The high incidence of polyspermic fertilization is one of the major causes lowering the overall efficiency of porcine IVF. The common procedure for IVF involves the co-culture of both gametes in the medium drop, which increases sperm concentration and incidence of polyspermy. Therefore, the present study was carried out to increase the efficiency of porcine IVF by reducing polyspermy using a modified swim-up method. This method modifies conventional swim-up washing by placing oocytes directly at the time of washing. Sperm pellet was prepared in the tube and mature oocytes were placed on cell strainer with pore size (Falcon 2350) at the top of the tube. After insemination, the oocytes were stained for examination. Also, the developmental potential of fertilized embryos was measured to evaluate for the feasibility of this method. While having similar penetration rates in both methods (), there was a significant reduction of polyspermy in modified swim-up method () compare to the control ( (p<0.05). Subsequent culture showed higher rate of blastocyst formation in modified swim-up method (20.440.99%) than the control () (P<0.05), even though there was no significant difference. These results suggest that, by controlling the number of spermatozoa reaching the oocytes, porcine oocytes might be protected from polyspermy in vitro. Also, the developmental potential of the fertilized embryos using this method could be improved by increasing the pool of spermatozoa with better quality. Further optimization of the procedure required to implicate this method in routine porcine IVF.

Telomeres are the end of chromosomes and consist of a tandem repeat sequence of (TTAGGG)n and associated proteins. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which act as a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. Even though telomeres and telomerase have been studied extensively, very little is known about telomere dynamics in embryonic cells. This study was carried out to analyze the telomeres distribution and telomerase activity of chicken cells during embryonic and developmental stages. The target cells for analysing were sperms, ovulated ova, early embryonic cells and the cells from brain, heart, liver, kidney and germinal tissue in fetus. Telomeres distribution on target cells was analyzed by Q-FISH (Quantitation-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization) techniques using a chicken telomere repeat probe. Telomerase activity was performed by TRAP assay (Telomeric repeat Amplification Protocol) with target DNA. In results, the telomeres of chicken were found at the ends of all chromosomes. In addition, chicken had interstitial telomeres on chromosomes 1, 2 and 3. Telomerase activity was highly detectable in early embryonic cells, germinal tissues and kidney cells. Whereas telomerase activity was gradually down-regulated when the organs, including brain, heart, and liver, were developed from embryos. In the distribution of telomeric DNA on the embryonic and developmental stages, most of the cells was gradually decreased in telomere quantity during ontogenesis.

Telomere란 진핵세포에 존재하는 DNA-protein 복합체로서 염색체의 말단부에 tandem repeated DNA 서열 (TTAGGG)과 특정 단백질로 구성되어 있으며 세포 분열이 진행함에 따라 이의 길이가 짧아지게 되고 일정 길이 이하가 되면 세포의 사망이 유발된다. 반면 telomerase는 ribonucleoprotein으로서 telomeric DNA의 합성에 관여하는 것으로 염색체의 말단에 telomeric DNA의 소실을 보충하는 역할

