DNA methylation at CpG sites, which is a epigenetic modification, is associated with gene expression without change of DNA sequences. During early mouse embryogenesis, dynamic changes of DNA methylation occur. In this study, DNA methylation patterns of porcine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro were examined at various developmental stages by the immunocytochemical staining method. Interestingly, active demethylation was not observed on the paternal pronucleus of porcine zygotes. However, differences were detected in the passive demethylation process between in vivo and in vitro embryos. There was no change in the DNA methylation state until the blastocyst stage of in vivo embryos, whereas partial demethylation was observed in several blastomeres from a 4 cell stage to a morula stage of in vitro embryos. The whole genome of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in porcine blastocysts were evenly methylated without de novo methylation. Our findings demonstrate that genome-wide demethylation does not occur in pig embryos during preimplantation development unlike murine and bovine embryos. It indicates that the machinery regulating epigenetic reprogramming may be different between species.

Soluble-NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins play a role in vesicle fusion, exocytosis, and intracellular trafficking in neuronal cells as well as in fertilization and embryogenesis. We investigated the expression patterns of two SNARE proteins, SNAP-25 and synaptotagmin VII (SytVII), and their regulation by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) during mouse ovarian follicular development. Ovaries were obtained at 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h post-PMSG injection of immature mice. SNAP-25 and SytVII mRNA expression levels increased gradually in a time-dependant manner. However, protein levels revealed different patterns of expression, suggesting different translational regulation following PMSG stimulation. SNAP-25 and SytVII expression was closely associated with thickening of the granulosa cell (GC) layer and follicle morphological changes from a flattened to a cuboidal shape. To explore follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)-mediated regulation of their expression, GCs from preantral follicles were cultured to examine the effects of FSHR siRNA knockdown. FSHR siRNA abolished upregulation of the SNAREs in both PMSG and FSH-stimulated GCs. This abolished gene expression was rescued by adding dibutyryl cyclic AMP to the cultures. These results suggest that SNAP-25 and SytVII expression is regulated via the FSHR-cAMP pathway during follicular development.

Bovine embryos produced by in vitro maturation, feretilization and development was examined for presevation and transfer. The fertilization medium used BO medium with 5 mM/ caffeine and 10/ heparin and adjusted to a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. The final concentration of spermatozoa was adjusted to 1 cells/ motile sperm during fertilization in vitro. At 8~10 hrs after insemination, the oocytes were transferred into CR1aa medium and cultured for 7 days. Embryos were preserved by vitrification method for transfer. When the embryos of early, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages were frozen-thawed, the proportions of embryos with normal morphology 83.6, 88.1 and 85.2%. (중략)

The purpose of this is to investigate the effects of vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS) on in vitro survival of porcine embryos. Blastocysts were produced by in vitro fertilization of slaughterhouse-derived, in vitro matured oocytes with frozen-thawed boar semen, and subsequent culture on granulosa cell monolayer. After frozen-thawing, embryos were culture in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 4 mg/ BSA and 10 ng/ for 48 hrs to survival tests. When blastocysts were frozen-thawed by OPS methods, the embryos with normal morphology were 32.1, 34.5 and 38.9 % in early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyat stages. The rates of partial damaged embryos were significantly (P<0.05) higher in early biastocysts than expanded blastocysts. In another experiment, the embryos frozen by OPS methods were cultured for 48 hrs for survival and developmental rates in vitro. The proportions of embryos hatched were 11.8, 20.2 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. On the other hand, The proportions of embryo with normal morphology after culture were 23.5, 25.0 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. These finding indicate the possible broader application for OPS methods that this procedure described is relatively harmless, that it can be used for blastocysts of different developmental stages.

1) 본 실험은 Y.S.A. Gold leaf, oxford 1, Awha Yungzung, Samsun, Maruha, Hatano, 등 8개 품종을 온도와 일장 반응으로 본 것이다. 2) 온도는 저온을 야외(10~20˚ ) 고온을 온실(20℃ ~35℃ )에서 맞추었으며 일장은 8.10.12.14로 처리했다. 3) 이를 요약하면 1) 단일 조건에서는 고온보다 저온에서 장일조건에서는 저온보다 고온에서 개화가 촉진되었다. ii) 대체로 고온 장일에서 보다는 저온 단일에서 다소 개화가 촉진 되었다. iii) 그러나 위와 가튼 경향은 품종간에 많은 차이를 볼 수 있다.