Regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 activity during meiosis resumption in mammals

In vivo, resumption of oocyte meiosis occurs in large ovarian follicles after the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH surge leads to the activation of a broad signaling network in mural granulosa cells equipped with LH receptors. The signals generated in the mural granulosa cells are further augmented by locally produced peptides or steroids and transferred to the cumulus cell compartment and the oocyte itself. Over the last decade, essential progress has been made in the identification of molecular events associated with the final maturation and ovulation of mammalian oocytes. All new evidence argues for a multiple roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1) in the gonadotropin-induced ovulation processes. However, the knowledge of gonadotropin-induced signaling pathways leading to MAPK3/1 activation in follicular cells seems limited. To date, only the LH-induced transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor/MAPK3/1 pathway has been described in granulosa/cumulus cells even though other mechanisms of MAPK3/1 activation have been detected in other types of cells. In this review, we aimed to summarize recent advances in the elucidation of gonadotropin-induced mechanisms leading to the activation of MAPK3/1 in preovulatory follicles and cultured cumulus-oocyte complexes and to point out a specific role of this kinase in the processes accompanying final maturation of the mammalian oocyte.     

Feeding Solanum glaucophyllum to preparturient multiparous cows prevents postparturient hypocalcemia

Solanum glaucophyllum (SG) contains 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25‐(OH)₂D₃) glycosides. We investigated the effect of SG on hypocalcemia in cows. Serum levels of 1,25‐(OH)₂D₃, total calcium and phosphorus dose‐relatedly increased after feeding with SG, while serum magnesium and chloride levels fell (P < 0.05). We also performed an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) infusion to induce artificial hypocalcemia. Cows that had been fed 4.0 mg/kg body weight of SG daily for 2 weeks had a higher serum concentration of total calcium at the end of EDTA infusion than those not fed SG (P < 0.05). In a field trial, multiparous cows were assigned to one of four groups: (1) no SG, (2) 1.3 g or (3) 2.6 g of SG daily from 14 days before the estimated calving day until 3 days after calving, or (4) a single feed of 35.75 g SG at 3 days before the estimated calving day. The concentrations of serum total calcium after the calving in each treatment group were (1) 7.4, (2) 7.9, (3) 8.0 and (4) 8.9 mg/dL and higher for (4) than for (1) (P < 0.05). The data suggests that feeding a high dose of SG before the calving may maintain higher concentrations of serum calcium after the calving.     

Comparative analysis of MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathway activation and inhibition in human and canine melanoma

The lack of advanced animal models of human cancers is considered a barrier to developing effective therapeutics. Canine and human melanomas are histologically disparate but show similar disease progression and response to therapies. The purpose of these studies was to compare human and canine melanoma tumours and cell lines regarding MAPK and PI3K/AKT signalling dysregulation, and response to select molecularly targeted agents. Pathway activation was investigated via microarray and mutational analysis. Growth inhibition and cell cycle effects were assessed for pathway inhibitors AZD6244 (MAPK) and rapamycin (PI3K/AKT) in human and canine melanoma cells. Human and canine melanoma share similar differential gene expression patterns within the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Constitutive pathway activation and similar sensitivity to AZD6244 and rapamycin was observed in human and canine cells. These results show that human and canine melanoma share activation and sensitivity to inhibition of cancer‐related signalling pathways despite differences in activating mutations.     

生物钟基因在绒山羊皮肤中表达模式的比较

文章旨在研究绒山羊皮肤生物钟基因clock、tim、per1和cry1的表达模式,进而分析其在绒山羊皮肤组织中的作用及相互关系。生物钟基因形成一个转录-翻译反馈环,通过钟基因在绒山羊皮肤生长周期进行高表达,激活per1和cry1基因的转录-转化过程,从而在mRNA和蛋白水平的调控下进行有节律的表达。结果表明,这些生物钟基因在绒山羊皮肤中的表达量依次为:clocktimper1cry1;皮肤次级毛囊兴盛期,高振幅clock、per1、tim、cry1的节律表达分别出现在一天中的04∶00、08∶00、08∶00、16∶00;皮肤次级毛囊休止期,这些基因的高振幅节律表达分别出现在一天中的08∶00、04∶00、04∶00、16∶00。另外,cry1、per1基因的表达在生物钟基因正反馈循环中被激活,tim基因的表达在生物钟基因的负反馈循环中被激活。因此,clock、tim、per1和cry1调控下运行的钟基因反馈环是绒毛生长呈周期性现象的基础。     

Expression of Proton-dependent Oligopeptide Transporters (POTs) in Calves' Tissues

This test was designed to study the expression of POTs (PepT1, PepT2, PHT1 and PHT2) mRNA in calves'tissues.Tissue-specific expression of the mRNA corresponding to peptide transporter protein in four 3-month-old Chinese Holstein calves was examined by relative quantitative RT-PCR analysis.The results showed that the expression of PepT1 mRNA in the rumen was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart and muscle (P<0.01);The expression of PepT2 mRNA in the liver and kidney was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart, spleen, thymus, muscle, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum (P<0.01);The expression of PHT1 mRNA in the lung and spleen was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart and muscle (P<0.01);The expression of PHT2 mRNA in the lung and thymus was significantly higher than that in the heart, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum (P<0.05).The results indicated that PepT1, PepT2, PHT1 and PHT2 mRNA were respectively abundantly expressed in rumen, kidney and liver, spleen and lung, lung and thymus.     

