• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.183-188
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• 2021

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is the procedure where the immature oocytes are cultivated in a laboratory until they are mature. Since IVM oocytes generally have low developmental competence as compared to those matured in vivo, development of an optimal IVM culture system by fine-tuning culture conditions is crucial to maintain high quality. In-depth knowledge and a deep understanding of the in vivo physiology of oocyte maturation are pre-requisites to accomplish this. Within ovarian follicles, various signaling pathways that drive oocyte development and maturation regulate interaction between oocytes and surrounding somatic cells. This review discusses the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway, which has been demonstrated to be intimately involved in folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. Advances in elucidating the role of the SHH signaling pathway in oocyte maturation will aid attempts to improve the current inferior in vitro oocyte maturation system.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2003

The present study was performed to investigate the first polar body(PB) extrusion during in-vitro maturation(IVM) and to examine the effect of different maturation time on the embryo development of Korean Native Cows(KNC) with regard to blastocyst(BL) cell numbers and pregnancy rates. PB extrusion did not take place for the first 12 hours(hr) of IVM, and most of KNC oocytes extruded PB from 14 to 20 hr after the onset of maturation. There was no significant difference in cleavage and 8-cell stage rates among the treatment groups, but BL and BL/8-cell rates were significantly higher(P<0.05) in 18 hr maturation group(31.0$\pm$5.7 and 82.0$\pm$5.1%) than 22 and 24 hr maturation group. The proportion of BL formed on day 7 and 8 was significantly higher(P<0.05) in 18 hr maturation group(85%) than in 24 hr maturation group(55%). There was a significant difference(P<0.05) in inner cell mass, trophectoderm and total cell number between day 7 BL produced by in-vivo and IVM 18 hr and day 8 BL produced by IVM 18 hr and 24 hr. Pregnancy rates are also significantly higher(P<0.05) in in-vivo(56.3%) and IVM 18 hr day 7(50.0%) group than day 8 treatment groups(18 hr: 16.7%, 24 hr: 10.5%). These results suggest that KNC oocytes achieve developmental competency within 20 hr of IVM, and "short" IVM (18 hr) is more effective than "long" IVM(24 hr) in embryo development rates, BL cell numbers and pregnancy rates.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Recent 2 decades, including in vitro maturation (IVM), assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) achieved noteworthy development. However the efficiency of ARTs with in vitro matured oocytes is still lower than that with in vivo oocytes. To overcome those limitations, many researchers attempted to adapt co-culture system during IVM and consequently maturation efficiency has been increased. The beneficial effects of applying co-culture system is contemplated base on communication and interaction between various somatic cells and oocytes, achievement of paracrine factors, and spatial effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) from somatic cell surface. The understanding of co-culture system can provide some information to narrow the gap between in vitro and in vivo. Here we will review current studies about issues for understanding cu-culture system with various somatic cells to improve in vitro maturation microenvironment and provide bird view and strategies for further studies.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2011

Transducin-like enhancer protein 1(TLE-1) is protein associated with cell proliferation. This study analyzed change of TLE-1 mRNA expression during in vivo and in vitro maturation in porcine oocytes. Oocytes and granulose cells were collected from follicles of <2 mm, 2~6 mm and >6 mm in diameter in slaughtered pig's ovaries. Oocytes collected from follicles of 2~6 mm in diameter were used after in vitro maturation for 0, 10, 20 and 44 h. Cumulus cells and granulose cells were collected after treatment with hyaluronidase. In results, TLE-1 mRNA expression in oocytes collected from follicle >6 mm in diameter is increased, TLE-1 RNA expression in cumulus cells and granulosa cells from follicles <2 mm, 2 mm 6 mm and >6 mm in diameter. However, there is no significant difference. On the other hand, TLE-1 mRNA expression from oocytes cultured for 10 hand 44 h is increased, TLE-1 mRNA in cumulus cells cultured for 10 h is significant increased(p<0.05) than other culture periods. In conclusion, these results show that TLE-1 is expressed in all cell types of oocytes, cumulus cells and granulose cells, and associated with oocyte maturation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2022

In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropins (rec-GTHs) on maturation induction in immature ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroid hormones in vivo in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. To study the in vitro effects of rec-GTHs on estradiol-17β (E2) production in immature ovarian tissues, ovarian tissues were incubated with different doses of rec-follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) or rec-luteinizing hormone (rec-LH). The results revealed that the E2 levels in the rec-FSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1 ㎍/mL)- and rec-LH (0.1 or 0.5 ㎍/mL)-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the female eels from the control group. Furthermore, to investigate the in vivo effects of rec-GTHs on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma sex steroid hormone levels, the eels were injected intraperitoneally with eel's ringer (control), salmon pituitary extract (SPE; for female eels), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; for male eels), rec-FSH, rec-LH, and rec-FSH + rec-LH once a week. The results revealed that except for the SPE and the hCG groups, none of the groups exhibited a significant difference in GSI values. However, in vivo plasma E2 levels increased at the end of 4 weeks after rec-FSH treatment in female eels. Based on these results, it is suggested that rec-GTHs may have a positive effect on sexual maturation in female eels; however, further studies on complementary rec-protein production systems and additional glycosylation of rec-hormones are needed to elucidate hormone bioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1990

The technique for maturation of follicular oocyte has been devised to provide such a low cost and in ptentifut number supply of bovine embryo. Some of problems concerning production of bovine embtyo in vitro were discussed in this paper. Bovine follicular oocytes cultured in vitro achieved normal fertilization but cleavage rates to blastocyst were low compared to the oocyte matured in vivo. It has been concluded that a deficient cytoplasmic maturation occurs in the oocytes matured in vitro. These results indicate that the studies for maturation of bovine follicular oocytes in vitro need improvement of culture conditions and to define the characteristics that might be indicative of healthy oocyte.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2002

