Excessive intake of red meat has been associated with colon carcinogenesis. The effect of hemin and zinc on colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male ICR mice. After acclimation for 1 week, five-week-old mice received three s.c. injections (0-2nd weeks of the experiment) of azoxymethane (AOM; 10 mg/kg b.w.) weekly and were treated by 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for the next 1 week to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Mice were fed on AIN-76A purified rodent diet for 6 weeks. There were three experimental groups; control, hemin, and hemin + zinc groups. The daily oral doses of hemin and zinc were 534 mg/kg and 55 mg/kg b.w., respectively. After staining colonic mucosa with 0.2% methylene blue, the ACF, aberrant crypts (AC), and polyps were counted. Lipid peroxidation in liver was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay. The numbers of AC, ACF, large ACF (i.e., ≥4 AC/ACF), and polyps in the hemin group were higher than those in the control group. In hemin + zinc group, the numbers of AC, ACF, large ACF were significantly lower compared to the hemin or control groups (p < 0.05), and the number of polyps was also significantly lower compared to that in the hemin group (p < 0.05). The TBARS level in the livers of the hemin + zinc group was significantly lower than that of the hemin group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that hemin enhances colon carcinogenesis and that co-treatment with zinc can protect against the induction of colon carcinogenesis.

Osteoporosis is a common disease characterized by bone mass reduction, leading to an increased risk of bone fracture, and it is caused by an imbalance of osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. Current osteoporosis drugs aim to reduce the risk of bone fracture, either by increasing osteoblastic bone formation or decreasing osteoclastic bone resorption. However, osteoblasts and osteoclasts are closely coupled, such that any reagent altering the differentiation or activity of one eventually affects the other. This tight coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts not only limits the therapeutic efficacy but also threatens the safety of osteoporosis drugs. This review will discuss the biological mechanisms of action of currently approved medications for osteoporosis treatment, focusing on the osteoblast–osteoclast coupling.

This study investigated the characteristics of obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HD) over 13 weeks in Rhbdf2 gene knockout (KO) mice. Forty 7-week-old Rhbdf2 wild and KO mice were used and the mice were divided into 4 groups: Wild-ND (n=10, Rhbdf2 wild mice, normal diet (ND)), Wild-HD (n=10, Rhbdf2 wild mice, HD), KO-ND (n=10, Rhbdf2 KO mice, ND) and KO-HD (n=10, Rhbdf2 KO mice, HD). The relative epididymal fat weight in KO-HD was significantly increased compared with that in KO-ND (P<0.01). The relative liver and spleen weights in KO-HD were decreased compared with those in Wild-HD (p < 0.05) and KO-ND (p < 0.01). The mRNA expression of SOD1 in KO-ND was significantly reduced compared with that in Wild-ND (p < 0.05). In Wild-ND and HD, the mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in epididymal fat were significantly increased compared with those in KO-ND and HD (p < 0.01). A significant increase of TNF- α and IL-6 mRNA expression was observed in KO-HD compared with KO-ND (p < 0.01). These results indicated that Rhbdf2 genes may regulate high fat diet-induced obesity damage by anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative roles in fat tissue of mice.

In general, the shape of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) at germinal vesicle (GV) stage is important roles on meiotic maturation of porcine oocyte during in vitro maturation (IVM). Then, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide from electron transport system during oocyte maturation. ROS levels on oocytes are regulated by various antioxidant enzymes in cumulus cells (CCs). However, the effect of mitochondria derived superoxide production from CCs during IVM of porcine oocyte has not been reported. Firstly, we divided groups according to large number of CCs (Grade 1: G1) and small number of CCs (Grade 2: G2). Then, we counted cumulus cells of G1 and G2 oocyte by using haemocytometer. The oocyte maturation rate was significant decreased (p < 0.05) in G2 oocytes than that of G1 oocytes. We measured mitochondria derived superoxide in G1 and G2 COCs by using Mito-SOX staining. Mitochondrial superoxide was higher in G2 COCs than G1 COCs. Then, the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, SOD2 and PRDX3) in G2 COCs were decreased compared to G1 COCs. To reduce mitochondria derived superoxide, we used Mito-TEMPO as mitochondrial superoxide scavenger. Oocyte maturation rates in both G1 and G2 groups treated with Mito-TEMPO were increased than that of non-treated groups. Mitochondrial superoxide was lower in G1 and G2 groups treated with Mito-TEMPO than that of non-treatment groups. The mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes in G1 and G2 COCs treated with Mito-TEMPO were increased compared to non-treated groups. Based on these findings, we suggest that reduction of mitochondria derived superoxide by Mito-TEMPO assists maturation competence in porcine oocytes.

