Unusual congenital polydactyly in mini-pigs from the breeding group of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (Novosibirsk, Russia).

The article describes a new phenomenon in the breeding group of mini-pigs at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG, Novosibirsk): polydactyly (extra digits), which is unusual because the additional digits are situated at the lateral surface of legs or at the lateral and medial ones. This anomaly was f irst found here in 2017 in adult animals intended for culling due to incorrect positioning of the legs caused by f lexor tendon laxity and resulting in weight-bearing on the palmar surface of the proximal phalanges ("bear's paw"). Therefore, the polydactyly of mini-pigs has a pronounced negative selection effect. A visual survey of the livestock was conducted, and a description of the detected anomaly was compiled. The polydactyly in mini-pigs is a stand-alone trait and is not part of any syndromes. Individuals with polydactyly may have extra digits either on pectoral or on pectoral and pelvic limbs. On thoracic limbs, there may be either one lateral digit or a lateral digit and a medially located rudimentary hoof let. On pelvic limbs, only lateral extra digits can occur. Anatomical and morphological analyses showed that the lateral extra digit is an anatomically complete ("mature") structure, whereas the medial rudimentary digit consists of only a hoof let without other structures characteristic of normal digits. Cytological examination revealed no specif ic karyotypic features, except for Robertsonian translocation Rb 16;17 previously reported for the mini-pigs of the same livestock. Cytological f indings indicated that the polydactyly and Robertsonian translocation are not linked genetically. Genealogical analysis and results of crosses are consistent with a working hypothesis of recessive inheritance of the trait. Overall, the study shows that this type of polydactyly is anatomically and morphologically unique and not typical of Sus scrofa. In this species, only polydactyly types with medial accessory toes have been described and are usually inherited as a dominant trait with incomplete penetrance. In our case, the results of test crosses indicate recessive inheritance of the trait with varying expression and incomplete penetrance, because of which poorly expressed phenotypes are not visually detectable.

[Genetic components and the uncertainty of the phenotypic realization of the mass of newborns in domestic pigs Sus scrofa L].

In this article, we discuss the features of the genetic determination of a continuous quantitative trait, the mass of newborn offspring in populations of the domestic pig. We defined several components that determine the phenotypic trait, such as the maternal effect, complete dominance, interaction of the parental alleles in the genotype of the offspring, and the uncertainty of phenotypic realization of genotype. We found that a phenotypic trait of high genetic determinacy can also have a maximum range in phenotypic realization, in which case each genotype encountered in the population can realize within the entire range of possible phenotypes.

[Model of genetic control of the number and location of nipples in domestic pig].

In domestic pig, the number and location of nipples is considered a single quantitative trait, which has a complex spatial structure that includes bilaterality and a linear sequence of repetitive elements. According to this hypothesis, six inadherent biallelic loci are sufficient for a variety of traits observed in domestic pig populations. Verification of representative samplings from five domestic pig populations of different origin (about 20 000 individuals) confirmed the theses of the hypothesis, this fact allows considering it as a model of the studied bilateral trait. Using the model, the intraclass pheno- and genotypic diversity was examined and the relationship of the trait manifestation asymmetry with heterozygosity of loci that control it was shown.

[Frequency of chromosomes carrying endogenous retroviruses in the populations of domestic pig and wild boar].

Statistical analysis of the frequency of chromosomes carrying three types (A, B, and C) of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) was based on molecular-genetic testing of populations of domestic pigs and wild boars. Domestic pigs were shown to have higher frequency of PERV and haplotypes containing two and three types of PERV than wild boars.

[Diversity of wild and domestic pig populations estimated by a set of serum allotypes].

Variation of serum protein allotypes serving as genetic markers of the blood has been analyzed in 29 populations of the domestic pig and subspecies of the wild boar. The population biodiversity and genetic structure have been estimated by two methods: by the frequencies of allotype combinations and with the use of a map constructed in the space of two principal components. The results obtained are the basis for determining the characteristics of the microevolution of wild boars and formation of the breeds of domestic pigs.

