This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the power ranking of mares on their offspring’s stereotypies and response behaviors against a restraining of their desire to eat. Nine horses (2-4 years old) - three offspring born from three Haflinger mares over 3 years - were assigned to three experimental groups (High, Middle, Low) divided by the power ranking of mares. Three mares had no oral or locomotor stereotypic behaviors, but the higher the power ranking of mares, the more diverse and longer the duration of the oral stereotypies of their offspring (p<0.05). Although the offspring born from the high-ranking mare vigorously continued oral stereotypies until 3-4 years of age, there were no individuals that progressed to chronic locomotor stereotypies such as crib-biting, weaving, and box-walking. With an increase in the power ranking of the mare, the response of her offspring to the restraining of the eating desire (measured in terms of the frequency of the oral and locomotor stereotypies) increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, the oral stereotypies shown in this study are characteristic behaviors that occur during the growth process. However, in the case of riding horses, the offspring of a high-power ranking mare and/or one that reacted excessively against restrains, may be better observed and treated in a stall to manage stereotypic behaviors and correct the behaviors at their initial stage.

These studies were conducted to evaluate developmental competence of follicular oocyte collected from the ovaries of Hanwoo cows with the high offspring meat quality (1++ and 1+ grade). Cumulus oocyte complexes from individual cows were matured, fertilized and cultured using protocols of in-vitro maturation (IVM), in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and in-vitro culture (IVC). The rates of blastocyst development from Hanwoo cows with the offspring meat quality grades of 1++ and 1+ were 18.6 and 21.2%, respectively. The rates of blastocyst development were 26.3, 20.7, 20.7, 17.2 and 31.2% from Hanwoo cows with the meat quality grades of 1++, 1+, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Fiftyseven transferable embryos were recovered from 11 Hanwoo donor cows (5.2/head) with the high offspring meat quality grades of 1++ and 1+ in vivo, and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was 61.1%. In conclusion, these results suggest that in vitro embryo production from the ovaries of cows with the high meat quality grades using individual culture system can be used an efficient method for livestock improvement. In addition, for the successful industrialization of embryo transfer, conception rate should be improved.

This study was designed to evaluate the possibility of increase through dairy female offspring’s ratio by transfer of pre-selected transferrable blastocyst that was produced by pre-selected X-bearing semen with OPU derived oocytes. Elite dairy female cow is demanded strongly compared with male, the so called, farmer wants to produce only an elite female dairy offspring as a candidate female dairy cow for producing milk. In our study, we selected 2 elite dairy bull semen from National Agricultural Cooperative Federation to pre-select X-bearing semen and 5 elite dairy female cows as donor for collecting of OPU derived oocytes. OPU derived embryo production system was carried out an aspiration of immature oocytes from 5 donor cows 2 times per week, total 200 times for 2 to 7 months by an ultrasonographic guided follicular aspiration system and then produced in vitro-produced blastocysts by in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture. Dairy donor semen selected H-319, 320 bull in National Agricultural Cooperative federation was sorted X-bearing semen by flow-cytometer and frozen for using IVF with OPU derived oocytes. Donor cows were selected 5 elite dairy cows from Gyeongju Dairy Cow Community and then disease tests such as 4 kinds of disease before selecting was checked. Oocyte proportion of grade 1 to 3 from total collected oocytes was significantly lower in donor A and B than those in donor C, D and E (82.16 and 70.03% vs. 90.0, 91.78 and 93.57%), respectively (p<0.05). However, number of oocytes per session in donor A, C and E was significantly higher than those in donor B and D (7.77 ± 3.26, 5.85 ± 2.10 and 7.03 ± 2.14 vs. 4.68 ± 2.61 and 5.21 ± 1.97 oocytes), but donor A was significantly higher than donor C (p<0.05). Development to blastocyst in donor B, C and E was significantly higher than those in donor A and D (31.0, 25.0 and 25.0% vs. 14.3 and 4.5%), but donor A was not different in donor C and E (p<0.05). Nine out of 10 blastocysts (90.0%) derived from OPU blastocysts were confirmed male embryos that was induced with Y-bearing semen to confirm sex ratio only. Total 96 blastocysts derived from female bearing semen were transferred into synchronized recipients and then confirmed 42 recipients (43.8%) pregnancy rate, 36 offspring (37.5%) and 91.7% female sex ratio (33 female vs. 3 male offspring). Taken together all data, elite dairy female offspring could be produced effectively by in vitro production system between pre-selected x-bearing semen and OPU derived oocytes that would be influential breeder in the breeding of dairy farm to increase effectively elite dairy offspring ratio as well as net income in the dairy farmer.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the MC1R genotypes of the Chikso (Korean brindle cattle) sires on the coat colors of their offspring. In this study, 15 Chikso sires with known MC1R genotypes were used for breeding in the Gangwon Province Livestock Research Center, the Chungbuk Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research, and the Livestock Experiment Station, Jeonbuk Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research from either 2011 or 2012 to 2013. There were 6 sires with E+E+ genotypes and 9 sires with E+e genotypes, and their coat colors were all whole brindle (more than 50 of the body). Among the 90 calves produced in 2011∼2013 or 2012∼2013 from the 15 sires, 50 (55.6%) of them were females and 40 (44.4%) of them were males. Coat colors of the offspring were determined when they reached over 6 months of age. Calves with whole brindle, part brindle, brown and black coat colors were 42 (48.3%), 11 (12.6%), 18 (20.7%) and 16 (18.4%), respectively. Ratio of calves with whole brindle coat color was higher than any other coat colors. Among the offspring with whole brindle color, 20 (41.7%) calves were female and 22 (51.3%) calves were male. By determining the MC1R genotypes of the dams and calves in this study along the family lines, and investigating other genes that may be involved in the coat colors of the Chikso, better breeding system may be established to increase the brindle coat color appearance in the future.

