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Skjold V, Afanasyev S, Burgerhout E, Sveen L, Rørvik KA, Mota VFCN, Dessen JE, Krasnov A. Endocrine and Transcriptome Changes Associated with Testicular Growth and Differentiation in Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar L.). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5337-5351. [PMID: 38920991 PMCID: PMC11202266 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon males is marked by dramatic endocrine changes and rapid growth of the testes, resulting in an increase in the gonad somatic index (GSI). We examined the association of gonadal growth with serum sex steroids, as well as pituitary and testicular gene expression levels, which were assessed with a DNA oligonucleotide microarray. The testes transcriptome was stable in males with a GSI < 0.08% despite the large difference between the smallest and the largest gonads. Fish with a GSI ≥ 0.23% had 7-17 times higher serum levels of five male steroids and a 2-fold increase in progesterone, without a change in cortisol and related steroids. The pituitary transcriptome showed an upregulation of the hormone-coding genes that control reproduction and behavior, and structural rearrangement was indicated by the genes involved in synaptic transmission and the differentiation of neurons. The observed changes in the abundance of testicular transcripts were caused by the regulation of transcription and/or disproportional growth, with a greater increase in the germinative compartment. As these factors could not be separated, the transcriptome results are presented as higher or lower specific activities (HSA and LSA). LSA was observed in 4268 genes, including many genes involved in various immune responses and developmental processes. LSA also included genes with roles in female reproduction, germinal cell maintenance and gonad development, responses to endocrine and neural regulation, and the biosynthesis of sex steroids. Two functional groups prevailed among HSA: structure and activity of the cilia (95 genes) and meiosis (34 genes). The puberty of A. salmon testis is marked by the predominance of spermatogenesis, which displaces other processes; masculinization; and the weakening of external regulation. Results confirmed the known roles of many genes involved in reproduction and pointed to uncharacterized genes that deserve attention as possible regulators of sexual maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vetle Skjold
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway;
| | - Sergey Afanasyev
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, 194223 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Erik Burgerhout
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Lene Sveen
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Kjell-Arne Rørvik
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway;
| | | | - Jens-Erik Dessen
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Aleksei Krasnov
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
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Vinnicombe KRT, Volkoff H. Possible role of transcription factors (BSX, NKX2.1, IRX3 and SIRT1) in the regulation of appetite in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 268:111189. [PMID: 35307341 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The homeobox genes play important roles in the embryonic development of animals. Recent evidence suggests they might also regulate feeding and act as transcription factors of appetite regulators. Examples of these genes are a brain-specific homeobox transcription factor (BSX), NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2.1) and the Iroquois homeobox 3 (IRX3). Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) acts as a transcription factor for nutrient (e.g. lipid, glucose) homeostasis and responds to stress and nutrient availability, and has been shown to interact with appetite regulators. Very little is known about the role of these genes in the regulation of feeding and nutrient homeostasis in fish. In this study, we assessed the roles of BSX, NKX2.1, IRX3 and SIRT1 in the central regulation of feeding in goldfish by examining their mRNA brain distribution, assessing the effects of fasting on their brain expression and assessing the effects of peripheral injections of cholecystokinin (CCK, a brain-gut peptide), on their brain expression. All genes showed a widespread distribution in the brain, with high levels in the hypothalamus. In both hypothalamus and telencephalon, fasting induced increases in BSX, IRX3 and NKX2.1 expressions but had no effect on SIRT1 expression levels. CCK injections increased hypothalamic expression levels of IRX3 and SIRT1, and telencephalic expression levels of NKX2.1 and SIRT1, with no effect on either hypothalamic BSX or NKX2.1 expression levels or telencephalon BSX or IRX3 expression levels. Our results suggest that, in goldfish as in mammals, central BSX, NKX2.1, IRX3 and SIRT1 are present in regions of the brain regulating feeding, are sensitive to nutrient status and interact with appetite-regulating peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey R T Vinnicombe
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Helene Volkoff
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada.
