• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1532-1539
• /
• 2014

Although growth rate is one of the main economic traits of concern in pig production, there is limited knowledge on its epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation. In this study, we conducted methyl-CpG binding domain protein-enriched genome sequencing (MBD-seq) to compare genome-wide DNA methylation profile of small intestine and liver tissue between fast- and slow-growing weaning piglets. The genome-wide methylation pattern between the two different growing groups showed similar proportion of CpG (regions of DNA where a cytosine nucleotide occurs next to a guanine nucleotide in the linear sequence) coverage, genomic regions, and gene regions. Differentially methylated regions and genes were also identified for downstream analysis. In canonical pathway analysis using differentially methylated genes, pathways (triacylglycerol pathway, some cell cycle related pathways, and insulin receptor signaling pathway) expected to be related to growth rate were enriched in the two organ tissues. Differentially methylated genes were also organized in gene networks related to the cellular development, growth, and carbohydrate metabolism. Even though further study is required, the result of this study may contribute to the understanding of epigenetic regulation in pig growth.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.234-238
• /
• 2000

The cleavage products formed by autoxidation of phytofluene were evaluated in order to elucidate possible oxidation products of phytofluene under oxidative conditions. Phytofluene solubilized at 50$\mu$M in liposomal suspension was oxidized by incubating at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 72 h. Among a number of oxidation products formed, five products in the carbonyl compound fraction were identified as 6, 10, 14-trimethylpentadeca-3,5,9,13-tetraen-2-one, phytapentaenal, 5,9,13,17-tetramethyloctadeca-2,4,6,8,12,16-hexaenal, 5,9,13,17-tetramethyloctadeca-2,4,8,12,16-pentaenal, 2,7,11,15,19-pentamethylicosa-2,4,6,10,14,18-hexaenal and 4,9,13,17,21-pentamethyldocosa-2,4,6,8,12,16,20-heptaenal. These correspond to a series of products formed by cleavage in the respective eight conjugated double bonds of phytofluene. Also, 4,5-didehydorgeranyl geranoic acid was formed by autoxidation of phytofluene in liposomal suspension. The pig liver homogenate had the ability to convert phytapentaenal to 4,5-didehydrogeranyl geranoic acid, comparable to the conversion of all-trans-retinal to all-trans-retinoic acid. These results suggest that phytofluene is cleaved to a series of long-chain and short-chain carbonyl compounds under the oxidative condition in vitro and that phytapentaenal is further enzymatically converted to 4,5-didehydrogeranyl geranoic acid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.1485-1489
• /
• 2007

Achaete-scute like 2 (ASCL2) gene encodes a member of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor which is essential for the maintenance of proliferating trophoblasts during placental development. ASCL2 gene preferentially expresses the maternal allele in the mouse. However, it escapes genomic imprinting in the human. In this study, the complete open reading frame consisting of 193 amino acids of ASCL2 gene was obtained. Sequence analysis indicated that a C-G mutation existed in the 3' region between Meishan and Large White pigs. The polymorphism was used to determine the monoallelic or biallelic expression with RT-PCR-RFLP in pigs of Large $White{\times}Meishan$ $F_1$ hybrids. Imprinting analysis indicated that the ASCL2 gene expression was biallelic in all the tested tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, small intestine, skeletal muscle, fat, uterus, ovary and pituitary). PCR-RFLP was used to detect the polymorphism in 270 pigs of the "$Large\;White{\times}Meishan$" $F_2$ resource population. The statistical results showed highly significant associations of the genotypes and fat meat percentage (FMP), lean meat percentage (LMP) and ratio of lean to fat (RLF) (p<0.01), and significant associations of the genotypes and loin eye area (LEA) and internal fat rate (IFR) (p<0.05).

