This study was conducted to investigate an effective recipient oocyte and culture system for producing of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Hanwoo ear skin fibroblasts were used as donor cells. In vitro matured Hanwoo or Holstein oocytes were enucleated, and single donor cells were transferred into the perivitelline space of the enucleated oocytes. The couplets were subsequently fused and activated. The reconstructed embryos were cultured in a conventional or sequential culture system. In the former, embryos were cultured in CR2aa medium for eight days; in the latter, embryos were cultured in modified CR2aa-A (mCR2-A) for three days and then further cultured in modified CR2aa-B (mCR2-B) for five days. In the experiment with the recipient oocyte, the rate of embryo development to the blastocyst stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Hanwoo recipient oocytes than in Holstein ones (48.8% vs 38.9%). BIastocysts derived from Hanwoo recipient oocytes contained significantly (p<0.05) higher numbers of total cells than those derived from Holstein recipient oocytes (156.0+-68.2 vs 134.7+-54.8)). There was no difference in the mean proportion of apoptotic cells in blastocysts between the sources of recipient oocytes. In the experiment with the embryo culture system, the blastocyst rate was somewhat higher in sequential system than in conventional system (50.0% vs 43.5%), though there was no significant difference. The numbers of total (160.0+-69.0 vs 156.7+-68.4) and apoptotic cells (14.0+-10.4 vs 11.8+-6.4)) were not different between the culture systems. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that Hanwoo recipient oocytes and the sequential culture system were more effective in supporting the production of Hanwoo SCNT embryos.

본 연구는 사료작물 작부체계에 따른 액상분뇨 시용수준이 호밀과 호밀-레드 클로버의 생산성 및 지력증진에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위한 것으로, 경기도 광주시 곤지암에서 2년간 수행 되었다. 작부체계(호밀단작, 호밀-레드 클로버 혼작)를 주구, 우분액비의 시용수준(0,150, 300 kg/N/ha)를 세 구로 하여 분할구 배치법 3반복으로 실험하였다. 파종량은 호밀-레드 클로버 혼작시 호밀 130 kg/ha, 레드 클로버 20 kg/ha을 매년 파종했으며,

This study was carried out to investigate inflammation-related gene expression altered in ovary and endometrium of Korean cattle with reproductive disorders using microarray. In the present study, nine inflammation-related differential1y expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the cystic ovary and endometrium with endometritis. In the follicular cyst, eotaxin and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) were up-regulated, whereas complement component 3 (C3) and oxidised low density lipoprotein (lectin-like) receptor 1 (OLR1) were down-regulated. Complement component 4A (C4A) was up-regulated in luteal cyst. In the endometritis, chemokine 1igand l and 2 (CXCL1 and CXCL2), protein C (inactivator of coagulation factors Va and VIIIa), and complement component C5 were up-regulated, whereas kininogen was down-regulated. Of these genes, we focused on eotaxin and kininogen, which were highly regulated in the follicular cyst and endometritis, respectively and on C3 commonly regulated in both reproductive disorders. The microarray data of eotaxin, kininogen, and C3 were validated by semi-quantitative PCR. Consistent with microarray data, eotaxin was up-regulated by 4-fold in the follicular cyst, while kininogen was down-regulated by 5-fold in the endometritis. C3 was down-regulated in the both follicular cyst and endometritis. Our results suggest that these inflammation-related genes could be useful markers for diagnosis of cystic ovary and endometritis of Korean cattle.