[Age variation of the phenotypic expression and the inheritance of the IgG system of immunoglobulin allotypes in the pig]. / Vozrastnaia izmenchivost' fenotipicheskoi ékspressii i nasledovanie IgG-sistemy allotipov immunoglobulinov svin'i.

The specificity of phenotypic expression and inheritance of immunoglobulin allotypes IgG1a and IgG2b in pigs are discussed. It was shown that a negative state by both these allotypes is repeatedly found among newborn pigs but is extremely rare in pigs older than one month. A model, which simultaneously describes the genetic determination of allogroups formed by allotypes IgG1a and IgG2b and the dynamics of ontogenetic expression of individual genotype by system IgG with a result of a visually registered phenotype, was developed. Allele frequencies by system IgG were assessed in populations of domestic pigs of productive breeds, laboratory miniature pigs, and wild Eurasian pigs.

[Characteristics of some breeds of swine and populations of Georgian and Western Siberian wild boar by immunogenetic systems of blood serum proteins]. / Kharakteristika nekotorykh porod svinei i populiatsii dikogo kabana gruzii i zapadnoi sibiri po immunogeneticheskim sistemam syvorotochnykh belkov krovi.

A bank of reagents for hog serum protein allotypes has been created. All of these allotypes passed international comparison tests in 1987-1988. The bank can be used for typing the animals for four generally accepted (Gp, LpB, Lpr, and IgGH) and several experimental systems. In this study, immunogenetic characteristics of some pig breeds (Large White, Lithuanian White, Swedish Landrace, Kakhetinskaya, and Svanetskaya) bred in Georgia are compared with those of western Siberian breeds (Large White, Kemerovskaya, and Northern Siberian), and some foreign breeds, as well as with European, Caucasian, and Siberian subspecies of the wild boar.

[A2G--a new system of alpha-2-globulin allotypes in pig blood serum]. / A2G--novaia sistema allotipov alpha-2-globulinov syvorotki krovi svinei.

Combinations of four alpha-2-globulin allotypes were studied for their distribution in pigs of nine different breeds and hybrid groups. Based on this analysis, a new, previously unpublished polyallelic genetic system designated A2G was postulated. The complex alleles of this system control alpha-2-globulin allotypes and are suggested to be encoded by genes of two subloci. One of these subloci is virtually monomorphic, whereas the other has at least four allelic variants.

Isolation of milk-clotting enzyme from transgenic sheep milk and its comparison with calf chymosin.

Technology for preparation of chymosin from milk of transgenic sheep has been elaborated. Purification of the preparation by ion-exchange chromatography on aminosilochrom and biospecific chromatography on bacitracin-Sepharose yielded homogeneous active enzyme. Hydrolysis of protein substrates (hemoglobin, BSA, and sodium caseinate) by the transgenic sheep chymosin and stability of the enzyme at various values of pH were studied. Judging by the amino acid composition, the N-terminal sequence involving six amino acid residues, molecular mass, stability at various pH values, and the catalytic activity against the protein substrates, the transgenic sheep chymosin is identical to calf chymosin.

[Interaction of polymorphic systems in a population of Semirechenskaya swine breed]. / Vzaimodeistvie polimorfnykh sistem v populiatsii svinei semirechenskoi porody.

Associations between the alleles of nonlinked polymorphic genetic systems were studied in the population of the Semirechenskaya breed of pigs. The study of marker pairs of 21 genetic systems revealed that 7% of associations are statistically significant. Most of the associations detected are assumed to arise from breeding by commercial productivity traits and from the formation of an integral genotype adapted to conditions of artificial selection in the population.

[Dynamics and genetic determination of transformation of alpha macroglobulins allogroups in different populations of domestic pigs]. / Dinamika i geneticheskaia obuslovlennost' transformatsii allogrupp sistemy al'fa-makroglobulinov v raznykh populiatsiiakh domashnikh svinei.

