• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2020

The pre-treatment condition affects on the element analysis of inductively coupled plasma (ICP). In this study the pre-treatment condition of ICP has been studied to quantify elements in dog's hair. The hair samples were collected from twelve female Beagles by clipping them into 1 or 2 cm at the back neck. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of elements in hairs were performed by using ICP. By ICP nine elements were qualitatively detected and quantitatively analyzed (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Se, Zn). The measured amounts of elements were compared between 3 step and 2 step procedures which were with and without the acetone based washing step. The quantitative analysis showed that the concentrations of K, Na, P, and Se were significantly decreased in hair samples with acetone-based washing (p < 0.005 or 0.001) unlike those without the acetone-based washing. It implied that some minerals are lost by the acetone based washing during the sample preparation step. Therefore, the acetone based washing process is not suitable for quantifying elements in dog's hair. In addition, the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis were compared. Although there was a difference in absolute values of elemental contents in hair, the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis were significantly correlated each other. This finding suggested that the results of qualitative analysis can be used to monitor elemental contents in dog's hair.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.920-928
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• 2023

Objective: Angora rabbits fed a low-protein diet exhibit decreased hair production performance. This study was set out to evaluate the effects of methionine on hair properties and nitrogen metabolism in Angora rabbits fed a low-protein diet and to investigate the gene expression related to hair follicle development to determine the possible molecular mechanism of methionine effects on hair follicle development. Methods: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of DL-methionine addition on a low-protein diet on hair development in Angora rabbits. Angora rabbits were divided into 5 groups: fed a normal diet (control), fed a low-protein diet (LP), or fed an LP supplemented with 0.2%, 0.4%, or 0.6% DL-methionine (Met). Results: The results showed that rabbits in the LP group had lower wool yield than the control rabbits, but the addition of 0.4% to 0.6% Met to LP attenuated these effects (p<0.05). Dietary addition of 0.4% to 0.6% Met to LP increased the apparent nitrogen digestibility, nitrogen utilization rate, and feed efficiency (p<0.05). Feeding LP decreased the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), keratin-associated protein (KAP) 3.1, and KAP 6.1 mRNA levels compared with the control, but the addition of 0.4% Met in LP attenuated these effects (p<0.05). Relative to the LP or control group, dietary addition of 0.4% Met increased versican mRNA levels. Conclusion: In conclusion, the addition of Met to LP could improves wool production performance and feed efficiency and reduce nitrogen emissions in Angora rabbits. Met can promote hair follicle development, which may be associated with IGF1, KAP, and the versican signaling.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2023

Animal welfare has been gradually gathering more attention from consumers over time, making it increasingly important to assess the level of stress experienced by livestock. Traditionally, stress has been measured by collecting blood to assess cortisol levels, an action that can be considered distressing for the animal. Therefore, we aimed to explore the feasibility of using hair as an alternative medium to blood for stress assessment. We utilized B/F (blood collected at the farm), B/A (blood collected after transport to the auction), and H/A (hair collected at the auction after blood sampling) from calves at the age of 7-9 months transported from the farm to the auction. Hair underwent a washing and extraction process to utilize hair extracts, while blood was centrifuged to analyze using ELISA. The cortisol concentration in the blood was significantly higher in B/A compared to B/F (p<0.05), confirming that the calves experienced stress during transportation. Additionally, H/A was significantly lower than both B/A and B/F (p<0.0001). These results emphasized that cortisol in hair is not suitable for investigating short-term stress in livestock, as it is with blood. While measuring stress indices using hair may not be appropriate for replacing blood, it is considered a highly suitable practice for animal welfare, and further research in this area should be continued.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2019

