• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.495-499
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• 2006

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) enhances bovine oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in serum supplemented media. In this experiment, to determine the synergistic effect of VEGF with serum components on early embryonic development in vitro in cattle, 1 mg/ml polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) was replaced with foetal bovine serum (FBS) in maturation and culture media. Bovine oocytes were matured in Synthetic Oviduct Fluid (SOF) supplemented with PVA, PVA+5 ng/ml of VEGF, FBS, or FBS+VEGF. Fertilized oocytes were cultured in the same conditions for 8 days. The development of embryos was examined at 48 h post- insemination and on days 6, 7 and 8. The results were analyzed using repeated measures two- factor ANOVA, in which the effects of VEGF and serum were assigned as two factors. The development rate to 4- to 8-cell embryos at 48 h was significantly higher in the PVA+VEGF group than in the PVA group (44.7% and 31.5%, respectively). However, the highest development rate to 4- to 8-cell embryos was obtained from the FBS+VEGF group (58.8%). On day 8, the blastocyst rates were higher in the PVA+VEGF (22.8%), FBS (32.1%, p<0.05) and FBS+VEGF (42.1%, p<0.05) groups than in the PVA group (17.1%). Two- factor ANOVA of the development rates indicates that VEGF had a significant effect, but had no synergistic effect with serum components on early embryonic development. The results of the present study demonstrate that VEGF improves the in vitro developmental competence of bovine oocytes and/or embryos independent of the effect of serum components.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 1997

In vitro culture has provided new information on the mechanisms involved in fertilization how sperm and oocyte fuse together. At the same time, results obtained in vitro have led to new questions. Techniques for In vitro maturation of porcine oocytes have progressed such that the problem of the low rate of pronucleus formation with in vitro matured oocytes after in vitro fertilization has been nearly improved. On the other hand, porcine spermatozoa have been shown to be capacitated if the fertilization medium contains caffeine and Ca$^2+$, but the incidence of polyspermy in IVM-IVF oocytes is still high. To prevent polyspermy, co-culture with oviductal cells, sperm preincubation with porcine follicular fluid or control of sperm concentration, have been examined with significant effects but still remarkably high rates of polyspermy. The under standing of these influences is a prerequisite to enhancing in vitro production of porcine em bryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.389-396
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• 1997

Arrest in embryo development during in vitro culture has been reported in various mammals. Although some cause of the arrest have been suggested, little is known of the way that can overcome the arrest using in vitro culture system. The antioxidant, $\beta$-mercaptoethanol($\beta$-ME), has been shown to play an important role in embryo development. This study was designed to examine the effect of $\beta$-ME on the developing boving embryos produced in vitro by IVM and IVF. To select a, pp.opriate concentration of $\beta$-ME during whole culture period (7 days), various concentrations (10, 50 and 100$\mu$M) of $\beta$-ME were added to the CZB medium and their effects was significantly higher in 100$\mu$M of $\beta$-ME. The effects on development of embryos cultured with and without somatic cells to blastocyst stage were greater in FCS treatment (56.6 and 29.3%) than in BSA treatment(25.5 and 12.8%). We also evaluated the effects of $\beta$-ME addition on the blastocyst formation when embryos at different stages were exposed to 100$\mu$M $\beta$-ME. $\beta$-ME promoted increased development of embryo to blastocyst stage and the effect was greater in 6-cell to morula embryos than in embryos fewer than 4-cells at the initiation of treatment. The results suggested that $\beta$-ME can improve bovine embryo development by overcoming the arrest in early development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2003

