• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.105-116
• /
• 1992

The present study was examined to clarify the role of calcium ion as a factor for the maturation of mouse oocytes. Follicles and cumulus-enclosed oocytes were isolated with two sharp needles under a stereomicroscope from female mouse (ICR) ovaries which were treated PMSG 5 IU 45-46 hours previously. Isolated follicles and cumulus-enclosed oocytes were cultured for 14-16 hours in an organ culture system at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air and 100% humudified in incubator. MHBS was the basic medium used from which A23187, verapamil, $NiCl_{2.}$ $6H_2O$ and $LaCl_{3.}$ $7H_2O$ were added depending on the experimental groups. In follicle- or cumulus-enclosed oocytes wre cultured in these differently treated media. Following results were obtained from the present study. 1. The calcium ionophore A23187 directly or indirectly seems to stimulate GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. Increasing concentration of ionophore A23187 1ed to an increase in oocytes degeneration from the cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes. 2. The organic $Ca^{++}$ channel blocker, verapamil does not induce GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. Specially, higher dose of 1 mM verapamil induced GVBD of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. However, cytoplasm of GVBD oocytes in 1 mM verapamil treated groups appeared shrunk. In the cumulus-enclosed oocytes, polar body formation was reduced in verapamil treated groups and degeneration increased. Verapamil inhibit oocyte maturation (polar body formation). 3. The $Ca^{++}$ inhibitor, Nickel ($NiCl_{2.}$ $6H_2O$) inhibits maturation of the follicle-enclosed oocytes. In the cumulus-enclosed oocytes the progression to MII (PB formation) was reduced and degeneration of mouse oocytes increased as the concentration of $Ni^{++}$ increase. The results indicates that nickel act as an inhibitor of calcium. 4. The $Ca^{++}$ inhibitors, Lanthanum ($LaCl_{3.}$ $7H_2O$) has shown different effect from that of nickel. In follicle-enclosed oocytes, 0.01mM lanthanum induced maturation of mouse oocytes. Polar body formation was reduced in the cumulus-enclosed oocytes all lanthanum treated group.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.223-227
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to compare of different isolation method of mouse preantral follicles, and to examine in vitro development of mouse preantral follicles isolated by different method. Preantral follicles were mechanically or enzymatically extracted from mouse ovaries. Mechanical isolation method used fine gauge needles and enzymatic method of isolating follicles used collagenase. The recovered preantral follicles were cultured for 10 days in alpha-minimal essential medium (${\alpha}$-MEM) + 5% FBS + Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium (ITS) + 100 mIU/ml FSH. The collected primary follicles by enzymatic treatment were higher than mechanical method. Others stage preantral follicle by mechanical isolation were higher than enzymatic method. After 10 days of culture, no statistical differences were shown in survival rates of preantral follicle among the 2 culture groups. The metaphase II rates of the oocytes were significantly higher (p<0.05) in mechanical method (17.8%) than in enzymatic method (5.1%). These results suggest that the isolation method of choice depends on the target stage preantral follicles and mechanical isolation is an optimal method of preantral folliclesin a culture of mouse preantral follicle.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2000

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicle growth, and inhibits the follicle atresia in the immature rodent ovaries. The present study was carried out to know the histological changes of ovarian follicles after FSH treatment in the prepubertal mice. Ten i.u. of recombinant FSH was i.p. injected on 3 weeks old mice. After the treatment, at 1, 2 and 3 days, left ovaries were collected for the histological study. The atretic ratio of preantral follicles increased with time after FSH treatment. However, in the case of antral follicles, there was no significant change in the ratio. The degenerating follicles contained apoptotic granulosa cells, macrophage, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the follicular cavity. The present results suggest that follicular degeneration caused by FSH hyperstimulation could be mediated by apoptosis as well as the acute inflammation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.153-162
• /
• 1991

