• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.917-924
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• 2004

Using PCR-RFLP haplotyping for the mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) fragment containing the NADH dehydrogenase 2 gene(ND2) and three tRNA genes(tRNA-Met, tRNA-Trp and tRNA-Ala), we characterized the genetic diversity of five pig breeds including Jeju native pigs. mtDNA polymorphisms showing distinct cleavage patterns were found in the pig breeds. Two digestion patterns were detected when HaeIII- and Hinfl-RFLP, and four in the Tsp5091-RFLP analyses. Combining the three restriction enzyme digestion patterns found in five different pig breeds, four mtDNA haplotypes were observed and the haplotype frequencies were significantly different by the pig breeds. A monomorphic haplotype, mtWB, was observed in both Korean wild boars and Large White pigs. Both Duroc and Landrace pigs contained two haplotypes suggesting their multiple maternal lineages. Jeju native pig has two haplotypes(mtJN and mtJD). Of these, mtJN is identified as a Jeju native pig specific haplotype. This study suggested that more than two progenitor populations have been taken part in the domestication process of the Jeju native pig population, and/or probably subsequent crossing with other pig breeds from near east Asia. Unlike with our prediction, there was no direct evidence under molecular levels on the maternal introgression of Korean wild boar in the domestication of Jeju native pigs. In conclusion, specificity of mtDNA haplotypes related to pig breeds win be useful for identifying the maternal lineage as wen as constructing the genealogical pedigree in pigs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2002

In ascidians, a primitive chordate, maternal cytoplasmic factors and inductive interactions are involved in the specification of cell fate in early embryos. The larval structure of ascidians is relatively simple, and the major mesodermal tissues of the tadpole larva are notochord, muscle and mesemchyme. Formation of muscle cells is a cell-autonomous process, and localized maternal macho-1 mRNA specify muscle fate in the posterior marginal zone of the early embryo. In contrast, inductive influence from endoderm precursors plays important roles in the specification of notochord and mesenchyme fates. FGF-Ras-MAPK signaling is involved in the induction of both tissues. The difference in responsiveness of the posterior mesenchyme and anterior notochord precursors is caused by the presence or absence of the posterior-vegetal egg cytoplasm, respectively. In these cases, directed signal may polarizes the responding cells and cause asymmetric cell divisions that operate in both the anterior and posterior regions.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2013

Objective: We investigated the norepinephrine transporter (NET) expression in normal and pre-eclamptic placentas and analyzed the invasion activity of trophoblastic cells based on norepinephrine (NE)-NET regulation. Methods: NET and NE expression levels were examined by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Trophoblast invasion activity, depending on NE-NET regulation, was determined by NET-small interfering RNA (siRNA) and NET transfection into the human extravillous trophoblast cells with or without NE treatment and invasion rates were analyzed by zymography and an invasion assay. Results: NET mRNA was expressed at a low level in pre-eclamptic placentas compared with normal placentas and NE concentration in maternal plasma increased significantly in pre-eclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women (p<0.05). NET gene upregulation and NE treatment stimulated trophoblast cell invasion up to 2.5-fold (p<0.05) by stimulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity via the phosphoinositol-3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway, whereas NET-siRNA with NE treatment reduced invasion rates. Conclusion: NET expression is reduced by inadequate regulation of NE levels during placental development. This suggests that a complementary balance between NET and NE regulates trophoblast cell invasion activities during placental development.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2014

Fish larvae are immediately exposed to microbes from hatching to maturation of their lymphoid organs, therefore effective innate mechanisms is very important for survival. However, the knowledge of the development of immune system in fish is limited and in demand now. In vertebrates, recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG-1) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) have been considered as very useful markers of the physiological maturity of the immune system. In this study, the expression of the both genes was assessed throughout the early developmental stages of olive flounder larvae (5-55 dph) and used as markers to follow the development of immune system. RAG-1 and IgM mRNA expression was detectable at 5 dph and remained so until 55 dph. These patterns of expression may suggest that the olive flounder start to develop its function around 5 dph. Tissue distribution was found that both genes mRNAs are only expressed in the immune-related organ such as spleen, kidney and gill. The early detection of IgM mRNA led to the investigation of its presence in oocytes. Both RAG-1 and IgM mRNA transcripts were detected in unfertilized oocytes, suggesting that they are maternally transferred. The biological significance of such a phenomenon remains to be investigated.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.174-178
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• 2007

