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Sepers B, Erven JAM, Gawehns F, Laine VN, van Oers K. Epigenetics and Early Life Stress: Experimental Brood Size Affects DNA Methylation in Great Tits (Parus major). Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.609061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Early developmental conditions are known to have life-long effects on an individual’s behavior, physiology and fitness. In altricial birds, a majority of these conditions, such as the number of siblings and the amount of food provisioned, are controlled by the parents. This opens up the potential for parents to adjust the behavior and physiology of their offspring according to local post-natal circumstances. However, the mechanisms underlying such intergenerational regulation remain largely unknown. A mechanism often proposed to possibly explain how parental effects mediate consistent phenotypic change is DNA methylation. To investigate whether early life effects on offspring phenotypes are mediated by DNA methylation, we cross-fostered great tit (Parus major) nestlings and manipulated their brood size in a natural study population. We assessed genome-wide DNA methylation levels of CpG sites in erythrocyte DNA, using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS). By comparing DNA methylation levels between biological siblings raised in enlarged and reduced broods and between biological siblings of control broods, we assessed which CpG sites were differentially methylated due to brood size. We found 32 differentially methylated sites (DMS) between siblings from enlarged and reduced broods, a larger number than in the comparison between siblings from control broods. A considerable number of these DMS were located in or near genes involved in development, growth, metabolism, behavior and cognition. Since the biological functions of these genes line up with previously found effects of brood size and food availability, it is likely that the nestlings in the enlarged broods suffered from nutritional stress. We therefore conclude that early life stress might directly affect epigenetic regulation of genes related to early life conditions. Future studies should link such experimentally induced DNA methylation changes to expression of phenotypic traits and assess whether these effects affect parental fitness to determine if such changes are also adaptive.
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Purwantini D, Santosa RSS, Santosa SA, Susanto A, Candrasari DP, Ismoyowati I. Prolactin gene polymorphisms and associations with reproductive traits in Indonesian local ducks. Vet World 2020; 13:2301-2311. [PMID: 33363319 PMCID: PMC7750233 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2301-2311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Reproductive traits play an important role in population increases and the egg production (EP) abilities of Indonesian local ducks (ILD). The prolactin (PRL) gene is a single chain polypeptide hormone belonging to a family of growth hormone genes that are mainly synthesized in the anterior pituitary gland in all vertebrates. It has a significant effect on reproductive traits and EP. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present in PRL are a useful molecular marker for EP. This study aimed to identify the PRL polymorphisms based on these SNPs and to uncover the associations with reproductive traits in ILD. Materials and Methods: A total of 280 ILDs consisting of Tegal and Magelang (F0) ducks and their reciprocal crosses, namely, Gallang (F1) and Maggal (F1), were maintained and specific variables were recorded, that is, age at first egg, body weight at first egg, first egg weight, and EP, for 90 days. Allele and genotype frequencies were used to determine the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium. The association between the SNP genotypes of PRL and reproductive traits was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, following the GLM procedure of SAS. The genotypic effects on the reproductive traits were determined using regression analysis. Results: This study successfully amplified a polymerase chain reaction product of 190 bp, which was used to identify the SNP. Results indicated that PRL in ILDs is polymorphic. A SNP was found at position 164 nt (c.164G >A), consisting of three different genotypes, namely, GG, GA, and AA. The genotypes of Tegal and Magelang (F0), and Gallang (F1) populations were not in H-W equilibrium. The Maggal population (F1) was in H-W equilibrium. Significant associations were detected between the genotypes and EP in all ILDs (p<0.01), following a regression line of y=2.337x+64.605, with a determination coefficient of 0.0188 (r=0.14). Conclusion: PRL can be recommended as a candidate gene for reproductive traits in ILD, especially EP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Agus Susanto
- Faculty of Animal Science, University of Jenderal Soedirman, Indonesia
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Vega WHO, Quirino CR, Bartholazzi-Junior A, Rua MAS, Serapião RV, Oliveira CS. Variants in the CYP19A1 gene can affect in vitro embryo production traits in cattle. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:2233-2241. [PMID: 30232641 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1320-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to associate DNA variants in promoter and exon flanking regions of the CYP19A1 gene with in vitro embryo production traits in cattle. The role of transcription factor binding sites created or lost due to DNA sequence variation and their possible effect on gene expression was also evaluated. METHODS We collected date from Gyr dairy oocyte donor cows (Bos taurus indicus) at a commercial in vitro embryo production farm and analyzed the genotype-phenotype association with in vitro production traits. Using Sanger sequencing and web-based software, we assessed important CYP19A1 gene regions in oocyte donor cows and analyzed the effects of variants on the transcription factor binding sites. RESULTS Two SNP mutations significantly associated with oocyte production, oocyte viability, embryo development, and pregnancies were found (T > C in the untranslated exon 1 flanking region ([GenBank: AJ250379.1]: rs718446508 T > C), and a T > C in the 5'-upstream region (1.1 promoter) ([GenBank: AC_000167.1]: rs41651668 T > C). Six new transcription factor binding sites were created. A binding site for transcription factors associated with the development of the placenta and embryo implantation was eliminated due to variations in the DNA sequence identified. CONCLUSIONS The CYP19A1 gene contributes to genetic variation of in vitro embryo production traits in cattle. The complexity of the physiological phenomena related to estrogen pathways and their influence on reproduction in cattle allow indication of the mutations evaluated here as possible genetic markers for embryo production traits, which should be validated in the next steps of marker-assisted selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilder Hernando Ortiz Vega
- Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement, Norte Fluminense State University, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Celia Raquel Quirino
- Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement, Norte Fluminense State University, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Aylton Bartholazzi-Junior
- Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement, Norte Fluminense State University, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Miguel Alejandro Silva Rua
- Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Genetic Improvement, Norte Fluminense State University, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Raquel Varella Serapião
- PESAGRO-RIO, Laboratory for Animal Reproduction, Santa Mônica Experimental Farm (CESM), Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Clara Slade Oliveira
- Embrapa Dairy Cattle Research Unit, Laboratory for Animal Reproduction, Santa Mônica Experimental Farm (CESM), Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Kansaku N, Tobari Y, Hiyama G, Wakui S, Minoguchi N, Numata M, Kino K, Zadworny D. Effects of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide and Forskolin on mRNA Expression of Prolactin and Prolactin Regulatory Element-Binding Protein in the Anterior Pituitary Gland of Chicken Embryo and Laying Hens. J Poult Sci 2016; 53:313-317. [PMID: 32908399 PMCID: PMC7477168 DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.0160039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) treatment induced mRNA expression of Prolactin (PRL) in the chicken anterior pituitary gland. VIP responsive element (VRE) of the PRL promoter was identified in the various bird species. However, transcription factor, which binds to VRE, has not yet been identified. Prolactin regulatory element-binding protein (PREB) gene cloned as a candidate transcription factor binds to VRE. Increases of mRNA levels of PRL and PREB during embryogenesis were identified. However, whether VIP affects levels of PRL and PREB mRNA during embryogenesis remains unknown. The effects of VIP and forskolin on mRNA expression of PRL and PREB in the embryonic anterior pituitary gland were assessed. Furthermore, administration of VIP to laying hens was conducted to examine the relationship between VIP and PREB mRNA expression. At day 14 of the embryonic growth stage, VIP treatment did not affect mRNA levels of either PRL or PREB, whereas forskolin treatment induced the increase of these mRNA levels. At day 20, both VIP and forskolin induced an increase of PRL and PREB mRNA levels. The administration of VIP significantly increased mRNA levels of PRL and PREB in the anterior pituitary gland of White Leghorn and Nagoya. These results indicate that the effects of VIP on PRL and PREB mRNA expression levels of VIP receptor may in turn affect PRL and PREB mRNA levels in the chicken anterior pituitary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norio Kansaku
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Yasuko Tobari
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Gen Hiyama
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Shin Wakui
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Naokazu Minoguchi
- Animal Husbandry Research Division, Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Yazako, Nagakute, Aichi-ken, 480-1193, Japan
| | - Masazumi Numata
- Animal Husbandry Research Division, Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Yazako, Nagakute, Aichi-ken, 480-1193, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Kino
- Animal Husbandry Research Division, Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Yazako, Nagakute, Aichi-ken, 480-1193, Japan
| | - David Zadworny
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, P.Q., H9X 3V9, Canada
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Characterization and Expression of Turkey Prolactin Regulatory Element Binding in the Anterior Pituitary Gland and Pancreas During Embryogenesis. J Poult Sci 2016; 53:67-75. [PMID: 32908367 PMCID: PMC7477242 DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.0150091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The PRL regulatory element-binding (PREB) protein is a transcription factor that was originally cloned from the rat anterior pituitary gland and characterized as a regulator of the PRL promoter. It is also strongly expressed in several extrapituitary tissues; however, its functional role is not well understood to date. In this study, we aimed to clone and characterize the turkey PREB gene and investigate its mRNA expression in the anterior pituitary gland and pancreas during embryogenesis. Based on the conserved sequence of chicken and mammalian PREB cDNAs, a turkey PREB cDNA fragment was obtained, and after sequencing of the fragment, the 5′-and 3′-ends of mRNA were amplified and determined. To identify the PREB gene structure, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was performed. The turkey PREB gene consists of 9 exons and 8 introns, and it encodes a 411-amino-acid protein. The expression of PREB mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland was measured during embryogenesis. Levels of PREB mRNA significantly increased at embryonic day 22, with maximum levels being detected on day 25 of ontogeny, which correlated with similar changes in levels of PRL mRNA. The highest level of PREB mRNA was detected on day 19 in the pancreas. However, the highest level of insulin mRNA was detected at embryonic day 25. These results indicate that PREB may be involved in the expression of PRL mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland, whereas insulin mRNA may be expressed independently of the expression of PREB mRNA in the pancreas during embryogenesis.
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