The ovine skeletal-muscle-specific calpain gene (p94), which is known also as the n-calpain or calpain 3 gene (CAPN3), was screened with primers. Selection of the PCR primers was based on the ovine cDNA sequence (GenBank accession No. AF087570). After sequence alignment between the ovine and human (AY902237) genes, exon and intron boundaries were determined. Polymorphisms were observed in the intron region for the CAPN31112 and CAPN31213 segments, and the sequences for these segments were submitted to the GenBank (AF309635 and AY102617, respectively). Body weight was recorded at birth, weaning and post-weaning. Calpain 3 genotypes of the CAPN31112 segment were associated with birth weight (P < 0.01), and a dominant gene effect was observed. Breeding group, birth type, and rearing type were significantly associated with weight traits. Allele frequencies were similar in purebred and crossbred animals.

It has been proposed that a shift to glucose metabolism is integral to development of hibernating myocardium (HM). We tested the hypothesis that diabetic hearts have impaired contractile function during hibernation. Fifteen swine were divided into control (CON; n=8) and streptozotocin (STZ)‐treated (100 mg/kg; n=7) groups. Animals were chronically instrumented to measure coronary blood flow (CBF) and regional wall thickening (WT). Aortic and coronary sinus blood samples were obtained so that myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) could be calculated. HM was induced by 6 repetitive episodes of 90‐min coronary stenosis (30% reduction in baseline CBF) followed by reperfusion every 12 h. Inotropic reserve was assessed with isoproterenol (ISO, 0.2 μg/kg/min, i.v.). Plasma glucose was elevated in STZ compared to CON. In CON, MGU was increased 2‐fold during hibernation compared to baseline, whereas MGU was not affected in STZ; glycogen deposition was prominent in CON but negligible in STZ. Nevertheless, decreases in WT in HM stabilized at a similar level in CON and STZ (−22% and −14%, respectively). Furthermore, ISO caused equivalent, substantial increases in WT in HM of CON and STZ. We conclude that 1) diabetes does not impair contractile function in HM, 2) augmented glucose metabolism is not an essential feature of HM, and 3) inotropic reserve of HM remains intact in diabetic hearts.

This study examined the effect of calcium (AC) extracted from salt fermented anchovy Engraulis japonicus on osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) SD female rats. After AC treatment for 8 weeks, the body weight of the OVX-AC group decreased, while the weight of the OVX group (control) increased 43.9%. The blood osteocalcin, calcium, and ALP levels were examined as physiological markers for osteoporosis. The concentrations of all markers were elevated in the OVX-AC group compared to the OVX group. Thus, anchovy calcium is useful as an organic calcium supplement.

Abstract. The Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA) class I consists of SLA-1, SLA-2, and SLA-3 genes (CHARON et al., 2000) that are expressed on the surface of most nucleated cells. Pig organs mainly from miniature pigs have been used in studies on xenotransplantation (SMITH et al., 2005). It is important to understand genetic variations of the SLA-1 gene considering the SLA-mediated immune responses. Collecting information on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and alleles of SLA-1 and their phylogenic relationships is important regarding future uses of the Korean Jeju Pig (KJP) in xenotransplantation.

No abstract