Intra-islet glucagon signalling regulates beta-cell connectivity, first-phase insulin secretion and glucose homoeostasis.

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterised by the loss of first-phase insulin secretion. We studied mice with ß-cell selective loss of the glucagon receptor (Gcgrfl/fl X Ins-1Cre), to investigate the role of intra-islet glucagon receptor (GCGR) signalling on pan-islet [Ca2+]I activity and insulin secretion. METHODS: Metabolic profiling was conducted on Gcgrß-cell-/- and littermate controls. Crossing with GCaMP6f (STOP flox) animals further allowed for ß-cell specific expression of a fluorescent calcium indicator. These islets were functionally imaged in vitro and in vivo. Wild-type mice were transplanted with islets expressing GCaMP6f in ß-cells into the anterior eye chamber and placed on a high fat diet. Part of the cohort received a glucagon analogue (GCG-analogue) for 40 days and the control group were fed to achieve weight matching. Calcium imaging was performed regularly during the development of hyperglycaemia and in response to GCG-analogue treatment. RESULTS: Gcgrß-cell-/- mice exhibited higher glucose levels following intraperitoneal glucose challenge (control 12.7 mmol/L ± 0.6 vs. Gcgrß-cell-/- 15.4 mmol/L ± 0.0 at 15 min, p = 0.002); fasting glycaemia was not different to controls. In vitro, Gcgrß-cell-/- islets showed profound loss of pan-islet [Ca2+]I waves in response to glucose which was only partially rescued in vivo. Diet induced obesity and hyperglycaemia also resulted in a loss of co-ordinated [Ca2+]I waves in transplanted islets. This was reversed with GCG-analogue treatment, independently of weight-loss (n = 8). CONCLUSION: These data provide novel evidence for the role of intra-islet GCGR signalling in sustaining synchronised [Ca2+]I waves and support a possible therapeutic role for glucagonergic agents to restore the insulin secretory capacity lost in T2D.

Temporarily Reversing Warfarin With Low-Dose 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients Undergoing an Invasive Procedure.

BACKGROUND: American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (AATS/ISHLT) guidelines recommend warfarin in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) to reduce the risk of device thrombosis and systemic embolization. Left ventricular assist device patients often undergo elective and emergent procedures that require interrupted anticoagulation. Data and experience vary on the optimal strategy to rapidly reverse warfarin in LVAD patients when an emergent procedure is planned. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the use of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC4) for warfarin reversal in patients with LVADs undergoing elective and emergent procedures. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, cohort review describes the use of PCC4 in patients with LVADs who require warfarin reversal for elective or emergent procedures. The primary outcome was a composite incidence of pump thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, and ischemic stroke within 30 days of PCC4 administration. RESULTS: In total, 14 patients received 17 administrations of PCC4. One patient received 3 administrations, and 1 other patient received 2 administrations during separate encounters. The median dose was 500 units or 6.6 units/kg (range = 4.2-14.1 units/kg). Of the PCC4 administrations, 82% (14/17) were for low bleed risk procedures and 76% (13/17) were for elective procedures. There were no cases of pump thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, or stroke within 30 days of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Low-dose PCC4 appears to be a safe and effective temporary reversal strategy for patients with LVADs undergoing low-bleed risk elective procedures.

Advancing the social return on investment framework to capture the social value of public health interventions: semistructured interviews and a review of scoping reviews.

OBJECTIVES: Investment in public health has far-reaching impacts, not only on physical health but also on communities, economies and the environment. There is increasing demand to account for the wider impact of public health and the social value that can be created, which can be captured through the use of the social return on investment (SROI) framework. This study aims to explore the application of SROI and identify areas of advancement for its use in public health. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Publically available SROI studies of public health interventions previously identified through published systematic scoping reviews were examined through a methodological lens. This was complemented by semistructured interviews with key public health academic experts with experience in the field of SROI. The results were thematically analysed and triangulated. RESULTS: In total, 53 studies and nine interviews were included in the analysis. All interviewees agreed that SROI is a suitable framework to demonstrate the social value of public health interventions. Developmental aspects were also identified through the analysis. This included a more systematic use of SROI principles and methodological developments. Lastly, it was identified that further advancements were needed to promote awareness of SROI and how it can be used to generate investment. CONCLUSION: By identifying key areas for advancement, the results from this study can be used to further refine the SROI framework for use within the speciality to promote investment in services and interventions that demonstrate maximum value to people, communities, economies and the environment.

