• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2008

Our previous study showed that transgenic (TG) pigs harboring human EPO (hEPO) gene have been shown to have reproductive disorders, including low pregnancy rates, irregular estrus cycle and low little size. To investigate these reasons, we assessed estrus behavior (standing response) and plasma $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) level, which partly reflect reproductive function, during the estrus cycles after synchronization and superovulation by hormone treatments. Then, we analysed blood composition and expression of hEPO gene in TG pigs. Pigs were injected with PG600. After 10 days, pigs were fed with Regumate porcine for 6 days. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein. Analysis of blood composition and $E_2$ level were measured by Hemavet 950 and $E_2$ ELISA kit, respectively. And, the expression of hEPO gene in reproductive organs was quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. The percentage of estrus behavior in TG was significantly decreased. Hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and red blood cell (RBC) number were significantly higher in TG than wild type (WT). On the other hand, high expression of hEPO gene in TG was observed in the mammary gland as well as in the uterus. Moreover, plasma $E_2$ level was significantly higher in TG than WT. These results suggest that nonspecific expression of hEPO gene in the other organs of TG may affect blood composition and plasma $E_2$ level, thereby causing reproductive disorders.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.250-250
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the number of spermatozoa and insemination section(field) of reproductive organs at artificial insemination using laparoscopy(Fiber optic laparoscopic system, Good-Gene Co., Korea) in deer(Elk) and cattle. Twenty six elk does and fifteen cows were inserted CIDR into virginia during 12∼14 days for synchronization of estrus. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2001

This study was to examine whether the vitrified, one-step diluted and direct transferred Hanwoo IVM/IVF/IVC blastocysts can be successfully survived in vivo and they were succeeded into the live birth. For vitrification, blastocysts were serially exposed in glycerol (G) or/and ethylene glycol (EG) mixtures [10% (v/v) G for 5 min, 10% G plus 20% EG (v/v) for 5 min, and 25% G plus 25% EG (v/v) for 30 sect] which is diluted in 10% FBS added D-PBS. Thawing of straw was carried out in air for 10 sec and then in water bath of $25^{\circ}C$ for 20 sec. One-step dilution within the straw was done in water bath of $25^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. Vitrified and one-step diluted embryos were directly transferred into 36 (natural or hormone induced synchronized) recipient cows in 6 areas of Kyungsang Buk-Do. Pregnancies were confirmed at first when recipient cows did not return to the subsequent estrus cycle, and later by manual palpation per rectum on day 45, 90 and then living calves were derived into parturition. Overall pregnancy was 33.3%(12/36), However, higher pregnancy was obtained when the recipients exhibited estrus one day earlier than the age of transferred embryos (53.3 vs 25.0-27.3%), irrespective of synchronization methods. Also, parous recipients became pregnant higher than nulliparous heifers, And, there were not different in pregnancy rates by the aspect of corpus luteum (CL) quality of recipients (good, 29.4; fair, 37.5; poor, 33.3%). One hundred eight of frozen-thawed Hanwoo blastocysts were directly transferred into 36 recipient cows. In 12 of pregnant cows, 3 cows were aborted and 9 cows were calved [single, 66.7% (6/9): twin, 33.3% (3/9)]. Total embryo implantation rate was 11.1% (12/108). However, 9 Hanwoo calves were lived. Therefore, these results demonstrate that direct transfer technique of vitrified and one-step diluted bovine blastocysts can be applied easily and effectively with the higher pregnancy rate on field trial without the equipment and embryological skills.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2017

Embryo transfer (ET) could be a relevant tool for genetic improvement programs in horses similar to those already underway in other species and produce multiple foals from the same mare in one breeding season. However, there have been no reports describing equine embryo transfer performed in Korea. In the present study, we performed an equine embryo collection and transfer procedure for the first time. We examined the embryo collection and pregnancy, size of embryo during the incubation period after collection, and progesterone (P4) and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) concentrations in mare's serum at embryo collection and transfer. A total of 16 donors responded to estrus synchronization; estrus was induced in 12 donors and 4 recipients, and artificial insemination was successful in 10 donors and six blastocysts were collected from donors. Of these blastocysts, we monitored the size of blastocysts for 3 day during incubation and transferred 2 blastocysts to a recipient, with 1 successful pregnancy and foal achieved. The dimensions of equine embryo at day 7 to day 9 were $409{\mu}m$, $814{\mu}m$ and $1,200{\mu}m$. The serum P4 and E2 concentrations were $7.91{\pm}0.37ng/{\mu}L$ and $45.45{\pm}12.65ng/{\mu}L$ in the donor mare, and 1$6.06{\pm}3.27ng/{\mu}L$ and $49.13{\pm}10.09ng/{\mu}L$ in the recipient mare.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2007

