This experiment was carried out to study the determination of survival of vitrified and thawed mammal follicular oocytes by FDA-test. Oocytes were divided into 3 groups according to attachment of cumulus cell. Group A oocytes were tightly surrounded by cumulus cell, group B oocytes were partially surrounded by cumulus cell, and group C oocytes were poorly surrounded by cumulus cell. Vitrification solution developed by our previous study (Kim et al, 1992) which consisted of permeable agent (20 % glycerol + 10 % ethylene glycol) and nonpermeable agent (30 % Ficoll + 10 % sucrose). Oocytes (7~10) loaded into 0.25 ml straw after 10 min equilibration were plunged into liquid nitrogen (- 196) directly. The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group A oocytes was higher in rat (4.2) than in rabbit (3.9), cow (3.8), mouse (3.4) and porcine (2.4), however that of cumulus cell was higher in rabbit (4.7) than in rat (4.1), cow (2.9), porcine (2.6) and mouse (1.4). The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group B oocytes were 3.1 (cow), 2.9 (rabbit), 2.9 (mouse), 2.6 (rat) and 2.5 (porcine), respectively. However that of cumulus cell was higher in rabbit (3.7) than in porcine (2.6), rat (2.3), cow (1.7) and mouse (0.3). The FDA-score of vitrified and thawed group C oocytes was higher in mouse (4.1) than in cow (2.9), rabbit (2.6), rat (1.3) and porcine (1.1). As shown in the above results, The survival rates of oocytes were higher in group A than in group B and C except in mouse and cow. These results suggest that the survival of cumulus cell as well as follicular oocytes can be reliably judged by their fluorescence with FDA-test.

This study was carried out to investigate On in vitro fertilization, survival rate and developmental rate of rapidly frozen bovine immature oocytes. Immature oocytes cultured for 1, 12, 24, 48 hours in 20% FCS + TCM-199 medium and thereafter rapidly freezing-thawed oocytes inseminated with capacitated sperm. The immature oocytes following dehydration by 1.5M DMSO + 2.0M glycerol + 0.25M sucrose + TCM 199 media + 20% FGS were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen and thawes in 3 water. Rapid freezing embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS + TCM-199 media containing hormones(21U/mL PMSG, 21U /mL hGG and 1 g /mL 17-estradiol) and cumulus cells(1 x 105-6 cells). Survival rate was defined as development rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The in vitro maturation and fertilization rate of immature bovine oocytes on in vitro maturation period(1, 12, 24, 48 hrs) before rapid freezing4hawed were 57.1%, 45.7%, 37.1%, 25.7% and 40.0%, 31.4%, 20.0%, 11.4%, respectively. 2. The survival rate of immature bovine oocytes on in vitro maturation period(1, 12, 24, 48 hrs) before rapid freezing-thawed were 33.3%, 26.7%, 20.0%, and 10.0%, respectively. The survival rate of rapid freezing4hawed immature oocytes was significantly lower than that of non-freezing oocytes. 3. The survival rate of rapid freezing4hawed excellent and good bovine embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS + TCM-199 media containing hormones(PMSG, hCG, 17-estradiol) and cumulus cells 4 to 5 hrs and 20 to 24 hrs were 35.0%, 15.0% and 25.0%, 15.0% and 40.0%, 20.0% and 30.0%, 15.0%, respectively. The survival rate of embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 media containing hormones and cumulus cells was significantly higher than that of non co-culture.