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.249-254
• /
• 2006

It has been reported that liver is a very important organ to xenotransplantation. Pig is known to be a most suitable species in transplantation of human organs. However, the physiological function of pig hepatocytes is not clear elucidated. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be a mitogen in various cell systems. Thus, we examined the effect of EGF on cell proliferation and its related signal cascades in primary cultured pig hepatocytes. EGF stimulates cell proliferation in a dose (>1ng/ml) dependent manner. EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by AG 1478 ($10^{-6}M$, an EGF receptor antagonist) genistein and herbymycin A (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, $10^{-6}M$), suggesting the role of activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor. In addition, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was prevented by neomycin $(10^{-4}M)$, U73122 $(10^{-5}M)$ (phospholipase C [PLC] inhibitors), staurosporine ($(10^{-8}M)$, or bisindolylmaleimide I $(10^{-6}M)$ (protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitors), suggesting the role of PLC and PKC. Moreover, EGF-induced increase of $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation was blocked by PD 98059 (a p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase [MAPK] inhibitor), SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and SP 600125 (a JNK inhibitor). EGF increased the translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane fraction and activated p42/44 MAPK, p38 MAPK and JNK. In conclusion, EGF stimulates cell proliferation via PKC and MAPK in cultured pig hepatocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.7
• /
• pp.931-937
• /
• 2006

The full-length cDNA of the porcine SMPX gene was obtained by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The nucleotide sequences and the predicted protein sequences share high sequence identity with both human and mouse. The promoter of SMPX was sequenced and then analyzed to find the promoter binding sites. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that SMPX has a high level of expression in heart and skeletal muscle, a very low expression in lung and spleen and no expression in liver, kidney, fat and brain. Moreover, SMPX has a differential expression level in skeletal muscle, the expression in 65-day embryos being higher than other stages. The porcine SMPX was mapped to SSCXp24 by using a somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) and was found closely linked to SW1903 using the radiation hybrid panel IMpRH. An A/G single nucleotide polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) was detected in eight breeds. The analysis of allele frequency distribution showed that introduced pig breeds (Duroc and Large White) have a higher frequency of allele A while in the Chinese indigenous pig breeds (Qingping pig, Lantang pig, YushanBlack pig, Large Black-White pig, Small Meishan) have a higher frequencies of allele G. The association analysis using an experimental population (188 pigs), which included two cross-bred groups and three pure-blood groups, suggested that the SNP genotype was associated with intramuscular fat content.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.8
• /
• pp.1080-1087
• /
• 2008

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and CD14 protein play important roles in the defense against infection of Gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, tissue distribution and polymorphism of porcine LBP and CD14 genes were analyzed. Real-time PCR results showed that the porcine LBP gene was especially highly expressed in liver, while CD14 gene was highly expressed in liver and spleen tissues. A 1,732 bp cDNA fragment of porcine LBP gene and a 1,682 bp genomic DNA fragment of CD14 gene were isolated. Polymorphisms were identified in these two fragments and showed that there were 14 potential SNPs in the porcine LBP gene and 3 potential SNPs in the porcine CD14 gene. Three SNPs, 292G/A (Gly/Ser), 1168G/A (Ala/Thr) of the LBP gene and -61G/A of the CD14 gene, were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Association analyses indicated that polymorphism of the 292G/A locus was significantly associated with porcine immune traits hematocrit (HCT), IgG and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) (p<0.01), and the 1168G/A locus was significantly associated with HCT and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) traits (p<0.05). No significant association was found between the -61G/A locus and immune traits of the pig. Our data indicated that the LBP gene was significantly associated with immune traits of pig. Also, we identified some SNPs which may be useful markers for disease-resistant breeding of pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.333-366
• /
• 1992

Safety of recombinant porcine somatotropin administration on pig was studied using 32 Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred pigs. The starting body weight ranged from 55.5kg to 65.3kg. Eight pigs were allotted to each low dose group of sustained releasing rPST(SL), high dose group of sustained releasing rPST(SH), daily injection group of rPST(DI), and control group(C). Pigs in SL group and SH group were injected subcutaneously twice in 3 week-interval with 1000$\mu\textrm{g}$ and 2000$\mu\textrm{g}$ of sustained releasing rPST per kg body weight, respectively. Pigs in DI group were injected intramuscularly with 100$\mu\textrm{g}$ of rPST everyday for 6 weeks. Blood was collected from anterior vena cava just before the first treatment, and at four weeks and six weeks of experiment. Hematological parameters and blood chemical parameters indicating liver function, kidney function, electrolyte metabolism, mineral metabolism and lipid metabolism were determined. Necropsy and urinalysis were performed after final blood collection. The results were summarized as follows, and it is concluded that rPST administration does not affect pig health negatively. 1. rPST administration did not affect kidney function as manisfested by BUN, creatinine and urinalysis. 2. rPST administration did not affect liver function as manisfested by total protein, albumin, serum AST activity serum ALT activity serum ALP activity, serum LDH activity, serum GGT activity and serum SDH activity. 3. rPST administration did not affect skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and brain as manifasted by serum AST activity and serum LDH activity. 4. rPST administration increased blood glucose level within normal range. 5. rPST administration did not affect lipid metabolism as manisfested by triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid concentrati on. 6. rPst administration dia not affect mineral metabolism as manisfested by calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron concentration. 7. rPST administration did not affect electrolyte metabolism as manisfested by Na, K, chloride concentration. 8. rPST administration did not affect erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, thrombocyte count, and plasma fibrinogen level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.260-266
• /
• 1996

