• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1429-1436
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation (n = 40 pigs/treatment) with bamboo powder (0, 1, 2 and 3%) for 38 days. We evaluated growth performance, blood metabolites, and carcass characteristics of fattening pigs and gas emission and microbial populations in pig manure, to obtain data on pork producers for environmental management. We obtained the following results. First, supplementation with increasing amounts of bamboo powder had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on feed intake, feed efficiency, and glucose contents (except for initial and final body weight, weight gain, carcass characteristics, and blood urea nitrogen). In terms of blood metabolites, glucose and blood urea nitrogen tended to decrease with increasing amounts of bamboo powder. Second, the amounts of ammonia, methane, amine, hydrogen sulfide, and acetic acid were reduced by increasing amounts of bamboo powder when compared with the controls (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in pH, propionic acid, iso-butyric acid, butyric acid, iso-valeric acid, and valeric acid among all treatments. The lowest gas emission was observed when 3% bamboo powder was used. Third, supplementation with increasing amounts of bamboo powder tended (P < 0.05) to increase the total number of bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., and yeast, but E. coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp. were not detected in any treatment. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that supplementation with bamboo powder was effective in reducing gas emission and inhibiting pathogen populations in pig manure by lowering the pH of the manure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.397-406
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• 2016

This study structurally analyzes the relations between children's pet attachment, empathy ability, and prosociality. The results are used to investigate the relations between pet attachment and empathy ability, which have recently emerged as important variables that affect children's prosociality. Data were collected about pet attachment, empathy ability, and prosociality from 209 elementary students in Daejeon who had experience with raising pets. SPSS 22.0 software was used for descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and reliability analysis, and AMOS 22.0 was used for confirmatory factor analysis and to examine the structural equation model. According to the analyses, children's pet attachment did not affect their prosociality but did influence their empathy ability. Children's empathy ability affected their prosociality and had a mediating effect on the relation between their pet attachment and prosociality. The results indicate that children's pet attachment and empathy ability are essential factors that influence prosociality. To improve prosociality, efforts should be made increase pet attachment and empathy ability. The study results can be used as a theoretical and practical fundamental basis for plans to improve children's pet attachment, empathy ability, and prosociality.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.263-268
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• 2005

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes acute enteritis in pigs of all ages and is often fatal for neonates. In order to develop sweetpotato plants expressing PEDV antigen, we constructed the vector expressing spike gene of PEDV under the control of sweetpotato sporamin promoter or constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. The spike protein region of PEDV was synthesized by PCR and linked to each promoter, Transgenic sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv. Yulmi] plants were developed from embryogenic calli following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The co-cultured embryogenic calli transferred to selective MS medium containing 1 mg/L 2,4-D, 100 mg/L kanamycin, and 400 mg/L claforan. These embryogenic calli were subcultured to the same selection medium at 3 weeks interval. Kanamycin-resistant calli transferred to hormone-free MS medium with kanamycin gave rise to somatic embryos and then converted into plantlets in the same medium. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the spike gene of PEDV was inserted into the genome of the sweetpotato plants. RT-PCR revealed that the spike gene of PEDV was highly expressed in transgenic sweetpotato plants.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 1999

