• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2011

Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin (Vn), which is the major yolk protein in nearly all oviparous species, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and most invertebrates. It is one of the most important factors during reproduction, and numerous studies have shown that Vg genes are markers of the reproductive cycle and effecter genes induced by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Previously, we isolated two distinct cDNAs encoding vitellogenin homologs Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 from Pandalus shrimp Pandalopsis japonica. In this study, full-length genomic sequences of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were determined using a PCR-based genome walking strategy. Isolated Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 genes were 11,910 and 11,850 bp long, respectively. Both Pj-Vg genes had 15 exons and 14 introns, and the splicing sites were also the same, suggesting that they arose via gene duplication. The similar structural characteristics of decapod Vg genes suggest that they are all orthologs that evolved from the same ancestral gene. Analysis of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 expression revealed that the relative copy numbers of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were similar in the hepatopancreas, whereas Pj-Vg2 transcripts were also detected in the ovary. Expression of both Pj-Vg genes was induced in hepatopancreas of mature individuals, whereas only Pj-Vg2 transcripts were upregulated in the ovaries from mature animals, suggesting that both Pj-Vgs are important for oocyte development. A strong positive correlation was found between Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 transcripts in the same individual, indicating they are under the same control mechanisms. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between ovarian and hepatopancreatic Pj-Vg2 transcripts, suggesting that its dual expression is regulated by similar physiological conditions. Knowledge of the similarities and differences between the two vitellogenin-like genes, Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2, would help us to understand their roles in reproduction and other physiological effects.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2000

Vitellogenesis, an important reproductive process in oviparous animals, includes the processes of hormonally regulated synthesis of yolk precursor protein, vitellogenin (Vg), and their deposition in ovarian oocytes as a vitellin which is an important energy source as well as buoyancy regulator of the egg. Vg genes consist of a gene family that encompasses a large number of lipoproteins and produce different Mr. Vg proteins in liver. The expression of Vg is largely dependent on the estrogen, and both reproductive cycle and temperature also influence Vg synthesis. Synthetic estrogens or estrogenic pollutants was sufficient to induce Vg in both sexes of oviparous vertebrates. Therefore, the estrogenic induction of vitellogenesis in male has been used for biological marker in the screening of estrogenicity of certain endocrine disrupting compounds and the monitoring the world-wide contamination of estrogenic compounds in wild life. In the studies on the biological hazard and influence of endocrine disrupting chemicals using the Vg induction in oviparous males, it is important to consider the reproductive cycle, zoogeography and biodiversity of the wild life animals in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), which is known to have estrogenic activity, on the early development of medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). The fertilized eggs of medaka were treated with BPA at different concentrations for 3 weeks. Embryonic growth, deformation, hatching success, and gonadal differentiation were determined to observe the effects of this chemical. Also we tried to measure the estrogenic activity of bisphenol A using ELISA and RT-PCR methods. By using this techniques, we evaluated the induction of vitellogenin, an estrogen-regulated gene from the whole body-homogenates of larvae. At results, a reduced blood circulation was seen in embryos and peritoneal edema and hindrance of yolk-sac absorption were observed in larvae of treated group. However, BPA at the concentrations tested (2～200 ㎍/L) did not have severe adverse effects on the early life-stages. According to the observation of gonadal histology, inter-sex or sex -reversal was not found in all test fish. After the exposure was ended, vitellogenin mRNA and protein levels were measured in larvae and then their levels were found to be increased in treated group with 200㎍/L. These results indicate that BPA can induce the expression of vitellogenin in early life-stages as well as in adult male fish.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2016

This study aimed of effects of replacing maize with rice or brown rice on laying performance, egg quality, and apparent fecal digestibility of nutrient in Hy-Line Brown laying hens. A total of 200, 25-week old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to one of 5 treatments, each of which was replicated 4 times. Four experimental diets that were formulated two different grains (brown rice or rice) with two inclusion levels of (15 and 30%) as a replacement of maize. The experimental period was 8 weeks. During the experiment, hens were provided with feed and water ad libitum and were exposed to a 16:8=L:D lighting schedule. There were no differences in feed intake, egg weight, and egg mass during the 8 weeks of the feeding trial among groups. However, hen-day egg production was greater (P<0.05) for Brown rice treatment groups than that for basal and rice treatment groups. In addition, the supplementation of brown rice or rice did not have an effect on eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, and HU during of the feeding trial (Table 4). However, egg yolk color was less (P<0.05) for basal treatment groups than that for among treatment group. ATTD of dry matter (DM) and crude fat were greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for rice 30 treatment. Crude protein (CP) was greater (P<0.05) for brown rice 15 treatment than for basal treatment. In conclusion, brown rice or rice grains is a good alternative energy feedstuff and can be used in laying hens, totally replacing maize, without any negative effect on the laying performance, egg quality, and nutrient digestibility.

