• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of failure of in vitro storage of boar semen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are one of the important mediators of oxidative stress during in vitro storage of boar semen. Our study examined the effects of taurine on sperm characteristic and on in vitro developmental embryos during in vitro storage of boar semen for 7 days. Semen was randomly aliquoted into 3 centrifuge tubes and treated with different concentrations of taurine (25-100 mM). The characteristics of boar sperm were analyzed for motility by light microscopy, viability by using a Makler counting chamber and membrane integrity by a hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST). The percentages of motile spermatozoa in taurine groups after 5 days were significantly higher compared to the control. Sperm viability in the control was lower than in taurine groups after 7 days irrespective of different taurine concentration. In the hyoosmotic swelling test (HOST), significantly higher results were obtained in taurine groups after 3 days. Also, the developmental rates of IVM/IVF porcine embryos from semen treated with pyruvate and taurine were significantly increased when compared with the control (p<0.05). These results indicate that supplementation of taurine as an antioxidant in boar semen extender can improve the semen quality.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate what components of porcine epididymal fluid (pEF) influences the nuclear maturation of porcine germinal vesicle oocytes. Porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes from follicles were cultured in TCM 199 containing pEF. After 48 h cultures, oocytes were examined for evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II. Maturation rate of oocytes was significantly increased in media supplemented with 10% pEF during in vitro maturation (IVM) than in those without pEF. When lipid component of pEF was removed by treating n-heptane, no significant difference was observed in maturation of oocytes between n-heptane treatrment and intact pEF group. However, the proportion of oocytes reaching at metaphase II (M II) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the oocytes cultured in media containing trypsin-treated pEF compared to those in media with intact pEF. When porcine GV oocytes were matured in the medium supplemented with intact pEF or pEF heated at $56^{\circ}C$ and $97^{\circ}C$, rates of oocytes remained at GV stage were 11.7%, 29.4% and 42.0%, respectively. However, there were no difference in proportion of oocytes reaching at MII stage among intact pEF group and $56^{\circ}C$ group. Present study suggests that 1) pEF contains an enhancing component(s) for nuclear maturation in vitro of oocytes, 2) protein(s) of pEF may be capable to promote nuclear maturation in vitro, and 3) enhancing component for nuclear maturation may consist of two factors, which are responsible for germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and promotion of MII stage.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 1998

This study was conducted to find out the recovery rate of oocyte according to the different size of follicles from porcine ovaries, and the effect of in vitro maturation of porcine immature oocyte at the different transportation temperature of ovaries from slaughter house. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. The number of follicles per ovary was 22.5. The number of A-and B-typed oocytes(type A: cumulus-enclosed oocyte, type-B : corona-enclosed oocyte) per ovary was 2.4. The proportion of A-and B-typed oocytes was 29.6% of the total recovery oocytes. 2. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at 5$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) rates of porcine oocytes were 32.5, 28.2, 22.6 and 25.9% respectively. There were no significant differences between all the culture time for GVBD. Especially, most of oocytes were observed to arrest the development beyond germinal vesicle(GV) stage. 3. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at $25^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the GVBD rates were 81.0, 90.0, 91.7 and 92.9%, and the maturation (Met-II) rates were 51.2, 78.8, 76.2 and 78.6%, respectively. 4. When the immature oocytes were cultured for 36, 40, 44 and 48 h at 38$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary, the GVBD rates were 93.9, 96.5, 96.5 and 95.3%, and the maturation rates were 62.2, 88.4, 84.7 and 86.0%, respectively. 5. The above results showed that the maturation rates of immature oocytes between $25^{\circ}C$ and 38$^{\circ}C$ transportation temperature of ovary did not differ significantly.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 1996

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of equilibration time, sucrose concentration and age of embryo on survival and developmental rates of bovine IVF expanding blastocysts frozen-thawed by direct transfer method. The bovine oocytes were collected from 2~5mm follicles, matured for 20~24hrs in 5% $CO_2$incubator and then fertilized with frozen-thawed semen. Expanding blastocysts at day 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 after IVF were frozen in 1.8M ethylene glycol(EG). Survival and hatching rates of frozen-thawed IVF embryos were examined. The results were as follow ; Survival and hatching rate of TVF expanding blastocysts after 10, 20, 3Omin exposure in 1.8M EG were 100,0,90.9, 47.1, 85.0, 75.0 and 62.5% respectively. Survival rates of IVF expanding blastocysts frozen with 1.8M EG and various concentration(0, 0.25, 0.5, 1M) of sucrose were 73.3, 25. 0, 16.7, 9.1% respectively. Survival and hatching rates of IVF expanding blastocysts frozen-thawed according to age of embryo(Day 7, 8, 9,10, 11) were 86.1, 84.8, 79.3, 61.4, 51.3, 74.2, 76.9, 71.7, 63.0 and 65.0% respectively. In conclusion, the age of the embryo(Day 7, 8) is very important for the successful freezing of IVF bovine embryos and 1.8M ethylene glycol not containing sucrose may be effective cryoprotectant for direct transfer method.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2004

