1
|
Li J, Yuan Y, Jiang Y, Wang W, Chao L, Sun R, Li J, Karim MR, Qi M. Molecular identification and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in laboratory rats in China. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:35. [PMID: 32410727 PMCID: PMC7227369 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a ubiquitous protist that has been frequently reported in humans and animals worldwide. A total of 355 fecal samples of experimental rats were collected from four laboratory rearing facilities in China, and Blastocystis sp. was detected by PCR amplification of the partial small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA gene. Twenty-nine (8.2%, 29/355) samples were positive for Blastocystis sp., with the highest infection rate (20.7%, 24/116) in rats of the Zhengzhou1, followed by that in the Zhengzhou2 (5.0%, 2/40), Shenyang (3.0%, 3/100) and Wuhan (0) rearing facilities. Among the three rat strains, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats had higher infection rates (11.3%, 17/151) compared to Wistar rats (8.7%, 9/104) and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats (3.0%, 3/100). Two Blastocystis sp. subtypes (ST4 and ST7) were identified. ST4 was the predominant subtype detected in 26 samples (89.7%). A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the sequences of ST4 and ST7 obtained in this study were clustered with their reference subtypes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Blastocystis sp. in experimental rats in China. Pathogen infections in laboratory animals need to be monitored due to fecal-oral transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Yueyue Yuan
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Yuxi Jiang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Wen Wang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Liqin Chao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Ruiqin Sun
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Md Robiul Karim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, 1706 Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Meng Qi
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li J, Lang P, Huang M, Jing B, Karim MR, Chao L, Wang Z, Lv Y, Li J, Qi M. Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in experimental rats in China. Parasitol Int 2020; 77:102127. [PMID: 32334095 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium and Giardia are ubiquitous protozoan parasites that infect a broad range of hosts. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis was detected in 355 fecal samples of laboratory experimental rats from four experimental rat rearing facilities in China by PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. The G. duodenalis positive samples were further characterized in the β-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. The overall infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 0.6% (2/355) and 9.3% (33/355), respectively, with no co-infection. Among the four facilities, only the rats in Zhengzhou1 were found positive for the two pathogens. Undetermined Cryptosporidium genotype was observed in one sample and C. ubiquitum in another sample. Assemblage G was identified in all the 33 G. duodenalis positive isolates at SSU rRNA gene, out of which 19, 20, and 21 isolates were also subtyped as assemblage G at tpi, gdh and bg gens, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cryptosporidium and G. duodenalis infections in laboratory experimental rats in China. The infections of these pathogens in laboratory animals should be monitored routinely since they may interfere the biological experiments in these animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Ping Lang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China.
| | - Meigui Huang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China.
| | - Bo Jing
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China.
| | - Md Robiul Karim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.
| | - Liqin Chao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Zhenzhen Wang
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Yue Lv
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Meng Qi
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abbas W, Masip Rodo D. Computer Methods for Automatic Locomotion and Gesture Tracking in Mice and Small Animals for Neuroscience Applications: A Survey. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E3274. [PMID: 31349617 PMCID: PMC6696321 DOI: 10.3390/s19153274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroscience has traditionally relied on manually observing laboratory animals in controlled environments. Researchers usually record animals behaving freely or in a restrained manner and then annotate the data manually. The manual annotation is not desirable for three reasons; (i) it is time-consuming, (ii) it is prone to human errors, and (iii) no two human annotators will 100% agree on annotation, therefore, it is not reproducible. Consequently, automated annotation for such data has gained traction because it is efficient and replicable. Usually, the automatic annotation of neuroscience data relies on computer vision and machine learning techniques. In this article, we have covered most of the approaches taken by researchers for locomotion and gesture tracking of specific laboratory animals, i.e. rodents. We have divided these papers into categories based upon the hardware they use and the software approach they take. We have also summarized their strengths and weaknesses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Abbas
- Multimedia and Telecommunications Department, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - David Masip Rodo
- Multimedia and Telecommunications Department, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Noto FK, Adjan-Steffey V, Tong M, Ravichandran K, Zhang W, Arey A, McClain CB, Ostertag E, Mazhar S, Sangodkar J, DiFeo A, Crawford J, Narla G, Jamling TY. Sprague Dawley Rag2-Null Rats Created from Engineered Spermatogonial Stem Cells Are Immunodeficient and Permissive to Human Xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:2481-2489. [PMID: 30206106 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The rat is the preferred model for toxicology studies, and it offers distinctive advantages over the mouse as a preclinical research model including larger sample size collection, lower rates of drug clearance, and relative ease of surgical manipulation. An immunodeficient rat would allow for larger tumor size development, prolonged dosing and drug efficacy studies, and preliminary toxicologic testing and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies in the same model animal. Here, we created an immunodeficient rat with a functional deletion of the Recombination Activating Gene 2 (Rag2) gene, using genetically modified spermatogonial stem cells (SSC). We targeted the Rag2 gene in rat SSCs with TALENs and transplanted these Rag2-deficient SSCs into sterile recipients. Offspring were genotyped, and a founder with a 27 bp deletion mutation was identified and bred to homozygosity to produce the Sprague-Dawley Rag2 - Rag2 tm1Hera (SDR) knockout rat. We demonstrated that SDR rat lacks mature B and T cells. Furthermore, the SDR rat model was permissive to growth of human glioblastoma cell line subcutaneously resulting in successful growth of tumors. In addition, a human KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer cell line (H358), a patient-derived high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell line (OV81), and a patient-derived recurrent endometrial cancer cell line (OV185) were transplanted subcutaneously to test the ability of the SDR rat to accommodate human xenografts from multiple tissue types. All human cancer cell lines showed efficient tumor uptake and growth kinetics indicating that the SDR rat is a viable host for a range of xenograft studies. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(11); 2481-9. ©2018 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Min Tong
- Poseida Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, California
| | | | - Wei Zhang
- Hera BioLabs Inc., Lexington, Kentucky
| | | | | | - Eric Ostertag
- Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Sahar Mazhar
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | | | - Jack Crawford
- Hera BioLabs Inc., Lexington, Kentucky.,Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Goutham Narla
- Hera BioLabs Inc., Lexington, Kentucky.,The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Tseten Y Jamling
- Hera BioLabs Inc., Lexington, Kentucky. .,Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Lexington, Kentucky
