• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.667-675
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• 2003

The safety of Brucella abortus strain RB51(SRB51) was investigated in dairy cows and Korean native cattle of 4~7th month of gestation. From experimentally inoculated cattle, 18 of 25 (72.0%) dairy cows, and 3 of 10 (30.0%) Korean native cattle were aborted or delivered premature fetus. There were no significant differences in the incidence of abortion depending on the inoculation route (intramuscular and subcutaneous) and dosages ($1{\times}10^9$, $2.8{\times}10^9$, and $4.0{\times}10^9$ CFU). The antibodies to the SRB51 were measured by a dot blot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The highest titers to SRB51 were detected between 5~7 weeks after inoculation and the specitic antibody could be detected up to 28 weeks after inoculation. The SRB51 was isolated from amnio-allantoic fluid, bronchial lymph node, mammary gland, and supramammary lymph node in 5 of 25 dairy cows during 4 weeks after either abortion or delivery. Although SRB51 was isolated from 4 of 24 aborted fetus or normally delivered calves at parturition time, it was not isolated during 4 weeks afterward. Eleven of twentyfive dairy cows showed the endometritis and/or necrosis until 6 weeks after delivery, no lesions were seen at 8 weeks after delivery and uterus from control dairy cows. The results of present study revealed that SRB51 might induce the clinical signs of brucellosis in the pregnant cattle at 4~7th month of gestation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2003

Progesterone levels in the blood plasma or skim milk of cows are considered to be very useful indicator fur the detection of estrus cycle and early pregnancy diagnosis. During 13 to 14 days after estrus the level of progesterone in plasma or skim milk were not different between the inseminated arid non-inseminated cows. In the pregnant cows the peak level of progesterone reached on 14th day after artificial insemination (AI), but in the absence of conceptus the level declines after the 14th day slowly, and then very rapidly towards the basal level after the 17th day. This low level persists about 4 days, including those of estrus and ovulation a highly characteristic pattern which differs so markedly from that in the pregnant cows. Progesterone levels in blood plasma or skim milk can provided a reliable diagnosis of early pregnancy and monitoring ovarian activity in cows. The mean $\pm$ standard deviation of milk urea nitrogen(MUN) and protein concentration in the cows at 9 herds were 17.7$\pm$2.35 mg/dL and 3.2$\pm$0.17%, respectively. The days of nonpregnant after parturition was shorter in the cows in which the lower level of MUN than higher level of MUN concentration.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.187-208
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• 2000

