Effects of 5-Aza-dc and alcohol on DNMTs and Ntf3/TrkC expressions in the mPFC.

<p>Fig 5A shows representative immunoblots and total protein image. 5-Aza-dc decreased the protein level of DNMT1 (B), whereas it reversed the alcohol-induced overexpression of DNMT3A (C) and DNMT3B (D). 5-Aza-dc prevented the Ntf3 reduction induced by chronic alcohol exposure (E) but had no effect on TrkC (F). (G) Differential expression of mRNA for DNMTs, Ntf3 and TrkC. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, differences compared to the Water+DMSO group; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.01, differences compared to the other corresponding groups; n = 8/group.</p

5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine in the medial prefrontal cortex regulates alcohol-related behavior and Ntf3-TrkC expression in rats - Fig 4

<p>(A) Schematic illustrations and representative photomicrographs of the intracranial cannula infusion sites in the mPFC. 5-Aza-dc infusion decreased alcohol intake (B) and alcohol preference (C) in alcohol-exposure rats, corresponding to the reduced blood alcohol levels (F). (D) The alcohol preference in water- and alcohol-exposure rats at 1d and 5d after 5-Aza-dc treatment. (E) 5-Aza-dc did not affect the total fluid intake. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05 indicate differences from the Alcohol+DMSO group. #### p < 0.0001, differences compared to Water+DMSO group. (G) 5-Aza-dc had no effect on the locomotor activity of alcohol-exposure rats. (H) 5-Aza-dc decreased the exploration time in the center in alcohol-exposure rats. * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001, differences compared to the Water+DMSO group; p < 0.05, differences compared to the Alcohol+DMSO group; ## p < 0.01, differences compared to Water+5-Aza-dc group; n = 8/group.</p

General experimental design.

<p>In experiment 1 (A), rats were randomly divided into an alcohol-exposure group (n = 12) and a water-exposure group (n = 12). After baseline drinking, alchol-exposure rats underwent TBCT for 5 consecutive days, and water-exposure rats underwent TBCT at the first and fifth day. Alcohol-exposure group then received alcohol solution as the only liquid source for 5 weeks and water-exposure group received water ad libitum. Next, rats were evaluated for alcohol drinking by TBCT for another 5 days. Then animals were decapitated immediately and brain tissues were collected. In experiment 2 (B), all rats underwent the same protocol as which in experiment 1. Then, rats were randomly divided into four groups, Water+DMSO, Water+5-Aza-dc, Alcohol+DMSO, and Alcohol+5-Aza-dc (n = 8/group) groups, and received mPFC stereotactic surgery followed by recovery for a total of 9 days. Subsequently, rats underwent bilateral intra-mPFC injections of 5-Aza-dc or DMSO at days 1, 3, and 5 followed by 6% (v/v) alcohol or water exposure 30 min later. Alcohol intake and TBCT were monitored every day. After the last TBCT, mPFC were collected.</p

Demographic and addiction characteristics of <i>DCC</i> SNP rs16956878.

<p>Demographic and addiction characteristics of <i>DCC</i> SNP rs16956878.</p

A Population-Based Study of Four Genes Associated with Heroin Addiction in Han Chinese

<div><p>Recent studies have shown that variants in FAT atypical cadherin 3 (<i>FAT3</i>), kinectin 1 (<i>KTN1</i>), discs large homolog2 (<i>DLG2</i>) and deleted in colorectal cancer (<i>DCC</i>) genes influence the structure of the human mesolimbic reward system. We conducted a systematic analysis of the potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes associated with heroin addiction. We scanned the functional regions of these genes and identified 20 SNPs for genotyping by using the SNaPshot method. A total of 1080 samples, comprising 523 cases and 557 controls, were analyzed. We observed that <i>DCC</i> rs16956878, rs12607853, and rs2292043 were associated with heroin addiction. The T alleles of rs16956878 (<i>p</i> = 0.0004) and rs12607853 (<i>p</i> = 0.002) were significantly enriched in the case group compared with the controls. A lower incidence of the C allele of rs2292043 (<i>p</i> = 0.002) was observed in the case group. In block 2 of DCC (rs2292043-rs12607853-rs16956878), the frequency of the T-T-T haplotype was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.024), and fewer C-C-C haplotypes (<i>p</i> = 0.006) were detected in the case group. <i>DCC</i> may be an important candidate gene in heroin addiction, and rs16956878, rs12607853, and rs2292043 may be risk factors, thereby providing a basis for further genetic and biological research.</p></div

The results of gene-gene interactions using MDR.

<p>The results of gene-gene interactions using MDR.</p

Genotypic and allelic frequencies of gene polymorphisms in the control and case group and statistical results.

<p>Genotypic and allelic frequencies of gene polymorphisms in the control and case group and statistical results.</p

Image_1.JPEG

<p>Theileria annulata, a tick-borne apicomplexan protozoan, causes a lymphoproliferative disease of cattle with high prevalence in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of local populations will provide more fundamental knowledge for the population genetics and epidemics of protozoa. In this study, 78 samples of T. annulata collected from cattle/yaks representing 6 different geographic populations in China were genotyped using eight micro- and mini-satellite markers. High genetic variation within population, moderate genetic differentiation, and high level of diversity co-occurring with significant linkage disequilibrium were observed, which indicates there is gene flow between these populations in spite of the existence of reproductive and geographical barriers among populations. Furthermore, some degree of genetic differentiation was also found between samples from China and Oman. These findings provide a first glimpse of the genetic diversity of the T. annulata populations in China, and might contribute to the knowledge of distribution, dynamics, and epidemiology of T. annulata populations and optimize the management strategies for control.</p

Table_1.DOCX

<p>Theileria annulata, a tick-borne apicomplexan protozoan, causes a lymphoproliferative disease of cattle with high prevalence in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of local populations will provide more fundamental knowledge for the population genetics and epidemics of protozoa. In this study, 78 samples of T. annulata collected from cattle/yaks representing 6 different geographic populations in China were genotyped using eight micro- and mini-satellite markers. High genetic variation within population, moderate genetic differentiation, and high level of diversity co-occurring with significant linkage disequilibrium were observed, which indicates there is gene flow between these populations in spite of the existence of reproductive and geographical barriers among populations. Furthermore, some degree of genetic differentiation was also found between samples from China and Oman. These findings provide a first glimpse of the genetic diversity of the T. annulata populations in China, and might contribute to the knowledge of distribution, dynamics, and epidemiology of T. annulata populations and optimize the management strategies for control.</p

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Population structure of Haemonchus contortus from seven geographical regions in China, determined on the basis of microsatellite markers

Locations of seven populations of Haemonchus contortus in China. (TIF 2529 kb