• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.73-83
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• 2005

Higher methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation and susceptibility to toxicity in the fetus than in the mother at parturition is well known. However, the difference in MeHg exposure to fetus and offspring throughout gestation and suckling is not well established. In the human, the effects of MeHg exposure on pregnant and breast-feeding women remain an important issue for elucidation, especially those of continuous uptake in high-fish-consumption populations. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the difference in MeHg exposure to fetus and offspring throughout gestation and lactation using our recent animal and human studies data. In the animal study, adult female rats were given a diet containing 5 ${\mu}$g/g Hg (as MeHg) for 8 weeks. Then they were mated and subsequently given the same diet throughout gestation and suckling. On embryonic days 18, 20, 22 and at parturition, the concentrations of Hg in the brains of fetus were approximately 1.5-2.0 times higher than those in the mothers. However, during the suckling period Hg concentrations in the brain rapidly declined to about 1/10 of that during late pregnancy. Hg concentrations in blood also decreased rapidly after birth. In human study, Hg concentrations in red blood cells (RBCs-Hg) in 16 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were compared at birth and 3 months of age after parturition. RBCs-Hg concentration in the umbilical cords was about 1.6 times higher than those in the mothers at parturition. However, all the infants showed declines in Hg concentrations throughout the breast-feeding period. The Hg concentration in RBCs-Hg at 3 months of age was about half that at birth. Both the animal and human studies indicated that MeHg exposure to the fetus might be especially high but it dramatically decreases during the suckling period. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the gestation rather than the breast-feeding period to avoid the risk of MeHg to human infants.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2003

These studies were performed to improve the reproductive efficiency of gilts and we investigated the effects of nursing periods after parturition and backfat thickness will adapt to these results for early selection of excellent gilts. The main results were as follows; 1. The backfat thickness in sows nursing for 17∼21 days was 19.19 mm, and 16.52 mm in 22∼26 days and longer nursing period affected significantly the backfat thinner (p<0.01). 2. The recurrence of estrus in sows nursing for 17∼21 days was 5.76 day and 5.62 day in 22∼26 days and there was no difference between nursing periods. 3. The recurrence of estrus in sows had 13∼16 mm backfat thickness was 5.69 day, 5.67 day in 17∼20 mm and 5.75 day in 21∼23 mm and there was no difference among backfat thickness. 4. The concentration of plasma estradiol were 28.49 pg/$m\ell$ in parturition, 12.39 pg/$m\ell$ in weaning and 16.52 pg/$m\ell$ in return of estrous. The concentration ot plasma progesterone were 1.50 ng/$m\ell$ in parturition, 0.69 ng/$m\ell$ in weaning and 0.94 ng/$m\ell$ in return of estrous. The concentration of plasma cortisol were 57.74 ng/$m\ell$ in parturition, 43.01 ng/$m\ell$ in weaning and 47.89 ng/$m\ell$ in return of estrous. There showed the highest level of estradiol, progesterone and cortisol in parturition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.94-100
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• 2007

The variation in the diet of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum was investigated through analysis of feces collected before and after parturition. The results shows a high use of Coleoptera, which accounted for 30-77% in diet. Diptera(total 27.38%), and Lepidoptera(total 13.31%) was also consumed for the most part. Prey types recovered also included small numbers of Hymenoptera, Neuroptera. The diet of R. ferrumequinum varies before and after parturition. In lactating period, Coleoptera was mainly consumed(77%), but the use of Diptera significantly increased in post-lactating period.(51%)

