The objective of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate in a fertilization medium on the fertilizability of boar spermatozoa that were frozen in straws. Boar spermatozoa were extended with Beltsville F5 extender and frozen in 0.25‐ml straws. In vitro matured porcine oocytes were fertilized in vitro (IVF) with frozen‐thawed boar spermatozoa for 6 h in a modified tris‐buffered medium (mTBM) or in its modified medium by substituting the tris with 25 mM sodium bicarbonate (modified bicarbonate‐buffered medium; mBBM). Some of inseminated oocytes were fixed and stained for examination of sperm penetration. IVF embryos were cultured in a North Carolina State University‐23 medium for embryo development. The percentage of live sperm was 47±4% and morphological abnormality of acrosome was found in 14±3% of spermatozoa. Optimal sperm concentration for IVF was 0.75～1.0×106 sperms/ml when mTBM containing 5 mM caffeine was used as the fertilization medium. Sperm penetration was significantly (p<0.05) stimulated by increasing caffeine concentration in the IVF medium. In addition, mBBM significantly (p<0.05) increased sperm penetration (92%) compared to mTBM (65%). More (p<0.05) blastocysts (22% vs. 32%) developed from the oocytes that were fertilized in mBBM containing 1 mM caffeine than from those fertilized in mTBM with 5 mM caffeine. Our results indicate that boar spermatozoa can be frozen successfully in straws with holding their normal fertilizability and that caffeine and sodium bicarbonate stimulates sperm penetration in vitro.

The techniques of IVM, IVF and IVC of canine oocytes may provide useful information for gamete salvage programs and the conservation of endangered canidae. This investigation has been made to determine the efficiency of in vitro maturation (IVM) as a basic experiment to study the development of canine oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). The rate of oocytes developing to the MII stage was higher in the hormone treated group (10 IU/ml hCG+eCG, 14.7%, p<0.05) than in the control group (0 IU/ml hCG+eCG, 10.0%). The monospermy and pronuclear rates of canine oocytes were investigated after caffeine treatment on IVF. Canine oocytes were fertilized in the Fert‐TALP medium supplemented with 0, 10, 20 or 30 mM caffeine (Fert I, Fert II, Fert III or Fert IV, respectively). The highest pronuclear formation rate was obtained in the Fert I for 24 h IVF (6.7%, 6/89). Therefore, it is believed that unlike in other mammals, caffeine in canine IVF does not increase the efficiency of fertilization rate, and is not an important factor.

Radioprotection is of practical importance for the normal tissues of tumor patients subject to radiotherapy, people with planned or accidental exposure to radiation, and the public and radiation workers. Since oxygen enhances radiation - induced biologica

Snails and slugs are members of the mollusk phylum. They are similar in biology and structure, except slugs lack the snail's external spiral shell. Snails and slugs feed on a variety of living plants, decaying plant matter, fruit, and flowers. They are among the most bothersome creatures on horticultural crops such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, lettuce, ginseng, lily, and orchid (Kim et al., 1990; Kim, 1992; Sorensen, 1994). Several species of

This study was performed to survey and evaluate the contents of caffeine in commercial palatability foods by HPLC. The contents of caffeine in commercial palatability foods were 9.0-49.2 mg in black tea, 35.9-141.4 mg in coffee, 12.4-48.0 mg in green tea, 7.1-16.5 mg in brown rice green tea, 22.8 mg in cocoa tea, 10.3-25.0 mg in cola and 10.0-48.2 mg in ice bar(coffee) respectively. The contents of caffeine extracted from black tea, coffee(roasted beans) and green tea were rapidly increased for five minutes from the extraction initiation, and were not nearly changed after ten minutes. Moreover, the caffeine contents were increased until 100℃ of extraction temperature.

To make up the medium for quantitative selection of capacitated-sperm through sucrose layer, the effects of BSA, caffeine, heparin and progesterone on sperm swim-up migration and movement were examined. And the results obtained were as follows; 1. BSA of 4mg/ml in bMSS stimulated sperm migration and movement, and attracted capacitated-sperm. 2. Caffeine of 5mM in bMSS containing 4mg/ml BSA stimulated sperm movement and attracted capacitated-sperm. 3. Heparin of 20/ml in bMAA containing both 4mg/ml BSA and 5mM caffeine stimulated movement and capacitation of sperm. 4. Progesterone of 50/ml in bMSS containing all 4mg/ml BSA, 5mM caffeine and 20/ml heparin (BCHP-MSS) attracted capacitated-sperm. 5. Effect of BCHP-MSS on sperm on sperm attraction was not different from effect of 10% follicular fluid solution (FF-MSS) on sperm swim-up separation. In conclusion, bMSS with 4mg/ml BSA, 5mM caffeine, 20/ml heparin and 50/ml progesterone(BCHP-MSS) was a optimal condition for selection of capacitated-sperm through sucrose layer.

본 연구는 수정능획득유기물질로 알려진 카페인 헤파린을 병행처리하여 한우 정자의 첨체 반응율과 생존율을 알아보고 수정능획득과정 중에 단백질의 변화상을 전기영동방법으로 조사하였다. 동결융해후 정자의 생존율은 90%이상이었으나 전배양처리후 0.5시간에 70%로 감소하고 2시간 이후에는 35%로 감소하였다. 정자의 첨체반응율은 동결융해후 정상정자가 85.7%였으나 전배양시간에 따라 53.4%에서 14.3%로 감소하였다. 동결융해후 첨체가 소실된 생존정자는 9.

