• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2000

A large number of man-made chemicals that have been released into the environment have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system of animals and humans. There is a critical developmental period during which sexual brain differentiation proceeds irreversibly under the influence of gonadal hormone. Recently we identified KAP3 gene expressed during the critical period of rat brain sexual differentiation. KAP3 functions as a microtubule-based motor that transports membranous organelles anterogradely in cells, including neurons. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of endocrine disrupter, Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), on the KAP3 gene expression during critical period of rat brain development. Maternal exposure to DDT increased the level of KAP3 mRNA in male and female fetus brains when examined on the gestational day 17 (GDl7). In postnatal day 6, DDT suppressed the expression of KAP3 gene in male and female rat brain. Also, the body weight and fertilization rate were decreased in the DDT exposured rats. These results showed that endocrine disrupter, DDT, can affect the transcriptional level of brain sexual differentiation related gene, KAP3, in the prenatal and the neonatal rat brain and that maternal exposure to endocrine disruptors may lead to a toxic response in embryonic differentiation of brain. And so KAP3 gene may be used a gene maker to analyse the molecular mechanism for toxic response in animal nerve tissues exposed to endocrine disruptors.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2010

The experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effects of herbal medicine, Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang in pregnant rats and their fetuses. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with the Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang at dose of 5ml/kg/day for 20 days. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation, and the internal and reproductive organs. Approximately live fetuses in the 20th day of gestation were randomly selected and fixed in 95% ethanol. To observe skeletal malformations, fetuses were stained with alcian blue and alizarin red S. Maternal body weights of Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang treated group has a tendency to increase compared to that of control group. There were no significant differences in internal and reproductive organs. There were no significant changes between two groups in blood chemistry and hematological values. There were no significant changes in number of corpus luteum, implantation and live fetuses. But Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang administered group showed higher implantation rate than the control group. Also, Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang administered groups showed lower early resorption rate than the control group. And Gwibitang had the higher value in all the other groups in all items. From the sex ratio, the number of females were larger than the number of males in the control group, and more males than females in Gwibitang administered group. Neonatal body weight and the number of fetus of Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang group were higher than that of control group. The fetuses of dams treated with Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang did not show external malformation. Vertebral and sternal variations were observed in Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang administered group compared to the control group. Those variations were insignificant. There were no significant changes in number of ribs, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebras. From these results, it can be concluded that Bojungiggitang and Gwibitang showed no toxic effects on maternal body weight and the number of live fetuses. There were no significant changes in organ weight, hematological data, and reproductive organs. Although skeletal variations were shown in vertebra and sternum, Bojungiggitang, Gwibitang were shown insignificant changes in bone malformation.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.549-565
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• 2000

Comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to determine 1) selected risk factors and its impact that affect pregnancy outcome such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse 2) these factors can facilitate future strategies for health promotion and prevention for both pregnant women and fetus. Review of literature were extracted from searching MEDLINE(1966 - Oct. 2000). CINAHL (1982 - Oct. 2000) and the domestic literature. The following factors were identified: 1. The effects of risk behaviors on pregnancy. ${\cdot}$Maternal smoking was associated with the occurrence of premature or LBW delivery, fetal growth retardation, extremities defects, heart defects and sudden infant death syndrome. ${\cdot}$Maternal alcohol consumption was associated with spontaneous abortion, premature or LBW delivery, morphologic/neurologic problems, especially fetal alcohol syndrome. ${\cdot}$Heroin was associated with withdrawal after birth in which were born to heroine addicts for gestational age and lung maturation in animal studies. ${\cdot}$Cocaine was associated with spontaneous abortion, abruptio placenta and a poor response to environmental stimuli. ${\cdot}$So far, the effects of caffeine on pregnancy was controversial, but severe caffeine consumption was associated with premature or LBW delivery, spontaneous abortion, still birth and dystocia. 2. Intervention methods and its effects identified were as follows ${\cdot}$Conducted intervention for smoking, alcohol and drug consumption were single or combined. ${\cdot}$Intervention methods were counseling, phone contact, mailing, use of educational videotape, booklet, support person and alternatives such as nicotine patch. ${\cdot}$The interventions increased the rates of smoking cessation during pregnancy and awareness of the risk of drug consumption, and decreased amount of alcohol consumption. ${\cdot}$The intervention outcome found positive effect on birth weight and length. 3. Our recommendations were as follows ${\cdot}$The personal and social cognition should be enhanced through education and the mass media. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to educate and give information of preconceptional care, planned pregnancy and early prenatal care for optimal pregnancy outcome. ${\cdot}$It's necessary to develop comprehensive assessment tool which is reliable and valid on smoking, alcohol consumption and substance abuse to identify supportive or interventional program.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2012

