• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2006

To search of new porcine pheromonal odorants for biostimulation control system technologies to improve reproductive efficiency in livestock species, the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) for binding affinity constant $(p(Od)_{50})$ between porcine odorant binding protein (pOBP) and ligands of odorant 2-(cyclohexyloxy) tetrahydrofurane derivatives as substrate molecule was conducted and discussed. In the optimized CoMFA model AIV with chirality $(C_1'(R),\;C_2(S))$ in substrate molecule and atom based fit alignment (A) of odorants, the statistical results showed the best predictability of the binding affinities $(p(Od)_{50})$ based on the LOO cross-validated value $r^2_{cv}.\;(q^2=0.886)$ and non-cross-validated conventional coefficient $(r^2_{ncv}.=0.984)$. the binding affinity constants exhibited a good correlation with steric (40.8%), electrostatic (14.6%) and hydrophobic (44.6%) factors of the substrate molecules. from the analytical results of the contour maps, which may give us some valuable informations to the modification of odorants for effective binding affinity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2006

To search of a new porcine pheromonal odorants, the comparative molecular similarity indices analysis(CoMSIA) between porcine odorant binding protein(pOBP) as receptor and ligands of green odorants 2-(Cyclohexyloxy)tetrahydrofurane derivatives as substrate molecule were conducted and disscused quantitatively. In the optimized CoMSIA model(I-AI) with chirality($I:\;C_{1'}(R),\;C_2(S)$) in substrate molecules and atom based fit alignment(AE) of the odorants the statistical PLS results showed the best predictability of the binding affinities based on the LOO cross-validated value ${r^2}_{cv.}\;(q^2=0.856)$ and non cross-validated conventional coefficient(${r^2}_{ncv.}=0.964)$). The structural distinctions of the highest active molecules were able to understand from the interaction between pOBP and green odorants in the contour maps with CoMSIA model.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2006

In recent years the number of patients waiting for organ transplantation has greatly outpaced the supply of human organs available, which leads to a renewed interest in pig-to-human xenotransplantation as an alternative. However, one of the biggest barriers in the xenotransplantation is presence of porcine endogenous retroviruses(PERV) that can infect human cells. In this study, to present a possible solution for this problem we tried to inhibit expression of PERVs using shRNAs(short hairpin RNA) at the level of RNA synthesis and virus release. The shRNA targeting the sequence of PERV A, B type was cloned into pSIREN-RetroQ vector under the control of polymerase-III U6-RNA gene promoter. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect my alterations in mRNA production of PERV A, B targeted by the shRNA in each done. Depending on the target sequence of the shRNA, the transcription of PERV was decreased to as much as 4% and the number of progeny viruses was reduced to less than 1/200,000. Transgenic pigs producing such shRNAs may result in a highly reduced PERV expression in cells and organs, which is a prerequisite for safe xenotransplantations.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on the attenuation of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in pigs. Ten pigs were subjected to 60 minutes of warm unilateral renal ischemia followed by removal of contralateral kidney and then divided into two groups. Treatment group was performed ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol pretreatment 2 days before operation and ascorbic acid with heparin-saline solution irrigation-aspiration. Otherwise, control group used only irrigation-aspiration of heparin-saline solution. Blood samples were collected from these pigs for measurement of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine values, antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) at pre, day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14. The kidneys were taken for histopathologic evaluation after euthanasia on postoperative day 14. The levels of BUN were significantly increased in the control group on day 1, day 3 and day 7 (P<0.05). And the level of creatinine was significantly increased in the control group on day 3 (p<0.05). Activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma revealed significant difference (p<0.05) between control and treatment group at day 14. In histopathologic findings, treatment group was showed less damage than that of control group on the basis of renal tubular damage. It was concluded that ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol attenuated renal I/R injury in the pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.300-304
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the anesthetic effects of tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) alone and azaperone plus tiletamine-zolazepam in growing pigs, and to compare the various physiological parameters in both treatments. Cross experiment was accomplished at 2-week interval. Group 1 (TZ group): six pigs ($31.4{\pm}4.83$ kg) received 4.4 mg/kg of TZ alone. Group 2 (ATZ group); the same six pigs ($43.6{\pm}4.31$ kg) received 4.4 mg/kg of TZ twenty minutes after receiving 2 mg/kg of azaperone. All of the anesthetic drugs were injected into the trapezius muscles. The pigs were fasted for 24 hours before the experiments. Induction and recovery values were determined. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, $pO_2,\;pCO_2$ and pH were determined before administration and 5, 25, 45, 65 and 85 minutes after administration. Induction time of ATZ group was more rapid than that of TZ group (p<0.01). During recovery, sternal recumbency time, standing time and walking time of ATZ group were longer than those of TZ group (p<0.01). Heart rate, respiratory rate, $pO_2,\;pCO_2$, and pH did not show especial differences between the two groups. However, rectal temperature was significantly different between the TZ and ATZ group (p<0.05). As a result, ATZ group had a faster induction and a longer duration of anesthesia than TZ group did. Thus, it was concluded that ATZ combination could be usefully used for chemical restraint in pigs.