Pub Date : 2025-03-26DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111849
José A. Abecia , Isabella Manenti , Irene Viola , Paola Toschi , Carlos Palacios , Francisco Canto , Silvia Miretti
The study of growth and development of lambs (Ovis aries) is essential in sheep farming, and melatonin plays an important role in the physiology of growing lambs. The effects of an exogenous melatonin treatment on several physiological characteristics in fattening lambs at weaning were studied. Eight lambs were assigned to one of two groups; those that did (melatonin group, n = 4) or did not (no-melatonin group, n = 4) receive two subcutaneous melatonin implants at weaning. At the end of the fattening period, to quantify locomotor activity (LA), each lamb was fitted with a triaxial accelerometer, for 7 days. Simultaneously, lambs received a surgically implanted subcutaneous temperature (T) and heart rate (HR) biologger, which was programmed to record data every 5 min. HR variability (HRV) variables (SDNN, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals, and RMSSD, the root mean square of consecutive deviations between normal heartbeats) were measured. All of the variables exhibited 24-h circadian rhythms. Time of day (daytime vs. nighttime) had a significant effect on LA, T, and HR, but considering both treatment with melatonin and time, differences between time for these variables were only observed in melatonin-treated lambs. Exogenous melatonin did not affect LA or T, but melatonin-treated lambs had lower HR, SDNN, and RMSSD than did non-treated lambs. In conclusion, the use of subcutaneous biologgers and triaxial accelerometers in growing lambs demonstrated circadian rhythms in LA, T, HR, and HRV, and melatonin treatment negatively affected HRV, but its effects on the other physiological variables differed between day and night.
{"title":"Triaxial accelerometers and subcutaneous biologgers as tools to record diurnal and nocturnal changes in locomotor activity, body temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability in melatonin-treated lambs (Ovis aries)","authors":"José A. Abecia , Isabella Manenti , Irene Viola , Paola Toschi , Carlos Palacios , Francisco Canto , Silvia Miretti","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111849","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111849","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of growth and development of lambs <em>(Ovis aries)</em> is essential in sheep farming, and melatonin plays an important role in the physiology of growing lambs. The effects of an exogenous melatonin treatment on several physiological characteristics in fattening lambs at weaning were studied. Eight lambs were assigned to one of two groups; those that did (melatonin group, <em>n</em> = 4) or did not (no-melatonin group, n = 4) receive two subcutaneous melatonin implants at weaning. At the end of the fattening period, to quantify locomotor activity (LA), each lamb was fitted with a triaxial accelerometer, for 7 days. Simultaneously, lambs received a surgically implanted subcutaneous temperature (T) and heart rate (HR) biologger, which was programmed to record data every 5 min. HR variability (HRV) variables (SDNN, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals, and RMSSD, the root mean square of consecutive deviations between normal heartbeats) were measured. All of the variables exhibited 24-h circadian rhythms. Time of day (daytime vs. nighttime) had a significant effect on LA, T, and HR, but considering both treatment with melatonin and time, differences between time for these variables were only observed in melatonin-treated lambs. Exogenous melatonin did not affect LA or T, but melatonin-treated lambs had lower HR, SDNN, and RMSSD than did non-treated lambs. In conclusion, the use of subcutaneous biologgers and triaxial accelerometers in growing lambs demonstrated circadian rhythms in LA, T, HR, and HRV, and melatonin treatment negatively affected HRV, but its effects on the other physiological variables differed between day and night.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 111849"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143726084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-25DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111848
David R. Fraser , Rebecca S. Mason
The classical roles of plasma vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) are the transport of vitamin D and its metabolites in blood, as well as because of its actin-binding affinity, the removal of any actin that escapes into the circulation when cells are damaged or destroyed. It is also apparent that DBP has functions related to the activity of lymphoid cells that are independent of its role as a vehicle for delivering vitamin D metabolites around the body. A separate major function of DBP was revealed with the discovery of the endocytic activity of cell membrane proteins megalin and cubilin, in internalizing DBP into cells in a number of different organs, particularly the kidney and skeletal muscle. Within a cell, DBP binds specifically to cytoplasmic actin filaments. Because most DBP in plasma is in the apo-configuration, that which binds to actin within specific cells, provides an array of empty binding sites that enable free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), that diffuses into those cells, to be retained on the DBP-actin structure. The retention of 25(OH)D diffusing into renal proximal tubule cells provides the substrate, after DBP proteolysis, for the 1-hydroxylase which generates the vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). In skeletal muscle cells, the 25(OH)D that accumulates on the internalized DBP-actin complex, diffuses back to the circulation when that DBP undergoes proteolysis. This diffusion of 25(OH)D into and out of skeletal muscle cells, mediated by the internalized apo-DBP mechanism, accounts for the long half-life of 25(OH)D in the circulation and the role this process plays in maintaining vitamin D status.
