The H19 gene, which is imprinted with preferential expression from the maternal allele, was one of the first identified imprinting genes in mammals. Recent studies revealed that correct imprinting of the H19 gene play...The H19 gene, which is imprinted with preferential expression from the maternal allele, was one of the first identified imprinting genes in mammals. Recent studies revealed that correct imprinting of the H19 gene plays a vital role in human spermatogenesis. To investigate whether imprinting defects were associated with the hybrid sterility of male cattle-yak, the methylation patterns of the H19 imprinting control region （ICR） and H19 mRNA expression in the testes of cattle-yak, yak, and cattle were examined. The results showed that the 3rd CCCTC-binding factor （CTCF） site of the H19 ICR was significantly hypomethylated in the testes of cattle-yak compared with yak or cattle. As expected, H19 was expressed at a significantly higher level in cattle-yak than in yak or cattle. These results suggest that imprinting defects of the CTCF- binding site in the HI9 ICR were possibly associated with disturbed spermatogenesis of male cattle-yak. Thus, we propose that disorders in H19 imprinting, resulting in an increased H19 mRNA expression, might contribute to the sterility of F1 male hybrids between cattle and yak.展开更多
This study presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the cattleyak. Data on tongues from 12 healthy cattle-yaks were collected. The results show that five types of papi...This study presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the cattleyak. Data on tongues from 12 healthy cattle-yaks were collected. The results show that five types of papillae were identifiable on the tongue surface of the cattle-yak. Among these, three types were mechanical papillae （filiform, conical, and lenticular）, and two types were gustatory papillae （vallate and fungiform）. Some morphological features of the cattle-yak tongue were similar to those of domestic ruminants, but the lingual prominence was higher and more developed. For example, more mechanical papillae were present and they were covered by a thicker, keratinized epithelium, the conical papillae possibly perform an immune function, the fungiform papillae have more mucus- secreting pores, and the sublingual glands were more developed. This research will provide a further and detailed source of morphological information about the cattle-yak that is currently lacking in species-specific studies on the morphology of the Bovidae family.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30500360)the Open Topic of State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology (2009SKLAB07-2)
文摘The H19 gene, which is imprinted with preferential expression from the maternal allele, was one of the first identified imprinting genes in mammals. Recent studies revealed that correct imprinting of the H19 gene plays a vital role in human spermatogenesis. To investigate whether imprinting defects were associated with the hybrid sterility of male cattle-yak, the methylation patterns of the H19 imprinting control region （ICR） and H19 mRNA expression in the testes of cattle-yak, yak, and cattle were examined. The results showed that the 3rd CCCTC-binding factor （CTCF） site of the H19 ICR was significantly hypomethylated in the testes of cattle-yak compared with yak or cattle. As expected, H19 was expressed at a significantly higher level in cattle-yak than in yak or cattle. These results suggest that imprinting defects of the CTCF- binding site in the HI9 ICR were possibly associated with disturbed spermatogenesis of male cattle-yak. Thus, we propose that disorders in H19 imprinting, resulting in an increased H19 mRNA expression, might contribute to the sterility of F1 male hybrids between cattle and yak.
基金Acknowledgements The authors thank the Research Foundation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for financial support （Grant numbers： 31060141 and 31000190）. The paper was also supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Lanzhou University.
文摘This study presents the first definitive anatomical description of the tongue and lingual papillae of the cattleyak. Data on tongues from 12 healthy cattle-yaks were collected. The results show that five types of papillae were identifiable on the tongue surface of the cattle-yak. Among these, three types were mechanical papillae （filiform, conical, and lenticular）, and two types were gustatory papillae （vallate and fungiform）. Some morphological features of the cattle-yak tongue were similar to those of domestic ruminants, but the lingual prominence was higher and more developed. For example, more mechanical papillae were present and they were covered by a thicker, keratinized epithelium, the conical papillae possibly perform an immune function, the fungiform papillae have more mucus- secreting pores, and the sublingual glands were more developed. This research will provide a further and detailed source of morphological information about the cattle-yak that is currently lacking in species-specific studies on the morphology of the Bovidae family.
