No abstract

The relationship between smoking and human health has been investigated mostly in adults, despite the fact that the chemicals originating from sustained maternal smoking disrupt the carefully orchestrated regulatory cascades in the developing fetus. In this study, we followed molecular alterations in the umbilical cord (UC) vessels and fetal red blood cells (RBCs), which faithfully reflect the in vivo status of the fetus. We showed evidence for the decreased level of DNA-PKcs-positive nuclei in samples with smoking origin, which is associated with the impaired DNA repair system. Furthermore, we pointed out the altered ratio of MMP-9 metalloproteinase and its endogenous inhibitor TIMP-1, which might be a possible explanation for the morphological abnormalities in the UC vessels. The presented in vivo dataset emphasizes the higher vulnerability of the veins, as the primary target for the toxic materials unfiltered by the placenta. All these events become amplified by the functionally impaired fetal RBC population via a crosstalk mechanism between the vessel endothelium and the circulating RBCs. In our ex vivo approach, we looked for the molecular explanation of metal-exposure-induced alterations, where expressions of the selected genes were upregulated in the control group, while samples with smoking origin showed a lack of response, indicative of prior long-term in utero exposure.

Genomic DNA was extracted from tissue specimens of wild boars (Sus scrofa) in 10 different locations Mongolia. D-loop part of genome was amplified by PCR and was subjected to DNA sequencing. Determined sequences from 18 specimens were registered with the GenBank and accession numbers were obtained. A total of 54 complete mitochondrial D-loop sequences of wild boars available with NCBI GenBank were taken as a reference for comparison with that of Mongolian wild boars. Sequence alignment, detection of parsimonious informative sites, model selection, calculation of nucleotide distances, and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree construction with 1000 bootstrapped replications were conducted using MEGA X software. Maximum Likelihood trees were constructed by the Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano (HKY) model. The results of the study showed that geographic location played an important role in sequence divergence between wild boars from various locations. Most of them were grouped together according to their respective geographic locations, except for several individuals. It is highly likely that the Mongolian subpopulation of wild boars, such as S. scrofa raddianus and S. scrofa nigripes, have had the same ancestor. In order to fully evaluate the distribution, ecology, and biology of Mongolian wild boars, it is essential to compare supplemental gene sequences that can reveal phylogenetic differences from the populations in the neighboring areas, such as Russia, northeast China, and Kazakhstan. The results of this study will be useful and informative for the protecting and conserving of wild boars in Mongolia.

Specimens of Mongolian wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Arkhangai, Dornod, Zavkhan, Orkhon, Ovorkhangai, Selenge, Tuv, Khovd, Khuvsgul and Uvs aimags (provinces) were subjected to DNA sequencing. Determined sequences from 18 specimens were registered into the GenBank and accession numbers were obtained. In this study mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequences of Mongolian wild boars were analyzed with 36 complete sequences of 12S rRNA gene of wild boar (Sus scrofa) available at NCBI GenBank. Sequence alignment, detection of parsimonious informative sites, model selection, calculation of nucleotide distances and tree construction with 1000 bootstrapped replications were conducted using MEGA 6. Maximum likelihood trees were constructed by the HKY model. A maximum likelihood tree with 53 complete sequences of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene of Sus scrofa was constructed. Mongolian sequences from the same and adjacent locations were clustered together. European sequences were clustered together, additionally two sequences from south western China and two sequences from south eastern China were also clustered. Additionally, 12S rRNA gene sequences of Mongolian Sus scrofa, located between Asian and European sequences suggesting geographical location of Mongolia, played an important role in the gene flow between Asian and European wild boar population.