Hasil untuk "Animal culture"

R. Palmiter, R. Brinster

J. Yoon, M. Austin, T. Onodera et al.

C. Maniatopoulos, J. Sodek, Dr. A. H. Melcher

R. Cattell

A. Davis

A. Strasser, S. Whittingham, D. Vaux et al.

D. Bostwick, H. Burke, D. Djakiew et al.

Sedat Aydoğdu, Yusuf Altundağ

ABSTRACT Background The sella turcica is an important skull formation due to its close anatomical relationship with the pituitary gland. Therefore, the shape and morphometry of the sella turcica provide crucial preliminary information for the determination of cases. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the morphometry of the sella turcica in cats and its relationship with gender and skull morphometry using computed tomography (CT). Methods In this study, CT images of 18 female and 15 male adult cats were used for morphometric measurements. Six different morphometric measurements of the sella turcica were performed on CT images. Similarly, seven different morphometric measurements were made on the skull and six different indices of the skull were calculated. Additionally, 3D modelling of the hypophyseal fossa, dorsum sellae and tuberculum sellae that form the sella turcica was performed. Results Statistically significant gender‐based differences were observed in sella diameter, sella height cranialis and sella width (p < 0.01). In the morphometric measurements obtained from the skull, differences were observed in skull length, cranial length, external height of cranium, internal length of the cranium and external length of the cranium (p < 0.01). Similarly, a difference was found in cranial width (p < 0.05). All measurements obtained from the skull were determined to be higher in male cats. Differences were observed in the cranial index, internal cranium index and external cranium index, and these indices were found to be higher in females. A strong positive correlation was observed between sella diameter and sella width. Similarly, a very strong positive correlation was found between skull length and cranial length. Conclusion In this study, the morphology and morphometry of the sella turcica in cats were revealed. In sella turcica and skull morphometry, a strong positive correlation was found between sella diameter/sella width and skull length/cranial length. The findings obtained from the sella turcica and skull, which is clinically important in humans, are thought to contribute to future clinical studies in cats. Additionally, the study's findings are expected to contribute to characterizing the morphometry of the domestic cat's skull.

Jiaxian Chen, Xiaohui Dong, Qihui Yang et al.

A 10-week feeding study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary tryptophan (Trp) levels on the growth performance and protein metabolism of hybrid grouper (<i>Epinephelus fuscoguttatus</i>♀ × <i>E. lanceolatus</i>♂) with the aim of determining the optimal Trp requirement. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated, containing varying levels of Trp (0.26%, 0.32%, 0.42%, 0.46%, 0.58%, and 0.62% of diet). Each diet was administered to 90 hybrid groupers with an initial average weight of 10.52 ± 0.02 g. Dietary levels of 0.32–0.62% Trp generally promoted growth performance and feed utilization in hybrid grouper, with the 0.46% Trp level demonstrating the highest weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. Furthermore, fish fed with 0.46% Trp exhibited higher activities of intestinal lipase and amylase compared to other groups. Furthermore, the activities of Trp metabolism-related enzymes in the liver were markedly elevated by this Trp level, including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase. Additionally, a dietary level of 0.46% Trp resulted in a substantial increase in the activities of protein metabolism-related enzymes such as adenosine monophosphate deaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase in the liver. Dietary levels of 0.32–0.46% Trp activated the hepatic mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, while a dietary 0.46% Trp level inhibited the hepatic amino acid response signaling pathway. In summary, suitable dietary Trp levels enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activities, facilitated both protein synthesis and catabolism, and ultimately improved growth performance in hybrid grouper. Analysis using a second-order regression curve of weight gain and protein efficiency ratio indicated that the optimal dietary Trp requirement for hybrid grouper ranged from 0.41–0.46% of diet (0.82–0.92% of dietary protein).

Yingxiao Su, Zhanqiang Zhao, Zhanfa Liu et al.

