Journal Articles, Hindawi Press
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Browsing Journal Articles, Hindawi Press by Department "Animal and Poultry Sciences"
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- Characterization of Expressed Sequence Tags From a Gallus gallus Pineal Gland cDNA LibraryHartman, Stefanie; Touchton, Greg; Wynn, Jessica; Geng, Tuoyu; Chong, Nelson W.; Smith, Edward J. (Hindawi, 2005-01-01)The pineal gland is the circadian oscillator in the chicken, regulating diversefunctions ranging from egg laying to feeding. Here, we describe the isolation andcharacterization of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) isolated from a chicken pinealgland cDNA library. A total of 192 unique sequences were analysed and submittedto GenBank; 6% of the ESTs matched neither GenBank cDNA sequences nor thenewly assembled chicken genomic DNA sequence, three ESTs aligned with sequencesdesignated to be on the Z_random, while one matched a W chromosome sequence andcould be useful in cataloguing functionally important genes on this sex chromosome.Additionally, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified and validatedin 10 ESTs that showed 98% or higher sequence similarity to known chicken genes.Here, we have described resources that may be useful in comparative and functionalgenomic analysis of genes expressed in an important organ, the pineal gland, in amodel and agriculturally important organism.
- Developmental programming in response to intrauterine growth restriction impairs myoblast function and skeletal muscle metabolism.Yates, Dustin T.; Macko, Antoni R.; Nearing, Marie; Chen, Xiaochuan; Rhoads, Robert P.; Limesand, Sean W. (2012)Fetal adaptations to placental insufficiency alter postnatal metabolic homeostasis in skeletal muscle by reducing glucose oxidation rates, impairing insulin action, and lowering the proportion of oxidative fibers. In animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), skeletal muscle fibers have less myonuclei at birth. This means that myoblasts, the sole source for myonuclei accumulation in fibers, are compromised. Fetal hypoglycemia and hypoxemia are complications that result from placental insufficiency. Hypoxemia elevates circulating catecholamines, and chronic hypercatecholaminemia has been shown to reduce fetal muscle development and growth. We have found evidence for adaptations in adrenergic receptor expression profiles in myoblasts and skeletal muscle of IUGR sheep fetuses with placental insufficiency. The relationship of β-adrenergic receptors shifts in IUGR fetuses because Adrβ2 expression levels decline and Adrβ1 expression levels are unaffected in myofibers and increased in myoblasts. This adaptive response would suppress insulin signaling, myoblast incorporation, fiber hypertrophy, and glucose oxidation. Furthermore, this β-adrenergic receptor expression profile persists for at least the first month in IUGR lambs and lowers their fatty acid mobilization. Developmental programming of skeletal muscle adrenergic receptors partially explains metabolic and endocrine differences in IUGR offspring, and the impact on metabolism may result in differential nutrient utilization.
- Elucidating the Evolutionary Relationships among Bos taurus Digestive Organs Using Unigene Expression DataBeck, D. C.; Jiang, Honglin; Zhang, Liqing (Hindawi, 2010-02-08)Although the nature of ruminant evolution is still disputed, current theory based on physiology and genetic analysis suggests that the abomasum is the evolutionarily oldest stomach compartment, the rumen evolved some time after the abomasum, and the omasum is the evolutionarily youngest stomach compartment. In addition, there is some evidence of relaxed selective constraint in the stomach-like organ and the foregut shortly after the foregut formation event. Along with the assumption of a mean, stochastic rate of evolution, analysis of differences in genetic profiles among digestive body organs can give clues to the relationships among these organs. The presence of large numbers of uniquely expressed entries in the abomasum and rumen indicates either a period of relaxed selective constraint or greater evolutionary age. Additionally, differences in expression profiles indicate that the abomasum, rumen, and intestine are more closely related to each other, while the reticulum and omasum are more closely related to the rumen. Functional analysis using Gene Ontology (GO) categories also supports the proposed evolutionary relationships by identifying shared functions, such as muscle activity and development, lipid transport, and urea metabolism, between all sections of the digestive tract investigated.
- Mineral Properties and Dietary Value of Raw and Processed Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.)Rutto, Laban K.; Xu, Yixiang; Ramirez, Elizabeth Maria; Brandt, Michael (Hindawi, 2013-05-16)Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) has a long history of usage and is currently receiving attention as a source of fiber and alternative medicine. In many cultures, nettle is also eaten as a leafy vegetable. In this study, we focused on nettle yield (edible portion) and processing effects on nutritive and dietary properties. Actively growing shoots were harvested from field plots and leaves separated from stems. Leaf portions (200 g) were washed and processed by blanching (1 min at 96–98°C) or cooking (7 min at 98-99°C) with or without salt (5 g·). Samples were cooled immediately after cooking and kept in frozen storage before analysis. Proximate composition, mineral, amino acid, and vitamin contents were determined, and nutritive value was estimated based on 100 g serving portions in a 2000 calorie diet. Results show that processed nettle can supply 90%–100% of vitamin A (including vitamin A as β-carotene) and is a good source of dietary calcium, iron, and protein. We recommend fresh or processed nettle as a high-protein, low-calorie source of essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins particularly in vegetarian, diabetic, or other specialized diets.
