• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.41-42
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• 1998

The changes in calcium binding protein(CBP) of mouse epididymal sperm during their post-testicular differentiation were analyzed by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. According to dpididymal maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa, both quantitative and qualitative changes of CBPs in the epididymal sperm was detected. It suggested that the development of fertilizing ability of epididymal sperm was closely related to the changes in the CBPs profiles of sperm during epidiyaml transit.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.251-254
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• 1991

Immobilized (killed) mouse spermatozoa or sperm head were microinjected into mouse oocytes matured in vivo and cultured for 72h in vitro. When non-capacitated spermatozoon was injected, oocytes that developed to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 27.8 (15/54) and 3.7% (2/54), respectively. When non-capacitated sperm head was injected. development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 21.3 (16/75) and 8.0% (6/75), respectively. When capacitated spermatozoon was injected, development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 21.4 (15/70) and 4.3% (3/70), respectively. When capacitated sperm head was injected, development to $${\geq_-}$$ 2-cell and $${\geq_-}$$ 4-cell was 29.9 (35/117) and 10.3% (12/117), respectively. In contrast, none developed beyond 4-cell in the sham-operated group. The results of this study demonstrated that mouse oocytes matured in vivo can undergo normal appearing cleavage to 4-cell stage by dead-sperm injection. Sperm treatment prior to injection did not affect the ability of mouse oocytes to cleave in vitro.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.12-12
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• 2001

To get insight into the nature of foreign mitochondria and syngamy during mammalian fertilization we compared fertilization processes in porcine oocytes following microinjection of porcine or mouse spermatozoa. Pronuclear movement, sperm mitochondria, and DNA synthesis were imaged with propidium iodide, mitotracker, and BrdU under confocal laser scanning microscope. Intracytoplasmic injection of either porcine or mouse spermatzoon activated porcine oocytes without additional parthengenetic stimulation. Foreign mitochondria in either mouse or porcine sperm midpiece were introduced into porcine oocytes following sperm injection, but rapidly disappeared from the actively developing porcine oocytes. BrdU experiment showed new DNA synthesis in porcine oocytes following injection of mouse spermatozoon or sperm head. At 24 h after injection of mouse isolated sperm head or a spermatozoon, mitoic metaphase was seen in oocyte, but they did not go to normal cell division (Table). These results suggest that pronuclear formation, foreign mitochondria disruption, DNA synthesis and syngamy formation during fertilization are not species specific processes.(Table Omitted).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1997

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seminal vesicle fluid (SVF) on the acrosome reaction (AR) occurred spontaneously or induced by $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187, follicular fluid, and progesterone in mouse epididymal sperm. SVF was divided into high (MW>10 kD) and low (MW<10 kD) fractions by ultrafiltration. The low MW fraction of SVF decreased the rate of spontaneous AR, however the high MW fraction did not. It suggested that the low MW fraction of SVF might have contained decapacitation factor(s) responsible for prolonging of time need for capacitation. When sperm preincubated for 60 min in the presence of SVF, the rate of AR induced by A23187 was decreased, but prolongation of preincubation time for 120 min significantly potentiated the AR by A23187. It suggested that addition of SVF into sperm preincubation medium imposed the epididymal sperm a condition similar to ejaculation. AR induced by human follicular fluid or progesterone was also inhibited by SVF. It suggested that substance in SVF might have affected AR of mouse sperm by inhibiting the interaction between AR inducing ligands and sperm surface receptors involved in acrosomal exocytosis.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2010

The decrease in sperm quality under heat stress causes a great loss in animal husbandry production. In order to reveal the mechanism underlying the sperm quality decrease caused by heat stress, we first established a mild heat-treated mouse model. Then, the sperm quality was identified. Further, the testicular proteome profile was mapped and compared with the control using 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Finally, the differential expressed proteins involved in the heat stress response were identified by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that heat stress caused a significant reduction in mouse sperm quality (P<0.05). Further, 52 protein spots on the 2D gel were found to differ between the heat-shocked tissues and the control. Of these spots, some repair proteins which might provide some explanation for the influence on sperm quality were found. We then focused on Bag-1, Hsp40, Hsp60 and Hsp70, which were found to be differently expressed after heat shock (P<0.05). Further analysis in this heat-shocked model suggests numerous potential mechanisms for heat shock-induced spermatogenic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2002

A sperm factor(s) for oocyte activation during fertilization has not been clearly identified. In this study to elucidate an oocyte activation factor(s), mouse sperm were sonicated and ultra-filtered with a 30 kilo-daltons (KD) cutoff membrane and the ultra-filtrate was then sequentially fractionated over Suporose 12 column and Superdex column, The recovered fractions were micro-injected into Mⅱmouse oocytes and second polar body formation (PBF) was examined. Suporose fraction RV2.10 prepared from sperm extract significantly increased PBF. Of Superdex fractions re-separated from Suporose fraction RV2.10, fraction RV2.12 also had the strongest PBF activity. By analyzing with micro-reverse phase column (URPC), the Superdex fraction RV2.12 appeared to be glutamic acid. In microinjection test, glutamic acid significantly increased PBF. This study suggests that glutamic acid should be a type of sperm factor for second polar body formation related to oocyte activation.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.16.1-16.4
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• 2010

