• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2013

This study was conducted to establish the method for preserving PGCs that enables long-term storage in liquid nitrogen for developmental engineering or preservation of species. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of freeze-thaw treatment on viability of PGCs in chickens. PGCs were collected separately from a germinal gonad of an early embryo of 5.5~6 day (stage 28) of Isa brown, Korean Oge (KO), White Leghorn and Commercial breeds. PGCs separated from a germinal gonad of an early embryo of 5.5~6 day (stage 28) are suspended in a freezing medium containing a freezing and protecting agents (e.g. dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol). The PGCs were then purified using magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) method. The viability of PGCs after thawing was $87.4{\pm}0.4%$ and $89.4{\pm}0.2%$ with the 10% EG treatments with no significant difference between the Isa brown and Commercial breeds. The viability of PGCs after freeze- thawing was significantly higher for Isa brown ($87.4{\pm}0.4%$) and Commercial breeds ($89.4{\pm}0.2%$) than Korean Oge (KO) ($77.6{\pm}1.1%$) and White Leghorn ($76.2{\pm}0.9%$)(p<0.05) using 10% EG cryoprotectant. This study established a method for pre- serving chicken PGCs that enables systematic storage and labeling of cryopreserved PGCs in liquid ($LN_2$) at agermplasm repository and ease of entry into a data base. In the future, the importance for this new technology is that poultry lines can be conserved while work is being conducted on improving the production of germline chimeras.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2017

Pig has been known to be one of the most feasible animals as a bioreactor to produce pharmaceuticals in milk and as a mediator in xenotransplantation research. Previously, we generated transgenic pigs for both purposes, which were expressing Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, and hEPO in milk, along with expression of MCP at GalT gene locus ($GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$) as well as expressing MCP at GalT gene loci with CD73 expression ($GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$). In this study, we performed comparative analyses of sperm parameters between wild type male (WT) pig and those transgenic males to examine the effects of transgenes integrated into the pigs on motility, morphology, viability, and acrosome integrity of the spermatozoa. Our results showed that the rates of actively motile spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 85.0%, 83.3%, 82.5%, 83.3%, 82.5%, 77.5%, and 78.7%, respectively. Whereas, the rates of morphologically normal spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 90.0%, 80.0%, 80.0%, 83.3%, 85.0%, 91.8%, and 80.8%, respectively. In addition, the viability in spermatozoa of WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 93.9%, 82.4%, 89.9%, 83.9%, 87.4%, 92.8%, and 83.6%, respectively. The rates of spermatozoa with normal acrosome integrity in WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs were 98.1%, 98.6%, 98.6%, 98.7%, 98.1%, 99.5%, and 95.1%, respectively. There were no significant differences in motility, morphology, viability, and acrosome integrity of the spermatozoa among WT, Factor 8, vWF, hTPA, and hEPO, $GalT^{-MCP/+}/CD73$, and $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pigs. These mean that neither random integration nor targeted integration of the transgene into chromosome of pig effect on characteristics of spermatozoa. Ultimately, the transgenic male pigs subjected in this study could apply to propagate their progenies for production of human therapeutic proteins and advancing the xenotransplantation research.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

The in vitro production of porcine embryos was essential to increase of blastocyst development rate and select of high quality blastocyst in early stage. There were a lot of reports about in vitro porcine embryo development, but there was no report about the selection of high quality embryos. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of vitamin $K_1$ (vit $K_1$) on the development and survival rate of porcine in vitro fertilized embryos. When vit $K_1$ was treated for 24 hr at day 1 in vitro culture, blastocyst development rate in the control group ($35.5{\pm}3.2%$) was significantly lower compared to $1.0{\mu}M$, $3.0{\mu}M$, or $6.0{\mu}M$ groups ($14.5{\pm}4.3$, 0.0, or 0.0%; p<0.05). The survival rates of blastocysts at day 8 in $1.0{\mu}M$, $3.0{\mu}M$ or $6.0{\mu}M$ of vit $K_1$ treated groups ($22.2{\pm}2.9$, 0.0 or 0.0%) were significantly lower than that of the control group ($31.8{\pm}2.6%$; p<0.05). We were added at $1.0{\mu}M$, $3.0{\mu}M$ or $6.0{\mu}M$ vit $K_1$ for different durations of time at day 1 in vitro culture. The development rate and survival rate in the group of $1.0{\mu}M$ vit $K_1$ for 6 hr was $26.5{\pm}2.9%$ and $47.2{\pm}2.8%$, respectively, which were differed significantly in the group of 12 hr (p<0.05). In the group of $3.0{\mu}M$ vit $K_1$, the blastocyst development in control group was $36.4{\pm}3.1%$ but, the survival rate $41.7{\pm}3.2%$ in the group of 3.0 hr was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In the group of $6.0{\mu}M$ vit $K_1$, the control group's the blastocyst development was $32.0{\pm}2.8%$ and the 0.5 hr supplement group's survival rates was $42.9{\pm}1.8%$ higher than other groups. We added vit $K_1$ at day 1, day 2, day 4 and day 6 of in vitro culture, on the based the results of supplemented concentration and duration. In the group of $1.0{\mu}M$ 6.0 hr addition, the blastocyst development rate of day 4 and the survival rate of day 2 were the highest in each group. In the groups of $3.0{\mu}M$ 3.0 hr addition or $6.0{\mu}M$ 0.5 hr addition, the blastocyst development ($59.5{\pm}4.1%$ and $50.0{\pm}3.6%$) and survival rates ($72.7{\pm}5.4%$ and $79.2{\pm}4.0%$) on day 4 were significantly higher than that of control and other experiment groups (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the number of cells in blastocysts that produced by vit $K_1$ supplementation was $53.4{\pm}5.8$, $49.4{\pm}3.8$ and $51.5{\pm}4.5$ respectively, which were significantly higher than that of $40.2{\pm}2.3$ in the control group (p<0.05). There was no difference of the number of apoptotic cells between control and experiment groups. In addition, gene expression of survival blastocyst, the Bax mRNA expression was similar between the control and the experiment groups. However, Bcl-xL mRNA expression's in the group of $6.0{\mu}M$ 0.5 hr on day 4 was highest among control and experiment groups (p<0.05). In this study suggested that the control of concentration, duration and time was effective on the survival and cell number of porcine blastocyst derived from in vitro. We are not know what the exact reasons of the effect of vit $K_1$ on embryo development and need to fur ther study. However, vit $K_1$ might be using the selection of high quality porcine blastocyst.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1394-1406
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• 2015

