Even in an era where 8-meter class telescopes are common, small telescopes are considered very valuable research facilities since they are available for rapid follow-up or long term monitoring observations. To maximize the usefulness of small telescopes in Korea, we established the SomangNet, a network of 0.4{1.0 m class optical telescopes operated by Korean institutions, in 2020. Here, we give an overview of the project, describing the current participating telescopes, its scientic scope and operation mode, and the prospects for future activities. SomangNet currently includes 10 telescopes that are located in Australia, USA, and Chile as well as in Korea. The operation of many of these telescopes currently relies on operators, and we plan to upgrade them for remote or robotic operation. The latest SomangNet science projects include monitoring and follow-up observational studies of galaxies, supernovae, active galactic nuclei, symbiotic stars, solar system objects, neutrino/gravitational-wave sources, and exoplanets.

In ruminants, Interferon-τ (IFN-τ) has the role of recognizing pregnancy signals produced by the embryo and it may have an important role during the luteolysis. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of IFN-τ on prostaglandin synthesis, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in vitro and secretion of progesterone (P4) in vivo. The epithelial and stromal cells isolated from bovine endometrium were cultured with different doses of IFN-τ (0, 0.02, 0.2 and 2 μg/ml). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 1.5 IU/ml) was used as a positive control. Prostaglandin E2 and F2α levels in the culture media were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays, and total RNA was extracted from the cells for RT-PCR. P4 concentrations in blood samples were assayed by chemiluminescent immunoassay system. In epithelial cells, COX-2 gene expression was increased in the presence of IFN-τ (p<0.05), but it was not significantly different in all groups of stromal cells except 2 μg/ml IFN-τ group (p<0.05). Although IFN-τ did not affect PGE2 and PGF2α production in epithelial cells, it decreased PGE2 and PGF2α production significantly in stromal cells (p<0.05). In vivo experiment, the P4 concentrations in blood sample was significantly increased after injection of 1 μg/ml IFN-τ. These results indicate that PG production was mediated by COX-2 expression in the stromal cells but it did not affect in the epithelial cells, and suggest that treatment of IFN-τ was to improve the implantation environment of uterine by maintenance of high P4 concentration. * This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ907008)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The purpose of this study was to assess sperm quality during in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen in order to determine which extender should be used and how extender can be diluted for in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen. Freshly ejaculated miniature-pig's semen was diluted with same volumes of Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS), Androhep, Modena, Mulberry III and modified-Modena extenders. Sperm quality was evaluated by examining viability, motility, abnormality, acrosome intactness, intensity and capacitation status by chlorotetracycline (CTC) staining. Sperm motility decreased with storage period prolonged and differences among BTS, Androhep, Modena and Mulberry III were apparent On Day 1, approximately 80% of the sperm were motile, but motility decreased to 40% at Day 7. During the 7 days of storage, sperm survival in modified-Modena B extender was higher than another extenders. However, it was not differ significantly among other extenders. The percentage of F and B patterns were not differ significantly among the extenders. However, F pattern in modified-Modena B extender was slightly higher until 3 days of storage than that of Modena extender, modified-Modena A extender and modified-Modena C extender. The percentage of AR patterns in modified-Modena B extender was slightly lower, but did not differ significantly among other extenders. The results of present study suggest that modified-Modena B was effective as new extender for in vitro storage of miniature-pig semen.