to cell status, the developmental rates beyond morula stage in the primary culture cell (PCC) co-culture group were the highest of all experimental groups. Expression of genes related to growth (TGF-${\beta}$ EGF and IGFBP), apoptosis (Bax, Caspase-3 and p53) and antioxidation (CuZnSOD, MnSOD, Catalase and GPx) in different status cells of BOEC for embryo culture was detected by RT-PCR. While EGF gene was detected in isolated fresh cells (IFC) and PCC, TGF-${\beta}$ and IGFBP were found in IFC or PCC after use in the embryo culture, respectively. Caspase-3 and Bax genes were detected in all experimental groups regardless of whether the BOEC was used or not used in the embryo culture. However, p53 gene was found in IFC of both conditions for embryo culture and in frozen/thawed culture cells (FPCC) after use in the embryo culture. Although antioxidant genes examined were detected in all experimental groups before using for the embryo culture, these genes were not detected after use. This study indicated that the BOEC co-culture system used for in vitro culture of bovine IVF embryos can increase the developmental rates, and cell generations and status of BOEC might affect the in vitro development of bovine embryos. The BOEC monolayer used in the embryo culture did not express the growth factors (TGF-${\beta}$ and EGF) and enzymatic antioxidant genes, thereby improving embryo development in vitro.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2002

본 연구에서는 in vitro에서 성숙된 난자의 핵성숙(Polar Body extrusion)에 소요되는 시간과 배반포 단계로의 발달능력 사이의 관계를 비교하여 조기에 발달능력을 가진 embryo를 선발할 수 있는 IVP 체계를 개발하고자 하였으며 in vitro maturation(IVM)에 따른 first polar body(PB) 형성, IVM과 IVF 시간이 oocyte의 발달에 미치는 영향과 생산된 배반포의 세포수를 평가하였다. IVM은 TCM199 배양액을 사용하였고 in vitro fertilization(IVF)은 Fer -TALP용액을 사용하였으며 in vitro culture(IVC)는 CRlaa 배양액을 사용하여 2일까지는 0.3% BSA를 3일 부터는 10%FBS와 bovine oviduct epithelial cell을 첨가하여 배양하였다. IVM 시간에 따른 PB의 출현율은 0hr(0%), 6hr(0%), 12hr(0%), 14hr(8.7%), 16hr(40.5%), 18hr(48.0%), 20hr(65%), 22(68%) 그리고 24hr(74.5%)을 보였으며 IVM 시간에 따른 cleavage 및 8cell 발달율 사이에는 유의적인 차이가 없었으나 배반포(BL) 및 8cell에서 배반포로 발달률은 18시간(BL 31$\pm$6, BL/8cell 82 $\pm$5%)에서 가장 높게 나타났으며 24시간(BL 17$\pm$2, BL/8cell 60$\pm$8%)과 유의적인 차이를 보였다(P<0.05). IVC 7일째 배반포의 총세포수와 trophoblast(TE) 세포수는 IVM 18시간(mean$\pm$S.E.; total: 131.1$\pm$34.0, TE: 97.6$\pm$29.6)에서 24시간(total: 112.2$\pm$17.5, TE: 80.1$\pm$15.6)보다 유의하게 많은 것으로 나왔으나(P<0.05) 7일째의 inner cell mass(ICM) 숫자(18hr 33.5$\pm$12.8 vs 24hr 32.1$\pm$12.0)와 8일째 ICM, TE 그리고 총 세포수에는 유의성 있는 차이가 없었다. IVM 18시간에서 PB 형성과 8cell 발달률 사이에 높은 상관성을 보였고 배반포 및 8cell에서 배반포 단계로 높은 발달률을 보였으며 생산된 배반포의 TE 숫자와 총 세포수가 유의하게 많은 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 IVM 18시간 실시하였을 경우 보다 많은 세포수를 가진 배반포 발달 가능성이 높은 embryo를 조기에 선발 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2004

This study was aimed at testing the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis genes for in vitro culture in porcine embryos produced by in vitro maturation/in vitro fertilization (IVM/IVF). Pocine preimplantation embryos obtainted from IVM/IVF can be successfully culture in vitro, but they are delayed or stop to develop at specific developmental stage. Many factors such as reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in an IVM/IVF system followed by in vitro culture influence the rate of production of viable blastocysts. Porcine embryos derived from IVM/IVF were cultured in the atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ and 20% $O_2$ at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in NCSU23 medium. The patterns of gene expression for antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis genes during in vitro culture in pocine IVM/IVF embryos were examined by the modified semi-quantitative single cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Porcine embryos produced by in vitro procedures were expressed mRNAs for CuZn-SOD, GAPDH and GPX, whereas transcripts for Mn-SOD and catalase were not detected at any developmental stages. Expression of caspase-3 mRNA was detected at 2 cell, 8 cell 16 cell and blastocyst, but p53 mRNA was not detected at any stages. The fas transcripts was only detected in blastocyst stage. These results suggest that various antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis genes play crucial roles in vitro culture of porcine IVM/IVF embryos.