Oocytes maturation, characterized by germinal vesicle (GV) breakdown, formation of the first meiotic spindle, expulsion of the first polar body and arrest in metaphase of second meiotic division (MII), occurs in preovulatory follicles in response to the surge of gonadotropin and leads to an ovulated oocyte in vivo. However, meiotic resumption in vitro occurs spontaneously following removal of cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) from the follicle. (omitted)

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2022

In vivo oocytes grow and mature in ovarian follicles whereas oocytes are matured in vitro in plastic culture dishes with a hard surface. In vivo oocytes show a superior developmental ability to in vitro counterparts, indicating suboptimal environments of in vitro culture. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an agarose matrix as a culture substrate during in vitro maturation (IVM) on the development of pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles (SAFs). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved from SAFs were grown in a plastic culture dish without an agarose matrix and then cultured for maturation in a plastic dish coated without (control) or with a 1% or 2% (w/v) agarose hydrogel. Then, the effect of the soft agarose matrix on oocyte maturation and embryonic development was assessed by analyzing intra-oocyte contents of glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of VEGFA, HIF1A, and PFKP genes, and blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis. IVM of pig COCs on a 1% (w/v) agarose matrix showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation, intra-oocyte GSH contents, and transcript abundance of VEGFA. Moreover, a significantly lower intra-oocyte ROS content was detected in oocytes matured on the 1% and 2% (w/v) agarose matrices than in control. Our results demonstrated that IVM of SAFs-derived pig oocytes on a soft agarose matrix enhanced developmental ability by improving the cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes through redox balancing and regulation of gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 1987

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of hormone addition(FSH, HCG, estrogen and progesterone) and composition (BSA and FCS) of mKRB on the in vitro maturation and fertilizability of follicular oocytes of the Korean native cattle. The ovaries were removed at a slaughterhouse, returned to laboratory in a thermostat (30-35$^{\circ}C$) within 4 hr, and collected by aspirating normal follicles which had diameters of 1 to 6 mm. The oocytes with cumulus cells were cultured for 8, 16, 24 and 30 hr in a modified KRB solution containing BSA or FCS and hormones. The in vitro matured oocytes in mKRB containing FCS, FSH and steroids were transferred in the rabbit uterus for examination of their in vivo fertilizability with bovine sperm preincubated 4 to 6 hr in the rabbit uterus. 1. The mean number of oocytes collected per cattle was 6.5 from 1-3mm follicles, 1.3 from 4-6mm follicles, and total was 7.7. 2. The meiotic division at 16hr-cuture in the oocytes from 1-3mm follicles was slightly stimulated by the addition of FSH in mKRB + BSA solution compared with the control. At 30hr-culture, their maturation rates(%Met II) were also increased by FSH of 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml(38.4%) and 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml(35.7%) as compared with the control (21.4%). The maturation rate at 30hr-culture in the oocytes from 4-6mm follicles was 53.8% and 57.1% by the FSH addition of 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. These rates were similar with the control(57.1%), but higher than those of oocytes from 1-3mm follicles. 3. The meiotic division at 16hr-culture in the oocytes from 1-3mm follicles was stimulated by the HCG addition of 1IU/ml and 5IU/ml. However, the maturation rate at 30hr-culture was greatly decreased by the HCG addtion (26.6% and 13.3%) compared with the control(53.3%) and these rates (30.8%) in the oocytes from 4-6mm follicles were also lower than that fo the control(58.3%). 4. Low maturation rate (37.5%) of the oocytes cultured in mKRB containing BSA and 5IU/ml HCG was increased (55.0%) when 15% FCS with HCG was added to mKRB instead of BSA. 5. When 16hr-cultured oocytes in mKRB containing BSA and gonadotropins (5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml FSH and 5IU/ml HCG) were transferred in the medium without gonadotropins and recultured for 16hr, the maturation rate of HCG-treated oocytes was greatly improved. 6. The maturation rates of oocytes were greatly affected by steroids. The combined addition of FCS+FSH+estrogen or +progesterone to mKRB increased the maturation rate compared with the combination of BSA+FSH or FCS+FSH in mKRB. 7. The fertilization rate, presence of pronuclei, was increased by the combination of FCS+FSH+p in mKRB as compared with that (5.6%) of BSA+FSH and the rates of FCS+FSH+steroids ranged from 12.5 to 17.6%.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to examine maturation, fertilization and developmental rate of the in vitro-grown mouse oocytes, and to compare these results with those of oocytes grown and matured in vivo. The preantral follicles isolated from 12-day-old mice were cultured on Transwell-COL membrane inserts. After in vitro growth and maturation, 72.5 % of oocytes grown in vitro produced polar body which can be comparable to in vivo growth (70.5 %). However, the mean oocyte diameter of the in vitro group (69.6$\pm$2.1$\mu$m) was smaller than that of the in vivo group (73.3$\pm$3.0$\mu$m). The fertilization rate was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the in vitro group (76.5%) than in the in vivo group (90.2%), however, there was no difference in the percentage of monospermic and polyspermic oocytes between two groups. The capacities of in vitro grown ova to cleave and develop to blastocyst were (57.8 and 14.4%, respectively) significantly lower (p<0.001) than those of the in vivo counterpart (84.4 and 56.6%, respectively). Moreover, the mean number of cells per blastocyst was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the in vitro group (39.0$\pm$10.8) than in the in vivo group (60.5$\pm$12.5). Live young were produced from transferred 2-cell embryos derived from in vitro-grown and matured oocytes. In conclusion, the results show that in vitro-grown oocytes did not achieve the developmental capacity of in vitro-grown oocytes.