Project description:Lion-head goose is the only large goose species in China, and it was one of the largest goose species in the world. Our previous study firstly reported a chromosome-level genome assembly of Lion-head goose (Anser cygnoides), a native breed in South China, through the combination of PacBio, Bionano, and Hi-C technologies. The fat content of foie gras is augmented during its preparation due to the special feeding regimen. Lion-head geese have a strong tolerance of massive energy intake and show a priority of fat accumulation in liver tissue. In this study, we studied for the first time the important differential genes that regulate fatty liver in Lion-head goose. After high-intake feeding, the fatty livers of Lion-head geese were distinctly characterized. The revelation of gene regulation is an important basis for the study of liver development and molecular characteristics for the Lion-head goose. To analyze the excellent fatty liver performance of Lion-head goose at the molecular level, we performed whole transcriptome analysis by high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze the key regulatory genes that determine the fatty livers in high-intake feeding group compared with the normal livers in normally-fed Lion-head geese. We identified 716 differentially expressed mRNAs, 145 differentially expressed circRNAs, and 39 differentially expressed lncRNAs in the fatty livers in high-intake feeding group compared with the normal livers in normally-fed Lion-head geese, including upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively. GO enrichment analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in molecular function, involved in extracellular regions, DNA-binding transcription factor activity, extracellular matrix, heme binding and other life activities. We chose differentially expressed genes involved in either upregulation or downregulation, and we additionally confirmed the accuracy of sequencing at the RNA level. In summary, our research suggested that these differentially expressed genes may play important roles in fatty liver development in Lion-head goose. However, the functions and mechanisms of these significantly differentially expressed genes should be investigated in future studies.
Project description:C57BL/6 mice underwent early postnatal overfeeding by litter size reduction (3 pups/dam, instead of 10 pups/dam, in postatally normally fed mice). These overfeeding conditions lead to early and permanent modifications of body weight and to an increase in body fat mass in the adulthood. When these postnatally overfed mice become adult, they develop several cardio-metabolic alterations (mild hypertension, impairment of heart contractility, remodeling, fibrosis, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia) but also increases in markers of cardiac and plasma oxidative stress. Moreover, we observed a higher sensitivity of the heart to injuries induced by ischemia reperfusion, such as an increase in necrosis. We now aim to establish if these late-coming modifications might be induced in a very early state of postnatal development, such as a postnatal programming situation. To achieve this objective, we are now comparing heart gene expression between 24 days old postnatally overfed and normally fed mice. Comparison of heart gene expression between 24 days old postnatally overfed and normally fed mice.
Project description:In group-living animals, social context is known to modulate physiology, behaviour and reproductive output as well as foraging and nutritional strategies. Here we investigate the digestive efficiency of 38 individuals belonging to different social categories of a semi-feral and individually marked flock of greylag geese (Anser anser). During 9 consecutive days in winter 2017, when the ground was fully covered with snow (i.e. no grass or other natural forage available) and the accessible food was standardized, 184 individual droppings were collected and analysed to estimate the apparent digestibility of organic matter (ADOM). Lignin was used as an indigestible internal marker in the food and droppings. The digestive efficiency was higher in pairs with offspring as compared to pairs without offspring or unpaired birds. Furthermore, individuals with high ADOM were more likely to breed successfully in the following season than those with low ADOM. Our findings demonstrate that social status modulates digestive efficiency, probably via a chain of physiological mechanisms including a dampened stress response in individuals enjoying stable social relationships with and social support by their family members (i.e. their own pair-partner and offspring). Our findings underline the importance of the social network in modulating physiology, such as digestive efficiency, and ultimately reproductive success.
Project description:The unique fat storage and metabolic characteristics of goose liver is an important model for studying lipid metabolism in animals or humans. In this study, RNA sequencing technology was used to obtain the liver transcriptome of Sichuan white goose with significant weight difference in the same population, and differentially expressed genes and their pathways were identified, which may help to understand the mechanism of goose weight change. In addition, the identified candidate genes may be useful for molecular breeding of geese.