{"title":"Commentary: Cellular functions of vitamin D-binding protein","authors":"David R. Fraser , Rebecca S. Mason","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The classical roles of plasma vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) are the transport of vitamin D and its metabolites in blood, as well as because of its actin-binding affinity, the removal of any actin that escapes into the circulation when cells are damaged or destroyed. It is also apparent that DBP has functions related to the activity of lymphoid cells that are independent of its role as a vehicle for delivering vitamin D metabolites around the body. A separate major function of DBP was revealed with the discovery of the endocytic activity of cell membrane proteins megalin and cubilin, in internalizing DBP into cells in a number of different organs, particularly the kidney and skeletal muscle. Within a cell, DBP binds specifically to cytoplasmic actin filaments. Because most DBP in plasma is in the apo-configuration, that which binds to actin within specific cells, provides an array of empty binding sites that enable free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), that diffuses into those cells, to be retained on the DBP-actin structure. The retention of 25(OH)D diffusing into renal proximal tubule cells provides the substrate, after DBP proteolysis, for the 1-hydroxylase which generates the vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)<sub>2</sub>D). In skeletal muscle cells, the 25(OH)D that accumulates on the internalized DBP-actin complex, diffuses back to the circulation when that DBP undergoes proteolysis. This diffusion of 25(OH)D into and out of skeletal muscle cells, mediated by the internalized apo-DBP mechanism, accounts for the long half-life of 25(OH)D in the circulation and the role this process plays in maintaining vitamin D status.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 111848"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-21DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111847
Anna V. Goropashnaya , Inigo Yoldi Bergua , M. Hoshi Sugiura , Sarah A. Rice , Kelly L. Drew , Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden , Vadim B. Fedorov
Reduced skeletal loading and inactivity leads to muscle atrophy in humans and most mammals. By contrast, hibernating mammals demonstrate limited loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength by the end of winter after being physically inactive for several months. The present study objective was to detect any signs of muscle atrophy and restoration in arctic ground squirrel (AGS) skeletal muscles during the hibernation season. Quadriceps muscles of juvenile AGS males were collected 1–2 weeks before hibernation, and at 2, 6, 10–12 and 16–22 weeks after onset of hibernation during interbout arousal when body temperature returns to euthermic level. Muscle mass, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and fiber type composition were determined, as well as total and ribosomal RNA content, and expression of key genes involved in protein degradation. We found that muscle mass, CSA and fiber size distribution were not different between the groups (P > 0.05). No difference was detected in myofiber composition between the hibernation groups compared to pre-hibernation. Total RNA and ribosomal RNA content were not significantly different between the groups during hibernation. Transcript levels of ubiquitin E3-ligase FBXO32 (Atrogin-1, MAFbx) and autophagy related genes MAP1LC3A and BECN1 were not different between the hibernation and pre-hibernation groups. However, ubiquitin E3-ligase TRIM63 (MuRF-1) was significantly higher expressed at 2 weeks of hibernation compared to the other timepoints. These results, for the first time, show that AGS preserve muscles during hibernation season.