The litter size has been the primary interest of economic traits in pig reproduction. It has been recently shown that insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) plays roles in establishing pregnancy and in supporting fetal growth and development. But, the effect of serum IGF-Ⅰ on litter size has not been studied. Therefore, this study was conducted to relate serum IGF-Ⅰ concentration with porcine litter size and to investigate the possible connection with estrogen receptor(ER) as a candidate gene for the litter size. Sera during day 45 to 105 of pregnancy were collected from two groups showing high and low litter size and serum IGF-Ⅰ concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IGF-Ⅰ levels in both groups decreased gradually as pregnancy stage proceeded but were not significantly different. Secondly, DNA was extracted from blood and PCR-RFLP was utilized to analyze ER genotypes of pigs in each group, which produced three polymorphic patterns. Based on the ER genotypes analyzed, low litter size group showed higher IGF-Ⅰ concentration than high litter size group. Taken together, the results indicate that the serum IGF system was correlated with steroid system but not with the litter size in pigs. Thus, this study implies that porcine litter size could be determined locally at the ovary level.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.385-390
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was undertaken to evaluate of cryopreservation efficiency in ${\alpha}$ 1,3-galactosyltransferase knock-out(GalT KO) cloned miniature pig sperm. To compare ability of frozen-thawed sperm characteristics, three different pig strains (GalT KO) cloned miniature pig, PWG miniature pig and Duroc were used. The ejaculated semen from the three pig species was diluted with same volume extender and added to LEY solution for freezing. The diluted semen was placed in 0.5 ml straws, and freezing was initiated by exposing the straws to liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$) vapours for 10 min before placing them into $LN_2$ for cryopreservation. After thawing, the sperm ability were assessed for viability (SYBR-14/PI staining), abnormality (Rose Bengal staining), and acrosome status (intactness, intensity and capacitation) (chlorotetracycline, CTC staining). The viability of frozen-thawed GalT KO pig sperm had no significant difference as compared with Duroc and PWG miniature pig sperm. However, The CTC pattern of frozen-thawed GalT KO cloned miniature pig spermatozoa showed significantly lower rates in F pattern and AR pattern (p<0.05) and significantly higher rates in B pattern than Duroc and PWG miniature pig (p<0.05). The abnormality of GalT KO cloned miniature pig sperm was significantly lower as compared to Duroc and PWG miniature pig sperm (p<0.05). In conclusion, GalT KO cloned miniature pig semen can be cryopreserved successfully and used for artificial insemination reasonably.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2011

In the present study, we identified differentially methylated region (DMR) upstream of Dnmt1o and Dnmt1s gene in early porcine embryos. Porcine Dnmt1o had at least one DMR which was located between -530 bp to -30 bp upstream from transcription start site of the Dnmt1o gene. DNA methylation analyses of Dnmt1o revealed the DMR to be hypomethylated in oocytes, whereas it was highly methylated in sperm. Moreover, the DMR upstream of Dnmt1o was gradually hypermethylated from oocytes to two cells and dramatically changed in the methylation pattern from four cells to BL stages in an in vivo. In an IVF, the methylation status in the DMR upstream of Dnmt1o was hypermethylated from one cell to eight cells, but demethylated at the Morula and BL stages, indicating that the DNA methylation pattern in the Dnmt1o upstream ultimately changed from stage to stage before the implantation. Next, to elucidate whether DNA methylation status of Dnmt1s upstream is stage-by-stage changed in during porcine early development, we analyzed the dynamics of the DNA methylation status of the Dnmt1s locus in germ cell, or one cell to BL cells. The Dnmt1s upstream was highly methylated in one and eight cells, while less methylated in two, four, morula, and BL cells. Taken together, our data demonstrated that DNA methylation and demethylation events in upstream of Dnmt1o/Dnmt1s during early porcine embryos dramatically occurred, and this change may contribute to the maintenance of genomewide DNA methylation in early embryonic development.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between in vitro maturation and plasminogen activators (PAs) activity on porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) exposed to oxidative stress. When COCs were cultured in maturation medium with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the proportion of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and oocytes maturation were decrease with addition of $H_2O_2$, and were significantly (p<0.05) lower in medium with 0.1 mM $H_2O_2$ than control group. Also, the rate of degenerated oocytes was increased in as $H_2O_2$ concentration in eased. When COCs were cultured for 48 h, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands were observed: tissue-type PA (tPA); urokinase-type PA (uPA); and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI). PA activity was quantified using SDS-PAGE and zymography. When $H_2O_2$ concentration was increased, tPA and tPA-PAI activities also increased in porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h, but not uPA. In other experiment, embryos were divided into three groups and cultured in (1) control medium, (2) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ and (3) control medium with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ along with catalase in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. $H_2O_2$ decreased the rate of GVBD and maturation in porcine COCs but catalase revealed protective activity, against oxidative stress caused by $H_2O_2$. In this experiment, tPA and tPA-PAI activities were higher in media with 1.0 mM $H_2O_2$ alone. Increasing concentration of catalase decreased tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes. These results indicate that the exposure of porcine follicular oocytes to ROS inhibits oocytes maturation to metaphase-II stage and increase the oocytes degeneration. Also, we speculated that increased ROS level may trigger tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes matured in vitro.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2011

