Loss of connectin novex-3 leads to heart dysfunction associated with impaired cardiomyocyte proliferation and abnormal nuclear mechanics.

Connectin (also known as titin) is a giant striated muscle protein that functions as a molecular spring by providing elasticity to the sarcomere. Novex-3 is a short splice variant of connectin whose physiological function remains unknown. We have recently demonstrated using in vitro analyses that in addition to sarcomere expression, novex-3 was also expressed in cardiomyocyte nuclei exclusively during fetal life, where it provides elasticity/compliance to cardiomyocyte nuclei and promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation in the fetus, suggesting a non-sarcomeric function. Here, we analyzed novex-3 knockout mice to assess the involvement of this function in cardiac pathophysiology in vivo. Deficiency of novex-3 compromised fetal cardiomyocyte proliferation and induced the enlargement of individual cardiomyocytes in neonates. In adults, novex-3 deficiency resulted in chamber dilation and systolic dysfunction, associated with Ca2+ dysregulation, resulting in a reduced life span. Mechanistic analyses revealed a possible association between impaired proliferation and abnormal nuclear mechanics, including stiffer nuclei positioned peripherally with stabilized circumnuclear microtubules in knockout cardiomyocytes. Although the underlying causal relationships were not fully elucidated, these data show that novex-3 has a vital non-sarcomeric function in cardiac pathophysiology and serves as an early contributor to cardiomyocyte proliferation.

Infection status of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou by the parasite Salmonema cf. ephemeridarum (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae).

Nematodes that parasitize salmonids are found in both seawater and freshwater. Unlike seawater species such as those in family Anisakidae, freshwater species have not been well studied. In particular, the influences of these nematodes on the body condition of salmonids remain unclear. We studied the effects of Salmonema cf. ephemeridarum on the body condition of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou. We found a positive relationship between the number of parasites and fish fork length. In contrast, we found a negative relationship between the body condition (condition factor) of fish and the number of parasites. These results suggest that nematode infection could affect host energy reserves for future growth.

DHA and EPA levels in a piscivorous fish changed by preying upon stocked salmon fry.

Increases in prey population size can affect the physiology and ecology of upper-trophic level organisms. This phenomenon is known as a bottom-up effect. For example, the increased abundance of prey resources can trigger physiological (internal) changes in predators, such as improvements in nutritional status. However, these physiological aspects of bottom-up effects have not been considered. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis, a salmonid fish, increases body stores of omega-3 fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), by preying upon stocked hatchery-reared masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou fry in streams. The dynamics of fatty acid contents in charr inhabiting salmon-stocked and unstocked streams clearly support this hypothesis: fatty acid contents (DHA, EPA, and total fatty acid) increased after stocking in stocked streams, but not in unstocked streams. In addition, DHA increased with increasing body size of white-spotted charr and vice versa for EPA. The impacts of human activities, such as fish stocking, on freshwater ecosystems are a matter of serious concern for conservation. Future attempts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of fish stocking should consider not only community ecology but also physiology.

Hamster Sperm Possess Functional Na+/Ca2+-Exchanger 1: Its Implication in Hyperactivation.

Previous studies demonstrated that hamster sperm hyperactivation is suppressed by extracellular Na+ by lowering intracellular Ca2+ levels, and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX) specific inhibitors canceled the suppressive effects of extracellular Na+. These results suggest the involvement of NCX in the regulation of hyperactivation. However, direct evidence of the presence and functionality of NCX in hamster spermatozoa is still lacking. This study aimed to reveal that NCX is present and is functional in hamster spermatozoa. First, NCX1 and NCX2 transcripts were detected via RNA-seq analyses of hamster testis mRNAs, but only the NCX1 protein was detected. Next, NCX activity was determined by measuring the Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx using the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. The Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx was detected in hamster spermatozoa, notably in the tail region. The Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx was inhibited by the NCX inhibitor SEA0400 at NCX1-specific concentrations. NCX1 activity was reduced after 3 h of incubation in capacitating conditions. These results, together with authors' previous study, showed that hamster spermatozoa possesses functional NCX1 and that its activity was downregulated upon capacitation to trigger hyperactivation. This is the first study to successfully reveal the presence of NCX1 and its physiological function as a hyperactivation brake.