The AT motif-binding factor (ATBF1) not only interacts with protein inhibitor of activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (PIAS3) to suppress STAT3 signaling regulating embryo early development and cell differentiation, but is required for early activation of the pituitary specific transcription factor 1 (Pit1) gene (also known as POU1F1) critically affecting mammalian growth and development. The goal of this study was to detect novel nucleotide variations and haplotypes structure of the ATBF1 gene, as well as to test their associations with growth-related traits in goats. Herein, a total of seven novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (SNP 1-7) within this gene were found in two well-known Chinese native goat breeds. Haplotypes structure analysis demonstrated that there were four haplotypes in Hainan black goat while seventeen haplotypes in Xinong Saanen dairy goat, and both breeds only shared one haplotype (hap1). Association testing revealed that the SNP2, SNP5, SNP6, and SNP7 loci were also found to significantly associate with growth-related traits in goats, respectively. Moreover, one diplotype in Xinong Saanen dairy goats significantly linked to growth related traits. These preliminary findings not only would extend the spectrum of genetic variations of the goat ATBF1 gene, but also would contribute to implementing marker-assisted selection in genetics and breeding in goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1245-1252
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• 2017

Objective: Phellodendron amurense (P. amurense) and Humulus japonicus (H. japonicus) are closely involved in anti-oxidative response and increasing antioxidant enzymes activities. However, the effects of their extracts on development of preimplantation bovine embryos have not been investigated. Therefore, we investigated the effects of P. amurense and H. japonicus extracts on developmental competence and quality of preimplantation bovine embryos. Methods: After in vitro fertilization, bovine embryos were cultured for 7 days in Charles Rosenkrans amino acid medium supplemented with P. amurense ($0.01{\mu}g/mL$) and H. japonicus ($0.01{\mu}g/mL$). The effect of this supplementation during in vitro culture on development competence and antioxidant was investigated. Results: We observed that the blastocysts rate was significantly increased (p<0.05) in P. amurense ($28.9%{\pm}2.9%$), H. japonicus ($30.9%{\pm}1.5%$), and a mixture of P. amurense and H. japonicus ($34.8%{\pm}2.1%$) treated groups compared with the control group ($25.4%{\pm}1.6%$). We next confirmed that the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly decreased (p<0.01) in P. amurense and/or H. japonicus extract treated groups when compared with the control group. Our results also showed that expression of cleaved caspase-3 and apoptotic cells of blastocysts were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in bovine blastocysts derived from both P. amurense and H. japonicus extract treated embryos. Conclusion: These results suggest that proper treatment with P. amurense and H. japonicus extracts in the development of preimplantation bovine embryos improves the quality of blastocysts, which may be related to the reduction of ROS level and apoptosis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is one of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and found mainly in the chloroplasts. Many studies have been reported that intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mammalian oocytes were reduced by supplementation of ALA in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium. Based on these reports, we expected that ALA acts as an antioxidant during IVM of porcine oocytes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of ALA supplementation during IVM in porcine oocytes. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were incubated in IVM medium containing $200{\mu}m$ $H_2O_2$ or $H_2O_2$ with $50{\mu}m$ ALA for 44 h. Nuclear maturation stage of oocytes was evaluated using aceto-orcein method. For measurement of oxidative stress state, intracellular ROS and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured using carboxy-DCFDA and cell tracker red, respectively. In results, oocytes in metaphase-II (MII) stage development was significantly reduced in $H_2O_2$ group compared to non-treated control group $61.84{\pm}1.42%$ and 80.00%, respectively; p<0.05) and it was slightly recovered by treatment of ALA ($69.76{\pm}1.67%$; p<0.05). The intracellular GSH levels was decreased in $H_2O_2$ groups compared with control groups, but it was enhanced by ALA treatment (p<0.05). On the contrary, $H_2O_2$ treatment increased intracellular ROS level in oocytes and $H_2O_2$-induced ROS was decreased by treatment of ALA (p<0.05). Our findings suggested that ALA treatment under oxidative stress condition improve oocyte maturation via elevated GSH and reduced ROS levels in oocytes. Therefore, these results suggest that ALA have an antioxidative ability and it could be used as antioxidant in in vitro production system of porcine embryo.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 1994

