Segmentation of the Pathophysiological Stages of Diabetic Changes in the db/db Mouse

The db/db mouse is one of the diabetes mellitus animal models and if the pathophysiological stages of diabetic changes in the mouse model could simulate the stages in human diabetes, the db/db mouse could be used to better evaluate drug candidates. Blood insulin, HbA1c levels and morphological features of pancreatic islets in db/db mice were evaluated to determine the pathophysiological stage. At 6 weeks of age, db/db mice showed the highest level of plasma insulin and lowest level of HbA1c, and histopathological examination revealed enlarged islets with a circular shape and hypertrophic islet cells. By 9 and 12 weeks of age, the plasma insulin levels had decreased to mid levels and HbA1c had increased to mid to high levels; histopathological examination at this time revealed two types of islets coexisting, enlarged circular islets and small irregular-shaped islets. By 15 and 22 weeks of age, plasma insulin had decreased further to low levels and HbA1c was at its highest level; the histopathological examination at this time revealed an increase in irregular-shaped and small islets. Based on blood insulin levels, HbA1c levels and histopathology findings in the db/db mice in this study, the clinical staging of diabetic changes were recognized. The pathophysiological stages of diabetes mellitus in this animal model were similar to the stages in humans.     

Nucleotide sequence of myostatin gene and its developmental expression in skeletal muscles of Japanese Black cattle

Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily, is a well known negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. In the present study, the 6660 bp nucleotide sequence of the myostatin gene in Japanese Black cattle (JBC), including the entire coding region of 1128 bp, was determined. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of JBC was well conserved with its sequence of other cattle, although it was found that an Α→G transition at nucleotide position 641 results in the substitution of asparagine by serine at amino acid position 214. In order to examine the expression pattern of the myostatin gene in the skeletal muscles of JBC, its expression in three skeletal muscles, Semitendinosus (ST) muscle, Biceps femoris muscle and Longissimus lumborum muscle, of fetal and calf stages was analyzed by real time polymerase chain reaction. The highest level of the myostatin expression was observed in the fetal stage. In calf stages the highest expression was observed in ST muscle compared with the other two muscles. These results suggest that a higher expression of myostatin gene, especially in the fetal stage and in ST muscle during calf stages, is involved in the arrest in skeletal muscle growth and that its functional domains and genomic structure in JBC are well conserved with those in other mammals.     

Effect of dexamethasone on the expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx in chick skeletal muscle

Expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx, a muscle‐specific E3 ubiquitin ligase, is high under catabolic conditions, that result in muscle atrophy. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx is increased by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone in mammalian skeletal muscle. This study investigated the effects of dexamethasone on expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx in skeletal muscle of neonatal chicks and in chick myotubes. Chicks were given a single intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone at a concentration of 10 mg/kg body weight. Twenty‐four hours after dexamethasone administration, the Pectoralis muscle weight of chicks was decreased. mRNA expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx in skeletal muscle of chicks was significantly increased by dexamethasone administration. Expression of other proteolytic‐related genes (20S proteasome C2 subunit, m‐calpain large subunit, and cathepsin B) in skeletal muscle of chicks was not increased by dexamethasone administration. Chick myotubes were incubated with dexamethasone (1, 10 or 100 µmol/L) for 6 h. Expression of atrogin‐1/MAFbx mRNA in chick myotubes was increased in the presence of all concentrations of dexamethasone. However, expression of other proteolytic‐related genes (20S proteasome C2 subunit, m‐calpain large subunit and cathepsin B) in chick myotubes was not affected by dexamethasone treatment. These results indicate that dexamethasone enhances atrogin‐1/MAFbx expression in chick skeletal muscle, resulting in increased muscle atrophy.     

