• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2013

Ultrastructural characteristics of the germ cells and accessory cells in testis during spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by the transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. The testis is the diffuse organ that consists of branching acini containing developing germ cells and accessory cells associated with spermatogenesis. The morphology of the spermatozoon is of the primitive type and is somewhat different to those of other bivalves. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a cylinderical type and a modified cone shape, respectively. As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part, while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part. These characteristics of sperm belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part. In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-51{\mu}m$ in length, including a long acrosome (about $2.4{\mu}m$ in length), a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.40{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 1998

The Urechis unicinctus sperm and spermatogenic cells prepared from the testis are investigated to identify $\alpha-tubulin$ of axoneme microtubules using mouse monoclonal $anti-\alpha-tubulin$ as the first Ab and Gold(10nm) conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG as the Ab marker. The Ag-Ab reaction analyzed excellently the localization of $\alpha-tubulin$ and the gold particles incorporated with the proximal and distal centrioles, manchette microtubules, and flagellum. The gold particles can be also observed in the spermatogenic cells while the cells are still in sperm ball which is composed of a somatic cell and spermatogenic cells. The sperm ball is the functional unit of sperm production in U unicinctus testis. The spermatids are developed from the spermatogenic cells in the sperm ball and released into the testis cavity through a cortical cytoplasmic opening. The spermatid architectures are similar with the mature sperm of the testis cavity in aspects of shape of discoid acrosome, degree of nuclear condensation and ring type of mitochondrion. However, the distal centriole connecting with the flagella can be observed from the mature sperm while the both proximal and distal centrioles reveal only in the spermatids. The proximal centriole is directly connected with nuclear outer membrane during the stage of nuclear condensation and oriented perpendicularly to the distal centriole whose axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the spermatozoon. There are indications that the distal centriole is intimately associated with the polymerization of the flagellum. The manchette microtubules appear during spermatid development but the mature sperm have round head and no conspicuous middle piece.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 1994

The objective of this study was to develop an effective in vitro production system capable of obtaining more porcine embryos from immature oocytes These experiments were conducted to examine the effect of sperm factor on the IVF and IVD, and the effect of coculture with somatic cells on the IVD of embryos. Although the concentration of epididymal sperm for IVF did not affect on cleavage rate, but 5 x 105 sperm/mi showed the highest cleavage rate(48.7%) and the developmental potential of IVF oocytes from this concentration was also greatly higher (P$^{\circ}C$-stored sperm for l2hrs and the cleavage rate from fresh sperm was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that from frozen sperm, but the developmental potential after IVF was slightly high from the frozen sperm. The cleavage rate of IVF oocytes cocultured with oviductal epithelial cells and cumulus cells was 76.3% and 72.9%, respectively. There was no difference between two coculture systems but this rate was significantly higher(P<0.05) than that of medium alone(42.0%).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1412-1421
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• 2002

To examine the feasibility of using a sperm vector system for gene transfer, we have investigated the binding and the uptaking of foreign DNA into the sperm nucleus by PCR, in situ hybridization and LSC. We have also examined the transportation of exogenous DNA into oocytes by immunofluorescene via PCR. Sperm cells were incubated with DNA/liposome complexes (1:4 ratio) in fertilization medium with BSA or without BSA. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the transfection rate of sperm cells with and without BSA was 41 and 68% respectively, when the cells were treated with liposome/DNA complexes and 13% for DNA alone. LSC analysis showed that the binding of exogenous DNA was greatly reduced by DNase I treatment which digests DNA bound onto spermatozoa, suggesting that some of the DNA was internalized into the sperm membrane. To find out whether transfected DNA was internalized into sperm intracytomembrane, sperm DNA was amplified by inverse PCR. No PCR products were detected from sperm cells, indicating that the foreign DNA was simply bound onto the sperm membrane. To investigate transfer rates of exogenous DNA into oocytes via sperm cells, we used immunofluorescene method to follow the distribution of foreign DNA via spermatozoa: a few exogenous DNA was located in the cytoplasm of early embryos (13/60, 21.7% for DNA+/liposome+/BSA) and was not located in the pronucleus and/or nucleus. These results suggest that most of the transfected sperm cells could carry the foreign DNA into the egg by in vitro fertilization, but that the transferred DNA is degraded in the developing embryos without stable integration into the zygote genome. Therefore, we have directly injected with transfected sperm cell into oocyte cytoplasm and observed that some of the exogenous DNA was detected in preimplantation embryonic cytoplasm and expressed at preimplantation stages, suggesting that exogenous DNA in early zygote has their integrity. In this study, we have not identified a noble mechanism that interfering transportation of foreign DNA into zygote genome via spermatozoa. Our data, however, demonstrated that inverse PCR and immunofluorescene methods would be used as a new tool for follow-up of gene distribution in oocyte via sperm cells.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2020

