It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Wholemom (in favour of female gender) increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by approximately 85% without decrease of pregnancy rates. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of wholemom kits as combined with frozen-thawed bovine semen during in vitro fertilization on the in vitro fertilization and developmental efficiency and sex ratios such as some reproductive parameters in bovine. For this, 1,737 oocytes were in vitro fertilized and developed. Agglutination effects on bovine after treatment of Wholemom kit were observed by time passage and dose respectively. To determine sex of embryos, Bovine embryo Y-specific gene primers(ConEY) and Bovine specific universal primer(ConBV) were used as multiple PCR method. Fertilization rate of wholemom-treated group was significantly lower than its of control group[66.9% (1,156/1,737) in Wholemom-treated group; 75.0% (610/813) in control group]. However, developmental rate after fertilization of both wholemom-treated and control groups were not significantly different [26.1% (404/1,156) in Wholemom-treated group; 27.4% (224/610) in control group]. Sex ratio of in vitro fertilized embryo with frozen-thawed semen treated with wholemom kit was determined by multi PCR. Female ratio in wholemom-treated group [85.4% (173/201)] was significantly higher than its of control group [47.2% (66/141)]. In conclusion, wholemom treatments of semen used in the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine oocytes provided increase in female ratio with decrease of fertilization rate.

Bovine colostrum is necessary for newborn calves to survive, grow and receive immunity from their mother. Cows in Korea produce about 35kg of colostrum, 4Kg of which is fed to the calf, and the rest is discarded. The bovine colostrum causes the harmful side effects to human, such as allergies and digestive problems; so, it is prohibited by law to consume colostrum itself as a food. However, many scientific research data have suggested that components in the colostrum can improve human health and has the ability to help treat diseases. In line with the trend of food and pharmacy industries using natural product materials, which attract positive attention, recently, some ingredients in colostrum have been used in the production of food supplements, and it has been used in its raw form in some cosmetics. This review introduces the active ingredients and physiologically active substances contained in bovine colostrum, summarizes the efficacy of physiological enhancement of the colostrum, which has been proven by scientific methods to date, and also suggests the possibility of industrial applications of colostrum as an animal-derived natural material.

Glucose is universal and essential fuel of energy metabolism and in the synthesis pathways of all mammalian cells. Glucose is the one of the major precursors of lactose synthesis using glycolysis result in producing milk fat and protein. During the milk fat synthesis, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and CD36 are required for glucose uptake. Various morecules such as acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2), ACACA, FASN AGPAT6, GPAM, LPIN1 are closely related with milk fat synthesis. Additionally, glucose plays a major role for synthesizing lactose. Activations of lactose synthesize enzymes such as membranebound enzyme, beta-1,4-galactosyl transferase (B4GALT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) are changed by concentration of glucose in blood resulting change of amount of lactose production. Glucose transporters are a wide group of membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of glucose over a plasma membrane. There are 2 types of glucose transporters which consisted facilitative glucose transporters (GLUT); and sodium-dependent transport, mediated by the Na+/glucose cotransporters (SGLT). Among them, GLUT1, GLUT8, GLUT12, SGLT1, SGLT2 are main glucose transporters which involved in mammary gland development and milk synthesis. However, more studies are required for revealing clear mechanism and function of other unknown genes and transporters. Therefore, understanding of the mechanisms of glucose usage and its regulation in mammary gland is very essential for enhancing the glucose utilization in the mammary gland and improving dairy productivity and efficiency.

The purpose of this study is to develop transgenic cell line expressing targeted human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (hGCSF) and green fluorescence protein (GFP) genes as well as production of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) embryos derived from co-expressed transgenic donor cells. Constructed pPiggy-mWAP-hGCSF-EF1-GFP vector was chemically transfected into bovine fetus cells and then, only GFP expressed cells were selected as donor cells for SCNT. Cleavage and blastocyst rates of parthenogenetic, SCNT embryos using non-TG cell and hGCSF-GFP dual expressed SCNT embryos were examined (cleavage rate: 78.0±2.8 vs. 73.1±3.2 vs. 70.4±4.3%, developmental rate: 27.2 ±3.2 vs. 21.9±3.1 vs. 17.0±2.9%). Result indicated that cleavage and blastocyst rates of TG embryos were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of parthenogenetic and non-TG embryos, respectively. In this study, we successfully produced hGCSF-GFP dual expressed SCNT embryos and cryopreserved to produce transgenic cattle for bioreactor system purpose. Further process of our research will transfer of transgenic embryos to recipients and production of hGCSF secreting cattle.

