The Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedaries) is an important species because of its ability to produce good quality meat, milk, and fibers under harsh environmental conditions. Camels are also crucial for transportation, racing, and as draft animals in agriculture. Therefore, dromedary camels play a critical role in the economy for millions of people living in the arid part of the world. The inherent capability of camels to produce meat and milk is highly correlated with their reproductive performance. Compared with other domestic species, the reproductive efficiency in camelids is low. Although recent reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been successfully applied to camelids and the birth of live offspring following these technologies has been reported; in vitro embryo production (IVP) has lagged in this species. The development of the IVP system for dromedary camels may be a useful tool for the genetic improvement of this species. IVP in farm animals includes three main steps; in vitro maturation (IVM) of an oocyte, IVF of a matured oocyte, and in vitro culture (IVC) of fertilized oocyte up to the blastocyst stage. This review aims to summarize various factors that influence oocyte quality, IVM, and in vitro embryo development in dromedary camel.

This study evaluated effects of the addition of garlic powder allicin (GPA) mixture on rumen fermentation with methane in Hanwoo steer. On in vitro trial, two experimental groups were used: control (without GPA) and treatment group (addition of 0.1% GPA mixed with the basal concentrate). Similar to in vitro trial, two experimental groups were used in vivo trial. Five Hanwoo steers (3 steers in one group and 2 in another group; average body weight = 500 ± 43 kg) were assigned by crossover design for 20 d consists of 15 d diet adaptation and 5 d data collection in each experimental period. Daily feed intake and enteric methane production were recorded by an automated head chamber system. The results of in vitro study showed that the GPA treatment group had higher acetic acid (24.30 vs 23.45 mmol/L) and butyric acid (16.55 vs 15.47 mmol/L) concentrations, but lower CH4 production (1.40 vs 2.71 mmol/ml) after 24 h of incubation compared to the control (p<0.05). Total gas, propionic acid, total volatile fatty acid (VFA), and acetic acid: propionic acid ratio were not affected by treatment after 24 h incubation. In the in vivo experiment, rumen pH and VFA were not significantly different between treatments (p>0.05), except acetic acid, which was significantly higher in GPA mixture group (60.97 vs 53.94 mM) than in the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were recorded in CH4 production (g/d) and CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) between the two groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 0.1% GPA mixture reduced CH4 proudcition on in vitro trial, but no effect on in vivo trial.

In in vitro fermentation studies, feed samples can either be included in the in vitro rumen medium using filter bags or can be directly dispersed. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different pore sizes of filter bags on the rumen fermentation characteristics in an in vitro system. Corn, soybean meal, and timothy were ground to pass through a 1.0-mm screen and were formulated in the ratio of 70:7:23 based on DM, respectively. The formulated experimental diet (2g/DM) was put in F57 filter bags and R510 nylon bags (Ankom®) which pore sizes were 25 and 50 μm, respectively. An in vitro study was conducted to determine the rumen fermentation characteristics for 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h and rumen microbial community at 48 h of incubation. A significantly higher production of gas was observed in the R510 bags than in F57 at all the incubation times (p<0.01). IVDMD (p<0.01) and IVNDFD (p<0.01) were significantly higher, whereas pH (p<0.01) and NH3-N (p<0.01) were lower when R510 bags were used. In the VFA composition, acetate and butyrate were significantly higher (p<0.01) in R510 bags, and propionate and total VFA concentration did not differ (p=0.55 and 0.25, respectively) between F57 and R510 bags. The log copy numbers of bacteria and protozoa did not differ (p=0.69 and 0.94, respectively) between F57 and R510 bags, whereas those of fungi were significantly higher in R510 than in F57 bags (p<0.01). Therefore, the use of R510 may reflect actual rumen fermentation characteristics more precisely than those of F57 because increased gas production, nutrient digestibility and acetate, butyrate proportion were founded in R510.

In this study, thirty-eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from Kimchi (Korean traditional fermented food) and screened for probiotic characterization in a series of in vitro tests, including resistance to low pH, tolerance to bile salts, hydrophobicity, antibiotic resistance and antioxidant activity. Firstly, twenty-two strains displayed survival in acid and bile passage conditions. Secondly, the strains KCCP 11349 and KCCP 11356 were observed to have high cell surface hydrophobicity with 63.9 and 98.8 %, respectively. Functionality of these potential probiotic isolates was supported by their antioxidant activity. Altogether, the strain KCCP 11349 showed characteristics similar to or even better than reference strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Finally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to identify potential probiotic strains and KCCP 11349 was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum.

