• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the effects of biophoton treatment during in vitro maturation (IVM) and/or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte maturation and embryonic development in pigs. An apparatus capable of generating homogeneous biophoton energy emissions was placed in an incubator. Initially, immature pig oocytes were matured in the biophoton-equipped incubator in medium 199 supplemented with cysteine, epidermal growth factor, insulin, and gonadotrophic hormones for 22 h, after which they were matured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22 hr. Next, IVM oocytes were induced for parthenogenesis (PA) or provided as cytoplasts for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Treatment of oocytes with biophoton energy during IVM did not improve cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation, intraoocyte glutathione content, or mitochondrial distribution of oocytes. However, biophoton-treated oocytes showed higher (p < 0.05) blastocyst formation after PA than that in untreated oocytes (50.7% vs. 42.7%). In an additional experiment, SCNT embryos produced from biophoton-treated oocytes showed a greater (p < 0.05) number of cells in blastocysts (52.6 vs. 43.9) than that in untreated oocytes. Taken together, our results demonstrate that biophoton treatment during IVM improves developmental competence of PA- and SCNT-derived embryos.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.186.3-186
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• 2001

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.22-35
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME) and cysteamine on in vitro maturation of porcine follicular oocytes. The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. When the immature oocytes were cultured at 0, 10, 50, 100 and 200 $\mu$M of $\beta$-ME for 36h, the GVBD rates were 91.6, 92.5, 91.8, 91.9 and 92.7%, respectively, and the maturation rates of the oocytes with metaphase-II were 49.6, 41.7, 32.5, 34.1 and 35.4%, respectively. Thus, lower maturation rate was shown in $\beta$-ME treated groups of 50, 100 and 200 $\mu$M as compared to control (non-treated) group (P＜0.05). After 44h of culture in the same treatments of $\beta$-ME, the GVBD rates of porcine oocytes were 91.8, 90.4, 92.5, 91.2 and 93.9%, respectively, and the maturation rates were 71.9, 58.8, 56.7, 62.2 and 56.5% respectively. All treated groups of $\beta$-ME showed lower maturation rates than the control group (P＜0.05) 2. When the immature oocytes were cultured at 0, 10, 50, 100 and 200 $\mu$M of cysteamine for 36h, the GVBD rates were 90.6, 86.3, 88.2, 87.2 and 90.0%, respectively, and the maturation rates were 53.8, 45.1, 54.4, 57.5 and 63.3% respectively. Especially, the maturation rate of 200 $\mu$M treated group was significantly higher than those of control group (P＜0.05). After 44h of culture in the same treatments of cysteamine, the GVBD rates of porcine immature oocytes were 89.5, 93.1, 85.1, 89.8 and 91.3%, respectively, and the maturation rates of the oocytes with metaphase- II were 84.2, 77.6, 66.0, 67.8 and 78.3%, respectively. Especially, the maturation rates of 50 and 100 $\mu$M treated groups were significantly lower than those of control group (P＜0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.496-500
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• 2007

Holstein cow ovaries obtained at a slaughterhouse were used to study the influence of the oocyte collection methods (slicing, puncture, aspiration I and II) on recovery efficiency and subsequent in vitro maturation and embryonic development competence of immature oocytes recovered. In the slicing method, the whole ovarian was chopped into small pieces with a surgical blade. In the puncture method, the whole ovarian surface was punctured by 18-g needle. In other 2 aspiration methods, collected oocytes by aspirating from the visible follicles using an 18-g needle attached to a 5 ml syringe (aspiration I) or using a constant negetive pressure (-80 mmHg) with a vacuum pump (aspiration II). The oocytes were classified into 4 classes on the basis of the morphology of cumulus cells and cytoplasmic appearance of oocyte. Slicing ($9.6{\pm}0.4$) and puncture ($9.7{\pm}0.4$)yielded a larger number of oocytes per ovary than other two aspiration methods (aspiration I and II were $5.8{\pm}0.3$and $5.6{\pm}0.4$, respectively) (p<0.05). The number of the highest quality oocytes (grade A) per ovary was significantly higher in slicing ($4.2{\pm}0.2$) and puncture ($4.6{\pm}0.1$) methods than in other methods (aspiration I and II were $1.2{\pm}0.2$ and $1.4{\pm}0.2$, respectively) (p<0.05). The rate of nuclear maturation of the highest and higher quality oocytes (grade A and grade B, respectively) was not affected by the oocytes collection methods. The oocytes collection methods also did not influence subsequent embryonic developmental competence after in vitro fertilization with M II stage oocytes. It is concluded that slicing and puncture methods of the ovaries can be used as an alternative techniques to aspiration by the syringe or vacuum pump.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.234-237
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• 2011

