Zoological Research最新文献

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.

In adult mammals, optic nerve injury leads to irreversible vision loss due to its extremely limited regenerative capacity. In contrast, adult zebrafish possess a robust capacity for spontaneous visual system regeneration, although the spatiotemporal coordination of recovery across the retina, optic nerve, and brain remains poorly understood. In the present study, the regenerative dynamics following optic nerve transection were systematically characterized in adult zebrafish over a 5 week period using hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, single-cell RNA sequencing, and optokinetic response (OKR) behavioral assessments. At 1 week post-injury (1 wpi), retinal ganglion cell depletion was evident but showed significant recovery by 2 wpi. Concurrently, the injured optic nerve displayed a marked increase in diameter and cell number at 2 wpi, including widespread expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, consistent with heightened proliferative activity. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling at 2 wpi revealed five principal cell populations: fibroblasts, mural cells, immune cells, mature oligodendrocytes, and myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. By 4-5 wpi, remyelination within the optic nerve and re-establishment of synaptic architecture in the optic tectum were strongly correlated with functional restoration of OKR behavior. These findings provide a comprehensive spatiotemporal framework of visual pathway regeneration in zebrafish, establishing a valuable model for elucidating conserved mechanisms of neural repair with translational potential for human vision restoration.

Germ-free mice exhibit profound immunological immaturity. Despite recent studies emphasizing the role of specific bacterium-derived metabolites in immune cell development and differentiation, the mechanisms linking microbiota absence to systemic immune deficits remain incompletely defined. Here, droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing of bone marrow and peripheral blood from both germ-free and specific pathogen-free mice was performed, identifying 25 transcriptionally distinct cell types. Neutrophil apoptosis was elevated in germ-free mice, potentially due to the absence of niacin dehydrogenase, a metabolite primarily produced by Pseudomonas. In addition, germ-free mice exhibited increased excretion of 5'-methylthioadenosine, enhanced ERK activation driven by reactive oxygen species, and disruption of bone marrow stromal antigen 2 signaling. Monocytes and CD8 ⁺ T cells from germ-free mice showed diminished responses to interferon-β and interferon-γ, consistent with heightened viral susceptibility. These findings establish a microbiota-dependent regulatory pathway linking immunodeficiency to microbial absence in germ-free mice, confirmed through complementary validation techniques.

Ring finger protein 122 (RNF122), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, orchestrates antiviral immune responses in mammals by targeting retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 for ubiquitination. However, its functional relevance in teleosts has yet to be clearly defined, particularly regarding the identification of substrate-specific regulatory sites. This study characterized RNF122 from mandarin fish ( Siniperca chuatsi), termed scRNF122, and investigated its regulatory impact on stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-mediated antiviral signaling. Results showed that scRNF122 expression was up-regulated in response to mandarin fish ranavirus (MRV) infection, and its overexpression suppressed scSTING-mediated interferon (IFN) production and enhanced MRV replication. Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed a direct interaction between scRNF122 and scSTING. Functional assays demonstrated that scRNF122 facilitated scSTING degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, a process impeded by MG132 treatment. Ubiquitination analyses of various scSTING mutants revealed that scRNF122 catalyzed scSTING ubiquitination at K95, K117, and K155 residues. Moreover, scRNF122 significantly impaired scSTING-dependent antiviral responses by engaging negative regulatory elements within the signaling cascade. Overall, scRNF122 was identified as a negative modulator of STING-mediated IFN signaling in mandarin fish, diminishing STING-dependent antiviral activity and promoting its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway at lysine residues K95, K117, and K155. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the post-translational control of STING in teleosts and establish a foundation for future investigations into antiviral immune regulation.