• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2015

Cell-cell direct communication through channel-forming molecules, connexin (Cx), is essential for a tissue to exchange signaling molecules between neighboring cells and establish unique functional characteristics during postnatal development. The corpus epididymis is a well-known androgen-responsive tissue and involves in proper sperm maturation. In the present research, it was attempted to determine if expression of Cx isoforms in the corpus epididymis in the adult is modulated by exposure to estrogenic or anti-androgenic compound during the early postnatal period. The neonatal male rats at 7 days of age were subcutaneously injected by estradiol benzoate (EB) at low-dose ($0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or high-dose ($1.5{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or flutamide (Flu) at low-dose ($500{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) or high-dose (50 mg/kg body weight). The corpus epididymis collected at 4 months of age was subjected to evaluate expressional changes of Cx isoforms by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of low-dose EB resulted in increases of Cx32, Cx37, and Cx45 transcript levels, while exposure to high-dose EB decreased expression of Cx26, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. Treatments of Flu caused significant decreases of expression of all examined Cx isoforms, except Cx37 and Cx43 shown no expressional change with high-dose Flu treatment. These findings imply that expression of most Cx isoforms present in the corpus epididymis would be transcriptionally regulated by actions of androgen and/or estrogen during postnatal period.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 1986

We have reviewed 59 cases of patients amoung 65 cases who underwent IVF and ET with reasonable indications irom 1984 and the results as follows. 1. Major indications for IVF and ET were tubal factor (40.7%), unexplained infertility (25.4%), endometriosis (15.3%), failed AID and AIH (10.1 %), and sperm abnormality (8.5%). 2. For superovulation of human oocytes, l00mg of clomiphene citrate and 75 IU of HMG used. The monitoring of oocyte maturation was bone by ultrasound examination and serum 17-${\beta}$ estradiol, LH values. The peak $E_2$ value was 956.36${\pm}$702.13 pg/ml. 3. The oocytes were obtained by laparoscopy 24-36 hours after the injection of HCG. 4. The mean numbers of follicles at laparoscopy was 3.06 and the successful rate of laparoscopy was 79.7%. 5. And 165 follicles were aspirated from which 98 oocytes were recovered, 59.4% of all follicles had at least one oocyte aspirated. 21.4% of the eggs were mature, 52.0% were moderate, 26.5%. were immature. 6. 67.3% of oocytes were cleaved and were transferred at 4-6 cell stages. 7. Four pregnancies including one chemical pregnancy and one spontaneous abortion were established by ${\beta}$-subunit, u-hCG and ultrasound examinations.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2021

The spermatozoa become mature in the epididymis which is divided into initial segment and caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis. The water movement across the epididymal epithelium is important for creating luminal microenvironment for sperm maturation. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel proteins, and expression of Aqps is regulated by androgens. The current research was focused to examine expressional regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 by an androgenic-anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate (ND). The ND at the low dose (2 mg/kg body weight/week) or high dose (10 mg) was subcutaneously administrated into male rats for 2 or 12 weeks. Transcript levels of Aqp1 and Aqp9 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. In the initial segment, level of Aqp1 was decreased with 12 week-treatment, while Aqp9 level was decreased by the high dose treatment for 12 weeks. In the caput epididymis, Aqp9 expression was decreased by the low dose treatment. The 2 week-treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 level but a decrease of Aqp9 expression in the corpus epididymis. In the corpus epididymis, the 12 week-treatment at the low dose caused the reduction of Aqp1 and Aqp9 levels, but the high dose treatment resulted in an increase of Aqp1 expression and a decrease of Aqp9 level. In the cauda epididymis, Aqp1 expression was decreased by 2 and 12 week-treatments, while increases of Aqp9 levels was detected with the high dose treatment for 2 weeks and with 12 week-treatment. These findings indicate differential regulation of Aqp1 and Aqp9 expression among epididymal segments by ND.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.300-305
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• 2020