The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of calcium ion as a factor for the maturation of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes. Follicles were isolated with two sharp needles under a stereomicroscope from mouse(ICR) ovaries which were treated PMSG 5 IU 45 hours previously. Isolated follicles were cultured for 14-16 hours in an organ culture system at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air and in a 100% humidified incubator by treatment of hCG, EDTA and $^{45}Ca^{++}$. Culture medium was Modified Hank's Balanced Salt Sol. (MHBS) and addition of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was made into two doses level 0.4 IU and 0.8IU from the stock sol. and also $^{45}Ca^{++}$ was treated in the culture medium. To explain the role of calcium, calcium chelating agent EDTA was treated to the culture of the mouse follicle-enclosed oocytes. Two observations were made in the present study; nucleus phase and $^{45}Ca^{++}$ uptake into the oocyte. HCG induced oocyte maturation in the follicle about two folds as much as the control group, whereas there is no difference in oocyte maturation between 0.4 IU and 0.8 IU of hCG. Optimum level of hCG seems to be 0.4 IU/ml in the mouse follicle culture. HCG stimulated $^{45}Ca^{++}$ uptake into the oocyte of the follicles by two folds. $^{45}Ca^{++}$ uptake in the control group is about 2.5 folds in comparison of the EDTA(1.71mM) treated group. However, calcium uptake in the EDTA treated groups tends to increase depending on the decrease of EDTA concentration. These observations suggest that firstly, hCG stimulates maturation of the oocyte of the follicle, secondly, $Ca^{++}$ influx is induced by hCG and thirdly, $Ca^{++}$ influx by the treatment of EDTA decreases as a dosage-dependent process. This $Ca^{++}$ uptake may take place by the changes of permeability which was induced by hCG treatment. That is, $Ca^{++}$ influx may trigger the resumption of oocyte maturation. It is further necessary in the future study how this $Ca^{++}$ uptake is induced by hCG and increases permeability of the follicle and oocyte.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.387-392
• /
• 2000

Objectives: 1) To compare the efficacy of urofollitropin (Follimon) to that of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) on the growth and maturation of mouse early preantral follicles in vitro, and 2) effect of vitrification on the growth and maturation of preantral follicles and oocytes . Methods: Isolated early preantra1 follicles (100-130 ${\mu}m$ diameter) were cultured for 12 days in 20 ${\mu}l$ ${\alpha}$-MEM media drop under the mineral oil. Follimon or rhFSH was added to the culture medium at various concentrations (0, 10, 100, and 1000 mIU/ml). Results: With Follimon, the dose of 10 mIU/ml showed the best follicle survival, growth, and MIl rate of oocyte than the other concentrations. Whereas the optimal dose of rhFSH was 100 mIU/ml. Despite the different optimal doses, the efficacy of two different FSHs on the follicle growth and maturation was similar. Isolated mouse preantral follicles were cryopreserved by vitrification and cultured in vitro for 12 days with 100 mIU/ml rhFSH. Despite the decreased follicular survival rate after thawing, the follicular growth and maturation rate of its oocyte were comparable to those of the fresh follicle. Conclusion: Results from the present study revealed that 1) the optimal doses of Follimon and rhFSH for in-vitro culture of mouse follicles are different, and 2) the frozen-thawed follicles develop normally after vitrification.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.347-351
• /
• 2021

Objective: We investigated the impact of vitamin D₃ (VD3) supplementation during mouse preantral follicle culture in vitro and the mRNA expression of 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse ovarian follicles at different stages. Methods: Preantral follicles were retrieved from 39 BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and then cultured in vitro for 12 days under VD3 supplementation (0, 25, and 50 pg/mL). Follicular development and the final oocyte acquisition were assessed. Preantral follicles were retrieved from 15 other BDF1 mice (7-8 weeks old) and cultured without VD3 supplementation. Three stages of mouse ovarian follicles were obtained (preantral, antral, and ruptured follicles). Total RNA was extracted from the pooled cells (from 20 follicles at each stage), and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify mRNA for CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR. Results: The survival of preantral follicles, rates of antrum formation and ruptured follicles (per initiated follicle) and the number of total or mature oocytes were all comparable among the three groups. Both CYP2R1 and CYP27B1 were expressed in antral and ruptured follicles, but not in preantral follicles. VDR was expressed in all three follicular stages. Conclusion: VD3 supplementation in vitro (25 or 50 pg/mL) did not enhance mouse follicular development or final oocyte acquisition. Follicular stage-specific expression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR was observed.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2000

