Withania somnifera(L.)Dunal(WS),or Ashwagandha,is used clinically against arthritis,anxiety and insomnia etc,however,its potential in aquafeeds is largely unexplored.We investigated the stress-alleviation and hepatopr...Withania somnifera(L.)Dunal(WS),or Ashwagandha,is used clinically against arthritis,anxiety and insomnia etc,however,its potential in aquafeeds is largely unexplored.We investigated the stress-alleviation and hepatoprotective mechanisms of dietary WS supplementation in adult female darkbarbel catfish.Fish were fed with WS dietary for 5 weeks,subjected to a physical stressor(saline injection),and sampled.Brain were processed for RNA-seq to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)linked to stress;serum were assayed for stress-and immune-related biochemical markers;livers were examined for lipid content(Oil Red O staining)and proliferation(PCNA immunos-taining).Network pharmacology were employed to construct a"compound-target"net-work:The bioactive compounds of WS were retrieved from ChEBI and PCIDB,probable targets predicted via Swiss Target Prediction,and the“WS-ingredient-target”regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape;key ligand-protein interactions were validated by molecular docking.Findings were replicated in juvenile fish and in SG3 cells challenged with Withanolide A.Physical stress evoked 1451 DEGs in control brains,whereas WS-supplemented reduced this to 397,indicating marked mitigation of the oxid-ative-and immune-stress response.Network pharmacology and molecular docking pre-dicted that 13 bioactive compounds in WS,especially Withanolide A and Withanolide J,can interact with targets such as MAPK8,CRHR1,NR3C2,and IARS1,being associated with stress and liver function regulation respectively.Moreover,it was proved that Withanolide A could significantly modulate stress response in juveniles and enhanced pro-liferation potency of SG3 cells.Intriguingly,in theadult female darkbarbel catfish,dietary WS lowered serum cortisol,glucose,ROS,TNF-α,and IL-6(P<0.05),up-regulated hepatocyte PCNA expression,and allievated stress-induced liver injury.These findings provide novel insights and vital basis for elucidating the mechanisms whereby herbs,including WS act in stress-relief and hepatoprotection in darkbarbel catfish.And provide a framework for advancing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)applications in aquaculture.展开更多
Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured...Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.展开更多
BACKGROUND Uterine injury can cause uterine scarring,leading to a series of complications that threaten women’s health.Uterine healing is a complex process,and there are currently no effective treatments.Although our...BACKGROUND Uterine injury can cause uterine scarring,leading to a series of complications that threaten women’s health.Uterine healing is a complex process,and there are currently no effective treatments.Although our previous studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)promote uterine damage repair,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.However,exploring the specific regulatory roles of BMSCs in uterine injury treatment is crucial for further understanding their functions and enhancing therapeutic efficacy.AIM To investigate the underlying mechanism by which BMSCs promote the process of uterine healing.METHODS In in vivo experiments,we established a model of full-thickness uterine injury and injected BMSCs into the uterine wound.Transcriptome sequencing was per-formed to determine the enrichment of differentially expressed genes at the wound site.In in vitro experiments,we isolated rat uterine smooth muscle cells(USMCs)and cocultured them with BMSCs to observe the interaction between BMSCs and USMCs in the microenvironment.RESULTS We found that the differentially expressed genes were mainly related to cell growth,tissue repair,and angiogenesis,while the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)pathway was highly enriched.Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to validate differentially expressed genes,and the results demonstrated that BMSCs can upregulate genes related to regeneration and downregulate genes related to inflammation.Coculturing BMSCs promoted the migration and proliferation of USMCs,and the USMC microenvironment promoted the myogenic differentiation of BMSCs.Finally,we validated the PI3K/AKT pathway in tissues and cells and showed that BMSCs activate the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote the regeneration of uterine smooth muscle both in vivo and in vitro.CONCLUSION BMSCs upregulated uterine wound regeneration and anti-inflammatory factors and enhanced uterine smooth muscle proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway both in vivo and in vitro.展开更多
Avian genomes exhibit compact organization and remarkable chromosomal stability.However,the extent and mechanisms by which structural variation in avian genomes differ from those in other vertebrate lineages are poorl...Avian genomes exhibit compact organization and remarkable chromosomal stability.However,the extent and mechanisms by which structural variation in avian genomes differ from those in other vertebrate lineages are poorly explored.This study generated a diploid genome assembly for the golden pheasant(Chrysolophus pictus),a species distinguished by the vibrant plumage of males.Each haploid genome assembly included complete chromosomalmodels,incorporatingall microchromosomes.Analysis revealed extensive tandem amplification of immune-related genes across the smallest microchromosomes(dot chromosomes),with an average copy number of 54.Structural variation between the haploid genomes was primarily shaped by large insertions and deletions(indels),with minimal contributions from inversions or duplications.Approximately 28%of these large indels were associated with recent insertions of transposable elements,despite their typically low activity in bird genomes.Evidence for significant effects of transposable elements on gene expression was minimal.Evolutionary strata on the sex chromosomes were identified,along with a drastic rearrangement of the W chromosome.These analyses of the high-quality diploid genome of the golden pheasant provide valuable insights into the evolutionary patterns of structural variation in avian genomes.展开更多
This study compared three cryopreservation protocols on sperm functions, IVF outcomes, and embryo development. Epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved using slow-cooling （18% w/v raffinose, RS-C） were compared with spe...This study compared three cryopreservation protocols on sperm functions, IVF outcomes, and embryo development. Epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved using slow-cooling （18% w/v raffinose, RS-C） were compared with spermatozoa vitrified using 0.25 M sucrose （SV） or 18% w/v raffinose （RV）. The motility, vitality, and DNA damage （TUNEL assay） of fresh control （FC） spermatozoa were compared with post-thawed or warmed RS-C, RV, and SV samples. Mouse oocytes （n = 267） were randomly assigned into three groups for insemination： RV （n = 102）, RS-C （n = 86）, and FC （n = 79）. The number and the proportion of two-cell embryos and blastocysts from each treatment were assessed. Sperm motility （P 〈 0.01） and vitality （P 〈 0.05） were significantly reduced after vitrification compared with slow-cooled spermatozoa. However, DNA fragmentation was significantly reduced in spermatozoa vitrified using sucrose （15 - 1.8% [SV] vs 26 - 2.8% [RV] and 27 - 1.2% [RS-C]; P 〈 0.01）. Although the number of two-cell embryos produced by RS-C, RV, and FC spermatozoa was not significantly different, the number of blastocysts produced from two-cell embryos using RV spermatozoa was significantly higher than FC spermatozoa （P = 0.0053）. This simple, small volume vitrification protocol and standard insemination method allows successful embryo production from small numbers of epididymal spermatozoa and may be applied clinically to circumvent the need for ICSI, which has the disadvantage of bypassing sperm selection.展开更多
