绵羊发情周期不同组织Cry1mRNA 转录水平相对定量研究

研究表明,时钟基因Cry1在哺乳动物季节性繁殖内分泌过程中可能发挥了重要作用。文章以多浪羊(非季节性繁殖)和中国美利奴羊(季节性繁殖)为研究对象,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术对下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴主要组织Cry1在发情周期不同阶段的表达变化情况进行了跟踪检测。结果表明:绵羊Cry1在所检测组织中均有表达,其中松果体和甲状腺Cry1的表达水平较高;不同绵羊品种Cry1在发情周期不同阶段的组织表达谱基本一致,除下丘脑外,卵巢、子宫、松果体、垂体和甲状腺中Cry1的表达水平均是在发情前期达到峰值;卵巢、子宫、垂体和松果体Cry1在发情前期和发情期的表达变化幅度存在显著的品种间差异。研究结果表明:Cry1可能具有启动发情和季节性繁殖的重要作用。     

不同品种绵羊发情周期LEPRb mRNA表达分析

为了探讨LEPR在绵羊季节性发情中的表达特点,以季节性发情的中国美利奴和常年发情的多浪羊为研究对象,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测繁殖季节不同发情阶段LEPRb m RNA在下丘脑、卵巢和子宫组织中的表达变化。结果显示,在发情间期、前期和发情期中国美利奴卵巢和子宫组织LEPRb的相对表达水平都低于下丘脑,但在发情后期卵巢和子宫LEPRb的相对表达水平显著高于下丘脑。不同发情时期,两品种绵羊同一组织的LEPRb的表达变化幅度有所差异,但趋势相似。且中国美利奴各组织LEPRb的表达水平都高于常年发情的多浪羊。LEPRb的表达变化与绵羊发情存在相关关系。     

Leptin基因多态性与绵羊季节性发情的相关分析

根据leptin基因在GenBank中的已知序列设计两对引物,采用PCR-SSCP技术在常年发情的湖羊和季节性发情的阿勒泰羊群体中进行单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)检测,对筛查到的SNP位点进行基因型与绵羊季节性发情的关联分析。结果表明,与湖羊相比,阿勒泰羊leptin基因第1内含子上有3个连续碱基TTG的插入和C/T碱基突变;第3外显子3上发生G/T碱基突变,编码氨基酸由缬氨酸变成亮氨酸。Leptin外显子2扩增片段上检测到AA、AB、BB三种基因型,BB基因型在阿勒泰羊群体中属于优势基因型;对两个群体进行基因型频率独立性χ2检验,差异极显著(P0.001),说明BB基因型是影响季节性发情的有利基因型。研究结果提示,绵羊品种中Leptin基因序列的差异性可能是造成绵羊季节性发情的原因之一,可作为常年发情绵羊品种选育的辅助标记。     

绵羊ILK基因的克隆及其在毛囊生长期的表达

整合素连接激酶(ILK)是一种支架蛋白,在毛囊发育过程中发挥重要作用。文章利用PCR技术,首次获得绵羊ILK基因的编码区全长序列,并进行了生物信息学分析;同时对该基因的组织表达谱及其在不同绵羊品种毛囊生长期皮肤组织中的表达变化进行了研究。结果表明,绵羊ILK基因ORF全长1 359 bp,编码452个氨基酸。ILK蛋白结构经预测含有3个锚定重复序列和1个激酶结构域,并存在多个磷酸化位点和蛋白激酶C的磷酸化位点。半定量RT-PCR结果显示该基因在绵羊心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、骨骼肌、皮肤和小肠组织中均有表达,皮肤、脾脏和肝脏中表达量较高;实时荧光定量PCR结果表明在3~5月份(毛囊生长起始期),ILK基因在中国美利奴超细型和哈萨克羊皮肤组织中的表达水平较高并均呈逐月上升趋势;在6~10月份(毛囊生长期),中国美利奴超细型皮肤ILK基因表达水平高于同期的哈萨克羊。分析认为ILK可能在调控绵羊次级毛囊生长发育过程中起一定作用。     