The expression of glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase (GNPDA) was examined in mouse ovary from neonate to aduit. In western blot, band of Mr. 31 kDa antigen sharply increased 2 weeks after birth onward. In irmmunostaining of the adult ovary, GNPDA expression was constitutive in the theca and interstitial cells. However, expression in the granulosa cells was different according to folliculogenesis. Cytoplasm of the oocyte of some primary follicle showed positive signal but not in the antral follicle. Granulosa cells of antral follicles showed no visible sign of GNPDA expression. In the corpora lutea, the signal intensity in granulosaluteal cells increased according to luteal development and became the highest in the luteolytic phase. In summary, the differential expression of GNPDA was found in follicle cells according to folliculogenesis. It suggests that GNPDA might be involved in tissue remodeling in mouse ovary.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.75-75
• /
• 2003

Transition of the resting primordial follicle to the growing primary follicle is a critical process for female reproduction, but its mechanism is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate gene expression profile at the primordial-primary follicle transition process. We isolated total RNA of female mouse ovary at day1 (contains only primordial follicles) and day5 (contains primordial and primary follicles) and synthesized cDNA using annealing control primers (ACP; Seegene, Inc., Seoul, Korea). ACP provides annealing specificity and sensitivity to the template and allows to identify only authentic differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used total 80 ACPs for PCR, observed PCR products on 2% agarose gel, cloned 42 DEGs using TOPO TA cloning vector, sequenced, and analyzed by BLAST search. Sequences of 34 clones significantly matched database entries while 4 clones were novel and 4 clones were EST. Two of 34 genes were specifically expressed only in day 5 ovaries (Sui1-rs1, Apg3p/Aut1p-like), and rest of 32 genes were expressed in both stages but were differential in amount. Differential expression was confirmed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, and there was no false positive. Anx11 and Pepp2-pending were highly expressed genes in day1-, while BPOZ, Ches1, Kcmf1, NHE3, Nid2, Ninj1, SENP3 and Survivin were highly expressed genes in day5-ovary. List of genes would provide insight for further study of mechanism regulating primordial-primary follicle transition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2005

Objective: To define an appropriate vitrification condition of preantral follicle that yields high survival and to evaluate growth and ovulation rate of mouse follicles during in vitro culture after vitrification. Methods: Preantral follicles were isolated mechanically from mouse ovaries that were surgically recovered from mice aged 14 days. Retrieved preantral follicles were placed in EG (Ethylene Glycol) for 2, 5, 10 minutes and transferred to EFS-40 (40% EG, 18% Ficoll-70, 0.5 M sucrose) for 0.5, 1, 2 minutes. And then, preantral follicles were placed onto an EM grid and submerged immediately in liquid nitrogen. Thawing was carried out at room temperature. After defining the most appropriate vitrification condition that yields high survival, in vitro growth and ovulation rate of follicles were evaluated. Results: Appropriate vitrification condition that yield high survival rate ($83.2{\pm}2.1%$) of preantral follicle was EG for 5 minutes and EFS-40 for 0.5 minutes. In vitro survival rate of the vitrified preantral follicles were $85.5{\pm}0.5%$, $67.9{\pm}0.8%$ and $40.2{\pm}0.5%$ on day 2, 6 and 10. And in vitro growth of the vitrified preantral follicles were $107.1{\pm}16.1{\mu}m$, $117.1{\pm}18.4{\mu}m$, $178.4{\pm}45.6{\mu}m$ and $325.4{\pm}54.4{\mu}m$ on day 0, 2, 6 and 10. Although in vitro survival rate and growth of vitrified preantral follicles were lower than that of non-vitrified preantral follicles, the patterns of survival and growth were similar in vitrified and non-vitrified preantral follicles. The ovulation rate of antral follicles that was grown from vitrified preantral follicles was $32.6{\pm}1.2%$. Conclusion: Vitrified preantral follicles could be grown to antral sizes, and mature oocytes that can be used for IVF-ET programs were produced successfully. These data suggest that cryopreservation of preantral follicle by vitrification can be used for the preservation of the fertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2001

