This study was conducted to examine the effects of exogenous gonadotropins (PMSG+hCG) and an antioxidant (cysteine) on in vitro maturation of bovine follicular oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from 2 to 5 mm ovarian follicles were cultured for 22 to 24 hours in a modified bovine embryo culture medium (mBECM) supplemented with 3 mg/mL bovine serum albumin, to which PMSG (10 IU/mL) + hCG (10 IU/mL) and/or cysteine (0.6 mM) were added. When examined the expansion of cumulus ce1ls at the end of maturation culture, greater (p<0.05) expansion was found after addition of PMSG+hCG (79 to 96%) to mBECM than after no addition (0%), regardless of the presence or absence of cysteine in the medium. The addition of cysteine did not stimulate cumulus expansion, but a high proportion (92%) of expansion was achieved when COCs were cultured after the addition of PMSG+hCG and cysteine to the medium. No difference in the proportion of oocytes underwent germinal vesicle breakdown (initiation of maturation) was found after the addition of PMSG+hCG and/or cysteine to mBECM. However, nuclear maturation (development to the metaphase-II stage) of oocytes was significantly stimulated by the combined addition of PMSG+hCG and cysteine, compared with no addition. In conclusion, both exogenous gonadotropins and an antioxidant are important for nuclear maturation of bovine immature oocytes and these factors have a cell-specific stimulatory action.

근래, 혈청배지로 생산한 체외배양 수정란은 이식후, 낮은 수태율, 과체중의 산자 생산, 높은 유산율과 사망율 등 문제가 지적되고 있다. 그러나 무혈청 배지로 생산한 체외배양 수정란은 이러한 현상을 개선할 수 있다는 보고가 있어, 본 연구는 세포성장인자가 첨가된 완전 무혈청 배양액에서 생산된 수정란으로 2001년5월 부터 2002년 12월까지의 신선란 및 동결란으로 이식한 결과이다. 이식은 신선란 및 동결란에서 A급 수정란은 1개, B급 수정란은 2개를