The earliest stages of mammalian embryogenesis are governed by the activity of maternally inherited transcripts and proteins. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation of selected maternal mRNA has been reported to be a major control mechanism of delayed translation during preimplantation embryogenesis in mice. The presence of cis-elements required for cytoplasmic polyadenylation (e.g., CPE) can serve as a useful tag in the screening of maternal genes partaking in key functions in the transcriptionally dormant egg and early embryo. However, due to its relative simplicity, UA-rich sequences satisfying the canonical rule of known CPE consensus sequences are often found in the 3'-UTR of maternal transcripts that do not actually undergo cytoplasmic polyadenylation. In this study, we developed a method to confirm the validity of candidate CPE sequences in a given gene by a multiplex comparison of 3'-UTR sequences between mammalian homologs. We found that genes undergoing cytoplasmic polyadenylation tend to create a conserved block around the CPE, while CPE-like sequences in the 3'-UTR of genes lacking cytoplasmic polyadenylation do not exhibit such conservation between species. Through this cross-species comparison, we also identified an alternative CPE in the 3'-UTR of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), which is more likely to serve as a functional element. We suggest that verification of CPEs based on sequence conservation can provide a convenient tool for mass screening of factors governing the earliest processes of mammalian embryogenesis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.160-172
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutritional status and food intake during pregnancy and lactation can affect fetal programming. In the current metabolic syndrome epidemic, high-fructose diets have been strongly implicated. This study investigated the effect of maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation on the development of metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Drinking water with or without 20% fructose was administered to female C57BL/6J mice over the course of their pregnancy and lactation periods. After weaning, pups ate regular chow. Accu-Chek Performa was used to measure glucose levels, and a tail-cuff method was used to examine systolic blood pressure. Animals were sacrificed at 7 months, their livers were excised, and sections were stained with Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Kidneys were collected for gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time Polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Adult offspring exposed to maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation presented with heavier body weights, fattier livers, and broader areas under the curve in glucose tolerance test values than control offspring. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in the maternal high-fructose group were higher than that in controls. However, there were no significant differences in mRNA expressions of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes and sodium transporter genes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation induces metabolic syndrome with hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in adult offspring.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA), is acquired by dietary intake or the in vivo conversion of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid. Many enzymes participating in LCPUFA synthesis are regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha ($PPAR{\alpha}$). Therefore, it was hypothesized that the tissue accretion of endogenously synthesized DHA could be modified by $PPAR{\alpha}$. MATERIALS/METHODS: The tissue DHA concentrations and mRNA levels of genes participating in DHA biosynthesis were compared among $PPAR{\alpha}$ homozygous (KO), heterozygous (HZ), and wild type (WT) mice (Exp I), and between WT mice treated with clofibrate ($PPAR{\alpha}$ agonist) or those not treated (Exp II). In ExpII, the expression levels of the proteins associated with DHA function in the brain cortex and retina were also measured. An n3-PUFA depleted/replenished regimen was applied to mitigate the confounding effects of maternal DHA. RESULTS: $PPAR{\alpha}$ ablation reduced the hepatic Acox, Fads1, and Fads2 mRNA levels, as well as the DHA concentration in the liver, but not in the brain cortex. In contrast, $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation increased hepatic Acox, Fads1, Fads2, and Elovl5 mRNA levels, but reduced the DHA concentrations in the liver, retina, and phospholipid of brain cortex, and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in brain cortex. CONCLUSIONS: LCPUFA enzyme expression was altered by $PPAR{\alpha}$. Either $PPAR{\alpha}$ deficiency or activation-decreased tissue DHA concentration is a stimulus for further studies to determine the functional significance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.937-946
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• 2004

Duroc is widely used to improve the meat quality and productivity. To elucidate the phylogenetic relation and the sequence specificity for the maternal property, the complete sequence of mitochondrial genome was determined and the population diversity of Duroc was investigated in this study. The length of mtDNA tested is 16,584-bp. There are several insertion/deletion mutations in the control region and coding regions for tRNA and rRNA, respectively, but not in peptide-coding regions. Four peptide-coding genes(COⅡ, COⅢ, ND3 and ND4) showed incomplete termination codon sequences such as T--, and two(ND2 and ND4L) did alternative initiation codons(AIC), respectively. Especially, the initiation codon sequences of ND2 gene were polymorphic in this population. Polymorphisms were detected in 11-bp duplication motif within control region as well as ND2 and CYTB. Variation patterns observed from the tests on three mtDNA regions were linked completely and then two haplotypes obtained from combining the data dividing this population. Duroc mtDNA is observed at the European pig cluster in the phylogenetic tree, however, the results from the population analyses supported previous opinions. This study suggests that the breed Duroc was mainly originated from the European pig lineage, and Asian lineage was also used to form the pig breed Duroc as maternal progenitors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2002

In ascidians, a primitive chordate, maternal cytoplasmic factors and inductive interactions are involved in the specification of cell fates in early embryos. The larval structure of ascidians is relatively simple, and the major mesodermal tissues of the tadpole larva are notochord, muscle, and mesenchyme. Formation of muscle cells is a cell-autonomous process, and localized maternal macho-l mRNA specify muscle fate in the posterior marginal zone of the early embryo. In contrast, inductive influence from endoderm precursors plays important roles in the specification of notochord and mesenchyme fates. FGF-Ras-MAPK signaling is involved In the induction of both tissues. The difference in responsiveness of the posterior mesenchyme and anterior notochord precursors to FGF signaling is caused by the presence or absence of intrinsic factors that inherited from the posterior-vegetal egg cytoplasm, respectively. In these inductions, directed signal polarizes the induced cells and promotes asymmetric cell divisions to produce two daughter cells with distinct fates.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Changes in nutritional status during gestation and lactation have detrimental effects on offspring metabolism. Several animal studies have shown that maternal high-fat diet (HFD) can predispose the offspring to development of obesity and metabolic diseases, however the mechanisms underlying these transgenerational effects are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the effect of maternal HFD consumption on metabolic phenotype and hepatic expression of involved genes in dams to determine whether any of these parameters were associated with the metabolic outcomes in the offspring. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD: 10% calories from fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD: 45% calories from fat) for three weeks before mating, and during pregnancy and lactation. Dams and their male offspring were studied at weaning. RESULTS: Dams fed an HFD had significantly higher body and adipose tissue weights and higher serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels than dams fed an LFD. Hepatic lipid levels and mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism, including $LXR{\alpha}$, SREBP-2, FXR, LDLR, and ABCG8 were significantly changed by maternal HFD intake. Significantly lower total liver DNA and protein contents were observed in dams fed an HFD, implicating the disturbed liver adaptation in the pregnancy-related metabolic demand. HFD feeding also induced significant oxidative stress in serum and liver of dams. Offspring of dams fed an HFD had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels, which were negatively correlated with liver weights of dams and positively correlated with hepatic lipid peroxide levels in dams. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal HFD consumption induced metabolic dysfunction, including altered liver growth and oxidative stress in dams, which may contribute to the disturbed cholesterol homeostasis in the early life of male mice offspring.