Cream, a new coat-color mutant in the musk shrew

A coat-color mutant was found in the wild musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora). Five musk shrews with gray pelage, the common coat color of this species, were captured in the village of Tambum near Jakarta, Indonesia. Two males and two females were transported to Japan and mated. Matings between one male and two females segregated several cream-colored offspring, a color that had never been seen before in this species. From the pedigree record and data on mating experiments, it was confirmed that this mutant coat color was expressed in the homozygote by an autosomal recessive gene designated cr, and at least three of the four wild shrews examined were carriers of this gene. The cr gene was associated with failure of normal pigmentation in the pelage and skin. The mutant shrews also showed some behavioral abnormalities.     

Transgenic Medaka Fish Bearing the Mouse Tyrosinase Gene: Expression and Transmission of the Transgene Following Electroporation of the Orange-Colored Variant

Transgenic fish bearing the mouse tyrosinase gene (mg-Tyrs-J) were produced by transfection into fertilized eggs of the homozygous normal orange-colored variant of medaka fish, Oryzias latipes, by means of electroporation. Of 589 eggs transfected, 38 fish (6%) exhibited brownish wild-type skin pigmentation, which was discernible from control siblings. Light microscopy of the skin from the founders thus generated disclosed that 1) melanization occurred and was restricted to melanophores formed presumably from preexisting amelanotic melanophores, 2) there was a wide variation in the degree of melanization observed among melanophores, and 3) no melanin deposition was recognized in xanthophores or leucophores. Immunofluorescence using an antibody raised against mouse tyrosinase disclosed that melanophores at varying stages of maturation were reactive. Thus, it was shown that the transgene in medaka fish expressed its action in a cell type-specific manner. Crossing of transgenic founders with homozygous orange-colored variant fish yielded two groups of offspring expressing either the wild-type or the orange-colored skin pigmentation at an approximate ratio of 1:1. Crossing between founders exhibiting wild-type pigmentation yielded only offspring with melanized skin. Skin melanophores in these offspring formed vertical stripes, which are rare in this species. The hereditary basis of melanized skin was demonstrated in matings of Fl progenies, which resulted in similar degrees of melanization over whole skin melanophores. The sum of these findings implied that the transgene is expressed as a dominant character gene and is transmitted through germ cell lines according to the Mendelian law. PCR analysis combined with nested PCR technique strongly suggested that the transgene was integrated into the medaka genome, even though the copy number deduced from gel banding was largely diminished, possibly as a result of fragmentation or instability within the medaka genome.     

Familial early onset macular degeneration in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

The mode of inheritance of macular degeneration was determined with 45 cynomolgus monkeys (18 females and 27 males) who were the offspring of one breeding male with typical macular degeneration. In the first generation, 27 offspring (10 females and 17 males) were born from mating between the macular degeneration-affected founder male and 5 normal female breeders. Among them, 18 monkeys (9 females and 9 males) were judged as having macular degeneration (affected). Next, the distribution of affected offspring was examined with 18 offspring who were born from 3 different mating pairs, normal vs normal, affected vs normal and affected vs affected, when they became 2 years old. All of the 9 monkeys (4 females and 5 males) obtained from the 2 pairs of normal vs normal were normal. On the other hand, 6 affected monkeys (3 females and 3 males) were detected in 8 offspring from the mating pair of affected vs normal, and the single offspring produced by the mating pair of affected vs affected was affected. These results showed that this degeneration must be early onset familial macular degeneration controlled by autosomal dominant gene(s).     

The occurrence of juvenile pigmentation abnormalities in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) larvae fed on enriched and unenriched Artemia salina nauplii

The effect of diet on the frequency of malpigmentation was investigated in laboratory-reared plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa ) fed on either enriched or unenriched Artemia salina nauplii . The juveniles fed continuously on unenriched Artemia during their larval period showed 29.0% normal pigmentation whereas those fed solely on enriched Artemia , showed 63% normal pigmentation. The possibility of a critical period for pigment development was tested by changing the diet of larvae at different ages. Results suggested that a critical period is less important than the duration of time fed on a nutritionally complete diet.     

