ABSTRACT
Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB), as an important cellular growth factor, is widely involved in the regulation of cellular events such as cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Although important, the expression characteristics and biological functions in the mammalian reproductive system remain poorly understood. In this study, the PDGFB gene of Tibetan sheep was cloned by RT-PCR, and its molecular characteristics were analyzed. Subsequently, the expression of the PDGFB gene in the testes and epididymides (caput, corpus, and cauda) of Tibetan sheep at different developmental stages (3 months, 1 year, and 3 years) was examined by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. A bioinformatic analysis of the cloned sequences revealed that the CDS region of the Tibetan sheep PDGFB gene is 726 bp in length and encodes 241 amino acids with high homology to other mammals, particularly goats and antelopes. With the increase in age, PDGFB expression showed an overall trend of first decreasing and then increasing in the testis and epididymis tissues of Tibetan sheep, and the PDGFB mRNA expression at 3 months of age was extremely significantly higher than that at 1 and 3 years of age (p < 0.05). The PDGFB protein is mainly distributed in testicular red blood cells and Leydig cells in Tibetan sheep at all stages of development, as well as red blood cells in the blood vessel, principal cells, and the pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelial cells of each epididymal duct epithelium. In addition, PDGFB protein expression was also detected in the spermatocytes of the 3-month-old group, spermatids of the 1-year-old group, spermatozoa and interstitial cells of the 3-year-old group, and loose connective tissue in the epididymal duct space in each developmental period. The above results suggest that the PDGFB gene, as an evolutionarily conserved gene, may play multiple roles in the development and functional maintenance of testicular cells (such as red blood cells, Leydig cells, and germ cells) and epididymal cells (such as red blood cells, principal cells, and ciliated epithelial cells) during testicular and epididymal development, which lays a foundation for the further exploration of the mechanisms by which the PDGFB gene influences spermatogenesis in Tibetan sheep.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of molybdenosis on antioxidant capacity in endangered Przewalski's gazelles (Procapra przewalskii) in the animal rescue center in the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve in Northwestern China. Ten P. przewalskii in molybdenosis were selected and treated orally with copper sulfate (CuSO4) at a dose of 20 g/animal/5 days for 20 days. Ten healthy P. przewalskii were also selected and allocated to healthy pastures for 20 days. Samples of soil, forage, and animal tissue were collected. The values of mineral and hematological parameters were measured. Results showed levels of molybdenum (Mo) in soil and forage were significantly higher than those in healthy ranches (P < 0.01). The Mo content of blood and hair in gazelles from the rescue center was also significantly higher than those in the healthy ranches animals (P < 0.01). The copper (Cu) contents in blood and hair from the rescue center were significantly lower than those from the healthy pasture (P < 0.01). Hemoglobin (Hb) and red cell volume (PCV) in the gazelles from the animal rescue center were significantly lower than those from animals in healthy ranches (P < 0.01). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphocreatine kinase (CPK), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher than those from gazelles in healthy ranches (P < 0.01). The antioxidant capacity in gazelles from the animal rescue center was significantly lower than that of gazelles in healthy ranches. Supplementing CuSO4 significantly decreased the Mo content of blood and cured molybdenosis in gazelles. In summary, the Mo content of soil and forage was very excessive for gazelles in the animal rescue center. The antioxidant capacity of P. przewalskii has been seriously affected by molybdenosis.
Subject(s)
Antelopes , Animals , Antioxidants , Lakes , China , Molybdenum , SoilABSTRACT
There are several publications related to the soil organic carbon (SOC) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, most of these reports were from different parts of the plateau with various sampling depth. Here, we present the results from a systematic sampling and analysis of 200 soil pits. Most of the pits were deeper than 2 m from an east-west transect across the plateau. The SOC and total nitrogen (TN) pools of the 148 × 104 km2, the area of the permafrost zone, for the upper 2 m soils calculated from the vegetation map were estimated to be 17.07 Pg (interquartile range: 11.34-25.33 Pg) and 1.72 Pg (interquartile range: 1.08-2.06 Pg), respectively. We also predicted the distribution of land cover types in 2050 and 2070 using decision tree rules and climate scenarios, and then predicted SOC and TN pools of this region. The results suggested that the SOC and TN pools will decrease in the future. The results not only contribute to the carbon and nitrogen storage and stocks in the permafrost regions as a whole but most importantly, to our knowledge of the possible changes of C and N storage on the QTP in the future.
ABSTRACT
Sophora davidii (Franch.) Kom. ex Pavol is an important medicinal plant and a feeding scrub with ecological value. The effects of different gamma irradiation doses (20-140 Kr) on seed germination and seedling morphology were investigated in S. davidii, and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to identify the DNA polymorphism among mutants. Significant variations were observed for seed germination, stem diameter, and number of branches per plant. The improved agronomic traits, such as stem diameter and number of branches per plant, were recorded at 80 Kr dose and 20 Kr dose for seed germination. ISSR analysis generated in total 183 scorable fragments, of which 94 (51.37%) were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphism ranged from 14.29 to 93.33 with an average of 45.69%. Jaccard's coefficients of dissimilarity varied from 0.6885 to 1.000, indicative of the level of genetic variation among the mutants. The constructed dendrogram grouped the entities into five clusters. Consequently, it was concluded that gamma rays irradiation of seeds generates a sufficient number of induced mutations and that ISSR analysis offered a useful molecular marker for the identification of mutants.
