• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.421-431
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to develope efficient vermicomposting using of different mixture ratios of cow manure and rice hull by feeding these to earthworm and then by studying the growth and reproductive efficiency of earthworm, and the chemical composition of worm cast and its production. The results are summarized as follows. C/N ratio of feed was $20.43{\sim}31.16$ and it increased according to the higher proportion of rice hull, and survival of earthworm was $97.6{\sim}98.4%$. Number of young worms were significantly higher in $10{\sim}40%$ addition of rice hull(number of $824{\sim}844$) than number of 769 of real cow manure treatment(P<0.05). Fresh weight of young worms was $8.00{\sim}11.8g$ and it was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). The cast production of earthworm was significantly lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). But digested matters were showed in the tendency of becoming higher in the 40% addition of rice hull than in $10{\sim}30%$ addition of that. C/N ratio of worm cast was significantly higher in 40% addition of rice hull than for other treatments(P<0.05). Heavy metal concentrations of worm cast were showed in the tendency of becoming lower in the 40% addition of rice hull than in addition of that.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.642-651
• /
• 1998

The accuracy of ultrasonography for determining the presence of a functional corpus luteum in subestrous dairy cows was investigated, using a radioimmunoassay for progesterone in plasma. Luteal status (high or low progesterone concentrations) was diagnosed in 534 cows, using B-mode transrectal ultrasonography. Accuracy of ultrasonography was 96.3% and 88.8% in the cows with and without functional corpus luteum, respectively. In 362 cows diagnosed with functional corpus luteum by ultrasonographic examination, 20 cows were diagnosed with the non-functional corpus luteum by analysis of plasma progesterone concentrations (false positive). In 172 cows with non-functional corpus luteum by ultrasonographic examination, 13 cows were diagnosed with the functional corpus luteum based on plasma progesterone assay (false negative). Most of the corpus luteum with well-defined border and homogeneous echotexture were diagnosed with functional corpus luteum. All cows that were not detected a corpus luteum by ultrasonographic examination were diagnosed as non-functional corpus luteum. The corpus luteum of cows that were diagnosed with false positive appeared homogeneous echotexture and above 15 mm in diameter, but the corpus luteum was the non-functional corpus luteum within Day 5 (Day 0 is ovulation day) or after Day 19. The corpus luteum of cows that were diagnosed with false negative appeared heterogeneous echogenicity and below 15 mm in diameter, but the corpus luteum was the functional corpus luteum after Day 5 or around Day 17. It was concluded that accuracy of ultrasonography was excellent for determining the presence of a functional corpus luteum in subestrous dairy cows. The corpus luteum that was diagnosed with false positive or false negative was the developing or regressing states. Thus, ultrasonography was required a serial examination of two or three times accurately diagnosing these corpus luteum.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.881-890
• /
• 1994

Skim milk progesterone($P_4$) profiles in 74 dairy cows were determind to monitor postpartum ovarian activity by radioimmunoassay. Milk samples were collected from each cow every 5 days from 10 to 90 days postpartum. Signs of estrus were observed twice daily, and status of the ovaries and uterus were examined every 10 days by rectal palpation. Results are summarized as follows: 1. Cows were categorized into five types by the change of skim milk $P_4$ profiles; Type I(normal) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared within 20 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%), Type II(cycle delayed) : Cyclic changes of skim milk $P_4$ profiles appeared from 21 to 60 days postpartum(39 cows, 52.7%), Type III(cycle ceased with low $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with low levels of $P_4$ (7cows, 9.5%), Type IV(cycle ceased with high $P_4$) : Onset of the estrous cycle within 20 days postpartum but ceased later with high levels(>3.0 ng/ml) of skim milk $P_4$ (4 cows, 5.4%), Type V(acyclicity) : Skim milk $P_4$ concentration remained low(<1.0 ng/ml) until 80 days postpartum(12 cows, 16.2%). 2. Out of the 17 cows classified as the Type III and Type V by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, 13 cows had inactive ovaries and remaining 6 cows had single or multiple follicular cysts in their ovaries by rectal palpation. All 4 cows of Type IV had a persistent corpus luteum in their ovaries. 3. Approximately eighty percent of the cows had begun ovarian activity by 60 days postpartum and 90.6% by 90 days by skim milk $P_4$ profiles, but only 39.2% by 60 days and 71.7% by 90 days had shown visible estrus signs. The mean days from parturition to the first, second and third ovulations determined by skim milk $P_4$ profiles was $28.0{\pm}11.0$, $46.4{\pm}13.3$ and $66.4{\pm}11.5$ days and the visible estrus signs were 9.3%, 38.1%, and 48.6%, respectively. The mean days from parturition to the first visible estrus was $57.2{\pm}15.9$ days. These results indicated that milk $P_4$ profile of each Types by radioimmunoassay can be utilized for monitoring postpartum ovarian and would be useful for the early detection of ovarian dysfunction in dairy cow.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.98 no.6
• /
• pp.696-702
• /
• 2009

