Insect eggshell and cuticle/exoskeleton play vital roles in protecting them from natural environmental stresses. However, these chitinous cuticular extracellular matrices must be degraded at least in part during embryo hatching and molting/ecdysis periods to accommodate continuous growth all the way to the adult stage. In this study, we investigated the functional importance of groups I and II chitinases, TcCHT5 and TcCHT10, in the turnover of chitinous cuticle during both embryonic and post-embryonic development in Tribolium castaneum. RNAi and TEM analyses revealed that TcCHT10 is required for digestion of chitin in the serosal cuticle for embryo hatching as well as in the old cuticle during post-embryonic molts including larval-pupal and pupal-adult metamorphosis. TcCHT10 appears to be able to substitute for TcCHT5 in all these vital physiological events except for the pupal-adult molting in which TcCHT5 is indispensable for complete digestion of chitin in the old pupal cuticle.

Because multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) in cattle includes several benefits such as wide spreading of genetically superior offspring for long distance, this biotechnological method has been widely applied to Hanwoo. When the recipients are not stayed close after embryo recovery from donor, the embryos are moved to other farms via several vehicles (car, train, and airplane). However, air travel induces lesser oxygen level, increased vibration, lower air pressure, higher noise, and increased exposure of cosmic radiation to living things than ground level. It was still unknown that fresh embryos obtained from multiple ovulation of Hanwoo could maintain their fertility after being transported via air plane, the present case report introduced a clinical case of MOET in Hanwoo after shipping fresh embryos via air transportation. The donor was multi-ovulated via follicle-stimulating hormone series of injection, which was followed by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone injection and artificial insemination twice. The embryos were recovered by the uterine flushing, packed in ministraws, transported to recipients for 6 h including 1 h air flight, and then transferred to the synchronized recipients. During pregnancy diagnosis of early gestation period, 5 of 7 recipients (71.4%) presented no heat signs and showed fetal sacs with fluid under transrectal ultrasonography. After normal gestation period, all recipients naturally delivered healthy calves (male n = 2 and female n = 3) without abortion, stillbirth, and premature birth. The present case report indicated that transportation of fresh embryos for MOET via domestic flight in Korea did not affect to their fertility.

Despite numerous advances in in-vitro embryo production (IVP), many documented factors have been shown to influence the development of mammalian preimplantation embryos and the success of IVP. In this sense, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with poor outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) due to oxidative stress (OS), which results from an imbalance between ROS production and neutralization. Indeed, excessive production of ROS compromises the structural and functional integrity of gametes and embryos both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, OS damages proteins, lipids, and DNA and accelerates cell apoptosis. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies report an improvement in qualityrelevant parameters after the use of various antioxidants. In this review, we focus on OS and the source of free radicals and their effects on oocytes, sperm, and the embryo during IVP. In addition, antioxidants and their important role in IVP, supplementation during oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro culture (IVC), and semen extenders were discussed. Nevertheless, various methods for determining the level of ROS in germ cells have been briefly described. Still, it is crucial to develop standardized antioxidant supplement systems to improve overall IVP success. Further studies should explore the safety, efficacy, mechanism of action, and combination of different antioxidants to improve IVP outcomes.

