Livestock production impacts food security of developing countries, especially where efficiency of production is compromised by environmental stressors. In South Africa, breeding with indigenous Afrikaner cattle that ...Livestock production impacts food security of developing countries, especially where efficiency of production is compromised by environmental stressors. In South Africa, breeding with indigenous Afrikaner cattle that are genetically well adapted to subtropical environments is considered an essential strategy for sustainable beef production. Today, there is a potential for farmers to participate in commercial systems that join adapted Afrikaner germplasm, used in a specialized maternal role, with exotic terminal sires to optimize production. The objective of this study was to assess productivity of five simulated production systems: 1) straightbred Afrikaner mated naturally, 2) a straight-bred Afrikaner cow herd with two sections;one section to produce replacement females and the other to cross with Charolais terminal sires, both using natural mating, 3) similar to 2, but applying sexed semen to produce replacement females, 4) similar to 2, but using a multi-breed composite dam line with a breed combination of 50% Afrikaner, 25% Hereford and 25% Simmental, and 5) similar to 4, but again applying sexed semen to produce replacement females. Parameter estimates needed to compare these systems were extracted from the scientific literature. Relative to straightbred Afrikaner dams, the simulated composite dams were more fit producing 7.8% more calves and their progeny performance was improved by reducing feed intake (-24.4%) and increasing meat production (+11.7%). The potential benefit of allocating more cows to the terminal sire was insufficient to offset the reduction in pregnancy rate that results with the use of sexed semen. Thus, system 4 had the greatest productivity (+23.1%) while requiring 22.8% less feed for finishing the progeny to be harvested relative to the purebred Afrikaner system. The combination of increased productivity and reduced feed requirement made use of a Charolais terminal sire in conjunction with multi-breed composite females bred by natural service the most efficient system among those studied.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to develop a molecular marker immunomagnetic bead sorting technology method that can specifically identify dead spermatozoa.[Methods]This study first confirmed the specific binding...[Objectives]This study was conducted to develop a molecular marker immunomagnetic bead sorting technology method that can specifically identify dead spermatozoa.[Methods]This study first confirmed the specific binding of Annexin V to dead bovine spermatozoa,and tried to remove dead spermatozoa in semen combining with the immunomagnetic bead technology,so as to improve the separation efficiency of target spermatozoa in the process of sex-controlled semen preparation on a flow cytometer.[Results]The spermatozoon motility,membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity after sorting and the rate of dead spermatozoa during the on-machine X/Y separation were all improved to different degrees(P<0.05),indicating that the technical process design could effectively remove some dead spermatozoa,and there was no significant effect on frozen sexed semen prepared from the separated X or Y spermatozoa(P>0.05),indicating that the technical process did not cause additional damage to the spermatozoa.[Conclusions]Combining the specificity of Annexin V with the immunomagnetic bead method could effectively remove dead spermatozoa from bovine spermatozoa,and significantly reduce the rate of dead spermatozoa in bovine permatozoa during sex-controlled separation(P<0.05).The method developed can effectively improve the production efficiency of frozen sexed semen of dairy cows,reduce the production cost,and promote the industrial application of the product.展开更多
Background:Goat milk is very similar to human milk in terms of its abundant nutrients and ease of digestion.To derive greater economic benefit,farmers require more female offspring(does);however,the buck-to-doe offspr...Background:Goat milk is very similar to human milk in terms of its abundant nutrients and ease of digestion.To derive greater economic benefit,farmers require more female offspring(does);however,the buck-to-doe offspring sex ratio is approximately 50%.At present,artificial insemination after the separation of X/Y sperm using flow cytometry is the primary means of controlling the sex of livestock offspring.However,flow cytometry has not been successfully utilised for the separation of X/Y sperm aimed at sexing control in dairy goats.Results:In this study,a novel,simple goat sperm sexing technology that activates the toll-like receptor 7/8(TLR7/8),thereby inhibiting X-sperm motility,was investigated.Our results showed that the TLR7/8 coding goat Xchromosome was expressed in approximately 50%of round spermatids in the testis and sperm,as measured from cross-sections of the epididymis and ejaculate,respectively.Importantly,TLR7/8 was located at the tail of the Xsperm.Upon TLR7/8 activation,phosphorylated forms of glycogen synthase kinaseα/β(GSK3α/β)and nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)were detected in the X-sperm,causing reduced mitochondrial activity,ATP levels,and sperm motility.High-motility Y-sperm segregated to the upper layer and the low-motility X-sperm,to the lower layer.Following in vitro fertilisation using the TLR7/8-activated sperm from the lower layer,80.52±6.75%of the embryos were XX females.The TLR7/8-activated sperm were subsequently used for in vivo embryo production via the superovulatory response;nine embryos were collected from the uterus of two does that conceived.Eight of these were XX embryos,and one was an XY embryo.Conclusions:Our study reveals a novel TLR7/8 signalling mechanism that affects X-sperm motility via the GSK3α/β-hexokinase pathway;this technique could be used to facilitate the efficient production of sexed dairy goat embryos.展开更多
Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respect...Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respective roles of genes and hormones in sex determination.We accidently obtained a gynandromorphic Zebra Finch with a male-female chimeric appearance but only with an ovary-like gonad.Its plasma estradiol was significantly higher than that of age-matched females,and its sexual partner preference was also feminine.Although it did not sing like males,its calls showed masculinization.In the brain on one side of the body with male plumage,the area of song motor nucleus,the robust nucleus of the arcopallium(RA),and the excitatory synaptic transmission of RA projection neurons showed masculinization.Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to cholinergic neuron function were significantly upregulated in the masculinized side of brain.Moreover,there were extensive and consistent expression differences of neuroactive substance receptor genes in both sides of body,indicating that cell-autonomous determination plays a key role in sex dimorphism of neuromodulation.展开更多
Biological sex is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in evaluating the translational value of preclinical spinal cord injury(SCI)studies.The rising incidence of SCI in females challenges the historical preced...Biological sex is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in evaluating the translational value of preclinical spinal cord injury(SCI)studies.The rising incidence of SCI in females challenges the historical precedent of SCI being a male-dominated condition.In contrast,most basic science researchers utilize single-sex studies to minimize complications associated with bladder care in males(Stewart et al.,2020).The findings of our recent publication identify sexually dimorphic immune responses to SCI in both mice and pigs(Kumari et al.,2025).Here,we will highlight these findings and discuss the impact of sex on SCI inflammation and recovery.展开更多