The aims of this study are 1) to test oocytes and embryos collected from in-vivo and in-vitro to achieving the valuable protocol by culturing, vitrifying and thawing of oocytes/embryos, and 2) to transfer them to recipient, and finally have resulted in pregnancies from recipient females after surgical or nonsurgical transfer. In vitro maturation and fertilization were performed according to the procedures of Funahashi et al. Fertilized oocytes were cultured in glucose-free NCSU 23 supplemented with 5 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.5 mM sodium lactate and 4 mg/ml bovine serum albumin for 2 days at 39$^{\circ}C$, and 10% fetal bovine serum was added to the culture medium thereafter. Embryos were treated with 7.5$\square$g/ml cytochalasin-B for 30 min, centrifuged at 13,000 ${\times}$ g for 13 min and then exposed sequentially to an ethylene glycol (EG) vitrification solution, aspirated into OPSs, and plunged/thawed into/from liquid nitrogen. In vivo embryos were surgically collected from three donors after Al. Forty-six embryos (18, 9 and 19 embryos, respectively) were washed 3 times in mPBS+10%FBS, followed treatments : cultured, centrifuged, vitrified, recovered and transferred to recipients as in vitro prepared embryos. Three recipients received surgically 34(control), 188 and 184 embryos (derived from abattoir), respectively. Another three recipients were received nonsurgically 150, 100 and 150 embryos, respectively. All recipient sows exhibited delayed returns to estrus. To our knowledge, these results suggest that required an improved techniques, more vigorous embryos preparation and cleaner uterous condition(use gilt).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 1997

We determined the effects of follicular fluid fractions in the maturation medium on bovine oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development, as well as on number of cells in blastocysts following culture. Follicular fluid and oocytes from bovine follicles less than 5 mm in diameter were collected from the ovaries of slaughtered cows. Follicular fluid was separated into different molecular weight fractions by untrafiltration through a membrane using a centrifuge at 500$\times$g, for 2h. For the maturation medium, follicular fluid fractions (30%, v/v), whole fluid (30%) or PVP(3mg/ml) were added to TCM 199(0.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol-17$\beta$, 100IU hCG). After maturation for 24h, oocytes were fertilized in vitro with bull frozen-thawed spermatozoa and cultured on a monolayer of granulosa cells for 9 days after fertilization. There were no differences in maturation rates or fertilization rates among any maturation conditions. The rates of development to >2-cell stage of the oocytes were significantly decreased when fraction of follicular fluid below 10,000 MW were added into maturation medium, compared with control and fraction above 10,000 MW(26.0% vs 40.8% to 64.0%, respectveily. p<0.01). Likewise, the rates of development to blastocysts of fertilized oocytes were significantly decreased in maturation medium containing fraction of follicular fluid (<10,000 MW). The average cell number of blastocysts derived from oocytes that matured in the fraction(>10,000 MW) of follicular fluid was 154.7$\pm$13.7. These embryos contained more cells than those matured in whole follicular fluid, or the fraction(<10, 000 MW) of follicular fluid or control(107.0$\pm$8.4, 91.8$\pm$11.8 and 95.8$\pm$6.2, respectively). In conclusion, we found that fractions of follicular fluid contained factors stimulating or inhibiting oocyte cytoplasmic matruation. These suggest that a factor(s) inducing cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes may exist in >10,000 MW fraction of follicular fluid.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.83-83
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• 2003

