Gene expression patterns in anterior pituitary associated with quantitative measure of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows

Intensive selection for high milk yield in dairy cows has raised production levels substantially but at the cost of reduced fertility, which manifests in different ways including reduced expression of oestrous behaviour. The genomic regulation of oestrous behaviour in bovines remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to identify and study those genes that were associated with oestrous behaviour among genes expressed in the bovine anterior pituitary either at the start of oestrous cycle or at the mid-cycle (around day 12 of cycle), or regardless of the phase of cycle. Oestrous behaviour was recorded in each of 28 primiparous cows from 30 days in milk onwards till the day of their sacrifice (between 77 and 139 days in milk) and quantified as heat scores. An average heat score value was calculated for each cow from heat scores observed during consecutive oestrous cycles excluding the cycle on the day of sacrifice. A microarray experiment was designed to measure gene expression in the anterior pituitary of these cows, 14 of which were sacrificed at the start of oestrous cycle (day 0) and 14 around day 12 of cycle (day 12). Gene expression was modelled as a function of the orthogonally transformed average heat score values using a Bayesian hierarchical mixed model on data from day 0 cows alone (analysis 1), day 12 cows alone (analysis 2) and the combined data from day 0 and day 12 cows (analysis 3). Genes whose expression patterns showed significant linear or non-linear relationships with average heat scores were identified in all three analyses (177, 142 and 118 genes, respectively). Gene ontology terms enriched among genes identified in analysis 1 revealed processes associated with expression of oestrous behaviour whereas the terms enriched among genes identified in analysis 2 and 3 were general processes which may facilitate proper expression of oestrous behaviour at the subsequent oestrus. Studying these genes will help to improve our understanding of the genomic regulation of oestrous behaviour, ultimately leading to better management strategies and tools to improve or monitor reproductive performance in bovines.     

A novel motility pattern in quail spermatozoa with implications for the mechanism of flagellar beating

Background information. The spermatozoon of the quail (Coturnix coturnix L., var japonica) has a ‘9+2’ flagellum that is unusually long. When it moves in a viscous medium, near to the coverslip, it develops a meander waveform. Because of the high viscosity, the meander bends are static in relation to the field of view; bend propagation is therefore manifest as the forward movement of the flagellum through the meander shape. At the same time, the origin of the oscillation typically shifts proximally in a stepwise fashion. These movements have been analysed in the hope of contributing to the resolution of problems in flagellar mechanics. Results. (1) Meander waves originate from spontaneous sigmoid bend complexes. (2) On a given flagellum, fully developed meander bends are uniform in their large angle, curvature and propagation speed; interbends can vary in length and shape. (3) No intra‐axonemal sliding is transmitted through formed bends; sliding related to new bends is accommodated proximally. (4) Sliding reversal is initiated at a threshold shear angle of approx. 1 rad. (5) The arc wavespeed is the product of the arc wavelength and the beat frequency. (6) Physical obstruction to bend development causes a pause in the oscillation. (7) New bend initiation can thus be dissociated from bend propagation on the distal flagellum. (8) The steps in the forward advance of the oscillation site occur during the early phase of bend growth. Conclusions. (1) The main conclusion is that, in meander waves, the mechanical basis of the oscillation appears to be that the propulsive thrust arising from bend propagation acts as a bending stress to trigger sliding reversal, thus perpetuating the rhythmic beating. (2) Oscillations can originate at any position, provided the position is distal to a location where doublet sliding is restrained. (3) Meander waves are an example of new bend development without ‘paradoxical’ classes of sliding.     

The gene expression profile of Bombyx mori silkgland

During prepupal stage, the genes expression in silkgland is considered as a model for gene expression and regulation of eukaryotes. Aiming to comprehensively interpret gene expression profile in the silkgland, we collected all currently available EST, complete cDNA and protein expression information and other gene expression testing data published before, and explored their roles in their function pathways level. With the analysis of interaction between the known proteins and putative bio-macromolecules partners in silico, we list our prediction results in the form of pathway classification and test some of their expressions by experiments.     