Different methodologies in hair cortisol extraction may alter the final output. Thus finding the standard methodology according to a laboratory facilities is pivotal. This study was carried out to validate the feasibility of two methods of grinding hair for cortisol extraction in Korean native (Hanwoo) cattle. Hair from nine cattle including mature cows, heifers, and calves were assigned to one of the following methods for grinding hair; 1) using bead beater (BB) and 2) using surgical scissors (SS). Hair samples (> 1 g) were harvested from forehead of each individual twice (first and second measurement) to validate the results. To improve the accuracy of the obtained data, each sample was duplicated into two wells during enzyme immunoassay (EIA) analysis. Overall comparison of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) showed that the data within the range (out of the range) of standards provided by the EIA kit were 88.9% (11.1%) and 66.7% (33.3%) for BB compared with SS, respectively. In the first measurement, application of BB was tended to show higher (p = 0.056) amount of HCC compared with SS. In the second measurement application of BB showed higher (p = 0.0028) amount of HCC compared with SS. Among the cattle, calves showed higher HCC using BB compared with SS (p < 0.05). Application of BB in hair grinding methodology for Hanwoo cattle may improve cortisol extraction in comparison to application of SS method, with more consistency. Thus, it would be the preferable method to use.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.139-148
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to review the effect of herbal medicine on hair growth in animal models reported in Korean domestic journals. Methods : Korean core databases were searched with terms alopecia and hair, and animal study reports on hair growth with herbal medicine were reviewed. Animal model, intervention, and hair growth measure data were extracted. Results : A total of 28 reports were reviewed. C57BL/6 mice with depilation was the most frequent animal models used. Polygoni multiflori radix, Cnidii rhizoma and Biotae Folium were frequently used herbal medicine. Positive effects were reported. Conclusions : Herbal medicines may be promising resource for pharmacopuncture materials for positive effects on hair growth.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.41.1-41.7
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• 2016

Background: Over two decades of observations in the field in South East Asia and Hawai'i suggest that majority of the commercial dairy herds are of black hair coat. Hence a simple study to determine the accuracy of the observation was conducted with two large dairy herds in Hawaii in the mid-1990s. Methods: A retrospective study on longevity of Holstein cattle in the tropics was conducted using DairyComp-305 lactation information coupled with phenotypic evaluation of hair coat color in two large dairy farms. Cows were classified into 3 groups: a) black (B, >90%); b) black/white (BW, 50:50) and c) white (W, >90%). Cows with other hair coat distribution were excluded from the study. In farm A, 211 out of 970 cows were identified having 4 or more lactations. In farm B, 690 out of 1,350 cows were identified with 2 or more lactations for the study. Results: The regression analyses and the Wilcoxon-Log-rank test for survival probability showed that Holstein cattle with 90% black hair coat had greater longevity compared to Holstein cattle with 90% white hair coat. Conclusions: This study suggests that longevity of Holstein cattle in tropical regions was influenced by hair coat color and characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.444-449
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to measure the hair melanins of various colors and to find the relationship between the quantity of melanins and hair color phenotypes in alpacas. According to the Munsell color system, 3 healthy alpacas were selected for each of the 22 different hair color phenotypes (66 alpacas altogether). Alpaca hair was taken from the lateral thoracic region and then dissolved with different solutions to obtain melanins. The values of alkali-soluble melanins (ASM), eumelanin (EM) and pheomelanin (PM) were measured by spectrophotometric assay, and labeled as Sp.ASM, Sp.EM and Sp.PM, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS11.5 software. Results showed that average Sp.ASM and Sp.PM were increased as the color deepened from white to black, ranging from 0.500 to 4.543 for Sp.ASM and from 0.268 to 1.457 for Sp.EM. However, average Sp.PM had no such apparent relationship with color. Based on the value of Sp.ASM and EM, 7 hues were produced and gray was a single hue. Most of the data were in a normal distribution (p>0.10). ANOVA analysis showed that mean values of Sp.ASM, Sp.EM and Sp.PM were significantly different (p<0.05). The results also showed that Sp.ASM was positively correlated with Sp.EM but the correlation between Sp.ASM and Sp.PM was not significantly different from 0. It is concluded that EM is the major constituent of alpaca hair melanin; there is a significant correlation among ASM, EM and alpaca hair colors, and EM is the most reliable parameter for distinguishing these groups.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1237-1243
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• 2002