Tartary buckwheat has established itself as a functional food source because of its basic nutrition and phenolic compound contents, such as dietary fiber (DF) and rutin (RU). However, little information has been obtained concerning the comparative effects of DF and RU on the in vitro and in vivo glucose responses of tartary buckwheat flour. Moreover, the relationship between the flour’s in vitro starch digestibility and its components’ blood glucose response is not well-known. This study found that DF and RU reduced rapidly digestible starch (RDS) by 37.32→33.88% and 41.71→30.28%, whereas they increased resistant starch (RS) by 30.47→31.46% and 28.41→36.78%, respectively. Furthermore, RU had a lower glycemic index (GI) compared to DF. The regression equation for the in vitro and in vivo data from RU exhibited positive correlation (R 2 = 0.99); however, DF did not display positive correlation, which indicates that the in vitro and in vivo GI mechanisms by DF and RU are different.

In the early development of parthenogenetic embryo, cytoplasm and nucleic acid fragmentation may be a cause of lower embryo development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether embryonic development and apoptosis factors can be reduced by controlling the in-vitro culture environment by the addition of hormones, pregnancy serum and uterine milk. Our study showed that the activity of Casp-3 increased within the cytoplasm when artificially used hormones to induce the incubation environment, and PCNA's manifestation was low. However, the addition of pregnant serum appeared to lower the Casp-3 activity compared to the other groups. In addition, MMP-9 activity was increased and early embryo development and cytoplasmic fidelity were also increased. Therefore, the results of the present study showed that the use of gestational serum in the development of parthenogenetic embryo inhibit apoptosis and increases cytoplasmic reorganization by natural environmental control in in vitro culture.

The establishment of porcine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) blastocysts is influenced by in vitro culture day of porcine reconstructed embryo and feeder cell type. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the optimal in vitro culture period for reconstructed porcine SCNT embryos and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cell type for enhancing colony formation efficiency from the inner cell mass (ICM) of porcine SCNT blastocysts and their outgrowth. As the results, porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days showed significantly increased efficiency in the formation of colonies, compared to those for 7 days. Moreover, MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice showed numerically the highest efficiency of colony formation in blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of porcine SCNT embryos for 8 days and porcine ESCs with typical ESC morphology were maintained more successfully over Passage 2 on outbred ICR mice-derived MEF feeder cells than on MEF feeder cells derived from inbred C57BL/6 and hybrid B6CBAF1 mice. Overall, the harmonization of porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days and MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice will greatly contribute to the successful establishment of ESCs derived from porcine SCNT blastocysts.

고구마 바이러스 무병묘의 기내급속증식을 위한 적정 생장 조절물질 및 sucrose 농도, 최소생장 기내보존(15°C)에 미치는 광의 영향과 생존율 및 기내생장 특성 등을 조사하였다. 고구마 무병묘의 마디배양은 0.2mg·L-1 BA 첨가배지에서 줄기신장, 줄기직경, 잎수, 뿌리수, 생체중 및 건물중 등이 가장 양호하였다. 배양부위 및 배지물리성에 따른 적정 sucrose 농도는 마디배양은 5% sucrose를 첨가한 고체배지에서, 정단배양은 3% sucrose를 첨가한 액체배지에서 줄기두께, 잎수, 뿌리수, 뿌리길이, 생체중 및 건물중 등의 생육에 가장 효과적이었다. 15°C 저온항온기에서 고구마 무병묘의 최소생장 기내보존은 암상태에서는 3개월 내에 모두 고사하였으나, 적색:청색(7:3) 혼합 LED (150±5μmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD)에서는 5개월까지 100% 생존하였다. 따라서 고구마 무병묘의 최소생장 기내보존에는 광이 필요하며, 샬레에 밀식(10 개체/샬레)할 경우, 좁은 공간에서 대량보존이 가능하였다.

Lilium dauricum is a rare and endangered species belonging to the family Liliaceae. The species contains several bioactive compounds used as functional foods and medicinal agents in Northeast Asia. This study aimed (1) to establish an in vitro bulblet culture using an air-lift bioreactor and callus culture for the conservation of L. dauricum and obtaining its bioactive compounds; (2) investigate the plant phenolic compounds from both cultures system. The highest bulblet production with 12.5-fold increase in growth rate was obtained using MS medium supplemented with 0.5 g L-1 BA and 3% sucrose. Addition of 7% sucrose facilitated bulblet enlargement, with approximate 2.5- and 7-fold increases in diameter and fresh weight, respectively. The highest rate of callus (100%) was obtained using a combination of 1.0 mg L-1 picloram and 0.5 mg L-1 Kinetin. The callus proliferation occurred on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 picloram, 0.25 mg L-1 kinetin, and 0.25 g L-1 casein hydrolysate. There was a significant difference in the total phenolic compound content of callus, which was 1.5-fold higher than that in the bulblets. These findings indicate a suitable system for optimizing both bulblet and callus culture of L. dauricum, therefore, providing useful bio-materials for industrial purposes and contributing to the conservation of this species.