Wnt/β-catenin信号通路上游基因在山羊绒周期性再生及着色过程中的表达分析

为初步探究Wnt/β-catenin信号通路是否参与山羊绒周期性再生及着色过程,本试验采用实时荧光定量技术对Wnt/β-catenin信号通路上游基因β-catenin、Lef1/Tcf3及该通路拮抗基因Dkk1mRNA在白色绒山羊绒毛生长不同时期及黑、白色绒山羊绒毛生长旺盛期时体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量进行研究。结果显示,上述通路中β-catenin、Lef1/Tcf3基因mRNA在白色绒山羊不同时期体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量具有明显变化规律即生长前期缓慢上调,旺盛期时表达量最高,生长后期及退行期逐渐下调,休止期表达量最低;Dkk1基因mRNA在白色绒山羊不同时期体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量则无明显规律性。上述各基因mRNA在黑、白色绒山羊生长旺盛期时体侧部皮肤组织中的相对表达量并无显著差异(P0.05)。结果提示,Wnt/β-catenin信号通路参与山羊绒周期性再生过程,但该通路并不涉及生长旺盛期时绒毛的着色过程。     

绵羊多羔主效基因BMPR1B的研究进展

骨形态发生蛋白受体1B(Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B,BMPR1B)是一种重要的跨膜受体蛋白,主要参与转化生长因子β(TGF-β)通路,其在调控成骨分化、细胞扩散以及卵巢卵泡发育等过程中起重要作用,并直接影响如绵羊等动物的繁殖性状。绵羊BMPR1B基因发生A746G突变(命名为FecB突变),导致第249位氨基酸由谷氨酰胺(Q)转变为精氨酸(R),进而使得绵羊排卵数和产羔数显著增加,因此BMPR1B成为目前最受关注的绵羊多羔主效基因。论文就绵羊BMPR1B基因定位、功能机制研究进展及其对高繁殖力绵羊的影响进行了综述,同时也对BMPR1B功能研究中一些亟待解决的问题展开了讨论。     

柞蚕雄蛾油对大鼠辅助降血脂功能的影响研究

为研究柞蚕雄蛾油对小鼠血脂代谢的影响,进行了雄性Wistar大鼠高脂饲料与不同剂量柞蚕雄蛾油的喂养试验,每4天称体重一次,每4天测定小鼠肝系数及血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL‐C）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL‐C）一次。结果表明：3个剂量组TC、TG、LDL‐C含量与高脂模型组比较显著低于高脂模型组,而HDL‐C显著高于模型组,具有显著性差异（P＜0．05）。     

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak Investigation: Application of the FAO‐OIE‐WHO Four‐way Linking Framework in Indonesia

WHO, FAO and OIE developed a ‘four‐way linking’ framework to enhance the cross‐sectoral sharing of epidemiological and virological information in responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks. In Indonesia, outbreak response challenges include completeness of data shared between human and animal health authorities. The four‐way linking framework (human health laboratory/epidemiology and animal health laboratory/epidemiology) was applied in the investigation of the 193rd human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. As recommended by the framework, outbreak investigation and risk assessment findings were shared. On 18 June 2013, a hospital in West Java Province reported a suspect H5N1 case in a 2‐year‐old male. The case was laboratory‐confirmed that evening, and the information was immediately shared with the Ministry of Agriculture. The human health epidemiology/laboratory team investigated the outbreak and conducted an initial risk assessment on 19 June. The likelihood of secondary cases was deemed low as none of the case contacts were sick. By 3 July, no secondary cases associated with the outbreak were identified. The animal health epidemiology/laboratory investigation was conducted on 19–25 June and found that a live bird market visited by the case was positive for H5N1 virus. Once both human and market virus isolates were sequenced, a second risk assessment was conducted jointly by the human health and animal health epidemiology/laboratory teams. This assessment concluded that the likelihood of additional human cases associated with this outbreak was low but that future sporadic human infections could not be ruled out because of challenges in controlling H5N1 virus contamination in markets. Findings from the outbreak investigation and risk assessments were shared with stakeholders at both Ministries. The four‐way linking framework clarified the type of data to be shared. Both human health and animal health teams made ample data available, and there was cooperation to achieve risk assessment objectives.