Pigs have been extensively used as mediators of xenotransplantation research. Specifically, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) miniature pig was developed to fix major histocompatibility antigens for use in xenotransplantation studies. We generated transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation using MGH pigs. However, it has not been studied yet whether these pigs show similarity of reproductive physiological characteristics to wild types of MGH miniature pig. In this study we analyzed the estrous cycles and pregnancy characteristics of wild type (WT) and transgenic MGH miniature pigs, which were α1,3-galactosyltransferase (GalT) heterozygous and homozygous knock-out, and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) inserted in its locus, GalT-MCP/+ and GalT-MCP/-MCP pigs. Estrous cycles of WT, GalT-MCP/+ and GalT-MCP/-MCP pigs were 20.9±0.74, 20.1±1.26, and 17.3±0.87 days, respectively, and periods of estrous were 3.2±0.10, 3.1±0.12, and 3.1±0.11 days. The periods of gestation of WT, GalT-MCP/+ and GalT-MCP/-MCP pigs were 114.2±0.37, 113.3±0.67, and 115.4±0.51 days, respectively. Litter sizes of WT, GalT-MCP/+ and GalT-MCP/-MCP pigs were 4.8±0.35, 4.8±1.11 and 3.0±0.32 respectively. There were no significant differences on estrous cycle, periods of estrous and gestation, and litter size among WT, GalT-MCP/+ and GalT-MCP/-MCP pigs, meaning that GalT knock-out and additional expression MCP of the MGH miniature pig did not effect on reproduction traits. These results provide relevant information to establish breeding system for MGH transgenic pig, and for propagation of GalT-MCP/-MCP pig to supply for xenotransplantation research.

Transplantation is considered to be a very useful approach to improve human welfare and to prolong life-span. Heterologous organ transplantation using pig organs which are similar to human beings and easy to make mass-production has known as one of the alternatives. To ensure potential usage of the pig organ for transplantation application, it is essentially required to generate transgenic pig modifying immuno-related genes. Previously, we reported production of heterozygous α 1,3-galactosyltransferase (GalT) knock-out and human membrane cofactor protein (MCP) expressing pig (GalT-MCP/+), which is enforced for suppression of hyperacute and acute immunological rejection. In this study, we reported generation of homozygous pig (GalT-MCP/-MCP) by crossbreeding GalT-MCP/+ pigs. Two female founders gave birth to six of GalT-MCP/-MCP, and seven GalT-MCP/+ pigs. We performed quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and flow cytometry analyses to confirm GalT and MCP expression. We showed that fibroblasts of the GalT-MCP/-MCP pig do not express GalT and its product Gal antigen, while efficiently express MCP. We also showed no expression of GalT, otherwise expression of MCP at heart, kidney, liver and pancreas of transgenic pig. Taken together, we suggest that the GalT-MCP/-MCP pig is a useful candidate to apply xenotransplantation study.

This study analyzed the physicochemical characteristics of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) fermented with seven different mushroom mycelia. Physicochemical characteristics, such as contents of moisture, pH, total reducing sugars, free sugar, and isoflavonoid, were investigated. The moisture content was increased in most of the samples. The pH values of AM fermented with Phellinus linteus and Flammulina velutipes were increased, while the pH of other samples were similar to that of non-fermented AM. The reducing sugar content was in the range of 211.69~391.74 mg/100 g. The extraction yield using water was higher than that when extracted with 80% ethanol. The free sugar content was increased through fermentation with mushroom mycelia. However, the glucose contents of the 80% ethanol and water extracts were decreased. Finally, the calycosin and formononetin contents in 80% ethanol and water extracts of AM fermented with Phellinus linteus were 2,549.24 mg/g, and 827.66 mg/g for calycosin, and 1,366.69 mg/g and 221.28 mg/g for formononetin, respectively. These results suggest that fermentation with mushroom mycelia could be used to increase the bioactivity of AM. The mycelium-fermented AM might be a valuable source of functional material and edible resource for industry.

본 연구에서는 기호성을 향상시킬 수 있는 고부가가치 간장을 개발하고자 황기 첨가량에 따른 간장의 이화학적 특성 및 관능평가를 실시하였다. 식염변화에서는 황기 10% 첨가 간장에서 약간 감소하는 경향을 보였다. pH 변화는 실험군 모두 숙성기간에 따른 변화는 뚜렷하지 않았으며, 가용성 고형분 함량은 황기 10% 첨가 간장를 제외하고 모두 2개월까지 급격히 증가되었으며 그 이후 일정한 양상 을 보였다. 그 반면 황기 10% 첨가 간장는 숙성 초기에 증가되었지만 무첨가 및 황기 5% 첨가 간장 보다 낮은 경향을 보였다. 갈색도 변화는 숙성이 진행될수록 증가되 는 경향을 보였으며 조단백질 함량은 무첨가 및 황기 5% 첨가 간장은 숙성 기간이 지남에 따라 증가되는 경향을 보였지만 황기 10% 첨가구는 숙성 기간에 따른 차이를 보지 않았다. 유리 아미노산 측정결과 황기 5% 첨가 간장의 6개월 때가 가장 높은 함량을 나타내었다. 관능평가에서는 황기 5% 첨가 간장의 숙성기간이 증가됨에 따라 기호도가 점차 향상되었으며 이러한 결과를 미루어 보아 황기 5% 첨가 간장이 황기 무첨가 간장에 비해 염도가 낮고 아미노 태질소가 높으며 기호도는 6개월 때가 가장 우수하였으며, 풍미가 좋은 간장으로의 활용 가능성이 있음을 제시하였 다.