Bovine coat color is decided by the melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) genotype mutation and melanogenesis. Specially, in the various cattle breeds, dominant black coat color is expressed by dominant genotype of ED, red or brown is expressed in the frame shift mutation of recessive homozygous e by base pair deletion and wild type of E+ is expressed in various coat colors. However, not very well known about the effected of MC1R genotype mutation on the coat color through family lines in KBC. Therefore, this study were to investigate effect of MC1R genotype mutation on the coat color, and to suggest mating breed system in accordance with of MC1R genotype for increased on brindle coat color appearance. Parents (sire 2 heads and dam 3 heads) and offspring (total : 54 heads) from crossbreeding in KBC family line with the MC1R genotype and phenotype records were selected as experimental animals. The relationship between melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) genotypes expression verified by PCR-RFLP, and brindle coat color appearance to the family line of the cross mating breed from MC1R genotype pattern was determined. As a result, 4MC1R genetic variations, E+/E+ (sire 1), E+/e (sire 2 and dam 3), E+/e with 4 bands of 174, 207 and 328 bp (dam 1) and E+/e with 3 bands of 174, 207, 328 and 535 bp (dam 2) from parents (sire and dam) of KBC. However, 3 genetic variations, e/e (24%), E+/E+ (22%) and E+/e (56%) were identified in offspring. Also, brindle coat color expressrated was the e/e with the 0%, E+/E+ with 67% and E+/e with 77% from MC1R genotype in offspring on the cross mating of KBC. Furthermore, when the sire had E+/e genotype and the dam had E+/E+ with the 3 bands or E+/e genotype, and both had whole body-brindle coat color, 62% of the offspring had whole body-brindle coat color. Therefore, the seresults, the mating system from MC1R genotype patterns of the sires (E+/e) and dams (E+/E+ with the 3 bands or E+/e) with brindle coat color may have the highest whole body-brindle coat color expression in their offspring.

In Hymenoptera, thanks to its haplodiploid sex determination, arrhenotokous parasitoid females are able to control offspring sex ratio by determining whether to use sperm or not at the time of oviposition. However, the offspring sex ratio may also be influenced by the mating behavior of a male. When a male searches females, he will have more chances to encounter with other males in a high male density population than low male density population. If the male is competitive, the male can find females faster and may have longer copulation time, and eventually transfer more sperm than other males. In this study, we investigated mate searching time, copulation duration and offspring sex ratio as a function of the male density. Although the results show difference between searching time and copulation duration, they are not statistically significant. We will discuss the statistical consequence, male density dependent offspring sex ratio and its evolutionary implications.

There are diverse methods of cryopreservation of mammalian embryos with variable degrees of success. Although cryopreservation technique of mammalian embryos has been advanced, freezing stress affect to cellular event such as apoptosis and autophage in embryos. The objective of the study is to investigate the affection of to survival, development, live offspring, apoptosis and autophagy on embryo. Mouse embryos were vitrified and thawed using normal straw and modified cut standard straw (M-CSS), then in vitro cultured until blastocyst stage and transferred to recipient. Recovery rates (100 vs 99.2%), survival rates (99.2 vs 78.6%), developmental rates (18.4 vs 10.7%), total cell numbers (45 vs 37), preganacy rates (34.5 vs 25%) and offspring numbers (10.1 vs 4.9 %) of M-CSS group are significantly higher than those of normal straw vitrified group. Also, rate of apoptosis in blastocysts developed using M-CSS (1.9%) was significantly lower than using normal straw vitrification (2.7%). Apoptosis-related gene, caspase 3, was expressed at the highest level in blastocysts derived from normal straw group. However, no differences of autophagy related gene, Atg6 and expression of LC3 between normal straw and M-CSS groups were observed. In conclusion, the standard vitrification procedure induces mitochondrial apoptosis in zygotes in an autophagy-independent manner, whereas the novel M-CSS procedure may improve embryo vitrification.

