OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on embryonal development in in vitro culture. METHODS: This is designed in vitro model using eggs from mouse. The eggs from mouse were assigned 29 for control group, 53 for 20 ng/ml of LIF, 88 for 40 ng/ml of LIF, 68 for 80 ng/ml of LIF respectively for in vitro fertilization. And 26 fertilized eggs at 2 cell stage from mouse also were assigned. The mouse embryos of all groups were cultured in medium supplemented with LIF in different concentrations, whereas the eggs in control group was cultured in medium without supplement of LIF. RESULTS: At 72 hours culture of eggs from in vitro fertilization, there was a slight increas in rate of embryonal development to morula in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as results of 64.15% and 75% respectively, while 42.65% in inferior rate of LIF-80, compare with 51.72% in control group. But the difference between these each groups were not significant in statistically (p< or =0.05). And after 96 hours culture of eggs, the rates blastocyst formation was significantly higher in both LIF-20 and LIF-40 as 56.6% and 63.63% than those in control and LIF-80 as 44.83% and 35.29% respectively. On culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, the rates of blastocyst formation was significantly not only higher as 85% and 81.81% respectively in medium supplemented with LIF-40 and LIF-80 than 42.3% in LIF-20 but also embryonal cell viability were remakedly improved at 96 hours after culture. CONCLUSION: The LIF in low dose is embryotrophic, but LIF in high dose is embryotoxic on eggs from in vitro fertilization. Whereas on culturing eggs from in vivo fertilization, LIF is more beneficial with dose dependent in high concentration.
Mice ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of serum obtained before and after treatment for endometriosis on in vitro fertilization and development of two cell mouse embryo. Design: Pretreatment and posttreatment comparoson of fertilization of mouse oocyte and embryo development in serum supplement form patients with endometriosis; result were compared using Stuent T-test analysis. METHOD: Infertility Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Collage of Medicine, Won Kwang university, Korea. Patients was chosed eleven consecutive women with endometriosis. Interventions was all patient underwent laparoscopic or conservative surgery. This was followed by a 6-month course of burserelin acetate 900 microgram/d. Main outcome was measured total number of fertilization and embryo that was fertilization after 24 hours and reached blastocyst stage after 72 hours of incubation were compared before and after treatment. RESULT: Before treatment, 47% of the oocyte were fertilized and 31% of the embryo reached blastocyst stage. After treatment, Significantly more fertilized and Significantly more embryo developed to blastocyst on the stage I and II of endometriosis. CONCLUSION: The fertilization and embryo toxicity of serum samples from patients with endometriosis is lost after treatment.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Infertility ; Korea ; Mice* ; Obstetrics ; Oocytes* ; Pregnancy

