The 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) is non-selective phosphodiesterase and is able to prevent resumption of meiosis by maintaining elevated cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations in the oocyte. The present study was conducted to analyze: (1) nuclear maturation (examined by the Hoechst staining), (2) whether cytoplasmic maturation (examined by the intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentration) of porcine oocytes is improved during meiotic arrest after prematuration (22 h) with IBMX. Before in vitro maturation (IVM), oocytes were treated with 1 mM IBMX for 22 h. After 22 h of pre-maturation, the higher rate of IBMX treated group oocytes were arrested at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage (42.3%) than control IVM oocytes (10.1%). It appears that the effect of IBMX on the resumption of meiosis has shown clearly. In the end of IVM, the reversibility of the IBMX effect on the nuclear maturation has been corroborated in this study by the high proportions of MII stage oocytes (72.5%) reached after 44 h of IVM following the 22 h of inhibition. However, intracellular GSH concentrations were lower in the oocytes treated with IBMX than the control oocytes (6.78 and 12.94 pmol/oocyte, respectively). These results demonstrate that cytoplasmic maturation in porcine oocytes pre-treated with IBMX for 22 h did not equal that of control oocytes in the current IVM system. These results indicate that pre-maturation with IBMX for 22 h may not be beneficial in porcine IVM system.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro culture media on embryonic development of in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes after parthenogenetic activation (PA) in pigs. Immature pig oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones for the first 22 h and then further cultured in hormone-free medium for an additional 22~26 h. IVM oocytes were activated by electric pulses and cultured in porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3) and North Carolina State University-23 supplemented with essential and non-essential amino acids (NCSU-23aa). These media were further modified by supplementing 2.77 mM myo-inositol, 0.34 mM trisodium citrate, and -mercaptoethanol (designated as mPZM-3 and mNCSU-23aa, respectively). Culture of PA embryos in mPZM-3 significantly increased development to the blastocyst stage than culture in NCSU-23aa (36.2% vs. 24.8%, p<0.05). Modified PZM-3 showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation than NCSU-23aa in both groups of embryos that were activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM (51.0% vs. 35.5% and 49.0% vs. 34.2% in oocytes activated at 44 h and 48 h of IVM, respectively). Irrespective of the follicle diameter where oocytes were collected, embryonic development to the blastocyst stage was increased (p<0.05) by the culture in mPZM-3 compared to culture in NCSU-23aa (25.9% vs. 34.2% and 32.9% vs. 44.8% in embryos derived from small and medium size follicles, respectively). Our results demonstrated that culture media had significant effect on preimplantation development PA embryos and that mPZM-3 was superior to mNCSU-23 in supporting development to the blastocyst stage in pigs. This beneficial effect of mPZM-3 on embryonic development was not impaired by other factors such as time of oocyte activation and origin of immature oocytes (small and medium size follicles).

Biotechnologies for cloning animals and in vitro embryo production have the potential to produce biomedical models for various researches. Especially, pigs are a suitable model for xenotransplantation, transgenic production and various areas of reproductive research due to its physiological similarities to human. However, utilization of in vitro-produced embryos for transfer remains limited. Despite improvement over past few decades, obstacles associated with the production of good quality embryos in vitro still exist which limit the efficiency of cloning. One of major problems includes improper in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC). Oxidative stress caused from in vitro culture conditions contributes to inadequate IVM and IVC which leads to poor developmental competence of oocytes, failure of fertilization and embryo development. To reduce the oxidative stress, various antioxidants have been used to IVM and IVC system. However, limited information is available on the effects of resveratrol on livestock reproductions. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic natural product and well known as an antioxidant in foods and beverages (e.g. in grapes and red wine). Resveratrol is known to be cardioprotective, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic. This paper will review the effects of resveratrol on in vitro maturation of oocytes and embryo development.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of "brominated" (bromine containing) man-made chemicals used as flame retardant additives in plastics, foams, and textiles. PBDEs are found in various environmental contaminants in air, soil, sediment, and water, and 209 individual forms (congeners) of PBDE exist. Among these, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) is the dominant congener found in the environment. Exposure to BDE-47 is now worldwide, and levels of BDE-47 have been detected in the blood of animals, including humans. BDE-47 can adversely affect the developmental system in both humans and animals. BDEs have structural similarities to polychlorinated biphenyls and thyroid hormones. However, recent studies have shown that BDEs may act as hormonal disrupting chemicals with detrimental effects. Therefore, a reliable assessment of BDE-47 toxicological action is required to understand the detrimental impacts of BDE-47 on human health. In this review, we overview recent studies on the distribution and potential toxicological effects of BDE-47 in humans and animals.

