• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2012

In order to provide the basis for developing practical mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) culture method, how the endogenous level of self-renewal-stimulating factor genes was altered in the mESCs by different extracellular signaling was investigated in this study. For different extracellular signaling, mESCs were cultured in 2 dimension (D), 3D and integrin-stimulating 3D culture system in the presence or absence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and transcriptional level of $Lif$, $Bmp4$ and $Wnt3a$ was evaluated in the mESCs cultured in each system. The expression of three genes was significantly increased in 3D system relative to 2D system under LIF-containing condition, while only $Wnt3a$ expression was increased by 3D culture under LIF-free condition. Stimulation of integrin signaling in mESCs within 3D system with exogenous LIF significantly up-regulated transcriptional level of $Bmp4$, but did not induce transcriptional regulation of $Lif$ and $Wnt3a$. In the absence of LIF inside 3D system, the expression of $Lif$ and $Bmp4$ was significantly increased by integrin signaling, while it significantly decreased $Wnt3a$ expression. Finally, the signal from exogenous LIF significantly caused increased expression of $Lif$ in 2D system, decreased expression of $Bmp4$ in both 2D and 3D system, and decreased expression of $Wnt3a$ in integrin-stimulating 3D system. From these results, we identified that endogenous expression level of self-renewal-stimulating factor genes in mESCs could be effectively regulated through artificial and proper manipulation of extracellular signaling. Moreover, synthetic 3D niche stimulating endogenous secretion of self-renewal-stimulating factors will be able to help develop growth factor-free maintenance system of mESCs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.190-197
• /
• 2011

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) co-culture on developmental capacity of bovine IVM/IVF embryos and to determine whether or not melatonin acts as an antioxidant in BOEC culture and subsequent embryo development. These studies examined the effects of melatonin against NO-induced oxidative stress on cell viability, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the expression of antioxidant genes (CuZnSOD, MnSOD and Catalase) or apoptosis genes (Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Bax) during BOECs culture. We also evaluated the developmental rates of bovine IVM/IVF embryos with BOEC co-culture, which were pre-treated with melatonin ($1,000\;{\mu}M$) in the presence or absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, $1,000\;{\mu}M$) for 24 h. Cell viability in BOECs treated with SNP (50-$2,000\;{\mu}M$) decreased while melatonin addition (1-$1,000\;{\mu}M$) increased viability in a dose-dependent manner. Cell viability in melatonin plus SNP ($1,000\;{\mu}M$) gradually recovered according to increasing melatonin addition (1-$1,000\;{\mu}M$). The LPO products were measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction for malondialdehyde (MDA). Addition of melatonin in BOEC culture indicated a dose-dependent decrease of MDA, and in the SNP group among BOECs treated with SNP or melatonin plus SNP groups MDA was significantly increased compared with SNP plus melatonin groups (p<0.05). In expression of apoptosis or antioxidant genes detected by RT-PCR, Bcl-2 and antioxidant genes were detected in melatonin or melatonin plus SNP groups, while Caspase-3 and Bax genes were only found in the SNP group. When bovine IVM/IVF embryos were cultured for 6-7 days under the BOEC co-culture system pre-treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of SNP, the highest developmental ability to blastocysts was obtained in the $1,000\;{\mu}M$ melatonin group. These results suggest that melatonin has an anti-oxidative effect against NO-induced oxidative stress on cell viability of BOECs and on the developmental competence of bovine IVM/IVF embryo co-culture with BOEC.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.347-352
• /
• 1993

This study was designed to develop the in vitro culture systemof mammalian preimplantation embryos. We proposed mouse fetal fibroblast cells (MFFC) from 14∼15 day mouse fetus. Zygotes from superovulated female ICR mice were cultured 96 hrs in simple defined media (T6) or on the monolayer of MFFC. In addition, to evaluate the action of the co-culture of MFFC, various diluted superoxide dismutase antibody (SOD-Ab) was supplemented into the monolayer of MFFC and zygotes were cultrued in presence or absence of SOD-Ab. The developmental rates of zygotes were significantly increased in co-culture with MFFC compared to the control. The rates of zygotes to the 4-cell stage in media treated with EDTA were higher than those cultured in MFFC but the proportions of morula and blastocyst were not differ between EDTA and MFFC. Interestingly blastocysts in co-culture with MFFC possessed as many as blastomere as those developing in vivo, but blastocysts cultured with EDTA had significantly fewer blastomeres. In addition, the treatment of SOD-Ab suppressed the beneficial effect of MFFC. Therefore, our findings suggest that co-cultrue system using MFFC may have an advantage in the development of mouse zygotes as well as embryonic differentiation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.560-573
• /
• 2016

