Transcription factor called activating enhancer binding protein 2C (AP2-gamma) is found in a variety of species and expressed from oocyte stage onwards, particularly restricted to the trophectoderm. Recent studies demonstrated that ablation of Tfap2c led to failure of tight junction biogenesis, particularly the knock-down embryos of Tfap2c did not form cavity from morula to blastocyst in mouse and pig. We speculated that the Tfa2pc may also be involved in desmosome biogenesis because blastocoel formation is coincident with the establishment of desmosome. To determine this, we depleted Tfap2c injecting siRNA into one-cell zygote and analysed the expression levels of genes that are required for desmosome complex such as PkP2, Pkp3, Dsc2, and Dsg2. We found only Pkp3 was up-regulated in the knockdowned morula embryos. Interestingly, upstream region of Pkp3 had putative Tfap2c binding sites. In conclusion, our results suggest that Tfap2c is not a crucial factor but somehow it might be involved in desmosome biogenesis directly or indirectly via Pkp3.

Edaravone (Eda) is a potent scavenger of inhibiting free radicals including hydroxyl radicals (H2O2). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 can alter most kinds of cellular molecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, cellular apoptosis. In addition, oxidative stress from over-production of ROS is involved in the defective embryo development of porcine. Previous study reported that Eda has protective effects against oxidative stress-like cellular damage. However, the effect of Eda on the preimplantation porcine embryos development under oxidative stress is unclear. Therefore, in this study, the effects of Eda on blastocyst development, expression levels of ROS, and apoptotic index were first investigated in preimplantation porcine embryos. After in vitro fertilization, porcine embryos were cultured for 6 days in PZM medium with Eda (10 μM), H2O2 (200 μM), and Eda+H2O2 treated group, respectively. Rate of blastocyst development was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the Eda treated group compared with only H2O2 treated group. And, we measured intracellular levels of ROS by DCF-DA staining methods and investigated numbers of apoptotic nuclei by TUNEL assay analysis is in porcine blastocyst, respectively. Both intracellular ROS levels and the numbers of apoptotic nucleic were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in porcine blastocysts cultured with Eda (10 μM). More over, the total cell number of blastocysts were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the Eda-treated group compared with untreated group and the only H2O2 treated group. Based on the results, Eda was related to regulate as antioxidant-like function according to the reducing ROS levels during preimplantation periods. Also, Eda is beneficial for developmental competence and preimplantation quality of porcine embryos. Therefore, we concluded that Eda has protective effect to ROS derived apoptotic stress in preimplantation porcine embryos.

Pollution in the fresh water system in urban area has the adverse effect on the amphibians population. Restoration activity of amphibian in the urban stream has been growing in Korea as well as western country. For successful restoration water quality of urban stream should be sufficient for survival and normal development of amphibian. To monitor the biological safety of surface water in the Tancheon basin, the capital area of Korea, a 6-day exposure Bombina orientalis embryo developmental toxicity assay was examined. The toxicity of surface water of Tancheon mainstream were lower than those of tributaries of Tancheon. The survival rate of embryos negatively correlated with total dissolved solid, turbidity and electrical conductivity whereas the developmental abnormality and growth retardation of embryos was positively correlated with total dissolved solid, turbidity and electrical conductivity. An amphibian developmental toxicity assay would be helpful for the selection of point for construction of habitat and reintroduction of amphibian in interrupted urban stream.

To improve the developmental potential of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, this study compared the developmental rates to blastocyst stage in the SCNT embryos using donor fibroblasts treated with 5-azacytidine (5AC) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) at different concentrations. Their reprogramming efficiency level was investigated with level of telomerase activity. Donor fibroblasts isolated from adult ear skin of a cow were exposed to 5AC and SAH at different concentrations during 2 passages. After nuclear transfer into enucleated recipient oocytes, the cleavage and developmental rates were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the SCNT embryos using 5AC-treated fibroblasts (5AC-SCNT embryos), compared with those of non-treated control (control-SCNT embryos) and SAH-treated fibroblasts (SAH-SCNT embryos). The developmental rates to blastocyst stage tended to be slightly increased in the SAH-SCNT embryos at each of the concentrations, and especially, the developmental rates in the SCNT embryos using 1.0 mM SAH-treated fibroblasts were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of control SCNT embryos. The mean numbers of total and ICM cell in blastocysts were also significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the 5AC-SCNT embryos, compared with those of other SCNT blastocysts. Further, the level of telomerase activity was also significantly (p< 0.05) decreased in the 5AC-SCNT embryos than those of control and SAH-SCNT embryos. Whereas, a significantly (p<0.05) up-regulated telomerase activity was observed in SAH-SCNT embryos, compare with that of control-SCNT embryos. In conclusion, SCNT embryos using hypomethylated donor cells with SAH, not 5AC, may improve the developmental potential and reprogramming efficiency.

