To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for dog cloning, serum progesterone (P4) level were employed for ovulate determination. Radioactive immunoassay (RIA) is a traditional serum hormone assay method with highly radioactivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of RIA and to compare its canine serum P4 concentration determination accuracy to that of the electric chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLI). To obtain in vivo matured oocytes for canine somatic cell nuclear transfer, serum P4 levels were accurately measured with both methods of RIA and ECLI. Although both methods detected similar P4 level before ovulation, the mean P4 concentration using ECLI was significantly higher than that using RIA from 3days before ovulation. Following ovulation, oocytes were collected by surgery, and a lower percentage of mature oocytes were observed using ECLI (39%) as compared to RIA (67%) if 4-8ng/ml of P4 were criteria for determination of ovulation. On other hand, high percentage of mature oocytes was observed using ECLI when 6–15 ng/mL of progesterone was criteria for ovulation determination. To determine whether in vivo oocytes obtained by ECLI method could be used for canine cloning, six canines were selected as oocyte donors and two puppies were produced after SCNT and embryo transfer. In conclusion, compared to the traditional RIA method, the ECLI method is a safe and reliable method for canine cloning.

In this study, we analyzed the concentration of cadmium and mercury in urine and lead in blood from 668 residents in the exposed and compared areas in Gwangyang-si and Yeosu-si, from July 2013 to December 2015. According to the lifestyle (past smoking, current smoking, passive smoking, drinking and exercise), the concentration of cadmium in urine was higher in the compared areas than in the exposed areas in Gwangyang. However, the concentration of cadmium in urine according to the lifestyle except drinking was higher in the exposed areas than in the compared areas in Yeosu. According to the past smoking and current smoking, the concentration of mercury in urine was higher in the compared areas than in the exposed areas in Gwangyang, but the passive smoking, drinking and exercise showed similar concentration levels both in the exposed and compared areas in Gwangyang. The concentration of mercury in urine according to the past smoking and current smoking was higher in the exposed areas than in the compared areas in Yeosu, but the concentration of mercury in urine according to the drinking and exercise was lower in the exposed areas than in the compared areas in Yeosu. According to the past smoking, the concentration of lead in blood showed similar concentration levels in the exposed and compared areas in Gwangyang, but regarding current and passive smoking, it was higher in the compared areas than in the exposed areas in Gwangyang. Especially, the concentration of lead in blood according to the drinking in Gwangyang showed statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The concentration of lead in blood according to the lifestyle was higher in the compared areas than in the exposed areas in Yeosu.

식물에서 흔히 존재하는 isoquercetin의 유전독성을 평가하기 위하여 최종평가항목인 DNA 절단 및 염색체 손상을 quercetin과 비교 평가하였다. 7주령의 수컷 ICR 마우스를 사용하였고 3일 동안 시험물질을 경구로 투여하였다. 부형제로 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose를 사용하였고 isoquercetin과 quercetin은 각각 250, 500 mg/kg/day로 투여하였으며, 양성대조물질로 ethyl methanesulfonate 200mg/kg/day를 사용하였다. 일차 투여 후 48시간에 그리고 마지막 투여 후 3시간 내에 부검하였고 조직을 적출하였다. DNA 손상은 Comet assay를 사용하여 위와 간세포에서 관찰하였고, 소핵시험은 골수세포에서 소핵 분석방법을 사용하여 평가하였다. 두 가지 유전독성 시험을 동일마우스를 사용하여 수행하였다. 그 결과, isoquercetin과 quercetin의 경구 투여는 500 mg/kg/day에서도 위와 간에서 DNA 손상을 초래하지 않았으며 골수세포에서 소핵을 유발하지 않았다. 따라서 본 연구에서 사용한 플라보노이드는 본 실험 조건하에서 유전독성을 유발하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.

