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Theriogenology Jul 2024Selection to increase body weight in poultry can hamper reproduction traits and compromise production efficiency. Thus, attention to reproduction traits is essential to...
Selection to increase body weight in poultry can hamper reproduction traits and compromise production efficiency. Thus, attention to reproduction traits is essential to improving the sustainability of breeding programs. Data from a domestic quail breeding program for meat production were used to estimate genetic parameters. We analyzed five traits: 4-week body weight, age at sexual maturity for males and females, cloacal gland area, female, and male reproductive organs weights. A multi-trait mixed model analysis with fixed effects of generation/hatch was performed, assuming environmental covariance equals zero for sex-limited traits. Heritability estimates range from low to moderate for male sexual maturity and cloacal gland area, and high for other traits. Intersexual genetic correlation for age at sexual maturity is positive, which can lead to correlated responses in the other sex. Reproductive organs weights are genetically correlated with body weight, but not significantly between sexes and nor with sexual maturity. Genetic correlations for the cloacal gland area were positive with body weight and negative with age at sexual maturity of males and females, demonstrating a potential use of this trait for selection with favorable outcomes in reproduction. The use of the cloacal gland area can be used in the same way as the scrotal circumference in mammals, improving female reproduction traits by selecting a trait recorded in males.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Sexual Maturation; Body Weight; Quail; Organ Size; Cloaca
PubMed: 38692036
DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.04.014 -
Nature Communications Apr 2024Puberty is a crucial phase for the development of female sexual behavior. Growing evidence suggests that stress during this period may interfere with the development of...
Puberty is a crucial phase for the development of female sexual behavior. Growing evidence suggests that stress during this period may interfere with the development of sexual behavior. However, the neural circuits involved in this alteration remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated in mice that pubertal stress permanently disrupted sexual performance without affecting sexual preference. This was associated with a reduced expression and activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). Fiber photometry revealed that VMHvl nNOS neurons are strongly responsive to male olfactory cues with this activation being substantially reduced in pubertally stressed females. Finally, treatment with a NO donor partially restored sexual performance in pubertally stressed females. This study provides insights into the involvement of VMHvl nNOS in the processing of olfactory cues important for the expression of female sexual behavior. In addition, exposure to stress during puberty disrupts the integration of male olfactory cues leading to reduced sexual behavior.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; Mice; Sexual Maturation; Stress, Psychological; Neurons; Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus; Cues; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Smell; Nitric Oxide Donors
PubMed: 38688927
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47300-w -
Journal of Proteomics Jun 2024Puberty is considered a prerequisite for affecting reproductive performance and productivity. Little was known about molecular changes in pubertal goat ovaries....
Puberty is considered a prerequisite for affecting reproductive performance and productivity. Little was known about molecular changes in pubertal goat ovaries. Therefore, we measured and performed a correlation analysis of the mRNA and proteins changes in the pre-pubertal and pubertal goat ovaries. The results showed that only six differentially expressed genes and differentially abundant proteins out of 18,139 genes and 7550 proteins quantified had significant correlations. CNTN2 and THBS1, discovered in the mRNA-mRNA interaction network, probably participated in pubertal and reproductive regulation by influencing GnRH receptor signals, follicular development, and ovulation. The predicted core transcription factors may either promote or inhibit the expression of reproductive genes and act synergistically to maintain normal reproductive function in animals. The interaction between PKM and TIMP3 with other proteins may impact animal puberty through energy metabolism and ovarian hormone secretion. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the co-associated key pathways between ovarian genes and proteins at puberty included calcium signalling pathway and olfactory transduction. These pathways were associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone synthesis and secretion, signal transmission, and cell proliferation. In summary, these results enriched the potential molecules and signalling pathways that affect puberty and provided new insights for regulating and promoting the onset of puberty. SIGNIFICANCE: This study conducted the first transcriptomic and proteomic correlation analysis of pre-pubertal and pubertal goat ovaries and identified six significantly correlated molecules at both the gene and protein levels. Meanwhile, we were drawn to several molecules and signalling pathways that may play a regulatory role in the onset of puberty and reproduction by influencing reproductive-related gene expression, GnRH receptor signals, energy metabolism, ovarian hormone secretion, follicular development, and ovulation. This information contributed to identify potential biomarkers in pubertal goat ovaries, which was vital for predicting the onset of puberty and improving livestock performance.
Topics: Animals; Female; Goats; Sexual Maturation; Ovary; Proteomics; Gene Expression Profiling; Transcriptome
PubMed: 38688390
DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105183 -
Brain, Behavior and Evolution Apr 2024The octopus peduncle complex is an agglomeration of neural structures with remarkably diverse functional roles. The complex rests on the optic tract, between the optic...
