• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2009

The transfection efficiency of a transgene into pig and goat fetal fibroblast cells (PFF and GFF, respectively) was tested using co-transfection of a human tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) transgene and neomycin-resistant ($Neo^r$) gene, followed by G418 selection. To initially test G418 resistance, GFF and PFF were incubated in culture medium containing different concentration of G418 for 2 weeks, and cell survival was monitored over time. Based on the obtained results, the concentrations chosen for G418 selection were 800 ug/ml and 200 ug/ml for GFF and PFF, respectively. For co-transfection experiments, the pBC1/tPA and $Neo^r$ vectors were co-transfected into GFF and PFF ($1{\times}10^6$ cells in each case) using the FuGENE6 transfection reagent, and resistant colonies were obtained following 14 days of G418 selection. We obtained 96 and 93 drug-resistant colonies of GFF and PFF, respectively, only 54 and 39 of which, respectively, continued proliferating after drug selection. PCR-based screening revealed that 23 out of 54 analyzed GFF colonies and 5 out of 39 analyzed PFF colonies contained insertion of the tPA gene. Thus, the experimentally determined transfection efficiencies for tPA gene co-transfection with the $Neo^r$ gene were 42.6% for GFF and 12.8% for PFF. These findings suggest that co-transfection of a transgene with the $Neo^r$ gene can aid in the successful integration of the transgene into fetal fibroblast cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2006

We employed human SK-MEL-28 cells as a model system to identify cellular proteins that accompany N-(4-methyl)phenyl-O-(4-methoxy)phenyl-thionocarbamate (MMTC)-induced apoptosis based on a proteomic approach. Cell viability tests revealed that SK-MEL-28 skin cancer cells underwent more cell death than normal HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with MMTC. Two-dimensional electrophoresis in conjunction with matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis or computer matching with a protein database further revealed that the MMTC-induced apoptosis is accompanied by increased levels of caspase-1, checkpoint suppressor-1, caspase-4, NF-kB inhibitor, AP-2, c-Jun-N-terminal kinase, melanoma inhibitor, granzyme K, G1/S specific cyclin D3, cystein rich protein, Ras-related protein Rab-37 or Ras-related protein Rab-13, and reduced levels of EMS (oncogene), ATP synthase, tyrosine-phosphatase, Cdc25c, 14-3-3 protein or specific structure of nuclear receptor. The migration suppressing effect of MMTC on SK-MEL-28 cell was tested. MMTC suppressed the metastasis of SK-MEL-8 cells. It was also identified that MMTC had little angiogenic effect because it did not suppress the proliferation of HUVEC cell line. These results suggest that MMTC is a novel chemotherapeutic and metastatic agents against the SK-MEL-28 human melanoma cell line.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the antagonistic effects of flumazenil on anesthesia induced with tiletamine/zolazepam in dogs. The anesthetic effects (sedation, analgesic, muscle relaxation, posture and auditory response score), vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature) and blood biochemistry (glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) were examined as indicators of the antagonistic effects. A total of 6 clinically healthy mongrel dogs were used in this study. The dogs in TZ group received administration of tiletamine/zolazepam 10 mg/kg IV. The dogs in TZF group received administration dose of TZ 10 mg/ kg IV followed by the administration of flumazenil 0.1 mg/kg 20 minutes after administering a TZ 10 mg/kg dose. There were significant differences in the recovery of anesthesia between the groups. The GLU level in the TZF group after the administration of flumazenil was significantly higher than that of the TZ group. There was a larger change in the HR in the TZF group than in the TZ group until 30 minutes after flumazenil administration. The sternal recumbency, standing and walking times of the TZF group were faster than those of the TZ group. In conclusion, flumazenil showed antagonistic effect against tiletamine/zolazepam in dogs. When recovering from anesthesia, flumazenil reduced sternal recumbency, standing and walking times.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the antagonistic effects of yohimbine on sedation induced in dogs with medetomidine. Six mixed breed dogs were repeatedly used at a 2 weeks withdrawal time in this study. The dogs received $40\;{\mu}g/kg$ of medetomidine followed 15 minutes later by 0.2 ml/kg saline solution (group M) or 0.11 mg/kg yohimbine (group MY). All the dogs were examined before and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150 minutes after the injection of medetomidine, and the induction and recovery times, vital signs, blood biochemistry and anesthetic quality were recorded. There were significant differences in the recovery of anesthesia between the groups. In both groups the heart rate decreased rapidly down to five minutes after the administration of medetomidine. The activity of ALT, AST and the protein concentration did not change significantly in either group and there was no significant difference between them at any time. Response to noise, muscle tone and analgesic score in the MY group at 30 minutes were significantly lower than those of the M group. When recovering from anesthesia, the dogs treated with yohimbine took less time to achieve sternal recumbency and less time to be able to stand and walk. It was concluded that yohimbine reversed effectively medetomidine sedation in dogs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1572-1575
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• 2008