Skin responses to ultraviolet radiation: effects of constitutive pigmentation,sex, and ancestry

Constitutive skin pigmentation and skin responses to ultraviolet radiation were measured on a sample of volunteers (n=250) living in State College, PA, USA. The sample was composed of individuals of European American (n=190), Hispanic (n=45), and East Asian ancestry (n=15). Constitutive pigmentation was measured using the Adjusted Melanin Index (AMI), Erythemal Dose Response (EDR) was measured using the slope of a* at 24 h (Deltaa*), and Melanogenic Dose-Response (MDR) was measured using DeltaAM, the slope of AMI at 7 d. The relationships between constitutive skin pigmentation, EDR, MDR, sex, age, and ancestry were investigated. European Americans showed a lower constitutive pigmentation, had a significantly higher burn response (EDR), and had a significantly lower tanning response (MDR) than Hispanics and East Asians. No significant difference is seen between Hispanics and East Asians for either constitutive pigmentation or EDR. Constitutive pigmentation in females was slightly lower than in males in all three samples, but the difference was not significant. While no differences were observed in MDR between sexes, males had a stronger EDR than females regardless of population or constitutive pigmentation level, and this difference was significant in European Americans and Hispanics. We observed no age-related differences in any of the populations or measures investigated. We evaluated the relationship between constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR. There was a strong inverse correlation between constitutive pigmentation and EDR in the three samples (European Americans, R2=0.176, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R2=0.204, P=0.009; East Asians, R2=0.223, P=0.098) and a strong direct correlation between constitutive pigmentation and MDR in European Americans and Hispanics (European Americans, R2=0.094, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R2=0.164, P=0.012). In other words, persons with lower constitutive pigmentation both burn more and tan less than persons with higher pigmentation. However, after controlling for constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR were significantly correlated in European Americans (R2=0.041 P=0.006). Thus, the general observation that persons who burn more tan less is probable because of the common link that these two phenotypes have with constitutive skin pigmentation and, in fact, once pigmentation has been adjusted for, there is a positive correlation between tanning response and burning response in European Americans.     

Tyrosinase positive oculocutaneous albinism among the Zuni and the Brandywine triracial isolate: biochemical and clinical characteristics and fertility

Zuni albinos develop increased pigmentation in hair and eyes, and decreased nystagmus and photophobia with age. Hair bulbs cultured in l-tyrosine produced pigment. Ultrastructure of melanocytes demonstrated a predominance of Stage II and early Stage III premelanosomes that readily converted to mature Stage IV melanosomes after incubation in 1-tyrosine. Eleven obligate heterozygotes failed to demonstrate diaphanous irides. Data on the fertility of Zuni and Brandywine male albinos did not indicate that they had more offspring than pigmented males. As the physical features of this form of albinism overlap those of many normal Caucasians, it is probably not a particularly deleterious trait with high selective value under the recent conditions of Zuni life.     

A Transgene Locus is Required for Wavy-patterned Flowers of Transgenic Torenia Plants

Modification of flower colour in torenia (Torenia fournieriLind.) by reintroduction of the chalcone synthase (CHS) or dihydroflavonol-4-reductasegenes has been reported (Aida et al., 2000.Plant Science153:33–42). The typical modified phenotype among plants withan introduced antisense gene is a uniformly lighter-colouredcorolla. Of the 67 plants in which an antisense CHS gene wasintroduced, only a single line (411-7) showed a wavy patternon the flower lip. In flowers of this plant, the inner partof the corolla lip was pigmented more deeply than the outerpart in a wave-like pattern—a pattern that does not existin normal cultivars. The segregation ratio of the flower colourpatterns of the offspring and Southern blot analysis demonstratedthat one of the two transgene loci detected may cause the wavyphenotype; the other locus is never associated with the wavyphenotype but alone it could produce the typical antisense typepattern. Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Torenia fournieri Lind., transformation, flower colour, ornamental plants, pigmentation pattern     

Fine Structure Analyses of Stem Nematode-Induced White Flagging in Medicago sativa

White flagging of alfalfa, Medicago sativa ''Ranger, found associated with Ditylenchus dipsaci in the Columbia River Basin was observed in northern Utah during 1971. This is a report on chloroplast changes, induced by D. dipsaci in alfalfa leaves, as observed with an electron microscope. Leaves from alfalfa plants infected with D. dipsaci were either devoid of normal pigmentation or displayed various shades of yellow-green. Cells of leaf tissue from noninfected plants exhibited normal chloroplast structure. By contrast, the chloroplast structure in cells of leaf tissue from infected plants showed progressive degradation as normal pigmentation decreased.     

Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Blepharisma intermedium

SYNOPSIS. An albino mutation of Blepharisma intermedium (a dark red ciliate) has been isolated. The inheritance of factors controlling pigmentation, mating-type, and lethality level of sexually derived offspring has been studied. All 3 traits are inherited in a non-Mendelian manner, perhaps via the cytoplasm.     