陕西富硒与非富硒地区山羊组织硒含量和GPX-7基因表达的比较

为了探讨陕西紫阳县(富硒地区)山羊各组织中微量元素硒的含量和谷胱甘肽过氧化酶7(Glutathione Peroxidase 7,GPX-7)基因的表达情况,以及组织中的硒沉积量对GPX-7基因表达的影响。利用原子荧光光谱法对年龄相仿、体质量相近的紫阳县双安镇(n=7)和广成镇(n=7)和宝鸡市陈仓区白山羊体内硒含量进行了测定;同时运用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)相对定量技术测定GPX-7基因mRNA的相对表达量。紫阳双安镇山羊硒含量显著高于紫阳广成镇(P0.05),同时紫阳县均显著高于宝鸡陈仓区(P0.05);但是紫阳双安镇与紫阳广成镇山羊肺脏中硒含量差异不显著(P0.05)。GPX-7基因在各组织器官中广泛表达,但是不同地区的山羊表现出不同的组织差异性。紫阳双安镇山羊心脏、脾脏、肾周脂肪和背最长肌组织中mRNA水平与紫阳广成镇差异不显著(P0.05),但是紫阳地区均显著高于宝鸡陈仓区(P0.05)。在肺脏、肾脏、股二头肌和淋巴组织中,来自不同地区的山羊GPX-7基因mRNA的表达量地差异均两两显著(P0.05),其中紫阳广成镇山羊肺脏的表达量显著高于其他两个地区(P0.05)。由此可见,山羊各组织器官中微量元素硒的沉积量和GPX-7基因mRNA的表达量表现出较为一致的地域趋势,即紫阳双安镇紫阳广成镇宝鸡陈仓区,这表明微量元素硒上调GPX-7基因的表达,但是具有组织差异性。     

皖南花猪骨骼肌AdpR和MyHCmRNA表达的发育性变化

摘要：为探讨皖南花猪骨骼肌组织中脂联素受体（AdpRl、AdpR2）和不同类型肌球蛋白重链（MyHC）mRNA的发育性变化及性别差异,选择0（出生当天）、30、45、90、180日龄的皖南花猪公母各5头,以B～Actin为内标,采用△△Ct相对定量实时荧光PCR方法对背最长肌和半腱肌中AdpRl、AdpR2、MyHCI、MyHC2a、MyHC2b和My-HC2xmRNA进行定量分析。结果显示,背最长肌和半腱肌AdpRl、AdpR2、MyHCl、MyHC2a、MyHC2b和My—HC2XmRNA的表达都有显著或极显著的发育变化规律（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。总体上AdpRl、AdpR2、My—HC2a、MyHC2b和MyHC2XmRNA在背最长肌显著或极显著高于半腱肌（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）;MyHClmRNA在背最长肌极显著低于半腱肌（P〈0．01）。半腱肌MyHClmRNA在母猪显著大于公猪（P〈0．05）,而MyHC2amRNA在母猪显著小于公猪（P〈0．05）。背最长肌和半腱肌AdpR2mRNA的表达分别与MyHCl正相关（P〈0．05）,半腱肌AdpRlmRNA的表达与MyHC2x正相关（P〈0．05）。结果表明,皖南花猪骨骼肌组织中AdpR和MyHC的基因表达有特定的发育模式和组织特异性,且有一定性别差异。     

Increased expression of NOR‐1 mRNA in the skeletal muscles of cold‐exposed neonatal chicks

Nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A (NR4A) subgroup orphan receptors are rapidly induced by various physiological stimuli and have been suggested to regulate oxidative metabolism and muscle mass in mammalian skeletal muscle. The results showed that the NR4A subgroup orphan receptor, NOR‐1 (NR4A3), was acutely increased in skeletal muscles of neonatal chicks in response to short‐term cold exposure. The increased NOR‐1 gene expression was concomitant with cold‐induced changes in gene expression of both myostatin and proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator‐1 (PGC‐1α), and the increase in skeletal muscle mass. These observations suggest that NOR‐1 might play a role in controlling skeletal muscle growth in cold‐exposed neonatal chicks.     

Leucine regulates slow‐twitch muscle fibers expression and mitochondrial function by Sirt1/AMPK signaling in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells

A previous study demonstrated that leucine upregulates the slow myosin heavy chain mRNA expression in C2C12 cells. However, the role of leucine in slow‐twitch muscle fibers expression and mitochondrial function of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells as well as its mechanism remain unclear. In this study, porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells cultured in differentiation medium were treated with 2 mM leucine for 3 days. Sirt1 inhibitor EX527, AMPK inhibitor compound C, and AMPKα1 siRNA were used to examine its underlying mechanism. Here we showed that leucine increased slow‐twitch muscle fibers and mitochondrial function‐related gene expression, as well as increased succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities. Moreover, leucine increased the protein levels of Sirt1 and phospho‐AMPK. We also found that AMPKα1 siRNA, AMPK inhibitor compound C, or Sirt1 inhibitor EX527 attenuated the positive effect of leucine on slow‐twitch muscle fibers and mitochondrial function‐related gene expression. Finally, we showed that Sirt1 was required for leucine‐induced AMPK activation. Our results provide, for the first time, evidence that leucine induces slow‐twitch muscle fibers expression and improves mitochondrial function through Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells.     

