Earticle

To search the potent pig pheromonal odorants through receptor-based approach methods, molecular dockings between 680 Flavornets as substrate molecule and pig odorants binding proteins OBP (1HQP) and PBP (1GM6) as receptor, and QSPR (quantitative structure-property relationship) analyses from physico-chemical parameters of Flavornets and their docking scores (DS) were performed and discussed quantitatively. From the basis on the findings, the optimal value (MSA)opt.=407.595 Å2 of MSA (molecular surface area; Å), and RB (number of rotational bond) had the Flavornets will be able to increase DS. Therefore, it is expected that the stearyl alcohol from DS and H-bond type between substrate and receptor would be shows the character as potent pig pheromonal odorant.

The purpose of present study was to analyze mineral contents in various tissues and investigate theirs relation with bone mineral density (BMD) in rats. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were fed standard diet for 4 weeks. Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency ratio were 41.00 g/week, 171.15 g/week, and 0.24 respectively. Among 12 minerals in serum, Ca is the highest with 6.86 mg/dl. Serum Mg, Se, and Cu were 2.52 mg/dl, 0.23 mg/dl and 0.22 mg/dl respectively. Mg contents in liver, spleen, and kidney were 246.36 μg/g, 105.01 μg/g, and 273.38 μg/g respectively. Tibia contents of Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and V were 194.91 mg/g, 23.10 mg/g, 0.60 mg/g, 0.35 mg/g and 0.14 mg/g respectively. BMDs of right tibia and spine were 122.04 mg/cm2 and 153.61 mg/cm2. There were significantly positive correlations between tibia BMD and Se (p<0.05), tibia BMD and V (p<0.01), spinal BMD and V(p<0.05), respectively. It's expected that these results are used as a reference data in following study to elucidate physiological function of minerals.

This study was to investigate the effect of flavonoid treatment on in vitro development of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, and their pregnancy and delivery rate after embryo transfer into recipient. In experiment 1, to optimize the flavonoid concentration, parthenogenetic day 2 (≥ 2-cell) embryos were cultured in 0 (control), 1, 10 and 20 μM flavonoid for 6 days. In the results, in vitro development rate was the highest in 10 μM flavonoid group (57.1%) among treatment groups (control, 49.5%; 1 μM, 54.2%; 20 μM, 37.5%), and numbers of total and ICM cells were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 10 μM flavonoid group than other groups. We found that 10 μM flavonoid treatment can significantly (p<0.05) decrease the apoptotic index and derive high expression of anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, cell growth and development marker genes such as Mn-SOD, Survivin, Bax inhibitor, Glut-5, In-tau, compared to control group. In experiment 2, to produce the cloned Jeju Black Cattle, beef quality index grade 1 bull somatic cells were transferred into enucleated bovine MII oocytes and reconstructed embryos were cultured in 10 μM flavonoid added medium. When the in vitro produced day 7 or 8 SCNT blastocysts were transferred into a number of recipients, 10 μM flavonoid treatment group presented higher pregnancy rate (10.2%, 6/59) than control group (5.9%, 2/34). Total three cloned Jeju Black calves were born. Also, two cloned calves in 10 μM flavonoid group were born and both were all healthy at present, while the one cloned calf born in control group was dead one month after birth. In addition, when the result of short tandem repeat marker analysis of each cloned calf was investigated, microsatellite loci of 11 numbers matched genotype between donor cell and cloned calf tissue. These results demonstrated that the flavonoid addition in culture medium may have beneficial effects on in vitro and in vivo developmental capacity of SCNT embryos and pregnancy rate.