Objective: The feasibility of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) trigger in normal responders is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to compare the number of mature oocytes, the number of good-quality embryos, and the live birth rate in normal responders triggered by GnRHa alone, GnRHa and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; a dual trigger), and hCG alone. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the infertility clinic of a university hospital. Data from 200 normal responders who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection with a GnRH antagonist protocol between January 2016 and January 2017 were reviewed. The first study group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by GnRHa alone. The second study group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by both GnRHa and low-dose hCG (a dual trigger). The control group consisted of patients with cycles triggered by hCG alone. Results: The groups were comparable in terms of demographics and cycle characteristics. The numbers of total oocytes retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were similar between the groups. The total numbers of top-quality embryos were 3.2±2.9 in the GnRHa group, 4.4±3.2 in the dual-trigger group, and 2.9±2.1 in the hCG group (p=0.014). The live birth rates were 21.4%, 30.5%, and 28.2% in those groups, respectively (p=0.126). Conclusion: In normal responders, a dual-trigger approach appears superior to an hCG trigger alone with regard to the number of top-quality embryos produced. However, no clinical benefit was apparent in terms of live birth rates.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS) methods on in vitro survival ability of porcine embryos. For in vitro maturation of immature oocytes, the porcine ovaries were collected from local slaughter-house. The cumulus-oocytes complexes were aspirated from 2 to 6 mm follicles. The collected oocytes were cultured for in vitro maturation in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 0.57 mM cysteine, 10% porcine follicle fluid, 10 IU/ml PMSG and 10 IU/ml hCG for $21{\sim}22$ hrs. Then, the oocytes were more cultured $21{\sim}22$ hrs in vitro maturation in medium removed hormones. The frozen-thawed spermatozoa were washed by centrifugation 2 times for 10 min at 1,500 rpm in D-PBS with 5.56 mM glucose, 0.33 mM Na-pyruvate, 100 IU/ml penicillin, $100 {\mu}g/ml$ streptomycin and 4 mg/ml BSA. The fertilization medium used mTBM with 2 mM caffeine and 2 mg/ml BSA and adjusted to a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. The final concentration of spermatozoa was adjusted to $2.5{\times}10^6$cells/ml motile sperm during fertilization in vitro. At 8 hrs after insemination, the oocytes were transferred into NCSU-23 medium with 5.0 mM hypotaurine, 4 mg/ml BSA and 10 ng/ml EGF and cultured for 7 days. When the blastocysts of different stages were frozen-thawed by OPS methods, the proportions of embryos with normal morphology were significantly (p<0.05) higher in embryos frozen-thawed at expanded blastocyst stage (38.9%) than in early blastocyst stage (28.3%). On the other hand, the proportions of embryos damaged after frozen-thawing were significantly (p<0.05) higher in embryos frozen at early blastocyst stages than in expanded blastocyst stage. In another experiment, the normal embryos morphology after frozen- thawing were further cultured for 48 hrs. After culture, the proportions of embryos hatched were 6.7, 20.0 and 33.3% for embryos frozen-thawed at early blastocyst, mid-blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages. These finding indicate the possible broader application for OPS methods, as frozen-thawed embryos may be accompanied by developmental stage according to requirements of the survival ability after freezing of blastocyst stage in the pig.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.431-438
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• 2000