연구목적: 본 연구는 생쥐 preantral follicles의 체외 배양 조건을 확립하고 이를 기초로 높은 체외 발달률 그리고 산자 생산률을 얻고자 하였다. 연구재료 및 방법 : Preantral follicles의 oocyte-granulosa cell complexes (OGCs)는 생후 12일된 FI ($C57BL{\times}CBA$)으로부터 난소를 적출하여 효소를 이용한 방법을 통해 획득하였다. 회수된 complexes는 10일 또는 12일 동안 체외 성장을 위해 Transwell-COL membrane insert로 옮겨졌고 5% FBS, 100 mIU/ml FSH, 100 mIU/ml hMC가 첨가된 ${\alpha}MEM$에서 배양되었다. 체외 성숙을 위해 1.5 IU/ml hCG가 첨가된 ${\alpha}MEM$에서 18 hrs 배양을 실시하였다. 그 후 M16에서 수정능력이 획득된 정자와 수정을 하여 4 hrs, 7 hts, 9 hrs 후에 10% FBS가 첨가된 modified M16 배양액에서 4일간 배양하거나 또는 bovine cumulus cell과 co-culture를 실시하였다. 그리고 형태적으로 정상적인 22개의 상실배와 포배를 2마리의 위임신 대리모 (ICR)의 자궁에 이식하여 산자 생산을 유도하였다. 결과: 1) OGCs 크기가 mouse preantral follicles의 핵 및 세포질 성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사하였을 때 $120{\sim}150{\mu}m$의 preantral follicles (MII: 33.0%, 난할률: 36.7%, 상실배 이상; 20.9%)은 핵 및 세포질 성숙에 있어서 $70{\sim}110{\mu}m$ (MII: 12.2%, 난할률: 10.2%, 상실배 이상: 4.8%)보다 더 높았다(p<0.001). 2)체외 성장기간의 연장이 mouse preantral follicles의 핵 및 세포질 성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사하였을 때 10일 (난할률: 38.2%)은 12일 (난할률: 20.0%)보다 난할률에서만 더 높았다 (p<0.01). 3) 체외 수정 시간의 연장이 mouse preantral follicle의 세포질 성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사하였을 때 9 hrs (난할룰 31.5%, 상실배 이상: 14.3%)은 4 hrs (난할률: 17.5%, 상실배 이상: 4.8%), 7 hrs (난할률: 20.4%, 상실배 이상: 6.1%) 보다 세포질성숙에 있어서 유의하게 높은 발달률을 나타냈다 (p<0.01). 4) 공배양이 mouse preantral follicle의 세포질성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사하였을 때 공배양 (상실배 이상: 17.4%)을 실시했을 때와 M16 (상실배 이상17.4%)에서 배양되었을 때는 차이가 없었다. 5)preantral follicle의 크기 ($120{\sim}150{\mu}m$), 체외 성장기간 (10일), 체외 수정 기간 (9시간), 배양 환경 (단지 medium만 존재)의 적절한 결과들을 종합하여 수행하였을 때 MII 성숙률, 난할률, 상실배 이상의 발달률은 30.2%, 39.3%, 22.5%이었고 총 22개의 상실배 및 포배를 2마리의 대리모에 이식했을 때 1마리가 임신했고 1마리의 산자를 생산했다. 결론: 따라서, 본 실험은 preantral follicle을 이용한 체외 배양 시스템이 생쥐 oocyte를 공급하는 또 다른 방법으로 효과적으로 이용될 수 있다는 것을 시사한다.