• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.203-212
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• 2008

목 적: 정자의 동결 과정에서 생길 수 있는 급격한 온도 차에 의한 동결 충격이나 동결 상해등에 의한 세포막의 손상, 세포의 기능 장애 등은 정자의 수정능에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 인간 정자를 동결 보존하는 과정에서 콜레스테롤 전처리가 정자의 운동성 및 기능보존에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 본원을 내원한 14명 남성의 정자를 대상으로 콜레스테롤을 첨가하지 않은 대조군 (control)과 여러 농도의 콜레스테롤을 동결보존액에 첨가한 실험군에서 정자의 동결-융해 후 상태를 다음 3가지 방법으로 비교, 분석하였다. 1) 정자 분석, 2) calcium ionophore로 유도된 첨체 반응 검사, 3) 정자 염색질 구조 분석 (sperm chromatin structure assay). 결 과: 첫째로 인간 정자의 운동성은 $0.5{\mu}g$ 농도의 콜레스테롤을 첨가한 동결보존액에서 동결-해동하였을 경우, 콜레스테롤을 첨가하지 않은 군에 비해 유의적 차이를 보이며 증가하는 것을 확인하였다 ($33.46{\pm}1.48%$ vs. $30.10{\pm}1.07%$, p<0.05). 다음으로 동된 정자의 첨체 반응 검사에서도 콜레스테롤을 첨가한 동결보존액에서의 첨체 반응이 일어나는 정자의 비율이 첨가하지 않은 군에 비해 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다 ($53.60{\pm}1.60%$ vs. $47.40{\pm}1.86%$, p<0.05). 마지막으로 정자 염색질 구조 분석에서는 콜레스테롤을 첨가한 군이 첨가하지 않은 군에 비해 정자의 DNA손상이 적게 나타남을 확인하였다. 결 론: 본 실험은 동결보존액을 통한 정자 원형질막 내 콜레스테롤 함유량의 증가가 동결-융해 후 정자의 운동성과 수정능(capacitation status)을 증가시키고 DNA 손상을 방지하는 역할을 한다는 결과를 보여주었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 동결보존액 내 콜레스테롤의 첨가는 인간 정자의 동결보존 동안 발생할 수 있는 동결 상해를 줄여줄 수 있는 유용한 방법으로 사료된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was the analysis of sperm ability in Specific Pathogen Free (SPE) miniature pig for production of bio-organ. The collected semen was diluted with extender and stored at $17^{\circ}C$t for up to 7 days. The semen samples were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage for analysis of sperm ability. Sperm ability was evaluated by examining viability, progressive motility, sperm abnormality and intensity of the sperm membrane. Also, the semen was processed according to the convenient freezing method, and frozen-thawed sperm was evaluated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Motility of spermatozoa of SPF miniature pig was significantly (P<0.05) lower on 3 days or later compared to the Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace in domestic boar. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Landrace were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in SPF miniature pig, Duroc and Yorkshire that had a similar percentage on 5 or 7 days of sperm storage. The percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tail decreased during the storage period but there were no significant difference. On the other hand, viability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa had a significantly (P<0.05) lower in SPF miniature pig than in other domestic boars. CTC patterns had no significant difference, but SPF miniature pig had higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa and lower percentage of acrosome-reacted it than domestic boars. Therefore, this study suggest that it is necessary to develop the suitable extender and freezing methods methods for the high viable rate and fertilizing ability in vitro.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

One of the key factors of early development is the specification of competence between the oocyte and the sperm, which occurs during gametogenesis. However, the starting point, growth, and maturation for acquiring competence during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in mammals are very different. Spermatogenesis includes spermiogenesis, but such a metamorphosis is not observed during oogenesis. Glycosylation, a ubiquitous modification, is a preliminary requisite for distribution of the structural and functional components of spermatids for metamorphosis. In addition, glycosylation using epididymal or female genital secretory glycans is an important process for the sperm maturation, the acquisition of the potential for fertilization, and the acceleration of early embryo development. However, nonemzymatic unexpected covalent bonding of a carbohydrate and malglycosylation can result in falling fertility rates as shown in the diabetic male. So far, glycosylation during spermatogenesis and the dynamics of the plasma membrane in the process of capacitation and fertilization have been evaluated, and a powerful role of glycosylation in spermatogenesis and early development is also suggested by structural bioinformatics, functional genomics, and functional proteomics. Further understanding of glycosylation is needed to provide a better understanding of fertilization and embryo development and for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for infertility.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.103-111
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• 1993

