• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2020

This study was conducted to analyze ripening characteristics of the seed according to days after flowering. The seeds were harvested on land located in the Department of Herbal Crop Research in Rural Development Administration in 2019. Seed weight and germination rate were investigated according to days after flowering and the embryo:seed ratio was examined during the fruiting process. The results showed that the weight increased significantly by the days after flowering at each inflorescence and the seed began to germinate at different time. Further, given the embryo:seed ratio, we found that embryo continue to grow in the seed. Because Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitagawa bloom in various inflorescences, the stage of embryonic development of the seeds can affect the germination of seed. Based on our results, the key seed harvest period for good seed is 50 to 70 days after flowering.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.169-175
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• 2010

Cholinesterase (ChE) is one of the most ubiquitous enzymes and in addition to its well characterized catalytic function, the morphogenetic involvement of ChE has also been demonstrated in neuronal tissues and in non-neuronal tissues such as bone and cartilage. We have previously reported that during mouse tooth development, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is dynamically localized in the dental epithelium and its derivatives whereas butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity is localized in the dental follicles. To test the functional conservation of ChE in tooth morphogenesis among different species, we performed cholinesterase histochemistry following the use of specific inhibitors of developing molar and incisors in the hamster from embryonic day 11 (E11) to postnatal day 1 (P1). In the developing molar in hamster, the localization of ChE activity was found to be very similar to that of the mouse. At the bud stage, no ChE activity was found in the tooth buds, but was first detectable in the dental epithelium and dental follicles at the cap and bell stages. AChE activity was found to be principally localized in the dental epithelium whereas BuChE activity was observed in the dental follicle. In contrast to the ChE activity in the molars, BuChE activity was specifically observed in the secretory ameloblasts of the incisors, whilst no AChE activity was found in the dental epithelium of incisors. The subtype and localization of ChE activity in the dental epithelium of the incisor thus differed from those of the molar in hamster. In addition, these patterns also differed from the ChE activity in the mouse incisor. These results strongly suggest that ChE may play roles in the differentiation of the dental epithelium and dental follicle in hamster, and that morphogenetic subtypes of ChE may be variable among species and tooth types.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 1994

Mammalian oviductal epithelial cells have been known to improve in vitro fertilization and embryonic development. Recently, co-cultured human embryos with the epithelial cells in human genital tract has been reported to improve the pregnancy rate. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the epithelial cells of human genital tract on the development of mouse early embryos and human fertilized oocytes. The epithelial cells of human genital tract were collected from the fallopian tubes which were obtained during hysterectomy in fertile women and from the endometrium during endometrium biopsy. Collected human ampullary cells(HACs) and endometrial cells(HECs) were cultured for 10 days to establish primary monolayer. Second passaged HACs and HECs were obtained by trypsinization were cryopreserved in PBS with 1.5 M DMSO for later use. To investigate the effect when co-cultured with HACs and HECs, we tried to apply strict quality control on mouse embryo, from two cell to blastocyst prior to human trial. The results of quality control were as follows; In Group I (Ham's F10 with 10% FCS), Group IT (co-cultured with HACs) and Group ill (co-cultured with HECs), developmental rates to blastocyst were 63.3%(253/400), 76.0%(304/ 400),74.0%(296/400), respectively. Hatching rates were 36.8%(147/400), 41.80/0(167/400), 38.0%(152/400), respectively(p<0.05). To perform the human IVF, cryopreserved HACs were thawed at 37$^{\circ}C$ waterbath, seeded on the well dish and cultured for 48 hI'S. The pronuclear stage embryos were transferred to the seeded well dish. After 24 hRS, co-cultured embryos were examined and transferred to patient's uterus. The results of human IVF when co-cultured with HACs were that fertilization and developmental rates were 61.8% (256/414), 95.3% (244/256) as compared with 57.2% (279/488) and 94.6%(264/279) in Ham's F10 supplemented with 10% FCS(control). However, 62.9% (161/256) of co-cultured human embryos showed good embryos(no or slight fragmentation) as compared with 53.8 % (150/279) in control(p < 0.05). Pregnancy rate was 40.0% (12/30) when co-cultured with HACs whereas 30.6%(11/36) in control. In conclusions, co-culture system using HACs and HECs improved the developmental and hatching rates of mouse embryo. Also, in human IVF system when co-cultured with HACs, it improved both the quality of human embryos and the pregnancy rate.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.532-539
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• 2014

