• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2006

The developmental regulation of the preimplantation mammalian embryos is a fundamental step for preparing the implantation and it may be regulated by several autocrine and paracrine factors including platelet-activating factor. PAF improved the embryonic survival and implantation but its role during blastocyst development is still largely unknown. In this study, the effects and the possible pathway of PAF on developmental regulation of blastocyst to hatching stage were investigated. Developmental pattern in hatching embryo was a concentration-response curve showing maximal activity at 1 nM PAF, with decreasing activity at higher concentrations. $50{\mu}M$ 1-(5-isoquinolimnesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazinme dihydrochloride (H-7), a PKC inhibitor, inhibited the progression of blastocyst to hatching embryo. In addition H-7 blocked the PAF effects on the blastocyst development. Besides tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), a PKC activator stimulated development of blastocyst to the hatching stage. These finding revealed that PAF support the blastocyst development to the hatching embryo. Also it is suggested that PAF action pathways in hatching supporting include the PKC signaling pathway.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 1993

These experiments were carried out to determine the effect of pregnancy in bisected embryo. The embryos of ICR mouse were microsurgically bisected at morula and blastocyst stage using microsurgical blade attached a micromanipulator. These bisected embryos without zona pellucida were cultured up to blastocyst stage and cell count and diameter of stained blastomere, and transferred pseudopregnant mice. And the development of these bisected embryos was compared with the results of production of young of the corresponding intact embryos or cell stage. When the bisected mouse embryos were cultured in vitro for 20 to 24 hours in morula stage(77.2%) or 3 to 6 hours in blastocyst stage(84.1%), them were developed to the expanded blastocyst stage. There were no significant(P<0.05) differences in the development rate of bisected embryos between in morula and blastocyst stages. The embryo size of blastocyst developed in vitro from bisected embryo was small(P<0.05)than intact embryo. However, the number of blastomeres with bisected embryo (24.7+1.3and 21.5+1.2 respectively) were significantly(P<0.05) reduced, compared with that of intacted embryos(36.3+1.1 and 41.4+1.2 respectively). When compared with the result of pregnancy rate(63.6%) after surgical transfer of bisected morulae, a similar result(65.4%) was obtained with bisected blastocyst stage(P< 0.05). However, production of youngs (38.8%) after transfer of bisected morula, a similar result (38.1%) was obtained with bisected blastocyst stage (P<0.05).

