This study investigated the effect of variation in the number of somaticcell- cloned embryos and their developmental stage at transfer on pregnancy, as well as the influence of the estrus status of recipient pigs on in vivo development of cloned porcine embryos after embryo transfer. For somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), fibroblast cells were obtained from a male porcine fetus. Recipient oocytes were collected from prepubertal gilts at a local abattoir and then cultured. After SCNT, reconstructed embryos of different numbers and developmental stages were transferred into recipient pigs. The developmental stage of the cloned embryos and the number of transferred embryos per surrogate showed no significant differences in terms of the resulting cloning efficiency. However, the pregnancy rate improved gradually as the number of transferred cloned embryos was increased from 100- 150 or 151-200 to 201-300 per recipient. In pre-, peri-, and post-ovulation stages, pregnancy rates of 28.6%, 41.8%, and 67.6% and 16, 52, and 74 offspring were recorded, respectively. The number of cloned embryos and estrus status of the recipient pig at the time of transfer of the cloned embryo affect the efficiency of pig production; therefore, these variables should be particularly considered in order to increase the efficiency of somatic cell pig cloning.

혈청을 이용한 분석은 다양한 질병 진단의 지표로 이용 된다. 혈청의 분리 방법, 저장시간 및 온도에서 부적절한 혈액 처리는 사이토카인의 농도와 생화학 검사결과에 영 향을 줄 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 한우를 공시하여 혈청 분 리 시기, 저장 시간과 온도가 사이토카인 및 생화학 검사 결과에 미치는 영향을 조사 하였다. 혈액은 경정맥에서 채 취하여, 26±3℃에서 1~2시간 방치 후 분리조건을 다음과 같이 4개의 그룹 (a-d)으로 나뉘어 진행하였다. a) 혈청 분 리하여 보관(대조구), b) 혈청분리 후 아이스박스 2시간 방 치 후 보관, c) 아이스박스 2시간 방치 후 혈청분리, d) 24 시간 4℃ 방치 후 혈청분리, 이러한 조건으로 분리된 혈청 은 분석 전까지 –70℃ 보관 하였다. 혈청 분리시기, 아이스 박스 또는 4℃ 저장 시간 및 온도에 따라 IFN-γ는 유의적 인 차이를 보이지 않았고, TNF-α의 농도는 그룹 a-c에 비 해 그룹 d에서 유의적(p<0.05)으로 낮아졌다. 또한 albumin, total protein의 농도는 그룹 a보다 d에서 유의적 (p<0.01)으로 높았고, magnesium, calcium에서도 유사한 결과를 보였다(p<0.05). 그러나 G-GTP의 경우 다른 그룹에 비해 그룹 d에서 유의적(p<0.05)으로 가장 낮아졌다. 그러 므로 시료채취 시 농가와 실험실의 거리를 고려하여 온도와 저장시간이 혈청 내 사이토카인 및 생화학 농도에 미치 는 영향을 최소화 하여 연구 수행을 진행해야 될 것으로 사료된다.

It is generally accepted that chronic stress impairs female reproduction. It negatively affects ovarian function and the number of ovulated oocytes. Chronic stress lowers the number of retrieved oocytes. Ovarian follicular development is regulated by both pituitary-derived gonadotropins and intraovarian regulatory factors. The main corticosteroids are cortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol and corticosterone, cortisol being one of the most commonly used welfare and stress physiological indicator. In this study, we investigated the effect of cortisol level on progesterone patterns and ovulation in the dog. Cortisol and progesterone level of serum were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. The day of ovulation was considered as the day when serum progesterone concentration was 6.0∼8.0 ng/ml. In vivo dog oocytes were collected by flushing oviducts of mixed-breed bitches at three days after ovulation. We classified dogs as having group 1 (cortisol level, 0 ≤ or < 2 μg/dl), group 2 (corisol level, 2 ≤ or < 4 μg/dl), group 3 (cortisol level, 4 ≤ or < 6 μg/dl) and group 4 (cortisol level, 6 μg/dL ≤). The patterns of progesterone were not different in four cortisol groups. The average numbers of retrieved oocytes was not different in four cortisol groups. These results suggest that different cortisol levels on estrus dogs do not affect ovulation, number of ovulated oocytes and progesterone changes.

The objective of this study was to monitor health conditions of four genetically identical somatic cells cloned Labrador retriever puppies by estimation of body weight and analysis of hematologic and serologic characteristics. Naturally ovulated oocytes and donor cells were used for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Donor cells and enucleated oocytes were followed by electric fusion, chemical activation and surgical embryo transfer into the oviducts of surrogate females. Two recipients became pregnant; two maintained pregnancy to term, and four live puppies were delivered by Caesarean section. The cloned Labrador retrievers were genetically identical to the nuclear donor dog. The body weight of clone-1, -2, -3, and -4 was increased from 0.66, 0.40, 0.39, and 0.37 kg at birth to 6.2, 6.6, 6.2, and 6.0 kg at 8 weeks of age, respectively. Although clone-4 had lower numbers of RBC than reference range, the most of RBC and WBC related heamatologic results of cloned puppies were not different when compared to reference range. In serological analysis, Glucose, ALP and inorganic phosphate level of four cloned puppies was significantly higher than the reference ranges. However, there was no significant difference among four cloned dogs. This study suggests that cloned puppies derived from SCNT did not have remarkable health problems, at least in the growth pattern and hematological and serological parameters.

The purpose of this study was to assess follicular viability and competence through in vitro culture of preantral follicles isolated from vitrified mouse whole ovaries. Mouse preantral follicles were enzymatically isolated from vitrified-warmed and fresh ovaries and cultured for 10 days followed by in vitro oocyte maturation. In vitro matured oocytes were fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage. Five minutes pre-exposure to vitrification solution of whole ovaries had significantly higher (p<0.05) oocyte survival and maturation rates than between 10 min exposure groups. Oocyte diameter was significantly smaller (p<0.05) in the 5 and 10 min exposure groups (69.4±2.8 and 67.8±3.1) when compared to that of control group (71.7±2.1). There was no statistical significant difference in blastocyst development rates between vitrification group (8.6%) and the fresh control group (12.0%). The mean number of cells per blastocyst was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the vitrification group (41.9±20.2) than in the fresh control group (55.1±22.5). The results show that mouse oocytes within preantral follicles isolated from the vitrified whole ovaries can achieve full maturation, normal fertilization and embryo development.