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous disorder with evidence of polygenetic components,and obesity may be a risk factor for hyperandrogen ism.Previous studies have shown that LHCGR is en riched in the ovar...Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous disorder with evidence of polygenetic components,and obesity may be a risk factor for hyperandrogen ism.Previous studies have shown that LHCGR is en riched in the ovary and LHCGR deficiency causes infertility without typical PCOS phenotypes.ALMS1 is implicated in obesity and hyperandrogenism,the common phenotypes among PCOS patients.Through whole-exome sequencing of 22 PCOS families and targeted candidate gene sequencing of additional 65 sporadic PCOS patients,we identified potential causative mutations in LHCGR and ALMS1 in a sibling-pair PCOS family and three sporadic PCOS patients.The expression of LHCGRL638 P in granulosa-like tumor cell line(KGN)cells promoted cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and granulosa cell proliferation,indicating that LHCGRL638 P is an activating mutation.Lhcgr~(L642 P/L642 P)mice showed an irregular estrous cycle,reduced follicles with dynamic folliculogenesis,and increased testosterone(T),estradiol(E2),and dehydroepiandrosterone.Lhcgr~(+/L642 P)AIms1~(+/PB)mice displayed increased T and E2 but decreased late secondary and preovulatory follicles.We showed that activating mutation of LHCGR likely plays important roles in the pathophysiology of PCOS involving abnormal reproductive physiology,whereas ALMS1 deficiency may promote anovulatory infertility via elevated androgens,suggesting that the disturbed LHCGR and ALMS1 cooperatively induce PCOS phenotypes,characterized as anovulation and hyperandrogenemia frequently observed in PCOS patients with obesity.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,t...DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,the functions of these duplicates in the teleost Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus)remain unclear.In this study,we characterized the roles of Nile tilapia Sox9a in chondrogenesis and gonadal development.In situ hybridization assays showed that Sox9a was mainly expressed in cartilage tissues and somatic cells surrounding germ cells of the gonads.CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homozygous mutation of the Sox9a gene resulted in craniofacial deformities and missed mandibles,as well as impaired the expression of Col2a1a that is involved in chondrogenesis.In addition,germ cell number and DNA replication in somatic cells in the gonads of both sexes were reduced following Sox9a mutation.Taken together,this study demonstrates that Sox9a is involved in cartilage development and germ cell proliferation in Nile tilapia.展开更多
During spermiogenesis,haploid spermatids undergo dramatic morphological changes to form slender sperm flagella and cap-like acrosomes,which are required for successful fertilization.Severe deformities in flagella caus...During spermiogenesis,haploid spermatids undergo dramatic morphological changes to form slender sperm flagella and cap-like acrosomes,which are required for successful fertilization.Severe deformities in flagella cause a male infertility syndrome,multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella(MMAF),while acrosomal hypoplasia in some cases leads to sub-optimal embryonic developmental potential.However,evidence regarding the occurrence of acrosomal hypoplasia in MMAF is limited.Here,we report the generation of base-edited mice knocked out for coiled-coil domain-containing 38(Ccdc38)via inducing a nonsense mutation and find that the males are infertile.The Ccdc38-KO sperm display acrosomal hypoplasia and typical MMAF phenotypes.We find that the acrosomal membrane is loosely anchored to the nucleus and fibrous sheaths are disorganized in Ccdc38-KO sperm.Further analyses reveal that Ccdc38 knockout causes a decreased level of TEKT3,a protein associated with acrosome biogenesis,in testes and an aberrant distribution of TEKT3 in sperm.We finally show that intracytoplasmic sperm injection overcomes Ccdc38-related infertility.Our study thus reveals a previously unknown role for CCDC38 in acrosome biogenesis and provides additional evidence for the occurrence of acrosomal hypoplasia in MMAF.展开更多
Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease with endometrial cell implantation outside the uterus.Angiogenesis is a major pathophysiology in endometriosis.Our previous studies have demonstrated that the pr...Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease with endometrial cell implantation outside the uterus.Angiogenesis is a major pathophysiology in endometriosis.Our previous studies have demonstrated that the prodrug of epigallocatechin gallate(ProEGCG)exhibits superior anti-endometriotic and anti-angiogenic effects compared to epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG).However,their direct binding targets and underlying mechanisms for the differential effects remain unknown.In this study,we demonstrated that oral ProEGCG can be effective in preventing and treating endometriosis.Additionally,1D and 2D Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration assay-based chemical proteomics identified metadherin(MTDH)and PX domain containing serine/threonine kinase-like(PXK)as novel binding targets of EGCG and ProEGCG,respectively.Computational simulation and BioLayer interferometry were used to confirm their binding affinity.Our results showed that MTDH-EGCG inhibited protein kinase B(Akt)-mediated angiogenesis,while PXK-ProEGCG inhibited epidermal growth factor(EGF)-mediated angiogenesis via the EGF/hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF-1a)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway.In vitro and in vivo knockdown assays and microvascular network imaging further confirmed the involvement of these signaling pathways.Moreover,our study demonstrated that ProEGCG has superior therapeutic effects than EGCG by targeting distinct signal transduction pathways and may act as a novel antiangiogenic therapy for endometriosis.展开更多
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors.However,there are stll a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cann...Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors.However,there are stll a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cannot be explained by known pathogenic genetic variants.Here,we perform genetic analyses and identify bi-allelic loss-of-function variants of MFSD6L from an oligoasthenoteratozoospermia-affected family.Mfsd6l knock-out male mice also present male subfertility with reduced sperm concentration,motility,and deformed acrosomes.Further mechanistic analyses reveal that MFsD6L,as an acrosome membrane protein,plays an important role in the formation of acrosome by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1.Moreover,poor embryonic development is consistently observed after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment using spermatozoa from the MFSD6L-deficient man and male mice.Collectively,our findings reveal that MFSD6L is required for the anchoring of sperm acrosome and head shaping.The deficiency of MFsD6L affects male fertility and causes oligoasthenoter-atozoospermia in humans and mice.展开更多
Previous research has highlighted the significant role of progestins and glucocorticoids in fish oocyte maturation and ovulation.To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes,comprehensive investigati...Previous research has highlighted the significant role of progestins and glucocorticoids in fish oocyte maturation and ovulation.To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes,comprehensive investigations were conducted using a cyp17a2 mutant Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) model.Analysis revealed pronounced Cyp17a2 expression in ovarian somatic cells of the tilapia.Female cyp17a2-deficient mutants exhibited markedly reduced levels of 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one(DHP) and cortisol/cortisone,leading to delayed meiotic initiation and impaired oocyte maturation and spawning.Notably,supplementation with human chorionic gonadotrophin(hCG),DHP,and cortisol effectively induced germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) and facilitated oocyte release with follicular cell layers in cyp17a2^(-/-)females.Additionally,cyp17a2-/-and rescued cyp17a2-/-females showed elevated transcription of steroidogenic enzymes involved in 17β-estradiol(E2)production compared to spawning wild-type females.Moreover,the reduction in Akt phosphorylation observed in cyp17a2-deficient females and upon inhibitor treatment impaired hCG-induced oocyte maturation.Conversely,activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway partially rescued the oocyte maturation impairment caused by cyp17a2mutation.Overall,these findings provide functional evidence supporting the critical role of Cyp17a2 in DHP and cortisol biosynthesis,which,in turn,facilitates oocyte maturation and ovulation through activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in fish.展开更多