阿勒泰羊不同繁殖状态下丘脑Kiss1基因表达规律与其季节性繁殖的关联性分析

为了研究Kiss1基因在阿勒泰羊中的组织表达情况,及其在不同发情状态阿勒泰羊下丘脑中表达量的变化,本研究探讨其在阿勒泰羊季节性发情调控中的作用机理。本研究以季节性发情的阿勒泰羊为研究对象,首先使用半定量RT-PCR对发情盛期阿勒泰羊下丘脑、垂体、卵巢、心肌等10个组织中Kiss1基因的表达情况进行了检测,并使用q RT-PCR技术对发情前期、发情盛期、发情末期和间情期状态阿勒泰羊下丘脑中Kiss1基因的表达变化进行研究。结果表明,Kiss1基因在发情盛期阿勒泰羊的下丘脑中高表达,在垂体、卵巢和甲状腺中表达量相对较低,在心、肝、脾、肺、肾和肌肉中不表达。Kiss1基因在乏情期(夏至日前后)阿勒泰羊下丘脑中的表达量很低,至发情前期下丘脑中Kiss1基因的表达量迅速上升,并达到峰值,极显著高于乏情期和间情期(p0.01)。发情启动后,下丘脑中Kiss1基因的表达量逐渐下降,其中发情盛期和发情末期的表达量之间差异不显著(p0.05),但是显著高于间情期(p0.05),极显著高于乏情期(p0.01),间情期的表达量又显著高于乏情期(p0.05)。以上数据提示Kiss1基因可能主要在诱导阿勒泰羊发情启动阶段发挥重要作用。     

牦牛KISS-1基因的克隆及其在生殖轴的表达

KISS-1在动物繁殖调控中具有重要作用,旨为探讨KISS-1基因在牦牛季节性繁殖中的调控作用。实验采集5头成年母牦牛和5头黄牛的下丘脑、垂体等组织,利用RT-PCR和q PCR技术研究其KISS-1基因序列及组织表达特性。结果表明,牦牛和黄牛KISS-1基因编码区长度为408 bp,编码135个氨基酸,比对分析发现牦牛和黄牛基因编码区存在7处碱基突变。牦牛KISS-1基因氨基酸序列与黄牛、藏山羊、绵羊、野猪、人和褐家鼠的同源性分别为97%、85%、65%、55%和51.5%。KISS-1基因m RNA在牦牛和黄牛的下丘脑、垂体、卵巢、输卵管及子宫中均有表达。在下丘脑和脑垂体的表达丰度高,但两物种间无显著性差异(P0.05)。说明KISS-1基因在动物进化中比较保守,对牦牛季节性繁殖的调控作用有待进一步研究。     

国内信息

用PCR-RFLP法分析绵羊4品种褪黑激素受体1a基因第二外显子近几年的研究表明,裉黑激素通过与高亲和性G蛋白耦联受体结合,调节哺乳动物的季节性昼夜繁殖节律和繁殖变化,同时还发现内切酶MnlI酶切位点的基因型与Merinos d′Arles母绵羊季节性不排卵活动相关联。为此,为提高绵羊的繁殖率,扬州大学季从亮博士、中国农科院畜牧所储明星研究员和聊城大学周国利先生等用PCR-RFLP分析法对4个绵羊(小尾寒羊、湖羊、多赛特羊和萨福克羊共146只)褪黑激素受体1a基因第二外显子作了研究。他们采用2种限制性内切核酸酶MnlI和RsaI对常年发情的小尾…     

绵羊BTG1基因的半定量RT-PCR及生物信息学分析

B细胞易位基因1(BTG1基因)是BTG/TOB基因家族的成员之一,在动物细胞的增殖和分化中起重要的作用．利用牛BTG1基因的mRNA序列与绵羊的EST数据库进行Blast检索,并通过序列拼接和逆转录RT-PCR方法首次获得绵羊BTG1基因的部分cDNA序列（GenBank登录号FJ444829）,其片段长度为1 358 bp,包括完整的开放阅读框516 bp,编码171个氨基酸．半定量PCR研究结果表明：BTG1基因在小尾寒羊和陶赛特羊的10种组织中均表达,并具有一致的表达趋势．同源分析结果表明,绵羊BTG1蛋白的氨基酸序列中存在BTG/TOB的保守结构域,并且该蛋白在不同物种间具有很高的保守性．通过生物信息学预测BTG1蛋白功能,发现绵羊BTG1蛋白存在1个跨膜结构域、8个磷酸化位点和1个特异性蛋白激酶磷酸化位点．蛋白质结构同源建模分析表明,绵羊BTG1蛋白具有BTG/TOB蛋白家族的典型空间结构．     