Seven male Himalayan tahrs were strongly assumed to have accidently fed on foreign bodies in 2007. At the time, zoo caretakers witnessed missing fence padding, such as carpet, plastic awning, and ropes. The incident occurred the morning after the items had been set up to protect indigenous, wild long-tailed gorals from self injury caused by head butting the steel fence. Adult male Himalayan tahrs were obviously suspected of mostly eating the paddings mainly composed of carpet, thin and long plastic awning, and ropes. Even though they had not shown digestive problems, surgery was determined necessary in order to remove any indigestible foreign bodies. Left flank rumenotomy was conducted on seven male Himalayan tahrs from April to May, 2011. After anesthesia with xylazine, rumenotomy was performed on a concrete floor, with legs and head secured by ropes. No access to water and hay prior to operation for two days was needed to make the surgical procedure done quickly. Two sheets of small hand towels protecting against inflow of ruminal contents were beneficial during surgery. Antibiotics were administered intramuscularly for seven days. No abscesses at the surgical site were found after surgery. Like domestic ruminants, wild ruminants also ingest metalic or non-metalic, indigestible foreign bodies by accident. Therefore, simplified rumenotomy must be developed to apply to those wild animals to lengthen their longevity and to advance the quality of life in captivity. This case report is the first showing how to perform rumenotomy of Himalayan tahr, a wild ruminant, in Korea.

The present study was to investigate the source of contamination during semen processing for in vitro uses. In the present study, frozen semen was prepared from liquid semen in our laboratory for in vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments due to lack of fresh semen. Antibiotics were added in the frozen semen extender (kanamycin and gentamicin) and in vitro culture (IVC) medium (gentamicin) for further inhibiting growth of microorganisms. Nevertheless, proliferations of microorganisms were observed in IVC culture drop during culturing of IVF embryos using frozen semen. Randomly 3 samples were taken from the liquid semen, frozen semen and egg yolk. Contaminated IVC medium, frozen-thawed semen, liquid semen and egg yolk were cultured in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar medium. Whitish colonies were detected in contaminated IVC drop, frozen-thawed semen samples and egg yolk but no colonies were formed in liquid semen samples. Gram-negative and rod-shaped identical bacteria were found in both frozen-thawed semen sample and contaminated IVC drop and egg yolk samples. Enterobacter cloacae were confirmed by API 20E kit according to manufacturer's instruction with identification value (% ID) 94.3% and T index 0.88. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were done according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) by using ampicillin, amikacin, cephalothin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin test. Among them Enterobacter cloacae were resistant to ampicillin, amikacin, cephalothin, gentamicin, kanamycin but susceptible to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. From these findings it could be suggested that this contamination sources might be from egg yolk.

The objective of this study was to examine the reproductive characteristics of cloned miniature piglets produced from surrogate domestic pigs. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) miniature pig embryos were transferred into domestic pigs. As controls, domestic pigs of the same breed with surrogates for SCNT embryos and miniature pigs of the same breed with the somatic cell donor were bred by artificial insemination and natural mating, respectively. Surrogate domestic pigs that farrowed cloned miniature piglets had a significantly longer gestation length (118.1 days) than conventionally bred domestic (115.4 days) and miniature (115.5 days) pigs. Furthermore, the birth weight of cloned miniature piglets produced from domestic pigs (743 g) was significantly greater than that of miniature piglets produced by natural breeding (623 g). Also, cloned miniature piglets had a significantly lower weaning rate (49.7%) than conventionally produced domestic (91.5%) and miniature (100%) piglets. No differences were observed between female and male cloned piglets in gestation length, litter size, birth weight, or weaning rate. Our results demonstrate that gestation length is extended in domestic pigs that are transferred with SCNT miniature pig embryos and that cloned miniature piglets have increased birth weight and high pre-weaning mortality.

