Genotypes identified by genome-wide association analyses influence yearling pulmonary arterial pressure and growth traits in Angus heifers from a high-altitude beef production system

Up to 10% of the more than 140 million high-altitude dwellers worldwide suffer from chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Patients suffering from this debilitating problem often display increased pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), which may contribute to exercise intolerance and right heart failure. However, there is little information on the usual PAP in these patients.We systematically reviewed and meta-analysed all data published in English or Spanish until June 2018 on echocardiographic estimations of PAP at rest and during mild exercise in CMS patients.Nine studies comprising 287 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. At rest, the point estimate from meta-analysis of the mean systolic PAP was 27.9 mmHg (95% CI 26.3–29.6 mmHg). These values are 11% (+2.7 mmHg) higher than those previously meta-analysed in apparently healthy high-altitude dwellers. During mild exercise (50 W) the difference in mean systolic PAP between patients and high-altitude dwellers was markedly more accentuated (48.3 versus 36.3 mmHg) than at rest.These findings indicate that in patients with CMS PAP is moderately increased at rest, but markedly increased during mild exercise, which will be common with activities of daily living.

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Evaluation of the sensitivity of pulmonary arterial pressure to elevation using a reaction norm model in Angus Cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa129 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Scott E Speidel ◽

Milton G Thomas ◽

Timothy N Holt ◽

R Mark Enns

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

High Altitude ◽

Genetic Relationship ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Reaction Norm ◽

High Elevation ◽

Random Regression ◽

Angus Cattle ◽

Pulmonary Arterial

Abstract Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) is a diagnostic measure used to determine an individual’s susceptibility to developing high-altitude disease. The importance of PAP measures collected at elevations lower than the intended breeding elevation of the bulls (i.e., ≥1,520 m) is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the genetic relationship between PAP measures collected in a range of elevations using reaction norm models. A total of 9,177 PAP and elevation observations on purebred Angus cattle, which averaged 43.49 ± 11.32 mmHg and 1,878.6 ± 296.8 m, respectively, were used in the evaluation. The average age of the individuals in the evaluation was 434.04 ± 115.9 d. A random regression model containing the effects of sex, a linear covariate of age, a quadratic fixed covariate of elevation, and random effects consisting of a contemporary group and a linear regression of PAP on elevation was used for the evaluation of PAP. Two forms of PAP were evaluated with this model. First, to address the non-normality of the data, PAP was raised to the power of −2.6 (ptPAP) based on the results of a Box–Cox analysis. Second, raw PAP (rPAP) phenotypes were evaluated to compare the results to those obtained from the transformed data. For ptPAP, heritability ranged from 0.25 to 0.37 corresponding to elevations of 1,900 and 1,215 m, respectively. For rPAP, heritability ranged from 0.22 to 0.41 corresponding to elevations of 1,700 and 2,495 m, respectively. Generally, lower elevations corresponded to decreased heritabilities while higher elevations corresponded to increased heritability estimates. For ptPAP, genetic correlations ranged from 0.18 (elevation: 1,215 and 2,495 m) to 1.00. For rPAP, genetic correlations ranged from 0.08 (elevation: 1,215 and 2,495 m) to 1.00. In general, the closer the elevations in which PAP was measured, the greater the genetic relationship. The greater the difference in elevation between PAP measures resulted in lower genetic correlations. The rank correlation between expected progeny differences (EPD) for 1,215 and 2,495 m was 0.65 and 0.49 for the ptPAP and rPAP, respectively. These results suggested that PAP measures collected in lower elevations may be used as an indicator of high-altitude adaptability. In the estimation of EPD to rank sires for their suitability for use in high-elevation production systems, it is important to account for the relationships among varied altitudes.

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Assessment of right atrial dyssynchrony by 2D speckle-tracking in healthy young men following high altitude exposure at 4100 m

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247107 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0247107

Author(s):

Chunyan He ◽

Hedong Xiang ◽

Chuan Liu ◽

Shiyong Yu ◽

Jie Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

High Altitude ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Young Men ◽

Right Atrial ◽

Peak Strain ◽

Altitude Exposure ◽

2D Speckle Tracking ◽

Pulmonary Arterial

Background High altitude exposure induces overload of right-sided heart and may further predispose to supraventricular arrhythmia. It has been reported that atrial mechanical dyssynchrony is associated with atrial arrhythmia. Whether high altitude exposure causes higher right atrial (RA) dyssynchrony is still unknown. The aim of study was to investigate the effect of high altitude exposure on right atrial mechanical synchrony. Methods In this study, 98 healthy young men underwent clinical examination and echocardiography at sea level (400 m) and high altitude (4100 m) after an ascent within 7 days. RA dyssynchrony was defined as inhomogeneous timing to peak strain and strain rate using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results Following high altitude exposure, standard deviation of the time to peak strain (SD-TPS) [36.2 (24.5, 48.6) ms vs. 21.7 (12.9, 32.1) ms, p<0.001] and SD-TPS as percentage of R–R’ interval (4.6 ± 2.1% vs. 2.5 ± 1.8%, p<0.001) significantly increased. Additionally, subjects with higher SD-TPS (%) at high altitude presented decreased right ventricular global longitudinal strain and RA active emptying fraction, but increased RA minimal volume index, which were not observed in lower group. Multivariable analysis showed that mean pulmonary arterial pressure and tricuspid E/A were independently associated with SD-TPS (%) at high altitude. Conclusion Our data for the first time demonstrated that high altitude exposure causes RA dyssynchrony in healthy young men, which may be secondary to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. In addition, subjects with higher RA dyssynchrony presented worse RA contractile function and right ventricular performance.