The impact of sex chromosomes and their turnover in speciation remains a subject of ongoing debate in the field of evolutionary biology.Fishes are the largest group of vertebrates,and they exhibit unparalleled sexual ...The impact of sex chromosomes and their turnover in speciation remains a subject of ongoing debate in the field of evolutionary biology.Fishes are the largest group of vertebrates,and they exhibit unparalleled sexual plasticity,as well as diverse sex-determining(SD)genes,sex chromosomes,and sex-determination mechanisms.This diversity is hypothesized to be associated with the frequent turnover of sex chromosomes in fishes.Although it is evident that amh and amhr2 are repeatedly and independently recruited as SD genes,their relationship with the rapid turnover of sex chromosomes and the biodiversity of fishes remains unknown.We summarize the canonical models of sex chromosome turnover and highlight the vital roles of gene mutation and hybridization with empirical evidence.We revisit Haldane’s rule and the large Xeffect and propose the hypothesis that sex chromosomes accelerate speciation by multiplying genotypes via hybridization.By integrating recent findings on the turnover of SD genes,sex chromosomes,and sexdetermination systems in fish species,this review provides insights into the relationship between sex chromosome evolution and biodiversity in fishes.展开更多
A new species of the genus Brachytarsophrys,named Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp.nov.,has been identified in southeastern Yunnan,China.This new species can be readily distinguished from other known congeners by both...A new species of the genus Brachytarsophrys,named Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp.nov.,has been identified in southeastern Yunnan,China.This new species can be readily distinguished from other known congeners by both morphological criterion and molecular analysis of three mitochondrial gene segments:16S,COI,and Cytb.This classification is based on the following morphological characters:(1)medium body size(SVL 83.8–85.1 mm in two adult males);(2)enormous head,with head width nearly 1.2 times the length;(3)tongue pyriform,feebly notched;(4)non-meeting heels;(5)male lacking nuptial pad;(6)tibiotarsal articulation reaching angle of mouth when hindlimbs are extended forward alongside the body;(7)absence of outer metatarsal tubercle,inner metatarsal tubercle elliptic and approximately equal to first toe;(8)rudimentary toe webbing,webbing formula:Ⅰ(2–)–(2^(++))Ⅱ(2^(–))–(3^(++))Ⅲ(2^(½))–(4)Ⅳ(4^(+))–(2^(⅔))V;(9)lateral fringes narrow;(10)dermal ridge or glandular fold on dorsum absent;(11)pectoral glands distinct and irregular,femoral gland small.Our work increases the number of species within the genus Brachytarsophrys to 9.展开更多
Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is a severe female reproductive disorder that affects 1%of women in general populations(European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology[ESHRE]Guideline Group on POI et al.,20...Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is a severe female reproductive disorder that affects 1%of women in general populations(European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology[ESHRE]Guideline Group on POI et al.,2016).An increasing prevalence up to 3.7%has been reported in a recent meta-analysis(Golezar et al.,2019).POl can lead to infertility or subfertility,as well as a range of complex complications suffering multi-organ systems,seriously threatening women's health and reducing the life quality.By contrast,POl is a representative heterogeneous disease with multiple etiologies.While more than 70 causative POI genes have been identified,the etiology of more than half of the POI patients is still ambiguous(Jiao et al.,2018).Unreported POI causative genes,therefore,remain to be identified.展开更多
We described a new species of Rana(Anura: Ranidae) from Zhejiang, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. The new species, Rana minuscula sp. nov. clusters with R.ulma, R. kobai and R. tsushimensis and c...We described a new species of Rana(Anura: Ranidae) from Zhejiang, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. The new species, Rana minuscula sp. nov. clusters with R.ulma, R. kobai and R. tsushimensis and can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size small, snoutvent length less than 40 mm in adults;dorsolateral fold narrow and slightly curved, extending from above temporal fold to groin, not connecting to posterior corner of eye;vocal sac absent;tibiotarsal articulation extends forward to anterior corner of eye;lateroventral grooves absent;nuptial pad present and divided into two groups: the larger part is nearly rectangular and close to the tip of finger I and the basal part is smaller and round.展开更多
Understanding the molecular relevance of metabolic rate(MR)is crucial for unveiling the mechanisms driving the evolution of animals.In this study,we investigated the association between mitochondrial DNA characteristi...Understanding the molecular relevance of metabolic rate(MR)is crucial for unveiling the mechanisms driving the evolution of animals.In this study,we investigated the association between mitochondrial DNA characteristics and both resting and maximal MRs in conjunction with life-history traits among 139 species of teleost fish,We gathered fish MR data from various sources and procured sequences of 13 mitochondrial protein-encoding genes.We calculated the absolute substitution rate for entire nucleotide sequences and 4-fold degenerate sites of each gene,along with encoding amino acid sequences.Using the phylogenetic comparative method,we then explored the associations between MR and mitochondrial DNA absolute substitution rate.Additionally,we screened MR-associated single nucleotide variants in mitochondrial DNA.The findings indicate no positive correlation between MRs and any substitution rate values of both combined sequences and individual mitochondrial protein-coding genes,refuting the MR hypothesis.Instead,both maximum body size and longevity correlated negatively with molecular substitution rates,suggesting their influences on both mutation and fixation within mitochondrial genes in fish.Results also revealed significant correlations between base variation at ATP6_169 and both resting MR and maximum MR,identifying the unique ATP6_169G in Scombridae fish,which results in an extremely low isoelectric point(pl)value of the ATP6 protein.Considering its functional significance,the ATP6_169G in Scombridae fish might link to their lifestyle characterized by fast locomotion and high metabolic demands alongside a slower molecular evolutionary rate.展开更多
Chorionic gonadotropinα(Cgα)functions as the shared subunit for thyroid-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Tshβ),luteinizing hormone subunitβ(Lhβ),and follicle-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Fshβ).While theseβ-subuni...Chorionic gonadotropinα(Cgα)functions as the shared subunit for thyroid-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Tshβ),luteinizing hormone subunitβ(Lhβ),and follicle-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Fshβ).While theseβ-subunits have been extensively studied using effective gene knockout models in zebrafish,the biological role of Cgαremains elusive.In this study,cgα-deficient zebrafish generated via transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs)exhibited viability but displayed pronounced developmental abnormalities,including growth retardation,hyperpigmentation,reduced thyroxine(T4)levels,and defective anterior swim bladder inflation during juvenile stages.In adults,cgαdeficiency led to disrupted gonadal development,impaired secondary sex characteristics(SSCs),and severely impacted reproductive behavior in both female and male fish.Notably,both testicular and ovarian differentiation were observed in cgα-deficient fish and lhβ^(−/−);fshβ^(−/−)mutants.Gonadal sex differentiation in cgα-deficient zebrafish exhibited a pronounced shift toward testicular fate upon additional disruption of fshβ(cgα^(−/−);fshβ^(−/−)),marked by elevated anti-Müllerian hormone(amh)expression,or following loss of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor(fshr)(cgα^(−/−);fshr^(−/−)).In vitro assays in Chinese hamster ovary(CHO)cells revealed increased cAMP response element(CRE)promoter activity following transfection with constructs encoding Fshr,Fshβ/Fshr,or Cgα/Fshβ/Fshr.Collectively,the phenotypes observed in cgα-deficient fish recapitulate those of thyrotropin-and gonadotropin-disrupted models,highlighting the essential role of Cgαin thyroid and gonadal function.Importantly,these findings uncover the role of Fsh signaling in maintaining proper ovarian differentiation in zebrafish,including Cgα-independent Fshβactivity and the constitutive functionality of Fshr.展开更多
