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Chen Z, Wen D, Cen J, Mu R. Hypothalamic transcriptome profile from laying period to incubation period of Changshun green-shell laying hens. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103950. [PMID: 38917610 PMCID: PMC11255903 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Incubation behavior in chickens is closely associated with hypothalamus. Here, RNA sequencing of hypothalamus from Changshun green-shell laying hens, an indigenous chicken breed from China, in egg-laying period (LP) and incubation period (BP) was conducted to identify critical pathways and candidate genes involved in controlling the incubation behavior in hypothalamus. A total of 637 up-regulated and 305 down-regulated differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in chicken hypothalamus between LP and BP groups. Gene ontology term (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis further revealed that neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, hippo signaling pathway, and focal adhesion were significantly enriched. Five candidate genes (POMC, IGF1R, CHAD, VCL, and MYL9) were suggested to play crucial roles in the regulation of chicken incubation behavior. Our results further indicated the complexity of reproductive behavior of different chicken breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Chen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China; Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun 558000, China.
| | - Di Wen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Jian Cen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China
| | - Ren Mu
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun 558000, China; Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun 558000, China
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2
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Rachman MP, Bamidele O, Dessie T, Smith J, Hanotte O, Gheyas AA. Genomic analysis of Nigerian indigenous chickens reveals their genetic diversity and adaptation to heat-stress. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2209. [PMID: 38278850 PMCID: PMC10817956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52569-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Indigenous poultry breeds from Africa can survive in harsh tropical environments (such as long arid seasons, excessive rain and humidity, and extreme heat) and are resilient to disease challenges, but they are not productive compared to their commercial counterparts. Their adaptive characteristics are in response to natural selection or to artificial selection for production traits that have left selection signatures in the genome. Identifying these signatures of positive selection can provide insight into the genetic bases of tropical adaptations observed in indigenous poultry and thereby help to develop robust and high-performing breeds for extreme tropical climates. Here, we present the first large-scale whole-genome sequencing analysis of Nigerian indigenous chickens from different agro-climatic conditions, investigating their genetic diversity and adaptation to tropical hot climates (extreme arid and extreme humid conditions). The study shows a large extant genetic diversity but low level of population differentiation. Using different selection signature analyses, several candidate genes for adaptation were detected, especially in relation to thermotolerance and immune response (e.g., cytochrome P450 2B4-like, TSHR, HSF1, CDC37, SFTPB, HIF3A, SLC44A2, and ILF3 genes). These results have important implications for conserving valuable genetic resources and breeding improvement of chickens for thermotolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mifta P Rachman
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Oladeji Bamidele
- African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG), Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, 220282, Nigeria
| | - Tadelle Dessie
- LiveGene-CTLGH, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Jacqueline Smith
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- LiveGene-CTLGH, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Almas A Gheyas
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK.
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3
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The Flourishing Camel Milk Market and Concerns about Animal Welfare and Legislation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010047. [PMID: 36611656 PMCID: PMC9817819 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide dromedary milk production has increased sharply since the beginning of this century due to prolonged shelf life, improved food-safety and perceived health benefits. Scientific confirmation of health claims will expand the market of dromedary milk further. As a result, more and more dromedaries will be bred for one purpose only: the highest possible milk production. However, intensive dromedary farming systems have consequences for animal welfare and may lead to genetic changes. Tighter regulations will be implemented to restrict commercialization of raw milk. Protocols controlling welfare of dromedaries and gene databases of milk-dromedaries will prevent negative consequences of intensive farming. In countries where dromedaries have only recently been introduced as production animal, legislators have limited expertise on this species. This is exemplified by an assessment on behalf of the Dutch government, recommending prohibiting keeping this species from 2024 onwards because the dromedary was deemed to be insufficiently domesticated. Implementation of this recommendation in Dutch law would have devastating effects on existing dromedary farms and could also pave the way for adopting similar measures in other European countries. In this paper it is shown that the Dutch assessment lacks scientific rigor. Awareness of breeders and legislators for the increasing knowledge about dromedaries and their products would strengthen the position of dromedaries as one of the most adapted and sustainable animals.