{"title":"Skeletal muscle preservation in arctic ground squirrels during hibernation season","authors":"Anna V. Goropashnaya , Inigo Yoldi Bergua , M. Hoshi Sugiura , Sarah A. Rice , Kelly L. Drew , Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden , Vadim B. Fedorov","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reduced skeletal loading and inactivity leads to muscle atrophy in humans and most mammals. By contrast, hibernating mammals demonstrate limited loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength by the end of winter after being physically inactive for several months. The present study objective was to detect any signs of muscle atrophy and restoration in arctic ground squirrel (AGS) skeletal muscles during the hibernation season. Quadriceps muscles of juvenile AGS males were collected 1–2 weeks before hibernation, and at 2, 6, 10–12 and 16–22 weeks after onset of hibernation during interbout arousal when body temperature returns to euthermic level. Muscle mass, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and fiber type composition were determined, as well as total and ribosomal RNA content, and expression of key genes involved in protein degradation. We found that muscle mass, CSA and fiber size distribution were not different between the groups (<em>P</em> > 0.05). No difference was detected in myofiber composition between the hibernation groups compared to pre-hibernation. Total RNA and ribosomal RNA content were not significantly different between the groups during hibernation. Transcript levels of ubiquitin E3-ligase <em>FBXO32</em> (<em>Atrogin-1</em>, <em>MAF</em>bx) and autophagy related genes <em>MAP1LC3A</em> and <em>BECN1</em> were not different between the hibernation and pre-hibernation groups. However, ubiquitin E3-ligase <em>TRIM63</em> (<em>M</em>u<em>RF-1</em>) was significantly higher expressed at 2 weeks of hibernation compared to the other timepoints. These results, for the first time, show that AGS preserve muscles during hibernation season.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111847"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-19DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111846
Min Li, Dongjie Wang, Xiaoping Huang, Shulan Wang, Zhenhan Chen, Muhammad Junaid, Shaolin Xie
Cyp1a (cytochrome P450 1 A) is critical for metabolizing endogenous substances and environmental chemicals. In this study, a zebrafish strain KI (cyp1a:mcherry), exhibiting low cyp1a gene expression, was compared with wild-type zebrafish (WT) to investigate the effects of cyp1a on growth and hypoxia tolerance. The results demonstrated that low cyp1a expression significantly inhibited zebrafish growth and reduced hypoxia tolerance. Specifically, KI zebrafish exhibited slower growth rates and higher sensitivity to low oxygen conditions compared to WT. These physiological phenotypes directly link low cyp1a expression to impaired growth and reduced environmental adaptation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed potential mechanisms underlying these effects, including up-regulation of digestive system-related genes (e.g., cpa1, cpb1) and dysregulation of pathways involved in detoxification, stress response, and steroid biosynthesis. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining normal cyp1a expression for healthy growth and environmental adaptation in zebrafish.
{"title":"Knockdown of cytochrome P450 1 A (cyp1a) gene suppresses growth and oxygen tolerance in zebrafish","authors":"Min Li, Dongjie Wang, Xiaoping Huang, Shulan Wang, Zhenhan Chen, Muhammad Junaid, Shaolin Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cyp1a</em> (cytochrome P450 1 A) is critical for metabolizing endogenous substances and environmental chemicals. In this study, a zebrafish strain KI (<em>cyp1a:mcherry</em>), exhibiting low <em>cyp1a</em> gene expression, was compared with wild-type zebrafish (WT) to investigate the effects of <em>cyp1a</em> on growth and hypoxia tolerance. The results demonstrated that low <em>cyp1a</em> expression significantly inhibited zebrafish growth and reduced hypoxia tolerance. Specifically, KI zebrafish exhibited slower growth rates and higher sensitivity to low oxygen conditions compared to WT. These physiological phenotypes directly link low <em>cyp1a</em> expression to impaired growth and reduced environmental adaptation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed potential mechanisms underlying these effects, including up-regulation of digestive system-related genes (e.g., <em>cpa1</em>, <em>cpb1</em>) and dysregulation of pathways involved in detoxification, stress response, and steroid biosynthesis. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining normal <em>cyp1a</em> expression for healthy growth and environmental adaptation in zebrafish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111846"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143675004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-15DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111843
Zhiqing Ye , Jieyi Yuan , Lifei Ge , Yibo Wang , Yuting Liu , Xiuwen Xu , Jixiu Wang , Jingwen Yang , Chenghua Li , Tianming Wang
Melatonin (MT), synthesized from tryptophan, modulates reproduction through its interaction with melatonin receptors (MTNRs). While its functions in vertebrates are well established, the MT system remains poorly understood in echinoderms. To elucidate MT synthesis regulation, we examined AjAsmt, a pivotal enzyme in MT biosynthesis, to determine its tissue-specific distribution in Apostichopus japonicus. AjAsmt was predominantly expressed in the nerve ring, polian vesicle, intestine, and muscle, with significantly reduced intestinal expression post-spawning, suggesting a role in ovarian development and physiological regulation. Building on this, we characterized the molecular and functional properties of AjMTNR using computational analyses and in vitro assays. MT treatment triggered AjMTNR internalization and elevated intracellular cAMP and Ca2+ levels. Notably, AjMTNR was highly expressed in the gonads, prompting an investigation into MT's role in estradiol (E2) secretion. In vitro experiments confirmed that MT stimulates E2 secretion in ovarian tissue in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings enhance our understanding of the MT system's physiological functions and provide valuable insights for the reproductive management and aquaculture of A. japonicus.