The present research was carried out to evaluate the possibility of increasing female offspring production ratios using artificial insemination buffer (AIB) before artificial insemination (AI). In this experiment, we optimized AIB composition, made an AIB gun and analyze factors affecting AI non-return rate after AIB treatment. The AIB was made with the base of Tris-buffer supplemented with L-arginine and several other chemicals that might reduce the motility of male sperm compared to the female counterpart, therefore, increasing the possibility of fertilization by female sperm. AIB must be deposited into to cervix by AIB gun. After 15 min of AIB deposition, frozen semen was deposited into the same place. A total of 348 cattle were inseminated with AIB insemination, and there were no significant differences between AIB and traditional AI non-return rates (56.8% vs. 55.7%). The AI non-return rate in AIB group, however, differed significantly among 7 Hanwoo farms. The parturition numbers ( to ) of cows did not affect AIB AI rate. The proportion of AIB AI success rates was significantly higher in Hanwoo cows than in dairy cows (61.0% vs. 48.7%), but the average AI success rate did not differ significantly between AIB and conventional AI (56.8% vs. 55.7%). The female offspring production rate in to cervix deposition place was significantly higher than that in the uterus body (77.7% vs. 59.6%, p<0.05). The injection volume of AIB in 5 and 10 ml was significantly higher than that in 2 ml (77.7%, 78.7% vs. 51.8%, p<0.05), but there were no differences in AIB injection volume between 5 and 10 ml. The best exposure time of AIB in the cervix was 10 to 15 min rather than 5 min (79.2%, 77.2% vs. 52.6%, p<0.05). AIB therefore needs to have an exposure time of at least over 10 min for a higher production rate of female offspring. In conclusion, AIB could be used in AI industry to increase the female offspring ratio and AIB AI can increase the AI success rate.

The present research was carried out to evaluate the possibility of female offspring production using artificial insemination buffer (AIB) before artificial insemination (AI). To do it, we carried out the optimization of AIB, making of AIB gun and analysis of affecting AI rate after AIB treatment. AIB made with the base of Tris‐buffer supplemented with L‐arginine and several materials that could be reduced the motility of male sperm compared with female one. This mean that female sperm could be increased the possibility of fertilization with ovum compared with male one. AIB must be deposited into 2nd to 4th cervix by the guide of AIB gun. After 15 min of AIB insertion, frozen semen was deposited into same place after. Total 352 cattle were inseminated with AIB insemination and was not significant difference between AIB and traditional AI rate (56.8 vs. 55.7%). However, AIB AI rate was significantly differs among 12 different farms. The parturition number of cows did not effect on AIB AI rate among 1st to 7th parturition number of cows. The proportion of AIB AI success rates in hanwoo cows was significantly higher than in dairy cows (61.0% vs. 48.7%), but the average AI success rate was not different between AIB and conventional AI (56.8% vs. 55.7%). The female offspring production rate in 2nd to 4th cervix deposition place was significantly higher than in uterus body (77.7% vs. 59.6%, p<0.05). The injection volume of AIB in 5 and 10 ml was significantly higher than in 2 ml (77.7, 78.7 vs. 51.8%, p<0.05), but not different between 5 and 10 ml ABI volume. The best exposure time of AIB in the cervix was 10 and 15 min rather than that of 5 min (79.2%, 77.2% vs. 63.2%, p< 0.05), and so AIB have to expose at least 10 min to get higher female offspring. In conclusion, AIB could be used in AI industry to produce female offspring and also AIB AI can be increased the AI success rate compared with traditional AI rate.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparison of production efficiency of oocytes and OPU (ovum pick‐up) derived embryos of Hanwoo with Holstein. The OPU session of each species (6 cows) was carried out from the Hanwoo (106 sessions) and Holstein (114 sessions) at intervals of 3 4 days (2 times per week) for 3 months. Cumulus‐oocyte‐complexes (COCs) retrieved were classified into 4 grades by the status of oocyte cytoplasm and cumulus cells. The COCs collected were matured in vitro in TCM‐199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 10 mg/ml FSH and 1 mg/ml estradiol‐ 17β in 5% CO2 and over 99% humidity for 24 h. After 24 h co‐incubation with post‐thaw sperm, the presumed zygotes were cultured in CR1aa medium with 4 mg/ml BSA for 3 days and then changed CR1aa medium with 10% of FBS for another 3 4 days. The Mean number of aspirated follicles and collected oocytes were not significantly different between Hanwoo and Holstein spacies (10.4±0.42 vs. 11.4±0.41 and 7.5±0.38 vs. 6.1±0.37 per session). But the collection rate of oocytes from aspirated follicles were significantly higher in Hanwoo (72.8%) than that in Holstein (53.6%) (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the average number of good quality oocytes (Grade I and II) was 5.9±0.28 and 4.1±0.27 (Mean±SD), and the cleavage rate and the development rate to blastocysts was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Hanwoo (40.0%) than Holstein (21.6%). The OPU derived embryos of Hanwoo were transferred 83 times into 52 recipients and then 42 calves were produced from 44 pregnancy recipients. In conclusion, the efficiency of OPU derived embryo was significantly different between Hanwoo and Holstein species. In vitro culture system for OPU derived embryo production should be optimized for industrialization and the improvement of livestock.