Understanding the behavior of transgenes introduced into oocyte or embryos is essential for evaluating the methodologies for transgenic animal production. To date, many studies have reported the production of transgenic pig embryos with, however, low efficiency in environment of blastocyst production. The aim of present study was to determine the expression and duration of transgene transferred by intracytoplasmic sperm injection-mediated gene transfer (ICSI-MGT). Embryos obtained from the ICSI-MGT procedure were analysed for the expression of GFP and then for the transmission of the transgene. Briefly, fresh spermatozoa were bound to exogenous DNA after treatment by Triton X-100 and Lipofectin. When ICSI-MGT was performed using sperm heads with tails removed, the yield of blastocyst (25.3%), treated with Lipofectin (18.8%) and Triton X-100 (19.2%) were observed. Treatments of Lipofectin or Triton X-100 did not further improve the rates of blastocysts. Moreover, the apoptosis rates of embryos were obtained from the control and LIpofectin groups (8.7%, 9.7%, respectively), but were significantly higher in the Triton X-100 group (13.0%). Our results demonstrated that ICSI-MGT caused minimal damage to oocytes that could develop to full term. Moreover, the embryos derived by ICSI-MGT have shown prolonged exogenous DNA expression during preimplantation stage in vivo. However, more efforts will be required to improve the procedures of both sperm treatments cause of high frequency of mosaicisms.

This study was designed to know the possibility in repeat uses of elite donor cows for getting mass production of OPU-derived embryo production (OPU-IVP). Ultrasound transvaginal ovum pick-up (OPU) performed in 6 Korean native cows was aged 4 to 10 years old. The aspiration of immature oocytes for OPU derived embryo was carried out 2 times per week, and OPU-IVP of 1st period was carried out 22∼48 sessions from each donors. And the break time for OPU-IVP of 2nd period after 1st OPU from each donors were 2∼25 months. The OPU-IVP of 2nd period each donors conducted total 15∼65 times for 2∼8 months by an ultrasonographic, was guided follicular aspiration system. The average numbers of collected oocytes, grade 1 + grade 2(G1+G2) oocytes and cleavage embryo from 1st period OPU-IVP were significantly differences between donors (p<0.05). Total collected oocytes of donor D were significantly higher compared with donors of A, B, C, E and F (average 17.0 per session vs. 11.2, 10.1, 8.5, 10.2 and 9.6; p<0.05) and also oocytes of G1+G2 were significantly higher compared with r A and D and subsequently to donors of B, C, E and F (average 7.9 and 8.5 per session vs. 5.0, 2.7, 6.0 and 1.6; p<0.05). Cleavage rate of donor D was significantly higher compared with donors of A, B, C, E and F (average 13.1 per session vs. 10.1, 9.1, 6.9, 8.9 and 6.7; p<0.05). The average numbers of OPU-IVP for 1st period was significantly higher from donors of B, D and E than those from donors of A, C and F (average 6.5, 7.1 and 6.5 per session vs. 3.5, 4.2 and 2.8; p<0.05). The possibility investigation of 2nd OPU-IVP was carried out after 2∼25 months rest periods from 1st period OPU session. Total average numbers of collected oocytes, cleavages and blastocyst development rates were significantly higher from 1st period OPU compared with 2nd period one (p<0.05). The OPU-IVP efficiency by break for more embryo production from elite cow was analysis comparing without rest of donor A, under 6 months rest period as B and over 6 months rest period as C and then the average numbers of collected oocytes, cleavages and blastocysts were significantly higher from A group (11.8, 9.5 and 5.2 per session) than those from B and C groups (7.9, 6.2 and 2.6 vs. 9.2, 7.5 and 3.9, p<0.05), and also C group was significantly higher than B group. In conclusion, 1st period OPU-IVP was more efficient compared with 2nd period repeated uses of donor, and the break times for additional production of embryo on donor were needed more than over 6 months after 1st period OPU-IVP. This repeating uses of elite donor cows given more emphasis for getting the opportunity on mass production of elite cow OPU-IVP embryo should be increased G1+G2 possibility of genetic improvement of livestock within short period.