Embryoid bodies (EBs) generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) include spontaneously induced endodermal lineage cells (ELCs). Activin-A plays important roles in the endoderm differentiation of hESCs. Despite studies on the generation of ELCs from hESCs with treatment of Actvin-A, it was unclear for localization and pattern of ELCs by Activin-A during differentiation of hESCs. Accordingly in this study, we knew that Actvin-A increased the cystic EBs formation, including the highly enriched AFP (endoderm lineage specific marker)-expressing cells in the surface of cystic EBs. To induce the EBs formation from undifferentiated hESCs, cells were transferred onto petri-dish and cultured in suspension condition without bFGF removed hESC media (EB media) for 3 days. Next to investigate the effect of Activin-A, EBs were subsequently cultured in EB media supplement with 100 ng/ml Activin-A for 3 days. After 5～7 days of Activin-A treatment, cystic EBs began to appear which increased in numbers reaching ～60% of initially formed EBs over 5 days. Endoderm lineage marker, AFP were highly expressed and specifically localized at the surface region of cystic EBs comparison with normal EBs. We next attached the cystic EBs onto gelatin-coated plates and cultured for 5 days. In the results of real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry analysis, AFP-expressing cells migrated and localized at the outgrowth region of attached cystic EBs. To obtain the AFP-expressing cells of the outgrowth region, we manually isolated by using micro- dissection and cultured them. These cells strongly express AFP over 70% of isolated cells post re-plating. Here, we first showed an expression pattern of specifically localized ELCs by Activin-A during differentiation of hESCs. From this observation, we could highly purified ELCs from undifferentiated hESCs. Taken together, our system will provide a novel and efficient option to generate ELCs from hESCs.

Pluripotency of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) is one of the most valuable ability of hESCs for applying cell therapy field, but also showing side effect, for example teratoma formation. When transplant multipotent stem cell, such as mesnchymal stem cell (MSC) which retains similar differentiation ability, they do not form teratoma in vivo, but there exist limitation of cellular source supply. Accordingly, differentiation of hESC into MSC will be promising cellular source with strong points of both hESC and MSC line. In this study, we described the derivation of MSC like cell population from feeder free cultured hESC (hESC- MSC) using direct differentiation system. Cells population, hESC-MSC and bone marrow derived MSC (BM-MSC) retained similar characteristics in vitro, such as morphology, MSC specific marker expression and differentiation capacity. At the point of differentiation of both cell populations, differentiation rate was slower in hESC-MSC than BM-MSC. As these reason, to verify differentially expressed molecular condition of both cell population which bring out different differentiation rate, we compare the molecular condition of hESC-MSC and BM-MSC using 2-D proteomic analysis tool. In the proteomic analysis, we identified 49 differentially expressed proteins in hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, and they involved in different biological process such as positive regulation of molecular function, biological process, cellular metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, macromolecule metabolic process, metabolic process, molecular function, and positive regulation of molecular function and regulation of ubiquitin protein ligase activity during mitotic cell cycle, cellular response to stress, and RNA localization. As the related function of differentially expressed proteins, we sought to these proteins were key regulators which contribute to their differentiation rate, developmental process and cell proliferation. Our results suggest that the expressions of these proteins between the hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, could give to us further evidence for hESC differentiation into the mesenchymal stem cell is associated with a differentiation factor. As the initial step to understand fundamental difference of hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, we sought to investigate different protein expression profile. And the grafting of hESC differentiation into MSC and their comparative proteomic analysis will be positively contribute to cell therapy without cellular source limitation, also with exact background of their molecular condition.

The 34 potently pig pheromonal odorants (1-32, 5755 & 7113) through structure-based virtual screening and ligand-based virtual screening method were selected and their ADMET and pharmacokinetics characters were evaluated and discussed quantitatively. The pheromonal odorants were projected on the following pre-calculated models, Caco-2 cell permeability, blood-brain barrier permeation, hERG inhibition and volume-distribution. From the results of in silico study, it is found that an optimal compound (31) either penetrating or have a little (Pcaco2=－8.143) for Caco-2 cell permeability, moderate penetrating ability (PBBB=0.082) for blood-brain barrier permeation, the low QT prolongation (PhERG=1.137) for the hERG K+ channel inhibition, and low distribution into tissues (PVD=－5.468) for volume-distribution. Therefore, it is predicted that the compound (31) a topical application may be preferable from these based foundings.

Early diagnoses of pregnancy for animal such as swine and bovine is extremely important to increase income of a farmhouse and for the management of farm. For the development of immunoasaay system of pregnancy in swine, we report a competitive heterologous enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the direct measurement of oestrone sulfate (E1S) in diluted urine using anti-E1G (glucuronide) monoclonal antibody which cross react with E1S. The principle of assay was based on the typical solid-phase competitive ELISA methods using E1G-HRP (horseradish peroxidase) as a tracer and E1S for standard. The method had a reasonable sensitivity for the detection of E1S with 0.15 ng/ml as a detection limit. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were raging coefficient of from 8.50～9.67% and 8.50～9.87%, respectively, which were quite acceptable. In a field trial with a group 37 sows (18 non-pregnancy and 19 pregnancy sows) after day 29～30 post service, the concentration of E1S were determined to be below 30 ng/ml in all non-pregnancy group and over 48 ng/ml in pregnancy group except one sample. The method described here, heterologous ELISA for the measurement of E1S in urine is good enough for monitoring the early pregnancy test of swine.

