Zoological Research最新文献

The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) has gained prominence as a model organism due to its phylogenetic proximity to primates, offering distinct advantages over traditional rodent models in biomedical research. However, the neuroanatomy of this species remains insufficiently defined, limiting its utility in neurophysiological and neuropathological studies. In this study, immunofluorescence microscopy was employed to comprehensively map the distribution of three calcium-binding proteins, parvalbumin, calbindin D-28k, and calretinin, across the tree shrew cerebrum. Serial brain sections in sagittal, coronal, and horizontal planes from 12 individuals generated a dataset of 3 638 cellular-resolution images. This dataset, accessible via Science Data Bank (https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.23471), provides detailed region- and laminar-selective distributions of calcium-binding proteins valuable for the cyto- and chemoarchitectural characterization of the tree shrew cerebrum. This resource will not only advance our understanding of brain organization and facilitate basic and translational neuroscience research in tree shrews but also enhance comparative and evolutionary analyses across species.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) represent a readily accessible and important source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) capable of multilineage differentiation. The Hippo signaling pathway effector YAP has emerged as a pivotal regulator of stem cell fate, yet the specific molecular mechanism by which it modulates lipogenic differentiation of ADSCs has not been clearly defined. In this study, goat ADSCs (gADSCs) isolated from Albas goats in Inner Mongolia were used to investigate the role of YAP1 in adipogenic differentiation. Overexpression of YAP1 significantly promoted the differentiation of ADSCs into adipocytes, an effect accompanied by up-regulation of LATS2 and activation of the negative feedback loop of the Hippo signaling pathway. Elevated LATS2 expression induced YAP phosphorylation, leading to reduced nuclear levels of YAP and TAZ and their subsequent accumulation in the cytoplasm. YAP1 overexpression up-regulated LATS2 expression, which, in turn, enhanced the adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs. This pro-adipogenic effect of YAP1 was dependent on LATS2 kinase activity. These findings indicate that overexpression of YAP1 promotes ADSC adipogenesis by inducing LATS2 expression and activating the Hippo pathway negative feedback loop. Elucidating the molecular role of YAP in ADSC lipogenic differentiation holds great significance for regulating stem cell fate, treating metabolic disorders, and promoting hair follicle growth.

Birch mice (family Sicistidae) are small dipodoid rodents distributed in regions surrounding the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and extending across the Palearctic. In China, members of the genus Sicista are rarely recorded, and their systematics remain poorly resolved. As part of the Second Xizang Plateau Expedition by the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, systematic surveys conducted in southern Xizang and the western Tianshan Mountains yielded two previously unrecognized species. Two specimens from southern Xizang were found to occupy a deeply divergent phylogenetic position within Sicistidae. Morphological assessments and molecular phylogenetic analyses of both extant and fossil Sicistidae, along with total-evidence dating and ancestral distribution reconstruction, identified these specimens as representatives of an ancient extant lineage that diverged from Sicista approximately 20.38 million years ago. This lineage is designated as a new genus, defined by the new species Breviforamen shannanensis gen. et sp. nov. Furthermore, 11 specimens from the Tianshan Mountains are described as a second new species, Sicista brevicauda sp. nov., based on diagnostic morphological and genetic features. Ancestral distribution reconstructions, combined with fossil records, indicate an early Miocene origin for Sicistidae across a broad region spanning the "Gobi" Desert to parts of North America. Climatic deterioration and increasing desertification during the mid-Miocene likely drove southward dispersal of Breviforamen gen. nov. into southern Xizang prior to the complete formation of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Overall, these findings broaden current understanding of Sicistidae diversity, elucidate the origin and dispersal patterns of the family, and highlight the presence of an ancient relict lineage in China.