Value of excellent breeding animals is important in livestock industry, but their economic life time is limited. And, many countries have been trying procuration of genetic resource in good animals. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine embryo production and to test efficiency of embryo transfer via non-surgical artificial insemination (AI) in different breed of superior sows. A total of 17 sows were used in this experiment (Duroc, n=10; Landrace, n=4; Yorkshire, n=3). The sows were artificially inseminated by semen of same breed boars. After 4 or 5 days following the AI, the embryos were obtained from the sows and then transferred to Landrace and Yorkshire recipients (n=3, respectively) by non-surgical method. The corpora lutea tended to be increased in Yorkshire and Landrace than Duroc(28 and 26 vs. 17, respectively). The recovery of embryo was 78.8% in Landrace, 65.4% in Duroc and 51.4% in Yorkshire. Duroc showed lower morulaes and early blastocyst embryos than 2, 4 ,8 and 16 cell. The morula in Yorkshire was higher (P<0.05) than that of Duroc (4.7 vs. 3.4). Similarly, the morulaes and early blastocyst embryos presented greater (P<0.05) in Landrace compared with other breed sows. The recipient sows were pregnant in a Landrace only. This reason may be due to little embryos inserted in the recipients. In addition, pregnancy results were limited because of the little sows. In conclusion, ovulated ovum in sows can be affected by different breed. Also, further study needed pregnant test by using the many embryo in each breed.

Agricultural by-productsis a rich source of dietary fibers including arabinoxylans, which is found mainly in water-insoluble form and reported to have immunomodulatory activities. We investiglatedwhether solublearabinoxylan (AX)-enriched byproducts alters macrophage activity.Agricultural by-products wereorally given to mice for 4 weeks. Peritoneal macrophages from mice were assayed for scavenger receptor expression, phagocytosis, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated responses. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Agricultural by-productstreated mice showed a higher expression of SRA and CD36, accompanied by enhanced phagocytosis of latex beads, relative to control mice. Upon stimulation with LPS ex vivo, macrophages from the byproducts group showed lower levels of CD86 and CD40 at the surface protein level and lower production of NO, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6, compared with the control group. Theagricultural by-products group showed a decrease in serum levels of LPS-induced TNF-αand IL-6, while mice given crude byproducts, which was prepared without enzymatic hydrolysis, showed a reduction only in serum TNF-α,indicating that soluble arabinoxylans contributes to the immunomodulatory effect ofagricultural by-products. Our data present evidence that soluble arabinoxylan-enriched agricultural by-products can be an immune enhancing functional food.

Value of excellent breeding animals is important in livestock industry, but their economic life time is limited. And, many countries have been trying procuration of genetic resource in good animals. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine embryo production and to test efficiency of embryo transfer via non-surgical artificial insemination (AI) in different breed of superior sows. A total of 17 sows were used in this experiment (Duroc, n=10; Landrace, n=4; Yorkshire, n=3). The sows were artificially inseminated by semen of same breed boars. After 4 or 5 days following the AI, the embryos were obtained from the sows and then transferred to Landrace and Yorkshire recipients (n=3, respectively) by non-surgical method. The corpora lutea tended to be increased in Yorkshire and Landrace than Duroc(28 and 26 vs. 17, respectively). The recovery of embryo was 78.8% in Landrace, 65.4% in Duroc and 51.4% in Yorkshire. Duroc showed lower morulaes and early blastocyst embryos than 2, 4 ,8 and 16 cell. The morula in Yorkshire was higher (P<0.05) than that of Duroc (4.7 vs. 3.4). Similarly, the morulaes and early blastocyst embryos presented greater (P<0.05) in Landrace compared with other breed sows. The recipient sows were pregnant in a Landrace only. This reason may be due to little embryos inserted in the recipients. In addition, pregnancy results were limited because of the little sows. In conclusion, ovulated ovum in sows can be affected by different breed. Also, further study needed pregnant test by using the many embryo in each breed.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells, which can be induced to differentiate into several cells. MSCs are also reported to possess immunomodulatory properties through secretion of inflammatory cytokines and generation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Treg cells play an important role in allergic disorders, including atopic dermatitis. We examined the immunomodulatory effects of canine adipose tissue derived-MSCs (cAD-MSCs) in 3 groups: Group 1, untreated normal dog; Group 2, dogs with Dermatophagoides farinae ointment-induced atopic dermatitis; and Group 3, dogs with atopic dermatitis. Canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from each group and co-cultured with cAD-MSCs. After co-culturing, PBMCs were separated and the expression of Treg cells was examined by flow cytometry. According to the results, the populations of Treg cells were increased in 3 ex vivo experimental groups, co-cultured with cAD-MSCs. These results would be important for the application of MSCs in clinical trials.