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitrification solution(VS) on in vitro developmental competence of immature porcine oocytes. The immature porcine oocytes were exposed to the following vitrification solution, at RT. 1) EFS sol. : 20% ethylene glycol (EG) 3 min, 40% EG + 18%(w/v) Ficoll(MV70, 000) + 0.3 M sucrose 30 sec, 2) GE sol. : 10% glycerol 5 min, 10% G + 20% EG 5 min, 25% G +25% EG 30 sec, 3) EG sol : 1.5M EG 2.5 min, 5.5 M EG + 1.0 M sucrose 30 sec. Oocytes were immediately transferred into 1.0 M, 0.5 M, 0.25 M, 0125 M, 0 M sucrose solution for 2.5 min each at RT. After removal of VS, immature oocytes were matured in vitro and subsequently all oocytes were subjected to IVF followed in vitro culture for 7 days. Maturation rates of oocytes were 38.8%, 44.5%, 22.4% and 57.6%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, maturation rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.01). Fertilization rates of oocytes in Control was significantly higher than other treated groups(P<0.05), but no difference were observed among treated groups. Polyspermic rates were no significant difference among four groups. Cleavage rates of oocytes were 21.9%, 47.1%, 19.0% and 65.9%, in EFS, EG, GE and Control, respectively, cleavage rates of oocytes in EG and Control was significantly higher than EFS and GE(P<0.05), but blastocyst formation rates were no significant difference among four groups. These results suggested that the use of EG solution could be a great challenge for reaching a successful vitrification of immature porcine oocytes.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces well-documented mitogenic and differentiating effects on murine and bovine preimplantation embryos. However, the effects of EGF on apoptosis and implantation-related gene expression in bovine embryos developing in vitro have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous EGF in the presence and absence of BSA on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. In addition, we measured cell number, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis and implantation-related genes of the blastocysts that developed in these culture conditions. In vitro produced bovine embryos were randomly cultured in the same medium containing 0 or 10 ng/ml EGF in the presence and absence of 0.8% BSA. More 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts at day 7 when BSA was present than when BSA was absent. The addition of 10 ng/ EGF into the medium did not significantly increase the developmental rate and the cell numbers per blastocyst. However, addition of EGF in the presence of 0.8% BSA significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P<0.01). To investigate whether EGF modulates mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, mRNA was prepared from single blastocysts and each preparation was subjected to RT-PCR for Bcl-2 and Bax transcripts. EGF did not alter the relative abundance of Bax gene expression in the presence of BSA, but increase Bcl-2 (P<0.01) The relative abundance of Interferon tau expression was increased by EGF treatment in the presence of BSA. These results suggest that EGF and BSA synergistically enhance Bcl-2 and interferone tau gene expression, which may result in a net increase in viability in bovine embryos.

아미노산은 수정란의 체외생산에 있어서 배발달에 유효하게 작용한다. 이러한 이유로 체외배양 단계에 아미노산 첨가에 관한 보고는 많지만, 체외성숙 단계에서의 아미노산 효과와 관련된 보고는 소수이다. 본 실험에서는 먼저 체외성숙 배지에 NEAA와 EAA군들의 첨가 농도가 PB 출현율, 배발달율 그리고 생산된 배반포의 세포수에 미치는 영향과 더불어 새로운 아미노산원으로 LAH의 효과를 검토하였다. 체외성숙을 위한 난포란은 도축 한우 난소에서 2-8mm의 가시난

도축 소의 난소를 이용하여 체외에서 수정란 생산과 이식이 산업화에 접어들고 있지만, 그 기원이 되는 난소의 자질은 검토되어 있지 않고, 생산된 송아지의 자질 또한 의문시 되고 있는 실정이다. 본 실험에서는 도축 한우의 육질과 육량에 따른 배발달율을 조사하여 고품질 체외수정란의 생산에 기초를 확립 하고자 실시하였다. 한우 난소는 도축 직후에 개체별로 paper에 싸서, 0.9%생리식염수 (25-)가 들어있는 보온병에 담아 실험실로 운반하였다. 운반된 난소

체외에서 한우 난포란의 감수분열과 배발달 능력의 획득에는 단백질 합성이 수반되어야 한다. 그러나 이러한 변화와 관련된 연구 보고는 거의 전무한 실정이다. 본 실험은 난자의 핵성숙과 관련된 세포질내 단백질 변화를 파악하기 위하여, 체외성숙 시간에 다른 배발달율과 세포질내 단백질을 비교하여 배발달능력 획득과 관련 있는 단백질을 규명하고자 실시하였다. 한우 난소에서 2-8mm의 가시난포로부터 난포란을 회수하였다. 회수된 난포란은 10% FBS와 호르몬이 첨가

