• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2010

The present study was to investigate the source of contamination during semen processing for in vitro uses. In the present study, frozen semen was prepared from liquid semen in our laboratory for in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments due to lack of fresh semen. Antibiotics were added in the frozen semen extender (kanamycin and gentamicin) and in vitro culture (IVC) medium (gentamicin) for further inhibiting growth of microorganisms. Nevertheless, proliferations of microorganisms were observed in IVC culture drop during culturing of IVF embryos using frozen semen. Randomly 3 samples were taken from the liquid semen, frozen semen and egg yolk. Contaminated IVC medium, frozen-thawed semen, liquid semen and egg yolk were cultured in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar medium. Whitish colonies were detected in contaminated IVC drop, frozen-thawed semen samples and egg yolk but no colonies were formed in liquid semen samples. Gram-negative and rod-shaped identical bacteria were found in both frozen-thawed semen sample and contaminated IVC drop and egg yolk samples. Enterobacter cloacae were confirmed by API 20E kit according to manufacturer's instruction with identification value (% ID) 94.3% and T index 0.88. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were done according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) by using ampicillin, amikacin, cephalothin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin test. Among them Enterobacter cloacae were resistant to ampicillin, amikacin, cephalothin, gentamicin, kanamycin but susceptible to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. From these findings it could be suggested that this contamination sources might be from egg yolk.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.269-279
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• 2013

Low efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is attributed to incomplete reprogramming of transfered nuclei into oocytes. Trichostatin A (TSA), histone deacetylase inhibitor and 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), DNA methylation inhibitor has been used to enhance nuclear reprogramming following SCNT. However, it was not known molecular mechanism by which TSA and 5-aza-dC improve preimplantation embryo and fetal development following SCNT. The present study investigates embryo viability and gene expression of cloned porcine preimplantation embryos in the presence and absence of TSA and 5-aza-dC as compared to embryos produced by parthenogenetic activation. Our results indicated that TSA treatment significantly improved development. However 5-aza-dC did not improve development. Presence of TSA and 5-aza-dC significantly improved total cell number, and also decreased the apoptotic and autophagic index. Three apoptotic-related genes, Bak, Bcl-xL, and Caspase 3 (Casp3), and three autophagic-related genes, ATG6, ATG8, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), were measured by real time RT-PCR. TSA and 5-aza-dC treatment resulted in high expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL and low pro-apoptotic gene Bak expression compared to untreated NT embryos or parthenotes. Furthermore, LC3 protein expression was lower in NT-TSA and NT-5-aza-dC embryos than those of NT and parthenotes. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC treated embryos displayed a global acetylated histone H3 at lysine 9 and methylated DNA H3 at lysine 9 profile similar to the parthenogenetic blastocysts. Finally, we determined that several DNA methyltransferase genes Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. NT blastocysts showed higher levels Dnmt1 than those of the TSA and 5-aza-dC blastocysts. Dnmt3a is lower in 5-aza-dC than NT, NTTSA and parthenotes. However, Dnmt3b is higher in 5-aza-dC than NT and NTTSA. These results suggest that TSA and 5-aza-dC positively regulates nuclear reprogramming which result in modulation of apoptosis and autophagy related gene expression and then reduce apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC affects the acetylated and methylated status of the H3K9.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.237-243
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate in a fertilization medium on the fertilizability of boar spermatozoa that were frozen in straws. Boar spermatozoa were extended with Beltsville F5 extender and frozen in 0.25-ml straws. In vitro matured porcine oocytes were fertilized in vitro (IVF) with frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa for 6h in a modified tris-buffered medium (mTBM) or in its modified medium by substituting the tris with 25mM sodium bicarbonate (modified bicarbonate-buffered medium; mBBM). Some of inseminated oocytes were fixed and stained for examination of sperm penetration. IVF embryos were cultured in a North Carolina State University-23 medium for embryo development. The percentage of live sperm was $47{\pm}4%$ and morphological abnormality of acrosome was found in $14{\pm}3%$ of spermatozoa. Optimal sperm concentration for IVF was $0.75{\sim}1.0{\times}1.0{\times}10^6$ sperms/ml when mTBM containing 5mM caffeine was used as the fertilization medium. Sperm penetration was significantly (p<0.05) stimulated by increasing caffeine concentration in the IVF medium. In addition, mBBM significantly (p<0.05) increased sperm penetration (92%) compared to mTBM (65%). More (p<0.05) blastocysts (22% vs. 32%) developed from the oocytes that were fertilized in mBBM containing 1mM caffeine than from those fertilized in mTBM with 5mM caffeine. Our results indicate that boar spermatozoa can be frozen successfully in straws with holding their normal fertilizability and that caffeine and sodium bicarbonate stimulates sperm penetration in vitro.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.95-95
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• 2003