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Relationship of pulmonary arterial pressure and terrain use of Angus cows grazing high-altitude foothill rangelands

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2016.06.003 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 190 ◽

pp. 76-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Derek W. Bailey ◽

Milton G. Thomas ◽

Tim N. Holt ◽

Mitch B. Stephenson ◽

R. Mark Enns ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

High Altitude ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

Relationship Of

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0169 Pulmonary arterial pressure in yearling Angus cattle managed at high altitude: Study of a non-synonymous SNP in the oxygen-dependent degradation domain of the endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 gene

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/jam2016-0169 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (suppl_5) ◽

pp. 82-82

Author(s):

N. F. Crawford ◽

X. Zeng ◽

S. J. Coleman ◽

T. N. Holt ◽

S. E. Speidel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

High Altitude ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Pas Domain ◽

Angus Cattle ◽

Pulmonary Arterial

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PSI-32 Effect of pulmonary arterial pressure on reproductive performance in Angus heifers located in south central Wyoming

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.825 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 473-473

Author(s):

Kelley Duggan ◽

Stephen Doyle ◽

H Foxworthy ◽

Kasey DeAtley

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

Pregnancy Rate ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Artificial Insemination ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Pressure Group ◽

Service Conception ◽

High Altitude Disease ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

Angus Heifers

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (i.e., high altitude disease) occurs in locations above 1,600 m in elevation and causes heart failure and death. Pulmonary arterial pressure scoring is an effective indicator of pulmonary hypertension and high-altitude disease. The objective of this study was to look at the effect of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) scoring on reproductive performance in Angus heifers. First service conception (FSC), pregnancy rate, and pulmonary arterial pressure scores were obtained from the Colorado State University Beef Improvement Center for 2,503 Angus heifers between 1995 and 2016. All spring-calving females were exposed to estrous synchronization and one-round of artificial insemination. After a 10-d holding period heifers were exposed to natural service sires for 60 days. First service conception and pregnancy rate traits were determined using ultrasonography via rectal palpation at 30 and 60 days post artificial insemination. Pulmonary arterial pressure scores were collected at ~12 mos of age. Data were analyzed with ANOVA as a completely randomized block design, blocking by birth year. Fixed effect was pulmonary arterial pressure group [high (>42mm Hg) vs. low (<42 mmHg)]. Logistic regression was used to further investigate fertility traits with PAP scores. Nodifferences were detected among pulmonary arterial pressure group for first service conception (P > 0.05); however, high pulmonary arterial pressure heifers had lower pregnancy rates compared to low PAP heifers (0.86 vs. 0.91 ± 0.01; P = 0.03). Logistic regression supported these findings, identifying PAP score as a significant predictor of breeding season pregnancy rate (P < 0.05), indicating an inverse relationship between PAP score and pregnancy rate. Cumulatively, results show an unfavorable relationship between heifers with high pulmonary arterial pressure scores and overall pregnancy rate.

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Effect of pulmonary arterial pressure and annual precipitation on reproductive performance of Angus heifers in south central Wyoming

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txab189 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_S1) ◽

pp. S175-S179

Author(s):

Kelley L Duggan ◽

Timothy N Holt ◽

Milton G Thomas ◽

Scott E Speidel ◽

Richard M Enns

Keyword(s):

Arterial Pressure ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Annual Precipitation ◽

South Central ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

Angus Heifers

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Genome-wide association analyses identify genotype-by-environment interactions of growth traits in Simmental cattle

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92455-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Camila U. Braz ◽

Troy N. Rowan ◽

Robert D. Schnabel ◽

Jared E. Decker

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Extensive Study ◽

Snp Markers ◽

Genome Wide Association ◽

Phenotypic Variance ◽

Genotype By Environment Interactions ◽

Association Analyses ◽

Genotype By Environment ◽

Genome Wide

AbstractUnderstanding genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E) is crucial to understand environmental adaptation in mammals and improve the sustainability of agricultural production. Here, we present an extensive study investigating the interaction of genome-wide SNP markers with a vast assortment of environmental variables and searching for SNPs controlling phenotypic variance (vQTL) using a large beef cattle dataset. We showed that G × E contribute 10.1%, 3.8%, and 2.8% of the phenotypic variance of birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight, respectively. G × E genome-wide association analysis (GWAA) detected a large number of G × E loci affecting growth traits, which the traditional GWAA did not detect, showing that functional loci may have non-additive genetic effects regardless of differences in genotypic means. Further, variance-heterogeneity GWAA detected loci enriched with G × E effects without requiring prior knowledge of the interacting environmental factors. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of G × E genes revealed biological mechanisms by which cattle respond to changes in their environment, such as neurotransmitter activity, hypoxia-induced processes, keratinization, hormone, thermogenic and immune pathways. We unraveled the relevance and complexity of the genetic basis of G × E underlying growth traits, providing new insights into how different environmental conditions interact with specific genes influencing adaptation and productivity in beef cattle and potentially across mammals.

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