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2006

An experiment was carried out to investigate changing of water quality during the seed production of dark-banded rockfish Sebastes inermis in large scale tanks. Ten broodstock of dark-banded rockfish were held in three circular tanks (diameter 6.5 m; depth 2 m; water volume 50 ton) each (stocking density $0.061kg/m^3$). During the experiment the temperature ranged from 14.2 to $16.1^{\circ}C$. The fingerlings were 134 with rotifers only during 1 to 9 days after parturition, rotifers with Artemia nauplii during 10 to 20 days after parturition, Artemia nauplii only during 21 to 35 days after parturition, Artemia nauplii with commercial diet during 36 to 80 days after parturition and commercial diet only during 81 to 85 days after parturition. Water quality (dissolved oxygen, pH, $NH_4^+-N,\;NO_2^--N,\;NO_3^--N\;and\;PO_4^{3-}-P$) in rearing tanks measured every 5 days in long term monitoring investigation or every 2 hours in diurnal monitoring investigation. In 85 days after parturition, the body weight of fish grew up to 0.88 f and specific growth rate was 8.0%/day in body weight. In long term monitoring investigation, with the increase of the amount of supplied commercial diet, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH decreased, but the concentration of $NH_4^+-N\;(4.5\;to\;76.3{\mu}M),\;NO_2^--N\;(0.02\;to\;0.06{\mu}M),\;NO_3^--N\;(3.0\;to\;5.9{\mu}M)$, and $PO_4^{3-}-P\;(0.41\;to\;0.59{\mu}M)$ increased. In the diurnal monitoring investigation, the concentration of $NH_4^+-N$ showed great fluctuation and ranged from 3.0 to $9.1{\mu}M$ when fed rotifers, 16.3 to $45.8{\mu}M$ when fed Artemia nauplii and 36.5 to $120.1{\mu}M$ when fed commercial diet. After daily feeding with each of feed, the amount of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (P) wastage were 7.0 g and 0.7 g when fed rotifers, 24.7 g and 0.7 g when fed Artemia nauplii and 140.9 g and 2.2 g when 134 commercial diet. The amount of DIN and phosphorous wastage during 134 commercial diet was significantly higher than that of fed rotifer and Artemia nauplii (P<0.05). Results will provide valuable information far water quality management and culture of dark-banded rockfish in commercial seed production systems.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2020

The present study investigated the effects of loose farrowing type during gestation and after farrowing on reproductive performance and of lactating sows. A total of 22 primiparous sows (Landrace; average initial body weights [BW], 228.54 ± 12.79 kg) were allotted to one of two treatments on the basis of body weight. Sows were divided into two experimental groups, conventional farrowing crates (CON), and loosed-farrowing pens (LFP). The experiment duration was around 38 days ranging from 10 days before parturition to 28 days after parturition. Gestating sows at the age of 105 d were placed in gestational stalls (group housing). All the sows were fed a common diet according to the National Research Council requirements for lactation. Cross-fostering was performed within 1 day of parturition. From 1 day after weaning, estrus detection was performed twice-daily (0900 and 1730 h) for 10 min by boar exposure. There were significant effects of LFP housing type on the farrowing duration, and farrowing interval. At the farrowing time, none of the litter parameters including total born, stillborn, mummy, born alive piglets and total litter weight and piglet weight were affected. There were no effects of housing type on the mortality of piglets at d 1, 3, 7, 21, and 28. In conclusion, the result of this study showed that there is no performance difference between the crated or LFP sows, which indicate that the LFP housing has the potential to be used as an alternative to the crated house without any detrimental effects in reproduction performance of lactating sows.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2017

The aims of the present study were to determine the weaning time for adoption of kittens, and to evaluate the fetal growth rate during pregnant in free-roaming cats. This study was conducted on three pregnant free-roaming cats (one feral cat and two stray cats). Radiography and ultrasonography were performed on the feral cat and on one of the stray cats. In the feral cat, fetal head diameter was measured once during pregnancy to determine the cesarean section (C-sec) time. In the stray cat, serial fetal head diameter was measured from capture to parturition. The body weight of the feral cat's kittens was measured from 4 weeks postpartum because of their wildness. That of the stray cats' kittens was measured immediately after birth. In the feral cat, scheduled C-sec was performed at predicted parturition day by measurement of head diameter, and six healthy kittens were delivered. The stray cats had five and six kittens by natural delivery, respectively. In the body weight gain of feral and stray cat's kittens, two female kittens of the feral cat lost weight rapidly after they were separated from their mother, so they were returned to their mother for 1 more week. After that, the female kittens grew up without difficulty. Body weight gain of the ten kittens born to the two stray cats consistently increased, by approximately 14 g every day, until they were adopted. The body weight of kittens born by natural delivery was on average 77.5 g greater than that of kittens born by C-sec. However, the gap decreased with time. During the stray cat's pregnancy, fetal head diameter increased by 0.042 cm every day. Maximum head size before parturition was 2.43 cm. These results indicate that the weaning time for adoption of kittens was 5-week-old postpartum.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.38-41
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to estimate of prediction of whelping day and to confirm the accuracy of prediction of whelping day in small pet bitches. The gestation length from the each based on days was $66.64{\pm}2.32days$ ($Mean{\pm}S.D$) when the Cornification index (CI) was over 90% after the first vaginal discharge, $64.65{\pm}2.87days$ from the day of CI peak, $63.46{\pm}1.63days$ from the day of ovulation by progesterone concentrations, and $57.67{\pm}2.43days$ from the first day of cytologic diestrus, respectively. The whelping day was estimated 66 days when the CI was over 90% after the first vaginal discharge, 64 days from the day of CI peak, 63 days from the day of ovulation by progesterone concentrations, and 57 days from the first day of cytologic diestrus, respectively. The accuracy of the prediction of whelping day was 90.0% with a precision of ${\pm}2days$ when the CI was over 90% after the first vaginal discharge, 77.5% from the day of CI peak, 86.2% from the day of ovulation by progesterone concentrations, and 81.2% from the first day of cytologic diestrus, respectively. These results indicated that the prediction of parturition day by vaginal cytology was useful method for management of reproduction and parturition in small pet bitches.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.351-356
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• 1988