The α-proteobacterium Wolbachia is maternally inherited and is known to induce reproductive distortions in a wide range of insect taxa such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing and parthenogenesis (PI). When a female is infected with PI-Wolbachia, she does not need a male to produce female offspring, because the female can produce female offspring via gamete duplication without the aid of sperm. However, in the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma kaykai species, Wolbachia infected parthenogenetic females still produce a fraction of male offspring. Offspring sex ratio for 10 days are different according to each T. kaykai isofemale line that is infected with PI- Wolbachia. This may be caused by complex interactions between Wolbachia and the host genetic backgrounds on converting sex of infected eggs.

Haplodiploid sex determination occurs in a wide range of animals, especially in Hymenoptera, where a fertilized egg develops into a diploid female and unfertilized into a haploid male. However, recent studies on diploid functional males in some wasps suggest that the simple addition of paternal gene by fertilization may not be enough to explain female offspring production in the sex determination system. Recently, activation of sex determination gene (tra) was found to have a pivotal role in determining the sex of Nasonia vitripennis. In N. vitripennis, tra is activated only on the paternal genome (i.e. sperm) not on the maternal counterpart (i.e. egg). Such parent specific activation of a gene is controlled by a epigenetic factor, DNA methylation. However, in Trichogramma kaykai, Wolbachia induces female offspring production without sperm. Therefore all female offspring are clonal to the maternal gene. This violates the role of activated sex determination gene (tra) from sperm in the wasp. We hypothesize that Wolbachia has an ability to activate the gene by demethylation. This hypothesis indicates that the target of sex ratio distorting endosymbionts may be an upstream gene. It will enhance our understanding of evolution of haplodiploid sex determination.

The α-proteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis infects a wide range of arthropods and filarial nematodes. Wolbachia is maternally inherited and is known to induce reproductive anomalies such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing and parthenogenesis induction (PI). Trichogramma kaykai is a tiny wasp that parasitizes on lepidopteran eggs. When a female of the wasp is infected with PI-Wolbachia, the female produces female offspring via gamete duplication without the aid of sperm. As she ages, however, the fraction of male offspring increases. In this study, we investigated the effect of host genetic background on the expression of sex ratio between isofemale lines. Virgin females of six isofemale lines were allowed to lay eggs individually for 10 days. There was the positive relationship between female age and the offspring sex ratio. Furthermore, the sex ratio was significantly different among isofemale lines, implying that the host genetic background had an effect on the sex ratio. Based on the results, evolution of symbiosis in terms of sex ratio and future experimental design are discussed.

본 연구는 OPU 유래 한우 수정란을 이식한 대리모의 품종이 임신 기간과 산자의 생시 체중에 미치는 영향을 분석하고자 6~7일차 OPU 유래 한우 체외수정란을 한우와 젖소 대리모에 이식하여 산자를 생산하였다. 1. 대리모에 따른 평균 임신 기간(젖소: 일, 한우: 일)과 산자의 생시 체중(젖소: , 한우: )에서 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 2. 임신 기간은 수송아지를 생산한 대리모(한우: 일, 젖소: 일)가 암송아지(한우: 일, 젖소: 일)를 임신한 대리

