• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2024

Background: The increasing need to minimize animal testing has sparked interest in alternative methods with more humane, cost-effective, and time-saving attributes. In particular, in silico-based computational toxicology is gaining prominence. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a biological map depicting toxicological mechanisms, composed of molecular initiating events (MIEs), key events (KEs), and adverse outcomes (AOs). To understand toxicological mechanisms, predictive models are essential for AOP components in computational toxicology, including molecular structures. Objectives: This study reviewed the literature and investigated previous research cases related to AOP and in silico methodologies. We describe the results obtained from the analysis, including predictive techniques and approaches that can be used for future in silico-based alternative methods to animal testing using AOP. Methods: We analyzed in silico methods and databases used in the literature to identify trends in research on in silico prediction models. Results: We reviewed 26 studies related to AOP and in silico methodologies. The ToxCast/Tox21 database was commonly used for toxicity studies, and MIE was the most frequently used predictive factor among the AOP components. Machine learning was most widely used among prediction techniques, and various in silico methods, such as deep learning, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics, were also utilized. Conclusions: We analyzed the current research trends regarding in silico-based alternative methods for animal testing using AOPs. Developing predictive techniques that reflect toxicological mechanisms will be essential to replace animal testing with in silico methods. In the future, since the applicability of various predictive techniques is increasing, it will be necessary to continue monitoring the trend of predictive techniques and in silico-based approaches.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.2-11
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• 2024

Background: The small intestine plays a crucial role in animals in maintaining homeostasis as well as a series of physiological events such as nutrient uptake and immune function to improve productivity. Research on intestinal organoids has recently garnered interest, aiming to study various functions of the intestinal epithelium as a potential alternative to an in vivo system. These technologies have created new possibilities and opportunities for substituting animals for testing with an in vitro model. Methods: Here, we report the establishment and characterisation of intestinal organoids derived from jejunum tissues of adult pigs. Intestinal crypts, including intestinal stem cells from the jejunum tissue of adult pigs (10 months old), were sequentially isolated and cultivated over several passages without losing their proliferation and differentiation using the scaffold-based and three-dimensional method, which indicated the recapitulating capacity. Results: Porcine jejunum-derived intestinal organoids showed the specific expression of several genes related to intestinal stem cells and the epithelium. Furthermore, they showed high permeability when exposed to FITC-dextran 4 kDa, representing a barrier function similar to that of in vivo tissues. Collectively, these results demonstrate the efficient cultivation and characteristics of porcine jejunum-derived intestinal organoids. Conclusions: In this study, using a 3D culture system, we successfully established porcine jejunum-derived intestinal organoids. They show potential for various applications, such as for nutrient absorption as an in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium fused with organ-on-a-chip technology to improve productivity in animal biotechnology in future studies.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2004

The objective of present study was to ascertain parentage of Thoroughbred(TB) horses in Korea. A total of 2,029 TB horse samples including 993 foal samples for parentage testing were genotyped for nine international minimum standard markers(AHT4, 5, ASB2, HMS3, 6, 7, HTG4, 10, and VHL20). This method consisted of multiplexing PCR procedure, and showed reasonable amplification of all PCR products. Genotyping was performed with an ABI 310 genetic analyzer. The number of alleles per locus varied from 5 to 11 with a mean value of 7.33 in TB. Expected heterozygosity was ranged from 0.544 to 0.837(mean 0.709) and the total exclusion probability of 9 microsatellites loci was 0.9978. Of the 9 markers, ASB2, HMS7 and HTG10 loci have relatively high PIC value(>0.7). All of the 993 foals were qualified by compatibility according to Mendelian fashion in the present DNA typing for parentage testing. These results suggest that the present DNA typing has high potential for parentage verification of TB horses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate genetic development and genotype${\times}$environment interactions (GEI) in postweaning body weight of fattening bulls at the end of test period (WT-T) under various beef fattening environments. Data on a total of 24,247 fattening bulls obtained from the industrial farm, breeding farms and testing stations were used. Heritability estimates for WT-T in all environments were nearly similar. Significant genetic developments of sire, dam and progenies for WT-T were observed in all environments. However, many differences in annual genetic developments between the environments were significant. The genetic correlations for WT-T between industrial farm and breeding farms, industrial farm and testing stations and breeding farms and testing stations were respectively 0.004, 0.004 and 0.013. These low estimates of genetic correlations and significant differences in genetic developments among environments clearly show the existence of GEI for WT-T among various fattening environments. Results of this study indicate the need for environment-specific genetic evaluation and selection of beef bulls for commercial beef production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1098-1102
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• 2018

Objective: Temperament can be defined as a type of behavioral tendency that appears in a relatively stable manner in responses to various external stimuli over time. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for the records of temperament testing that are used to improve the temperament of Jeju crossbred (Jeju${\times}$Thoroughbred) horses. Methods: This study was conducted using 205 horses (101 females and 104 males) produced between 2010 and 2015. The experimental animals were imprinted and tamed according to the Manual for Horse Taming and Evaluation for Therapeutic Riding Horses and evaluated according to the categories for temperament testing (gentleness, patience, aggressiveness, sensitivity, and friendliness) between 15 months and 18 months of age. Each category was scored on a five-point linear scale. Genetic parameters for the test categories were analyzed using a multi-trait mixed model with repeated records. The ASReml program was used to analyze the data. Results: The heritability of gentleness, patience, aggressiveness, sensitivity and friendliness ranged from 0.08 to 0.53. The standard errors of estimated heritability ranged from 0.13 to 0.17. The test categories showed high genetic correlations with each other, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99 and high repeatability, ranging from 0.70 to 0.73. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the test categories had moderate heritability and high genetic correlations, but additional studies may be necessary to use the results for the improvement programs of the temperament of Jeju crossbred horses.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2017

AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary international accreditation program. AAALAC International accreditation is recognized around the world as a symbol of high quality animal care and use for research, teaching and testing, as well as promoting animal welfare. Animals owned by the institution that are used for research, teaching and testing are included as part of an accredited program. More than 990 animal care and use institutions in 42 countries around the world (more than 170 programs in 13 countries in the Pacific Rim region) have earned AAALAC International accreditation. The AAALAC International Council on Accreditation evaluates overall performance and all aspects of an animal care and use program, involving an in-depth, multilayered, confidential peer-review process. The evaluators (site visitors) consider compliance with applicable local animal legislation of the host country, institutional policies, and employ a customized approach for evaluating overall program performance using a series of primary standards that include the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, or the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Purposes, Council of Europe (ETS 123), and supplemental Reference Resources, as applicable.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2016

This study was conducted to compare three commercially available egg testing devices for measuring egg quality. The devices used were a Laser-type (automatic), a Ultrasonic-type (automatic), and a Probe-type (manual). Fresh eggs weighing 60~68 grams were obtained from a commercial hen farm. Three trials were conducted. In Trial 1, a total of 50 eggs were successively analyzed by the three egg testing devices. In Trial 2, fresh eggs were successively analyzed by a combination of two egg testing devices. In Trial 3, a total of 600 eggs (weighing 60~68 grams) laid by same flock were selected, further divided into three sub-groups with a total of 200 eggs, and analyzed by an egg testing device. In Trials 1 and 2, no apparent difference was observed in egg weight between egg testing devices. However, albumin height was scored highest in the Ultrasonic-type egg tester followed by the Probe-type and Laser-type (Trials 1 and 2). Consequently, the Haugh unit was similarly altered. Yolk color was highest in the Laser-type egg tester followed by the Ultrasonic-type and Probe-type (Trials 1 and 2). When fresh eggs laid by a single flock were independently analyzed by three devices, egg weight did not differ, but albumin height and Haugh unit were higher (p<0.05) in the Ultrasonic-type egg tester than in the Probe-type or Laser-type testers. However, Laser-type testers produced higher (p<0.05) yolk color values than the Ultrasonic-type or Probe-type egg testers. In conclusion, the commercially available egg testing devices exhibited performance differences in measuring egg qualities, which warrants further consideration as to whether the magnitude of bias and precision between the devices could be acceptable in the egg grading system, especially when assessing eggs stored for certain durations.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.45-48
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to construct a correct pedigree of miniature horses (MH). The sex of MH was detected by PCR amplification of the sex determining region of the Y chromosome gene (SRY) prior to parentage testing. Ten random MH samples for parentage testing were genotyped by using 16 micro satellite markers. Since the SRY band (430 bp) was detected in horses No.1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, these are male. However, the DNA segment was not identified in horses No.3, 4, and 5, which therefore are female. After genotyping, parentage testing was performed according to Mendelian fashion and International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) guideline. Of the 10 MH, 3 were qualified by the compatibility of 16 markers according to Mendelian fashion in the present DNA typing for parentage verification. These results can provide basic information for developing parentage verification and an individual identification system in MH.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 1972

Nine DETERGENT base materials have been examined in a series of in vivo and in vitro TESTS involving the use of HUMAn SKIN and various ANIMAL SKINS. Lack of agreement between the results from different tests was apparent and cautious approach to predictive SKIN-IRRITANCY testing with detergents is advocated.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.26.1-26.9
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• 2016

Objectives Korea's Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) was enacted for the protection of human health and the environment in 2015. Considering that about 2000 new substances are introduced annually across the globe, the extent of animal testing requirement could be overwhelming unless regulators and companies work proactively to institute and enforce global best practices to replace, reduce or refine animal use. In this review, the way to reduce the animal use for K-REACH is discussed. Methods Background of the enforcement of the K-REACH and its details was reviewed along with the papers and regulatory documents regarding the limitation of animal experiments and its alternatives in order to discuss the regulatory adoption of alternative tests. Results Depending on the tonnage of the chemical used, the data required ranges from acute and other short-term studies for a single exposure route to testing via multiple exposure routes and costly, longer-term studies such as a full two-generation reproducibility toxicity. The European Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals regulation provides for mandatory sharing of vertebrate test data to avoid unnecessary duplication of animal use and test costs, and obligation to revise data requirements and test guidelines "as soon as possible" after relevant, validated replacement, reduction or refinement (3R) methods become available. Furthermore, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development actively accepts alternative animal tests and 3R to chemical toxicity tests. Conclusions Alternative tests which are more ethical and efficient than animal experiments should be widely used to assess the toxicity of chemicals for K-REACH registration. The relevant regulatory agencies will have to make efforts to actively adopt and uptake new alternative tests and 3R to K-REACH.