• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1336-1349
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• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to screen differentially expressed miRNAs in sows at early pregnancy by high-throughput sequencing and explore its mechanism of action on embryo implantation. Methods: The blood serum of pregnant and non-pregnant Landrace×Yorkshire sows were collected 14 days after artificial insemination, and exosomal miRNAs were purified for high throughput miRNA sequencing. The expression patterns of 10 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR quantified the abundance of serum exosomal miR-192 in pregnant and control sows, and the diagnostic power was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The target genes of DE miRNAs were predicted with bioinformatics software, and the functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed on gene ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes terms. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter system was used to identify the target relation between miR-192 and integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4), a gene influencing embryo implantation in pigs. Finally, the expression levels of miRNAs and the target gene ITGA4 were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and western blot, with the proliferation of BeWo cells detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Results: A total of 221 known miRNAs were detected in the libraries of the pregnant and non-pregnant sows, of which 55 were up-regulated and 67 were down-regulated in the pregnant individuals compared with the non-pregnant controls. From these, the expression patterns of 10 DE miRNAs were validated. The qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed a significantly higher expression of miR-192 in the serum exosomes extracted from pregnant sows, when compared to controls. The ROC analysis revealed that miR-192 provided excellent diagnostic accuracy for pregnancy (area under the ROC curve [AUC]=0.843; p>0.001). The dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-192 directly targeted ITGA4. The protein expression of ITGA4 was reduced in cells that overexpressed miR-192. Overexpression of miR-192 resulted in the decreased proliferation of BeWo cells and regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. Conclusion: Serum exosomal miR-192 could serve as a potential biomarker for early pregnancy in pigs. miR-192 targeted ITGA4 gene directly, and miR-192 can regulate cellular proliferation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.381-384
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• 1998

Twenty-three crossbred (Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc $\times$ Hampshire $\times$ Chester White) primiparous sows were used to evaluate the effects of the mineral-salt laxative in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a sorghum-extruded soybean-based diet with .85% lysine, .90% Ca, .80% P, and 3.2 Mcal ME/kg. Sow body weight (p > .54) and backfat loss (p > .61), average daily feed intake (p > .42), and litter weight gain (p > .74) were not affected by the mineral-salt laxative in the diet. However, survivability of piglets was greater (p < .06) for sows with the mineral-salt laxative in their diet and, thus, number of pigs weaned was increased. As expected, fecal moisture was increased (p < .09) in sows fed the mineral-salt laxative. Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE were not affected by treatment (p > .26). After weaning, stomachs were collected and scored for ulcers and keratinization using a scoring system of 0 = normal to 3 = severe. Severity of ulceration and keratinization was not significantly affected by treatment (row mean scores differ test p > .25), but scores for sows fed the diet containing the mineral-salt laxative were numerically lower than sows fed the control diet. Thus, our data indicate that sows fed the mineral-salt laxative during lactation had improved piglet survivability, greater fecal moisture, and tended to have fewer lesions in the mucosa of the stomach.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1643-1648
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of feeding restricted on growth, carcass characteristics and plasma profiles in an attempt for optimum responses, a total of 108 cross-bred finishing barrows [(Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire)${\times}$Duroc]weighing an average of $46.88{\pm}0.52kg$ were assigned in a randomized complete block (RCB) design to one of four treatments with three replicates and nine pigs per pen. Feeding regimens were, 1) ad libitum from 50 kg to market weight (Ad 3/3), 2) restricted feeding from 90 kg to market weight (Ad 2/3), 3) restricted feeding from 70 kg to market weight (Ad 1/3), and 4) restricted feeding from 50 kg to market weight (Ad 0/3). During the experimental period, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was decreased from 2.53 kg (AD 3/3) to 2.09 kg (AD 0/3) with increasing restricted feeding duration of (p<0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) of AD 3/3 (0.79 kg) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of AD 1/3 (0.74 kg) or AD 0/3 (0.72 kg). Feed efficiency was not influenced by restriction regimens. Blood IGF-I concentrations were increased from 74.14 to 134.25 (167.36-115.66) ng/ml as body weight increased. Blood leptin concentrations were affected by feed intake level and coincided with blood IGF-I concentrations. Most of carcass characteristics were not significantly affected by restricted feeding, however cooking losses in AD 1/3 and Ad 0/3 treatment diet were higher than those in Ad 3/3 and Ad 2/3. In addition, there was a trend that backfat thickness was lowered in proportional to decreasing feed intake (p>0.05). In conclusion, restricted feeding improved feed efficiency after 50 kg body weight without deteriorating the pork quality of barrows.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.519-524
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• 2017