Endeavors have been made for the last decades to make resources of local myths and legendary tales among local culture contents. Jeju as well has made efforts to develop diverse legendary tales as content products. However, there has yet to yield any visible outcome in any region, and they still remain as mascots only for festivals and/or local events. This is because there is a lack of culture content development infrastructure, and that there is absence of strategic approach to regional culture content development plans. Based on these problems, this study establishes development strategies for legendary tale resources focusing on Chasabonpuri, one of Jeju legendary tales, and explores as what types of popular culture contents it can be developed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.3
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2015

Background: Induced sputum (IS) has been used to collect airway secretions in subjects who have inadequate sputum production. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of IS for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in adults unable to expectorate sputum. Methods: Medical records of 39 PTB patients who underwent IS due to absence of spontaneous sputum production between January 2011 and March 2014 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea were reviewed. Results of acid fast bacilli smear, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture and polymerase chain reaction assay for M. tuberculosis (TB-PCR) of IS specimens from these patients were analyzed. Clinical and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) characteristics were also analyzed to find characteristics associated with IS culture positivity. Results: Of the 39 IS specimens from PTB patients, 7 (17.9%) were smear positive and 31 (79.5%) were culture positive. Twenty-four IS specimens were tested for TB-PCR and 13 (54.2%) were positive on TB-PCR. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (p=0.04) and presence of tree-in-bud appearance on HRCT (p=0.03) were independent predictors of IS culture positivity. Conclusion: IS is useful for the diagnosis of PTB in adults unable to expectorate sputum. Younger age and tree-in-bud appearance on HRCT were associated with IS culture positivity in these patients.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2014

Halitosis is caused by consumption of certain foods or drinks and production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) by periodontopathogens. VSCs-related halitosis is not easily removed using mechanical or chemical therapies such as dental floss, plaque control and mouth rinse. Lactobacillus are known to be probiotics and stimulate immune systems of human. Furthermore, L. casei ATCC 334 and L. rhamnosus GG have an effect on protection of dental caries in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of Lactobacillus on halitosis by Fusobacterium nucleatum- and Porphyromonas gingivalis-producing VSCs and to analyze inhibitory mechanism. The periodontopathogens were cultivated in the presence or the absence Lactobacillus, and the level of VSCs was measured by gas chromatograph. For analysis of inhibitory mechanisms, the susceptibility assay of the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis was investigated. Also, the spent culture medium of Lactobacillus and periodontopathogens were mixed, and the emission of VSCs from the spent culture medium was measured by gas chromatograph. L. casei and L. rhamnosus significantly reduced production of VSCs. L. casei and L. rhamnosus exhibited strong antibacterial activity against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. The spent culture medium of L. casei inhibited to emit gaseous hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide from the spent culture medium of periodontopathogens. However, the spent medium of L. rhamnosus repressed only dimethyl sulfide. L. casei ATCC 334 may improve halitosis by growth inhibition of periodontopathogens and reduction of VSCs emission.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.289-314
• /
• 2016

"Reading Culture Promotion Act" was enacted in 2006. National policies for promoting reading culture such as "Reading Culture Promotion Basic Plan (2014-2018)" were established and are being implemented. However, due to the absence of the system which evaluates the performance of the reading culture promotion policies and programs, it is difficult to systematically implement reading programs. In consideration of this situation, this study purposed to evaluate the reading culture promotion programs. For this purpose, it developed the evaluation tool for reading promotion programs and evaluated it. On the basis of the evaluation results, the study identified the problem of the policies and programs and provided the strategies for improving them. In addition, it proposed the direction of the reading culture promotion policies for expanding the reading culture.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.926-936
• /
• 2003