By the activation of ovary hormone, many morphological changes occur in the epithelial cell lines and muscle cells in rat uterus. These two cells in uterus are important to the implantation of embryo, maintaining pregnancy and starting parturition. One important change associated with the morphological change of these two cells in uterus is the change on prostaglandin(PG) metabolism. Its presence and synthesis in endometriurn and myometrium in uterus affects estrous cycle and the start of embryo implantation in uterus. It also performs as an important modulator in parturition. So the abnormally weak expression of PG causes difficulty during labor and over-expression causes pre-term labor. PG biosynthesis starts from either free or liberated arachidonic acids from membrane phospholipid by phospholipase. Such arachidonic acids are converted into PG catalyzed by Cyclooxygenase. Under normal physiological condition, Cyclooxygenase-1(COX-1) having 602 units of amino acids controls the synthesis of PG. It acts as a local hormone regulating vasomodulation of blood flow, flexible muscle movement, increasing the blood permeability and contributing the protective role in preserving integrity of the stomach lining and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced by the inflammation, pregnancy and increased its expression until parturition. Lipid metabolite like PG is located in uterine and expression of COX-2 increased with pregnancy. Increased expression of COX proteins in epithelial cells and myometrial cells are told to increase the muscle contractility in uterus but decreased right after the labor in rat. It is a good sign indicating that COX proteins are deeply related to the start of labor. Currently, Several studies report the use of PG and COX-2 inhibitor as medication for controlled abortion or to prevent pre-term labor but they entail various side-effects. Our study proposed to suggest use of acupuncture as an another mediator to control abortion or pre-term labor without causing unnecessary side-effects by those medicines. Two acupuncture sites, LI-4 & SP-6 were selected due to their known efficacy. From the immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, normal expression of COX-2 protein in nonpregnant SD rat's uterus revealed that COX-2 protein was primarily detected in the lumina epithelial lining and in the epithelial cell lining contacting the stromal cells. High resolution optical microscopic scanning revealed distinguishable staining in the myometrial mucosa. LI-4 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed strong expression for COX-2 in endometrium contacted with lumina epithelial lining of rat uterus and in myometrial mucosa. Stromal cells showed more staining than untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus and stronger staining in stromal cells contacting myometrial layer compared to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus. SP-6 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed weak expression for COX-2 in myometrial layers and stromal cells but no staining was visible in lumina epitheliai and glandular epithelial cells. Few stromal cells and myometrial mucosa were positively stained for COX-2. Pregnant SD rat's uterus was also immunostained for COX-2 expression after 18 days of pregnancy. Unlike to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus, luminal epithelial cells were not positively stained for COX-2 but stronger staining for COX-2 was revealed in stromal cells. LI-4 acupunctured SD rat's uterus had very strong expression of COX-2 in luminal epithelial lining. Few stromal cells showed stronger positive COX-2 staining and myometrial layers also showed more expression than untreated pregnant rat. SP-6 acupuncture administered pregnant SD rat's uterus showed positive expression of COX-2 in epithelial cells of luminal mucosa layer but weaker than that of LI-4 acupuncture treatment's case. However, strong positive staining was revealed in stromal mucosa and myometrial layers. Virgin SD rat's uterus motility index during LI-4 acupuncture was 66.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0197) compared to its motility before the acupuncture treatment but the motility index was slighdy elevated up to 79.58 % (Prob〉T = 0.1175) after the acupuncture. During the SP-6 acupuncture treatment for 30 minutes, uterus motility index was 90.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.1832) showing lesser decrement but consequently reached similar motility index decreasal to 79.95 % (Prob〉T = 0.0215) after the acupuncture treatment as LI-4 showed. LI-4 acupuncture tend to be a quick treatment to reducing the uterus motility in a virgin rat but eventually both two acupuncture administration created very similar reduction of uterus motility seeing the index after the both acupunctures. The uterus movement monitored during the LI-4 acupuncture administered for 30 minutes, Pregnant SD rat showed decreased motility down to 77.90 % (Prob〉 T = 0.0076) compared to uterus motility before the acupuncture and it continuously decreased down to 71.81 %(Prob〉T = 0.0214) after the removal of needle. The statistical analysis using paired t-test showed significance difference for both two motility indexs at =0.05. SP-6 acupuncture administered to pregnant SD rat also had similar pattern of decreasing uterus motility index down to 74.70 % (Prob〉T = 0.1730) during the initial 30 minutes acupuncture administration and it was continuously lowered to 71.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0155) after the acupuncture. The paired t-test resuit for SP-6 suggest prompt response of uterus motility index to the SP-6 acupuncture treatment but consequently reached same level of inducing the motility reduction as LI-4 at =0.05 level.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 1984

The present study was carried out to determine the changes of the sex hormone levels in serum throughout the estrous cycle and the gestation period on the Landrace gilts. The blood samples were taken from the vein of six gilts. LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone, $estradiol-17{\beta}$ and cortisol in serum were analyzed by the radioimmunoassay methods. The results obtained on this study were summarized as follows; 1. The age at puberal estrus was 179.5 days, the weight at puberal estrus was 88.2kg, the length of estrous cycle was 21.3days, the gestation length was 114days and the litter size was 9.5 head in the Landrace gilts. 2. During the estrous cycle, the serum LH and prolactin concentrations were below 1.56mIU/ml and 2.4ng/ml, respectively, under the limit of detection of the assay. The FSH concentrations ranged from 1.50 to 2.20mIU/ml for day 6~15 after the estrus and they were below 1.25mIU/ml from day 3 to day + 3, with day 0 being the first day of the estrus. 3. Progesterone concentrations were 1.90ng/ml at day 0 of the estrus and increased about 13.1ng/ml at day 3 of the estrus, and reached peak levels at day 9. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations were below 27.2pg/ml throughout the luteal phase, and reached about 27.2pg/ml at day 0 and day 18. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at dey 0 and ranged from 24.65 to 28.57ng/ml throughout the luteal phase. 4. During the gestation period, the concentrations of LH, FSH and prolactin ranged of 3.10~4.37mIU/ml, 1.30~1.80mIU/ml and 2.60~6.70ng/ml, respectively. 5. Progesterone concentrations declined from 38.90~16.85ng/ml throughout the pregnancy to 1.90ng/ml at the time of parturition. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ concentrations increased from 27.20pg/ml at 15 days after the pregnancy to 620.17pg/ml at the time of parturition. Cortisol concentrations reached peak levels at the time of parturition and ranged from 13.58 to 22.31ng/ml throughout the pregnancy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

