• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1996

For a large sclase production of genetically identical or cloned animals, the effect of cryopreservation by vitrification on the post-thaw viability of nuclear transplant rabbit embryos were investigated. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected from the mated does at 48 hours post-hCG injection, and they were synchronized to G1 phase of 32-cell stage were injected into enucleated recipient cytoplasms by micromanipulation. After culture until 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused and activated by electrical stimulation. After in vitro culture for 48h, the nuclear transplant embryos developed to morula stage were cryoperserved with EFS solution by vitrification method. The forzen nuclear transplant embryos were thawed and cultured for 72h and the nuclear transplant of blastomeres under a fluorescence microscopy. The in vitro development to blastocyst of intact-fresh and intact-frozen 16-cell embryos was found to be 96.9 and 63.9%, respectively. The in vitro development to blastocyst of nuclear transplant and frozen-thawed nuclear transplant embryos was found to be 74.5 and 42.9%, respectively. Also, their mean blastomere numbers and mean cell cycles/day was 153 and 105, 145 and 1.34, respectively. From the above results it was concluded that the present cryopreservation by vitrification of nuclear transplant rabbit embryos might be useful though was decreased significantly.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 1995

Production of calves after transfer of nuclear transplant embryos is the latest technology to be applied in commercial livestock breeding. The objective of this study was to establish an efficient procedure to produce offsprings from nuclear transplant embryos. The fusion rates (72.7% vs. 80.8%), cleavage rates (62.5% vs. 71.4%) and rates of development in vitro (12.0% vs. 15.2%) of nuclear transplant embryos were not significantly different between 30 and 40h maturation age of cytoplast. The in vivo and in vitro-derived embryos as nuclei donor were used in this system of bovine nuclear transplantation. Fusion rates of nuclear transplant embryos were not significantly different between in vivo and in vitro-derived embryos (73.0 and 79.2%, respectively). The percentage of embryos reaching the morulae or blastocysts were 21.8% for in vivo-derived embryos and 11.9% for in vitro-derived embryos (p<0.01). Pregnancy rates after embryo transfer of nuclear transplant embryos were not significantly different between in vivo and in vitro-derived embryos (45.9 and 40.5%, respectively). However, calving rates after embryo transfer of nuclear transplant embryos were significantly higher in the in vivo-derived embryos than in vitro (p<0.01). Further research for age of cytoplast and use of in vitro-derived embryos as nuclei donor is required in this system. In conclusion, these results clearly show that the use of in vitro-derived oocytes as recipient cytoplast can improve the nuclear transplant system for genetic progress in cattle.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 1994

This study was to investigate the effects of electrofusion, activation and developmental stage of donor embryos on in vitro development of nuclear transplant bovine embryos. A single blastomere nucleus from 8-cell to morula stage embryos produced by in vitro fertilization(IVF) was transferred into a recipient oocyte enucleated at 23∼25 h after in vitro maturation(IVM) or into a recipient oocyte enucleated and cultured for 14∼15 h. In one experiment the nuclear transplant embryos were subjected to additional activation treatments. Fusion rate of nuclear transplant eggs was high at direct current(D.C) voltages of 1.0 and 1.5 kV/cm 991.5 and 93.3%, respectively), but decreased at 2.0kV/cm (81.8%). Additional activation treatments by electric pulases or 7% ethanol did not affect the cleavage and development of nuclear transplant embryos. Development of nuclear transplant embryos slightly increased by delayed nuclear transfer and fusion (42∼43 h after IVM). With this system, blastocysts were obtained from transfer of 8-cell to morula stage donor nuclei (9.6%∼2.4%). The result of this study suggests that nucleo-cytoplasmic interactins, expecially activation of ooplast are very important for the development of nuclear transplant embryos, and donor cell stage does not affect the development of nuclear transplant embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of S-phase synthronized nuclear transfer on the development of nuclear transplant bovine embryos. A blastomere derived from the 16~32 cell stage bovine embryos was transferred into an enucleated metaphase II(MII) oocytes or activated S-phase eggs. From the MII-phase and S-phase nuclear transfer, 6.3%(4/63) and 13.8%(9/65) of nuclear transplant embryos developed to the blastocyst stage, respectively. In the S-phase nuclear transfer, maximal proportion of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage(16.6%) was obtained after the recipient cell was activated 8 h prior to receving a donor nucleus. MII-phase nuclear transplant embryos showed the PCC state of their nuclear at 1.5~2 h after fusion, whereas, S-phase nuclear transplant embryos did not undergo PCC. The result of this study suggests that if blastomeres of unknown cell-cycle-stage are used, S-phase nuclear transplantation through the activation of enucleated oocytes prior to fusion enhances development of nuclear transplant embryos. This result also suggests that the interval time from oocyte activation to cell fusion may affect the development of nuclear transplant embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 1997

