Genome-wide association study for numbers of vertebrae in Dezhou donkey population reveals new candidate genes

Numbers of vertebrae is an important economic trait associated with body size and meat productivity in animals.However,the genetic basis of vertebrae number in donkey remains to be well understood.The aim of this study was to identify candidate genes affecting the number of thoracic(TVn)and the number of lumbar vertebrae(LVn)in Dezhou donkey.A genome-wide association study was conducted using whole genome sequence data imputed from low-coverage genome sequencing.For TVn,we identified 38 genome-wide significant and 64 suggestive SNPs,which relate to 7 genes(NLGN1,DCC,SLC26A7,TOX,WNT7A,LOC123286078,and LOC123280142).For LVn,we identified 9 genome-wide significant and 38 suggestive SNPs,which relate to 8 genes(GABBR2,FBXO4,LOC123277146,LOC123277359,BMP7,B3GAT1,EML2,and LRP5).The genes involve in the Wnt and TGF-βsignaling pathways and may play an important role in embryonic development or bone formation and could be good candidate genes for TVn and LVn.

Enzyme-digested Colla Corii Asini(E’jiao) prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death and accelerates amyloid beta clearance in neuronal-like PC12 cells

As an aging-associated degenerative disease,Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta(Aβ),oxidative stress,inflammation,dysfunction and loss of cholinergic neurons.Colla Corii Asini(CCA)is a traditional Chinese medicine which has been used for feebleness-related diseases and anti-aging.CCA might delay aging-induced degenerative changes in neurons.In the present study,we evaluated antioxidant activity,cytoprotective effects,and Aβremovability of enzyme-digested Colla Corii Asini(CCAD).Oxygen radical absorbance capacity(ORAC)activity assay showed that,as compared to gelatins from the skin of porcine,bovine and cold water fish,CCA exhibited the highest ORAC activity.The ORAC activity of CCA and CCAD was increased gradually by the length of time in storage.Ultrastructure analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that among CCA manufactured in 2008,2013,2017 and gelatin from cold water fish skin,CCA manufactured in 2008 presented the smoothest surface structure.We further tested the protective effects of CCAD(manufactured in 2008)and enzyme-digested gelatin from cold water fish skin(FGD)on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)-induced cell death in nerve growth factor-differentiated neuronal-like PC12 cells.Presto blue assay showed that both FGD and CCAD at 0.5 mg/m L increased cell viability in H2O2-treated neuronal-like PC12 cells.The protection of CCAD was significantly superior to that of FGD.Acetylcholinesterase(Ach E)assay showed that both FGD and CCAD inhibited Ach E activity in nerve growth factor-differentiated neuronal-like PC12 cells to 89.1%and 74.5%of that in non-treated cells,respectively.The data suggest that CCAD might be able to increase the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.Although CCAD inhibited Ach E activity in neuronal-like PC12 cells,CCAD prevented H2O2-induced abnormal deterioration of Ach E.ELISA and neprilysin activity assay results indicated that CCAD reduced amyloid beta accumulation and increased neprilysin activity in Aβ1–42-treated neuronal-like PC12 cells,suggesting that CCAD can enhance Aβclearance.Our results suggest that CCA might be useful for preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Correlation Study on Body Size,Sexual Behavior and Semen Quality of Dezhou Donkey

[ Objective] The study was to explore whether the body size, sexual behavior of male donkey had certain correlation with reproductive traits. [ Method] The data of body weight, body size and sexual behavior of male donkey during production were collected, combining with the semen quality data of ejaculation volume, density, motility and frozen-thawed semen motility were conducted the statistical analysis. [ Results] （ 1 ） Single ejaculation volume had a positive correlation with body height （r = 0. 423, P = 0. 044） and penis circumference （r = 0. 495, P = 0. 043 ） , and total number of sperm per ejaculate had a positiw： correlation with body weight （r = 0. 444, P = 0. 036） and scrotal circumference （r = 0. 520, P = 0. 039） ; （2） Ejaculation volume was negatively correlated with mount times （r = -0. 159, P = 0. 035） and erection time （r = -0. 181, P = 0. 023）, semen density was negatively correlated with mating time （r = - 0.211, P = 0.004）, and total sperm count was negatively correlated with erection time （r = - 0. 159 , P = 0. 047）. [Condusion ] The quality of semen had a certain correlation with body size, body weight and sexual behavior.

An equine disease diagnosis expert system based on improved reasoning of evidence credibility

In China,there is a troubling shortage of well-trained equine veterinarians,leaving the needs of many equine farmers unmet.This is especially true with respect to the diagnosis of equine diseases.To solve this shortcoming,an equine disease diagnosis expert system was developed.For the aspect of knowledge representation,the structure of equine disease diagnosis knowledge was analyzed using an ontology system.Next,the clinical signs were described using an object-attribute-value(O-A-V)format,and the knowledge representation was then expressed using production rules.With respect to the reasoning mechanism,the weights of the clinical signs and promoted confidence factors(PCF)were combined to express information and rules pertaining to clinical signs with an associated level of uncertainty.The model was established based on improved reasoning of evidence credibility.Finally,using the ASP.Net platform and the SQL Server 2008 database,the equine disease diagnosis expert system based on the B/S structure has been developed,and is capable of reliably diagnosing 40 of the most common equine diseases.A functional evaluation of the system was conducted,and the diagnostic accuracy was observed to be 88%.This study demonstrates a bright prospect for the popularization and application of the system through continuous system maintenance and knowledge-based updates.