Abstract Wool curvature is one of the most valuable characteristics of Zhongwei goat fur. As the goats grow, the curvature progressively diminishes, which has a substantial impact on the quality and market value of wool. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNA and play vital roles in animal growth and development. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in the wool curvature of Zhongwei goats are unclear. In our study, we conducted circRNA expression profiling of Zhongwei goat skin exhibiting divergent curvature wool phenotypes at two developmental stages using the RNA‐seq. In total, 12,682 circRNAs and 158 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE circRNAs) were identified. KEGG analysis illustrated that host genes of DE circRNAs were significantly enriched in the signaling pathways of Ras, JAK/STAT5, and cAMP, which might affect wool curvature. We further validated five circRNAs using qRT‐PCR, which were consistent with the sequencing results. Functional verification assay demonstrated that circRNA8782 regulated fibroblast proliferation. In addition, we constructed a regulatory competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and predicted circRNA3173‐miR‐16b‐5p‐IGF1 axes involved in the regulation of wool curvature. Our result will provide the foundation for uncovering the regulatory mechanisms of underlying wool curvature patterns in goats.

Mingqin Shao, Jianying Wang, Hongxiu Ding et al.

To assess the Siberian crane (<i>Grus leucogeranus</i>)’s response to changing water levels and habitat quality at Poyang Lake, we analyzed the lake’s hydrological trends over the past two decades with the Mann-Kendall and Sen slope methods. Additionally, we explored the link between the crane population size and hydrological conditions at the lake from 2011 to 2019. Meanwhile, five environmental factors, including habitat type, distance from shallow lakes, human footprint index, elevation and normalized vegetation index were selected, and the distribution patterns of suitable habitats for the Siberian crane under 10 water level gradients with intervals of about 1 m (5.3–14.2 m) were simulated by using an improved habitat suitability index model that determines the weights of evaluating factors based on the MaxEnt model. The results showed that the overall trend of the inundated area in Poyang Lake was shrinking in the last 20 years, with a significant increase in the area of exposed floodland during the early wintering period (Z = −2.26). The prolonged drought resulting from this will force vegetation succession, thereby diminishing the food resources for cranes in their natural habitat. The mean inundated area in June demonstrated a significant negative correlation with the population of Siberian cranes in natural habitats (<i>r</i> = −0.75, <i>p</i> = 0.02). Shortage of the Siberian crane-preferred <i>Vallisneria</i> tuber due to June flooding was the primary driver of the crane’s altered foraging strategy and habitat shift. In years with relatively normal June inundation, indicating abundant <i>Vallisneria</i> resources, the relationship between the inundated area during the dry season and the crane population fit well, with a quadratic curve (<i>R</i>² = 0.92, <i>p</i> = 0.02). The dry season’s inundated area primarily affected the crane population and distribution pattern by influencing the availability of food resources, and both excessive and insufficient inundation areas were unfavorable for crane survival. The modeling results for habitat suitability indicated that as the water level decreased, the trend of the area of good habitat for the Siberian crane showed an inverted bell shape, peaking at a water level of 8.8 m, with optimal conditions occurring between 8 and 10 m. The combined effects of climate and human activities have made the shortage of food resources in Poyang Lake the new normal. The degradation of natural habitats has led to a decline in the quality of Siberian crane habitats, and artificial habitats can only be used as refuges to a certain extent. Thus, formulating strategies to restore natural habitats and enhance the management of artificial habitats is crucial for the conservation efforts of Siberian cranes.

M. Kline

A. Whiten

In recent decades, a burgeoning literature has documented the cultural transmission of behavior through social learning in numerous vertebrate and invertebrate species. One meaning of “cultural evolution in animals” refers to these discoveries, and I present an overview of key findings. I then address the other meaning of the term focused on cultural changes within a lineage. Such changes in humans, described as “cumulative cultural evolution,” have been spectacular, but relatively little attention has yet been paid to the topic in nonhuman animals, other than asserting that the process is unique to humans. A variety of evidence including both controlled experiments and field observations has begun to challenge this view, and in some behavioral domains, notably birdsong, cultural evolution has been studied for many years. In this review, I dissect concepts of cultural evolution and cumulative culture and appraise the accumulating evidence bearing on their nature and significance for evolutionary biology at large.