암컷 Aedes aegypti의 난성숙과장에서 새로 나타나는 malate dehydrogenase(L-malate, oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.37, MDH)를 DEAE-Sepharose, Sulphonyl-Sepharose, Cibacron 3FGA affinity chromatography를 이용하여 분리정제하여 그 특성을 조사하였다. 분자량은 70,000 dalton정도의 dimer 형태로 되어 있으며 최적 pH는 malate-oxaloacetate반응에서는 pH 9.0~9.2, oxaloacetate-malate 반응에서는 pH 9.8~10.2이었다. 정재된 MDH는 mitochondria에 위치하고 있으며 기질로서 malate에 대한 Km값의 경우 M, oxaloacetate에 대한 Km 값은 M, NAD에 대한 Km값은 M이며 NADH에 대한 Km 값은 M 을 보이고 있으며 각각의 기질에 의한 저해현상을 보이고 있었다. 기질에 대한 Km값을 부분적으로 분리한 DEAE-sepharose에 흡착된 원형질 MDH와 비교한 결과 malate에 대한 Km 이 으로 상당한 차이를 보이고 있었다. 또한 정제된 MDH는 cltrate, -ketoglutarate, ATP 등의 대사산물에 의하여 저해작용을 받았다. ATP 및 citrate에 의한 MDH 활성도 저해는 oxaloacetate-malate반응에서 보다는 malate-oxaloacetate 반응에서 덜 일어났다. Oxaloacetate-malate 반응의 경우 ATP에 의하여저해작용이 완전히 일어났으며 malate-oxaloacetate반응에서는 cltrate에 의하여 저해작용이 일어나지 않았다. 흡혈 후 생성되는 MDH는 난소에서 합성되며 흡혈 수 난소에서 18시간 때부터 활성도가 나타나 48시간 이후 최고 활성도가 유지되는데 TCA회로의 isocitrate dehydrogenase 의 경우 난소내에서의 활성도 변화가 MDH의 변화 양상과 같았다.

연두금파리의 난세포성숙에 따른 단백질의 변화와 난특이성단백질의 특성을 확인하기 위하여 gel filtration, 전기영동 및 분자량측정, 아미노산과 지방산함량을 측정하여 얻은 결과는 다음과같다. 연두금파리 암컷성충의 난소단백질은 단백질원을 섭식시킨 후 72시간 이후 빠르게 증가하였고, 완전한 성숙이 일어나는 96시간에 최고의 함량을 나타냈다. DEAE-cellulose와 Sephacryl 5-200으로 gel filtration하고 7.5% native polyacrylamide gel에서 전기영동한 결과 난소에서 분리된 특이단백질은 0.4에서 혈림프 및 난소와 다른 밴드가 확인되었으며, 분자량은 110,000 dalton이였다. 분리된 난특이성단백질내 아미노산 조성은 asparagine 외 모두 13종이 검출되었으며, asparagine, glutamic acid와 함께 tyrosine이 특이하게 높게 나타났다. 지방산은 난소와 함께 난특이성단백질에서 palmitic acid의 4종이 분리되었다. 따라서, 연두금파리의 난에는 지방체에서 합성, 분비된 난황단백질이외에 난소에만 존재하는 특이단백질이 있음을 알 수 있다.

In order to determine the optimum condition and timing for in vitro maturation of oocytes to metaphase of meiosis II (M II), the immatured follicular oocytes were recovered by puncturing the large(1.0~1.5 mm in diameter) and small(<1.0 mm in diameter) follicles in the ovaries of rabbits treated intramuscularly with a single dose of 100 TU PMSG 68 hours previously. The follicular oocytes were classified into three grades by the attachment of cumulus cells. The Grade I and II follicular oocytes from large follicles were cultured in BO-DM medium with 10% FCS, 35 g /nl of FSH, 10 g /ml of LH and 1 g /ml of estradiol-17 at 39t in a 5% incubator for 11 to 23 hours. In 3 hours interval during the culture period, the oocytes were harvested and their cumulus cells were removed with hyaluronidase. The denuded oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and their meiotic status and extrusion of the first polar body (PB) were examined under a fluorescence microscope. Also the fragmentation of the first PB and the distance between the first PB and nucleus were examined. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The mean recovery rate of follicular oocytes from the large and small follicles was 59. 9 and 31.3%, respectively. The mean number of oocytes recovered per rabbit and the Grade I percentage were 14.6 and 94.4% in large follicles, but 2.1 and 61.1% in small follicles, respectively. All the parameters examined were different significantly (p<0.05) between both the folliclular size. 2. Most of the follicular oocytes(86.8%) were matured in vitro to M II phase in 14 hours in Grade I oocytes, but the significantly(p<0.05) less oocytes(45.5%) were matured in Grade II oocytes. 3. The first PB was extruded in most of the oocytes(94.7%) in 14 hours of culture with the fragmentation rate of 29.6%, but the fragmentation rate of the first PB increased significantly (p<0.05) as the culture period for maturation was longer to 20 hours(63.5%). 4. The distance between the first PB and nucleus was increased linearly (p<0.05) as the maturation time passed from 14(7.1rn) to 23 hours(58.4m). 5. From the above results it was concluded that the optimum time for in vitro maturation culture might be 14 hours in the follicular oocytes from rabbit primed with PMSG for 68 hours, expecially when these follicular oocytes were used for recipient cytoplasms in embryo cloning.