Modelling structural colour from helicoidal multi-layer thin films with natural disorder.

A coupled mode theory based on Takagi-Taupin equations describing electromagnetic scattering from distorted periodic arrays is applied to the problem of light scattering from beetles. We extend the method to include perturbations in the permittivity tensor to helicoidal arrays seen in many species of scarab beetle and optically anisotropic layered materials more generally. This extension permits analysis of typical dislocations arising from the biological assembly process and the presence of other structures in the elytra. We show that by extracting structural information from transmission electron microscopy data, including characteristic disorder parameters, good agreement with spectral specular and non-specular reflectance measurements is obtained.

Putting the Cart Before the Horse? Developing a Blended Anatomy Curriculum Supplemented by Cadaveric Anatomy.

Cadaveric anatomy is frequently described as the gold standard for anatomy education. Increasingly and especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is acceptance that a blended approach for anatomy curriculum delivery is optimal for learners.Setting up a new UK Medical School in 2019 necessitated building a new cadaveric anatomy facility. To enable anatomy curriculum delivery during the construction period (2019-2021), a technology-enhanced learning (TEL) anatomy curriculum was developed, as well as an anatomy laboratory suitable for TEL. Development of a TEL anatomy curriculum with the later inclusion of cadaveric anatomy is unusual since the typical model is to supplement cadaveric anatomy with TEL approaches.TEL solutions that provide digital visualisation of anatomy may support learners by reducing cognitive load. Examples include using colour and/or translucency features to highlight and signpost pertinent anatomy and constructing virtual anatomical models in real time, rather than dissection. Radiology and portable ultrasound provide clinically contextualised visualisations of anatomy; the latter offers a haptic learning experience too. A TEL anatomy laboratory can provide interactive learning experiences for engagement and outreach activities for young school children, where cadaveric anatomy is not suitable.

Chronic ethanol alters adrenergic receptor gene expression and produces cognitive deficits in male mice.

Hyperkateifia and stress-induced alcohol cravings drive relapse in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The brain stress signal norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) tightly controls cognitive and affective behavior and was thought to be broadly dysregulated with AUD. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a major source of forebrain norepinephrine, and it was recently discovered that the LC sends distinct projections to addiction-associated regions suggesting that alcohol-induced noradrenergic changes may be more brain region-specific than originally thought. Here we investigated whether ethanol dependence alters adrenergic receptor gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and central amgydala (CeA), as these regions mediate the cognitive impairment and negative affective state of ethanol withdrawal. We exposed male C57BL/6J mice to the chronic intermittent ethanol vapor-2 bottle choice paradigm (CIE-2BC) to induce ethanol dependence, and assessed reference memory, anxiety-like behavior and adrenergic receptor transcript levels during 3-6 days of withdrawal. Dependence bidirectionally altered mouse brain α1 and ß receptor mRNA levels, potentially leading to reduced mPFC adrenergic signaling and enhanced noradrenergic influence over the CeA. These brain region-specific gene expression changes were accompanied by long-term retention deficits and a shift in search strategy in a modified Barnes maze task, as well as greater spontaneous digging behavior and hyponeophagia. Current clinical studies are evaluating adrenergic compounds as a treatment for AUD-associated hyperkatefia, and our findings can contribute to the refinement of these therapies by increasing understanding of the specific neural systems and symptoms that may be targeted.

Chronic ethanol induces a pro-inflammatory switch in interleukin-1ß regulation of GABAergic signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex of male mice.