BACKGROUND A large proportion of patients with Hirschsprung disease experience persistent obstructive symptoms after corrective surgery.Persistent obstructive symptoms may result in faecal stasis that can develop into...BACKGROUND A large proportion of patients with Hirschsprung disease experience persistent obstructive symptoms after corrective surgery.Persistent obstructive symptoms may result in faecal stasis that can develop into Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis,a potential life-threatening condition.Important treatment to improve faecal passage is internal anal sphincter relaxation using botulinum toxin injections.AIM To give an overview of all empirical evidence on the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in patients with Hirschsprung disease.METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was done by searching PubMed,EMBASE and the Cochrane Library,using entry terms related to:(1)Hirschsprung disease;and(2)Botulinum toxin injections.14 studies representing 278 patients met eligibility criteria.Data that were extracted were proportion of patients with improvement of obstructive symptoms or less enterocolitis after injection,proportion of patients with adverse effects and data on type botulinum toxin,mean dose,average age at first injection and patients with associated syndromes.Random-effects meta-analysis was used to aggregate effects and random-effects meta-regression was used to test for possible confounding factors.RESULTS Botulinum toxin injections are effective in treating obstructive symptoms in on average 66%of patients[event rate(ER)=0.66,P=0.004,I2=49.5,n=278 patients].Type of botulinum toxin,average dose,average age at first injections and proportion of patients with associated syndromes were not predictive for this effect.Mean 7 duration of improvement after one botulinum toxin injections was 6.4 mo and patients needed on average 2.6 procedures.There was a significant higher response rate within one month after botulinum toxin injections compared to more than one month after Botulinum toxin injections(ER=0.79,vs ER=0.46,Q=19.37,P<0.001).Botulinum toxin injections were not effective in treating enterocolitis(ER 0.58,P=0.65,I2=71.0,n=52 patients).There were adverse effects in on average 17%of patients(ER=0.17,P<0.001,I2=52.1,n=187 patients),varying from temporary incontinence to mild anal pain.CONCLUSION Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that botulinum toxin injections are effective in treating obstructive symptoms and that adverse effects were present,but mild and temporary.展开更多
We tested the utility of chemical marking techniques in the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Juveniles （30-40 mm total length） were immersed in a range of tetracycline hydrochloride （TC） solutions at c...We tested the utility of chemical marking techniques in the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Juveniles （30-40 mm total length） were immersed in a range of tetracycline hydrochloride （TC） solutions at concentrations ranging from 300 to 500 mg/L, and alizarin complexone （ALC） solutions at concentrations ranging from 200 to 400 mg/L in filtered sea water （salinity of 30） for 24 h, respectively. Otoliths （sagittae, asteriscus）, scales, fin rays （dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal fin rays）, and fin spines （dorsal, ventral, and anal fin spines） were sampled and used to detect fluorescent marks after a 60-day growth experiment. With the exception of 300 mg/L TC, acceptable marks were produced in the otoliths and fin spines by all concentrations of TC and ALC. In particular, we observed clearly visible marks in the sagittae, asteriscus, and fin spines under normal light at concentrations of200~00 mg/L, 250-400 mg/L, and 250-400 mg/L ALC, respectively. Scales and fin rays had acceptable marks at much higher concentrations （_〉350 mg/L TC, 〉250 mg/L ALC for scales and _〉350 mg/L TC, 〉300 mg/L ALC for fin rays）. The best mark quality （i.e., acceptable marks were observed in all sampled structures after immersion marking） were obtained following immersion in TC at between 350-500 rag/L, and ALC between 300-400 mg/L. In addition, there was no significant difference in survival and growth of TC and ALC marked fish compared to their controls up to 60 days post-marking （P〉0.05）.展开更多
Fish morphological phenotypes are important resources in artificial breeding,functional gene mapping,and population-based studies in aquaculture and ecology.Traditional morphological measurement of phenotypes is rathe...Fish morphological phenotypes are important resources in artificial breeding,functional gene mapping,and population-based studies in aquaculture and ecology.Traditional morphological measurement of phenotypes is rather expensive in terms of time and labor.More importantly,manual measurement is highly dependent on operational experience,which can lead to subjective phenotyping results.Here,we developed 3DPhenoFish software to extract fish morphological phenotypes from three-dimensional(3D)point cloud data.Algorithms for background elimination,coordinate normalization,image segmentation,key point recognition,and phenotype extraction were developed and integrated into an intuitive user interface.Furthermore,18 key points and traditional 2D morphological traits,along with 3D phenotypes,including area and volume,can be automatically obtained in a visualized manner.Intuitive fine-tuning of key points and customized definitions of phenotypes are also allowed in the software.Using 3DPhenoFish,we performed high-throughput phenotyping for four endemic Schizothoracinae species,including Schizopygopsis younghusbandi,Oxygymnocypris stewartii,Ptychobarbus dipogon,and Schizothorax oconnori.Results indicated that the morphological phenotypes from 3DPhenoFish exhibited high linear correlation(>0.94)with manual measurements and offered informative traits to discriminate samples of different species and even for different populations of the same species.In summary,we developed an efficient,accurate,and customizable tool,3DPhenoFish,to extract morphological phenotypes from point cloud data,which should help overcome traditional challenges in manual measurements.3DPhenoFish can be used for research on morphological phenotypes in fish,including functional gene mapping,artificial selection,and conservation studies.3DPhenoFish is an open-source software and can be downloaded for free at https://github.com/lyh24k/3DPhenoFish/tree/master.展开更多
文摘Withania somnifera(L.)Dunal(WS),or Ashwagandha,is used clinically against arthritis,anxiety and insomnia etc,however,its potential in aquafeeds is largely unexplored.We investigated the stress-alleviation and hepatoprotective mechanisms of dietary WS supplementation in adult female darkbarbel catfish.Fish were fed with WS dietary for 5 weeks,subjected to a physical stressor(saline injection),and sampled.Brain were processed for RNA-seq to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)linked to stress;serum were assayed for stress-and immune-related biochemical markers;livers were examined for lipid content(Oil Red O staining)and proliferation(PCNA immunos-taining).Network pharmacology were employed to construct a"compound-target"net-work:The bioactive compounds of WS were retrieved from ChEBI and PCIDB,probable targets predicted via Swiss Target Prediction,and the“WS-ingredient-target”regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape;key ligand-protein interactions were validated by molecular docking.Findings were replicated in juvenile fish and in SG3 cells challenged with Withanolide A.Physical stress evoked 1451 DEGs in control brains,whereas WS-supplemented reduced this to 397,indicating marked mitigation of the oxid-ative-and immune-stress response.Network pharmacology and molecular docking pre-dicted that 13 bioactive compounds in WS,especially Withanolide A and Withanolide J,can interact with targets such as MAPK8,CRHR1,NR3C2,and IARS1,being associated with stress and liver function regulation respectively.Moreover,it was proved that Withanolide A could significantly modulate stress response in juveniles and enhanced pro-liferation potency of SG3 cells.Intriguingly,in theadult female darkbarbel catfish,dietary WS lowered serum cortisol,glucose,ROS,TNF-α,and IL-6(P<0.05),up-regulated hepatocyte PCNA expression,and allievated stress-induced liver injury.These findings provide novel insights and vital basis for elucidating the mechanisms whereby herbs,including WS act in stress-relief and hepatoprotection in darkbarbel catfish.And provide a framework for advancing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)applications in aquaculture.
