Quantitative trait loci with effects on feed efficiency traits in Hereford x composite double backcross populations.

Two half-sib families of backcross progeny were produced by mating F(1) Line 1 Hereford (L1) x composite gene combination (CGC) bulls with L1 and CGC cows. Feed intake and periodic weights were measured for 218 backcross progeny. These progenies were genotyped using 232 microsatellite markers that spanned the 29 BTA. Progeny from L1 and CGC females was analysed separately using composite interval mapping to find quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting daily dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). Results from both backcrosses were pooled to find additional QTL. In the backcross to L1, QTL were detected for RFI and DMI on BTA11, FCR on BTA16, and ADG on BTA9. In the backcross to CGC, QTL were detected for RFI on BTA10, FCR on BTA12 and 16 and ADG on BTA15 and 17. After pooling, QTL were detected for RFI on BTA 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13 and 16; for FCR on BTA 9, 12, 16, 17 and 21; for ADG on BTA 9, 14, 15, 17; and for DMI on BTA 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 20 and 23.

A comparative map of bovine chromosome 25 with human chromosomes 7 and 16.

A comparative genome map is necessary for the implementation of comparative positional candidate gene cloning in cattle. We have developed a medium density comparative gene map of bovine chromosome 25 (BTA25). A radiation hybrid (RH) panel was used to map nine microsatellites and nine genes. Eight of the nine comparative loci were also mapped by FISH. These results were combined with data from published articles to create a comprehensive comparative map of BTA25 with human chromosomes 7 (HSA7) and 16 (HSA16). This map should facilitate the cloning of genes of interest on bovine chromosome 25.

Genome-wide scans for QTL affecting carcass traits in Hereford x composite double backcross populations.

A genome-wide scan for chromosomal regions influencing carcass traits was conducted spanning 2.413 morgans on 29 bovine autosomes using 229 microsatellite markers. Two paternal half-sib families of backcross progenies were produced by mating Hereford x composite gene combination (CGC) bulls to both Hereford and CGC dams. Progeny of the first sire (n = 146) were born in 1996 and progeny of the second sire (n = 112) were born in 1997. Each year cattle were fed out and slaughtered serially when they were between 614 and 741 d of age. Phenotypes measured at harvest were: live weight; carcass weight; fat depth; marbling; percentage kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH); and rib eye area. Dressing percentage and USDA Yield Grade were calculated from these data. The phenotypes were adjusted to age-, live weight-, and fat depth-constant endpoints using analysis of covariance. The resulting residuals were analyzed by interval mapping to detect QTL. Within family, nominal significance was established by permutation analysis. Approximate genomewide significance levels were established by applying the Bonferroni correction to the nominal probability levels. Regression and error sums of squares and degrees of freedom were pooled across families when suggestive linkage identified in one family was confirmed in the other. The results indicate promising locations for QTL affecting live weight on BTA 17 and marbling on BTA 2 that segregate in Bos taurus. Also, previously identified linkage between central markers on BTA 5 and USDA Yield Grade was confirmed in one family. Greater marker saturation in these regions coupled with refined methods for data analysis will lead to more precise determination of QTL positions.

28-day oral toxicity study with soft corticosteroid BNP-166 in rats and dogs, followed by a 14-day recovery period.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the soft corticosteroid BNP-166 in rats and dogs treated orally with 0.2, 2.0, and 20.0 mg/kg for 28 days and the reversibility of any abnormalities during a 14-day post-dosing period. The test substance, BNP-166, was well tolerated during the 28-day treatment period. The observed changes were all characteristic for the pharmacological actions of a glucocorticoid. Treatment related changes occurred in the adrenals and thymus, and, to a lesser extent, in the lymph nodes, spleen and liver. There were no statistically significant reductions in the cortisol levels of all groups in the 0.2 and 2 mg/kg treatments. Significant reductions were observed in the high-dose group (20 mg/kg), but levels returned to normal by the end of the 14-day recovery period. Based on the results, the No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of BNP-166 soft corticosteroid in rat and dog after 28-day oral administration is 2 mg/kg. This value is approximately 40 times higher than that of budesonide. Pharmacodynamic and receptor binding studies have shown BNP-166 to have a similar potency to budesonide; therefore, BNP-166 can be considered safer when administered orally than other corticosteroids such as prednisolone or budesonide.

Pleiotropic effects in Hereford, Limousin, and Piedmontese F2 crossbred calves of genes controlling muscularity including the Piedmontese myostatin allele.