The follicular fluid (FF) of ovary contains various biological active products which affected on the growth of follicles and the fertilization of oocyte in physiological reproductive process of mammals. This study was designed to determine the effects of human FF on fertilization of oocyte and embryonal development in vitro culture. The FF was prepared as clear without blood contamination by needle aspiration from mature follicles of human at the time of oocytes retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the medium for culture in vitro of embryonal cells, human tubal fluid (HTF) supplemented with follicular fluids at concentrations of 10%, 40% and pure FF were used. These effects were compared to control group of cultured embryos in HTF supplemented with 0.4% BSA (bovine serum albumin). For IVF, 64 eggs in control group, 67 eggs in 10% FF, 57 eggs in 40% FF and 64 eggs in pure FF were respectively allocated. And the rates of fertilization were almost similar in all groups as resulting 82.81% in control, 85.07% in 10% FF, 87.71% in 40% FF and 81.25% in pure FF. On the examination for embryonal cleavage from fertilized eggs, the rates of developing to 4 cell stage was similar in all groups, as results 98.11% in control, 98.27% in 10% FF and 98% in 40% FF but 78.84% in pure FF. And the rates of developing to 8-16 cell stage were significantly reduced as 44% in 40% FF and 44.23% in pure FF (p<0.05) compare to 71.69% in control media. As likewise, the rates of developing to morular stage were also significantly reduced to 36% (p<0.05) and 21.15% (p<0.01) respectively in 40% FF and pure FF And the rates to blastocystic stage of embryo was lowest as 7.69% in pure FF. The quality of embryonal cells on cleavage to the 8-16 cell stage was poorer, higher concentrations of FF The rates of grade 1 in pure FF, as 23.07%, was lowest compare to those of other groups, in which the rates of grade 1 in control, 10% FF and 40% FF were 58.49%, 47.36% and 34% respectively. And on the contrary, the rate of grade 4 in pure FF was highest as 23.07%, while those were 5.66% control, 8.77% in 10% FF and 20% in 40% FF. On the viability of embryos, the rate of embryonal cell death was more rise, at the higher concentrations as well as longer exposure in the follicular fluid. At 48 hours after in vitro culture of embryos, the rate of survival embryos in pure FF was markedly lowered as 44.23%, compare to that of control (p<0.05). But there was not significant difference between the rates of survival embryos in each group beside the pure FF, which the rates were 77.35% in control, 70.17% in 10% FF and 60% in 40% FF respectively. And at 72 hours after in vitro culture, the rates of survival embryos were also significantly dropped to 21.15% in pure and 36% in 40% at concentration of FF compare to 62.26% in control (p<0.05, p<0.01). Finally, the rate of embryonal death at 96 hours after in vitro culture was highest as 82.69% in pure FF among all groups which those were 35.84 in control, 56.14% in 10% FF and 64% in 40% FF respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests that the FF has no effects, in particular, to the in vitro fertilization of oocytes but exerted a bad effect to the cleavage, quality and viability of the embryonal cells during in vitro culture. However, the FF is harmful on embryonal development at conditions in higher concentration and especially on the embryos after 8~16 cell stage.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Death ; Eggs ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid* ; Humans* ; Mammals ; Mice* ; Needles ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Zygote

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics of pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH). METHODS: Five hundred seventy-five cases of PIH and 7,702 cases of normotensive pregnancies who were delivered their infants at Wonkwang University Hospital from January, 1994 to December, 1998 were selected for the study. The data were collected by review of the hospital record and the statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests, and statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: The incidence of PIH was 7.1% of total deliveries. Among the PIH, the incidence of mild preedampsia was found in 59%, severe preeclampsia in 36%, and edampsia in 5%. The most prevalent gestational period was 38-42wks gestation in mild PIH and 33-37wks gestation in severe PIH & eclampsia. The incidence of cesarean section was significantly higher in severe PIH & eclampsia(72.2%) than in mild PIH(48.7%) and normotensive pregnancies(39.7%). The incidence of hypoalbuminemia, preterm labor, placental abruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and pulmonary edema were significantly higher in severe PIH & edampsia than in mild PIH and normotensive pregnancies. Compared with normotensive pregnancies or mild PIH, severe PIH & eclampsia had significantly elevated risks for low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal distress, low apgar score, meconium stained, and neonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PIH is not decreasing and it still an important role in the cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in Korea. So, further studies are necessary to prepare a guide for the treatment of PIH.
Abruptio Placentae ; Apgar Score ; Cesarean Section ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Meconium ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pulmonary Edema