同株奇异变形杆菌存在不同生长状态

揭示同株奇异变形杆菌存在多种不同的生长状态。通过环形接种、点种传代、革兰染色和鞭毛染色等方法观察同株奇异变形杆菌的形态学变化。同株奇异变形杆菌的生长速度、迁徙能力、生长形态及鞭毛形态发生变化。同株奇异变形杆菌存在不同的生长形态。     

肥厚梗阻性心肌病的外科治疗

目的：总结肥厚室间隔切除术治疗肥厚梗阻性心肌病的手术效果,探讨外科治疗策略。方法：2002年3月至2010年10月,外科手术治疗33例肥厚梗阻性心肌病病人。其中男16例,女17例;年龄13～59岁,平均（42.7±13.6）岁;左室流出道压差（LVOTGP）70～120 mmHg（1 mmHg=0.133Kpa）,平均（95.0±22.6）mmHg。其中合并二尖瓣关闭不全24例,主动脉瓣关闭不全7例,升主动脉增宽3例,冠心病2例。手术在全麻低温体外循环下完成,按常规经主动脉切口行室间隔心肌切除术,同期完成二尖瓣置换术（MVR）7例,二尖瓣成形术（MVP）7例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形术（MVP＋AVP）5例,二尖瓣、升主动脉成形术3例,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣成形、冠状动脉旁路移植术（MVP＋AVP＋CABG）2例。分析比较病人术前超声心动图（UCG）,术中经食管心脏超声（TEE）,以及术后1周、3月、6月、1年超声心动图结果。结果：手术死亡1例（3.0%,1/33例）,主要死因为严重低心排综合症以及多脏器功能衰竭。二次开胸止血1例（3.0%,1/33例）。术中经食管心脏超声示所有病人二尖瓣前叶收缩期前向运动现象（SAM征）消失。存活病人手术效果良好,解剖狭窄解除,峰值压差降低,SAM现象基本消失。远期随访生存病人症状消失,生活质量明显改善,心功能I～II级,无远期死亡、并发症或再次手术。结论：外科治疗肥厚梗阻型心肌病具有良好的手术效果。了解病生理过程、术中仔细探察、手术切除彻底是手术成功的关键。     

THE AUTOFLUORESCENT FLAGELLUM: A NEW PHYLOGENETIC ENIGMA1

Epifluorescence microscopy reveals the presence of fluorescence in the living cells of at least three classes of flagellates. In Ochromonas cells, the fluorescence is blue-green in color and is found only in the short flagellum, both in the flagellar swelling and throughout the length of the flagellum. As recognized by the locale and color of the flagellar fluorescence, the same fluorescence is observed in only certain other heterokont algal groups but is also found in one of the two isokont flagella of the prymnesiophyte Prymnesium parvum.     

Length and overall sequence of the PEN-2 C-terminal domain determines its function in the stabilization of presenilin fragments

Gamma-secretase is an aspartyl protease complex that catalyzes the intramembrane cleavage of a subset of type I transmembrane proteins including the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Presenilin (PS), nicastrin (NCT), anterior pharynx defective (APH-1) and presenilin enhancer-2 (PEN-2) constitute the active gamma-secretase complex. PEN-2, the smallest subunit, is required for triggering PS endoproteolysis. Stabilization of the resultant N- and C-terminal fragments, which carry the catalytically active site aspartates, but not endoproteolysis itself, requires the C-terminal domain of PEN-2. To functionally dissect the C-terminal domain we created C-terminal deletion mutants and mutagenized several evolutionary highly conserved residues. The PEN-2 mutants were then probed for functional complementation of a PEN-2 knockdown, which displays deficient PS1 endoproteolysis and impaired NCT maturation. Progressive truncation of the C-terminus caused increasing loss of function. This was also observed for an internal deletion mutant as well as for C-terminally tagged PEN-2 with a twofold elongated C-terminal domain. Interestingly, only simultaneous, but not individual substitution of the highly conserved D90, F94, P97 and G99 residues with alanine interfered with PEN-2 function. All loss of function mutants identified allowed PS1 endoproteolysis, but failed to stably associate with the resultant PS1 fragments, which like the PEN-2 loss of function mutants underwent proteasomal degradation. However, complex formation of the PEN-2 mutants with PS1 fragments could be recovered when proteasomal degradation was blocked. Taken together, our data suggest that the PS-subunit stabilizing function of PEN-2 depends on length and overall sequence of its C-terminal domain.