The objective of this study was to investigate the result of in vivo embryo collection and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer using sex-sorted sperm of Korean brindle cattle. Donor Korean brindle cattle superovulation treated by decreasing dose of FSH injection. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third artificial insemination. Control group semen straw used artificial insemination contained 20 million sperm. Sex-sorted semen straws contained 4 million sperm or 10 million sperm. As for the result of the recovery of the in vivo embryos derived from sex-sorted sperm, the number of transferable embryos was significantly highly recovered to be 6.20±2.28/donor from the control group and was significantly lowly recovered to be 1.57±1.72/donor from the group treated at a sperm concentration of 10×106 (p<0.05). The number of unfertilized embryo was 0.8±1.30/donor in control group which was significantly lower than the group treated at a sperm concentration of 4×106 (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of undeveloped ova between control and treatment groups. Pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was shown to be 35.00% in control group and 12.50% in treatment group. The karyotype analysis of the calf derived from sex-sorted sperm resulted in a similar chromosomal distribution pattern (2n=60, XX) compared to those of common Korean native cattle.

Allergic diseases have rapidly increased in recent years. Mast cells play a critical role in IgE-mediated allergy responses and, therefore, closely associated with rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. We studied antiallergic effect of Penthorum chinense extract (PCE) in vitro and in vivo. PCE inhibited the degranulation of mast cells by antigen stimulation and its effect was dose-dependent and reversible in mast cells. PCE also suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-4 by antigen in mast cells. Mechanistically, PCE inhibited the activation of Syk/LAT pathway which is a key signaling pathway for the activation of mast cells by antigen. Notably, PCE suppressed IgE-mediated allergic responses by antigen in mice. These results strongly suggest that PCE is a potential candidate for anti-allergic treatment.

본 연구는 현재 국립축산과학원 가축유전자원세터에서 보유 하고 있는 재래닭을 순수화된 품종인 것으로 판단하고, 일반 적으로 이용되고 있는 산란사료 및 사양관리 방법을 적용하여 특히, 동절기에 있어 재래닭의 정자의 보존 기간과 수정률 및 초기배자의 생존율을 각각 비교함으로써 재래닭의 생산성 향 상을 위한 기초자료를 제공하고, 나아가 표준능력을 고찰하고 자 수행하였다. 본 시험에 사용된 공시계는 39주령의 재래닭 6계통 적갈색(R, Red Brown Strain), 황갈색(Y, Yellow Brown Strain), 회갈색(G, Gray Brown Strain), 흑색(L, Black Strain), 백색(W, White Strain) 그리고 오계(O, Ogol Strain)를 대상 으로 하고 대조군으로는 3계통 즉, 외래도입종 중에서 대표적 인 다산종인 White Leghorn (F Strain), Rhode Island (C Strain) 그리고 육용종인 Cornish (H Strain)의 수정률 및 초기배자 생존율을 조사하였다. 단 한번의 인공수정 후, 3 주간 생산된 알의 수정률 확인을 한 결과, 재래닭의 경우, 6 계통간의 유의 적인 차이는 없지만 93.3 ~ 100.0비율로 인공 수정 후, 2일째 부터 수정률이 6일째 동안 최고 높음을 확인했다. 6일째까지 상대적으로 일정하게 높은 수정률을 유지하다가 7일부터 17일 째 까지 점진적으로 감소함을 확인했다. 17일 이후 생산된 알 의 경우 무정란임을 확인 할 수 있었다. 재래닭(R, Y, 그리고 O) 21일간 생산된 알의 배발생정지율의 결과, 인공수정 후, 약 4일째 생산된 알(3 ~ 6일)에서 외래도입종 3품종간의 유의적인 차이는 보이지 않았지만, 배발생정지율이 0%임을 확인하였다. 세 품종 모두 약 7일째 생산된 알부터 배발생정지율이 13.8 ~ 26.7%로 급격히 증가하고 12일부터 감소하는 것을 확 인했다. 재래닭 3 계통의 결과도 인공수정 후, 약 4 일째 생 산된 알에서 외래도입종 3 품종과 유사한 패턴을 나타내면서 배아 사망율이 6 일째까지 0%를 보였다. 금후, 체내 정자보존 기간이 수정률 및 초기배자 생존율에 미치는 영향을 좀더 엄 밀하게 조사하기 위해서는 정액 성상 및 활력 검사와 더불어 암탉의 주령에 따른 변화도 함께 보다 세부적이고 입체적인 방법의 체계적인 조사가 반드시 필요하다고 할 수 있겠다.

