• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.416-419
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• 2000

Ultrasonographic appearance of the normal involution process of the porcine postpartum uterus was examined. Six, sows were used to determine the normal Ultrasonographic appearance of the involution postpartum uterus. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed daily from days one through eight, then on days 15 and 21 postpartum. Ultrasonographic the mean local uterine wall thickness was 12.00 mm on day one postpartum. By day 15 the mean total uterine wall thickness was about 7.21 mm and on day 21 postpartum the uterus was about 6.12 mm. From one day to five days postpartum, intraluminal contents were isoechoic to the endometrium. From 15 days to 21 days, the luminal 7ont7llts were of mixed echogenicity compared to the endometrillm.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 2012

The present study was performed to identify the relationship between plasminogen activator (PA) and Heat Shock Protein-90 (HSP-90) in porcine uterus tissues during the estrous cycle. Porcine uterus tissues were obtained from preovulatory (Pre-Ov), post-ovulatory (Post-Ov) and early to mid-luteal (Early-mid L) stages. The protein was extracted from uterus tissue by using M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. Proteins were refined by RIPA Buffer and quantified by BCA methods. As results, t-PA expression was significantly (p<0.05) higher from pre-ovulatory(Epithelium tissue: $29,067{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $30,797{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) compared to the post-ovulatory stage(Epithelium tissue: $54,357{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $53,270{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and early to mid-luteal stage(Epithelium tissue: $42,380{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $43,139{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). On the other hand, the uPA expression indicated higher from early to mid-luteal stage (Epithelium tissue: $0.02198{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.02412{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) than pre-ovulatory stage (Epithelium tissue: $0.01577{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.01531{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and post-ovulatory stage(Epithelium tissue: $0.01414{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, Myometrium tissue: $0.01429{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). However, expression of u-PA did not differ from each estrous cycle in the epithelium tissue and myometrium tissue(p<0.05). Expression of HSP-90 was differ t-PA and u-PA from pre-ovulatory in Epithelium tissue($25,423{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and early to mid-luteal stage in epithelium tissue($177,922{\mu}g/{\mu}l$) and myometrium tissue($26,664{\mu}g/{\mu}l$). These results suggest that HSP-90 and u-PA were related with change of uterus cycle according to the reformation of the tissues in porcine uterus.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2009

Salivary lipocalin (SAL1) is a member of the lipocalin protein family that has a property to associate with many lipophilic molecules. The importance of SAL1 during pregnancy in pigs has been suggested by our previous study which has shown that SAL1 is expressed in the uterine endometrium in a cell type- and implantation stage-specific manner and secreted into the uterine lumen. However, function of SAL1 in the uterus during pregnancy in pigs is not known. To understand SAL1 function in the uterus during pregnancy, we generated recombinant porcine SAL1 protein in an insect cell line. Porcine SAL1 cDNA was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector using RT-PCR and total RNA from uterine endometrium on day 12 of pregnancy, and the expression vector was used to generate recombinant Bacmid containing the SAL1 gene. The recombinant Bacmid was then transfected Sf9 cell to produce recombinant baculovirus. By infecting Sf9 cell with recombinant baculovirus, we established a SAL1-expressing insect cell expression system. Immunoblot analysis confirmed SAL1 expression in the infected cells. Recombinant SAL1 produced by the Sf9 cell line will be useful for understanding physiological function of SAL1 during pregnancy in pigs.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

The aims of the present study were to confirm that regulation of the PA and environment via TGF-β regulation of sperm by Percoll-separated in porcine uterine epithelial cells. And, it was performed to identify the cytokines (TGF-β1, 2 and 3, TGF-β receptor1 and 2; interleukin, IL-6, IL-8) and PA-related genes (urokinase-PA, uPA; tissue-PA, tPA; PA inhibitor, PAI; uPA-receptor, uPAR) by spermatozoa. The experiment used porcine uterus epithelial cells (pUECs) and uterine tissue epithelial cells, Boar sperm were separated by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%), and tissues were co-incubated with spermatozoa, followed by real-time PCR. PA activity was measured of sperm by discontinuous Percoll density gradient (45/90%) for 24 hours. To measure viability and acrosome damage of sperm double stained propidium iodide (PI) and SYBR-14 or FITC-PNA were used. In results, binding ratio of Percoll-separated sperm was found no differences, but sperms isolated from 90% Percoll layer reduced PA activity (p < 0.05). when co-cultured sperm selected Percoll in porcine uterus tissues epithelial cells, 90% layer sperm increased TGF-β R1, contrastively tPA and PAI-1 in comparison with control (p < 0.05). 45% sperm was decreased the expression of uPA (p < 0.05). TGF-β decreased PA activity in the supernatant collected from pUECs (p < 0.05). Especially, The group including uPA, PAI-1 were induce sperm intact, while it was reduced in sperm damage when compared to control (p < 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference group of tPA and tPA+I in the dead sperm and acrosome damage compared to control. The expression of tPA and PAI showed a common response. Percoll-separated spermatozoa in 90% layer reduced tPA and IL-related gene mRNA expression. Thus, Percoll-sparated sperm in 90% layer show that it can suppress inflammation through increased expression of TGF-β and downregulation of PA and IL in epithelial cells compared to 45% layer Percoll.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.587-592
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• 2009

