• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.150-153
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• 1994

Ethanolic extract of Daucus carota (DC) at the dose of 10-100 mg/kg caused a dose-dependent fall in systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure in nomotensive anesthetized rats. These effects were not blocked by atropine (1 mg/kg) and pretratment with DC did not alter the pressor response to norepinephrine indicating that cardiovascular effects of DC are independent of cholinergic or adrenergic recptors involvement. In spontaneously beating guinea-pig paired atria, DC induced a concentration-dependent (03-5 mg/ml) decrease in force and rate of atrial contractions. In rabbit thoracic aorta, DC caused inhibition of $K^+$-induced contractions at similar concentrations. These results suggest that the extract may exhibit $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking-like direct relaxant action on cardiac and smooth muscle preperations and this action may be responsible for its hypotensive effect observed in the in vivo studies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 1995

Intravenous administration of O-acetyliervine (an alkaloid from Vertrum album) produced a dose-dependent (10-100 .mu.g/kg) fall in blood pressure and tachycardia in anaesthetized normotensive rats. Pretreatment of animals with propranolol (1mg/kg) abolished these cardiovascular responses of O-acetyljervine similar to that of isoprenaline $(1\mu/ml)$. In isolated tissue experiments, O-acetyljervine $(10-100\mu/ml)$ produced a dose-dependent relaxation of phenylephrine-induced contraction of the rabbit aorta. In guinea-pig spontaneously beating atria, it caused positive inotropic and chronotorpic responses in a dose-dependent fashion $(10-100\mu/ml)$. These responses were abolished in the presence of propranolol $(1\mu/ml)$ similar to that of isoprenaline. These results indicate that O-accetyljervine is adrenoceptor stimulant $(\beta_1\; and\;beta_2)$ like isoprenaline.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.180-192
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• 2007

Background: As determined from the recent investigations of discordant cardiac xenotransplantation, hyperacute rejection occurs mainly at the endothelial cells in donor microvascular systems, but this does not occur at cardiac valve leaflets or at medium-to-large caliber vessels. On the basis of this background, this study was performed to look into the biocompatibility for transplantation of a middle or large diameter xenogenic blood vessel by conducting xenogenic arterial transplantation with the carotid artery in a pig-to-goat model. Material and Method: The experimental group was composed of 10 pairs of pig-to-goat combinations. They were divided into each period of 1 week, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Four carotid artery grafts obtained through collection of the bilateral carotid arteries from two pigs were preserved at $-70^{\circ}C$ without other treatment, and then they were transplanted into the bilateral carotid arteries of two goats. Doppler ultrasonography was done on a periodic basis after transplantation to evaluate the patency of the grafted blood vessel. At the ends of a predetermined period, the grafts were explanted from the goats and they underwent gross examination. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining were conducted. In addition, in order to examine the immunological rejection of the grafted xenogenic blood vessel, immunohistochemical staining was conducted with T-lymphocyte indicator and von Willebrand factor. Result: Two goats at the each one-week period and the one-year period died during the experimental period because of a reason unrelated to the experimental procedure, and the remaining 8 goats survived until the end of each experiment period. On Doppler ultrasonography, unilateral carotid artery occlusion was found in a goat, whose period was specified as 3 months, among the 8 survived goats. However, the vascular patency was maintained well and there was no graft that formed aneurysms in the other goats. On gross examination, the region of vascular anastomosis was preserved well, and calcification of the grafted blood vessel was not shown. Histologically, the endothelial cells of the graft disappeared one week after transplantation, and then there was progressive spread of the recipients' endothelial cells from the anastomotic site. The reendothelialization occurred over the whole graft at one month after transplantation. The neointimal thickening and adventitial inflammation became severe by 3 months after transplantation, but this lessened at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The rate of CD3 positive cells was very low among the infiltrated inflammatory cells. Conclusion: The fresh-frozen xenogenic artery kept its patency without being greatly influenced by xenogenic immune reaction.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1003-1008
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• 2012

