• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 1990

These experiments were undertaken as a basic study to develop immunocontraceptive vaccine and to understand the role of zona pellucidae in early fertilization process by investigating the effect of monoclonal and polyclonal antibody to porcine zona pellucidae and polyclonal antibody to mouse zona pellucidae on the fertilization of porcine and mouse eggs in vitro. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. Treatment of porcine and mouse eggs with undiluted anti-zona serum produced intense precipitation layer on the poricne and mouse zonae, respectively, thus resulting in the total inhibition of sperm adherence on surface of zona. 2. In vitro fertilization of eggs pre-treated with 0.3∼10% of various antibodies was examined, and resulting in that 5 and 10% of rabbit polyclonal antibodies to porcine zona inhibited completely both in vitro fertilization and polyspermy of porcine eggs while monoclonal to porcine zona and rabbit polyclonal antibody to mouse zona did not inhibit in vitro fertilization but monoclonal antibody reduced the rate of polyspermy compared to that of control group. Almost the same results were obtained in the study on the effect of anti-zona serum on in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 1990

These experiments were undertaken as a basic study to develop immunocontraceptive vaccine and to understand the role of zona pellucidae in early fertilization process by identifying the monoclonal and polyclonal antibody to porcine zona pellucidae and polyclonal antibody to mouse zona pellucidae by indirect ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows : 1. The titer of the antibodies to zona was determined by indirect ELISA using solubilized porcine zona coated plates. Both monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies showed very high titers ; O.D at 1 : 12,800 dilution of antibodies was still significantly higher than that of non-immunized control serum. Rabbit anti-mouse zona pellucidae sera also reacted with porcine zona pellucidae. 2. By indirect immunofluorescence test strong fluorescences were observed on the egg treated with homologous and heterologous rabbit polyclonal antibodies and FITC lablled 2nd antibodies and found to crossreact strongly with the eggs from the pig and mouse. While weaken fluorescences were observed on the eggs treated with monoclonal antibodies.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1996

The envelope of the rnannnalian oocyte plays crucial roles in sperm-oocyte interactions by providing sperm receptors, inducing acrosome reaction and preventing polyspermy. Understanding of properties of the zona pellucida (ZP) is essential for the artificial control of fertility in mammals. This study was carried out to produce and characterize monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) to porcine ZP proteins. Approximately 8,000 ZPs were obtained from follicular oocytes and dissolved in 40$\mu$l of double distilled water. Following immunization through foot-pad injections of Balb /c mice with a ZP solution, the popliteal lymph nodes were recovered at 2 weeks after the last injection. Hybridoma cell lines were established by fusing lymph node cells with P3X63 myeloma cells through selection using HAT medium and screening by immunofluorescence(IF) microscopy on the isolated ZP. Secreted MAbs were found to consist k chains and different heavy chains as evidenced by isotyping. Some of the MAbs demonstrated high specificity to the ZP in IF. The Mabs also showed positive cross reactivity with hamster and mouse eggs, while negative with bovine eggs. The results implicate that the MAbs can be used not only for identification of functional regions of the ZP, but also for elucidation of mechanisms involved in fertilization of mammals. The MAbs will provide basic information on biochemical anatomy of the ZP as well as can be candidates for the future contraceptive vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1993