The results of genetic studies of transformation of alpha-macroglobullin (AM) allogroups (i.e., fixed allotype combinations) in pigs are presented. Population and hybridization studies showed that the phenomenon discovered was based on activation/inactivation of the AMI allotype expression, which depended on the genetic environment and interlocus relationships. Genetic and selection bases, as well as the significance of the transformation phenomenon described, are discussed.

[The association of genetic markers in two related swine breeds]. / Assotsiatsii geneticheskikh markerov v dvukh rodstvennykh porodakh svinei.

The combinations of genetic markers (allotypes, blood-group systems, and polymorphic proteins) were analyzed in pigs of two phylogenetically related Siberian populations: the newly selected Siberian specialized meat breed SM-1 (daughter breed) and the reproductive core of the Kemerovo breed (maternal breed). Statistically significant interlocus associations were found between the genetic markers that are known not to be linked, being assigned to different linkage groups, and the main selected meat-productivity traits. Some of these associations were shared by both breeds; others were found to be specific to either maternal or daughter populations. Possible genetic mechanisms underlying these associations and their significance are discussed.

Localization of ESD and A2M genes to sheep chromosome 3 by in situ hybridization.

The genes encoding esterase D (ESD) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2M) were mapped using 3H-labeled cDNAs to sheep chromosome 3p26-->p24 and 3q26-->q35 respectively.

[Stage-by-stage diagnosis in conducting the cardiological screening of servicemen using a computer]. / Poétapnaia diagnostika pri provedenii kardiologicheskogo skrininga voennosluzhashchikh s ispol'zovaniem EVM.

A 3-staged algorithm and a device named PKSV-01 were worked out to carry out a pre-doctor screening of servicemen. This method made it possible to define the sound servicemen, as well as patients with cardiovascular diseases including ischemic disease and postinfarctional cardiosclerosis. The specificity came to 91.9-93.9%, and sensitivity up to 81.4-97.8%. The application of lineal discriminative function ensured 93.1% of the right answers.

[Isolation and purification of Lpm and alpha-2 M macroglobulins from mink serum]. / Razdelenie i ochistka Lpm i alpha 2 M makroglobulinov syvorotki norki.

A procedure for large-scale separation and purification of two mink serum macroglobulins, Lpm and alpha 2M, is described. Individual preparations of each of these macroglobulins were obtained in an immunologically pure state. After precipitation from the serum at 6.5-13% PEG 6000, Lpm and alpha 2M were separated by a pH stepwise gradient elution metal chelate affinity chromatography and purified by chromatographies on Biogel A 1.5 m and DEAE-Trisacryl M. Each of these macroglobulins was tested by counter-immunoelectrophoresis with the corresponding monospecific antiserum. The yields per 100 ml of the source serum were 23-44 mg of Lpm and 7-30 mg of alpha 2M which corresponded to 10-20% of their serum contents. Some of general biochemical properties of mink Lpm and alpha 2M and of all mammalian alpha-macroglobulins are discussed.

[Homology between the Lpm system of allotypes in the American mink and the Gp system of allotypes in the domestic pig]. / O gomologii Lpm-sistemy allotipov amerikanskoi norki i Gp-sistemy allotipov domashnei svin'i.

The 5 alpha-macroglobulin allotypes alpha M1, alpha M2, alpha M3, alpha M4 and alpha M5 were identified in pig. The alpha M1 allotype was reported as a marker of pig alpha-macroglobulin, the latter being homologous to alpha 2-macroglobulins in human and in mink. The allotypes alpha M2-alpha M5 were specified as markers of the second isotypical variant of pig alpha-macroglobulins, which was homologous to mink Lpm macroglobulin (alpha 1M). As seen from data obtained by International Comparative Test ISABR 87-88, alpha M1 is a new allotype, while allotypes alpha M2--alpha M5 correspond to four allotypes in the Gp system (Janik et al.). Based on these data, a conclusion was made on the homology between the Lpm system in american mink and the Gp system in pig. Since the allotypes studied are the part of alpha-macroglobulins, a locus controlling them was designated the AM locus. We also find it more advantageous to apply the same name to the homologous locus in mink, instead of the Lpm used earlier. Genetic control of 5 allotypes was studied and the structure of the AM locus in pig analysed in detail. Comparative study of organization of the above locus and the homologous locus in mink was carried out.

