Effects of acute ammonia exposure and post-exposure recovery on nonspecific immunity in Clam Cyclina sinensis

This study aimed to assess the toxicity of ammonia on clam Cyclina sinensis and the post-exposure recovery. With increased exposure to TAN, the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities after exposure showed a trend of growing initially and subsequently decreasing, whereas the AKP activities after post-exposure recovery showed an increasing trend. The AKP activities after post-exposure recovery were significantly higher than those in control. The acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in T1 and T2 after post-exposure recovery were higher than those in the control, whereas the ACP activities in T3, T4, and T5 after post-exposure recovery were significantly higher than those in the control. The lysozyme (LZM) activities in T1 and T2 after exposure were significantly higher than those in control, whereas the LZM activities in T3, T4, and T5 after exposure were significantly lower than those in the control. Overall, ACP and LZM in the clams exposed to a low level of TAN (≤ 40 mg/L) can recover to the normal levels completely. However, a 48h recovery period scarcely seems adequate to compensate for AKP, ACP, and LZM activities in the clams exposed to a high level of TAN (> 40 mg/L)

Effects of morphological traits on living body weight of wild Cyclina sinensis in different geographical populations

Eleven coastal geographical populations of wild Cyclina sinensis in China were collected in February 2020, and the effects of four morphological traits (shell length; shell height; shell width; external ligament length) on one weight trait (living body weight) were studied by correlation analysis, path analysis, determination coefficient analysis, and regression analyses. The statistical results showed that the coefficient of body weight variation was generally greater than morphological traits(P＜0.05). The correlation analysis results showed that the coefficient of correlation between morphological traits (except for external ligament length) and body weight are significantly positive (P＜0.05) in all populations. Based on the results of path analysis and determination coefficient analysis, shell length has the greatest direct effect on body weight in the Yancheng population; shell height has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Dandong, Fuzhou and Tangshan populations; shell width has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Zhanjiang, Wenzhou, Dongtai, Ningbo, Tianjin, Dongying, and Wanning populations. Multiple regression equations were obtained with body weight as the dependent variable, shell length, height, and width and external ligament length as independent variables. The results of systematic clustering showed that there are no apparent geographical differentiation characteristics among eleven geographical populations in morphology. This study provided a scientific basis for selective and genetic breeding and can guide the development and utilization of wild C. sinensis seed resources

Environmental adaptation, growth performance and nutrient content of the clam Cyclina sinensis from different geographic locations

The clam Cyclina sinensis is an economically important marine species in China. However, overfishing, habitat destruction, and inbreeding have led to the destruction of genetic resources. In this study, five natural populations [Dandong (DD), Dongying (DY), Tianjin (TJ), Wenzhou (WZ), and Yancheng (YC)] from different geographical locations were relocated and cultured homogeneously to study their potential for translocation and environmental adaptation by observing growth performance and nutrient content. There were significant differences in the growth rates of shell length (SL), shell height (SH), and shell width (SW) among the five populations (P<0.05). The DD, TJ, and YC populations exhibited the highest SL and SH growth rates, whereas these were lowest in the WZ population. The survival rate was highest in the YC population and lowest in the WZ population, which was significantly lower than the other four populations (P<0.05). The DD population exhibited superior plumpness and glycogen content, and the overall glycogen content in male C. sinensis was higher compared with that in females (P<0.05). All populations displayed a high total amino acid content and the essential amino acid/Total Amino Acid (EAA/TAA) and Non-essential amino acid/Total Amino Acid (NEAA/TAA) ratios in the soft tissue of all five populations aligned with the FAO/WHO ideal protein evaluation standards. Despite the same aquaculture environment, however, the nutrient composition of C. sinensis sampled from different populations varied significantly (P<0.05).Therefore, ex situ conservation did not eliminate nutritional differences between the different populations of C. sinensis. These findings highlight the importance of considering environmental and ecological factors in the nutritional assessment and cultivation of shellfish. In addition, C. sinensis from sampling sites closer to the transplantation sites had higher survival rates and growth rates, and the gonadal development of all populations showed adaption to the local environment, resulting in synchronization of the reproductive period

