Sperm competent for fertilization can become capacitated, bind to the zona pellucida (ZP)of an egg in a specific manner, and complete acrosomal exocytosis. Failure to carry out these functions results in infertility. Although the interactions between the ZP and the plasma membrane overlying the sperm acrosome have been considered important for sperm-egg recognition and signalling recent results have prompted a reassessment of current paradigms concerning these interactions. In this review, we're going to discuss about the roles of the acrosomal matrix, the particulate component of the acrosomal contents, in fertilization. The general hypothesis is that acrosomal exocytosis leads to the exposure of acrosomal matrix proteins that become de facto extracellula matrix(ECM) on the surface of the sperm head, and that the dynamic interactions of this newly-exposed sperm ECM with the egg ECM (the ZP) govern sperm-egg recognition and sperm penetration of the ZP. Informations from these experiments may provide new ways to address the poor ZP binding of sperm from some human infertility patients and may offer new avenues for contraception through the disruption of purposeful sperm-ZP binding.

Sperm competent for fertilization can become capacitated, bind to the zona pellucida (ZP) of an egg in a specific manner, and complete acrosomal exocytosis. Failure to carry out these functions results in infertility. Although the interactions between the ZP and the plasma mem-brane overlying the sperm acrosome have been considered important for sperm-egg recognition and signalling, recent results have prompted a reassessment of current paradigms concerning these interactions. In this review, we're going to discuss about the roles of the acrosomal matrix, the particulate component of the acrosomal contents, in fertilization. The general hypothesis is that acrosomal exocytosis leads to the exposure of acrosomal matrix proteins that become de-facto extracellular matrix (ECM) on the surface of the sperm head, and that the dynamic interactions of this newly-exposed sperm ECM with the egg ECM (the ZP) govern sperm-egg recognition and sperm penetration of the ZP Informations from these experiments may provide new ways to address the poor ZP binding of sperm from some human infertility patients and may offer new avenues for contraception through the disruption of purposeful sperm-ZP binding.

This study was undertaken to access the effects of collection method, room temperature at oocyte recovery and culture media on the oocyte quality, fertilization and cleavage rates of in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes of Korean native goats. Ovaries obtained from a slaughterhouse were transported to the laboratory and were divided into 2 groups. One group of ovaries was maintained at 30 to 35 of the room temperature and another group was remained at 20 to during oocyte recovery. The oocytes were recovered by follicle aspiration, slicing and aspiration+slicing methods from 3 groups of follicles according to size; <2 mm, 2 to 6 mm and >6 mm. The matured oocytes were inseminated with buck epididymal spermatozoa at a concentration of 3~3.510 m1 and fertilization was identified when 2 pronuclei were present in the cytoplasm. Although the recovery rate per ovary obtained by the combination of follicle aspiration + slicing(19.62.2) method was higher than aspiration(11.71.1) and slicing(14.81.8) collection, optimal recovery according to oocyte grades resulted form ovarian slicing compared to aspiration or combined methods(P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the mean number(2.51.8; 3.33.3; 2.92.4) and the proportion of favorable oocytes(Grades I, II and III) recovered(31.6%, 36.0%, 36.4%,) according to follicle size(<2 mm; 2 to 6 mm; >6 mm). Fertilization rate was 60.0%, 67.7%, 70.6% and 56.4% and the proportion of embryos/zygotes was 11.1%, 7.1%, 5.0% and 2.8% in 20~/BO, 30~35/BO, 20~/TALP and 30~35 /groups, respectively.

This study was conducted to establish the optimal conditions for in vitro embryo production using oocytes derived from follicles of slaughter-house ovaries. The ovaries of Hanwoo were obtained from a local slaughter-house. The oocytes were aspirated from visible follicles of 2~7mm in diameter. The recovered oocytes which were completely surrounded by at least 2 layers of cumulus cells and a homogeneous cytoplasmic pigmentation were used. The selected oocytes were washed 3 or 4 times with D-PBS containing 10% bovine calf serum (BCS) and matured in vitor (IVM) in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 10% BCS or 0.01 /ml epidermal growth factor(EGF) at 39 under 5% CO2 in air for 24 hours. They were fertilizqed in vitro (IVF) with fresh sperm separated by Percoll density gradient or swim-up in TALP media. The zygotes were cultrued with or without bovine oviductal epitherial cells(BOEC) in media(HECM-6 supplemented with 11 amino acid and / or TCM-199 supplemented with 10% BCS) for 7 to 10 days. The results obtained were as follow: The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocyst after maturation and IVF were not significantly different between Ham's F-10 with EGF(76.0% vs. 44.0%) and BCS(75.9% vs. 43.6%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate to blastocyst after fertilizing by swim-up or Percoll method were not signifciantly(P<0.05) different between swim-up (80.2% vs. 29.2%) and Percoll(81.9% vs. 26.5%) (P<0.05). The cleavage rate in TCM 199(80.5) was signficiantly higher than that in HECM-6 (72.0%) (P<0.05). However, developmental rate to blastocyst using TCM 199 following HECM-6 for 3 or 4 days (42.2%) was significantly higher than that in TCM-199 alone(26.7%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and development rate of embryos produced in vitro by exchange timing for HECM-6 media were not significantly different between in day 3(78.6% vs. 45.5%) and day 4(75.0% vs. 43.2%)(P<0.05). The cleavage rate and developmental rate to blastocysts according to co-culture system were not significantly different between with (74.2% vs. 41.4%) and without BOEC(73.95 vs. 43.5%) (P<0.05). The number of blastomere in blastocyst stage after co-culture with or without BOEC was not significantly different (106.75.1 and 96.64.0). In conclusion, the most transferable IVP embryos could be produced from Ham's F-10 medium for IVM, Percoll density gradient method for IVF sperm separation and in vitro culture in HECM-6 until day 3 or day 4, and then transferred into TCM-199 until day 9 within adequate embryo density in culture droplets after insemination.

This study was undertaken in an effort to select the sire bull in Hanwoo through in vitro fertilization of proven bull semen. It was used for in vitro fertilization that of the 20 proven bull semen with follicular oocytes derived from slaughterhouse ovaries of Hanwoo. The stage of maturation on the time course of bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes incubated for 24 hours was found the highest(96.4%) than hose of other maturationi time. In vitro fertilization rate of bovine oocytes with proven bull sperm showed from 61.5 to 88.9%. Polyspermy of in vitro fertilized oocytes according to proven bulls were the highest KP 491(61.5%) nothing but KP 486, KP 491 and KP 497.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of cutting frequency(3rd and 5th cut) and level of nitrogen fertilization(l50 + liquid manure, 300 and 450kgha) on growth characteristics, dry matter yield and nutritive vaule of reed canarygrass(Pha