The sheep can be reproduced by natural mating as well as applied reproductive biotechnology, embryo transfer (ET). However, this method in sheep is influenced by several factors such as season, photoperiod, latitude, temperature, nutrition, and breed. In addition, there is still less research on assisted reproductive technologies in small ruminants, compared to other livestock species such as cattle and pigs. Because there has been a need for an optimization and a continuous improvement of ET techniques in small ruminants. the main objective of this study was to evaluate the conception rate obtained after ET in Mongolian sheep (Dorper breed). After embryo recover, code 1 and 2 embryos (morula or blastocyst stage) for ET in the present study were 63% (63/100) and 24% (24/100), respectively. Then Each single embryo was transferred to a synchronized recipient who prepared by estrous synchronization protocol with fluorogestone acetate-cloprostenol sodium. The results demonstrated that an average conception rate and lambing rate was 35.6% (31/87) and 33.3% (29/87), respectively. Further study is still necessary, but these results indicated that single embryo of Mongolian sheep with the present protocol was enough to conducting ET when the genetically superior sheep were necessary to be expanded.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin factor present in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and induces various immune responses to infection. Recent studies have reported that LPS induces cellular stress in various cells including oocytes and embryos. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a regulatory hormone of circadian rhythm and a powerful antioxidant. It has been known that melatonin has an effective function in scavenging oxygen free radicals and has been used as an antioxidant to reduce the cytotoxic effects induced by LPS. However, the effect of melatonin on LPS treated early embryonic development has not yet been confirmed. In this study, we cultured mouse embryos in medium supplemented with LPS or/and melatonin up to the blastocyst stage in vitro and then evaluated the developmental rate. As a result of the LPS-treatment, the rate of blastocyst development was significantly reduced compared to the control group in all the LPS groups. Next, in the melatonin only treated group, there was no statistical difference in embryonic development and no toxic effects were observed. And then we found that the treatment of melatonin improved the rates of compaction and blastocyst development of LPS-treated embryos. In addition, we showed that melatonin treatment decreased ROS levels compared to the LPS only treated group. In conclusion, we demonstrated the protective effect of melatonin on the embryonic developmental rate reduced by LPS. These results suggest a direction to improve reproduction loss that may occur due to LPS exposure and bacterial infection through the using of melatonin during in vitro culture.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2/B1) is an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification regulator and a key determinant of premRNA processing, mRNA metabolism and transportation in cells. Currently, m6A reader proteins such as hnRNPA2/B1 and YTHDF2 has functional roles in mice embryo. However, the role of hnRNPA2/B1 in porcine embryogenic development are unclear. Here, we investigated the developmental competence and mRNA expression levels in porcine parthenogenetic embryos after hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down. HhnRNPA2/B1 was localized in the nucleus during subsequent embryonic development since zygote stage. After hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down using double stranded RNA injection, blastocyst formation rate decreased than that in the control group. Moreover, hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down embryos show developmental delay after compaction. In blastocyste stage, total cell number was decreased. Interestingly, gene expression patterns revealed that transcription of Pou5f1, Sox2, TRFP2C, Cdx2 and PARD6B decreased without changing the junction protein, ZO1, OCLN, and CDH1. Thus, hnRNPA2/B1 is necessary for porcine early embryo development by regulating gene expression through epigenetic RNA modification.

The ability to determine the sex of bovine embryos before the transfer is advantageous in livestock management, especially in dairy production, where female calves are preferred in milk industry. The milk production of female and male cattle benefits both the dairy and beef industries. Pre-implantation sexing of embryos also helps with embryo transfer success. There are two approaches for sexing bovine embryos in farm animals: invasive and non-invasive. A non-invasive method of embryo sexing retains the embryo’s autonomy and, as a result, is less likely to impair the embryo’s ability to move and implant successfully. There are lists of non-invasive embryo sexing such as; Detection of H-Y antigens, X-linked enzymes, and sexing based on embryo cleavage and development. Since it protects the embryo’s autonomy, the non-invasive procedure is considered to be the safest. Invasive methods affect an embryo’s integrity and are likely to damage the embryo’s chances of successful transformation. There are different types of invasive methods such as polymerase chain reaction, detection of male chromatin Y chromosomespecific DNA probes, Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), cytological karyotyping, and immunofluorescence (FISH). The PCR approach is highly sensitive, precise, and effective as compared to invasive methods of farm animal embryonic sexing. Invasive procedures, such as cytological karyotyping, have high accuracy but are impractical in the field due to embryonic effectiveness concerns. This technology can be applicable especially in the dairy and beef industry by producing female and male animals respectively. Enhancing selection accuracy and decreasing the multiple ovulation embryo transfer costs.

나도풍란의 경우 교배 후 화분이 발아하여 화분관 신장이 이루어지고 화분관은 수분 후 5-7일경 배주원기에 도착하였다. 어린배주 발달은 수정 후에야 비로소 진행되며 수분 후 14 일경에는 배주의 원기가 둥근 돌기형태이고 34일경에는 filament형태로 길어지며 Megaspore Mother cell 모습이 나타났다. 수분 후 40-50일 사이 배낭을 갖춘 성숙된 배주가 형성된다. 배주가 수정준비상태가 될 때까지 화분관 신장은 계속 활발히 진행되어 배주 주위를 완전 히 둘러싸고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 수분 후 54일경 화분관이 배낭을 침투하여 수정하는 모습이 관찰되었으며 보통 수정은 54에서 64일 사이에 일어나는 것으로 파악되었다. 수정 후 접합자세포는 가로로 한번 분열하여 윗부분의 작은 세포와 밑부분의 큰 세포로 나뉘어 지며 윗부분의 세포는 proembryo로 발달하며 밑부분의 세포는 다시 세로로 분열하여 두개 의 세포로 나뉘어지고 계속 분열하여 영양분을 공급하는 suspensor로 발달한다. 수분 후 110 일 경 배와 16개의 다리를 가진 suspensor가 부착 되어 있는 배 발달 양상이 관찰되었다. Proembryo는 계속 분열하여 140일경 종자로 성숙하는 것으로 나타났다. 나도풍란과 호접란 속간잡종을 얻기 위해 수분 후 발달하는 시기별로 꼬투리를 채취하여 인공배지에 발아시킨 결과, 수분 후 56일 이전의 배주로는 발아가 힘들었고 발아가능시점은 수분 후 69일로 분 석되었다.

