Yellow-fleshed "Sweet Gold" kiwifruit on Jeju Island were studied to examine how irrigation and soil moisture control affected changes in photosynthetic traits and fruit quality during fruit maturation (120 to 170 days after full bloom). Concerning photosynthetic characteristics, the photosynthetic rate decreased by 10-19%, stomatal conductance by 24-47%, and transpiration rate by 8-25%, when compared to conventional irrigation, as irrigation was reduced and soil moisture content decreased. Fruit weight showed a tendency to increase until harvest, and while a lower soil moisture content led to a less pronounced increase in fruit weight, this difference was not statistically significant. The dry matter rate exhibited a similar trend to the change in fruit weight. Sugar content demonstrated a continuous increase after 130 days, with lower irrigation amounts resulting in higher levels of sugar content due to decreased soil moisture. The Hue value (h°) exhibited a continuous decrease after 140 days from full bloom, correlating with declining soil moisture content. After 130 days from full bloom, soluble sugar content increased rapidly while starch content gradually decreased after 150 days from full bloom. However, with conventional irrigation, the increase in soluble sugar content tended to be less noticeable. This study confirmed that in yellow-fleshed ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruit, managing irrigation and soil moisture reduction during the ripening period can lead to decreased fruit weight but increased dry matter, sugar content, and expression of flesh color, ultimately enhancing fruit quality and expediting ripening.

Currently, there is no treatment to reverse or cure heart failure caused by ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction despite the remarkable advances in modern medicine. In addition, there is a lack of evidence regarding the existence of stem cells involved in the proliferation and regeneration of cardiomyocytes in adult hearts. As an alternative solution to overcome this problem, protocols for differentiating human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) into cardiomyocyte have been established, which further led to the development of cell therapy in major leading countries in this field. Recently, clinical studies have confirmed the safety of hPSC-derived cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). Although several institutions have shown progress in their research on cell therapy using hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, the functions of cardiomyocytes used for transplantation remain to be those of immature cardiomyocytes, which poses a risk of graft-induced arrhythmias in the early stage of transplantation. Over the last decade, research aimed at achieving maturation of immature cardiomyocytes, showing same characteristics as those of mature cardiomyocytes, has been actively conducted using various approaches at leading research institutes worldwide. However, challenges remain in technological development for effective generation of mature cardiomyocytes with the same properties as those present in the adult hearts. Therefore, in this review, we provide an overview of the technological development status for maturation methods of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and present a direction for future development of maturation techniques.

Ecological characteristics of a brown alga, Scytosiphon lomentaria, were investigated from January 2021 to December 2021 in its natural habitat off Sodol, Jumunjin, eastern coast of Korea. The S. lomentaria population at the site formed widespread patches on mid shore. During the investigation, environmental conditions including seawater temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were monitored at the site. Growth and maturation of the S. lomentaria population were identified through qualitative and quantitative investigations. An estimation of the effective cumulative temperature for maturation of the alga was obtained based on growth data and a biological zero temperature of 8°C. Sporangia were observed from February to May when seawater temperatures ranged from 7.7°C to 16.4°C. A maturation peak was detected in April when seawater temperature was 12.1°C. After zoospore release, the alga became bleached and only the crust remained after June. Developmental initiation of the thallus occurred at temperatures above 8°C. Its maturation required approximately 162 degree-days.

In vivo oocytes grow and mature in ovarian follicles whereas oocytes are matured in vitro in plastic culture dishes with a hard surface. In vivo oocytes show a superior developmental ability to in vitro counterparts, indicating suboptimal environments of in vitro culture. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an agarose matrix as a culture substrate during in vitro maturation (IVM) on the development of pig oocytes derived from small antral follicles (SAFs). Cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved from SAFs were grown in a plastic culture dish without an agarose matrix and then cultured for maturation in a plastic dish coated without (control) or with a 1% or 2% (w/v) agarose hydrogel. Then, the effect of the soft agarose matrix on oocyte maturation and embryonic development was assessed by analyzing intra-oocyte contents of glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of VEGFA, HIF1A , and PFKP genes, and blastocyst formation after parthenogenesis. IVM of pig COCs on a 1% (w/v) agarose matrix showed a significantly higher blastocyst formation, intra-oocyte GSH contents, and transcript abundance of VEGFA. Moreover, a significantly lower intra-oocyte ROS content was detected in oocytes matured on the 1% and 2% (w/v) agarose matrices than in control. Our results demonstrated that IVM of SAFs-derived pig oocytes on a soft agarose matrix enhanced developmental ability by improving the cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes through redox balancing and regulation of gene expression.

