Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

Dataset Information

Molecular characterisation of adipose tissue in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

ABSTRACT: The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is experiencing serious challenges to optimal reproduction in captivity. The physiological and molecular basis of this impaired fertility remains unknown. A functional link between nutritional status, body condition score and fertility is well established in humans and many other species, where adipose tissue production of the hormone leptin has emerged as a crucial reproductive regulator. This report forms the basis for future studies to address the effect of nutrient composition and body condition on captive and wild elephants.

ORGANISM(S): Loxodonta africana

SUBMITTER: Tom Giles

PROVIDER: E-MTAB-2024 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

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Publications

Molecular characterization of adipose tissue in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Nilsson Emeli M EM Fainberg Hernan P HP Choong Siew S SS Giles Thomas C TC Sells James J May Sean S Stansfield Fiona J FJ Allen William R WR Emes Richard D RD Mostyn Alison A Mongan Nigel P NP Yon Lisa L

PloS one 20140314 3

Adipose tissue (AT) is a dynamic and flexible organ with regulatory roles in physiological functions including metabolism, reproduction and inflammation; secreted adipokines, including leptin, and fatty acids facilitate many of these roles. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is experiencing serious challenges to optimal reproduction in captivity. The physiological and molecular basis of this impaired fertility remains unknown. AT production of leptin is a crucial molecular link between nu ...[more]

PMID: 24633017

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Project description:Background: Aquaculture of the black tiger prawn Penaeus monodon remains severely constrained by an almost total dependence on wild-caught broodstock. Reliance on wild-caught broodstock stems, for the most part, from reduced reproductive potential of captive-reared females. Reproductive performance of captive-reared females is usually characterised by longer latency period, lower egg production, egg hatch rates and post-larval survivorship compared with their wild-caught counterparts. Improved understanding of the cellular and associated molecular events occurring during peneaid ovarian maturation could therefore be fundamental to improving reproductive success of captive-reared animals. Methodology/Principle Findings: In support of other studies, our histological analyses of developing oocytes revealed differences between wild-caught and captive-reared P. monodon, including reduced lipid accumulation in oocytes of captive-reared animals. We have employed oligonucleotide microarray analysis to compare expression profiles of genes involved in ovarian maturation among wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Custom oligonucleotide microarrays were constructed and screened with transcripts derived from the ovary, cephalothorax and eyestalk from animals of all ovarian maturation stages. Ovarian maturation-related differential expression patterns were observed for 111 transcripts, with 53 transcripts displaying differential expression between wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Notably transcripts encoding vitellogenin - the major egg yolk protein precursor, and a lipid storage droplet protein (which we named pmLSD) which is involved in lipid accumulation, were found to be more highly expressed in wild-caught animals. pmLSD transcripts localise to pre-vitellogenic oocytes of wild-caught animals and the pmLSD protein is exclusively localised to the surface of lipid droplets of oocytes at vitellogenic and cortical rod stages. We have employed oligonucleotide microarray analysis to compare expression profiles of genes involved in ovarian maturation among wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Target preparation and microarray hybridisation. Ovarian RNA samples from nine wild-caught animals representing six ovarian maturation stages (P, 2, 24, V, R, E) were used in microarray hybridisations. Similarly, RNA samples from three captive-reared animals representing four maturation stages (P, 24, V, E) were used in microarray hybridisations. For wild-caught animals, samples from each ovarian maturation stage were pooled into groups of four and five, enabling two hybridisations. For captive-reared animals, samples from each ovarian maturation stage from all three animals were pooled enabling one hybridisation for each stage. Importantly, as the four stages for captive-reared animals were (1) pre-ablation pre-vitellogenic, (2) post-ablation pre-vitellogenic, (3) post-ablation vitellogenic, (4) post-ablation vitellogenic with cortical rods, this arrangement allowed for 2 samples of captive-reared pre-vitellogenic and 2 samples of captive-reared vitellogenic, thereby enabling t-tests between samples, while also allowing analysis across the whole 4 stages via cluster analysis. All hybridisations were single channel hybridisations conducted using equal amounts of RNA pooled from each individual.

Dataset Information

Molecular characterisation of adipose tissue in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Publications

Molecular characterization of adipose tissue in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

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