The genus Actinidia is primarily functionally dioecious,and early sex identification plays a crucial role in improving breeding efficiency and reducing production costs.In this study,the accuracy of three sex-linked m...The genus Actinidia is primarily functionally dioecious,and early sex identification plays a crucial role in improving breeding efficiency and reducing production costs.In this study,the accuracy of three sex-linked molecular markers(SyGI[Shy Girl],FrBy[Friendly Boy],and SmY1)in sex identification was evaluated in various Actinidia species.The selected marker products were subsequently cloned and sequenced in six wild Actinidia species.Ninety-six wild A.chinensis chinensis accessions and 74 A.chinensis deliciosa accessions,most of which were wild,with only one cultivated,were used for comprehensive primer validation.Thirty-three juvenile A.chinensis chinensis hybrid seedlings were used for practical application tests.The results showed that the marker SyGI accurately identified the sex of 20 samples from six Actinidia species and 96 A.chinensis chinensis accessions with 100%reliability.For Actinidia chinensis deliciosa,the identification accuracy reached 98.65%.Sequence analysis revealed that SyGI shared the highest similarity with the male-specific genomic region.Furthermore,SyGI achieved 100%accuracy in identifying the sex of 33 juvenile A.chinensis chinensis individuals.The findings confirm that the SyGI marker possesses high accuracy,strong specificity,and broad applicability,making it a valuable tool for kiwifruit breeding programs.The cloned sequences from wild Actinidia species also provide important references for future research on the mechanisms of sexual evolution and determination.展开更多
As a gene required for sexual development,intersex(ix),functions in concert with the female-specific product of doublesex(dsx)at the end of the hierarchy to facilitate the sex-specific differentiation of sexually dimo...As a gene required for sexual development,intersex(ix),functions in concert with the female-specific product of doublesex(dsx)at the end of the hierarchy to facilitate the sex-specific differentiation of sexually dimorphic characters in female Drosophila melanogaster.In the present study,we initially identified the ix homolog in Gryllus bimaculatus,with the detection of a single isoform expressed in both sexes.Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignment revealed that Gbix exhibited conservation.Here we employed RNA interference(RNAi)and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9(Cas9),respectively,to analyze the functions of Gbix.Our findings indicated that Gbix played a crucial role in the normal development of the embryo and nymph,as well as in the regulation of wing morphogenesis in both sexes.RNAi-mediated knockdown of Gbix resulted in poorly developed ovaries,whereas testicular development was not significantly affected.Nevertheless,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Gbix resulted in internal genital defects in both sexes,which ultimately led to a reduction in reproductive capacity in female and male individuals.Our results provide insights into the pleiotropic functions of Gbix in embryogenesis and sexual development,while also advancing our comprehension of sex determination in a hemimetabolous insect species.展开更多
The liver is increasingly recognized as a major regulator of systemic cardio-renal-metabolic health.Evidence is mounting that sex-chromosome dosage per se itself,independent of gonadal sex hormones,modulates hepatic p...The liver is increasingly recognized as a major regulator of systemic cardio-renal-metabolic health.Evidence is mounting that sex-chromosome dosage per se itself,independent of gonadal sex hormones,modulates hepatic physiology and liver disease risk.Turner syndrome(TS;monosomy X)and Klinefelter syndrome(KS;47,XXY and variants)are the two most common sex-chromosome aneuploidies and carry a clinically relevant,yet often under-appreciated,burden of liver disease.Population studies show that individuals with TS have 2-to sixfold higher odds of raised liver enzymes,steatotic liver disease,advanced fibrosis,and even hepatocellular malignancy compared with to sex-and age-matched controls.In KS,the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)reaches approximately 45%,with testosterone deficiency,visceral adiposity,and systemic inflammation acting as key drivers.Pathogenetic mechanisms converge on vascular dysgenesis and estrogen deficiency in TS,and on hypogonadism-related metabolic derangements in KS,together accelerating steatosis,inflammation,and fibrogenesis.This concise review/Comprehensive perspective reviews discusses historical background,epidemiology,hepatic phenotypes,pathophysiology,and current diagnostic and management recommendations.It also highlights critical knowledge gaps,including the need for prospective cohorts,optimized hormone-replacement protocols,and trials of emerging pharmacological approaches anti-MASH agents.Raising awareness among all stakeholders,endocrinologists,hepatologists,and primary-care physicians is essential for early detection,multidisciplinary management,and improved hepatic and extra-hepatic outcomes in these vulnerable patient populations.展开更多
Lizards usually exhibit frequent turnovers and a much greater diversity of sex determination mechanisms compared to birds and mammals,with the conserved ZW sex chromosomes of anguimorph lizards originating over 115 mi...Lizards usually exhibit frequent turnovers and a much greater diversity of sex determination mechanisms compared to birds and mammals,with the conserved ZW sex chromosomes of anguimorph lizards originating over 115 million years ago a seeming exception.We previously discovered in an anguimorph lizard Varanus acanthurus(Vac)whose entire chrW,but not chrZ is homologous to part of the chr2 by cytogenetic mapping,suggesting its complex history of sex chromosome evolution yet to be elucidated.To address this,we assemble a chromosome-level genome,and provide evidence that the Vac sex chromosome pair has undergone at least two times of recombination loss,producing a pattern of evolutionary strata like that of birds and mammals.Comparison to other lizard genomes date the stepwise propagation of specific retrotransposon subfamilies enriched near the duplicated gene pairs on the chrW and chr2 to the varanid ancestor.These retrotransposons probably have mediated the recruitment and amplification of autosomal genes on the chrW,including members of a large vomeronasal chemosensory receptor gene family V2R.Our results suggest that the W or Y chromosome as a refugium of repetitive elements,may recurrently recruit short-lived functional genes responsible for sexual dimorphisms during its long-term course of degeneration.展开更多
Higher prevalence of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease in women:Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid-β(Aβ)plaques and Tau neurofibrillary tangles in t...Higher prevalence of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease in women:Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid-β(Aβ)plaques and Tau neurofibrillary tangles in the affected brain regions.The clearance of these pathological protein aggregates by microglia can trigger excessive neuroinflammation,which contributes to brain atrophy.AD exhibits clinical heterogeneity and is characterized by highly complex,multifactorial etiology(Lopez-Lee et al.,2024).展开更多
Dear Editor,Amplexus,a reproductive behavior in which the male clasps the female dorsally,is a characteristic of amphibians(Wells,2007).Most species exhibit either inguinal or axillary amplexus,although some reproduce...Dear Editor,Amplexus,a reproductive behavior in which the male clasps the female dorsally,is a characteristic of amphibians(Wells,2007).Most species exhibit either inguinal or axillary amplexus,although some reproduce without it(Wells,2007).While male-female amplexus is predominant,other forms such as male-male and multiple-male amplexus have also been documented(Soni et al.,2025).Release calls are typically produced by amplexed males to signal mating mismatches and mitigate the costs of inappropriate clasping(Kelehear and Shine,2019).Female-female amplexus,however,is rare and considered maladaptive,as it does not lead to fertilization(Chuang et al.,2019).展开更多
Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is the most common form of dementia.In addition to the lack of effective treatments,there are limitations in diagnostic capabilities.The complexity of AD itself,together with a variety of other...Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is the most common form of dementia.In addition to the lack of effective treatments,there are limitations in diagnostic capabilities.The complexity of AD itself,together with a variety of other diseases often observed in a patient’s history in addition to their AD diagnosis,make deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie AD,even more important.Large datasets of single-cell RNA sequencing,single-nucleus RNA-sequencing(snRNA-seq),and spatial transcriptomics(ST)have become essential in guiding and supporting new investigations into the cellular and regional susceptibility of AD.However,with unique technology,software,and larger databases emerging;a lack of integration of these data can contribute to ineffective use of valuable knowledge.Importantly,there was no specialized database that concentrates on ST in AD that offers comprehensive differential analyses under various conditions,such as sex-specific,region-specific,and comparisons between AD and control groups until the new Single-cell and Spatial RNA-seq databasE for Alzheimer’s Disease(ssREAD)database(Wang et al.,2024)was introduced to meet the scientific community’s growing demand for comprehensive,integrated,and accessible data analysis.展开更多