{"title":"Potential roles of the melatonin system in the promotion of ovarian estradiol secretion in the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus","authors":"Zhiqing Ye , Jieyi Yuan , Lifei Ge , Yibo Wang , Yuting Liu , Xiuwen Xu , Jixiu Wang , Jingwen Yang , Chenghua Li , Tianming Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111843","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111843","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melatonin (MT), synthesized from tryptophan, modulates reproduction through its interaction with melatonin receptors (MTNRs). While its functions in vertebrates are well established, the MT system remains poorly understood in echinoderms. To elucidate MT synthesis regulation, we examined <em>AjAsmt</em>, a pivotal enzyme in MT biosynthesis, to determine its tissue-specific distribution in <em>Apostichopus japonicus</em>. <em>AjAsmt</em> was predominantly expressed in the nerve ring, polian vesicle, intestine, and muscle, with significantly reduced intestinal expression post-spawning, suggesting a role in ovarian development and physiological regulation. Building on this, we characterized the molecular and functional properties of <em>AjMTNR</em> using computational analyses and <em>in vitro</em> assays. MT treatment triggered <em>AjMTNR</em> internalization and elevated intracellular cAMP and Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels. Notably, <em>AjMTNR</em> was highly expressed in the gonads, prompting an investigation into MT's role in estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>) secretion. In vitro experiments confirmed that MT stimulates E<sub>2</sub> secretion in ovarian tissue in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings enhance our understanding of the MT system's physiological functions and provide valuable insights for the reproductive management and aquaculture of <em>A. japonicus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111843"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-15DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111845
Chong-Xiang Xu , Jun-Kun Pan , Lan-Hua Wu , Zi-Fan Jin , Shan-Shan Chen , Jin-Wen Liu , Jin-Song Liu , Ming Li
<div><div>Food stands as a pivotal environmental element that exerts a profound influence on the survival of animals. Faced with food shortages, animals need to develop morphological, physiological, and behavioral strategies to improve their survival adaptability. Animals undergoing fasting tend to mobilize the reserved substances in the body to meet the energy needs for metabolism. In the present investigation, we assessed the influence of prolonged fasting on various physiological parameters related to fat catabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein catabolism in female Japanese quails (<em>Coturnix japonica</em>). The treatment of Japanese quails was divided into four stages: the pre-fasting stage, Phase I (fasting for 1 day), Phase II (fasting for 4 days), and Phase III (fasting for 6–11 days). Compared with the pre-fasting stage, the following indicators changed significantly during prolonged fasting. (1) Fat catabolism: In the liver, the level of lipid droplets and free fatty acids (FFA), the activity of triacylglycerol lipase (TGL), the activity and mRNA level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthetase (<em>HMGCS</em>), and the level of β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) in the serum increased significantly, while the activity and mRNA level of carnitine acyltransferase I (<em>CPT<img>I</em>) and carnitine acyltransferase II (<em>CPT-II</em>) decreased significantly. (2) Carbohydrate metabolism: The activity and mRNA levels of the pyruvate carboxylase (<em>PC</em>) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (<em>PEPCK</em>) genes, and that of the glucose-6-phosphatase (<em>G6Pase</em>) in the liver increased significantly, while the mRNA level of the hexokinase domain containing 1 (<em>HKDC1</em>) and pyruvate kinase (<em>PK</em>) genes in the liver decreased significantly. (3) Protein catabolism: free amino acid levels in the liver and pectoral muscle increased significantly, whereas the mRNA levels of the asparagine synthetase (<em>ASNS</em>) and glutamate dehydrogenase (<em>GLUD</em>) genes in the liver decreased significantly, while the mRNA level of the nuclear factor-kappa B (<em>NF-kB1</em> and <em>NF-kB2</em>) in the pectoral muscle increased significantly. Additionally, glucocorticoid levels significantly rose in Phase III compared with Phases I and II. Therefore, for prolonged fasting female Japanese quails, the mobilization of fat, fat decomposition, and generation of ketone bodies increased significantly, and gluconeogenesis in the liver also increased significantly, while glycolysis decreased significantly; protein decomposition, particularly in pectoral muscle, increased significantly. These results indicate that enhanced fat catabolism, protein catabolism, and gluconeogenesis, along with reduced glycolysis, could play an important role in the tolerance of female Japanese quails to prolonged fasting. These mechanisms might be significant for the birds to establish a temporary balance to maintain homeostasis under conditions of restric
