• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.500-503
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of season influencing semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and testosterone concentration in Duroc boars. There were no significant differences in the semen volume and sperm concentration of Duroc boars among spring, summer, autumn and winter. However, the pH of sperm-rich and sperm-poor fractions in autumn and winter season was higher than in spring and summer season in Duroc boars. Sperm motility and normal acrosome of raw semen in Duroc boars did not differ significantly among spring, summer, autumn and winter. However, motility and normal acrosome of frozen-thawed sperm were higher in spring season than in summer, autumn and winter. Serum testosterone concentrations in Duroc were higher in spring than summer, autumn and winter. In conclusion, when serum testosterone concentrations were higher in seasons, frozen-thawed sperm viability in Duroc boars were higher.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2004

Total 2,451 sera collected from pig farms nationwide were tested for the detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome(PRRS) virus antibodies. The results were analyzed between different geographic regions, types of breeding pigs, and different years. The overall seroprevalence of PRRS virus antibodies for 3 years was 32.4%(705/2,451). The seroprevalence of PRRS virus antibodies in years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004 was 33.4% (284/850), 38.6%(291/754), 33.3%(155/466), and 17.1%(65/381), respectively. The seropevalence of PRRS virus antibody in sow in years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 was 31.7%, 28.4%, 29.6%, and 13.4%, respectively. The seropevalence of PRRS virus antibody in gilts in years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 was 36.6%, 67.4%, 54.7%, and 33.9%, respectively. The seropevalence of PRRS virus antibody in boars in years 2000, 2001 and 2003 was 45.7%, 36.4%, and 100%, respectively. No boar serum sample was submitted for the diagnosis of PRRS virus antibody in the year 2000. High seroprevalence of the PRRS virus antibody in sow, gilts and boars indicates that the infected breeding pigs are the major source of the PRRS virus infection, and also play an important role in spreading the PRRS virus between fan mates or herds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.165-171
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• 1992

The developmental process of the epididymis was investigated in Meishan boars from 1 to 364 days of age. Epididymal weight increased rapidly between 45 and 150-180 days of age. The diameter and epithelial area of the epididymal ducts greatly increased up to 105-120 days of age. At 1 day of age, the central and distal cauda already had a pseudostratified epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle. At 60-75 days of age, the central and distal caput, corpus, and proximal cauda revealed a well-developed structure of the epithelium. The proximal caput showed a tall, irregular and vacuolar epithelium at 105-120 days of age. PAS-positive contents in the lumen of the caput, corpus and cauda epididymides were first detected at 60-75, 45-60 and 1-30 days of age, respectively. Moreover, in the central and distal caput, PAS-positive granules appeared at 60-75 days of age, and increased until 105-120 days. These results suggest that the epididymis develops completely by approximately 120 days of age, though its weight increases rapidly up to 150-180 days. Thus, it appears that development of the epididymis occurs at an earlier age in Meishan boars than in European and American breeds.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2016

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of P. ginseng, zearalenol and estradiol in tests on spermatozoal function. Methods: The affinity of these compounds for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and beta ($ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$)-was assessed in receptor binding assays. Functional tests on boar spermatozoa motility, movement and kinematic parameters were conducted using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. Tests for capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were performed using microscopic analysis. Results: Zearalenol-but not estradiol ($E_2$)- or ginseng-treated spermatozoa-decreased the percentage of overall, progressive, and rapid motile cells. Zearalenol also decreased spontaneous AR and increased chromatin decondensation. Ginseng decreased chromatin decondensation in response to calcium ionophore and decreased AR in response to progesterone ($P_4$) and ionophore. Conclusion: Zearalenol has adverse effects on sperm motility and function by targeting multiple signaling cascades, including $P_4$, $E_2$, and calcium pathways. Ginseng protects against chromatin damage and thus may be beneficial to reproductive fitness.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2016

Davallialactone (DAVA) is a hispidin analogue derived from the medicinal fungus Phellinus baumii. We examined the effect of DAVA on in vitro fertilization (IVF) of pigs. Boar spermatozoa were incubated in fertilization medium with varying concentrations of DAVA, then sperm motility and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were evaluated. Higher sperm motility was found following the addition of 0.5 or $1{\mu}M$ DAVA after incubation than addition of other concentrations or controls. ROS level decreased significantly with the addition of DAVA. The rate of normal fertilization was higher in the presence of $1{\mu}M$ DAVA (65.1%) than were those of other concentrations or controls (45.4~59.4%), and the highest total fertilization rate (mono- and polyspermic oocytes) was observed at $1{\mu}M$ DAVA (83%). In conclusion, addition of DAVA to fertilization medium improved sperm motility, and reduced ROS level so as to potentially improve sperm-oocyte binding in IVF, suggesting the potential of a compound isolated from mushrooms in assisted reproductive technology for humans and animals.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 1992

