Toxicogenomic Analysis Suggests Chemical-Induced Sexual Dimorphism in the Expression of Metabolic Genes in Zebrafish Liver

Differential gene expression in two sexes is widespread throughout the animal kingdom, giving rise to sex-dimorphic gene activities and sex-dependent adaptability to environmental cues, diets, growth and development as well as susceptibility to diseases. Here, we present a study using a toxicogenomic approach to investigate metabolic genes that show sex-dimorphic expression in the zebrafish liver triggered by several chemicals. Our analysis revealed that, besides the known genes for xenobiotic metabolism, many functionally diverse metabolic genes, such as ELOVL fatty acid elongase, DNA-directed RNA polymerase, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, were also sex-dimorphic in their response to chemical treatments. Moreover, sex-dimorphic responses were also observed at the pathway level. Pathways belonging to xenobiotic metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism were enriched with sex-dimorphically expressed genes. We also observed temporal differences of the sex-dimorphic responses, suggesting that both genes and pathways are differently correlated during different periods of chemical perturbation. The ubiquity of sex-dimorphic activities at different biological hierarchies indicate the importance and the need of considering the sex factor in many areas of biological researches, especially in toxicology and pathology.     

Guanidinoacetate Inhibits Glutamate Uptake in Rat Striatum of Rats at Different Ages

Glutamate plays a central role in the excitatory synaptic transmission and is important for brain development and functioning. Increased glutamate levels in the synaptic cleft are related to neuronal damage associated with excitotoxicity. Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency is an inherited neurometabolic disorder biochemically characterized by tissue accumulation of guanidinoacetate (GAA) and depletion of creatine. Affected patients present epilepsy and mental retardation whose pathogeny is unclear. In the present study we investigated the in vitro and in vivo (intrastriatal administration) effect of GAA on glutamate uptake by striatum slices of developing and adult rats. Results showed that GAA significantly inhibited in vitro glutamate uptake at 50 μM and 100 μM in all ages tested. We also tested the effect of taurine on the inhibition of glutamate uptake caused by GAA. Taurine significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect caused by 50 μM GAA, but did not alter that provoked by 100 μM GAA. Furthermore, intrastriatal administration of a solution of 30 μM GAA (0.06 nmol/striatum) significantly inhibited glutamate uptake by rat striatum slices. Our results suggest that the inhibition of striatal glutamate uptake caused by GAA might be involved in the neuropathology and especially in the acute neurological features present in patients with GAMT-deficiency.     

大蹼铃蟾的两性异形

2018年6—8月,测量采自云南省昆明市金殿水库后山的71只(47♂,24♀)大蹼铃蟾Bombina maxima成体的体长、头长、头宽等15项形态特征指标并检验该物种的两性异形。结果表明:雄性平均体长为53.54 mm±1.14 mm,雌性平均体长为52.74 mm±1.45 mm,雄性与雌性平均体长比为1.015,两性异性指数为0.01;大蹼铃蟾的体长、体质量与性别之间的差异无统计学意义;除了雌性的眼间距外,其余13项形态特征与体长均有极显著相关性;以体长为协变量的协方差分析结果显示,大蹼铃蟾的头长、吻长、前臂宽、腿或后肢全长、胫长、胫宽和跗足长在两性间的差异有高度统计学意义;雄性的这7项形态特征随体长的生长速率大于雌性。性选择假说能解释大蹼铃蟾的两性异形现象。     

旱地沙蜥的两性异形

旱地沙蜥Phrynocephalus helioscopus是一种在我国仅分布于新疆北部的蜥蜴。通过测量和比较采自新疆塔城地区旱地沙蜥的体长、口宽、头宽、头高、头长、眼间距、腹部长、尾长等8个形态特征研究旱地沙蜥的两性异形。本研究共采集到旱地沙蜥51只,其中,雌性23只,雄性28只。雌雄平均体长分别为48.03 mm和47.69 mm。结果表明旱地沙蜥两性体长的差异无统计学意义,其体长与口宽、头宽、头高、头长、眼间距、腹部长和尾长7个形态特征均显著正相关。在控制体长的基础上比较得出,雌雄个体在头高、头长、腹部长和尾长上的差异有统计学意义,口宽、头宽、眼间距的差异无统计学意义。其中,雄性的头高、头长和尾长均大于雌性,雌性的腹部长则明显大于雄性。旱地沙蜥的腹部长呈现明显的异形生长,雌性的生长速率明显大于雄性。旱地沙蜥的两性异形可能是性选择压力与生育力选择压力共同作用的结果,雄性头部更大、尾部更长,在性选择中具有优势;雌性腹部更长,能够繁育更多的后代。     