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos and spermatozoa has become the foremost technique for preserving large numbers of different strains of mice with induced mutations. In 1998, our mouse bank was established in the Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Japan, based on the Preservation, supply and development of genetically engineered animals report published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. We cryopreserve mouse embryos and sperm, supply these resources, organize training courses to educate people and form part of a domestic and international network of both mutagenesis and resource centers. We currently have over 1,500 mouse strains, 842,000 frozen embryos and 26,000 straws containing frozen sperm. Moreover, we disclose information about 1,300 deposited strains. Furthermore, over 400 strains of frozen embryos or mice produced from frozen embryos and sperm are being supplied to the requesters both domestically and internationally. Additionally we hold training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm 2~3 times a year, both domestically and internationally. In the course, we teach basic reproductive engineering techniques to trainees on a man-to-man basis. We have already held 28 training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm at our center and at other institutes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.371-379
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• 1997

To investigate the movement of sperm head and the role of sperm neck in forward sperm motility in the Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae, the morphological characteristics of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa of A. agrarius coreae were characterized by the conspicuous shape of the acrosome and the long tail compared with those of other rodents. Total length of the sperm was $133\mu{m}$. The sperm head had a curved falciform shape. The head was 8.0${\mu}$m in length, and about 4.0 ${\mu}$m in width. The shape of acrosome had an openerlike form. The sperm tail (125 ${\mu}$m) consisted of four major segments: neck (0.5 ${\mu}$m), middle piece (29.5 ${\mu}$m), and principal piece plus the end piece (95 ${\mu}$m). The outer dense fibers were arranged in a horseshoe fashion, and No. 1, 5, 6, and 9 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. The mitochondrial bundles of middle piece were composed of a pair of arms, which surrounded the axone of the middle piece by the 45 0 angled helical structure. The total number of mitochondrial gyres was 188. In particular, the microfilament structures existed in plasma membrane of the sperm, which was adjacent to the acrosomal region on the nuclear membrane. The segmented columns were surrounded by microfilament structures, and the microfilament bundles were adjacent to the outer membrane of the first mitochondria of middle piece. This study presents for the first time the existence of microfilament structures within the plasma membrane of sperm which is located from the adjacent acrosome region to the connecting piece in sperm neck of Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae. The present result suggests that the constriction and extension of microfilament in sperm neck as well as the wave-movement of sperm tail may play a role in the movement of sperm head.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.514-522
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• 1995

In order to examine the interaction of albumin with the sperm during capacitation in mouse, proteins of cauda epididymal sperm were extracted under various conditions and analyzed with SDS-PAGE. Sperm surface labeling patterms were also examined using fluorochroin~conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Albumin was detached from the sperm surface during the incubation and seemed to be constituted the major protein components of the conditioned media in which sperm incubated for 90 mm. Detachment of albumin from the sperm was not affected by the Ca2+ in the medium. WGA-FITC labeling confirmed that Triton X-100 permeabilired plasma membrane overlaying the apical segment of sperm head and detached plasma membrane associated proteins having negatively charged glycoconjugates. BSA-FITC labeling of epididymal sperm occurred on the apical segment of periacrosoinal region and postacrosomal region of the head. BSA-FITC labeling was not observed in periacrosoinal region of the sperm treated with Ca2+-ionophore ~3187 (10 MM)~ whereas the postacrosome region of acrosome-reacted sperm was still labeled after the AR. These results suggest that albumin bound to the surface of epididymal sperm is detached during the capacitation process, and it might be involved In physiological change of sperm plasma membrane accompanying the capacitation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1991

In order to study the sperm-egg interaction during fertilization process in mouse, the effects of sperm concentration, the duration of capacitation and insemination, the stages of maturation and development of eggs, and sperm extracts and BSA on sperm binding to egg were examined. Sperm-egg binding was increased depending on sperm concentration within the range of $10^3-10^6$ sperm/ml. It showed the most numbers of sperm-egg binding at 60min from the beginning of preincubation(capacitation) and insemination, respectively. During sperm capacitation, sperm-egg binding inhibitor was released from sperm into the incubation medium. Sperm extracts containing trypsin-like enzyme which is secreted through the acrosome reaction increased the binding. BSA in the culture medium showed a positive effect on the binding. It is suggested that physicochemical alterations of zona pellucida in the process of maturation and fertilization of eggs leaded to inhibition of sperm-egg binding.