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bajic D, Craig MM, Mongerson CRL, Borsook D, Becerra L. Identifying Rodent Resting-State Brain Networks with Independent Component Analysis. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:685. [PMID: 29311770 PMCID: PMC5733053 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent models have opened the door to a better understanding of the neurobiology of brain disorders and increased our ability to evaluate novel treatments. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) allows for in vivo exploration of large-scale brain networks with high spatial resolution. Its application in rodents affords researchers a powerful translational tool to directly assess/explore the effects of various pharmacological, lesion, and/or disease states on known neural circuits within highly controlled settings. Integration of animal and human research at the molecular-, systems-, and behavioral-levels using diverse neuroimaging techniques empowers more robust interrogations of abnormal/ pathological processes, critical for evolving our understanding of neuroscience. We present a comprehensive protocol to evaluate resting-state brain networks using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) in rodent model. Specifically, we begin with a brief review of the physiological basis for rs-fMRI technique and overview of rs-fMRI studies in rodents to date, following which we provide a robust step-by-step approach for rs-fMRI investigation including data collection, computational preprocessing, and brain network analysis. Pipelines are interwoven with underlying theory behind each step and summarized methodological considerations, such as alternative methods available and current consensus in the literature for optimal results. The presented protocol is designed in such a way that investigators without previous knowledge in the field can implement the analysis and obtain viable results that reliably detect significant differences in functional connectivity between experimental groups. Our goal is to empower researchers to implement rs-fMRI in their respective fields by incorporating technical considerations to date into a workable methodological framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael M Craig
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chandler R L Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Borsook
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lino Becerra
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hamra FK, Richie CT, Harvey BK. Long Evans rat spermatogonial lines are effective germline vectors for transgenic rat production. Transgenic Res 2017; 26:477-489. [PMID: 28608322 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-017-0025-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Long Evans rat strains are applied as research models in a broad spectrum of biomedical fields (>15,800 citations, NCBI PubMed). Here, we report an approach to genetically modify the Long Evans rat germline in donor spermatogonial stem cells. Long Evans rat spermatogonial lines were derived from freshly isolated laminin-binding spermatogonia. Laminin-binding spermatogonia were cultured over multiple passages on fibroblast feeder layers in serum-free culture medium containing GDNF and FGF2. Long Evans rat spermatogonial lines were genetically modified by transposon transduction to express a germline, tdTomato reporter gene. Donor rat spermatogonial lines robustly regenerated spermatogenesis after transplantation into testes of busulfan-treated, allogenic, Long Evans rats. Donor-derived spermatogenesis largely restored testis size in the chemically sterilized, recipient Long Evans rats. Recipient Long Evans rats stably transmitted the tdTomato germline marker to subsequent generations. Overall, Long Evans rat spermatogonial lines provided effective donor germline vectors for genetically modifying Long Evans rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Kent Hamra
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. .,Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Christopher T Richie
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Brandon K Harvey
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Igonina TN, Brusentsev EY, Rozhkova IN, Naprimerov VA, Amstislavsky SY. A comparison of different cryoprotectant solutions and thawing methods for the cryopreservation of embryos of mice and rats. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF GENETICS: APPLIED RESEARCH 2016; 6:384-388. [DOI: 10.1134/s2079059716040080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
|
8
|
Kim S, Hooper S, Agca C, Agca Y. Post-thaw ATP supplementation enhances cryoprotective effect of iodixanol in rat spermatozoa. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2016; 14:5. [PMID: 26821719 PMCID: PMC4731941 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-016-0141-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Successful cryopreservation of rat spermatozoa from various strains still remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to determine if combinations of OptiPrep™ (iodixanol) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) can improve rat sperm function during the cryopreservation procedure. METHODS Epididymal rat spermatozoa were frozen under different OptiPrep™ concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 %) and were diluted with media supplemented with or without 2 mM ATP after thawing. Post-thaw sperm motility, acrosomal membrane integrity (AMI) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were then evaluated. In addition, the effect of different OptiPrep™ concentrations on fresh and cooled rat spermatozoa was tested via motility. RESULTS There was no effect of OptiPrep™ on motility of fresh and cooled spermatozoa. The supplementation of 1 and 2 % OptiPrep™ increased motility of frozen spermatozoa at 10 min after thawing, while it did not improve motility of spermatozoa at 3 h after thawing in the absence of ATP. During incubation of thawed spermatozoa, the ATP addition protected time-dependent decrease in motility after thawing in OptiPrep™-treated samples. OptiPrep™ had no effect on AMI and MMP in frozen-thawed spermatozoa but combinations of OptiPrep™ and ATP improved MMP in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS Iodixanol has cryoprotective effects during rat sperm freezing without any toxic effect. Moreover, the combinations of iodixanol and ATP have a beneficial role in maintaining function of frozen-thawed rat spermatozoa for long period of incubation post-thaw.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhee Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1600 East Rollins Street, Room W191, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Sarah Hooper
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1600 East Rollins Street, Room W191, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Cansu Agca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1600 East Rollins Street, Room W191, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Yuksel Agca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1600 East Rollins Street, Room W191, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wu G, Liu Y, Huang H, Tang Y, Liu W, Mei Y, Wan N, Liu X, Huang C. SH2B1 is critical for the regulation of cardiac remodelling in response to pressure overload. Cardiovasc Res 2015; 107:203-15. [PMID: 26077624 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvv170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Src homology 2 (SH2) B adaptor protein 1 (SH2B1) is expressed in various tissues, including the heart. Previous studies have demonstrated that SH2B1 is involved in a variety of biological process, such as maintaining neuronal differentiation, regulating energy and glucose homeostasis, and promoting cell proliferation and motility. However, the role of SH2B1 in cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. This study aimed at identifying the effects and the underlying mechanisms of SH2B1 in cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed gain- and loss-of-function studies using genetic approaches, and cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated through pathological, echocardiographic, haemodynamic, and molecular analyses. We found that SH2B1 expression was significantly increased in both failing human hearts and hypertrophic murine hearts. Mice overexpressing SH2B1 specifically in the heart displayed increased aortic banding (AB)-induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, ventricular dilation, and dysfunction compared with controls, whereas loss of SH2B1 produced the opposite phenotype. Consistently, similar results were observed in a global SH2B1-knockout rat model. Mechanistically, the pro-hypertrophic effects elicited by SH2B1 were associated with activation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling cascade. Furthermore, rescue experiments revealed that pharmacological inactivation of JAK2 rescued pressure overload-induced cardiac abnormalities in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific SH2B1 overexpression. CONCLUSION Taken together, our data demonstrate, for the first time, that SH2B1 is a key positive mediator of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, and that it primarily acts by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signalling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yanhong Tang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Wanli Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yang Mei
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Nian Wan