1. The concentrations of Ang. II were 7.20.91 ${\times}$ $10^3$ , 3.80.34 ${\times}$ $10^3$, 3.50.30 ${\times}$ $10^3$, 2.80.22 ${\times}$ $10^3$ pg/ml in bovine follicular fluids from 1∼3 mm, 3∼5 mm, 5∼7 mm and 8∼10 m follicles, respectively. The concentrations of Ang. II decreased in follicular fluids from large follicles. 2. When oocytes were cultured in media containing various concentrations of Ang. II, a higher proportion of oocytes developed to MII stage in medium with 100 ng/ml (79.5%) Ang II compare to that without Ang. II (58.8%). When oocytes from different sizes of follicles were separately cultured in media containing 100 ng/ml Ang. II, maturation rates were higher in oocytes from small and medium follicles those from controls. 3. GSH content in oocytes cultured for 24 hrs in TCM-199 medium containing 10 and 100 ng/ml of Ang. II was also higher than that of oocytes cultured in medium containing 0 or 10 ng/ml Ang. II. When oocytes were cultured in media containing 0, 10, 100, 1,000 ng/ml of Ang. II, the concentrations of GSH were 5.1M, 5.5M, 7.2M, 8.7M, respectively. 4. When oocytes were cultured in media containing various concentrations of 10, 100, 1,000 ng/ml Ang. II, in vitro maturation and developmental rates were 84.0%, 90.0%, 78.0% and 28.0%, 36.0%, 20.0%, respectively. When oocytes were cultured with an addition of Ang. II in media, in vitro maturation rates higher than that of their controls (76.0%).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.757-762
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• 1993

The ovaries of Korean Native cows or heifers were obtained from an abattoir and kept on 20 to $25^{\circ}C$ and transported to laboratory within 2 hrs. The follicular oocystes were collected from 2~6mm follicles in diameter and classified into 3 grades by the morphology of cumulus cells attached. The oocytes were matured in vitro(IVM) for 24 hrs. in TCM-199 supplemented with $23{\mu}g/ml$ FSH, $10{\mu}g/ml$ LH, $1{\mu}g/ml$ estradio-17 ${\beta}$ and granulosa cells at $39^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. They were fertilized in vitro(IVF) by incubation for 12 hrs. of epididymal spermatozoa pretreated with heparin, and then the zygotes were co-cultured in vitro(IVC) with oviductal epithelial cells for 7 to 9 days. Assessment of maturation revealed that 93.0%(147/158) of grade I oocytes had expanded of cumulus cells, which was higher(p<0.05) than the 79.4%(85/107) of grade II oocytes. Compared to epididymal sperm(32.9%), the insemination with frozen and thawed sperm resulted in slightly lower(20.5%), but not significant, development to morulae and blastocysts from grade I oocytes. Co-culture of bovine IVF embryos with oviductal epithelial cells improved the development to transferable embryos significantly(38.1%), compared to co-culture with granulosa cells(20.0%). When VF bovine embryos were vitrified at blastocyst, the post-thaw survival rate was obtained higher resulf for 1 min. equilibration time(82.6%) or 2 min.(73.9%) than 3 min.(18.2%) in EFS solution.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2007

During in vitro culture of mammalian oocytes and embryos, the cells are exposed to the risks that cause cell injury or death. Numerous studies have been reported that the cell injury may be induced by the action of free radicals generated by auto-oxidation. This study was undertaken to investigate the optimal culture condition system for in vitro culture of porcine embryos. We first evaluated the effect of culture media on the porcine embryo development. NCSU-23 and PZM-5, culture medium tested, were failed to produce significant difference on the rate of blastocyst formation. In NCSU-23, the developmental rate was slightly higher than that in PZM-5. During in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilizaton (IVF), and culture (IVC) under 5 or 20% oxygen ($O_2$), the rates of cleavage and development were insignificantly different from each other under our culture condition (20% $O_2$, in NCSU-23), the mean cell number per blastocyst was $40{\pm}10$. These results showed that medium and $O_2$ concentration had no significant effect on the development of porcine embryos.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2008