An investigation was done to evaluate the effects of adding green tea probiotics, Alisma canaliculatum probiotics and fermented Kelp meal on the growth performance and immune response in sows and piglets. A total of 32 pregnant sows were assigned to 4 treatments in 8 replications with 1 sow as a replicate in this experiment from 2 months before parturition to 28 days after parturition. Three hundred nineteen (319) piglets were produced from experimental sows after parturition. The dietary treatments were CON group (without antibiotics), GTP (basal+green tea probiotics, 0.5% of the diet), ACP group (basal + Alisma canaliculatum probiotics, 0.5% of the diet) and FKM group (basal+fermented Kelp meal, 0.5% of the diet). Litter size and body weight at birth and weaning size and body weight at weanling in piglets were greater in additives group compared to CON group but no statistical differences were found (P>0.05). Diarrhea score showed a decreasing tendency with three additives groups compared to CON group. The lymphocytes in blood of sows fed ACP and FKM group were significantly higher compared to CON group (P<0.05), and the MID of GTP and FKM group were significantly lower compared to CON group (P<0.05). The serum IgG concentration in sows tended to increase with additives groups compared to CON group and the serum IgA and IgM concentration in GTP and FKM group were significantly higher compared to ACP group (P<0.05). The cortisol levels showed a decreasing tendency in additives groups without statistical differences among the groups (P>0.05). Based on these observations, it can be inferred that the GTP and FKM may have such efficacy as antibiotics in growing pigs.

• 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.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 1978

It has been studied that aminoacetonitrile was associated with the inhibition of collagen fiber, argyrophilic fiber and oxytalan fiber synthesis. This experiment was performed, by the basic knowledge of above mentioned study, to study on the biological effect of aminoacetonitrile to the developing periodontal ligament in Sprague Dawley rat. twenty two of female rats weighing about 200gm were gestated. In 7 days after gestation, the experimental rats were injected aminoacetonitrile 7 times intraperitoneally. After parturition, delivered fJtuses were divided into 4 groups and each group was sacrificed to 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days after delivery, schematically. All the fetuses were observed on their periodontal ligament by histological and histo chemical methods. To study on the components of periodontal ligament fiber in these experimental study van Gieson, Masson's trichrom, argyrophilic fiber, oxytalan fiber, methyl green pyronin and periodic acid-Shiff staining were performed. Results were as follows; 1) Retardation of functional orientation in periodontal ligament collagen fiber was observed in 1 day fetuses hut this appearance was diminished gradually and recovered in normal condition in 7 days fetuses. 2) Distribution of argyrophilic fiber in 1 day fetuses was oriented delicately and loosely but volume of this fiber was gradually thickened and distributed densely. 3) Oxytalan fiber was oriented dendritic ally and contradictorily in 14 days fetuses but their orientation was changed into oblique form in middle portion of roof and their numbers were increased gradually. 4) Pyronin-philic stain of fibroblast was gradually deepened in 7 days fetuses and this finding also suggested to the depreciation of collagen synthesis in this specimen. 5) PAS positive line was observed continuousely at the portion of cervical to the middle root surface.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2024