Objective: During stimulated IVF cycles, up to 15% of oocytes are recovered as immature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend of oocyte maturity in repeated ovarian stimulation for IVF. Methods: One hundred forty-eight patients were selected who underwent two consecutive IVF cycles using same stimulation protocol during 2008 to 2010. Ovarian stimulation was performed with FSH and human menopausal gonadotropin and flexible GnRH antagonist protocol in both cycles. Oocyte maturity was assessed according to presence of germinal vesicle (GV) and the first polar body. Immature oocyte was defined as GV stage or metaphase I oocyte (GV breakdown with no visible polar body) and cultured up to 48 hours. If matured, they were fertilized with ICSI. Results: Percentages of immature oocytes were 30.8% and 32.9% ($p$=0.466) and IVM rates of immature oocytes were 36.2% and 25.7% ($p$=0.077), respectively. A significant correlation was noted between percentage of immature oocytes in the two cycles (R=0.178, $p$=0.03). Women with >40% immaturity in both cycles (n=21) showed lower fertilization rate of $in$ $vivo$ matured oocytes (56.4% vs. 72.0%, $p$=0.005) and lower pregnancy rate (19.0% vs. 27.1%, $p$=0.454) after the second cycle when compared with women with <40% immaturity (n=70). In both groups, female age, number of total retrieved oocyte and embryos transferred were similar. Conclusion: In repeated ovarian stimulation cycles for IVF, the immature oocyte tended to be retrieved repetitively in consecutive IVF cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 1999