체외 환경에서 생산되는 배아 (Embryo)는 활성산소종 (Reaction oxygen species, ROS) 수준이 일정 수준을 초과함에 따라 산화적인 손상을 받게 된다. 선행연구에 따르면, 항산화제는 ROS를 감소시켜주는 효과를 가지기 때문에 ROS로부터 오는 배아의 단백질, DNA의 손상, 세포 자멸사를 방지하여 배아의 발달률을 향상시킨다. 이전연구에 따르면 항산화제로써 엘라그산 (Ellagic acid, EA)은 ROS를 효과적으로 제거하고, 난자의 산화스트레스를 방지하는 효과를 가지고 있다고 보고되었다. 그리하여, 본 연구를 통해 우리는 소의 수정란 배양체계 중 in vitro culture (IVC) 단계에서 EA의 농도 (0, 5, 10 μM) 별 첨가가 소의 수정란 발달률과, 질적 수준에 미치는 영향을 조사하고자 실험을 진행하였다. 결과적으로, 배반포의 단계별 발달 수준에서 cleavage 형성률은 EA첨가군과 대조군 간의 차이를 발견할 수 없었으나 배반포 형성률에서는 모든 EA 첨가군들이 대조군보다 높았고 EA 첨가군 중에 5 μM 첨가군이 가장 높았다 (p < 0.05). 생산된 배반포의 총 세포 수는 5 μM EA 첨가군이 대조군과 10 μM EA 첨가군 보다 유의적으로 높았으며, 대조군과 10 μM EA 첨가군 사이의 유의적 차이는 없었다 (Control vs. 5 μM vs. 10 μM; 137 ± 7.90 vs. 163.2 ± 7.42 vs. 138.8 ± 6.67, p < 0.05). 세포 자멸사 세포 수는 모든 EA 첨가군들이 대조군보다 유의적으로 낮았다 (Control vs. 5 μM vs. 10 μM; 22.65 ± 4.08, 9.61 ± 1.55, 6.14 ± 0.90, p < 0.05). ROS 수준에서 모든 EA 첨가군들과 대조군 간의 유의적 차이는 없었다 (Control vs. 5 μM vs. 10 μM; 6.81 ± 1.31, 3.86 ± 0.23, 4.11 ± 0.18, p < 0.05). qRT-PCR 실험 결과에서 Nrf2 gene expression은 대조군과, 5 μM 첨가군에서 유의적 차이가 없었으나, 10 μM 첨가군에서는 유의적으로 상향 조절된 것을 관찰하였다. Keap1 gene expression은 5 μM 첨가군에서 유의적으로 하향 조절된 것을 관찰하였다. 하지만 EA의 농도가 10 μM으로 높아짐에 따라 발현 수준이 증가한 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. CAT gene expression은 5 μM 첨가군에서 유의적으로 상향조절 되었으나 10 μM 첨가군에서는 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았다. SOD1 gene expression은 대조군과 5 μM 첨가군은 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으나 10 μM 첨가군에서는 유의적으로 상향 조절된 것을 관찰하였다.

Embryo transfer (ET) in the animal is an important procedure to generate genetically engineered animals and conserve genetic resources. For ET experiments in mice, pseudopregnant recipients are usually prepared with proestrus stage of females and vasectomized males. However, this conventional method is inefficient because the size of female colonies should be large to select only the proestrus stage in the estrous cycle and the surgical procedures are required to generate vasectomized males. In this study, we established a simple and efficient protocol to prepare ET recipients using the estrous synchronization with hormone injection and the mating with wild male mice. The delivery rate of ET recipients tended to be increased with estrous synchronization using hormone injection (100%) compared to the conventional method (71%). Further, natural pregnancy of the recipients, induced by mating with a wild male, significantly enhanced the birth rate of ET offspring than the conventional method (33% vs. 13%). Based on the results, we concluded that our new protocol using hormone injection to ET recipients and mating with wild males could be more efficient and simpler compared to the conventional method.