We have developed a reliable and noninvasive method for swine genotyping of single locus nuclear gene with aged single hair follicles delivered by general mail. The method is based on booster and nested PCR amplification with step-wise increase of primers and dNTPs concentrations followed by restriction endonuclease digestion. To establish this method, the ryanodine receptor (RYR 1) locus which is an economically important trait in swine industry was employed for genotyping experiment. The 3-step PCR amplication method is much less dependent on the quantity and quality of template DNA and produces enough amplification product for the detection on the ethidium bromide-stained gel such as RFLP analysis. A total of 120 pigs were subjected to the RYR 1 genotyping analysis using three-step PCR method which amplified enough quantity of PCR products from the aged single hair follicles for RFLP analysis and genotyping results were identical to the results of the corresponding ethanol-fixed skeletal muscle tissue. This approach will be a great help for porcine breeders and investigators in genotyping of swine. They can receive genotyping results later by simply plucking single hairs of their pigs at farm and sending them in general mail to the diagnostic laboratory which eliminates the inconveniences to collect ear tissue or blood cells from pigs, or the investigator's need for travel to farms in order to collect fresh hair samples.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Objectives : In Korean medicine, a prescription of Sinsun-yukza-hwan (Shenxian-liuzi-wan, SSY) has been used in clinic for treatment of alopecia via oral. This study was performed to determine transdermal effects of the ethanol extract from SSY on hair growth and -related gene expressions in mice. Methods : We analyzed index compound, 5-hydroxy-methyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), in SSY extract by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). 6 weeks old C57BL/6 mice with removed hair were used as an alopecia animal model. Mice were divided into 3 experimental groups including normal (3 water: 1 ethanol: 2 polyethylene glycol mixture as a vehicle), SSY extract and 5% minoxidil (as a positive control), treated groups. SSY was applied topically on the hair-shaved skin of C57BL/6 mice every day for 15 days. The color, thickness and density of hair were monitored every $5^{th}$ day by naked eye, photograph and phototrichogram using folliscope. Also hair growth-associated gene expressions were measured by immunoblotting assay. Results : Hair density of minoxidil or SSY-treated group was significantly increased compared to that of vehicle application on the $15^{th}$ day, respectively. And hair thickness of minoxidil and SSY groups was increased compared to that of vehicle treated group on the $15^{th}$ day, respectively. Induction of insulin-like-growth factor 1(IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also significantly accelerated by SSY extract compared to those of vehicle-applied group. Conclusions : These results provide scientific evidence to support the potent multi-application of SSY as a cosmeceutical material for promoting hair growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.593-601
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate heat tolerance using heat tolerance indices, physiological, physical, thermographic, and hematological parameters in Santa Ines and Morada Nova sheep breeds in the Federal District, Brazil. Methods: Twenty-six adult hair sheep, one and a half years old, from two genetic groups (Santa Ines: 12 males and 4 females; Morada Nova: 7 males and 3 females) were used and data (rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, skin temperatures; hematological parameters) were collected during three consecutive days, twice a day (morning and afternoon), with a total of six repetitions. Also physical parameters (biometric measurements, skin and hair traits) and heat tolerance indices (temperature-humidity index, Iberia and Benezra) were evaluated. The analyses included analyses of variance, correlation, and principal components with a significance level of 5%. Results: The environmental indices, in general, indicate a situation of thermal discomfort for the animals during the afternoon. Breed significantly influenced (p<0.001) physiological and physical characteristics of skin, hair, biometric measurements and Iberia and Benezra heat tolerance indices. Santa Ines animals were bigger and had longer, greater number and darker hair, thicker skin, greater respiratory rate and Benezra index and lower Iberia index compared with Morada Nova breed. Conclusion: Although both breeds can be considered adapted to the environmental conditions of the region, Morada Nova breed is most suitable for farming in the Midwest region. The positive correlation found between the thermographic temperatures and physiological parameters indicates that this technique can be used to evaluate thermal comfort. Also, it has the advantage that animals do not have to be handled, which favors animal welfare.