Variation in the vocal behavior of nonhuman vertebrates includes graded transitions and more dramatic changes.Wapiti males produce a reproductive bugle that has a fundamental frequency that surpasses 2,000 Hz with evi...Variation in the vocal behavior of nonhuman vertebrates includes graded transitions and more dramatic changes.Wapiti males produce a reproductive bugle that has a fundamental frequency that surpasses 2,000 Hz with evidence of biphonation and other nonlinear phenomena.Here,we analyze the acoustic structure of captive wapiti vocalizations to compare the male bugle with 3 categories of distress vocalizations:neonate distress(capture)calls,calf isolation calls,and adult female isolation calls.These 4 high-arousal call categories serve a common general function in recruiting conspecifics but occur in different behavioral contexts(capture,isolation,reproduction).Our goal was to distinguish characteristics that vary in graded steps that may correspond to an animal’s age or size from characteristics that are unique to the bugle.Characteristics of the high and loud fundamental(G0)varied in an age/size-graded manner with a decrease in minimum G0,an increase in the maximum and range of G0,with no evidence of sex differences.The nonlinear phenomena of deterministic chaos,biphonation,and frequency jumps were present in all 4 call categories and became more common from the distress vocalizations of neonates to calves to adult females to the male bugle.Two temporal characteristics sharply distinguished the bugle from the 3 categories of distress vocalizations:these included a prolonged call duration and a maximum G0 that occurred much later in the call for the bugle than for distress vocalizations.Our results suggest that distress vocalizations of different age groups and the reproductive bugle of wapiti share a high G0,with age/size-graded changes in G0 and nonlinear phenomena,but differ sharply in temporal characteristics.展开更多
Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocyt...Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system,and satellite glial cells and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.Despite the greater understanding of glial cell types and functional heterogeneity achieved through single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing in animal models,few studies have investigated the transcriptomic profiles of glial cells in the human spinal cord.Here,we used high-throughput single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the human spinal cord.To explore the conservation and divergence across species,we compared these findings with those from mice.In the human spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were each divided into six distinct transcriptomic subclusters.In the mouse spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were divided into five,four,and five distinct transcriptomic subclusters,respectively.The comparative results revealed substantial heterogeneity in all glial cell types between humans and mice.Additionally,we detected sex differences in gene expression in human spinal cord glial cells.Specifically,in all astrocyte subtypes,the levels of NEAT1 and CHI3L1 were higher in males than in females,whereas the levels of CST3 were lower in males than in females.In all microglial subtypes,all differentially expressed genes were located on the sex chromosomes.In addition to sex-specific gene differences,the levels of MT-ND4,MT2A,MT-ATP6,MT-CO3,MT-ND2,MT-ND3,and MT-CO_(2) in all spinal cord oligodendrocyte subtypes were higher in females than in males.Collectively,the present dataset extensively characterizes glial cell heterogeneity and offers a valuable resource for exploring the cellular basis of spinal cordrelated illnesses,including chronic pain,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and multiple sclerosis.展开更多
Successful polyethylene glycol fusion(PEG-fusion)of severed axons following peripheral nerve injuries for PEG-fused axons has been reported to:(1)rapidly restore electrophysiological continuity;(2)prevent distal Walle...Successful polyethylene glycol fusion(PEG-fusion)of severed axons following peripheral nerve injuries for PEG-fused axons has been reported to:(1)rapidly restore electrophysiological continuity;(2)prevent distal Wallerian Degeneration and maintain their myelin sheaths;(3)promote primarily motor,voluntary behavioral recoveries as assessed by the Sciatic Functional Index;and,(4)rapidly produce correct and incorrect connections in many possible combinations that produce rapid and extensive recovery of functional peripheral nervous system/central nervous system connections and reflex(e.g.,toe twitch)or voluntary behaviors.The preceding companion paper describes sensory terminal field reo rganization following PEG-fusion repair of sciatic nerve transections or ablations;howeve r,sensory behavioral recovery has not been explicitly explored following PEG-fusion repair.In the current study,we confirmed the success of PEG-fusion surgeries according to criteria(1-3)above and more extensively investigated whether PEG-fusion enhanced mechanical nociceptive recovery following sciatic transection in male and female outbred Sprague-Dawley and inbred Lewis rats.Mechanical nociceptive responses were assessed by measuring withdrawal thresholds using von Frey filaments on the dorsal and midplantar regions of the hindpaws.Dorsal von Frey filament tests were a more reliable method than plantar von Frey filament tests to assess mechanical nociceptive sensitivity following sciatic nerve transections.Baseline withdrawal thresholds of the sciatic-mediated lateral dorsal region differed significantly across strain but not sex.Withdrawal thresholds did not change significantly from baseline in chronic Unoperated and Sham-operated rats.Following sciatic transection,all rats exhibited severe hyposensitivity to stimuli at the lateral dorsal region of the hindpaw ipsilateral to the injury.However,PEG-fused rats exhibited significantly earlier return to baseline withdrawal thresholds than Negative Control rats.Furthermore,PEG-fused rats with significantly improved Sciatic Functional Index scores at or after 4 weeks postoperatively exhibited yet-earlier von Frey filament recove ry compared with those without Sciatic Functional Index recovery,suggesting a correlation between successful PEG-fusion and both motor-dominant and sensory-dominant behavioral recoveries.This correlation was independent of the sex or strain of the rat.Furthermore,our data showed that the acceleration of von Frey filament sensory recovery to baseline was solely due to the PEG-fused sciatic nerve and not saphenous nerve collateral outgrowths.No chronic hypersensitivity developed in any rat up to 12 weeks.All these data suggest that PEG-fusion repair of transection peripheral nerve injuries co uld have important clinical benefits.展开更多
Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interfe...Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUID),MEG based on optically pump magnetometer(OPM)has the advantages of higher sensitivity,better spatial resolution and lower cost.However,most of the current studies are clinical studies,and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology.Pain,a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon,induces intricate alterations in brain activity,exhibiting notable sex differences.Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG,specific properties remain elusive,and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain(induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant(CFA))on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique,to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception,and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling.Methods This study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA(100μl,50%in saline)in the left hind paw,with control groups receiving saline.Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection.For MEG recording,anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield,undergoing two 15-minute sessions:a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase.Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms,generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range.Results MEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared,before and after saline/CFA injections.Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre-and post-saline/CFA injections.Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states.Remarkably,female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states.Furthermore,despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment,female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection.Conclusion These results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts.Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection,highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state.Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals.In addition,the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.展开更多