Peripheral neuropathy induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy is not only difficult to distinguish in clinical practice, but also difficult to relieve the pain symptoms by analgesics because of the severity of the disease at the later stage. Hence, to explore the mechanisms of HIV-related neuropathy and find new therapeutic options are particularly important for relieving neuropathic pain symptoms of the patients. In the present study, primary cultured embryonic rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were used to determine the neurotoxic effects of HIV-gp120 protein and/or antiretroviral drug dideoxycytidine (ddC) and the therapeutic actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on gp120- or ddC-induced neurotoxicity. DRG neurons were exposed to gp120 (500 pmol/L), ddC ($50{\mu}mol/L$), gp120 (500 pmol/L) plus ddC ($50{\mu}mol/L$), gp120 (500 pmol/L) plus IGF-1 (20 nmol/L), ddC ($50{\mu}mol/L$) plus IGF-1 (20 nmol/L), gp120 (500 pmol/L) plus ddC ($50{\mu}mol/L$) plus IGF-1 (20 nmol/L), respectively, for 72 hours. The results showed that gp120 and/or ddC caused neurotoxicity of primary cultured DRG neurons. Interestingly, the severity of neurotoxicity induced by gp120 and ddC was different in different subpopulation of DRG neurons. gp120 mainly affected large diameter DRG neurons (> $25{\mu}m$), whereas ddC mainly affected small diameter DRG neurons (${\leq}25{\mu}m$). IGF-1 could reverse the neurotoxicity induced by gp120 and/or ddC on small, but not large, DRG neurons. These data provide new insights in elucidating the pathogenesis of HIV infection- or antiretroviral therapy-related peripheral neuropathy and facilitating the development of novel treatment strategies.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2020

The identify of biomarkers in living tissues is useful to understand the characteristics and functions of the cells. Proteins such as protein gene product 9.5, promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger, NANOG, and stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 have been identified as markers for porcine undifferentiated spermatogonia. In this study, the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), a newly discovered porcine spermatogonia marker and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a protein regulator of IGFBPs, were characterized in 5-day-old porcine testis. To analyze the function of IGFBPs, RT-PCR was performed. IGFBP 2, 3, 4, and 6 were detected in porcine spermatogonia and PAPP-A was detected in basement regions in 5day old porcine seminiferous tubules. PAPP-A was not expressed in spermatogonia, but it was expressed in Sertoli cells. These results suggest that the expression of PAPP-A protein in Sertoli cells may regulate the development and differentiation of testicular cells through the IGF axis in porcine neonatal testis.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to optimize the vitrification method of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Thus, in vitro produced embryos at 8 cell, morula and blastocyst stages were vitrified on electron microscope grids (EM grids) or in open pulled straws (OPS) with EG5.5 (5.5 M ethylene glycol, 1.0 M sucrose and 10% FBS in m-DPBS medium) freezing solution and their survival rates after thawing were compared. The embryos on EM grids or in OPS were briefly exposed to EG5.5 freezing solution and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen within 30 to 35 sec. Post-thawed embryos were serially diluted in 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 M sucrose in m-DPBS, each for 1 min, and then cultured in CRI aa medium supplemented with 10% FBS. Embryonic survival rate was assessed as re-expanded and hatched rates of those embryos after warming. The rates of re-expansion embryos did not significantly different between EM grid (8 cell: 42.10%, morula: 66.66% and blastocyst: 77.08%) and OPS (8 cell: 47.36%, morula: 61.90% and blastocyst: 83.33%) methods. In addition, the hatched rates in EM grid (8 cell: 31.57%, morula: 57.14% and blastocyst: 72.91%) were similar to those in OPS (8 cell. 34.21%, morula: 50.00% and Blastocyst: 77.08%). Interestingly, even at the same blastocyst stage, the in vitro survival of day 7 embryos (EM grid: 79.48 and OPS: 87.18%) was higher than those of day 8 embryos (EM grid: 72.10 and OPS: 82.06%). The total cell number of blastocyst developed in vitro after vitrification was examined with Hoechst 33342 staining to compare the embryo quality among different treatment groups. The total cell number of blastocyst was not significantly different between vitrified groups (EM grid: 162.4$\pm$8.0 and OPS: 158.4$\pm$7.1) and unvitrified control (168.0$\pm$5.6). These results indicate that both vitrification containers can provide the high rate of embryo survival. Moreover, the OPS container may not need a cap to protect the container from floating after immersion in L$N_2$. Therefore, this study suggest that bovine embryos can be cryopreserved easily, effectively and successfully by vitrification method using EM grid or OPS with EG5.5 freezing solution. In the future, the Pregnancy rate would be investigated after transfer of our vitrified embryos into the appropriated recipients.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1180-1189
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• 2023