Mitochondrion is an organelle for regulating calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis. Mitochondrial Ca2+ plays important roles on oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic development for ATP production. Low quality oocytes have mitochondrial dysfunction, which lead to overloaded Ca2+ in mitochondria. Recently, Rhod-2 is well known as a mitochondrial derived Ca2+ indicator. However, the changes of Rhod-2 in matured or fertilized porcine oocytes have not been reported. Therefore, the aim of study was to identify the effects of mitochondrial Ca2+ using Rhod-2 on quality assessment of matured oocyte and zygotes in pigs. Thus, we classified two groups (group 1: G1, compact COCs and group 2: G2, uncompact COCs) according to differences of cumulus cells amount and cytoplasm morphology in germinal vesicle (GV) stage of porcine COCs. Therefore, we investigated number of Rhod-2 spots in matured and fertilized oocytes from G1 and G2 groups. The Rhod-2 spot numbers were separated into four parts; n<10, 10≤ n < 20, 20 ≤ n < 30, and 30 < n. The Rhod-2 spots number of G2 group had greater than G1 group in part of 20 ≤ n. Additionally, we investigate mean number of Rhod-2 spots from G1 and G2 groups in matured and fertilized oocytes. As a result, we confirmed that average number of Rhod-2 spots in G2 group increased than that of G2 group. Finally, we also measured the Rhod-2 intensity in matured and fertilized oocytes of G1 and G2 groups. Interestingly, the Rhod-2 intensity in G2 group was higher than that of G1 group. (oocyte: p < 0.001 and fertilized oocyte: p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that changes in Rhod-2 spots and intensity were increased in low quality of matured and fertilized oocytes. Therefore, our results suggest that the differences in mitochondrial calcium level are associated with morphological quality of porcine COCs.

소나무재선충병의 매개충인 북방수염하늘소의 체내 선충보유량에 따른 비행능력의 차이를 구명하기 위하여 춘천시 지내리의 잣나무림에서 어리소나무재선충(Bursaphelenchus mucronatus)에 감염이 확인된 북방수염하늘소 암·수 각 20마리를 채집, 실내사육 후 우화-섭식 1 주일이 지난 시점부터 1주 간격으로 Flight mill을 이용하여 비행실험을 진행하였다. 동시에 사육통 바닥에 여과지와 섭식한 잣나무 신초를 3~4일 마다 교체 후 Baermman funnel법으로 소나무 재선충을 분리하여 그 수를 조사, 비행능력과 선충보유량의 관계를 조사하였다. 그 결과 약 50,000마리 이상 선충을 체내에 보유시 비행능력이 급감하는 것을 확인 할 수 있었으나, 전체적으로 선충의 체내 보유량에 따른 비행능력의 차이는 상관관계가 없는 것으로 확인 되었다.

최근 지구온난화로 인한 기후변화는 육상 및 해양 생태계에 다양한 영향을 미치고 있다. 농업생태계 역시 이들 생태계에 의존하고 있는 생물 및 인간에게 생물학적, 경제학적, 사회학적으로 다양한 영향을 주고 있다. 기후변화를 쉽게 감지할 수 있는 지표종은 기후변화에 비교적 민감하게 반응을 나타내기 때문에 농업생태계와 같은 경제 사회적 영향을 많이 받는 곳에서 다양하게 활용될 수 있다. 2017년 농업과학원에서는 농업생태계에서 기후변화에 따른 영향을 잘 나타낼 수 있는 식물과 무척처동물 30종을 지표종으로 선정하였다. 30종 중 나비목에 속하는 종으로는 배추흰나비(Pieris rapae), 남방노랑나비(Eurema mandarina), 노랑나비(Colias erate), 호랑나비(Papilio xuthus) 4종이다. 이 연구는 나비 지표종 중 농업생태계에서 가장 풍부하고 확인이 쉬운 배추흰나비를 대상으로 전남, 충북, 경기, 강원지역에서 4월부터 월 1-2회 모니터링을 실시하여 생물계절의 차이를 알아보았다. 조사는 각 지역에서 논과 밭, 산림 등을 포함하는 경로를 선정하여 30분간 이동하면서 좌우 5m내외 출현하는 나비를 조사하는 선 조사법을 실시하였다. 4월 이후부터 조사한 결과 전남에서는 4월초인 14째 주에 이미 많은 수가 관찰된 반면 충북, 경기 등지에선 15째 주 이후 관찰되기 시작하였다. 강원도에서는 6월 중순인 24째부터 관찰되어 위도별 출현 양상의 차이를 나타내었다. 9월말까지 관찰된 생활사 수는 전남에서는 5회, 경기도에서는 4-5회, 충북에서는 4회, 강원에서는 2회로 지역별 차이를 나타내었다. 이러한 결과는 농업생태계에서 흔히 볼 수 있는 배추흰나비가 위도별로 출현시기와 출현횟수를 달리하면서 나타나는 것을 통해 기후변화를 나타낼 수 있는 지표종으로 적절하다고 여겨지며 앞으로도 전국적으로 지속적인 모니터링을 통해 정밀한 출현양상과 미래 분포 변화 모델링 작업에 효과적으로 이용될 수 있는 기초자료를 제공할 수 있을 것으로 여겨진다.