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.217-223
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of co-culture for the development rate to morula /blastocyst stages of early porcine embryos, derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro, with porcine endometrial cell monolayers(PEM) in the two different media, respectively. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8~16-cell and morula /blastocyst stage were 49.6, 40.5, 28.2 and 15.3% in Ham's F-10 with PEM, and 55.3, 45.9, 32.7, and 17.6% in TCM-HEPES with PEM, respectively. The above development rates to morula /blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the Ham's F-10 and TGM-HEPES without PEM(P<0.05). The in vitro development rates to the morula /blastocyst stage of 1-cell embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without PEM were 0~1.2%. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. As shown in the above results, the co-culture of in vitro produced porcine embryos with PEM in the two different media enhanced the development of fertilized eggs to morula /blastocyst stages in vitro. However, we didn't find out any differences for the in vitro development to morula /blastocyst stages between Ham's F-10 and TcM-HEPES media.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate whether the degree of post-warming embryo or blastocyst development is associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified embryo or blastocyst transfer cycles. Methods: Ninety-six vitrified cleavage-stage embryos and 58 vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles were selected. All transfer cycles were performed from February 2011 to March 2019, and all vitrified embryos or blastocysts were warmed from 4 PM to 6 PM and then transferred the next morning from 9 AM to 10 AM. The scores of the cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts were assessed at warming and at transfer using the modified Steer method and the Gardner method, respectively. The mean embryo or blastocyst score, score of the single top-quality embryo or blastocyst, and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were compared between nonpregnant and pregnant women. Results: In the cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles, both the top-quality embryo score at transfer and the difference in the score between warming and transfer were significantly associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality embryo score at transfer of ≥ 60.0 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.673; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.531-0.815) and a difference in the score between warming and transfer of ≥ 23.0 (AUC, 0.675; 95% CI, 0.514-0.835) were significant predictors of clinical pregnancy. In blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor associated with clinical pregnancy. A top-quality blastocyst score at transfer of ≥ 38.3 was a significant predictor of clinical pregnancy (AUC, 0.666; 95% CI, 0.525-0.807). Conclusion: The top-quality embryo score at transfer and the degree of post-warming embryo development were associated with clinical pregnancy in vitrified cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles. In vitrified blastocyst transfer cycles, the top-quality blastocyst score at transfer was the only significant factor affecting clinical pregnancy.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.299-305
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of co-culture for the development rate to morula/blastocyst stages of early porcine embryos, derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro, with porcine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers(POEC) in the two different media, respectively. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8∼16-cell and morula/blastocyst stage were 57.2, 48.2, 37.2 and 19.3% in Ham's F-10 with POEC, and 51.4, 41.2, 31.1, and 15.5% in TCM-HEPES with POEC, respectively. The above development rates to morula/blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES with out POEC(P<0.05). The in vitro development rates to the morula/blastocyst stage of 1-cell embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without POEC were 1.1∼1.2%. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. As shown in the above results, the co-culture of in vitro produced porcine embryos with POEC in the two different media enhanced the development of fertilized eggs to morula/blastocyst stages in vitro. However, we didn't find out any difference for the in vitro development to morula/blastocyst stages between Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES media.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the development rates of human embryos co-cultured with cumulus cells to each blastocyst stage. Human zygotes were co-cultured on cumulus cell monolayer in YS medium supplemented with 20% hFF. On day 2, if patient had four or more "good" embryos (regular blastomeres without fragmentation), embryos were further cultured for 72hrs. Blastocysts on day 5 were classified into early blastocyst (ErB), early expanding blastocyst (EEB), middle expanding Blastocyst (MEB), and expanded blastocyst (EdB) on the basis of their morphological aspects of trophectoderm cells and blastocoele. Subsequently, maximum 3 of best blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles. The results in this study were as follows: Patients who had four or more "good" embryos on day 2 were 498 persons, but patients whose embryos could not be transferred due to failure in development to the blastocyst stage on day 5 were 12 persons (2.4%). The development rate of embryos to the blastocyst stage was 58.2% (2,885/4,957) on day 5, and the rates that developed to the ErB, EEB, MEB, and EdB stage were 15.0% (743/4,957), 14.9% (739/4,957), 14.4% (714/ 4,957), and 13.9% (689/4,957), respectively. Total 1366 blastocysts were transferred in 486 cycles (mean number=2.81). The implantation rate and the ongoing implantation rate obtained by observing the number of G-sac and FHB were 29.9% (409/1,366) and 22.5% (308/1,366), respectively. The clinical pregnancy rate was 51.2% (249/486), and the ongoing pregnancy rate' was 39.1% (190/486). Among women showing ongoing pregnancy, women with singleton were 50% (95/190), women with twin were 37.9% (72/190), and women with triplet were 12.1% (23/190). Although triplet pregnancy rate in this study was high such as 12.1%, because many blastocysts with high viability were produced in our co-culture system using cumulus cells on day 5, we really believe that a multiple pregnancy except twin should not occur by selecting good embryos for maximum two blastocyst transfer. These results demonstrate that autologous cumulus cells may be used for the production of blastocysts with high developmental competence, and the use of autologous cumulus cells to be collected easily, and to be treated conveniently at OPU must be an effective means for obtaining high implantation and pregnancy rate.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.81-88
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• 1995

Culture medium (ASF-301) of tHUE-2 cell, human endothelial cell line, and culture medium of these cells (conditioned medium : CM) which affect embryonic development of in vivo fertilized 1-cell embryos of mouse were examined. Two-cell stage block of mouse embryos was overicomed in ASF-301 and CM without EDTA, which usually added in basic medium (modified Whitten Medium: MWM, control) to overcome the 2-cell stage block. The developmental rates of embryos to the blastocyst stage were significantly increased in MWM containing 12.5% of growth factors added to ASF-301 (10mg/ $\ell$ transferrin, 1mg/$\ell$ insulin, 0.01mg/$\ell$ EGF) than those of 100% addition and control, 78.0% vs 20.8 and 52.3%, respectively (P<0.05), but the growth factors was not affected the hatching rate of blastocyst. Using ASF-301 or CM which was not treated, embryonic development into the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stages were not affected. However, proportions of embryonic development into the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stages were significantly higher in dilution (ASF-301 1:10; CM 1:3~1:6) than those in control (P,0.05). In ASF-301 dialyzed M.W.<10000 dialysis membrane, the developmental rate upto the hatched blastocyst stage was significantly increased, compared to ASF-301 which was not dialyzed (P<0.05), and hatching rate of blastocyst of these group was singnificantly increased than those in MWM (P<0.05). Compared to CM which was not dialyzed, however, in dialyzed CM was significantly decreased, compared to untreated CM (P<0.05), especially any hatched blastocyst was not appeared. As a result of these experiments indicated that a kind or porper treatment such as a dilution of complex synthetic cell culture medium and conditioned medium, and that a optimal concentration of growth factors are usuful for embryo cultrue in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권11호
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• pp.1541-1546
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• 2011