Treatment of Nelson's syndrome by pituitary implantation of yttrium-90 or gold-198.

Eight patients with Nelson''s syndrome were treated with a pituitary implant of yttrium-90 or gold-198 four to 16 years after adrenal surgery. All had considerable pigmentation. One already had cranial nerve abnormalities and visual field defects and had had both a craniotomy and deep x-ray treatment. Radiographs showed that the pituitary fossa was abnormal in seven patients. A biopsy performed in six cases showed mucoid (or basophil) adenoma in all. In the four specimens examined ACTH was identified by electron microscopy or immunofluorescence, or both. Patients were followed up after pituitary implantation for three months to 12 years. All showed decreased pigmentation, and six became normal. Four patients regained normal ACTH levels and the other two studied had decreased levels. In no case did new cranial nerve disease or further sellar expansion develop since operation, and two patients showed remodelling of the sella. Complications were temporary leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and diabetes insipidus in one patient and gonadotrophin deficiency in another.     

Amplification and application of the HMG box of bovine SRY gene for sex determination

A fast and reliable method for bovine sexing has been developed through amplification of the bovine high motility group (HMG) box of the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome gene (SRY). Oligonucleotide primers were designed according to the conserved bovine SRY HMG box sequence motif. In agarose gel electrophoresis, a normal bull showed 1 SRY band, and a normal cow showed no SRY band. After optimization, the PCR procedure for sex determination was applied to 14 embryo biopsies. The biopsied embryos were transferred into 14 recipient cows on the same day (day 7 of the estrus cycle) that the embryos were collected and sex of the calf was confirmed after parturition. Nine calves were born and anatomical sex corresponded to those sex determined by PCR in all cases (100% accuracy). Thus, this study showed for the first time that the present method can be applied in bovine breeding programs to facilitate manipulation of the sex ratio of offspring and also allows a quick diagnosis for the XY-bovine offspring by amplification of the HMG box of the bovine SRY gene.     

右美托咪定对慢性应激抑郁妊娠大鼠子代发育及空间学习记忆能力的影响

妊娠期抑郁症可以通过影响孕妇的生理和心理变化,进而影响新生儿的正常生长发育,右美托咪定(dexmedetomidine,Dex)可以有效缓解抑郁情绪,降低产后抑郁症的发生。为探讨Dex对慢性应激抑郁妊娠大鼠子代发育及空间学习记忆能力的影响,将60只妊娠大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、低剂量右美托咪定组和高剂量右美托咪定组,统计各组大鼠孕育率、平均产仔率和平均仔鼠成活率,并记录子代大鼠出生后体质量变化及学习记忆能力;检测子鼠脑组织乙酰胆碱(acetylcholine,Ach)、5-HT含量、TChE活力及海马组织CREB、p-CREB及BDNF的表达。结果显示,Dex可以以剂量依赖的方式提高慢性应激抑郁妊娠大鼠子代的平均成活率,调节脑组织Ach、5-HT、CREB、p-CREB和BDNF的水平,改善子鼠的学习记忆能力。结果表明,Dex可能通过调控神经递质和促进CREB信号传导,改善慢性应激抑郁妊娠大鼠的子代鼠学习记忆能力。研究探究了 Dex对妊娠期抑郁症大鼠子代生长发育和空间学习记忆能力的影响,以期指导临床治疗。     

Skin Responses to Ultraviolet Radiation: Effects of Constitutive Pigmentation,Sex, and Ancestry