차나무의 기내배양 과정 중 증식배양 단계에서 LED 광질 조건에 따른 기내배양묘의 생육 특성과 광합성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 광질은 적색광(R), 청색광(B), 혼합광(R+B+W)을 사용하여 처리하였고, 형광등(F)을 대조구로 하였다. 초장 생육은 적색광에서 가장 좋았으며, 특히 뿌리 생육에 있어서 혼합광은 길이와 표면적 증대에 효과적인 것으로 나타났다. 또한 T/R율, 엽록소 함량은 혼합광 처리에서 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 엽록소 형광반응 이미지 촬영 결과 모든 처리구에서 광질에 따른 Fv/Fm의 값은 현저한 차이가 없었다. 그러나 배양묘의 NPQ는 청색광 처리에서 가장 많이 증가하여, 다른 광질과 유의적인 차이를 보였으며, 광합성 효율을 억제시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 차나무 기내 배양은 배양목적에 따라 광질을 선택하는 것은 매우 중요하며, 차나무 기내배양 시 건실한 식물 생산을 위해서는 혼합광 처리가 유리할 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구결과는 차나무 대량증식 및 우량묘 생산 등에 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Sestrin-2 (SESN2) as a stress-metabolic protein is known for its anti-oxidative effects as a downstream factor of PERK pathways in mammalian cells. However, the expression patterns of SESN2 in conjunction with the UPR signaling against to ER stress on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro, have not been reported. Therefore, we confirmed the expression pattern of SESN2 protein, for which to examine the relationship between PERK signaling and SESN2 in porcine oocyte during IVM. We investigated the SESN2 expression patterns using Western blot analysis in denuded oocytes (DOs), cumulus cells (CCs), and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) at 22 and 44 h of IVM. As expected, the SESN2 protein level significantly increased (p < 0.01) in porcine COCs during 44 h of IVM. We investigated the meiotic maturation after applying ER stress inhibitor in various concentration (50, 100 and 200 μM) of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). We confirmed significant increase (p < 0.05) of meiotic maturation rate in TUDCA 200 μM treated COCs for 44 h of IVM. Finally, we confirmed the protein level of SESN2 and meiotic maturation via regulating ER-stress by only tunicamycin (Tm), only TUDCA, and Tm + TUDCA treatment in porcine COCs. As a result, treatment of the TUDCA following Tm pre-treatment reduced SESN2 protein level in porcine COCs. In addition, SESN2 protein level significantly reduced in only TUDCA treated porcine COCs. Our results suggest that the SESN2 expression is related to the stress mediator response to ER stress through the PERK signaling pathways in porcine oocyte maturation.

Fermented total mixed ration (TMR) is a novel feed for ruminants in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the quality of TMR and in vitro ruminal fermentation. Strains of three LAB spp. (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. brevis, L. mucosae) were used in fermentation of TMR. Inoculations with the three LAB spp. lowered pH and increased concentrations of lactic acid, acetic acid, and total organic acid compared to non-LAB inoculated control (only addition of an equivalent amount of water) (p<0.05). Bacterial composition indicated that aerobic bacteria and LAB were higher. However, E. coli were lower in the fermented TMR than those in the control treatment (p<0.05). Among the treatments, L. brevis treatment had the highest concentration of total organic acid without fungus detection. Gas production, pH, and ammonia-nitrogen during ruminal in vitro incubation did not differ throughout incubation. However, ruminal total VFA concentration was higher (p<0.05) in the LAB spp. treatments than the control treatment at 48 hours. Overall, the use of L. brevis as an inoculant for fermentation of high moisture. TMR could inhibit fungi growth and promote lactic fermentation, and enhance digestion in the rumen.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different feed inoculation method on rumen fermentation in an in vitro. Three experimental treatments were used: control (CON, direct dispersion of feed (2 g) in rumen fluid), combinations of direct dispersion (1 g) and nylon bag (DNB, pore size: 50 μm, 1 g), and nylon bag (NB, 2 g). An in vitro fermentation experiment was carried out using strained rumen fluid for 48 h incubation time and timothy was used as a substrate. At the end of the incubation, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD), pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and microbial community were evaluated and gas production was estimated at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 h incubation periods. Gas production was higher in CON than DNB and NB at 6 and 12 h incubation time (p<0.01). There were no differences in final gas production, pH, NH3-N concentration, total VFA production, and VFA profiles among treatments. The IVDMD was lowest in CON (p<0.01) but the IVNDFD was not differed by feed distribution methods. There were no significant differences in general bacteria and fungi. Protozoa count was highest in NB treatment among treatments (p<0.01). The abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes, was highest in the CON among treatments (p<0.01).