Search

A study on Chlamys nobilis sperm cryopreservation by a programmable freezing method was conducted under laboratory condition. Four cryoprotectant agents (dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], methanol [MET], propanediol[PG] and ethylene glycol [EG]) and four concentrations (5%, 10%, 20% and 30%) were evaluated for their ability to retain sperm motility, movement characteristics and fertility. Results showed that cryopreserved sperm total motility produced by DMSO and MET at 5%, 10% and 20% were higher than other cryoprotectant treatment groups (CPA groups), as well as rapid sperm percentage. The curvilinear (VCL) and straight line (VSL) velocity produced by DMSO at 5% significantly higher than other CPA groups (p 0.05), as well as the beat‐cross frequency (BCF). A significant higher fertilization rate was produced in DMSO than that in MET at same concentration (p 0.05). Overall, 5%‐20% DMSO was more suitable for Chlamys nobilis sperm programmable cryopreservation when the calcium‐free Hanks’ balanced salt solution was used as the extender, and 10°C/min from 0°C to −80°C was used as freezing rate. The findings presented in this study will benefit conservation programs for Chlamys nobilis.

As a CXC subtype member of the chemokine superfamily, CXCL13 is considered to be involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in lupus nephritis (LN). To determine the effect of CXCL13 on SLE and explore the potential mechanisms, we tested serum concentrations of CXCL13 in patients and healthy individuals and found that CXCL13 expression was high in SLE patients especially in LN patients. When we treated human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs)in vitrowith recombinant human CXCL13, the cell proliferation was accelerated, which was tested by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay revealed that CXCL13 would lead to phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). However, the effect was weakened after the silence of CXCR5. The results of our study elaborated that high expression of CXCL13 could be involved in the pathogenesis of LN.

Pinctada fucata martensii is an ideal animal for study of biomineralization. Although dozens of genes have been identified, the molecular mechanism of biomineralization remains still unclear. The purpose here was to discover the expression profiles of nine biomineralization genes in related tissues: mantle edge (ME), mantle centre (MC) and pearl sac (PS), and to explore the relationships between expression level and nacre thickness. The expression levels of seven genes (ACCBP, aspein, CaM, EFCBP, KRMP, nacrein and prismalin-14) showed no significant difference between ME and MC, but were significantly higher than those in PS. The expression level of N19 was the same in ME and PS, significantly higher than that in MC. However, msi60 in ME, MC and PS showed no significant differences in expression level. In addition, the correlations of expression levels between ME, MC and PS were highly significant, indicating that there are some similar function and mechanism among the three tissues. Also the nine genes had significant correlation of expression levels between one another. Furthermore, no other genes from oysters which produced pearls of different grades showed significant difference in the expression level, except CaM in MC, which had significantly higher expression level in the medium pearl grade than in the plain nucleus grade. Moreover, the expression level of msi60 in MC of host oyster was significantly correlated with produced pearl layer thickness, suggesting that msi60 might play an important role in pearl formation and host oyster may also participate in the development of pearl.

Pearl sac is the tissue that secretes proteins resulting into artificial pearl formation, a highly controlled biomineralization process similar to development of inner shell regulated by the mantle. We present here the pearl sac transcriptome of Pinctada fucata martensii using massively parallel pyrosequencing. A total of 21 729 putative unique transcripts were assembled and annotated. Twenty-three candidate biomineralization genes were identified, such as calmodulin, calponin-like protein (CLP), mantle gene, pearlin, nacrein and Pif. The sequence data contained 4303 potential SNP loci and 4291 probable indels, providing a resource for molecular biomarker, population genetics and gene function. Expression levels of six potential biomineralization genes were also characterized with real-time PCR. The expression level of mantle gene 4 was the highest, followed by lysine-rich matrix protein 4. Nearly all detected genes maintained the highest expression levels in mantle edge and the lowest in pearl sac. In both tissues of mantle centre and pearl sac, the six genes had an obvious higher expression activity in host oyster producing nacre pearls than those producing plain nuclei, but the expression level of CLP was similar in the two host groups. These results will notably advance biomineralization and transcript-wide study in P. fucata martensii and other Pinctada species.

Genetic linkage maps were constructed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers for the pearl oyster, Pinctada martensii (Dunker), the main bivalve used for marine pearl production in Asia. Twenty-four AFLP and 84 microsatellite primer pairs were used for linkage analysis in a full-sib family with two parents and 78 offspring. Of the 2357 AFLP fragments generated, 394 (16.7%) were polymorphic and segregating. Most (340 or 86.2%) of the markers segregated according to expected Mendelian ratios. Female and male linkage maps were constructed using 230 and 189 markers, including 15 and 10 microsatellites respectively. The female map consisted of 110 markers in 15 linkage groups, covering 1415.9 cM, with an average interval of 14.9 cM. The male map consisted of 98 markers in 16 linkage groups, with a total length of 1323.2 cM and an average interval of 16.1 cM. When unlinked doublets were considered, genome coverages were 78.5% for the female and 73.5% for the male map. Although preliminary, the genetic maps constructed here should be useful for future linkage and quantitative trait loci mapping efforts.

The prevalence of psychological problems is frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and appears to be increasing. The current study investigated the relationship among disease parameters, quality of life, and the psychological status in Chinese patients with SLE. A self-report survey design was administered to 170 SLE patients and 210 healthy individuals using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36). Our results showed that 20.3% SLE patients had anxiety, and 32.9% had depression, which were significantly higher than the control group (7.1%, 14.3%, resp.). And there were significant correlations among socioeconomic status (SES), disease activity, and anxiety/depression in SLE patients. Meanwhile, SF-36 analysis results revealed that VT, PF, and RP scales were the most powerful predictors of anxiety of SLE patients, and SLEDAI, VT, PF, SF, and RE domains were significantly accounted for anxiety. In summary, there were significant relationships among disease parameters, quality of life, and anxiety/depression in Chinese SLE patients. Therefore, it is necessary to have psychiatric and psychological evaluations and formulate an integrated approach for managing mental health in Chinese lupus patients, especially those who have high disease activity, low SES, and poor quality of life.