Effects of antimicrobial peptides on growth,morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of different levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) of antimicrobial peptides on growth, protease activity of foregut, the morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression level in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The results showed that the feed of antimicrobial peptides promote common carp growth, and the optimal dosage of antimicrobial peptides is 200–333 mg/kg in the common carp feed. The protease activity of 200 and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control and other groups (p < 0.05). The foregut villus height with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The crypt depth of 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly lower than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio of villus height and crypt depth of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio with 600 mg/kg group was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The IGF‐I gene expression level of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group and 600 mg/kg group (p < 0.05). The IL‐1β gene expression level of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). These results indicated up‐regulation of growth and immune related genes in antimicrobial peptides fed common carp. Correlation analysis showed that IGF‐I mRNA and IL‐1β mRNA were positively correlated with SGR. IL‐1β mRNA and FCR were significantly negative correlated. It indicated that growth and immune gene common regulated the growth of the carp under antimicrobial peptides intervention. In conclusion, antimicrobial peptides can improve growth and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp. Further studies using molecular biological technique or immunologic methods are required to conclude that antimicrobial peptides are beneficial in common carp.     

Effects of Estradiol and Testosterone on the Expression of Growth‐related Genes in Female and Male Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Nile tilapia exhibits strong sexual growth dimorphism. The potential role of sex steroid hormones in sexual growth dimorphism is not fully understood. We investigated the effects of estradiol (E₂) and testosterone (T) on growth rate, plasma sex hormones, and expression of growth hormone (GH)‐insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) axis genes and muscle regulatory factor (MRF) genes in female and male Nile tilapia. The results revealed that serum concentrations of E₂ and T were significantly higher after correlative injection (P < 0.05). Compared to male fish, female fish had lower growth rates. E₂ increased growth performance in females with no significant effects on males, whereas T significantly increased growth performance in males, with no significant effects on females. In females, E₂ significantly increased expression of ghr1, ghr2, igf1, and igf2, while T decreased igf2 and increased ghr1 and ghr2 expression. In males, T increased expression of igf1, igf2, ghr1, and ghr2, and E₂ decreased expression of igf1, ghr1, and ghr2. Additionally, E₂ and T enhanced the expression of MRF genes (myod1, myod2, myog, and myf5) in female and male fish, respectively. The results suggest that sex steroid hormones play a role in sexual growth dimorphism by regulating the expression of GH‐IGF axis and MRF genes.     

Appetite,metabolism and growth regulation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) exposed to hypoxia at elevated seawater temperature

High temperature combined with low dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most challenging environmental conditions farmed fish experience; thus, understanding their impact on growth regulation is of relevance to cultured and wild populations. This study examines appetite‐ and growth‐regulating mechanisms in Atlantic salmon postsmolt exposed to either high (HO) or low oxygen (LO) at a suboptimally high temperature (17°C). Additionally, the effects of high (HE) and low (LE) dietary energy (DE) were examined. After a month of treatment, analyses of hormones, regulating appetite (ghrelin) and growth (growth hormone receptor ghr1 and insulin‐like growth factor IGF‐1), and free amino acids (FAA) were measured pre‐ and postprandially at ?4, ?2, 0, 2, 4 and 6 h. No preprandial ghrelin peaks were detected despite a significant reduction in feed intake and growth under hypoxia compared to normoxia. LO treatment also had an overall negative effect on survival compared to HO, while nutrient retention efficiency, FCR and plasma FAA concentrations were unaffected (P > 0.05). Feeding HE diet resulted in increased growth (+17%) and improved FCR (?14%) and energy retention efficiency (+26%) independent of DO. Plasma FAA concentrations were unaffected by LO treatment and DE (P > 0.05). Growth regulatory gene expressions possibly reflect an overall lower growth at a high temperature overriding the impacts of DO and DE. This study also indicates that optimal adaptation time to environmental conditions and feeding regime is crucial for establishing a regular hormonal appetite signalling that reflects real feeding anticipation in salmon.     