This study was conducted retrospectively on a cohort of 68 patients with steroid 5α-reductase 2(SRD5A2)deficiency and 46,XY disorders of sex development(DSD).Whole-exon sequencing revealed 28 variants of SRD5A2,and f...This study was conducted retrospectively on a cohort of 68 patients with steroid 5α-reductase 2(SRD5A2)deficiency and 46,XY disorders of sex development(DSD).Whole-exon sequencing revealed 28 variants of SRD5A2,and further analysis identified seven novel mutants.The preponderance of variants was observed in exon 1 and exon 4,specifically within the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)-binding region.Among the entire cohort,53 patients underwent initial surgery at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital(Chengdu,China).The external genitalia scores(EGS)of these participants varied from 2.0 to 11.0,with a mean of 6.8(standard deviation[s.d.]:2.5).Thirty patients consented to hormone testing.Their average testosterone-todihydrotestosterone(T/DHT)ratio was 49.3(s.d.:23.4).Genetic testing identified four patients with EGS scores between 6 and 9 as having this syndrome;and their T/DHT ratios were below the diagnostic threshold.Furthermore,assessments conducted using the crystal structure of human SRD5A2 have provided insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of these novel variants.These mechanisms include interference with NADPH binding(c.356G>C,c.365A>G,c.492C>G,and c.662T>G)and destabilization of the protein structure(c.727C>T).The c.446-1G>T and c.380delG variants were verified to result in large alterations in the transcripts.Seven novel variations were identified,and the variant database for the SRD5A2 gene was expanded.These findings contribute to the progress of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for individuals with SRD5A2 deficiency.展开更多
Empathy is crucial for communication and survival for individuals.Whether empathy in pain contagion shows sex differences and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Here,we report that pain contagion can occur in st...Empathy is crucial for communication and survival for individuals.Whether empathy in pain contagion shows sex differences and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Here,we report that pain contagion can occur in stranger female rats,but not in stranger males.Blocking oxytocin receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)suppressed pain contagion in female strangers,while oxytocin administration induced pain contagion in male strangers.In vitro,corticosterone reduces neuronal activation by oxytocin.During male stranger interactions,higher corticosterone decreased oxytocin receptor-positive neuronal activity in the ACC,suppressing pain contagion.These findings highlight the role of oxytocin in pain contagion and suggest that sex differences in empathy may be determined by the balance of oxytocin and corticosterone in the ACC.This study suggests an approach for the treatment of certain mental disorders associated with abnormal empathy,such as autism and depression.展开更多
The study of temperament and behavioral syndromes in insects is still in its early stage,and research conducted to date has mainly focused on locomotor activity and thanatosis.Dung beetles have been the subject of ext...The study of temperament and behavioral syndromes in insects is still in its early stage,and research conducted to date has mainly focused on locomotor activity and thanatosis.Dung beetles have been the subject of extensive behavioral studies;however,very few studies have addressed the expression of temperament.Those doing so only looked at subsocial and sexual horn dimorphic species,suggesting subsociality and/or sexual horn-dimorphism as possible facilitators of temperament expression.To test this assumption,we conducted a temperament study in a hornless,non-subsocial species,namely Geotrupes mutator(Marsham,1802).We set up laboratory tests to evaluate 3 behaviors(activity,thanatosis,and distress calls)through the measurement of 7 distinct behavioral traits(3 activity-,1 thanatosis-,and 3 call-related traits).We found high levels of individual repeatability in all activity-and thanatosis-related traits.We also identified behavioral differences between individuals,which may reflect differences in temperament.Statistical analyses revealed a negative correlation between activity and thanatosis.These results show that the temperament and behavioral syndromes related to activity and thanatosis may also be expressed in dung beetle species that are neither subsocial nor sexual horn dimorphic.By contrast,we only found one of 3 sound-related traits tested(frequency)to be clearly repeatable.Males and females presented a different structure of the stridulatory apparatus,suggesting that morphology may affect the frequency of sounds emitted.These results indicate that certain sound traits might not be good descriptors of individual temperament revealing the need for future research addressing the role of bioacoustics.展开更多
BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex educat...BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex education started relatively late,yet there are many problems in the development of sex education in China;for example,college students lack knowledge of sexuality.AIM To explore the perception of sex education among medical college students.METHODS Students majoring in medicine in a medical school were selected as the survey subjects.Anonymous online questionnaires were used to conduct the survey,and the results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism,SPSS,Microsoft Excel,and other software.The questionnaire was administered to understand the source of sexual knowledge,sexual responsibility,mastery of sexual knowledge,and distress caused by sexual problems.RESULTS Most students majoring in medicine had no formal sex education,lacked sexual knowledge,or had a biased understanding of sexual responsibility.This study analyzed future research trends in sex education based on relevant achievements in the Chinese context and abroad to further realize the practical significance and value of sex education popularization in China and provide recommendations for parents and schools at different levels.CONCLUSION Sex education should be conducted among college students,and medical colleges and universities should strengthen scientific sex education.展开更多
文摘Livestock production impacts food security of developing countries, especially where efficiency of production is compromised by environmental stressors. In South Africa, breeding with indigenous Afrikaner cattle that are genetically well adapted to subtropical environments is considered an essential strategy for sustainable beef production. Today, there is a potential for farmers to participate in commercial systems that join adapted Afrikaner germplasm, used in a specialized maternal role, with exotic terminal sires to optimize production. The objective of this study was to assess productivity of five simulated production systems: 1) straightbred Afrikaner mated naturally, 2) a straight-bred Afrikaner cow herd with two sections;one section to produce replacement females and the other to cross with Charolais terminal sires, both using natural mating, 3) similar to 2, but applying sexed semen to produce replacement females, 4) similar to 2, but using a multi-breed composite dam line with a breed combination of 50% Afrikaner, 25% Hereford and 25% Simmental, and 5) similar to 4, but again applying sexed semen to produce replacement females. Parameter estimates needed to compare these systems were extracted from the scientific literature. Relative to straightbred Afrikaner dams, the simulated composite dams were more fit producing 7.8% more calves and their progeny performance was improved by reducing feed intake (-24.4%) and increasing meat production (+11.7%). The potential benefit of allocating more cows to the terminal sire was insufficient to offset the reduction in pregnancy rate that results with the use of sexed semen. Thus, system 4 had the greatest productivity (+23.1%) while requiring 22.8% less feed for finishing the progeny to be harvested relative to the purebred Afrikaner system. The combination of increased productivity and reduced feed requirement made use of a Charolais terminal sire in conjunction with multi-breed composite females bred by natural service the most efficient system among those studied.
