如皋鸡不同时期肌肉组织生长相关基因的表达谱分析

旨在了解如皋鸡不同时期肌肉生长发育机制。本研究利用基因芯片技术,分析在不同生长阶段下(2～12周龄)如皋鸡肌肉组织基因的表达情况。获得了13 379个基因的差异表达动态图谱。在不同生长阶段下肌肉组织生长基因的表达发生变化,与2周龄相比,4和12周龄下调表达的基因数量多于上调表达的基因数量,6、8和10周龄下调表达的基因数量少于上调表达的基因数量。同时对杂交数据进行多种聚类分析。利用实时荧光定量PCR验证4个基因的差异表达,其结果和芯片杂交分析的结果基本一致。初步建立了不同时期肌肉生长应答基因的动态表达谱,比较全面地获得了肌肉生长应答基因,初步揭示了如皋鸡不同时期肌肉生长发育机制。     

Expression of uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1) in the mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period

Rat uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (USAG-1) mRNA is expressed in the uterus during the peri-implantation period, and its mRNA expression in uterine epithelial cells is highest on day 5 of pregnancy. On the other hand, since changes in USAG-1 mRNA expression in the mouse uterus are not seen during the estrous cycle, USAG-1 expression might be specifically regulated by embryonic factors rather than by the maternal environment. However, the expression pattern and function of USAG-1 in the mouse uterus have not been determined. Thus, we examined the tissue-specific USAG-1 mRNA expression in the uteri of ICR mice during peri-implantation using real-time quantitative PCR. Uterine tissues, such as the myometrium, luminal epithelium, and stroma, were collected by laser capture microdissection at 3.5-6.5 dpc. USAG-1 mRNA was expressed in the uteri of pregnant mice from 3.5 dpc to 6.5 dpc, and the highest level of expression was seen at 4.5 dpc (P<0.01). Significantly high USAG-1 mRNA expression was detected in the luminal epithelium at 4.5 dpc (P<0.05). The stroma and myometrium exhibited unchanged expression levels of USAG-1 mRNA at 3.5-5.5 dpc. USAG-1 mRNA was undetectable in blastocysts and implanting embryos. Expression of USAG-1 mRNA appears to be associated with blastocyst implantation to the luminal epithelium, suggesting that physiological or biochemical contact of the blastocyst to the uterus is required for USAG-1 expression.     

Embryo gene expression in pig pregnancy

Pregnancy is a complex process in which significant changes occur continually in both the corpora lutea and in the endometrium of the females and varies depending on the embryonic, pre-implantation or foetal stages. In the embryonic stages, the majority of genes expressed in the pig embryo correspond to the loss of cellular pluripotency. In contrast, the implantation consists of three phases: elongation of the conceptus, adhesion and union of the embryo to the endometrial epithelium. During these phases, many factors are expressed, including growth factors, molecules that facilitate adhesion and cytokines. All these changes are ultimately regulated by different lipid and hormonal substances, specifically by progesterone, oestradiol and prostaglandins, which regulate the expression of many proteins necessary for the development of the embryo, endometrial remodelling and embryo–maternal communication. This paper is a review of primary gene regulatory mechanisms in pigs during different stages of implantation.     

