The ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus plays an important role in anxiolytic-like effect of neuropeptide S.

Neuropeptide S (NPS), the endogenous neuropeptide ligand of NPSR, has been reported to regulate anxiety-related behavior involved in multiple brain regions, including amygdale, locus coeruleus and Barrington's nucleus. However, little research has been conducted on the anxiolytic-like behaviors of NPS on the hypothalamus, which was an important area in defensive behavior. Here, we investigated a role of hypothalamus in anxiolytic-like behaviors of NPS. We found that NPSR protein of mouse distributed mainly in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). And in the single prolonged stress model (SPS), the results showed that NPS mRNA of the mice exposed to SPS was significantly higher than control, while NPSR mRNA was remarkable lower than control in hypothalamus. Further studies found that NPS intra-VMH infusion dose-dependently (1, 10 and 100pmol) induced anxiolytic effects, using elevated plus maze and open field tests. These anxiolytic effects could be blocked by NPSR antagonist (SHA68), but not by picrotoxin (a GABAA receptor antagonist) and sacolfen (a GABAB receptor antagonist). Meanwhile, our data showed that the expression of c-Fos was significantly increased in VMH after NPS delivered into the lateral ventricles. These results cast a new light on the hypothalamic nucleus in the anxiolytic-like effect of NPS system.

[Mapping QTLs controlling vascular bundle and panicle-related traits from Yuanjiang common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.)].

An advanced backcross population (BC3F2), derived from the cross between Yuanjiang common wild rice as the donor parent and Teqing as recurrent parent, was used to map QTLs controlling the number of vascular bundle and panicle-related traits from Yuanjiang common wild rice. Seven QTLs controlling the number of large vascular bundles in peduncle were detected on chromosome 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10. Five QTLs for the number of small vascular bundles in peduncle were mapped on chromosome 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. A total of 15 QTLs for the number of primary and secondary rachis branches and spikelets per panicle were identified on all chromosomes except chromosome 11 and 12. Most of alleles derived from O. rufipogon Griff. showed negative effect that reduced significantly vascular bundle, rachis branches and spikelets per panicle, suggesting that during the evolution from common wild rice to cultivated rice, favorable alleles were retained while removed undesirable ones. Most of QTLs controlling vascular bundle, rachis branches and spikelets per panicle showed cluster form or close linkage on chromosomes. The directions of their additive effects were consistent, which explained the genetic basis of significant correlation of their phenotypic characters. All the information suggested parallel evolution relationship among these traits.

[Identification of quantitative trait loci controlling plant height and days to heading from Yuanjiang common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.)].

An advanced backcross strategy was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with plant height and days to heading in the BC3F2 population derived from an accession of common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) from Yuanjiang in Yunnan Province of China, as the donor, and an elite Indica cultivar "Teqing", as the recipient. Based on analyses of 116 SSR markers distributed throughout the rice genome and by using single-point analysis, four putative QTLs derived from O. rufipogon were detected for plant height on chromosome 1, and 6 QTLs for days to heading on chromosome 1, 3, 7, 8 and 11. All Alleles of QTLs for plant height from O. rufipogon could increase plant height of the backcross population. One QTL near RM104 on chromosome 1, explaining 27% and 28% of phenotypic variance and additive value reached 26.24 cm and 26.28 cm respectively in Beijing and Hefei, was detected. The location of this QTL is corresponding to sd-1. One QTL near the marker RM25 on chromosome 1, explaining 13% and 15% of phenotypic variance was identified. The additive value of this QTL reached 4.60 days and 3.65 days respectively in Beijing and Hefei, and the allele from O. rufipogon could delay the backcross population's days to heading.