• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.261-270
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• 2022

Background: The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a critical region for the management of nociception. The RVM is also involved in learning and memory processes due to its relationship with the hippocampus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind orexin-A signaling in the RVM and hippocampus's effects on capsaicin-induced pulpal nociception and cognitive impairments in rats. Methods: Capsaicin (100 g) was applied intradentally to male Wistar rats to induce inflammatory pulpal nociception. Orexin-A and an orexin-1 receptor antagonist (SB-334867) were then microinjected into the RVM. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to check the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the RVM and hippocampus. Results: Interdental capsaicin treatment resulted in nociceptive responses as well as a reduction in spatial learning and memory. Additionally, it resulted in decreased BDNF and increased COX-2 expression levels. Orexin-A administration (50 pmol/1 µL/rat) could reverse such molecular changes. SB-334867 microinjection (80 nM/1 µL/rat) suppressed orexin's effects. Conclusions: Orexin-A signaling in the RVM and hippocampus modulates capsaicin-induced pulpal nociception in male rats by increasing BDNF expression and decreasing COX-2 expression.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.538-545
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• 2009

본 총설에서는 주사형프로브현미경의 원리와 응용에 관하여 간략히 설명하고 최근 본 그룹에 의하여 활발하게 연구되고 있는 나노탐침과 AFM(원자간력현미경 atomic force microscopy)을 이용한 저침습성(low-invasive) 단일세포 조작기술과 고효율 유전자 도입기술을 소개하고자 한다. 시판 AFM 탐침을 침상구조로 가공한 나노탐침과 AFM을 이용하였을 경우, 탐침의 세포삽입의 성공여부를 force-distance curve 상의 척력소실의 유무로 판단할 수 있다. 침상 나노탐침을 사용하면 대부분의 세포에서 80~90%의 고효율 세포삽입이 가능하여 마이크로인젝션용 미세관을 이용하는 경우보다 세포삽입효율이 높았다. 또한 나노탐침의 직경이 400 nm 이하의 경우에는 세포 종류에 관계없이 장시간 나노탐침의 삽입에도 세포활성에 큰 영향이 없었다. 침상나노탐침을 이용하여 DNA를 도입하였을 경우에도 기존의 DNA 도입방법과 비교하여 높은 도입효율과 유전자 발현율로 DNA를 도입할 수 있는 가능성을 확인하였다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.745-753
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• 2008

Gene-manipulated mice were discovered for the first time about a quarter century ago. Since then, numerous sophisticated technologies have been developed and applied to answer key questions about the fundamental roles of the genes of interest. Functional genomics can be characterized into gain-of-function and loss-of-function, which are called transgenic and knock-out studies, respectively. To make transgenic mice, the most widely used technique is the microinjection of transgene-containing vectors into the embryonic pronucleus. However, there are critical drawbacks: namely position effects, integration of unknown copies of a foreign gene, and instability of the foreign DNA within the host genome. To overcome these problems, the ROSA26 locus was used for the knock-in site of a transgene. Usage of this locus is discussed for the gain of function study as well as for several brilliant approaches such as conditional/inducible transgenic system, reproducible/inducible knockdown system, specific cell ablation by Cre-mediated expression of DTA, Cre-ERTM mice as a useful tool for temporal gene regulation, MORE mice as a germ line delete and site specific recombinase system. Techniques to make null mutant mice include complicated steps: vector design and construction, colony selection of embryonic stem (ES) cells, production of chimera mice, confirmation of germ line transmission, and so forth. It is tedious and labor intensive work and difficult to approach. Thus, it is not readily accessible by most researchers. In order to overcome such limitations, technical breakthroughs such as reporter knock-in and gene knock-out system, production of homozygous mutant ES cells from a single targeting vector, and production of mutant mice from tetraploid embryos are developed. With these upcoming progresses, it is important to consider how we could develop these systems further and expand to other animal models such as pigs and monkeys that have more physiological similarities to humans.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.856-860
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• 2000

Cloning technology continues to capture widespread attention by the international news media and biomedical and agricultural industries. The future uses of this technology could potentially contribute to major advances in biomedical and agricultural sciences. Cloned transgenic dairy cattle possessing milk promoters directing transgenes will produce pharmaceutical proteins in their milk faster, more efficiently and less expensively than transgenic cattle created using microinjection techniques. Additionally, cloned transgenic fetuses and animals may become a source of cells, tissue and organs for xenotransplantation. Lastly, but maybe most importantly, enhanced production traits and disease resistance may be realized in animal agriculture by utilizing these new technologies. The recent advances in the cattle cloning technology are important but there are still major obstacles preventing widespread commercial use of this technology. The type of donor nucleus, recipient cytoplasm, and cloning procedures used will impact the potential number of clones produced and the uses of the technology. In addition, the new advances in cloning methodology have not improved the relatively low pregnancy rates or reduced the incidence of health problems observed in cloned offspring. These problems may require novel techniques to decipher their cause and new methods of preventing and/or diagnosing them in the preimplantation embryo. The commercial potential is enormous for cloning technology; however, little has been done to improve the efficiencies of the procedure. Improving procedural efficiencies is a critical developmental milestone especially for potential uses of cloning technology in animal agriculture.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.35-41
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• 1995