체외 배양액에 성장호르몬 및 사이토카인의 첨가는 초기배 발육 및 생산된 배반포의 질에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 본 연구는 돼지 유도만능줄기세포(porcine induced pluripotent stem cell, piPSC)의 조정배지(conditioned medium, CM)가 돼지 난자의 체외성숙 및 단위발생 후 초기배 발육에 미치는 영향을 검토하기 위하여 수행하였다. 난자-난구세포 복합체(cumulus-oocyte complex, COC)는 0(control), 25, or 50%의 줄기세포 배양액(stem cell medium, SM) 또는 CM이 첨가된 체외성숙 배양액으로 배양하였으며, 성숙된 난자는 활성화 유도 후 같은 농도의 SM 또는 CM을 첨가한 체외배양액에서 배양하였다. 체외 성숙율은 CM-25% 그룹에서 대조구보다 유의적으로 높았으나(p<0.05), 다른 SM 또는 CM 처리구와는 차이가 없었다. 배반포 형성율은 CM-25% 그룹(29.2%)에서 대조구(20.7%), SM-50%(19.6%) 및 CM-50%(23.66%) 처리구보다 유의적으로 높았다(p<0.05). 배반포에서의 세포수 및 세포사 비율은 SM-25% 그룹이 대조구에 비하여 유의적인 차이가 나타났다(p<0.05). 난자의 질과 연관되어 있는 유전자들(Oct4, Klf4, Tert 및 Zfp42)의 발현은 CM-25% 그룹에서 대조구보다 유의적으로 증가되었다(p<0.05). 따라서 본 실험의 결과 체외성숙(IVM) 및 체외발달(IVC) 배양액에 25% 수준의 CM의 첨가는 돼지 단위발생 난자의 배발달과 난자의 질적 향상에 기여하는 것으로 사료된다.

Successful somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been reported across a range of species using a range of recipient cells including enucleated metaphase II (MII) arrested oocytes, enucleated activated MII oocytes, and mitotic zygotes. However, the frequency of development to term varies significantly, not only between different cytoplast recipients but also within what is thought to be a homogenous population of cytoplasts. One of the major differences between cytoplasts is the activities of the cell cycle regulated protein kinases, maturation promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). Dependent upon their activity, exposure of the donor nucleus to these kinases can have both positive and negative effects on subsequent development. Co-ordination of cell cycle stage of the donor nucleus with the activities of MPF and MAPK in the cytoplast is essential to avoid DNA damage and maintain correct ploidy. However, recent information suggests that these kinases may also effect reprogramming of the somatic nucleus and preimplantation embryo development by other mechanisms. This article will summarise the differences between cytoplast recipients, their effects on development and discuss the potential role/s of MPF and or MAPK in nuclear reprogramming.

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside, isolated from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. It possesses a broad range of biological and pharmacological activity including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant by acting as a free radical scavenger. Therefore, in this study, the effects of catalpol on blastocyst development, expression levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic index were investigated in porcine embryos. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, porcine embryos were cultured for 6 days in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3) supplemented with catalpol (0, 100, 200 and 400 μM, respectively). Blastocyst development not significantly improved in the catalpol treated group when compared with control group. Otherwise, the intracelluar levels of ROS were decreased and the numbers of apoptotic nuclei were reduced in the catalpol (100 μM) treated porcine blastocysts (P<0.05). On the other hand, blastocyst development was significantly improved in the catalpol (100 μM) treated group when compared with the untreated catalpol group under H2O2 (200 μM) induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). Otherwise, the intracellular levels of ROS in catalpol (100 μM) treated group were significantly decreased in the untreated catalpol group under H2O2 (200 μM) induced oxidative stress (P<0.05). Furthermore, the total cell numbers of blastocysts were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the catalpol (100 μM) treated group under H2O2 (200 μM) induced oxidative stress, whereas numbers of apoptoic nuclei were significantly reduced (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results indicate that treatment of catalpol may have important implications for improving developmental competence and preimplantation quality of porcine embryos through its anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effect