转录组测序筛选山羊妊娠早期胚胎附植相关基因

旨在通过胚胎附植前、后的山羊子宫角组织高通量测序筛选妊娠早期胚胎附植的关键基因。本研究选取2～4岁体重相近((44.76±3.49)kg)的经产努比亚母山羊16只，在同期发情-人工输精配种后的第15(D15)和第30天(D30)分别随机选取3只羊颈动脉放血处死。采集子宫角组织利用Illumina HiSeq进行高通量转录组测序(RNA-Seq)，筛选差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes, DEGs)并对DEGs进行功能注释，基因功能查询进一步筛选与胚胎附植直接相关的调控基因，荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)对筛选的基因进行表达量验证分析。D15和D30子宫角组织转录本比较分析发现了 2 000个DEGs，其中上调基因620个，下调基因1 380个。GO功能聚类分析共分为3大类52组，其中细胞组分17组，生物过程23组，分子功能12组，获得细胞连接与增殖，生物粘附与调节，分子活性与转导等重要生物途径。以D15表达量高低为排序标准，从表达量最高的10个基因中筛选出了与胚胎附植有关的基因MGP和TAGLN；从上调和下调幅度最大的前10个差异表达基因中，获得参与妊娠相关糖蛋白合成与分泌的基因PAG-3、PAG-8、PAG-12，参与生长因子结合与生长激素释放激素受体活性相关基因GHRHR和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白基因IGFBP1。qRT-PCR结果显示，随机选取的6个基因在D15和D30子宫角中表达变化趋势与RNA-Seq结果一致。获得的基因MGP、TAGLN、PAG-3、PAG-8、PAG-12、GHRHR、IGFBP1在努比亚山羊胚胎附植中具有重要作用。     

Expression of MHC-I and -II in Uterine Tissue from Early Pregnant Bitches

The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I and -II in uterine tissues from pregnant and non-pregnant bitches, taken at different time periods after mating. The pregnant bitches were ovariohysterectomized during the pre-implantation (group 1, n = 4), implantation (group 2, n = 7) and placentation stage (group 3, n = 7). Non-pregnant animals in diestrus served as controls (group 4, n = 7). The expression of MHC- I and -II in salpinx, apex, middle horn, corpus uteri and at implantation sites was investigated by immunohistochemistry as well as qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR; MHC-I mRNA was detected in all tissues and with quantitative RT-PCR, and no significant changes were detected until placentation. Immunohistologically, at the apex and corpus site, the average number of MHC-II positive cells increased from the pre-implantation to the post-implantation stage (apex: 1.54 ± 1.21 to 3.82 ± 2.93; corpus: 1.62 ± 1.9 to 5.04 ± 4.95; p < 0.05). The greatest numbers of MHC-II positive cells were observed at placentation sites (6.64 ± 5.9). In parallel, a marked increase in the relative mRNA expression of MHC-II in uterine tissues was assessed from the pre-implantation to the placentation stage (relative to Glycerinaldehyd-3-phosphate-Dehydrogenase (GAPDH): 6.9 ± 9.5, 8.4 ± 5.8, p > 0.05). Immunohistologically, in the salpinx, significantly greater numbers of MHC-II positive cells were found in the tissues of pregnant animals than in the control group (p < 0.05). It is proposed that the increase in MHC-II is pregnancy-related, even though the impact on maintenance of canine pregnancy is still unclear.     

Hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens with different fat deposition during embryonic development

The aim of this study was to explore the hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens with different fat deposition during embryonic development. The mRNA expression of CPT-1 (carmitine palmtoyltransferase-1), PPARα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) and LPL (lipoprotein lipase) genes were determined using Real time RT-PCR. The start of incubation was called day 1 (E1) and after hatching called day 1 (H1). On incubation days 9 (E9), 14 (E14) and 19 (E19) as well as at hatching (H1), samples of liver were collected. Blood samples were obtained during days 14 (E14) and 19 (E19) of embryonic development and at hatching. This study showed that serum TG (triglycerol) decreased and TC (total cholesterol) and NEFA (non-estered fatty acid) increased during embryonic development. The expression of CPT-1, PPARα and LPL genes exhibited different developmental changes. For example, little LPL gene was expressed at hatching and PPARα gene expression peaked before hatching. However, CPT-1 gene exhibited no significance during the embryonic development. Our results showed that expression of these genes in Arbor Acres (AA) broilers was significantly higher than that in San Huang (SH) broilers. Therefore, this study suggested that hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens exhibited developmental changes during embryogenesis and breed difference which may be one of the factors in the fat deposition difference between fat line and lean line broilers during embryonic development.