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) is an insect-pollinated tree species with large, perfect flower, and its seed sets average only about 10 percent naturally. In its controlled pollination, pollination bags are usually taken to prevent unwanted pollination, but bagging is an expensive and time-consuming process. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the need of pollination bag by estimating how much unintended pollination would occur when different cross methods were applied. Five different pollination methods were applied as follows: 1) natural open pollination (i.e. insect pollination) as a reference, 2) self-pollination; no removing reproductive organs with bagging, 3) open pollination; emasculated(removing sepal, petal and stamen) without bagging, 4) controlled pollination; emasculated with bagging and 5) controlled pollination; emasculated without bagging. Very low value of full seed rate (0.2%) was observed in method 3, it was suggested that removing stamen and petal restrict the activity of pollen vectors like bee. Difference in the full seed rate between method 4 and method 5 was not significant (27.9% versus 24.0%, respectively). Consequently, controlled pollination without bagging might be an alternative method for extensive breeding and mass production of seeds in yellow poplar.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2008

The current study was designed to extend the technique of spermatogonial transplantation to economically important pig model We evaluated the efficiency of pig to pig transplantation. Donor testis cells were harvested from testes obtained at castration of 10- to 14-day-old boars and were labeled with fluorescent marker(PKH26) before transplantation. The presence of infused dye or labeled pig testicular cells was confirmed in the seminiferous tubules from recipient pig. The most effective procedure of intratubular germ cell transfer was to insert an fine needle ($21{\sim}25$ gauge) through the cauda epididymis and testis into the rete testis under ultrasound guidance. Infusion of $5{\sim}7ml$ of dye solution or cell suspension could fill the rete and up to 50% of seminiferous tubules of 14-week-old boars. Testis were examined for the presence and localization of labeled donor cells immediately after transplantation and labeled donor cells were found in numerous seminiferous tubules from recipient pig testes. These results indicate that germ cell transplantation is feasible in recipient pig testis. This study represents successful spermatogonial transplantation between individual animals in a livestock species.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2008

The SCID-repopulation cells(SRCs) assay has been widely used to determine the self-renewal capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In this study, we tested the repopulating efficiency of porcine bone marrow derived hematopoietic stem cells using nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodieficient (NOD/SCID) mice which was inherited immunodeficiency mire with defect of T cells, B cells, and low activity of NK cells. We transplanted porcine bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells with intraperitoneal injection into neonate NOD/SCID mice. We confirmed efficient reconstitution activity of inoculated porcine hematopoietis cells in variety of organs of NOD/SCID mice. Interestingly, pig $CD3^+$ T lymphocytes detected with high level in liver($15.6{\pm}3.7%$), spleen($5.6{\pm}3.0%$), thymus($1.5{\pm}1.3%$), and BM($2.3{\pm}0.9%$), respectively. These data imply that microenvironment of neonate NOD/SCID mice is very efficient for proliferation and differentiation of porcine T cells, and can be useful for the study of T cells development and renogeneic organ transplantation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2008

Efficient gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells is a great tool for gene therapy of hematopoietic disease. Retrovirus have been extensively used for gene delivery and gene therapy. However, current in vitro gene transfer has some obstacles suck as induction of differentiation loss of self-renewal capacity, and down-regulation of homing efficiency for in vitro hematopoietic stem cells transplantation. To overcome these problems, we developed efficient in vitro retroviral transfer technique by direct intra-bone marrow injection (IBM). We identified effective retrovirus gene transfer in bone marrow hematopoietic cells in vitro. Two weeks after retrovirus transfer via IBM injection, we observed stable EGFP gene expression in bone marrow, lymph node, spleen, and liver cells. In addition, $6.4{\pm}2.7%$ of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were expressed EGFP transgene from flow cytometry analysis. Our results demonstrate that in vitro retrovirus gene transfer via IBM injection can provide a viable alternative to current or moo gene transfer approach.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 1996