• Journal of Chitin and Chitosan
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2017

Red tide Heterosigma akashiwo (H. akashiwo), a microscopic alga of the class Raphidophyceae, causes extensive damage to all marine ecosystems. It is essential to reduce the damage to marine ecosystems for them to be used as a resource. In this study, we used organic solvent fractionation to obtain an ethyl acetate-methanol extract from H. akashiwo (HAEM80) and then evaluated its anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and a zebrafish model. HAME80 markedly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). It also down-regulated the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and decreased the secretion of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. HAME80 reduced yolk edema and improved the survival rate of LPS-stimulated zebrafish embryos; in addition, the extract significantly reduced the production of ROS and NO and attenuated cell death in this model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the extract was used to confirm the identity of peaks 1-20. Taken together, our data suggest that H. akashiwo is a beneficial anti-inflammatory agent.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.236-246
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seed meal (PSM) on laying hens' performance, quality, fatty acids, cholesterol, antioxidant compounds and shelf life of eggs. Methods: Eighty Tetra SL laying hens, 50-week-old, were randomly divided into two equal groups, having 10 replicates with 4 birds in each. The control (CON) treatment was fed with basal diet, while experimental treatment was fed a diet with 9% PSM, for a 6 week period. Results: Dietary PSM significantly decreased average daily feed intake (p<0.05), with no significant effect on other performance parameters. The PSM, enriched the eggs with polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially α linolenic acid (0.33 vs 0.21 g/100 g) and linoleic acid (20.65 vs 18.37 g/100 g), whereas it reduced the amount of arachidonic acid with 3.91% and n-6/n-3 ratio in PSM eggs compared with CON. The inclusion of 9% PSM significantly (p<0.05) diminished the cholesterol concentration in yolk with 11.31% and in egg with 10.38%, in respect to the CON samples. The significantly (p<0.05) higher concentration of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds, determined in PSM eggs, proved to be effective on shelf life of eggs preserved at refrigerator (5℃) and room temperature (21℃) for 28 days, by delaying the lipid oxidation and protein denaturation. This effect was reflected in significantly (p<0.05) higher Haugh unit in eggs stored 28 days at 21℃ and lower albumen pH values for the overall storage time, both at 5℃ and 21℃, proving the antioxidant effect of pumpkin. Conclusion: Dietary PSM supplementation was significantly effective on average daily feed intake and egg quality by increasing some fatty acids while lowering the cholesterol concentration. Also, PSM proved to be effective improving shelf life of eggs for 28 days storage time.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2003