Purpose of the present study was to find the optimal ovulation induction medicine for the maturation and development of immature oocytes and culture media for 2-cell embryos in the mouse model. ICR female mouse aged 6 to 8 weeks, were stimulated with 5 IU PMSG injection. At 47 to 50 hour post-PMSG injection, ovaries were dissected out and oocytes-cumulus complexes were punctured. The oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured in media containing various ovulation induction medicine, CC, HMG and Metrodin for 18 hours. Female ICR mice were stimulated with 5 IU PMSG and 48 hours later were injected 5 IU of hCG, then female and male mice were mated. At 48 hour post-hCG injection, oviducts were dissected out and 2-cell embryos were flushed. The 2-cell embryos were cultured in various media, Ham's F-10 media of milli-Q water $(3^{\circ})$, Ham's F-10 media of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography, Baxter) water, Medicult media, HTF (human tubal fluid) media for 96 hours. The results were as follows. 1. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in $10^{-9}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-8}{\mu}g/ml$ of CC, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation $(28.2{\sim}33.7%)$. Whereas the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in $10^{-7}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-4}{\mu}g/ml$, these were not effected in meiotic maturation $(54.5{\sim}72.7%)$. 2. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in $10^{-4}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-1}{\mu}g/ml$ of Metrodin, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation $(35.7{\sim}41.5%)$. Meanwhile the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in $10^{-7}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-5}{\mu}g/ml$, those were not effected in meiotic maturation $(54.2{\sim}70.3%)$. 3. When the oocytes-cumulus complexes were cultured in $10^{-5}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-4}{\mu}g/ml$ of HMG, those were suppressed in meiotic maturation $(48.2{\sim}50.4%)$. As being cultured in $10^{-7}{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10^{-6}{\mu}g/ml$, increased in meiotic maturation $(75.8{\sim}80.7%)$. 4. When the 2-cell embryos were cultured in Ham's F-10 media of milli-Q water $(3^{\circ})$, Ham's F-10 media of HPLC (high performance liquid chromatograpy, Baxter) water, Medicult media, HTF (human tubal fluid) media, developmental rates to blastocyst and hatching for 96 hour were 50.0%, 45.2%, 71.5% and 95.6%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate in vitro/in vivo development of vitrified-thawed immature mouse oocytes. Immature mouse oocytes were vitrified with EFS40 (40% ethylene glycol, 18% ficoll and 0.5 M sucrose). Thawed oocytes were matured for 16 hr in vitro. Matured oocytes with the first polar body were fertilized with the concentration of 1~2$\times$10$^{6}$ $m\ell$ of epididymal sperm. After fertilization, cleavage ($\geq$ 2-cell) and in vitro/in vivo development rates were examined. $\pi$ Ie results were summarized as follows: in vitro maturation rate of immature mouse oocytes in vitrified-thawed group was similar to that in exposed group (67.5%) and control (66.3%), but cleavage rate of vitrified-thawed oocytes (64.9 %) and blastocyst formation rate (59.0%) were significantly different compared to those of exposed group (83.7 and 74.7%) and control (90.7 and 83.7%) (p＜0.05). However, when the blastocysts derived from immature mouse oocytes vitrified-thawed were transferred to pseudopregnant mouse, total implantation (31.3%) was slightly lower than that in control (40.8%), but live fetus formation rate (66.7%)was slightly higher than that in control (58.1%), there was not significantly different. Therefore, when the blastocyts produced in vitro were transferred into recipients, although the development in vitro of oocytes vitrified-thawed was decreased, live fetus formation rate was similar to that of control group. The present results indicate that immature mouse oocytes can be frozen successfully by vitrification with EFS40.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine the effects of exogenous gonadotropins (PMSG+hCG) and an antioxidant (cysteine) on in vitro maturation of bovine follicular oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from 2 to 5 mm ovarian follicles were cultured for 22 to 24 hours in a modified bovine embryo culture medium (mBECM) supplemented with 3 mg/mL bovine serum albumin, to which PMSG (10 IU/mL) + hCG (10 IU/mL) and/or cysteine (0.6 mM) were added. When examined the expansion of cumulus ce1ls at the end of maturation culture, greater (p<0.05) expansion was found after addition of PMSG+hCG (79 to 96%) to mBECM than after no addition (0%), regardless of the presence or absence of cysteine in the medium. The addition of cysteine did not stimulate cumulus expansion, but a high proportion (92%) of expansion was achieved when COCs were cultured after the addition of PMSG+hCG and cysteine to the medium. No difference in the proportion of oocytes underwent germinal vesicle breakdown (initiation of maturation) was found after the addition of PMSG+hCG and/or cysteine to mBECM. However, nuclear maturation (development to the metaphase-II stage) of oocytes was significantly stimulated by the combined addition of PMSG+hCG and cysteine, compared with no addition. In conclusion, both exogenous gonadotropins and an antioxidant are important for nuclear maturation of bovine immature oocytes and these factors have a cell-specific stimulatory action.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 1996

The objective of this experiment was to test the ability of the fertilization of EGF treated pig oocytes for in vitro maturation. The addition of EGF (10 ng/ml), FSH (10 ${\mu}\textrm{g}$/ml), or FBS (10%) on maturation medium of pig immature oocytes divided into four groups as follows; group 1: untreatment, group 2: EGF alone, group 3: combination of FSH and FBS, or group 4: combination of EGF, FSH, and FBS. The interactive effects of nuclear maturation rates (M II%) of EGF alone, FSH plus FBS, and EGF plus FSH added FBS treatments were significantly higher than those of non-treatments (P<0.001). The fertilization rate of EGF alone (group 2) was lower than that of 3, 4 groups, but was significantly higher than group 1 (p< 0.005). Furthermore, combination of EGF, FSH,and FBS (group 4) was higher than others (group 1. 2, 3) on male pronuclei formation as well as penetration of sperm (P<0.05). These results suggested that EGF alone decreased the ability of cytoplasmic maturation compared to nuclear maturation in pig oocytes, but a high level of cytoplasmic maturation of in vitro-matured pig oocytes can be achieved when supplemented with FSH and FBS.