β-cyclodextrin has an ability to protect compounds from oxidative reaction by collecting them within its ring-like structure. So, In harsh condition (40oC), marker compound, quercetin, was dramatically reduced in Hovenia dulcis fruit extract containing dextrin at 4 and 8 week compared to 0 week, but not that containing β-cyclodextrin. To evaluate the effects of dextrin and β-cyclodextrin on protective effect of H.dulcis fruit extract against alcohol- induced liver damage, The mice were orally injected alcohol, H. dulcis fruit extract/dextrin (HD) and H. dulcis fruit extract/β-cyclodextrin (HCD), respectively, for 7 days. The mice orally administrated with alcohol significantly enhanced the serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum compared to the control group. HD and HCD significantly decreased the levels of serum ALT and AST and serum LDH activities compared to alcohol group. And also alcohol group significantly increased the level of total cholesterol compared to the control group, but HD and HCD significantly reduced it compared to the alcohol group. However, the levels of TG in blood were not significantly changed in all groups. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were significantly increased in HD and HCD group although those of aldehyde dehydrogenase showed an increasing tendency. This data suggested that HD and HCD were able to induce alcohol degradation in the liver tissues. All together, the results showed that HCD demonstrated their ability to protect liver from alcohol-induced damage on equal terms with HD.

아토피 피부염은 소양증, 가려움, 각질형성, 홍반 등을 동반하며 현대인의 삶의 질에 큰 영향을 미치고 있는 질환으로 전세계적으로 아토피 피부염 환자가 급격하게 증가하는 추세이다. 국내의 경우에도 아토피피부염으로 인한 진료 인원이 연간 100만명 이상 집계될 정도로 심각한 보건사회문제로 대두되고 있지만 아직까지 아토피 피부염에 대한 근본적인 치료법이 개발되지 못한 상황이다. 단순히 증세 완화를 위해 피부보습 유지와 염증억제 등의 방법을 일반적으로 사용하고 있지만 과도한 보습제 사용이나 증상 경감을 위한 스테로이드와 같은 약물처방은 더욱 증상 악화시키며 장기간 사용시 내성 증가 등의 악순환으로 이어질 수 있다. 최근 이러한 근본적인 치료를 위한 해결 방법으로 천연 물질로부터 아토피 피부염을 경감시킬 수 있는 소재의 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 본 연구는 다양한 생리활성과 함께 항염 효과가 우수한 것으로 알려진 식용 버섯인 Hypsizigus marmoreus(느티만가닥 버섯) 추출물의 항 아토피 활성과 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물이 개별인정형 피부보습 개선 소재인 식물복합추출물(AF-343)을 함께 사용시 아토피피부염 개선효과에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 실시하였다. 동결건조한 Hypsizigus marmoreus를 85% 에탄올로 추출하여 제조한 추출물과 AF-343을 사용하여 사료로 제작하여 실험에 사용하였다. 제모한 6주령의 Balb/c 마우스의 등과 귀부분에 5% picryl chloride(PCL)를 도포하여 아토피 피부염을 유발시킨 후, 5주 동안 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물과 AF-343으로 제조한 사료를 Balb/c 마우스에 급여하면서 변화를 관찰하였다. 실험군은 무처리 정상군, PCL만 도포한 대조군, 아토피 치료제 도포군(1% 히드로코르티손)과 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물 급여군 및 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물과 AF-343의 동량 혼합물 급여군으로 진행하였으며 5주간의 사료 급여 후 희생시켜 등조직의 RT-PCR을 실시하였다. Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물 단독 급여군과 AF-343을 혼합하여 급여한 군은 아토피 피부염이 유발된 Balb/c 마우스에서 PCL만 처리한 대조군에 비해 피부의 발진이 감소되는 효과를 관찰 할 수 있었다. 또한, 마우스 등조직의 RT-PCR 결과에서도 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물 단독 급여군과 AF-343의 동량 혼합 급여군이 PCL 처리 대조군에 비해 염증성 인자인 COX-2와 iNOS 의 mRNA 발현양이 낮은 것으로 나타나 Hypsizigus marmoreus 추출물의 항아토피 활성과 피부보습 소재인 AF-343과의 혼합 사용으로 아토피 피부염을 억제하는 것으로 확인되었다.

