Zoological Research最新文献

{"title":"Deciphering the population structure and genetic basis of growth traits from whole-genome resequencing of the leopard coral grouper ( <i>Plectropomus leopardus</i>).","authors":"Shao-Xuan Wu, Qi-Fan Zeng, Wen-Tao Han, Meng-Ya Wang, Hui Ding, Ming-Xuan Teng, Ming-Yi Wang, Pei-Yu Li, Xin Gao, Zhen-Min Bao, Bo Wang, Jing-Jie Hu","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.270","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.270","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The leopard coral grouper ( <i>Plectropomus leopardus</i>) is a species of significant economic importance. Although artificial cultivation of <i>P. leopardus</i> has thrived in recent decades, the advancement of selective breeding has been hindered by the lack of comprehensive population genomic data. In this study, we identified over 8.73 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through whole-genome resequencing of 326 individuals spanning six distinct groups. Furthermore, we categorized 226 individuals with high-coverage sequencing depth (≥14×) into eight clusters based on their genetic profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Notably, four of these clusters exhibited pronounced genetic differentiation compared with the other populations. To identify potentially advantageous loci for <i>P. leopardus</i>, we examined genomic regions exhibiting selective sweeps by analyzing the nucleotide diversity ( <i>θπ</i>) and fixation index ( <i>F</i> _ST) in these four clusters. Using these high-coverage resequencing data, we successfully constructed the first haplotype reference panel specific to <i>P. leopardus</i>. This achievement holds promise for enabling high-quality, cost-effective imputation methods. Additionally, we combined low-coverage sequencing data with imputation techniques for a genome-wide association study, aiming to identify candidate SNP loci and genes associated with growth traits. A significant concentration of these genes was observed on chromosome 17, which is primarily involved in skeletal muscle and embryonic development and cell proliferation. Notably, our detailed investigation of growth-related SNPs across the eight clusters revealed that cluster 5 harbored the most promising candidate SNPs, showing potential for genetic selective breeding efforts. These findings provide a robust toolkit and valuable insights into the management of germplasm resources and genome-driven breeding initiatives targeting <i>P. leopardus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"329-340"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetically modified pigs: Emerging animal models for hereditary hearing loss.","authors":"Xiao Wang, Tian-Xia Liu, Ying Zhang, Liang-Wei Xu, Shuo-Long Yuan, A-Long Cui, Wei-Wei Guo, Yan-Fang Wang, Shi-Ming Yang, Jian-Guo Zhao","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.231","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hereditary hearing loss (HHL), a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function, significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society. To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and evaluate therapeutic outcomes, appropriate animal models are necessary. Pigs have been extensively used as valuable large animal models in biomedical research. In this review, we highlight the advantages of pig models in terms of ear anatomy, inner ear morphology, and electrophysiological characteristics, as well as recent advancements in the development of distinct genetically modified porcine models of hearing loss. Additionally, we discuss the prospects, challenges, and recommendations regarding the use pig models in HHL research. Overall, this review provides insights and perspectives for future studies on HHL using porcine models.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"284-291"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017082/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generation of mitochondrial replacement monkeys by female pronucleus transfer.","authors":"Chun-Yang Li, Xing-Chen Liu, Yu-Zhuo Li, Yan Wang, Yan-Hong Nie, Yu-Ting Xu, Xiao-Tong Zhang, Yong Lu, Qiang Sun","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.287","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are maternally inherited and have the potential to cause severe disorders. Mitochondrial replacement therapies, including spindle, polar body, and pronuclear transfers, are promising strategies for preventing the hereditary transmission of mtDNA diseases. While pronuclear transfer has been used to generate mitochondrial replacement mouse models and human embryos, its application in non-human primates has not been previously reported. In this study, we successfully generated four healthy cynomolgus monkeys ( <i>Macaca fascicularis</i>) via female pronuclear transfer. These individuals all survived for more than two years and exhibited minimal mtDNA carryover (3.8%-6.7%), as well as relatively stable mtDNA heteroplasmy dynamics during development. The successful establishment of this non-human primate model highlights the considerable potential of pronuclear transfer in reducing the risk of inherited mtDNA diseases and provides a valuable preclinical research model for advancing mitochondrial replacement therapies in humans.