[Developmental expression patterns and association study with growth traits of bovine]

As a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors, Bhlhe40 played an important role in the regulation of adipogenesis, myogenesis and the development of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the tissue expression patterns and differences of bovine Bhlhe40 gene during three developmental stages. The result showed that Bhlhe40 was ubiquitously expressed in most tissues of cattle. In addition, the expression of bovine Bhlhe40 gene showed a decreasing trend in skeletal muscle and fat during the de- velopmental stages. Then, two novel mutations (EX5 + 114 T>C, L166P and EX5 + 733 A>G, S372S) of bovine Bhlhe40 gene were identified by BamHI and ApaI ACRS PCR-RFLP in 1226 individuals from five indigenous cattle breeds in China. Frequencies of allele C at the BamHI locus varied from 0.210 to 0.340 among breeds, while frequencies of allele G at the ApaI locus varied from 0.030 to 0.114. Association analysis revealed no significant association of ApaI locus with growth traits in Nanyang breed. However, BamHI locus was significantly associated with the average daily lain at 18 months in Nanvans cattle (P < 0.05). This study aimed to lay the groundwork to further study of Bhlhe40 function at myogenesis and adipogenesis in bovine and should significantly contribute to cattle breeding and genetics through MAS program.

Sequence variants in the bovine PRDM16 gene associated with body weight in Chinese cattle breeds

As a zinc-finger protein, PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) controls brown fat determination by stimulating brown fat cell production while suppressing the expression of genes for production of white fat cells; mutations in this domain are associated with myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemogenesis. In our study, polymorphisms in exons 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the PRDM16 gene were detected by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and CRS-PCR-RFLP methods in 1031 cattle of the Chinese breeds: Jiaxian, Nanyang, Qinchuan, and Chinese Holstein. Three mutations (NC_007314.3: g.577 G>T, 614 T>C, 212237 T>C) were detected. Animals with the homozygote genotype had lower body weight and average daily gain than those with the other genotypes. PRDM16 gene-specific SNPs may be useful markers for growth traits for marker-assisted selection programs.

[Novel 35-bp insertion in visfatin gene in Chinese cattle]

Visfatin is a protein that is preferentially produced in visceral adipose tissue. Both its tissue expression and secreted plasma levels increase in parallel with obesity. Therefore, the present study is focused on detecting insertion in bovine visfatin gene and analyzing its effect on growth traits in four Chinese cattle breeds (Nangyang, Qinchuan, Jiaxian, and Chinese Holstein) using PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and agarose electrophoresis methods. For the first time, a 35-bp insertion was described in the gene and two alleles were revealed: Wand I. The chi2-test analysis demonstrated that all breeds were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). The associations of the novel 35bp-insertion of visfatin gene with growth traits of Nanyang cattle at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months old were analyzed: 6-month-old cows with genotype WW had greater birth weight than cows with genotype II and WI (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). These results suggest that the presence of 35bp-insertion in visfatin gene may influence the birth weight and bodyweight in 6-month-old cows.

[Clinical application of a digital method in mammographic image processing]

The authors describe digital processing of mammographic images based on simulation of the procedure performed by radiologists to analyse radiographs. Image processing allows automatically enhancing contrasts and expressing them as a range of different light intensities and colors. Minimum contrast differences that are difficult to perceive with the bare eye are thus highly enhanced. This processing of mammographic images has proved useful not only to detect discrete lesions, but also to differentiate benign and malignant lesions.