The xenotransplantation of pig organs and cells can be related with a risk of transmission of infectious diseases to human. Previous findings indicate that the regulatory region of PERV for retroviral transcription, replication and integration into the cellular DNA is located on the 5' Long Terminal Repeat (LTR). The objective of this study is the investigation of methylation and deletion status of the PERV 5' LTR region which can be used for regulating PERV expression. We compared the sequences of genomic DNA and bisulfite-treated genomic DNA from PK-15 cells expressing PERV to observe the methylation status of the 5' LTR. Our results showed that the CpG sites of U3 were methylated and methylation was inconsistent in the R and U5 regions. Also, variable numbers of 18 bp repeats and 21 bp repeats were detected on 5' LTR by sequencing analysis. The consistent U3 methylation might be indicative of host suppression of expression of the retroviruses.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2000.10a
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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.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.237-241
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• 2012

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is the first major transition that occurs after fertilization, and entails a dramatic reprogramming of gene expression that is essential for continued development. Although it has been suggested that EGA in porcine embryos starts at the four-cell stage, recent evidence indicates that EGA may commence even earlier; however, the molecular details of EGA remain incompletely understood. The RNA polymerase II of eukaryotes transcribes mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II can become phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain. The unphosphorylated form of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain (IIa) plays a role in initiation of transcription, and the phosphorylated form (IIo) is required for transcriptional elongation and mRNA splicing. In the present study, we explored the nuclear translocation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation dynamics of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain in immature pig oocytes, mature oocytes, two-, four-, and eight-cell embryos, and the morula and blastocyst. To this end, we used antibodies specific for the IIa and IIo forms of RNA polymerase II to stain the proteins. Unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II stained strongly in the nuclei of germinal vesicle oocytes, whereas the phosphorylated form of the enzyme was confined to the chromatin of prophase I oocytes. After fertilization, both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II began to accumulate in the nuclei of early stage one-cell embryos, and this pattern was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. The results suggest that both porcine oocytes and early embryos are transcriptionally competent, and that transcription of embryonic genes during the first three cell cycles parallels expression of phosphorylated RNA polymerase II.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of cysteamine addition during in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of porcine oocytes. Oocytes were matured for the first 22 h in mTCM -199 media supplemented with or without 150 $\mu$M cysteamine. They then were matured for an additional 22 h in mTCM-199 media without hormones supplemented with or without 150 $\mu$M cysteamine. When cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the mTCM-199 media supplemented with cysteamine, the rates of GVBD and maturation (metaphase II) were enhanced as compared to the media without the addition of cysteamine. Also, when COCs were matured in the mTCM-199 media supplemented with cysteamine, the rates of sperm penetration, male pronucleus formation, cleavage and blastocyst formation after in vitro fertilization were enhanced as compared to the media without the addition of cysteamine. In conclusion, it was suggested that oocytes matured for the first 22 h in mTCM-199 media supplemented with 150 $\mu$M cysteamine increased the rates of metaphase II, sperm penetration, male pronucleus and blastocyst formation were higher as compared to the media without addition of cysteamine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2008

In order to distinguish Korean cattle (Hanwoo) beef from the imported beef from Australia in Korean markets, DNA markers based on PCR-RFLP from mitochondrial genes and SRY gene were applied. A total of 2,826 beef samples comprising 1,495 Hanwoo and 1,331 foreign cattle breeds were obtained in Korea. An 801 bp fragment of the SRY gene on the bovine Y chromosome, a 343 bp fragment of ND4 gene and a 528 bp fragment of ND5 gene in the bovine mtDNA were amplified by PCR and digested with three restriction enzymes, MseI, HpyCH4III and Tsp509I, respectively. The results showed that Bos taurus (T) type was the majority in Hanwoo by combining three markers (99.5%). However, 78.2% of Bos indicus (I) type was observed in the imported beef samples. These results indicated that three markers used in this study will be used as valuable markers for discriminating imported beef against Hanwoo.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2002

To investigate the expression patterns of proteins and growth factor signals in differentiated rabbit embryonic stem (ES) cells, ES cells with confluent stage grown of feeder layer and differentiated cells into embryoid bodies (EB) without feeder cell were applied to protein gel and Western blotting analysis. There were 66kDa and 28kDa specifically expressed in differentiated ES cell but not in undifferentiated ES cell while 25kDa protein band showed up in only undifferentiated ES cells. Also there were some difference of protein bands in several area of gel between differentiated and undifferentiated ES cells such as about 100 kDa, 50kDa and 27kDa areas, but there was no difference in band pattern of one-dimensional gel analysis between mouse ES cells and rabbit ES cells. IGF-I receptor and EGF receptor were expressed in differentiated cells and undifferentiated cells. And ICF-I and EGF were not expressed in both differentiated and undifferentiated cells. These results indicated that ES cells express their own proteins to inhibit differentiation while EB cells synthesize different proteins to differentiate, and 16F-I receptor and EGF receptor were expressed in both ES and EB cells probably for the different functions.