Extreme heat and chronic water scarcity present formidable challenges to large desert-dwelling mammals. In addition to camels, antelopes within the Hippotraginae and Alcelaphinae subfamilies also exhibit remarkable physiological and genetic specializations for desert survival. Among them, the critically endangered addax ( Addax nasomaculatus) represents the most desert-adapted antelope species. However, the evolutionary and molecular mechanisms underlying desert adaptations remain largely unexplored. Herein, a high-quality genome assembly of the addax was generated to investigate the molecular evolution of desert adaptation in camels and desert antelopes. Comparative genomic analyses identified 136 genes harboring convergent amino acid substitutions implicated in crucial biological processes, including water reabsorption, fat metabolism, and stress response. Notably, a convergent R146S amino acid mutation in the prostaglandin EP2 receptor gene PTGER2 significantly reduced receptor activity, potentially facilitating large-mammal adaptation to arid environments. Lineage-specific innovations were also identified in desert antelopes, including previously uncharacterized conserved non-coding elements. Functional assays revealed that several of these elements exerted significant regulatory effects in vitro, suggesting potential roles in adaptive gene expression. Additionally, signals of introgression and variation in genetic load were observed, indicating their possible influence on desert adaptation. These findings provide insights into the sequential evolutionary processes that drive physiological resilience in arid environments and highlight the importance of convergent evolution in shaping adaptive traits in large terrestrial mammals.

The genetic regulation of hair density in animals remains poorly understood. The Dazu black goat, characterized by its black coarse hair and white skin, provides a unique model for dissecting coarse hair density (CHD). Using high-resolution micro-camera imaging, this study analyzed 905 skin images, 33 skin transcriptomes, 272 whole-genome sequences, and 182 downloaded transcriptomes. Morphological assessment from juvenile to adult stages revealed the thickening of hair shafts accompanied by a progressive decline in density, largely attributable to rapid surface expansion of the trunk skin. Transcriptomic comparison between high- and low-CHD individuals identified 572 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A genome-wide association study detected 25 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms ( P<9.07e-8) and mapped 48 annotated genes, with the most prominent association signal located near GJA1 on chr9.15931585-18621011. Literature review and Venn analysis highlighted six genes ( GJA1, GPRC5D, CD1D, CD207, TFAM, and CXCL12) with documented roles in skin and hair biology, and three genes ( GJA1, GPRC5D, and ATP6V1B1) overlapped with DEGs. Multiple-tissue transcriptomic profiling, western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and skin single-cell RNA sequencing confirmed that GJA1 and GPRC5D were highly and specifically expressed in skin, particularly within hair follicles. Expression was localized predominantly to follicular stem cells and dermal papilla cells, suggesting a significant role in folliculogenesis and structural maintenance. Cross-validation using four public datasets further demonstrated positive correlations between GJA1 and GPRC5D expression and hair follicle density. The innovative micro-camera application allowed the elucidation of spatiotemporal patterns and genes associated with CHD, thereby addressing a significant knowledge gap in animal hair density.

Static magnetic field (SMF) exposure exerts notable regulatory effects on metabolic disorders, yet its influence on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and gut microbiota during disease progression remains unclear. In this study, MAFLD was induced in mice via a high-fat diet (HFD), followed by exposure to a 0.2 T SMF for 12 h per day over a 10 week period. SMF treatment significantly attenuated body weight gain, alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation, and improved liver function. Sequencing analysis of intestinal contents revealed a significant increase in microbial diversity and enrichment of beneficial bacterial taxa under SMF exposure. Integrated multi-omics analysis and Spearman correlation further demonstrated that SMF significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and modulated pathways related to polyunsaturated fatty acid and glutamate metabolism, in close association with shifts in beneficial gut microbiota. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling of liver tissue indicated that SMF inhibited fatty acid synthesis and elongation by regulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ( PPARγ), thereby contributing to reduced hepatic burden. These findings highlight SMF as a promising non-invasive strategy for MAFLD intervention and provide insights into the microbiota-mediated metabolic axis underlying its therapeutic effects.

General anesthesia (GA) is a pharmacologically induced, reversible state characterized by unconsciousness, amnesia, analgesia, and immobility in response to noxious stimuli. Accumulating evidence from animal models has elucidated diverse mechanisms of the action underlying GA, including disruption of large-scale brain network connectivity, regulation of multiple neural pathways, and modulation of specific receptors and ion channels. Despite advances in dissecting the neurobiological basis of anesthetic action, the precise cellular and circuit-level processes remain incompletely understood, limiting the development of safer and more effective strategies. Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster, a genetically tractable model organism offering robust genetic analysis, advanced imaging capabilities, and compact neural architecture, have yielded critical insights into the conserved neurobiological mechanisms of GA, offering translational value for mammalian systems. This review outlines: 1) experimental paradigms used to evaluate anesthetic sensitivity and behavioral responses in Drosophila; 2) molecular targets and their mechanistic roles in mediating GA; and 3) neural circuit architectures and activity patterns shared by GA and sleep. Cross-species comparisons are integrated to highlight conserved mechanisms that may guide the development of more refined anesthetic strategies.