Correlations between cumulus cells and germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin configuration were examined in porcine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 2～6 mm follicles and divided into three categories according to cumulus cell morphology. "A" group was compacted COCs with more than three cumulus cell layers. "B" group was COCs with less cumulus cell layers than "A" group. "C" group was COCs with one or less layer of cumulus cells. Cumulus cells were removed 0.1% hyaluronidase, and denuded oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342. GV chromatin configuration was classified into GV-Con and GV-Dis. GV-Con meant that a nucleus was surrounded by condensed chromatin in a ring. GV-Dis meant that filamentous chromatin clumps were distributed in nucleus. The proportion (80.2%) of GV-Con in "A" group was significantly higher than "B" (62.0%) or "C" (44.9%). The proportion (55.1%) of GV-Dis in "C" group was significantly higher than "A" (19.8%) or "B" (38.0%). The meiotic competence of COCs was examined after 44 h culture. The proportion (90.0%) of oocytes reaching to metaphase II (M-II) in "A" group was significantly higher than "B" (76.5%) or "C" (45.5%). In conclusion, oocytes with good quality cumulus cell layers are synchronized early GV stage, and early GV stage is important for meiotic competence in pigs.

Nanotechnology is currently receiving considerable attention in various fields of biotechnology. The uptake of nanoparticles by cells for labeling and tracking is a critical process for many biomedical therapeutic applications. However, nanoparticle labeling of porcine hematopoietic cells has not been demonstrated so far. In the present study, silica-coated nanoparticles conjugated with rhodamine B isothiocyanate (SR-RITC) were used to investigate the uptake of nanoparticles by porcine hematopoietic cells. Flow cytometric and confocal microscopic analyses reveled that the cells were efficiently internalized by the silica-coated nanoparticles. Furthermore, biocompatibility tests demonstrated that the SR nanoparticles were not cytotoxic, and they had no impact on proliferation. Our study demonstrates that silica-coated nanoparticles are taken up very rapidly and with high efficiency into porcine hematopoietic cells, with no apparent deleterious effects. Therefore, silica-coated nanoparticles appear to be a promising tool for tracking porcine hematopoietic cells.

Osmolarity of culture media is one of the most important factors affecting in vitro development. This study was conducted to investigate the DNA methylation status of Pre-1 and satellite sequence in pig nuclear transfer (pNT) embryos produced under different osmolarity culture conditions. Control group of pNT embryos was cultured in PZM-3 for six days. Other two treatment groups of pNT embryos were cultured in modified PZM-3 with 138 mM NaCl or 0.05M sucrose (mPZM-3, 320 mOsmol) for two days, and then cultured in PZM-3 (270 mOsmol) for four days. Previous our studies have reported that pNT embryos cultured in both hypertonic media showed significantly higher blastocyst formation rate than that of control. The DNA methylation status of the satellite sequences in blastocyst was characterized using bisulfite-sequencing technology. The satellite region had a similar methylation pattern of in vivo blastocyst among two culture groups excepting the control group. Each level of methylation is that the satellite DNA moderately methylated (43.10% of PZM-3; 56.12% of NaCl; 55.06% of sucrose; 60.00% of in vivo embryos). As a result of the sequence of PRE-1, CpG methylation pattern was similar to three groups, including in vivo group. In case of the satellite DNA region, the osmolarity conditions were affected CpG DNA methylation status while PRE-1 sequence was not affected CpG DNA methylation in pNT blastocyst stage. These results indicate that the modification of osmolarity in a culture media may influence to spatially change of DNA methylation of repetitive sequence for pNT embryo development.

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine protease that cleave plasminogen to form the active protease plasmin and may participate in mammalian fertilization. Although correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sperm function, the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. We determined the effects of ROS on sperm function and PA activities in boar spermatozoa preincubated under the X-XO system. When spermatozoa were treated with the X+XO group, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with that of the control group. However, when antioxidants were added to the medium with X+XO, the rate of acrosome reaction tended to decrease. Also, a significantly lower percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa was observed in the X+XO+catalase group at 6 hr of incubation compared with that of X+XO group. The density of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher in the X+XO group than in different treatment groups. In another experiment, incubation of spermatozoa in medium with X+XO was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity of tPA-PAI and tPA compared with the control group. Antioxidants decreased the increased activity of tPA-PAI and tPA by preincubation in the X-XO system. Also, a significantly lower (p<0.05) activities of tPA-PAI and tPA were observed in the X+XO+catalase group compared with the X+XO group. No significant differences, however, were observed in the activity of uPA. These results suggest that the increase of acrosome reaction by the X-XO system resulted in increase of PAs activity in the sperm incubation medium.