Neuroimmune pathways regulate brain function to influence complex behavior and play a role in several neuropsychiatric diseases, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). In particular, the interleukin-1 (IL-1) system has emerged as a key regulator of the brain's response to ethanol (alcohol). Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced neuroadaptation of IL-1ß signaling at GABAergic synapses in the prelimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), an area responsible for integrating contextual information to mediate conflicting motivational drives. We exposed C57BL/6J male mice to the chronic intermittent ethanol vapor-2 bottle choice paradigm (CIE-2BC) to induce ethanol dependence, and conducted ex vivo electrophysiology and molecular analyses. We found that the IL-1 system regulates basal mPFC function through its actions at inhibitory synapses on prelimbic layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. IL-1ß can selectively recruit either neuroprotective (PI3K/Akt) or pro-inflammatory (MyD88/p38 MAPK) mechanisms to produce opposing synaptic effects. In ethanol naïve conditions, there was a strong PI3K/Akt bias leading to a disinhibition of pyramidal neurons. Ethanol dependence produced opposite IL-1 effects - enhanced local inhibition via a switch in IL-1ß signaling to the canonical pro-inflammatory MyD88 pathway. Ethanol dependence also increased cellular IL-1ß in the mPFC, while decreasing expression of downstream effectors (Akt, p38 MAPK). Thus, IL-1ß may represent a key neural substrate in ethanol-induced cortical dysfunction. As the IL-1 receptor antagonist (kineret) is already FDA-approved for other diseases, this work underscores the high therapeutic potential of IL-1 signaling/neuroimmune-based treatments for AUD.

Regulators of male and female sexual development are critical for the transmission of a malaria parasite.

Malaria transmission to mosquitoes requires a developmental switch in asexually dividing blood-stage parasites to sexual reproduction. In Plasmodium berghei, the transcription factor AP2-G is required and sufficient for this switch, but how a particular sex is determined in a haploid parasite remains unknown. Using a global screen of barcoded mutants, we here identify genes essential for the formation of either male or female sexual forms and validate their importance for transmission. High-resolution single-cell transcriptomics of ten mutant parasites portrays the developmental bifurcation and reveals a regulatory cascade of putative gene functions in the determination and subsequent differentiation of each sex. A male-determining gene with a LOTUS/OST-HTH domain as well as the protein interactors of a female-determining zinc-finger protein indicate that germ-granule-like ribonucleoprotein complexes complement transcriptional processes in the regulation of both male and female development of a malaria parasite.

Role of sex and stature on the biomechanics of normal and loaded walking: implications for injury risk in the military.

Load carriage and marching 'in-step' are routine military activities associated with lower limb injury risk in service personnel. The fixed pace and stride length of marching typically vary from the preferred walking gait and may result in overstriding. Overstriding increases ground reaction forces and muscle forces. Women are more likely to overstride than men due to their shorter stature. These biomechanical responses to overstriding may be most pronounced when marching close to the preferred walk-to-run transition speed. Load carriage also affects walking gait and increases ground reaction forces, joint moments and the demands on the muscles. Few studies have examined the effects of sex and stature on the biomechanics of marching and load carriage; this evidence is required to inform injury prevention strategies, particularly with the full integration of women in some defence forces. This narrative review explores the effects of sex and stature on the biomechanics of unloaded and loaded marching at a fixed pace and evaluates the implications for injury risk. The knowledge gaps in the literature, and distinct lack of studies on women, are highlighted, and areas that need more research to support evidence-based injury prevention measures, especially for women in arduous military roles, are identified.

Are young military personnel at a disproportional risk of heat illness?

Heat illnesses (HI) define a continuum of conditions where patients become incapacitated due to uncompensable heat stress. In the military, HI has a significant health, financial and operational burden that requires vigilant management. Military training and operations regularly expose personnel to known HI risk factors, meaning that prevalence remains high despite stringent attempts to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. While prepubertal children and elderly adults are widely demonstrated to be at greater risk of classic HI than young adults due to impaired physiological and/or behavioural thermoregulation, in military personnel, it is young recruit-age individuals (16-19 years) who consistently experience the highest prevalence of exertional HI. Mechanistically, controlled laboratory studies have never directly compared thermoregulation between young recruit-age individuals and other groups of adults, though research highlighting impaired thermoregulation in prepubertal children potentially has some relevance to late-developing young recruit-age personnel. Aside from potential age-related differences in thermoregulation, a major consideration must also be given to the increased prevalence of organisational risk factors for HI in younger military personnel (eg, education, physical load, rank, job roles), which is likely to be the primary explanation behind age-related trends in HI prevalence, at least in the military. The aims of this article are to review: (i) the epidemiology of HI between young recruit-age individuals and older military personnel; (ii) the theoretical basis for age-associated differences in thermoregulatory function and (iii) pertinent areas for future research.