To provide the optimal culture conditions for the developm,ent of in vit개 produced embryos, we have been investigated various culture media as well as co-cultrue systems using porcine cumulus cells or mouse fetal fibroblast cells. Porcine ovaries were brought to the laboratory from local slaughter house within 1 hour after slaughtering and cumulus oocytes complexes were recovered from antral follicles(3~5mm) with 23 gauge needle. To maturate follicular oocytes, cumulus oocytes complexes were washed three times with TCM-199 containing 25mM HEPES and incubated(39$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 in air) in various maturation media for 42 hrs. Ejaculated and liquid storaged boar spermatozoa capacitated with different sperm capacitation methods and media were rpepared for fertilizing of matured follicular oocytes in vitro. Fertilization was performed by adding 5~10${\mu}\ell$ fo capacitated spermatozoa containing 1~5$\times$105 sperm/ml to droplets. Eighteen to twenty-eight hours after sperm insemination, fertilized eggs were washed three times with culture media and transferred to the various culture media, to the culture media with a monolayer of somatic cells. The in vitro development rates of 1-cell embryos cultured with three times with culture media and transferred to the various culture media, to the culture media with a monolayer of somatic cells. The in vitro development rates of 1-cell embryos cultured with three different media, m-KRB, BECM and TCM-HEPES were 0~1.0%, showing extremely lower rates. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, 32-cell and morula or blastocyst stage in co-culture with porcine cumulus cells and mouse fetal fibroblast cells were 61.1~67.0%, 59.0~58.0%, 42.5~43.1%, 28.4~30.2% and 20.4~21.0%, respectively. These development rates upto morula or blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the basic culture medium(P<0.01). These findings suggest that co-culture of in vitro fertilized eggs with porcine cumulus cells or mouse fetal fibroblast cells enhance the development of fertilized eggs to morula or blastocyst stage in vitro.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of co-culture for the development rate to morula /blastocyst stages of early porcine embryos, derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro, with porcine endometrial cell monolayers(PEM) in the two different media, respectively. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8~16-cell and morula /blastocyst stage were 49.6, 40.5, 28.2 and 15.3% in Ham's F-10 with PEM, and 55.3, 45.9, 32.7, and 17.6% in TCM-HEPES with PEM, respectively. The above development rates to morula /blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the Ham's F-10 and TGM-HEPES without PEM(P<0.05). The in vitro development rates to the morula /blastocyst stage of 1-cell embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without PEM were 0~1.2%. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. As shown in the above results, the co-culture of in vitro produced porcine embryos with PEM in the two different media enhanced the development of fertilized eggs to morula /blastocyst stages in vitro. However, we didn't find out any differences for the in vitro development to morula /blastocyst stages between Ham's F-10 and TcM-HEPES media.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.124-124
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• 2003

The successful development of embryos cloned by nuclear transfer (NT)have been dependent on a wide range of known factors including cell cycle of donor and recipient ooplast, oocyte quality, NT procedure and oocyte activation. The present study compared the development of cloned porcine embryos following different activation treatments. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from 26 mm follicles of slaughterhouse ovaries and cultured for 22 h in NCSU #23 medium supplemented with 10% porcine follicular fluid, 0.57 mM cysteine, 0.5 g/mL LH, 0.5 g/mL FSH and 10 ng/mL EGF. The COCs were further cultured for an additional 22 h in the same medium at $39{\cird}C$ in an atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air, without hormonal supplements. Primary cultures of fibroblasts isolated from a female fetus on day 40 of gestation were established in DMEM + 15% FCS. For nuclear donation, cells at the 5th-6th passage were cultured in DMEM +0.5% FCS for 5 days in order to arrest the cells in G0/Gl. After enucleation, oocytes were reconstructed by transfer of donor cells and fusion with three DC pulses (1.4 KV/cm, 30 sec) in 0.28 M mannitol containing 0.01 mM $CaCl_2$ and 0.01 mM $MgCl_2$. Eggs were then divided into three treatment groups, control (without further treatment, Group 1), eggs cultured in 10 g/ml cycloheximide (CHX) for 5 h (Group 2), and eggs cultured in 1.9 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 5 h (Group 3). The eggs were then cultured in sets of 30 in 60 I drops of NCSU#23 supplemented with 4mg/ml BSA (essentially fatty acid free) until day 7 at $39{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$. On day 4 the culture were fed by adding 20 I NCSU #23 supplemented with 10% FBS. Development rates into blastocysts were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Group 3 embryos compared to Group 1 controls ($27.6 \mu 2.7% vs. 20.1 \mu 4.1%$, respectively), but rates did not differ in Group 2 compared to control ($23.8 \mu 5.7%$). Total cell number in Group 3 blastocysts was however significantly higher (P<0.05) than in Groups 1 and 2 ($44.6 \mu 2.4 vs. 19.9 \mu 1.9 and 21.9 \mu 2.1$, respectively). These results suggest that 6-DMAP is more efficient than cycloheximide in the activation of electrically fused NT oocytes during in vitro production of cloned porcine embryos.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to dertermine the effects of oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium on polyspermy and in vitro development of porcine oocytes. The addition of oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium in the prefertilization and fertilization medium significantly decreased polyspermy rates and the mean number of spermatozoa in penetrated eggs(P＜0.05). The acrosome reaction rate significantly increased when spematozoa were exposed for 1.5, 3, 4.5h in oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium(P＜0.05). When oocytes cultured for 192h, the percentage of oocytes that developed to the morula and blastocyst stage was higher in culture medium with oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium than without oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium(P＜0.05). These results indicated that the oviductal secreations will effectively reduce both the polyspermy rates and the mean number of spermatwa in penetrated eggs. And the presence of culture with oviductal fluid and oviductal conditioned medium promotes in vitro development of porcine oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of co-culture for the development rate to morula/blastocyst stages of early porcine embryos, derived from oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro, with porcine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers(POEC) in the two different media, respectively. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8∼16-cell and morula/blastocyst stage were 57.2, 48.2, 37.2 and 19.3% in Ham's F-10 with POEC, and 51.4, 41.2, 31.1, and 15.5% in TCM-HEPES with POEC, respectively. The above development rates to morula/blastocyst stages were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES with out POEC(P<0.05). The in vitro development rates to the morula/blastocyst stage of 1-cell embryos cultured in Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES without POEC were 1.1∼1.2%. Especially, most of embryos were observed to arrest the development beyond 4-cell stages. As shown in the above results, the co-culture of in vitro produced porcine embryos with POEC in the two different media enhanced the development of fertilized eggs to morula/blastocyst stages in vitro. However, we didn't find out any difference for the in vitro development to morula/blastocyst stages between Ham's F-10 and TCM-HEPES media.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2002