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical with weak estrogenic activity is reported to affect preimplantation embryos, fetuses and alter their postnatal development. This study amied to determine the relation between the levels of BPA in the amniotic fluid and pregnancy outcomes. ELISA was used to measure amniotic fluid BPA in 120 pregnant women who underwent genetic amniocentesis at 15~20 weeks gestation. The most common indication for amniocentesis was advanced maternal age (35 yrs or older). BPA was detected in all amniotic fluid. The range of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations was from 0.89 ng/mL to 37.13 ng/mL with a mean level of 7.24 ng/mL. We compared the means of amniotic fluid BPA concentrations according to maternal age (${\geq}35$ vs. <35 yrs), fetal sex (male vs. female), gestational age at birth (${\geq}37$ vs. <37 weeks), and infant birth weight (${\geq}2.5$ vs. <2.5 kg). No significant differences were found in these outcomes. This is the first report of amniotic fluid BPA levels in Korean pregnant women. Our findings suggest that BPA may not affect the pregnancy outcomes such as fetal sex, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Whether prenatal exposure to BPA can have teratogenic effect on developing embryo needs to be studied.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1223-1234
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• 2022

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of daily feed intake during the laying period on embryonic myogenic differentiation 1 (MYOD1), myogenic factor 5 (MYF5), and myogenic factor 6 (MYF6) gene expression in genetically fat and lean lines of chickens. Methods: An experiment in a 2×2 factorial design was conducted with two dietary intake levels (100% and 75% of nutrition recommendation) and two broiler chicken lines (fat and lean). Two lines of hens (n = 384 for each line) at 23th week of age were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 12 replicates of 16 birds. The experiment started at 27th week of age (5% egg rate) and ended at 54th week of age. Hatched eggs from the medium laying period were collected. Real time polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to analyse the MYOD1, MYF5, and MYF6 mRNA levels of E7, E9, E11, E13, and E15 body tissues and E17, E19, and E21 chest and thigh muscle samples. Results: The results indicated that there were significant effects of line, dietary intake, and interactions between them on MYOD1, MYF5, and MYF6 gene mRNA expression levels in embryonic tissues. Low daily feed intake did not change the expression trend of MYOD1 mRNA in either line, but changed the peak values, especially in lean line. Low daily feed intake altered the trend in MYF5 mRNA expression level in both lines and apparently delayed its onset. There was no apparent effect of low daily feed intake on the trends of MYF6 mRNA expression levels in either line, but it significantly changed the values on many embryonic days. Conclusion: Maternal nutrient restriction affects myogenesis and is manifested in the expression of embryonic MYOD1, MYF5, and MYF6 genes. Long term selection for fat deposition in broiler chickens changes the pattern and intensity of myogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2016

In animal reproduction, the quality of oocytes and embryos has been evaluated by the expression of specific molecules. Follistatin (FST), which was isolated from follicular fluid, binds and bio-neutralizes the TGF-${\beta}$ superfamily members. Previous studies using the bovine model showed FST could be an important molecular determinant of embryo developmental competence. However, the effect of FST treatment on porcine embryo developmental competence has not been established. In this study, the effect of exogenous FST on porcine embryo developmental competence was investigated during in vitro culture. FST (10 ng/ml) treatment induced a significant decrease in the rate of cell arrest at the 4-cell stage. The expression levels of DNA-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) were decreased in 4-cell stage embryos. FST treatment also resulted in significant improvements in developmental competence of embryos in terms of blastocyst formation rate and OCT-4 mRNA levels, the latter being related to pluripotency. In conclusion, during in vitro culture, FST treatment significantly ameliorated 4-cell block during embryonic development and improved embryo developmental competence. Therefore, FST treatment may potentially have a functional role in porcine embryogenesis that is broadly applicable to enhance in vitro embryo development.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 1992