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xiaoxiong Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Congxin Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jiang DS, Li L, Huang L, Gong J, Xia H, Liu X, Wan N, Wei X, Zhu X, Chen Y, Chen X, Zhang XD, Li H. Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 Is Required for Cardiac Remodeling in Response to Pressure Overload. Hypertension 2014; 64:77-86. [PMID: 24732887 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.114.03229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a critical member of the IRF family, was previously shown to be associated with the immune system and to be involved in apoptosis and tumor suppression. However, the role of IRF1 in pressure overload–induced cardiac remodeling has remained unclear. Using genetic approaches, we established a central role for the IRF1 transcription factor in the regulation of cardiac remodeling both in vivo and in vitro, and we determined the mechanism underlying this process. The expression level of IRF1 was remarkably altered in both failing human hearts and hypertrophic murine hearts. Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific IRF1 overexpression exacerbated aortic banding–induced cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular dilation, fibrosis, and dysfunction, whereas IRF1-deficient (knockout) mice exhibited a significant reduction in the hypertrophic response. Similar results were observed in a global IRF1-knockout rat model. Mechanistically, the prohypertrophic effects elicited by IRF1 in response to pathological stimuli were associated with the direct activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, we identified 1 IRF1-binding site in the promoter region of the iNOS gene, which was essential for its transcription. To examine the IRF1-iNOS axis in vivo, we generated IRF1-transgenic/iNOS-knockout mice. IRF1 exerted profoundly detrimental effects in these mice; however, these effects were nullified by iNOS ablation. These data suggest the IRF1–iNOS axis as a crucial regulator of cardiac remodeling and that IRF1 could be a potent therapeutic target for cardiac remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Sheng Jiang
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Liangpeng Li
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Ling Huang
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Jun Gong
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Hao Xia
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Xiaoxiong Liu
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Nian Wan
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Xiang Wei
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Xuehai Zhu
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Yingjie Chen
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Xin Chen
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhang
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| | - Hongliang Li
- From the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.); Cardiovascular Research Institute (D.-S.J., L.H., H.X., X.L., N.W., H.L.) and College of Life Sciences (J.G., X.-D.Z.), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (L.L., X.C.); Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kim S, Agca C, Agca Y. Effects of various physical stress factors on mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species in rat spermatozoa. Reprod Fertil Dev 2014; 25:1051-64. [PMID: 23140582 DOI: 10.1071/rd12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of various physical interventions on the function of epididymal rat spermatozoa and determine whether there are correlations among these functional parameters. Epididymal rat spermatozoa were subjected to various mechanical (pipetting, centrifugation and Percoll gradient separation) and anisotonic conditions, and sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Repeated pipetting caused a loss in motility, PMI and MMP (P<0.05). Minimal centrifugation force (200 g) had no effect on motility, PMI and MMP, whereas an increase in the centrifugation force to 400 g or 600 g decreased sperm function (P<0.005). Percoll gradient separation increased total motility, PMI and MMP (P<0.05). However, the spermatozoa that were subjected to mechanical interventions showed high susceptibility to a ROS stimulant (P<0.005). Anisotonic conditions decreased motility, PMI and MMP, and hypotonic conditions in particular increased basal ROS (P<0.05). In correlation tests, there were strong positive correlations among total motility, PMI and MMP, whereas ROS showed no or negatively weak correlations with the other parameters. In conclusion, the physical interventions may act as important variables, affecting functional parameters of epididymal rat spermatozoa. Therefore, careful consideration and proper protocols for handling of rat spermatozoa and osmotic conditions are required to achieve reliable results and minimise damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhee Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Varisli O, Scott H, Agca C, Agca Y. The effects of cooling rates and type of freezing extenders on cryosurvival of rat sperm. Cryobiology 2013; 67:109-16. [PMID: 23727068 PMCID: PMC3772956 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2013.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of rat sperm is very challenging due to its sensitivity to various stress factors. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal cooling rate and extender for epididymal sperm of outbred Sprague Dawley (SD) and inbred Fischer 344 (F344) rat strains. The epididymal sperm from 10 to 12 weeks old sexually mature SD and F344 strains were suspended in five different freezing extenders, namely HEPES buffered Tyrode's lactate (TL-HEPES), modified Kreb's Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB), 3% dehydrated skim milk (SM), Salamon's Tris-citrate (TRIS), and tes/tris (TES). All extenders contained 20% egg yolk, 0.75% Equex Paste and 0.1 M raffinose or 0.1 M sucrose. The sperm samples in each extender were cooled to 4°C and held for 45 min for equilibration before freezing. The equilibrated sperm samples in each extender were placed onto a shallow quartz dish inserted into Linkam Cryostage (BCS 196). The samples were then cooled to a final temperature of -150°C by using various cooling rates (10, 40, 70, and 100°C/min). For thawing, the quartz dish containing the sperm samples were rapidly removed from the Linkam cryo-stage and placed on a 37°C slide warmer and held for 1 min before motility analysis. Sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed by SYBR-14/Propidium iodide, Alexa Fluor-488-PNA conjugate and JC-1, respectively. The total motility, acrosomal integrity, membrane integrity and MMP values were compared among cooling rates and extenders. Both cooling rate and type of extender had significant effect on cryosurvival (P < 0.05). Sperm motility increased as cooling rate was increased for both strains (P < 0.05). Highest cryosurvival was achieved when 100°C/min cooling rate was used in combination with TES extender containing 20% egg yolk, 0.75% Equex paste and either 0.1M sucrose or raffinose (P < 0.05). This study showed that TES extender containing 0.1 M raffinose or sucrose with 70°C/min and 100°C/min cooling rate improved post-thaw motility of rat sperm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omer Varisli
- University of Harran, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction, and Artificial Insemination, Eyyubiye Campus, Sanliurfa, 63300 Turkey
| | - Hollie Scott
- University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Cansu Agca
- University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Yuksel Agca
- University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pedros C, Papapietro O, Colacios C, Casemayou A, Bernard I, Garcia V, Lagrange D, Mariamé B, Andreoletti O, Fournié GJ, Saoudi A. Genetic control of HgCl2-induced IgE and autoimmunity by a 117-kb interval on rat chromosome 9 through CD4 CD45RChigh T cells. Genes Immun 2013; 14:258-67. [DOI: 10.1038/gene.2013.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
14
|
Kim S, Agca C, Agca Y. Changes in rat spermatozoa function after cooling, cryopreservation and centrifugation processes. Cryobiology 2012; 65:215-23. [PMID: 22760031 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2012.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Revised: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Rat sperm cryopreservation is an effective method of archiving valuable strains for biomedical research and handling of rat spermatozoa is very important for successful cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in rat sperm function during cryopreservation and centrifugation. Epididymal rat spermatozoa were subjected to cooling and freezing-thawing processes and then motility, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were compared before and after minimum centrifugation force (200×g). Cryopreservation decreased sperm motility, PMI, and MMP (P<0.05). Basal (without ROS inducer, tert-butyl hydroperoxide [TBHP] treatment) and stimulated ROS (with TBHP treatment) were increased in viable cooled spermatozoa compared to viable fresh spermatozoa (P<0.01), with equal susceptibility to TBHP among fresh, cooled, and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Centrifugation decreased motility and PMI of frozen-thawed spermatozoa (P<0.05). Centrifugation decreased basal ROS of all spermatozoa (P<0.01), while it led to higher susceptibility to TBHP in viable cooled spermatozoa, showing higher increased fold in ROS and decreased rate in viability by TBHP in viable cooled spermatozoa (P<0.05). Cooling process was the major step of ROS generation, with loss in sperm motility, PMI, and MMP. Centrifugation affected function of cryopreserved spermatozoa. These data suggest that centrifugation makes rat spermatozoa susceptible to external ROS source, in particular during cooling process. Thus, protection from ROS damage and minimizing centrifugation should be considered during cryopreservation and post-thaw use of cryopreserved epididymal rat spermatozoa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhee Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Soares MJ, Chakraborty D, Karim Rumi MA, Konno T, Renaud SJ. Rat placentation: an experimental model for investigating the hemochorial maternal-fetal interface. Placenta 2012; 33:233-43. [PMID: 22284666 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2011.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2011] [Revised: 11/23/2011] [Accepted: 11/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide the requisite background to help move the rat to the forefront in placentation research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M J Soares