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose on embryonic development of mouse embryos. Two cell embryos were recovered from ICR female mice(3-4weeks) at 46~50 hrs after hCG 5 IU injection (mated just after hCG injection) and cultured in 50 DMEM droplets supplemented with nothing (control: n=46), glucose 0.5mM (Group A; n=46) or glucose 3.15 mM(Group B; n=46) under mineral oil. All experimental media were supplemented with 20% human follicular fluid. Total blastocyst formation rates was lower (NS) in glucose groups (group A: 52.2% : B. 47.8%) than control group (60.9%). ZiB rates was the highest (P<0.05) in control (47.8%) than those in group A (21.7%) and B (28.3%). ZeB rates were the highest (NS) in group A (30.4%) than those in control (13.0%) and group B (19.6%). Blastocysts, cultured in group B (50.5), had the highest (NS) mean cell number compared with the others (control: 39.2 ; group A: (45.6). The ICM proportion (% ICM of total cells) in blastocysts cultured in group A (20.6%) was the highest (NS) than those of other tested groups (control: 15.2 ; group B: 13.9%). This study shows that a low dose of glucose added to culture medium increases the ICM proportion of blastocysts in mice.

분만후 젖소의 자궁내 미생물상을 조사하고 미생물로부터 분리한 Lipopolysaccharide를 적용하여 소의 번식효율 증진에 기여하고자 분만후 젖소의 도축장 유래 자궁을 채취하여 혐기적 상태에서 균분리 동정을 실시하였다. 균분리 동정을 위하여, 시료를 1cm1cm로 채취하여 혐기상태에서 거품이 생길 때까지 vortexing한 후 균액 300를 뽑아 혐기배지에 도말하였고 도말한 plate는 혐기chamber에서 24시간 배양하였다. 혐기배지에서 자란 균

고능력 젖소와 보통능력 젖소의 번식능력을 비교하기 위하여 progesterone을 분석하여 분만후 초발정일을 추정하였고, 번식자료를 통하여 분만 후 번식성적을 조사하였으며, 또한 비유능력 및 Body condition score(BCS) 에 따른 program 투입 효과를 구명하기 위하여 분만 후 40일째에 를 1차 처리한 후 발정이 발현되지 않은 개체에 대하여 1 차 처리후 14일째에 다시 2차 를 처리하였고 2차 처리후에도 발정이 발현되지 않은 개체

The standard protocol for the production of transgenic mouse from ES-injected embryo has to process via chimera producing and several times breeding steps, In contrast, tetraploid-ES cell complementation method allows the immediate generation of targeted murine mutants from genetically modified ES cell clones. The advantage of this advanced technique is a simple and efficient without chimeric intermediates. Recently, this method has been significantly improved through the discovery that ES cells derived from hybrid strains support the development of viable ES mice more efficiently than inbred ES cells do. Therefore, the objective of this study was to generate transgenic mice overexpressing human resistin gene by using tetrapioid-ES cell complementation method. Human resistin gene was amplified from human fetal liver cDNA library by PCR and cloned into pCR 2.1 TOPO T-vector and constructed in pCMV-Tag4C vector. Human resistin mammalian expression plasmid was transfected into D3-GL ES cells by lipofectamine 2000, and then after 8~10 days of transfection, the human resistin-expressing cells were selected with G418. In order to produce tetraploid embryos, blastomeres of diploid embryos at the two-cell stage were fused with two times of electric pulse using 60 V 30 sec. (fusion rate : 93.5%) and cultured upto the blastocyst stage (development rate : 94.6%). The 15~20 previously G418-selected ES cells were injected into tetraploid blastocysts, and then transferred into the uterus of E2.5d pseudopregnant recipient mice. To investigate the gestation progress, two El9.5d fetus were recovered by Casarean section and one fetus was confirmed to contain human resistin gene by genomic DNA-PCR. Therefore, this finding demonstrates that tetraploid-ES mouse technology can be considered as a useful tool to produce transgenic mouse for the rapid analysis of gene function in vivo.

This study examined the viability of canine oocytes following storage at 4 or for 5 hrs. The ovaries were collected from domestic dog following ovariohysterectomy at a local veterinary clinics and transported to laboratory In two different transport temperature at 4 or within 5 hrs. The cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered after slicing with blade. In Exp. 1, the oocytes collected were matured in DMEM supplemented with l0% FBS, 0.6 mM/mlcysteine, 0.2 mM Pyruvic acid, 20 ng/ml and 1 rbST at humidified atmosphere containing 5% for 24 or 48 hrs to analysis of survivability. In Exp 2, to assess nuclear development at group, the oocytes were matured in maturation medium for 24, 48 or 96 hrs. Survivability was judged by a morphological appearance and PI staining. Survivability rates were analyzed by General Linear Models procedure in SAS. The survival rates at ovary transport group showed significantly lower than at group (0 vs 72.9% in 48 hrs and 13.2 vs 77 8% in 24 hrs; P<0.05). The nuclear development of oocytes to MI to MII stages at 24, 48 and 96 hrs was 8.3% (6/72), 8.9% (9/101), and 9.5% (8/84). These results showed that the canine oocytes were remarkably sensitive to a low temperature and did not increase nuclear development rate depend on maturation time to 96 hrs.