基金Supported by Targeted Poverty Alleviation Special Project of Hetao College(HYZX201955)Introduced Talent Scientific Research Start-up Fund of Hetao College(HYRC2019002)。
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to develop a molecular marker immunomagnetic bead sorting technology method that can specifically identify dead spermatozoa.[Methods]This study first confirmed the specific binding of Annexin V to dead bovine spermatozoa,and tried to remove dead spermatozoa in semen combining with the immunomagnetic bead technology,so as to improve the separation efficiency of target spermatozoa in the process of sex-controlled semen preparation on a flow cytometer.[Results]The spermatozoon motility,membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity after sorting and the rate of dead spermatozoa during the on-machine X/Y separation were all improved to different degrees(P<0.05),indicating that the technical process design could effectively remove some dead spermatozoa,and there was no significant effect on frozen sexed semen prepared from the separated X or Y spermatozoa(P>0.05),indicating that the technical process did not cause additional damage to the spermatozoa.[Conclusions]Combining the specificity of Annexin V with the immunomagnetic bead method could effectively remove dead spermatozoa from bovine spermatozoa,and significantly reduce the rate of dead spermatozoa in bovine permatozoa during sex-controlled separation(P<0.05).The method developed can effectively improve the production efficiency of frozen sexed semen of dairy cows,reduce the production cost,and promote the industrial application of the product.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31672425)Shaanxi Province Key R&D Program(2018ZDXM-NY-043,2020ZDLNY02–04).
文摘Background:Goat milk is very similar to human milk in terms of its abundant nutrients and ease of digestion.To derive greater economic benefit,farmers require more female offspring(does);however,the buck-to-doe offspring sex ratio is approximately 50%.At present,artificial insemination after the separation of X/Y sperm using flow cytometry is the primary means of controlling the sex of livestock offspring.However,flow cytometry has not been successfully utilised for the separation of X/Y sperm aimed at sexing control in dairy goats.Results:In this study,a novel,simple goat sperm sexing technology that activates the toll-like receptor 7/8(TLR7/8),thereby inhibiting X-sperm motility,was investigated.Our results showed that the TLR7/8 coding goat Xchromosome was expressed in approximately 50%of round spermatids in the testis and sperm,as measured from cross-sections of the epididymis and ejaculate,respectively.Importantly,TLR7/8 was located at the tail of the Xsperm.Upon TLR7/8 activation,phosphorylated forms of glycogen synthase kinaseα/β(GSK3α/β)and nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)were detected in the X-sperm,causing reduced mitochondrial activity,ATP levels,and sperm motility.High-motility Y-sperm segregated to the upper layer and the low-motility X-sperm,to the lower layer.Following in vitro fertilisation using the TLR7/8-activated sperm from the lower layer,80.52±6.75%of the embryos were XX females.The TLR7/8-activated sperm were subsequently used for in vivo embryo production via the superovulatory response;nine embryos were collected from the uterus of two does that conceived.Eight of these were XX embryos,and one was an XY embryo.Conclusions:Our study reveals a novel TLR7/8 signalling mechanism that affects X-sperm motility via the GSK3α/β-hexokinase pathway;this technique could be used to facilitate the efficient production of sexed dairy goat embryos.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32160123 and 32170974)Jiangxi Provincial Key Project of Natural Science Foundation(20212ACB205002)Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules(2024SSY05141)。
文摘Gynandromorphs,rare in vertebrates,exhibit distinct sex-determining gene expression on each side of the body despite sharing a uniform hormonal environment.This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the respective roles of genes and hormones in sex determination.We accidently obtained a gynandromorphic Zebra Finch with a male-female chimeric appearance but only with an ovary-like gonad.Its plasma estradiol was significantly higher than that of age-matched females,and its sexual partner preference was also feminine.Although it did not sing like males,its calls showed masculinization.In the brain on one side of the body with male plumage,the area of song motor nucleus,the robust nucleus of the arcopallium(RA),and the excitatory synaptic transmission of RA projection neurons showed masculinization.Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to cholinergic neuron function were significantly upregulated in the masculinized side of brain.Moreover,there were extensive and consistent expression differences of neuroactive substance receptor genes in both sides of body,indicating that cell-autonomous determination plays a key role in sex dimorphism of neuromodulation.
基金supported by University of Kentucky-SCoBIRC Endowed Chair#5Craig H.Neilsen 1173493 and NIH RF1NS135504(to JCG).
文摘Biological sex is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in evaluating the translational value of preclinical spinal cord injury(SCI)studies.The rising incidence of SCI in females challenges the historical precedent of SCI being a male-dominated condition.In contrast,most basic science researchers utilize single-sex studies to minimize complications associated with bladder care in males(Stewart et al.,2020).The findings of our recent publication identify sexually dimorphic immune responses to SCI in both mice and pigs(Kumari et al.,2025).Here,we will highlight these findings and discuss the impact of sex on SCI inflammation and recovery.