The present study investigated the impacts of mating age of gilts (A1, < 230 days; A2, 230 - 249 days and A3, $250{\leq}days$) on reproductive performance and litter size of sows at farrowing to weaning. A total of 102 crossbred gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$; average days old, 90 days) were purchased from a commercial breeding company. After identification of third estrus, the gilts were artificially inseminated using semen of Duroc boars. Pregnant pigs were allotted to one of three groups including A1, A2, and A3. Experimental diets and water were fed ad libitum during each experimental period which included the first, second, and third parities. Backfat thickness (BFT) of sows was higher in A3 at farrowing in the first parity than in others. At weaning time in the second parity, sows in A3 group showed a numerically higher BFT than those in A1. There was no effect of mating age on the total number of piglets born and total weaned piglets. There was a tendency to decrease the wean-to estrus-interval in the first parity as age increased at mating. Results obtained in the present study indicate that the first mating age does not affect the subsequent parites' reproductive performance; however, weaned to estrus interval tended to decrease in A2 at the first parity.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.429-435
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• 2016

Heritability estimates for daily gain (g), backfat thickness (mm), days to 90kg (day), loin eye depth (mm) and meat percent (%) were 0.40, 0.44, 0.40, 0.25 and 0.48, respectively. Estimates of correlation between breeding value and rank for meat productivity traits by model 1 and 2 were 0.995 1.000 and 0.991 1.000, respectively and highly significant (p< 0.0001), and they were almost identical to the breeding values estimated by different farms. When top 5% and top 10% animals were selected by meat productive traits at different farms, markedly different animals were selected by farms since the selected improvement traits in each farm maintaining closed herds were different. Therefore, it seems to be desirable that superior pigs should be selected after the establishment of evaluation system for genetic performance at national level using the integrated data obtained from various farms.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.5
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• 2015