The cloning efficiency is extremely low despite successful somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) method producing cloned animals in several mammals. In general, faulty epigenetic modifications underlying the incomplete reprogramming of donor cell nuclei after SCNT mainly results in low cloning efficiency. The nuclear reprogramming process involves epigenetic modifications, such as DNA demethylation and histone acetylation, which may be an important factor in enhancing the cloning efficiency. Recently, the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), such as trichosatin A (TSA) and m-carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide (CBHA), to increase histone acetylation have been used to improve the developmental competence of SCNT embryos. Therefore, we compared the effects of TSA with CBHA on the in vitro developmental competence and pluripotency-related gene expression (Oct4, Nanog and Sox2) in porcine cloned blastocysts and histone acetylation pattern (H3K9ac). The porcine cloned embryos were treated with a 50nM concentration of TSA and 100μM concentration of CBHA during the in vitro early culture (10h) after cell fusion and then were assessed to cleavage rate, development to the blastocyst stage and pluripotency-related gene expression in NT blastocyst also, level of histone acetylation in zygote, 2cell, 4cell stage. As results, Although NT, TSA and CBHA treated NT embryos were not different between all groups for cleavage rates, the developmental competence to the blastocyst stage was significantly increased in CBHA treated embryos (22.7%) compared to that of normal NT and TSA treated NT embryos (8.1% and 15.4%)(p<0.05). In addition, all of pluripotent transcription factors (Oct4, Nanog and Sox2) were expressed in the CBHA treated NT embryos, however, Sox2 and Oct4 were expressed in TSA treated NT embryos and expression pattern of CBHA treated NT embryos is particularly similar to that of IVF embryos. Also, CBHA treated NT embryos were increased in level of histone acetylation (H3K9ac) at the zygote, 2-cell, 4-cell stage compared to those of NT and TSA treated NT embryos. In conclusion, the treatment of CBHA as a histone deacetylase inhibitor significantly increased the developmental competence of porcine NT embryos and pluripotency-related gene expressions(Oct4, Nanog and Sox2) in NT blastocysts and level of histone acetylation (H3K9ac).

We investigate the effect of L-glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant, treatment during the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) procedures on the in vitro development and DNA methylation status of bovine SCNT embryos. Bovine in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes were enucleated and electrofused with a donor cell, then activated by a combination of Ca-ionophore and 6-dimethylaminopurine. The recipient oocytes or reconstituted oocytes were treated with 50 μM GSH during these SCNT procedures from enucleation to activation treatment. The SCNT embryos were cultured for 7 days to evaluate the in vitro development, apoptosis and DNA methylation in blastocysts. The apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay and caspase-3 activity assay. Methylated DNA of SCNT embryos at the blastocyst stages was detected using a 5-methylcytidine (5-MeC) antibody. The developmental rate to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher (P<0.05) in GSH treatment group (32.5±1.2%, 78/235) than that of non-treated control SCNT embryos (22.3±1.8%, 50/224). TUNEL assay revealed that the numbers of apoptotic cells in GSH treatment group (2.3±0.4%) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of control (3.8±0.6%). Relative caspase-3 activity of GSH treated group was 0.8±0.06 fold compared to that of control. DNA methylation status of blastocysts in GSH treatment group (13.1±0.5, pixels/ embryo) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of control (17.4±0.9, pixels/embryo). These results suggest that antioxidant GSH treatment during SCNT procedures can improve the embryonic development and reduce the apoptosis and DNA methylation level of bovine SCNT embryos, which may enhance the nuclear reprogramming of bovine SCNT embryos.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas9) system can be applied to produce transgenic pigs. Therefore, we applied CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate FoxN1-targeted pig parthenogenetic embryos. Using single guided RNA targeted to pig FoxN1 genes was injected into cytoplasm of in vitro matured oocyte before electrical activation. In results, regardless of the concentrations of vector, the cleavage rate were significantly (p<0.05) decreased (4 ng/μl, 51.24%; 8 ng/μl, 40.88%; and 16 ng/μl; 45.22%) compared to no injection group (70.44%). The blastocyst formation rates were also decreased in vector injected 3 groups (4 ng/μl, 7.96%; 8 ng/μl, 6.4%; and 16 ng/μl; 9.04%) compared to no injection group (29.07%). In addition, the blastocyst formation rates between sham injected group (13.51%) and no injection group (29.07%) also showed significant difference (p<0.05). The mutation rates were comparable between groups (4 ng/μl, 18.4%; 8 ng/μl, 12.5%; and 16 ng/μl; 20.0%). The sequencing analysis showed that blastocysts derived from each group were successfully mutated in FoxN1 loci regardless of the vector concentrations. However, the deletion patterns were higher than the patterns of point mutation and insertion regardless of the vector concentrations. In conclusion, we described that cytoplasmic microinjection of FoxN1-targeted CRISPR/Cas9 vector could efficiently generate transgenic pig parthenogenetic embryos in one-step.