Inositol은 세포의증식 및 정보전달과정에 관여하는 phosphatidylinositol (PI)의 구성성분으로서 중요한 세포내 기능을 수행한다. P1는 세포내에서 특이적 인산화효소에 의하여 Pl4-phosphate(PIP), Pl4,5-phosphate($PIP_2$)로 변환되며 PIP$_2$는 phospholipase C(PLC)에 의하여 세포내 second messengers인 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG)와 inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate ($IP_3$)로 변환된다. 이렇게 생산된 DAG와 IP3는 각각 protein kinase C의 활성과 $Ca^{2++}$의 동원에 관여하여 다양한 세포내 신호전달에 관여하는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 또한 mouse에서 $IP_3$의 작용에 의한 $Ca^{2++}$의 상승은 난모세포의 성숙분열이 촉진되고 돼지 난포세포에 있어서도 PI대사가 일어나고 있는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 돼지 미성숙 난모세포의 성숙과 단위발생에 미치는 inositol의 영향을 확인하기 위하여 실시하였다. inositol의 농도가 난포란의 성숙에 미치는 영향을 검토하기 위하여 난포란을 각각 $150 \mu mole$, $250 \mu mole$, $350 \mu mole$, inositol을 포함하는 Whitten's 배양액에서 44시간 성숙시킨 결과 $93.57 \pm 4.21, 93.91 \pm 2.71, 92.96 \pm 3.58%$가 성숙되어 대조구의 $87.10 \pm 4.21$보다 유의적(P<0.05)으로 차이를 나타내었다. 난포란의 등급에 따른 inositol의 영향을 확인하기 위하여 형태적으로 난구세포가 치밀한 난포란과 난구세포가 치밀하지 않은 난포란을 $250 \mu mole$ inositol을 포함하는 Whitten's 배양액에서 성숙을 유도한 결과 난구세포가 치밀한 난포란과 난구세포가 치밀하지 않은 난포란에서 inositol을 첨가하였을 때 성숙율은 각각 $95.35 \pm 2.22와 63.55 \pm 8.12$로 inositol을 첨가하지 않은 대조구보다($89.21 \pm 3.69와 48.56 \pm 8.99$) 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 난구세포가 inositol에 의한 성숙에 미치는 영향을 확인하기 위하여 난구세포를 제거한 난포란을 inositol을 포함하는 배지에서 성숙을 유도한 결과 inositol을 첨가하지 않은 처리구보다 양호한 성숙율을 보였다.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.50-54
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• 2003

호장근에서 분리한 emodin은 VEGF로 유도된 혈관신생의 한 단계인 혈관내피세포의 이동을 강하게 억제하였다. 또한 emodin은 혈관내피세포 이동을 억제시킨 $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$ 농도에서 시험관내 혈관신생을 억제하였으며, 그 효과는 농도의존적인 양상을 보였다. 생체내 혈관신생 모델인 CAM assay에서도 emodin은 혈관신생을 억제하였다. 이러한 결과는 emodin이 현재까지 보고된 여러 가지 생리활성 이외에 혈관신생 억제활성을 가지고 있다는 사실을 보여주는 것이다. 따라서 emodin을 함유하고 있는 호장근은 혈관신생 관련 질환에 대한 천연물 유래 치료제의 개발을 위한 중요한 식물자원으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2003년도 학술발표대회 발표논문초록집
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• pp.26-26
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• 2003