To clarify the annual reproductive cycle in a rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, monthly changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and histological feature of gonads and plasma levels of sex steroid hormones ($estradiol-l7{\beta},\;17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one,\;testosterone\;and\;11-ketotestosterone$) were investigated. The annual reproductive cycle in females could be divided into 5 periods as follows: 1) recovery period (June to September): serum level of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ increased gradually; 2) vitellogenesis period (Septemer to february) : vitellogenic oocytes were obsewed, GSI sustained high value, and serum level of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ increased; 3) gestation period (February-April): developing larva showed in the ovary, and serum levels of $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ and testosterone increased; 4) partrition period (April to May) : larva were delivered, and value of GSI and serum levels of hormones decreased rapidly; 5) resting period (May to June) : value of GSI and serum levels of $estradiol-l7{\beta}$ and testosterone remained low. The annual reproductive cycle in males could be divided into 6 periods; 1) early maturation period (April to June): value of GSI and serum levels of hormones incresed gradually, cyst of spermatogonia incresed in number, and a small number of cyst of spermatocyte was observed; 2) mid-maturation perid (June to September); value of GSI and serum levels of hormones increased, and germ cells in many cysts were undergoing active sperrnatogenesis; 3) late maturation period (September to November) : value of GSI and serum levels of hormones remained high and spermatozoa were released into the lumina of the seminal lobules; 3) spermatozoa dischaging period (Nobember to December) : the lumina of the seminal lobules were enlarged and filled with mature spermatozoa; 4) degeneration period (December to Februauy)i value of GSI decresed and cyst of spermatocyte were decresed in number; 5) resting period (December to April) : no histological changes of testes were observed, and value of GSI and serum levels of hormones remained low. In November, the lumina of the seminal lobules were filled with mature spermatozoa and sperm masses were present in the ovarian cavity. Thus, copulation in this species occurred in November and December.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of EGF and IGF-I in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and development of porcine IVM/IVF embryos. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The rates of nuclear maturation, penetrated oocytes, pronuclear formation, polyspermic oocytes and mean numbers of the penetrated sperm were not different in NCSU-23 maturation medium with 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml EGF and IGF-I (P>0.05). 2. The rates of blastocyst formation at day 7 after in vitro fertilization in 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml EGF groups were $11.2{\pm}1.5%$, $15.0{\pm}8.3%$, $16.8{\pm}2.8%$ and $21.4{\pm}2.0%$, also 0, 1, 5 and 10 ng/ml IGF-I groups were $11.2{\pm}1.5%$, $15.0{\pm}8.3%$, $16.8{\pm}2.8%$ and $21.4{\pm}2.0%$, respectively. In the total cells case, EGF groups were $22.8{\pm}3.7$, $25.7{\pm}5.5$, $26.0{\pm}4.2$ and $35.1{\pm}4.7$, also IGF-I groups were $21.5{\pm}3.7$, $25.2{\pm}2.8$, $26.2{\pm}2.9$ and $33.2{\pm}3.6$, respectively. Both 10 ng/ml EGF group and 10 ng/ml IGF-I group were significantly higher than those of other treatment groups (P<0.05). 3. The rates of blastocyst formation at day 7 in the NCSU23 culture medium of porcine IVF-produced embryos with 0, 1, 5, and 10 ng/ml EGF groups were $14.0{\pm}1.7%$, $16.2{\pm}1.4%$, $16.9{\pm}1.2%$ and $23.1{\pm}1.6%$, also 0, 1, 5, 10 ng/ml IGF-I groups were $13.6{\pm}1.7$, $15.7{\pm}4.5$, $16.0{\pm}0.2$ and $25.0{\pm}0.8$, respectively. And in the total cells case, EGF grups were $21.8{\pm}2.9$, $25.2{\pm}2.8$, $39.7{\pm}2.7$ and $46.2{\pm}3.6$, also IGF-I groups were $20.7{\pm}2.9$, $26.2{\pm}2.9$, $24.6{\pm}2.4$ and $46.1{\pm}3.5$, respectively. Both 10 ng/ml EGF group and 10 ng/ml IGF-I group were significantly higher than those of any other treatment groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggested that the addition of 10 ng/ml EGF and IGF-I were effective on the blastocyst formation and total cells of blastocysts.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2003