基金supported by the Key Discipline Program of the Fifth Round of the Three-Year Public Health Action Plan(2020-2022 Year)of Shanghai,China(GWV-10.1-XK08).
文摘Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.
基金support from the“111 program”of Ministry of Education of China and State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China.
文摘BACKGROUND Uterine injury can cause uterine scarring,leading to a series of complications that threaten women’s health.Uterine healing is a complex process,and there are currently no effective treatments.Although our previous studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)promote uterine damage repair,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.However,exploring the specific regulatory roles of BMSCs in uterine injury treatment is crucial for further understanding their functions and enhancing therapeutic efficacy.AIM To investigate the underlying mechanism by which BMSCs promote the process of uterine healing.METHODS In in vivo experiments,we established a model of full-thickness uterine injury and injected BMSCs into the uterine wound.Transcriptome sequencing was per-formed to determine the enrichment of differentially expressed genes at the wound site.In in vitro experiments,we isolated rat uterine smooth muscle cells(USMCs)and cocultured them with BMSCs to observe the interaction between BMSCs and USMCs in the microenvironment.RESULTS We found that the differentially expressed genes were mainly related to cell growth,tissue repair,and angiogenesis,while the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)pathway was highly enriched.Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to validate differentially expressed genes,and the results demonstrated that BMSCs can upregulate genes related to regeneration and downregulate genes related to inflammation.Coculturing BMSCs promoted the migration and proliferation of USMCs,and the USMC microenvironment promoted the myogenic differentiation of BMSCs.Finally,we validated the PI3K/AKT pathway in tissues and cells and showed that BMSCs activate the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote the regeneration of uterine smooth muscle both in vivo and in vitro.CONCLUSION BMSCs upregulated uterine wound regeneration and anti-inflammatory factors and enhanced uterine smooth muscle proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway both in vivo and in vitro.
基金supported by the Foundation of Gansu Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization for Biological Resources and Ecological Restoration in Longdong (LDSWZY202103)Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (22JR5RM210)to B.P.L.Gansu Ziwuling Ecosystem Observation and Research Station (20JR10RA658)。
文摘Avian genomes exhibit compact organization and remarkable chromosomal stability.However,the extent and mechanisms by which structural variation in avian genomes differ from those in other vertebrate lineages are poorly explored.This study generated a diploid genome assembly for the golden pheasant(Chrysolophus pictus),a species distinguished by the vibrant plumage of males.Each haploid genome assembly included complete chromosomalmodels,incorporatingall microchromosomes.Analysis revealed extensive tandem amplification of immune-related genes across the smallest microchromosomes(dot chromosomes),with an average copy number of 54.Structural variation between the haploid genomes was primarily shaped by large insertions and deletions(indels),with minimal contributions from inversions or duplications.Approximately 28%of these large indels were associated with recent insertions of transposable elements,despite their typically low activity in bird genomes.Evidence for significant effects of transposable elements on gene expression was minimal.Evolutionary strata on the sex chromosomes were identified,along with a drastic rearrangement of the W chromosome.These analyses of the high-quality diploid genome of the golden pheasant provide valuable insights into the evolutionary patterns of structural variation in avian genomes.
文摘This study compared three cryopreservation protocols on sperm functions, IVF outcomes, and embryo development. Epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved using slow-cooling （18% w/v raffinose, RS-C） were compared with spermatozoa vitrified using 0.25 M sucrose （SV） or 18% w/v raffinose （RV）. The motility, vitality, and DNA damage （TUNEL assay） of fresh control （FC） spermatozoa were compared with post-thawed or warmed RS-C, RV, and SV samples. Mouse oocytes （n = 267） were randomly assigned into three groups for insemination： RV （n = 102）, RS-C （n = 86）, and FC （n = 79）. The number and the proportion of two-cell embryos and blastocysts from each treatment were assessed. Sperm motility （P 〈 0.01） and vitality （P 〈 0.05） were significantly reduced after vitrification compared with slow-cooled spermatozoa. However, DNA fragmentation was significantly reduced in spermatozoa vitrified using sucrose （15 - 1.8% [SV] vs 26 - 2.8% [RV] and 27 - 1.2% [RS-C]; P 〈 0.01）. Although the number of two-cell embryos produced by RS-C, RV, and FC spermatozoa was not significantly different, the number of blastocysts produced from two-cell embryos using RV spermatozoa was significantly higher than FC spermatozoa （P = 0.0053）. This simple, small volume vitrification protocol and standard insemination method allows successful embryo production from small numbers of epididymal spermatozoa and may be applied clinically to circumvent the need for ICSI, which has the disadvantage of bypassing sperm selection.
