• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• 제52권1호
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to compare the aspects of behavior between miniature pigs and conventional sows during gestation and lactation periods. Miniature pigs and conventional sows at 3 parity were used in this experiment with 4 pigs per treatment. The behavioral patterns and stereotyped behaviors were observed on day 60 and 90 of gestation, at farrowing, and on day 10 of lactation before and after the feeding. On 60 and 90 days of pregnancy, both treatments showed the tendency of frequent lateral lying rather than other postures. On ventral lying, eating and drinking, miniature pigs spent more time than conventional pigs at day 90 of gestation (P<0.01, P=0.0539, P<0.05, respectively). The occurrence of stereotyped behaviors included bar biting and bar mouth chewing. At 90 day of pregnancy was observed, conventional pigs was higher than miniature pigs (P<0.05). At farrowing, miniature pigs spent more time on ventral lying, standing and walking than conventional sows (P<0.05), however, there were more frequency of drinking and eating. And on day 10 of lactation, there was no significant difference in stereotyped behaviors between miniature pigs and conventional sows. In conclusion, miniature pigs were generally more sensitive than conventional sows although sows were reared in stall during gestation and lactation period and the behavioral pattern during lactating period showed the similarity between miniature pigs and conventional sows for protection of nursing pigs. In consideration of the general reproductive performance of conventional sows, the high sensitivity and stress of miniature pigs did not affect the reproductive performance of miniature pigs.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.215-219
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the reproductive characteristics of cloned miniature piglets produced from surrogate domestic pigs. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) miniature pig embryos were transferred into domestic pigs. As controls, domestic pigs of the same breed with surrogates for SCNT embryos and miniature pigs of the same breed with the somatic cell donor were bred by artificial insemination and natural mating, respectively. Surrogate domestic pigs that farrowed cloned miniature piglets had a significantly longer gestation length (118.1 days) than conventionally bred domestic (115.4 days) and miniature (115.5 days) pigs. Furthermore, the birth weight of cloned miniature piglets produced from domestic pigs (743 g) was significantly greater than that of miniature piglets produced by natural breeding (623 g). Also, cloned miniature piglets had a significantly lower weaning rate (49.7%) than conventionally produced domestic (91.5%) and miniature (100%) piglets. No differences were observed between female and male cloned piglets in gestation length, litter size, birth weight, or weaning rate. Our results demonstrate that gestation length is extended in domestic pigs that are transferred with SCNT miniature pig embryos and that cloned miniature piglets have increased birth weight and high pre-weaning mortality.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제34권11호
• /
• pp.1757-1765
• /
• 2021

Objective: The swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) gene group, which is closely linked and highly polymorphic, has important biomedical significance in the protection and utilization of germplasm resources. However, genetic polymorphism analyses of SLA microsatellite markers in Chinese miniature pigs are limited. Methods: Eighteen pairs of microsatellite primers were used to amplify the SLA regions of seven miniature pig breeds and three wild boar breeds (n = 346) from different regions of China. The indexes of genetic polymorphism, including expected heterozygosity (He), polymorphic information content (PIC), and haplotype, were analyzed. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) and neighbor-joining methods were used for cluster analysis of the breeds. Results: In miniature pigs, the SLA I region had the highest numbers of polymorphisms, followed by the SLA II and SLA III regions; the region near the centromere had the lowest number of polymorphisms. Among the seven miniature pig breeds, Diannan small-ear pigs had the highest genetic diversity (PIC value = 0.6396), whereas the genetic diversity of the Hebao pig was the lowest (PIC value = 0.4330). The Fst values in the Mingguang small-ear, Diannan small-ear, and Yunnan wild boars were less than 0.05. According to phylogenetic cluster analysis, the South-China-type miniature pigs clustered into one group, among which Mingguang small-ear pigs clustered with Diannan small-ear pigs. Haplotype analysis revealed that the SLA I, II, and III regions could be constructed into 13, 7, and 11 common haplotypes, respectively. Conclusion: This study validates the high genetic diversity of the Chinese miniature pig. Mingguang small-ear pigs have close kinship with Diannan small-ear pigs, implying that they may have similar genetic backgrounds and originate from the same population. This study also provides a foundation for genetic breeding, genetic resource protection, and classification of Chinese miniature pigs.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제20권11호
• /
• pp.1725-1728
• /
• 2010