Thousands of new chemicals have been introduced to environment during last decades. Many of them and common consumer products have been shown to be the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One such chemical group is the phthalates, used in soft poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material and in a huge number of consumer products. The prevalence of these modem chemicals have a remarkable increase. Approximately 3.5 million tons of the main phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are produced annually worldwide and indeed, DEHP is considered a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. It has been demonstrated that high doses of phthalate can adversely affect adult and developing animals. In this review, we critically discuss the conclusions of recently original research papers and provide an overview of studies on reproductive disrupting effects of phthalates. In addition, we review the reproductive toxicity data of phthalates in some in vitro research and in both male and female reproductive systems in experimental and domestic animals. Finally, we point out some critical issues that should be addressed in order to clarify the implication of phthalates for human reproduction.

Polar body was usually used as a determinant of oocyte's maturation. Polar body morphology could reflect the embryo quality and implantation competence. This review only focuses on morphology of the first polar body and embryo developmental rate in the presence or absence of polar body. However, it is very difficult to describe whether polar body has any effects on embryo development in vitro or in vivo. Further intensive research is needed to determine its function on embryo development.

The ability to preselect the sex of piglets is advantageous in the pig industry. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with sorted spermatozoa to produce piglets with a preselected sex. Pig embryos were produced by ICSI of frozen X- and Y-sperm that had been separated by flow cytometry. The developmental competence of the embryos was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The populations of X- and Y-spermatozoa were 52.7% and 47.3%, respectively in our samples. The in vitro development of ICSI embryos was enhanced by longer of in vitro maturation of oocytes ( vs. ). Their cleavage () and blastocyst formation () rates were not significantly different between male and female ICSI embryos, or between sorted and unsorted sperm-derived embryos. One pregnancy was established in a recipient that was transferred with 110 female ICSI embryos, but the pregnancy was terminated on Day 89 of gestation. Our results suggest that the separation X- and Y-spermatozoa by flow cytometric sorting can be a useful tool in combination with ICSI for the production of pig embryos and piglets of preselected sex.

Our goal was to examine the effects of early denudation on the enucleation efficiency and developmental competence of embryos following somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and parthenogenetic activation (PA). Oocytes were denuded following 30 h of in vitro maturation (IVM) and then cultured with (D+) or without (D-) their detached cumulus cells for additional h. Control oocytes were denuded after h of IVM. The size of the perivitelline space was larger at 40 h of IVM () than at 30 h ( p<0.01). The distances between the metaphase II (M II) plates and the polar bodies (PBs) were shorter in D+ () and D- oocytes () than in control oocytes ( p<0.01). Enucleation rates following blind aspiration at 40 h of IVM were higher (p<0.01) in D+ (92%) and D- oocytes (93%) compared to controls (82%). Early denudation did not affect oocyte maturation or the in vitro development of SCNT and PA embryos. When SCNT embryos from D+ oocytes were transferred to four gilts, pregnancy was established in two pigs, and one of them farrowed three live piglets. In conclusion, early denudation of oocytes at 30 h of IVM could improve the enucleation efficiency by maintaining the M II plate and the PB within close proximity and support the in vivo development of SCNT embryos to term.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of VEGF on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. The base medium for IVM, TCM-199 was supplemented with 0.6 mM cysteine, 0.91 mM pyruvate, 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, kenamycin, insulin and 10% (V/V) porcine follicular fluid (pFF) as a Group A; Group B was consists of Group A plus 5 ng/ml VEGF; Group C was consists of replacement of pFF by 10% PVA and Group D: was consists of Group C plus 5 ng/ml VEGF. 1. The maturation rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in control and VEGF+pFF group than other two groups (, respectively). 2. Addition of VEGF without pFF showed a negative effect on oocytes maturation and about 58.26% oocytes were reached to M-II stage. 3. In the parthenogenetic development, the cleavage rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in control and VEGF+pFF group (, respectively) than other groups (, respectively). 4. The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in VEGF+pFF group () compared to control and other groups. 5. There was no significant difference in cell numbers (inner cell mass or trophectoderm) among these groups.