This study was undertaken to find out the effect of cholesterol and serum albumin on sperm ability and lipid peroxidation levels period to the liquid storage of miniature pig sperm. Ejaculated semen from miniature pigs was collected by gloved-hand method into a pre-warmed () thermos bottle, and extended with Modena solution {with and without BSA, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (-cholesterol) and cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (+cholesterol)}. Each semen was assessed for viability (SYBR-14/PI staining) and acrosome intactness, intensity and capacitation status by chlorotetracycline (CTC) staining at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days of storage. At for the effects of cholesterol and serum albumin on lipid peroxidation, semen were incubated with (), and lipid peroxidation level were measured by flow cytometry using the lipid peroxidation reporter probe . The result, lipid peroxidation level in sperm added with cholesterol were lower in compared to the added sperm with serum albumin. Also, added cholesterol to sperm had significant (p<0.05) higher viability when storage for 7 and 10 days and lower when 10 days of storage percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm (AR pattern) in acrosome state as say result compared to other treated groups. In conclusion, role of cholesterol during lipid storage in miniature pig spermatozoa was protected boar spermatozoa from lipid peroxidation prior to lipid storage. Addition serum albumin during lipid storage in sperm may be induce sperm membrane damage by lipid peroxidation. Therefore, addition of cholesterol to miniature pig sperm will be lead to extension of liquid storage periods.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sperm liquid storage diluted with Brine Mineral Water (BMW) in miniature pig. Therefore we performed to find optimal concentration of BMW. The ejaculated semen from miniature pig was collected by gloved-hand method. The collected semen was diluted with dilution solution (Mulberry Ⅲ; modified-Modena B) which BMW was added. Concentration of BMW was 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5% in dilution solution. The diluted semen was preserved at 17℃. Sperm ability was estimated by viability, capacitation acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC), hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), morphologic abnormality. The diluted semen was observed for 7 days. The viability was significantly measured higher at 2.5% concentration of BMW than other groups (p<0.05). The AR-pattern of CTC analysis was significantly measured lower at 12.5% concentration of BMW than other groups (p<0.05). However, abnormality was not significantly different among all the groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, viability of sperm was the highest at 2.5% concentration of BMW but BMW had a negative effect on HOST, capacitation and acrosome reaction in sperm of miniature pig.

The objective of this study was to evaluated the efficiency of sperm cryosurvival using each extenders Triladyl and LEY containing egg yolk to the cryopreservation of separated sperm by percoll in miniature pig. The ejaculated semen from miniature pig was separated by 65% percoll and un-separated sperm as a control before freezing. The freezing of diluted semen added with Triladyl containing egg yolk and LEY solution (solution Ⅰ: 11% Lactose or Triladyl + egg yolk; solution Ⅱ: solutionⅠ + glycerol + OEP). Analysis of sperm ability was estimated by viability, capacitation acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) the morphologic abnormality and hypoosmotic swelling test(HOST). The groups were designed that as separated sperm by Percoll with Triladyl(ST) or LEY(SL) for cryopreservation. And unseparated sperm with Triladyl(UT) or LEY(UL). As a results, the viability was higher significantly(p<0.05) in ST, SL, UT than UL extender. The morphologic abnormality was measured significantly (p< 0.05) lower in ST than other extenders. The AR-patterned in CTC analysis was measured significantly(p<0.05) lower in SL and UL than other extenders. In conclusion, using Triladyl extender resulted in viability and morphology of separated sperm by percoll that were effective than using LEY extender, but it resulted in capacitation acrosome reaction was lower than using LEY extender.

The miniature pig is considered to be a better organ donor breed for xenotransplantation than other pig breeds because the size of the organs of the miniature pig is similar to that of humans. In this study, we aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes in the miniature pig ovary during pregnancy. For this, we used the miniature pig ovary model, annealing control primer‐based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR), and northern blotting analysis. We identified 13 genes showing differential expression on the based of pregnancy status and validated 8 genes using qRT‐PCR. We also sequenced the full‐length cDNA of ephrin receptor A4 (EphA4), which had a significant difference in expression level, and validated it by northern blotting. These genes may provide a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms during pregnancy in miniature pig ovary.

