ZAR1은 척추동물의 초기 배아 발달에 영향을 미치는 유전자로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 두록 수퇘지 112두에서 ZAR1 유전자의 SNP을 발굴하고 ZAR1 유전자의 인트론 Single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)과 정액의 운동학적 특성들과의 연관성을 규명하였다. 돼지의 정액 운동학적 특성을 분석하기 위해서 운동성(motility, MOT), 직선운동 속도(straight-line velocity, VSL), 곡선운동 속도(curvilinear velocity, VCL), 평균운동 속도(average path velocity, VAP), 직진성(linearity, LIN), 선형성(straightness, STR), 측두 이동거리(amplitude of lateral head displacement, ALH) 및 머리 진동수(beat cross frequency, BCF)를 측정 하였다. SNP을 탐색하기 위해서 돼지의 혈액에서 genomic DNA를 추출하여 PCR(polymerase chain reaction)을 통해 시퀀싱 분석을 하여 유전자형을 분석하였다. 그 결과 ZAR1의 non-coding 영역인 인트론에서 SNP 3개를 확인 했으며 각 각 인트론 2 영역에서 g.2435T>C, 인트론3 영역에서 g.2605G>A, g.4633A>C 변이를 보였다. g.2435T>C, g.2605G>A는 각 각 MOT(p<0.01)와 VSL(p< 0.05)에서 높은 연관성을 나타냈고 g.4633A>C는 MOT, VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH에서 높은 연관성을 나타냈다(p<0.01). 본 연구 에서는 ZAR1 유전자의 SNP이 돼지 정액의 운동학적 특성들에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 ZAR1이 우수한 수퇘지들에서 번식능력이 높은 개체를 선발할 수 있는 후보유전자로 제시하며 다양한 돼지의 품종과 더 많은 두수를 확보하여 검증연구를 통해 우수한 능력의 수퇘지에서 활력이 좋은 개체를 선발하는 분자마커 연구의 기초자료로 사용이 가능하다.

The purpose of this study is to improve production efficiency of vitrified-thawed transgenic bovine embryos. Transgenic bovine embryos were produced by injection of FIV-GFP lentiviral vector into perivitelline space of in vitro matured MІІ stage oocytes, and then in vitro fertilization. EGFP-expressing transgenic bovine blastocysts were cultured in serum-containing and serum–free medium. These blsatocysts were vitrified by pull and cut (PNC) container made with 0.25 cm plastic straw. Results indicate that total developmental rates of normal IVF embryo cultured in serumcontaining and–free medium into blastocyst were not significantly different (22.3 vs 21.5%) and those of GFPexpressing transgenic bovine embryo into blastocyst showed no significant difference between serum-containing (13.9%) and–free medium (13.1%). However, developmental rate of GFP transgenic embryo was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal IVF embryos. In additional study, we vitrified GFP transgenic normal bovine blastocysts using PNC vitrification method. Survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst (23.1%) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal blastocysts (68.9%). Although, survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst was lower than its of normal blastocyst, our result may suggested that PNC vitrification method is feasible to cryopreserve transgenic embryos. Our next plan will be the production of GFP express transgenic bovine derived from vitrified-thawed embryos using PNC method.

