• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.404-410
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• 2019

This study was performed to investigate the seed morphological characteristics and dormancy type of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara that high valued medicinal crop and to select the disinfectants and light quality for germination rate improvement. The seed disinfection was carried out using distilled water (control), NaClO 4%, $H_2O_2$ 4%, and benomyl $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The light quality treatments were set to dark condition (control I), fluorescent lamp (control II), LEDs [red, blue, green, and combined RB LEDs (red:blue = 8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8)] with a photoperiod of 12/12 (light/dark) and light intensity $150{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ photosynthetic photon flux density. Although the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed was an underdeveloped embryo (E) and seed (S) with an embryo (E):seed (S) ratio of 0.4, it is germinated within 30 days, and seed moisture saturation was reached within 6 hours after immersion. After seed disinfection, the mold incidence rate was significantly inhibited, and the final germination rate was the highest at 87% in the benomyl seed disinfection. The final germination rate was the highest at 92% in the red light, and the mean daily germination was the lowest in the R2B8. Therefore, there is almost no dormancy in the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed, and benomyl seed disinfectant and red light were effective in the improvement of germination rate. So it is considered to the high value of use for medicinal crop Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara cultivation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate inflammation-related gene expression altered in ovary and endometrium of Korean cattle with reproductive disorders using microarray. In the present study, nine inflammation-related differential1y expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the cystic ovary and endometrium with endometritis. In the follicular cyst, eotaxin and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) were up-regulated, whereas complement component 3 (C3) and oxidised low density lipoprotein (lectin-like) receptor 1 (OLR1) were down-regulated. Complement component 4A (C4A) was up-regulated in luteal cyst. In the endometritis, chemokine 1igand l and 2 (CXCL1 and CXCL2), protein C (inactivator of coagulation factors Va and VIIIa), and complement component C5 were up-regulated, whereas kininogen was down-regulated. Of these genes, we focused on eotaxin and kininogen, which were highly regulated in the follicular cyst and endometritis, respectively and on C3 commonly regulated in both reproductive disorders. The microarray data of eotaxin, kininogen, and C3 were validated by semi-quantitative PCR. Consistent with microarray data, eotaxin was up-regulated by 4-fold in the follicular cyst, while kininogen was down-regulated by 5-fold in the endometritis. C3 was down-regulated in the both follicular cyst and endometritis. Our results suggest that these inflammation-related genes could be useful markers for diagnosis of cystic ovary and endometritis of Korean cattle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2016

There is a growing interest in the application of primary hepatocytes for treatment of liver diseases in humans and for drug development. Several studies have focused on long-term survival and di-differentiation blocking of primary hepatocytes in an in vitro culture system. Therefore, the present study also aimed to optimize an in vitro culture system using primary rat hepatocytes. Primary rat hepatocytes from 6-week-old male Crl:CD rats were isolated using a modified two-step collagenase perfusion. Healthy $3.5{\times}10^6$ primary rat hepatocytes were seeded into a 2 dimensional (2D) culture in a 25T culture flask coated with collagen type I or into a 3D culture in a 125-ml spinner flask for 7 days. Production of plasma protein (ALB and TF), apoptosis (BAX and BCL2), and CYP (CYP3A1) related genes were compared between the 2D and 3D culture systems. The 3D culture system had an advantage over the 2D system because of the relatively high expression of ALB and low expression of BAX in the 3D system. However, the level of CYP3A1 did not improve in the 3D culture with and without the presence of a dexamethasone inducer. Therefore, 3D culture has an advantage for albumin production and primary rat hepatocyte survivability, but a low expression of CYP3A1 indicated that primary rat hepatocytes require a high-density culture for stress reduction by continuous flow.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.537-542
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• 2013

