Xenotransplantation of pig islet regarded as a good alternative to allotransplantation. However, cellular death mediated by hypoxia-reoxygenation injury after transplantation disturb success of this technique. In the present study, we produce transgenic pig expressing human heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) genes to overcome cellular death for improving efficiency of islet xenotransplantation. Particularly, Korean miniature pig breed, Micro-Pig, was used in the present study. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique was used to produce the HO1 transgenic pig. Six alive transgenic piglets were produced and all the transgenic pigs were founded to have transgene in their genomic DNA and the gene was expressed in all tested organs. Also, in vitro cultured fibroblasts derived from the HO1 transgenic pig showed low reactive oxygen species level, improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis level

Members of the Vps (Vacuolar protein sorting) protein family involved in the formation of the retromer complex have been discovered in a variety of species such as yeast, mouse, and human. A mammalian retromer complex is composed of Vps26, Vps29, and Vps35 proteins and plays and important role in cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor retrieval from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network. In this study, we have identified the full-length sequences of the retromer components of Vps26, Vps29, and Vps35 in micro pigs. The cDNA sequences of these retromer components have been determined and the result showed there is 99% homology among the component counterparts from mouse, micro pigs, and humans. In addition, the retromer complexes formed with hetero-components were found in the brain of micro pigs. Based on above results, we suggest mammalian Vps components are well conserved in micro pigs.

A rapid and simple method for the quantitative determination of volatile fatty acids (VFAs; propionic acid, n-butyric acid, i-valeric acid and n-valeric acid) and indoles (phenol, p-cresol, 4-ethyl phenol, indole and skatole) in pig slurry and dog excrement using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography was evaluated. 50/30 ㎛ DVB/CAR/PDMS (Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane) fiber was used to extract the target compounds in aqueous media. Sample amount and adsorption time was standardized for the routine analysis. Detection limits were from 0.11 to 0.15 ㎍/L for VFAs and from 0.12 to 0.28 ㎍/L for indoles and the correlations observed (R2) were 0.975～1.000. This method was applied to the pig slurry, fertilizer, compost and dog excrement. In nearly all cases, the indoles were detected in concentrations of higher than their limits of detection (DOLs). But the VFAs in swine manure were below their DOLs.