• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.307-318
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• 1998

Accuracy of rectal palpation and ultrasonography for differential diagnosis of subestrous dairy trows were investigatedl using the result of pIRsma progesterone assay. The ovaries were examined 2 times of 10 days interval in 520 posearom and postinsemination subestroHs dairy cows, using rectal palpation and B-mode transrectal ultrasonography. The results of rectal palpation, ultrasonographic examination and measurement of plasma progesterone profiles in 520 subestrous dairy cows were silent brat or error of estrus detection 303 (58.3%), persistent corpus luteum 59 (11.3%), follicular cyst 37 (7.1%), luteal cyst 16 (3.1%), inactive ovary 9 (1.7%), granulosa tumor 1 (0.2%), hydmsalphinx 1 (0.2%), endomehris 81 (15.6%), pyometra 12 (2.3%) and mummified fetus 1 (0.2%), respectively. Accuncy of rectal palpation and ultrasonography for diagiosing ovarian disordeir based on plasma progesterone profiles were silent heat or error of estrus detection 80.5% and 96.7%$\boxUl$ persistent corpus luteum 57.6% and 94.9%, follicular cyst 62.5% and 91.9%1 luteal cyst 62.5% and 87.5%, maclive ovary 55.6% and 88.9% and granulosa cell tumor 100% and 100%, respectively. Acnuucy of rectal palpation for diagnosing uterine disorders based on ultrasonography was pyometra 75.0%1 endometritis 51.9% and mummified fetus 100%, respectively. Cbaracteristic ultrasonographic appearances of ovaries in subestrous dairy cows were as follows; Silent heat or error of estrus detection: anechoic follicle or hypoechoic corpus luteum than ovarian stroma was alternately present on Day 0 (first examination) and Day 10. Follicular cyst: uniformly nonechogenic ovarian structure $\geq $ 25 mm in diameter with a wall < 3 mm was present in ipsilateral on Day 0 and Day 10. Luteal cyst: luteal cyst was similar to follicular cysts but thickness of cystic wall was $\geq $ 3 mm. Inactive ovary : structures within ovaries was not present on Day 0 Bnd Day 10. Characteristic uthssonograpsc appearances of uterus in subestrous dairy cows were as follows; Endometritis: characterized by uterine lumen containing fluid in which 'snowy'echogenic particles art suspended. Pyometra: ultrasonographic appearance of pyometra was diffuse echogenic particles distributed in fluid within the distended uterus, and a thickened uterine wall. These results indicated that ultrasonography was practical far diagnosing reproductive disorders. To diagnosing ovarian disorders, ultrasonography should be carried out 2 times of 10 days interval and rndometritis should be differentiated with uterus of luteal phase in normal cycling cows.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.365-369
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• 1999

Interferon tau (IFN$\tau$), the pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants, suppresses transcription of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in the endometrial luminal (LE) and superficial glandular epithelium (sGE) to prevent oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression and pulsatile release of luteolytic prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ (PGF), Interferon regulatory factors one (IRF-l) and two (IRF-2) are transcription factors induced by IFN$\tau$ that activate and silence gene expression, respectively. Available results suggest that IFN$\tau$ acts directly on LE and sGE during pregnancy to induce sequentially IRF-l and then IRF-2 gene expression to silence transcription of ER and OTR genes, block the luteolytic mechanism to maintenance a functional corpus luteum (CL) and, signal maternal recognition of pregnancy. The theory for maternal recognition of pregnancy in pigs is that the uterine endometrium of cyclic gilts secretes PGF in an endocrine direction, toward the uterine vasculature for transport to the CL to exert its luteolytic effect. However, in pregnant pigs, estrogens secreted by the conceptuses are responsible, perhaps in concert with effects of prolactin and calcium, for exocrine secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen where it is sequestered to exert biological effects and / or be metabolized to prevent luteolysis.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 1994

Morphological features of the interaction between the hatching blastocyst and implantation in pig were studied by electron microscopy. The observations extended from late blastocyst stage to the completion of trophoblastic erosion of the epithelium and early decidual transformation of the epithelium and early decidual transformation of the stromal cells. Between day 7 and 17 of pregnancy, blastocysts from 0.3 to 12 mm in diameter were flushed from the uterine horns of Dutch Landrace pigs. On the 7th of development in the pig blastocyst, the blastocyst shedded of the zona pellucida established the tips of microvilli and with bleb-like cytoplasmic protrusions of the epithelial cells. From day 11 on in pig embryo, the bilayered trophoblast undergoes a dramatic phase of elongation so that the initially spherical expanded blastocyst becomes tubular. In pig, close apposition to the uterine wall beg-ins at about 12 $^1$/$_2$ days and then attachment occurred during the afternoon of the 16th or 18th day post coitum. At this stage, embryonic loss compared with corpus luteum number is up to 40% of ovulated oocytes. Therefore, the implantation failture of these embryos may be mainly caused by morphological abnormality and failture of zona shedding.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.12.1-12.7
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• 2017