基金jointly supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFC1002104 to L.W.,2018YFC1004904 to B.-L.W.and J.F.,2016YFC1000500 to H.Y.W.and W.F.T.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China([81930036,31521003,31771669]to H.Y.W.)+1 种基金the Commission for Science and Technology of Shanghai Municipality(17JC1400902to H.Y.W.)the MDA-CHB Research Grant to B.-L.W。
文摘Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous disorder with evidence of polygenetic components,and obesity may be a risk factor for hyperandrogen ism.Previous studies have shown that LHCGR is en riched in the ovary and LHCGR deficiency causes infertility without typical PCOS phenotypes.ALMS1 is implicated in obesity and hyperandrogenism,the common phenotypes among PCOS patients.Through whole-exome sequencing of 22 PCOS families and targeted candidate gene sequencing of additional 65 sporadic PCOS patients,we identified potential causative mutations in LHCGR and ALMS1 in a sibling-pair PCOS family and three sporadic PCOS patients.The expression of LHCGRL638 P in granulosa-like tumor cell line(KGN)cells promoted cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and granulosa cell proliferation,indicating that LHCGRL638 P is an activating mutation.Lhcgr~(L642 P/L642 P)mice showed an irregular estrous cycle,reduced follicles with dynamic folliculogenesis,and increased testosterone(T),estradiol(E2),and dehydroepiandrosterone.Lhcgr~(+/L642 P)AIms1~(+/PB)mice displayed increased T and E2 but decreased late secondary and preovulatory follicles.We showed that activating mutation of LHCGR likely plays important roles in the pathophysiology of PCOS involving abnormal reproductive physiology,whereas ALMS1 deficiency may promote anovulatory infertility via elevated androgens,suggesting that the disturbed LHCGR and ALMS1 cooperatively induce PCOS phenotypes,characterized as anovulation and hyperandrogenemia frequently observed in PCOS patients with obesity.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1201600)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31861123001,31302170,and 31772831)+1 种基金Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau(CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1608 and cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0024)Chongqing Fishery Technology Innovation Union(2023)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,the functions of these duplicates in the teleost Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus)remain unclear.In this study,we characterized the roles of Nile tilapia Sox9a in chondrogenesis and gonadal development.In situ hybridization assays showed that Sox9a was mainly expressed in cartilage tissues and somatic cells surrounding germ cells of the gonads.CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homozygous mutation of the Sox9a gene resulted in craniofacial deformities and missed mandibles,as well as impaired the expression of Col2a1a that is involved in chondrogenesis.In addition,germ cell number and DNA replication in somatic cells in the gonads of both sexes were reduced following Sox9a mutation.Taken together,this study demonstrates that Sox9a is involved in cartilage development and germ cell proliferation in Nile tilapia.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2701400)in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32000393 and 32288101).
文摘During spermiogenesis,haploid spermatids undergo dramatic morphological changes to form slender sperm flagella and cap-like acrosomes,which are required for successful fertilization.Severe deformities in flagella cause a male infertility syndrome,multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella(MMAF),while acrosomal hypoplasia in some cases leads to sub-optimal embryonic developmental potential.However,evidence regarding the occurrence of acrosomal hypoplasia in MMAF is limited.Here,we report the generation of base-edited mice knocked out for coiled-coil domain-containing 38(Ccdc38)via inducing a nonsense mutation and find that the males are infertile.The Ccdc38-KO sperm display acrosomal hypoplasia and typical MMAF phenotypes.We find that the acrosomal membrane is loosely anchored to the nucleus and fibrous sheaths are disorganized in Ccdc38-KO sperm.Further analyses reveal that Ccdc38 knockout causes a decreased level of TEKT3,a protein associated with acrosome biogenesis,in testes and an aberrant distribution of TEKT3 in sperm.We finally show that intracytoplasmic sperm injection overcomes Ccdc38-related infertility.Our study thus reveals a previously unknown role for CCDC38 in acrosome biogenesis and provides additional evidence for the occurrence of acrosomal hypoplasia in MMAF.
基金supported by the GRF RGC&CRF,Hong Kong(Grant Nos.:475012 and C5045-20 EF)HMRF,Hong Kong(Grant No.:03141386)+3 种基金ITF,Hong Kong(Grant No.:ITS/209/12)UGC Direct Grant 2011,2012,2021.032HKOG Trust Fund 2011,2014,2019the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.:81974225 and 82201823)。
文摘Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease with endometrial cell implantation outside the uterus.Angiogenesis is a major pathophysiology in endometriosis.Our previous studies have demonstrated that the prodrug of epigallocatechin gallate(ProEGCG)exhibits superior anti-endometriotic and anti-angiogenic effects compared to epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG).However,their direct binding targets and underlying mechanisms for the differential effects remain unknown.In this study,we demonstrated that oral ProEGCG can be effective in preventing and treating endometriosis.Additionally,1D and 2D Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration assay-based chemical proteomics identified metadherin(MTDH)and PX domain containing serine/threonine kinase-like(PXK)as novel binding targets of EGCG and ProEGCG,respectively.Computational simulation and BioLayer interferometry were used to confirm their binding affinity.Our results showed that MTDH-EGCG inhibited protein kinase B(Akt)-mediated angiogenesis,while PXK-ProEGCG inhibited epidermal growth factor(EGF)-mediated angiogenesis via the EGF/hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF-1a)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)pathway.In vitro and in vivo knockdown assays and microvascular network imaging further confirmed the involvement of these signaling pathways.Moreover,our study demonstrated that ProEGCG has superior therapeutic effects than EGCG by targeting distinct signal transduction pathways and may act as a novel antiangiogenic therapy for endometriosis.
基金This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2701400 and 2023YFC2705600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32288101,32100480,32370654,82271639,32322017,and32200485).