F. Courchamp, I. Jarić, C. Albert et al.

A widespread opinion is that conservation efforts disproportionately benefit charismatic species. However, this doesn’t mean that they are not threatened, and which species are “charismatic” remains unclear. Here, we identify the 10 most charismatic animals and show that they are at high risk of imminent extinction in the wild. We also find that the public ignores these animals’ predicament and we suggest it could be due to the observed biased perception of their abundance, based more on their profusion in our culture than on their natural populations. We hypothesize that this biased perception impairs conservation efforts because people are unaware that the animals they cherish face imminent extinction and do not perceive their urgent need for conservation. By freely using the image of rare and threatened species in their product marketing, many companies may participate in creating this biased perception, with unintended detrimental effects on conservation efforts, which should be compensated by channeling part of the associated profits to conservation. According to our hypothesis, this biased perception would be likely to last as long as the massive cultural and commercial presence of charismatic species is not accompanied by adequate information campaigns about the imminent threats they face.

Natalie R. Rubio, I. Datar, D. Stachura et al.

Cellular agriculture is defined as the production of agricultural products from cell cultures rather than from whole plants or animals. With growing interest in cellular agriculture as a means to address the public health, environmental, and animal welfare challenges of animal agriculture, the concept of producing seafood from fish cell- and tissue-cultures is emerging as a means to address similar challenges with industrial aquaculture systems and marine capture. Cell-based seafood - as opposed to animal-based seafood - can combine developments in biomedical engineering with modern aquaculture techniques. Biomedical engineering developments such as closed-system bioreactor production of land animal cells create a basis for large scale production of marine animal cells. Aquaculture techniques such as genetic modification and closed system aquaculture have achieved marked gains in production that can pave the way for innovations in cell-based seafood production. Here, we present the current state of innovation relevant to the development of cell-based seafood across multiple species as well as specific opportunities and challenges that exist for advancing this science. The authors find that the physiological properties of fish cell- and tissue- culture may be uniquely suited to cultivation in vitro. These physiological properties, including hypoxia tolerance, high buffering capacity, and low-temperature growth conditions, make marine cell culture an attractive opportunity for scale production of cell-based seafood; perhaps even more so than mammalian and avian cell cultures for cell-based meats. This, coupled with the unique capabilities of crustacean tissue-friendly scaffolding such as chitosan, a common seafood waste product and mushroom derivative, presents great promise for cell-based seafood production via bioreactor cultivation. To become fully realized, cell-based seafood research will require more understanding of fish muscle culture and cultivation; more investigation into serum-free media formulations optimized for fish cell culture; and bioreactor designs tuned to the needs of fish cells for large scale production.

Gennaro Altamura, Barbara degli Uberti, Giorgio Galiero et al.

Expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase activity (TA) is a main feature of cancer, contributing to cell immortalization by causing telomeres dysfunction. BIBR1532 is a potent telomerase inhibitor that showed potential anti-tumor activities in several types of cancer, by triggering replicative senescence and apoptosis. In a previous work, we detected, for the first time, TERT expression and TA in preclinical models of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC); therefore, we aimed at extending our investigation by testing the effects of treatment with BIBR1532, in order to explore the role of telomerase in this tumor and foreshadow the possibility of it being considered as a future therapeutic target. In the present study, treatment of FOSCC cell lines SCCF1, SCCF2, and SCCF3 with BIBR1532 resulted in successful inhibition of TA, with subsequent cell growth stoppage and decrease in cell viability. Molecular data showed that up-regulation of cell cycle inhibitor p21, unbalancing of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and down-regulation of survival gene Survivin were mostly involved in the observed cellular events. Moreover, BIBR1532 diminished the expression of TERT and its transcriptional activator cMyc, resulting in the down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phospho-ERK/ERK ratio, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1/-2 and−9, likely as a consequence of an impairment of TERT extra-telomeric functions. Taken together, our data suggest that BIBR1532 exerts multiple anti-cancer activities in FOSCC by inhibiting telomerase pathway and interfering with signaling routes involved in cell proliferation, cell survival, and invasion, paving the way for future translational studies aimed at evaluating its possible employment in the treatment of this severe tumor of cats.

Oscar Daniel Salvioni Recalde, Stefanía Fraenkel, María José Tintel et al.

Surra is a disease caused by the hemoflagellate pathogen Trypanosoma evansi which affects a wide variety of mammals. The only cases reported of the presence of T. evansi in Paraguay were identified in samples from horses and capybaras and they were detected by light microscopy in the 19th century. The aim of this study is to report three autochthonous cases of canine trypanosomiasis caused by T. evansi, for the first time in the country, using molecular techniques and their application for the differential diagnosis of trypanosomatids species. The technique implemented was real-time PCR-HRM, amplifying a fragment of the hsp70 gene, using a pair of primers initially used to discriminate Leishmania species. This is the first report on the usage of these primers to detect T. evansi through HRM analysis, which allows the differentiation of trypanosomatids species simultaneously, making it an efficient tool for differential diagnosis.

