The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the somatic cell transfer nuclear (SCNT) procedures may cause the mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage, which may result in restricts the reprogramming of SCNT embryos and play a key direct role in apoptosis. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of antioxidant treatment during the SCNT procedures on the inhibition of mitochondria and DNA damages in bovine SCNT embryos. The reconstituted oocytes were treated with antioxidants of 25 μM β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) or 50 μM vitamin C (Vit. C) during the SCNT procedures. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed for controls. Mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential (ΔΨ) were evaluated by staining the embryos with MitoTracker Red or JC-1. Apoptosis was analyzed by Caspase-3 activity assay and TUNEL assay, and DNA fragmentation was measured by comet assay at the zygote stage. Mitochondrial morphology of non-treated SCNT embryos was diffused within cytoplasm without forming clumps, while the IVF embryos and antioxidant treated SCNT embryos were formed clumps. The ΔΨ of β-ME (1.3±0.1, red/green) and Vit. C-treated (1.4±0.2, red/green) SCNT embryos were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of non-treated SCNT embryos (0.9±0.1, red/ green), which similar to that of IVF embryos (1.3±0.1, red/green). Caspase-3 activity was not difference among the groups. TUNEL assay also revealed that little apoptosis was occurred in SCNT embryos as well as IVF embryos regardless of antioxidant treatment. Comet tail lengths of β-ME and Vit. C-treated SCNT embryos (337.8±23.5 μm and 318.7 ±27.0 μm, respectively) were shorter than that of non-treated SCNT embryos (397.4± 21.4 μm) and similar to IVF embryos (323.3±10.6 μm). These results suggest that antioxidant treatment during SCNT procedures can inhibit the mitochondrial and DNA damages of bovine SCNT embryos.

In this work, the silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by electrical explosion of wire in three liquid mediums: deionized water (DIW), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) solutions. Absorption in the UV-visible region of these suspensions was measured in the range of 300-800 nm. A surface plasmon peak was observed at ~400 nm in all suspensions in measured wavelength range. Particle size was analyzed by transmission electron microscope. It showed that the particles had nearly spherical shape in all samples. The average particle sizes prepared in DIW, PVP and SDBS solution were 37, 31 and 27 nm, respectively. Stability of the suspensions was estimated by multiple light scattering method. The presence of PVP and SDBS surfactants in the exploding medium resulted in enhanced stability of the silver suspensions.

Bacterial contamination reduces the semen quality, semen preservation, and cause of disease spread as well. Sperm fertility is essential factor of reproductive performance in swine. Sperm fertility is affected by semen quality such as sperm motility, abnormality, morphology, and rate of bacterial contamination. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between elapsed time after semen preservation on the changes of bacteria and semen quality. Semen was diluted with BTS extender without antibiotic for 7 days and sperm parameter and fertility were measured. Sperm motility was measured by CASA and total bacteria number was counted after 22 24 hr incubation from counting agar plate in which sperm dilute to 10 106 in 0.9% saline solution and inoculate to agar. Acrosomal integrity was measured by Chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. CTC patterns were uniform fluorescence over the whole head (pattern A), characteristic of uncapacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; fluorescence-free band in the post-acrosomal region (pattern B), characteristic of capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; and almost no fluorescence over the whole head except for a thin band in the equatorial segment (pattern C), characteristic of acrosome reacted spermatozoa. Total number of bacteria was significantly increased (p<0.0001) 3 days after preservation. Sperm motility, viability, and morphological abnormality on elapsed time after preservation were lower from 5 (77.24±6.47, p<0.001) and 7 days (77.24±6.47, p< 0.001) after preservation compared to 1 (15.71±7.18) and 3 days(18.39±7.22) after preservation, respectively. Sperm viability was significantly lower (53.25±35.03, p<0.0001) at 7 days after preservation. Mohological abnormality of sperm was lower (p<0.001) at 1 (15.71±7.18) and 3 (18.39±7.22) days compared to (5 21.84±7.91) and 7 (22.59± 9.93) days after preservation. Acrosomal integrity and capacitation rate (pattern A) were significantly lower (p<0.001) from 5 days after preservation.