High dietary energy level stimulates growth hormone receptor and feed utilization in large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) under hypoxic conditions

This study examines how appetite and growth regulation of Atlantic salmon are affected by low dissolved oxygen (LO) and dietary digestible energy levels (DE: high [HE] vs. low [LE]). Long‐term exposure to LO resulted in a reduced feed intake, growth, digestible protein and fat retention efficiencies and increased feed conversation ratio and plasma ghrelin concentrations (p < .05) compared to high dissolved oxygen (HO). Pair‐feeding of rations based on the feed intake of the LO groups, but fed at HO, resulted in a 50% growth improvement in HE diet groups. This suggests that the poor growth under LO was not entirely caused by the reduced feed intake. Salmon adapted to LO by increased haemoglobin concentrations, while osmoregulation was affected by increased plasma chloride concentrations (p < .05). Plasma ghrelin concentration was unaffected by DE (p > .05). Growth regulation was affected by the HE diet, with increased liver and muscle growth hormone receptor ghr1 mRNA (p < .05), regardless of oxygen level. The growth depression due to low oxygen appears to be related to higher metabolic costs, while higher DE upregulates the GH‐IGF system at the ghr1 level and found to be beneficial for growth, feed intake, oxyregulation and osmoregulation under hypoxia.     

Cellular activity and development of enteric,hepatic and muscle tissues of juvenile pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg 1887) fed with lyophilized bovine colostrum

Bovine colostrum, an alternative food of animal origin provided as partial protein source, may constitute an innovative ingredient in fish feeding. Serum insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and cellular activity of enteric, hepatic and muscle tissues of juvenile pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus fed with lyophilized bovine colostrum (LBC) were evaluated. Pacu (8.46 ± 0.74 g; 7.75 ± 0.27 cm, n = 18 in triplicate) were stocked into 18 tanks (300 L; 18 fish per tank, in triplicate) and fed with control diet containing 0% of LBC or experimental diet containing 10% and 20% of LBC inclusion for either 30 or 60 days of experiment. IGF‐1 serum concentration was not affected (P > 0.05) by the diet containing LBC and experimental period. The intestinal and hepatic cellular activity was not influenced by LBC (P > 0.05); however, intestine protein/RNA decreased at 60 days (P < 0.05). The muscle cellular activity was affected by LBC, highest in fish fed with diet containing 10% of LBC (P < 0.05). Between the periods DNA and protein/RNA increased at 60 days, while RNA, protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratio decreased in this same period (P < 0.05). Increased DNA muscle content indicates fish growth by hyperplasia. The results of the present study is related with suitable development of enteric, hepatic and muscle tissues and proper condition of juvenile pacu fed with LBC considering the absence of differences in relation to juveniles that consumed diet without colostrum.     

IGF2基因表达调控及其遗传变异在动物生长发育中的研究进展

胰岛素样生长因子2（insulin-like growth factor 2，IGF2）作为胰岛素类激素家族中重要成员之一，广泛参与机体众多生理代谢过程，在癌症发生、神经调节、糖代谢疾病、骨质疏松、肌肉发育和脂肪沉积等方面具有重要的作用，其功能行使主要通过与受体IGF1R和IGF2R结合或与胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白IGFBPs和IGF2BPs竞争性结合发挥功能。鉴于IGF2基因在肌肉发育和脂肪沉积中的重要作用，发掘IGF2基因相关分子标记并解析其内在调控机理，在畜牧生产中具有重要的意义。研究发现，众多IGF2基因遗传变异与动物的生长发育之间存在显著相关关系，其可能通过影响IGF2基因印记、甲基化状态、转录因子结合或miRNA靶向结合型转录后调控等方式发挥作用。因此，文章综述了IGF2基因表达调控模式，包括IGF2与其受体的调控关系，基因印记与miRNA参与的表观遗传调控，转录因子对其的调节作用，遗传变异等方面的内容，以期为IGF2基因在动物生长发育调控相关研究中提供相应的借鉴，为分子育种提供有效线索。     