基于iTRAQ蛋白定量技术对多浪羊不同生理时期卵巢候选蛋白生物标志物的筛选

应用同位素标记相对和绝对定量(iTRAQ)技术筛选多浪羊(Dolang sheep)发情期、发情间期和妊娠期差异表达蛋白质,为发情调控与鉴定、早期妊娠诊断等研究提供基础.通过iTRAQ并结合液相色谱串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)技术,鉴定出4845个蛋白,其中显著差异蛋白470个.与发情间期相比,发情期上调蛋白18个,下调蛋白102个,妊娠期上调蛋白20个,下调蛋白60个;与发情期相比,妊娠期上调蛋白50个,下调蛋白24个;上调蛋白中有 cyclin-Y isoform X1,cleavages timulation factor subunit 1 isoform X1,follistatin-related protein 1 isoform X2,nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase isoform X1,下调蛋白中 hemopexin isoform X1,apolipoprotein A-Ⅱ,nucleophosmin等蛋白与激素生成、发情调控、合子的产生与凋亡、早期胚胎附植及胚胎发育等功能有关,其中相对于发情期和发情间情期,cyclin-Y isoform X1和nicotinate phosphoribosyltrans-ferase isoform X1在妊娠期显著上调.试验通过iTRAQ蛋白质组学技术鉴定出的多浪羊发情及妊娠相关的差异蛋白质,为进一步探索绵羊发情鉴定和早期妊娠诊断候选生物标志物提供了新的思路和方法.     

CKS1B参与拟穴青蟹性腺发育的研究

CDC28蛋白激酶调节亚基1B(CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 1B,CKS1B)是高度保守的CKS1家族成员之一,在细胞周期中作为细胞周期蛋白激酶的调节亚基参与调控真核生物的细胞分裂。因此,研究CKS1家族基因参与甲壳动物性腺发育调节的分子机制具有重要的意义。从已构建的拟穴青蟹性腺EST数据库中筛选到CKS1B基因片段,继而克隆出其全长c DNA序列(Sp-CKS1B),并利用q RT-PCR技术检测其在不同组织和性腺不同发育阶段中的差异表达。结果显示,获得Sp-CKS1B的全长c DNA序列722 bp,其中5'UTR为82 bp,3'UTR为379 bp,开放阅读框261 bp,编码86个氨基酸,包含一段典型的CKS保守序列,属于CKS家族蛋白。在不同组织q RT-PCR结果显示,Sp-CKS1B基因在O5期雌蟹卵巢中的表达水平最高,并与其他组织具有极显著差异(P0.01);同时,在性腺不同发育阶段的表达结果显示,Sp-CKS1B基因在精巢T1期的表达量最高,其次为O5期,二者显著高于卵巢O1-O4期的表达水平(P0.05);而在精巢T3期的表达量最低,并显著低于T1、T2以及卵巢O4、O5期的表达水平(P0.05)。结果说明了Sp-CKS1B在拟穴青蟹的性腺发育过程中可能具有十分重要的作用。     

Association between expression of reproductive seasonality and alleles of melatonin receptor 1A in goats

To determine whether a link exists between reproductive seasonality and the structure of the melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene, the latter was studied in year-round estrous breeds (Jining Grey and Boer goats) and seasonal estrous breeds (Liaoning Cashmere, Inner Mongolia Cashmere, Wendeng milk and Beijing native goats). A large fragment of exon 2 of MTNR1A gene was amplified by PCR using sheep sense and antisense primers in 260 does of six breeds. The uniform 824 bp PCR product was digested with restriction endonucleases MnII and RsaI, and checked for the presence of restriction sites. No polymorphism at the MnII cleavage sites was detected in all six goat breeds and no relationship could be established between the MnII cleavage sites of MTNR1A gene and reproductive seasonality in goats. For polymorphic RsaI cleavage site at base position 53, only genotype RR (267 bp/267 bp) was detected in Jining Grey goats, both genotype RR and genotype Rr (267 bp/320 bp) were found in all other goat breeds, no genotype rr (320 bp/320 bp) was detected in all six goat breeds. Frequency of genotype RR was obviously higher, and frequency of genotype Rr was obviously lower in year-round estrous goat breeds than in seasonal estrous goat breeds. Sequencing revealed one mutation (G52A) in genotype Rr compared with genotype RR. For polymorphic RsaI cleavage site, the differences of genotype distributions were significant (P<0.05) between year-round estrous goat breeds and seasonal estrous goat breeds. These results preliminarily showed an association between genotype RR and year-round estrus in goats, and an association between genotype Rr and seasonal estrus in goats.     