Objectives were to determine 1) effects on traits measured from birth to slaughter in F2 cross calves from sire breeds that differ in potential for lean tissue growth but have similar mature BW and 2) the gene action of the mutant Piedmontese myostatin allele. Hereford (normal muscling, H), Limousin (moderate increase in muscling, L), and Piedmontese (muscular hypertrophy, P) sires (20 to 25 per breed) were bred at random to crossbred cows to produce F1 calves that were inter se-mated within sire breed to produce F2 calves that were grown out, finished, and slaughtered. Piedmontese-cross calves were genotyped for the G-A transition mutation at the myostatin locus characteristic of P (msP). Genotypes were classified on the basis of having zero (P0), one (P1), or two (P2) copies of msP (H, n = 227; L, n = 207; P0, n = 40; P1, n = 107; and P2, n = 37). Limousin-cross F2 calves had heavier birth (but dystocia was not affected) and weaning weights, gained faster, had more muscle, less fat, larger pelvic area, and more efficient feed conversion than Hereford-cross F2 calves. Normal-muscled Piedmontese-cross F2 calves (P0) were similar to Hereford-cross F2 calves except that they required less assistance at birth in heifer dams, had less fat, gained slower, were less efficient, and had larger pelvic area. Addition of msP alleles (P1 and P2) consistently increased muscle through hyperplasia, decreased fat, and increased adjusted efficiency, but many of those changes were not linear. Residual variances for breed were heterogeneous for most traits related to muscularity. This heterogeneity was caused by increased variances for L and P and(or) lower variances for H. Accounting for the msP alleles decreased the variance for P in most traits, but heterogeneity remained for most traits among the five genotypes because L remained high, H was low, and(or) P2 was low. We conclude that differences in muscularity affect most traits, and when differences in muscularity include the msP allele, there is an incremental, but not equal, change in most traits with the addition of each copy of the msP allele. Advantages of L could be captured through normal crossbreeding and selection schemes but with some caution because of potential problems from increased variability. Advantages of P could be best captured through more complex breeding and selection programs that would lessen potential negative impacts and through marketing systems that do not penalize for very low fat.

Comprehensive linkage map of bovine chromosome 27.

The results of genotypic data contributed to the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) Bovine Chromosome 27 Workshop are presented. Eight laboratories contributed 23 261 informative meioses from 44 loci. Eighteen loci were typed by at least two laboratories and were used to construct a consensus linkage map. Twenty-one loci were subsequently incorporated into a comprehensive map. The sex-averaged consensus map covered 66.9 cM. The sex-averaged comprehensive map was 75.5 cM, while the female and male maps were 73.1 and 63.7 cM, respectively. Five loci were excluded from the analysis because of ambiguous position in the linkage group and a low LOD score (less than 2.0). Average distance between loci in the comprehensive map was 1.98 cM.

Putative quantitative trait locus affecting birth weight on bovine chromosome 2.

A genome scan for chromosomal regions influencing birth weight was performed using 151 progeny of a single Hereford x composite bull and 170 microsatellite markers spanning 2.497 morgans on 29 bovine autosomes. A QTL was identified at the telomeric end of bovine chromosome 2 (maximum effect at 114 cM) accounting for approximately 2.8 kg of birth weight or 0.64 residual standard deviations (after adjustment for sex of calf, age of dam, and breed of dam). No significant effect on growth from birth to weaning was detected in this region. The presence of this QTL within a resource herd composed of breeds common to the Northern Great Plains provides an opportunity to initiate marker-assisted selection to reduce birth weight with minimal effect on postnatal growth. Thus, potentially the amount and degree of dystocia can be reduced and the economic loss associated with calving difficulty lessened without compromise of subsequent growth performance. In addition, this finding indicates that significant genetic variation for birth weight (and presumably other production-related traits) exists within herds composed of commercially adapted Bos taurus germplasm.

Consensus and comprehensive linkage maps of bovine chromosome 7.

The objective of this project was to integrate the currently available linkage maps for bovine chromosome 7 (BTA7) by combining data sets from eight research groups. A total of 54 unique markers were typed in eight pedigrees. Multilocus linkage analysis with CRI-MAP produced a bovine chromosome 7 consensus framework map of 27 loci ordered with odds greater than 1000:1. Furthermore, we present a bovine chromosome 7 comprehensive map integrating 54 loci. The locus order is in general agreement with the recently published linkage maps except for one discrepancy. The order of loci BM9289, BMS713, and ILSTS001 was reversed in the consensus framework map relative to the published USDA-MARC bovine chromosome 7 linkage map.

Synteny mapping of five human chromosome 7 genes on bovine chromosomes 4 and 21.

