• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2005

A high environmental temperature affects the economic performance of pigs. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been reported to participate importantly in thermotolerance. This study aims to produce transgenic pigs overexpressing porcine HSP70.2, the highly inducible one of HSP70 members, and to prove the cellular thermotolerance in the primary fibroblasts from the transgenics. A recombinant plasmid in which the sequence that encodes the porcine HSP70.2 gene is fused to green fluorescence protein (GFP) was constructed under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer and promoter. Two transgenic pigs were produced by microinjecting pCMV-HSP70-GFP DNA into the pronucleus of fertilized eggs. Immunoblot assay revealed the varied overexpression level (6.4% and 1.4%) of HSP70-GFP in transgenic pigs. After heating at $45^{\circ}C$ for 3 h, the survival rate (78.1%) of the primary fibroblast cells from the highly expressing transgenic pig exceeded that from the non-transgenic pig (62.9%). This result showed that primary fibroblasts overexpressing HSP70-GFP confer cell thermotolerance. We suggest that transgenic pigs overexpressing HSP70 might improve their thermotolerance in summer and therefore reduce the economic loss in animal production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.925-937
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• 2016

In the last few decades, transgenic animal technology has witnessed an increasingly wide application in animal breeding. Reproductive traits are economically important to the pig industry. It has been shown that the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB (BMPR1B) A746G polymorphism is responsible for the fertility in sheep. However, this causal mutation exits exclusively in sheep and goat. In this study, we attempted to create transgenic pigs by introducing this mutation with the aim to improve reproductive traits in pigs. We successfully constructed a vector containing porcine BMPR1B coding sequence (CDS) with the mutant G allele of A746G mutation. In total, we obtained 24 cloned male piglets using handmade cloning (HMC) technique, and 12 individuals survived till maturation. A set of polymerase chain reactions indicated that 11 of 12 matured boars were transgene-positive individuals, and that the transgenic vector was most likely disrupted during cloning. Of 11 positive pigs, one (No. 11) lost a part of the terminator region but had the intact promoter and the CDS regions. cDNA sequencing showed that the introduced allele (746G) was expressed in multiple tissues of transgene-positive offspring of No.11. Western blot analysis revealed that BMPR1B protein expression in multiple tissues of transgene-positive $F_1$ piglets was 0.5 to 2-fold higher than that in the transgene-negative siblings. The No. 11 boar showed normal litter size performance as normal pigs from the same breed. Transgene-positive $F_1$ boars produced by No. 11 had higher semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate than the negative siblings, although the differences did not reached statistical significance. Transgene-positive $F_1$ sows had similar litter size performance to the negative siblings, and more data are needed to adequately assess the litter size performance. In conclusion, we obtained 24 cloned transgenic pigs with the modified porcine BMPR1B CDS using HMC. cDNA sequencing and western blot indicated that the exogenous BMPR1B CDS was successfully expressed in host pigs. The transgenic pigs showed normal litter size performance. However, no significant differences in litter size were found between transgene-positive and negative sows. Our study provides new insight into producing cloned transgenic livestock related to reproductive traits.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.535-540
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• 2011

Reprogramming errors, which appear frequently in cloned animals, are reflected by aberrant gene expression. We previously reported the aberrant expression of TIMP-2 and PBEF in cloned placenta and differential expression of PBEF genes during pregnancy. To examine the epigenetic modifications that regulate dynamic gene expression in developing placentae, we herein analyzed the mRNA and protein expression levels of PBEF and TIMP-2 in the placentae of normal mice during pregnancy and then examined potential correlations with epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation pattern analysis revealed no difference, but ChIP assays using antibodies against H3-K9/K14 and H4-K5 histone acetylation revealed that the H3-K9/K14 acetylation levels, but not the H4-K5 acetylation levels, of the TIMP-2 and PBEF loci were significantly correlated with their gene expression levels during placentation in normal mice. These results suggest that epigenetic changes may regulate gene expression level in the developing placentae of normal mice and that inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming might be one cause of the abnormal placentae seen in cloned animals.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2003

This study was performed to test the cellulose digestibility using the transgenic pigs harboring cellulose degradation gene D (CelD). After delivered offsprings between normal pig and transgenic swine, DNA was isolated from piglets tail for PCR analysis. In first generation, five out of 65 piglets showed CelD positive. Unfortunately, four CelD-positive pigs were died during growing, but one survived pig was used as a transgenic founder to produce F$_1$ descendents. Among 3 F$_1$ transgenic pigs produced, one died and the remaining two pigs were used to test the fiber digest efficiency. An assorted feed was composite of 5％ fiber with other ingredients. The feed of 3 kg per day was provided to the pigs including transgenic founders and littermate controls. The manure quantity was measured daily for a month, and all manures were dried for three days to analysis nitrogen, phosphate and fiber concentrations. The fiber digestion efficiencies of the transgenic F$_1$ pigs showed approximately 10％ higher than those of control pigs. Fiber digestion was not greatly improved in transgenic pigs as it had been expected approximately 30％. Nitrogen concentration of transgenic pig's manure was slowly decreased compare to the control pigs. Because there were only two transgenic pigs tested, a large number of transgenic pigs may be necessary to obtain more reliable data. Breeding of animals to obtain sufficient transgenic pigs subjected for a further study is on progress. Taken together, this study demonstrated successful production of transgenic pigs with increase of cellulose digestibility in the porcine feed.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2003

