• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 2006

We treated KunYangDan (KYK) in SD rats in order toexamine the protective effect against cell damage induced by diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). KYD reduced DEHP toxicity by increasing the function of immune cell numbers weight increase of spleen.red blood cells,HB,and HCT content,sperm number and mobility,resulting in improving reproductive function by judging from the recovery of testosterone content. Interestingly the hormone change of testosterone by KYD significantly recovered the decreased its leve. Taken together,these results suggest that KYD specifically affect the reproductive function induced by DEHP,an endocrine disruptor.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

Objective: In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes can be useful for some infertile patients. In IVM programs, the rates of embryo formation and pregnancy are low. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the main factors involved in regulating oocyte maturation in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and cumulus cell (CC) supplementation in IVM medium on the rates of embryo formation and viability of human blastocysts. Methods: A total of 80 germinal vesicle oocytes from stimulated cycles underwent an IVM program. The oocytes were divided into four groups, where group I consisted of IVM media only and served as the control, group II consisted of IVM+CCs, group III consisted of IVM+GDF9 (200 ng/mL), and group IV consisted of IVM+CCs+GDF9 (200 ng/mL). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on the IVM oocytes, and the cleavage embryos that were generated were vitrified. Following thawing, the embryos were cultured for 3 additional days, and the viability rates of the developed blastocysts were determined. Results: The maturation rate of the oocytes did not differ significantly across the four groups. The fertilization rate in group II was significantly higher than that in the control group (76.5% vs. 46.2%). Embryo formation was significantly more frequent in all experimental groups than in the control group, while blastocyst formation did not show significant differences in the three experimental groups compared to the control. The mean viability rates in groups II, III, and IV were 58.16%, 55.91%, and 55.95%, respectively, versus 37.78% in the control group (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation of IVM culture media with GDF9 and CCs enhanced the fertilization, embryo formation, and viability rates of blastocysts generated from vitrified cleavage embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different freezing and thawing rates on the viability, motility and acrosomal changes of frozen canine spermatozoa. The ejaculated semen was extended with Tris-egg yolk buffer containing 8% glycerol and equilibrated for 60 min after cooled to 4$^{\circ}C$ for 58 min. The straws were cryopreserved gradually by slow-cooling at different distance(6, 10 and 17 cm, respectively) from the liquid nitrogen (L$N_2$) to achieve temperature rate of 3, 8.9 and 19$^{\circ}C$ /min. Thawing of the straws was performed in a water bath fur 2 min at 37$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$ , respectively. The motility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. To assess their viability and acrosome content, spermatozoa were stained with a vital stain and Fluorescence conjugated lectin Pisum Savitum Agglutinin (FITC/PAS), respectively. Concentration of the ejaculated fresh semen was normal range of 3.44 $\times$ 10$^{8}$ /ml. Freezing temperature were reduced to -110, -70 and -35$^{\circ}C$, as higher distance from liquid nitrogen, 6, 10 and 17 cm, respectively. Freezing at 3$^{\circ}C$/min in distance of 17 cm from liquid nitrogen yielded better motility, viability and rate of intact acrosome than 8.9 or 19$^{\circ}C$/min and the optimal thawing was 37$^{\circ}C$ for 2 min.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.377-383
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to examine effect of ethylene glycol for semen cryopreservation in Korean Jeju Black Bull. The semen was cryopreserved with extenders containing cryoprotectants (7% glycerol and 3%, 5%, 7% ethylene glycol) and packed to 0.5 ml straws. The semen straws were located above 3 cm of liquid nitrogen for 5 min, 5 cm for 10 min and 8 cm for 10 min. And then frozen straw was plunged into $LN_2$. Post-thawed sperm motility, viability and membrane integrity were significantly higher in 5% ethylene glycol ($72.5{\pm}5.00%$, $54.88{\pm}0.66%$ and $46.00{\pm}2.40%$; p<0.05). Motility and viability were similar between 7% glycerol and 5% ethylene glycol. However, the membrane integrity was significantly higher in 5% ethylene glycol ($34.69{\pm}4.64%$ vs $46.00{\pm}2.40%$; p<0.05). The viability and membrane integrity were significantly higher in 5 cm for 10 min and 8 cm for 10 min than 3 cm for 5 min (viability: $55.81{\pm}2.94$, $55.19{\pm}3.34$ vs $47.94{\pm}3.48%$; p<0.05 and membrane integrity: $44.94{\pm}3.51$, $46.06{\pm}2.25$ vs $40.38{\pm}1.03%$; p<0.05). The percentage of capacitated sperm assessed by CTC staining, percentage of F pattern was higher in 7% glycerol, 5% and 7% ethylene glycerol, and AR pattern was significantly higher in 3% ethylene glycol. F pattern was significantly increased in 5 cm for 10 min and 8 cm for 10 min (p<0.05), but AR pattern was significantly increased in 3 cm for 5 min (p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2002

