Hyeun-Kyeung Kim

Quantitative trait loci associated with oligosaccharide and sucrose contents in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Oligosaccharides and sucrose are very important nutritional components in soybean seeds. However, little information is available about their inheritance. We used molecular markers to identify the genomic regions significantly associated with the quantitative trait locus (QTL) that controls oligosaccharide and sucrose contents in segregating F2:10 Rl lines. Two related, but independent, QTLs were identified for oligosaccharides — near marker satt546 on linkage group (LG) D1b+W and satt278 on LG L. Four others, for sucrose content, were located at LG B1 (satt197), D1b+W (satt546), and L (satt523 and satt278). Finally, we found two common QTLs, on LG D1b+W and L, that are associated with both oligosaccharides and sucrose.

Acute Effects of Capsaicin on Proopioimelanocortin mRNA Levels in the Arcuate Nucleus of Sprague-Dawley Rats

Objective Capsaicin, a noxious stimulant and main component of the hot flavor of red peppers, has an analgesic effect when administered to humans. We investigated the expression of proopioimelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after administering capsaicin, hypothesizing that administering capsaicin activates the central opioid system. Methods SD rats were divided randomly into two groups; one group received a saline injection and the other received a capsaicin injection. The POMC mRNA level in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes after capsaicin administration. Results Capsaicin administration resulted in a significantly increased POMC mRNA level, compared to that in saline-treated rats at the 20-minute time point (t=-4.445, p=0.001). However, no significant group differences were observed at other times (t=-1.886, p=0.089; t= -0.973, p=0.353; t=-2.193, p=0.053 for 40, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively). Conclusion The analgesic effect of capsaicin might be associated with increased activity of the cerebral opioid system. This finding suggests that capsaicin acted for nociception and analgesia and could affect alcohol-intake behavior, which might further imply that a food culture could affect drinking behavior.

Effect of Feeding with High γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Containing Giant Embryo Black Sticky Rice (Oryza sativa L.) on Alcohol Intake in C57BL/6 Mice

It is known that black sticky rice with giant embryo (BSRGB, Milyang 263) and giant embryo rice (GER) contains higher levels of GABA than rice. Therefore, feeding BSRGB, GER, or rice freely to C57BL/6 mice with two-hour alcohol intake for 16 days was investigated. For two-hour alcohol intake, a repeated measure ANOVA (three treatment groups repeated across 16 days; 8 two-day blocks) yielded a significant group by block interaction (dfIt is known that black sticky rice with giant embryo (BSRGB, Milyang 263) and giant embryo rice (GER) contains higher levels of GABA than rice. Therefore, feeding BSRGB, GER, or rice freely to C57BL/6 mice with two-hour alcohol intake for 16 days was investigated. For two-hour alcohol intake, a repeated measure ANOVA (three treatment groups repeated across 16 days; 8 two-day blocks) yielded a significant group by block interaction (df=16, F=3.109, p=0.004). The independent t-test showed that significant suppression of two-hour alcohol intake was observed when subjects were administered with BSRGB, compared with the rice alone across all the two-day blocks (p<0.05). The paired t-test revealed that a significant suppression of two-hour alcohol intake was observed starting 4 to 16 days after freely feeding with BSRGB compared to before feeding. However, there is no significant difference in the two-hour alcohol intake observed between the before and after administration of rice. A repeated measure ANOVA revealed no significant group by block interaction for 22-hour water intake and body weight. However, a repeated measure ANOVA revealed a significant grouping by block interaction for food intake. These results indicate a change of two-hour alcohol intake is presumably caused by GABA, which is found in higher levels in BSRGB than in rice.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Associated with Oil and Protein Contents in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Soybean oil and protein contents are very important as a nutritional component of food. The seed composition as oil and protein are polygenic traits. In this study, the KeunolkongIksan10 populations were evaluated with SSR markers to identify QTLs related to oil and protein contents. Three related independent QTLs near the marker satt100 on LG C2, satt546 on LG D1b＋W and satt418 on LG L were identified oil contents. The three independent QTLs near the marker satt556 on LG B2, satt414 on LG J and satt238 on LC L were identified of protein contents. In the results of this study, common QTLs on LG L was associated with seed oil and protein contents. In the result of this study, it is believed that the seed composition material as oil and protein contents were mainly controlled by environmental stresses and they are seed size on genotypes.

