Effect of α-tocopherol on lactone formation in marbled beef and changes in lactone volatility during storage.

Dynamic-headspace sampling with a standard-addition method was employed to quantitatively analyze aliphatic lactones in rendered fat from marbled beef and to evaluate the effect of the matrix on volatility. Further, the effects of different levels of the antioxidant α-tocopherol on lactone formation were examined. The slopes of the linear regression curves from the standard-addition method were significantly changed (P < 0.

Cloned cows with short telomeres deliver healthy offspring with normal-length telomeres.

Dolly, the first mammal cloned from a somatic cell, had shorter telomeres than age-matched controls and died at an early age because of disease. To investigate longevity and lifetime performance in cloned animals, we produced cloned cows with short telomeres using oviductal epithelial cells as donor cells. At 5 years of age, despite the presence of short telomeres, all cloned cows delivered multiple healthy offspring following artificial insemination with conventionally processed spermatozoa from noncloned bulls, and their milk production was comparable to that of donor cows.

Relationships of survival time, productivity and cause of death with telomere lengths of cows produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

The reproductive ability, milk-producing capacity, survival time and relationships of these parameters with telomere length were investigated in 4 groups of cows produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Each group was produced using the same donor cells (6 Holstein (1H), 3 Holstein (2H), 4 Jersey (1J) and 5 Japanese Black (1B) cows). As controls, 47 Holstein cows produced by artificial insemination were used.

Effects of alpha-tocopherol on lactones in beef headspace during storage.

We studied the effect of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) on the production of lactones, a desirable flavor in Wagyu beef (Japanese Black Cattle), in meat headspace. Fresh beef was minced and divided into 4 groups containing different alpha-Toc levels (1.9, 2.

Short communication: a field study on the relationship between body condition and embryo production in superovulated Holstein yearling heifers.

We conducted a field survey to estimate the relationship between embryo production and the body condition score (BCS) on a 5-point scale, as well as blood concentrations of insulin and glucose, in superovulated Holstein yearling heifers housed in a free-stall barn. They were provided total mixed rations to meet the nutrient requirements. The daily ration was divided between 2 feeding times, utilizing stanchions to separate heifers to avoid social status preventing inferior heifers from having enough feed.

Characterization of a donor mitochondrial DNA transmission bottleneck in nuclear transfer derived cow lineages.

In embryos derived by nuclear-transfer (NT), fusion of donor cells with recipient oocytes resulted in varying patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transmission in NT animals. Distribution of donor cell mtDNA (D-mtDNA) found in offspring of NT-derived founders may also vary from donor cell and host embryo heteroplasmy to host embryo homoplasmy. Here we examined the transmission of mtDNA from NT cows to G(1) offspring.

Comparison of T cell subsets between somatic cloned and normal cow.

Problem: Somatic cloning technology is beneficial for genetically producing excellent animals. However, many developmental problems of somatically cloned animals have been described. Some of them may cause disorders of the immune system, resulting in the fluctuation of the proportion of white blood cells (WBC), different from that of normal animals in peripheral blood.

Growth, reproduction, and lactation in somatic cell cloned cows with short telomeres.

We previously showed that telomere lengths of 10 somatic cell cloned cows were significantly shorter than normal. In this study, we investigated growth, reproduction, and lactation in these animals to determine if shortened telomeres have any effect on these characteristics. Six Holstein and 4 Jersey cloned cows, derived from oviduct cells, were reared under general group feeding.

GH secretory responses to ghrelin and GHRH in growing and lactating dairy cattle.

Release of growth hormone (GH) is known to be regulated mainly by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SRIF) secreted from the hypothalamus. A novel peripheral release-regulating hormone, ghrelin, was recently identified. In this study, differences of the GH secretory response to ghrelin and GHRH in growing and lactating dairy cattle were investigated and an alteration of plasma ghrelin levels was observed.

Matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 activities in bovine follicular fluid of different-sized follicles: relationship to intra-follicular inhibin and steroid concentrations.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play very important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during ovarian follicular development, ovulation and atresia. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of gelatinases in follicular fluid in various sized bovine follicles. Bovine ovaries were collected from local slaughterhouse and follicular fluid from follicles of 2 to over 25 mm in diameter was collected.

Embryonic and calving losses in bovine mixed-breed twins induced by transfer of in vitro-produced embryos to bred recipients.

One or two in vitro-produced (IVP) Japanese Black (JB) cattle embryos at 8 days after in vitro fertilization were transferred to the contralateral uterine horn of previously bred Japanese Shorthorn (JSH) or JSH-JB cross recipients, and then the occurrence of early embryonic death, abortion during mid- and late gestation, and calving loss were recorded. The survival rate of embryos, including indigenous ones, was not affected by the number of embryos transferred, and a significantly higher twinning rate (68% of pregnant recipients at 80 days after transfer) was achieved when two IVP embryos were transferred, as compared with the rate when one IVP embryo was transferred (24%). In late ET (recipients at 8.

Remarkable differences in telomere lengths among cloned cattle derived from different cell types.

Regarding cloned animals, interesting questions have been raised as to whether cloning restores cellular senescence undergone by their donor cells and how long cloned animals will be able to live. Focusing our attention on differences in telomere lengths depending on the tissue, we had produced 14 cloned cattle by using nuclei of donor cells derived from muscle, oviduct, mammary, and ear skin. Here, we show remarkable variation in telomere lengths among them using Southern blot analysis with telomere-specific probe.

Improvement of in vitro co-culture systems for bovine embryos using a low concentration of carbon dioxide and medium supplemented with beta-mercaptoethanol.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas atmosphere and beta-mercaptoethanol on the development of bovine embryos in an in vitro co-culture system. In Experiment 1, in vitro-matured bovine oocytes were inseminated and then co-cultured with cumulus cells in culture medium (CM; 25 mM HEPES buffered TCM-199 supplemented with 5% superovulated cow serum and 0.5 mM sodium pyruvate).

Effects of the 7 21 Robertsonian translocation on fertilization rates and preimplantation development of bovine oocytes in vitro.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of the 7/21 Robertsonian translocation on fertilization and subsequent development of bovine oocytes matured in vitro. Semen from Japanese Black bulls, 2 with a normal karyotype (Bulls A and B) and 2 that were heterozygous for the 7/21 translocation (Bulls C and D), was used in this study. In vitro matured bovine oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed sperm capacitated with heparin.