Early development of porcine oocytes fertilized in vitro was examined in different culture conditions. Porcine ovaries were collected from local slaughter-house. Cumulus-oocytes complexes were aspirated from 2 to 6 mm follicles. The collected oocytes were cultured for in vitro maturation in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 0.57 mM cystein, 10% porcine follicle fluid, 10 IU/ml PMSG and 10 IU/ml hCG for 42~44 hrs. The frozen-thawed spermatozoa were washed by centrifigation 2 times at 1, 500 rpm in D-PBS with 5.56 mM glucose, 0.33 mM Na-pyruvate, 100 IU/ml penicillin, 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml streptomycin and 1ng/ml BSA. The fertilization medium used mTBM with 2 mM caffeine and 2 mg/ml BSA and adjusted to a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. The final concentration of spermatozoa was adjusted to 2.5$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/ml motile sperm during fertilization in vitro. At 8hrs h after insemination, the oocytes were transferred into NCSU-23 medium with 5.0 mM hypotaurine and 4 mg/ml BSA and cultured for 7 days. In first experiment, the mean numbers of oocytes collected from 20 ovaries were 674.4 oocytes, and 4.1(27.6), 12.5(84.0), 25.4(171.6) and 57.9%(390.8) for A, B, C and D grade in morphological classification. In the second experiment, when culture medium was supplemented with various concentrations of EGF, the proportions of oocytes cleaved were 56.9, 55.7, 61.9 and 54.7% for 0, 5, 10 and 20ng/ml EGF. The higher proportions(15.1%) of oocytes developed to morular stage were obtained at concentration of 10ng/ml than 0 and 5ng/ml EGF (P<0.05). However, the proportions of embryos developed to blastocyst stage were not significantly different among concentrations of EGF. In another experiment, when the medium supplemented with catalase was used, the proportions of oocytes cleaved were higher in the concentration of 0 unit (56.5%, 61/108) than 100 and 1, 000 unit/ml of catalase (P<0.05). Although the developmental capacity of embryos was improved by medium with 0 unit/ml compared with 100, 500 and 1, 000 units/ml of catalase in oocytes developed to morula and blastocyst stages, were not significantly different among concentrations of catalase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1077-1086
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• 2020

Objective: We examined the localization and expression of H⁺ pumping vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) and cytokeratin 5 (KRT5) in the epididymis of pigs, expressed in clear and basal cells, respectively, during postnatal development. Methods: Epididymides were obtained from pigs at 1, 7, 21, 60, 120, and 180 days of age; we observed the localization and expression patterns of V-ATPase and KRT5 in the different regions of these organs, namely, the caput, corpus, and cauda. The differentiation of epididymal epithelial cells was determined by immunofluorescence labeling using cell-type-specific markers and observed using confocal microscopy. Results: At postnatal day 5 (PND5), the localization of clear cells commenced migration from the cauda toward the caput. Although at PND120, goblet-shaped clear cells were detected along the entire length of the epididymis, those labeled for V-ATPase had disappeared from the corpus to cauda and were maintained only in the caput epididymis in adult pigs. In contrast, whereas basal cells labeled for KRT5 were only present in the vas deferens at birth, they were detected in all regions of the epididymis at PND60. These cells were localized at the base of the epithelium; however, no basal cells characterized by luminally extending cell projections were observed in any of the adult epididymides examined. Conclusion: The differentiation of clear and basal cells progressively initiates in a retrograde manner from the cauda to the caput epididymis. The cell-type-specific distribution and localization of the epithelial cells play important roles in establishing a unique luminal environment for sperm maturation and storage in the pig epididymis.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1993

This studies were carried out to investigate the effects of co-culture with cumulus cells, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrium cells on the in-vitro fertilization and cleavage rate of bovine follicular oocytes. The ovaries were obtained from slaughtered Korean native cows. The follicular oocytes surrounded with cumulus cells were recovered by aspirating follicular fluids from the visible follicles of diameter 3~5 mm. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones and 10% FCS for 24~48 hrs in a incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 12~18 hrs with motile capacitated sperm by preincubation. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. The in vitro maturatin and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with cumulus cells in TCM-199 medium were 64.0~74.1% and 40.0~58.6% respectively. And in-vitro fertilization rate of cumulus-enclosed oocytes(55.4%) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than cumulus-denuded oocytes(23.1%). 2. The in-vitro maturatin and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml oviduct epithelial cells in TCM-199 medium were 59.3% and 40.7%, 64.0% and 48.0%, 58.3% and 37.5%, 52.0% and 32.0%, respectively. 3. The in-vitro maturation and fertilization rate of bovine oocytes co-cultured with 1$\times$104 cells/ml, 1$\times$106 cells/ml, 1$\times$108 cells/ml and 1$\times$1015 cells/ml uterine endometrium cells in TCM-199 medium were 56.0% and 36.0%, 60.7% and 42.9%, 59.3% and 37.0%, 52.0% and 36.0%, respectively. 4. When the in-vitro fertilized oocytes were co-cultured with cumulus cells, oviduct epithelial cells and uterine endometrium cells, the development rate to be blastocyst was 12.2%, 15.6% and 11.7%, respectively and rates were higher than that of control, 2.1%(P<0.05).