The study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a lipid-encapsulated Zinc oxide on growth parameters and intestinal mucosal morphology piglets born to Duroc-sired Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire dams. Twenty-four 30-day-old piglets weaned at 25 days of age were orally challenged with $5{\times}10^8$ colony forming units of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 and fed one of the four diets for 7 days: (i) a nursery basal diet containing 100-ppm ZnO (referred to as BASAL), (ii) BASAL supplemented with 120-ppm apramycin (referred to as ANTIBIO), (iii) BASAL with 2,400-ppm ZnO (referred to as HIGH), and BASAL containing 100-ppm lipid-encapsulated ZnO (referred to as LE). All piglets were killed at the end of the experiment for histological examination on the intestine. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG), the villus height: crypt depth (CD) ratio in the ileum, and the goblet cell density of the villus and crypt in the duodenum, jejunum, and colon were greater in the LE-fed group that those of the BASAL (p < 0.05). Fecal consistency score (FCS) and the CD ratio in the ileum were less in the LE-fed group, compared to the BASAL-fed one (p < 0.05). The effects observed in the LE-fed group were almost equal to those of the HIGH-fed group as well as even superior to those of the ANTIBIO-fed group. Taken together, our results imply that dietary supplementation of 100-ppm lipid-encapsulated ZnO is as effective as that of 2,400-ppm ZnO for promoting growth diarrhea and intestinal morphology caused by ETEC infection.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Background: Relaxin is a transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ antagonist. To determine the effects of relaxin on scar reduction, we investigated the scar remodeling process by injecting relaxin-expressing adenoviruses using a pig scar model. Methods: Scars with full thickness were generated on the backs of Yorkshire pigs. Scars were divided into two groups (relaxin [RLX] and Control). Adenoviruses were injected into the RLX (expressing relaxin) and Control (not expressing relaxin) groups. Changes in the surface areas, color index and pliability of scars were compared. Results: Fifty days after treatment, the surface areas of scars decreased, the color of scars was normalized, and the pliability of scars increased in RLX group. Conclusion: Relaxin-expressing adenoviruses improved the surface area, color, and pliability of scars. The mechanism of therapeutic effects on scar formation should be further investigated.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the effect of beet plup and IRG (Italian ryegrass) dry powder in fattening pig diet on reducing concentration of odorous compounds in the pig slurry. Fifty fattening boars [(Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc] were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatments (control, beet plup 5%, and IRG 5%). Pigs (BW 50~110 kg) were fed diets formulated to meet the Korean Feeding Standard (2012) and their excretion was collected from the slurry pits. Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and branched chain fatty acid (BCFA) were higher in beet plup (31,786, 3,985 ppm) and IRG (32,755, 4,261 ppm) treatments, which was not different among treatments (p>0.05), compared to control (p<0.05). Concentrations of phenols and indoles were highest in beet plup (183.83, 168.59 ppm) and IRG (9.32, 8.92 ppm) treatments. Altogether, addition level of two contents was not appropriate to decrease concentration of odorous compounds.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2013

The swine is one of the most widespread mammalian throughout the whole world. Presently, many studies concerning microsatellites in swine, especially domestic pigs, have been carried out in order to investigate general diversity patterns among either populations or breeds. Until now, a lot of time and effort spend into a single PCR method. But simple and more rapid multiplex PCR methods have been developed. The purpose of this study is to develop a robust set of microsatellites markers (MS marker) for traceability and individual identification. Using multiplex-PCR method with 23 MS marker divided 2 set, various alleles occurring to 5 swine breed (Berkshire, Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc and Korea native pig) used markers to determine allele frequency and heterozygosity. MS marker found 4 alleles at SW403, S0227, SWR414, SW1041 and SW1377. The most were found 10 alleles at SW1920. Heterozygosity represented the lowest value of 0.102 at SWR414 and highest value of 0.861 at SW1920. So, it was recognized appropriate allele frequency for individual identification in swine. Using multiplex-PCR method, MS markers used to determine individual identification biomarker and breed-specific marker for faster, more accurate and lower analysis cost. Based on this result, a scientific basis was established to the existing pedigree data by applying genetics additionally. Swine traceability is expected to be very useful system and be conducted nationwide in future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.273-283
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of anise flavor on the performance of lactating sows and suckling pigs at different weaning ages. A total of 120 sows (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) were used in this experiment. Sows were fed with a commercial lactation diet (60 sows) or diet with flavor (60 sows) during days 100 to 114 of gestation period and the whole lactation period. Piglets were allotted to 2 dietary treatments based on their initial body weight (BW) using a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels of anise flavor (0 or 0.5 g/kg) and weaning periods (weaned at 21 day or 28 day after birth). Sows fed with flavor supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) back fat and average daily feed intake (ADFI) at weaning, lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those fed with non-flavor diets. Sows weaned at 28 day had higher (p < 0.05) weaning back fat and lower (p < 0.05) back fat loss than those weaned on 21 day. During weaning, piglet average daily gain (ADG), ADFI, digestibility of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), and gross energy (GE) and fecal score were affected by anise flavor, respectively. In conclusion, dietary flavor supplementation could increase feed intake of lactating sows, improve growth performance and reduce weaning stress of piglets, especially effective in the early weanling piglets. Meanwhile, interactive effects were observed about the piglet performance between weaning ages and anise flavor supplementation after weaning.