The ancient Neo-Tethyan region underwent profound tectonic transformations, including the orogenesis of the Xizang Plateau and the westward retreat and ultimate closure of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. These events significantly influenced the diversification and biogeography of aquatic animals. However, the impact of these large-scale sea-land shifts on the long-range evolutionary history of terrestrial fauna remains unclear. This study investigated how geological changes in the Neo-Tethyan region shaped the evolutionary trajectories and dispersal patterns of Pholcus sensu lato cellar spiders across the Old World. Molecular dating, ancestral area reconstructions, and diversity analyses were conducted using sequences from seven genes across 234 samples representing 209 species. Results indicated that these spiders originated in the eastern Neo-Tethyan region during the Early Eocene, with their subsequent diversification driven by a series of concomitant geological events. The Eurasian (ER) Group dispersed into Europe following the westward retreat of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean in the Early Miocene, while the African (AF) Group migrated into Africa via the Arabian Plate land bridge following the closure of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean in the Oligocene. The East Asian (EA) Group, which expanded along the southeastern margin of the Himalayas, experienced explosive diversification in response to sustained orogenesis at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. These findings illustrate how large-scale geological processes and sea-land changes shaped the evolutionary history of terrestrial fauna in the Neo-Tethyan region.

Ovarian aging is characterized by a progressive decline in oocyte quality and quantity with age. Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid compound derived from Epimedium species, has demonstrated potential as an agent for ovarian restoration. In this study, a subcutaneous implantation system using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel embedded with ICA was developed to restore ovarian function in aged female mice. Mice were assigned to receive subcutaneous implantation of GelMA alone (GelMA group), GelMA containing ICA (GelMA/ICA group), or a sham operation. Ovarian morphology, serum hormone levels, follicle counts across developmental stages, and reproductive outcomes were evaluated. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo culture assays were performed to assess oocyte developmental potential, while a 10 day natural mating trial was conducted to determine fertility restoration. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RT-qPCR were performed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results showed that GelMA/ICA treatment significantly increased ovarian index (0.19±0.01 vs. 0.13±0.01, P<0.0001) and follicle numbers at all developmental stages, including primordial (383.33±151.65 vs. 107.14±32.26, P<0.0001), primary (203.33±83.22 vs. 91.43±27.04, P=0.003), and secondary follicles (154.17±52.00 vs. 59.28±20.50, P=0.029) compared to the sham controls. Hormonal analyses revealed a significant reduction in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 11.97±3.53 vs. 53.10±17.89 ng/mL, P=0.0008), accompanied by elevated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH, 22.97±2.26 vs. 5.54±1.56 ng/mL, P<0.0001) and estradiol (E ₂, 315.30±37.62 vs. 168.5±14.78 pg/mL, P<0.0001). Oocyte yield and developmental potential improved significantly, as reflected by the increased number of superovulated MII oocytes (17.83±5.15 vs. 4.83±4.79, P=0.0002), and higher proportions of two-cell (85.90%±6.16% vs. 50.00%±10.00%, P=0.0009), four-cell (81.67%±9.76% vs. 50.00%±10.00%, P=0.0061), and blastocyst stage embryos (64.25%±10.55% vs. 23.33%±15.28%, P=0.0067). Live birth numbers were significantly increased following GelMA/ICA treatment (6.90±3.21 vs. 1.72±2.05, P=0.0001). Transcriptomic analysis revealed up-regulation of genes associated with cytoskeletal organization ( Vil1, Tubb3), lipid storage ( Soat2, Plin4), oocyte maturation ( Oosp2), and cytokine secretion ( Cxcl12). Collectively, these findings suggest that GelMA/ICA hydrogels effectively reverse key hallmarks of ovarian aging and restore reproductive function in aged mice, offering a promising platform for fertility preservation and a novel therapeutic for future investigations into ovarian aging.