Zoological Research

249−258

Authors: Biao Yu, Chao Song, Chuan-Lin Feng, Jing Zhang, Ying Wang, Yi-Ming Zhu, Lei Zhang, Xin-Miao Ji, Xiao-Fei Tian, Guo-Feng Cheng, Wei-Li Chen, Vitalii Zablotskii, Hua Wang, Xin Zhang

Although 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been tested in healthy volunteers, its safety in diabetic patients is unclear. Furthermore, the effects of high static magnetic fields (SMFs), especially gradient vs. uniform fields, have not been investigated in diabetics. Here, we investigated the consequences of exposure to 1.0–9.4 T high SMFs of different gradients (>10 T/m vs. 0–10 T/m) on type 1 diabetic (T1D) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) mice. We found that 14 h of prolonged treatment of gradient (as high as 55.5 T/m) high SMFs (1.0–8.6 T) had negative effects on T1D and T2D mice, including spleen, hepatic, and renal tissue impairment and elevated glycosylated serum protein, blood glucose, inflammation, and anxiety, while 9.4 T quasi-uniform SMFs at 0–10 T/m did not induce the same effects. In regular T1D mice (blood glucose ≥16.7 mmol/L), the >10 T/m gradient high SMFs increased malondialdehyde (P<0.01) and decreased superoxide dismutase (P<0.05). However, in the severe T1D mice (blood glucose ≥30.0 mmol/L), the >10 T/m gradient high SMFs significantly increased tissue damage and reduced survival rate. In vitro cellular studies showed that gradient high SMFs increased cellular reactive oxygen species and apoptosis and reduced MS-1 cell number and proliferation. Therefore, this study showed that prolonged exposure to high-field (1.0–8.6 T) >10 T/m gradient SMFs (35–1 380 times higher than that of current clinical MRI) can have negative effects on diabetic mice, especially mice with severe T1D, whereas 9.4 T high SMFs at 0–10 T/m did not produce the same effects, providing important information for the future development and clinical application of SMFs, especially high-field MRI.

269−272

Authors: Xi Wu, Chao-Yue Zhong, Yang Yang, Tong Wang, Yu-Hao Tao, Zi-Ning Meng, Xiao-Chun Liu

 

276−286

Authors: Bi-Jun Li, Lin Chen, Meng-Zhen Yan, Xiao-Qing Zou, Yu-Lin Bai, Ya-Guo Xue, Zhou Jiang, Bao-Hua Chen, Cheng-Yu Li, Qian He, Jian-Xin Feng, Tao Zhou, Peng Xu

Common carp are among the oldest domesticated fish in the world. As such, there are many food and ornamental carp strains with abundant phenotypic variations due to natural and artificial selection. Hebao red carp (HB, Cyprinus carpio wuyuanensis), an indigenous strain in China, is renowned for its unique body morphology and reddish skin. To reveal the genetic basis underlying the distinct skin color of HB, we constructed an improved high-fidelity (HiFi) HB genome with good contiguity, completeness, and correctness. Genome structure comparison was conducted between HB and a representative wild strain, Yellow River carp (YR, C. carpio haematopterus), to identify structural variants and genes under positive selection. Signatures of artificial selection during domestication were identified in HB and YR populations, while phenotype mapping was performed in a segregating population generated by HB×YR crosses. Body color in HB was associated with regions with fixed mutations. The simultaneous mutation and superposition of a pair of homologous genes (mitfa) in chromosomes A06 and B06 conferred the reddish color in domesticated HB. Transcriptome analysis of common carp with different alleles of the mitfa mutation confirmed that gene duplication can buffer the deleterious effects of mutation in allotetraploids. This study provides new insights into genotype-phenotype associations in allotetraploid species and lays a foundation for future breeding of common carp.

303−314

Authors: Ying Yuan, Wei-Yi Zhang, Bai-Gao Yang, Dong-Ke Zhou, Lu Xu, Yong-Meng He, Hao-Yuan Zhang, Cheng-Li Liu, Yue-Hui Ma, Ming-Xing Chu, Wen-Guang Zhang, Hui-Jiang Gao, Lin Jiang, Fu-Ping Zhao, Lu- Pei Zhang, Ri-Su Na, Baatarchogt Oyungerel, Yan-Guo Han, Yan Zeng, Shi-Zhi Wang, Huai-Zhi Jiang, Hong- Ping Zhang, Xun-Ping Jiang, Jian-Ning He, Hao Liang, Kaushalendra Kaushalendra, Ya-Wang Sun, Yong- Fu Huang, Yong-Ju Zhao, Zhong-Quan Zhao, Guang-Xin E

The Boer goat is one of the top meat breeds in modern animal husbandry and has attracted widespread attention for its unique growth performance. However, the genetic basis of muscle development in the Boer goat remains obscure. In this study, we identified specific structural variants in the Boer goat based on genome-wide selection signals and analyzed the basis of the molecular heredity of related candidate genes in muscle development. A total of 9 959 autosomal copy number variations (CNVs) were identified through selection signal analysis in 127 goat genomes. Specifically, we confirmed that the highest signal CNV (HSV) was a chromosomal arrangement containing an approximately 1.11 Mb (CHIR17:60062304–61171840 bp) duplicated fragment inserted in reverse orientation and a 5 362 bp deleted region (CHIR17:60145940–60151302 bp) with overlapping genes (e.g., ARHGAP10, NR3C2, EDNRA, PRMT9, and TMEM184C). The homozygous duplicated HSV genotype (+/+) was found in 96% of Boer goats but was not detected in Eurasian goats and was only detected in 4% of indigenous African goats. The expression network of three candidate genes (ARHGAP10, NR3C2, and EDNRA) regulating dose transcription was constructed by RNA sequencing. Results indicated that these genes were involved in the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) and their overexpression significantly increased the expression of SAA3. The HSV of the Boer goat contributed to superior skeletal muscle growth via the dose effects of overlapping genes.