Sequential expression of myogenic regulatory factors in bovine skeletal muscle and the satellite cell culture

Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) are important in the control of skeletal muscle development. To understand myogenic regulation by MRFs in bovine adult muscle cells, their expressions, namely that of Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and MRF4 in the biceps femoris muscle (BF) and in the satellite cell culture, were analyzed by RT-PCR. In the BF, all four MRFs were expressed and in particular, myogenin and MRF4 were strongly expressed, whereas Myf5 was faintly expressed. The satellite cells prepared from the BF expressed Myf5, but only a trace of MyoD, at day 9 of culture. During the growth of the cells to day 14, the MyoD and myogenin expressions gradually increased, and that of MyoD expression reached its maximum at the confluence of the culture. After induction of myogenic differentiation by a serum-free medium at day 14, Myf5 expression gradually decreased, and the up-regulated expression of MyoD was suppressed, whereas myogenin expression continued to increase sharply. Following the myogenin expression, MRF4 also drastically increased toward the myotube formation of the cells. When huge myotubes were formed at day 18, Myf5 was expressed at a low level, whereas the MyoD expression remained at a moderate level.     

Effects of delaying post‐hatch feeding on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression in the pectoralis major muscle of newly hatched chicks

Excessive lipid peroxidation negatively affects the physiological response and meat quality of chickens. Delaying post‐hatch feeding was previously found to increase lipid peroxidation in the skeletal muscle of finishing broiler chickens. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of delayed post‐hatch feeding on lipid peroxidation and the mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzymes in the pectoralis major muscle of broiler chicks during the post‐hatching period. Newly hatched chicks either had immediate free access to feed (freely‐fed chicks) or had no access to feed from 0 to 2 days old (delayed‐fed chicks), after which both groups were fed ad libitum until 4 or 13 days old. The lipid peroxidation level was higher in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks at 2, 4, and 13 days old. At 2 days old, the mRNA expressions of Cu/Zn‐SOD, Mn‐SOD, and GPX7 were lower in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks, while catalase mRNA levels did not differ. Furthermore, at 4 and 13 days old, lower mRNA expressions of Cu/Zn‐SOD and Mn‐SOD were observed in the delayed‐fed than freely‐fed chicks. These results suggest that delaying post‐hatch feeding reduces the mRNA levels of Cu/Zn‐SOD and Mn‐SOD, consequently affecting muscle lipid peroxidation in chicks during subsequent growth.     

Reduced dietary protein level influences the free amino acid and gene expression profiles of selected amino acid transceptors in skeletal muscle of growing pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of reduced dietary protein level on growth performance, muscle mass weight, free amino acids (FAA) and gene expression profile of selected amino acid transceptors in different fibre type of skeletal muscle tissues (longissimus dorsi, psoas major, biceps femoris) of growing pigs. A total of 18 cross‐bred growing pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc) with initial body weight (9.57 ± 0.67 kg) were assigned into three dietary treatments: 20% crude protein (CP) diet (normal recommended, NP), 17% CP diet (low protein, LP) and 14% CP diet (very low protein, VLP). The results indicated improved feed‐to‐gain ratio was obtained for pigs fed LP and NP diets (p < 0.01), while the pigs fed VLP diet showed the worst growth performance (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the weights of longissimus dorsi and psoas major muscle between LP and NP groups (p > 0.05). Majority of the determined FAA concentration of LP group were greater than or equal to those of NP group in both longissimus dorsi and psoas major muscle (p < 0.01). Further, the mRNA expression levels of sodium‐coupled neutral amino acid transceptor 2, L‐type amino acid transceptor 1 and proton‐assisted amino acid transceptors 2 were higher in skeletal muscle tissue in LP group compared to those of the pigs fed NP or VLP diet. These results suggested that reduced dietary protein level (3 points of percentage less than recommended level) would upregulate the mRNA expression of amino acid transceptors to enhance the absorption of FAA in skeletal muscle of growing pigs. There seems to be a relationship between response of AA transceptors to the dietary protein level in skeletal muscle tissue of different fibre type. To illustrate the underlying mechanisms will be beneficial to animal nutrition.     