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"292-298"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017074/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-edited rabbits: Unleashing the potential of a promising experimental animal model across diverse diseases.","authors":"Yang Han, Jiale Zhou, Renquan Zhang, Yuru Liang, Liangxue Lai, Zhanjun Li","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.201","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal models are extensively used in all aspects of biomedical research, with substantial contributions to our understanding of diseases, the development of pharmaceuticals, and the exploration of gene functions. The field of genome modification in rabbits has progressed slowly. However, recent advancements, particularly in CRISPR/Cas9-related technologies, have catalyzed the successful development of various genome-edited rabbit models to mimic diverse diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, immunodeficiencies, aging-related ailments, neurological diseases, and ophthalmic pathologies. These models hold great promise in advancing biomedical research due to their closer physiological and biochemical resemblance to humans compared to mice. This review aims to summarize the novel gene-editing approaches currently available for rabbits and present the applications and prospects of such models in biomedicine, underscoring their impact and future potential in translational medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"253-262"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017087/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139576865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large animal models for Huntington's disease research.","authors":"Bofeng Han, Weien Liang, Xiao-Jiang Li, Shihua Li, Sen Yan, Zhuchi Tu","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.199","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no effective treatment available. Consequently, the development of appropriate disease models is critical to thoroughly investigate disease progression. The genetic basis of HD involves the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin ( <i>HTT</i>) gene, leading to the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the HTT protein. Mutant HTT carrying the expanded polyglutamine repeat undergoes misfolding and forms aggregates in the brain, which precipitate selective neuronal loss in specific brain regions. Animal models play an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as HD and in identifying potential therapeutic targets. Due to the marked species differences between rodents and larger animals, substantial efforts have been directed toward establishing large animal models for HD research. These models are pivotal for advancing the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, enhancing effective drug delivery methods, and improving treatment outcomes. We have explored the advantages of utilizing large animal models, particularly pigs, in previous reviews. Since then, however, significant progress has been made in developing more sophisticated animal models that faithfully replicate the typical pathology of HD. In the current review, we provide a comprehensive overview of large animal models of HD, incorporating recent findings regarding the establishment of HD knock-in (KI) pigs and their genetic therapy. We also explore the utilization of large animal models in HD research, with a focus on sheep, non-human primates (NHPs), and pigs. Our objective is to provide valuable insights into the application of these large animal models for the investigation and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"275-283"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A booming field of large animal model research.","authors":"Xiao-Jiang Li, Liangxue Lai","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.018","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"311-313"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative transcriptomic evidence of physiological changes and potential relationships in vertebrates under different dormancy states.","authors":"Yu-Han Niu, Li-Hong Guan, Cheng Wang, Hai-Feng Jiang, Guo-Gang Li, Lian-Dong Yang, Shun-Ping He","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.308","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dormancy represents a fascinating adaptive strategy for organisms to survive in unforgiving environments. After a period of dormancy, organisms often exhibit exceptional resilience. This period is typically divided into hibernation and aestivation based on seasonal patterns. However, the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to their environments during dormancy, as well as the potential relationships between different states of dormancy, deserve further exploration. Here, we selected <i>Perccottus glenii</i> and <i>Protopterus annectens</i> as the primary subjects to study hibernation and aestivation, respectively. Based on histological and transcriptomic analysis of multiple organs, we discovered that dormancy involved a coordinated functional response across organs. Enrichment analyses revealed noteworthy disparities between the two dormant species in their responses to extreme temperatures. Notably, similarities in gene expression patterns pertaining to energy metabolism, neural activity, and biosynthesis were noted during hibernation, suggesting a potential correlation between hibernation and aestivation. To further explore the relationship between these two phenomena, we analyzed other dormancy-capable species using data from publicly available databases. This comparative analysis revealed that most orthologous genes involved in metabolism, cell proliferation, and neural function exhibited consistent expression patterns during dormancy, indicating that the observed similarity between hibernation and aestivation may be attributable to convergent evolution. In conclusion, this study enhances our comprehension of the dormancy phenomenon and offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning vertebrate dormancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"341-354"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017076/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic mechanism of body size variation in groupers: Insights from phylotranscriptomics.","authors":"Wei-Wei Zhang, Zhuo-Ying Weng, Xi Wang, Yang Yang, Duo Li, Le Wang, Xiao-Chun Liu, Zi-Ning Meng","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.222","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.222","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal body size variation is of particular interest in evolutionary biology, but the genetic basis remains largely unknown. Previous studies have shown the presence of two parallel evolutionary genetic clusters within the fish genus <i>Epinephelus</i> with evident divergence in body size, providing an excellent opportunity to investigate