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-binding sites have been shown the diagnostic potential fur assessment of sperm maturity, which is related to male fertility. This study was designed to evaluate chromosomal patterns in porcine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with non- or HA-binding sperm (HABS). For binding of sperm with HA, sperm incubated in 10 ${mu}ell$ drop containing HA (0.8 mg/ml)-agarose (0.8%) mixture for 15 min. IVF and ICSI with non- or HA-bound sperm examined with matured oocytes at 44 hr after in vitro maturation. Embryos were cultured in 50 ${mu}ell$ of NCSU 23 containing 0.5% BSA for 5 days and then in 50 ${mu}ell$ of NCSU 23 containing 10% FBS for 2 days. For the evaluation of chromosomal aneuploidies, chromosome 1 sub-metacentric specific probe was used in sperm and embryos by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The frequency of aneuploidy sperm for chromosome 1 was 6.25%. The significant differences following IVF and ICSI with non- or HA-bound sperm were not observed in blastocyst formation rates (18.6, 23.5, and 23.8%) and cell number (61.8 $\pm$ 12.5, 55.5 $\pm$ 7.3, and 59.3 $\pm$ 9.6). Moreover, the percentage of diploidy in 4-cell stage embryos was 57.1% (IVF), 68.8% (ICSI), and 76.3% (ICSI-HABS). These results suggest that HA-binding sites may be a material for selection of normal sperm for ICSI. Therefore HA selection of normal sperm may be reduce the loss to embryonic mortality prior to embryo transfer in pig.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권3호
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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.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is an essential event for egg activation and further development. $Ca^{2+}$ ion is originated from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-store via inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and/or $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This study was performed to investigate whether changes in $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) activity affect $Ca^{2+}$ influx during artificial egg activation with ethanol using $Ca^{2+}$ monitoring system and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Under $Ca^{2+}$ ion-omitted condition, $Ca^{2+}$-oscillation was stopped within 30 min post microinjection of porcine sperm factor, and ethanol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was reduced. To investigate the role of CaM KII known as an integrator of $Ca^{2+}$- oscillation during mammalian egg fertilization, CaM KII activity was tested with a specific inhibitor KN-93. In the eggs treated with KN-93, ethanol failed to induce egg activation. In addition, KN-93 inhibited inward $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$) in a time-dependent manner in whole-cell configuration. Immunostaining data showed that the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels were distributed along the plasma membrane of mouse egg and 2-cell embryo. From these results, we suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx during fertilization might be controlled by CaM KII activity.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.108-108
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• 2003

The purpose of this is to investigate the effects of vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS) on in vitro survival of porcine embryos. Blastocysts were produced by in vitro fertilization of slaughterhouse-derived, in vitro matured oocytes with frozen-thawed boar semen, and subsequent culture on granulosa cell monolayer. After frozen-thawing, embryos were culture in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 4 mg/$m\ell$ BSA and 10 ng/$m\ell$ for 48 hrs to survival tests. When blastocysts were frozen-thawed by OPS methods, the embryos with normal morphology were 32.1, 34.5 and 38.9 % in early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyat stages. The rates of partial damaged embryos were significantly (P<0.05) higher in early biastocysts than expanded blastocysts. In another experiment, the embryos frozen by OPS methods were cultured for 48 hrs for survival and developmental rates in vitro. The proportions of embryos hatched were 11.8, 20.2 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. On the other hand, The proportions of embryo with normal morphology after culture were 23.5, 25.0 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. These finding indicate the possible broader application for OPS methods that this procedure described is relatively harmless, that it can be used for blastocysts of different developmental stages.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제63권1호
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• pp.3.1-3.9
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• 2023

The efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) in pigs is low and requires enhancement. We identified the most efficient method for zona pellucida (ZP) removal and blastomere aggregation in pigs and investigated whether the aggregation of NT and parthenogenetic activation (PA) of blastomeres could reduce embryonic apoptosis and improve the quality of NT-derived embryos by investigating. Embryonic developmental competence after ZP removal using acid Tyrode's solution or protease (pronase E). The embryonic developmental potential of NT-derived blastomeres was also investigated using well-of-the-well or phytohemagglutinin-L. We analyzed apoptosis in aggregate-derived blastocysts. The aggregation rate of protease-treated embryos was lower than that of Tyrode's solution-treated embryos (69.2% vs. 88.3%). No significant difference was observed between phytohemagglutinin-L and well-of-the-well (35.7%-38.5%). However, 2P1N showed a higher number of blastocysts compared to 3N (73.8% vs. 24.3%) and an increased blastocyst diameter compared to the control and 1P2N (274 ㎛ vs. 230-234 ㎛). In blastomeres aggregated using phytohemagglutinin-L, the apoptotic cell ratio was significantly higher in 1P2N and 3N than in 3P (5.91%-6.46% vs. 2.94%, respectively). Our results indicate that aggregation of one NT embryo with two PA embryos improved the rate of blastocysts with increased blastocyst diameter.