To examine the efficiency of nuclear transplantation the influence of electrical preactivation of recipient cytoplasm on the in vitro developmental potentyl in the nuclear transplant rabbit embryos were evaluated. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected and synchronized to G1 phase of 32-cell stage. The recipient cytoplasms were obtained by removing the first polar body and chromosome mass by non-disruptive microsurgery procedure. The separated G1 phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were put into the non-preactivated and/or the preactivated recipient cytoplasm by electrical stimulation. After culture until 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused. The fused nuclear transplant embryos were co-cultured with rabbit oviduct epithelial cells and monitored every 24h to assess for developmental rate. After in vitro culture for 120h, the nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33342 and their blastomere were counted. The electrofusion rate was similar to the non-preactivated and preactivated recipient cytoplasm(81.8 and 85.7%, respectively). However, the in vitro developmental rate to blastocyst stage with the non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm (57.1%) was found significantly (P<0.05) higher, compared to the preactivated recipient cytoplasm(20.8%). The cell counts of nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastosyst stage were increased significantly (P<0.05) more in the non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm (163.7 cells), as compared with the preactivated recipient cytoplasm(85.4 cells). These results considered better that non-preactivated oocytes, MII phase oocytes, were used for recipient cytoplasms in the rabbit nuclear transplant procedure.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 1996

To improve the efficiency of nuclear transplantation in the rabbit, this study were evaluated the influence of celly cycle of donor nuclei on the in vitro developmental potential in the nuclear transplant embryos. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected from the mated does at 48h post-hCG injection and they were synchronized to G1 phase of 32-cell stage. Synchronization of the cell cylce of blastomeres were induced, first, using an microtubules polymerization inhibitor, 0.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml colcemid for 10h to arrest blastomeres in metaphase, and secondly, using a DNA synthesis inhibitor, 0.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml aphidicolin for 1.5 to 2h to cleave to 32-cell stage and arrest them in G1 phase. The separated G1 phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were injectied into enucleated recipient cytoplasms by micromanipulation. After culture until 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused and activated by electrical stimulation. The nuclear transplant embryos were co-cultured for 120h. In vitro cultured embryos were monitored every 24h to assess for development rate. After in vitro cultue for 120h, the nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye for counting the number of blastomeres under a fluorescence microscopy. The cleavage rate of blastomeres from 16-cell stage stage rabbit embryos treated with colcemid for 10h or aphidicolin for 6h following colcemid for 10h were not significantly different. The electrofusion rate was similar by high in S and G1 phase donor nuclei as 80.6 and 79.1%, respectively. However, the nuclear transplant embryos using G1 phase donor nuclei were developed to blastocyst at high rate(60.3%) than those using S phase donor nuclei(26.0%). Moreover, the mean blastocyst stage were increased significantly(P<0.05) with the G1 phase donor nuclei(176.6 cells and 1.50 cycles), as compared with the S phase donor nuclei(136.6 cells and 1.42 cycles). These results show that the blastomeres of G1 phase were more successful as donor nuclei in the nuclear transplant procedure, compared with S phase.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 1997

To improve the efficiency of production of cloned embryos and animals by nuclear transplantation in the rabbit, the effect of cell cycle of donor nuclei and type of recipient cytoplasm on the in vitro developmental potential and production efficiency of offspring was determined. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected from the mated does at 48h post-hCG injection and they were synchronized to G$_1$ phase of 32-cell stage. The oocytes collected at 14h post-hCG injection were freed from cumulus cells and then enucleated. One group of the enucleated cytoplasms was activated by electrical stimulation prior to injection of donor nucleus, and the other group was not pre-activated. The separated G$_1$phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage embryos were injected into the perivitelline space of recipient cytoplasms. After culture for 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused and activated by electrical stimulation and the fused nuclear transplant embryos were co-cultured for 120h and the nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and their blastomeres were counted. Some of the nuclear transplant embryos developed in vitro to 2- to 4-cell stage were transferred into the oviducts of synchronized recipient does. The electrofusion rate was similar between the types of donor nuclei and recipient cytoplasms used. However, the nuclear transplant embryos using G$_1$ phase donor nuclei were developed to blastocyst at higher rate(60.3%) than those using S phase ones(24.7%). Also, when non-preactivated oocytes were used as recipient cytplasms, the develop-mental rates of nuclear transplant embryos to blastocysts were significantly(P< 0.05) higher(57.1%) than those using preactivated ones(20.8%). The cell counts of nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastosyst stage were increased signficantly(P<0.05) more in the non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm(163.7 cells), as compared whit the preactivated recipient cytoplasm(85.4 cells), A total of 49 nuclear transplant embryos were tranferrid into 5 recipient does, of which two offsprings were produced from a foster mother 31 days after embryo transfer. these results showed that the blastomeres of G1 phase and non-preactivated oocytes might be utillzed efficiently as donor nuclei and recipient cytoplasms in the nuclear transplant procedure, thought the offspring production remained still low.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 1997