文摘Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors.However,there are stll a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cannot be explained by known pathogenic genetic variants.Here,we perform genetic analyses and identify bi-allelic loss-of-function variants of MFSD6L from an oligoasthenoteratozoospermia-affected family.Mfsd6l knock-out male mice also present male subfertility with reduced sperm concentration,motility,and deformed acrosomes.Further mechanistic analyses reveal that MFsD6L,as an acrosome membrane protein,plays an important role in the formation of acrosome by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1.Moreover,poor embryonic development is consistently observed after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment using spermatozoa from the MFSD6L-deficient man and male mice.Collectively,our findings reveal that MFSD6L is required for the anchoring of sperm acrosome and head shaping.The deficiency of MFsD6L affects male fertility and causes oligoasthenoter-atozoospermia in humans and mice.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2401800)National Natural Science Foundation of China (32403005, 32293253, 32072957)+1 种基金Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (cstc2021jcyjmsxm X0088)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU-KQ22026)。
文摘Previous research has highlighted the significant role of progestins and glucocorticoids in fish oocyte maturation and ovulation.To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes,comprehensive investigations were conducted using a cyp17a2 mutant Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) model.Analysis revealed pronounced Cyp17a2 expression in ovarian somatic cells of the tilapia.Female cyp17a2-deficient mutants exhibited markedly reduced levels of 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one(DHP) and cortisol/cortisone,leading to delayed meiotic initiation and impaired oocyte maturation and spawning.Notably,supplementation with human chorionic gonadotrophin(hCG),DHP,and cortisol effectively induced germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD) and facilitated oocyte release with follicular cell layers in cyp17a2^(-/-)females.Additionally,cyp17a2-/-and rescued cyp17a2-/-females showed elevated transcription of steroidogenic enzymes involved in 17β-estradiol(E2)production compared to spawning wild-type females.Moreover,the reduction in Akt phosphorylation observed in cyp17a2-deficient females and upon inhibitor treatment impaired hCG-induced oocyte maturation.Conversely,activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway partially rescued the oocyte maturation impairment caused by cyp17a2mutation.Overall,these findings provide functional evidence supporting the critical role of Cyp17a2 in DHP and cortisol biosynthesis,which,in turn,facilitates oocyte maturation and ovulation through activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in fish.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31861123001,31630082,and 32172953)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1201600)+2 种基金Chongqing Fishery Technology Innovation Union(CQFTIU2024-08)the Science Foundation of School of Life Sciences SWU(20232005276101)the US National Science Foundation(DEB#1830753)。
文摘The impact of sex chromosomes and their turnover in speciation remains a subject of ongoing debate in the field of evolutionary biology.Fishes are the largest group of vertebrates,and they exhibit unparalleled sexual plasticity,as well as diverse sex-determining(SD)genes,sex chromosomes,and sex-determination mechanisms.This diversity is hypothesized to be associated with the frequent turnover of sex chromosomes in fishes.Although it is evident that amh and amhr2 are repeatedly and independently recruited as SD genes,their relationship with the rapid turnover of sex chromosomes and the biodiversity of fishes remains unknown.We summarize the canonical models of sex chromosome turnover and highlight the vital roles of gene mutation and hybridization with empirical evidence.We revisit Haldane’s rule and the large Xeffect and propose the hypothesis that sex chromosomes accelerate speciation by multiplying genotypes via hybridization.By integrating recent findings on the turnover of SD genes,sex chromosomes,and sexdetermination systems in fish species,this review provides insights into the relationship between sex chromosome evolution and biodiversity in fishes.
基金supported by Fundamental Research Fund for Central Universities (SWUKR22014)National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 32170478, 32370478)+2 种基金“Special Fund for Youth Team of Southwest University” (SWU-XJPY202302)Youth Top Talent Program of Chongqing (CQYC 20220510893) to Zhiyong YUANNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 31900323) to Jinmin CHEN。
文摘A new species of the genus Brachytarsophrys,named Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp.nov.,has been identified in southeastern Yunnan,China.This new species can be readily distinguished from other known congeners by both morphological criterion and molecular analysis of three mitochondrial gene segments:16S,COI,and Cytb.This classification is based on the following morphological characters:(1)medium body size(SVL 83.8–85.1 mm in two adult males);(2)enormous head,with head width nearly 1.2 times the length;(3)tongue pyriform,feebly notched;(4)non-meeting heels;(5)male lacking nuptial pad;(6)tibiotarsal articulation reaching angle of mouth when hindlimbs are extended forward alongside the body;(7)absence of outer metatarsal tubercle,inner metatarsal tubercle elliptic and approximately equal to first toe;(8)rudimentary toe webbing,webbing formula:Ⅰ(2–)–(2^(++))Ⅱ(2^(–))–(3^(++))Ⅲ(2^(½))–(4)Ⅳ(4^(+))–(2^(⅔))V;(9)lateral fringes narrow;(10)dermal ridge or glandular fold on dorsum absent;(11)pectoral glands distinct and irregular,femoral gland small.Our work increases the number of species within the genus Brachytarsophrys to 9.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270658 and 32288101)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2703800)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(20ZR1407000).
文摘Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is a severe female reproductive disorder that affects 1%of women in general populations(European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology[ESHRE]Guideline Group on POI et al.,2016).An increasing prevalence up to 3.7%has been reported in a recent meta-analysis(Golezar et al.,2019).POl can lead to infertility or subfertility,as well as a range of complex complications suffering multi-organ systems,seriously threatening women's health and reducing the life quality.By contrast,POl is a representative heterogeneous disease with multiple etiologies.While more than 70 causative POI genes have been identified,the etiology of more than half of the POI patients is still ambiguous(Jiao et al.,2018).Unreported POI causative genes,therefore,remain to be identified.
基金supported by grants from Routine Survey of Terrestrial Wildlife Resources in Donggong-Jiufeng Mountain (Mc05-1) Zhejiang Survey Unitthe National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC32170478, NSFC32370478)+2 种基金“Youth Top Talent Program of Chongqing” (CQYC 20220510893)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU-KR22014) to Zhiyong YUANthe Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Chinese Academy of Sciences (the Large Research Infrastructure Funding) to Jing CHE。
文摘We described a new species of Rana(Anura: Ranidae) from Zhejiang, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. The new species, Rana minuscula sp. nov. clusters with R.ulma, R. kobai and R. tsushimensis and can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size small, snoutvent length less than 40 mm in adults;dorsolateral fold narrow and slightly curved, extending from above temporal fold to groin, not connecting to posterior corner of eye;vocal sac absent;tibiotarsal articulation extends forward to anterior corner of eye;lateroventral grooves absent;nuptial pad present and divided into two groups: the larger part is nearly rectangular and close to the tip of finger I and the basal part is smaller and round.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.:32070438].
文摘Understanding the molecular relevance of metabolic rate(MR)is crucial for unveiling the mechanisms driving the evolution of animals.In this study,we investigated the association between mitochondrial DNA characteristics and both resting and maximal MRs in conjunction with life-history traits among 139 species of teleost fish,We gathered fish MR data from various sources and procured sequences of 13 mitochondrial protein-encoding genes.We calculated the absolute substitution rate for entire nucleotide sequences and 4-fold degenerate sites of each gene,along with encoding amino acid sequences.Using the phylogenetic comparative method,we then explored the associations between MR and mitochondrial DNA absolute substitution rate.Additionally,we screened MR-associated single nucleotide variants in mitochondrial DNA.The findings indicate no positive correlation between MRs and any substitution rate values of both combined sequences and individual mitochondrial protein-coding genes,refuting the MR hypothesis.Instead,both maximum body size and longevity correlated negatively with molecular substitution rates,suggesting their influences on both mutation and fixation within mitochondrial genes in fish.Results also revealed significant correlations between base variation at ATP6_169 and both resting MR and maximum MR,identifying the unique ATP6_169G in Scombridae fish,which results in an extremely low isoelectric point(pl)value of the ATP6 protein.Considering its functional significance,the ATP6_169G in Scombridae fish might link to their lifestyle characterized by fast locomotion and high metabolic demands alongside a slower molecular evolutionary rate.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation,China(32230108 to Z.Y.)National Key Research and Development Program,China(2022YFF1000300 to Z.Y.and 2022YFD2401800 to G.Z.)Foundation of Hubei Hongshan Laboratory(2021hszd021 to Z.Y.and 2021hskf013 to G.Z.)。
文摘Chorionic gonadotropinα(Cgα)functions as the shared subunit for thyroid-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Tshβ),luteinizing hormone subunitβ(Lhβ),and follicle-stimulating hormone subunitβ(Fshβ).While theseβ-subunits have been extensively studied using effective gene knockout models in zebrafish,the biological role of Cgαremains elusive.In this study,cgα-deficient zebrafish generated via transcription activator-like effector nucleases(TALENs)exhibited viability but displayed pronounced developmental abnormalities,including growth retardation,hyperpigmentation,reduced thyroxine(T4)levels,and defective anterior swim bladder inflation during juvenile stages.In adults,cgαdeficiency led to disrupted gonadal development,impaired secondary sex characteristics(SSCs),and severely impacted reproductive behavior in both female and male fish.Notably,both testicular and ovarian differentiation were observed in cgα-deficient fish and lhβ^(−/−);fshβ^(−/−)mutants.Gonadal sex differentiation in cgα-deficient zebrafish exhibited a pronounced shift toward testicular fate upon additional disruption of fshβ(cgα^(−/−);fshβ^(−/−)),marked by elevated anti-Müllerian hormone(amh)expression,or following loss of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor(fshr)(cgα^(−/−);fshr^(−/−)).In vitro assays in Chinese hamster ovary(CHO)cells revealed increased cAMP response element(CRE)promoter activity following transfection with constructs encoding Fshr,Fshβ/Fshr,or Cgα/Fshβ/Fshr.Collectively,the phenotypes observed in cgα-deficient fish recapitulate those of thyrotropin-and gonadotropin-disrupted models,highlighting the essential role of Cgαin thyroid and gonadal function.Importantly,these findings uncover the role of Fsh signaling in maintaining proper ovarian differentiation in zebrafish,including Cgα-independent Fshβactivity and the constitutive functionality of Fshr.
