Genetic inbreeding depression load for fertility traits in Pura Raza Española mares

Abstract Fertility is a key factor in the economic success of horse farms. However, it has received little attention due to the difficulty of measuring fertility objectively. Since its studbook creation (1912), the Pura Raza Española (PRE) breed has been a closed population and become high in-bred resulting in inbreeding depression (poor phenotypic values). Nevertheless, heterogeneous effects of inbreeding depression have been detected among founders and non-founders. The aims of this study were (1) to analyse the genetic parameters for reproductive traits in mares of the PRE horse breed, and (2) to estimate, for the first time, the inbreeding depression load associated with common ancestors of the breed. A total of 22,799 mares were analysed. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.05 (interval between first and second foaling) to 0.16 (age at first foaling), while inbreeding depression load ratios ranged from 0.06 (parturition efficiency at 6 th foaling) to 0.17 (age at first foaling), for a partial inbreeding coefficient of 10%. While heritability is related to the variability expressed in the population, inbreeding depression load ratios measure the potential variability, whether expressed in the population or not. Most correlations between additive and inbreeding depression load genetic values were significant (P-values <0.001), and of low to moderate magnitude. Our results confirm that individual inbreeding depression loads allow us to select horses that have a genetic value resistant to the deleterious effects of inbreeding.

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The LEPR Gene Is Associated with Reproductive Seasonality Traits in Rasa Aragonesa Sheep

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10122448 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 2448

Author(s):

Kenza Lakhssassi ◽

Malena Serrano ◽

Belén Lahoz ◽

María Pilar Sarto ◽

Laura Pilar Iguácel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid Change ◽

Leptin Receptor ◽

Extreme Values ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Reproductive Seasonality ◽

Synonymous Substitutions ◽

Lepr Gene ◽

Exon 20 ◽

First Time

The aim of this study was to characterize and identify causative polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene responsible for the seasonal variation of reproductive traits in sheep. Three reproductive seasonality traits were studied: the total days of anoestrous (TDA), the progesterone cycling months (P4CM) and the oestrous cycling months (OCM). In total, 18 SNPs were detected in 33 ewes with extreme values for TDA and OCM. Six SNPs were non-synonymous substitutions and two of them were predicted in silico as deleterious: rs596133197 and rs403578195. These polymorphisms were then validated in 239 ewes. The SNP rs403578195, located in exon 8 and leading to a change of alanine to glycine (Ala284Gly) in the extracellular domain of the protein, was associated with the OCM trait, being the G allele associated with a decrease of 12 percent of the OCM trait. Haplotype analyses also suggested the involvement of other non-synonymous SNP located in exon 20 (rs405459906). This SNP also produces an amino acid change (Lys1069Glu) in the intracellular domain of the protein and segregates independently of rs403578195. These results confirm for the first time the role of the LEPR gene in sheep reproductive seasonality.

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The Dose of Somatostatin Analogues during Pre-Surgical Treatment Is a Key Factor to Achieve Surgical Remission in Acromegaly

Endocrines ◽

10.3390/endocrines2030023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 241-250

Author(s):

Marta Araujo-Castro ◽

Eider Pascual-Corrales ◽

Héctor Pian ◽

Ignacio Ruz-Caracuel ◽

Alberto Acitores Cancela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Surgical Treatment ◽

Surgical Outcomes ◽

Pituitary Adenomas ◽

Somatostatin Analogues ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Key Factor ◽

Long Acting ◽

First Time ◽

Endocrine Complications

Purpose: to determine whether pre-surgical treatment using long-acting somatostatin analogues (SSAs) may improve surgical outcomes in acromegaly. Methods: retrospective study of 48 patients with acromegaly operated by endoscopic transsphenoidal approach and for first time. Surgical remission was evaluated based on the 2010 criteria. Results: most patients, 83.3% (n = 40), harbored macroadenomas and 31.3% (n = 15) invasive pituitary adenomas. In this case, 14 patients were treated with lanreotide LAR and 6 with octreotide LAR, median monthly doses of 97.5 [range 60–120] and 20 [range 20–30] mg, respectively, for at least 3 months preoperatively. Presurgical variables were comparable between pre-treated and untreated patients (p > 0.05). Surgical remission was more frequent in those pre-treated with monthly doses ≥90 mg of lanreotide or ≥30 mg of octreotide than in untreated or pre-treated with lower doses (OR = 4.64, p = 0.025). However, no differences were found between pre-treated and untreated patients when lower doses were included or between those treated for longer than 6 months compared to those untreated or pre-treated for shorter than 6 months. Similarly, no differences were found either in terms of surgical or endocrine complications (OR = 0.65, p = 0.570), independently of the doses and the duration of SSA treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: the dose of SSAs is a key factor during pre-surgical treatment, since the beneficial effects in surgical remission were observed with monthly doses equal or higher than 90 mg of lanreotide and 30 mg of octreotide, but not with lower doses.