鸡生长发育早期骨骼肌IGF1R mRNA表达规律研究

以生长速度不同的花山麻鸡和清远麻鸡为试验素材,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测鸡9、12、16、21胚龄(E9 d、E12 d、E16 d、E21 d)和出雏后7日龄(7 d)时胸肌和腿肌中IGF1R mRNA表达变化情况,并与肌肉质量进行相关性研究。结果发现,21胚龄时,花山麻鸡和清远麻鸡胸肌质量都出现了显著降低,腿肌质量持续增长。花山麻鸡胸肌IGF1R mRNA表达呈前高后低趋势,9胚龄时表达量最高,之后显著降低并维持在较低的水平,出雏后7日龄时表达量再次下降;清远麻鸡在胸肌中的表达则呈“波浪形”,9胚龄和16胚龄表达量升高,其他日龄表达量显著降低。腿肌中,花山麻鸡IGF1R mRNA表达量在16胚龄之后显著降低;清远麻鸡腿肌IGF1R mRNA表达呈依次递减模式,各时间点之间差异显著(P<0.05)。品种间各个时间点胸肌和腿肌IGF1R mRNA表达量均呈显著差异(P<0.05)。两个品种骨骼肌IGF1R mRNA表达与胸肌、腿肌质量均呈极显著相关(P<0.01)。以上结果初步揭示了生长发育早期不同品种鸡胸肌和腿肌IGF1R基因表达发育变化趋势和品种差异,为深入研究IGF1R基因在鸡肌肉发育中的调控机理提供基础资料。     

不同生长阶段尼罗罗非鱼IGF1基因表达分析

摘要：为阐明IGF1基因在罗非鱼生长过程中的表达规律，为罗非鱼的分子选育等工作奠定了理论基础，本实验利用实时荧光定量PCR技术跟踪尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)在不同生长阶段（0、20、40、60、80、125、145、165、185、205天）肝脏和肌肉胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF1）基因表达的发育性变化。结果表明：实验鱼的体重增长过程可以分为快速生长期和平稳期。在快速生长期时，肝脏IGF1基因表达水平较高，平稳期时较低，肝脏中IGF1基因表达情况与体重增长趋势基本吻合。肌肉中IGF1基因mRNA含量要低得多，而且表达模式与肝脏IGF1基因不相同。研究结果提示：IGF1 mRNA的表达具有明显的时空变化和组织特异性。肝脏中IGF1基因的表达量变化与罗非鱼体重增长趋势一致。肌肉中IGF1表达模式与肝脏中不同，提示肌肉中IGF1的分泌和作用有其自身的特异性。     

Association Analysis Between Polymorphism of IGF1 Gene and Growth Traits in Rabbit

This study was aimed to analyze the association of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene polymorphisms with growth traits in rabbit. The technology of DNA pooling, PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing were used to detect the SNP of IGF1 gene. The results showed that T365C was detected in IGF1 gene exon 3 of rabbit. The SNP (C/T) was devised into three genotypes:TT, TC and CC. The relationships between genotypes and growth traits revealed that the birth weight and the weight at 28 days of age in New Zealand rabbit of TT genotype of T365C locus were significantly higher than TC and CC genotypes (P<0.05), the birth weight, the weight at 90 days of age and average daily gain form birth to 90 days of age in Belgian rabbit of TT genotype of T365C locus were significantly higher than TC and CC genotypes (P<0.05), there were no significant difference of the growth traits in other rabbit breeds (P>0.05).The consequence indicated that IGF1 gene was primarily deduced to be a potential major gene or linked to major gene effecting the growth traits of rabbit, and this SNP (T365C) might be a candidate molecular genetic markers to improve the growth traits of rabbit.