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Rozenfeld C, García-Carpintero V, Pérez L, Gallego V, Herranz-Jusdado JG, Tveiten H, Johnsen HK, Fontaine R, Weltzien FA, Cañizares J, Asturiano JF, Peñaranda DS. Cold seawater induces early sexual developmental stages in the BPG axis of European eel males. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:597. [PMID: 31331264 PMCID: PMC6647157 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5969-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impossibility of closing the life cycle of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in captivity troubles the future of this critically endangered species. In addition, the European eel is a highly valued and demanded resource, thus the successful closing of its life cycle would have a substantial economic and ecological impact. With the aim of obtaining the highest gamete quality, the study of the effects of environmental factors, such as temperature, on reproductive performance may prove valuable. This is especially true for the exposure to cold water, which has been reported to improve sexual development in multiple other Actinopterygii species. RESULTS European eel males treated with cold seawater (10 °C, T10) for 2 weeks showed an increase in the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial cells until the differentiated spermatogonial type A cell stage, and elevated testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone plasma levels. Transcriptomes from the tissues of the brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis of T10 samples revealed a differential gene expression profile compared to the other experimental groups, with clustering in a principal component analysis and in heat maps of all differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, a functional analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed enriched gene ontology terms involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm, histone modification, meiotic nuclear division, and others. CONCLUSIONS Cold seawater treatment had a clear effect on the activity of the BPG-axis of European eel males. In particular, our cold seawater treatment induces the synchronization and increased proliferation and differentiation of specific spermatogonial cells. In the transcriptomic results, genes related to thermoception were observed. This thermoception may have caused the observed effects through epigenetic mechanisms, since all analysed tissues further revealed differentially expressed genes involved in histone modification. The presented results support our hypothesis that a low temperature seawater treatment induces an early sexual developmental stage in European eels. This hypothesis is logical given that the average temperature experienced by eels in the early stages of their oceanic reproductive migration is highly similar to that of this cold seawater treatment. Further studies are needed to test whether a cold seawater treatment can improve the response of European eels to artificial hormonal treatment, as the results suggest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Rozenfeld
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Víctor García-Carpintero
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luz Pérez
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victor Gallego
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Germán Herranz-Jusdado
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Helge Tveiten
- Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Food Research, Nofima AS, Muninbakken 9-13, Breivika, 9291, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Helge K Johnsen
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Muninbakken 21, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Romain Fontaine
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo, Norway
| | - Finn-Arne Weltzien
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joaquín Cañizares
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan F Asturiano
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
| | - David S Peñaranda
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Edificio 7G, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
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Mohamed AR, Verbyla KL, Al-Mamun HA, McWilliam S, Evans B, King H, Kube P, Kijas JW. Polygenic and sex specific architecture for two maturation traits in farmed Atlantic salmon. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:139. [PMID: 30770720 PMCID: PMC6377724 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5525-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key developmental transformation in the life of all vertebrates is the transition to sexual maturity, whereby individuals are capable of reproducing for the first time. In the farming of Atlantic salmon, early maturation prior to harvest size has serious negative production impacts. RESULTS We report genome wide association studies (GWAS) using fish measured for sexual maturation in freshwater or the marine environment. Genotypic data from a custom 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array was used to identify 13 significantly associated SNP for freshwater maturation with the most strongly associated on chromosomes 10 and 11. A higher number of associations (48) were detected for marine maturation, and the two peak loci were found to be the same for both traits. The number and broad distribution of GWAS hits confirmed a highly polygenetic nature, and GWAS performed separately within males and females revealed sex specific genetic behaviour for loci co-located with positional candidate genes phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein-like (picalm) and membrane-associated guanylate kinase, WW and PDZ domain-containing protein 2 (magi2). CONCLUSIONS The results extend earlier work and have implications for future applied breeding strategies to delay maturation in this important aquaculture species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin R Mohamed
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia Brisbane, 4067, Australia.,Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, 13518, Egypt
| | - Klara L Verbyla
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Data 61, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Hawlader A Al-Mamun
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Data 61, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Sean McWilliam
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia Brisbane, 4067, Australia
| | - Bradley Evans
- Tassal Operations Pty Ltd, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia
| | - Harry King
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Hobart, Tasmania, 7004, Australia
| | - Peter Kube
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Hobart, Tasmania, 7004, Australia
| | - James W Kijas
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia Brisbane, 4067, Australia.
