Red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var.) is an ornamental fish with vivid red/orange color. It has been found that the adult body color of this strain forms a gray-to-red change. In this study, skin transcriptomes of red crucian carp are first obtained for three different stages of body color development, named by gray-color (GC), color-variation (CV), and red-color (RC) stages, respectively. From the skins of GC, CV, and RC, 103,229; 108,208; and 120,184 transcripts have been identified, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that 2483, 2967, and 4473 unigenes are differentially expressed between CV and GC, RC and CV, and RC and GC, respectively. A part of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are involved in the signaling pathway of pigment synthesis, such as the melanogenesis genes (Mitfa, Pax3a, Foxd3, Mc1r, Asip); tyrosine metabolism genes (Tyr, Dct, Tyrp1, Silva, Tat, Hpda); and pteridine metabolism genes (Gch, Xdh, Ptps, Tc). According to the data of transcriptome and quantitative PCR, the expression of Mitfa and its regulated genes which include the genes of Tyr, Tyrp1, Dct, Tfe3a, and Baxα, decreases with gray-to-red change. It is suggested that Mitfa and some genes, being related to melanin synthesis or melanophore development, are closely related to the gray-to-red body color transformation in the red crucian carp. Furthermore, the DEGs of cell apoptosis and autophagy pathway, such as Tfe3a, Baxα, Hsp70, Beclin1, Lc3, Atg9a, and Atg4a, might be involved in the melanocytes fade away of juvenile fish. These results shed light on the regulation mechanism of gray-to-red body color transformation in red crucian carp, and are helpful to the selective breeding of ornamental fish strains.

YS specially thanks XX for her support and guidance. YS acknowledges JZ and Ming Qi for their help in various aspects.

Ethanolamine (Etn) contained in milk is the base constituent of phosphatidylethanolamine and is required for the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and bacteria, which is important for maintenance of the gut microbiome and intestinal development. The present study investigated the effect of Etn on intestinal function and microbiome using 21-d-old Sprague–Dawley rats treated with 0, 250, 500 and 1000 μmEtn in drinking water for 2 weeks immediately after weaning. Growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and mucosal immunity, as well as gut microbiota community composition, were evaluated. Metagenomic prediction and metabolic phenotype analysis based on 16S RNA sequencing were also carried out to assess changes in metabolic functions. We found that weaned rats administered 500 μmEtn enhanced mucosal antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels in the jejunum (P<0·05) compared with those in the control group. Predominant microbes including Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Elusimicrobia and Tenericutes were altered by different levels of Etn compared with the control group. An Etn concentration of 500 µmshifted colonic microbial metabolic functions that are in favour of lipid- and sugar-related metabolism and biosynthesis. Etn also altered the metabolic phenotypes such as anaerobic microbial counts, and oxidative stress tolerance at over 250 µm. This is the first report for a role of Etn in modifying gut microbiota and intestinal functions. Our findings highlighted the important role of Etn in shaping gut microbial community and promotes intestinal functions, which may provide a better insight of breast-feeding to infant’s gut health.

Dcyiri.tr?imt of Orthopiirilics. Broivn l h i r m i t y unri AbstractMagnetic resonance arthrography, a procedure where contrast agents containing gadolinium are administered intra-articularly, has become a useful tool in musculoskeletal diagnosis. Although considered safe for systemic use. toxicities in some tissues have been identified for both free gadolinium ion and the gadolinium chelates used as contrast. In this study, the effects of short-term exposure of articular chondrocytes to gadolinium contrast were examined by assaying for proteoglycan synthesis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Bovine chondrocytes were grown in monolayer culture and exposed to gadodiainide for 16 h. Proteoglycan synthesis was measured through incorporation of radiolabeled sulfate. Uptake of radiolabeled thymidine assessed cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL assay, where DNA strand breaks characteristic of apoptosis are labeled with fluorescent nucleotide. Proteoglycan synthesis was stimulated by lower dose exposure to gadodiamide. At higher doses, proteoglycan synthesis returned to baseline. Cell proliferation decreased following exposure to gadodiamide in a dose-dependent manner. Chondrocyte apoptosis was induced in a dose-dependent manner. Further work is needed to determine if these in vitro effects are present in the intact joint.