Eighteen crossbred pigs were weaned at 4 days of age and fed up to 28 days of age to examine the effect of sulfur amino acid content of three diets upon plasma taurine concentration and hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity. The experimental diets consisted of either whey protein (W) or partialy hydrolyzed soy protein (S) as the source of protein. 0.25% methionine was added to the S diet for the third dietary regimen (SM). Sulfur amino acid content(methionine plus cystine)of the three diets was 1.53%, 1.34% and 1.09% for the W, SM and S diet, respectively. Plasma taurine concentration from the pigs fed the three experimental diets reflected the total sulfur amino acid content of the diet. The S diet resulted in a significantly lower plasma tarrine level than the W and SM diets throughout the experiment. After three weeks, pigs fed the W diet had significantly higher plasma taurine concentration than those fed SM diet. Therfore it appears that taurine requirement of the pig depends on the sulfur amino acid contents of the diets and the conversion o sulfur amino acid to taurine seemed not to be limited by any factor when sulfur amino acid was below 1.53% of the diet. There was no significant difference between three dietary groups in hepatic cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity and this suggests that the reduced cysteinesulfinate decarboxylase activity due to high sulfur amino acid in the diet may not occur in the pig liver.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.345-359
• /
• 2003

A number of toxicants have been incriminated as a causing hepatic disease. Among many detrimental injury, alcohol has been noted for hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and hepatic cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to develop animal model for hepatic fibrosis in pigs fed ethanol, and to search for a new anti-fibrogenic agent via this model. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each. Group 1, 2 and 3 were fed with active ceramic water only, ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol and normal tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. At week 12, all pigs were immediately sacrificed for collection each tissue and blood. Serologically, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly reversed in group 2, as compared to group 3. They were normal range in pigs of group 1. Microscopically, macrovesicular lipid droplets and moderate hepatocellular necrosis were evident in the tap water + ethanol fed group 3. However, the active ceramic water treated group 1 showed normal architecture. Moreover, in group 2, mild fatty changes and necrosis were observed in hepatocytes. Collagen fibers were increased in spaces surrounding periportal and interlobular connective tissues in the group 3 of tap water + ethanol, but collagen synthesis and its thickness of fibrotic septa connecting portal tracts were markedly reduced in the group 2 of ceramic water + ethanol. Myofibroblasts were detected mainly in the interlobular connective tissues of pig liver of group 3 treated ethanol and tap water. Few to no myofibroblasts were observed in groups 1 and 2. CYP2E1 was not or rarely detected in group 1 fed ceramic water. However, group 2 showed slightly activation of CYP2E1 in the area of pericentral vein, while CYP2E1 was significantly activated in group 3 fed tap water and ethanol. Based on the above data, we believe that we have developed a unique alcohol induced fibrosis model in pig, which will be useful in developing anti-fibrotic agents and drugs. Furthermore, the active ceramic water used in our study had an inhibitory and may be protective against ethanol induced hepatic toxicity and fibrosis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.467-473
• /
• 2010

Gangliosides are a major component of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells, which are directly involved in a variety of immunological events, including cell-to cell or cell-to-protein interactions. In this study, we investigated whether gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are related to rejection during the xenotransplantation of NIH-miniature pig livers and hearts to humans. Both high performance thin-layer chromatography and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that the expression of gangliosides in the liver tissue of NIH-miniature pigs was higher than that in the heart. Gangliosides GD3, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b were observed in both the liver and heart, whereas GQ1b was detected only in the liver, indicating that the ganglioside expression profiles are tissue specific. Moreover, other ganglio-series gangliosides, including GM3, were not detected in the livers and hearts of NIH-miniature pigs. Taken together, these results suggest that gangliosides may play important roles in immune responses in clinical xenotransplants of pig livers and hearts.