Amniotic membrane stem cells are considered as a good alternative to embryonic stem cells, but their use in clinical studies is still not common. Here, exosomes from canine amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells (cAmMSC-exo) were used for dog sperm cryopreservation. Upon cryopreserved straws using cryoprotectant containing 0, 0.5, 1, or 2 ㎍/mL of cAmMSC-exo were thawed, motility and membrane integrity were analyzed. However, results showed no significant differences between the groups. We concluded that cAmMSC-exo with lower than 2 ㎍/mL have no effects on sperm cryopreservation, and further studies to get higher concentrations of cAmMSC-exo should be conducted for clinical application.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2005

In this study, we found that sperm ball of Urechis unicinctus consisted of a somatic cell and spermatogenic cells. After separation from the sperm ball, individual spermatid floated freely in the coelomic fluid and differentiated into a mature sperm. Because of many nuclear vacuoles, spermatid nucleus was observed to be heterogeneous. Later, the spermatid nucleus condensed into the homogeneous round nucleus of the mature sperm. Perinuclear microtubules could be seen but did not seem to be organized into manchette microtubules. To understand the nature of nuclear condensation during spermiogenesis, the sperm and spermatids (spermiogenic cells) were treated with FITC-phalloidin, or anti-actin-FITC, or labeled with antiactin immunogold particles (AAIP; 10 nm) followed by transmission electron microscopy or confocal laser scanning microscopy. The anti-actin-FITC and FITC-phalloidin reactions occurred distinctly in the nuclei of both spermiogenic cells. FITC-phalloidin reacted more intensely with acrosomes. The AAIP were incorporated mainly into nuclei of both cells sometimes showing local distribution in the nucleus. Nuclear vacuoles of spermatids disappeared progressively with condensation of the nucleus, as the number of incorporated $AAIP/{\mu}m^2$ increased. These results suggest that nuclear actin microfilaments might be closely related to nuclear condensation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of swim-up and density gradient centrifugation (DGC) for reducing the amount of sperm with fragmented DNA, sex chromosome aneuploidy, and abnormal chromatin structure. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 18 healthy male partners who attended infertility clinics for infertility investigations and were processed with swim-up and DGC. The percentages of sperm cells with fragmented DNA measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test, normal sex chromosomes assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and abnormal chromatin structure identified by toluidine blue staining were examined. Results: The percentage of sperm cells with fragmented DNA was significantly lower in the swim-up fraction (9.7%, p= 0.001) than in the unprocessed fraction (27.0%), but not in the DGC fraction (27.8%, p= 0.098). The percentage of sperm cells with normal X or Y chromosomes was comparable in the three fractions. The percentage of sperm cells with abnormal chromatin structure significantly decreased after DGC (from 15.7% to 10.3%, p= 0.002). The swim-up method also tended to reduce the percentage of sperm cells with abnormal chromatin structure, but the difference was not significant (from 15.7% to 11.6%, p= 0.316). Conclusion: The swim-up method is superior for enriching genetically competent sperm.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