A dramatic morphological change of embryos occurs at peri-implantation. Maternal and embryonic cross-talk during this period, initiated by signals from embryo(s), provides signals for maternal recognition of pregnancy and establishing and maintaining the pregnancy. However, the cellular, biochemical and genetic processes that direct embryo remodeling in mammalian species are not well studied or understood. In order to identify potential genes responsible for morphological change and cross-talk between embryo and uterus, an initial EST analysis was performed. A catalog of expressed genes (Transcriptome) from the d12 peri-implanting porcine embryos was constructed. Six clones were chosen from the initial ESTs for elucidation of their expression patterns during embryogenesis in early pregnancy. A number of these genes demonstrated unique expression profiles in a tissue, cell-type, and temporal fashion, indicating dynamic regulation of embryonic and endometrial gene expressions at different stages of pregnancy. Cross-talk between the embryo and endometrium of the pregnant uterus has provided a suitable micro-environment for the embryo's rapid and dramatic morphological changing process at the peri-implantation stage.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2013

The endometrium undergoes a cyclic growth and tissue remodeling as changes of epithelial cells, and plasminogen activators (PAs) are related to endometrium tissue remodeling. This study was to evulate expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in porcine uterine epithelial cells. In results, the uPA and tPA were expressed in uterine tissue, epithelium and secretory glands in porcine endometrial cell. In addition, the uPA and tPA were expressed in cultured epithelial cells, and it were mainly expressed in cytoplasm. In porcine uterine tissue and epithelial cells, uPA activity was higher than activity in tPA. In PAs mRNA expression levels, uPA mRNA level was significantly higher than tPA mRNA level (P<0.05). The fluorescence intensity of uPA protein was also higher than fluorescence intensity of tPA protein, and uPA protein expression was significantly higher than in tPA protein expression (P<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that a physiological function in porcine uterine epithelial cells should be more influenced by uPA than in tPA during pre-ovulatory phase.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2011

This study investigated the changes of plasminogen activators (PAs) activity, expression and localization of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) during the estrous cycle in pigs. Estrous cycle was sorted into three group by pre-ovulation (Pre-Ov), post-ovulation (Post-Ov) and early to mid-luteal stages (Early to mid-L). Analysis for immunohistochemistry was confirmed by location of tPA and uPA. Porcine uterus tissue was cut into $1{\times}1$ cm squares, and were incubated in DMEM/F-12 medium for 1 h at $38^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ for measurement of PA activity. Western blotting was implemented for measurement of PA quantity. In results, the blood vessels and secretory glands were increased in Post-Ov stage than Pre-Ov and Early to mid-L stages. The tPA and uPA was located mainly within lumen of blood vessels and secretory glands. The PA activity in Post-Ov ($0.99{\pm}0.03$) stage were significantly (p<0.01) higher than Pre-Ov stage ($0.51{\pm}0.03$) and Early to mid-L stage ($0.21{\pm}0.04$). Expression of PAs were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Early to mid-L stage than other stages. These results indicate that PAs activity and expression may change in uterus tissue during the estrous cycle in pigs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2011

Infertility of the pig is directly affects on economic loss and failure of the embryo transfer. In the present case report, we show one rare case of porcine infertility resulted from oviductal obstruction. A gilt showing normal heat behaviors was selected as a recipient of embryo transfer. During the laparotomy surgery, abnormality of the reproductive tract was founded. Several large sized cyst-like structures were founded on infundibulum and body of uterus. Severe enlargement of oviduct represents that obstruction of the oviduct. Sign of fibrosis on the surface of uterus and other internal organs revealed that the obstruction was come arise from prior peritonitis. Mild neutropenia and elevated number of monocytes, eosinophils and platelets in blood smear represent that the peritonitis might be due to chronic parasitic infection. Ovarian function was seems to be normal due to blood progesterone concentration was higher than basal level. The pig was culled because she cannot be recovered by surgical or hormonal treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1989

The present study was designed to develop a new method for the determination of estrogen receptor in porcine uterus using frozen sections. Cryostat sections were incubated with $^3H$-estradiol($^3H$-$E_2$) in the presence or absence of diethylstilbestrol(DES) and the radioactivity of 3H-E2 bound to estrogen receptor(ER) was detected. The level of specific estrogen receptor was determined by Scatchard analysis. The highest ratio of specific binding against total binding was achieved in 3 sec. tions(5mm x 5mm) which was corresponded to lOO${\mu}$/ml protein concentration. Optimal binding was obtained during incubation with $^3H$-$E_2$ for 30 minutes at 23$^{\circ}C$ after treatment of sections with acetone for 20 seconds. Three time-washing of sections was proved to be appropriate for the removal of unbound 3H-E2. 200-fold molar excess of DES was substituted for the binding of $^3H$-$E_2$ to ER sufficiently(binding efficiency of 54.8%). ER was saturated with 4nM of $^3H$-$E_2$ and its dissociation constant was 0.1nM. ER assay using frozen sections(Histological radioreceptor assay, HRRA) was significantly correlated with radioreceptor assay for estradiol(RRA, 0.976 , p

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to establish a three dimensional (3D) culture system of endometrial cells and to examine the plasminogen activators (PAs) activity in porcine uterine. The 3D culture system in porcine endometrial cells was composed to mixture 3D gel, stromal cells and epithelial cells. The 3D culture system was used to identify normal structure search as uterine tissue and PAs expression in this study. In results, porcine endometrium epithelial cells forming a top monolayer and endometrium stromal cells developed as fibroblast-like within 3D matrix scaffold. Expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA) were observed during the 3D culture using immunofluorescence. PA activity in 3D-cultured endometrial cells was no significant difference between the tissue type, but 2D culture system were significantly lower than in 3D-cultured endometrial cells (P<0.05). Therefore, basic system and functional aspect of 3D culture could be established with similar system of endometrium tissue. We suggest that this study was assumed applicable as baseline data to investigate mechanism between porcine uterus cells in vitro.