• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.252-261
• /
• 2007

Background : Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in Western society as well as in Korea. Obesity results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Materials and Methods : In an attempt to investigate the association of obesity with its candidate genes, ${\beta}3$ adrenergic receptor (${\beta}_3AR$) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), we analyzed polymorphisms of ${\beta}_3AR$ Trp64Arg and UCP2 -866G/A by PCR-RFLP analysis and the obesity-related phenotypes, including body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose concentration, and plasma lipid profiles in 750 subjects. Results : The Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3AR$ gene was not statistically associated with the BMI. The UCP2 -866G/A polymorphism was significantly higher in obese than in non-obese subjects (P<0.05). However, the UCP2 -866A/A polymorphism was higher in the non-obese subjects. Conclusion : These results suggest that the UCP2 -866G/A polymorphism might be more useful for the prediction of obesity and obesity-associated diseases in Korean patients than the ${\beta}_3AR$ Trp64Arg polymorphism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.960-966
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation of green tea waste (GTW) on the performance of lactating cows. Another aim was to increase resource utilization and to eliminate any environmental negative impact from the tea waste. GTW from a beverage company was ensiled at a low pH (<4.0) and high acetic acid and lactic acid concentration, and it contained high crude protein (CP, 34.8%), total extractable tannins (TET, 9.2%) and condensed tannin (CT, 1.7%). Two experiments were conducted to investigate the palatability and performance in lactating cows fed GTW. In the palatability trial, three lactating cows were allocated to three dietary treatments in a 3$\times$3 Latin square design. The animals were offered a total mixed ration (TMR) including GTW at rates of 0, 2.5 and 5.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. Total DM intake was not different among the treatments. In the performance trial, four lactating cows were used in a 2$\times$2 Latin square design with a 3 week sampling period. GTW was incorporated into TMR at a rate of 5.0% on a DM and 10.0% on a CP basis. Thus GTW replaced alfalfa hay and soybean meal at a level of 25.0% on a DM. DM and CP intake were not affected by the inclusion of GTW, whereas TET and CT intake were significantly increased (p<0.001). Milk production, milk composition and the efficiency of milk production were not altered by the GTW inclusion. Although ruminal pH and VFA, and blood urea nitrogen were not changed, ruminal $NH_{3}-N$ and plasma total cholesterol were relatively low in the GTW group, but not significantly different. The excretion of urinary purine derivatives and estimated MN supply were also not significantly affected by GTW treatment. It is therefore concluded that GTW can be used as a protein source without any detrimental effects on the performance of lactating cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.174-183
• /
• 2001

During the rapid phase of gonadal development of the freshwater teleost, the catfish (Silurus asotus), the influence of hCG upon the inducement of final oocyte maturation and spawning was investigated electrophoretically and ultrastructurally. The electrophoretic patterns obtained were different in the presence and absence of some of the major or minor zones, because of the hormone level in catfish. The vitellogenin of hormone-treated fish was stained more intensively than that of sham-treated fish. These proteins showed some minor or main bands of egg extracts which migrated at positions corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 90,000. However, the thickness of electrophoretic band in molecular weight for hCG-treated fish was slightly lower than that for saline control. It seemed the plasma protein with molecular weight of approximately 45,000 in hCG-treated fish disappeared. In contrast to the control fish, the ovaries in the catfish treated with hCG shows a marked ultrastructural change under the electron microscope. No dilated profiles were seen in the granulosa cells of the mature oocyte before ovulation. After germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), the zona radiata interna (ZRI) becomes more compact, and there is a loss of all the processes from the pore canals. There is a wide space between the vitelline membrane and zona radiata. Also, during final maturation, the microvillar processes from the oocyte are seen no longer to penetrate deeply into the extracellular spaces of the overlying granulosa cells, and the reticulate patterns of the zona radiata interna becomes occluded, giving the zona radiata a more solid appearance. It has been possible to initiate 100% oocyte maturation in yolk granules and follicles in vivo by treatment with hCG and a high water temperature ($27^{\circ}C$). In hCG-treated fish, the percentages of successful artificial fertilization and hatching were maximal at 15 h after a single injection. It seems clear that a long acting preparation containing hCG can be successfully used in prespawning fish to advance the final events of gonadal maturation and initiate spawning. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential of hCG to either stimulate or inhibit the reproductive development of fish at other stages of the seasonal reproductive cycle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 1993