The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), invaded into South Korea in 2003. Currently, V. velutina is distributed throughout South Korean regions,. A genetic trait of invasive species provides important data for environmental risk assessment. In this study, we analysed the genetic variation of the V. velutina among the populations of South Korea and other foreign countries using partial sequences of mitochondrial COI, CytB and 16S rRNA. We further developed intergenic spacers (IGS2 and IGS3) to detect genetic variation among Korean populations. Each single haplotype was recovered from the domestic V. velutina from each coding gene sequence. Korean individuals shared the haplotype with that of Japan and China. Phylogenetic analysis (excluding 16S rRNA) using available sequences and ours showed the presence of two groups: the Indonesia and Malaysia group and another group (Korea, Japan, China, France, Vietnam and Thailand). The newly developed IGS2 and IGS3 markers resulted in each seven and four haplotypes, providing better resolution than coding gene sequences. Analysis of Molecular Variance using the combined sequences of IGS2 and IGS3 showed that the majority of variance was allocated to each population and only minority of variance is allocated to among-populations. This result may indicate that the V. v. nigrithorax invaded in Korea shows a single panmictic population and this possibly suggest that Korean population may have originated from small founder individuals.

미국선녀벌레(Metcalfa pruinosa)는 외래 침입해충으로 조사가 시작된 2009년 이후 발생지역과 발생면적이 계속 증가하여 2018년에는 123개 시군구의 21,154ha에서 발생이 보고되고 있다. 미국선녀벌레는 농경지와 그 주변 산림지에서 활동하기 때문에 정부와 지자체간 협업을 통해 농림지 동시방제를 5월하순경(부화약충 대상)과 7월 중순경(성충 대상) 2회 실시하고 있다. 농촌진흥청에서는 미국선녀벌레의 기생천적인 선녀벌레집게벌(Neodryinus typhlocybae)의 안정적인 도입과 미국선녀벌레에 대한 생물적 방제원으로서 국내 정착을 위해 이탈리아 파도바대학과 국제협력사업을 2017년부터 수행하고 있다. 선녀벌레집게벌은 완주에서 월동이 가능하였으며 6월 초에 50%이상 우화를 하였다. 2018년도에 온실(완주)과 야외(수원, 태안)에서 증식하여 1,000여 개체 이상을 확보하였으며 도입천적의 안정적인 국내 정착과 확산 및 활용 방안에 대해 논의하고자 한다.

강원도농업기술원에서는 2003년 무름병에 비교적 강하고 화색과 화형이 우수하고 장미 분홍색을 가진 Zantedeschia rehmanni × hybrid ‘Super Gem’과 연한 노랑색 품종 Z. × hybrid ‘Black Magic’을 각각 모본과 부본으로 하여 인공 교배 하였다. 2006년에 개화특성을 검정하여 화색과 화형이 좋은 ‘GZ0616’를 선발하였으며, 2007년에 포장 재배하여 자구 증식률, 초장과 초세 등 1차 특성검정 후 2차 선발하였다. 2013부터 2015년까지 특성검정과 재배시험을 통하여 균일성과 안정성이 인정되어 ‘강교C4-6호’로 최종 선발되었으며, 2017년 2월에 ‘립스마일(Lip Smile)’로 품종등록 되었다. 화포 외부의 주 색은 연노랑바탕 적자색(Y2C+RP79C)이며, 화포 높이는 8.5cm, 폭은 6.2cm로 대형화이다. 개화소요일수는 64.3일, 초장은 66.0cm, 괴경은 80.0g이다. 기호도 평가에서도 ‘Captain Rosette’와 유사하였으며, 절화용으로 이용 가능하다.