Overexpression of human Bcl-2 protein in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells producing humanized antibody (SH2-0.32) considerably suppressed sodium butyrate (NaBu)-induced apoptosis during batch culture by using commercially available serum-free medium, which extended the culture longevity. Due to the extended culture longevity provided by the anti-apoptotic effect of Bcl-2 overexpression, the final antibody concentration of 14C6-bcl-2 culture (Bcl-2 high producer, $23\;\mu\textrm{g}\;ml^{-1}$) was 2 times higher than that of the $SH2-0.32-{\Delta}bcl-2$ culture (cells transfected with bcl-2-deficient plasmid, $10.5\;\mu\textrm{g}\;ml^{-1}$) in the presence of NaBu. To determine the effect of NaBu/Bcl-2 overexpression on the molecular integrity of protein products, antibodies purified from 14C6-bcl-2 and $SH2-0.32-{\Delta}bcl-2$ cultures in the presence of NaBu were characterized by using various molecular assay systems. For comparison, antibody purified from the parental rCHO cell culture (SH2-0.32) in the absence of NaBu was also characterized. No significant changes in molecular weight of antibodies could be observed by SDS-PAGE. From GlycoSep-N column analysis, it was found that the core oligosaccharide structure ($GlcNAc_2Man_3GlcNAc_2$) was not affected by NaBu/Bcl-2 overexpression, while the microheterogeneity of N-linked oligosaccharide structure was slightly affected. Compared with the antibody produced in the absence of NaBu, the proportion of neutral oligosaccharides was increased from 10% (14C6-bcl-2) to 16% ($SH2-0.32-{\Delta}bcl-2$) in the presence of NaBu, which was accompanied by the reduced proportion of acidic oligosaccharides, especially of monosialylated and disialylated forms. The changes in microheterogeneous oligoformal structures of antibody in turn affected the mobility of antibody isoforms in isoelectric focusing (IEF), resulting in the occurrence of some more basic antibody isoforms produced in the presence of NaBu. However, the antigen-antibody binding properties were not changed by alteration of glycosylation pattern. The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the antibody produced by NaBu/Bcl-2 overexpression maintained its antigen-antibody binding properties with binding affinity of about $2.5{\times}10^9{\;}M^{-1}$. Taken together, no significant effects of NaBu/Bcl-2 overexpression on the molecular integrity of antibodies, produced by using serum-free medium, could be observed by the molecular assay systems.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 1986

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of trophoblastic vesicles (TV) and estradiol-17$\beta$ on the development in vitro of rabbit embryos. Thirty matured female rabbits were treated with PMSG followed by HCG injection and mating. Embryos were recovered with D-PBS (Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline) after superovulation, and normally developed to two-to four-cell embryos were used in the subsequent in vitro culture. Basal medium was Medium-199 su, pp.emented with 1.5% bovine serum albumin. Embryo on Day 5 after mating (Day 0) was cut into two or three pieces to remove the embryonic disc. Each piece of tissue was cultured for 24 hours at 37$^{\circ}C$ in 0.5 mlMedium-199 in 5% CO2. During culture, peices of trophoblastic tissue changed into spherical vesicles which were used for co-culture. These spheres were called trophoblstic vesicles. Two-to four-cell embryos were cultured for 4 days in Medium-199 in the absence or presence of trophoblastic vesicle, and two-to four-cell embryos cultured with varing concentration (0, 0.1, 1, 10ng/ml) of estradiol-17$\beta$ for 4 dyas. Culture vessels used were watch glass for coculture with trophoblastic vesicles and micortube for estradiol-17$\beta$ infusion. Compared with the Medium-199 alone as basal culture medium, more blastocysts (46.7% vs 15.1%; P<0.01) and morulae (84.4% vs 56.6%; P<0.05) were developed in the co-culture with trophoblastic vesicles. Estradiol-17$\beta$ infused in culture medium was not effective for embryo development to blastocysts (78.3% in control, 50.0% in 0.1ng/ml, 61.5% in 1ng/ml and 64.4% in 10ng/ml) and also to morulae (91.3% in control, 84.2% in 0.1ng/ml, 92.3% in 1ng/ml and 91.1% in 10ng/ml). Compared with the watch glass culture mehotd, more (P<0.01) blastocysts were developed in microtube culture (78.3% vs 56.6%) and more (P<0.01) morulae in microtube culture (91.3% vs 56.6%).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.207-211
• /
• 2010

Current developments in IVF and animal cloning have resulted in increasing demand for large quantities of oocytes and ovarian follicles at specific stages of development. These medical and scientific needs may be met by developing an optimal culture system for preantral follicles. In this study, we investigated the growth of porcine preantral follicle cultures in different media and in the presence and absence of serum. Follicles were manually dissected from ovaries obtained from prepubertal gilts at a local slaughterhouse, and cultured for 3 days in M199 or NCSU23 medium supplemented with porcine FSH, transferrin, L-ascorbic acid and insulin. Follicle diameters were measured on day 1 and 3 of culture. In Experiment 1, the effect of supplementing culture medium with fetal calf serum (FCS) on porcine preantral follicle growth was examined. In the group of cultures supplemented with FCS, follicle diameter after 3 days of culture, survival rate and antrum formation rate in the FCS group were significantly higher than those of the control group. In Experiment 2, the effects of culture medium (M199 and NCSU23) on follicle growth were compared. Follicle diameters were increased in the M199 group, compared with those in NCSU23 (p<0.05), but we observed no significant differences in survival and antrum formation rates between cultures grown in the two media. In conclusion, supplementation of the culture medium with serum enhances preantral follicle growth and antrum formation, and M199 is superior to NUSU23 for porcine preantral follicle culture in vitro.