This study was conducted to determine the ability of nuclear development of canine oocytes depend on the kind of maturation media and addition of serum sources. Ovaries were collected from a bitches at various stages of estrus cycle by an ovariohysterectomy. Oocytes were collected of cumulus oocytes complexes after slicing of ovaries with blade. The maturation medium was containing 0.6 mM/ml cysteine, 0.2 mM pyruvic acid, 20 ng/ml and 1 rbST Exp. 1, the oocytes were matured in four different maturation medium as follows: 1) TCM-199, 2) DMEM, 3) NCSU37 and 4) modified-NCSU37 with 10% FBS. Exp. 2: the oocytes were matured in mNCSU37 supplemented with different protein sources (10% FBS, 10% EDS, 0.3% BSA and 0.1% PVA) to select the optimal one. Oocytes were matured in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% at for 72 hrs. The maturation rate were analyzed by Duncan's multiple range test using General Linear Models procedure in SAS. The rates of meiotic resumption to MI-MII depend on different culture media were achieved with TCM-199 (5.2%), DMEM (5.0%), NCSU37 (7.2%) and m-NCSU37 (5.9%), respectively. The rates of meiotic resumption to MI-MII according to addition of protein source were 10% FBS (13.3%), 10% EDS (25.0%), 0.3% BSA (25.0%) and 0.1% PVA (15.4%), respectively. In conclusion, the results obtained showed that in vitro maturation media and protein supplement to m-NCSU37 culture medium tested did not promote the final steps of IVM in canine oocytes.

The successful development of embryos cloned by nuclear transfer (NT)have been dependent on a wide range of known factors including cell cycle of donor and recipient ooplast, oocyte quality, NT procedure and oocyte activation. The present study compared the development of cloned porcine embryos following different activation treatments. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from 26 mm follicles of slaughterhouse ovaries and cultured for 22 h in NCSU #23 medium supplemented with 10% porcine follicular fluid, 0.57 mM cysteine, 0.5 g/mL LH, 0.5 g/mL FSH and 10 ng/mL EGF. The COCs were further cultured for an additional 22 h in the same medium at in an atmosphere of 5% in air, without hormonal supplements. Primary cultures of fibroblasts isolated from a female fetus on day 40 of gestation were established in DMEM + 15% FCS. For nuclear donation, cells at the 5th-6th passage were cultured in DMEM +0.5% FCS for 5 days in order to arrest the cells in G0/Gl. After enucleation, oocytes were reconstructed by transfer of donor cells and fusion with three DC pulses (1.4 KV/cm, 30 sec) in 0.28 M mannitol containing 0.01 mM and 0.01 mM . Eggs were then divided into three treatment groups, control (without further treatment, Group 1), eggs cultured in 10 g/ml cycloheximide (CHX) for 5 h (Group 2), and eggs cultured in 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 5 h (Group 3). The eggs were then cultured in sets of 30 in 60 I drops of NCSU#23 supplemented with 4mg/ml BSA (essentially fatty acid free) until day 7 at in a humidified atmosphere of 5% . On day 4 the culture were fed by adding 20 I NCSU #23 supplemented with 10% FBS. Development rates into blastocysts were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Group 3 embryos compared to Group 1 controls (, respectively), but rates did not differ in Group 2 compared to control (). Total cell number in Group 3 blastocysts was however significantly higher (P<0.05) than in Groups 1 and 2 (, respectively). These results suggest that 6-DMAP is more efficient than cycloheximide in the activation of electrically fused NT oocytes during in vitro production of cloned porcine embryos.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of GnRH or estradiol in a CIDR-based timed Al (TAI) protocol on follicular turnover, synchronized ovulation and pregnancy rates in Holstein cows. Cows were treated at random stages of the estrus cycle with an insertion of an intravigal progesterone (1.9 g) device (CIDR, Day 0) and either no other treatment (control group; n=10), injection of 100 ug fertirelin acetate (GnRH group; n=10) or 4 mg estradiol benzoate (estradiol group; n=10). Seven days later devices were removed and an injection of 25 mg PGF2a was administered. On Day 9, 100 ug GnRH was administered. Cows received a fixed-time insemination 16 h after injection of the GnRH.