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Giving Birth With Epidural Analgesia: The Experience of First-Time Mothers

The Journal of Perinatal Education ◽

10.1891/1058-1243.21.1.24 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 24-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ryoko Hidaka ◽

Lynn Clark Callister

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Epidural Analgesia ◽

Epidural Administration ◽

Birth Experience ◽

Management Options ◽

Key Factor ◽

Qualitative Descriptive ◽

And Control ◽

First Time ◽

Experiences Of Women

The purpose of our qualitative descriptive study was to describe the birth experiences of women using epidural analgesia for pain management. We interviewed nine primiparas who experienced vaginal births. Five themes emerged: (a) coping with pain, (b) finding epidural administration uneventful, (c) feeling relief having an epidural, (d) experiencing joy, and (e) having unsettled feelings of ambivalence. Although epidural analgesia was found to be effective for pain relief and may contribute to some women’s satisfaction with the birth experience, it does not guarantee a quality birth experience. In order to support and promote childbearing women’s decision making, we recommend improved education on the variety of available pain management options, including their risks and benefits. Fostering a sense of caring, connection, and control in women is a key factor to ensure positive birth experiences, regardless of pain management method.

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Müllerian Inhibiting Substance in the Caudate Amphibian Pleurodeles waltl

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2013-1229 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 154 (10) ◽

pp. 3931-3936 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Imane Al-Asaad ◽

Dominique Chardard ◽

Nathalie di Clemente ◽

Jean-Yves Picard ◽

Hélène Dumond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differentiation ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Müllerian Inhibiting Substance ◽

Gonad Differentiation ◽

Key Factor ◽

Mullerian Ducts ◽

Pleurodeles Waltl ◽

First Time ◽

Mullerian Inhibiting Substance

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS, also known as anti-Müllerian hormone), is a key factor of male sex differentiation in vertebrates. In amniotes, it is responsible for Müllerian duct regression in male embryos. In fish, despite the absence of Müllerian ducts, MIS is produced and controls germ cell proliferation during gonad differentiation. Here we show for the first time the presence of MIS in an amphibian species, Pleurodeles waltl. This is very astonishing because in caudate amphibians, Müllerian ducts do not regress in males. Phylogenetic analysis of MIS P. waltl ortholog revealed that the deduced protein segregates with MIS from other vertebrates and is clearly separated from other TGF-β family members. In larvae, MIS mRNA was expressed at higher levels in the developing testes than in the ovaries. In the testis, MIS mRNA expression was located within the lobules that contain Sertoli cells. Besides, expression of MIS was modified in the case of sex reversal: it increased after masculinizing heat treatment and decreased after estradiol feminizing exposure. In addition to the data obtained recently in the fish medaka, our results suggest that the role of MIS on Müllerian ducts occurred secondarily during the course of evolution.

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Effect of founder allele survival and inbreeding depression on litter size in a closed line of Large White pigs

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800033014 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 573-582 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

J. Rodrigáñez ◽

M. A. Toro ◽

M. C. Rodriguez ◽

L. Silió

Keyword(s):

Litter Size ◽

Inbreeding Depression ◽

Large White ◽

Closed Population ◽

Bayesian Techniques ◽

Closed Line ◽

Founder Allele

AbstractAn experimental herd of Large White pigs was established in 1931 and maintained as a closed population until 1992. The complete -pedigree (410 boars and 916 sows) has been analysed to measure along the succesive cohorts of breeding animals: thefounder representation and allele survival, the evolution ofcoancestry and inbreeding and the components of inbreeding due to each founder. Inferences about genetic and phenotypic parameters and effects of dam and litter inbreeding on litter size were obtained, using Bayesian techniques, from 2612 litter records. A significant mean reduction of 0·27 piglets born and 0·39 live born for each 10% of litter inbreeding was found but also evidence of variation among founder lineages in inbreeding depression. Alleles contributing to inbreeding depression were descendent from specific founder lineages.