Background: Despite the widespread use of dexamethasone in veterinary and human medicine, it is reported to cause some severe pregnancy related side effects like abortion in some animals. The mechanism of the response is not clear but seems to be related to interspecies and/or breed difference in response which may involve alterations in the concentrations of some reproductive hormones. Methods: Twenty Sahel goats comprising 18 does and 2 bucks were used for this study. Pregnancies were achieved by natural mating after synchronization. Repeated dexamethasone injections were given at 0.25 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected biweekly for hormonal assay. Uterine biopsies were harvested at days 28 and day 78 of gestation through caesarean section for immunohistochemical analysis using 3 pregnant does randomly selected from each group at each instant. Data were expressed as Means ${\pm}$ Standard Deviations and analyzed using statistical soft ware package, GraphPad Instant, version 3.0 (2003) and progesterone receptor (PR) were scored semi-quantitatively. Results: Dexamethasone treatments had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on progesterone and estrogen concentrations in pregnant Sahel goats but up regulated PR from 2+ to 3+ in second trimester. Conclusion: As dexamethasone adverse effect on placenta is an established fact, the lack of effect on progesterone level in this study may be due to the fact that unlike other species whose progesterone production during pregnancy is placenta - dependent, in goats is corpus luteum - dependent. Consequently dexamethasone adverse effect on placenta reported in literatures did not influence progesterone levels during pregnancy in Sahel goat. The up regulation of progesterone receptor (PR) in Sahel goat gravid uterus is a beneficial effects and that dexamethasone can safely be used in corpus luteum - dependent progesterone secreting pregnant animal species like Sahel goat and camel. Therefore source of progesterone secretions during pregnancy should be considered in clinical application of dexamethasone in pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 1982

1. The cows slaughtered at age of 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 years old were 1.5, 1.5, 15.0, 62.5 and 4.4% respectively. 2. The cows slaughtered at 351-450kg and more than 500kg were 60 and 28% respectively. 3. Best, very good, good and bad cows in nutritional condition were 1.6, 25.8, 62.9, and 9.7% respectively. Among the six cows which were bad nutrition, the two were with severe endometritis, the three were normal in genital function and one was on 70 days of pregnancy. 4. Holstein cows(55.2%) showed higher reproductive failure than the Korean cows(33.3%). 5. The slaughted ratio of the Korean cattle and Holstein cows was 36 and 64% respectively. 6. Pregnant cows were about 16% among the slaughtered one. 7. Reproductive failures were composed of 46% in uterus, 32% in ovaries, 8% in udder, 6% in oviduct, 4% in cervix of uterine, 2% in vagina and 2% inmummified fetus. 8. Forty six percentages of uterine diseases were as follows; horn, 13%, body of uterus, 32% and ovary diseases were 32%, that is, 12% of ovary atrophy, 8% of ovarycyst and 6% of lutealcyst. 9. The cows of reproductive failures were commonly infected with 1.6 kinds of diseases. 10. According to classification, six type of ovaries were as follows; normal, 58%, ovary-cyst, 11%, luteum cyst, 4%, coexistence of follicles and corpus luteum, 16%, weak function of ovaries, 10% and ovarian atrophy, 1%. 11. Major axis, minor axis and thickness of right ovary were larger than those of left one both in Korean cattle and Holstein cows. Holstein cow had generally larger size of ovary than these of the Korean cattle.. 12. The left and right oviducts showed no difference in length, but Holstein had longer oviduct than Korean cow. 13. There was no difference in the length of uterine horn between right and left in the Korean cows, but the right was longer than the left in Holstein cows. 14. Holstein had longer horn and body of uterine than the Korean cows. 15. The weight of right ovary was heavier than that of left in both breeds, but there was no differences in weight of left ovary between two breeds and right ovary of Holstein breed was heavier than that of the Korean cow. 16. The weight of right oviduct and uterine born was heavier than that of the left, and Holstein had heavier oviducts and uterine horns than the Korean cows. 17. Holstein had heavier uterine body and cervix of uterine than the Korean cows. 18. The length of reproductive systems of Korean cow is as follows; Major and minor diameter and thickness ofovary are 3.6${\pm}$0.7, 2.3${\pm}$0.4 and 1.6${\pm}$1.4 cm in left and 3.7${\pm}$0.6, 2.5${\pm}$0.5 and 1.8${\pm}$0.5 cm in right. Oviduct is 28.4${\pm}$3.1 cm in left and 27.8${\pm}$3.3 cm in right. Uterine horn is 27.4${\pm}$4.5 cm in left and 27.7${\pm}$4.9 cm in right. Uterine body and cervix are 3.4${\pm}$1.1 and 6.5${\pm}$1.7 cm. 19. The length of female reproductive systems ofHolstein cow is as follows; Major and minor diameter and thickness of ovary are 3.9${\pm}$1.3, 2.3${\pm}$0.5, and 1.5${\pm}$0.6 cm in left and 4.0${\pm}$0.8, 2.8${\pm}$0.6 and 1.8${\pm}$0.6 cm in right. Oviduct is 29.4${\pm}$4.2 cm in left and 29.3${\pm}$4.1 cm in right. Uterine horn is 30.2${\pm}$7.4 cm in left and 32.6${\pm}$8.4 cm in right. Uterine body and cervix are 4.5${\pm}$2.5 and 7.8${\pm}$2.9 cm. 20. The weight of reproductive systems of Korean cow is as follows; Ovary is 8.4${\pm}$4.1 g in left and 9.3${\pm}$3.6g in right. Oviduct is 1.5${\pm}$0.5 g in left and 1.6${\pm}$0.5 g in right. Uterine horn is 109${\pm}$27 g left and 118${\pm}$32 g in right. Uterine body and cervix are 30.4${\pm}$14.1 and 76.7${\pm}$38.4g. 21. The weight of reproductive systems of Holstein cow is as follows; Ovary is 8.2${\pm}$3.1 g in left and 12.5${\pm}$5.6 g in right. Oviduct is 1.7${\pm}$0.6 g in left and 1.9${\pm}$0.9 g in right. Uterine horn is 199${\pm}$14.2 g in left and 221${\pm}$111.2g in right. Uterine body and cervix are 58.2${\pm}$46.5 and 126.7${\pm}$103.3 g.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2002