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4
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Lyu W, Dai X, Beaumont M, Yu F, He Z. Inferring the timing and strength of natural selection and gene migration in the evolution of chicken from ancient DNA data. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1362-1379. [PMID: 34783162 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid growth of the number of sequenced ancient genomes, there has been increasing interest in using this new information to study past and present adaptation. Such an additional temporal component has the promise of providing improved power for the estimation of natural selection. Over the last decade, statistical approaches for detection and quantification of natural selection from ancient DNA (aDNA) data have been developed. However, most of the existing methods do not allow us to estimate the timing of natural selection along with its strength, which is key to understanding the evolution and persistence of organismal diversity. Additionally, most methods ignore the fact that natural populations are almost always structured, which can result in overestimation of the effect of natural selection. To address these issues, we introduce a novel Bayesian framework for the inference of natural selection and gene migration from aDNA data with Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques, co-estimating both timing and strength of natural selection and gene migration. Such an advance enables us to infer drivers of natural selection and gene migration by correlating genetic evolution with potential causes such as the changes in the ecological context in which an organism has evolved. The performance of our procedure is evaluated through extensive simulations, with its utility shown with an application to ancient chicken samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyang Lyu
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoyang Dai
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom.,The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Beaumont
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Feng Yu
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG, United Kingdom
| | - Zhangyi He
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, United Kingdom.,Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, United Kingdom
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5
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Fallahshahroudi A, Johnsson M, Sorato E, Ubhayasekera SJKA, Bergquist J, Altimiras J, Jensen P. Effects of the domestic thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) variant on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and behavior in chicken. Genetics 2021; 217:1-9. [PMID: 33683367 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaa050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic chickens are less fearful, have a faster sexual development, grow bigger, and lay more eggs than their primary ancestor, the red junglefowl. Several candidate genetic variants selected during domestication have been identified, but only a few studies have directly linked them with distinct phenotypic traits. Notably, a variant of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene has been under strong positive selection over the past millennium, but it's function and mechanisms of action are still largely unresolved. We therefore assessed the abundance of the domestic TSHR variant and possible genomic selection signatures in an extensive data set comprising multiple commercial and village chicken populations as well as wild-living extant members of the genus Gallus. Furthermore, by mean of extensive backcrossing we introgressed the wild-type TSHR variant from red junglefowl into domestic White Leghorn chickens and investigated gene expression, hormone levels, cold adaptation, and behavior in chickens possessing either the wild-type or domestic TSHR variant. While the domestic TSHR was the most common variant in all studied domestic populations and in one of two red junglefowl population, it was not detected in the other Gallus species. Functionally, the individuals with the domestic TSHR variant had a lower expression of the TSHR in the hypothalamus and marginally higher in the thyroid gland than wild-type TSHR individuals. Expression of TSHB and DIO2, two regulators of sexual maturity and reproduction in birds, was higher in the pituitary gland of the domestic-variant chickens. Furthermore, the domestic variant was associated with higher activity in the open field test. Our findings confirm that the spread of the domestic TSHR variant is limited to domesticated chickens, and to a lesser extent, their wild counterpart, the red junglefowl. Furthermore, we showed that effects of genetic variability in TSHR mirror key differences in gene expression and behavior previously described between the red junglefowl and domestic chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Fallahshahroudi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Uppsala University, Uppsala 752 37, Sweden
| | - Martin Johnsson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
| | - Enrico Sorato
- Reneco International Wildlife Consultants, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | - Jonas Bergquist
- Department of Chemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Uppsala University, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
| | - Jordi Altimiras
- AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
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6
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Sirsat TS, Dzialowski EM. Manipulating plasma thyroid hormone levels at hatching alters development of endothermy and ventilation in Pekin duck ( Anas platyrhynchos domestica). J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb237701. [PMID: 33046566 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.237701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
