• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.783-788
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• 2002

Bovine yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, and placental membranes (chorion and allantois) from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were isolated and cultured in a modified minimum essential medium in the presence of $[^{35}S]$methionine. Proteins synthesized and secreted by isolated bovine yolk sac, chorion and allantois were analyzed by fluorography of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum-like proteins,transferrin, ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin and ${\alpha}$1-acid glycoprotein,were the major protein products of yolk sac. A 21 kDa protein produced by yolk sac was identified immunochemically as retinol-binding protein (RBP). Chorion and allantios from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were active in protein synthesis and secretion. Both chorion and allantois did not secret serum-like proteins but secreted a number of neutral-to-acidic proteins including RBP. Secretory proteins produced by the yolk sac, chorion and allantois may play important roles in the embryonic development and the successful outcome of pregnancy. Antiserum against bovine placental RBP was employed to the immunocytochemistry by immunoperoxidase method. Immunoreactive RBP was localized in epithelial cells and island-like cell clones of yolk sac. Immunostaining for RBP was detected in simple columnar epithelium of chorion and in simple squamous epithelium of allantois. In the present study, proteins synthesized and secreted by yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, chorion and allantois from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were characterized In addition, RBP was localized in yolk sac, chorion and allantois by immunoperoxidase method. The immunoperoxidase method has been proven to be a very effective technique to identify the cellular source of protein synthesis in extraembryonic membranes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 1973

The placentation in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) and the morphological changes occuring in its placenta from implantation to parturition have been observed by light microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The development of the placenta in the fertilized ovum implanted on the day 5 of gestation was described with increasing gestational age. 2. On the day 8 of gestation, the chorioallantoic placenta was formed by fusion of the allantois to the chorion of ectoplacental cone. 3. On the day 13 of gestation, Reichert's membrane with the parietal yolk sac disappeared in a circumscribed area antimesometrially.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to establish a short-term teratogenicity study for detecting developmental toxic potential induced by gamma radiation in ICR mice. Pregnant mice were exposed at dose levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 Gy on gestational day 8.5. All dams were subjected to caesarean section on gestational day 10.5 and their embryos were examined for growth, differentiation, and morphological abnormalities. An increase in the number of resorption was found at 4 Gy in a dose-dependent manner. Dose-dependent decreases in the developmental score of yolk sac circulation and olfactory system at above 1 Gy, in the number of somite pairs and developmental score of allantois, optic system, and maxillary process at above 2 Gy, and in the all growth and developmental parameters examined at 4 Gy were found. Various types of morphological abnormalities were seen at dose levels of 0.5 Gy or greater. Characteristic malformations induced by gamma radiation were abnormal axial rotation, hematoma, craniofacial hypoplasia, open neuropore, shortened prosencephalon, kinked somites, irregular somites, swelling, hydropericardium, absent branchial bar, and absent limb bud. Morphological alterations such as hematoma, craniofacial hypoplasia, open neuropore, and kinked somites were noted even in the lowest dose (0.5 Gy). These results indicated that the short-term teratogenicity study established in this study can be a useful tool for not only detecting the developmental toxic potential induced by gamma radiation, but also screening radio-protective agents in ICR mice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.589-596
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• 2019

${\beta}Pix$ is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Rho family small GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42. It is known to regulate focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration. However, the in vivo role of ${\beta}Pix$ is currently not well understood. Here, we report the production and characterization of ${\beta}Pix$-KO mice. Loss of ${\beta}Pix$ results in embryonic lethality accompanied by abnormal developmental features, such as incomplete neural tube closure, impaired axial rotation, and failure of allantois-chorion fusion. We also generated ${\beta}Pix$-KO mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to examine ${\beta}Pix$ function in mouse fibroblasts. ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs exhibit decreased Rac1 activity, and defects in cell spreading and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced ruffle formation and chemotaxis. The average size of focal adhesions is increased in ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs. Interestingly, ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs showed increased motility in random migration and rapid wound healing with elevated levels of MLC2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ${\beta}Pix$ plays essential roles in early embryonic development, cell spreading, and cell migration in fibroblasts.