As the result of the research on the manufacturing procedure of Sogog-ju in the classical literature(35 kinds), it was found that Sogog-ju is usually brewed on the first Boar day of January and Sogog-ju base is added to it in about 7days and then the fermentation of Sogog-ju comes to end in about 21 days. The material grains out of 48 items, used in the first step of brewing Sogog-ju, are nonglutnous rice 47 items(98%), flour 20items(42%), somnuruk 9 items(19%) out of nuruk (fermenter) 48 items (100%) and nuruk water 5 items(17%), and flour 3 items(6%) are used, but fermenter nuruk is not used. When the grains are used in the first step of brewing, they are usually in the form of gruel and rice cake, and in the second step of brewing, they are usually made into steam water soaked rice. Nuruk, Which is largely used in the first step, is usually put after the processed grains get cold, but in the second step of brewing, it may be put into the still warm grains. There are hardly any cases when nuruk is used in conspicously small quantity.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.21
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• pp.271-288
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• 2010

In their everyday life, people form social phenomena and relations through the shapes and habits of animals. Therefore, animals contain the idea of the way of life of certain nations, spiritual and cultural feelings, and the symbolic meaning which can be recognized between the members of the unique nation. The symbolism of animals varies depending on different nations, because the adages are the essence of the language including their culture, thought, custom, and life. Examining their own adages can be one of the ways to find out what the animals symbolize in different nations. Another reason is that they are the dictionaries, reflecting their own way of thinking and traditional values, so to speak. The research shows that, between Korean and Chinese adages, it is in a similar frequency, using materials such as mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects. The adages are focused on the 12 animals which is familiar to both nations, a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a lamb, a monkey, a rooster, a dog and a boar. We compared the symbolism, the surface meanings in adages, and the figurative meanings of these animals in Korea and China. As a result, it is found that some are almost the same in usage. However, some are totally different such as expressions related to the animals, the cultural differences and clear understanding. It is necessary to do comparative researches in a detailed and various way by studying the issues derived from verbalism.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1024-1034
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• 2022

Identifying effective biomarkers for the diagnosis of male fertility is crucial for improving animal production and treating male infertility in humans. Ras-related proteins (Rab) are associated with morphological and motion kinematic functions in spermatozoa. Moreover, Rab2A, a Rab protein, is a possible male fertility-related biomarker. The present study was designed to identify additional fertility-related biomarkers among the various Rab proteins. First, the expression of Rab proteins (Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, 14, 25, 27A, and 34A) from 31 duroc boar spermatozoa was measured before and after capacitation; correlation between Rab protein expression and litter size was evaluated by statistical analysis. The results showed that the expression of Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 25 before capacitation and Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 14 after capacitation were negatively correlated with litter size. Moreover, depending on the cutoff values calculated by receiver operating curves, an increase in litter size was observed when evaluating the ability of the Rab proteins to forecast litter size. Therefore, we suggest that Rab proteins may be potential fertility-related biomarkers that could help select superior sires in the livestock industry.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.235-246
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• 2022

In this study, we used more reliable experimental materials and methods to detect the effects of osteopontin (OPN) on boar sperm in vitro capacitation, acrosome reaction, and fertilization efficiency. We reorganized and obtained the OPN protein of the porcine source. Immunofluorescence and Western blot show the localization and expression of the OPN protein before and after sperm capacitation. To determine whether OPN can affect sperm during sperm capacitation, we examined cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations after sperm capacitation, and the results showed that OPN significantly increased the cAMP concentration in sperm (p < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that 0.1 ㎍/mL OPN-treated sperm had better acrosome reaction ability. In vitro fertilization (IVF) showed that 0.1 ㎍/mL OPN significantly increased the rate of embryo division. In conclusion, this study found that 0.1 ㎍/mL porcine OPN protein can significantly improve porcine capacitated sperm motility, cAMP concentration after capacitation sperm, acrosome reaction ability, and embryo division during IVF and provides new clues to explore the mechanism of OPN's function on sperm.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2012

We report a case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed by western blot assay in a patient with subretinal tracks. A 15-year-old male patient complained of blurred vision in the right eye, lasting for 2 weeks. Eight months earlier, he had traveled to Vietnam for 1 week and ate raw wild boar meat and lobster. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and anterior chamber examination revealed no abnormalities. Fundus examination showed subretinal tracks in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography showed linear hyperfluorescence of the subretinal lesion observed on fundus in the right eye. Ultrasound examination revealed no abnormalities. Blood tests indicated mild eosinophilia (7.5%), and there was no abnormality found by systemic examinations. Two years later, the patient visited our department again for ophthalmologic evaluation. Visual acuity remained 20/20 in both eyes and the subretinal tracks in the right eye had not changed since the previous examination. Serologic examination was performed to provide a more accurate diagnosis, and the patient's serum reacted strongly to the $Gnathostoma$ $nipponicum$ antigen by western blot assay, which led to a diagnosis of intraocular gnathostomiasis. This is the first reported case of intraocular gnathostomiasis with subretinal tracks confirmed serologically using western blot in Korea.