These experiments were undertaken to establish the optimal culture systems for in vitro maturation, fertilization and subsequently embryonic development of porcine immature follicular oocytes isolated from the ovary of slaughtered pigs. Porcine ovaries were brought to the laboratory from local slaughter house within 1 hour after slaughtering and cumulus oocytes complexes were recovered from antral follicles (3~5mm) with 23 gauge needle. To maturate follicular oocytes, cumulus oocytes complexes were washed three times with TCM-199 containing 25mM HEPES and incubated (39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 in air) for 42hrs. Ejaculated and liquid storaged boar spermatozoa capacitated with different sperm capacitation methods and media were prepared forfertilizaing of matured follicular oocytes in vitro. Fertilization was performed by adding 5~10${mu}ell$ of capacitated spermatozoa containing 1~5$\times$105 sperm/ml to droplets. Eighteen to twenty-eight hours after sperm insemination, fertilized eggs were washed three times with culture media and transferred to the culture media. The fertilization rates of in vitro matured follicular oocytes cultured in B. O., TCM-HEPES, m-KRB, and TALP-II media were 61.3%, 83.0%, 88.9% and 89.2%, respectively. In addition, the polyspermy rates were 60.7%, 66.5%, 53.8%, and 43.9%, respectively. These data indicated that the highest of fertilization and the lowest of polyspermy rate was shown in TALP-II medium. Spermatozoa capacitated by caffeine, heparin, and percoll density gradient treatment in the 4 different media, the fertilization rates were 33.0~57.2%, 39.9~90.2%, and 52.6~92.8%, respectively, showing the lowest rate in caffeine treatment. The development rate of follicular oocytes, fertilized with the spermatozoa capacitated by caffeine, heparin, and percoll gradient in the TALP-II medium, upto 2 to 4-cell stages were 32.6%, 74.5% and 70.9%, respectively. Finally, fertilization rates of follicular oocytes cultured with follicular fluid containing medium from 10 to 100% were 61.2~94.1% and the rates (90~94%) with 10~20% follicular fluids were significantly higher than those (85.3%) of cultured in the media without follicular fluid. In addition, the rates of pronucleus formation were also higher in follicular fluid treated group (73.1~83.0%) than those (64.7%) of oocytes cultured without follicular fluid. The highest fertilization and pronucleus formation rates was found in oocytes cultured with 10% follicular fluid. These results suggest that the addition of heparin or percoll density gradient method is better capacitation method. Furthermore, the addition of porcine follicular fluid to the fertilization medium may improve the fertilization rates and formation of pronucleus.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.203-213
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• 2000

본 연구에서는 반응성 산소족이 수정능력획득, 칩체반응에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 반응성 산소족으로 superoxide anion은 xanthine (X) -xanthine oxidase (XO) system을, hydroperoxide는 $H_2O$$_2$를 농도별로 처 리하였으며, nitric oxide (NO)는 NO donor인 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)를 처리하였다 또한 남성불임요인의 하나로 알려진 leukocytospermia에 대한 영향을 알아보기 위해 lymphocyte를 농도별로 처리하였고, 일반적인 배양기내 산소농도인 20% $O_2$농도를 생체내 농도와 유사한 5% $O_2$ 농도로 낮추었을 때 의 결과를 알아보고자 하였다. 수정능력 획득 정도와 첨체반응률을 알아보기 위해 chlortetracycline (CTC) 염색방법을 이용하였다. 지질과산화 정도는 정자내 malondialdehyde (MDA)의 생성량을 흡광기를 이용하여 정량하였다. $H_2O$$_2$, X-XO, SNP와 lymphocyte 처리군은 1시간 배양시에 수정능력획득률이 유의하게 증가하였으나, 저산소처리군에서는 차이가 없었다. 저 농도의 $H_2O$$_2$를 처리한 경우에는 지질과산화 정도가 감소하였으나, 고 농도에서는 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가하였다. 고 농도의 Iymphocyte를 처리한 경우에는 1시간 처리시에 지질과산화가 유의하게 증가하였으나, 처리된 산소농도에 따른 지질과산화의 차이는 없었다. 첨체반응률의 경우, 처리한 모든 반응성 산소족에서 대조군에 비해 높은 첨체반응률을 확인하였다. X(100 $\mu$M)-XO(100mIU)의 경우가 가장 높은 첨체반응률을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과들은 반응성 산소족이 수정능력획득, 지질과산화 그리고 첨체반응에 영향을 미치는 것을 확인하여 주었다. 또한 반응성 산소족이 생성된 경우에 수정능력획득이 보다 빠르게 진행되어지는 것은 반응성 산소족이 정자의 과운동성과 수정능력획득의 중요한 조절자임을 시사한다고 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.57-64
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• 1992

The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of TEST-Yolk Buffer(TYB) as a factor for the improvement of human sperm fertility potential. We examined the effects of low temperature capacitation using TYB on sperm motility (%), motility pattern, normal morphology, true acrosome reaction, sperm penetration assay and human in vitro fertilization. Comparing the TYB method and swim-up method, the sperm motility(%) of selected sperm was not significantly different, but statistically significant differences were found in curvilinear velocity, linearity, lateral head displacement, normal morphology(%) and true acrosome reaction(%)(p<0.05). Results obtained from the sperm penetration assay demonstrated that the penetration index and penetration rate were increased significantly(p<0.05) when the spermatozoa were incubated in TYB, as compared with swim-up method. And fertilization of intact human oocytes was more succesful when spermatozoa were pretreated with TYB at $4^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours as compared with swim-up method. Our results show that TYB method have advantages in terms of enhancement of sperm hyperactivation, increased true acrosome reaction, increased ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova and augmented fertilization of human oocytes, suggesting that TYB is superior in its ability to preserve sperm motility and fertilizing ability.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.163-166
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• 2012