본 연구는 형질전화우의 생산성 제고를 위한 일환으로서 새로운 기법인 retrovirus vector system의 이용성을 검토하고자 실시하였다. Retrovirus-producing cell은 미세주입법을 이용하여 체외생산된 1.5일(1~4-세포기) 수정란의 위란강에 주입(5~10 cells/embryo) 되었으며, 이때 사용된 retrovirus-producing cell line은 Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV) envelope protein에 encapsidation되어 replication-defective retrovirus를 분비하도록 제작되었다. 주입된 유전자의 표지유전자로서 E. coli LacZ 유전자를 사용하였으며, X-gal 염색법은 발달이 유도된 상실배와 배반포 단계에 실시하여 LacZ 유전자의 발현 유무를 확인하였다. 이 실험의 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. Virus의 infectivity를 높이기 위해 사용된 polybrene의 최저농도는 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml이었다. 2. Retrovirus-producing cell이 주입된 1.5일 수정란의 상실배기와 배반포기로의 발달율은 29%였다. 3. 이 때의 LacZ+ 발현율은 21%였다. 4. 본 실험에 사용된 retrovirus-producing cell은 replication-competent retroviruses를 생산해 내지않는다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.89-89
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• 2003

본 연구에서는 1.7kb 및 3.1kb bovine $\beta$-casein promoter의 유전자 발현 조절능력을 알아보기 위해 1 7kb 및 3.1kb bovine $\beta$-casein promoter에 human Type II Collagen 유전자를 연결해서 DNA microinjection으로 형질전환생쥐를 생산하였다. 총 8마리의 founder생쥐(1.7kb collagen : 5마리, 3.1kb collagen 3마리)를 생산하였고 이 founder생쥐와 wild type 생쥐를 mating시켜서 $F_1 및 F_2$ 새끼를 얻었다. $F_1 및 F_2$새끼들에서 human Type II collagen 유전자의 transmission rate는 약 50%로 Mendel의 법칙에 따라 분리되어 안정적으로 유전자가 염색체에 정착되어 있음을 확인하였다. 이들 $F_1 및 F_2$새끼 중 암컷들을 임신시켜 분만 후 5-10 일경에 유선조직을 포함하여 여러 조직으로부터 RNA를 추출하여 Northern blotting 및 RT-PCR 방법을 이용하여 Type II collagen mRNA의 발현을 분석하였다. 유선에서의 발현은 1 7 kb 및 3.1 kb line별로 각각 1 line씩 발현되지 않았고, 그 외 line에서는 모두 발현되는 것으로 확인되었다. 유선에서의 Type II collagen mRNA 발형양은 1.7 kb 및 3.1 kb bovine $\beta$-casein promoter사이에서는 큰 차이를 나타내지 않았으나 1.7 kb promoter 형질전환생쥐의 경우 유선 이외 조직에서도 발현되는 양상을 나타내었고, 3.1kb promoter line에서는 유선특이적으로 발현시키는 양상을 나타내었다. 그러므로 bovine $\beta$-casein promoter의 1.7 kb와 3.1 kb 사이에 유선특이적 발현을 유도하는 조절부위가 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2008

The intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure has recently been utilized to produce transgenic animals and may serve as an alternative to the conventional pronuclear microinjection in species such as pigs whose ooplasm is opaque and pronuclei are often invisible. In this study, the effects of sperm membrane disruption and electrical activation of oocytes on in vitro development and expression of transgene green fluorescent protein (GFP) in ICSI embryos were tested to refine this recently developed procedure. Prior to ICSI, sperm heads were treated with Triton X-100+NaCl or Triton X-100+NaCl+NaOH, to disrupt membrane to be permeable to exogenous DNA, and incubated with linearized pEGFP-N1 vector. To induce activation of oocytes, a single DC pulse of 1.3 kV/cm was applied to oocytes for $30{\mu}sec$. After ICSI was performed with the aid of a micromanipulator, in vitro development of embryos and GFP expression were monitored. The chemical treatment to disrupt sperm membrane did not affect the developmental competence of embryos. 40 to 60% of oocytes were cleaved after injection of sperm heads with disrupted membrane, whereas 48.6% (34/70) were cleaved without chemical treatment. Regardless of electrical stimulation to induce activation, oocytes were cleaved after ICSI, reflecting that, despite sperm membrane disruption, the perinuclear soluble sperm factor known to mediate oocyte activation remained intact. After development to the 4-cell stage, 11.8 (2/17, Triton X-100+NaCl+NaOH) to 58.8% (10/17, Triton X-100+NaCl) of embryos expressed GFP. The expression of GFP beyond the stage of embryonic genome activation (4-cell stage in the pig) indicates that the exogenous DNA might have been integrated into the porcine genome. When sperm heads were co-incubated with exogenous DNA following the treatment of Triton X-100+NaCl, GFP expression was observed in high percentage (58.8%) of embryos, suggesting that transgenic pigs may efficiently be produced using ICSI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.456-464
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• 2010