Partheno Embryo's research is known to play a very important role in identifying the development of embryonic cells or analyzing the genetic mechanisms of embryonic development, but the information on apoptosis formed during the early stage of development on Partheno Embryo is very little. Therefore, this study analyzed whether the embryonic cell death of unit embryos can be inhibited by adding Scriptaid, one of HDACi, which plays a role in demethylation of histone proteins as a method of regulating the cell cycle in the early embryo development of Partheno Embryo. As a result, the differentiation rate was higher in the group that added Scriptaid and FBS, but the cellular development was higher in the group that added pregnant serum to Scriptaid. As a result of analyzing the expression of the gene through IF and PCR, the group with the addition of gestational serum increased the expression of BCL2 and PCNA, which affects the anti-Casp3 action in cell survival. In addition, it is interpreted that treatment of Scriptaid for 16 hours, rather than 24 h treatment lowers the expression of Casp-3, a representative factor of apoptosis, and also increases embryonic development, thus affecting early embryo development. Therefore, it is concluded that the 16-hour treatment of Scriptaid and the use of gestational serum will inhibit cell death in the early embryonic development and increase the development rate of the embryo.

The Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedaries) is an important species because of its ability to produce good quality meat, milk, and fibers under harsh environmental conditions. Camels are also crucial for transportation, racing, and as draft animals in agriculture. Therefore, dromedary camels play a critical role in the economy for millions of people living in the arid part of the world. The inherent capability of camels to produce meat and milk is highly correlated with their reproductive performance. Compared with other domestic species, the reproductive efficiency in camelids is low. Although recent reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been successfully applied to camelids and the birth of live offspring following these technologies has been reported; in vitro embryo production (IVP) has lagged in this species. The development of the IVP system for dromedary camels may be a useful tool for the genetic improvement of this species. IVP in farm animals includes three main steps; in vitro maturation (IVM) of an oocyte, IVF of a matured oocyte, and in vitro culture (IVC) of fertilized oocyte up to the blastocyst stage. This review aims to summarize various factors that influence oocyte quality, IVM, and in vitro embryo development in dromedary camel.

농약류 3종의 독성평가를 위해 FETAX(Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus) 기법에 따라 국내에 서식 중인 두꺼비(Bufo gargarizans)의 배아를 배양하면서 Benomyl(살균제), Carbofuran(살충제), Thiobencarb(제초제)의 영향을 probit 분석법으로 조사하였다. 그 결과, Benomyl, Carbofuran, Thiobencarb의 농도에 의존하여 유생의 체장 길이는 감소하고 치사율과 기형율은 증가하였다. Benomyl, Carbofuran, Thiobencarb의 teratogenic concentration(EC50)은 각각 1.03, 8.74, 4.98㎎/ℓ 을 나타내어 Benomyl이 기형 유발에 가장 민감하게 반응하였으며, embryo lethal concentrations(LC50)은 7.26, 560.72, 16.87㎎/ℓ 을 나타내어 Benomyl이 가장 낮은 농도에서 배아가 치사되는 것으로 나타났다. Teratogenic index (TI=LC50/EC50)는 Benomyl 7.05, Carbofuran 64.16, Thiobencarb 3.39를 나타내어 TI값이 모두 기형유발물질로 판단되는 기준인 1.5이상으로 시험에 사용된 농약류 3종은 최기형성 물질로 판단된다. Carbofuran이 가장 강력한 최기형성물질로 작용함을 알 수 있었으며, 농약류가 두꺼비 및 양서류의 배아 발달에 미치는 영향과 그 작용기작을 규명하기 위해서는 보다 구체적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Embryos produced with serum show the alterations in their ultrastructure, impaired compaction, abnormal blastulation, aberrant mRNA expression profiles and large calf syndrome with greater incidences of stillbirths and deaths after birth. The aim of the present study was to describe in vitro embryo production by analyzing embryo production, fetal production and pregnancy rate in free-serum medium. The OPU-IVP data used in this study from 2016. Approximately, sixteen cows (Hanwoo), which belonged to the Institute of Gyeongsang National University, were used. Two experimental group is used in this study. Serum groups were conducted in March to July and free-serum group was conducted in September to December. The recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes were morphologically classified to four grades based on the compaction of cumulus cells layers and homogeneity of the cytoplasm. The number of oocyte was significantly greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (29.61 ± 0.63 vs. 15.6 ± 0.62; p < 0.05). Between serum and free-serum groups indicate that average of 1st and 2nd grade oocytes were no difference (2.38 ± 1.67 vs. 2.38 ± 1.48; p > 0.05), but number of 3rd and 4th grade oocytes were greater in serum groups than that in free-serum groups (7.31 ± 7.64 vs. 5.60 ± 6.29; p < 0.05). Embryo cleaved competence was higher in rate in free-serum groups than that in serum groups (62.1% vs. 58.3; p < 0.05). However, blastocyst developmental rate was no difference between serum and free-serum groups (33.1% vs. 43.5%; p < 0.05). 986 recipients were used for embryo transfer. Pregnancy rate was indicated that between serum and free-serum group was no difference (54.6% vs. 56.3%; p < 0.05). In conclusion, we developed the free-serum system for production of in vitro bovine embryos in order to meet the developmental and qualitative requirements for large scale commercial use.