This study determined the concentrations of micro-minerals in pastures, in feed supplements and in grazing, reproducing ewes, at different times during the year, at three farms in Northern China. Samples were collected 5 to 8 times during the year and analysed for selenium, copper, iron, molybdenum and zinc. On two farms selenium concentrations in both pastures and animal tissues were low for part of the year. The lowest concentrations in pasture (< $30{\mu}g/kg$ DM) and liver (< $100{\mu}g/kg$ wet weight) indicated that productivity of the sheep may be reduced by a deficiency of this element. On one farm copper concentrations in the lever were in the liver were in the deficient range (< $5{\mu}g/kg$ wet weight) for part of the year. It is likely that this is a result of high intakes of iron from pasture (up to 4.5 g Fe/kg DM) and soil, as indicated by high concentrations of iron in faeces (up to 7 g Fe/kg DM). Molybdenum intake is unlikely to have had much influence on copper absorption because pasture concentrations of this element were not unusually high (1 to 5 mg/kg DM). Zinc in pastures on two farms was below 10 mg/kg DM for part of the year. On one of these farms, the concentration of zinc in faeces was below 30 mg/kg DM throughout the year and this is consistent with zinc intakes of 7 to 15 mg/kg. Despite these low intakes, the concentratons of zinc in plasma were consistently above deficient levels. No clinical signs of deficiencies of any of the elements studied were observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.643-651
• /
• 1997

This experiment was conducted to determine apparent ileal and fecal digestibilities of protein sources for young pigs (15.6 kg BW) which were fitted with simple ileal T-cannulas. Experimental diets included one of the followings as a sole protein source: spray-dried plasma protein (SDPP), spray-dried blood meal (SDBM), soybean meal (SBM), isolated soy protein (ISP), dried skim milk (DSM), and fish meal (FM). The digestibilities of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) in DSM-based diet were the highest (p < 0.05), and those of SDBM and SBM diets were the lowest at the terminal ileum. The average ileal digestibilities of essential amino acids (AAs) were 88.3, 84.7, 84.6, 83.4, 83.0 and 77.7% for pigs fed the DSM, ISP, SDBM, SBM, SDPP and FM diets, respectively. There were no significant differences in overall apparent ileal AAs digestibilities in DSM and ISP diets. Digestibilities of essential AAs in DSM, however, were significantly higher than those of ISP (p < 0.05). Among the essential AAs, the digestibility of arginine was higher except for SDBM or DSM, than other AAs. The ileal digestibilities of lysine, methionine and threonine were higher (p < 0.05) in pigs fed SDBM or DSM diet than in those fed SBM diet. Digestibilities for SDPP or ISP diet in these AAs were similar except for threonine which was higher (p < 0.05) for SDPP diet. The apparent ileal digestibilities of lysine and methionine ranged from 79.6 (FM) to 92.5 (DSM) and 75.4 (SDPP) to 88.7 (DSM), respectively. The apparent fecal digestibilities of average essential AAs were 90.4, 89.1, 86.0, 84.4, 84.2 and 80.8% in pigs fed the DSM, ISP, SDBM, SDPP, SBM and FM diets, respectively. The fecal digestibilities of essential AAs were higher (p < 0.05) in pigs fed the DSM and ISP. Lysine digestibility in pigs fed the DSM or ISP diet was higher (p < 0.05) than that of pigs fed SBM diet. Apparent essential AAs digestibility was the highest (p < 0.05) in pigs fed DSM diet, and was the lowest (p < 0.05) in pigs fed FM diet. Digestiibilities of essential AAs and nonessential AAs were higher when measured over the total digestive tract than at the end of the small intestine except for several AAs in SDPP, SDBM and SBM diets. In conclusion, whether it is fecal or ileal, the digestibilities of proximate nutrients and AAs in pigs fed DSM and ISP diet were the highest, and those of pigs fed FM was the lowest.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.853-860
• /
• 2008