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Inselman AL, Hansen DK, Lee HY, Nakamura N, Ning B, Monteiro JP, Varma V, Kaput J. Assessment of research models for testing gene-environment interactions. Eur J Pharmacol 2011; 668 Suppl 1:S108-16. [PMID: 21816149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.05.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Revised: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 05/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the last century, possible effects of exposure to toxicants, nutrients or drugs were examined primarily by studies of groups or populations. Individual variation in responses was acknowledged but could not be analyzed due to lack of information or tools to analyze individual genetic make-ups and lifestyle factors such as diet and activity. The Human Genome, Haplotype Map, 1000Genomes, and Human Variome Projects are identifying and cataloging the variation found within humans. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies will soon permit the characterization of individual genomes in clinical and basic research studies, thus allowing associations to be made between an individual genotype and the response to a particular exposure. Such knowledge and tools have generated a significant challenge for scientists: to design and conduct research studies that account for individual genetic variation. However, before these studies are done in humans, they will be performed in various in vivo and in vitro models. The advantages and disadvantages of some of the model test systems that are being used or developed in relation to individual genetic make-up and responses to xenobiotics are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Inselman
- Division of Personalized Nutrition and Medicine, NCTR/FDA, 3900 NCTR Rd., Jefferson, AR 72079, United States.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Boutros PC, Moffat ID, Okey AB, Pohjanvirta R. mRNA levels in control rat liver display strain-specific, hereditary, and AHR-dependent components. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18337. [PMID: 21760882 PMCID: PMC3132743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rat is a major model organism in toxicogenomics and pharmacogenomics. Hepatic mRNA profiles after treatment with xenobiotic chemicals are used to predict and understand drug toxicity and mechanisms. Surprisingly, neither inter- and intra-strain variability of mRNA abundances in control rats nor the heritability of rat mRNA abundances yet been established. We address these issues by studying five populations: the popular Sprague-Dawley strain, sub-strains of Long-Evans and Wistar rats, and two lines derived from crosses between the Long-Evans and Wistar sub-strains. Using three independent techniques--variance analysis, linear modelling, and unsupervised pattern recognition--we characterize extensive intra- and inter-strain variability in mRNA levels. We find that both sources of variability are non-random and are enriched for specific functional groups. Specific transcription-factor binding-sites are enriched in their promoter regions and these genes occur in "islands" scattered throughout the rat genome. Using the two lines generated by crossbreeding we tested heritability of hepatic mRNA levels: the majority of rat genes appear to exhibit directional genetics, with only a few interacting loci. Finally, a comparison of inter-strain heterogeneity between mouse and rat orthologs shows more heterogeneity in rats than mice; thus rat and mouse heterogeneity are uncorrelated. Our results establish that control hepatic mRNA levels are relatively homogeneous within rat strains but highly variable between strains. This variability may be related to increased activity of specific transcription-factors and has clear functional consequences. Future studies may take advantage of this phenomenon by surveying panels of rat strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul C Boutros
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Konno T, Rempel LA, Rumi MAK, Graham AR, Asanoma K, Renaud SJ, Soares MJ. Chromosome-substituted rat strains provide insights into the genetics of placentation. Physiol Genomics 2011; 43:930-41. [PMID: 21652768 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00069.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat possesses a hemochorial form of placentation. Pronounced intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and vascular remodeling characterize this type of placentation. Strain-specific patterns of placentation are evident in the rat. Some rat strains exhibit deep intrauterine trophoblast invasion and an expanded junctional zone [Holtzman Sprague-Dawley (HSD), Dahl salt sensitive (DSS)], whereas placentation sites of other rat strains are characterized by shallow invasion and a restricted junctional zone [Brown Norway (BN)]. In this report, we identified a quantitative trait that was used to distinguish strain-specific features of rat placentation. Junctional zone prolactin family 5, subfamily a, member 1 (Prl5a1) transcript levels were significantly greater in BN rats than in HSD or DSS rats. Prl5a1 transcript levels were used as a quantitative trait to screen placentation sites from chromosome-substituted rat strains (BN chromosomes introgressed into the DSS inbred strain; DSS-BN panel). Litter size, placental weights, and fetal weights were not significantly different among the chromosome-substituted strains. Regulation of the junctional zone Prl5a1 transcript-level quantitative trait was multifactoral. Chromosome-substituted strains possessing BN chromosomes 14 or 17 introgressed into the DSS inbred rat strain displayed Prl5a1 transcript levels that were significantly different from the DSS pattern and more closely resembled the BN pattern. The in situ placental distribution of Prl5a1 mRNA and the structure of the junctional zone of DSS-BN17 rats mimicked that observed for the BN rat. Prl5a1 gene expression was also assessed in BN vs. HSD trophoblast stem cells and following reciprocal BN and HSD embryo transfer. Strain differences intrinsic to trophoblast and maternal environment were identified. In summary, we have identified chromosomes 14 and 17 as possessing regulatory information controlling a quantitative trait associated with rat placentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Konno
- Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Konno T, Graham AR, Rempel LA, Ho-Chen JK, Alam SMK, Bu P, Rumi MAK, Soares MJ. Subfertility linked to combined luteal insufficiency and uterine progesterone resistance. Endocrinology 2010; 151:4537-50. [PMID: 20660062 PMCID: PMC2940508 DOI: 10.1210/en.2010-0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Early pregnancy loss is common and can be caused by a range of factors. The Brown Norway (BN) rat exhibits reproductive dysfunction characterized by small litter size and pregnancy failure and represents a model for investigating early pregnancy loss. In this study, we investigated the establishment of pregnancy in the BN rat and gained insight into mechanisms causing its subfertility. Early stages of BN uteroplacental organization are unique. The BN primordial placenta is restricted in its development and correlates with limited BN uterine decidual development. BN uterine decidua was shown to be both structurally and functionally distinct and correlated with decreased circulating progesterone (P4) levels. Ovarian anomalies were also apparent in BN rats and included decreased ovulation rates and decreased transcript levels for some steroidogenic enzymes. Attempts to rescue the BN uterine decidual phenotype with steroid hormone therapy were ineffective. BN uteri were shown to exhibit reduced responsiveness to P4 but not to 17beta-estradiol. P4 resistance was associated with decreased transcript levels for the P4 receptor (Pgr), a P4 receptor chaperone (Fkbp4), and P4 receptor coactivators (Ncoa1 and Ncoa2). In summary, the BN rat exhibits luteal insufficiency and uterine P4 resistance, which profoundly affects its ability to reproduce.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cells, Cultured
- Corpus Luteum/drug effects
- Corpus Luteum/metabolism
- Decidua/metabolism
- Estradiol/pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Humans
- Infertility/genetics
- Infertility/metabolism
- Luciferases/genetics
- Luciferases/metabolism
- Male
- Progesterone/blood
- Progesterone/metabolism
- Progesterone/pharmacology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred BN
- Rats, Inbred Dahl
- Rats, Inbred F344
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, Progesterone/genetics
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Stromal Cells/cytology
- Stromal Cells/metabolism
- Uterus/cytology
- Uterus/drug effects
- Uterus/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Konno