The present study was conducted to examine some factors affecting in vitro development and fecundity of embryos recloned with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Fibroblast cells retrieved from the ear of a 3-week-old, cloned Korean goat (Jinsoonny) were used as karyoplast donors and serum-starvation was conducted in tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with 0.5% FBS. Recipient oocytes were surgically collected by flushing the oviducts 35 h after hCG injection following FSH priming. The zonae pellucidae of the oocytes were partially perforated with a laser drill and a donor cell was transferred into an enucleated oocyte. The couplets were electrically fused and activated by ionomycin (5 min) and 6-DMAP (4 h). The reconstructed embryos were cultured in mSOF medium containing 0.8% BSA at $39^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$, 5% $%O_2$, 90% $N_2$ for 12 to 15 h. Re-cloned embryos (2- to 4-cell stages) were surgically transferred into the oviducts of the recipients and pregnancy was subsequently diagnosed by progesterone assay and ultrasound on Days 21 and 63 of pregnancy. The fusion rate following 1st fusion pulse was higher (p<0.05) in 2nd cloning (65.9%) compared to 1st cloning (51.0%), but it was not different in the other groups. The rate of cleavage after fusion was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 1st (77.7%) than in 2nd cloning (56.0%). A total of 175 re-cloned embryos were transferred into 28 recipients. On day 21 and 60 after transfer, 11 (39.3%) and 4 recipients (17.4%) were pregnancy, respectively. In comparison of pregnancy rate by estrous synchronization, a total of 66 and 109 re-cloned embryos were transferred into 11 recipients in natural estrus and 17 recipients in induced estrus, respectively. Five (45.4%) and 2 recipients (18.2%) in natural estrus were pregnant on days 21 and 63 while 6 (35.3%) and 2 (11.8%) recipients in induced estrus were pregnant, respectively. These results show that recloning of goat can be achieved by SCNT and estrous synchronization between donor and recipient animals may be one of the major factors affecting success rate.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-72
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• 2002

Two trials were conducted in a commercial dairy on heifer synchronization with PGF$_2$$\alpha$. Animals showing estrous following the first injection were bred and animals not showing estrus were given the second injection 10 days later. In the first trial, the injection routes were rump and rump. In the second trial, the injection routes were rump and shoulder. Estrous detection were performed from 24 h after injection. Animals were bred by the same technician. In the first trial, the response rate for the first injection was 51.4% and the subsequent pregnancy rate of these animals was 60.0%. The response rate in the second injection was 57.1% and the pregnancy rate was 50.0%. In the second trial, the response rate in the first injection on the rump was 48.7% and the subsequent pregnancy rate was 70.6%. The second injection was given on the shoulder and the response rate was 60.0% and the subsequent pregnancy rate was 25.0%. The data suggest that the route of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ administration was critical to achieve success in estrous synchronization and pregnancy rates.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 1983

Animal in dustry in Korea urgently needs the domestic introduction and the industrial a, pp.ication of embryo transfer technique. Namely, this technique can be utilized effectively, as means of the improvement of livestocks, as means of the increase of meat production, as means of substitute for the livestock import, and dissemination of new breed. However, as this technique avaliable in our country is remaining initial stage, we can not make use of the technique industrially unless we make much improvement as follows; induction of superovulation, non-surgical recovery of embryos, synchronization between the estrus such cycles of donor and recipient, non-surgical transfer of embryos, etc. Simultaneously, the basic studies such as harvesting oocytes from ovary, in vitro culture of oocytes, in vitro capacitation of spermatozoa, cloning by culture of blastomeres and transfer of nuclei, sexing embryo, etc. should not be neglected in order to make the technique of embryo transfer more simple and convenient. For the success of these studies, universities, national and public institutes, large scale cattle farms, and small scale cattle farms should cooperate each other. For instance, universities undertake basic researches, and the national and public institutes a, pp.y the results of the researches to animal industry along with cooperation by large scale cattle farms. By the help of the cooperative organizations, the technique relevant to our environment and farm condition may be able to be finalized, and to be a, pp.ied to samll scale cattle farm. Consequently, being served to stimulate animal productivity, this technique can be contributed to the development of livestock industry in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.64-75
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• 2000