돼지 난자의 유리화 동결 처리 방법 중 난자를 담는 용기(loading vessel)의 재료로 최근에 알려진 것으로 open-pulled straws(OPS)[Vajta등, Mol Reprod Dev, 51:53-58, (1998)], electron microscope grids(EMG) [Martino등,Biol Reprod, 54:1059-1069, (1996)〕, nylon loop system(NLS) [Lane등, Fertil Steril,72: 1073-1078, (1999)] 등이 보고되고 있다. OPS는 1/4cc straws를 열을 가하여 길게 뽑아 내벽을 얇게 함으로써 filing된 난자나 수정란이 액체 질소와 접촉했을 때 유리화가 신속하게 되도록 하는 방법으로 돼지에서는 별로 보고된 것이 없다. EMG는 열전도가 예민한 전자현미경용 copper grid를 이용한 방법으로 최근 국내 기술진의 연구성적을 포함한 몇몇 학자들에 의하여 보고되었고 NLS는 0.5mm직경의 nylon loop를 이용하여 급속 동결한 성적이 보고되었으나, 돼지 난자에 응용 된 것은 없다. 따라서 이와 같은 동결 재료는 사람과 반추류, mouse외에 돼지 난자에 대하여는 전혀 시도되지 않았지만 유리화 동결기술에서 가장 중요한 실험으로 생각된다. 성공적인 유리화 동결을 위해서는 수정란이 냉각의 전도성이 빠르고, 작은 용액을 수정란과 같이 filling해야 하며 모든 동작이 신속 간편해야 하며 융해 방법도 초급속도의 융해가 요구되므로 이에 부합되어야 한다. 연구 목적은 돼지 난자를 유리화 동결/융해 시 동결 재료-straw/glass, copper grid, nylon 3가지에 대한 제작 방법, 난자 loading, 동결 처리, 보관 방법, 융해 방법 등을 난자의 회수, 수정 후 생존율을 비교 조사하여 가장 우수한 방법을 선택할 목적이었다. 수행 내용은 3가지의 재료의 sample을 제작하고 소독한 다음 준비된 돼지 COCs을 40시간동안 IVM한 후 난자를 5~l5개 정도로 선정 하여 준비된 VS 용액에 평형처리 하였다. 각 재료의 용기에 loading 한 후 동결/보관하였고, 융해는 역순으로 평형하여 maturation 배지에 3~4시간 배양한 다음 경검하고 IVF한 후 NCSU-23 배지에 담아 IVC 배양하면서 cell cleavage상태를 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 1996

The effect of several potential antioxidants and amino acids were examined as a means of increasing the development of in vitro matured and in vitro fertilized oocytes into morulae or blastocysts. Bovine embryos developed to the 2~8 cell stage after in vitro fertilization were cultured for 5 to 6 days at 39$^{\circ}C$ in CR1aa containing varing concentraton of the antioxidants and amino acid in a gas phase consisting of 5% CO2, high humidified air. At 5~6 days, embryo developments were reduced, and embryos were fixed and stained with Hochest 33342 DNA stain to facilitate counting of cells. In experiment 1, the proportion of embryos developed to morulae and blastocysts in CR1aa containing 1mM, 2.5mM taurine (22.6% and 20.4%) was slightly higher than those of 0, 5 and 10mM Taurine (5.7, 5.7 and 3.9%, P<0.05). In experiment 2, addition of glutathione did not improve blastocyst development (P>0.05). In experiment 3, concentations of superoxide dismutase(SOD) ranging from 300 to 1,000 U did not affect the propotion of embryos developing into blastocysts (P>0.05). In experiment 4, addition of 250 U catalase(38.5%) was slighty higher than those of 0, 500 and 1,000U. In experiment 5, the proportion of embryo developed beyond morula stage in CR1aa with taurine plus EDTA was slighty higher than other treatments(15.7, 26.0 and 29.2%), there were no significantly increases in cell number among treatments(P>0.05). These results are indicating that antioxidants and amino acids can increase the proportion of embryos that develop into morulae and blastocysts, but did not increas in cell number of blastocysts.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2001