Objective: This study was performed to investigate whether cumulus morphology and oocyte diameter influence on in vitro maturation (IVM) of human germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes obtained from stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Methods: Forty-one GV stage oocytes were obtained from 21 patients who received ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF. According to cumulus morphology before denudation, GV oocytes were classified into oocytes with dispersed cumulus cells (CCs) or compacted CCs. The diameters of denuded oocytes, both including and excluding the zona pellucida, were measured. All oocytes were cultured in commercial IVM medium. Maturation was defined as extrusion of the first polar body and the matured oocytes were inseminated by ICSI method. Results: Overall maturation and fertilization rate were 56.1% and 73.9%. Matured oocytes had significantly higher proportion of oocytes with dispersed CCs compared to oocytes failed to mature (91.3% vs. 55.6%, p=0.023). There were no significant differences of oocytes outer ($155.7{\mu}m$ vs. $152.4{\mu}m$, NS), inner ($114.3{\mu}m$ vs. $113.4{\mu}m$, NS) diameters and zona thicknesses ($41.3{\mu}m$ vs. $39.1{\mu}m$, NS) between matured and not-matured oocytes. In-vitro maturation rate of oocytes with dispersed CCs was significantly higher than which of oocytes with compacted CCs (67.7% vs. 20.0%, p=0.044). Oocyte diameters (outer and inner) and thicknesses were not related with maturational competence. Conclusion: Our results suggest that in vitro maturational competence of GV stage oocytes obtained from stimulated IVF cycles is closely associated with the cumulus morphology but not oocyte diameter.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develop a serum-free, defined medium of IVM of pig oocytes. The TCM-199 with supplemented with polyvinylalcohol(PVA), polyvinylpyrrollidone(PVP) and porcine follicular fluid(pFF) were used as basal medium. The effects of the these additives on the rates of maturity and development under in-vitro fertilization and in vitro culture were examined and subsequently considered on the possibilities be sustituted for the bovine serum albumin(BSA). Maturation rate of pig oocytes in IVM media containing PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than that of PVP(78.6％). Cleavage rate after IVF of PVP(64％) was significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of PVA(73％), pFF(77％) and BSA(73％) supplements. in vitro development rates to morulae and blastocyst on PVP(54％) were also significantly lower(P<0.05) than these of the supplements of PVA(63％), pFF(69％) and BSA(65％). In comparison of maturation and fertilization rates of pig oocytes in each supplements, the maturity rates of PVA(82.4％), pFF(89.4％) and BSA(90.0％) were significantly lower(P<0.05) than that of PVP(72.4％) and while, the fertilization rates of pFF(87.1％) and BSA(89.1％) were significantly higher(P<0.05) than these of PVA(78.0％) and PVP(70.6％). It may be concluded that PVA and pFF can be substituted far BSA in medium for culturing pig oocytes; however, it may be considered that PVP were limited to for BSA in the in vitro culture of the embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of four different media (NCSU (North Carolina State University)-23, PZM (Porcine Zygotes Medium)-3, PZM-4 and TCM (Tissue Culture Medium)-l99) and two oxygen concentrations (39 , 5% $O_2$, 5% $CO_2$ and 90% $N_2$, 5% $CO_2$ in air) on in vitro production of porcine IVM/IVF embryos. The results were summarized as follows: The rates of GVBD and nuclear maturations were not significantly different (p>0.05) for 44 hours of culture with four media in two oxygen concentrations. The rates of polyspermy, penetrated sperm(s) and male and female prouclei formation were not significantly different (p>0.05). among four media in two oxygen concentrations. The cleavage rates were not significantly different (p>0.05) among four media in two oxygen concentrations. At day 7 under gas atmosphere of 5% $O_2$, 5% $CO_2$ and 90% $N_2$, the blastocyst formation was significantly higher (p<0.05) in PZM-3 (19.9$\pm$2.4) than other media. Also, NCSU-23 medium gave high rate of blastocyst formation at day 7 under gas atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air (p<0.05). Based on the result of differential staining of porcine blastocyst at dat 7, inner cell mass cell and total cell numbers were not significantly different (p>0.05) among four media in two oxygen concentrations. However, the observed total cell number was higher in PZM-3 medium (36.8$\pm$6.5) than other madia. In conclusion, these results suggested that in vitro production of porcine embryos in PZM-3 medium under a gas atmosphere of 5% $O_2$, 5% $CO_2$ and 90% $N_2$ was effective on the blastocyst formation rate and total blastocyst cell number.