{"title":"Effects of prolonged fasting on substrate metabolism in female Japanese quails","authors":"Chong-Xiang Xu , Jun-Kun Pan , Lan-Hua Wu , Zi-Fan Jin , Shan-Shan Chen , Jin-Wen Liu , Jin-Song Liu , Ming Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food stands as a pivotal environmental element that exerts a profound influence on the survival of animals. Faced with food shortages, animals need to develop morphological, physiological, and behavioral strategies to improve their survival adaptability. Animals undergoing fasting tend to mobilize the reserved substances in the body to meet the energy needs for metabolism. In the present investigation, we assessed the influence of prolonged fasting on various physiological parameters related to fat catabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein catabolism in female Japanese quails (<em>Coturnix japonica</em>). The treatment of Japanese quails was divided into four stages: the pre-fasting stage, Phase I (fasting for 1 day), Phase II (fasting for 4 days), and Phase III (fasting for 6–11 days). Compared with the pre-fasting stage, the following indicators changed significantly during prolonged fasting. (1) Fat catabolism: In the liver, the level of lipid droplets and free fatty acids (FFA), the activity of triacylglycerol lipase (TGL), the activity and mRNA level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthetase (<em>HMGCS</em>), and the level of β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) in the serum increased significantly, while the activity and mRNA level of carnitine acyltransferase I (<em>CPT<img>I</em>) and carnitine acyltransferase II (<em>CPT-II</em>) decreased significantly. (2) Carbohydrate metabolism: The activity and mRNA levels of the pyruvate carboxylase (<em>PC</em>) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (<em>PEPCK</em>) genes, and that of the glucose-6-phosphatase (<em>G6Pase</em>) in the liver increased significantly, while the mRNA level of the hexokinase domain containing 1 (<em>HKDC1</em>) and pyruvate kinase (<em>PK</em>) genes in the liver decreased significantly. (3) Protein catabolism: free amino acid levels in the liver and pectoral muscle increased significantly, whereas the mRNA levels of the asparagine synthetase (<em>ASNS</em>) and glutamate dehydrogenase (<em>GLUD</em>) genes in the liver decreased significantly, while the mRNA level of the nuclear factor-kappa B (<em>NF-kB1</em> and <em>NF-kB2</em>) in the pectoral muscle increased significantly. Additionally, glucocorticoid levels significantly rose in Phase III compared with Phases I and II. Therefore, for prolonged fasting female Japanese quails, the mobilization of fat, fat decomposition, and generation of ketone bodies increased significantly, and gluconeogenesis in the liver also increased significantly, while glycolysis decreased significantly; protein decomposition, particularly in pectoral muscle, increased significantly. These results indicate that enhanced fat catabolism, protein catabolism, and gluconeogenesis, along with reduced glycolysis, could play an important role in the tolerance of female Japanese quails to prolonged fasting. These mechanisms might be significant for the birds to establish a temporary balance to maintain homeostasis under conditions of restric","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111845"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-15DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111844
Keliang Zhang , Hong Yu , Qi Li
Ribosomal proteins (Rps) play important roles in ribosomal assembly, protein synthesis, and various extraribosomal functions. In this study, we identified and analyzed 75 ribosomal protein genes (CgRp) from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), including 32 small subunit ribosomal proteins and 43 large subunit ribosomal proteins. These genes were categorized into six subgroups and 44 subfamilies, with structural analysis revealing variability in gene exon number and untranslated regions. Transcriptomic profiling revealed tissue-specific expression patterns, with three CgRp genes (CgRL1P1, CgRPS21 and CgRPS18) enriched in gonadal tissue. Notably, 27 CgRp genes in males exhibited high expression during the resting and early development stages, followed by a downregulation trend during maturation. A total of 72 CgRps peaked in expression during the spat stage, highlighting their involvement in critical developmental processes such as tissue differentiation and organogenesis. qPCR validation confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptomic findings, particularly for genes with distinct expression profiles in male and female gonads. This study provides novel insights into the role of Rps in reproductive and developmental processes in C. gigas, contributing to the understanding of their functional diversity and potential applications in oyster breeding.