The mitochondrial RNA granule modulates manganese-dependent cell toxicity.

Prolonged manganese exposure causes manganism, a neurodegenerative movement disorder. The identity of adaptive and nonadaptive cellular processes targeted by manganese remains mostly unexplored. Here we study mechanisms engaged by manganese in genetic cellular models known to increase susceptibility to manganese exposure, the plasma membrane manganese efflux transporter SLC30A10 and the mitochondrial Parkinson's gene PARK2. We found that SLC30A10 and PARK2 mutations as well as manganese exposure compromised the mitochondrial RNA granule composition and function, resulting in disruption of mitochondrial transcript processing. These RNA granule defects led to impaired assembly and function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Notably, cells that survived a cytotoxic manganese challenge had impaired RNA granule function, thus suggesting that this granule phenotype was adaptive. CRISPR gene editing of subunits of the mitochondrial RNA granule, FASTKD2 or DHX30, as well as pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial transcription-translation, were protective rather than deleterious for survival of cells acutely exposed to manganese. Similarly, adult Drosophila mutants with defects in the mitochondrial RNA granule component scully were safeguarded from manganese-induced mortality. We conclude that impairment of the mitochondrial RNA granule function is a protective mechanism for acute manganese toxicity.

Relationship between placenta location and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a nigerian tertiary health facility.

Background: There is evidence that placenta site location might be associated with some adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, however, there is lack of information on this observation in Nigeria and many other developing countries where routine ultrasound is performed as part of antenatal care. Aim: To determine the relationship between placenta location on ultrasonography and adverse pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of women with singleton pregnancies. Materials and Methods: In a longitudinal study among pregnant women from the antenatal clinic of a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. The demographic, clinical parameters, the ultrasonographic placenta location, and pregnancy outcomes of women followed until delivery, or pregnancy termination were documented and analyzed; P > 0.05 was statistically significant. Result: One hundred and fifty singleton pregnant women (43 high risk and 107 normal gestations) were studied. The placenta location was anterior in 72 (48%), posterior in 59 (39.3%), fundal in 10 (6.7%) and lateral in 9 (6.0%) cases. Pregnancies with fundal placenta 8/10 (80%) had more preterm birth compared to 23/72 (31.9%), 11/59 (18.6%) and 2/9 (22.2%) that had anterior, posterior and lateral placenta (P = 0.001) respectively. The mean gestational age (GA) at delivery in those with fundal (34.0 ± 3.9 weeks), anterior (37.0 ± 2.7 weeks), lateral (37.7 ± 1.8 weeks), and posterior placenta (37.7 ± 1.8 weeks) was significantly different P < 0.001. In addition, there was a significant difference in the mean birth weight at delivery in women with fundal (2.09 ± 0.99 kg), anterior (2.84 ± 0.7 kg), posterior (3.0 ± 0.65 kg) and lateral placenta (3.0 ± 0.65 kg) respectively P = 0.002. Conclusion: This study showed that placenta location by ultrasound may be associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes. The placenta located in the fundus was more likely to be associated with preterm birth and prematurity.