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of chromium (Cr), dietary crude protein (CP) level and potential interactions between these two factors on growth rate and carcass response, insulin activity and lipid metabolism in lambs. Forty-eight, 9-week-old weaned lambs (Dorper$\times$Small-tail Han sheep, mean initial body weight = $22.96kg{\pm}2.60kg$) were used in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of supplemental Cr (0 ppb, Cr0; 400 ppb, Cr1; or 800 ppb, Cr2 from chromium yeast) and CP levels (157 g/d to 171 g/d for each animal, LP; or 189 g/d to 209 g/d for each animal, HP). Growth data and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the feed trial, after which the lambs were killed. Both Cr additive groups and the HP group increased final weight and average daily gain, especially the Cr1 and HP group (p<0.01). HP increased pelvic fat weight (p<0.05), fat thickness of the 10th rib (p<0.05), longissimus muscle area (p<0.01) and rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.01). Supplemental Cr decreased the rate of deposition of intramuscular fat (p<0.05). Fasting insulin level and the ratio of insulin to glucose were lower with Cr1 than other groups, but with no significant difference. Glucose concentration was not affected by any treatment. Nonesterified fatty acids increased in the Cr1 (p<0.05) and HP (p<0.05) conditions and there was a significant $Cr{\times}CP$ interaction (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased triglycerides (p<0.05) and total cholesterol (p = 0.151) and HP increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05). Cr1 decreased lipoprotein lipase activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue (aLPL, p<0.05) and the ratio of aLPL to lipoprotein lipase activity in skeletal muscle (mLPL, p = 0.079). mLPL and hepatic lipase (hHL) were not affected by any treatment. In the present study, Cr had limited effects on growth rate and carcass response, whereas Cr and CP had some notable effects on plasma metabolites and enzyme activities. Cr has a potential effect on energy modulation between lipid and muscle tissue. In addition, few $Cr{\times}CP$ interactions were observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.869-879
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid source and level on growth performance, blood parameters, fatty acid composition and flesh quality of sub-adult olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Eight experimental diets were formulated to contain 5% squid liver oil (SLO), 5% linseed oil (LO), 5% soybean oil (SO), a mixture of 1% squid liver oil, 2% linseed oil and 2% soybean oil (MIX), no lipid supplementation with high protein level (LL-HP), 10% squid liver oil (HL-SLO), a mixture of 1% squid liver oil, 4.5% linseed oil and 4.5% soybean oil (HL-VO), and 1% squid liver oil with high starch level (LL-HC), respectively. Two replicate groups of fish (average initial weight of 296 g) were fed the diets for 17 wks. After 5 wks, 11 wks and the end of the feeding trial, five fish from each tank were randomly sampled for analysis of body composition. At the end of the feeding trial, final mean weight of fish fed the LL-HP diet was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HL-VO diet, but did not differ significantly from those of fish fed the SLO, LO, SO, MIX, HL-SLO and LL-HC diets. Fish fed the LL-HP diet showed significantly higher feed efficiency than fish fed the LO, HL-SLO and HL-VO diets. Feed efficiency of fish fed the LO, SO and MIX diets were similar to those of fish fed the SLO and HL-SLO diets. Fish fed the HL-SLO diet showed significantly higher total cholesterol content in plasma compared with other diets. Fatty acid composition of tissues was reflected by dietary fatty acid composition. The highest linoleic (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA) contents in the dorsal muscle were observed in fish fed the SO and LO diets, respectively, regardless of feeding period. The highest eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in the dorsal muscle was observed in fish fed the LL-HP and LL-HC diets after 11 and 17 weeks of feeding, respectively. Fish fed the SLO and HL-SLO diets showed higher docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content than that of other treatments after 11 and 17 weeks of feeding, respectively. Dietary inclusion of vegetable oils reduced n-3 HUFA contents in the dorsal muscle and liver of fish. The n-3 HUFA contents in tissues of fish fed the SLO and HL-SLO diets were higher than those of fish fed other diets, except for the LL-HP and LL-HC diets. Hardness, gel strength, chewiness and cohesiveness values of dorsal muscle in fish were significantly affected by dietary lipid source. The results of this study indicate that fish oil in fish meal based diets for sub-adult olive flounder could be replaced by soybean oil and linseed oil without negative effects on growth and feed utilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1957-1964
• /
• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare overfeeding performance, fatty acid composition, blood chemistry, enzymes and genes expression overfed Xupu and Landes geese. Methods: Sixty male Xupu geese (80 d) and Landes geese (80 d) were selected. After a period of one-week of pre-overfeeding, Xupu and Landes geese were overfed three meals of 550 and 350 g/d, respectively, of a high-carbohydrate diet in the first week of the overfeeding period. The next week, geese were given four meals of 1,200 and 850 g/d, respectively, over 8 to 14 d. Finally, geese were given five meals of 1,600 and 1,350 g/d, respectively, for the last two weeks. Results: After overfeeding for 28 d: Compared with Landes geese, Xupu geese liver weight and liver-to-body weight ratio decreased (p<0.05), while final weight, slaughter weight, total weight gain, abdominal fat weight, and feed-to-liver weight ratio increased (p<0.05). The levels of elaidic acid (C18:1t9), oleic acid (C18:1n-9), eicosenoic acid, and arachidonic acid in the liver of Xupu geese significantly increased (p<0.05), and the levels of myristic acid and stearic acid significantly decreased (p<0.05), while methyleicosanoate acid significantly increased (p<0.05). Xupu geese had higher plasma concentrations of triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.05), and decreased activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lipase (LPS) (p<0.05). Landes geese had higher LPS activity (p<0.05), but lower cholinesterase activity (p<0.05) when compared with Xupu geese. The mRNA expression levels of fatty acid dehydrogenase (FADS) gene, elongase of long-chain fatty acid 1 (ELOVL1) gene, ELOVL5, and acyl-Co A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) gene were significantly upregulated (p<0.05) in Landes goose when compared with Xupu geese. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the liver production performance of Landes geese was better than that of Xupu geese to some extent, which may be closely related to LPS activity, as well as the expression of FADS, ELOVL1, ELOVL5, and ACAT2.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.1824-1836
• /
• 2020