Effect of Diniconazole on Growth and Flowering of Vinca rocea and Salvia splendis

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of uniconazole (Sumiseven), an existing expensive growth retardant, and diniconazole (Binnari), used as a cheap germicide, on the growth and flowering of Vinca major and Salvia splendis for the possibility of substitution for expensive growth retardants. The growths of V. major and S. splendis were retarded by Binnari treatment. The effect of Binnari 100 mg/l treatment was higher than that of Sumiseven 5 mg/l treatment in both plants. The length of leaves was remarkably retarded by Binnari treatment, however, the width of leaves was only slightly retarded, giving the leaf a round shape. The number of days to flowering was increased by Binnari treatment in both in V. major and S. splendis. The number of days to flowering in V. major showed no significant difference compared to the control except by treatemtn with Binnari 400 mg/l. The number of florets of S. splendis increased with treatment with Binnari 100 and 200 mg/l.

Analysis of Genetic Variation of Perilla frutescens var. crispa Germplasm Using RAPD

Genetic variations of Chajogi (Perilla frutescens var. crispa) germplasms were investigated by using RAPD markers. Twenty-two Perilla frutescens var. crispa lines collected from various locations were subjected to RAPD analysis using 80 primers. Among them, only 22 primers showed polymorphic bands and these 22 primers provided a total of 224 bands consisting of 127 polymorphic and 97 monomorphioc bands. The polymorphic bands were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the UPGMA method. From UPGMA, similarity co-efficiency of 22 Chajogi lines ranged from 0.72 to 0.94. The dendrogram of 22 lines obtained through the UPGMA method resulted in two groups (one major group and one minor group). Although the two groups were roughly consistent with growth phenotypes (period of flowering, period of maturity, stem length, number of branches, number of nodes, number of flower clusters and number of ovaries) in detail, much inconsistency also was present.

Effect of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptor Antagonist, Memantine, on Alcohol Intake in C57BL/6 Mice

Previous studies reported that the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is related to alcohol dependence in terms of developing withdrawal or tolerance, however, it is controversial whether NMDA receptor antagonists are effective in preventing relapse in alcohol-dependent patients or not. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice, which prefer drinking hereditarily. Using limited access procedures in C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, naltrexone 1.0 mg/kg or, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg i.p. was administered respectively for twelve days. Medication effects on 2-hours alcohol, 22-hour water, and 24-hour food intake and body weight were studied. Using repeated measure ANOVA, the naltrexone 1 mg/kg, memantine 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg, and vehicle groups showed significant medication by day interaction (naltrexone, df

Development of an automated gamma-imaging system for nondestructive testing of welded pipes and its performance evaluation

As a continuation of our radiographic testing (RT) R&D, we have developed an automated gamma-imaging system to be suitable for nondestructive testing of welded pipes. The system consists of an imaging detector having a CdTe/CMOS-based pixel array (AJAT, SCAN1000), a collimated 75Se gamma source (MDS, GammaMat SE) having about 78.7 Ci activities, a gear track mounted around test pipes for image scan, and a computer-controlled microstep motor for precise control of the scan speed. All the components of the imaging system were assembled tightly by a chain belt. From the imaging system, we obtained useful gamma images of a stainless steel pipe (30 cm in internal diameter and 1 cm in thickness) having a welding line. By using standard techniques for evaluation of the radiography quality, we assessed the imaging characteristics of the detector in terms of the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise power spectrum (NPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE). We also evaluated the gamma imaging characteristics of the system by using standard wire specimens (ASTM-1B and 1C), typically used in the field of industrial RT. In this paper, we present a detailed description of the automated gamma-imaging system and the experimental results we obtained.

Effect of Ondansetron Alone and Combination of Naltrexone and Ondansetron on Alcohol Intake in C57BL/6 Mice

Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by 5-HT₃ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 ㎎/㎏, or NTX 1.0 ㎎/㎏ administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 ㎎/㎏ and NTX 1.0 ㎎/㎏ administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexones suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Leaf Length. Width and Length/width Ratio in Two Recombinant Inbred Lines of Soybean (Glycine max L.)

The increasing apparent photosynthetic rate per leaf area may improve seed yield in soybean. Leaf area, length and width are related to the photosynthetic capability of the plant. In this study, two populations derived from the cross of Keunolkong, Shinpaldalkong and Iksanl0 were evaluated with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to identify length, width and length/width ratio of leaf. Leaf length/width ratio were significantly negative correlation with leaf width in K/S and K/I populations. In the K/S population, two minor QTLs for leaf length (LL) were found on LG Dlb+W and 1. Two QTLs on LG J and L were related to LL in K/I population. Two and three minor QTLs were identified in leaf width with total phenotypic variation of 13% and 18.04 in K/S and K/I populations, respectively. The leaf length/width ratio, two QTLs on LG I and L, and three QTLs on LG Cl, E and L were related to K/S and K/I populations, respectively. Thus it is assumed that the leaf traits are very much dependent on the genotype used and different breeding approach should be considered for the selection of favorite leaf traits in soybean breeding programs.