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between elapsed time after semen preservation on the changes of bacteria and semen quality. Semen was diluted with BTS(Beltsville Thawing Solution) extender without antibiotic for 7 days and sperm parameter and fertility were measured. Sperm motility was measured by CASA and total bacteria number was counted after 22~24 hr incubation from counting agar plate in which sperm dilute to $10{\sim}10^6$ in 0.9% saline solution and inoculate to agar. Acrosomal integrity was measured by Chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. CTC patterns were uniform fluorescence over the whole head (pattern F), characteristic of incapacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; fluorescence-free band in the post-acrosomal region (pattern B), characteristic of capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; and almost no fluorescence over the whole head except for a thin band in the equatorial segment (pattern AR), characteristic of acrosome reacted spermatozoa. Total number of bacteria was significantly increased (p<0.0001) 3 days after preservation. Sperm motility, viability, and morphological abnormality on elapsed time after preservation were lower from 5 ($77.24{\pm}6.47$, p<0.001) and 7 days ($77.24{\pm}6.47$, p<0.001) after preservation compared to 1 ($15.71{\pm}7.18$) and 3 days($18.39{\pm}7.22$) after preservation, respectively. Sperm viability was significantly lower ($53.25{\pm}35.03$, p<0.0001) at 7 days after preservation. Morphological abnormality of sperm was lower (p<0.001) at 1 ($15.71{\pm}7.18$) and 3 ($18.39{\pm}7.22$) days compared to 5 ($21.84{\pm}7.91$) and 7 ($22.59{\pm}9.93$) days after preservation. Acrosomal integrity and capacitation rate (pattern F) were significantly lower (p<0.001) from 5 days after preservation. Based on the data we obtained from this study suggested that semen preserved more than 5 days without antibiotic would not recommend use for artificial insemination.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2024

Glucocorticoids play a physiologic role in the adult male reproductive functions, modulating gonadal steroid synthesis and spermatogenesis, through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The expression of GR has been described in several key testicular cell types, including somatic cells and early germ cell populations. Nothing is known on GR in human spermatozoa. Herein, we explored the GR expression and its possible role in normal and testicular varicocele semen samples from volunteer donors. After semen parameter evaluation by macro- and microscopic analysis, samples were centrifuged; then spermatozoa and culture media were recovered for further investigations. By western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses we evidenced for the first time in spermatozoa the presence of GR-D3 isoform which was reduced in sperm from varicocele patients. By treating sperm with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEXA), we found that survival, motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction were increased in both healthy and varicocele samples. GR involvement in mediating DEXA effects, was confirmed by using the GR inhibitor mifepristone (M2F). Worthy, we also discovered that sperm secretes different cortisol amounts depending on its physio-pathological status, suggesting a defence mechanism to escape the immune system attach in the female genital tract thus maintaining the immune-privilege as in the testis. Collectively, our data suggests a role for glucocorticoids in determining semen quality and function, as well as in participating on sperm immune defensive mechanisms. The novelty of this study may be beneficial and needs to take into account in artificial insemination/drug discovery aimed to enhancing sperm quality.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.11-22
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• 1990

Remarkable progress has recently been made in embryo transfer technology, resulting in the birth of IVF and nuclear transfer offsprings in swine. However, further progress of the technology to (I) make a safe, effective and economic estrual-cycle synchronization compound, (2) regulate each step of sperm capacitation (3) induce monospermic fertilization, (4) in vitro grow and mature oocytes, (5) fertilize the oocytes efficently, (6) culture the oocytes to the blastocyst stage in defined media, (7) produce multiply copies of embryos with superior genetic merit, (8) preselect the sex of these superior offsprings, and (9) preserve embryos by freezing and storage in liquid nitrogen is required before this promising technology is applied routinely to swine for practical use.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

The objectives of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the bacteria eliminated sperm by percoll gradient method on sperm quality and embryo cleavage in vitro in pig. The semen of miniature pig collected by gloved-hand method pre-warmed ($37^{\circ}C$) in thermos bottle, and separated by 65% percoll. Analysis of sperm ability was estimated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) and the abnormality. Also, fertility of sperm was monitored with cleavage rate of embryo after IVF using separated and un-separated sperm by percoll. The result, viability of separated sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher($83.6{\pm}$2.0 vs $59.0{\pm}4.4%$) than un-separated sperm. The results of CTC analysis showed the percentage of F- and B-patterned separated sperm was higher in separated that than un-separated sperm. On the contrary, the percentage of AR-patterned form unseparaed sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher($13.6{\pm}0.8$ vs $8.1{\pm}0.6%$) than separated sperm. Also, abnormality of un-separated sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher($2.2{\pm}0.4$ vs $16.8{\pm}2.8%$) than separated sperm. However, the cleavage rates of embryo using separated sperm by percoll and un-separated sperm had not significantly difference on 2 cell stage(9.25 vs 11.88%), 4 cell stage(26.76 vs 24.51%) and >4 cell stage(63.99 vs 63.61%) at 48h of IVF. Therefore, the sperm separated by percoll method showed improvement in sperm quality than un-separated sperm in miniature pig.