The objective of this study is to investigate the changes in concentrations of leptin and insulin in serum of Korean cattle (Hanwoo) with reproductive disorders and to examine the relationship among leptin, insulin, and body condition score (BCS). The concentration of leptin in serum of pregnant Hanwoo showed insignificant difference from that in serum of Hanwoo with reproductive disorder, such as repeat breeding, follicular cyst, corpus luteum cyst, ovarian atrophy, and feeble estrus (p>0.05). However, the concentrations of leptin and insulin in serum were changed with different BCS value. In emaciated Hanwoo (BCS ), they were significantly decreased compared to BCS (p<0.05). The leptin showed different genotypes with different BCS value. In BCS , C/T genotype was expressed (83.3%) more than C/C (16.7%) or T/T (0%) genotype, whereas C/C genotype was expressed (62.5%) more than C/T (25.0%) or T/T (12.5%) genotype in BCS . The insulin concentration in follicular fluid obtained from ovary with follicular cyst which has follicles having diameter of was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in normal follicle fluid which has follicles having diameter of . These results showed that concentration of leptin and insulin in serum were related to BCS value and follicular size and suggest that the changes in concentration of leptin and/or insulin in serum could be a potent biomarker for diagnosis of bovine reproductive disorder.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between behavioral signs and duration of estrous in Hanwoo and Holstein cattle for the prediction of optical insemination. Fifty two of 58 and 71 of 89 in Hanwoo and Holstein cows or heifers showed estrous exhibition within 72 h after 2 days following administration, respectively. The number of mounting and standing heat were 54.2 and 57.6, 59.4 and 53.5, 42.0 and 30.8 and 16.2 and 10.7 times in Hanwoo cows, Hanwoo heifers, Holstein cows and Holstein heifers, respectively. Duration of mounting were no significantly difference for Hanwoo cows (), Hanwoo heifers (), Holstein cows () and Holstein heifers (). Duration of standing heat were significantly (p<0.05) shorter for Holstein cows () than for Hanwoo cows (), Hanwoo heifers () and Holstein heifers (). Time until mounting after injection of were significantly (p<0.05) longer for Holstein cows () than for Hanwoo cows (), Hanwoo heifers () and Holstein heifers (). Time until standing heat after injection of were significantly (p<0.05) longer for Holstein cows () than for Hanwoo cows (), Hanwoo heifers () and Holstein heifers (). In the results of this study, duration of standing heat was the shortest in Holstein cows (). The estimation of estrous with Holstein cows has more difficulty because to significantly shorter duration of standing heat than for Hanwoo cows, Hanwoo heifers and Holstein heifers. The standing heat can be a good predictor for time of ovulation but it is concluded that mounting behavior could be the best predictor for time of ovulation.

This study examined pregnancy and fetal loss rates according to different estrus synchronization protocols and injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) after transfer of Korean Native Cattle embryos to Holstein recipients. In Experiment 1, recipients received no treatment (Control, n = 119); two injections of prostaglandin ( ) 11 days apart (PGF group, n = 120); GnRH (day 0)- (day 7)-GnRH (day 9) (Ovsynch group, n = 120); and CIDR (day 0)- and CIDR removal (day 7)-GnRH (day 9) (CIDR group, n = 110). In Experiment 2, the control group was received no treatment of GnRH. The treatment groups were received GnRH at embryo transfer (ET) (day 0), 7 days later, 14 days later, ET and 7 days later, 7 and 14 days later, or ET, 7 and 14 days later. Recipients were assigned to treatment randomly and received two in vitro produced blastocysts. Pregnancy was diagnosed at day 60 by palpation per rectum. Fetal loss to term was determined by palpation every 90 days thereafter. In Experiment 1, the pregnancy rate in the CIDR group (59.1%) were higher than in the Control group (42.0%) (p<0.01); fetal loss rates were similar for all groups (12.0 to 18.5%). In Experiment 2, the pregnancy rate in Day 0+7+14 group was higher (60.2%) than the control (40.2%) (p<0.01) and resulted in a lower fetal loss (p<0.05) than the control (4.6 vs. 11.4%). There were no significant difference between other treatment and the control (p>0.05). These results show that pregnancy rates of bovine embryos can be enhanced by CIDR insertion or GnRH treatment. Additionally, fetal loss may be reduced with GnRH treatment after ET.

This study compared the pregnancy rates of Korean native donor cattle after either a timed artificial insemination (TAI) or embryo transfer (TET) following the synchronization of ovulation using a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device together with estradiol benzoate (EB) and prostaglandin (). Fifty five cows and 8 heifers which had been previously used for embryo production were assigned to two treatments: (1) Thirty-two cattle received a CIDR device and 2 mg EB (Day 0), 25 mg injection at the time of CIDR removal on Day 7, and 1 mg EB injection on Day 8. All of the cattle received a TAI 30 h (Day 9) after the second EB injection (TAI group). (2) Thirty-one cattle received the same hormonal treatments as in the TAI group. The cattle with corpus luteum (CL) received a TET on Day 16 using frozen-thawed embryos (TET group). Ultrasonographic observations demonstrated that the proportion of cattle with synchronized ovulation on Day 10 and the concomitant formation of new CL on Day 13 did not differ between groups (p>0.05); the overall mean rates were 65.1 and 73.0%, respectively. The conception and pregnancy rates did not differ (p>0.05) between the TAI (12.5% and 12.5%) and TET groups (13.0% and 9.7%), respectively. We conclude that the pregnancy rate following TAI or TET in Korean native donor cattle was poor, which might be due in part to a poor synchrony of ovulation and concomitant CL formation.