Five genes on human chromosome 7 (HSA 7) were assigned to bovine chromosome 21 (BTA 21) and 4 (BTA 4) using a bovine-rodent somatic hybrid cell panel. These five genes were alpha-I subunit of adenylate cyclase-inhibiting G-protein (GNAI1), alpha/beta preprotachykinin (TAC1), reelin (RELN), c-AMP dependant protein kinase type II beta regulatory chain (PRKAR2B) and apolipoprotein A1 regulatory protein 1 (TFCOUP2). Four genes mapped to BTA 4 (GNAI1, TAC1, RELN, PRKAR2B) while one gene mapped to BTA 21 (TFCOUP2). This study confirms the synteny conservation between HSA 7 and BTA 4, finely maps the breakpoints of conserved synteny on HSA 7 and defines a new synteny conservation between HSA 7 and BTA 21.

The "spotted" locus maps to bovine chromosome 6 in a Hereford-Cross population.

The spotted locus is responsible for several phenotypically distinguishable piebald patterns in cattle, including Hereford, or white face (SH), lineback (SP), and recessive spotting (s), in addition to nonspotted (S+). In a backcross mapping population, the S locus has been mapped by genetic linkage to bovine chromosome 6, between microsatellite markers BM4528 and EL03. This region corresponds comparatively to a region on mouse chromosome 5 which houses several coat color mutations, among which homology is possible with Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (Kit), patch (Ph), and rump white (Rw). Mutations at these loci resemble mutations at the bovine S locus in both phenotype and mode of inheritance. Data are presented which show genetic linkage between the bovine S locus and microsatellite markers on chromosome 6. Candidate genes for the bovine S locus are discussed.

[Pancreatogenic panniculitis based on 2 cases]. / A pancreatogen panniculitisról, 2 eset kapcsán.

The rarest and hardly known complication of pancreas diseases is the subcutaneous nodular fat necrosis, a special type of panniculitides. It is mostly associated with pancreatitis and adenocarcinoma of pancreas. Its diagnostic criteria are (1) red painless or occasionally painful nodules showing a tendency of coalescence, emolition and fistulation on the lower extremities and later anywhere on the body, (2) alcoholic case-history, (3) tense, painful joints, (4) elevated pancreatic enzyme levels in the blood and urine. Since the underlying pancreas diseases may be asymptomatic, the pancreatogen panniculitis should be considered as a noteworthy marker of them. The histologic findings are pathognomic. In pancreatogen panniculitis in all likelihood the remote foci of adiponecrosis are due to the local action of pancreatic lipolytic enzymes carried by the blood. The question has not been settled yet. In this article there are presented two cases of pancreatogen panniculitis, recognized by the consultant dermatologist. Referral diagnoses of both cases were misleading: "erythema nodosum" in the first case and "drug eruption" in the second one. The determinant underlying pancreas disease in both cases was pancreatitis with pseudocyst resulted from alcoholic toxicomany.

Anchoring of bovine chromosomes 4, 6, 7, 10, and 14 linkage group telomeric ends via FISH analysis of lambda clones.

We report the placement of 34 new microsatellite (ms) markers, isolated from a lambda phage genomic clone library, on the bovine genetic map by linkage to published markers. Five of these markers lie at or near the ends of linkage groups and are used to establish chromosomal coverage and orientation. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis demonstrates that the linkage groups on the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) map extend to the telomeric region of Chromosomes (Chrs) 7 and 10. Linkage groups on Chrs 4, 6, and 14 appear to be less inclusive.

Chromosomal localization of six bovine microsatellite markers.

Six lambda genomic clones containing polymorphic microsatellite (MS) markers were assigned to bovine chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 7, 13 and 24 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Linkage data for four MS markers were presented earlier and linkage data for the remaining two on chromosome 7 and 24 are presented here. All assignments either orient or confirm the orientation of linkage groups relative to the centromere. A comparison of physical assignments and linkage intervals was possible on chromosome 5 (three loci, 38 cM) and 13 (two loci, 6 cM).

Linkage of bovine erythrocyte antigen loci B, C, L, S, Z, R' and T' and the serum protein loci post-transferrin 2 (PTF 2), vitamin D binding protein (GC) and albumin (ALB) to DNA microsatellite markers.

Seven bovine erythrocyte antigen loci and three serum protein loci were tentatively assigned to chromosomes or synteny groups by linkage analysis to previously assigned microsatellite DNA markers. The erythrocyte antigen locus EAB was mapped to synteny group U27; EAC to chromosome 18, synteny group U9; EAL to chromosome 3, synteny group U6; EAS to chromosome 21, synteny group U4; EAZ to chromosome 10, synteny group U5; EAR' to chromosome 16, synteny group U1; and EAT' to chromosome 19, synteny group U21. The vitamin D binding protein (GC) and albumin (ALB) loci were assigned to chromosome 6, synteny group U15 and post-transferrin 2 (PTF 2) to chromosome 19, synteny group U21.