康县隆肛蛙的两性异形

测量和比较了采自甘肃省康县的康县隆肛蛙Feirana kangxianensis标本共计90只(雌性48只,雄性42只)。结果表明,康县隆肛蛙成体的头体长、头长、头宽、吻长、鼻间距、眼间距、眼径、鼓膜长、前臂及手长、后肢全长、手长、足长的形态特征在两性间的差异有统计学意义。以头体长为协变量的协方差分析显示,康县隆肛蛙两性的差异均有统计学意义,异形指数达到0.08,雌性与雄性的平均头体长比值为1.091。对所有测量的形态特征与头体长进行一元线性回归分析表明,雌性康县隆肛蛙局部形态特征的生长速度明显大于雄性,其中,吻长、眼间距、眼径、鼓膜长、前臂及手长、手长的两性差异最明显。生育力选择假设能解释康县隆肛蛙的两性异形现象。     

脊椎动物雌雄生长差异的研究进展

综述了有关脊椎动物雌雄生长差异的研究,分别从摄食消化、生长与生殖能量配置、物种遗传、基因型与表现型、类固醇激素水平和生长轴基因表达等几个方面分析了脊椎动物雌雄生长差异的原因.     

Sexual Dimorphism and Regulation of Resistin,Adiponectin, and Leptin Expression in the Mouse

Objective: To examine gender differences and hormonal regulation of resistin, adiponectin, and leptin. Research Methods and Procedures: Plasma levels were measured, and mRNA expression in perigonadal fat was quantified by RNase protection assays. Results: Plasma resistin declined with age despite an increase in adiposity in both genders. In male mice, plasma leptin increased, whereas adiponectin levels were constant. In females, both adiponectin and leptin levels increased with age. Resistin mRNA levels were significantly higher in female than male mice at all ages, whereas leptin and adiponectin mRNA levels were similar in fat from 6‐week‐old male and female mice, and sexual dimorphism was apparent only in the older mice, with higher levels apparent in females. Castration did not abolish gender differences in plasma levels or resistin, adiponectin, or leptin mRNAs. Castration of male mice did not significantly change adipokine mRNA levels or plasma levels of resistin or leptin; however, adiponectin was significantly increased. Dihydrotestosterone treatment had no effect on adipokine mRNA expression or resistin and adiponectin levels but increased leptin levels. In contrast, ovariectomy significantly increased resistin mRNA abundance and decreased leptin and adiponectin mRNAs. Plasma leptin levels were also increased by ovariectomy, whereas resistin and adiponectin levels were unchanged. Estrogen replacement significantly reduced resistin mRNA and increased leptin and adiponectin mRNA levels but had no effect on plasma adipokine levels. Discussion: The gender differences in adipokine mRNA expression and plasma levels were not ablated by castration and seem to be dependent on other factors in addition to gonadal steroids.     

温度对不同年龄大鼠海马器官型脑片长期培养中细胞活性和tau蛋白表达的影响

探讨在海马器官型脑片的长期培养过程中,温度对不同年龄大鼠的海马脑片细胞活性和tau蛋白表达的影响,并以此为依据建立一种研究tau相关疾病的模型.选用出生后1周、2周、4周和8周的Wistar大鼠制备海马器官型脑片,培养温度分别为34℃和37℃,培养时间为21d,在培养过程中,检测培养基中的乳酸脱氢酶的含量以判断脑片的活性,采用免疫印迹技术检测细胞骨架蛋白tau的含量的变化.结果如下:(1)温度对海马脑片的细胞活性影响:34℃较37℃能在较长的时间内保持细胞活性,而在同一培养温度时,不同年龄鼠的脑片的细胞活性变化趋势一致;(2)温度对海马脑片的tau蛋白表达的影响:成年鼠(4周和8周)的海马脑片tau蛋白在34℃时能维持较长时间的稳定表达,而在37℃时tau的表达量随培养时间的延长而显著下降,且随鼠龄的增加,这种影响越明显.温度对1周和2周龄乳鼠的海马脑片tau蛋白的表达无影响.结论为:34℃培养条件下,4周和8周龄大鼠制备的海马器官型脑片能更长时间维持脑片的活性和tau蛋白的稳定表达,从而可望成为研究与tau蛋白相关疾病(如老年性痴呆)的理想模型.     