It was conducted the experiment, divided into three groups as normal, poor and polycystic ovary syndrome, to detect the change of protein patterns in follicular fluid on ovarian response following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for human IVF outcome. In the normal group, it was confirmed reproducible 57 spots in the detected total 81 spots. Then 1 spot was not found in the other groups. In the poor responder group, it was found reproducible 53 spots in the detected total 98 spots. 6 spots were down-regulation and 7 spots were up-regulation comparable with normal group. There were not 5 spots in poor responder group comparable with other groups. In the polycystic ovary syndrome group, it was expressed reproducible 53 spots in the detected total 80 spots and 3 spots were just expressed in this group. However, 4 spots were not found in polycystic ovary syndrome. 9 spots were up-regulation comparable with normal group. Significant up and down-regulation spots among the each groups were identified. The results were a cytosolic carboxypeptidase, a signal-induced proliferation-associated protein 1, a ceruloplasmin, a keratin(type II cytoskeletal 1), a polypeptide N-acetylgalactosantinyltransferase 2, a serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 4 regulatory subunit 4. It was identified that 8 spots, 6 kinds of protein are corresponded with NCBInr database research, but 10 spots were failed in the identification. In conclusion, it has been confirmed change and expression of protein on the ovarian response following COH of human.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of transferable embryos and pregnancy rate between Hanwoo and Chickso. The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates on Hanwoo 78%, and Chickso 85%, respectively. The mean number of total embryos are each $14.76{\pm}2.16$ and $6.23{\pm}1.07$. So the mean number of transferable embryos are each $10.94{\pm}1.91$ and $4.58{\pm}1.05$. In addition, the mean number of total Hanwoo embryo from <10 and $10{\leq}$ of corpora luteum was $0.50{\pm}0.50$, $11.56{\pm}1.92$, respectively. In case of Chickso, The mean number of transferable embryo from <10 and $10{\leq}$ of CL was $2.75{\pm}1.39$, $6.00{\pm}1.00$, respectively. The pregnancy rates were Hanwoo 40%, and Chickso 37% following transfer of fresh embryos produced in vivo. Also, the pregnancy rates of Chickso 60% were significantly greater (p<0.05) than the Hanwoo 42.48% following transfer of following transfer of frozen embryos, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that Chickso may be effectively used for transferable embryos production in Hanwoo. Although the transferable embryos number was not enough, it seems the Chickso greatly affect pregnancy rate. The results indicated that the possibility of transferable embryos from Chickso for embryo transfer could be confirmed in this study. Based on the present findings, it was suggested that it is very important to evaluate in vivo embryo production and pregnancy rate of embryo transfer following superovulation for effective Hanwoo and Chickso production.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2011

This study was conducted to establish a freezing method of miniature pig spermatozoa. The semen 더aculated from PWG M-type miniature pig was collected by gloved-hand method. The semen was diluted with same volume extender (m-Modena B). The frozen solution used frozen solution of four different (LEY, TCG, BF-5 and m-Modena+egg yolk) for find optimal frozen solution in miniature pig sperm. The diluted semen for frozen rate assay was added to LEY solution (solution I: 11% lactose+egg yolk; solution II: solution I+glycerol+OEP), and frozen depending on freezing rate by the three different freezing methods (A: until $5^{\circ}C$ for 1 hrs, holding at $-102^{\circ}C$ for 10 min; B: until $5^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs, holding at $-102^{\circ}C$ for 10 min; C: until $5^{\circ}C$ for 3 hrs, holding at -80 and $-102^{\circ}C$ for 10 min). Semen cooled until $5^{\circ}C$ was added with glycerol 1, 3 and 5%, and take a equilibrium time for 0, 10 and 30min. Frozen-thawed sperm were evaluated for viability, acrosomal status and morphological abnormality. The results of frozen-thawed sperm ability by frozen solution, viability was higher in LEY solution compared to other three different frozen solution. AR pattern of LEY solution were lower than other three different frozen solution. The results of freezing rate, viability was higher in B method compared to other methods (p<0.05). Acrosomal statute was intacted in A and B methods than C method. The experiment for glycerol condition was showed that sperm viability was higher in extender with 1% and 3% glycerol and equilibrium time of 0 min. The acrosome damage was lower in extender with 1% glycerol and equilibrium time of 10 min than other conditions. In conclusion, the optimal conditions for cryopreservation of miniature pig spermatozoa obtained in LEY frozen solution, cooling rate of 1~2 hrs, 1~3% glycerol concentrations and glycerol equilibrium time of 0~10 min.