Naturally occurring left ventricular hyperplasia is a rare but lethal disease. There are very few reports of this cardiac disease in captive nonhuman primates. In a colony of Macaca mulatta (Rhesus monkey) at California National Primate Research Center, a large number of rhesus macaques were diagnosed by autopsy with naturally occurring left ventricular hypertrophy without obvious underlying diseases over a 22-year period. The confirmatory diagnosis of ventricular hypertrophy was based on findings of notable left ventricular concentric hypertrophy with reduced left ventricular lumen, which is very similar to human ventricular hypertrophy cases. This report discusses an 11-year-old Macaca fascicularis monkey (Cynomolgus monkey, crab-eating macaque), weighing 2.95 kg, that was presented for enrollment in a pharmacokinetic (PK) study. During the PK experiment, the monkey died following a sudden decrease in percutaneous oxygen saturation and heart rate. Gross and histological examinations of the heart were performed. On gross pathology, the left ventricular wall was thickened, and the chamber lumen was reduced. In histopathological examination using hematoxylin- eosin and Masson-trichrome stains, fibrosis and myocyte disarray were not observed, but an increased cell density, compared to the normal heart, was confirmed. The autopsy results confirmed left ventricular hyperplasia as the major cause of death.

Sperm cryopreservation is an important method of assisted reproductive techniques and storing genetic resources. It plays a vital role in genetic improvement, livestock industrial preservation of endangered species, and clinical practice. Consequently, the cryopreservation technique is well organized through various studies, especially on Korean native cattle (Hanwoo). However, the cryopreservation technique of Korean native brindled cattle, which is one of the native cattle species in Korea, is not well organized. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a Supplementary Table technique for the cryopreservation of Korean native brindled cattle. For this purpose, it is important to first evaluate the quality of the currently produced cryopreserved sperm of Korean native brindled cattle. In this study, we randomly selected 72 individual Korean native brindled cattle semen samples collected from 8 different region research centers and used them to evaluate sperm functions. We focused on the quality evaluation of cryopreserved Korean native brindled cattle semen following the measurement of motion kinematics, capacitation status, intracellular ATP level, sperm motility, and cell viability. Then, the values of each of the eight groups were derived from various sperm parameters of nine individual samples, including sperm motility, kinematics, cellular motility, and intracellular ATP levels, which were used to compare and evaluate sperm function. Overall, differences in various sperm parameters were observed between most of the research centers. Particularly, the deviations of motility and motion kinematics were high according to the sample. Therefore, we suggest that it is necessary to develop a standard method for the cryopreservation of Korean native brindled cattle semen. We also suggest the need for sperm quality evaluation of the cryopreserved semen of Korean native brindled cattle before using artificial insemination to attain a high fertility rate.

We aimed to predict the Italian ryegrass (IRG) productivity change of introduced and domestic varieties based on climate factors and identify suitable areas for IRG cultivation using the RCP 8.5 scenario. The minimum mean air temperature in January showed the highest correlation with productivity. The ratio of possible and low productivity areas was high in Gangwondo, and the ratio of suitable and best suitable areas was relatively high in the central and southern regions in the past 30 years. The change in the IRG cultivation area was found to be 26.9% in the best suitable area between 1981–2010 but increased significantly to 88.9% between 2090s. In the IRG suitability comparison classes between domestic and introduced cultivars, the ratio of suitable and best suitable areas was relatively high in the domestic varieties during the past 30 years. However, there is almost no difference between the IRG domestic and introduced varieties in the IRG suitability classes after the 2050s. These results can predict changes in the IRG suitability classes between domestic and introduced cultivars according to the climate change scenario, but there are limitations in accurately predicting the productivity of IRG because the results may vary depending on other environmental factors.

Green tea polyphenol (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant with protective effects against neurotoxicity. However, it is currently unclear whether EGCG protects neuronal cells against radiation-induced damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells. The effects of UV irradiation included apoptotic cell death, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. UV irradiation also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial pathway-associated cytochrome c expression. However, pretreatment with EGCG before UV exposure markedly decreased UV-induced DNA fragmentation and ROS production. Furthermore, the UV irradiationinduced increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c upregulation, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation were each ameliorated by EGCG pretreatment. Additionally, EGCG suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 and rescued UV-downregulated phosphorylation of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG prevents UV irradiationinduced apoptosis in PC12 cells by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial pathways known to play a crucial role in apoptosis. In addition, EGCG inhibits UV-induced apoptosis via JNK inactivation and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Thus, EGCG represents a potential neuroprotective agent that could be applied to prevent neuronal cell death induced by UV irradiation.

L-ascorbic acid (L-AA; vitamin C) induces apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of L-AA-induced apoptosis in human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma Hep-2 cells. L-AA suppressed the viability of Hep-2 cells and induced apoptosis, as shown by the cleavage and condensation of nuclear chromatin and increased number of Annexin V-positive cells. L-AA decreased Bcl-2 protein expression but upregulated Bax protein levels. In addition, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3 were enhanced by L-AA treatment. Furthermore, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) were translocated into the nucleus during apoptosis of L-AA-treated Hep-2 cells. L-AA effectively inhibited the constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and attenuated the nuclear expression of the p65 subunit of NF-κB. Interestingly, L-AA treatment of Hep-2 cells markedly activated Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]) and and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) or SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) decreased the levels of Annexin V-positive cells. These results suggested that L-AA induces the apoptosis of Hep-2 cells via the nuclear translocation of AIF and EndoG by modulating the Bcl- 2 family and MAPK/Akt signaling pathways.