{"title":"Comprehensive identification and characterization of ribosomal protein genes in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): Potential roles in reproduction and development","authors":"Keliang Zhang , Hong Yu , Qi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111844","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111844","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ribosomal proteins (Rps) play important roles in ribosomal assembly, protein synthesis, and various extraribosomal functions. In this study, we identified and analyzed 75 ribosomal protein genes (CgRp) from the Pacific oyster (<em>Crassostrea gigas</em>), including 32 small subunit ribosomal proteins and 43 large subunit ribosomal proteins. These genes were categorized into six subgroups and 44 subfamilies, with structural analysis revealing variability in gene exon number and untranslated regions. Transcriptomic profiling revealed tissue-specific expression patterns, with three CgRp genes (CgRL1P1, CgRPS21 and CgRPS18) enriched in gonadal tissue. Notably, 27 CgRp genes in males exhibited high expression during the resting and early development stages, followed by a downregulation trend during maturation. A total of 72 CgRps peaked in expression during the spat stage, highlighting their involvement in critical developmental processes such as tissue differentiation and organogenesis. qPCR validation confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptomic findings, particularly for genes with distinct expression profiles in male and female gonads. This study provides novel insights into the role of Rps in reproductive and developmental processes in <em>C. gigas</em>, contributing to the understanding of their functional diversity and potential applications in oyster breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111844"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111834
Matouš Janča , Zora Knotková , Ondřej Kauzál , Tomáš Albrecht , Oldřich Tomášek
Total red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cell counts are highly informative haematological parameters, holding substantial potential for advancing ecological and evolutionary research and conservation efforts. Yet, their use in studies on wild bird populations is rare as blood samples need to be stored in fragile glass flasks and analysed on the day of collection, which poses significant challenges in field conditions. Here, we aimed to make total blood cell counts more accessible for field studies by assessing their reliability in blood samples collected in more durable plastic tubes and stored for varying periods of time. We used the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) as a model and aliquoted the collected blood samples into plastic tubes and glass flasks with Natt-Herrick's staining solution. When analysed on the day of collection, total RBC and WBC counts from the plastic tubes and glass flasks showed no difference and were highly repeatable. A subsequent repeated analysis of samples stored at 4–8 °C in plastic tubes for 18 months showed moderate repeatabilities of resultant blood cell counts that did not decrease over time. Together with the absence of linear trends in the results, consistent repeatabilities indicate that the total blood cell count information is effectively preserved in the long term. Overall, our study shows that blood samples can be collected in plastic tubes with Natt-Herrick's solution for analysis of total RBC and WBC counts. Moreover, long-term sample storage can be a viable option when immediate cell count analysis is impracticable, such as in field studies requiring sampling in remote locations. However, the moderate repeatability of cell counts in stored samples must be considered, particularly in within-population studies where relatively low biological variation is expected, which may require high analytical precision. These findings may facilitate more extensive application of total blood cell counts in wild bird research and conservation.
红细胞（RBC）和白细胞（WBC）总数是信息量很大的血液学参数，在推动生态和进化研究及保护工作方面具有很大的潜力。然而，由于血液样本需要储存在易碎的玻璃瓶中，并在采集当天进行分析，这给野外条件带来了巨大挑战，因此在野生鸟类种群研究中很少使用。在此，我们旨在通过评估用更耐用的塑料管采集并储存不同时间的血样中总血细胞计数的可靠性，使野外研究更容易获得总血细胞计数。我们以斑马雀（Taeniopygia castanotis）为模型，将采集的血液样本等分到塑料管和玻璃烧瓶中，并加入纳特-赫里克染色液。在采集当天进行分析时，塑料管和玻璃烧瓶中的红细胞和白细胞总数没有差异，重复性很高。随后对塑料管中 4-8 ° C 下保存 18 个月的样本进行重复分析，结果显示血细胞计数的重复性适中，且不会随时间推移而降低。再加上结果中没有线性趋势，一致的重复性表明血细胞总数信息可以长期有效地保存。总之，我们的研究表明，使用纳特-赫里克溶液在塑料管中采集血液样本，可用于分析红细胞和白细胞总数。此外，在无法立即进行细胞计数分析的情况下，例如需要在偏远地区采样的实地研究中，长期储存样本也是一种可行的选择。不过，必须考虑到储存样本中细胞计数的中等重复性，尤其是在预期生物变异相对较低的种群内研究中，这可能需要较高的分析精度。这些发现可能会促进全血细胞计数在野生鸟类研究和保护中的更广泛应用。
{"title":"Methods: Increasing feasibility of total blood cell count analysis in field studies: Effects of plastic tubes and storage duration","authors":"Matouš Janča , Zora Knotková , Ondřej Kauzál , Tomáš Albrecht , Oldřich Tomášek","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Total red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cell counts are highly informative haematological parameters, holding substantial potential for advancing ecological and evolutionary research and conservation efforts. Yet, their use in studies on wild bird populations is rare as blood samples need to be stored in fragile glass flasks and analysed on the day of collection, which poses significant challenges in field conditions. Here, we aimed to make total blood cell counts more accessible for field studies by assessing their reliability in blood samples collected in more durable plastic tubes and stored for varying periods of time. We used the zebra finch (<em>Taeniopygia castanotis</em>) as a model and aliquoted the collected blood samples into plastic tubes and glass flasks with Natt-Herrick's staining solution. When analysed on the day of collection, total RBC and WBC counts from the plastic tubes and glass flasks showed no difference and were highly repeatable. A subsequent repeated analysis of samples stored at 4–8 °C in plastic tubes for 18 months showed moderate repeatabilities of resultant blood cell counts that did not decrease over time. Together with the absence of linear trends in the results, consistent repeatabilities indicate that the total blood cell count information is effectively preserved in the long term. Overall, our study shows that blood samples can be collected in plastic tubes with Natt-Herrick's solution for analysis of total RBC and WBC counts. Moreover, long-term sample storage can be a viable option when immediate cell count analysis is impracticable, such as in field studies requiring sampling in remote locations. However, the moderate repeatability of cell counts in stored samples must be considered, particularly in within-population studies where relatively low biological variation is expected, which may require high analytical precision. These findings may facilitate more extensive application of total blood cell counts in wild bird research and conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111834"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143630336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111835
Siaje Gideon, Brendan Boyd, Brandon Ramirez Sierra, Dennise Arenas, Perla Ochoa, John Eme, Dennis Kolosov
Salmonid fishes are well adapted to transition between salinities as part of a diadromid lifestyle, and many species are both economically and environmentally important. Ion-transporting gill epithelium helps fishes maintain ion balance during salinity transition. Recent transcriptomic surveys suggest that voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are present in gill epithelium of fishes. However, fish gill epithelia are architecturally complex and structurally heterogeneous (which includes layers of excitable tissues), which necessitates a model to study isolated gill epithelial cells. In the present study, we isolated gill epithelial cells, used them to reconstruct primary cultured gill epithelium model, and exposed the reconstructed epithelia to apical freshwater (FW). Using RNAseq and molecular biology we demonstrate that multiple VGICs are expressed in cultured gill epithelia of a salmonid, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Following apical exposure to FW, multiple subunits of voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels, as well as KCNE2 were upregulated in mRNA abundance. Using a custom-made antibody, we demonstrated that CaV1.3 immunolocalized to the apical membrane of epithelia in intact trout gill, as well as in the cultured gill epithelium. Pharmacological inhibition of CaV1 in FW-exposed cultured epithelia led to increased transepithelial resistance. Therefore, we propose that VGICs are present in gill epithelia of fishes, and may rapidly and autonomously respond to environmental salinity changes to help the fish maintain salt and water balance, where CaV1 specifically may play a particularly important role in rapid adjustment of gill epithelia barrier properties and resistivity and potentially in responding to regulatory cell volume decrease in vitro.
{"title":"Voltage-gated ion channels in cultured gill epithelia of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, change in transcript abundance with exposure to freshwater","authors":"Siaje Gideon, Brendan Boyd, Brandon Ramirez Sierra, Dennise Arenas, Perla Ochoa, John Eme, Dennis Kolosov","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salmonid fishes are well adapted to transition between salinities as part of a diadromid lifestyle, and many species are both economically and environmentally important. Ion-transporting gill epithelium helps fishes maintain ion balance during salinity transition. Recent transcriptomic surveys suggest that voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are present in gill epithelium of fishes. However, fish gill epithelia are architecturally complex and structurally heterogeneous (which includes layers of excitable tissues), which necessitates a model to study isolated gill epithelial cells. In the present study, we isolated gill epithelial cells, used them to reconstruct primary cultured gill epithelium model, and exposed the reconstructed epithelia to apical freshwater (FW). Using RNAseq and molecular biology we demonstrate that multiple VGICs are expressed in cultured gill epithelia of a salmonid, rainbow trout <em>Oncorhynchus mykiss</em>. Following apical exposure to FW, multiple subunits of voltage-gated calcium (Ca<sub>V</sub>) channels, as well as KCNE2 were upregulated in mRNA abundance. Using a custom-made antibody, we demonstrated that Ca<sub>V</sub>1.3 immunolocalized to the apical membrane of epithelia in intact trout gill, as well as in the cultured gill epithelium. Pharmacological inhibition of Ca<sub>V</sub>1 in FW-exposed cultured epithelia led to increased transepithelial resistance. Therefore, we propose that VGICs are present in gill epithelia of fishes, and may rapidly and autonomously respond to environmental salinity changes to help the fish maintain salt and water balance, where Ca<sub>V</sub>1 specifically may play a particularly important role in rapid adjustment of gill epithelia barrier properties and resistivity and potentially in responding to regulatory cell volume decrease in vitro.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111835"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143617860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-04DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111833
