In this study, we investigated the characteristics of CCK-producing cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells with respect to stomach fish and stomachless fish of the Gobiidae in order to provide a basis for understanding the digestive physiology. Hairychin goby (Sagamia geneionema), which is stomachless fish, the numbers of mucus-secreting goblet cells is highest in the posterior intestine portion (P<0.05), while CCK-producing cells are scattered throughout the intestine. Gluttonous goby (Chasmichthys gulosus), which is stomach fish, mucus-secreting goblet cells are most abundant in the mid intestine portion (P<0.05), whereas CCK-producing cells are observed only in the anterior and mid intestine portion. Trident goby (Tridentiger obscurus) which is stomach fish, mucus-secreting goblet cells were most abundant in the mid intestine portion (P<0.05). CCK-producing cells are found in the anterior and mid intestine portion. Giurine goby, Rhinogobius giurinus which is also stomach fish, the largest number of mucus-secreting goblet cells showed in anterior intestine portion except for esophagus (P<0.05). CCK-producing cells are present only in the anterior and mid intestine portion. In S. geneionema, digestive action occurs in the posterior intestine portion to protect and functions to activate digestion. In contrast, in C. gulosus, T. obscurus and R. giurinus, their digestive action occurs in the anterior and mid intestine portion to protect and functions to activate digestion. Further studies of the modes of food ingestion by these fish, the contents of their digestive tracts, and the staining characteristics of the goblet cells need to be carried out.

A protocol for the production of transgenic Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer was established via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of direct somatic embryos. A number of conditions related to the co-cultivation were tested with respect to maximizing transformation efficiency. The results showed that pH of the co-cultivation medium (5.7), the bacterial growth phase (optical density; OD600 = 0.8), co-cultivation period (3 days), and acetosyringone concentration (100 μM) had positive effects on transformation. Selected plantlets were cultured on the medium at an elevated hygromycin level(30 mg/l). Integration of the transgenes into the P. ginseng nuclear genome was confirmed by PCR analysis using hpt primers and by Southern hybridization using hpt-specific probe. The transgenic plantlets were obtained after 3-month cultivation and did not show any detectable variation in morphology or growth characteristics compared to wild-type plants.

The cost of conventional cultivation of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is very expensive, because shadow condition should be maintained during cultivation periods owing to inherently weak plant for high-temperature. Therefore, application of plant biotechnology may be possible to overcome these difficulties caused by conventional breeding of ginseng. Transgenic plants were produced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens Gv3101, both carrying the binary plasmid pBI121 mLPISO with nptII and Iso (isoprene synthase) gene. Integration of the transgenes into the P. ginseng nuclear genome was confirmed by PCR analysis using nptII primers and Iso primers. RT-PCR result also demonstrated the foreign isoprene synthase gene in three transgenic plant lines (T1, T3, and T5) which was expressed at the transcriptional level. When whole plants of transgenic ginseng were exposed to high temperature at 46℃ for 1 h, a non-transformed plant was wilted from heat shock, whereas a transgenic plant appeared to remain healthy. We suggest that the introduction of exogenous isoprene synthase is considered as alternative methods far generating thermotolerance ginseng.