본 연구는 초등학생의 골연령에 따라 군집화 시켜 각 군집 그룹의 체격, 체력 및 골성숙도를 분석하고 자료 분석을 통해 초등학생들의 균형적인 발달을 위한 기초자료를 제공하는 데 있다. 연구대상은 8세∼13세에 해당하는 2243명을 대상으로 하였으며 골성숙도 산출을 위해 X-ray필름을 촬영한 후 TW3 방법 점수 환산표에 적용시켜 골성숙도를 산출했다. 신장계(Hanebio, Korea, 2021)와 Inbody 270 (Biospace, Korea, 2019)를 사용하여 총 2개의 체격 요소를 측정하였으며, 체력은 근력(악력), 평형성(외발 서기), 민첩성(플랫테핑), 순발력(제자리멀리뛰기), 유연성(좌전굴), 근지구력(윗몸일으키기), 심폐지구력(셔 틀런)으로 총 7개 체력 요소의 종목을 측정하였다. 자료처리 방법은 SPSS PC/Program(Version 26.0)과 Britics Studio Tool을 이용하여 K-Means 클러스터링 기법, 교차분석, 일원변량분석(One-Way ANOVA) 을 실시하였으며, p< .05 수준에서 유의한 것으로 간주하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 미숙, 보통, 조숙의 3가지 골성숙도를 사용하여 군집화한 결과, 군집 1(미숙)은 근력, 평형성, 민첩성에서 높게 나 타났다. 군집 2(보통)는 유연성에서 낮게 나타났으며, 군집 3(조숙)은 근력에서 높게 나타났다. 둘째, 초등 학생의 개인특성별 군집화에 따른 체격 차이를 분석한 결과, 신장, 체중, 체지방률 모두 군집 3(조숙)이 높 게 나타났다. 셋째, 초등학생의 개인특성별 군집화에 따른 체력 차이를 분석한 결과, 악력검사(좌, 우)는 군 집 3(조숙)이 높게 나타났고 외발서기의 경우 군집 1(미숙)이 높게 나타났으며, 제자리멀리뛰기의 경우 군 집 3(조숙)이 높게 나타났다.

난자의 성숙과정과 노화에 관한 이해는 인공수정과 체외수정 최적기를 판단하기 위하여 가장 중요한 연구내용으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 기작은 번식 호르몬들에 의하여 조절되는 것으로 알려져 있으나 난자 세포질 변화에 관한 내용은 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 산화질소물(nitric oxide, NO)이 난자 성숙과정에서 증가하는 것을 밝혔으며 난자의 미성숙단계(germinal vesicle stage, GV)와 난자핵막붕괴단계(germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) 및 성숙완료단계(metaphase II, MII)단계에서 생산되는 NO의 양을 비교하였다. 또한, 난자를 체외에서 배양할 때, MII단계로 성숙되지 않는 성장 단계의 난자에서는 NO의 증가 현상을 관찰할 수 없었고, 세포질이 불균일한 노화된 난자에서는 NO가 증가된 상태로 유지되는 특성이 있음을 밝혔다. 이러한 결과는 NO의 작용이 난자의 성숙과정과 난자 노화과정에서 중요한 기능을 담당하고 있음을 보여주고 있다.

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is the procedure where the immature oocytes are cultivated in a laboratory until they are mature. Since IVM oocytes generally have low developmental competence as compared to those matured in vivo, development of an optimal IVM culture system by fine-tuning culture conditions is crucial to maintain high quality. In-depth knowledge and a deep understanding of the in vivo physiology of oocyte maturation are pre-requisites to accomplish this. Within ovarian follicles, various signaling pathways that drive oocyte development and maturation regulate interaction between oocytes and surrounding somatic cells. This review discusses the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway, which has been demonstrated to be intimately involved in folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. Advances in elucidating the role of the SHH signaling pathway in oocyte maturation will aid attempts to improve the current inferior in vitro oocyte maturation system.