Chromosome condensation and swelling of the donor nucleus have been known as the early morphological indicators of chromatin remodelling after injection of a foreign nucleus into an enucleated recipient cytoplasm. The effects of non-preactivation and electrical preactivation of recipient cytoplasm, prior to fusing a donor nucleus, on the profile of nuclear remodelling in the nuclear transplant rabbit embryos were evaluated. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected and synchronized to G1 phase of 32-cell stage. The recipient cytoplasms were obtained by removing the first polar body and chromosome mass by non-disruptive microsurgical procedure. The separated G1 phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were injected into non-preactivated recipient cytoplasms. Otherwise, the enucleated recipient cytoplasms were preactivated by electrical stimulation and the separated G1 phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were injected. After culture until 20h post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused by electrical stimulation. The nuclei of nuclear transplant embryos fused into non-preactivated and/or preactivated recipient cytoplasm were stained by Hoechst 33342 at 0, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 hrs post-fusion and were observed under an fluorescence microscopy. Accurate measurements of nuclear diameter were revealed with an ocular micrometer at 200$\times$. Upon blastomere fusion into non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm, a prematurely chromosome condensation at 1.5 hrs post-fusion and nuclear swelling at 8 hrs post-fusion were occurred as 91.6% and 86.1%, respectively. But the nuclei of nuclear transplant embryos fused into preactivated recipient cytoplasm, as o, pp.sed to non-preactivated recipient cytoplasm, were not occurred chromosome condensation and extensive nuclear swelling. Nuclear diameter fused into non-preactivated and preactivated recipient cytoplasm at hrs post-fusion was 30.2$\pm$0.74 and 15.2$\pm$1.32${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively. These results indicated that onset of unclear condensation and swelling which was associated with oocytes activation were critical steps in the process of chromatin swelling. Futhermore, complete reprogramming seemed only possible after remodelling of the donor nucleus by chromosome condensation and nuclear swelling.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1997

The influence of cryopreservation of donor embryos on the in vitro developmental potential in the nuclear transplant rabbit embryos was evaluated. The embryos of 16-cell stage were collected and cryopreserved with EFS solution by vitrification method. The frozen embryos were thawed and synchronized to S and G$_1$ phase of 32-cell stage. The recipient/ cytoplasms were obtained by removing the first polar body and chromosome mass from the oocytes collected by non-disruptive microsurgery procedure. The separated S and G$_1$ phase blastomeres of 32-cell stage were injected into enucleated recipient cytoplasms by micromanipulation. After culture until 20 hrs post-hCG injection, the nuclear transplant oocytes were electrofused and activated by electrical stimulation. The fused nuclear transplant embryos were co-cultured with rabbit oviduct epithelial cells. After in vitro culture for 120 hrs, the nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastocyst stage were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and their blastomeres were counted. The electrofusion rate was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the frozen nuclear donor,compared with fresh donor nuclei as 80.0 vs 62.8% in S phase and 81.7 vs 64.8% in G$_1$phase, respectivley. The in vitro developmental rate to blastocyst stage with the S and G$_1$phase of fresh embryos(26.3 and 61.1%, respectively) was found significantly (P<0.05) higher, compared to the S and G]phase of frozen embryos(11.9 and 34.6%, respectively). When frozen as well as fresh donor embryos were synchronized to G$_1$ phase, the in vitro developmental rate to blastocyst stage was significantly (P<0.05) higher, compared with S phase donor nuclei. The cell counts of nuclear transplant embryos developed to blastosyst stage were significantly (P<0.05) more in G$_1$ phase of fresh or frozen embryos (180.1 and 125.7 cells, respectively), compared with S phase nuclear donor (145.1 and 103.7 cells, respectively). From the above results it was concluded that the rabbit embryos cryo- preserved by vitrification might be available as nuclear donor, though the developmentalpotential and cell counts of nuclear transplant rabbit embryos were decreased significantly.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.199-201
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• 2003

A 38-year-old woman with end stage renal disease received a living related donor-renal transplant to the right iliac fossa. She developed anuria a week later Tc-99m $MAG_3$ renal scintigraphy demonstrated no perfusion, uptake, or excretion of the radioactive tracer from the renal transplant. The expected area of the renal allograft appeared as a photopenic area with increased rim activity. The gallbladder and bowel activities were observed on delayed images at 24 hours. There was no blood flow within the renal artery on renal doppler examination. This case shows total absence of perfusion and function in the infarcted renal transplant with extrarenal excretion of Tc-99m $MAG_3$ caused by acute renal artery thrombosis.