基金funded by Sichuan Science and Technology Program,grant numbers 2021YFYZ0010,2023YFH0006,2025YFHZ0295The Basic Research Program of Sichuan Provincial Research Institutes,grant numbers 2024JDKY0001 and 2023JDKY0001.
文摘The genus Actinidia is primarily functionally dioecious,and early sex identification plays a crucial role in improving breeding efficiency and reducing production costs.In this study,the accuracy of three sex-linked molecular markers(SyGI[Shy Girl],FrBy[Friendly Boy],and SmY1)in sex identification was evaluated in various Actinidia species.The selected marker products were subsequently cloned and sequenced in six wild Actinidia species.Ninety-six wild A.chinensis chinensis accessions and 74 A.chinensis deliciosa accessions,most of which were wild,with only one cultivated,were used for comprehensive primer validation.Thirty-three juvenile A.chinensis chinensis hybrid seedlings were used for practical application tests.The results showed that the marker SyGI accurately identified the sex of 20 samples from six Actinidia species and 96 A.chinensis chinensis accessions with 100%reliability.For Actinidia chinensis deliciosa,the identification accuracy reached 98.65%.Sequence analysis revealed that SyGI shared the highest similarity with the male-specific genomic region.Furthermore,SyGI achieved 100%accuracy in identifying the sex of 33 juvenile A.chinensis chinensis individuals.The findings confirm that the SyGI marker possesses high accuracy,strong specificity,and broad applicability,making it a valuable tool for kiwifruit breeding programs.The cloned sequences from wild Actinidia species also provide important references for future research on the mechanisms of sexual evolution and determination.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31801997).
文摘As a gene required for sexual development,intersex(ix),functions in concert with the female-specific product of doublesex(dsx)at the end of the hierarchy to facilitate the sex-specific differentiation of sexually dimorphic characters in female Drosophila melanogaster.In the present study,we initially identified the ix homolog in Gryllus bimaculatus,with the detection of a single isoform expressed in both sexes.Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignment revealed that Gbix exhibited conservation.Here we employed RNA interference(RNAi)and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9(Cas9),respectively,to analyze the functions of Gbix.Our findings indicated that Gbix played a crucial role in the normal development of the embryo and nymph,as well as in the regulation of wing morphogenesis in both sexes.RNAi-mediated knockdown of Gbix resulted in poorly developed ovaries,whereas testicular development was not significantly affected.Nevertheless,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Gbix resulted in internal genital defects in both sexes,which ultimately led to a reduction in reproductive capacity in female and male individuals.Our results provide insights into the pleiotropic functions of Gbix in embryogenesis and sexual development,while also advancing our comprehension of sex determination in a hemimetabolous insect species.
文摘The liver is increasingly recognized as a major regulator of systemic cardio-renal-metabolic health.Evidence is mounting that sex-chromosome dosage per se itself,independent of gonadal sex hormones,modulates hepatic physiology and liver disease risk.Turner syndrome(TS;monosomy X)and Klinefelter syndrome(KS;47,XXY and variants)are the two most common sex-chromosome aneuploidies and carry a clinically relevant,yet often under-appreciated,burden of liver disease.Population studies show that individuals with TS have 2-to sixfold higher odds of raised liver enzymes,steatotic liver disease,advanced fibrosis,and even hepatocellular malignancy compared with to sex-and age-matched controls.In KS,the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)reaches approximately 45%,with testosterone deficiency,visceral adiposity,and systemic inflammation acting as key drivers.Pathogenetic mechanisms converge on vascular dysgenesis and estrogen deficiency in TS,and on hypogonadism-related metabolic derangements in KS,together accelerating steatosis,inflammation,and fibrogenesis.This concise review/Comprehensive perspective reviews discusses historical background,epidemiology,hepatic phenotypes,pathophysiology,and current diagnostic and management recommendations.It also highlights critical knowledge gaps,including the need for prospective cohorts,optimized hormone-replacement protocols,and trials of emerging pharmacological approaches anti-MASH agents.Raising awareness among all stakeholders,endocrinologists,hepatologists,and primary-care physicians is essential for early detection,multidisciplinary management,and improved hepatic and extra-hepatic outcomes in these vulnerable patient populations.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFA1800500,2024YFA1802500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170415)+1 种基金supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program(RTP)stipend scholarship.supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant(ARC DP200101406).
文摘Lizards usually exhibit frequent turnovers and a much greater diversity of sex determination mechanisms compared to birds and mammals,with the conserved ZW sex chromosomes of anguimorph lizards originating over 115 million years ago a seeming exception.We previously discovered in an anguimorph lizard Varanus acanthurus(Vac)whose entire chrW,but not chrZ is homologous to part of the chr2 by cytogenetic mapping,suggesting its complex history of sex chromosome evolution yet to be elucidated.To address this,we assemble a chromosome-level genome,and provide evidence that the Vac sex chromosome pair has undergone at least two times of recombination loss,producing a pattern of evolutionary strata like that of birds and mammals.Comparison to other lizard genomes date the stepwise propagation of specific retrotransposon subfamilies enriched near the duplicated gene pairs on the chrW and chr2 to the varanid ancestor.These retrotransposons probably have mediated the recruitment and amplification of autosomal genes on the chrW,including members of a large vomeronasal chemosensory receptor gene family V2R.Our results suggest that the W or Y chromosome as a refugium of repetitive elements,may recurrently recruit short-lived functional genes responsible for sexual dimorphisms during its long-term course of degeneration.
基金supported by Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory core funding(3160)(to CTO).
文摘Higher prevalence of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease in women:Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid-β(Aβ)plaques and Tau neurofibrillary tangles in the affected brain regions.The clearance of these pathological protein aggregates by microglia can trigger excessive neuroinflammation,which contributes to brain atrophy.AD exhibits clinical heterogeneity and is characterized by highly complex,multifactorial etiology(Lopez-Lee et al.,2024).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32571739,32270457,31872216,and 31670392)In addition,this study received approval from the Experimental Animal Ethics and Management Committee of Anhui University(IACUC(AHU)-2024-050).
文摘Dear Editor,Amplexus,a reproductive behavior in which the male clasps the female dorsally,is a characteristic of amphibians(Wells,2007).Most species exhibit either inguinal or axillary amplexus,although some reproduce without it(Wells,2007).While male-female amplexus is predominant,other forms such as male-male and multiple-male amplexus have also been documented(Soni et al.,2025).Release calls are typically produced by amplexed males to signal mating mismatches and mitigate the costs of inappropriate clasping(Kelehear and Shine,2019).Female-female amplexus,however,is rare and considered maladaptive,as it does not lead to fertilization(Chuang et al.,2019).