Camel (camelus dromedarius) is a unique large mammalian species that can survive harsh environmental conditions and produce milk, meat, and wool. Camel reproduction is inferior when compared to other farm animal species such as cattle and sheep. Several trials have been reported to increase camel reproduction and production through assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization and cloning. For these reasons, obtaining enough mature oocytes is a cornerstone for ARTs. This demand would be improved by the oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) systems. In this review, the current approaches and views from different laboratories using ARTs and the IVM to produce embryos in vitro in camel species. For the last two decades, conventional IVM system was the common approach, however, recently the bi-phasic IVM system has been introduced and showed promising improvement in IVM of camel oocytes. Detailed studies are needed to understand camel meiosis and IVM to efficiently increase the production of this species.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the quality characteristics of MBA wine resulting from treatment with different oak barrel maturation methods. This study focused on the maturation of wine in five different types of barrels, including a stainless-steel maturation barrel, a foreign medium-toasted oak barrel, and domestic light, medium and heavy toasted oak barrels, and looked at the resulting differences in quality characteristics between the wines. All oak barrels used for this study had a capacity of 100 liters. The results of the study revealed that the pH content increased by up to 3.86~3.93% after 9 months, and then decreased after this point. The total anthocyanin content increased up to 152.52~174.95 mg/L during a 6 month maturation period, and thereafter began decreasing in concentration, with overall anthocyanin levels tending to be higher after maturation in foreign oak barrels. Overall, functional elements tended to measure higher after maturation in foreign oak barrels as opposed to maturation in domestic oak barrels. Therefore, these results indicate that it is necessary to improve the production of domestic oak barrels in the future in order to reliably produce wines with higher levels of functional elements.

The aim of present study was to investigate regulatory mechanism of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during in vitro maturation (IVM) on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes. Basically, immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated for 22 h in IVM-I to which hormone was added, and then further incubated for 22 h in IVM-II without hormone. As a result, relative cumulus expansion was increased at 22 h after IVM and it was enhanced by treatment of ALA compared with control group (p < 0.05). During IVM process within 22 h, cAMP level in oocytes was decreased at 6 h (p < 0.05) and it was recovered at 12 h in ALA-treated group, while oocytes in control group recovered cAMP level at 22 h. In cumulus cells, it was reduced in all time point (p < 0.05) and ALA did not affect. Treatment of ALA enhanced metaphase-I (MI) and MII population of oocytes compared with oocytes in control group at 22 and 44 h, respectively (p < 0.05). Intracellular GSH levels in ALA group was increased at 22 and 44 h after IVM (p < 0.05), whereas it was increased in control group at 44 h after IVM (p < 0.05). In particular, the GSH in ALA-treated oocytes during 22 h of IVM was higher than control group at 22 h (p < 0.05). Lipid amount in oocytes from ALA group was higher than control group (p < 0.05). Treatment of ALA did not influence to absorption of glucose from medium. Cleavage and blastocyst formation of ALA-treated oocytes were enhanced compared with control group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that supplementation of ALA could improve oocyte maturation and development competence through increasing GSH synthesis, lipid storage, and regulation of cAMP accumulation during early 22 h of IVM, and these might be mediated by cumulus expansion.

본 연구는 북방수염하늘소 성충이 집합-성 페로몬 트랩에 유인되는 시기를 명확하게 규명하기 위해 수행하였다. 또한 집합-성 페로몬에 유 인된 개체의 난황 성숙도를 조사하여 집합-성 페로몬 트랩에 유인되지 않은 개체와 비교하였다. 이를 위해 홍릉시험림 내 망실 안에 유인제인 집합-성 페로몬을 매단 다중깔때기트랩과 집합-성 페로몬을 매달지 않은 다중깔때기 트랩을 각각 1개씩 배치하고, 우화망실에서 채집한 북방수염하 늘소 성충을 우화시기별(우화 직후, 후식 1일차, 후식 7일차, 후식 10일 경과 후 교미)로 그룹화한 후 트랩이 배치된 망실 안에 방사하여 트랩에 포획 여부를 조사하였다. 각각의 시기별로 80개체(20개체씩 4반복)를 대상으로 실험하여 총 320개체를 망실 내에 방사하였다. 조사 결과, 우화 후 7일 동안 섭식한 개체들의 유인 포획률이 가장 높았으며, 교미 후에는 유인 포획률이 급격히 낮아지는 경향이었다. 또한 집합-성 페로몬이 있는 경 우에만 후식 7일차 그룹의 유인 포획률만 통계적으로 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 성별에 따른 유인 포획률의 경우, 암컷이 수컷에 비해 많이 포획되긴 하였으나, 암컷과 수컷 간의 유인 포획률 차이는 없는 것으로 확인되었다. 우화 직후와 후식 1일차에는 모든 개체에서 난황이 미성숙한 상태였으나, 후식 7일차와 교미 후에는 모든 개체에서 성숙한 난황을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 페로몬트랩은 우화 후 초기에 후식을 통한 소나무재선충 전파가 가능하므로 소나무재선충병의 확산 억제를 막기에는 제한적일 가능성이 있다. 반면, 성적으로 성숙한 성충을 포획하고, 야외 발생을 조사 하는 등으로는 활용 가능성이 있을 것이다.