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of genotypes on in vitro maturation and fertilization in porcine fresh/frozen-thawed oocytes. The porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were divided into four groups according to whether they were: (1) in vitro matured; (2) cryopreserved and in vitro matured; (3) in vitro fertilized and (4) cryopreserved, and in vitro fertilized. Maturation of porcine COCs was accomplished by incubation in NCSU23 medium. Immature oocytes were cryopreserved by Open Pulled Straws (OPS) method according to Vajta et al., (1998). Oocytes stained by Acetic-Orcein method were observed under the microscope. DNA extracted from the ovaries was analyzed by RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and SSCP (single strand conformational polymorphisrrt) method. The rates of oocytes maturation and fertilization were significantly high in AA genotype. The results indicated that in vitro maturation and fertilization in porcine fresh/frozen-thawed oocytes may be affected by genotypes in pigs.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of glucose and sodium phosphate on in vitro development of porcine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro. When the culture medium was supplemented with various concentrations of glucose, the higher proportions (23 and 26%) of oocytes developed to morular or blastocyst stages were at the concentrations of 2.78 and 5.56 mM than 0 (9%; P<0.05) and 11.12 mM (18%). In experiment to evaluate effect of sodium phosphate during in vitro development of porcine oocytes, a significantly (P<0.05) higher proportions of embryos developed to morular or blastocyst stages was obtained with sodium phosphateof 0.28 (25%) and 0.53 (27％) mM than 0 (15%), 1.05 (19%) and 2.10 (10%) mM. On the other hand, when oocytes were cultured in medium with (0.53 mM) sodium phosphate, the proportions of developed embryos were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium without (29%) that than with (14%) 5.56 mM glucose. However, a higher proportion of embryos developed to morular or blastocyst stages were obtained in medium with (23%) that than without (8%) glucose (P<0.05). The minimum essential medium (MEM) added to the culture medium were higher regardless of presence of sodium phosphate and glucose on the development of embryos. Although sodium phosphate and glucose could support morular and blastocyst development to a limited extend (10∼24%), significantly higher proportion (36%) at morular or blastocyst stages was obtained by MEM adding in the medium with sodium phosphate and glucose. These results suggest that the early development of in vitro fertilized porcine oocytes can be maintained efficiently by glucose and sodium phosphate when they were cultured in medium with MEM.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of cysteamine addition during in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of porcine oocytes. Oocytes were matured for the first 22 h in mTCM -199 media supplemented with or without 150 μM cysteamine. They then were matured for an additional 22 h in mTCM-199 media without hormones supplemented with or without 150 μM cysteamine. When cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the mTCM-199 media supplemented with cysteamine, the rates of GVBD and maturation (metaphase Ⅱ) were enhanced as compared to the media without the addition of cysteamine. Also, when COCs were matured in the mTCM-199 media supplemented with cysteamine, the rates of sperm penetration, male pronucleus formation, cleavage and blastocyst formation after in vitro fertilization were enhanced as compared to the media without the addition of cysteamine. In conclusion, it was suggested that oocytes matured for the first 22 h in mTCM-199 media supplemented with 150 μM cysteamine increased the rates of metaphase Ⅱ, sperm penetration, male pronucleus and blastocyst formation were higher as compared to the media without addition of cysteamine.

본 연구는 xanthine(X)-xanthine oxidase(XO) system하에서 돼지 난자의 체외성숙과 체외수정에 대한 catalase의 영향을 검토하였다. 그 결과 돼지 난포난자가 X 또는 XO하에서 배양되었을 때, 난포난자의 성숙율은 다른 배양시간에도 불구하고 catalase 첨가 유무에 따른 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 그렇지만, X-XO-catalase system하에서 배양한 경우 유의적으로 높은 성숙율을 얻었다(P<0.05). 퇴행난자의 비율은 배양기간이 늘어남에 따라 증가되었으며, 배양 120시간에서는 catalase 첨가시보다 무첨가시에 유의적으로 높았다. 다른 한편으로, 단위발생 난자들이 배양 72시간에 높은 비율로 관찰되었지만, 다양한 배양시간에서 catalase 첨가유무에 따른 차이는 발견되지 않았다. 또 다른 실험에서, 동결-응해된 돼지 정자가 체외수정을 위해 X-XO system으로 처리되었다. 난자투명대에 대한 정자침입율은 none (P<0.05), XO, X+XO하에서 체외수정시 catalase 무첨가시보다 첨가시에 높게 나타났다. 다른 한편으로, 돼지정자가 none, X, XO, X+XO로 처리되었을 때, lipid peroxidation은 catalase 첨가시보다 무첨가시에 높은 비율로 나타났으며, 그 결과 정자침입과 lipid peroxidation에서의 변화가 상반되는 양상을 보였다. 그렇지만, 모든 조건하에서 정자의 sulfhydry (-SH) group의 함량은 catalase 첨가시에 높게 측정되었다. 난자의 투명대에 대한 정자의 접착 정도는 salt-stored 돼지 난자에 대한 정자접착을 통해서 평가되었으며, control group의 경우 X, XO, X+XO group에 비해 높은 정자접착율이 관찰되었다. 그렇지만, catalase 첨가유무에 따른 유의적인 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 본 연구의 결과는 X-XO-catalase system에 대한 난포난자와 정자의 노출이 돼지에서의 체외성숙과 체외수정을 촉진시키는 것으로 생각된다.