Constitutive skin pigmentation and skin responses to ultraviolet radiation were measured on a sample of volunteers (n=250) living in State College, PA, USA. The sample was composed of individuals of European American (n=190), Hispanic (n=45), and East Asian ancestry (n=15). Constitutive pigmentation was measured using the Adjusted Melanin Index (AMI), Erythemal Dose Response (EDR) was measured using the slope of a* at 24 h (Δa*), and Melanogenic Dose–Response (MDR) was measured using ΔAM, the slope of AMI at 7 d. The relationships between constitutive skin pigmentation, EDR, MDR, sex, age, and ancestry were investigated. European Americans showed a lower constitutive pigmentation, had a significantly higher burn response (EDR), and had a significantly lower tanning response (MDR) than Hispanics and East Asians. No significant difference is seen between Hispanics and East Asians for either constitutive pigmentation or EDR. Constitutive pigmentation in females was slightly lower than in males in all three samples, but the difference was not significant. While no differences were observed in MDR between sexes, males had a stronger EDR than females regardless of population or constitutive pigmentation level, and this difference was significant in European Americans and Hispanics. We observed no age‐related differences in any of the populations or measures investigated. We evaluated the relationship between constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR. There was a strong inverse correlation between constitutive pigmentation and EDR in the three samples (European Americans, R²=0.176, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R²=0.204, P=0.009; East Asians, R²=0.223, P=0.098) and a strong direct correlation between constitutive pigmentation and MDR in European Americans and Hispanics (European Americans, R²=0.094, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R²=0.164, P=0.012). In other words, persons with lower constitutive pigmentation both burn more and tan less than persons with higher pigmentation. However, after controlling for constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR were significantly correlated in European Americans (R²=0.041 P=0.006). Thus, the general observation that persons who burn more tan less is probable because of the common link that these two phenotypes have with constitutive skin pigmentation and, in fact, once pigmentation has been adjusted for, there is a positive correlation between tanning response and burning response in European Americans.     

Exploring the consequences of climate‐induced changes in cloud cover on offspring of a cool‐temperate viviparous lizard

Historically, studies on the response of ectotherms to anthropogenic climate change have emphasized predicted changes in temperature, with few examining responses associated with additional climatic changes. Basking behaviour is an absolute requirement for lizards from temperate regions because elevated body temperatures are needed for processes such as digestion and embryogenesis. Given that predicted cloud‐cover changes will alter basking opportunities in many locations, we measured the phenotypic consequences of an increase or reduction in basking opportunity during pregnancy on the offspring of a viviparous temperate skink. The sex, size, growth, survival, emergence behaviour, morphotype, pigmentation, and locomotor performance of offspring were measured up to 3 months of age. Most offspring characteristics (e.g. sex) were not influenced by maternal basking regime. However, maternal pregnancy success was lower, and female offspring were slower growing, and thus smaller, when from regimes mimicking high cloud cover, suggesting potential long‐term influences on population dynamics. Although a link between basking regime and phenotype has been reported in viviparous lizards, this is the first study to explore possible negative implications of changes in cloud cover on offspring production and phenotype (other than sex). © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 844–851.     

Hyperglycaemia in pregnancy: effects on the offspring behaviour with special reference to anxiety paradigms

Maternal hyperglycemic effect was studied on the offspring behaviour. Offspring were obtained from diabetic rats by mating a normal father with a diabetic mother (NFDM), diabetic father with normal mother (DFNM) and diabetic father with diabetic mother (DFDM). Rats were rendered diabetic by injecting streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg i.p.) in citrate buffer. Offspring were subjected to various anxiety parameters including open field exploratory behaviour, elevated plus maze and zero maze behaviours, and the social interaction tests at the age of 8 weeks. The results indicate that offspring of NFDM and DFDM showed anxiogenic activity on the elevated plus maze zero maze and the social interaction test. Offspring of NFDM and DFDM exhibited hyper and emotional activity in the open field behaviour test. The behavioural alterations observed in the offspring were comparable to the behavioural alterations noted in STZ diabetic rat as reported earlier. Further offspring of NFDM and DFDM exhibited mild hyperglycaemia. No significant behavioural alterations in the offspring of DFNM were observed. It may be concluded, that exposure of offspring to diabetic environment in their foetal life can lead to anxiogenic/emotional behaviours in adult life.     

Incidence of 47,XYY males: Implications of the production of 47,XYY offspring by 47,XYY males

Abstract

Chromosomally normal 46,XY males can have 47,XYY male offspring as a result of fertilization of a normal ovum by a YY spermatozoon, produced by nondisjunction in the second meiotic division or by mitotic nondisjunction of the Y chromosome in early stages of embryonic development of a 46,XY fetus. If such meiotic and mitotic nondisjunctions were random events and if these were the only source of 47,XYY males in the population, the incidence of 47,XYY males would remain constant. Two cases have been reported, however, in which 47,XYY males produced 47,XYY male offspring. If there are 47,XYY males who are a source of 47,XYY males in the population, there is the possibility that the incidence of 47,XYY males is changing. A discrete‐generation model is presented which describes (1) the change in incidence of 47,XYY males from one generation to the next; (2) the incidence at equilibrium; and (3) the incidence as a function of the probability that a 47.XYY male has a 47,XYY offspring, and as a function of the mean number of offspring of 47,XYY males relative to the mean number of offspring of 46,XY males.     