Differentiated nuclei can experimentally be returned to an undifferentiated embryonic status after nuclear transfer (NT) to unfertilized metaphase II (MII) oocytes. Nuclear reprogramming is triggered immediately after somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT) into recipient cytoplasm and this period is regarded as a key stage for optimizing reprogramming. In a recent study (Dai et al., 2010), use of m-carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide (CBHA) as a histone deacetylase inhibitor during the in vitro early culture of murine cloned embryos modifies the acetylation status of somatic nuclei and increases the developmental competence of SCNT embryos. Thus, we examined the effects of CBHA treatment on the in vitro preimplantation development of porcine SCNT embryos and on the acetylated status of histone H3K9 on cloned embryos at the zygote stage. We performed the three groups SCNT: SCNT (NT), CBHA treatment at the porcine fetus fibroblast cells (PFFs) used as donor cells prior to SCNT (CBHA-C) and CBHA treatment at the porcine SCNT embryos during the in vitro early culture after oocyte activation (CBHA-Z). The PFFs were treated with a 15 μM of CBHA (8 h) for the early culture and the porcine cloned embryos were treated with a 100 μM concentration of CBHA during the in vitro early culture (10 h). Cleavage rates and development to the blastocyst stage were assessed. No significant difference was observed the cleavage rate among the groups (82.6%, 76.4% and 82.2%, respectively). However, the development competence to the blastocyst stage was significantly increased in CBHA-Z embryos (22.7%) as compared to SCNT and CBHA-C embryos (8.6% and 4.1%)(p<0.05). Total cell numbers and viable cell numbers at the blastocyst stage of porcine SCNT embryos were increased in CBHA-Z embryos as compared to those in CBHA-C embryos (p<0.05). Signal level of histone acetylation (H3K9ac) at the zygote stage of SCNT was increased in CBHA-Z embryos as compared to SCNT and CBHA-C embryos. The results of the present study suggested that treatment with CBHA during the in vitro early culture (10 h) had significantly increased the developmental competence and histone acetylation level at the zygote stage.

The aim of the present study was to compare two different serum-free media, modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) and modified potassium simplex optimization medium (mKSOM) containing 20% RD (RPMI1640 + DMEM, 1:1 v/v) (RD-mKSOM), for in vitro culture (IVC) of bovine embryos. After in vitro maturation and fertilization, the presumptive zygotes were cultured in two different serum-free conditions for 7 days and 9 days to evaluate blastocyst formation and hatching, respectively. Serum supplemented conventional CR2 medium was used as control. After 7 day of culture, there was no significant difference in cleavage and blastocyst formation rates among three groups (mSOF, 59.3 and 30.1%; RD-mKSOM, 65.0 and 41.5%; control, 51.6 and 38.0%, respectively). Hatching rate was significantly higher in control (69.0%) than other experimental groups (mSOF, 22.0%; RD-mKSOM, 39.5%) (P＜0.0001 and P＜0.001, respectively). Although both serum-free conditions showed lower hatching rates than serum-added control, in serum-free groups, RD-mKSOM showed significantly higher hatching rate than mSOF (P＜0.001). In addition, one-step using RD-mKSOM may facilitate IVC procedure than two-step culture system. In conclusion, the results indicate that one-step RD-mKSOM is more suitable defined culture system for IVC of bovine embryos than two-step mSOF.