文摘Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is the most common form of dementia.In addition to the lack of effective treatments,there are limitations in diagnostic capabilities.The complexity of AD itself,together with a variety of other diseases often observed in a patient’s history in addition to their AD diagnosis,make deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie AD,even more important.Large datasets of single-cell RNA sequencing,single-nucleus RNA-sequencing(snRNA-seq),and spatial transcriptomics(ST)have become essential in guiding and supporting new investigations into the cellular and regional susceptibility of AD.However,with unique technology,software,and larger databases emerging;a lack of integration of these data can contribute to ineffective use of valuable knowledge.Importantly,there was no specialized database that concentrates on ST in AD that offers comprehensive differential analyses under various conditions,such as sex-specific,region-specific,and comparisons between AD and control groups until the new Single-cell and Spatial RNA-seq databasE for Alzheimer’s Disease(ssREAD)database(Wang et al.,2024)was introduced to meet the scientific community’s growing demand for comprehensive,integrated,and accessible data analysis.
基金The University of Winnipeg and The University of Winnipeg Foundation contributed funding to this research.
文摘Variation in the vocal behavior of nonhuman vertebrates includes graded transitions and more dramatic changes.Wapiti males produce a reproductive bugle that has a fundamental frequency that surpasses 2,000 Hz with evidence of biphonation and other nonlinear phenomena.Here,we analyze the acoustic structure of captive wapiti vocalizations to compare the male bugle with 3 categories of distress vocalizations:neonate distress(capture)calls,calf isolation calls,and adult female isolation calls.These 4 high-arousal call categories serve a common general function in recruiting conspecifics but occur in different behavioral contexts(capture,isolation,reproduction).Our goal was to distinguish characteristics that vary in graded steps that may correspond to an animal’s age or size from characteristics that are unique to the bugle.Characteristics of the high and loud fundamental(G0)varied in an age/size-graded manner with a decrease in minimum G0,an increase in the maximum and range of G0,with no evidence of sex differences.The nonlinear phenomena of deterministic chaos,biphonation,and frequency jumps were present in all 4 call categories and became more common from the distress vocalizations of neonates to calves to adult females to the male bugle.Two temporal characteristics sharply distinguished the bugle from the 3 categories of distress vocalizations:these included a prolonged call duration and a maximum G0 that occurred much later in the call for the bugle than for distress vocalizations.Our results suggest that distress vocalizations of different age groups and the reproductive bugle of wapiti share a high G0,with age/size-graded changes in G0 and nonlinear phenomena,but differ sharply in temporal characteristics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82301403(to DZ)。
文摘Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system,and satellite glial cells and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.Despite the greater understanding of glial cell types and functional heterogeneity achieved through single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing in animal models,few studies have investigated the transcriptomic profiles of glial cells in the human spinal cord.Here,we used high-throughput single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the human spinal cord.To explore the conservation and divergence across species,we compared these findings with those from mice.In the human spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were each divided into six distinct transcriptomic subclusters.In the mouse spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were divided into five,four,and five distinct transcriptomic subclusters,respectively.The comparative results revealed substantial heterogeneity in all glial cell types between humans and mice.Additionally,we detected sex differences in gene expression in human spinal cord glial cells.Specifically,in all astrocyte subtypes,the levels of NEAT1 and CHI3L1 were higher in males than in females,whereas the levels of CST3 were lower in males than in females.In all microglial subtypes,all differentially expressed genes were located on the sex chromosomes.In addition to sex-specific gene differences,the levels of MT-ND4,MT2A,MT-ATP6,MT-CO3,MT-ND2,MT-ND3,and MT-CO_(2) in all spinal cord oligodendrocyte subtypes were higher in females than in males.Collectively,the present dataset extensively characterizes glial cell heterogeneity and offers a valuable resource for exploring the cellular basis of spinal cordrelated illnesses,including chronic pain,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and multiple sclerosis.
基金supported by DOD AFIRMⅢW81XWH-20-2-0029 subcontract,UT POC19-1774-13Neuraptive Therapeutics Inc.26-7724-56+1 种基金NIH R01-NS128086 grantsLone Star Paralysis gift(to GDB)。
文摘Successful polyethylene glycol fusion(PEG-fusion)of severed axons following peripheral nerve injuries for PEG-fused axons has been reported to:(1)rapidly restore electrophysiological continuity;(2)prevent distal Wallerian Degeneration and maintain their myelin sheaths;(3)promote primarily motor,voluntary behavioral recoveries as assessed by the Sciatic Functional Index;and,(4)rapidly produce correct and incorrect connections in many possible combinations that produce rapid and extensive recovery of functional peripheral nervous system/central nervous system connections and reflex(e.g.,toe twitch)or voluntary behaviors.The preceding companion paper describes sensory terminal field reo rganization following PEG-fusion repair of sciatic nerve transections or ablations;howeve r,sensory behavioral recovery has not been explicitly explored following PEG-fusion repair.In the current study,we confirmed the success of PEG-fusion surgeries according to criteria(1-3)above and more extensively investigated whether PEG-fusion enhanced mechanical nociceptive recovery following sciatic transection in male and female outbred Sprague-Dawley and inbred Lewis rats.Mechanical nociceptive responses were assessed by measuring withdrawal thresholds using von Frey filaments on the dorsal and midplantar regions of the hindpaws.Dorsal von Frey filament tests were a more reliable method than plantar von Frey filament tests to assess mechanical nociceptive sensitivity following sciatic nerve transections.Baseline withdrawal thresholds of the sciatic-mediated lateral dorsal region differed significantly across strain but not sex.Withdrawal thresholds did not change significantly from baseline in chronic Unoperated and Sham-operated rats.Following sciatic transection,all rats exhibited severe hyposensitivity to stimuli at the lateral dorsal region of the hindpaw ipsilateral to the injury.However,PEG-fused rats exhibited significantly earlier return to baseline withdrawal thresholds than Negative Control rats.Furthermore,PEG-fused rats with significantly improved Sciatic Functional Index scores at or after 4 weeks postoperatively exhibited yet-earlier von Frey filament recove ry compared with those without Sciatic Functional Index recovery,suggesting a correlation between successful PEG-fusion and both motor-dominant and sensory-dominant behavioral recoveries.This correlation was independent of the sex or strain of the rat.Furthermore,our data showed that the acceleration of von Frey filament sensory recovery to baseline was solely due to the PEG-fused sciatic nerve and not saphenous nerve collateral outgrowths.No chronic hypersensitivity developed in any rat up to 12 weeks.All these data suggest that PEG-fusion repair of transection peripheral nerve injuries co uld have important clinical benefits.