본 연구는 New Zealand White 수토끼에서 춘기발동 기간 동안에 혈청내 IGF-I(insulin-like growth factor-I)과 GH(growth hormone) 수준의 변화, 정자 형성에 따른 정소내 세포 구성 변화 및 이들 측정치들 간에 관계를 조사하기 위하여 실시되었다. 주령과 관련된 정소내 세포의 DNA 함량 변화 조사를 위하여 10~28주령 수토끼 정소 조직의 fine-needle biopsy를 flow cytometry(FCM)로 분석하였다. 생체중은 12~20주령 때 크게 증가되었고(P<0.05), 28주령 체중은 3.4kg이었다. 혈청 IGF-I 수준(451.3ng/mL)은 20주령에서 가장 높았으며(P<0.05), 그 후 낮은 수준으로 유지되었다. 혈청 GH 수준은 183.3pg/mL으로 다른 주령 때보다 현저히 높았으며(P<0.05), 상승시기가 IGF-I보다는 다소 빨랐다. 정소 조직세포 중 1C-세포의 상대적 비율은 18주령 때 48.2%로 16주령보다 크게 상승되었고(P<0.05), 주령 증가와 더불어 68%로 증가되었다. 2C-세포 비율은 18주령 때 26.8%로 16주령의 54.3%보다 현저히 낮았다(P<0.05). 4C-세포 비율은 18주령 때 9.9%를 제외하고 2~6%를 유지하였다. 이상 결과에서 토끼는 춘기 발동 개시가 약 18주령에 일어나고 이 기간 중 IGF-I과 GH 수준의 변화가 나이 또는 체성장과 관계가 있었으며 그 영향이 정자 형성과 관련이 있음을 알 수 있었다. Fine-needle biopsy와 연계된 FCM은 춘기 발동 개시와 관련된 정자의 형성 과정을 평가하는데 매우 정확한 방법임을 확인할 수 있었다.

본 연구는 돼지 정자 동결시 taurine과 ａ-tocopherol의 첨가가 융해후 정자 성상과 정자 기능 활성산소계(reactive oxygen species; ROS)의 발생 정도 및 지질 산화(lipid peroxidation, LPO)에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 시행하였다. 1차 및 2차 희석액내 taurine과 ａ-tocopherol이 첨가된 돼지 동결정액의 융해 후 정자 운동성 양상, 정자 생존성, 정자 기법을 적용하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. Taurine(25mM, 50mM), ａ-tocopherol(500㎛, 1,000㎛) 단일처리군 그리고 taurine과 ａ-tocopherol의 혼합처리군(25mM~500㎛, 50mM~1,000㎛)은 동결ㆍ융해 후 대조군과 비해 정자 운동성과 생존성은 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다. Taurine과 ａ-tocopherol의 혼합처리군 50mM~1,000㎛에서 HOST, 점체 반응이 대조군과 비교하여 유의차는 인정되지 않았으나 다소 증가하였다. 동결ㆍ융해 정자의 ROS 발생 억제를 위한 taurine과 ａ-tocopherol의 모든 처리군은 대조군과 비교하여ㆍO₂- 발생을 유의적으로 완화시키지 못하였다. 그러나 taurine 단일처리군(25mM), ａ-tocopherol 단일처리군(50mM,1,000㎛)과 혼합처리군(25mM~50mM,50mM~1,000㎛)은 H₂O₂의 발생을 대조군과 비교하여 유의적으로 완화시켰다(P<0.05). 동결ㆍ융해 정자의 malondialdehyde의 생산은 taurine과 ａ-tocopherol의 모든 처리군에서 대조군과 비교하여 유의적인 감소를 보였다(P<0.05). 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면 돼지 정액의 동결보존시 taurine와 ａ-tocopherol 같은 항산화제의 처리는 ROS 발생과 LPO을 효과적으로 완화시킴에 따라 돼지 정액의 동결보존 효율을 증진시킬 수 있는 유용한 방법이라 사료된다.

The purpose of this study was the analysis of sperm ability in Specific Pathogen Free (SPE) miniature pig for production of bio-organ. The collected semen was diluted with extender and stored at 17℃ for up to 7 days. The semen samples were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage for analysis of sperm ability. Sperm ability was evaluated by examining viability, progressive motility, sperm abnormality and intensity of the sperm membrane. Also, the semen was processed according to the convenient freezing method, and frozen-thawed sperm was evaluated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Motility of spermatozoa of SPF miniature pig was significantly (P<0.05) lower on 3 days or later compared to the Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace in domestic boar. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Landrace were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in SPF miniature pig, Duroc and Yorkshire that had a similar percentage on 5 or 7 days of sperm storage. The percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tail decreased during the storage period but there were no significant difference. On the other hand, viability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa had a significantly (P<0.05) lower in SPF miniature pig than in other domestic boars. CTC patterns had no significant difference, but SPF miniature pig had higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa and lower percentage of acrosome-reacted it than domestic boars. Therefore, this study suggest that it is necessary to develop the suitable extender and freezing methods methods for the high viable rate and fertilizing ability in vitro.