This study was carried out to establish the system of OPU derived embryo production, management of recipients as well as offspring production. OPU derived embryo production system was carried out of aspiration of immature oocytes 2 times per week, total 24 times for 3 months by an ultrasonographic guided follicular aspiration system and then produced in vitro-produced blastocysts by in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture system. This work was collected total 13,866 oocytes, average 8.2±4.5 oocytes per session and 8,170 G1 + G2 grade oocytes, average 4.8 oocytes per session by 1,692 times session of total 71 donors for 4 years from 2010 to 2013. The rate of cleavage and blastocyst developmental competence were obtained 11,825 (85.3%) and 5,032 (36.3%) that was 7.0±3.8 cleaved embryos and 3.0±2.5 blastocysts per session. OPU derived embryo transfer were taken place in 2, 4, 6 and 7 local governments at 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for 4 years and pregnancy rate were obtained 41.2, 43.9, 46.5 and 49.7% in each years. It means that pregnancy rate was continuously improved according of every year for 4 years. Pregnancy rate was significantly different according to individual local government in which was 62.7% in B, but 24.2% in F at 2012. Paternity identification was carried out total 26 offspring in C local government of 2012 and then confirmed 100% agreement of its analysis. In conclusion, the results obtained the possibility of mass production of elite cow embryos as well as offspring by OPU derived embryo production system, of which could be decreased the required time of genetic improvement.

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is associated with changes in K+ concentration in many cell types. Recent studies have demonstrated that two-pore domain K+ (K2P) channels are involved in mouse embryonic development and apoptotic volume decrease of mammalian cells. In cerebellar granule neurons that normally undergo apoptosis during the early developmental stage, TASK-1 and TASK-3, members of K2P channels, were found to be critical for cell death. This study was performed to identify the role of K+ channels in the H2O2-induced or cryo-induced cell death of mouse and bovine embryos. Mouse and bovine two-cell stage embryos (2-cells) exposed to H2O2 for 4 h suffered from apoptosis. The 2-cells showed positive TUNEL staining. Treatment with high concentration of KCl (25mM) inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis of 2-cells by 19%. Cryo-induced death in bovine blastocysts showed positive TUNEL staining only in the cells near the plasma membrane. Cryoprotectant supplemented with 25 mM KCl reduced apoptosis slightly compared to cryoprotectant supplemented with 5 mM KCl. However, the combination of antioxidants (β-mercaptoethanol) with 25 mM KCl significantly decreased the rate of H2O2-induced and cryo-induced apoptosis compared to treatments with only antioxidants or 25 mM KCl. These results show that blockage of K+ channel efflux for a short-time reduces H2O2- and cryo-induced apoptosis in mouse and bovine embryos. Our findings suggest that apoptosis in mouse and bovine embryos might be controlled by modulation of K+ channels which are highly expressed in a given cell type.