- Polymorphisms in the Chicken Growth Differentiation Factor 9 Gene Associated with Reproductive TraitsLiu, Lingbin; Cui, Zhifu; Xiao, Qihai; Zhang, Haihan; Zhao, Xiaoling; Wang, Yan; Yin, Huadong; Li, Diyan; Zhu, Qing (Hindawi, 2018-09-19)The aim of the study was to investigate GDF9 gene polymorphisms and their association with reproductive traits in chicken using DNA sequencing. A total of 279 Dongxiang blue-shelled (DX) chickens and 232 Luhua (LH) chickens were used for validation. We detected 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): nine SNPs were previously unreported in chicken, two were missense mutations, and only three exhibited significant associations with reproductive traits. G.17156387C>T was significantly associated with age at first egg (AFE) and weight of first egg (WFE) in both breeds. Birds carrying the CC genotype exhibited higher AFE and WFE values than those with the TT genotype. The SNP g.17156427A>G exhibited an association with egg weight at 300 days of age (EWTA) in DX but not in LH chickens. The SNP g.17156703A>C affected the AFE and EN (total number of eggs at 300 days of age) in DX chickens. In addition, certain diplotypes significantly affected AFE, BWTA (body weight at 300 days of age), and EN in both breeds. RT-PCR results showed that the GDF9 gene was highly expressed in stroma with cortical follicles (STR) and prehierarchal follicles. These results provided further evidence that the GDF9 gene is involved in determining reproductive traits in chicken.
- Poultry genomics puts meat on the table.Smith, Edward J.; Pourquié, Olivier; Burt, David W. (2005)Why did the chicken cross the road, you ask? Because the draft sequence of its genome has been released, silly. So, along with other ‘bird enthusiasts’ and advocates, those long involved in chicken genetics and genetic studies of birds came to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), 8–11 May 2005, for the 3rd Chicken Genomics Workshop to pat each other on the back for the recently released draft sequence (International Chicken Genome Sequencing Consortium, 2004), compare notes, review progress, and plan for the road ahead! Never mind that the meeting preceded, perhaps as a convenience or, to a cynic, just ‘being chicken’ (an inability to ‘stand alone’?), the annual ‘Biology of Genomes’ meeting: these scientists did not shy away from the ‘chicken jokes’ or from making a strong case for why their work ranks up there with other tractable biomedical models. Joking aside, many speakers at the chicken meeting also attended or were part of ‘Biology of Genomes’, so the chicken is now clearly recognized as a model genome and of great value in evolutionary comparisons. Scientific presentations included the usual staples at genome meetings, such as SNPs, sequence to function, QTL identification and expression profiling. They also included novel talks about gynandromorphs, endogenous viral elements, transgenesis, developmental mutants and signalling pathways. The gathering represented a culmination and a celebration of a vision that started with the partnership between Jerry Dodgson, Michigan State, and Lyman Crittenden, USDA–ARS, as well as the efforts of several European scientists, including the late Nat Bumstead, Martien Groenen (Wageningen) and Dave Burt (Roslin Institute). It was appropriate that the meeting ended with an exploration by the chicken community of ‘what now?
- Temperature-Change-Based Thermal TomographyXu, Yong; Wei, Xiangyu; Wang, Ge (Hindawi, 2009-07-22)Thermal properties of biological tissues play a critical role in the study of tumor angiogenesis and the design and monitoring of thermal therapies. To map thermal parameters noninvasively, we propose temperature-change-based thermal tomography (TTT) that relies on relative temperature mapping using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our approach is unique in two aspects: (1) the steady-state body temperature in thermal equilibrium is not restricted to be spatially invariant, and (2) absolute temperature mapping is not required. These two features are physiologically realistic and technically convenient. Our numerical simulation indicates that a tumor inside a breast phantom can be reliably depicted, assuming moderate temperature mapping accuracy of .
- Time-Dependent Expression of Arc and Zif268 after Acquisition of Fear ConditioningLonergan, Mary E.; Gafford, Georgette M.; Jarome, Timothy J.; Helmstetter, Fred J. (Hindawi, 2010)Memory consolidation requires transcription and translation of new protein. Arc, an effector immediate early gene, and zif268, a regulatory transcription factor, have been implicated in synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. This study explored the temporal expression profiles of these proteins in the rat hippocampus following fear conditioning. We observed a timedependent increase of Arc protein in the dorsal hippocampus 30-to-90-minute post training, returning to basal levels at 4 h. Zif268 protein levels, however, gradually increased at 30-minute post training before peaking in expression at 60 minute. The timing of hippocampal Arc and zif268 expression coincides with the critical period for protein synthesis-dependent memory consolidation following fear conditioning. However, the expression of Arc protein appears to be driven by context exploration, whereas, zif268 expression may be more specifically related to associative learning. These findings suggest that altered Arc and zif268 expression are related to neural plasticity during the formation of fear memory.