Field performance of somatic plants (somatic embryo derived-plants) of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) produced from somatic embryogenesis was compared with that of seedlings at age 5. In comparison of photosynthetic rate (seedling, $10.67{\mu}mol$ $CO_2m^{-2}s^{-1}$; somatic plant, $9.04{\mu}mol$ $CO_2m^{-2}s^{-1}$), stomatal conductance rate (seedling, 0.2 $H_2Om^{-2}s^{-1}$; somatic plant, 0.166 $H_2Om^{-2}s^{-1}$) and respiration rate (seedling, 1.71 mmol $H_2Om^{-2}s^{-1}$; somatic plant, 1.513 mmol $H_2Om^{-2}s^{-1}$), no significant differences were found between plants. The seedlings were a little higher in comparison of stomatal density (seedling, $23.33/mm^2$; somatic plant, $22.43/mm^2$), length (seedling, $25.83{\mu}m$; somatic plant, $23.46{\mu}m$) and width (seedling, $15.87{\mu}m$; somatic plant, $15.3{\mu}m$). In comparison of DNA content of the leaves using flow cytometry, no differences in ploidy level were found between the seedlings and somatic plants.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2010

Follicular cystic ovary (FCO) is one of the major causes of reproductive failure in cattle. Genetic alterations affect the function of diverse cells and/or tissues, which could be present in cystic ovaries. A microarray analysis was performed to screen differential gene expressions in follicular cystic follicles of cattle. In this study, we hypothesized that follicular cysts may be induced by changes in ion- and transporter-related gene expression. Microarray data showed that fibrinogen-gamma (FGG) and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) were up-regulated, while choline transporter-like protein 4 (SLC44A4), very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase homolog 2 (SLC27A5), annexin 8 (ANXA8), and aquaporin 4 were down-regulated in follicular cystic follicles. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to validate DEGs altered in follicular cystic follicles. Of six DEGs, three DEGs (FGG, SLC44A4, and aquaporin 4) showed a positive correlation between microarray and semi-quantitative PCR data. We focused on FGG, among three DEGs, which was highly up-regulated in follicular cystic follicles. The FGG mRNA was upregulated by 8.4-fold and by 1.7-fold in the bovine follicular cystic follicles as judged by microarray and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. However, there was no significant changes in the expression level of FGG protein in both follicular cystic follicles and granulosa cells isolated from follicular cystic follicles by Western blot analysis. Although this study does not reveal a positive correlation between the mRNA and protein level, FGG appears to be an important biomarker in the discrimination of follicular cyst from normal ovary.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.287-297
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• 2006

Concentration of hormones and blood components at the last fatting stage was changed before slaughter in Hanwoo steers and bulls. Two months before slaughter and shipment, concentration of cortisol and creatinine was increased, but that of calcium was decreased. Concentration of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was decreased after shipment, and inorganic phosphorus (IP) was decreased at slaughter. It is unclear that changes of concentration in between 2 months before slaughter and shipment were either caused by aging or stresses (abstinence, environmental change, blood drawing, and shipment). Changes of blood concentration between shipment and slaughter may be accounted for overall responses from abstinence, shipment, and unfamiliar environment. A positive correlation between 2 months before slaughter and before shipment was detected for IGF-1, total protein (TP), albumin, creatinine, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and globulin in steers, and creatinine and globulin in bulls. A positive correlation between 2 month before slaughter and slaughter was detected for IGF-1, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), IP and HDLC in steers, and creatinine in bulls. A positive correlation between before shipment and slaughter was detected for testosterone, IGF-1, creatinine, triglyceride, HDLC and globulin in steers, and TP, creatinine, HDLC and globulin in bulls.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2001

This study was undertaken to compare the efficiency of recovery rate and development rate of follicular oocytes collected either by aspiration or by slicing method. The follicular oocytes collected by the two methods matured in TCM199 supplemented with 10% steer serum at 39$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$in air. After 22 h of culture, the oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen (2$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml of final concentration) prepared with Percoll-density gradient in IVF-TALP medium for 16 h. Later, sets of 15 presumptive zygotes were transferred into 50 $\mu$L, droplets of CR1aa medium. On day 4 of the culture, embryos were transferred to TCM199 until day 9. The percentages of nuclear maturation to pre-metaphase II in the oocytes collected by aspiration are significantly (P<0.05) higher than that by slicing (83% vs. 62%, respectively). The mean number of oocytes recovered by slicing per ovary is significantly (P<0.05) higher than that by aspiration (15.1 vs. 6.7, respectively). Although the rates of cleavage and development to blastocyst of oocytes collected b)\\\\`aspiration are significantly (P<0.05) higher than that by slicing, the number of transferable embryos obtained by slicing method is significantly (P<0.05) higher than that by aspiration. From the results. we may conclude that slicing method is better than aspiration method for obtaining large number of transferable embryos per ovary.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1997