도살장에서 구입한 소의 난소로부터 회수한 미성숙 난포란을 체외에서 성숙, 수정시킨 후, 2~8세포기 수정란을 CR$_1$aa 체외배양액에 일정량의 aesculetin, taurine을 첨가하여 체외배양을 실시한 두 처리구간의 항산화 효과를 비교 검토하고, aesculetin과 taurine에 growth factor(EGF, PDGF)를 첨가배양하여 체외수정란의 체외발육에 항산화제와 growth factor의 상호작용 효과를 검토하였다. 대조구, aesculetin(1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) 및 taurine(2.5mM)을 첨가하여 체외수정란을 체외배양시킨 결과 상실배이상 발육된 체외발육율은 각각 46.5%, 64.3% 및 60.5%로서 대조구보다 aesculetin과 taurine 첨가구가 유의하에 높은 성적을 얻어, aesculetin과 taurine이 체외수정란의 체외발육에 높은 효과를 나타냈다. 대조구, aesculetin (1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) ＋ PDGF (1ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구, aesculetin (l$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) ＋ EGF (10ng/$m\ell$)첨가구, taurine (2.5mM) ＋PDGF (1ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구 및 taurine (2.5mM)＋EGF (10ng/$m\ell$) 첨가구에서 배반포기 발육율은 각각 46.0%, 70.0%, 58.0%, 56.0 및 66.0%로써 처리구가 무첨가구에 비해 유의하게 높은 성적을 얻어(P<0.05), 항산화제와 growth factor의 첨가 배양이 체외수정란의 체외발육에 상승효과가 있음이 입증되었다. 배양액에 천연추출 aesculetin과 상품화된 aesculetin을 첨가하여 체외배양을 실시한 결과 배반포기 발육율은 대조구, 천연추출 aesculetin 및 상품화된 aesculetin 첨가구에서 각각 38.6%, 54.6% 및 53.5%로써 첨가구가 무첨가구보다 높은 성적을 얻어, aesculetin의 항산화 효과가 입증되었다(P<0.05). 그러나 모든 처리구에서 배반포까지 발육된 체외수정란의 세포수에는 커다란 차이가 인정되지 않았다.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.88-88
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• 2001

소 난포란을 체외에서 성숙, 수정시킨 후, 2~8 세포기 수정란을 체외배양액인 CR$_1$aa에 일정량의 nitric oxide scavenger, Hb와, inhibitor인 L-nitro - L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)를 첨가 배양하여 체외발육에 미치는 영향을 검토하고자 실시하였다. 체외수정 후 체외배양 48시간에 난구세포의 제거 유.무에 따라 CR$_1$aa 배양액에 hemoglobin을 0, 1, 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$를 첨가한 구의 상실배기이상 체외발육성적은 난구세포를 제거한 구에서 23.8%, 33.3% 및 26.8%였으며, 난구세포를 제거하지 않은 구에서는 각각 39.5%, 54.8% 및 48.8%로써 난구세포를 제거하지 않은 구에 Hb를 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$를 첨가한 구가 여타구 보다 통계적으로 높은 결과를 얻었다(P<0.05). 체외수정 후 체외배양 96시간 후 난구세포를 제거 유.무에 따라 Hb를 0, 1, 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$를 첨가하였을 때, 상실배기 이상 체외발육성적은 난구세포를 제거한 구에서 각각 28.6%, 46.2% 및 39.1%였으며, 난구세포를 제거하지 않은 구에서는 각각 33.9%, 67.2% 및 46.0%로써, 난구세포를 제거하지 않은 구에 Hb를 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$첨가구가 여타구에 비해 통계적으로 유의하게 높게 나타났다( P<0.05).CR$_1$aa배양액에 L-NAME를 0, 10, 50 및 100mM을 첨가한 구에서 상실배이상 발육된 체외발육성적은 각각 55.6%, 64.9%, 58.8% 및 66.7%로써 L-NAME 첨가구가 무첨가구에 비해 커다란 차이가 나타나지 않았다(P>0.05). 본 실험의 결과로 볼 때, nitric oxide scavenger인 hemoglobin의 첨가는 체외수정 후 체외배양 96시간에 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ 첨가하는 것이 체외수정란의 체외 발육율을 향상시켰으며, nitric oxide inhibitor인 L-NAME는 첨가 농도에 관계없이 체외수정란의 체외발육율에 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 본 실험에서 생산된 배반포기 체외수정란의 세포수에는 커다란 차이가 인정되지 않았다.

• 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.