Cynthia A. Lucidi, John A. Gerlach, Ari Jutkowitz et al.

Abstract Background Although precursor‐targeted immune‐mediated anemia (PIMA) is thought to be caused by immune targeting of erythroid precursors (nucleated RBCs, nRBCs), its pathogenesis is unknown. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) or phosphatidylserine (PS) may promote nRBC destruction in PIMA. Hypothesis Dogs with PIMA have increased nRBC IgG and PS, and dogs with immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) have increased RBC PS compared to healthy dogs. Animals Blood from 20 healthy dogs and from dogs with IMHA (11) or other (non‐IMHA) conditions (9), and marrow aspirates with or without blood from 10 healthy dogs and from dogs with PIMA (17) or other (non‐IMHA, non‐PIMA) conditions (7). Methods Marrow nRBC stages were separated by density gradient. Flow cytometry was used to assess the percentage of RBCs or nRBCs with increased IgG or PS. Results Red blood cell (RBC) IgG positivity was increased in 9/11 IMHA dogs and 0/9 non‐IMHA dogs. Red blood cell PS positivity was increased in 10/11 IMHA dogs and 2/9 non‐IMHA dogs. Five of 17 PIMA dogs had increased nRBC IgG positivity in mid‐ or late‐stage fractions, whereas all 7 non‐PIMA dogs were negative. Mid‐ and late‐stage erythroid precursor PS was significantly higher in PIMA dogs compared to healthy dogs. Five of 14 PIMA dogs had increased RBC IgG positivity. Conclusions Immunoglobulin G and PS may promote destruction of nRBCs in PIMA dogs; PS may promote destruction of RBCs in IMHA dogs.

D. Frank, S. Joo, R. Warner

Fat in meat greatly improves eating quality, yet many consumers avoid visible fat, mainly because of health concerns. Generations of consumers, especially in the English-speaking world, have been convinced by health authorities that animal fat, particularly saturated or solid fat, should be reduced or avoided to maintain a healthy diet. Decades of negative messages regarding animal fats has resulted in general avoidance of fatty cuts of meat. Paradoxically, low fat or lean meat tends to have poor eating quality and flavor and low consumer acceptability. The failure of low-fat high-carbohydrate diets to curb “globesity” has prompted many experts to re-evaluate of the place of fat in human diets, including animal fat. Attitudes towards fat vary dramatically between and within cultures. Previous generations of humans sought out fatty cuts of meat for their superior sensory properties. Many consumers in East and Southeast Asia have traditionally valued more fatty meat cuts. As nutritional messages around dietary fat change, there is evidence that attitudes towards animal fat are changing and many consumers are rediscovering and embracing fattier cuts of meat, including marbled beef. The present work provides a short overview of the unique sensory characteristics of marbled beef and changing consumer preferences for fat in meat in general.

Ignacio Rubén Ortolani, Zahia Amanzougarene, Manuel Fondevila

The fermentation patterns of six fiber sources, soybean hulls (SH), sugarbeet pulp (BP), palm kernel cake (PK), oat hulls (OH), dehydrated alfalfa meal (DA), and barley straw (BS) were evaluated for this study on the effect of their presentation form (non-processed, NP and ground, GR). Substrates were tested in a conventional in vitro batch system, using rumen fluid obtained from ewes fed 0.5 alfalfa hay and 0.5 barley straw. All substrates rendered a higher gas production in GR form (<i>p</i> < 0.05) except for BS but ranked similarly irrespective of the presentation form. Among the substrates, when incubated NP, the highest volume of gas was recorded with BP from 8 h onwards (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas OH and BS resulted in the lowest gas volume (<i>p</i> < 0.05). During the first half of the incubation period, methane production was higher in GR than NP (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among substrates, despite NP or GR, methane production with BP was the highest (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Similarly, the presentation form did not qualitatively affect fermentation, as no differences were observed in volatile fatty acids proportions. The effect of particle size of fibrous substrates does not have a major impact on the rate and extent of the rumen microbial fermentation.