- Institute of Maternal-Fetal Biology, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Solberg Woods LC, Stelloh C, Regner KR, Schwabe T, Eisenhauer J, Garrett MR. Heterogeneous stock rats: a new model to study the genetics of renal phenotypes. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2010; 298:F1484-91. [PMID: 20219828 PMCID: PMC2886820 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00002.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease is a growing medical concern, with an estimated 25.6 million people in the United States exhibiting some degree of kidney injury and/or decline in kidney function. Animal models provide great insight into the study of the genetics of complex diseases. In particular, heterogeneous stock (HS) rats represent a unique genetic resource enabling rapid fine-mapping of complex traits. However, they have not been explored as a model to study renal phenotypes. To evaluate the usefulness of HS rats in the genetics of renal traits, a time course evaluation (weeks 8-40) was performed for several renal phenotypes. As expected, a large degree of variation was seen for most renal traits. By week 24, three (of 40) rats exhibited marked proteinuria that increased gradually until week 40 and ranged from 33.7 to 80.2 mg/24 h. Detailed histological analysis confirmed renal damage in these rats. In addition, several rats consistently exhibited significant hematuria (5/41). Interestingly, these rats were not the same rats that exhibited proteinuria, indicating that susceptibility to different types of kidney injury is likely segregating within the HS population. One HS rat exhibited unilateral renal agenesis (URA), which was accompanied by a significant degree of proteinuria and glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury. The parents of this HS rat were identified and bred further. Additional offspring of this pair were observed to exhibit URA at frequency between 40% and 60%. In summary, these novel data demonstrate that HS rats exhibit variation in proteinuria and other kidney-related traits, confirming that the model harbors susceptibility alleles for kidney injury and providing the basis for further genetic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leah C Solberg Woods
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Linsen SEV, de Wit E, de Bruijn E, Cuppen E. Small RNA expression and strain specificity in the rat. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:249. [PMID: 20403161 PMCID: PMC2864251 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2009] [Accepted: 04/19/2010] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital gene expression (DGE) profiling has become an established tool to study RNA expression. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of small RNA DGE profiles from two different rat strains (BN-Lx and SHR) from six different rat tissues (spleen, liver, brain, testis, heart, kidney). We describe the expression patterns of known and novel micro (mi)RNAs and piwi-interacting (pi)RNAs. RESULTS We confirmed the expression of 588 known miRNAs (54 in antisense orientation) and identified 56 miRNAs homologous to known human or mouse miRNAs, as well as 45 new rat miRNAs. Furthermore, we confirmed specific A to I editing in brain for mir-376a/b/c and identified mir-377 as a novel editing target. In accordance with earlier findings, we observed a highly tissue-specific expression pattern for all tissues analyzed. The brain was found to express the highest number of tissue-specific miRNAs, followed by testis. Notably, our experiments also revealed robust strain-specific differential miRNA expression in the liver that is caused by genetic variation between the strains. Finally, we identified two types of germline-specific piRNAs in testis, mapping either to transposons or in strand-specific clusters. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the small RNA compendium described here advances the annotation of small RNAs in the rat genome. Strain and tissue-specific expression patterns furthermore provide a strong basis for studying the role of small RNAs in regulatory networks as well as biological process like physiology and neurobiology that are extensively studied in this model system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sam EV Linsen
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elzo de Wit
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ewart de Bruijn
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin Cuppen
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Cancer Genomics Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Amstislavsky SY, Trukshin IS. Cryobanking mammalian embryos: Priorities and the optimal choice of reproductive technologies. Russ J Dev Biol 2010. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062360410010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
23
|
Jarome TJ, Kwapis JL, Nye SH, Helmstetter FJ. Introgression of Brown Norway chromosome 1 onto the fawn hooded hypertensive background rescues long-term fear memory deficits. Behav Genet 2009; 40:85-92. [PMID: 19757016 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-009-9297-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2009] [Accepted: 08/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The isolation of genes influencing long-term memory is critical for an understanding of learning at the molecular level. Recently, chromosomal substitution rat strains, known as consomics, have been developed. Here we report the results of the first study on aversive learning and memory with these consomic rats. We compared the Fawn Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) and Brown Norway (BN) parent strains with a Brown Norway chromosome 1 substitution on the FHH background (FHH-1(BN)). Results indicated that while all strains had normal short-term memory, the FHH animals were impaired relative to BN in tests of long-term memory for a discrete auditory cue. This deficit was rescued by the introgression of the BN1 chromosome onto the FHH background. Furthermore, the FHH-1(BN) consomic showed an enhancement in long-term contextual fear memory relative to the FHH strain. These changes were not due to differences in pain sensitivity as both strains performed equally on two different pain tests. These results provide preliminary support that consomic rat strains can be a useful tool in identifying genes related to long-term fear memory formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Jarome
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 2441 East Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
van Boxtel R, Toonen PW, Verheul M, van Roekel HS, Nijman IJ, Guryev V, Cuppen E. Improved generation of rat gene knockouts by target-selected mutagenesis in mismatch repair-deficient animals. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:460. [PMID: 18840264 PMCID: PMC2567347 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) is one of the preferred model organisms in physiological and pharmacological research, although the availability of specific genetic models, especially gene knockouts, is limited. N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-driven target-selected mutagenesis is currently the most successful method in rats, although it is still very laborious and expensive. Results As ENU-induced DNA damage is normally recognized by the mismatch repair (MMR) system, we hypothesized that the effectiveness of the target-selected mutagenesis approach could be improved by using a MMR-deficient genetic background. Indeed, Msh6 knockout rats were found to be more sensitive to ENU treatment and the germ line mutation rate was boosted more than two-fold to 1 mutation per 585 kb. In addition, the molecular mutation spectrum was found to be changed in favor of generating knockout-type alleles by ~20%, resulting in an overall increase in efficiency of ~2.5 fold. The improved effectiveness was demonstrated by high throughput mutation discovery in 70 Mb of sequence in a set of only 310 mutant F1 rats. This resulted in the identification of 89 mutations of which four introduced a premature stopcodon and 64 resulted in amino acid changes. Conclusion Taken together, we show that the use of a MMR-deficient background considerably improves ENU-driven target-selected mutagenesis in the rat, thereby reducing animal use as well as screening costs. The use of a mismatch repair-deficient genetic background for improving mutagenesis and target-selected knockout efficiency is in principle applicable to any organism of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben van Boxtel
- Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Cancer Genomics Center, Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
Enhancing survival to hemorrhage of both civilian and military patients is a major emphasis for trauma research. Previous observations in humans and outbred rats show differential survival to similar levels of hemorrhage. In an initial attempt to determine potential genetic components of such differential outcomes, survival time after a controlled hemorrhage was measured in 15 inbred strains of rats. Anesthetized rats were catheterized, and approximately 24 h later, 55% of the calculated blood volume was removed during a 26-min period from conscious unrestrained animals. Rats were observed for a maximum of 6 h. Survival time was 7.7-fold longer in the longest-lived strain (Brown Norway/Medical College of Wisconsin; 306 +/- 36 min; mean +/- SEM) than in the shortest-lived strain (DA; 40 +/- 5 min; P < or = 0.01). Mean survival times for the remaining inbred strains ranged from 273 +/- 44 to 49 +/- 4 min (Dahl-Salt Sensitive > Brown Norway > Munich Wistar Fromter> Dahl-Salt Resistant > Copenhagen > Noble > Spontaneous-hypertensive > Lewis > BDIX > Fawn Hooded Hypertensive > FISCHER 344 > Black agouti > PVG). The variance in the hazard of death attributable to different strains was estimated to be 1.22 log-hazard units, corresponding to a heritability of approximately 48%. Graded and divergent survival times to hemorrhage in inbred rat strains are remarkable and suggest multiple genetic components for this characteristic. However, this interpretation of differential responses to hemorrhage may be confounded by potential strain-associated differences related to the surgical preparation. Identification of inbred strains divergent in survival time to hemorrhage provides the opportunity for future use of these strains to identify genes associated with this complex response.