Objective: On the hypothesis that grazing of cattle prompts organs to secrete or internalize circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) in parallel with changes in energy metabolism, we aimed to clarify biological events in adipose, skeletal muscle, and liver tissues in grazing Japanese Shorthorn (JSH) steers by a transcriptomic approach. Methods: The subcutaneous fat (SCF), biceps femoris muscle (BFM), and liver in JSH steers after three months of grazing or housing were analyzed using microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by gene ontology (GO) and functional annotation analyses. Results: The results of transcriptomics indicated that SCF was highly responsive to grazing compared to BFM and liver tissues. The 'Exosome', 'Carbohydrate metabolism' and 'Lipid metabolism' were extracted as the relevant GO terms in SCF and BFM, and/or liver from the >1.5-fold-altered mRNAs in grazing steers. The qPCR analyses showed a trend of upregulated gene expression related to exosome secretion and internalization (charged multivesicular body protein 4A, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B, vesicle associated membrane protein 7, caveolin 1) in the BFM and SCF, as well as upregulation of lipolysis-associated mRNAs (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone-sensitive lipase, perilipin 1, adipose triglyceride lipase, fatty acid binding protein 4) and most of the microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCF. Moreover, gene expression related to fatty acid uptake and inter-organ signaling (solute carrier family 27 member 4 and angiopoietin-like 4) was upregulated in BFM, suggesting activation of SCF-BFM organ crosstalk for energy metabolism. Meanwhile, expression of plasma exosomal miR-16a, miR-19b, miR-21-5p, and miR-142-5p was reduced. According to bioinformatic analyses, the c-miRNA target genes are associated with the terms 'Endosome', 'Caveola', 'Endocytosis', 'Carbohydrate metabolism', and with pathways related to environmental information processing and the endocrine system. Conclusion: Exosome and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression was altered in SCF of grazing cattle, which could be regulated by miRNA such as miR-142-5p. These changes occurred coordinately in both the SCF and BFM, suggesting involvement of exosome in the SCF-BFM organ crosstalk to modulate energy metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.309-315
• /
• 2005

Changes of sex steroid hormones in the plasma of yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus were investigated in relation to the gonadosomatic index (GSI), the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadal development. The GSI in females rose rapidly in November and remained high from December to May $(7.26\pm0.89­6.62\pm0.02)$. The Male's GSI also increased gradually from November and was highest in May $(0.16\pm0.08)$. The HSI in both sexes was in reverse correlation with the GSI, and the HSI was low during the spawning season (February-May). In females, the $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(E_2)$ level increased during vitellogenesis (November and December) and reached its maximum $(8.13\pm2.87 ng/mL)$ at the maturing period, in January. $17{\alpha},\;20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$(17{\alpha}20{\beta}OHP)$ gradually increased from October $(0.063{\pm}0.02ng/mL)$ to March $(0.16{\pm}0.02ng/mL)$ and increased rapidly in May. The level of testosterone (T) showed a similar tendency of $E_2$. In males, T increased gradually during spermatogenesis from September to December $(0.14{\pm}0.06­0.26{\pm}0.10ng/mL)$ and peaked in January $(0.36{\pm}0.29 ng/mL)$ when the spermatozoa filled the testis. 11-KT also rose markedly in January and then decreased. On the other hand, $17{\alpha}29{\beta}OHP$ in males did not show any clear tendencies.