After the virtual eradication of cattle during World War II, Papua New Guinea herds were rebuilt with Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus cattle from Australia. These, and Red Sindhi and Sahiwal, imported in 1952, were considered unsuitable breeds. In 1954, Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries imported three Brahman bulls and three heifers from Texas and in 1960 began importations of Afrikaner from Queensland. In Central Province, Brahmans were crossed with Angus and at Erap (Morobe) the hottest place in Papua New Guinea, Shorthorns were crossed with Afrikaners. In 1965, Brahman and Brahman-cross were sent to Erap. Records of breeding and growth rates were collected for use in upgrading in cattle of the basis of performance, not pedigree. The data are not ideal for genetic analysis, since no control groups were maintained. Birth weights (BWT), weaning weights (WWT) and calving intervals (CI) were analysed for the period 1969-1978. After exclusion of unsatisfactory data, 2,514 calf records were used, including both breeds from 1969 to 1973, but only Brahman-cross subsequently. Breed mean BWT ranged only from 30.6 to 33.8 kg. As Brahman content increased, BWT decreased and WWT increased; within a genotype, there was a negative maternal effect of high Brahman content on BWT and a positive effect on WWT which ranged from 138 to 174 kg. Afrikaner calves had heavier BWT but lighter WWT. As expected, bulls were heaviest, heifers lightest and mature cows bore and reared heavier calves. Calving interval (405 days, equivalent to 90% calving) was unaffected by breed but 4-year old cows averaged 423 days. Breed differences in BWT and WWT are consistent with the body of literature on performance of Brahmans and Afrikaners. Since cattle tick are not present and internal parasites are insignificant at Erap, the superiority of Brahmans indicates that they were better at utilizing the mediocre quality grazing of the Markham Valley or were more heat tolerant. Performance selection over ten years resulted in the virtual elimination of Afrikaners, with the final genotype approximately 9/16 Brahman, 3/8 Shorthorn and 1/16 Afrikaner.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2003

The study was conducted to get genetic information on quantitative characters of $F_1$ in barley through diallel crosses using seven malting barley. The results obtained were summarized as follows. Additive, dominant, maternal, and reciprocal effort were observed in culm length, spike length, awn length, culm diameter, grain length, grain width, ]lumber of grains per spike, and 1000 grain weight. Based on the Vr-Wr graphical analysis, culm length, spike length, awn length, grain length, and number of grains per spike were found to be inherited over dominance. Dominant effects were higher than additive effects in culm length, spike length, awn length, culm diameter, grain length, grain width, number of grains per spike, and 1000 grain weight. The narrow- sense heritability showed high value as 40.06% for spike length.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.442-449
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• 1998

Several transglucosylated xylitols were synthesized using intermolecular transglucosylation reaction of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) and their bifidogenic effects were investigated. The CGTase from Thermoanaerobacter sp. showed the highest transglycosylation activity on xylitol compared to those obtained from other strains. Extruded starch was identified to be the most suitable glucosyl donor for transglucosylation reaction on xylitol molecule by CGTase. The optimum reaction conditions for transglucosylation were also studied using extruded starch as a glucosyl donor. The transglucosylated xylitols were purified by activated carbon column chromatography with ethanol gradient elution from 0 to 18%, and their chemical structures were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometer, $\^$13/C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, and enzyme digestion method. Two transglucosylated xylitol, F-I and F-II, which had one or two glucose molecules attached to maternal xylitol by ${\alpha}$-1,4-linkage, were mainly obtained. F-II showed increased stimulation effect on the growth of Bifidobacterium breve compared to xylitol, indicating the possibility utilized as a new functional alternative sweetners having bifidogenic effects.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.257-267
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• 2016

This study sought to clarify the relation of children's suicidal ideation and parental depression/life satisfaction, and the mediating effect of the self-esteem in child. With regard to suicidal ideation in children, most studies have used children's depression as predictor, not parental depression. Similarly, parental life satisfaction have not been included in spite of its general influence on child development. Relations among these variables were examined in 512 children and their parents in $7^{th}$ Korean welfare panel data using the structural equation model. Results showed that the maternal life satisfaction was the only significant factor affecting the suicidal ideation of children, no having the mediating effects of the self-esteem in child. The implication of these results and suggestions for intervention and prevention work, and future research are discussed.