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}\;(TGF-{\beta})$ is a multifunctional polypeptide that exerts biological roles including cell proliferation, differentiation, extracellular matrix deposition and apoptosis in many different cell types. $TGF-{\beta}$, although known as a negative growth regulator, has not been tested in human embryo lung (HEll cells. This study attempts to understand the role of $TGF-{\beta}$ on growth control of HEL cells in relationship to tyrosine phosphorylation pattern of cellular proteins. In density-arrested HEL cells treated with $TGF-{\beta}$, analysis of Western immunoblot showed induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of two major cellular proteins (15 kDa and 45 kDa). In normal proliferating HEL cells with different concentrations of serum, further analysis indicated that the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 45 kDa protein was regulated in serum concentration-dependent manner. However, in proliferating HEL cells treated with $TGF-{\beta}$, tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 kDa was down-regulated. Calcium involvement in the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 kDa and 15 kDa proteins was also examined. Tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein but not of 45 kDa protein was regulated by exogenous calcium. The level of tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein was low at reduced caclium concentration and high at elevated caclium concentration. $TGF-{\beta}$ reversed the pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation of 15 kDa protein. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of 45 and 15 kDa proteins in HEL cells may be controlled depending on the physiological status of the cells, i.e., low in arrested cells and high in proliferating cells. And the tyrosine phosphorylation of the two proteins appears to be down- or up-regulated by $TGF-{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2001

Using bioinformatic tools for searching the massive genome databases, it is possible to Identify new genes in few minutes for initial discoveries based on evolutionary conservation, domain homology, and tissue expression patterns, followed by further verification and characterization using the bench-top works. The development of high-density two-dimensional arrays has allowed the analysis of the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously in the humans, mice, rats, yeast, and bacteria to elucidate the genes and pathways involved in physiological processes. In addition, rapid and automated protein identification is being achieved by searching protein and nucleotide sequence databases directly with data generated from mass spectrometry. Recently, analysis at the bio-chemical level such as biochemical screening and metabolic profiling (Biochemical genomics) has been introduced as an additional approach for categorical assignment of gene function. To make advantage of recent achievements in computational approaches for facilitated gene discoveries in the avian model, chicken expression sequence tags (ESTs) have been reported and deposited in the international databases. By searching EST databases, a chicken heparanase gene was identified and functionally confirmed by subsequent experiments. Using combination of sub-tractive hybridization assay and Genbank database searches, a chicken heme -binding protein family (cSOUL/HBP) was isolated in the retina and pineal gland of domestic chicken and verified by Northern blot analysis. Microarrays have identified several host genes whose expression levels are elevated following infection of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) with Marek's disease virus (MDV). The ongoing process of chicken genome projects and new discoveries and breakthroughs in genomics and proteomics will no doubt reveal new and exciting information and advances in the avian research.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2001

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) originate from the epiblast and appear in the germinal crescent. These PGCs enter the developing blood vessels during stage 10∼12 (H&H), circulate in the blood stream, migrate into the developing gonadal anlage and differentiate into germ cells. However, it is not clear until when the migratory ability of PGC is maintained. This study was conducted to examine whether migratory ability is present in PGCs from the gonad at later embryonic developmental stages. In the present study, gonads were dissected from 5-, 6- and 10-day old quail embryos and treated with trypsin-EDTA. Gonadal PGCs (gPGCs) were purified by Ficoll-density-gradient-centrifugation and labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye. The PKH26-labeled gPGCs were microinjected into the blood vessel of the recipient quail embryo. Manipulated recipients were incubated for 3 days, embedded in paraffin and sdctioned. The foreign gPGCs were detected by fluorescent and confocal laser microscopy. As a result, quail gPGCs, from 10, 6 and 5 day old embryos could migrate through the recipient blood stream at early stage and settle in the gonads. Thus, results suggest that gPGCs from upto 10-day old embryos keep properties seen in circulating PGC. Therefore, the PGCs of 10-day old embryonic gonads can be used for the tools of genetic manipulation.