We report here the production of transgenic chickens that can regulate human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene expression. The glycoprotein hormone hEPO is an essential for viability and growth of the erythrocytic progenitors. Retrovirus vector system used in this study has two features including tetracycline-controllable promoter and woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulator element (WPRE). The former is for to reduce the possibility of physiological disturbance due to constitutional and unregulated expression of hEPO gene in the transgenic chicken. The latter is for maximum expression of the foreign gene when we turn-on the gene expression. A replication-defective Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based vectors packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). Out of 325 injected eggs, 28 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation and 16 hatched chicks were found to express the hEPO gene delivered by the vector. The biological activity of the recombinant hEPO in transgenic chicken serum was comparable to its commercially available counterpart. The recombinant hEPO in transgenic chicken serum had N- and O-linked carbohydrate simillar to that produced from in vitro cultured cells transformed with hEPO gene.

The objective of this study was investigate the superovulation treatment and to relate concentrations of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in Hanwoo donors. Thirty six, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR. Four days later, the animals were superovulated with a total of 28AU FSH (Antorin, 2AU=1 ml) administered twice daily in constant doses over 4 days. On the 3th administration of FSH, CIDR was withdrawn and 25 mg PGF2α was administered. Cows were artificially inseminated twice after estrous detection at 12 hr intervals. The cows received 100 μg GnRH at the time of 1st insemination. Embryos were recovered 7 or 8 days after the 1st insemination. Cows with BUN ＜10, 11～18 and ≥19 mg/dl had return of estrus of 34.6, 30.5 and 30.4 days respectively. Return of estrus after superovulation treatment was not significantly lower for cows with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) above 10 mg/dl than for cows with BUN below 10 mg/dl. Cows with BUN ＜10, 11～18 and ≥19 mg/dl had number of transferable embryos of 3.2±1.2, 5.4±1.9 and 4.1±2.1 respectively.

Current developments in IVF and animal cloning have resulted in increasing demand for large quantities of oocytes and ovarian follicles at specific stages of development. These medical and scientific needs may be met by developing an optimal culture system for preantral follicles. In this study, we investigated the growth of porcine preantral follicle cultures in different media and in the presence and absence of serum. Follicles were manually dissected from ovaries obtained from prepubertal gilts at a local slaughterhouse, and cultured for 3 days in M199 or NCSU23 medium supplemented with porcine FSH, transferrin, L-ascorbic acid and insulin. Follicle diameters were measured on day 1 and 3 of culture. In Experiment 1, the effect of supplementing culture medium with fetal calf serum (FCS) on porcine preantral follicle growth was examined. In the group of cultures supplemented with FCS, follicle diameter after 3 days of culture, survival rate and antrum formation rate in the FCS group were significantly higher than those of the control group. In Experiment 2, the effects of culture medium (M199 and NCSU23) on follicle growth were compared. Follicle diameters were increased in the M199 group, compared with those in NCSU23 (p<0.05), but we observed no significant differences in survival and antrum formation rates between cultures grown in the two media. In conclusion, supplementation of the culture medium with serum enhances preantral follicle growth and antrum formation, and M199 is superior to NUSU23 for porcine preantral follicle culture in vitro.

s study was carried out between November 2008 and October 2009 in the experimental farm of Chunnam National University to investigate the effect of feeding of Sudangrass silage on the reproductive performance of Hanwoo cows. Two diets, rice straw or Sudangrass silage separately from concentrate were fed 19 Hanwoo cows. In control group (=CON), cows (n=9) were fed 5 kg (/head) rice straw and 3 kg (/head) commercial diet. In Sudangrass silage group (=SGS), cows (n=10) were fed 12.5 kg (/head) Sudangrass silage and 1 kg (/head) commercial diet. 1. Days to post-partum insemination were 78.8±25.3 days for CON and 84.7±24.6 days for SGS group and days to post-partum conception in CON or SGS were 90.1±24.1 and 87.7±26.8 days, respectively. 2. Post-partum conception rates for first service in CON or SGS was 66.7% and 90.0%, respectively, and caving interval was 375.1±46.7 days for CON and 370.2±34.4 days for SGS group. 3. Body Condition Scores of Hanwoo cows at artificial insemination was 5.36 for CON group and 4.93 for SGS group.