INTRODUCTION
The octopus peduncle complex is an agglomeration of neural structures with remarkably diverse functional roles. The complex rests on the optic tract, between the optic lobe and the central brain, and comprises the peduncle lobe proper, the olfactory lobe, and the optic gland. The peduncle lobe regulates visuomotor behaviors, the optic glands control sexual maturation and maternal death, and the olfactory lobe is thought to receive input from the olfactory organ. Recent transcriptomic and metabolomic studies have identified candidate peptide and steroid ligands in the Octopus bimaculoides optic gland.
METHODS
With gene expression for these ligands and their biosynthetic enzymes, we show that optic gland neurochemistry extends beyond the traditional optic gland secretory tissue and into lobular territories.
RESULTS
A key finding is that the classically defined olfactory lobe is itself a heterogeneous territory and includes steroidogenic territories that overlap with cells expressing molluscan neuropeptides and the synthetic enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase.
CONCLUSION
Our study reveals the neurochemical landscape of the octopus peduncle complex, highlighting the unexpected overlap between traditionally defined regions.
PubMed: 38688255
DOI: 10.1159/000539128 -
IJU Case Reports May 2024CHARGE syndrome is a rare disorder that causes congenital abnormalities in multiple organs, including secondary hypogonadism. We report, herein, a unique case of CHARGE...
INTRODUCTION
CHARGE syndrome is a rare disorder that causes congenital abnormalities in multiple organs, including secondary hypogonadism. We report, herein, a unique case of CHARGE syndrome with both primary and secondary hypogonadism and discuss the possible causes and pathogenesis in this patient.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 15-year-old boy with delayed secondary sexual characteristics and non-palpable testes was referred to our hospital. Physical examination and detection of a chromodomain-helicase-deoxyribonucleic acid-binding protein 7 gene mutation confirmed CHARGE syndrome. Hormone stimulation tests suggested both primary and secondary hypogonadism. Laparoscopic bilateral orchiectomy was performed because of decreased testosterone production and atrophy in both testes. Pathological examination of the testes revealed maturation arrest, germ cell neoplasm in situ, and decreased expression of steroid synthase.
CONCLUSION
This appears to be the first report of CHARGE syndrome with both primary and secondary hypogonadism demonstrated in endocrinological and histological examinations.
PubMed: 38686072
DOI: 10.1002/iju5.12694 -
PloS One 2024Feeding high-gain diets and an inadequate energy and protein ratio during pre-puberty may lead to impaired growth and mammary gland development of heifers. Thus,...
Feeding high-gain diets and an inadequate energy and protein ratio during pre-puberty may lead to impaired growth and mammary gland development of heifers. Thus, frequent application of bovine somatotropin (bST) may prevent future losses in productivity, improve mammary development and animal performance. We aimed to evaluate the effects of bST on digestibility, performance, blood metabolites, mammary gland development, and carcass composition of high-performance prepubertal Holstein × Gyr heifers. Thirty-four Holstein × Gyr heifers with an average initial body weight of 218 ± 49 kg and 14 ± 4 months of age were submitted to an 84-day trial evaluating the effects of no bST or bST injections. Treatments were randomly assigned to each animal within one of the tree blocks. The bST did not influence digestibility or performance parameters. Regarding blood results, IGF1 concentration presented an interaction between treatment and day, where bST heifers had the highest IGF1 concentration. Heifers receiving bST also showed increased ribeye area; however, only an experimental day effect for backfat thickness was observed, with greater accumulation of carcass fat on day 84. Heifers receiving bST had lower pixels/mm² on parenchyma, characteristic of greater parenchymal tissue. Moreover, heifers on bST treatment also had reduced pixels/mm2, characteristic of reduced fat pad tissue. Lastly, bST injections did not influence liver and muscle gene expression, nor most genes evaluated in mammary gland tissue, except for IGFBP3 expression, which was greater for bST heifers. In summary, we confirm the efficacy of bST injections to overcome the detrimental effects of high-gain diets on mammary gland growth and to improve lean carcass gain of prepubertal Holstein × Gyr heifers.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Growth Hormone; Mammary Glands, Animal; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Diet; Animal Feed; Sexual Maturation; Body Composition; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
PubMed: 38683862
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300728 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology May 2024Naked mole-rats (NMRs) are among the most hypoxia-tolerant mammals and metabolize only carbohydrates in hypoxia. Glucose is the primary building block of dietary...