During the last three decades considerable advances has been made in goat embryo production and transfer technology. The Korean native black goat is the most useful domestic ruminant in this country for biological investigation and application because it has a lot of merits such as relatively short generation period (1 vs 2 year for a cow), easy of handling, well adaptation, high fertility, convenient and inexpensive. This article covers the methods of superovulation, estrus synchronization, embryo collection and transfer techniques, pregnancy diagnosis and subsequent pregnancy and kidding rates for the production of transgenic Korean native black goats. More than one hundred goat kids have been produced as a result of our transgenic goat project via microinjection of foreign gene into pronuclei, in vitro culture, transfer of various stages of fresh and frozen-thawed microinjected embryos into oviducts or uteri of recipient does. We have got two transgenic goats carrying a transgene targeting the expression of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF) to the mammary gland so far. Since collection and transfer of embryos in this species is usually accomplished by laparotomy, exteriorization of the reproductive tract for surgical embryo collection leads to the formation of post-operative adhesions. Nonsurgical or laparoscopic technique to reduce adhesions from repeated surgeries has great advantages in improving embryo production and transfer especially from valuable donors. We will discuss this later.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.64-75
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• 2000

During the last three decades considerable advances has been made in goat embryo production and transfer technology. The Korean native black goat is the most useful domestic ruminant in this country for biological investigation and application because it has a lot of merits such as relatively short generation period(1 vs 2 year for a cow), easy of handling, well adaptation, high fertility, convenient and inexpensive. This article covers the methods of superovulation, estrus synchronization, embryo collection and transfer techniques, pregnancy diagnosis and subsequent pregnancy and kidding rates for the production of transgenic Korean native black goats. More than one hundred goat kids have been produced as a result of our transgenic goat project via microinjection of foreign gene into pronuclei, in vitro culture, transfer of various stages of fresh and frozen-thawed microinjected embryos into oviducts or uteri of recipient does. We have got two transgenic goats carrying a transgene targeting the expression of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor(hG-CSF) to the mammary gland so far. Since collection and transfer of embryos in this species is usually accomplished by laparotomy, exteriorization of the reproductive tract for surgical embryo collection leads to the formation of post-operative adhesions. Nonsurgical or laparoscopic technique to reduce adhesions from repeated surgeries has great advantages in improving embryo production and transfer especially from valuable donors. We will discuss this later.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.156-166
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• 2024

Pigs are genetically, anatomically, and physiologically similar to humans. Recently, pigs are in the spotlight as a suitable source animal for xenotransplantation. However, to use pigs as source animals, pigs should be raised in designated pathogen-free facilities. There is abundant data from embryo transfer (ET) experiments using farm pigs as surrogates, but data on ET experiments using minipigs are scarce. Eighty minipigs were used for ET experiments and after transplantation, the implantation and delivery rates were investigated. It was also confirmed whether the pregnancy rate could be increased by changing the condition or surgical method of the surrogate. In the case of minipigs that gave birth, the size of the fetal sac on the 28th day of ET was also measured. The factors that can affect the pregnancy rate such as estrus synchronization program, ovulation status at the time of ET, the number of repeated ET surgeries, and the ET sites, were changed, and the differences on the pregnancy rate were observed. However there were no significant differences in pregnancy rate in minipigs. The diameter of the implanted fetal sac on the 28th day after ET in the minipigs whose delivery was confirmed was calculated to be 4.7 ± 0.5 cm. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in pregnancy rate of minipigs in the comparative experiment on various factors affecting the pregnancy rate. However, additional experiments and analyses are needed due to the large individual differences of the minipigs.