This study was carried out to collect the basic data about gestation lengths and offspring's birth weights and sex ratio of the dairy recipients transferred with Hanwoo IVF embryos. Blastocysts cultured for days were transferred to 96 and 167 heads for the basic data about gestation length and offspring's birth weight and sex ratio of the dairy recipients, respectively. The gestation lengths of the dairy recipients transferred with Hanwoo IVF embryos were () and () days in male and female of the offspring, respectively. The gestation lengths of the recipients were , , and days in spring, summer, autumn and winter of the calving season, respectively, and were significantly different among the calving season (p<0.05). The birth weights of male and female calves were () and ( kg in offsprings of the dairy recipients transferred with Hanwoo IVF embryos, respectively. The sex ratio was 90.7 in the offsprings of the dairy recipients transferred with Hanwoo IVF embryos.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) are ubiquitously distributed chemicals that are widely used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods. The aims of this study were to determine whether perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA could alter normal patterns of neonatal development. Dams were provided with pulverized soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day 15 to postnatal day 21. Exposure to the high doses of DBP, DINP and DEHA during gestational period significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain of dams. These chemicals reduced neonatal body weight as well as that of the after maturation. Also, exposure to DINP of all the doses used and the higher doses (2,400 and 12,000 ppm) of DEHA decreased AGD at PND 1 in male neonates, though that to DBP did not affect AGD in males. In female neonates, an increase in AGD was observed in DBP- and DINP-exposed animals at the highest doses. Moreover, these chemicals affected survival rate of pups at PND 5, and delayed onset of eye opening in all chemical-exposed groups at PND 17. These results suggest that perinatal exposure to these chemicals may affect the normal development and / or growth of offspring.

형질전환 동물의 유선에서 특이적으로 발현되도록 고안된 pBIL-10 발현 벡터를 이용하여 인간 IL-10 유전자가 삽입되어 한 계통으로 확립된 형질전환 생쥐에서 이 유전자가 장기 세대까지 안정적으로 전이되고, 또한 발현 수준도 지속적으로 유지되는지를 조사하였다. 이를 위해 제 8 세대의 수컷 hIL-10 형질전환 생쥐를 실험에 공시하였고, 제 15 세대까지의 전이율과 hIL-10 유전자의 발현 수준을 분석하였다, 제 8 세대 생쥐의 계대 번식에 의한 자손 중 50.9±5.8％가 형질전환 생쥐로 판명되었다. 또한 제 9 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 66.0±20.1％이렀고, 제 10 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 61.5±16.7％이었고, 제 11 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 41.1±8.4％이었고, 제 12 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 40.7±20.3％이었고, 제 13 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 61.3±10.8％이었고, 제 14 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 49.2±18.8％이었고, 제 15 세대에서 외래 유전자의 전이율은 43.8±25.9％이었다. 이러한 결과로 hIL-10 형질전환 생쥐는 그 외래유전자의 유전적 손상이 없이 장기 세대까지 안정적으로 전이되는 것으로 판다된다. 제 9 세대의 암컷 형질전환 생쥐로부터 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 3.6± 1.2 mg/ml의 수준에서 측정되었다. 제 10세대에서는 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 4.2±0.9 mg/ml의 수준에서 측정되었고, 제 11세대에서는 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 5.7± 1.5 mg/ml의 수준에서 측정되었고, 제 12세대에서는 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 6.3±3.5 mg/ml의 수준으로 측정되었고, 제 13세대에서는 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 6.8±4.5 mg/ml의 수준으로 측정되었고, 제 14세대에서는 유즙내 인간 hIL-10의 발현 수준을 분석하였을 때, 그 농도는 평균 6.8±3.1 mg/ml의 수준으로 측정되었다. 이러한 수준은 제 1 세대의 것보다 높은 결과로 형질전환 생쥐에서 인간 IL-10 유전자의 발현은 최소한 15 세대까지 지속적으로 유지된다는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 장기 세대까지도 발현수준이 유지될 것으로 판단된다. 이러한 연구결과는 계통으로 확립된 형질전환 동물에 부여된 새로운 유전형질은 지속적으로 후대로 유전될 수 있음을 제시한다.

한우 종모우의 고환둘레와 정액성상 그리고 후대희 성장 및 도체성적과의 관계를 구명하기 위하여 4~8세 한우 종무우 92두를 공시하였으며 8,628개의 종모우 정액성상 그리고 종모우 후대 814e의 성장 및 도체성적을 이용하였다. 종모우의 고환둘레는 38.73.73 cm, 1차 정액량, 정자농도 및 총정자수는 각각 5.63mL, 17.9/mL 및 100.34/ejaculation 이었고 2차 정액량, 정자농도, 및 총정자수는 각각 5.32mL, 15.0/