Expression of ghrelin in the porcine hypothalamo-pituitary-ovary axis during the estrous cycle

Ghrelin, a 28-amino acid acylated peptide produced mainly by the stomach, has various functions. Recent studies focus on its endocrine and/or paracrine effects in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, that is, the role in reproduction. Previous data have shown that variation of ghrelin depended on the phases of estrous cycle in adult rat ovary. This study was to investigate the expression of ghrelin in the cyclic porcine hypothalamo-pituitary-ovary axis and stomach by semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method. Twenty virginal gilts were classified into four groups as the proestrus, estrus, diestrus1 and diestrus2. Results showed that expression of ghrelin mRNA in the hypothalamus changed with the estrous cycle, i.e., with the highest level in the proestrus and the lowest in the estrus. In the pituitary, the pattern of ghrelin mRNA expression during estrous cycle markedly decreased in the estrus and diestrus1. In the ovary, ghrelin mRNA exhibited with the highest level in the diestrus2 and the lowest in the proestrus, which was different from those in the hypothalamus and pituitary. In the stomach, the expression of ghrelin mRNA had the same tendency as that of the porcine ovary. In immunohistochemical experiment, ghrelin immunoreactive cells were predominantly located in the luteal compartment and growing follicles in the luteal phase of ovary. However, only few ghrelin immunoreactive cells were found in the proestrus ovary. In gastric mucosa, ghrelin immunoreactive cells were detected in the estrus, diestrus1 and diestrus2, but few ghrelin positive cells were seen in the proestrus. Results suggest that ghrelin may play a major role in the endocrine network that integrates energy balance and reproduction.     

Relationship between the thyroidal and gonadal axes during the estrous cycle of ewes of different breeds and ages

In order to define the patterns of TSH, T4, T3, rT3, GH and cortisol during the estrous cycle of sheep, pluriparous and primiparous ewes were synchronized with progestagen-impregnated pessaries (Veramix) at the start of the normal breeding season. After the pessaries were removed (day 0), daily blood sampling was carried out in cannulated ewes during the ovulatory cycle. Hormonal analyses of TSH, T4, T3, rT3, GH, cortisol, LH and progesterone (P) were performed by RIA. P and LH levels during the cycle were conform to the literature and were not different between the primiparous and pluriparous ewes of different breeds used in this study. Neither age nor breed influenced the hormone patterns. A significant negative correlation was found between TSH and P during the cycle, although the correlation between P and T4 was not significant; during the estrous period, low P levels were paralleled by high T4 levels, whereas the reverse was observed during the luteal phase. Higher T3 levels and T3/T4 ratios were observed during the luteal phase. No obvious pattern of rT3 and cortisol during the cycle was found. The GH concentration increased during the 17 days of the cycle. A positive correlation with P was calculated. During the estrous cycle obvious changes in thyroid hormones, GH and TSH occurred. However, this study shows no causal relationship between the thyroid and the gonadal axes.     

Estrous activity in different breeds and breed crosses of sheep

Estrus was monitored in 715 straightbred and crossbred ewes during spring lactation, postweaning, summer and/or late summer breeding periods. Straightbred ewes were comprised of seven breeds, and crossbreds consisted of Rambouillet- and Finnsheep-sired ewes of the seven breeds. Estrus was detected in 5.4% of the Rambouillet and Finnsheep crossbred ewes during lactation. After weaning, the incidence of estrus was 1.1% in all crossbred and straightbred ewes. The incidence of estrus was 5.2% for all ewes during the summer period. During late summer (July 28 to August 17), 42% of all ewes showed estrus and both breed of sire and breed of dam influenced estrous activity (P<0.01). Straightbred Rambouillet, Targhee, Dorset and most Rambouillet-sired crossbred ewes showed the greatest estrous activity and could be the genetic stock of choice for early lamb production. Straightbred Hampshire, Suffolk and most Finnsheep crossbred ewes showed estrous activity later in the season. Results support the conclusion that certain sheep breeds and breed crosses show estrous activity during August, while other breeds and breed crosses begin estrous activity later and continue until March or April. Thus, lambs may be produced from January through September each year by maintaining several different breeds or breed crosses in the breeding flock.     