凹耳蛙的两性异形

测量和比较采自黄山的凹耳蛙成体标本(雌雄各20个),统计结果表明成年雌雄蛙的体长、头宽、吻长、鼻间距、眼间距、眼径、鼓膜宽、前臂及指长、前臂宽等两性形态学指标存在显著性差异。对与体长显著相关的形态特征,以体长为协变量的协方差分析表明凹耳蛙雌雄两性在头宽、眼间距、眼径、鼓膜宽存在显著差异。凹耳蛙两性异形比达到0.418,雌性平均体长对雄性平均体长的比达到1.716。头宽、眼间距、眼径、鼓膜宽等局部形态特征与体长的线性回归分析表明,雌性斜率大于雄性斜率,说明雌性凹耳蛙上述局部特征随体长的生长速率明显大于雄性。雌性体长的繁殖力选择能够很好地解释凹耳蛙的两性异形。     

Sexual Size Dimorphism,Canine Dimorphism,and Male-Male Competition in Primates

Sexual size dimorphism is generally associated with sexual selection via agonistic male competition in nonhuman primates. These primate models play an important role in understanding the origins and evolution of human behavior. Human size dimorphism is often hypothesized to be associated with high rates of male violence and polygyny. This raises the question of whether human dimorphism and patterns of male violence are inherited from a common ancestor with chimpanzees or are uniquely derived. Here I review patterns of, and causal models for, dimorphism in humans and other primates. While dimorphism in primates is associated with agonistic male mate competition, a variety of factors can affect male and female size, and thereby dimorphism. The causes of human sexual size dimorphism are uncertain, and could involve several non-mutually-exclusive mechanisms, such as mate competition, resource competition, intergroup violence, and female choice. A phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolution of dimorphism, including fossil hominins, indicates that the modern human condition is derived. This suggests that at least some behavioral similarities with Pan associated with dimorphism may have arisen independently, and not directly from a common ancestor.     

An Ecological Theory of Sexual Dimorphism in Animals

Both male ornamentation and male combat result in increased male mortality. Because population sizes are limited by a carrying capacity, increased age-specific adult male mortality will result in decreased age-specific adult female mortality, as well as decreased juvenile mortality. As intersexual competition is one form of intraspecific competition, through choosing to mate with ornamented and/or combative males, females in polygamous systems reduce intraspecific competition. Because average male fitness must exactly equal average female fitness, male fitness will paradoxically rise with increasing male mortality. This theory also offers new perspectives on peripheral problems to sexual theory, such as mate location, resource guarding, leks, harems, and others.     

Developmental Aspects of Sexual Dimorphism in Hominoid Canines

We examined the histology of canine teeth in extant hominoids and provided a comparative database on several aspects of canine development. The resultant data augment the known pattern of differences in aspects of tooth crown formation among great apes and more importantly, enable us to determine the underlying developmental mechanisms responsible for canine dimorphism in them. We sectioned and analyzed a large sample (n = 108) of reliably-sexed great ape mandibular canines according to standard histological techniques. Using information from long- and short-period incremental markings in teeth, we recorded measurements of daily secretion rates, periodicity and linear enamel thickness for specimens of Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus and Homo sapiens. Modal values of periodicities in males and females, respectively, are: Pan 7/7; Gorilla 9/10; Pongo 10/10; and Homo 8/8. Secretion rates increase from the inner to the outer region of the enamel cap and decrease from the cuspal towards the cervical margin of the canine crown in all great ape species. Female hominoids tend to possess significantly thicker enamel than their male counterparts, which is almost certainly related to the presence of faster daily secretion rates near the enamel-dentine junction, especially in Gorilla and Pongo. Taken together, these results indicate that sexual differences in canine development are most apparent in the earlier stages of canine crown formation, while interspecific differences are most apparent in the outer crown region. When combined with results on the rate and duration of canine crown formation, the results provide essential background work for larger projects aimed at understanding the developmental basis of canine dimorphism in extant and extinct large-bodied hominoids and eventually in early hominins.     