Changes of gonadal morphology and mRNA expression patterns of vitellogenin were investigated in Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Chondrostei) during its early gonadal maturation period. Early differentiations and morphological transitions of both ovaries and testes appeared to occur actively until the age of 3 years, however from then on, the maturation patterns to full maturity were largely gender-dependent, in which males showed a faster progression of maturation than did females while females experienced a steady-state progress with a lagged interval before entering the final maturation. Expression of vitellogenin mRNAs are closely correlated with transitional patterns of gonadal appearances. In both females and males, hepatic mRNA levels of vitellogenin exponentially increased in the earliest interval (up to 1-year-old). However, in subsequent periods, vitellogenin expression in females continued to increase with age, whereas in males, the expression stabilized at a younger age. Nevertheless, at the age older than or equal to 7-year-old, fully matured individuals showed a quite low level of vitellogenin expression in both females and males. Collectively, results from this study could be useful as a fundamental guideline to address the gonad maturation of this sturgeon species, which is helpful for making practical decisions about farming practices and management for caviar production on local sturgeon farms.

본 연구는 비만아동의 골격성숙도가 정상 아동들 보다 높고 성조숙증으로 이어질 확률이 높은 것을 문제점으로 삼아 비만아동의 골격성숙도에 따른 체격 및 체력의 관계를 규명함으로써 비만아동의 건 강증진에 기여하는 것을 목적으로 하였다. 연구대상은 10세부터 13세의 비만아동 총 243명을 대상으로 생 물학적 성숙지표를 나타내는 골격성숙도는 X-ray 촬영 후 TW3 방법을 이용하여 평가하였고, 골격성숙도 에 따른 미숙집단(n=70), 보통집단(n=128), 조숙집단(n=45)으로 나누었다. 체격은 신장계, InBody 270(Biospace, Korea)을 이용하여 3개 항목을 측정하였다. 체력측정은 총 7개 항목으로 근력, 근지구력, 유 연성, 순발력, 심폐지구력, 평형성, 민첩성을 측정하였다. 자료처리는 SPSS 25.0을 사용하여 기술통계, 일원 변량분석(ANOVA)을 실시하였고, 사후검정은 Duncan's multiple range 방법을 이용하였으며, P< .05 수 준에서 유의한 것으로 간주하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 골격성숙도에 따른 신장과 체중의 체격 요인에서 남자와 여자 미숙집단, 보통집단, 조숙집단 간 통계적으로 매우 유의한 차이를 보였다. 둘째, 골격성숙도에 따른 체력 비교에서 남자의 경우 근력, 순발력, 민첩성에서 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 여자 의 경우 근력, 평형성에서 유의한 차이가 나타났다.

