본 연구는 돼지에 있어서 정원줄기세포를 포함하는 정소세포를 recipient 돼지의 정소 내로 이식할 수 있는 기법을 개발하기 위하여 시행되었다. 공여세포는 10~14일령의 돼지로부터 채취된 정소에서 효소처리법을 이용하여 회수하였고, recipient의 정소 내로 이식하기 전 형광 마커(PHK26)로 표지하였다. 외과적 수술을 통하여 recipient 돼지부터 정소를 꺼낸 후 초음파 기기와 이식 장치를 이용하여 형광표지된 공여세포를 recipient 정소의 세정관 내로 이식하였다. 14주령의 recipient 정소에 5~7ml 의 공여 세포부유액을 주입하여 정소 내 50% 이상의 세정관 내로 새포부유액의 주입이 가능하였고, 세포부유액이 주입된 세정관 내에서 형광표지된 정소세포들이 고루 이식되어짐이 관찰되었다. 본 연구에서 개발한 이식 기법을 이용하여 효율적인 정소세포의 이식이 가능함에 따라 향후 돼지 정원줄기세포의 연구 및 활용법 개발에 획기적인 돌파구가 마련될 것으로 기대된다.

Embryonic germ (EG) cells are undifferentiated stem cells isolated from cultured primordial germ cells (PGC). These cells share many characteristics with embryonic stem cells including morphology and pluripotency. Undifferentiated porcine EG cell lines demonstrating capacities of differentiation both in vitro and in vivo have been established. Since EG cells can be cultured indefinitely in an undifferentiated state, whereas somatic cells in primary culture are often unstable and have limited lifespan, EG cells may provide inexhaustible source of karyoplasts in nuclear transfer (NT). In this study the efficiencies of NT using porcine EG and fetal fibroblast cells were compared. Two different techniques were used to perform NT. With conventional NT procedure (Roslin method) involving fusion of donor cells with enucleated oocytes, the rates of development to the blastocyst stage in EG and somatic cell NT were 16.8% (59/351) and 14.5% (98/677), respectively. In piezo-driven microinjection (Honolulu method) of donor nuclei into enucleated oocytes, the rates of blastocyst formation in EG and somatic cell NT were 11.9% (15/126) and 9.4% (9/96), respectively. Regardless of NT methods used in this study, EG cell NT gave rise to comparable rate of blastocyst development to somatic cell NT. Overall, EG cells can be used as karyoplast donor in NT procedure, and embryos can be produced by EG cell NT that may be used as an alternative to conventional somatic cell NT.

The ultrastructures of germ cells and the functions of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis in male Kareius bicoloratus (Pleuronectidae) were investigated by electron microscope observation. Each of the well-developed Leydig cells during active maturation division and before spermiation contained an ovoid vesicular nucleus, a number of smooth endoplasmic reticula, well-developed tubular or vesicular mitochondrial cristae, and several lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. It is assumed that Leydig cells are typical steroidogenic cells showing cytological characteristics associated with male steroidogenesis. No cyclic structural changes in the Leydig cells were observed through the year. However, although no clear evidence of steroidogenesis or of any transfer of nutrients from the Sertoli cells to spermatogenic cells was observed, cyclic structural changes in the Sertoli cells were observed over the year. During the period of undischarged germ cell degeneration after spermiation, the Sertoli cells evidenced a lysosomal system associated with phagocytic function in the seminiferous lobules. In this study, the Sertoli cells function in phagocytosis and the resorption of products originating from degenerating spermatids and spermatozoa after spermiation. The spermatozoon lacks an acrosome, as have been shown in all teleost fish spermatozoa. The flagellum or sperm tail of this species evidences the typical 9+2 array of microtubules.

Epigenetic change is dynamic during germ cell development. DNA methylation and histone modification are the most important epigenetic process to regulate the gene expressions. They are very close reciprocal relationship on the specific genomic regions called CpG islands (CGI). The CGIs are located on the promoter regions and recruit various epigenetic regulators including, CFP1, KDM2A, KDM2B, TET1 and MLL. They contain a common domain which is the zinc finger CxxC domain. The CxxC domain reads non-methylated CpG and recruits other regulatory elements such as SET1, PRC, COMPASS and SIN3A to modify Histone proteins. CFP1 contains a CxxC domain. CFP1 protein therefore imposes an ability to distinguish its important regulatory element, “non-methylated CpG” from the genome. After binding the CpG, CFP1 recruits SET1 complex, which is involved in the histone H3 lysin 4 (H3K4) methylation. However, the functional consequence of CFP1 in the germ cell development remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that CFP1 is critical for the both spermatogenesis and oogenesis using conditional knockout system.

Spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of in male Septifer (Mytilisepta) virgatus were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus and the acrosome of this species are the cylinder shape and cone shape, respectively. Spermatozoa are approximately 45-50 in length including a sperm nucleus (about 1.26 long), an acrosome (about 0.99 long), and tail flagellum (about 45-47 ). Several electron-dense proacrosomal vesicles become later the definitive acrosomal vesicle by the fusion of several Golgi-derived vesicles. The acrosome of this species has two regions of differing electron density: there is a thin, outer electron-dense opaque region (part) at the anterior end, behind which is a thicker, more electron-lucent region (part). In genus Septifer in Mytilidae, an axial rod does not find and also a mid-central line hole does not appear in the sperm nucleus. However, in genus Mytilus in Mytilidae, in subclass Pteriomorphia, an axial rod and a mid-central line hole appeared in the sperm nucleus. These morphological differences of the acrosome and sperm nucleus between the genuses Septifer and Mytilus can be used for phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses as a taxonomic key or a significant tool. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are five, as seen in subclass Pteriomorphia.

1992년 1월부터 12월까지 1년간에 걸쳐 전북 군산, 선연리 조하애에서 채집된 개량조개, Mactra chinensis Philippi를 대상으로 생식세포 발달과 생식소 발달양상을 조사하기 위해 토과형 전자현미경으로 미세구조 변활르 관찰하였고, 정확한 산란기를 규명하기 위해 조직학적으로 생식주기를 조사하였다. 개량조개는 장웅이체이다. 난황형성과정은 난모세포의 발달정도에 따라 다르게 나타나고 있다. 전난황형성기 난모세포질 내에서는 핵주변 구여게 골지장