Objective: Discovering the mechanism of cell specification is important to manipulate cellular lineages. To obtain lineage-specific cell lines, the target lineage needs to be promoted, and counterpart lineages should be suppressed. Embryos in the early blastocyst stage possess two different cell populations, the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm. Then, cells in the ICM segregate into epiblasts (Epi) and primitive endoderm (PrE). PrE cells in embryos show specific expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor, PDGF receptor A (PDGFRA). In this study, we suppressed PDGF signaling using two methods (CRISPR/Cas9 injection and inhibitor treatment) to provide insight into the segregation of embryonic lineages. Methods: CRISPR/Cas9 RNAs were injected into parthenogenetically activated and in vitro fertilized embryos. The PDGF receptor inhibitor AG1296 was treated at 0, 5, 10, and 20 µM concentration. The developmental competence of the embryos and the number of cells expressing marker proteins (SOX2 for ICM and SOX17 for PrE) were measured after the treatments. The expression levels of the marker genes with the inhibitor were examined during embryo development. Results: Microinjection targeting the PDGF receptor (PDGFR) A reduced the number of SOX17-positive cell populations in a subset of day 7 blastocysts (n = 9/12). However, microinjection accompanied diminution of Epi cells in the blastocyst. The PDGF receptor inhibitor AG1296 (5 µM) suppressed SOX17-positive cells without reducing SOX2-positive cells in both parthenogenetic activated and in vitro fertilized embryos. Within the transcriptional target of PDGF signaling, the inhibitor significantly upregulated the Txnip gene in embryos. Conclusion: We identified that PDGF signaling is important to sustain the PrE population in porcine blastocysts. Additionally, treatment with inhibitors was a better method to suppress PrE cells than CRISPR/Cas9 microinjection of anti-PDGF receptor α gene, because microinjection suppressed number of Epi cells. The PDGF receptor might control the number of PrE cells by repressing the proapoptotic gene Txnip. Our results can help to isolate Epi-specific cell lines from blastocysts.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.305-315
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• 2001