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME) on lipid peroxidation and fertilization ability in vitro by xanthine (X) - xanthine oxidase (XO) system in boar spermatozoa frozen-thawed. The boar spermatozoa were treated with X and/or XO, and the spermatozoa viability were measured by the eosin-nigrosin stain method. In control group, level of vitality in boar spermatozoa were higher than in medium with X, XO and X+XO groups. No significant differences, however, were observed under the all conditions. The percentage of spermatozoa that reached acrosome reaction were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sperm treated without that than with $\beta$-ME under the all conditions. On the other hand, when spermatozoa were inseminated in medium with X and/or XO, the penetration rates in all conditions were higher in medium with that than without $\beta$-ME. However, significant differences were not observed between medium with and without $\beta$-ME. The lipid peroxidation of sperm was evaluated on the basis of malondialdehyde (MDA) production. The MDA were higher in sperm treated without that than with $\beta$-ME under the above all conditions. However, significant differences were not observed between medium with and without $\beta$-ME. Sperm-SH group were higher detected in medium with that than without $\beta$-ME under the all conditions. The activity of sperm binding to Bona pellucida was also evaluated through binding to salt-stored porcine oocytes. In control group, sperm binding to zona pellucida were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in medium with X+XO groups. The sperm binding in all conditions were higher in medium with that than without $\beta$-ME. However, significant differences were not observed between medium with and without $\beta$-ME. These results suggest that addition of $\beta$-ME in X-XO system may play a positive role in improving of fertilization ability in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2018

In this study, to increase the survival rate of frozen/thaw rooster semen, standard protocols of semen thawing procedures were tested by computer-assisted sperm assay (CASA). We tested 4 different thawing protocols for frozen semen, $5^{\circ}C$ for 2 min, $35^{\circ}C$ for 30 s, $54^{\circ}C$ for 13 s, and $70^{\circ}C$ for 7 s. The pooled semen from 5 to 8 Ogye rooster line was diluted in the HS-1 diluent and frozen in 8% methylacetamide (MA) in liquid nitrogen vapors. To determine standard thawing method, straws were plunged into different temperatures and times. The resulting motilities were recorded by the CASA system. The results of this study showed that the best viability of the spermatozoa was shown by exposure at $5^{\circ}C$ for 2 min. Moreover, the longevity test of thawed sperm at $5^{\circ}C$ for 2 min also supported the higher viability under low temperature preservation of $17^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. Further research is needed to increase the motility of thawed rooster semen for field application. In addition, the in vivo tests for different rooster lines are also needed for the establishment of avian genetic resource bank.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.6-6
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• 2001

Oocyte freezing has become a prevalent source for related reproductive technologies. This study was carried out to evaluate viability of post-thawed bovine oocyte injected DTT-treated sperm following by two different activation stimuli (Group 1, 5 M ionomycin, 5 min ＋ CR1aa, 3 h . 1.9 mM dimetylaminopurine (DMP), 3 h; group 2, ionomycin ＋ 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ cycloheximide(CHX), 5h). The techniques of ultra-rapid freezing used in this study were essentially similar to those of described by Vajta et al (Theriogenology 1999; 52:939-948), Denuded oocytes at 22 h of culture were exposed to cryoprotectant (3.2 M Ethylene glycol, 2.36 M DMSO, 0.6 M sucrose), and followed by freezing in electron microscopic grid. After thawing the oocytes were transferred back into the drop of maturation medium and cultured for additional 2 h before being subjected to ICSI. All eggs were then cultured in CRlaa medium, and transferred into M199+10% FCS on day 4. The culture was maintained until day 9. In Experiment 1, frozen-ICSI eggs were compared on development into blastocyst to those of unfrozen and IVF control. Those eggs were activated with the method of group 2. A higher proportion of unfrozen-ICSI and IVF eggs developed into cleavage and blastocysts than of frozen-ICSI eggs (65% and 13%; 71% and 23% vs. 39% and 8%; P<0.05). In Experiment 2, development and ploidy of embryos made from group 1 were compared to those from group 2. Between groups there did not differ on the rates of development, however, chromosomal abnormality in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (49% vs. 30%; P<0.05). The present result suggests that frozen bovine oocytes can be used for ICSI.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.117-125
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• 2015