One hundred and twenty weanling pigs in experiment 1 (Exp. 1) ($6.91{\pm}0.99kg$; 21 d of age) and Exp. 2 ($10.20{\pm}1.09kg$; 28 d of age) were used in two 42-d and 35-d experiments to evaluate the effect of medium-chain-triglyceride (MCT) on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and blood profile. In both of Exp. 1 and Exp. 2, the same dietary treatments were utilized as follows : i) negative control (NC), ii) positive control (PC), NC+antibiotics (40 mg/kg Tiamulin, 110 mg/kg Tylosin, and 10 mg/kg Enramycin, iii) MCT3, NC+0.32% (phase 1, 2 and 3) MCT, and iv) MCT5, NC+0.55% (phase 1), 0.32% (phase 2 and 3) MCT. In Exp. 1, the pigs fed MCT5 diets had higher (p<0.05) ADG compared to NC treatment during the first 2 wk. From d 15 to 28, the ATTD of energy was improved (p<0.05) by MCT3 compared to the PC treatment. No effect has been observed on the blood profiles [red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), immunoglobulin-G (IgG), lymphocyte concentration] measured in this study. In Exp. 2, the ADG were increased (p<0.05) by the MCT5 treatment than the PC treatment from d 0 to 14. Pigs fed PC treatment diet had lower ADFI (p<0.05) and better FCR (p<0.05) than NC treatment, whereas no differences were shown between MCT treatments and NC or PC treatment from d 15 to 35 and overall phase. The ATTD of DM and nitrogen were improved (p<0.05) by the effect of MCT5 related to the NC and PC treatment at the end of 2nd and 5th wk. The pigs fed MCT3 had higher (p<0.05) energy digestibility than PC treatment. No effects were seen in the blood profiles we measured (WBC, RBC, lymphocyte and immunoglobulin-G). In conclusion, the addition of MCT in the weanling pigs diet can improve the ADG and digestibility during the earlier period (first 2 wks), but had little effect on the blood characteristics.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2003

A study was conducted to determine the effects of pig slurry application on forage yield and growth of fazing Hanwoo heifer in a mixed pasture. To each of three treatments 1.4ha were alloted a control applied with only chemical fertilizer (N-P-K=150-150-120kg/ha), two pig slurry lots applied with the amount to allow 100% (150 kg/ha) or 150% (225 kg/ha) of N used in the control. A randomized block design was used without replication. Cattle were allowed to graze continuously during the experimental period. Results obtained were as follows: Total dry matter yield was 16,291, 15,632 and 16,320 kg/ha for chemical fertilizer. pig slurry 100% and 150％, respectively. The pasture was dominated by perenial ryegrass during the first gazing season, but by orchard grass and perenial ryegrass (60∼70%) and red clover (20∼30%) during the second grazing season. Average gazing rate per ha was 2.75∼2.76 animal units and daily weight gain of grazing cattle was not different among treatments ranging from 0.563 to 0.580 kg. Total weight gain of grazing cattle per ha during the grazing period was 541, 541 abd 555 kg for chemical fertilizer, pig -slurry 100 and 150%, respectively. RBC, WBC, total protein and albumin etc. concentrations in blood were normal in all treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 1994

Immunostimulation effects of the cell wall components isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum were investigated by studying the macrophage s tumorcidal activity, splenocyte proliferation, anticomplementary activity and the inhibition of peritoneal tumor cell growth measured with ICR mice inoculated with sarcoma 180. The immunopotentiating cell wall components were a complex of peptidoglycan and exopolysaccharides. The tumorcidal activity of macrophage against Yacl and B16 tumor cells was enhanced when the cell wall components were added into the macrophage s culture medium. They also stimulated splenocytes to proliferate up to the same level as when the concanavalin A was added into the splenocyte's culture medium. The complementary activity was inhibited by 50% when the cell wall components were incubated with the sheep red blood cells treated with hemolysin and guinea pig complement. This result confirmed that the cell wall components had an antitumor effect, because the anticomplementary activity is usually accompanied by an antitumor activity at the same time. This fact was confirmed again by the inhibition of the growth of sarcoma 180 when the cell wall components were injected intraperitoneally into ICR mice inoculated with sarcoma 180. As a result, it is concluded that the cell wall components isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum had multifunctional immunostimulation effects in vitro and in vivo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1659-1664
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• 2001

Several studies have been done regarding carcass traits and growth in pigs. Recently, these have progressed to examine increases in economic traits, including meat quality and meat quantity, by using candidate genes. One of them is the pituitary-specific protein PIT-1, a member of the POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) family of transcription factors playing an important regulatory role in developmental processes. In addition, muscle development is known to be regulated in part by growth factors and cytokines locally produced. Therefore, studies were performed to analyze PIT-1 genotypes and serum cytokines (IGF-I, IGF-II, TGF-${\beta}1$, EGF, cortisol, DHEA-S, IL-2, and IL-6) in castrated male pigs for their possible involvement in the development of carcass traits. The genotypes of PIT-1 gene were analyzed by PCR-RFLP with MspI restriction enzyme. But, only CD and DD genotypes, not CC genotype, have been detected. Based on PIT-1 genotyping, a significant difference in EGF expression beween CD type (78.8 ng/ml) and DD type (46.0 ng/ml) was detected (p<0.05), whereas other cytokines did not show any statistical significance depending on PIT-1 genotypes. Collectively, these results suggest the possibility that EGF could affect the formation of carcass traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.612-616
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• 2004