유전적으로 우수한 미경산우를 선발하여 조기에 우수한 수정란을 생산하여 이식 후 개량을 촉진한다는 것은 소의 육종개량에서 매우 중요한 일이다. 일반적으로 경산우에 비해 미경산우는 수정란의 생산효율이 떨어진다는 보고가 있다. 최근에는 다배란 처리시 FSH와 Estradiol Benzoate(EB)를 사용하여 다배란처리 효율을 개선하였다는 보고(Matoba 등, 2002)가 있어 EB의 첨가가 미경산우에 있어 수정란 생산 효율을 개선하는 지를 조사하기 위해

본 연구의 목적은 젖소에서 다배란유기법의 확립을 위해서 호르몬을 처리법을 달리한 결과이다. 난포의 발생을 자극하는 FSH 호르몬을 하루에 2번의 호르몬 주사를 하는 데, 이는 혈액내에 난포자극호르몬의 농도를 연속적으로 유지하여 난소에서 다난포 발생의 목적을 달성하고자 하는 방법이다. 하지만 빈번하게 호르몬을 주사하는 방법은 처리하는 노력이 필요하고 공란우도 스트레스로 작용한다. 이러한 단점을 극복하기 위해 한번에 많은 난포의 성숙을 유도하는 다배란처리법

The aims of this study are 1) to test oocytes and embryos collected from in-vivo and in-vitro to achieving the valuable protocol by culturing, vitrifying and thawing of oocytes/embryos, and 2) to transfer them to recipient, and finally have resulted in pregnancies from recipient females after surgical or nonsurgical transfer. In vitro maturation and fertilization were performed according to the procedures of Funahashi et al. Fertilized oocytes were cultured in glucose-free NCSU 23 supplemented with 5 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.5 mM sodium lactate and 4 mg/ml bovine serum albumin for 2 days at 39, and 10% fetal bovine serum was added to the culture medium thereafter. Embryos were treated with 7.5g/ml cytochalasin-B for 30 min, centrifuged at 13,000 g for 13 min and then exposed sequentially to an ethylene glycol (EG) vitrification solution, aspirated into OPSs, and plunged/thawed into/from liquid nitrogen. In vivo embryos were surgically collected from three donors after Al. Forty-six embryos (18, 9 and 19 embryos, respectively) were washed 3 times in mPBS+10%FBS, followed treatments : cultured, centrifuged, vitrified, recovered and transferred to recipients as in vitro prepared embryos. Three recipients received surgically 34(control), 188 and 184 embryos (derived from abattoir), respectively. Another three recipients were received nonsurgically 150, 100 and 150 embryos, respectively. All recipient sows exhibited delayed returns to estrus. To our knowledge, these results suggest that required an improved techniques, more vigorous embryos preparation and cleaner uterous condition(use gilt).

번식효율이 높은 우수한 후보종빈돈의 조기선발기술을 개발하기 위해 후보종빈돈의 첫발정일령과 첫수정일령에 미치는 요인을 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 본 시험에 공시된 후보종빈돈은 충남 천안시에 위치하고 있는 양돈장에서 자돈을 생산ㆍ육성하여 체중 80~90kg에서 선발하였고, 체중이 약 110kg 도달하였을 때 최종 선발하여 이용하였으며, 사양관리는 양돈장의 관행에 따라 실시하였다. 첫발정조사는 생후 22주령때 부터 매일 아침, 저녁으로 2회씩 외음부의 충혈