미니돼지에서 폐 환기/관류 신티그라피를 실시한 결과 환기스캔에서는 기능적 분포는 왼쪽 폐가 44.2%, 오른쪽 폐에서는 56.2%로 나타났으며, 관류스캔에서는 왼쪽 폐가 46.87%, 오른쪽 폐가 54.97% 임을 확인할 수 있었고 사람의 폐용적과 유사한 결과를 보임을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 다른 방사성가스보다 짧은 시간을 필요로 하며 기계적 환기로도 스캔이 가능한 Technegas로 환기 스캔을 실시하여 미니돼지의 마취시간을 줄 일 수 있었으며 미니돼지에서 더 용이하게 폐기능을 측정할 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 폐 환기/관류 신티그라피가 미니돼지에서 정상 폐기능 및 폐질환과 관련된 실험을 할 때 폐기능을 측정하는 좋은 진단법이 될 수 있으며 미니돼지의 정상 폐기능에 관한 연구가 앞으로 폐질환과 관련된 미니돼지의 실험에 대한 정보를 제공할 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2014

Although the majority of surviving pigs cloned by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) appear to be physiologically normal, there is a general lack of detailed hemato-physiologic studies for the period of early adulthood to substantiate this claim. In the present study, we investigated variation in blood chemistry and endocrinological parameters between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from cloned and normal age-matched female and male miniature pigs. Cloned females and males showed normal ranges for complete blood count assessments. Biochemical assessments showed that ${\gamma}$-GGT, ALT and cholesterol levels of male and female clones were significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01, respectively) higher than that of age-matched control miniature pigs. Variations in insulin and IGF-1 were higher in female clones than in male clones and controls. Thus, although female and male cloned miniature pigs may be physiologically similar to normal animals, or at least within normal ranges, a greater degree of physiological and endocrinological variation was found in cloned pigs. The above variation must be taken into account before considering cloned female or male miniature pigs for various biomedical applications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.360-372
• /
• 2020

Objective: Specific genomic sites can be recognized and permanently modified by genome editing. The discovery of endonucleases has advanced genome editing in pigs, attenuating xenograft rejection and cross-species disease transmission. However, off-target mutagenesis caused by these nucleases is a major barrier to putative clinical applications. Furthermore, off-target mutagenesis by genome editing has not yet been addressed in pigs. Methods: Here, we generated genetically inheritable α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) knockout Yucatan miniature pigs by combining transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and nuclear transfer. For precise estimation of genomic mutations induced by TALEN in GGTA1 knockout pigs, we obtained the whole-genome sequence of the donor cells for use as an internal control genome. Results: In-depth whole-genome sequencing analysis demonstrated that TALEN-mediated GGTA1 knockout pigs had a comparable mutation rate to homologous recombination-treated pigs and wild-type strain controls. RNA sequencing analysis associated with genomic mutations revealed that TALEN-induced off-target mutations had no discernable effect on RNA transcript abundance. Conclusion: Therefore, TALEN appears to be a precise and safe tool for generating genomeedited pigs, and the TALEN-mediated GGTA1 knockout Yucatan miniature pigs produced in this study can serve as a safe and effective organ and tissue resource for clinical applications.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.593-596
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate normal hepatobiliary functions in healthy miniature pigs. $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ hepatobiliary scintigraphy(HBS) was used for it. Five mCi dose of $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ was injected intravenously into 3 healthy adult miniature pigs, and dynamic images were obtained during 1 hour. $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ HBS in a miniature pig was evaluated for 6 variables. A cardiac washout occurred within 1 min in all miniature pigs and radioactivities in the gallbladder were not detected in two miniature pigs. Thus, the initial radioactivity and Tmax of the gallbladder were non-available to identify. Mean Tmax of liver was $8.67{\pm}2.08$ min and initial small intestinal radioactivity was seen at $9.67{\pm}2.52$ min after $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ injection. Mean hepatic washout time was not detected in 60 min dynamic images. Therefore, $^{99m}Tc-DISIDA$ HBS is the effective diagnostic method to evaluate the function of hepatocyte and bile flow rate. However, it was not a proper method to evaluate the function of gallbladder, which indicates that an additional study is needed to further specify the reasons for the absence of radioactivities in gallbladder of two miniature pigs.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2016

