• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2008

The current study was designed to extend the technique of spermatogonial transplantation to economically important pig model We evaluated the efficiency of pig to pig transplantation. Donor testis cells were harvested from testes obtained at castration of 10- to 14-day-old boars and were labeled with fluorescent marker(PKH26) before transplantation. The presence of infused dye or labeled pig testicular cells was confirmed in the seminiferous tubules from recipient pig. The most effective procedure of intratubular germ cell transfer was to insert an fine needle ($21{\sim}25$ gauge) through the cauda epididymis and testis into the rete testis under ultrasound guidance. Infusion of $5{\sim}7ml$ of dye solution or cell suspension could fill the rete and up to 50% of seminiferous tubules of 14-week-old boars. Testis were examined for the presence and localization of labeled donor cells immediately after transplantation and labeled donor cells were found in numerous seminiferous tubules from recipient pig testes. These results indicate that germ cell transplantation is feasible in recipient pig testis. This study represents successful spermatogonial transplantation between individual animals in a livestock species.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2003

The objective of the present study was to investigate the survival effect after transplantation of pig spermatogonia cells into mouse testis. Donor cells were collected from porcine testis and the isolated spermatogonial stem cells were labeled with a fluorescent marker before transplantation and transplanted into testes of busulfan-treated recipient mice. Testes were examined for the presence and localization of labeled donor cells immediately after transplantation or every week for 4 wk. Transplanted germ cells were present in the seminiferous epithelium at 4 weeks after the transplantation, but any differentiating porcine-derived cells were not detected in mouse testis. These results indicate that porcine-derived spermatogonial stem cells can be survived in the recipient, but suggest that porcine-derived male stem cells can not proceed to further differentiating step without helping of immunosuppressor agents.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.233-233
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• 2004

PURPOSE: Gene expression and apoptosis in testicular germ cells has been demonstrated in many transgenic animals. However, little is known about the transgenic pig and rates of apoptosis during spermatogenesis. METHODS : Morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis reported in other species were used to confirm that the TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay is an acceptable mothos for idendtification and quantification of apoptotic transgenic germ cells in histological tissue section from transgenic pig testis. (omitted)

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.739-745
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• 2017

In all mammalian species, progesterone is essential in the preparation for and maintenance of pregnancy. $20{\alpha}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($20{\alpha}$-HSD) predominantly converts progesterone into its biologically inactive form $20{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($20{\alpha}$-OHP), and plays a crucial role in the termination of pregnancy and initiation of parturition. In this study, we characterized the expression and localization of $20{\alpha}$-HSDinthe testis of MediKinetics $Micropigs^{(R)}$. The testes were collected at days 6, 9, 12, 18, and 21 after birth. The $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA was found to be expressed in the testis at day 6 after birth by RT-PCR. The highest level of mRNA expression in the testis was detected on day 21 after birth. However, the mRNA was not detected in the placenta after parturition. Western blot for $20{\alpha}$-HSD reveal that the specific 37-kDa band was detected in immature pig testis. However, this band was not detected in testis tissue at day 6 after birth. In the immunohistochemical analysis of the testis, $20{\alpha}$-HSD was detected in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Taken together, our study shows for the first time that the $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA and protein are expressed in pig testis after birth. Further investigation is required to elucidate the functional mechanisms of $20{\alpha}$-HSD in pig testis after birth.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2011

Sex steroid hormones are key molecules to prepare the decidual response and their levels are important in this process. Imbalances of the levels of steroid hormones are cause of implantation failure and other diseases including physical weakness. Androgen replacement therapy or selective androgen receptor modulator are used to overcome various diseases but long-term use may cause of side effects. In previous report, it is suggested that the steroid hormonal complexes derived from pig enhance the proliferation of satellite cell. Therefore, to evaluate the possible usage of steroid hormonal complex derived from pig testis (tS-C), the effects of tS-C on uterine response were studied using the model of artificial decidua. tS-C did not disturb the rhythmical estrus cycle. Artificial-induced decidual response was normally induced in tS-C administered mice. The histological characters of the decidua of tS-C administered mice were not different from the vehicle. The expression patterns of molecular markers of decidua were not different between vehicle and tS-C group. Collectively these results suggested that tS-C does not disturb the uterine responsibility to the embryo. In addition, our results suggested that tS-C can be applied to overcome the various problems such as loss of muscle mass and anemia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1566-1577
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• 2010

Nandrolone, 19-nortestosterone, is a synthetic androgenic-anabolic steroid promoting muscle growth. Nandrolone is also present in pig meat and sera at non-negligible levels. A number of scientific reports have suggested a positive relationship between incidence of infertility and increased meat consumption in humans. The present study was designed to determine out the effect of feeding nandrolone on the testis of the male reproductive tract. Mixtures of food and nandrolone at different concentrations (0.005 ppm and 0.5 ppm) were supplied to pubertal male rats for 6 weeks. Body weight was recorded every week during the entire experimental period. At the end of the treatment, the testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat were collected and weighted. Sperm numbers in the caudal epididymis were counted. Differential gene or protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR or western blotting analysis, respectively. Histological changes of the testis induced by nandrolone treatment were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental animals. There were no significant changes on body, testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat weights among experimental groups. A significant increase of caudal sperm number was found in the 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated group. Histological examination of the testes noted a high frequency of germ cell sloughing in seminiferous tubules of 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated rats. Even though transcript levels of $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) I, $17{\beta}$-HSD4, and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase were influenced by nandrolone treatments, protein levels of all molecules examined in the present study were not significantly affected. Immunohistochemical analysis showed no visible changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups. The current study showed that oral intake of nandrolone in male rats for 6 weeks did not cause significant damage to the testis. It is considered that a feeding effect of nandrolone on male fertility would not be remarkable.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.319-322
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• 2012