In this study, the production of transgenic embryo was attempted by microinjection or round spermatid cultured with foreign DNA. At first, the expression of haploid spermatids specific gene, mTP1 in mouse and hPrm2 in hamster spermatids were investigated by RT-PCR method in testes of young mice and hamster testis. The specific gene expression first appeared at 18 days post partum (dpp) in mice spermatid and 20 dpp in hamster spermatid. Therefore, the round spermatids isolated from 17 dpp mice and 19 dpp hamster were used for the introduction of foreign EGFP gene into haploid round spermatids. For the introduction of EGFP gene haploid round spermatids suspended in medium including EGFP gene were treated with a different electric field strength at 0.11, 0.18 and 0.44 ㎸/cm. After electrical stimulation, viability of testicular sperm cells and 67.6%, 66.4% and 49.9%, in mice and 62.6%, 57.9% and 27% in hamster, respectively. These values were significantly lower than those of non-treated control groups 80.5% in mouse and 69.1% in hamster After 72 hrs culture, the highest expression rate of EGFP gene, 28.5% in mice and 32.1% in hamster were obtained from tile spermatogenic cells electroporated by the field strength or 0.18 ㎸/cm. Then, the ability of fertilization and embryonic development of haploid spermatids transfected with foreign EGFP gene were estimated by the microinjection of spermatids into hamster oocytes. The Irate pronuclear formation rate (77.5%) was lower than non-treated control (80%), and the cleavage rate of the treated group (58.8%) was lower than control (65%). To prove the foreign EGFP integration in hamster embryos, 2-cell stage hamster embryos were subjected to the observation under the fluorescence microscope, and the PCR analysis. As a result, about 44% of 2-cell embryos were showed the integration of EFGP gene into their genome. Therefore, These results suggest the possibility to produce transgenic hamsters by microinjection of haploid spermatid transfected with foreign DNA.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2009

It is well-known that unregulated over-expression of foreign gene may have unwanted physiological or toxic effects in transgenic animals. To circumvent these problems, we constructed retrovirus vector designed to express the foreign gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoter. However, gene expressions in the tetracycline-inducible expression system (Tet system) are not completely regulated but a little leaky due to the inherent defects in conventional Tet-based systems. A more tightly controllable regulatory system can be achieved when the advanced versions ($rtTA2^SM2$) of rtTA and a minimal promoter in responsive components (pTRE-tight) are used in combination therein. In this study, we tried to produce human thrombopoietin (hTPO) from various target cells and transgenic chickens using the retrovirus vector combined with Tet system. hTPO is the primary regulator of platelet production and has an important role in the survival and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. In a preliminary experiment in vitro, higher hTPO expression and tighter expression control were observed in chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) cells. We also measured the biological activity of the hTPO using Mo7e cells whose proliferation is dependant on hTPO. The biological activity of the recombinant hTPO from CEF was higher than both its commercial counterpart and hTPO from other target cells. The recombinant retrovirus was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). Out of 138 injected eggs, 15 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation. Among them, 8 hatched chicks were hTPO positive. When the Go transgenic chicken was fed doxycycline (0.5 mg per 1 gram of feed), a tetracycline derivative, hTPO concentration of the transgenic chicken blood was 200 ng/mL. Germline transmission of the transgene was confirmed in sperm of the Go transgenic roosters. These results are informative to establish transgenic chickens as bioreactors for the mass production of commercially valuable and biological active human cytokine proteins.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2009

The slime flounder Microstomus achne were caught at Geomun Island, Yosu-si, Jeollanamdo from January to March in 2006. The fertilized eggs were observed for morphological development of egg, embryo and larva. Eggs were colorless transparent, separative pelagic, absent of oil globule, and the diameter was 1.64${\pm}$0.03 mm (n=50). The eggs were hatched at 168 hours 40 minutes after fertilization in the range of $9.8\sim13.0^{\circ}C$ (mean $11.4{\pm}1.6^{\circ}C$). Total length of newly hatched larva was 4.05${\pm}$0.18 mm (n=20). The larva had developed membranous fin showing waterdrop-shaped structure, and their mouth and anus were not open. The myotomes were 14~15+33~34=47~49. The egg yolks were 1.64${\pm}$0.12 mm in major axis, and 1.23${\pm}$0.19 mm in minor axis. At 12 days after hatching, the total length was 7.32${\pm}$0.42 mm(n=20). The egg yolk was completely absorbed and transferred to post larval stage. Star-shaped melanophores and branch-shaped xanthophores in the edge of membranous fin were more densed. Chrysanthemum-shaped melanophores in the notochord were densed and formed 4~5 melanophore bands. At 90~93 days after hatching, morphological features of the larva, 19.91${\pm}$1.63 mm TL(n=20), were transferred to juvenile stage showing similar features with those of the adult fish.