根田鼠气味识别的性二型

以新鲜尿和粪作气味源,在行为选择箱中观察根田鼠的行为识别模式,结果表明：雌鼠对陌生同性尿、粪气味源行为识别的差异不显,雄鼠对陌生同性尿、粪气味源的行为识别在多个指标上存在显差异;根田鼠对陌生异性尿、粪的行为响应模式无明显差异;除嗅舔时间外,雌、雄鼠对粪气味的行为识别在其他指标上不存在明显差异;比较雌、雄鼠对尿刺激的行为识别发现,雄鼠对尿刺激的访问频次和反标记显大于雌鼠,雌性嗅舔时间显大于雄性,其他方面二之间并无显差异。因此,雌、雄性根田鼠对粪气味的行为识别模式不存在性别差异;对尿气味的行为识别模式存在性别差异。     

Allometry of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Domestic Dog

Background

The tendency for male-larger sexual size dimorphism (SSD) to scale with body size – a pattern termed Rensch''s rule – has been empirically supported in many animal lineages. Nevertheless, its theoretical elucidation is a subject of debate. Here, we exploited the extreme morphological variability of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) to gain insights into evolutionary causes of this rule.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied SSD and its allometry among 74 breeds ranging in height from less than 19 cm in Chihuahua to about 84 cm in Irish wolfhound. In total, the dataset included 6,221 individuals. We demonstrate that most dog breeds are male-larger, and SSD in large breeds is comparable to SSD of their wolf ancestor. Among breeds, SSD becomes smaller with decreasing body size. The smallest breeds are nearly monomorphic.

Conclusions/Significance

SSD among dog breeds follows the pattern consistent with Rensch''s rule. The variability of body size and corresponding changes in SSD among breeds of a domestic animal shaped by artificial selection can help to better understand processes leading to emergence of Rensch''s rule.     

不同年龄鼠骨髓干细胞移植治疗心梗后心衰的实验研究

目的：通过对比观察不同年龄鼠骨髓干细胞在体外的生长状态和移入受损心肌后对心肌梗死大鼠心功能的影响,说明年龄对骨髓干细胞的增殖能力和对移植效果的影响。方法：分别分离培养3日龄,1月龄,6月龄,12月龄Wister雄鼠骨髓干细胞,观察细胞生长状态,描记生长曲线。将60只大鼠用结扎冠状动脉前降支的方法制成心肌梗死模型后两周,随机分为三组：Ⅰ组：3日龄组（n=20只）：给予3日龄的5-溴脱氧尿嘧啶（Brdu）标记的鼠骨髓干细胞;Ⅱ组：6月龄组（n=20只）：给予6月龄的Brdu标记的鼠骨髓干细胞;Ⅲ组：对照组（n=20只）：给予培养液。各组均于治疗前及治疗后4周进行心脏超声检查评价心功能改善情况。处死动物取出心脏,进行直接测量后取左心室作石蜡切片,行苏木素-伊红（HE）染色及免疫组化检测,鉴定植入的细胞和心肌、毛细血管再生情况。结果：不同年龄鼠骨髓干细胞培养结果示3日龄及1月龄组增殖能力均高于6月龄及12月龄组,但3日龄与1月龄组之间无统计学差异,12月龄组在原代培养后期即死亡。治疗前超声心动图显示Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组心功能无显著差异（P〉0.05）,治疗之后四周超声心动图检查结果示：Ⅰ、Ⅱ组LVEF、FS、IVST、LVPW和LVESD较治疗前均有明显提高,且显著高于Ⅲ组;Ⅰ组LVEF、FS、IVST、LVPWs和LVESD又明显高于Ⅱ组;Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组LVEDD与治疗前比较无统计学意义。心脏直测结果显示Ⅰ、Ⅱ组的Wh、Wh、Wb、L、I度均较第Ⅲ组有所增加,其中Ⅰ组又明显高于Ⅱ组。免疫组化结果显示：Ⅰ、Ⅱ组于梗死周边均发现Brdu（＋）细胞存在,心肌特异性抗体阳性,且Ⅰ组阳性率明显高于Ⅱ组。毛细血管密度检测结果显示Ⅰ组毛细血管增生情况明显优于Ⅱ组。结论：不同年龄鼠骨髓干细胞的体外增殖能力不同,年龄越小,增殖能力越强。骨髓干细胞移植可以改善心肌梗死后大鼠的心脏功能,增加梗死区毛细血管密度,抑制心室重构,且年龄与移植效果成反比。