This study investigated the effects of L-carnitine (LC) and nicotinic acid (NA) on sperm viability during liquid storage at $18^{\circ}C$ in miniature pigs. $10{\mu}M$ LC and 30 mM NA, combined LC and NA (LN) were treated in fresh semen for 3, 7, and 10 days. In results, sperm survival increased in NA- and LN-treated semen on 7 and 10 days (p<0.05), mitochondrial integrity of live sperm increased in LN-treated semen on 7 days (p<0.05), but not NA-treated semen. In addition, we examined the acrosome reaction of sperm in miniature pigs. LC and NA did not influence on acrosome reaction of boar sperm. In conclusion, LC and NA effectively maintained the viability and quality of sperm during long-term storage in miniature pigs, suggesting that the combined LN may be useful for improving the semen extender for long-term liquid storage in pigs.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.133-137
• /
• 2009

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells isolated from inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst-stage embryos are capable of differentiating into various cell lineages and demonstrate germ-line transmission in experimentally produced chimeras. These cells have a great potential as tools for transgenic animal production, screening of newly-developed drugs, and cell therapy. Miniature pigs, selectively bred pigs for small size, offer several advantages over large breed pigs in biomedical research including human disease model and xenotransplantation. In the present study, factors affecting primary culture of somatic cell nuclear transfer blastocysts from miniature pigs for isolation of ES cells were investigated. Formation of primary colonies occurred only on STO cells in human ES medium. In contrast, no ICM outgrowth was observed on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) in porcine ES medium. Plating intact blastocysts and isolated ICM resulted in comparable attachment on feeder layer and primary colony formation. After subculture of ES-like colonies, two putative ES cell lines were isolated. Colonies of putative ES cells morphologically resembled murine ES cells. These cells were maintained in culture up to three passages, but lost by spontaneous differentiation. The present study demonstrates factors involved in the early stage of nuclear transfer ES cell isolation in miniature pigs. However, long-term maintenance and characterization of nuclear transfer ES cells in miniature pigs are remained to be done in further studies.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제18권8호
• /
• pp.1169-1172
• /
• 2008

본 실험의 목표는 미니돼지에서 성성숙 전까지의 성장단계에서 혈액성분을 조사하는 것이다. 12마리 돼지를 이용하여 정맥에서 채혈하였다. 전혈과 혈청을 사용하여 혈액 및 혈액 화학치를 분석하였다. 그리고 성장단계별의 조사에서 각 성분은 평균과 표준편차로 나타내었다. 혈액분석에서 적혈구와 적혈구용적 그리고 혈소판에서 유의치 있는 변화가 있었다. 특히 적혈구와 적혈구용적은 4주령 군에서 가장 낮은 수치를, 반면에 혈소판은 4주령에서 가장 높은 수치를 보였다. 혈액 화학치에서는 glucose, GGT에서 유의치 있는 변화가 있었으며, 나머지 성분에서는 유의치 있는 변화가 없었다. 이러한 기본적인 혈액 및 혈액 화학치는 미니돼지의 정상 혈액학 연구와 그리고 성장단계별 이른 시기에 정상돼지를 판별하는데 유용하리라 생각된다.