Recently, the transgenic animal production technique is very important for the production of bio-parmaceutical as animal bio-reactor system. However, the absence of survival evaluation in vitro produced transgenic embryos has been a problem of the low productivity of transgenic animal because of absent of pre-estimate of pregnancy after transgenic embryos transferred into recipient. Therefore, this study is conducted to improve efficiency of transgenic cattle production by improving the non-surgical embryo transfer (ET) method. Transgenic bovine embryos were produced by injection of feline immunodeficiency virus enhanced green fluorescent protein (FIV-EGFP) lentiviral vector into perivitelline space of in vitro matured MІІ stage oocytes, and then in vitro fertilization (IVF) was occured. Normal IVF and EGFP expressing blastocysts were transferred into recipients. Results indicated that 2 expanded blastocysts (34.7%) transferred group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate than 1 expanded blastocyst (26.8%) transferred group. In case of parity of recipient, ET to heifer (34.9%) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate than ET to multiparous recipient (21.2%). However, there are no significant differences of pregnancy rate between natural induced estrus and artificial induced estrus groups. Significantly (P<0.05) higher pregnancy rate was obtained from recipient group which have normal corpus luteum with crown group (34.8%) than normal corpus luteum without crown (13.6%). Additionally, treatment of 100 μg Gn-RH injection to recipient group (38.6%) 1 day before ET significantly (P<0.05) increase pregnancy rate than non- Gn-RH injection to recipient group (38.6%). We also transferred 2 EGFP expressing expanded blastocysts to each 19 recipients, 7 recipients were pregnant and finally 5 EGFP transgenic cattle were produced under described ET condition. Therefore, our result suggested that transfer of 2 good-quality expanded blastocysts to 100 μg of Gn-RH injected recipient which have normal corpus luteum with crown is feasible to produce transgenic cattle.

Animal biotechnology is the use of science and engineering to modify living organisms. Examples of animal biotechnology include creating transgenic animals (animals with one or more genes introduced by human intervention), using gene knock out technology to make animals with a specific inactivated gene and producing nearly identical animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (or cloning). Animal biotechnology in use today is based on the science of genetic engineering. Under the umbrella of genetic engineering exist other technologies, such as transgenics and cloning, that also are used in animal biotechnology. Th main purpose of production of transgenic animals are to produce pharmaceutical proteins for human use. Scientists use reproductive cloning techniques to produce multiple copies of mammals that are nearly identical copies of other animals, including transgenic animals, genetically superior animals and animals that produce high quantities of milk or have some other desirable trait. To date, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, mules, cats, rats and mice have been cloned, beginning with the first cloned animal, a sheep named Dolly, in 1996. In addition to the use of transgenics and cloning, scientists can use gene knock out technology to inactivate, or “knock out,” a specific gene. It is this technology that creates a possible source of replacement organs called xenotransplantastion. In this talk I deal with current and future of animal biotechnolgy. In addition I would like to introduce Center for the Animal Bioreactors and Xenotranplantaion supported by Rural Development Administration, Korea.

A study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of recipient for Embryo Transfer (ET) in Holstein Heifers. A total of 193 heifers (Age 14-20 months and body weight, 250-400 Kg) was assigned in 2 groups (natural ovulation cycle group and Hormone-induced ovulation synchronization group) based on the development of corpus luteum (CL) and uterus where 28.49% (55/193) heifers were in normal estrous. The ET technique was applied in both of the groups to transfer the embryo in the recipients and evaluated their efficiency. In vivo frozen embryos were used for ET at the blastocyst stage. Results showed that according to recipient preparation method the conception rates were 22.72% (10/44) and 40.26% (60/149) in hormone-induced ovulation synchronization group and natural ovulation cycle group, respectively. The pregnancy rate of heifers was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the first time ET compared to repeat ET; however, recipient showed no significant difference in CL development in both side. The conception rate were 31.03% (9/29), 37.75% (57/151) and 15.38% (2/13) at day 6, 7 and 8, respectively after the CL development of the heifers. The conception rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the right side compared to left side of the CL development. In addition, during ET anesthesia group and non anesthesia group conception rate of the recipient were 27.63% (21/76) and 41.88% (49/117), respectively.

The objective of this study was to determine physiological and mechanical factors effecting on the pregnancy rates following artificial insemination in dairy cattle. Estrus for artificial insemination of cows was checked whether the outflow of mucus from the elements was out flow or not. There were no significant difference of gestation rates with mucus release (31.76%) and without mucus release (24.03%). The pregnancy rates were 39.02% in 10~20mm of follicle size group and 27.08% (p<0.05) in 20~30mm diameter of the follicles. There were not different pregnancy rates between twice inseminated dairy cattle and more than 3 times inseminated cattle. The pregnancy rate was 28.57% under automatic milking system. In contrast, under artificial milking system pregnancy rate was 56.85%. Two systems significantly (p<0.05) were different. These results suggest that pregnancy rates were not effected by physiological system, but mechanical condition.