• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.885-891
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• 2004

To evaluate the feasibility of using sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) for carrying foreign gene into chicken oocyte, a reporter gene, CX-EGFP, was used in this study. The reporter gene was first mixed with liposome or liposome-like compound and the mixtures were further combined with ejaculated cock spermatozoa. The spermatozoa treated with liposome and CX-EGFP mixture was subsequently coincubated with DNaseI to remove the extra DNA which insured the authenticity of positive signals. The treated sperms were then subjected to transgene (reporter gene) existence analysis and artificial insemination of laying hens. Obtained results indicated that the spermatozoa were able to take-in the foreign DNA; which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. In the following experiment, fresh ejaculated sperms were mixed with CX-EGFP-liposome or CX-EGFP-liposome-like complex then used for artificial insemination of each of six laying hens. Eggs laid between day-3 and day-7 post insemination were collected. Newly hatched chicks, two out of 53 from CX-EGFP/liposome treated group and two out of 21 from CXEGFP/liposome-like treated group, were proven to be transgenic. This study suggests that SMGT is a powerful method for generating transgenic chickens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.3 s.135
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• pp.101-110
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• 2005

In this study, the trypsin gene (bgtryp-1) from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was cloned via the immunoscreening of patients with allergies to cockroaches. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted an 863 bp open reading frame which encodes for 257 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited $42-57\%$ homology with the serine protease from dust mites, and consisted of a conserved catalytic domain (GOSGGPLV). bgtryp-1 was determined by both Northern and Southern analysis to be a 0.9 kb, single-copy gene. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses of the recombinant protein (Bgtryp-1) over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 35 kDa, and the expressed protein was capable of reacting with the sera of cock-roach allergy patients. We also discussed the possibility that trypsin excreted by the digestive system of the German cockroach not only functions as an allergen, but also may perform a vital role in the activation of PAR-2.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

Many biological systems are regulated by an intricate set of feedback loops that oscillate with a circadian rhythm of roughly 24 h. This circadian clock mediates an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion early in the day. Recent studies have shown changes in the amplitude of the circadian clock in the hearts and livers of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. It is therefore important to examine the relationships between circadian clock genes and growth factors and their effects on diabetic phenomena in animal models as well as in human patients. In this study, we sought to determine whether diurnal variation in organ development and the regulation of metabolism, including growth and development during the juvenile period in rats, exists as a mechanism for anticipating and responding to the environment. Also, we examined the relationship between changes in growth factor expression in the liver and clock-controlled protein synthesis and turnover, which are important in cellular growth. Specifically, we assessed the expression patterns of several clock genes, including Per1, Per2, Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 and growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and -2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Growth factor and clock gene expression in the liver at 1 week post-induction was clearly increased compared to the level in control rats. In contrast, the expression patterns of the genes were similar to those observed after 5 weeks in the STZ-treated rats. The increase in gene expression is likely a compensatory change in response to the obstruction of insulin function during the initial phase of induction. However, as the period of induction was extended, the expression of the compensatory genes decreased to the control level. This is likely the result of decreased insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas by STZ.