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Inbreeding and inbreeding depression of female reproductive traits in two populations of Coho salmon selected using BLUP predictors of breeding values

Aquaculture ◽

10.1016/j.aquaculture.2004.01.009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 234 (1-4) ◽

pp. 111-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

José A Gallardo ◽

Ximena Garcı́a ◽

Jean Paul Lhorente ◽

Roberto Neira

Keyword(s):

Inbreeding Depression ◽

Coho Salmon ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Breeding Values ◽

Female Reproductive Traits ◽

Two Populations

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Curie temperature variations in synthetic titanomagnetite single crystals

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-8865 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie-Charlotte Lappe ◽

Georg Winkens ◽

Joerg Persson ◽

Shibabrata Nandi ◽

Oleg Petracic

Keyword(s):

Curie Temperature ◽

Single Crystal ◽

Magnetic Minerals ◽

Temperature Changes ◽

Measuring Techniques ◽

Key Factor ◽

First Time ◽

The Relationship ◽

Underlying Processes ◽

Natural And Synthetic

Paleomagnetic measurements provide very important methods to study the evolution of and variations in the Earth&#8217;s magnetic field throughout time. A vital tool used in paleomagnetism are natural magnetic minerals, such as the titanomagnetite (TM) solid solution series (Fe3-xTixO4, 0 &#8804; x &#8804; 1). The main source of magnetic information in TMs is the thermal remanent magnetisation (TRM) they retain whilst being cooled below their Curie temperature (TC) during their formation.The key factor determining the TC&#160; is the composition. However, recent studies on natural and synthetic TM powders [1,2,3] have shown that their TC&#160; is also heavily influenced by their thermal history. Annealing various natural and synthetic TM powders at temperatures between 300&#176;C and 425&#176;C for timescales of hours to months resulted in changes in their TC&#160; of up to 150&#176;C.The accuracy of many paleomagnetic measuring techniques, such as geomagnetic paleointensity estimates and paleomagnetic paleothermometry, depends on the exact knowledge of the Curie temperature. Changes in TC&#160; of such a considerable extend could deeply impact those techniques or even render them doubtable. So far, vacancy-mediated chemical clustering at the octahedral site of the TM structure has been postulated as the mechanism causing this phenomenon [2,3]. To further investigate the underlying processes, we synthesised a large (~6.5 mm diameter;&#160; ~27 mm length) TM single crystal using an optical floating zone furnace. Via SEM-EDX techniques it was established that the crystal was homogenous over its whole length with a composition of&#160; Fe2.64Ti0.36O4. Using a Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) the Curie temperatures of several pieces of the crystal were determined after different annealing treatments. For the first time it has been possible to detect systematic changes in TC&#160; with annealing in a TM single crystal.Additionally within the scope of this project it was possible to determine the relationship between the extend of change in TC&#160; and the microstructure for polycrystalline samples.&#160;[1] Bowles, J. A., Jackson, M. J., Berqu&#243;, T. S., Solheid, P. A. and Gee, J. S. (2013), Nature Communications, 4, 1916. https://doi:10.1038/ncomms2938[2] Jackson, M. J., and Bowles, J. A. (2018), J. Geophys. Res., 123, 1-20. https://doi:10.1002/2017JB015193[3] Bowles, J. A., Lappe, S.&#8208;C. L. L., Jackson, M. J., Arenholz, E., & van der Laan, G. (2019). Geochem. Geophy. Geosy. 20. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008217

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Low Inbreeding Depression and High Plasticity under Abiotic Stress in the Tall Morningglory (Ipomoea purpurea)

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-15-00005.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 864-876 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chase M. Mason ◽