14-3-3θ Does Not Protect against Behavioral or Pathological Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Models.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment associated with synaptic dysfunction and dendritic spine loss and the pathologic hallmarks of ß-amyloid (Aß) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles. 14-3-3 proteins are a highly conserved family of proteins whose functions include regulation of protein folding, neuronal architecture, and synaptic function. Additionally, 14-3-3s interact with both Aß and tau, and reduced levels of 14-3-3s have been shown in the brains of AD patients and in AD mouse models. Here, we examine the neuroprotective potential of the 14-3-3θ isoform in AD models. We demonstrate that 14-3-3θ overexpression is protective and 14-3-3θ inhibition is detrimental against oligomeric Aß-induced neuronal death in primary cortical cultures. Overexpression of 14-3-3θ using an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector failed to improve performance on behavioral tests, improve Aß pathology, or affect synaptic density in the J20 AD mouse model. Similarly, crossing a second AD mouse model, the AppNL-G-F knock-in (APP KI) mouse, with 14-3-3θ transgenic mice failed to rescue behavioral deficits, reduce Aß pathology, or impact synaptic density in the APP KI mouse model. 14-3-3θ is likely partially insolubilized in the APP models, as demonstrated by proteinase K digestion. These findings do not support increasing 14-3-3θ expression as a therapeutic approach for AD.

Nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits during basic training.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate nutritional intake is essential to optimise both general health and performance in military recruits. General nutritional knowledge is a significant and modifiable determinant of dietary behaviour; however, the level of nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits undertaking basic training is poorly understood. METHODS: The Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes was completed by 29 male (age: 22.3±3.8 years) and 26 female (age: 22.0±3.0 years) standard-entry recruits at the end of basic training, and 15 male (age: 20.7±3.2 years) infantry recruits both at the start and end of basic training for the British Army. Between-group and within-group differences in total and subcomponent (ie, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, general nutrition, fluid intake, and sporting performance) scores were analysed. RESULTS: Standard-entry male recruits had more correct answers (52%) than standard-entry female recruits (38%) and male infantry recruits (40%) at the end of training. Infantry recruits had similar levels of nutritional knowledge at the start (39% correct) and end (40% correct) of training. Nutritional knowledge related to protein (range: 53%-75% correct answers) and vitamins and minerals (range: 42%-63% correct answers) were the two highest scoring subcomponents within each group. CONCLUSION: British Army recruits, in particular standard-entry female and infantry recruits, have poor nutritional knowledge, which did not improve throughout basic training. Better nutritional intervention, especially surrounding carbohydrate and fluid education, is required during British Army basic training to optimise career-long dietary behaviour.

An app with brief behavioural support to promote physical activity after a cancer diagnosis (APPROACH): study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple health benefits from participating in physical activity after a cancer diagnosis, but many people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) are not meeting physical activity guidelines. App-based interventions offer a promising platform for intervention delivery. This trial aims to pilot a theory-driven, app-based intervention that promotes brisk walking among people living with and beyond cancer. The primary aim is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures before conducting a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: This is an individually randomised, two-armed pilot RCT. Patients with localised or metastatic breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer, who are aged 16 years or over, will be recruited from a single hospital site in South Yorkshire in the UK. The intervention includes an app designed to encourage brisk walking (Active 10) supplemented with habit-based behavioural support in the form of two brief telephone/video calls, an information leaflet, and walking planners. The primary outcomes will be feasibility and acceptability of the study procedures. Demographic and medical characteristics will be collected at baseline, through self-report and hospital records. Secondary outcomes for the pilot (assessed at 0 and 3 months) will be accelerometer measured and self-reported physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and patient-reported outcomes of quality of life, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and habit strength for walking. Qualitative interviews will explore experiences of participating or reasons for declining to participate. Parameters for the intended primary outcome measure (accelerometer measured average daily minutes of brisk walking (≥ 100 steps/min)) will inform a sample size calculation for the future RCT and a preliminary economic evaluation will be conducted. DISCUSSION: This pilot study will inform the design of a larger RCT to investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of this intervention in people LWBC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN18063498 . Registered 16 April 2021.

Estimation and analysis of cow-level cumulative lifetime break-even on financial resiliency.