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme during in vitro development with washing culture oil in porcine embryos. During the culture, the four types of culture oil such as paraffin oil with or without washing and mineral oil with or without washing were examined. The oil was washed with PZM-3 during 7 days and collected oil only. The embryos were stained with CellTrackerTM Red, DC-FDA and Hoechst 33342 to confirm the effects of the oil. As a results, Cleavage rates and total cell number were no difference among the four oil groups. However, ≥16 cell embryos were significantly different in fore type oil treat-ment and blastocyst rate was significantly higher washing paraffin treatment than in other group(p<0.05). Also, the expression of free radical were lower in washing paraffin oil than in other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, the expression of glutathione were not significant different among paraffin oil with or without washing and mineral oil with or without washing, however washing paraffin oil and washing mineral groups were higher than other treat-ment groups. In conclusion, the washing oil was expected with positive effects on in vitro development in porcine embryos.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of tissue inhibitor of matalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Activin A and Heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) on in vitro production of bovine embryos. In experiment 1, presumptive zygotes were cultured in the medium supplemented with TIMP-1 (0.5 μg/ml), Activin A (100 ng/ml), or HB-EGF (100 ng/ml) at 39 ℃ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% (v/v) CO2, 5% (v/v) O2 and 90% (v/v) N2. In experiment 2, TIMP-1 + HB-EGF or Activin A + HB-EGF combinations were supplemented in the culture medium. The developmental rate to blastocysts, hatching rate and total cell numbers of the blastocysts were evaluated in both experiments. The embryos cultured in medium without growth factor supplementation was used as control group. In experiment 1, the embryos cultured in medium supplemented with TIMP-1 and Activin A showed significantly higher developmental rate to blastocysts than those cultured with HB-EGF and control (36.9%, 34.1%, 21.2% and 23.1%, respectively) (P<0.0001). However, the hatching rate of blastocyst was significantly higher in embryos with HB-EGF than those with TIMP-1, Actvin A and Control groups (84.4%, 58.8%, 51.4% and 49.3%, respectively) (P<0.001). Total cell number per blastocyst was also significantly higher in embryos with HB-EGF group (174.3±2.5) than those with TIMP-1, Activin A (149.7 and 150.0, respectively) (P<0.05) and Control (119.0) (P<0.001). In experiment 2, embryos cultured with combined treatment of Activin A and HB-EGF resulted in significantly higher rates of blastocysts formation (48.0%), hatching rate (89.7%) and total cell number in blastocyst (182.3±2.1) than those with TIMP-1 and HB-EGF combination group (32.0%, P<0.001; 76.6%, P<0.05; 165.7±4.2, P<0.001, respectively). Our data demonstrate that in vitro production of bovine embryos could be improved by combined supplementation of Activin A and HB-EGF in culture medium.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (both MMP2 and -9) play a pivotal role of the embryos hatching and implantation. Therefore, the objective of this study was carried out to investigate the influence of MMP2 and MMP9 on embryo development potential and subsequent effect at molecular level. There was no significant difference of cleavage rate among the groups. The development competence of blastocyst was significantly higher (P<0.05) in MMP9 treatment (39.81±16.61) than that to the combined treatment of MMP2 and –9 (23.68±0.27), but there was no significant difference among the control vs. MMP2 vs. MMP9 (35.05±2.74 vs. 32.71±6.18 vs. 39.81±16.61, respectively). On the other hand, the hatching rate of blastocysts was significantly lower (P<0.05) in combined group of MMP2 and –9 (12.55±0.09) (Table1). The expression level of MMP2 and MMP9 was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the entire treatment groups than that in the control group. But the expression of MMP9 was significantly higher (P<0.05) when compared in the entire treatment groups. The relative expression embryonic developmental gene, IFNt expression level significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the MMP9 embryos. The placenta establishment genes, PLAC8 and SSLP1, expression were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the MMP2 embryos compared to other groups. Transcription regulation gene, HNRNPA2B1, was higher (P < 0.05) in the combined group of MMP2+MMP9 than that in the other groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that MMPs to culture medium improves the blastocyst development rate and further impact on target gene expression analysis.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 are participated in embryo development, implantation, remodeling of epithelial cell and ovulation. The objective of this study is to evaluate an impact of MMP2 and MMP9 on embryonic developmental competence as well as gene expression profiles of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. After in vitro fertilization, embryos of all groups were transferred into IVC-2 medium treated with MMP2 and MMP9 to check the optimum concentration on the basis of embryo development competence and cell numbers. The optimum concentrations for MMP2 and 9 were 1,200 ng/ml and 300 ng/ml. The blastocyst development competence was not different among 1,200 ng/ml of MMP2 vs. 300 ng/ml of MMP9 vs. combined MMP2 + 9 vs. control groups (41.46 ± 10.66 vs. 37.73 ± 8.92 vs. 45.11 ± 11.41% vs. 41.59 ± 11.88, respectively). Furthermore, the developmental competences to hatching and hatched blastocysts were not also different among the same groups (79.84 ± 12.63 vs. 83.3 ± 17.46 vs. 78.55 ± 14.48% vs. 72.02 ± 14.09). In addition, total cell number was significantly (p<0.05) greater in blastocyst treated with MMP9 300 ng/ml among all treatment groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference of ICM vs. TE ratio in all groups. The expression of five out of six genes (i.e., MMP2, MMP9, IFNt, SSLP1 and HNRNPA2B1) was different among the groups. The expression of IFNt and HNRNPA2B1 genes was significantly greater in MMP9 (p<0.05), but there was no difference of MMP9 expression between MMP2 and MMP9 group (p>0.05). The normalized expression of MMP2 and SSLP1 was greater in MMP2 than other groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, MMPs treatment during IVC-2 medium was remarkably effected on blastocyst developmental competence and gene expression profiles that are related to embryo quality and implantation.