The advantages of the OPS techniques(Vajta G et al, Mol Reprod Dev 51: 53-58,1998) give 1) high survival rates of various types of eggs, 2) quick and simple process, 3) inexpensive equipment and reduced chilling injury. The efficiency of IVM/IVF technique in the porcine species is relatively lower than that obtained in other species such as ruminants. Two experiments were designed to investigate the effects of in-vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes matures using different OPS protocol for chilling and warming of vitrification. Porcine oocytes from ovaries collected at abattoir were matured for 44 hours in TCM199 Earle's salt supplemental with pyruvate, pff, L-cysteine, hormones and gentamycin. Oocytes were denuded and fertilized with frozen boar semen by common method. Porcine embryos produced routinely by in-vitro culture system of NCSU23 medium. The vitrification and the warming were conducted by OPS method with the glass micropipette instead of straw vessels and modified the protocol of G.Vajta(1999). In Exp 1, Chilling/Warming:Holding Medium(HM)+EG+DMSO/HM +sucrose Medium(SM) at 39$^{\circ}C$ warm stage. In Exp 2, : PBS+CS+EG+Ficoll+ Trehalose/PBS+Trehalose at 25$^{\circ}C$ stage. Filling, freezing, packing, thawing out and further culturing were performed to follow the basic protocol of G Vajta. During IVM-lVC and post-warming, fertilization parameter and developmental potential were compared to and statistically analysed. It was not significantly different from Exp 1 and Exp 2 but 25$^{\circ}C$ of stage was slightly higher on the morula/blastocyst forming rate and better atmosphere for worker than that at 39$^{\circ}C$ stage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.331-340
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• 1998

We determined the incidence of activation, male pronuclear formation and apposition of pronuclei in porcine oocytes following intracy-toplasmic injection of various porcine sperm components and foreign species spermatozoa, such as mouse, human or cattle. The porcine oocytes were activated by injection of a spermatozoon or an isolated sperm head. Neither isolated sperm tail nor perinuclear material removed sperm head activated oocytes. Because injection of mouse, bovine or human spermatozoon activated porcine oocytes, the sperm born activation factors is not strict species specific. Male pronuclear formation and pronuclear apposition were observed in the porcine oocytes following injection of porcine, bovine, mouse or human spermatozoa. The electrical stimulation following sperm cell injection did not enhance the incidence of male pronuclear formation nor pronuclear apposition comparent with sperm cell injection alone (p>0.1). Mitosis and two cell division in some oocytes were observed at 20 to 24 h after injection of porcine spermatozoon. However, none of oocytes following injection of mouse, bovine or human spermatozoa developed to the mitotic metaphase or normally divided to the two cell stage. These results suggested that the oocyte activating factor(s) presented in the perinuclear material and it is not species specific for the porcine oocyte.