The objective of this study was to develop an effective in vitro production system capable of obtaining more porcine embryos from immature oocytes These experiments were conducted to examine the effect of sperm factor on the IVF and IVD, and the effect of coculture with somatic cells on the IVD of embryos. Although the concentration of epididymal sperm for IVF did not affect on cleavage rate, but 5 x 105 sperm/mi showed the highest cleavage rate(48.7%) and the developmental potential of IVF oocytes from this concentration was also greatly higher (P-stored sperm for l2hrs and the cleavage rate from fresh sperm was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that from frozen sperm, but the developmental potential after IVF was slightly high from the frozen sperm. The cleavage rate of IVF oocytes cocultured with oviductal epithelial cells and cumulus cells was 76.3% and 72.9%, respectively. There was no difference between two coculture systems but this rate was significantly higher(P<0.05) than that of medium alone(42.0%).

This study was undertaken to investigate effects of granulosa cells on mejotic maturation of porcine oocytes in vitro. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows : The germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) rates were 91.5, 93.3 and 96.6%, respectively, when the cumulus oocy:e cornplexes(COC) in the TCM-199 medium with sodium bicarbonate, Na pyruvate, penicillin G, streptomycin sulfate and 10% FCS were cultured in the condition of FSH(0.02 Au/ml), LH(10 g/ml) and FSH + LH added. And when the COC were co-cultured with granulosa cell (5 106 cells /ml) in the condition of FSH, LH and FSH + LH added, GVBD rates were 94.3, 92.9 and 98.9%, respectively. However, when the COC were cultured in the condition of hormone free and co-cultured with granulosa cells in the condition of hormone free, the GVBD rates were 40.4 and 86.3%, respectively. The GVBD rates were 41.0, 62.7, 84.6, 88.1 and 93.6%, respectively, when the COC were co-cultured with granulosa cells that the concentrations are 0 cells /ml, 1 106 cells /ml, 5:: 106 cells /ml, 1 107 cells /ml and 5 107 cells /ml.

The suitable electric stimulation is essential for activation and fusion of oocytes before or after nuclear transplantation The present study was undertaken to determine the optirnal condition for the parthenogenetic activation of in vitro rnatured(IVM) bovine oocytes by electric stimulation. Different direct current(DC) electric voltage of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kV/cm and pulse duration of 30, 60 and 120 sec were applied to the JVM nocytes in 0.3 M mannitol solution containing each 100 M CaCl and MgCl. IVM occytes at 24, 28 and 32 hours Post-maturation(hpm) were also electrically stimulated at 1.5 kV /cm, for 60 sec. The stimulated nocytes were then co-cultured in TCM-199 solution containing 10% fetal calf serum with bovine oviductal epithelial cells for 7~9 days in a 5% incubator at 39 ~ Their activation and in vitro development to morula and blastocyst were assessed under an inverted microscope. The higher activation rates 62.8 and 63.4% and in vitro de- velopment rates to morula and blastocyst 5.1 and 10.9% were shown in the oocytes stimulated at the voltage of 1.0 and 1.5 kV/cm than 2.0 kV/cm, respectively. No signifi- cantly(P<0.05) different activation rate was shown in JVM oocytes stimulated for 30, 60 and 120 sec, but developmental rates to morula and blastocyst was significantly(P<0.05) higher in the oocytes stimulated for 30 sec(6~3%) and 60 sec(10~0%) than 120 sec(0~ 0%). The aged oocytes at 28 and 30 hpm showed significantly(P<0.05) higher activation rates(72~7 and 79.7%) than the oocytes at 24 hpm(50~9%)~ Also, their developmental rates to morula and blastocyst were significantly(P<0.05) higher in the nocytes at 28(14.3%) and 32 hpm(15.9%) than 24 hpm(3.6%). From these results, it can be suggested that the optimal electric stimulation for IVM bovine occytes is a DC voltage between 1.0 and 1.5 kV/cm, pulse duration of 30 or 60 sec, and the optimal age of IVM oocytes for electric activation is at 32 hpm.