큰열매모자반은 제주도 연안 생태계에서 수관층을 형성하는 중요한 다년생 갈조류이다. 이 연구는 2018년 5월부터 2019년 6월까지 제주연안에서 큰열매모자반 개체군의 생장 및 생식패턴을 밝히기 위하여 수행되었다. 큰열매 모자반 개체군의 정량조사를 통해 월별 형질분석, 밀도 및 현존량 분석을 실시하였다. 또한 큰열매모자반의 생식자원 배분 특성을 조사하기 위하여 전체 엽체길이 및 엽중량에 대한 생식엽길이와 중량비율을 측정하였다. 조사지역에서 큰열매모자반의 최대 엽장은 6월에 135.3±20.0 cm, 최대 엽중량은 5월에 평균 3.6±2.1 kg·wet-wt., 평균밀도는 4.5 individuals·m-2 및 평균현존량은 4.6 kg·wet-wt.·m-2였다. 생식기탁의 형성은 4~8월 (수온 16.1~25.0°C)까지 관찰되었으며, 난방출 시기는 6~7월 (수온 19.3~22.9°C)이 었다. 엽체의 발달은 수온 14.1°C 이상의 조건에서 이루어졌으며, 성숙에 요구되는 유효 적산온도는 726.3 degreedays였다. 큰열매모자반의 생식배분은 6월에 최대 69.3% 로 나타났다. 큰열매모자반의 생장과 성숙패턴은 생장기 (10~1월), 생식시작기 (2~4월), 성숙기 (5~6월), 난 방출기 (6~7월) 및 휴지기 (8~9월)로 구분되었다.

Sestrin-2 (SESN2) as a stress-metabolic protein is known for its anti-oxidative effects as a downstream factor of PERK pathways in mammalian cells. However, the expression patterns of SESN2 in conjunction with the UPR signaling against to ER stress on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, have not been reported. Therefore, we confirmed the expression pattern of SESN2 protein, for which to examine the relationship between PERK signaling and SESN2 in porcine oocyte during IVM. We investigated the SESN2 expression patterns using Western blot analysis in denuded oocytes (DOs), cumulus cells (CCs), and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 22 and 44 h of IVM. As expected, the SESN2 protein level significantly increased (p < 0.01) in porcine COCs during 44 h of IVM. We investigated the meiotic maturation after applying ER stress inhibitor in various concentration (50, 100 and 200 μM) of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). We confirmed significant increase (p < 0.05) of meiotic maturation rate in TUDCA 200 μM treated COCs for 44 h of IVM. Finally, we confirmed the protein level of SESN2 and meiotic maturation via regulating ER-stress by only tunicamycin (Tm), only TUDCA, and Tm + TUDCA treatment in porcine COCs. As a result, treatment of the TUDCA following Tm pre-treatment reduced SESN2 protein level in porcine COCs. In addition, SESN2 protein level significantly reduced in only TUDCA treated porcine COCs. Our results suggest that the SESN2 expression is related to the stress mediator response to ER stress through the PERK signaling pathways in porcine oocyte maturation.

Among fatty acid families, the polyunsaturated fatty acids were demonstrated to be mediators in various reproductive processes as precursor of steroid hormone (via cholesterol) and prostaglandins (via arachidonic acid), and in the last decade, major research was focused on the effects of omega-6 and especially omega-3 fatty acid. Eicosapentaenoic acid, the longest members of omega-3 fatty acid family, can be produced by a series of desaturation and elongation reactions from shorter member such as α-Linolenic acid. However, very few studies have provided detailed descriptions of Eicosapentaenoic acid effects and mechanisms of action in mammalian oocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation on in vitro maturation and developmental potential of porcine oocytes. Various concentrations of Eicosapentaenoic acid was added into in vitro maturation medium, and we evaluated the degree of cumulus expansion, nuclear maturation rate, blastocysts quality, and levels of prostaglandin E2, 17β-estradiol, progesterone in the spent medium. High doses (100 mM) of Eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation significantly inhibited cumulus expansion and oocyte nuclear maturation, and prostaglandin E2 synthesis also significantly decreased compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation of 50 mM Eicosapentaenoic acid showed higher quality blastocysts in terms of high cell numbers and low apoptosis when compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and synthesis ratio of E2/P4 also significantly increased compared with control group (p < 0.05). However, Supplementation of 100 mM Eicosapentaenoic acid showed high apoptosis when compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and synthesis ratio of 17b-estradiol/progesterone also significantly decreased compared with control group (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that supplementation with appropriate levels of Eicosapentaenoic acid beneficially affects the change of hormone synthesis for controlling oocyte maturation, leading to improved embryo quality. However, high doses of Eicosapentaenoic acid treatment results in detrimental effects.