At hatching in precocial birds, there are rapid physiological and metabolic phenotypic changes associated with attaining endothermy. During the transition to ex ovo life, thyroid hormone levels naturally increase, peaking at hatching, and then decline. To better understand the role of the natural increase in thyroid hormone at hatching in regulating the developmental trajectory of the Pekin duck's endothermic phenotype, we examined development of O2 consumption (V̇O2 ) and ventilation (frequency, tidal volume and minute ventilation) while inhibiting the developmental increase in thyroid hormones that occurs at hatching via administration of the thyroid-peroxidase inhibitor methimazole (MMI) or accelerating the developmental increase via triiodothyronine (T3) supplementation. Animals were dosed only on day 24 of a 28-day incubation period and studied on incubation day 25, during external pipping (EP) and 1 day post-hatching (dph). On day 25, there was an increase in V̇O2 in the hyperthyroid treatment compared with the other two treatments. During the EP stage, there was a significant effect of thyroid status on V̇O2 , with hyperthyroid V̇O2 being highest and hypothyroid V̇O2 the lowest. By 1 dph, the supplemented T3 and control animals had similar V̇O2 responses to cooling with comparable thermal neutral zones followed by increased V̇O2 Hypothyroid 1 dph hatchlings had a lower resting V̇O2 that did not increase to the same extent as the supplemented T3 and control animals during cooling. During EP, inhibiting the rise in T3 resulted in embryos with lower ventilation frequency and tidal volume than control and supplemented T3 embryos. At 1 dph, ventilation frequency of all animals increased during cooling, but tidal volume only increased in supplemented T3 and control hatchlings. Our data support the role of the late incubation increase in T3 in regulating the systemic development of endothermic metabolic capacity and associated control of ventilation occurring at hatching of the Pekin duck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar S Sirsat
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, 1155 Union Circle #305220, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Edward M Dzialowski
- Developmental Integrative Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, 1155 Union Circle #305220, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
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7
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Scanes CG. Avian Physiology: Are Birds Simply Feathered Mammals? Front Physiol 2020; 11:542466. [PMID: 33240094 PMCID: PMC7680802 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.542466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There are marked differences between the physiology of birds and mammals. These reflect the evolutionary distance between the two classes with the last common ancestor estimated as existing 318 million years ago. There are analogous organ systems in birds and mammals. However, marked differences exist. For instance, in the avian gastro-intestinal tract, there is a crop at the lower end of the esophagus. This functions both to store feed and for microbial action. The avian immune system lacks lymph nodes and has a distinct organ producing B-lymphocytes, namely the bursa Fabricius. The important of spleen has been largely dismissed until recently. However, its importance in both innate and specific immunity is increasingly recognized. There is a major difference between birds and mammals is the female reproductive system as birds produce large yolk filled eggs. The precursors of the yolk are synthesized by the liver. Another difference is that there is a single ovary and oviduct in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin G. Scanes
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
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8
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Wang C, Liu Y, Li G, Gong S, Yang Y, Wang H, He D. Molecular cloning and variant analysis of the TSHR gene in goose ( Anser cygnoides). Br Poult Sci 2020; 61:375-381. [PMID: 32264694 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2020.1751803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
1. The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is a glycoprotein hormone receptor which has a pivotal role in metabolic regulation and photoperiod control during reproduction in birds and mammals. However, the molecular characterisation of TSHR in goose is unknown. 2. The goose TSHR cDNA (TSHR-1) is 2334 bp in length and encodes a protein of 763 amino acids. This trial identified another three novel splice variants of goose TSHR, TSHR-2 (lacking the exon 3 in TSHR-1 transcript), TSHR-3 (lacking the exon 6 in the TSHR-1 transcript) and TSHR-4 (lacking 12 bp of exon 8 and the entire exon 9 in the TSHR-1 transcript). 3. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that all the deduced TSHR amino acid sequences contained seven putative transmembrane domains, and the TSHR-3 protein lacked one potential N-linked glycosylation site (N-E-S) compared to the other three deduced proteins. 4. A phylogenetic tree based on amino acid sequences showed that the goose TSHR protein was closely related to those of other avian species, especially duck and chickens. 5. One microsatellite and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. For the c1109A/G locus, AA and GA genotypes were found in the Zhedong-White goose population, GG and GA genotypes were detected in the Landes goose population, but the AA genotype was only detected in the other four goose populations. 6. All the information derived from this study can facilitate further studies on the functions of the goose TSHR gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - Y Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - G Li
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - S Gong
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - Y Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - H Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
| | - D He
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Shanghai, China
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9
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Abstract
The domestication of animals led to a major shift in human subsistence patterns, from a hunter-gatherer to a sedentary agricultural lifestyle, which ultimately resulted in the development of complex societies. Over the past 15,000 years, the phenotype and genotype of multiple animal species, such as dogs, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and horses, have been substantially altered during their adaptation to the human niche. Recent methodological innovations, such as improved ancient DNA extraction methods and next-generation sequencing, have enabled the sequencing of whole ancient genomes. These genomes have helped reconstruct the process by which animals entered into domestic relationships with humans and were subjected to novel selection pressures. Here, we discuss and update key concepts in animal domestication in light of recent contributions from ancient genomics.