The aims of the present study were to confirm that regulation of the PA and environment via TGF-β regulation of sperm by Percoll-separated in porcine uterine epithelial cells. And, it was performed to identify the cytokines (TGF-β1, 2 and 3, TGF-β receptor1 and 2; interleukin, IL-6, IL-8) and PA-related genes (urokinase-PA, uPA; tissue-PA, tPA; PA inhibitor, PAI; uPA-receptor, uPAR) by spermatozoa. The experiment used porcine uterus epithelial cells (pUECs) and uterine tissue epithelial cells, Boar sperm were separated by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%), and tissues were co-incubated with spermatozoa, followed by real-time PCR. PA activity was measured of sperm by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%) for 24 hours. To measure viability and acrosome damage of sperm double stained propidium iodide (PI) and SYBR-14 or FITC-PNA were used. In results, binding ratio of Percoll-separated sperm was found no differences, but sperms isolated from 90% Percoll layer reduced PA activity (p < 0.05). when co-cultured sperm selected Percoll in porcine uterus tissues epithelial cells, 90% layer sperm increased TGF-β R1, contrastively tPA and PAI-1 in comparison with control (p < 0.05). 45% sperm was decreased the expression of uPA (p < 0.05). TGF-β decreased PA activity in the supernatant collected from pUECs (p < 0.05). Especially, The group including uPA, PAI-1 were induce sperm intact, while it was reduced in sperm damage when compared to control (p < 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference group of tPA and tPA+I in the dead sperm and acrosome damage compared to control. The expression of tPA and PAI showed a common response. Percoll-separated spermatozoa in 90% layer reduced tPA and IL-related gene mRNA expression. Thus, Percoll-sparated sperm in 90% layer show that it can suppress inflammation through increased expression of TGF-β and downregulation of PA and IL in epithelial cells compared to 45% layer Percoll.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.405-409
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the general characteristics such as semen volume, pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration of the semen collected from Korean Jindo dogs by the mothod of Digital manipulation of penis, and the effect of temperature and preservation time on motility of fresh semen. Multiple ejaculates were collected from four male Korean Jindo dogs. The results obtained in this experiment were as follows : 1. Average semen volume per ejaculate, semen pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration of the second fraction and the small volume of third fraction from the ejaculate were 3.29ml, 6.30, 96.70% and 1.64$\times$108 cells/ml, respectively. 2. Average semen volume per ejaculate, semen pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration of the first fraction from the ejaculate were 1.16ml, 6.10, 6.67% and 5.07$\times$105cells/ml. Average semen volume per ejaculate, semen pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration of the second fraction from the ejaculate were 2.30ml, 6.33, 97.66% and 1.92$\times$108cells/ml. Average semen volume per ejaculate, semen pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration of the third fraction from the ejaculate were 3.24ml, 6.51, 93.33% and 3.13$\times$107cells/ml. 3. Motility of fresh semen during preservation were higher at 17$^{\circ}C$ than at 5$^{\circ}C$ or 36$^{\circ}C$. When preservation temeprature was 17$^{\circ}C$, motility were 95.75% at 1 h, 90.00% at 6 h, 84.25% at 12 h, 68.00% at 18 h, 36.25% at 24 h and 28.75% at 30 h, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.220-225
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• 1999

The aim of these experiments was to investigate the effects of bovine oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) derived from different segments to bind sperm binding and maintain their motility in vitro. In experiment 1, the number of sperm attached to OEC derived from isthmus or ampulla, the motility of unattached sperm during co-culture and fertilizing ability were assessed. In experiment 2, heparin treated sperm (hsp) or no treated sperm (nsp) were used to evaluate OEC binding ability of capacitated sperm. In experiment 1, regardless of their origin, approximately 65% of the sperm were attached to OEC within 2h. From 6h of co-culture, the numbers of unattached sperm on ampullary OEC were significantly higher than those on isthmic OEC (p<0.005). From 12h of co-culture, the motility of unattached sperm on isthmic OEC were significantly higher than those on ampullary OEC(p<0.05). The cleavage rate of oocytes inseminated on OEC derived from isthmic segment was also significantly higher than those from ampullary segment (p<0.01). In experiment 2, the numbers of unattached hsp on OEC were significantly higher than those of controls (p<0.01), between 2-24h examination. From 12h of co-culture, the motility of unattached nsp were significantly greater than those of hsp (p<0.01). These results show that bovine OEC derived from the isthmus play more important role(s) for sperm binding, maintaining motility and fertilization in vitro than those from the ampulla, and heparin induced capacitation may change sperm binding ability on OEC in vitro.