OBJECTIVE: To ananlyze the direct effect of nitric oxide (NO), generated from sodium prusside (SNP) on the embryo developments in reproductive process. DESIGN: ova from mouse were treated to allow fertilization in in vitro culture. And the samples of fertilized ova were alloted into five alliqutos. Each alliquot was cultured in media treated with either concentration at 0 (n=92), 25microM (n=84), 50microM (n=80), 100microM (n=77), 500microM (n=54) of SNP. Main Outcome MEASURE: Rates of embryonal cell cleavages, viability and cell morphology were assessed during in vitro fertilization and culture. RESULTS: As analyse the cell cleavage at 24 hours after in vitro culture of fertilised egg in variuos NO concentration, all of egg cells of each alliquot were developed to 2~4 cell stage. But the alliquot of egg cells treated with 500microM, which were totally degenerated. And also all embryonal cells of each alliquot were developed to 8 cell stage and morula stage on culture continuosly. And the embryonal cells of each alliquot were analysed at 24 and 48 hours following the in vitro culture. The rates of cell fragmentation and fusion were 4.2+/-3.4% in control group which is not treated with NO, while experimental groups was high, as rated 23.4+/-6.2% in 25microM, 28.2+/-5.7% in 50microM and 32.1+/-6.4% in 100microM concentration of NO. Accordingly the rate of abnormal morphology of embryonal cell in control was lower significantly than that in each alliquot of experimental groups (p<0.05). And the degenerated rates of embryonal cells were 0% in control, 17.8+/-6.7% in 25microM, 23.6+/-4.7% in 50microM and 26.8+/-11.2% in 100microM at 8 cells and morula on culture of 48 and 72 hours. On the examination of embryonal cells developed to blastocyst through in vitro culture, the rates of degenerated cells were 16.8+/-7.2% in control, 37.5+/-6.2% in 25microM, 73.4+/-4.6% in 50microM, 100% in 100microM. CONCLUSION: This results suggeted that the No in any concentrations is harmful on embryos in view of morphology as well as viability of cell, and the toxicity of No on embryo is stronger at condition in higher concentration of NO.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Mice* ; Morula ; Nitric Oxide* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Ovum ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Female ; Lactation* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Female ; Lactation* ; Pregnancy*

Nitric oxide ( NO ) is now recognized as a mediator of several biological and immunological functions, but unlike classical neurotransmitters, NO simply diffuse of the postsynaptic cell and around affecting cells. Human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ), produced by placental trophoblasts may act as stimulator on NO synthesis in oocytes of mouse's ovary. How-ever, in the various organs or cells, the action of hCG on NO synthesis is unknown. We have examined that the effect of hCG on NO synthesis in microglial cells of murine's brain, using the Griess method. And this study was evident that hCG did not induce NO produc-tion without recombinant interferon gamma ( rIFN-gamma), whereas hCG ( 10~500 IU/ml ) with rIFN-gamma effectively produced NO in microglial cells of brain. As result, NO production in microglial cells increased most significantly in dose of 100 IU/ml of the hCG and the pro-duction of NO was dependent on the dose of hCG ( Table 1 and Fig. 1 ). And N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine ( N(G)MMA ), competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, reduced the NO production by hCG stimulation with rIFN-gamma in microglial cells of murine. Conclusively, this study sugge-sted that hCG stimulate NO production at microglial cells in brain, which may be an important factor for mediating immune and neuroendocrinologic regulation in nervous system.
Brain ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans* ; Interferons ; Negotiating ; Nervous System ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts

In order to elucidate the mechanism of oxidative damage of cadimu(Cd) on culturedmouse preimplantation embyors.The embryotoxocity of Cd was examined after cultured mouse preimplantation embryoswere exposed to various concentrations of CdCl2. In addition, the protected effect of antioxidant,catalase against Cd-induced embryotoxicity was investigated.CdCl2 decreased the development of cultured mouse preimplantation embryos in dose andtime-dependent manners, and also oxidative damage was involoved in Cd-induced embryotoxicityin mouse preimplantation embryos by the prevention of catalase on Cd-induced toxicity.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Catalase ; Embryonic Structures* ; Mice

In order to elucidate the mechanism of oxidative damage of cadimu(Cd) on culturedmouse preimplantation embyors.The embryotoxocity of Cd was examined after cultured mouse preimplantation embryoswere exposed to various concentrations of CdCl2. In addition, the protected effect of antioxidant,catalase against Cd-induced embryotoxicity was investigated.CdCl2 decreased the development of cultured mouse preimplantation embryos in dose andtime-dependent manners, and also oxidative damage was involoved in Cd-induced embryotoxicityin mouse preimplantation embryos by the prevention of catalase on Cd-induced toxicity.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Catalase ; Embryonic Structures* ; Mice