This study was investigated to test whether the zygote recognized the topoisomerase II beta (TOP2B) mediated DNA fragmentation in epididymal spermatozoa or the nuclease degradation in vas deferens spermatozoa by testing for the presence of gammaH2AX (γH2AX). The γH2AX is phosphorylation of histone protein H2AX on serine 139 occurs at sites flanking DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). The presence of γH2AX in the pronuclei of mouse zygotes which were injected with DNA broke epididymal spermatozoa was tested by immunohistochemistry at 5 and 9 h post fertilization, respectively. Paternal pronuclei that arose from epididymal spermatozoa treated with divalent cations did not stain for γH2AX at 5 h. On the other hand, in embryos injected with vas deferences spermatozoa that had been treated with divalent cations, γH2AX was only present in paternal pronuclei, and not the maternal pronuclei at 5 h. Interestingly, both pronuclei stained positively for γH2AX for all treatments and controls at 9 h after sperm injection. In conclusion, the embryos recognize DNA that is damaged by nuclease, but not by TOP2B because H2AX in phosphorylated in paternal pronuclei resulting from spermatozoa treated with fragmented DNA from vas deferens spermatozoa treated with divalent cations, but not from epididymal spermatozoa treated the same way.

콩 가공 부산물인 콩 배아 이소플라본의 생체내 활성을 증가시키기 위하여 LA, LB, LP 등 3가지 유산균을 단독 또는 혼합하여 비배당체화 전환 효율을 증가시키고자 균주의 종류와 접종량, 발효시간에 따른 이소플라본 함량을 분석하였다. 그 결과 균주를 이용한 모든 발효에서 균주를 사용하지 않은 대조군에 비하여 높은 이소플라본 비배당체 전환을 보였고, 발효시간에 따른 비배당체 전환율은 24시간에서 급격히 증가하였고 이후에는 큰 변화는 보이지 않았다. 비배당체화 발효의 최적 균주는 LP균, 접종량은 5%, 발효시간은 24시간 이었다. 대조군의 이소플라본 배당체의 구성은 글리시틴>다이드진>제니스틴 순으로 가장 높은 함량을 나타내었고, 유산균을 접종하여 발효시켰을 때 배당체들은 감소하였고, 비배당체 함량이 증가하였으며, 다이드제인>글리시테인>제니스테인 순으로 45% 이상의 비배당체 전환율을 나타내었다. 특히, 대조군과 비교하여 유산균으로 발효시켰을 때 다이드진의 함량이 가장 크게 감소하였고, 다이드제인 함량이 가장 크게 증가하였다. 소야사포닌의 경우 발효에 의하여 Ab가 급격하게 감소하였고 Ba와 Bb가 증가하였다. 발효액은 pH 3에서 pH 6으로 증가함에 따라 이소플라본 비배당체 함량이 증가하였으며 특히, 다이드제인 함량이 많이 증가하였고, 소야사포닌 함량은 Ab 함량이 급격하게 감소하였고, Ba와 Bb 함량도 소량감소하는 등 발효액의 pH가 발효에 의한 이소플라본과 소야사포닌 함량 변화에 많은 영향을 미치는 중요한 요인중의 하나임을 알 수 있었고, LP균을 이용한 발효로 가공부산물인 콩 배아의 생리활성 증가 및 기능성소재화를 꾀할 수 있을 것 으로 생각된다.

Sexed sperm can contribute to increase the profitability of the cow industry through the production of offspring of the craved sex, such as males for meat or females for dairy production. Therefore, the utilization of sexed sperms plays a very important role in the production of offspring of superior cattle. In this study, we examined the pregnancy rates and calves sexing proportion of male and female calves produced using AI, both performed using sexed and conventional sperm. In the result, the conception rates after ET were 73.3% (33/45) sexed semen and 52% (55/104) conventional semen. Thus, the sex ratio for sexed-semen inseminations was 70% (21/30) females for singleton births within a 272 to 292 day gestation interval. The sex ratio for conventional semen was 61% (34/56) females for births. As a result, it is suggested that the use of sex classification sperm will play a very important role in the offspring production of Korean bovine.