Collapse
|
26
|
van Boxtel R, Toonen PW, van Roekel HS, Verheul M, Smits BMG, Korving J, de Bruin A, Cuppen E. Lack of DNA mismatch repair protein MSH6 in the rat results in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer-like tumorigenesis. Carcinogenesis 2008; 29:1290-7. [DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
|
27
|
Nijman IJ, Kuipers S, Verheul M, Guryev V, Cuppen E. A genome-wide SNP panel for mapping and association studies in the rat. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:95. [PMID: 18298839 PMCID: PMC2266910 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2007] [Accepted: 02/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) is an important model for human disease, and is extensively used for studying complex traits for example in the physiological and pharmacological fields. To facilitate genetic studies like QTL mapping, genetic makers that can be easily typed, like SNPs, are essential. Results A genome-wide set of 820 SNP assays was designed for the KASPar genotyping platform, which uses a technique based on allele specific oligo extension and energy transfer-based detection. SNPs were chosen to be equally spread along all chromosomes except Y and to be polymorphic between Brown Norway and SS or Wistar rat strains based on data from the rat HapMap EU project. This panel was tested on 38 rats of 34 different strains and 3 wild rats to determine the level of polymorphism and to generate a phylogenetic network to show their genetic relationships. As a proof of principle we used this panel to map an obesity trait in Zucker rats and confirmed significant linkage (LOD 122) to chromosome 5: 119–129 Mb, where the leptin receptor gene (Lepr) is located (chr5: 122 Mb). Conclusion We provide a fast and cost-effective platform for genome-wide SNP typing, which can be used for first-pass genetic mapping and association studies in a wide variety of rat strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaäc J Nijman
- Hubrecht Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gilibert S, Kwitek AE, Hubner N, Tschannen M, Jacob HJ, Sassard J, Bataillard A. Effects of chromosome 17 on features of the metabolic syndrome in the Lyon hypertensive rat. Physiol Genomics 2008; 33:212-7. [PMID: 18285521 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00262.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolic syndrome (involving obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and a proinflammatory/prethrombotic state) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Its incidence continues to rise, in part because of the epidemic increase in obesity. The Lyon hypertensive (LH) rat is a model for hypertension and several other features of the metabolic syndrome, having high body weight, plasma cholesterol, and triglycerides, increased insulin-to-glucose ratio, and salt-sensitive hypertension. Previous genetic studies in LH/Mav rats and a normotensive control (LN/Mav) identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on rat chromosome (RNO)17 for multiple features of the metabolic syndrome. To further evaluate the role of RNO17 in the LH rat, we generated a consomic strain (LH-17(BN)) by substituting LH RNO17 with that of the sequenced Brown Norway (BN/NHsdMcwi) rat. Male LH and BN rats and LH-17(BN) rats were characterized for blood pressure and metabolic and morphological parameters. Similar to the protective effect of LN alleles, the LH-17(BN) rat also showed decreased body weight, triglycerides, and blood pressure; however, there was no significant difference in cholesterol or insulin-to-glucose ratio. Therefore, the substitution of the LH chromosome 17 is sufficient to recapitulate some, but not all, of the traits previously mapped to this chromosome. This could be due to the lack of a susceptible LH genome background or due to the introgression of chromosome 17 from another strain. Regardless, this study provides a single-chromosome genetic model for further dissection of blood pressure and morphological and metabolic traits on this chromosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Gilibert
- Département de Physiologie et Pharmacologie Clinique, Institut des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Dann CT, Garbers DL. Production of knockdown rats by lentiviral transduction of embryos with short hairpin RNA transgenes. Methods Mol Biol 2008; 450:193-209. [PMID: 18370061 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-214-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The primary method for determining the function of a gene in rodents has been to make a knockout mouse through homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. However, with the advent of RNA interference (RNAi) technology, new methods for studying gene function are now possible in a wide array of animals. We describe a protocol for knocking down a gene of interest in vivo in rats by stably expressing a short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Transgenic rats are produced using a simple and efficient procedure for transducing single-cell embryos with a lentiviral vector. The vector described is designed to result in ubiquitous expression of shRNA. Thus, it is well suited to study genes expressed specifically in male germ cells in which the predicted phenotype would be male sterility. This system has been used to generate a transgenic line with stable and heritable knockdown of the gene Deleted in Azoospermia-like (Dazl), resulting in male sterility and germline transmission of the transgene through females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Tenenhaus Dann
- Department of Pharmacology and Cecil H and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bioinformatic prediction and analysis of eukaryotic protein kinases in the rat genome. Gene 2007; 410:147-53. [PMID: 18201844 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2007] [Revised: 12/03/2007] [Accepted: 12/04/2007] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic protein kinases, containing a conserved catalytic domain, represent one of the largest superfamilies of the eukaryotic proteins and play distinct roles in cell signaling and diseases. Near completion of rat genome sequencing project enables the evaluation of a near complete set of rat protein kinases. Publicly accessible genetic sequence databases were searched for rat protein kinases, and 515 eukaryotic protein kinases, 40 atypical protein kinases and 45 kinase pseudogenes were identified. The rat has 509 putative protein kinases orthologous to human kinases. Unlike microtubule affinity-regulating kinases, the rat has a few more kinases, in addition to the orthologous pairs of mouse kinases. The comparison of 11 different eukaryotic species revealed the evolutionary conservation of this diverse family of proteins. The evolutionary rate studies of human disease and non-disease associated kinases suggested that relatively uniform selective pressures have been applied to these kinase classes. This bioinformatic study of the rat protein kinases provides a suitable framework for further characterization of the functional and structural properties of these protein kinases.