Sexed semen is commonly used for the production of calves of the desired gender. Gender selection is important in animal production industries. For example, female cattle are required for the dairy industry while males are preferred in the beef cattle industry. The present study was to assess the in vivo embryo production efficiency using the semen separated according to sex during superovulation in Hanwoo. Seventy Hanwoo donor cows were flushed on day 7 of estrus cycle with same FSH and artificial insemination by the same technicians. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third insemination by flushing the uterus with embryo collection medium. KPN semen straws used artificial insemination contained 20 million sperm (total number 60 million per donor). Sex-sorted semen straws contained 4 million sperm (total number 12 million per donor). The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates on KPN semen 87%, and sexed semen 100%, respectively. The mean numbers of total embryos are each 12.58±8.31 and 13.25±7.86. The mean numbers of transferable embryos, sexed semen were significantly lower than KPN semen (3.75±1.98 vs. 8.23±6.07, P＜0.05). The rates of unfertilized embryos from superovulation using sexed semen were significantly higher than KPN semen (50% vs. 15%, P＜0.05). The rate of degenerated 2-cell embryos from sexed and KPN semen was 60.87% and 11.11%, respectively (p＜0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that superovulation using sexed semen was useful, but efficient embryo production was important to reducing the damage caused by the Flowcytometer-based sperm sorting procedure.

In this experiment, a highly porous scaffold of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) was prepared using the spongereplica method. The BCP scaffold was coated with 58S bioactive glass (BG) and sintered for a second time. The resulting scaffold was coated with gelatin (Gel) and cross-linked with [3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide] and N-Hydroxysuccinamide (EDC-NHS). The initial average pore size of the scaffold ranged from 300 to 700μm, with more than 85 % porosity. The coating of BG and Gel had a significant effect on the scaffold-pore size, decreasing scaffold porosity while increasing mechanical strength. The material and surface properties were evaluated by means of several experiments involving scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay and confocal imaging of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells cultured in vitro. Three types of scaffold (BCP, BCP-BG and BCP-BG-Gel) were implanted in a rat skull for in vivo evaluation. After 8 weeks of implantation, bone regeneration occurred in all three types of sample. Interestingly, regeneration was found to be greater (geometrically and physiologically) for neat BCP scaffolds than for two other kinds of composite scaffolds. However, the other two types of scaffolds were still better than the control (i.e., defect without treatment).

Sargassum fusiforme has traditionally been widely consumed in Asia as a food, and it has gained much attention due to its high nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial value. This study aimed to examine the promotional effects of ethanol extract (ET) and fraction obtained from ethyl acetate (FR) of S. fusiforme on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. Five-week-old mice were used to compare hair regrowth during application of ET and FR for 21 days. Hair regrowth was evaluated by macroscopic observation and verified by hematoxylin-eosin tissue staining. Levels of mRNA expression of factors relevant to the hair growth cycle such as keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results showed that ET and FR successfully promoted hair regrowth in shaved C57BL/6 mice at a dose >20 mg/kg. Moreover, ET and FR were effective in stimulating expression of KGF and VEGF mRNAs in a dose-dependent manner, whereas TGF-β1 was not activated. These results indicate that ET and FR of S. fusiforme effectively promoted hair growth and gene expression relevant to hair growth cycles in both in vitro and in vivo models.