This case presents application of bioadhesive for inguinal hernia repair of Jeju native pigs. An inguinal hernia was diagnosed in Jeju native pigs, respectively, 3 days of age and 30 days of age, by physical and radiographic examination. Inguinal herniorrhaphy was performed under sedation with azaperone. After excision of scrotal sac, gently separated testis and intestinal loops. Herniated testis was isolated from scrotal sac and intestinal loops were replaced in the abdominal cavity. The external inguinal ring surface and skin closed using the technique of tissue adhesive. The patients were recovered without post-operative complications. This result considered that bioadhesive application could be a simple method to reduction of scrotal hernia without post-treatment like removal of sutures.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.48-48
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• 2003

본 실험은 spermatogonia 단계에 발현하는 유전자를 찾기 위하여 suppression subtractive hybridization를 수행하였다. 기존에 mouse에서는 spermatogonia 특이적인 유전자들이 밝혀져 있기 때문에 pig에 특이적인 유전자를 찾기 위하여 pig 250days testis와 pig 60days testis를 재료로 하여 실험하였다. SSH를 통하여 254days testis에 특이적으로 발현되는 후보유전자를 7개 찾았고 25days testis와 60days testis 의 Northern blot을 통하여 25days에 과발현하고 60days에 발현의 양이 대폭 줄어드는 spermatogonia 유전자로 생각되는 후보유전자 2개를 선택하여 pig tissue northern blot, genomic DNA southern blot, RT-PCR 그리고 In-situ hybridization을 수행하였다. Tissue northern blot과 RT-PCR을 통하여 후보자 1번은 간과 폐, 난소, 정소에서 발현하고, 후보유전자 15번은 난소와 정소에서만 특이적으로 발현함을 알았다. DNA sequence analysis와 NCBI Blast search를 통하여 후보자 1번은 다른 종에서 밝혀진 유전자였고 후보유전자 15번은 어느 종에서도 밝혀지지 않은 새로운 유전자였다. Degenerated primer를 통하여 후보자 1번의 pig full sequence를 밝히고 NCBI에 등록하였다. 그리고 In-situ hybridization을 통하여 후보유전자득이 20일째 testis의 Leydic cell에서 많이 발현되고 adult testis에서는 발현이 감소하는 결과를 얻었다. 이것으로 보아 위의 두 후보유전자는 spermatogonia에 직접 관련된 유전자이기 보다는 spermatogonia의 발달에 영향을 주는 leydic cell 특이발현을 가진 유전자로 사료되어진다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

Artificial insemination (AI) has been performed widely in swine industry using fresh liquid sperm instead of frozen type of sperm. However fresh sperm are not able to preserve more than three days with optimal motility and other sperm parameters for the successful fertilization, since in vitro stored sperm has an oxidative stress that resulted increase of abnormality and acrosome reation. To overcome these major problems, novel preservative formulation is needed to neutralize the oxidative stress and to provide suitable physiological environment for sperm in in vitro. In this study, naturally derived substances such as Poncirus trifoliate (Trifoliate orange), Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen), pig placenta and testis extracts were tested as sperm preservative agents. Placenta extracts (PE), trifoliate orange extracts (TOE), testes extracts (TE) and mangosteen extracts (ME) were applied to analyze specific parameters for sperm motion characteristics individually and combinatorial. Each individual extract treatment can accelerate the sperm motility but noticeably TOE, TE and ME treatments exhibited the considerable and significant preservation of sperm motility. PE, TE and ME showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in ALH after one week. Further we evaluated the five different combinations of these extracts on sperm motility and its motion characteristics. Surprisingly even after one week ME, TOE and TE combination significantly preserved the sperm motility about 75%. It is noteworthy that unlike individual extract treatment, combination of ME, TOE and TE simultaneously protect the sperm motility and its motion characteristics. Taken together these data conclude that addition of ME, TOE and TE can be effective for preservation of pig sperm.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2018

The identification of biomarkers of a living tissues is essentially required to understand specific functions of the cells. In previous study, we reported IGFBP 3 as one of the putative biomarkers, by showing specific expression at porcine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of early stage of porcine testis. In this study, we analyzed the expression of seven members of IGFBP family (IGFBPs) in SSCs and histological expression pattern of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), which plays a role on the growth promoting enzyme by cleavage of IGFBPs in testis of 5 days old pig. RT-PCR analysis showed that IGFBP 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 were expressed at high level specifically in porcine SSCs compared with whole testis. We performed immunohisotochemical staining of testis sections with PAPP-A and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) which are the known biomarkers for SSCs. We were not able to find co-expression of PAPP-A and PGP9.5; PAPP-A was expressed only in Sertoli cells and PGP9.5 expression was confirmed in spermatogonium. Additionally, we were able to confirm the GATA4 expression in Sertoli and Leydig cells as a regulator of Sertoli cell function was not detected PGP9.5 expressing cells, indicating indirect evidence of that cytolocalization of PAPP-A expression is limited in Sertoli cells. These results suggested that the PAPP-A expressed in Sertoli cells may play role on regulation of development and differentiation of testicular cells through the IGF axis in neonatal porcine testis.