Project description:BACKGROUND:The lack of a sufficient number of molecular markers seriously limits the cognition of genetic relationships within and between populations of many species. Likewise, the genetic diversity of domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus), with a great number of breeds throughout the world, remains poorly understood at the molecular level. FINDINGS:Thirty-five goose, seventeen duck and eight chicken microsatellite primer pairs were screened for their utility in the cross-species amplification on DNA from 96 individuals of Zatorska breed of domestic geese. Twenty-seven of 42 amplifying primer pairs revealed length-polymorphic products, but three of them were difficult to score. Fifteen primer pairs amplifying the same length product across all individuals. One polymorphic microsatellite locus was assigned by genotyping of known sex individuals to the Z-chromosome. CONCLUSIONS:We present a set of 24 polymorphic microsatellite markers useful for population genetic studies of the domestic goose. Another 15 markers were classified as monomorphic, but they might also be suitable for the assessment of genetic diversity in geese.
Project description:Purpose: To understand the function differences of goose at broody and breeding stage Methods: RNA-seq analysis of oviduct tissues in reproductive and broody goose Results: Our study screened differential expressed mRNA and pathways involved in broodiness Conclusions:The differential expressed mRNA and pathways identified in this study may contribute to understand the broodiness occurs in goose
Project description:The objectives of this study were to achieve phenotypic characterization of three domestic Egyptian goose populations collected from three different geographical zones (Kafr El-Sheikh, Fayoum and Luxor) and to perform genetic characterization of these three populations based on mtDNA D-loop and 12 microsatellite markers. The body measurements of 402 domestic mature geese belonging to these three governorates showed that the lengths of the head, culmen and tarsus and the live body weight varied significantly among the three studied Egyptian goose populations. After alignment of a 710-base-pair segment of the goose mtDNA control region, there was a single haplotype in the three Egyptian goose populations, indicating the same maternal origins. The genotyping of the 12 microsatellite markers showed low diversity indices, including average observed (NA) and effective (NE) number of alleles and observed (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) (3.333, 1.760, 0.277 and 0.352, respectively), and a high inbreeding coefficient (FIS = 0.203) across the three Egyptian goose populations. The high inbreeding and low genetic and morphological differentiation of Egyptian geese could be corrected by establishing a large base population through capturing small populations with the highest genetic variation. The findings of the current study can therefore serve as an initial guide to design further investigations for developing conservation programs of Egyptian geese genetic resources.
Project description:C57BL/6 mice underwent early postnatal overfeeding by litter size reduction (3 pups/dam, instead of 10 pups/dam, in postatally normally fed mice). These overfeeding conditions lead to early and permanent modifications of body weight and to an increase in body fat mass in the adulthood. When these postnatally overfed mice become adult, they develop several cardio-metabolic alterations (mild hypertension, impairment of heart contractility, remodeling, fibrosis, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia) but also increases in markers of cardiac and plasma oxidative stress. Moreover, we observed a higher sensitivity of the heart to injuries induced by ischemia reperfusion, such as an increase in necrosis. We now aim to establish if these late-coming modifications might be induced in a very early state of postnatal development, such as a postnatal programming situation. To achieve this objective, we are now comparing heart gene expression between 24 days old postnatally overfed and normally fed mice.
Project description:Birds that fly over mountain barriers must be capable of meeting the increased energetic cost of climbing in low-density air, even though less oxygen may be available to support their metabolism. This challenge is magnified by the reduction in maximum sustained climbing rates in large birds. Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) make one of the highest and most iconic transmountain migrations in the world. We show that those populations of geese that winter at sea level in India are capable of passing over the Himalayas in 1 d, typically climbing between 4,000 and 6,000 m in 7-8 h. Surprisingly, these birds do not rely on the assistance of upslope tailwinds that usually occur during the day and can support minimum climb rates of 0.8-2.2 km·h(-1), even in the relative stillness of the night. They appear to strategically avoid higher speed winds during the afternoon, thus maximizing safety and control during flight. It would seem, therefore, that bar-headed geese are capable of sustained climbing flight over the passes of the Himalaya under their own aerobic power.