To investigate the usability of frozen canine embryos for embryo transfer in the dog, 19 donors, 3 recipients, and 6 male dogs were used for the experiment. Natural mating or artificial insemination was performed for breeding the bitches in natural estrus. Vaginal smear test along with progesterone titre test were performed to detect the appropriate mating time and the bitches were bred twice during 3-6days following LH surge. Embryo collection was done on 8, 9-11, 12-13 days after the second mating to collect morula and blastocyst. Embryos were frozen using a programmable freezer and preseued in LNE tank. Embryos were thawed in 37$^{\circ}C$ water for 15 seconds and transferred into each uterine horn within 30 minutes. Embryos were collected from 13 bitches of 19 donors(68.4%) and the collected embryos were from between 9 and 13 days after 2nd mating. Embryos were produced both by natural mating(60.0%, 9115) and AI with frozen semen(100.0%, 4/4). Embryos were collected from the donors weighed between 2.5 and 30 kg and their age was from 1.5 to 3 years. 52 embryos were collected from 13 donors and the mean number of embryos was four. The stage of embryos was from 2-cell to gastrula and morulae were colledted mostly from 10 to 11 days after 2nd mating. Embryos were collected evenly from each uterine horn and the rate of embryo collection for the number of corpus luteum was 83.9%. Embryos were transferred to 3 recipients(morula 8, blastocyst 1, gastrula 8), however, no offspring was produced.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 1993

This study was attempted to investigate the processes of regression of the corpus luteum and uterus after parturition in 2∼3 multiparous Korean native goats. The concentrations of LH, prolactin and progesterone in blood plasma of native goats were measured at 5 day intervals from 10 days prepartum to 35 days postpartum. The pregnancy corpus luteum from goats at Days(D) 1, 10, 20 and 30 days of postpartum were examined by light microscopy. Changes in the uterus fo goats were studies by macroscopic and light microscopic observations during the postpartum period. Mean concentrations of plasma LH were low after parturition and the levels of plasma LH were similar during late gestation and throughout the postpartum period. Mean plasma concentrations of prolactin were 0.30 0.06 and 0.38 0.13ng/ml at Day 5 and Day 10 prepartum, respectively, but PRL levels remained slightly high for 5 weeks after kidding. Mean levels of progesterone in plasma were 0.33 0.05ng/ml on Day 1 postpartum(P<0.01). Through light microscopic survey, pregnancy corpora lutea were quite degeneration by day 10 pospartum. Microscopic changes of CL regression consisted of cytoplasmic eosinophilia and vacuolation, and pyknosis and karyorrhexis of the nucleus of luteal cells. Vascular changes were distended at the periphery ofthe CL. From macroscopic measurements of the uterus, the uteri were returned to their initial non-pregnant stage within a period of 21 dyas after parturition. Following partuition the intercaruncular epithelium was reparied by 20 days. The uterine epithelium was partially recovered in the carucle by 30 days postpartum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.845-855
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• 2000