精子受精抗原-1(FA-1) mRNA在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达

本研究通过RT-PCR检测了该基因在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达情况。首先,提取绵羊睾丸组织、附睾头、体、尾部组织总RNA,以此为模板,反转录合成cDNA,自行设计引物,PCR扩增出462 bp的目的DNA。然后,将目的片断克隆入T载体,通过菌液PCR和重组质粒酶切,鉴定重组质粒中的目的DNA。再经序列分析鉴定目的片断。同时,以β-actin为内参照物,进行RT-PCR半定量分析,比较精子受精抗原(FA-1)在睾丸、附睾头、体、尾组织中的表达量。结果表明,FA-1在绵羊睾丸和附睾中均表达。     

Regulation of the expression of key signalling molecules in mTOR pathway of skeletal muscle satellite cells in neonatal chicks: Effects of leucine and glycine–leucine peptide

This study was conducted to analyse the effects of leucine (Leu) and glycine (Gly)‐Leu peptide on expressions of key signalling molecules in mTOR pathway of skeletal muscle satellite cells in neonatal chicks. The 4‐day‐old male AA broilers with similar weight were selected to obtain the broiler skeletal muscle satellite cells with the two‐step method of collagenase‐I and trypsin digestion. The satellite cells were subjected to primary culture in vitro, and they were cultured in DMEM medium with the Leu concentration of 0.2 mM and 2 mM as well as with the Gly‐Leu peptide concentration of 0.2 mM and 2 mM. The experiment lasted for 5 days. The results showed that TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions in the medium with Leu concentration of 2 mM were significantly higher than that in 0.2 mM group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the medium with Gly‐Leu concentration of 2 mM and 0.2 mM on the TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Leu significantly increases TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 mRNA expressions of skeletal muscle satellite cells, but Gly‐Leu peptide has no effect on them.     

圆弧青霉菌毒素—青霉酸对小鼠脾脏组织细胞凋亡和Bcl-2、Bax及Fas/FasL基因mRNA表达的影响

为探讨圆弧青霉菌毒素—青霉酸对小鼠脾脏组织的毒性作用,采用TUNEL法和RT-PCR对染毒后脾脏细胞凋亡和Bcl-2、Bax及Fas/FasL等凋亡相关基因mRNA表达的影响进行研究。结果表明,随着青霉酸染毒剂量的增加,脾脏组织中细胞凋亡数量逐渐增多。染青霉酸低剂量组脾脏组织中Bcl-2、Fas和FasL的表达增加,Bax表达下降,高剂量组和中剂量组中Bax、Fas和FasL表达增加,Bcl-2表达下降,说明青霉酸可能通过促使Bax、Fas/FasL表达增加和Bcl-2表达降低来诱导小鼠脾脏细胞的凋亡。     

小鼠抗青霉素和头孢菌素酰化酶抗体制备及交叉反应研究

为探讨用不同方法制备的抗原对抗体效价的影响以及抗体之间的交叉反应 ,采用 3种不同方法制备的抗原分别免疫 BAL B/ c小鼠 ,制备出抗青霉素酰化酶 α亚基、β亚基和抗头孢菌素酰化酶α亚基、β亚基 4种抗体 ,测定了它们的效价 ;同时还比较了用同一种方法制备的抗原免疫小鼠后制作这两类抗体的效价以及上述 4种抗体之间对应抗原的交叉反应。结果表明 ,用割胶法制备的抗原免疫小鼠后所得抗体效价较高 ;同样用割胶法制备的抗原免疫小鼠后所得的两类抗体效价无显著差异 ;在交叉反应测试中 ,抗头孢菌素酰化酶抗体也能识别青霉素酰化酶 ,但抗青霉素酰化酶抗体却几乎不能识别头孢菌素酰化酶 ,即抗头孢菌素酰化酶抗体更为活跃 ,而抗青霉素酰化酶抗体则更为专一。同类抗体对应抗原 2个亚基之间的交叉反应说明其互相结合部位结构的类似 ,同时也说明只有进一步制作单克隆抗体才能筛选出特异性强的抗体