When fully grown oocytes are removed from their follicles, they can resume meiosis and mature spontaneously under in vitro conditions. However, nuclear maturation under in vitro condition is not accompanied by complete cytoplasmic maturation, which is essential for successful fertilization and the initiation of zygotic development. This study analyzed change of proteins in follicular fluids during the porcine follicular development. Follicular fluids were collected from follicles of diameter 1～2 mm, 2～6 mm and 6～10 mm in ovary of slaughtered pigs. Total proteins were extracted from follicular fluids by M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. We confirmed totally 27 same spots, 1 spot from follicle fluid of 2～6 mm follicle and 5 spots from follicle fluid of 6～10 mm in diameter were analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and searched on NCBInr. In results, spot No. 28 from 2～6 mm follicle was Ig lambda chain C region, and spot No.32 and 33 from 6～10 mm was Apolipoprotein A-(APOA4). Spot No.29 and 31 were failed to analyze. These results indicate that the porcine oocyte during in vitro maturation depend on specific different expressed proteins may play an important roles in the sequence of molecular events in porcine oocyte maturation and follicular development.

These study was carried out to investigate the effects of the recovery time, diameter of oocytes on in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The in vitro maturation rates to MII stage of oocytes recovered at the inactive, follicular and luteal stages matured for 72 h were 1.4±0.0%, 43.4±3.2% and 10.8±2.7%, respectively. The fertilization rates of in vitro cultured oocytes recovered from ovaries at the in active, follicular and luteal stages were 0.0±0.0%, 15.7±3.4% and 7.6±3.5%, respectively. The in vitro maturation rate of oocytes recovered from ovaries at the follicular stage of the reproductive cycle was significantly higher than those at the inactive and luteal stages (p<0.05). The penetration rate determined that the percentages of oocytes with diameters in the <100 μm, 100 to 100 μm and 110 to 120 μm ranges were 17.5±4.7%, 43.9±4.5%, 21.3±3.4%, respectively. The penetration rate of oocytes with diameters between 100 to 110 μm was significantly higher than that of oocytes whose diameters were 100< μm and 110～120 μm (p<0.05). The penetration rate of oocytes determined that the percentages of ovaries with diameters between 1 to 5 mm and 6 to 10 mm were 32.9±3.2% and 17.5±3.7%, respectively. Thus, the diameters of the ovaries were significantly higher at 1 to 5 mm (p<0.05). A total of 264 oocytes were fixed and stained after co-incubation with sperm, of which 72 had identifiable nuclear material. After in vitro fertilization for 20 hrs, 27.3% of oocytes were penetrated by spermatozoas. Oocytes were fixed and stained after ICSI, of which 38 oocytes contained identifiable nuclear material. After in vitro fertilization and ICSI for 20 hrs, to 27.3% and 67.9% of oocytes were penetrated by spermatozoas. The in vitro fertilization rates by ICSI was significantly higher than that in vitro fertilization method (p<0.05).

Pluripotency and self-renewal capacity of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are retained by hESCs related genes as OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG. These genes are shown high expression level in diverse cancer cells and have potential role in the carcinogenesis. On the contrary to this, several genes which are up-regulated in the differentiated hESCs are involved to suppress the carcinogenesis or proliferation of cells. We discovered several genes in immortalized lung fibroblast (WI-38 VA13) by suppression subtractive hybridization. Among them, we focused chromosome 6 open reading frame 62 (C6orf62) which is uncharacterized, mapped to 6p22.3 and generated to Hepatitis B virus X-transactivated proteins (HBVx-transactivated proteins, XTP). Aim of this study was to characterize C6orf62 through analyzing of expression pattern in various cell lines. Expression of C6orf62 was significantly up- regulated in diverse normal cell lines than cancer cell lines. And C6orf62 was up-regulated in differentiated hESCs (endothelial cells, neural cells) compared to those of undifferentiated hESCs. Also, C6orf62 in WI-38 cells was highly up-regulated during G1/S transition of the cell cycle. Taken together, C6orf62 is shown expression pattern similar to differentiated hESCs-associated genes which down-regulated in cancer cells. Therefore, we assume that C6orf62 may participate to suppress the proliferation and to induce differentiation through regulating the cell cycle.