Embryos formed in vivo were collected from 171 donors housed in Chung Cheong Buk-Do Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research of the Chungbuk community during the years 2009∼2012. We evaluated annual embryo collection, effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and prostaglandin (PG) administration to the donor for superovulation and controlling the estrus cycle, seasonal effects of embryo collection and compared the number of embryos recovered as per the collection days and pregnancy rate. In all, 1,243 embryos were collected from 118 donors with an average of 7.31 ± 5.35 embryos per donor, out of which 69.4% were transferable. Dosages of FSH required for inducing superovulation in various donors were compared. Average number of embryos collected from donors administered with 30 AU of FSH (7.13 ± 5.74 per donor) was not significantly different from that of donors who were given an injection of 24 AU of FSH (7.53 ± 4.91 per donor). However, the percentage of transferable embryos in the 30AU FSH-administered group (63.2 %, 449 of 711) was higher than that in the 24AU FSH-administered group (77.8%, 414 of 532). In the group of donors under a natural estrus cycle, the FSH dose administered did not influence the number of transferable embryos produced (7.49 ± 6.25 per donor for 30 AU of FSH vs 7.49 ± 4.92 per donor for 24 AU of FSH). However, in donors administered with CIDR and PG for controlling the estrus cycle, the FSH dose affected the average number of transferable embryos collected (4.25 ± 2.87 per donor for 30 AU of FSH vs 8.50 ± 6.36 per donor for 24 AU of FSH). We collected embryos from donors 6, 7 or 8 days after artificial insemination (AI). Results showed that the percentage of transferable embryos among those collected 8 days after AI was significantly higher than that among embryos collected 6 or 7 days after AI. Seasonal variations did not affect number of recovered embryos and pregnancy rates in natural estrus cycle and CIDR treatment groups (48.28% and 42.55%) but higher than pregnancy rate of frozen embryos (19.63%). These results indicated that administration of FSH beyond a threshold dose (at least 24 AU) has no beneficial effect on the production embryos and that collection of embryos 7∼8 days after AI is optimal for embryo recovery. CIDR treatment induced superovulation in short term and had no influence on the natural estrus cycle. Finally, although good-quality embryos were transferred, freezing significantly reduced the pregnancy rates after transfer.

Low efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is attributed to incomplete reprogramming of transfered nu-clei into oocytes. Trichostatin A (TSA), histone deacetylase inhibitor and 5-aza-2’deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), DNA methy-lation inhibitor has been used to enhance nuclear reprogramming following SCNT. However, it was not known molec-ular mechanism by which TSA and 5-aza-dC improve preimplantation embryo and fetal development following SCNT. The present study investigates embryo viability and gene expression of cloned porcine preimplantation embryos in the presence and absence of TSA and 5-aza-dC as compared to embryos produced by parthenogenetic activation. Our results indicated that TSA treatment significantly improved development. However 5-aza-dC did not improve development. Presence of TSA and 5-aza-dC significantly improved total cell number, and also decreased the apoptot-ic and autophagic index. Three apoptotic-related genes, Bak, Bcl-xL, and Caspase 3 (Casp3), and three autophagic-re-lated genes, ATG6, ATG8, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), were measured by real time RT-PCR. TSA and 5-aza-dC treatment resulted in high expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL and low pro-apoptotic gene Bak expression compared to untreated NT embryos or parthenotes. Furthermore, LC3 protein expression was lower in NT-TSA and NT-5-aza-dC embryos than those of NT and parthenotes. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC treated embryos displayed a global acetylated histone H3 at lysine 9 and methylated DNA H3 at lysine 9 profile similar to the parthenogenetic blastocysts. Finally, we determined that several DNA methyltransferase genes Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. NT blastocysts showed higher levels Dnmt1 than those of the TSA and 5-aza-dC blastocysts. Dnmt3a is lower in 5-aza-dC than NT, NTTSA and parthenotes. However, Dnmt3b is higher in 5-aza-dC than NT and NTTSA. These results suggest that TSA and 5-aza-dC positively regulates nuclear reprogramming which result in modulation of apoptosis and autophagy related gene expression and then reduce apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC affects the acetylated and methylated status of the H3K9.

The purpose of this study is to improve production efficiency of vitrified-thawed transgenic bovine embryos. Transgenic bovine embryos were produced by injection of FIV-GFP lentiviral vector into perivitelline space of in vitro matured MІІ stage oocytes, and then in vitro fertilization. EGFP-expressing transgenic bovine blastocysts were cultured in serum-containing and serum–free medium. These blsatocysts were vitrified by pull and cut (PNC) container made with 0.25 cm plastic straw. Results indicate that total developmental rates of normal IVF embryo cultured in serumcontaining and–free medium into blastocyst were not significantly different (22.3 vs 21.5%) and those of GFPexpressing transgenic bovine embryo into blastocyst showed no significant difference between serum-containing (13.9%) and–free medium (13.1%). However, developmental rate of GFP transgenic embryo was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal IVF embryos. In additional study, we vitrified GFP transgenic normal bovine blastocysts using PNC vitrification method. Survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst (23.1%) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal blastocysts (68.9%). Although, survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst was lower than its of normal blastocyst, our result may suggested that PNC vitrification method is feasible to cryopreserve transgenic embryos. Our next plan will be the production of GFP express transgenic bovine derived from vitrified-thawed embryos using PNC method.