This study was carried out to compare the semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and testosterone concentration and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and development of in vitro matured pig oocytes between two Yorkshire boars. Semen and blood samples were collected once per week from October to November 2002 from two adult Yorkshire boars at 18 months of age with 170 kg body weight. Sperm were deep frozen in 5 ml maxi-straws with lactose-egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent and stored in liquid nitrogen. Blood samples were obtained at 10 a.m. by inserting a 21 gauge, hypodermic needle attached to 10 ml syringe into surface veins in the ear. The concentration of testosterone was determined by Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay. Ovaries were collected from prepubertal gilts at a local slaughter house. Cumulus oocyte complexes were aspirated from antral follicles (3 to 6 mm in diameter). The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified TCM 199. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at $38.5^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. For IVF, one frozen 5 ml straw was thawed at $52^{\circ}C$in 40 sec and was diluted with 20 ml Beltsville thawing solution at room temperature. Sperm were washed 2 times in mTLP-PVA and inseminated without preincubation after thawing. Oocytes were inseminated with $2{\times}10^7$/ml sperm concentration. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${\mu}$l mTBM fertilization medium. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${\mu}$l NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 48 and 144 h. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, motility, normal acrosome morphology and sperm concentration of raw semen between A and B of Yorkshire boar. However, motility and normal acrosome of boar A were higher than those of boar B at 0.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h incubations of frozen-thawed sperm. Testosterone concentration (3.75 ng/ml) of boar A was higher than that (2.34 ng/ml) of boar B. The rate of blastocyst formation (15.1%) of boar A was higher than that (10.4%) of boar B. In conclusion, serum testosterone concentration of boar showed very important role for the frozen-thawed sperm viability and the blastocyst formation of pig oocytes matured in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.70-76
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• 2001

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of crystalline isoleucine supplementation of a low protein, corn-soybean meal diet on the performance and immune function of weanling pigs. Forty-five crossbred ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Large\;White$) piglets, weighing an average of $11.00{\pm}0.07kg$, were assigned to either a control diet containing 20% crude protein (0.64% isoleucine), a 16% crude protein diet without isoleucine supplementation (0.41% isoleucine) or a 16% crude protein diet supplemented with isoleucine (0.64% isoleucine). Reducing the crude protein content of the diet from 20 to 16% significantly (p<0.05) reduced both average daily gain and feed intake. Feed conversion also tended (p=0.07) to be poorer for a low protein diet without isoleucine supplementation. Isoleucine supplementation of the 16% crude protein diet increased both gain and feed intake to a level similar to that obtained by pigs fed the 20% crude protein diet (p>0.05). Blood urea nitrogen, serum total protein and serum globulin were significantly (p<0.05) higher for pigs fed the unsupplemented 16% crude protein diet than for pigs fed the isoleucine-supplemented diet or the control. Egg albumin antibody titre decreased significantly (p<0.05) in pigs fed the diet with isoleucine supplementation, whereas the antibody titre of pigs fed the low protein and low isoleucine diet was similar to that of pigs fed the diet containing 20% crude protein and 0.64% isoleucine. It was suggested that crystalline isoleucine supplementation of a low protein and low isoleucine diet improved pig performance but suppressed humoral immune function.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1178-1187
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• 2000

Many immunostimulating substances have been developed to improve immunity of domestic animals, although their exact mode of action and effects are not clearly defined, and they are now widely used in feed industry. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides, called endotoxin, in particular may have a profound effect not only on the immune system but also on macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. Glucans from a variety of yeast cell wall have been shown to stimulate both specific and non-specific immune responses and to increase growth performance in pigs. Recently, there has been great interest in the role of complex carbohydrates in disease prevention and treatment. Mannanoligosaccharide is a glucomannoprotein complex derived from the cell wall of yeast. Generally, it was also known that the deficiencies of some major vitamins (vitamin A, E and C) and minerals (chromium and selenium) lead to impaired immune system and, as a result, immune function is depressed and recovery delayed. On the other hand, many researchers suggested that one possible reason for the superior performance observed in pigs fed plasma protein may be because of the presence of biologically active plasma proteins (e.g., immunoglobulins) which are known to contribute to the health of the starter pig. And, immunoglobulins present in plasma protein have been implicated as contributing to the overall immunocompetence of the newborn pig. Other immunostimulants, lactoferrin and lysozyme, mainly found in milk and egg white, have been known as having bacteriocidal and bacteriolytic effect. When considering practical use of immunostimulants, the concept of using immunostimulants is new to many people and, in most cases, it is poorly understood how and why such compounds act, and how they should be used in practice. Therefore, in order to clarify the reason for discrepancies in results, special attention should be paid to the dose/response relationship of immunostimulants and the duration of the effect.