the genetic basis of body size variation in vertebrates. Herein, we performed phylotranscriptomic analysis and reconstructed the phylogeny of 13 epinephelids originating from the South China Sea. Two genetic clades with an estimated divergence time of approximately 15.4 million years ago were correlated with large and small body size, respectively. A total of 180 rapidly evolving genes and two positively selected genes were identified between the two groups. Functional enrichment analyses of these candidate genes revealed distinct enrichment categories between the two groups. These pathways and genes may play important roles in body size variation in groupers through complex regulatory networks. Based on our results, we speculate that the ancestors of the two divergent groups of groupers may have adapted to different environments through habitat selection, leading to genetic variations in metabolic patterns, organ development, and lifespan, resulting in body size divergence between the two locally adapted populations. These findings provide important insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying body size variation in groupers and species differentiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"314-328"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017090/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential therapeutic role of spermine via Rac1 in osteoporosis: Insights from zebrafish and mice.","authors":"Rui-Xue Jiang, Nan Hu, Yu-Wei Deng, Long-Wei Hu, Hao Gu, Nan Luo, Jin Wen, Xin-Quan Jiang","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.371","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disease. While drug therapy is essential to prevent bone loss in osteoporotic patients, current treatments are limited by side effects and high costs, necessitating the development of more effective and safer targeted therapies. Utilizing a zebrafish ( <i>Danio rerio</i>) larval model of osteoporosis, we explored the influence of the metabolite spermine on bone homeostasis. Results showed that spermine exhibited dual activity in osteoporotic zebrafish larvae by increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption. Spermine not only demonstrated excellent biosafety but also mitigated prednisolone-induced embryonic neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Notably, spermine showcased protective attributes in the nervous systems of both zebrafish embryos and larvae. At the molecular level, Rac1 was identified as playing a pivotal role in mediating the anti-osteoporotic effects of spermine, with P53 potentially acting downstream of Rac1. These findings were confirmed using mouse ( <i>Mus musculus</i>) models, in which spermine not only ameliorated osteoporosis but also promoted bone formation and mineralization under healthy conditions, suggesting strong potential as a bone-strengthening agent. This study underscores the beneficial role of spermine in osteoporotic bone homeostasis and skeletal system development, highlighting pivotal molecular mediators. Given their efficacy and safety, human endogenous metabolites like spermine are promising candidates for new anti-osteoporotic drug development and daily bone-fortifying agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"367-380"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in structural plasticity of hippocampal neurons in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.","authors":"Poornima D E Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage, Sohi Kang, Joong-Sun Kim, Sung-Ho Kim, Hongbing Wang, Taekyun Shin, Changjong Moon","doi":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.309","DOIUrl":"10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Structural plasticity is critical for the functional diversity of neurons in the brain. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for multiple sclerosis (MS), successfully mimicking its key pathological features (inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis) and clinical symptoms (motor and non-motor dysfunctions). Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of synaptic plasticity in EAE pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the features of behavioral alteration and hippocampal structural plasticity in EAE-affected mice in the early phase (11 days post-immunization, DPI) and chronic phase (28 DPI). EAE-affected mice exhibited hippocampus-related behavioral dysfunction in the open field test during both early and chronic phases. Dendritic complexity was largely affected in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and CA3 apical and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampus during the chronic phase, while this effect was only noted in the CA1 apical subregion in the early phase. Moreover, dendritic spine density was reduced in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 apical/basal and DG subregions in the early phase of EAE, but only reduced in the DG subregion during the chronic phase. Furthermore, mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines ( <i>Il1β</i>, <i>Tnfα</i>, and <i>Ifnγ</i>) and glial cell markers ( <i>Gfap</i> and <i>Cd68</i>) were significantly increased, whereas the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) was reduced during the chronic phase. Similarly, exposure to the aforementioned cytokines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons reduced dendritic complexity and ARC expression. Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons also showed significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation upon treatment with proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that autoimmune neuroinflammation alters structural plasticity in the hippocampus, possibly through the ERK-ARC pathway, indicating that this alteration may be associated with hippocampal dysfunctions in EAE.</p>","PeriodicalId":48636,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Research","volume":"45 2","pages":"398-414"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11017077/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140132949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}