True hermaphrodites are animals of equivocal sex in which both male and female gonads develop simultaneously. The frequency of true hermaphroditism is higher in pigs than in other domestic animals. Two Korean pigs were diagnosed with true hermaphroditism showing ovotestes, epididymes, penes, and uteri. Histomorphologically, the testicular tissues consisted of Sertoli cells that were devoid of spermatogenic germ cells and showed proliferation of interstitial cells. However, the uteri were of normal architecture and had well-developed uterine endometrial glands. The samples were 38, XX female karyotype without the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene. The findings of this study could contribute to the understanding of true hermaphroditism in the Korean pig industry. * This work was supported by a grant (Code# PJ008148) from BioGreen21 Program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

We examined the effect of Bulnesia sarmienti (BS) water extract on hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet. ICR mice were fed a high-fat diet ad libitum for four weeks. Simultaneously, BS water extract was administered intragastrically at 0 mg/kg (control), 30 mg/kg, or 300 mg/kg once daily for four weeks. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups; normal control group (NC), high-fat diet+vehicle treatment group (HF), high-fat diet+BS of 30 mg/kg treatment group (HF+BS30), and high-fat diet+BS of 300 mg/kg treatment group (HF+BS300). The levels of serum biochemical parameters and histological appearances were evaluated. After four weeks, body weight gain and serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly higher in the HF group than in the normal control group. Together, serum High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level in the HF group was lower than that in the normal control group. However, treatment with BS resulted in significantly reduced body weight gain and levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-choleterol. In addition, serum HDL-cholesterol level in the BS treatment group was significantly elevated, compared to that of the HF group. Histopathological evaluation of the liver showed fat accumulation and swelling of hepatocytes in the high-fat diet group; these abnormalities were ameliorated by treatment with BS. These results suggest that treatment with BS water extract resulted in dose-dependent prevention and mitigation of high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

Obesity is often associated with an impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and also unites with reproductive defects and reduced fertility. The leptin-deficient ob/ob mouse is characterized by a morbid obesity and infertility. In the present study, we examined when ob/ob mouse lost their fertility activity according to aged dependent were investigated. The major organ systems in the body, the ovaries of females are the first to exhibit impaired function with advancing age. Here, ob/ob and ob lean various (4, 6, 9, 12 and 24 wks) aged mice were used. Histology (H & E staining) of ovary, vaginal smear and Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis were carried out. Hematoxylin/eosinstained sections show normal histology in ob lean type mice characterized by the presence of multiple primary and secondary follicles and well developed corpora lutea (CL). Ovaries from ob/ob mice, showed 4 and 6 wks mice similar to ob lean type but according to aged dependent ob/ob mice few primary and secondary follicles was seen. Many large empty follicles were present and no proper developed CL, especially 24 wks mice. Vaginal smear showed abnormal estrous cycle in ob/ob mice. Ovaries of ob/ob mice, mRNA results showed that ovulated gene TIMP1, Pgsh2 and Lhcgr expression levels are decreased according to aged dependent compared to ob lean type mice. These data suggest that aged dependent specifically when 24 wks of ob/ob mice lost their reproductive function.

Research Institute (HARI), NTCS, RDA, in 2004. This cultivar has a short grain shape and about 123 days growth duration from trans-planting to harvesting under the reclaimed saline area of the south-western and the mid-western coastal plain and Honam plai