[Recognition algorithm in electrocardiographic syndrome of atrial hypertrophy]. / Algoritm raspoznavaniia élektrokardiograficheskogo sindroma gipertrofii predserdii.

A system was developed for automatic ECG analysis, which involved a screening program and algorithms for syndrome ECG diagnosis. The principles for synthesizing algorithms for syndrome diagnosis are exemplified by the decision rule of identifying a ECG syndrome of atrial hypertrophy. The specificity of the proposed algorithm was more than 90%. Severe left and right atrial and moderate right atrial hypertrophies were well recognized. The findings suggest that the developed rules might be useful in the system of automatic ECG analysis.

[The results of international comparative testing of reagents to swine serum protein allotypes conducted in 1987-1988]. / O rezul'tatakh mezhdunarodnogo sravnitel'nogo ispytaniia reagentov k allotipam syvorotochnykh belkov svin'i, provedennogo v 1987-1988 godakh.

Antisera to 15 allotypes of pig serum protein were raised and compared with those prepared elsewhere, within the framework of International Comparison Test of pig blood groups and polymorphic proteins and enzymes in 1987-1988. Of 15 allotypes tested 8 were found to coincide with the known GpB, GpD, GpA, Gpa, IGH3 C1, Lpb3, Lpb12, Lbr1. For 7 allotypes left, no analogues were found out. They seem very likely to be new allotypes of pig serum proteins.

[Immunogenetic study of porcine IgG]. / Immunogeneticheskoe issledovanie IgG svin'i.

Three allotypes of IgG were identified in pig. Based on data obtained on electrophoretic mobility as well as on results of the International Comparative Test ISABR for pig blood group, polymorphic proteins and enzymes (1987-1988), the allotypes are specified as markers of two different IgG subclasses and are referred to as IgG1a, IgG2b and IgG2c. The former of these is established as corresponding to the already known IGH3 C1, and the other two had not been earlier described. In herds of pigs being bred in the Georgian SSR, the IgG1a allotype frequencies in Kakhetinskaya, Large White, Landrase and Lithuanian white were 0.84, 0.93, 0.91 and 0.94, respectively, whereas for the IgG2b allotype it ran 0.89, 0.73, 0.79, and 0.69 in the order mentioned. The IgG2c allotype was not registered in samples under examination.

[Genetic variability of antigenic structure of the Lpm-protein and alpha2-macroglobulin among non-mustelid mammals]. / Geneticheskaia izmenchivost' antigennoi struktury Lpm-proteina i alpha2-makroglobulina u nekunikh mlekopitaiushchikh.

The data on interspecific distribution and antigenic variability of homologues of mink Lpm-protein (Lpm) and alpha 2M-globulin (alpha 2M) among 43 species of 6 orders of mammals are presented. Strong variability of antigenic structure of Lpm and alpha 2M of Rodentia and Artiodactyla orders was established. This fact allows to classify the macroglobulins studied as belonging to the group of evolutionary high-speed plasma globulins. In the plasma of human and green marmoset (Cercopithecus aephiops) the only homologue of alpha 2M was found. The lack of reaction to Lpm in above-mentioned species allows to postulate significant differences between Carnivora and Primates in the organization of this gene cluster. Unique features of antigenic variability of Lpm and alpha 2M were also fixed among other systematical groups tested. Taken together, the data obtained stimulate scientific interest to the study of molecular organization of the Lpm and alpha 2M gene families.