Dorothy A. Christopher ◽

Ashley M. Rea ◽

Lauren A. Eserman ◽

Alex J. Pilote ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Stress ◽

Inbreeding Depression ◽

Weed Management ◽

Evolutionary Ecology ◽

Reproductive Traits ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

High Plasticity ◽

Trait Plasticity ◽

Deleterious Alleles ◽

Agricultural Weed

Weeds represent a major cause of agricultural losses worldwide. Most weeds share a common set of life history characteristics that predispose them to weediness, two of which are self-compatibility, which allows for ease of colonization through reproductive assurance, and high trait plasticity, which allows for tolerance of a wide variety of environments and abiotic conditions. However, self-fertilization typically comes at the cost of inbreeding depression. This study investigates the role of inbreeding depression and trait plasticity under abiotic stress in the tall morningglory, a widespread self-compatible agricultural weed in the southeastern United States. Results show very little inbreeding depression in this species, likely due to purging of deleterious alleles through repeated founder events in agricultural landscapes. In contrast, abiotic stress induced substantial plasticity in ecophysiological traits, reproductive traits, and biomass allocation. In terms of performance, drought sharply impacted reproduction but not vegetative growth, and nitrogen limitation sharply impacted both. These findings are applicable to the control of weedy morningglory and underscore the usefulness of evolutionary ecology to weed management.

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Importance of Conjugation of the Bile Salt on the Mechanism of Lipolysis

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26195764 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 5764

Author(s):

Natalia Łozińska ◽

Christian Jungnickel

Keyword(s):

Critical Micelle Concentration ◽

Bile Salts ◽

Mixed Micelles ◽

Aggregation Number ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Literature Information ◽

Solubilization Capacity ◽

Key Factor ◽

First Time

We aim to advance the discussion on the significance of the conjugation of bile salts (BS) in our organism. We hypothesize that conjugation influences the rate of lipolysis. Since the rate of lipolysis is a compound parameter, we compare the effect of conjugation on four surface parameters, which contribute to the rate. Since deconjugation is due to gut microbiota, we hypothesize that microbiota may affect the rate of lipolysis. A meta-analysis of literature data of critical micelle concentration, β, aggregation number, and molar solubilization ratio has been performed for the first time. In addition, critical micelle concentration (CMC), interfacial tension, and lipolysis rate measurements were performed. It was found that the unconjugated BS in mixed micelles increases the antagonism between the BS, therefore, increasing the CMC. This correlated with the effect of unconjugated BS on the solubilization capacity of mixed micelles. The collected literature information indicates that the role of the BS and its conjugation in our organism is a key factor influencing the functioning of our organism, where too high levels of unconjugated BS may lead to malabsorption of fat-soluble nutrients. The experimental lipolysis results irrevocably showed that conjugation is a significant factor influencing the rate.

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First Crystal Structure of Bacterial Oligopeptidase B in an Intermediate State: The Roles of the Hinge Region Modification and Spermine

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10101021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1021

Author(s):

Dmitry E. Petrenko ◽

Vladimir I. Timofeev ◽

Vladimir V. Britikov ◽

Elena V. Britikova ◽

Sergey Y. Kleymenov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intermediate State ◽

Conformational Transition ◽

Dynamic Equilibrium ◽

Catalytic Triad ◽

Hinge Region ◽

Wild Type ◽

Oligopeptidase B ◽

Ligand Free ◽

Key Factor ◽

First Time

Oligopeptidase B (OpB) is a two-domain, trypsin-like serine peptidase belonging to the S9 prolyloligopeptidase (POP) family. Two domains are linked by a hinge region that participates in the transition of the enzyme between two major states—closed and open—in which domains and residues of the catalytic triad are located close to each other and separated, respectively. In this study, we described, for the first time, a structure of OpB from bacteria obtained for an enzyme from Serratia proteomaculans with a modified hinge region (PSPmod). PSPmod was crystallized in a conformation characterized by a disruption of the catalytic triad together with a domain arrangement intermediate between open and closed states found in crystals of ligand-free and inhibitor-bound POP, respectively. Two additional derivatives of PSPmod were crystallized in the same conformation. Neither wild-type PSP nor its corresponding mutated variants were susceptible to crystallization, indicating that the hinge region modification was key in the crystallization process. The second key factor was suggested to be polyamine spermine since all crystals were grown in its presence. The influences of the hinge region modification and spermine on the conformational state of PSP in solution were evaluated by small-angle X-ray scattering. SAXS showed that, in solution, wild-type PSP adopted the open state, spermine caused the conformational transition to the intermediate state, and spermine-free PSPmod contained molecules in the open and intermediate conformations in dynamic equilibrium.

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