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10
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Shen C, Tong X, Chen R, Gao S, Liu X, Schinckel AP, Li Y, Xu F, Zhou B. Identifying blood-based biomarkers associated with aggression in weaned pigs after mixing. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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11
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Grottesi A, Gabbianelli F, Valentini A, Chillemi G. Structural and dynamic analysis of G558R mutation in chicken TSHR gene shows altered signal transduction and corroborates its role as a domestication gene. Anim Genet 2019; 51:51-57. [PMID: 31746479 DOI: 10.1111/age.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) has been indicated as a putative domestication gene in chicken. Comparison of WGS identified a variant in residue 558 of the transmembrane domain (TM) of TSHR, where the domestic chicken (GGD) presents an arginine, whereas the red jungle fowl (RJF) shares a conserved glycine with other vertebrates. This variant has been demonstrated to be associated with phenotypes that are important for domestication and related to thyroid regulation, such as less fearful behavior, reduced aggressive behavior and reduced dependence on seasonal reproduction in GGD as compared with RJF. By means of molecular dynamics simulations, we highlighted the structural and dynamic differences of variant Gly558Arg in the TSHR TM domain. Alterations in TM helix flexibility, structure and protein overall motion are described. The so-called 'arginine snorkeling' of residue 568 in GGD is observed and we hypothesize it as the originating force that produces the observed whole-protein perturbation in the helix bundle dynamics, capable of altering the TSHR signal transduction. The results are discussed in the context of their implications for a better understanding of biological mechanisms in chicken under control of the thyroid, such as body metabolism, as well as for their usefulness in biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Grottesi
- SCAI-Super Computing Applications and Innovation Department, CINECA, Via dei Tizii, 6b, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - F Gabbianelli
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - A Valentini
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - G Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy.,Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, IBIOM, CNR, Via Giovanni Amendola, 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
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12
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MAYENGBAM P, TOLENKHOMBA TC, ALI MAYUB. Expression of toll like receptors (TLR3 and TLR4) during growth and sexual maturity of indigenous chicken ‘Sikhar’ of Mizoram. THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.56093/ijans.v88i8.82949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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13
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Thyroid hormone manipulation influences development of cardiovascular regulation in embryonic Pekin duck, Anas platyrhynchos domestica. J Comp Physiol B 2018; 188:843-853. [PMID: 29948159 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-018-1166-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormones are key regulators of avian metabolism and may play a significant role in development at hatching. To better understand the role of thyroid hormones in avian development, we examined autonomic control of heart rate and blood pressure while manipulating thyroid hormone levels in the late stage embryonic Pekin duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica). Thyroid hormone levels were manipulated on day 24 of a 28-day incubation period with the thyroperoxidase inhibitor methimazole (MMI), triiodothyronine (T3), or saline. On day 25 of incubation, autonomic tone on cardiovascular function was studied by injections of cholinergic and adrenergic receptor antagonists. Embryos from all treatment groups expressed a cholinergic and β-adrenergic tone on heart rate at this age. Cholinergic blockade with atropine produced a larger change in heart rate in the hyperthyroid animals compared with euthyroid animals. In response to β-adrenergic blockade, hyperthyroid conditions produced a larger decrease in heart rate compared with euthyroid animals, with no change in mean arterial blood pressure. In response to α-adrenergic blockade, mean arterial blood pressure decreased in the euthyroid animals and more developed hyperthyroid animals. Collectively, the data indicate that elevated levels of T3 can influence maturation of cholinergic and adrenergic receptor-mediated cardiovascular regulation in developing Pekin ducks near the end of incubation.