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Franzellitti S, Kiwan A, Valbonesi P, Capolupo M, Buratti S, Moon TW, Fabbri E. Characterization of a β2 adrenergic receptor protein precursor in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and its tissue distribution across silvering. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 137:158-168. [PMID: 29576394 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study provides the characterization and tissue distribution of a β2-AR in the female European eel during silvering, aiming to better understand the adrenergic system involvement in this critical maturation event. A putative β2-AR (ADRB2) mRNA was cloned and sequenced. Amino acid residues and motifs important for ligand binding are generally conserved across fish and between fish and mammals, although the occurrence of some sequence variabilities may explain the noted peculiarities of eel AR interaction with pharmacological ligands. The tissue distribution of the ADRB2 gene product was analyzed in five tissues of the eel at different silvering stages and compared with that of the ADRA1 mRNA encoding an α1-AR subtype. On the whole, data suggested that relative ADRA1/ADRB2 tissue expression across silvering is part of the preparatory (molecular) adjustments required to face changes in habitats and migration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Franzellitti
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Alisar Kiwan
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paola Valbonesi
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Marco Capolupo
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sara Buratti
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Thomas W Moon
- Department of Biology and the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Animal and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, I-48123, Ravenna, Italy
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Trautner JH, Reiser S, Blancke T, Unger K, Wysujack K. Metamorphosis and transition between developmental stages in European eel (Anguilla anguilla, L.) involve epigenetic changes in DNA methylation patterns. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2017; 22:139-145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Brain Transcriptional Profiles of Male Alternative Reproductive Tactics and Females in Bluegill Sunfish. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167509. [PMID: 27907106 PMCID: PMC5132329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are one of the classic systems for studying male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in teleost fishes. In this species, there are two distinct life histories: parental and cuckolder, encompassing three reproductive tactics, parental, satellite, and sneaker. The parental life history is fixed, whereas individuals who enter the cuckolder life history transition from sneaker to satellite tactic as they grow. For this study, we used RNAseq to characterize the brain transcriptome of the three male tactics and females during spawning to identify gene ontology (GO) categories and potential candidate genes associated with each tactic. We found that sneaker males had higher levels of gene expression differentiation compared to the other two male tactics. Sneaker males also had higher expression in ionotropic glutamate receptor genes, specifically AMPA receptors, compared to other males, which may be important for increased spatial working memory while attempting to cuckold parental males at their nests. Larger differences in gene expression also occurred among male tactics than between males and females. We found significant expression differences in several candidate genes that were previously identified in other species with ARTs and suggest a previously undescribed role for cAMP-responsive element modulator (crem) in influencing parental male behaviors during spawning.
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Climbing experience in glass eels: A cognitive task or a matter of physical capacities? Physiol Behav 2015; 151:448-55. [PMID: 26260433 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The European eel is a panmictic species, whose decline has been recorded since the last 30 years. Among human-induced environmental factors of decline, the impact of water dams during species migration is questioned. Indeed, water impoundments can be a severe obstacle for young eels trying to reach the upstream freshwater zones, even if they are equipped with fish-friendly passes. The passage by such devices could be an important event shaping the outcome of the future life and life history traits of eels. We studied what phenotypic traits were associated with the event of experience of passage by water obstacles. We analyzed specific enzyme activities and/or gene transcription levels in the muscle and brain to test whether the obstacle passage is rather a physical or cognitive task. We found that after a long period of maintenance under homogenous conditions, transcription levels of several genes linked to synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis and thyroid activity differed among the field-experience groups. In contrast, muscle gene transcription levels or enzymatic activities did not show any differences among fish groups. We suggest that cognitive processes such as learning and memory acquisition rather than swimming-related metabolic capacities are involved in passage of water obstacles by young eels.
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Transcriptomic profiling of male European eel (Anguilla anguilla) livers at sexual maturity. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2015; 16:28-35. [PMID: 26253995 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The European eel Anguilla anguilla has a complex life cycle that includes freshwater, seawater and morphologically distinct stages as well as two extreme long distance migrations. Eels do not feed as they migrate across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea but nevertheless reach sexual maturity before spawning. It is not yet clear how existing energy stores are used to reach the appropriate developmental state for reproduction. Since the liver is involved in energy metabolism, protein biosynthesis and endocrine regulation it is expected to play a key role in the regulation of reproductive development. We therefore used microarrays to identify genes that may be involved in this process. Using this approach, we identified 231 genes that were expressed at higher and 111 genes that were expressed at lower levels in sexually mature compared with immature males. The up-regulated set includes genes involved in lipid metabolism, fatty acid synthesis and transport, mitochondrial function, steroid transport and bile acid metabolism. Several genes with putative enzyme functions were also expressed at higher levels at sexual maturity while genes involved in immune system processes and protein biosynthesis tended to be down-regulated at this stage. By using a high-throughput approach, we have identified a subset of genes that may be linked with the mobilization of energy stores for sexual maturation and migration. These results contribute to an improved understanding of eel reproductive biology and provide insight into the role of the liver in other teleosts with a long distance spawning migrations.
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