Objective: The present study was performed to determine risk factors associated with the frequency of farrowing assistance in hyperprolific sows in a tropical environment and to investigate the impacts of farrowing assistance on piglet colostrum consumption and sow colostrum yield. Methods: Farrowing data from 352 Landrace×Yorkshire crossbred sows and 5,554 piglets in five commercial swine herds in Thailand were investigated. The sows were classified according to parity numbers: 1 (n = 72), 2 to 4 (n = 128), 5 to 6 (n = 84), and ≥7 (n = 68) and the total number of piglets born per litter (TB): 10 to 13 (n = 90), 14 to 16 (n = 117), and ≥17 (n = 145). The incidence of farrowing assistance and associated parameters were investigated. Results: The TB and farrowing duration averaged 15.8±0.2 and 279.9±11.2 min, respectively. The percentage of sows that required farrowing assistance was 29.8% and varied among herds from 5.7% to 53.3% (p<0.001). The percentage of piglets born after birth assistance using manual intervention was 8.4%. Sows with parity numbers 1 and 2 to 4 had a lower frequency of farrowing assistance than sows with parity numbers ≥7 (p<0.01). The colostrum yield of sows that required farrowing assistance did not differ from sows that farrowed without assistance (5.3±0.2 and 5.1±0.1 kg; p = 0.288); however, the colostrum consumption of piglets born from sows that required farrowing assistance was lower than those born from sows that farrowed without assistance (302.2±15.7 and 354.2±5.6 g; p<0.001). Blood oxygen saturation of the piglets born after birth assistance tended to be lower than the piglets that farrowed without birth assistance (87.8%±1.3% vs 90.4%±0.4%; p = 0.054). Conclusion: The frequency of farrowing assistance in sows varied among herds and was influenced by parity number. The piglets born after receiving birth assistance should receive special care to improve their blood oxygen saturation and enhance colostrum intake.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 1991

The longitudinal changes on human milk volume per day and lactational performance of 23 Korean lacto-ovo-vegetarians(primiparae=11, multiparae=12) from 0.5 to 5 months after parturition have been studied by test weighing method. The human milk volume per day tended to increase during lactation. The mean volume (SD, ml/day) at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months were 502(102), 692(127), 697(100), 684( 125), 757(52), 703(70), respectively. The overall mean volume was 661$\pm$132ml/day. The peak milk volume during the lactation was observed at most lactating women at the 1st month. The distributions of the individual mean volume during the first 5 months of lactation were found over 750m1(8.7% ), 650-750ml(47.9% ), 550-650m1(2l.7% ), and 450-550ml(2l.7% ) The number of feeding per day was 8.1 ($\pm$1.0) at 0.5 months postpartum, which was consistently decreased. However, the mean volume per feeding was increased from 62($\pm$9.5)ml at 0.5 month to 112($\pm$13.3)ml at 5 months postpartum. The milk volume was correlated with the peak volume. and maternal age. but not with weight before delivery. maternal height and birth weight. No differences of milk volume and lactational performance between facto-ovo-vegetarian and nonvegetarian women were observed. This study suggests that the human milk volume cited in the recommended dietary allowances for Koreitns is over estimated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1689-1693
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to develop a simplified, efficient, and accurate protocol for sexing goat embryos. Based on the amelogenin gene located on the conservation region of X- and Y- chromosomes, a pair of primers was utilized and the system of PCR was established to amplify a 262 bp fragment from the X- chromosome in female goats, and a 262 bp fragment from X- chromosome and 202 bp fragment from the Y- chromosome in male goats, respectively. The accuracy and specificity of the primers were assessed using DNA template extracted from goat whole blood sample of known sex. 100% (10/10) concordance was obtained by using the PCR assay. Fifty-one biopsied embryos were transferred into 25 recipient goats on the same day that the embryos were collected and sex of the kid was confirmed after parturition. Eighteen kids of predicted sex were born. The biopsied samples from 51 goat embryos were amplified with 100% efficiency and 94.7% accuracy. In conclusion, our results indicated that PCR sexing protocols based on the amelogenin gene is highly reliable and suitable for sex determination of goats.