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14
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Xu XM, Chi QS, Cao J, Zhao ZJ. The effect of aggression I: The increases of metabolic cost and mobilization of fat reserves in male striped hamsters. Horm Behav 2018; 98:55-62. [PMID: 29288636 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Aggression can benefit individuals by enhancing their dominance and thereby their ability to acquire and retain resources that increase survival or fitness. Engaging in aggressive behavior costs energy and how animals manage their energy budget to accommodate aggression remains unclear. We conducted three experiments to examine changes in physiological, behavioral and hormonal markers indicative of energy budget in male striped hamsters subject to resident-intruder aggression tests. Body temperature, metabolic rate and serum corticosterone levels significantly increased in resident hamsters immediately after the introduction of intruders. Energy intake did not change, but the metabolic rate of residents increased by 16.1% after 42-days of repeated encounters with intruders. Residents had significantly decreased body fat content and serum thyroxine (T4) levels, and a considerably elevated tri-iodothyronine (T3)/T4 ratio compared to a control group that had no intruders. Attack latency considerably shortened, and the number of attack bouts and total duration of attacks, significantly increased in residents on day 42 compared to day 1 of experiments. These findings may suggest that the conversion of T4 to T3 is involved in defensive aggression behavior. The mobilization of fat reserves resulting in lean body mass is probably common response to the increased metabolic cost of aggression in small mammals. Aggressive behavior, which is important for the successful acquisition and defense of resources, may be of significance for adaptation and evolution of metabolic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ming Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management for Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Jing Cao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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15
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Loog L, Thomas MG, Barnett R, Allen R, Sykes N, Paxinos PD, Lebrasseur O, Dobney K, Peters J, Manica A, Larson G, Eriksson A. Inferring Allele Frequency Trajectories from Ancient DNA Indicates That Selection on a Chicken Gene Coincided with Changes in Medieval Husbandry Practices. Mol Biol Evol 2018; 34:1981-1990. [PMID: 28444234 PMCID: PMC5850110 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient DNA provides an opportunity to infer the drivers of natural selection by linking allele frequency changes to temporal shifts in environment or cultural practices. However, analyses have often been hampered by uneven sampling and uncertainties in sample dating, as well as being confounded by demographic processes. Here, we present a Bayesian statistical framework for quantifying the timing and strength of selection using ancient DNA that explicitly addresses these challenges. We applied this method to time series data for two loci: TSHR and BCDO2, both hypothesised to have undergone strong and recent selection in domestic chickens. The derived variant in TSHR, associated with reduced aggression to conspecifics and faster onset of egg laying, shows strong selection beginning around 1,100 years ago, coincident with archaeological evidence for intensified chicken production and documented changes in egg and chicken consumption. To our knowledge, this is the first example of preindustrial domesticate trait selection in response to a historically attested cultural shift in food preference. For BCDO2, we find support for selection, but demonstrate that the recent rise in allele frequency could also have been driven by gene flow from imported Asian chickens during more recent breed formations. Our findings highlight that traits found ubiquitously in modern domestic species may not necessarily have originated during the early stages of domestication. In addition, our results demonstrate the importance of precise estimation of allele frequency trajectories through time for understanding the drivers of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Loog
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark G Thomas
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ross Barnett
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Allen
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Sykes
- Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ptolemaios D Paxinos
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Palaeoanatomy, Domestication Research and the History of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ophélie Lebrasseur
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Dobney
- Department of Archaeology, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St. Mary's, United Kingdom.,Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Joris Peters
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute of Palaeoanatomy, Domestication Research and the History of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,SNSB, Bavarian State Collection of Anthropology and Palaeoanatomy, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Manica
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Greger Larson
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Eriksson
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London, Guys Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Karlsson AC, Fallahshahroudi A, Johnsen H, Hagenblad J, Wright D, Andersson L, Jensen P. A domestication related mutation in the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene (TSHR) modulates photoperiodic response and reproduction in chickens. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 228:69-78. [PMID: 26873630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene (TSHR) has been suggested to be a "domestication locus" in the chicken. A strong selective sweep over TSHR in domestic breeds together with significant effects of a mutation in the gene on several domestication related traits, indicate that the gene has been important for chicken domestication. TSHR plays a key role in the signal transduction of seasonal reproduction, which is characteristically less strict in domestic animals. We used birds from an advanced intercross line between ancestral Red Junglefowl (RJF) and domesticated White Leghorn (WL) to investigate effects of the mutation on reproductive traits as well as on TSHB, TSHR, DIO2 and DIO3 gene expression during altered day length (photoperiod). We bred chickens homozygous for either the mutation (d/d) or wild type allele (w/w), allowing assessment of the effect of genotype at this locus while also controlling for background variation in the rest of the genome. TSHR gene expression in brain was significantly lower in both d/d females and males and d/d females showed a faster onset of egg laying at sexual maturity than w/w. Furthermore, d/d males showed a reduced testicular size response to decreased day length, and lower levels of TSHB and DIO3 expression. Additionally, purebred White Leghorn females kept under natural short day length in Sweden during December had active ovaries and lower levels of TSHR and DIO3 expression compared to Red Junglefowl females kept under similar conditions. Our study indicates that the TSHR mutation affects photoperiodic response in chicken by reducing dependence of seasonal reproduction, a typical domestication feature, and may therefore have been important for chicken domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Carin Karlsson
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Amir Fallahshahroudi
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hanna Johnsen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jenny Hagenblad
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dominic Wright
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Leif Andersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Physiology and Genomics Group, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
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