A dairy farm's ability to generate positive profit is dependent on the cow's response to management decisions made in conjunction with input cost management. Therefore, farm managers consider a multifaceted set of choices, managing their herd not as a homogeneous group of animals, but justifying the influence of individual cows on the farm's financial performance. We combined cow-level performance records from Minnesota DHIA and farm-level financials from the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management database FINBIN (https://finbin.umn.edu/) from 2012 to 2018 to evaluate farm- and cow-level profitability. The objective of this study was to evaluate individual cow performance matched with farm-level input expenses allocated to the cow level to measure a dairy farm's ability to be profitable over time, considering input and milk price fluctuations. Conventional Minnesota dairy farms were divided into 2 groups-financially resilient and non-resilient-based on their adjusted net farm income ratio over time. Yearly farm-level expenses and revenues were allocated to cows based on performance measures provided in monthly DHIA test data, and a cumulative lifetime break-even was calculated for all cows with consecutive farm data from 2012 to 2018. Herd-level and cow-level characteristics were analyzed to test for statistical difference between resilient and non-resilient farms as well as cows who achieved their break-even versus those that did not for resilient and non-resilient farms. Results showed that resilient farms had statistically different and lower expenses than non-resilient farms, with lower heifer raising expenses ($1,839.32 vs. $1,886.20), lifetime feed expenses ($4,197.07 vs. $4,975.39), and lifetime non-feed expenses ($2,761.63 vs. $4,502.67). Resilient farms had 38.3% of cows reach break-even, whereas non-resilient farms had 25.2% of cows break even. On average, cows who achieved their break-even remained in the herd for approximately 1 yr longer for both resilient farms (1,011 d for cows who break even and 627 d for those that do not) and non-resilient farms (1,033 d for cows who break even and 683 d for those that do not). Cows on resilient farms who achieved their lifetime break-even had an average lifetime profit of $1,613.48, which was $3,095.10 higher than the lifetime profit of -$1,481.62 of cows who never reach their break-even. Cows who reached their break-even on non-resilient farms had a lifetime profit of $1,270.51, which was $3,854.11 higher than the lifetime profit of -$2,583.60 for those who did not break even. Therefore, financially resilient dairy farms were utilizing a low-input, low-output model that proved to be successful and resulted in maintained profitability across volatile and fluctuating commodity prices.

Comprehensive molecular and morphological resolution of blubber stratification in a deep-diving, fasting-adapted seal.

Blubber is a modified subcutaneous adipose tissue in marine mammals that provides energy storage, thermoregulation, hydrodynamic locomotion, and buoyancy. Blubber displays vertical stratification by lipid content, fatty acid composition, and vascularization, leading to the assumption that deeper blubber layers are metabolically active, while superficial layers are mainly structural and thermoregulatory. However, few studies have examined functional stratification of marine mammal blubber directly, especially in pinnipeds. We characterized morphological and transcriptional differences across blubber layers in the northern elephant seal, a deep-diving and fasting-adapted phocid. We collected blubber from seals early in their fasting period and divided blubber cores into three similarly sized portions. We hypothesized that the innermost blubber portion would have higher 1) heterogeneity in adipocyte size, 2) microvascular density, and 3) expression of genes associated with metabolism and hormone signaling than outer blubber. We found that adipocyte area and variance increased from outermost (skin-adjacent) to innermost (muscle-adjacent) blubber layers, suggesting that inner blubber has a higher capacity for lipid storage and turnover than outer blubber. Inner blubber had a higher proportion of CD144+ endothelial cells, suggesting higher microvascular density. In contrast, outer blubber had a higher proportion of CD4+ immune cells than inner blubber, suggesting higher capacity for response to tissue injury. Transcriptome analysis identified 61 genes that were differentially expressed between inner and outer blubber layers, many of which have not been studied previously in marine mammals. Based on known functions of these genes in other mammals, we suggest that inner blubber has potentially higher 1) adipogenic capacity, 2) cellular diversity, and 3) metabolic and neuroendocrine signaling activity, while outer blubber may have higher 1) extracellular matrix synthesis activity and 2) responsiveness to pathogens and cell stressors. We further characterized expression of nine genes of interest identified by transcriptomics and two adipokines with higher precision across blubber layers using targeted assays. Our study provides functional insights into stratification of blubber in marine mammals and a molecular key, including CD144, CD4, HMGCS2, GABRG2, HCAR2, and COL1A2, for distinguishing blubber layers for physiological and functional studies in seals.