文摘Objective Magnetoencephalography(MEG),a non-invasive neuroimaging technique,meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity.Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUID),MEG based on optically pump magnetometer(OPM)has the advantages of higher sensitivity,better spatial resolution and lower cost.However,most of the current studies are clinical studies,and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology.Pain,a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon,induces intricate alterations in brain activity,exhibiting notable sex differences.Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG,specific properties remain elusive,and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain(induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant(CFA))on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique,to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception,and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling.Methods This study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA(100μl,50%in saline)in the left hind paw,with control groups receiving saline.Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection.For MEG recording,anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield,undergoing two 15-minute sessions:a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase.Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms,generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range.Results MEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared,before and after saline/CFA injections.Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre-and post-saline/CFA injections.Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states.Remarkably,female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states.Furthermore,despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment,female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection.Conclusion These results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts.Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection,highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state.Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals.In addition,the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
基金supported by the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2022JDZH0029 to JYY)the Special Fund for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(No.2022-I2M-C&T-B-117 to JYY)the Sichuan Key Research and Development Project from the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province(No.2022YFS0237 to YMT).
文摘This study was conducted retrospectively on a cohort of 68 patients with steroid 5α-reductase 2(SRD5A2)deficiency and 46,XY disorders of sex development(DSD).Whole-exon sequencing revealed 28 variants of SRD5A2,and further analysis identified seven novel mutants.The preponderance of variants was observed in exon 1 and exon 4,specifically within the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)-binding region.Among the entire cohort,53 patients underwent initial surgery at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital(Chengdu,China).The external genitalia scores(EGS)of these participants varied from 2.0 to 11.0,with a mean of 6.8(standard deviation[s.d.]:2.5).Thirty patients consented to hormone testing.Their average testosterone-todihydrotestosterone(T/DHT)ratio was 49.3(s.d.:23.4).Genetic testing identified four patients with EGS scores between 6 and 9 as having this syndrome;and their T/DHT ratios were below the diagnostic threshold.Furthermore,assessments conducted using the crystal structure of human SRD5A2 have provided insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of these novel variants.These mechanisms include interference with NADPH binding(c.356G>C,c.365A>G,c.492C>G,and c.662T>G)and destabilization of the protein structure(c.727C>T).The c.446-1G>T and c.380delG variants were verified to result in large alterations in the transcripts.Seven novel variations were identified,and the variant database for the SRD5A2 gene was expanded.These findings contribute to the progress of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for individuals with SRD5A2 deficiency.
基金supported by the Shenzhen.Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20220818100615033,JCYJ20200109141433384,and KQTD20200820113040070)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC82471250 and 82350710225).
文摘Empathy is crucial for communication and survival for individuals.Whether empathy in pain contagion shows sex differences and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Here,we report that pain contagion can occur in stranger female rats,but not in stranger males.Blocking oxytocin receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)suppressed pain contagion in female strangers,while oxytocin administration induced pain contagion in male strangers.In vitro,corticosterone reduces neuronal activation by oxytocin.During male stranger interactions,higher corticosterone decreased oxytocin receptor-positive neuronal activity in the ACC,suppressing pain contagion.These findings highlight the role of oxytocin in pain contagion and suggest that sex differences in empathy may be determined by the balance of oxytocin and corticosterone in the ACC.This study suggests an approach for the treatment of certain mental disorders associated with abnormal empathy,such as autism and depression.
基金supported by the project CN_00000033 funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan(NRRP)Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4-Call for tender No.3138 of 16 December 2021,rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of the Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European UnionNextGenerationEU.
文摘The study of temperament and behavioral syndromes in insects is still in its early stage,and research conducted to date has mainly focused on locomotor activity and thanatosis.Dung beetles have been the subject of extensive behavioral studies;however,very few studies have addressed the expression of temperament.Those doing so only looked at subsocial and sexual horn dimorphic species,suggesting subsociality and/or sexual horn-dimorphism as possible facilitators of temperament expression.To test this assumption,we conducted a temperament study in a hornless,non-subsocial species,namely Geotrupes mutator(Marsham,1802).We set up laboratory tests to evaluate 3 behaviors(activity,thanatosis,and distress calls)through the measurement of 7 distinct behavioral traits(3 activity-,1 thanatosis-,and 3 call-related traits).We found high levels of individual repeatability in all activity-and thanatosis-related traits.We also identified behavioral differences between individuals,which may reflect differences in temperament.Statistical analyses revealed a negative correlation between activity and thanatosis.These results show that the temperament and behavioral syndromes related to activity and thanatosis may also be expressed in dung beetle species that are neither subsocial nor sexual horn dimorphic.By contrast,we only found one of 3 sound-related traits tested(frequency)to be clearly repeatable.Males and females presented a different structure of the stridulatory apparatus,suggesting that morphology may affect the frequency of sounds emitted.These results indicate that certain sound traits might not be good descriptors of individual temperament revealing the need for future research addressing the role of bioacoustics.
基金Supported by Scientific Research Project of College Students in Liaoning Province,No.S202410164004.
文摘BACKGROUND Sex education was introduced early in foreign countries.For example,there is a more systematic sex education system abroad,which can better achieve the popularization of sex education.China's sex education started relatively late,yet there are many problems in the development of sex education in China;for example,college students lack knowledge of sexuality.AIM To explore the perception of sex education among medical college students.METHODS Students majoring in medicine in a medical school were selected as the survey subjects.Anonymous online questionnaires were used to conduct the survey,and the results were analyzed using GraphPad Prism,SPSS,Microsoft Excel,and other software.The questionnaire was administered to understand the source of sexual knowledge,sexual responsibility,mastery of sexual knowledge,and distress caused by sexual problems.RESULTS Most students majoring in medicine had no formal sex education,lacked sexual knowledge,or had a biased understanding of sexual responsibility.This study analyzed future research trends in sex education based on relevant achievements in the Chinese context and abroad to further realize the practical significance and value of sex education popularization in China and provide recommendations for parents and schools at different levels.CONCLUSION Sex education should be conducted among college students,and medical colleges and universities should strengthen scientific sex education.