In this study, we investigated the possibility of using mouse embryonic stem cell conditioned medium (ESCM) and embryonic stem cell medium (ESM) for in vitro maturation in the efficient in vitro production of blastocysts from porcine follicular oocyte. Depending on the concentration of supplement of ESCM added to the NCSU-23 solution did not affect 2-cell development rates and blastocysts development. However, in particular, the survival rate (10 days of culture) of blastocyst was significantly higher than that of the control group as the additive concentration (30%) increased (p < 0.05). The survival rate of blastocysts showed a similar tendency even with addition of ESM (30%) alone. On the other hand, the duration of the addition of these additives during IVM (0-44 h) was that the IVM I period (0-22 h) were more effective than the IVM II period (22-44 h). Thus, the effect of these additives is probably due to the combination of the various physiologically active substances of ESCM or the appropriate amino acids and vitamins of ESM. In particular, these additives were more effective during the first half (IVM I) of in vitro maturation. In summary, optimization of ESCM or ESM supplementation may improve in vitro maturation of porcine oocyte and affect developmental competency. Therefore, if more efficient methods of adding ESCM or ESM to basal culture medium can be developed during in vitro maturation of porcine follicle oocytes, high quality blastocysts will be developed from low porcine follicular oocyte compared to other domestic animals.

The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro culture system for ovarian preantral follicles of B6D2F1. First, we optimized the in vitro preantral-follicle culture by culture duration, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) type, and activin A concentration. Duration of in vitro culture for 9, 11, and 13 days was sufficient for the normal development of preantral follicles to antral follicles. Formation of cumulus cell–oocyte complex (COC) was induced by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 2.5 IU/mL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 5 ng/mL). In addition, metaphase II (MII) oocytes formed during this in vitro culture of preantral follicles. In vitro preantral-follicle culture for 9 days showed higher rates of growth and maturation, thus yielding a greater number of antral follicles, and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the number of MII oocytes (that formed from these preantral follicles via differentiation) between the 9-day culture and 11-day or 13-day culture. The follicles cultured for 9 days contained a tightly packed well-defined COC, whereas in follicles cultured for 11 days, the COC was not well defined (spreading was observed in the culture dish); the follicles cultured for 13 days disintegrated and released the oocyte. Second, we compared the growth of the preantral follicles in vitro in the presence of various FSH types. There were no significant differences in the growth and maturation rates and in differentiation into MII oocytes during in vitro culture between preantral follicles supplemented with FSH from Merck and those supplemented with FSH from Sigma. To increase the efficiency of MII oocyte formation, the preantral follicles were cultured at different activin A concentrations (0 to 200 ng/mL). The control follicles, which were not treated with activin A, showed the highest rate of differentiation into antral follicles and into MII oocytes among all the groups (0 to 200 ng/mL). Therefore, activin A (50 to 200 ng/mL) had a negative effect on oocyte maturation. Thus, in this study, we propose an in vitro system of preantral-follicle culture that can serve as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation of human oocytes for assisted reproductive medicine, for conservation of endangered species, and for creation of superior breeds.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of hyaluronidase during IVM on oocyte maturation, oxidative stress status, expression of cumulus expansion-related (PTX, pentraxin; GJA1, gap junction protein alpha 1; PTGS2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2) and fatty acid metabolism-related (FADS1, delta-6 desaturase; FADS2, delta-5 desaturase; PPARα, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha) mRNA, and embryonic development of porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated with 0.1 mg/mL hyaluronidase for 44 h. Cumulus expansion was measured at 22 h after maturation. At 44 h after maturation, nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Gene expression in cumulus cells was analyzed using real time PCR. The cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were evaluated at Day 2 and 7 after insemination. In results, expansion of cumulus cells was suppressed by treatment of hyaluronidase at 22 h after maturation. Intracellular GSH level was reduced by hyaluronidase treatment (p < 0.05). On the other hand, hyaluronidase increased ROS levels in oocytes (p < 0.05). Only PTGS2 mRNA was enhanced in COCs by hyaluronidase (p < 0.05). Population of oocytes reached at metaphase II stage was higher in control group than hyaluronidase treated group (p < 0.05). Both of cleavage rate and blastocyst formation were higher in control group than hyaluronidase group (p < 0.05). Our present results showed that developmental competence of porcine oocytes could be reduce by hyaluronidase via inducing oxidative stress during maturation process and it might be associated with prostaglandin synthesis. Therefore, we suggest that suppression of cumulus expansion of COCs could induce oxidative stress and decrease nuclear maturation via reduction of GSH synthesis and it caused to decrease developmental competence of mammalian oocytes.