In order to investigate the possibility of treating nightsoil sludge, the growth trend experiments with vermicompsting was performed and the stability of worm castings was evaluated by the analysis of minerals according to growth periods. Survival rate(SR) of earthworms decreased as earthworms grow up to 7 weeks. The growth period of the earthworms could be classified into two phases on the basis of the ratios of cast to feed ingested(ID). The growth period of the earthworms up to 3 weeks, the high percentage of dry weight of feed ingested(ID) is mainly utiliz-ed to an increase in fresh weight of earthworms, and after the 3 weeks, it is utilized to cast production in this experiment, respectively. The highest values of increasing rate(IR) and biomass of the earthworms(BE) were obtained at 3 weeks and those were 10.59mg/day and 14.48g, respectively. Between the increasing rate(IR) and biomass of the earthworms(BE), a highly positive correlation coefficient(p<0.001) ap-peared. The highest values of biomass of the earthworms(BE) and cast production(CW) were obtained at 3 and 7 weeks, respectively. All the concentrations of minerals except calcium(Ca) in worm castings was lower than the values in nightsoil sludge. It was considered that the major portion of minerals in nightsoil sludge may have been retained in the bodies of earthworms. And these values were lower than the regulated levels in organic fertilizers that the regula-tion standards. In conclusion, the worm castings are very stable for the use as soil conditioner or organic fertilizers.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.169-174
• /
• 2007

Despite many efforts to improving canine in vitro maturation(IVM), the efficiency is still low compared to that of other mammalian species. The present study investigated the effects of gonadotropin, epidermal growth factor and cysteine supplementation on in vitro maturation of canine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in basic medium (TCM-199 containing 10% FBS, 0.11mg/ml sodium pyruvate supplemented with or without $10{\mu}g/ml$ FSH, 10ng/ml EGF and 0.57mM cysteine) for 72 hr at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air. After culture, oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 $(10{\mu}g/ml)$ for 30 min at $4^{\circ}C$, and assessed their nuclear status (GV: germinal vesicle, GVBD: germinal vesicle break down, MI: metaphasse I, MII: metaphase II, UK: unknown stage). No differences were observed in GV, MI and MII rate except GVBD rate between with and without gonadotropins addition respectively (6.7%, vs. 17.2%). Supplementation of 10ng/ml of EGF in hormones added IVM medium resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher MII rate (4.54% vs.7.06%). Although there are no significantly difference, total of MI and MII rates were increased by adding cysteine. In conclusion, the present study indicates that supplementation of $10{\mu}g/ml$ LH and FSH, 10ng/ml EGF and 0.57mM cysteine in canine IVM medium show a positive influence on the progression of maturation to MII at 72 hr.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA) on viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial intact in frozen-thawed boar sperm. The boar semen was collected by gloved-hand method and cryopreserved in 20% egg yolk freezing extender containing ALA (0, 3, 5, and 10 ng/mL) with 0.05% ethanol. The frozen-boar spermatozoa were thawed at $37.5^{\circ}C$ for 45 sec in water-bath. The spermatozoa samples were evaluated the plasma membrane integrity, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial integrity using flow cytometry. In results, population of live sperm with intact plasma membrane was significantly higher in control and 3 ng/mL ALA treatment group than ethanol group (p<0.05). In contract, dying sperms were higher in ethanol group than 3 ng/mL ALA treatment (p<0.05). Acrosomal membrane damage in all sperm population was reduced in 3 ng/mL ALA groups compared with ethanol treatment (p<0.05). However, acrosome damage in live sperm population was no significant difference among the all treatment groups. Mitochondrial integrity was not influenced by ALA treatments in both of live and all sperm population. In conclusion, this results show that supplement of ALA during the cryopreservation process could reduce the membrane damages including plasma and acrosomal membrane, whereas ALA did not influence to mitochondria in boar spermatozoa. Therefore, these results suggest that ALA can protect against the membrane damage derived cryo-stress, and cryopreservation efficiency of boar semen would be improved by use of ALA.