Stimulatory Effects of Androgens on Eel Primary Ovarian Development - from Phenotypes to Genotypes

Androgens stimulate primary ovarian development in Vertebrate. Japanese eels underwent operation to sample the pre- and post-treated ovarian tissues from the same individual. Ovarian phenotypic or genotypic data were mined in a pair. A correlation between the initial ovarian status (determined by kernel density estimation (KDE), presented as a probability density of oocyte size) and the consequence of androgen (17MT) treatment (change in ovary) has been showed. The initial ovarian status appeared to be important to influence ovarian androgenic sensitivity. The initial ovary was important to the outcomes of androgen treatments, and ePAV (expression presence-absence variation) is existing in Japanese eel by analyze DEGs; core, unique, or accessory genes were identified, the sensitivities of initial ovaries were correlated with their gene expression profiles. We speculated the importance of genetic differential expression on the variations of phenotypes by 17MT, and transcriptomic approach seems to allow extracting multiple layers of genomic data.

Reversible plasticity in brain size, behaviour and physiology characterizes caste transitions in a socially flexible ant ( Harpegnathos saltator )

Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to respond to changing environments throughout their lifetime, but these changes are rarely reversible. Exceptions occur in relatively long-lived vertebrate species that exhibit seasonal plasticity in brain size, although similar changes have not been identified in short-lived species, such as insects. Here, we investigate brain plasticity in reproductive workers of the ant Harpegnathos saltator . Unlike most ant species, workers of H. saltator are capable of sexual reproduction, and they compete in a dominance tournament to establish a group of reproductive workers, termed ‘gamergates'. We demonstrated that, compared to foragers, gamergates exhibited a 19% reduction in brain volume in addition to significant differences in behaviour, ovarian status, venom production, cuticular hydrocarbon profile, and expression profiles of related genes. In experimentally manipulated gamergates, 6–8 weeks after being reverted back to non-reproductive status their phenotypes shifted to the forager phenotype across all traits we measured, including brain volume, a trait in which changes were previously shown to be irreversible in honeybees and Drosophila . Brain plasticity in H. saltator is therefore more similar to that found in some long-lived vertebrates that display reversible changes in brain volume throughout their lifetimes.

OVARIAN STATUS OF NON-GRAVID SLAUGHTERED ZEBU COWS IN ZARIA: RELATIONSHIP WITH AGE, SEASON AND CARCASS WEIGHT

OF 3,900 non-gravid zebu ovaries examined at 3 Zaria slaughter houses, 2,652 (68%) were active, Ovarian activity was highest during the rainy season and anestrus highest during the dry season (P < 0.01). Anestrus non-gravid cows and empty cows with active ovaries had the lowest (135+41 kg) and the highest (170 +43 kg) carcass weight respectively. Aged anestrus empty COWS had the lowest carcass weight (127+28 kg) and mature empty cows with active ovaries had the highest (180 +47 kg). The incidence of anestrus increased with age. The magnitude of slaughtering of young and mature empty cows with active ovaries was discussed and it was recommended that rectal examination be done before culling animals in order to reduce this major source of loss of reproductively active cows.

Comparison of Metabolic Alterations in Serum and Milk Whey Between Inactive Ovaries and Estrus Dairy Cows

Inactive ovaries (IOs) affect the estrus cycle and timed artificial insemination (TAI) efficiency in dairy cows during early lactation. The objective of the experiment was to determine metabolic changes in the serum and milk whey of dairy cows with IO and estrus. Twenty-eight healthy postpartum Holstein cows in similar age, milk production, and body condition were selected at 30 days postpartum for tracking to 70 days postpartum, and estrus performance was recorded through Afi Farm® software. The ovarian status and follicular diameter of dairy cows were examined by an experienced breeder through B-ultrasound and rectal examination. Fourteen normal estrus cows were allocated to control group A and 14 cows with IO to group B, all at 30–70 days postpartum. The serum and milk whey in the two groups of cows at 70 days postpartum were used for non-targeted nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) analysis to measure the different metabolites of cows with IO. In group B compared with group A at 70 days postpartum, there was an increase in the milk whey of six different metabolites including succinate, creatine phosphate, glycine, myo-inositol, glycolate, and orotate and a decrease in the milk whey of seven metabolites, including alanine, creatinine, o-phosphorylcholine, lactose, taurine, galactose, and glucose-1-phosphate. There was an increase in the serum of group B cows of four differential metabolites, including 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetate, glutamine, and glycine and a decrease in the serum of nine differential metabolites, including alanine, succinate, citrate, creatinine, o-phosphocholine, glucose, myo-inositol, tyrosine, and histidine compared with group A. Group B cows with IO had decreased glucose metabolism and impaired tricarboxylic acid cycle, increased lipid mobilization, and abnormal amino acid metabolism. The study provides a potential prevention strategy for IO in dairy cows in future.

EPIDEMIOLOGY, RISK FACTORS AND PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF MAMMARY TUMORS IN CATS

Mammary tumors (MT) are the 3rd most common neoplasm in cats. The incidence rate is significantly influenced by gender, age, breed, ovarian status, and the use of progestin-based contraceptives. MTs are a group of neoplasms that is heterogeneous in terms of tissue belonging, histological structure, and biological behavior. Malignant tumors are most frequent and compile from 80% to 96% of all tumors and tumor-like mammary lesions. Mammary cancer (MC) prevails, accounting for 91.4% of all cases of malignant tumors. Invasive breast cancer is much more common than carcinoma in situ. Among histological types of breast cancer, cribriform, solid, and tubulopapillary carcinomas predominate; mucous, tubular, and papillary carcinomas are less common.