Naked mole-rats (NMRs) are among the most hypoxia-tolerant mammals and metabolize only carbohydrates in hypoxia. Glucose is the primary building block of dietary carbohydrates, but how blood glucose is regulated during hypoxia has not been explored in NMRs. We hypothesized that NMRs mobilize glucose stores to support anaerobic energy metabolism in hypoxia. To test this, we treated newborn, juvenile and adult (subordinate and queen) NMRs in normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (7, 5 or 3% O2), while measuring metabolic rate, body temperature and blood [glucose]. We also challenged animals with glucose, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) injections and measured the rate of glucose clearance in normoxia and hypoxia. We found that: (1) blood [glucose] increases in moderate hypoxia in queens and pups, but only in severe hypoxia in adult subordinates and juveniles; (2) glucose tolerance is similar between developmental stages in normoxia, but glucose clearance times are 2- to 3-fold longer in juveniles and subordinates than in queens or pups in hypoxia; and (3) reoxygenation accelerates glucose clearance in hypoxic subordinate adults. Mechanistically, (4) insulin and IGF-1 reduce blood [glucose] in subordinates in both normoxia but only IGF-1 impacts blood [glucose] in hypoxic queens. Our results indicate that insulin signaling is impaired by hypoxia in NMRs, but that queens utilize IGF-1 to overcome this limitation and effectively regulate blood glucose in hypoxia. This suggests that sexual maturation impacts blood glucose handling in hypoxic NMR queens, which may allow queens to spend longer periods of time in hypoxic nest chambers.
Topics: Animals; Mole Rats; Homeostasis; Female; Blood Glucose; Hypoxia; Male; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Glucose
PubMed: 38680085
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247537 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of... Jun 2024Peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) refers to the early onset of sexual maturation that is independent of central nervous system control. The extensive differential... (Review)
Review
Peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) refers to the early onset of sexual maturation that is independent of central nervous system control. The extensive differential diagnosis includes congenital and acquired causes. Presenting features depend on which class of sex steroids is involved, and diagnosis rests on hormonal and, if indicated, imaging and/or genetic studies. Effective treatment exists for nearly all causes of PPP. Ongoing research will advance our therapeutic armamentarium and understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of these conditions.
Topics: Humans; Puberty, Precocious; Child; Female
PubMed: 38677868
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2024.01.006 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jun 2024Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as pollutants, can cause palpable environmental and health impacts around the world, as endocrine disruptors, can...
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as pollutants, can cause palpable environmental and health impacts around the world, as endocrine disruptors, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis and increase the risk of diseases. Chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (F-53B), as a substitute for PFAS, was determined to have potential toxicity. Puberty is the stage when sexual organs develop and hormones change dramatically, and abnormal uterine development can increase the risk of uterine lesions and lead to infertility. This study was designed to explore the impact of F-53B on uterine development during puberty. Four-week-old female SD rats were exposed to 0.125 and 6.25 mg/L F-53B during puberty. The results showed that F-53B interfered with growth and sex hormone levels and bound to oestrogen-related receptors, which affected their function, contributed to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, ultimately causing uterine dysplasia.
Topics: Animals; Female; Rats; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Pollutants; Fluorocarbons; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Receptors, Estrogen; Sexual Maturation; Uterus; Alkanesulfonates
PubMed: 38677070
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116399 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024DICER1, a cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS), seems to escape timely diagnosis in pediatric patients. Case report 1: A 16-year-old female patient was referred to the...
BACKGROUND
DICER1, a cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS), seems to escape timely diagnosis in pediatric patients. Case report 1: A 16-year-old female patient was referred to the endocrinology ward due to a large goiter. Her medical history indicated normal sexual maturation, with menarche occurring at 13.5 years. Over the past 2.5 years, she had developed pronounced androgenic symptoms, including a deepened male voice; facial, back, and neckline acne; hirsutism; and menstrual irregularities leading to secondary amenorrhea. A thyroid ultrasound identified a multinodular goiter (MNG) with cystic-solid lesions containing calcifications. An abdominal ultrasound identified a 5.7 × 6.9 cm solid mass in the right adnexal region, displacing the uterus to the left. Histopathological examination confirmed a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. The patient was subjected to a total thyroidectomy. Histopathology revealed benign follicular cell-derived neoplasms. Thyroid follicular nodular disease (TFND) was diagnosed bilaterally. DNA analysis using NGS, confirmed via the Sanger method, revealed a pathogenic heterozygotic variant c.2953C>T [p.Gln985*] in exon 18 of the gene. Case report 2: A 12-year-old male patient was admitted to the pediatric surgery unit due to a 33 mL goiter. A month prior to his admission, the patient discovered a palpable nodule in his neck, accompanied by hoarseness. An ultrasound revealed MNG. Molecular analysis revealed a pathogenic heterozygotic variant c.2782C>T [p.Gln928*] in exon 17 of the gene. Subsequently, a total thyroidectomy was performed, and histopathological examination revealed TFND bilaterally.
CONCLUSIONS
Recent advances in genetic evaluation and in histological approaches indicate that MNG/TFND, although rare in the pediatric population, when accompanied by characteristic ultrasound and histopathological features, and by additional features such as androgenization, may warrant assessment also of the gene within CPS molecular panel screening.
PubMed: 38671620
DOI: 10.3390/children11040403