To evaluate the possible functional role of serum nickel during the process of parturition, 15 serum samples were collected and analysed for the nickel concentrations in each 3 groups(Group 1 for the period during parturition, Group 2 for the period from delivery of fetus to delivery of placenta, and Group 3 for the period after delivery of placenta) of normal, uncomplicated full term vaginal delivery and one control group composed of healthy unmarried women in 3rd decades of age. Data revealed that average serum nickel concentration of Group 2($26.6{\mu}g/l$) and Group 1($22.2{\mu}g/l$) were significantly higher than that of Control group($13.7{\mu}g/l$), but Group 3's($13.8{\mu}g/l$) was almost same as Control group's. There were significant negative correlation between age and serum nickel concentration in group 2, and a tendency of higher nickel concentration in women who have no previous experiences of pregnancy than who have previous experiences of pregnancy, although it was not significant. These result could be indicative of close causal relationship between serum nickel concentration and the entire process of parturition.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2006

The recent decrease in wild stocks of seahorse, Hippocampus coronatus, has prompted the production of the species in captivity. We here present data on the body color changes of the species according to culture conditions. This investigation examined relationship between adult body size and clutch and growth in 60 days after parturition and survival of juveniles with four fed enriched Artemia nauplii, copepod nauplii and copepod adult. Seahorse adults ($77.77{\pm}9.84mm$, n=12) collected from Kamak Bay and Yeoja Bay from August 2003 to November 2004 gave a parturition of $6\sim75$ juveniles (Mean, 39 juveniles/male/time) for 14 times. A day old seahorses were $14.48{\pm}1.38mm$ (n=15) in standard length (SL) with 14 dorsal fin rays, 12 pectoral fin rays and 4 anal fin rays. Sixty-day old seahorses were $24.65{\pm}0.83mm$ (n=4) in SL. Growth rate of seahorses was 0.18 mm/day at 24 in 60 days after parturition. When offered Artemia nauplii and copepod nauplii, 5 day old sea-horses preferred copepod nauplii to Aremia nauplii with a maximum predation rate of 31 copepod nauplii/sea-horse/h. However 30-day old seahorses preferred selected Artemia nauplii with a maximum predation rate of 14 Artemia nauplii/seahorse/h. Survival was highest (49%) when offered copepod nauplii together with enriched Artemia nauplii.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 1996

Sex differentiation in the rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, was studied by using a histological method for the appearance of primordial germ cell, formation of primitive gonad and differentiation of female and male. The primordial germ cells were buried under fibrous mesenchymal tissue between gut and mesonephric duct of pre-larva with a total length (TL) of 6.3 mm at 2 days after parturition. In juvenile of TL $5.2\~5.9cm$ at 65 days after parturition, the gonad composed of a large number of genial cell and formed of cavity along the lateral side of the gonad, differentiated to the ovary. At this time, the gonad formed seminiferous tubules by somatic cells, differentiated to the testis. In juvenile of TL $7.0\~7.2cm$ cm at 115 days after parturition, gonads divided into testis contained pigment cell and ovary absent pigment cell. S. schlegeli differentiated directly into male or female without an intermediate female phase at early indifferentiated stage. Therefore, S. schlegeli belongs to the differentiated type of gonochoristic teleosts. At 350 days after parturition, sex ratio was approximately 1 : 1(p>0.05).