Collapse
|
31
|
Yamashiro H, Han YJ, Sugawara A, Tomioka I, Hoshino Y, Sato E. Freezability of rat epididymal sperm induced by raffinose in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB) based extender solution. Cryobiology 2007; 55:285-94. [PMID: 17923121 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2007.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2007] [Revised: 08/26/2007] [Accepted: 08/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop an ideal freezing extender and method for rat epididymal sperm cryopreservation. Epididymal sperm collected from 30 Wistar males was frozen, and experiments were conducted to study its post-thaw characteristics when freezing with raffinose-free buffer or various concentrations of raffinose and egg yolk dissolved in distilled and deionised water, PBS, or modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (mKRB)-based extender. Different concentrations of glycerol, Equex STM, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) dissolved in either PBS or mKRB containing egg yolk were also tested. Based on the data from these experiments, further experiments tested how different sugars such as raffinose, trehalose, lactose, fructose, and glucose dissolved in mKRB with Equex STM, SDS and egg yolk supplementation affected the post-thaw characteristics of cryopreserved sperm. Cryosurvival of frozen-thawed sperm were judged by microscopic assessment of the sperm motility index (SMI), and acrosome integrity was measured using FITC-PNA staining. Thawed sperm were subjected to 3h of a thermal resistance test. Beneficial effects on the post-thaw survival of sperm were obtained when 0.1M raffinose in mKRB was used with 0.75% Equex STM, 0.05% SDS, and 20% egg yolk. Sperm cryopreserved with this treatment exhibited a higher motility index and maintained greater SMI and acrosome integrity throughout incubation when compared to sperm frozen in various concentrations of other cryoprotectants and trehalose, lactose, fructose, glucose. In conclusion, cryopreservation in an extender solution of raffinose dissolved in mKRB containing Equex STM, SDS and egg yolk greatly enhances the freezability of rat epididymal sperm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Yamashiro
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 1-1 Tsutsumidori-amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Doran P, Gannon J, O'Connell K, Ohlendieck K. Proteomic profiling of animal models mimicking skeletal muscle disorders. Proteomics Clin Appl 2007; 1:1169-84. [PMID: 21136766 DOI: 10.1002/prca.200700042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades of biomedical research, animal models of neuromuscular diseases have been widely used for determining pathological mechanisms and for testing new therapeutic strategies. With the emergence of high-throughput proteomics technology, the identification of novel protein factors involved in disease processes has been decisively improved. This review outlines the usefulness of the proteomic profiling of animal disease models for the discovery of new reliable biomarkers, for the optimization of diagnostic procedures and the development of new treatment options for skeletal muscle disorders. Since inbred animal strains show genetically much less interindividual differences as compared to human patients, considerably lower experimental repeats are capable of producing meaningful proteomic data. Thus, animal model proteomics can be conveniently employed for both studying basic mechanisms of molecular pathogenesis and the effects of drugs, genetic modifications or cell-based therapies on disease progression. Based on the results from comparative animal proteomics, a more informed decision on the design of clinical proteomics studies could be reached. Since no one animal model represents a perfect pathobiochemical replica of all of the symptoms seen in complex human disorders, the proteomic screening of novel animal models can also be employed for swift and enhanced protein biochemical phenotyping.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Doran
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lee NH. Physiogenomic strategies and resources to associate genes with rat models of heart, lung and blood disorders. Exp Physiol 2007; 92:992-1002. [PMID: 17591683 DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2006.036350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
As is the case for many human disorders, cardiovascular disease is a complex ailment exhibiting a multifactorial mode of transmission. Rat models have been developed to aid in the analysis of this complex genetic and phenotypic disorder. The purpose of this brief review is to describe current gene expression profiling strategies that have been implemented to search for candidate causative genes of disease phenotypes in animal models. Strategies include integrating gene expression information with linkage analysis, expression profiling chromosome-substituted and/or congenic rat strains, correlating gene expression with physiological data across a panel of rodent strains, and linking expression quantitative trait loci to physiological quantitative trait loci. A primary goal of these strategies is to narrow and prioritize the search for causal genes of physiological interest. Also discussed are ways to harness two recent publicly available resources that have been created to investigate the role of genes and environment on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norman H Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University Medical Center, 2300 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Walraven JM, Barker DF, Doll MA, Hein DW. Tissue expression and genomic sequences of rat N-acetyltransferases rNat1, rNat2, rNat3, and Functional characterization of a novel rNat3*2 genetic variant. Toxicol Sci 2007; 99:413-21. [PMID: 17567587 PMCID: PMC2094101 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human arylamine N-acetyltransferases NAT1 and NAT2 are highly polymorphic genes that modify individual susceptibility to cancers caused by exposure to arylamine procarcinogens. Strong similarities exist between rat Nats and human NATs, and rat Nat2 polymorphisms result in slow acetylator phenotype. Recently, a third rat Nat, rNat3*1, was reported. Although in vivo toxicological and carcinogenic studies are often conducted in rats, relatively little is known about Nat sequences among available inbred rat strains. We report here that rNat1 and rNat2 open reading frames (ORFs) in 12 inbred rat strains (ACI, BN, BUF, CDF, COP, DA, LEW, LOU/M, MW, PVG, SHR, WF) corresponded to reference rNat1*13 and rNat2*20. While 10 of the 12 strains had reference rNat3*1 ORFs, strains ACI and COP had a variant rNat3*2 ORF characterized by a G619>T transversion (A207S). The rNat3*2 single nucleotide polymorphism reduced Nat3 protein levels and N- and O-acetyltransferase activity when recombinantly expressed in bacteria. Recombinant expression of rNat3 1 and rNat3 2 in COS-1 cells yielded equivalent protein levels but undetectable catalytic activities. Relative tissue expressions of rNat1, rNat2, and rNat3 mRNAs were assessed in liver and 12 extrahepatic tissues (lung, spleen, kidney, heart, esophagus, stomach, urinary bladder, prostate, colon, duodenum, jejunum, ileum) from male F344 rats exsanguinated prior to sacrifice. Semiquantitative RT-PCR experiments demonstrated that the relative expression of the rNat transcripts in liver and 12 extrahepatic tissues was rNat1 > rNat2, while rNat3 transcripts were not detected. This study concludes that rNat1 and rNat2 are primarily responsible for acetylation phenotype in rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Walraven
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Szpirer C, Van Vooren P, Rivière M, Szpirer J. Rat gene mapping in the post-genome sequencing era: the continued utility of cell hybrids to localize rat genes (Cks2, Ephb4, Fabp5, Il13ra1, Rpl10, Ssr4). Cytogenet Genome Res 2007; 116:61-4. [PMID: 17268179 DOI: 10.1159/000097418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2006] [Accepted: 07/05/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Finding the position of a gene is now easily done when the genome sequence is available: the gene position is generally found by a simple query of genomic databases such as those available at the Ensembl browser or the NCBI. We were interested in determining the position of 125 cancer-related rat genes and we found that the position of most of these genes (110) could indeed be identified in this manner. However, in 15 cases, the gene position was not available in these databases, or the results were ambiguous. We then explored a more specialized database, namely the Rat Genome Database, and experimentally mapped these genes using standard and radiation cell hybrids. The 15 genes in question could be localized unambiguously. In four cases, the radiation cell hybrids were indispensable: the sequence of these four genes could not be found in the rat genome sequence. On the basis of the sample we examined, it thus appears that a classical gene mapping method is still required to localize about 3% of the rat genes, as if 3% of the rat gene sequences were lacking in the current rat genome sequence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Szpirer
- Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Twigger SN, Shimoyama M, Bromberg S, Kwitek AE, Jacob HJ. The Rat Genome Database, update 2007--easing the path from disease to data and back again. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 35:D658-62. [PMID: 17151068 PMCID: PMC1761441 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2006] [Accepted: 10/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rat Genome Database (RGD, http://rgd.mcw.edu) is one of the core resources for rat genomics and recent developments have focused on providing support for disease-based research using the rat model. Recognizing the importance of the rat as a disease model we have employed targeted curation strategies to curate genes, QTL and strain data for neurological and cardiovascular disease areas. This work has centered on rat but also includes data for mouse and human to create 'disease portals' that provide a unified view of the genes, QTL and strain models for these diseases across the three species. The disease curation efforts combined with normal curation activities have served to greatly increase the content of the database, particularly for biological information, including gene ontology, disease, pathway and phenotype ontology annotations. In addition to improving the features and database content, community outreach has been expanded to demonstrate how investigators can leverage the resources at RGD to facilitate their research and to elicit suggestions and needs for future developments. We have published a number of papers that provide additional information on the ontology annotations and the tools at RGD for data mining and analysis to better enable researchers to fully utilize the database.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon N Twigger
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ways JA, Smith BM, Barbato JC, Ramdath RS, Pettee KM, DeRaedt SJ, Allison DC, Koch LG, Lee SJ, Cicila GT. Congenic strains confirm aerobic running capacity quantitative trait loci on rat chromosome 16 and identify possible intermediate phenotypes. Physiol Genomics 2006; 29:91-7. [PMID: 17179209 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00027.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified two inbred rat strains divergent for treadmill aerobic running capacity (ARC), the low-performing Copenhagen (COP) and the high-performing DA rats, and used an F(2)(COPxDA) population to identify ARC quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on rat chromosome 16 (RNO16) and the proximal portion of rat chromosome 3 (RNO3). Two congenic rat strains were bred to further investigate these ARC QTLs by introgressing RNO16 and the proximal portion of RNO3 from DA rats into the genetic background of COP rats and were named COP.DA(chr 16) and COP.DA(chr 3), respectively. COP.DA(chr 16) rats had significantly greater ARC compared with COP rats (696.7 +/- 38.2 m vs. 571.9 +/- 27.5 m, P = 0.03). COP.DA(chr 3) rats had increased, although not significant, ARC compared with COP rats (643.6 +/- 40.9 m vs. 571.9 +/- 27.5 m). COP.DA(chr 16) rats had significantly greater subcutaneous abdominal fat, as well as decreased fasting triglyceride levels, compared with COP rats (P < 0.05), indicating that genes responsible for strain differences in fat metabolism are also located on RNO16. While this colocalization of QTLs may be coincidental, it is also possible that these differences in energy balance may be associated with the superior running performance of COP.DA(chr 16) consomic rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Ways
- Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Si W, Benson JD, Men H, Critser JK. Osmotic tolerance limits and effects of cryoprotectants on the motility, plasma membrane integrity and acrosomal integrity of rat sperm. Cryobiology 2006; 53:336-48. [PMID: 17084388 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2006.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2006] [Revised: 09/07/2006] [Accepted: 09/07/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Osmotic stress is an important factor that can result in cell damage during cryopreservation. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) isosmotic sperm cell volume; (2) osmotically inactive volume; (3) osmotic tolerance limits of rat sperm; and (4) the effects of addition and removal of glycerol (Gly), ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG) or dimethyl sulfoxide (Me(2)SO) on rat sperm function. Sperm from Fischer 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. An electronic particle counter was used to measure the cell volume of rat sperm. Computer-assisted sperm motility analysis and flow-cytometric analysis were used to assess sperm motility, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity. The isosmotic sperm cell volumes of the two strains were 37.0+/-0.1 and 36.2+/-0.2 microm(3), respectively. Rat sperm behaved as linear osmometers from 260 to 450 mOsm, and the osmotically inactive sperm volumes of the two strains were 79.8+/-1.5% and 81.4+/-2.2%, respectively. Rat sperm have very limited osmotic tolerances. The sperm motility and the sperm plasma membranes of both strains were sensitive to anisosmotic treatments, but the acrosomes of both strains were more sensitive to hyposmotic than hyperosmotic conditions. The one-step addition and removal of Me(2)SO showed the most deleterious effect on rat sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity among the four cryoprotectants. These data characterizing rat sperm osmotic behavior, osmotic and cryoprotectant tolerance will be used to design cryopreservation protocols for rat sperm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Si
- Comparative Medicine Center, Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 1600 East Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Dann CT, Alvarado AL, Hammer RE, Garbers DL. Heritable and stable gene knockdown in rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:11246-51. [PMID: 16844779 PMCID: PMC1544073 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0604657103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat has served as an excellent model for studies on animal physiology and as a model for human diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism; however, genetic studies have been limited because of the inability to knock out genes. Our goal was to produce heritable deficiencies in specific gene function in the rat using RNA interference to knock down gene expression in vivo. Lentiviral-mediated transgenesis was used to produce rats expressing a short hairpin RNA targeting Dazl, a gene expressed in germ cells and required for fertility in mice. Germ-line transmission of the transgene occurred, and its expression correlated with significant reductions in DAZL protein levels and male sterility, and the knockdown was stable over multiple generations (F(1)-F(3)). This study demonstrates an efficient system by which directed reverse genetic analysis can now be performed in the rat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Tenenhaus Dann
- *The Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Departments of Pharmacology and
- To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail:
or
| | - Alma L. Alvarado
- *The Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Departments of Pharmacology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9051
| | - Robert E. Hammer
- *The Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Biochemistry, and
| | - David L. Garbers
- *The Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences
- Departments of Pharmacology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75390-9051
- To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail:
or
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
de Graaf JS. Fall and rise of behavioural pharmacology. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2006; 3:181-185. [PMID: 24980406 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2006.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1970s, a fortunate ensemble of technological and scientific developments has radically changed pharmacology, both in practice and imaginative thinking, towards a predominantly molecular science. Economic and political forces contributed to the undervaluation of in vivo experiments. The present generation of bioscientists, undertrained in whole animal, particularly behavioural pharmacology, now faces the challenge to interpret and translate an interminable hoard of molecular data into understandable and applicable medicine. The article provides a retrospection in four decades of progress.:
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joop S de Graaf
- European Summer School for Whole Animal Pharmacology, Franciscanenstraat 16, 6823 PB Arnhem, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|