323−330

Authors: Yan Zhao, Chang-Le Wang, Zhi-Yun Gao, Hong-Xiu Qiao, Wei-Jie Wang, Xin-Yan Liu, Xia Chuai

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in recent years not only caused a global pandemic but resulted in enormous social, economic, and health burdens worldwide. Despite considerable efforts to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), various SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, and their underlying mechanisms of pathogenicity remain largely unknown. Furthermore, effective therapeutic drugs are still under development. Thus, an ideal animal model is crucial for studying the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and for the preclinical evaluation of vaccines and antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 and variant infections. Currently, several animal models, including mice, hamsters, ferrets, and non-human primates (NHPs), have been established to study COVID-19. Among them, ferrets are naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and are considered suitable for COVID-19 study. Here, we summarize recent developments and application of SARS-CoV-2 ferret models in studies on pathogenesis, therapeutic agents, and vaccines, and provide a perspective on the role of these models in preventing COVID-19 spread.

341−348

Authors: Meng Wang, Yong-Gang Nie, Ronald  R. Swaisgood, Wei Wei, Wen-Liang Zhou, Ze-Jun Zhang, Gui-Ming Wang, Fu-Wen Wei

A critical function of animal movement is to maximize access to essential resources in temporally fluctuating and spatially heterogeneous environments. Seasonally mediated resource fluctuations may influence animal movements, enabling them to track changing resource distributions, resulting in annual migration patterns. The conservation-dependent giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) displays seasonal movement patterns; however, the key factor driving these seasonal migration patterns remains poorly understood. Here, we used GPS tracking collars to monitor the movements of six giant pandas over a 12-year period across different elevations, and performed statistical analysis of seasonal migration directions, routes, habitat revisitation, home range overlap, first arrival events, and stability. Our results revealed a compelling pattern of seasonal migrations that facilitated the ability of the pandas to forage at the appropriate time and place to maximize nutritional intake. Our results indicated that pandas utilize spatial memory to locate reliable food resources, as evidenced by their annual return to the same or similar winter and summer home ranges and the consistently maintained percentage of home range overlap. These novel insights into giant panda foraging and movement ecology not only enhance our understanding of its ability to adapt to nutritionally poor dietary resources but also provide important information for the development of resource utilization-based protection and management strategies.

353−356

Authors: Yi-Xuan Li, Yanjie Zhang, Jack Chi-Ho Ip, Jing Liu, Chong Chen, Crispin T.S. Little, Yusuke Yokoyama, Moriaki Yasuhara, Jian-Wen Qiu

 

361−365

Authors: Hai-Tao Yang, Shun Li, Rong Hou, Wen- Tao Song, Yan-Wen Fu, Yong-Bo Li, Xiao-Wei Wang, Gang He, Colin A. Chapman, Qing-Hua Guo, Bao- Guo Li

 

370−373

Authors: Yi-Lin Xiang, Yang Yu, Hui-Juan Pan, Ming Li

 

380−450

Authors: Zhi-Tong Lyu, Shuo Qi, Jian Wang, Si-Yu Zhang, Jian Zhao, Zhao-Chi Zeng, Han Wan, Jian-Huan Yang, Yun-Ming Mo, Ying-Yong Wang

The subfamily Megophryinae, as a representative batrachian group of the Oriental Realm and one of the most diverse groups of amphibians, has attracted considerable attention due to continued conjecture regarding its generic classification and failure to reach a satisfactory consensus. China boasts the richest diversity of Asian horned toads, containing some two thirds of the total species cataloged. However, most species have a complicated taxonomic history, resulting in multiple misidentifications. As such, an overall clarification of historical records and regional checklists is required. In the current investigation, we established the phylogeny of the Asian horned toads and performed detailed examinations with redefinitions of several important morphological traits. Based on the phylogenetic relationships and morphological differences, we propose a new ten-genus classification for the Asian horned toad subfamily Megophryinae: i.e., Brachytarsophrys, Atympanophrys, Grillitschia, Sarawakiphrys gen. nov., Jingophrys gen. nov., Xenophrys, Megophrys, Pelobatrachus, Ophryophryne, and Boulenophrys. Revisions on the diagnosability, distribution, and content of each genus are provided. Furthermore, we present a careful review of the taxonomic history of Asian horned toad species from China and provide a monograph of congeners, including six species of Brachytarsophrys, four species of Atympanophrys, five species of Jingophrys gen. nov., 10 species of Xenophrys, two species of Ophryophryne, and 60 species of Boulenophrys. Finally, we discuss the importance of traditional morphological traits based on multiple populations in taxonomic work as well as taxonomic inflation caused by the genetic species delimitation.