This study was carried out to examine the influence of minimum essential medium (MEM) vitamins supplementation to in vitro maturation medium and in vitro culture medium on the development of porcine embryos. Porcine embryo development was investigated following cultivation in both in vitro maturation and culture medium with the supplementation of MEM vitamins (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%) using immature oocytes collected from the ovary of prepubertal gilts. Embryo development was observed and the total cell number in each blastocyst generated under the culture conditions was quantified following supplementation of the medium. The embryonic development rate of the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst was higher, but not significantly so, when 0.4% MEM vitamins were supplemented to the in vitro maturation medium of the porcine oocyte. Interestingly, the total number of cells in the blastocyst was significantly higher in the in vitro maturation MEM vitamins supplemented group compared to either the untreated group or the group which had MEM vitamins supplemented to both in vitro maturation and in vitro culture medium simultaneously (p<0.05). Therefore, the supplementation of 0.4% MEM vitamins to the in vitro mature medium has a beneficial effect on the embryonic development of in vitro produced blastocysts derived from the immature porcine oocytes.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

This study was performed to elucidate the effects of addition of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC) medium on porcine embryo production. The development rate to the 2 cell ($71.4{\sim}75.6%$) and blastocyst stages ($6.8{\sim}13.3%$) with different BSA concentrations in IVM medium were similar among treatment groups. Blastocyst hatching rate was significantly higher in the control group (0.0mg/ml) than in the group of 1.0mg/ml supplement (20.0% vs. 0.0%; p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell ($62.0{\sim}70.6%$) and blastocyst stages ($15.4{\sim}38.5%$) with different ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ concentrations in IVM medium was similar among treatment groups. The development rate to the blastocyst was significantly higher in the group of 1.0mg/ml(15.3%) than in the group of 0.5mg/ml supplement (7.6%, p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell and blastocyst stages following the first addition of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ in IVM medium was significantly higher in the control group (77.0% and 18.9%) and was $0{\sim}44\;hr$(77.2% and 16.9%) greater than that observed in other treatment groups (p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($68.1{\sim}74.8%$) and blastocyst stages ($9.2{\sim}12.7%$) with different BSA concentrations in IVC medium was similar among treatment groups. However, blastocyst hatching rate was significantly higher in the group of 3.0mg/ml supplement (30.0%) than in the control group (0.0%; p<0.05). The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($72.9{\sim}78.0%$), blastocyst ($7.1{\sim}14.2%$) and hatching stages ($33.3{\sim}38.1%$) were not different. The development rate to the 2 cell stage ($63.6{\sim}72.5%$), blastocyst ($8.4{\sim}16.1%$) and hatching stages ($18.2{\sim}37.5%$) at the different culture periods were similar among treatment groups. This study suggested that if the addition level and periods of ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ addition are adjusted, it is possible to replace BSA in the in vitro porcine embryo production.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.131-137
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• 2024

Background: Porcine embryonic development is widely utilized in the medical industry. However, the blastocyst development rate in vitro is lower compared to in vivo. To address this issue, various supplements are employed. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play the role of communicators that carry many bioactive cargoes. Additionally, the contents of EVs can vary on the estrous cycle. Methods: We compared the effects of adding EVs derived from porcine uterine fluid (UF), categorized as non-EV (G1), EVs in estrus (G2) and EVs in diestrus (G3). After in vitro culture (IVC) was performed in three different groups, cleavage rate and blastocyst development rate were examined. In addition, glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured 2 days after activation to assess oxidative stress. Results: Using NTA and cryo-TEM, we confirmed the presence of EVs with sizes ranging from 30 nm to 200 nm, that the particles were suitable for analysis for analysis. In IVC data, the highest cleavage rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Similarly, the highest blastocyst development rate was observed in G2, which was significantly different from G1 but not significantly different from the next highest, G3. Conclusions: These results indicate that estrus derived EVs contain biofactors beneficial for early blastocyst development, including GSH which protects the blastocyst from oxidative stress. Additionally, although diestrus-derived EVs are expected to have some effect on blastocyst development, it appeared to be less effective than estrus-derived EVs.