文摘BACKGROUND A large proportion of patients with Hirschsprung disease experience persistent obstructive symptoms after corrective surgery.Persistent obstructive symptoms may result in faecal stasis that can develop into Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis,a potential life-threatening condition.Important treatment to improve faecal passage is internal anal sphincter relaxation using botulinum toxin injections.AIM To give an overview of all empirical evidence on the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in patients with Hirschsprung disease.METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was done by searching PubMed,EMBASE and the Cochrane Library,using entry terms related to:(1)Hirschsprung disease;and(2)Botulinum toxin injections.14 studies representing 278 patients met eligibility criteria.Data that were extracted were proportion of patients with improvement of obstructive symptoms or less enterocolitis after injection,proportion of patients with adverse effects and data on type botulinum toxin,mean dose,average age at first injection and patients with associated syndromes.Random-effects meta-analysis was used to aggregate effects and random-effects meta-regression was used to test for possible confounding factors.RESULTS Botulinum toxin injections are effective in treating obstructive symptoms in on average 66%of patients[event rate(ER)=0.66,P=0.004,I2=49.5,n=278 patients].Type of botulinum toxin,average dose,average age at first injections and proportion of patients with associated syndromes were not predictive for this effect.Mean 7 duration of improvement after one botulinum toxin injections was 6.4 mo and patients needed on average 2.6 procedures.There was a significant higher response rate within one month after botulinum toxin injections compared to more than one month after Botulinum toxin injections(ER=0.79,vs ER=0.46,Q=19.37,P<0.001).Botulinum toxin injections were not effective in treating enterocolitis(ER 0.58,P=0.65,I2=71.0,n=52 patients).There were adverse effects in on average 17%of patients(ER=0.17,P<0.001,I2=52.1,n=187 patients),varying from temporary incontinence to mild anal pain.CONCLUSION Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that botulinum toxin injections are effective in treating obstructive symptoms and that adverse effects were present,but mild and temporary.
基金Supported by the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest(No.201003068)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31172447,41176117)
文摘We tested the utility of chemical marking techniques in the juvenile black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Juveniles （30-40 mm total length） were immersed in a range of tetracycline hydrochloride （TC） solutions at concentrations ranging from 300 to 500 mg/L, and alizarin complexone （ALC） solutions at concentrations ranging from 200 to 400 mg/L in filtered sea water （salinity of 30） for 24 h, respectively. Otoliths （sagittae, asteriscus）, scales, fin rays （dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal fin rays）, and fin spines （dorsal, ventral, and anal fin spines） were sampled and used to detect fluorescent marks after a 60-day growth experiment. With the exception of 300 mg/L TC, acceptable marks were produced in the otoliths and fin spines by all concentrations of TC and ALC. In particular, we observed clearly visible marks in the sagittae, asteriscus, and fin spines under normal light at concentrations of200~00 mg/L, 250-400 mg/L, and 250-400 mg/L ALC, respectively. Scales and fin rays had acceptable marks at much higher concentrations （_〉350 mg/L TC, 〉250 mg/L ALC for scales and _〉350 mg/L TC, 〉300 mg/L ALC for fin rays）. The best mark quality （i.e., acceptable marks were observed in all sampled structures after immersion marking） were obtained following immersion in TC at between 350-500 rag/L, and ALC between 300-400 mg/L. In addition, there was no significant difference in survival and growth of TC and ALC marked fish compared to their controls up to 60 days post-marking （P〉0.05）.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072980)Key Research and Development Projects in Tibet(XZ202001ZY0016N,XZ201902NB02,XZNKY-2019-C-053)。
文摘Fish morphological phenotypes are important resources in artificial breeding,functional gene mapping,and population-based studies in aquaculture and ecology.Traditional morphological measurement of phenotypes is rather expensive in terms of time and labor.More importantly,manual measurement is highly dependent on operational experience,which can lead to subjective phenotyping results.Here,we developed 3DPhenoFish software to extract fish morphological phenotypes from three-dimensional(3D)point cloud data.Algorithms for background elimination,coordinate normalization,image segmentation,key point recognition,and phenotype extraction were developed and integrated into an intuitive user interface.Furthermore,18 key points and traditional 2D morphological traits,along with 3D phenotypes,including area and volume,can be automatically obtained in a visualized manner.Intuitive fine-tuning of key points and customized definitions of phenotypes are also allowed in the software.Using 3DPhenoFish,we performed high-throughput phenotyping for four endemic Schizothoracinae species,including Schizopygopsis younghusbandi,Oxygymnocypris stewartii,Ptychobarbus dipogon,and Schizothorax oconnori.Results indicated that the morphological phenotypes from 3DPhenoFish exhibited high linear correlation(>0.94)with manual measurements and offered informative traits to discriminate samples of different species and even for different populations of the same species.In summary,we developed an efficient,accurate,and customizable tool,3DPhenoFish,to extract morphological phenotypes from point cloud data,which should help overcome traditional challenges in manual measurements.3DPhenoFish can be used for research on morphological phenotypes in fish,including functional gene mapping,artificial selection,and conservation studies.3DPhenoFish is an open-source software and can be downloaded for free at https://github.com/lyh24k/3DPhenoFish/tree/master.
