A 1.1 Mb duplication CNV on chromosome 17 contributes to skeletal muscle development in Boer goats.

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.

Zhibai Dihuang Decoction improves sperm mitochondrial permeability transition in rats with ureaplasma urealyticum infection / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the effects of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZDD) on sperm mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in the rat model of ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection (UUI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety male SD rats were randomly divide into five groups: normal control, UUI model control, ZDD, doxycycline, and ZDD + doxycycline. The UUI model was established in the latter four groups of rats by UU injection into the bladder. On the second day after modeling, the animals of the normal control and UUI model control groups were treated intragastrically with 0.9% sodium chloride solution and those in the other groups with corresponding drugs, all for 21 consecutive days. At 24 hours after drug withdrawal, epididymal samples were obtained for detection of the protein and mRNA expressions of VDAC2 and ANT4 in the sperm mitochondria by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively and determination of the contents of adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and energy charge (EC) in the sperm mitochondria by high-performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein expressions of VDAC2 and ANT4 in the rat sperm mitochondria were 0.626 ± 0.074 and 0.527 ± 0.096 in the normal control group, 0.039 ± 0.011 and 0.044 ± 0.011 in the UUI model control group, 0.101 ± 0.037 and 0.127 ± 0.040 in the ZDD group, 0.236 ± 0.070 and 0.253 ± 0.054 in the doxycycline group, and 0.475 ± 0.064 and 0.367 ± 0.086 in the ZDD + doxycycline group, significantly lower in the UUI model control than in the normal control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01), but remarkably higher in the doxycycline and ZDD + doxycycline groups than in the UUI model control (P<0.01) and the ZDD group (P<0.05 and P<0.01), and the expression of VDAC2 was markedly higher in the ZDD + doxycycline than in the doxycycline group (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of VDAC2 and ANT4 were 0.008 ± 0.001 035 and 0.026 50 ± 0.003 401 in the normal control group, 0.000 79 ± 0.000 226 and 0.001 64 ± 0.000 205 in the UUI model controls, 0.002 06 ± 0.000 861 and 0.005 04 ± 0.002 537 in the ZDD group, 0.003 34 ± 0.000 229 and 0.008 57 ± 0. 000 690 in the doxycycline group, and 0.004 85 ± 0.000 495 and 0.013 13 ± 0.000 826 in the ZDD + doxycycline group, significantly lower in the UUI model control than in the normal control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01), but remarkably higher in the ZDD, doxycycline and ZDD + doxycycline groups than in the UUI model controls (P<0.01) as well as in the doxycycline and ZDD + doxycycline groups than in the ZDD group (P<0.01) and in the ZDD + doxycycline than in the doxycycline group (P<0.01). The levels of ATP, ADP, AMP and EC in the sperm mitochondria were (203.41 ± 13.16) mg/L, (129.87 ± 14.68) mg/L, (149.05 ± 5.65) mg/L and 0.56 ± 0.01 in the normal control group, (96.22 ± 12.55) mg/L, (99.87 ± 3.28) mg/L, (212.53 ± 19. 43) mg/L and 0.36 ± 0.03 in the UUI model control group, (101.99 ± 5.97) mg/L, (104.99 ± 16.40) mg/L, (183.97 ± 12.43) mg/L and 0.40 ± 0.01 in the ZDD group, (159.44 ± 33.16) mg/L, (118.51 ± 12.99) mg/L, (160.64 ± 14.19) mg/L and 0.50 ± 0.06 in the doxycycline group, and (194.07 ± 9.36) mg/L, (121.62 ± 9.41) mg/L, (150.21 ± 12.87) mg/L and 0.55 ± 0.01 in the ZDD + doxycycline group. The levels of ATP and EC were significantly lower and that of AMP higher in the UUI model control than in the normal control group (P<0.01), while the former two were remarkably higher and the latter one lower in the doxycycline and ZDD + doxycycline groups than in the UUI model controls (P<0.05 and P<0.01). Compared with the ZDD + doxycycline group, the ZDD group showed significantly decreased ATP and EC but increased AMP, while the doxycycline group exhibited decreases in both ATP and EC (P<0.05 and P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ZDD can upregulate the decreased protein and mRNA expressions of VDAC2 and ANT4 in the sperm mitochondria and improve sperm mitochondrial permeability transition and mitochondrial energy metabolism in rats with UU infection, which may be one of its action mechanisms in the treatment of UU infection-induced male infertility.</p>

Study on Construction of Professional Degree Courses for Prevention and Health Care of TCM Postgraduates Based on Practical Ability / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To construct a suitable system of professional degree of prevention and health care of TCM postgraduates based on practical ability. Methods Dephi method was used to carry out two rounds of questionnaire survey on 30 experts from top three hospitals and TCM colleges and universities in different regions to evaluate the level of experts' initiative, authority and coordination. Results After 2 rounds of inquiry, it was concluded that the prevention and health care professional postgraduate training practical ability mainly included clinical ability (100%), research ability (73.3%), management ability (76.7%) and education ability (90.0%). On the basis of this, 11 compulsory courses and 5 elective courses were established, and clinical practice was built at the same time. Conclusion This study of professional degree courses for prevention and health care of TCM postgraduates on the construction based on practical ability training is feasible.

A complete mitochondrial genome of Youzhou black-skin goat.

The Youzhou black-skin goat (Capra hircus), an indigenous breed of Chinese southwest. Here, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Hechuan white goat. The mitogenome is 16,640 nt in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and a control region. As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except for ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which are encoded on the light strand. Its overall base composition is A: 33.5%, T: 27.3%, C: 26.1% and G: 13.1%. The complete mitogenome of the local subspecies of Hechuan white goat could provide an important data to further breed improvement and animal genetics resource conservation in China.

A complete mitochondrial genome of Dazu Black goat.

Dazu Black goat is an indigenous goat genetic resource in Southwest of China. Here, we describe its complete mitochondrial genome sequence. The mitogenome is 16,641 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and a control region. As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except for ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which are encoded on the light strand. Its overall base composition is A: 33.5%, T: 27.3%, C: 26.1% and G: 13.1%. The complete mitogenome of the indigenous goat could provide important data to further explore the taxonomic status of the subspecies and also provide a starting point for further phylogenetic studies.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chuanzhong black goat in southwest of China (Capra hircus).

The Chuanzhong black goat (Capra hircus) is a breed native to southwest of China. Its complete mitochondrial genome is 16,641 nt in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region. As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except for ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which are encoded on the light strand. Its overall base composition is A: 33.5%, T: 27.3%, C: 26.1%, and G: 13.1%. The complete mitogenome of the Chinese indigenous breed of goat could provide a basic data for further phylogenetics analysis.

Characteristics of the mitochondrial genome of four native goats in China (Capra hircus).

Here, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of Jining Gray goat, Fushun black goat, Youzhou black-skin goat, and Hechuan white goat. The mitogenome of those four goats consisted of 16,640 nt, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and a control region. As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except for ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which are encoded on the light strand. The complete mitogenome of these four local breeds of Chinese native goats could provide an important data to further breed improvement and animal genetics resource conservation in China.