In vitro development of parthenogenetic embryo was examined after ethanol treatment of follicular oocytes matured in vitro for 42, 48, 54 and 60h in the pig. The follicular oocytes were matured in TCM 199 containing 15% FCS and gonadotrophins in an atmosphere of 39 5% . The cumulus-free oocytes were activated by 10% ethanol treatment in M2+4mg /ml BSA for 10 min. The ethanol-activated oocytes were washed and further cultured in TCM199+20%FCS containing granulosa cell monolayer. Maturation rates at 42, 48, 54 and 60h of IVM were 75.0, 86.5, 81.6 and 87.9%, respectively. Thus the oocytes maturated in vitro for longer periods did not improve nuclear maturation much. Pronuclear formation rates at 18h post-activation in ethanol-activated oocytes were 21.9, 25.0, 47.4 and 32.6%. The cytoplasmic maturation leading to pronuclear formation upon activation increased when the I VM period was extended from 42 to 54h. When the activated oocytes were cultured for 96~120h to analyse early development of the activated oocytes, the rates of embryonic development upto 5~8 cell were 5.3, 5.8, 12.0 and 11.7% among the cultured embryos. The result indicate that earlier development of activated porcine occyte is dependent on the duration of oocyte maturation, and that better development could be obtained from the oocyte matured for 54h.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of gonadotropins added during maturation of porcine oocytes on the in vitro maturation(IVM), in vitro fertilization(IVF) and developmental potential of embryos. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing different combination of gonadotropins(5g /ml FSR or 1OIU /ml PMSG and 1Og /ml LH or 1OIU /ml hCG), 10% FCS and 10% PFF for 36~48h in a incubator with 5% in Air at 39 and then matured oocytes were again cultured to 120h after IVF for 6~7h with heparin(100g /m')-treated sperm. When the oocytes were matured for 42brs in the medium containing FSH+LH, FSH+hCG, PMSG+LH or PMSG+hCG, the JVF rate of each treatment was 50.0%, 52.9%, 66.7% and 70.0%, respectively. The highest CEI (cumulus cell expansion index) was obtained from PMSG+hCG-added medium and the highest polyspermic penetration resulted from FSH+LH-added medium. The cleavage of IVF oocytes derived from hormone added IVM was significantly(P<0.05) promoted by PMSG+hCG and the cleavage rate after 36-h, 42-h and 48-h maturation aws 53.0%, 56.7% and 45.6%, respectively. The highest developmental potential resulted from the oocytes derived from PMSG+LH -added IVM.

The objective of this study was to develop an effective in vitro production system capable of obtaining more porcine embryos from immature oocytes. These experiments were thus conducted to examine the effect of oocytes type and maturation time on the in vitro maturation(IVM) and fertilization(IVF) of oocytes and the in vitro development (IVD)of IVF embryos. 1. The degree of oocyte maturation based on cumulus expansion index(GEI) did not differ for A- and B-typed oocytes but the index of oocyte type C was lower(P<0.05) than that of other oocyte types. 2. When the oocytes of type A and B were matured for 36, 42 and 48hrs, the GEl was not different between the 36- and 42-h maturation but the GEl after 48hrs was greatly lower(P<0.05) than that of other maturation times. 3. The highest cleavage rate(48.6%) of IVF oocytes was obtained from A typed oocytes and 42-h maturation but the developmental potential based on cleavage index was the highest when B-typed oocytes were matured for 42hrs.