Iron is required for cell viability but is toxic in excess. While the iron-mediated malfunction of testicular cells is well appreciated, the underlying mechanism(s) of this effect and its relationship with fertility are poorly understood. Ferritin is a ubiquitous intracellular protein that controls iron storage, ferroxidase activity, immune response, and stress response in cells. Ferritin light chain protein (FTL) is the light subunit of the Ferritin. Previously, we had identified the FTL in bovine spermatozoa following capacitation. In present study, to investigate the role of Ferritin in sperm function, mice spermatozoa were incubated with multiple doses (1, 10 and $100{\mu}M$) of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an iron donor. SNP was increased Ferritin levels in a dose-dependent manner. The Ferritin was detected on the acrosome in spermatozoa by immunocytochemistry. Short-term exposure of spermatozoa to SNP increased tyrosine phosphorylation and the acrosome reaction (AR). Finally, SNP affected a significant decrease in the rate of fertilization as well as blastocyst formation during early embryonic development. On the basis of these results, we propose that the effects of Ferritin on the AR may reduce overall sperm function leads to poor fertility in males and compromised embryonic development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.558-565
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• 2008

Although the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa is greatly reduced after freezing, complete understanding of alterations induced by cryopreservation has not been elucidated. The present study evaluates the effects of cryopreservation on the $Ca^{2+}$ handling of boar spermatozoa using several sperm activators. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals from single spermatozoa were measured using confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging of unfrozen samples and of other spermatozoa after having been frozen. Elevation of the external $K^{2+}$ concentration elicited a three times larger $Ca^{2+}$ increase in fresh spermatozoa than in cryopreserved spermatozoa. Caffeine elicited $Ca^{2+}$ transients with some oscillations in the fresh spermatozoa, but not in the thawed spermatozoa. Depletion of the $Ca^{2+}$ store with thapsigargin induced a rapid rise in $Ca^{2+}$ in the control but generated a smaller increase of $Ca^{2+}$ after thawing. Exposure to progesterone induced a biphasic rise of the $Ca^{2+}$ level in the fresh spermatozoa only. Sperm viability was reduced by cryopreservation. Resting $Ca^{2+}$ levels in fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa were similar. Longer incubation (2.5 h) of thawed spermatozoa partly recovered the $Ca^{2+}$ response to the interventions. These results suggest that cryopreservation reduces the responsiveness of spermatozoa to depolarization, modulators of the internal $Ca^{2+}$ store and progesterone in terms of the $Ca^{2+}$ signal, thus providing a possible mechanism for reduced fertility observed in cryopreserved boar spermatozoa.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of alcohol or cigarette smoking on seminal parameters in a large group of mice model. Nine groups (n=20/group) of mice were treated intensive noxious materials that abdominal injection of 21% (v/v) of ethanol, cigarette smoke (10, 20, 30 minutes/day), and combination of ethanol and 30 minutes of smoking. In addition, vitamin C and selenium were also treated to mice exposed to combination of alcohol and smoking to identify the recovering effect. Sperm viability and motility were significantly decreased in either alcohol consumption or smoking exposed group, and combination of both materials have additive detrimental effects on seminal parameters. Mice groups that exposed to alcohol and smoking showed statistically significant decrease in motility and increase of static spermatozoa. Moreover, combination of both treatments showed cumulative effect in increase of static spermatozoa. Treatments of either vitamin C or selenium dramatically recovered detrimental effects of alcohol and smoking on seminal quality, although combination of both antioxidant molecules did not show any additive effect. In conclusion, detrimental effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption on sperm quality and motility were identified in mice model, and these detrimental effects can be compensated to uptake of anti-oxidant molecules.