RNA interference (RNAi) is an acknowledged useful and effective tool to study gene function in various cells. Here, we suppressed the Connexin 43 (Cx 43) gene expression during in vitro development of ovine pre-implantation embryos using the RNAi method. The 353 bp Cx 43 double-stranded RNA was microinjected into in vitro fertilized ovine zygotes, and the levels of target mRNA and protein were investigated. Control groups included uninjected zygotes or those injected with RNase-free water. The dsRNA injection resulted in the specific reduction of Cx 43 transcripts as analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and decreased protein levels as shown by Western blot analysis at the blastocyst stage. Microinjection of Cx 43 dsRNA led to 20.3%, 21.7% and 34.5% blastocyst rates and 19.2%, 37.5% and 41.3% hatched blastocyst rates in Cx 43 dsRNA-injected, water-injected and uninjected groups, respectively. Then the RNAi could not significantly affect cell number and cell death rates of blastocysts. Therefore, suppression of Cx 43 dsRNA and proteins did not apparently affect the development potential of ovine pre-implantation embryos but may play a role in embryo quality. RNAi technology is a promising approach to study gene function in early ovine embryogenesis.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2000년도 국제심포지움
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• pp.1-2
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• 2000

High production of milk and its components are necessary to allow maximal growth of developing piglets. In this study, transgenic pigs were produced containing the $\alpha$-lactalbumin gene, whose product is a potential limiting component in the production of milk. Two lines of transgenic pigs were produced to analyze the effects that overproduction of the milk protein $\alpha$-lactalbumin may have on milk production and piglet growth. Transgenic pigs were produced through microinjection of the bovine $\alpha$-lactalbumin gene. The gene construct contained 2.0 kb of 5 flanking region, the 2.0 kb coding region and 329 bp of 3 flanking region. Sows hemizygous for the transgene produced as much as 0.9 g of bovine $\alpha$-lactalbumin per liter of pig milk. The production of the bovine protein caused approximately a 50 % increase in the total $\alpha$-lactalbumin concentration in pig milk throughout lactation. The concentration of bovine $\alpha$-lactalbumin was highest on day 0 and 5 of lactation and decreased as lactation progressed. The ratio of bovine to porcine $\alpha$-lactalbumin changed during the sow's lactation. This ratio was 4.3 to 1 on day 0 of lactation, but by day 20 of lactation the ratio was 0.43 to 1. This suggested that the bovine transgene and the endogenous porcine gene were under slightly different control mechanisms. The higher level of total $\alpha$-lactalbumin present on day 0 of lactation was correlated with higher lactose percentage on day 0 in transgenic sows (3.8 %) as compared to controls (2.6 %) (P < 0.01). Although there was also a trend for higher lactose percentage in transgenic sows on day 5 and 10 of lactation, no significant differences were observed. These data suggest that $\alpha$-lactalbumin is limiting early in lactation of swine. Furthermore, higher concentrations of $\alpha$-lactalbumin early in lactation may boost milk output.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2001

본 연구는 growth hormone receptor(GHR) gene의 동물생리에 미치는 영향을 연구하기 위해 metallothionein promoter와 GHR gene을 이용하여 생쥐의 1-cell 수정란에 DNA 미세주입법에 의해 형질전환생쥐를 생산하였다. 세마리의 형질전환생쥐가 생산되었는데 DNA 분석결과 4~8 copy의 GHR 유전자를 지닌 것으로 확인되었다 이들 세 마리의 GHR 형질전환생쥐를 정상 형질전환생쥐와 교미시켜 F$_1$과 F$_2$ 새끼를 생산하였는데 이들의 전달율은 F$_1$에서 20~50%였고 F$_2$에서는 약 50%를 나타내어 모자익형태로 유전자가 정착되었음을 확인할 수 있었다. 3주령까지의 사망률은 Fl과 F2 새끼에서 약 10~30%를 나타내어 GHR유전자의 발현이형질전환생쥐의 초기 사망에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.