포인세티아(Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. Ex Klotzch) ‘Flame’ 은 국립원예특작과학원에서 2015년에 육성한 품종이다. ‘Flame’ 은 단일감응기간이 짧은 적색 포엽의 깊은 열편을 가진 ‘Eckalba’ 와 밝은 적색의 포엽을 가진 국내 육성 품종 ‘Candle Light’를 2013년에 교배하여 획득한 실생 계통을 선발 육성하였다. 2014 년부터 2015년까지 생육 및 개화 특성, 균일성에 대하여 1, 2차 특성검정을 실시하였으며, 2015년에 3차 특성검정을 실시하여 최종선발한 후 직무육성품종심의회에 상정하여 ‘Flame’으로 명명하였다. ‘Flame’ 품종의 포엽은 밝은 적색을 띠며 열편이 깊다. 초장과 초폭은 중간이나 적심하지 않아도 많은 분지가 발생하여 풍성한 수형을 이룬다. 단일처리후 약 7.5주가 경과하면 완전히 착색되어 출하가 가능하다. 이 품종은 2018년 1월 24일에 국립 종자원에 품종등록(등록번호 6921호)되었다.

본 연구는 기존에 절화용으로 개발되지 않았던 벼룩이울타리를 절화로써의 가치와 가능성을 증명함으로써 새로운 관상식물로 개발하기 위해 수행되었다. 실험은 온도, 보존용액, 절화 수명연장제에 따른 절화 벼룩이울타리의 영향을 구명하고자 절화수명, 수분흡수량, 생체중을 조사하였다. 수확 후 절화는 4, 15, 20, 25°C의 온도 조건에 따른 영향력과 1, 3% sucrose 와 8-hydroxqui-noline sulfate(8-HQS) 10, 50, 100mg･L-1 혼 용보존용액, 절화수명연장제 Chrysal와 Floarlife을 처리하였다. 저장 온도에 따른 실험 결과, 절화 벼룩이울타리는 저온 (4°C)에서의 저장에서의 절화수명이 대조구(7.8일)보다 29일 연장되었다. 온도가 낮을수록 절화의 품질과 수명에 가장 효과적이었다. sucrose와 8-HQS의 효과 확인을 위해 가장 낮은 농도의 당과 살균제를 혼용한 1% sucrose+8-HQS 10mg･L-1를 제외한 나머지 3개의 보존용액 대조구(6.5±0.5일)에 비하여 절화수명이 약 2주 연장되었다. 또한, 절화수명연장제 Chrysal 과 Floarlife는 sucrose와 8-HQS의 혼용보존용액과 절화수명에 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 한편, 모든 실험 조건에서 수분흡수량과 생체중의 급격한 감소는 절화수명의 단축됨과 연관이 있다는 것을 확인하였다.

본 연구는 몇가지 전처리제 및 보존용액 처리가 국내 육성 절화 프리지아 ‘Gold Rich’의 수확후 절화수명과 개화 품질에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 수행하였다. 10% sucrose, 200mg･L-1 Al2(SO4)3, 200mg･L-1 GA3, 150mg･L-1 citric acid가 혼용된 전처리 용액에서 절화 관상 기간 동안 수분 흡수량과 생체중은 유의적으로 증가한 것으로 조사되었지만 절화수명에는 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다. 보존용액으로 5% sucrose와 살균제인 300mg･L-1 8-HQ를 혼용 처리하였을 때 절화수명 연장(1일 이상), 높은 개화율(82.3~89.1%) 및 만개율(71.5~84.2%) 등의 개화 품질이 향상되었다. 이러한 결과들을 통해 10% sucrose, 200mg･L-1 Al2(SO4)3, 200mg･L-1 GA3, 150mg･L-1 citric acid를 혼합한 전처리제와 5% sucrose, 300mg･L-1 8-HQ를 혼합한 보존용액 처리는 절화수명 연장, 개화율 및 만개율 증가에 효과적일 것이라고 판단된다. 특히, sucrose가 포함된 보존용액은 절화 프리지아 ‘Gold Rich’ 의 상품성 향상에 있어 매우 유용할 것이다.

본 실험은 광 환경이 자생 Veronica속 4종 구와꼬리풀, 봉래꼬리풀, 부산꼬리풀, 큰구와꼬리풀의 생장 및 개화에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위해 실시하였다. 이중 봉래꼬리풀은 희귀 및 특산식물로 지정되어 있는 우리나라의 자생식물이며 부산꼬리풀은 우리나라에서도 부산지역에서만 자생하는 특산식물이자 자료부족종으로 분류된다. 실험은 2018년 3월 30일부 터 2018년 8월 17일까지 수행되었으며 Veronica속 4종을 0, 40, 60, 90% 차광환경에서 재배하였다. 구와꼬리풀을 0~60% 차광환경에서 재배시 90% 차광환경에서 재배한 개체보다 지상부의 생체중이 무겁고 엽수 및 가지수가 많아 생장이 유의하게 좋았다. 큰구와꼬리풀의 줄기 두께는 90% 차광환경에서 재배시 유의하게 얇아져 생장이 불량하였다. 구와꼬리풀과 큰구와꼬리풀은 0~60% 환경에서 재배시 모든 개체가 개화하였으며 90% 차광환경에서 재배한 개체보다 개화소요일수가 짧 아졌다. 봉래꼬리풀은 0~40% 차광환경에서 재배시 60~90% 차광환경에서 재배한 개체보다 지상부 및 건물증이 유의하게 증가하여 생육이 좋았으며, 관상가치 측면에서 가장 높은 점수를 받았다. 부산꼬리풀의 관상가치는 0, 40, 60, 90% 차광환경에서 재배시 각각 4.0, 3.0, 2.2, 1.0점으로 조사되어 동일한 Veronica속이라도 종에 따라서 광 민감도가 다양한 것을 확인하였다.