Embryonic germ (EG) cells are undifferentiated stem cells isolated from cultured primordial germ cells (PGC). These cells share many characteristics with embryonic stem cells including morphology and pluripotency. Undifferentiated porcine EG cell lines demonstrating capacities of differentiation both in vitro and in vivo have been established. Since EG cells can be cultured indefinitely in an undifferentiated state, whereas somatic cells in primary culture are often unstable and have limited lifespan, EG cells may provide inexhaustible source of karyoplasts in nuclear transfer (NT). In this study the efficiencies of NT using porcine EG and fetal fibroblast cells were compared. Two different techniques were used to perform NT. With conventional NT procedure (Roslin method) involving fusion of donor cells with enucleated oocytes, the rates of development to the blastocyst stage in EG and somatic cell NT were 16.8% (59/351) and 14.5% (98/677), respectively. In piezo-driven microinjection (Honolulu method) of donor nuclei into enucleated oocytes, the rates of blastocyst formation in EG and somatic cell NT were 11.9% (15/126) and 9.4% (9/96), respectively. Regardless of NT methods used in this study, EG cell NT gave rise to comparable rate of blastocyst development to somatic cell NT. Overall, EG cells can be used as karyoplast donor in NT procedure, and embryos can be produced by EG cell NT that may be used as an alternative to conventional somatic cell NT.

This study was designed to evaluate effects of BSA, PVA, gonadotropins and follicle shell during IVM of porcine oocytes and subsequent development to the blastocyst stage after IVF. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in TCM-199 media containing 4 mg/ml BSA and 1 mg/ml PVA during IVM for 44 hr. To compare the effect of gonadotropins on oocyte maturation, COCs were cultured with FSH+LH, FSH, LH and FSH-LH-free media during IVM, respectively. Also, different number of follicle shells (0, 2, 4 and 6) was used to examine whether the presence of follicle shell in culture medium affects oocyte maturation. The percentages of fertilization and blastocyst formation, respectively, were higher in the medium containing the PVA (49.0 and 17.9%) than those containing the BSA (40.0 and 12.2%). Significantly higher rates of MII oocytes were in the presence of FSH+LH and FSH (88.6 and 85.1%) compared to other treatments (64.0 and 53.4% at LH and FSH-LH-free media). Co-culture with inverted follicle shells in 2 ml maturation medium enhanced the developmental competence of porcine oocytes. In conclusion, PVA could be used as a macromolecules instead of BSA, and FSH and follicle shell played important roles in maturation of porcine oocytes.

본 연구에서 돼지 난포란에서 채취된 난모 세포들을 체외성숙 후 형태적으로 선별하거나 극체 방출란을 선별하여 활성화 처리 후 48시간째에 분할란을 선별할 때 배발달율이 어느정도 향상되는지를 검토하였다. 난모 세포를 48시간 성숙 배양 후 형태적 선별과 극체의 방출 유무를 검사하고, 선별된 난모 세포들을 시간 추가 배양한 후 7% ethanol로 활성화시키고 cytochalasin B에 5시간 노출 후 PZM-5 배 양액으로 7일간 배양하였으며, 배양 중

본 연구는 BPA 및 nicotine 첨가 농도와 배양 시간이 돼지 난자의 체외성숙에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. BPA와 nicotine이 첨가된 TCM-199배양액에서 시간 난자를 배양했을 때 체외성 숙율을 조사하였다. BPA농도가 높을수록 체외성숙율이 유의적으로 낮게 나타났다. BPA를 첨가한 TCM-199 배양액에서 난자를 44시간 배양했을 때 체외성숙율은 각각 로서 첨가 농도가 증가할수록 낮은 체외성숙율을 나타냈다. 난자를 nicotine를 첨가