Immature ovule of intergeneric $F_1$ hybrid between Platycodon grandiflorum x Codonopsis lanceolata for producing embryogenic callus. somatic embryos and plant regeneration were cultured in vitro on various medium as well as MT(Murashige Tucker)medium treated with different concentration of plant growth regulators. Embryogenic callus induction was highest in the treatment of NAA 0.5 $mg/{\ell}$ and zeatin 0.01 $mg/{\ell}$ added on MT medium, whereas it was lower in treatments with auxins alone. MT medium were more effective in production of somatic embryos from incubated embryogenic callus. Most favorable plant growgh regulator for producing somatic embryos was 2. 4-D 0.5 $mg/{\ell}$ and zeation. BAP 0.01$mg/{\ell}$, but hormone-free and auxins alone were less effective. NAA 0.01$mg/{\ell}$ added with zeation 0.5 $mg/{\ell}$ was effective as high as NAA 0.01 $mg/{\ell}$ alone in normal plant regeneration from somatic embryo.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.241-245
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• 1994

Effects of media and plant growth regulators on the germination of somatic embryos of Angelica tree(Aralia elata Seem.) was studied for the mass production of Angelica tree through tissue culture. MS medium was found to be the most effective for the germination of somatic embryos(65% germination rate), Among the MS medium, the medium containing 25% less inorganic salts and 1% less sucrose was found to be the most effective. Gelling agent with 0.2-0.3% gelrite promoted the germination of somatic embryo$(65{\sim}70%)$ and caused good growth of shoots and roots. 0.1 mg/l of BA and kinetin treatment caused $65{\sim}70%$ germination rate of somatic embryos and good growth of shoots and roots, and resulted in high percentage of dry matter. 1mg/l or 5 mg/l treatment of putrescine, and 10 mg/l treatment of spermidine caused 90% germination rate of somatic embryos and good growth of plant organs, and inhibited vitrification of regenerated plants.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2015

Melittin is the main component of Bee Venom and has antibacterial activity against several bacteria. To produce the melittin antimicrobial peptide, we constructed transgenic silkworm that expressed melittin gene under the control BmA3 promoter using piggyBac vector. The use of the 3xP3-driven EGFP cDNA as a marker allowed us to rapidly distinguish transgenic silkworm. Mixtures of the donor vector and helper vector were micro-injected into 300 eggs of bivoltin silkworms, Baegokjam. In total, 131 larvae (G0) were hatched and allowed to develop into moths. The resulting G1 generation consisted of 36 broods, and we selected 4 broods containing at least 1 EGFP-positive embryo. The rate of successful transgenesis for the G1 broods was 11%. We identified 12 EGFP-positive G1 moths and these were backcrossed with wild-type moths. With the aim of identifying a melittin as antimicrobial peptide, we investigated the Radical diffusion Assay (RDA) and then demonstrated that melittin possesses high antibacterial activities against gramnegative bacteria.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2013

This study was conducted to establish methods for preserving chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen and for developmental engineering or preservation of species. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of fetal bovine serum (FBS) or chicken serum (CS) treatment on the viability of cryopreserved PGCs from Korean Native Chicken (Ogye). PGCs separated from a germinal gonad of an early embryo at day 5.5-6 (stage 28) were suspended in a freezing medium containing freezing and protective agents (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol). The values from 0, 5, 10, and 15 % DMSO plus FBS treatment were 21.6, 30.36, 36.42, 50.39, and 48.36 %, respectively. The viability of PGCs after freeze-thawing was significantly higher for 10% EG plus FBS treatment than for 10% EG + FCS treatment (p<0.05) (64.36% vs. 50.66%). This study establishes a method for preserving chicken PGC that enables systematic storage and labeling of cryopreserved PGC in liquid nitrogen at a germplasm repository and an ease of entry into a database. In the future, the importance for this new technology is that poultry lines can be conserved while work is being conducted to improve the production of germline chimeras.