Effects of testosterone on growth, plumage pigmentation, and mortality in Black-headed Gull chicks

In the Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus, sibling chicks defend small territories against conspecifics with testosterone-dependent aggressive behaviour. The energetic requirements for the performance of this behaviour may trade off against the energetic requirements for growth. There are indications that testosterone suppresses growth in birds and, therefore, regulate this trade-off. In this study, the effect of testosterone on growth and plumage pigmentation of Black-headed Gull chicks was analysed. Young chicks in small groups were treated for ten days with testosterone or sham treated. Testosterone-treated birds showed decreased growth rate (daily increase in body mass, head-bill length and tarsus-length) and a marked decrease in juvenile pigmentation of the plumage (tail-bar, back, and secondary coverts). Field measurements revealed a negative correlation between nest density, which correlates positively with aggressive behaviour of adults, and plumage coloration. Furthermore, these measurements showed an increase in mortality of chicks that had low levels of pigmentation early in life. The data suggest that chicks face a testosterone-regulated trade-off between growth and territory defence.     

Obesity-related genetic variants, human pigmentation, and risk of melanoma

Previous biological studies showed evidence of a genetic link between obesity and pigmentation in both animal models and humans. Our study investigated the individual and joint associations between obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and both human pigmentation and risk of melanoma. Eight obesity-related SNPs in the FTO, MAP2K5, NEGR1, FLJ35779, ETV5, CADM2, and NUDT3 genes were nominally significantly associated with hair color among 5,876 individuals of European ancestry. The genetic score combining 35 independent obesity-risk loci was significantly associated with darker hair color (beta-coefficient per ten alleles = 0.12, P value = 4 × 10^?5). However, single SNPs or genetic scores showed non-significant association with tanning ability. We further examined the SNPs at the FTO locus for their associations with pigmentation and risk of melanoma. Among the 783 SNPs in the FTO gene with imputation R ² quality metric >0.8 using the 1,000 genome data set, ten and three independent SNPs were significantly associated with hair color and tanning ability respectively. Moreover, five independent FTO SNPs showed nominally significant association with risk of melanoma in 1,804 cases and 1,026 controls. But none of them was associated with obesity or in linkage disequilibrium with obesity-related variants. FTO locus may confer variation in human pigmentation and risk of melanoma, which may be independent of its effect on obesity.     

Pleiotropic effect of the Black crystal mutation on reproductive indicators in the American mink (Mustela vison)]

The parameters of reproduction were studied in American minks that were homo- and heterozygous for the Black crystal mutation (Cr). The given mutation that changes the hair pigmentation was obtained de novo duration selection of American minks for tame behavior. Apart from changed color, the following reproduction disorders were detected in the Black crystal mutants, as compared to standard animals: (1) delayed entry into the reproductive season in females; (2) greater percentage in both homo- and heterozygous animals of females bearing no offspring; (3) greater early postnatal lethality indices. The most marked suppressing effect on the development of offspring was detected in homozygous females (Cr/Cr), whose progeny perished within a few days after birth. An analysis of reproduction in mutants and standard animals is presented. An attempt was made to explain the conceivable mechanisms that form the basis of disorders detected.     

Carotenoids and egg quality in the lesser blackbacked gull Larus fuscus: a supplemental feeding study of maternal effects.

Egg quality is a phenotype of, and can profoundly influence fitness in, both mother and offspring. However, the physiological mechanisms that underlie this maternal effect are poorly understood. Carotenoids are hypothesized to enhance antioxidant activity and immune function, and are responsible for the pigmentation of egg yolk. The proximate basis and consequences of this maternal investment, however, have not previously been studied in wild birds. In this supplemental feeding study of lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus, carotenoid-fed females are shown to have increased integument pigmentation, higher plasma concentrations of carotenoids and antioxidant activity, and lower plasma concentrations of immunoglobulins (Igs) in comparison with controls. In turn, carotenoid-fed females produced eggs containing high carotenoid but low Ig concentrations (i.e. passive immunity), whereas control females produced eggs containing low carotenoid but high Ig concentrations. Within-clutch patterns of these resources varied over the laying sequence in a similar manner in both carotenoid-fed and control nests. Our results suggest that carotenoids could be one resource responsible for egg quality maternal effects in birds. We discuss the possible implications of carotenoid-mediated effects on phenotype for fitness in mothers and their offspring.