As high as 50% of pregnancies are known to fail and the majority of such losses occur during the peri-implantation period. For the establishment of pregnancy in mammalian species, therefore, implantation of the conceptus to the maternal endometrium must be completed successfully. Physiological events associated with implantation differ among mammals. In ruminant ungulates, an elongation of the trophohlast in early conceptus development is required before the attachment of the conceptus to the uterine endometrium. Moreover, implantation sites are restricted to each uterine caruncula where tissue remodeling, feto-maternal cell fusion and placentation take place in a coordinated manner. These unique events occur under strict conditions and are regulated by numerous factors from the uterine endometrium and trophoblast in a spatial manner. Interferon-tau (IFN-${\tau}$), a conceptus-derived anti-Iuteolytic factor, which rescues corpus luteum from its regression in ruminants, is particularly apt to play an important role as a local regulator in coordination with other factors, such as TGF-${\beta}$, Cox-2 and MMPs at the attachment and placentation sites.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to improve the efficiency of bovine embryo transfer by transferring of Hanwoo embryos into Hanwoo or Holstein recipients. The cryopreserved or fresh in vitro produced(IVP) embryos were transferred into uterine horn contralaterally or ipsilaterally to the corpus luteum. The recipients were inseminated by artificially on the next day of estrus. The pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation at 60∼90 days after transfer of the embryos. The pregnancy rate by transfer of one or two embryos was 78%(7/9) and 74%(31/42), respectively. The pregnancy rates according to the grade of corpus lutea of recipients was 75% (20/27) and 82.0%(18/22) at the grade of A and B, respectively. Ten(67.0%) of 15 Holstein recipients transferred with IVP Hanwoo embryos and 5(42.0%) of 12 Holstein recipients transferred with frozen IVP Hanwoo embryos were pregnant. The single and twin calving ratio in Hanwoos was 77.0%(10/13) and 23.0%(3.13) in the recipients transferred with IVP embryos and 64.0%(7/10) and 27.0%(3/10) in the recipients transferred with frozen IVP embryos, respectively. Twenty-four pregnant cows following transfer of IVP embryos, 21(88.0%) calved the normal calves, and 2(8.3%) aborted. When the frozen IVP embryos were transferred, 16 pregnant cows calved 14(88.0%) normal calves and 2(13.0%) aborted. In conclusion, when one or two IVP bovine embryos were transferred into recipients, the A and B grade of corpus luteum resulted in high pregnancy rates. For the production of twin calves, transfer of the IVP or frozen IVP embryos could be suitable.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2003

In-vitro fertilized Hanwoo embryos were biopsied for sex determination by PCR. Biopsied embryos were incubated for 1∼2 hours for the recovery. Those sexed Hanwoo embryos were transferred to 49 Hanwoo and 16 Holstein recipients from February 2000 to February 2001. Of 65 recipients, 14 cows(12 Hanwoo and 2 Holstein) delivered the same offspring as sex-determined by PCR, therefore the conception rate was 21.5%. 1. Total 65 embryos(male 35, female 30) were transferred to recipients, and 14 calves (male 6, female 8) were delivered. In comparison between sex by PCR method and sex of calves born after embryo transfer, the accuracy of sex determination was 100.0%. 2. The conception rate after transfer with biopsied embryo between Hanwoo and Holstein was 24.5% and 12.5% 3. The conception rate after transfer with biopsied embryo between fresh and frozen-thawed embryos was 23.5% and 14.3%. 4. The conception rate according to the season when embryo was transferred was 11.8, 29.4, 23.5 and 20.0% for spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. 5. The conception rate according to embryo quality after biopsy was 41.7, 30.0 and 0.0% for excellent, good and fair quality. 6. The conception rate according to thickness of uterine horn was 71.4, 18.9, 11.8 and 0.0% for 0, +, ++ and +++ thickness. 7. The conception rate according to the site in the uterine hem where embryo was put was 30.0, 20.0 and 10.0% for cranial, mid, and caudal part of uterine horn. 8. The conception rate according to the quality of corpus luteum ipsilateral to the uterine horn where embryos was transferred was 41.2, 14.3 and 15.4% for excellent, good and fair quality. 9. The conception rate according to the time required for embryo transfer was 18.2, 30.0, 30.0, 0.0 and 25.0% for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes. 10. The conception rate according to parity of recipients was 26.5, 19.1, 14.3 and 0.0% for the primiparous, the 2nd parous, the 3rd parous and the 4th parous recipients. These results indicated that fresh embryos are more demanded than frozen-thawed embryos for good conception rate in embryo transfer with biopsied-sexed embryo. Also, it was indicated that we should consider embryo-recovering condition, recipient's uterine thickness, transfer site in uterine horn, quality of corpus luteum, time required for transfer and parity of recipient to achieve good conception rate in ET with biopsied-sexed embryos.