The objectives of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the bacteria eliminated sperm by percoll gradient method on sperm quality and embryo cleavage in vitro in pig. The semen of miniature pig collected by gloved-hand method pre-warmed (37℃) in thermos bottle, and separated by 65% percoll. Analysis of sperm ability was estimated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) and the abnormality. Also, fertility of sperm was monitored with cleavage rate of embryo after IVF using separated and un-separated sperm by percoll. The result, viability of separated sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher(83.6±2.0 vs 59.0±4.4%) than un- separated sperm. The results of CTC analysis showed the percentage of F- and B-patterned separated sperm was higher in separated that than un-separated sperm. On the contrary, the percentage of AR-patterned form un-separaed sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher(13.6±0.8 vs 8.1±0.6%) than separated sperm. Also, abnormality of un-separated sperm was significantly(p<0.05) higher(20.2±0.4 vs 16.8±2.8%) than separated sperm. However, the cleavage rates of embryo using separated sperm by percoll and un-separated sperm had not significantly difference on 2 cell stage(9.25 vs 11.88%), 4 cell stage(26.76 vs 24.51%) and >4 cell stage(63.99 vs 63.61%) at 48h of IVF. Therefore, the sperm separated by percoll method showed improvement in sperm quality than un-separated sperm in miniature pig.

This study was conducted to investigate the development and gene expression in miniature pig nuclear transfer (mNT) embryos produced under different osmolarity culture conditions. Control group of mNT embryos was cultured in PZM-3 for 6 days. Treatment group of mNT embryos was cultured in modified PZM-3 with NaCl (mPZM-3, 320 mOsmol) for 2 days, and then cultured in PZM-3 (270 mOsmol) for 4 days. Blastocyst formation rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than the control and the apoptosis rate was significantly lower in treatment group. Bax- and caspase-3 mRNA expression were significantly higher in the control than the treatment group. Also, the majority of imprinting genes were expressed aberrantly in in vitro produced mNT blastocysts compared to in vivo derived blastocyst H19 and Xist mRNA expression were significantly lower in the control than the treatment group or in vivo. IGF2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the control than the treatment group or in vivo. IGF2r mRNA expression was significantly lower in the control. Methylation profiles of individual DNA strands in H19 upstream T-DMR sequences showed a similar methylation status between treatment group and in vivo. These results indicate that the modification of osmolarity in culture medium at early culture stage could provide more beneficial culture environments for mNT embryos.

This study investigated the developmental ability and gene expression of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos using ear skin fibroblast cells derived from miniature pig. When miniature pig (m) and landrace pig (p) were used as donor cells, there were no differences in cleavage (79.2 vs. 78.2%) and blastocyst rates (27.4 vs. 29.7%). However, mNT blastocysts showed significantly higher apoptosis rate than that of pNT blastocysts (6.1 vs. 1.7%) (p<0.05). The number of nuclei in pNT blastosysts was significantly higher than that of mNT (35.8 vs. 29.3) (p<0.05). Blastocysts were analyzed using Realtime RT-PCR to determine the expression of Bax-, Bcl-xl, H19, IGF2, IGF2r and Xist. Bax- was higher in mNT blastocyst than pNT blastocyst (p<0.05). There was no difference in Bcl-xl between two NT groups. Bax-/Bcl-xl was, however, significantly higher in mNT blastocyst compared to pNT. The expression of imprinting genes were aberrant in blastocysts derived from NT compared to in vivo blastocysts. H19 and IGF2r were significantly lower in mNT blastocysts (p<0.05). The expression of IGF2 and Xist was similar in two NT groups. However, imprinting genes were expressed aberrantly in mNT compared to pNT blastocysts. The present results suggest that the NT between donor cells derived from miniature pig and recipient oocytes derived from crossbred pig might affect reprogramming of donor cell, resulting in high apoptosis and aberrant expression patterns of imprinting genes.