This study conducted to investigate the effect of dietary germanium biotite by protein level in laying hen diets. One hundred forty four, 51 weeks old ISA brown commercial layer, were used in experiment. Dietary treatments were 1) low protein diet(LPD), 2) high protein diet(HPD), 3) LPD-GB(LPD + 1.0% germanium biotite) and 4) HPD-GB(HPD + 1.0% germanium biotite). Henday egg production tended to be increased as the concentration of protein in diets increased with significant difference(P<0.01). Egg weight tended to decrease by increasing of supplementation germanium biotite in the diets(P<0.01). Egg shell breaking strength was not influenced by germanium biotite supplementation(P>0.05). Large band of egg decrease as increasing of supplementation germanium biotite in the diets(P<0.02). Sharp and middle band of egg were not influenced by germanium biotite supplementation. Egg yolk index tended to decrease as increasing of supplementation germanium biotite in the diets(p<0.01). Fecal propionic acid(P<0.01) and butyric acid(P<0.03) were decrease as the concentration of germanium biotite in the diet was increased. Also, butyric acid increased as the concentration of protein in diets increased with significant difference(P<0.02). Supplementation germanium biotite in the diet reduced the fecal acetic acid(P<0.01). Fecal $NH_3$-N of hens fed HPD-GB diet was decreased(P<0.05) compared to that LPD-GB diet. In conclusion, germanium biotite supplementation to layer diets can reduce fecal volatile fatty acid compabebts.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high pressure (HP) processing on shelf life, as well as the addition of phosvitin on lipid and protein oxidation stability of minced chicken leg meat. Minced chicken leg meat was mixed with yolk phosvitin at 500 or 1000 mg/kg meat levels, and divided into raw and cooked groups. Then, the samples were subjected to HP at 0.1, 300, and 600 MPa. The total aerobic bacteria, lipid and protein oxidation, along with instrumental meat color ($L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$value) of the samples were measured during storage for 7 d at $4^{\circ}C$. In raw meat, the number of total aerobic bacteria was decreased by HP at 300 MPa (4 Log reductions) and 600 MPa (5 Log reductions) after 7 d of storage (p<0.05). HP at 600 MPa increased lipid oxidation of samples at all storage days and protein oxidation of samples during storage at 3 and 7 d. HP induced the changes of meat color by increase of $L^*$ value and decrease of $a^*$ value (p<0.05). The total aerobic bacteria was not detected in the cooked samples, regardless of HP pressure, and the lipid or protein oxidation of the cooked sample treated by 600 MPa was higher than that of the control (0.1 MPa) on day 7 or control on day 3, respectively (p<0.05). The results suggested that HP can improve the shelf life of minced chicken leg meat. However, phosvitin might be a limited antioxidative agent for the improvement of oxidation stability induced by HP.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) on post-molt performance and egg quality of spent laying hens. Four hundred and thirty two, ISA Brown hens at sixty six weeks of age after molt induction were fed six experimental diets containing three ME (2,750, 2,800, 2,850 kcal/kg) with two CP (15, 17%) levels in a factorial design. The influence of ME and CP were evaluated on egg production, egg weight and feed intake throughout 24 weeks of production. Egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured during the experimental period. Haugh unit, yolk color and eggshell breaking strength were measured at 5%, 50%, peak, post peak and end stage of egg production. The hens fed 2800 kcal/kg diet along with 15% CP recorded the highest outcome of egg production (P<0.05). The egg weight has been shown to increase with hens receiving 2,800 kcal/kg ME. Daily egg mass tended to increase in hens fed with 15% CP and 2,800 kcal/kg ME. Feed intake decreased significantly with the level of ME and CP in the diet increased (P<0.05). Yolk color was improved significantly in eggs laid by the hens receiving 17% CP than 15% diet. It also tended to be higher in 17% CP with 2,800 or 2,850 kcal/kg ME diet treatments. Egg shell breaking strength increased with hens receiving diets of 15% CP and 2,800 kcal/kg. From this experiment it can be concluded that the ME level of 2,800 kcal/kg coupled with 15% CP could be used to achieve the higher egg production and better eggshell strength in induced molting hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary herbal plant mixture on the performance in laying hens under heat stress. One hundred ninety two 54-weeks-old ISA Brown commercial layers, were used in 56 d experimental assay. Dietary treatments included CON (control; basal diet), HPM0.05 (basal diet ＋ 0.05% herbal plant mixture), HPM0.1 (basal diet ＋ 0.1% herbal plant mixture), and HPM0.2 (basal diet ＋ 0.2% herbal plant mixture). For overall period, the hens fed with HPM0.1 and HPM0.2 diets showed lower in the hen day egg production than the hens fed with CON diet(P＜0.05). At the end of the experimental period, egg weight was heavier in HPM 0.1 treatment than in CON (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences among the treatments in egg shell breaking strength, egg shell thickness, Haugh unit, and yolk color unit. Total cholesterol concentration of yolk tended to decrease as the level of herbal plant mixture in the diet increased. Total protein of blood was higher in the hens fed with herbal plant mixture than in the hens fed with CON diet (P＜0.05). Albumin concentration of blood was increased in HPM0.05 and HPM0.1 treatments compared with CON(P＜0.05). Red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) concentrations in serum were increased in HPM0.1 and HPM0.2 treatments compared with CON treatment (P＜0.05). In conclusion, dietary herbal plant mixture in laying hens under heat stress adversely affected egg production but increased total protein, albumin, RBC and WBC in blood.