The present study were performed to analysis the hematocrit and the red blood cells content into the blood plasma of the transgenic pigs harboring recombinent human erythropoietin gene (rhEPO). Mouse whey acidic protein (mWAP) linked to rhEPO gene was microinjected into pronuclei of porcine one-cell zygotes. After delivered of offspring, PCR analyses identified one mWAP-rhEPO transgenic founder offspring(F$_{0}$). The first generation of transgenic pig (F$_{0}$) harboring mWAP-hEPO appeared to be a male, and the second generation (F$_1$) pigs were made by natural mating of F$_{0}$ with domestic swine, and male and female transgenic pigs (F$_1$) were identified by PCR. The blood samples from transgenic and normal pigs were collected for 50 days during lactation and were counted the red blood cell (RBC) numbers and Hematocrit (HCT) content into the blood. The transgenic pigs expressing rhEPO in their blood gave rise to higher RBC numbers and HCT contents than control animals. rhEPO was secreted both in the blood and milk of genetically engineered pigs harboring rhEPO gene. Therefore, this study provides a model regarding the production of transgenic pig carrying hEPO transgene for biomedical research.earch.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.226-228
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• 2018

We generated a transgenic male cloned pig which was derived from fibroblast of white Yucatan miniature pig. After 2 weeks of birth, umbilical hernia which was not easily reduced was identified. Considering the usefulness of cloned pig, surgical treatment for umbilical hernia correction was performed and a cloned pig has been maintained healthy. This is the first report and can be useful for the treatments of umbilical hernia of cloned piglets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1369-1373
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• 2004

The percentages of sperm motility and normal acrosome on the liquid boar semen diluted and preserved at $4^{\circ}C$ with lactose hydrate, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent were significant differences according to preservation day and incubation time, respectively. The sperm motility steadily declined from 96.9% at 0.5 h incubation to 78.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the sperm motility rapidly declined after 4 day of preservation during incubation. The normal acrosome steadily declined from 93.3% at 0.5 h incubation to 73.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the normal acrosome rapidly declined after 3 day of preservation during incubation. The rates of sperm penetration and polyspermy were higher in 5 and $10{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml than in 0.2 and $1{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in $10{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rates of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2-4 cell stage) were highest in $1{\times}10^6$sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at $4^{\circ}C$ could be used for in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in vitro. Also, we recommend $1{\times}10^6$sperm/ml concentration for in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.461-465
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• 2007

Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERVs) are a major concern in relation to xenotransplantation. Previous research indicated that PERVs are present at about 50 copies in the pig genome and their chromosomal insertion sites are different among pig breeds. We examined nine Korean native pigs and seven Asian Wild Boars for the presence of a PERV-A at SSC 1q2.4 and a PERV-B at SSC 7p1.1-2 previously reported in a Large White pig. The PERV-B at locus 7p1.1-2 displayed insertional variability in Korean native pigs and Asian Wild Boars. Using the primers for the PERV-A at 1q2.4 from Large White pig, we only can amplify an unclassified 798 bp sequence, which showed insertional variability only in Korean native pigs. This study indicates that there are differences within and between Asian and European pigs in PERV insertions and suggests that selection could generate PERV-free lines of pigs more suitable for xenotransplantation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.306-314
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• 2019

As dipeptidyl peptidase-4(DPP-4) inhibitors are used widely as a secondary treatment for type 2 diabetes because they tend to be well tolerated with minimal side effects, the human DPP-4(hDPP-4) gene was injected into a pig zygote through micro-injection, and 1-cell stage fertilized embryos were then transplanted surgically into the oviduct. Three pigs were fertilized with hDPP-4 genes and produced sixteen piglets, in which one male piglet was identified to be transgenic. Finally, transgenic pigs showing hDPP-4 gene expression in the tail were produced. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis confirmed that the hDPP-4 is expressed strongly in the membrane cells of the transgenic pig, and that the hDPP-4 gene appears in various tissues and tails. This suggests that the expression vector is normally expressed in transgenic pigs. These results are anticipated to be a model animal to check the endocrine function for insulin resistance that occurs in a hDPP-4 transgenic pig and to increase its value for use as a material in newly developed medicines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.44-45
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• 2006