Neuroendocrine and neurochemical mechanisms of the domestication of animals

A review of experimental data documenting that domestication of animals is associated with hereditary reorganization of neuro-endocrine mechanisms, responsible for basic processes of ontogeny, is presented. The data demonstrated changes in gonadal and pituitary-adrenal systems in domesticated animals. Analysis of evidence that selection for low aggressiveness towards man is, in fact, the selection for definite activity of brain neurotransmitters regulating aggressive behaviour and emotional stress response has been carried out. Supposed role of modifications in the mechanisms of domestication is discussed.     

Genetico-neurochemical analysis of the role of brain catecholamines in population hierarchy in male laboratory mice

Comparative genetic analysis of social dominance in micropopulations of male mice as well as noradrenaline and dopamine levels in brain was carried out. The RT male mice had maximal level of social dominance and the greatest content of brain catecholamines. It is suggested that the capacity for social dominance may depend on the function of the central catecholamine neurons. This suggestion has been confirmed by the data obtained both for interstrain and intrastrain relations between social dominance and catecholamine levels.     

The significance of the genotype and individual behavioral characteristics for the manifestation of the dominant phenotype in mouse micropopulations]

Influence of genotype and such individual characteristics as locomotor and exploratory activity, aggressiveness and emotionality, was studied in male mice. Males F1 and males of the parent line PT had high level of social dominance. F1 had high level of aggressiveness, and low emotionality, medium level of locomotor and exploratory activity. Significance of these individual behavioural characteristics for dominant behaviour is discussed.     

Transmission of Megatrypanum Trypanosomes to Cervus dama by Tabanidae1

Four fallow deer, Cervus dama, became infected with Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) sp. by oral application of triturated guts from tabanids collected in an area with deer but without any cattle; four control calves remained negative. Upon challenge with triturated guts from tabanids from an area with pastured cattle, the four calves became infected with Trypanosoma (M.) theileri. The prepatent period in deer was five days or less. Haematopota spp. and Tabanus spp. were identified as vectors of the deer trypanosomes. It is concluded that the trypanosomes of C. dama belong to a Megatrypanum species that is not identical with T. theileri.     

Physical mapping of three fruit ripening genes：Endopolygalacturonase,ACC oxidase and ACC synthase from apple（Malus x domestica） in an apple rootstock A106（Malus sieboldii

The apple rootstock,A106(Malus sieboldii),had 17 bivalents in pollen mother cells at meiotic metaphase 1,and 17 chromosomes in a haploid pollen cell.Karyotypes were prepared from root-tip cells with 2n=34 chromosomes,Seven out of 82 karyotypes(8.5%) showed one pari of satellites at the end of the short arm of chromosome 3.C-bands were shown on 6 pairs of chromosomes 2,4,6,8,14,and 16 near the telomeric regions of short arms.Probes for three ripening-related genes from Malus x domestica:endopolygalacturonase(EPG,0.6kb),ACC oxidase(1.2kb),and ACC synthase(2kb)were hybridized in situ to metaphase chromosomes of A106.Hybridization sites for the EPG gene were observed on the long arm of chromosome 14 in 15 out of 16 replicate spreads and proximal to the centromere of chromosomes 6 and 11.For the ACC oxidase gene,hylridization sites were observed in the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosomes 5 and 11 in 87% and 81% of 16 spreads respectively,proxiaml to the centromere of chromosome 1 in 81% of the spreads,and on the long arm of chromosome 13 in 50% of the spreads. Physical mapping of three fruit ripening genes in an apple rootstock A106.Twenty five spreads were studied for the ACC synthase gene and hybridization sites were observed in the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosome 12 in 96% of the spreads.chromosomes 9 and 10 in 76% of the spreads,and chromosome 17 in 56% of the spreads.     

Brain adrenoreceptors in rats with inherited arterial hypertension due to emotional stress

For the study of genetic and physiological mechanisms of inherited stress-sensitive arterial hypertension, specific binding of ligands of alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors was measured in 2 strains of rats: Wistar normotensive and ISSAH rats (rats with inherited stress-sensitive arterial hypertension). The maximal binding sites (Bmax) and apparent dissociation constants (Kd) were studied with the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist 3H-prazosin, alpha 2-adrenergic agonist 3H-clonidine and 3H-dihydroalprenolol, a beta 1-receptor antagonist. Four brain regions were investigated: frontal cortex, hypothalamus, pons and medulla oblongata. In comparison with normotensive controls, hypertensive rats had significantly greater density of the alpha 1-adrenoceptors in the medulla oblongata. However, the number of hypothalamic alpha 1-adrenoceptors was significantly reduced in these animals. The same significantly lower alpha 2-adrenoreceptor density was found in the hypothalamus and the pons, and lower, beta-adrenoceptors density in the medulla oblongata. It was concluded that brain adrenoceptors are involved in the mechanisms of development of inherited stress-sensitive hypertensive syndrome.