Effects of caffeine, heparin and caffeine-heparin treatments for in vitro capacitation of Korean Native Cattle sperm on acrosorne reaction and viability were studied using the methods of Wells-Awa and Dual stain. The results were summerized as follows: 1. The acrosome reaction of sperm when treated with caffeine after 0 to 4 hrs of preincubation were 11.0~75.7% for Wells-Awa stain, and 14.3~75.55% for Dual stain. True acrosome reaction of sperm for Dual stain was 3.0~29.2%. The viability of sperm was 62. 2~27.2%. 2. The acrosome reaction of sperm when treated with heparin after 0 to 4 hrs of preincubation were 17.0~81.2% for Wells-Awa, and 14.3~75.5% for Dual Stain. True acrosome reaction of sperm for Dual stain was 1.5~26.6%. The viability of sperm was 58.6~35. 8%. 3. The acrosome reaction of sperm when treated with caffeine-heparin after 0 to 4 hrs of preincubation were 13.0~83.2% for Wells Awa, and 11.0~78.5% for Dual stain. True acrosome reaction of for Dual stain was 5.1~26.3%. The viability of sperm was 60.5~30.1%.

During the past few decades, significant increase in the consumption of coffee has led to rapid increase in the production of coffee waste in South Korea. Spent coffee waste is often treated as a general waste and is directly disposed without the necessary treatment. Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs) can release several organic contaminants, including caffeine. In this study, leaching tests were conducted for SCGs and oxidative degradation of caffeine were also conducted. The tested SCGs contained approximately 4.4 mg caffeine per gram of coffee waste. Results from the leaching tests show that approximately 90% of the caffeine can be extracted at each step during sequential extraction. Advanced oxidation methods for the degradation of caffeine, such as UV/H2O2, photo-Fenton reaction, and UV/O3, were tested. UV radiation has a limited effect on the degradation of caffeine. In particular, UV-A and UV-B radiations present in sunlight cause marginal degradation, thereby indicating that natural degradation of caffeine is minimal. However, O3 can cause rapid degradation of caffeine, and the values of pseudo-first order rate constants were found to be ranging from 0.817min-1 to 1.506 min-1 when the ozone generation rate was 37.1 g/m3. Additionally, the degradation rate of caffeine is dependent on the wavelength of irradiation.

Cryopreservation has become a powerful method of the assisted reproduction technology and supports fertility preservation of cancer and other indication patients. After controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, surplus oocytes and embryos were recommended to store using cryopreservation. Recently, vitrification is replaced with traditional slow freezing protocol, because of improved survival rates and clinical outcomes. Vitrification requires a high concentration of CPAs that may induce significant osmotic and metabolic damage to cells including oocytes even in a short exposure of a few minutes. Generally, MPF plays a crucial role in the cell cycle regulation and maintaining the meiotic arrest of oocytes. In fact, it has been observed to decline in MII ovine oocytes after vitrification and would be suggested that one of the main causes of low fertilization rate and developmental competence derived from cryoinjury during vitrification. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of caffeine treatment on the activity of MPF, MAPK level in vitrified/warmed mouse mature eggs. Caffeine, Phosphataseinhibitor, may maintain active form of MPF. We evaluated their survival after warming procedure, fertilization, cleavage, and developmental rates. Ovulated MII eggs were retrieved from 6 weeks old B6D2F1 female mouse at 14hr post hCG injection. Collected MII eggs were maintained in HTF medium containing 10% KSR with or without caffeine for 1hr. Eggs were vitrified in 7.5%EG +7.5%DMSO equilibrium solution, 15%EG + 15%DMSO + 0.5M sucrose vitrification solution with or without caffeine. Also warming solution contained sucrose (0.5M, 0.25M, 0.125M, and 0M) with or without caffeine. After warming, eggs were cultured in HTF medium with or without caffeine for 2 hr then fertilized with epididymal sperm in vitro and cultured in KSOM for 5 days to analyze embryonic development. Survival rates were similar in all experimental groups. However, fertilization rate was higher in with caffeine group compare to without caffeine significantly (80% vs. 85%, p<0.05). 2-cell and blastocyst formation were increased in caffeine group (p<0.05). MPF activity and MAP kinase activity were recovered in with caffeine group after vitrification/warming process. In conclusion, Caffeine may maintain MPF and MAPK level in vitrified/warmed MII eggs, and enhance fertilization and further embryonic development.

Although, one of the etiologies of localized lipodystrophy of the subcutaneous connective tissue (cellulite) is the histological alternation of adipose tissue, the characteristics of expression of the components of extracellular matrix (ECM) components during adipogenesis are not uncovered. In this study, the effects of caffeine and Ishige okamurae originated diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) on the expression of extracellualr fibers was analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR during differentiation induction of mouse subcutaneous adipose derived stem cells (msADSC) into adipocyte. The expression levels of Col1a, Col3a1, and Col61a were decreased by the adipogenci induction in a time-dependent manners. However, Col2a mRNA and Col4a1 mRNA expressions were oposit to them. Caffeine and DPHC stimulated the changes of the expression of these collagens. Eln mRNA expression was increased by induction. DPHC stimulated the expression of it. Mfap5 mRNA expression was deceased in both adipogenic cell and matured adipocytes. Caffeine suppressed the expression of Mfap5 but the effect of DPHC was different by the concentration. The expression of bioglycan, decorin, and lumican were also modified by caffeine and DPHC in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on this study, we revealed firstly the effects of caffeine and DPHC on the expression of collagens, elastin, and glycoproteins during adipogenesis of msADSCs. Those results suggest that DPHC may have antiadipogenic effect and has more positive effets on normal adipose tissue generation and work as suppressor the abnormality of ECM structure. Such results indicate that DPHC can be applied in keeping the stability of the ECM of adipogenic tissues.