This study was performed to comprehend the plasma proteins expressed specifically during early pregnancy in pregnant or non-pregnant Hanwoo using proteomic analysis technique. Plasma samples (0, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 11 weeks after AI) were obtained from pregnant (P, n=3) or non-pregnant (NP, n=4) Hanwoo, respectively. To evaluate proteins differentially expressed, 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) was conducted. Normalized protein spots were selected for the significant expression variation deviated over two fold in its expression level between two groups. Molecular functions of the proteins were DNA binding, protein binding, hemoglobin binding, ferrochelatase and transporter activity and arylestera, respectively. According to western blotting, haptoglobin was specifically expressed only in NP group during early pregnancy; however, paraoxonase 1 was highly expressed in pregnant group. Based on these results, pregnancy was maintained successfully by the activation of specific plasma proteins associated with immune system and antioxidant regulation during early pregnancy in Hanwoo

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of storage time on fresh boar semen in Androhep and Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS). Boar semen samples extended in each extender were stored at 17℃ up to 4 days. Sperm motility kinematics was evaluated by computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and capacitation status by chlortetracycline (CTC)/Hoechst 33258 staining. Sperm motility (%) was not decreased during storage in BTS and Androhep. No significant difference between extenders was observed. Only significant differences in kinematic parameters on linearity during storage were found. The percentage of dead sperm significantly decreased during storage (p<0.05). Also the percentage of noncapacitated, capacitated, and acrosome-reacted sperm significantly modified during storage (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between extenders except proportion of capacitated sperm. This finding supported that modification in these parameters was not significantly different between extenders during this short-term storage. Our finding strongly indicated that both Androhep and BTS maintained favorable conditions for motility, motility kinematics, and capacitation status during short-term storage. Despite modifications in some parameters were apparent during sperm storage in extenders, these may not affect the fertilizing capacity of boar semen.

This study was carried out between 2008 and 2009 in four dairy farms to investigate the effect of feeding of whole crop barley silage on the reproductive performance of Holstein heifers. Two diets, mixed hay or whole crop barley silage separately from concentrate were fed 6-month old Holstein heifers (=37). In control group (=CON), heifers (n=16) were fed 6 kg (/head) mixed hay and 4 kg (/head) commercial diet. In whole crop barley silage group (=WBS), heifers (n=21) were fed 10 kg (/head) whole crop barley silage, 4 kg (/head) mixed hay and 2 kg (/head) commercial diet. To manage body weight gain, the body condition score of heifers were measured every month. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Body weight in CON and WBS heifers at 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-month old were 340±17.9 and 342±13.6 kg, 356±15.7 and 366±14.7 kg, 382±13.1 and 387±14.4 kg, and 429±15.0 and 417±10.3 kg, respectively. 2. Body condition score in CON and WBS heifers at 9-, 12-, 15- and 17-month old were 2.88±0.04 and 2.80±0.04, 2.88±0.04 and 2.80±0.04, 2.89±0.08 and 3.00±0.07, and 2.89±0.08 and 3.00±0.07, respectively. 3. Average age of sexual maturity in CON and WBS heifers were 437.3±9.9days and 939.6±12.5days, WBS group heifers were significantly shorter (p<0.05) than CON group heifers. 4. First-service conception rates in CON or WBS group were 81.3% (13/16) and 66.7% (14/21), respectively, and cumulative conception rate to 2nd artificial insemination were 87.5% for CON and 85.7% for WBS group. Conception rate was not different between treatments

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics within ages and freezing tolerance of spermatozoa in Jindo Dog. Experimental animals were selected 12 herds within 1～8 year’s old and collected semen for 2 times in a week. Collected semen was evaluated whole volume and sperm number with CASA system (SIAS, Medical Supply, Korea). Then seminal plasma were separated and diluted with modified Tris-egg yolk extender and added 4, 6 and 8% glycerol for 4 times to final concentration and equilibrated for 1.5 hrs. Before and after freezing, equilibrated semen were evaluated the survival rates. Total volume of sperm at 1～2 year old group is as 5.2×108 cells/ ml largest and there were no significance among groups. The motility of 1～2 year old group is highest as 90.9% and there were significance among groups. Abnormal sperm showed similar among groups. The survival rate in terms of pre-freezing and post-freezing were decreased all levels of glycerol and reveled 87.0% to 64.5% in 4%, 87.5% to 51.9% in 6% and 73.4% to 29.7% in 8%, there were significant difference among the groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that the optimal sperm-freezing methods in Jindo Dog are utilized with modified Tris egg-yolk extender with 4% glycerol and were improve the reproductive activity by these methods.