The objective of this study is to investigate the changes in concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and sex steroid hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in Korean cattle (Hanwoo) with reproductive disorders and to examine the relationship between BUN and body condition score (BCS) in Hanwoo. The concentration of BUN was 16.2 mg/dl, 17.8 mg/dl, 15.1 mg/dl, 17.9 mg/dl, and 28.3mg/dl in pregnancy, repeat breeding, follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and ovarian atrophy, respectively. In Hanwoo with BCS , and , the concentration of BUN was 15.8 mg/dl, 17.0 mg/dl, and 17.6 mg/dl, respectively. Fluoroimmunoassay showed that serum estrogen and progesterone levels were decreased in reproductive disorders Hanwoo, such as ovarian atrophy, endometritis, and weak estrus. The testosterone level was significantly decreased in Hanwoo with reproductive disorders compared to that in pregnant Hanwoo ( vs 0.13 ng/ml, p<0.05). The progesterone and estrogen concentrations in follicular fluid obtained from ovary with follicular cyst were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in normal follicle fluid. These results show that there is no relationship between BUN and BCS in Hanwoo, and the concentration of sex steroid hormone in serum and follicular fluid are changed in reproductive disorders Hanwoo.

This study was performed to identify and analyze the specifically expressed plasma proteins during early pregnancy in both pregnant and non-pregnant Hanwoo. Blood samples were collected at 0 (the day of AI), 2, 3, 4, 7, and 11 weeks after AI from pregnant (n=3) and non-pregnant (n=4) Hanwoo, respectively. The hematological parameters were measured. After 2-dimensional electrophoresis using serum, normalized protein spots were selected for the significant expression variation deviated over two fold in its expression level between two groups. Among 17 spots selected, 15 were identified as albumin, IgG1 heavy chain constant region, haptoglobin, ferrochelatase, fibrinogen, hemopexin. 5 spots were expressed only in non-pregnant specific. The spot identification of 1105 and 6106 was decreased after 3 weeks from AI. However, 2/17 spots were still unidentified. Further studies are needed to analyze the function of the proteins associated with early pregnancy.

This study was conducted to examine the viability of Korean native striped cattle (Bos namadicus Falconer, Chikso) clone embryos after embryo transfer. Chikso somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos were produced by fusion of ear skin cells derived from a female Chikso with enucleated oocytes matured in vitro for 18-24 hr. After in vitro culture of SCNT embryos for 7 to 8 days, fresh or vitrified blastocysts derived from SCNT were transferred into a uterine horn of recipient cows. Fifteen of total 43 recipients were pregnant at Day 50 and 4 recipients were maintained to term. Three IVF-derived calves and 1 clone Chikso calf were born. Pregnancy rate was higher when fresh embryos were transferred to recipients compared to vitrified embryos, but development to term was not different between both groups. The clone Chikso calf died at 5 days after birth due to the fullness of amniotic fluid in rumen and the infection of umbilical cord. The result of the present study shows that clone Chikso calf can produced from the embryo transfer of SCNT embryos, however, solution of abortion problem is necessary to improve the cloning efficiency.

본 연구는 한우의 자궁내막염에서 발현 변화를 보이는 유전자를 마이크로어레이를 이용하여 조사하였다. 정상적인 자궁내막과 자궁내막염이 있는 자궁내막을 비교한 결과, 전체 확인된 4,560개의 유전자 중 2,026개의 유전자가 자궁내막염에서 증가하였고, 2,534개의 유전자가 감소하였다. 본 연구에서는 상위 조절되는 유전자 10개씩을 정리하였다. 자궁내막염에서 filamin A, pancreatic anionic trypsinogen, Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha, collagen type VI alpha 1, butyrate response factor 2, aggrecanses-2, annexin 14, aminopeptidease A, orphan transporter v7-3 및 epithelial stromal interaction 1의 발현율이 26배 이상 증가하였다. MHC class II antigen, integrin-binding sialoprotein, uterine milk protein precursor, down-regulated in colon cancer 1, glycoprotein 330, dickkopf-1, cfh protein, Ca2+-dependent secretion activator, UL16 binding protein 3 및 proenkephalin은 25.5배 이상 감소하였다. 본 연구에서 얻어진 유전자 정보는 한우의 자궁내막염 진단에 필요한 유용한 생물지표로 사용되어질 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

임신의 성립 및 유지에 중요한 역할을 하는 자궁내막세포에 통로의 존재를 확인하기 위하여 본 연구를 수행하였다. 통로는 일반적으로 중추신경계에 풍부하게 존재하면서 세포의 안정막 전압을 유지시킨다. 역전사 중합 효소 중합 반응과 면역 세포 화학 염색 방법을 이용하여 자궁내막세포에 존재하는 통로를 조사한 결과, TASK-1, TASK-3, TREK-1, TREK-2 및 TRAAK의 발현이 확인되었다. TASK-3와 TREK-1은 핵을 포함한 세포 전역에 발현