• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2002

PCR-RFLP analysis was carried out to investigate the genotype of Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) gene in Korean Brindle Cattle and Korean Cattle with dark muzzle, which are coat color and muzzle pigmentation variants of Korean Cattle, respectively. Allelic variants of MC1R in cattle were analyzed by digestion with BsrFⅠ, AciⅠ. Among six genotypes, $E^D/E^D,\;E^D/E^+,\;E^D/e,\;E^+/E^+,\;E^+$/e and e/e, detected in cattle, only two genotypes, $E^+/E^+\;and\;E^+$/e, were observed in Korean Brindle Cattle, probably reflecting the necessary of $E^+$ allele for the expression of black brindle coat color. As in Korean Cattle with light muzzle, the $E^+$/e and e/e genotypes were detected in Korean Cattle with dark muzzle. The $E^+$ and e alleles frequencies in two populations of Korean Cattle with dark muzzle and with light muzzle were 0.37, 0.63 and 0,11, 0.89, respectively. Although the frequency of $E^+$ allele in Korean Cattle with dark muzzle was higher than in Korean Cattle with light muzzle, the $E^+$ allele was not completely associated with dark muzzle pigmentation. The results of this experiment indicate that the difference of MC1R genotype and frequency may be useful for fixation of coat color in Korean Cattle as well as Korean Brindle Cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1029-1037
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• 2012

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH), nitric oxide (NO) and L-cysteine on melanin production and expression of related genes MC1R, Tyr, Tyrp-1 and Tyrp-2 in muzzle melanocytes of differently colored three native Hanwoo cattle. Muzzle samples were taken from black, brindle and brown Hanwoo and purified melanocytes were cultured with ${\alpha}$-MSH, nitric oxide and L-cysteine at 100 nM, $50{\mu}M$ and 0.07 mg/ml of media respectively. The amounts of total melanin, eumelanin and mRNA expression at Tyr, Tyrp-1, Tyrp-2 and MC1R levels were quantified. ${\alpha}$-MSH and nitric oxide significantly increased (p<0.05) the amount of total melanin in black and brindle whereas eumelanin production in brown Hanwoo muzzle melanocytes. On the contrary, L-cysteine greatly (p<0.05) depressed the eumelanin production in black color but increased in brown. Simultaneously, up regulation of Tyr by nitric oxide and ${\alpha}$-MSH and down regulation of Tyr, Tyrp-2 and MC1R genes by L-cysteine were observed in muzzle melanocytes of all three phenotypes. The results of this study revealed nitric oxide and ${\alpha}$-MSH contribute hyper-pigmentation by enhancing eumelanogenesis whereas L-cysteine contributes to pheomelanin production in different colored Hanwoo muzzle melanocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.489-492
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• 2006

Albinism, characterized by absence or lack of pigmentation from the hair, skin, hooves, nasal region and the eyes is rarely seen in cattle in Korea. A 15-day old calf, approximately weighing 28 kg has been conspicuously distinct from the rest of 40 herds of cattle raised in Sunchang country because of its white coat color, white muzzle and hooves and eyes with light pinkish iris. The calf was born of Korean indigenous cattle with no previously reported history of albinism since inception of the farm for over a decade period. It was assumed as a form of recessive genetic disorder. This observation was documented to present occurrence of albinism in cattle in Korea.