肌肉发生相关长链非编码RNA研究进展

肌肉参与机体的运动、协调和体温调节等一系列生命活动,同时畜禽肌肉是人类重要的蛋白质来源。肌肉发生过程中的不同调控机制可引起肌肉发育的阶段性差异,而整个肌肉发育主要以两个时期（胚胎期和出生后）的发育状态体现。长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一类不具有蛋白编码能力且长度>200 nt的RNA分子。近年来,随着基因组学和分子生物学技术的高速发展,发现lncRNA广泛参与到肌肉发育的各个阶段,以多种作用机制调控肌肉的发育过程。作者介绍了肌肉的发育过程,综述了目前发现的与肌肉发育相关的lncRNAs及其作用机制,并阐述其在肌肉发育的不同阶段发挥的重要作用,为进一步研究肌肉发育相关lncRNAs提供了参考。     

MSTN基因对牛肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路的影响

为探究肌肉生长抑制素（myostatin,MSTN）对牛骨骼肌生长发育的作用机制,本研究前期利用定量蛋白质组学与磷酸化蛋白质组学分析野生型蒙古牛（MG.WT）和MSTN^+/-蒙古牛（MG.MSTN^+/-）腿臀肌肌肉组织中蛋白质水平和磷酸化修饰水平的差异变化,使用已建立的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞体外诱导成肌分化模型,检测设计合成的MSTN siRNA （si-MSTN）干扰效果;采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blotting方法检测转染si-MSTN的增殖期（GM）和分化第3天（DM3）牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因的mRNA和蛋白水平的表达变化,研究敲低MSTN表达对肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路的影响。结果显示,在MSTN^+/-蒙古牛肌肉组织中共鉴定到16个肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因表达丰度上调;转染si-MSTN细胞中的MSTN表达水平极显著降低（P<0.01）;在转染si-MSTN的GM期牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中,肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因ENAH、ACTN4和Cdc42的mRNA水平均显著升高（P<0.05）,PFN1、RhoA和ACTN4的蛋白水平均显著或极显著升高（P<0.05;P<0.01）;在转染si-MSTN的DM3牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中,ENAH、CFL1、SCIN和Cdc42基因mRNA水平均显著升高（P<0.05）,RhoA基因mRNA水平极显著升高（P<0.01）,PFN1和ACTN4的蛋白水平均显著升高（P<0.05）。结果表明,干扰MSTN可以促进肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因的表达,探明了MSTN可能通过介导肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路影响牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖和成肌分化的分子机制,为进一步研究MSTN对牛成肌分化的调控机制提供参考。     

VD在骨骼外系统中的作用及其研究进展

以往普遍认为VD的主要功能是调节Ca离子来促进骨骼的生长和预防佝偻病,但最近几年的研究发现,VD不仅在骨骼疾病中起到重要作用,还与多种骨骼外疾病密切相关,包括一些心血管疾病、代谢紊乱有关的疾病、恶性肿瘤、过敏性疾病、自身免疫性疾病、生殖方面影响等。目前对VD生物学功能的研究比较全面和深入,但大部分是针对人体和小鼠的基础研究,对诸如牛、猪、犬、猫等不同动物VD的骨骼外系统生物学功能的研究较少。在查阅相关文献的基础上,通过对VD在血压、免疫调节、内分泌、子宫内膜和骨骼肌方面的生物学功能和研究进展进行总结,为不同动物VD在骨骼外系统生物学功能的研究提供一定参考。     

Expression Analysis of THBS3 Gene in Different Tissues and Skeletal Muscles at Different Periods from Landrace and Tongcheng Pigs

To study the expression pattern of THBS3 gene in different tissues and during skeletal muscle development, the THBS3 gene expression in different tissues and skeletal muscles during prenatal periods (33, 45, 65, 70 and 90 d) and postnatal periods (0, 9, 30, 60, 120 and 160 d) from Landrace and Tongcheng pigs were detected by Real-time quantification PCR.The results showed that THBS3 gene widely expressed in all tissues examined, exhibiting similar spatial expression patterns with expression peaks in lung in both pig breeds except in stomach and intestine.Moreover, although THBS3 gene showed a significant higher expression level in gestation than after birth in Landrace and Tongcheng pigs (P<0.05), it exhibited different expression patterns between Landrace and Tongcheng pigs, the expression peak was detected at gestation day 45 in Landrace pig, while was detected at gestation day 65 in Tongcheng pig.The results suggested that THBS3 gene involved in skeletal muscle growth and development in pigs, as well as the regulation of asynchronization of skeletal muscle development in different pig breeds.     

Leiomyoma of the third eyelid in a dog

A 14‐year‐old neutered male Dachshund presented for the evaluation of oculus dexter (OD) third eyelid elevation ongoing for approximately 2 months. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed a large, nonpainful, well‐demarcated, soft mass at the base of the right third eyelid causing elevation and mild hyperemia. The mass was freely moveable with the third eyelid, and no right globe deviation was noted. No other abnormalities were noted on physical examination, routine blood chemistry, complete blood count, serum T4, urinalysis, or urine cortisol/creatinine ratio. Ocular B‐mode ultrasonography showed an anechoic, well‐demarcated, homogenous, soft tissue mass at the base of the third eyelid with no orbital extension. A leiomyoma was diagnosed after multiple punch biopsies were obtained from the palpebral surface of the mass. The right third eyelid was excised surgically. Histopathology confirmed a completely excised, nodular, unencapsulated, expansile mass within the third eyelid. Positive smooth muscle actin and negative S‐100 immunohistochemistry confirmed a leiomyoma. Bundles of normal smooth muscle were also present adjacent to the mass. The mass was compressing the adjacent lacrimal gland and associated with moderate dacryoadenitis. Twelve months postoperatively, the right globe position and motility remain normal with no evidence of mass regrowth. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of a leiomyoma of the third eyelid in any species. In this case, the mass was completely excised and no regrowth has occurred twelve months after surgery. This case along with independently reviewed canine third eyelids clearly demonstrates the presence of smooth muscle within the canine third eyelid.     

Characterization of tuberculous granulomas in different stages of progression and associated tertiary lymphoid tissue in goats experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis

Oral infection of goats with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) resulted in a large variety of granulomas in organized gut-associated lymphatic tissues and intestinal lymph nodes. To characterize the cellular composition of granulomas, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, γδ, B lymphocytes and plasma, CD25⁺, CD68⁺, MHC-II⁺, Ki67⁺ and endothelial cells were labeled in consecutive frozen sections by immunohistochemistry and acid fast bacilli (AFB) by Kinyoun stain. Granulomas with extensive necrosis, little mineralization and variable numbers of AFB surrounded by many CD4⁺ T cells, but only few epitheloid macrophages were observed in severely sick goats at 2–3 mpi. They were interpreted as exuberant immune reaction. Organized granulomas with very few AFB were seen in clinically healthy goats at 13 mpi. The necrotic cores were surrounded by a zone of granulomatous infiltrate with many epitheloid macrophages and few lymphocytes. This zone was initially wide and highly vascularized and became progressively smaller. It was enclosed by an increasing layer of connective tissue. All organized granulomas were surrounded by compartimentalized tertiary lymphoid tissue. The granulomas in experimental infection of goats with MAH reflect the heterogeneity of lesions seen in mycobacterial infections of humans and ruminants and are therefore valuable for comparative research.     

Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty‐four Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non‐carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p < 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p < 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p > 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p < 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p < 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non‐protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.