Laura Elena Hernández-Hernández , Daniel Sánchez-Manjarrez , Oswaldo Hernández-Gallegos , Arturo Salame-Méndez , Maricela Villagrán-Santa Cruz , Kevin M. Gribbins , Gisela Granados-González
Reproduction is a fundamental trait in the life history of a species; therefore, it is of great interest at all levels within a species, including the individual, ecological and conservational scope. Hormonal studies in reproduction have become relevant because of their implications on the regulation of reproductive physiology. Herein we examined hormonal profiles of progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) of adult female Mountain Horned Lizards, Phrynosoma orbiculare, from the Parque de la Ciencia Sierra Morelos, State of Mexico, Mexico. Hormonal concentrations were measured in the plasma of adult females monthly throughout a year and linked to the reproductive cycle of the species and environmental factors [mean monthly temperature (T°), total monthly rainfall, and daylight hours representing photoperiod]. We used direct ELISA technique to assess hormonal concentrations. We report that P4 is linked to pregnancy period, as maximum values of P4 are observed during the early gestational period and decrease to minimum levels during the late pregnancy phase and near the time of birth. An increase in E2 concentration occurs after pregnancy and parallels vitellogenesis in this species. Testosterone concentrations are at maximum levels during breeding and abruptly decrease to a minimum during late pregnancy. The correlation between P4 and T is positive while the relationship between P4 and E2 is negative, but no significant correlation between E2 and T is observed. Temperature and photoperiod have a negative correlation with P4 and a positive correlation with E2, while rainfall is not supported as an important environmental factor in the regulation of these hormones. Also, T does not seem to be affected by environmental factors revised in this study. A seasonal annual steroidogenic pattern is observable in female P. orbiculare that parallels its reproductive cycle characteristics and suggests an endogenous control of reproduction. However, it appears that certain environmental conditions, such as temperature and photoperiod, may influence the reproductive rhythmicity observed in female P. orbiculare.
{"title":"Plasma steroid hormones concentrations and their relevance in the reproductive cycle of female Mountain Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma orbiculare","authors":"Laura Elena Hernández-Hernández , Daniel Sánchez-Manjarrez , Oswaldo Hernández-Gallegos , Arturo Salame-Méndez , Maricela Villagrán-Santa Cruz , Kevin M. Gribbins , Gisela Granados-González","doi":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cbpa.2025.111833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reproduction is a fundamental trait in the life history of a species; therefore, it is of great interest at all levels within a species, including the individual, ecological and conservational scope. Hormonal studies in reproduction have become relevant because of their implications on the regulation of reproductive physiology. Herein we examined hormonal profiles of progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) of adult female Mountain Horned Lizards, <em>Phrynosoma orbiculare</em>, from the Parque de la Ciencia Sierra Morelos, State of Mexico, Mexico. Hormonal concentrations were measured in the plasma of adult females monthly throughout a year and linked to the reproductive cycle of the species and environmental factors [mean monthly temperature (T°), total monthly rainfall, and daylight hours representing photoperiod]. We used direct ELISA technique to assess hormonal concentrations. We report that P4 is linked to pregnancy period, as maximum values of P4 are observed during the early gestational period and decrease to minimum levels during the late pregnancy phase and near the time of birth. An increase in E2 concentration occurs after pregnancy and parallels vitellogenesis in this species. Testosterone concentrations are at maximum levels during breeding and abruptly decrease to a minimum during late pregnancy. The correlation between P4 and T is positive while the relationship between P4 and E2 is negative, but no significant correlation between E2 and T is observed. Temperature and photoperiod have a negative correlation with P4 and a positive correlation with E2, while rainfall is not supported as an important environmental factor in the regulation of these hormones. Also, T does not seem to be affected by environmental factors revised in this study. A seasonal annual steroidogenic pattern is observable in female <em>P. orbiculare</em> that parallels its reproductive cycle characteristics and suggests an endogenous control of reproduction. However, it appears that certain environmental conditions, such as temperature and photoperiod, may influence the reproductive rhythmicity observed in female <em>P. orbiculare.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":55237,"journal":{"name":"Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology","volume":"304 ","pages":"Article 111833"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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