• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-305
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• 2001

To investigate a role of cartilage canals in osteogenesis and growth of the vertebrae, in human fetuses ranging from 50 mm to 260 mm crown rump length were studied by electron microscopy. The initial appearance of cartilage canals of the vertebral body was observed at 60 mm fetus. In 80 mm fetus, primary ossification center in the vertebral body was first noted. The vertebral body showed calcified chondrocytes surrounded by a tone of hypertrophied chondrocytes and deep canals which terminated in calcified matrix. Most hypertrophied chondrocytes in the centrum showed in various stage of degeneration in disorderly arrangement. At the blind end of deep canal, osteogenic cells, osteoblasts and chondroclasts were observed. Resorption of unmineralized cartilage septa was undertaken by perivascular cells within cartilage canals. The ruffled border of the chondroclast was restricted to resorption site of calcified cartilagenous matrix. The periosteal bone formation was followed by the appearance of primary center of the centrum at 120 mm fetus. The osteoblasts of the perichondrium started to lay down a thin membranous bony lamella on the outer surface of the osseous trabeculae of the centrum. The processes of bone formation in the vertebral bodies were found to possess morphological similarities to that occurring at secondary center of the epiphysis of a long bone. These results indicate that the connective tissue cells within the cartilage canals proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts at the site of endochondral ossification of the vertebrae.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1090-1095
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• 2008

Marbling (intramuscular fat) is an important factor in determining meat quality in Korean beef market. A grain based finishing system for improving marbling leads to inefficient meat production due to an excessive fat production. Identification of intramuscular fat-specific gene might be achieved more targeted meat production through alternative genetic improvement program such as marker assisted selection (MAS). We carried out ddRT-PCR in 12 and 27 month old Hanwoo steers and detected 300 bp PCR product of the inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) gene, showing highly gene expression in 27 months old. A 1.5 kb sequence was re-sequenced using primer designed base on the Hanwoo EST sequence. We then predicted the open reading frame (ORF) of ICER gene in ORF finder web program. Tissue distribution of ICER gene expression was analysed in eight Hanwoo tissue using realtime PCR analysis. The highest ICER gene expression showed in Small intestine followed by Longissimus dorsi. Interestingly, the ICER gene expressed 2.5 time higher in longissimus dorsi than in same muscle type, Rump. For gene expression analysis in high- and low marbled individuals, we selected 4 and 3 animal based on the muscle crude fat contents (high is 17-32%, low is 6-7% of crude fat contents). The ICER gene expression was analysed using ANOVA model. Marbling (muscle crude fat contents) was affected by ICER gene (P=0.012). Particularly, the ICER gene expression was 4 times higher in high group (n=4) than low group (n=3). Therefore, ICER gene might be a functional candidate gene related to marbling in Hanwoo.