Recently, the transgenic animal production technique is very important for the production of bio-parmaceutical as animal bio-reactor system. However, the absence of survival evaluation in vitro produced transgenic embryos has been a problem of the low productivity of transgenic animal because of absent of pre-estimate of pregnancy after transgenic embryos transferred into recipient. Therefore, this study is conducted to improve efficiency of transgenic cattle production by improving the non-surgical embryo transfer (ET) method. Transgenic bovine embryos were produced by injection of feline immunodeficiency virus enhanced green fluorescent protein (FIV-EGFP) lentiviral vector into perivitelline space of in vitro matured MІІ stage oocytes, and then in vitro fertilization (IVF) was occured. Normal IVF and EGFP expressing blastocysts were transferred into recipients. Results indicated that 2 expanded blastocysts (34.7%) transferred group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate than 1 expanded blastocyst (26.8%) transferred group. In case of parity of recipient, ET to heifer (34.9%) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate than ET to multiparous recipient (21.2%). However, there are no significant differences of pregnancy rate between natural induced estrus and artificial induced estrus groups. Significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate was obtained from recipient group which have normal corpus luteum with crown group (34.8%) than normal corpus luteum without crown (13.6%). Additionally, treatment of 100 μg Gn-RH injection to recipient group (38.6%) 1 day before ET significantly (P<0.05) increase pregnancy rate than non- Gn-RH injection to recipient group (38.6%). We also transferred 2 EGFP expressing expanded blastocysts to each 19 recipients, 7 recipients were pregnant and finally 5 EGFP transgenic cattle were produced under described ET condition. Therefore, our result suggested that transfer of 2 good-quality expanded blastocysts to 100 μg of Gn-RH injected recipient which have normal corpus luteum with crown is feasible to produce transgenic cattle.

This study was conducted to investigate optimal time of artificial insemination (AI) to Hanwoo female after natural estrus. AI was occurred 12 and 24 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient then pregnancy and parturition rates were estimated. Results indicated that AI performed at 24 hours after natural estrus showed significant (p<0.05) higher pregnancy rate in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups with significantly (p<0.05) higher abortion rate. However, there are no significant differences of parturition rate, twin birth and sex ratio in both heifer and multiparous recipient groups. Therefore, our results may suggest that performance of AI at 24 hours after natural estrus promise higher pregnancy rate than AI at 12 hours after natural estrus in both heifer and multiparous recipient.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of high concentrations of glucose on porcine parthenotes developing in vitro. Addition of 55 mM glucose to the culture medium of embryos at the four-cell-stage significantly inhibited blastocyst formation, resulting in fewer cells in blastocyst-stage embryos and increased levels of apoptosis and autophagy compared to control. Quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR analysis revealed that the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Caspase 3, Bax and Bak) and autophagy genes (Atg6 and Atg8/Lc3) were increased significantly by the addition of 55 mM glucose to the culture medium compared to control. MitoTracker Green fluorescence revealed a decrease in the overall mitochondrial mass compared to control. However, the addition of 55 mM glucose had no effect on mRNA expression of the nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial-related genes, cytochrome oxidase (Cox) 5a, Cox5b and Cox6b1. These results suggest that hyperglycemia reduced the mitochondrial content of porcine embryos developing in vitro and that this may hinder embryonic development to the blastocyst stage and embryo quality by increasing apoptosis and autophagy in these embryos.

Autophagy is conserved response to starvation by which cells catabolize their components to create an internal supply of essential nutrients. Ceramide is known to induce autophagy in many cells through down-regulation of amino acid and glucose transporters. The mechanism of starvation induced-autophagy in mouse embryo remains unclear. In order to understand the mechanism by which starvation regulates autophagy, in this study, we investigated nutrient transporters expression and the effect of c2-ceramide on the in vitro development, apoptosis and autophagy via starvation in mouse embryo. Glucose transporters (Glut1 and Glut 3), high levels of transcript were expressed from 1 to 2 cells and gradually decreased through the morula and blastocyst (BL) stages. Amino acid transporters (LAT-1 and 4F2hc) gradually decreased from the zygote to the BL stage. Furthermore, the expression of nutrient transporters (Glut1, 3, LAT-1 and 4F2hc) were significantly reduced at the BL stage after ceramide treatment. Especially, mTOR expression after ceramide treatment of embryos was significantly higher than controls. Ceramide treated embryos exhibited significantly reduced developmental rates and total cell numbers, and increased apoptotic cell death at the BL stage. Consequently, we next evaluated the effect of ceramide treatment on mitochondrial number and morphology. There was a significant decrease in the average mtDNA copy number and the mitochondrial area in ceramide treated BL stage embryos. Both the expression of autophagy-related genes, Lc3, Gabarap, Atg4A and Atg4B, and the synthesis of LC3 were significantly induced at the BL stage. These results suggest that autophagy under starvation condition influences the in vitro development and apoptosis and autophagy, and may play a role in early mouse embryogenesis.