The purpose of this study is to establish a basic culture system enabling in vitro culture of chicken blastodermal cells and to test the feasibility of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to the cultured cells. The blastodermal cells were isolated from freshly laid eggs of stage X and cultured with or without STO feeder layer cells. Stem cell-like morphology was maintained after multiple passages and RT-PCR analysis proved expression of several stem cell specific genes. Immunocytochemical analysis using antibodies of anti-EMA-1 and anti-SSEA-1 also showed the feature of stem cells. Infection of the cultured blastodermal cells with LNCGW retrovirus vector resulted in successful transfer of foreign genes. The results of this study may be useful in establishing stem cell-mediated transgenic chicken production.

Luteal cells produce progesterone that supports pregnancy. Steroidogenesis requires coordination of the anabolic and catabolic pathways of lipid metabolism. In the present study, the corpus luteum (CL) in early pregnancy established from luteal phase and pregnant phase was analyzed. The first study determined progesterone changes in the bovine CL at day 19 (early maternal recognition period) and day 90 in mid-pregnancy and compared them to the CL from day 12 of the estrous cycle. CL alternation was tested using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI- TOF). Comparing CL from luteal phase to those from pregnant phase counterparts, significant changes in expression level were found in 23 proteins. Of these proteins 17 were not expressed in pregnant phase CL but expressed in luteal phase counterpart, whereas, the expression of the other 6 proteins was limited only in pregnant phase CL. Among these proteins, vimentin is considered to be involved in regulation of post-implantation development. In particular, vimentin may be used as marker for CL development during pregnancy because the expression level changed considerably in pregnant phase CL tissue compared with its luteal phase counterpart. Data from 2-DE suggest that protein expression was disorientated in mid pregnancy from luteal phase, but these changes was regulated with progression of pregnancy. These findings demonstrate CL development during mid-pregnancy from luteal phase and suggest that alternations of specific CL protein expression may be involved in maintenance of pregnancy.

This study was conducted to investigate the survival rate of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in equine by glycerol concentration and freezing speed. Two stallions (1 Thoroughbred-13 year old and 1 Arab-7 year old) bred in Korea Racing authority was examined for 1 times in a couple of weeks. Semen was collected by condom method standing heated mare and were centrifuged 650 g for 15 min. and isolated the seminal plasma. Thick fraction of semen was diluted EDTA-Lactose-egg yolk diluents to 1:1 and contained in 0.5 ml straw as 6～14×107cells/ml. Final concentrations of glycerol were 3, 5 and 7% in cryopreseved diluents and added 4 times for 2 hours equilibration. For the freezing, equilibrated straws were located 3 or 5 cm above LN2 gas for 5 or 10 min. Survival rates of pre-frozen sperm were 65.0±13.2%, 68.3±10.4%, 66.7±11.5% and post-frozen were 53.3±23.1%, 45.0±15.0%, 50.0±18.0% in 3, 5, 7% glycerol concentration, respectively. There was no difference between glycerol concentrations. Survival rates of frozen-thawed sperm on freezing speed were 36.7±10.4%, 40.0±7.1%, 30.0±13.2% at 3 cm－5 min and 33.3±11.5%, 31.7± 2.9%, 21.7±10.4% at 3 cm－10 min in 3, 5, 7% glycerol concentration, respectively. Survival rates of frozen-thawed sperm on freezing speed were 43.3±15.3%, 32.0±17.9%, 22.3±15.7% at 5cm－5 min and were 47.5±15.0%, 43.3±12.6%, 48.3±15.3% at 5cm－10 min in 3, 5, 7% glycerol concentration, respectively. There were significantly different between groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that glycerol concentration did not affect cryopreservation of stallion semen within 3～7% but freezing speed affects. In our experiment, the best cryopreservation condition was at 5 cm above LN2 gas for 10 min for pre-freezing and 7% of glycerol concentration. These results lead to commercial AI with frozen-thawed stallion semen.