Aspects of central and peripheral regulation of reproduction in mammals

To increase our knowledge concerning the central and peripheral regulation of reproduction in mammals a series of studies were performed. In the first experiment, we found that exogenous leptin altered the activity of the hypothalmo-pituitary-gonadotropic axis in sheep during insufficient feeding. The action of leptin appears to be mediated by changes in GnRH and LH secretion as well as NPY immunoreactivity. The aim of the second experiment was to investigate the role of the adipoinsular axis hormones during pregnancy in rats. The elevated levels of plasma leptin as wells as the increased mRNAs expression of the leptin receptors in placenta indicate the significant role of the hormone in fetal growth and development. On the other hand, a decrease in leptin receptors mRNA content within hypothalamus and pituitary together with unchanged plasma insulin level may suggest that during rat pregnancy leptin resistance was developed in the hypothalamus, pituitary and pancreatic islets. The third experiment was carried out to establish the role of opioids and glucocorticoids in the regulation of the hypothalmo-pituitary-gonadal axis in ewes during natural or synchronized estrous cycle. Prolonged treatment with progesterone resulted in significant changes in plasma levels of Met-enkephalin, cortisol and steroids and altered the expression of proenkephalin mRNA in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and adrenals. Injections of Met-enkephalin or naltrexone (blocker of opioid receptors) modulated the progesterone influence in tested tissues. The data clearly suggest that opioids are involved in the regulation of the estrous cycle at the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal/adrenal axes.     

Characterization of MTNR1A gene in terms of genetic variability in a panel of subtemperate and subtropical Indian sheep breeds

Seasonality of animals is an important adaptive trait for successful survival and production during limited food availability and extreme environmental conditions. Photoperiodic changes in day length are utilized by these seasonal animals as an important environmental cue for regulating their annual rhythms of reproduction cycles. Melatonin is an important hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland in proportion to darkness and its effect is mediated by melatonin receptor subtypes, principally MTNR1A. In the present study, polymorphism in the coding sequence at two important SNPs (C606T and G612A), known to be markers for out of season breeding in sheep were studied by PCR-RFLP in a panel of four breeds of sheep from subtemperate and subtropical arid conditions, respectively. The frequencies of ‘G’ and ‘A’ alleles with reference to G612A SNP did not differ considerably among all the breeds of sheep. Frequency of ‘T’ allele of the C606T SNP was found to be dominantly higher in subtemperate sheep breeds in comparison to subtropical sheep breeds. Identified SNPs in the coding region were mostly synonymous and did not lead to any change in conformation of the MTNR1A receptor protein.     

Expression of the GnRH and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) genes in the hypothalamus and of the GnRH-R gene in the anterior pituitary gland of anestrous and luteal phase ewes

Data exists showing that seasonal changes in the innervations of GnRH cells in the hypothalamus and functions of some neural systems affecting GnRH neurons are associated with GnRH release in ewes. Consequently, we put the question as to how the expression of GnRH gene and GnRH-R gene in the hypothalamus and GnRH-R gene in the anterior pituitary gland is reflected with LH secretion in anestrous and luteal phase ewes. Analysis of GnRH gene expression by RT-PCR in anestrous ewes indicated comparable levels of GnRH mRNA in the preoptic area, anterior and ventromedial hypothalamus. GnRH-R mRNA at different concentrations was found throughout the preoptic area, anterior and ventromedial hypothalamus, stalk/median eminence and in the anterior pituitary gland. The highest GnRH-R mRNA levels were detected in the stalk/median eminence and in the anterior pituitary gland.During the luteal phase of the estrous cycle in ewes, the levels of GnRH mRNA and GnRH-R mRNA in all structures were significantly higher than in anestrous ewes. Also LH concentrations in blood plasma of luteal phase ewes were significantly higher than those of anestrous ewes.In conclusion, results from this study suggest that low expression of the GnRH and GnRH-R genes in the hypothalamus and of the GnRH-R gene in the anterior pituitary gland, amongst others, may be responsible for a decrease in LH secretion and the anovulatory state in ewes during the long photoperiod.     

Ovarian matrix metalloproteinases are differentially regulated during the estrous cycle but not during short photoperiod induced regression in Siberian hamsters (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phodopus sungorus</Emphasis>)

Background  

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated as mediators for ovarian remodeling events, and are involved with ovarian recrudescence during seasonal breeding cycles in Siberian hamsters. However, involvement of these proteases as the photoinhibited ovary undergoes atrophy and regression had not been assessed. We hypothesized that 1) MMPs and their tissue inhibitors, the TIMPs would be present and differentially regulated during the normal estrous cycle in Siberian hamsters, and that 2) MMP/TIMP mRNA and protein levels would increase as inhibitory photoperiod induced ovarian degeneration.