Association between Ghrelin gene (GHRL) polymorphisms and clinical response to atypical antipsychotic drugs in Han Chinese schizophrenia patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ghrelin (<it>GHRL</it>) is a pivotal peptide regulator of food intake, energy balance, and body mass. Weight gain (WG) is a common side effect of the atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) used to treat schizophrenia (SZ). Ghrelin polymorphisms have been associated with pathogenic variations in plasma lipid concentrations, blood pressure, plasma glucose, and body mass index (BMI). However, it is unclear whether <it>GHRL </it>polymorphisms are associated with WG due to AAPs. Furthermore, there is no evidence of an association between <it>GHRL </it>polymorphisms and SZ or the therapeutic response to AAPs. We explored these potential associations by genotyping <it>GHRL </it>alleles in SZ patients and controls. We also examined the relation between these SNPs and changes in metabolic indices during AAP treatment in SZ subgroups distinguished by high or low therapeutic response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four SNPs (Leu72Met, -501A/C, -604 G/A, and -1062 G > C) were genotyped in 634 schizophrenia patients and 606 control subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant differences in allele frequencies, genotype distributions, or the distributions of two SNP haplotypes between SZ patients and healthy controls (<it>P </it>> 0.05). There was also no significant difference in symptom reduction between genotypes after 8 weeks of AAP treatment as measured by positive and negative symptom scale scores (PANSS). However, the -604 G/A polymorphism was associated with a greater BMI increase in response to AAP administration in both APP responders and non-responders as distinguished by PANSS score reduction (<it>P </it>< 0.001). There were also significant differences in WG when the responder group was further subdivided according to the specific AAP prescribed (<it>P </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These four <it>GHRL </it>gene SNPs were not associated with SZ in this Chinese Han population. The -604 G/A polymorphism was associated with significant BW and BMI increases during AAP treatment. Patients exhibiting higher WG showed greater improvements in positive and negative symptoms than patients exhibiting lower weight gain or weight loss.</p

Kinematics and dynamics of salt tectonics in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado : field observations and scaled modeling

Scaled physical models were used to investigate initiation of salt tectonics driven by progradation and by thick-skinned extension and to investigate modification of pre-existing diapirs by subsequent regional extension and shortening, salt withdrawal and dissolution. Combined field mapping and physical modeling were used to investigate salt tectonics in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado. In the scaled physical models, prograding sediment wedges expelled the underlying salt basinward by differential loading. Wedges were folded into expulsion rollovers. Where the base of salt was flat, the salt uniformly inflated the salt layer distally, whereas salt accumulated above the basement steps to form salt structures in basin with basement steps that faced proximally. Deformation advanced basinward and created a series of basinward-younging structures. During thick-skinned extension, a thick source layer, slow extension, low salt viscosity, and small synextensional basement grabens strongly decoupled the deformation in the overburden from the extending basement. Conversely, where salt was thin and extension was rapid, basement faulting deformed the overburden into a forced fold cored by a salt pillow which could mature into a diapir. Because salt is weak, buried diapirs and their roofs localized subsequent regional deformation. During regional extension, diapirs rose reactively below the crestal faults where the source layer was thick and extension was slow; conversely, diapirs subsided where the source layer was depleted and the extension was rapid. During regional shortening, diapirs rose actively. Reverse faults and buckle folds formed in the roof above the diapirs. Salt withdrawal and dissolution formed a fault-bounded trough in the overburden above a vanishing diapir. The trough profile was a mirror image of that of the initial diapir and had inner contractional and outer extensional zones of faults. The above experimentally based observations were combined with field and seismic data from the Paradox Basin, leading to the following conclusions: (1) The Paradox diapirs were initiated by progradation of the late Paleozoic Cutler wedges into the basin. (2) Late Eocene to Oligocene regional extension deformed the diapirs and formed crestal faults, and fault-displacement and fault-bend folds. (3) Late Cretaceous to Eocene Laramide shortening had negligible effects on the gentle folds in the basin. (4) Salt dissolution had minor effects on crestal faults above the Paradox diapirs.Geological Science

Effect of salinity on growth performance and resistance of the clam Cyclina sinensis against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection

We examined the growth performance, immune parameters and the susceptibility to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the clam Cyclina sinensis, which had been reared at different salinity levels of 10‰, 20‰ and 30‰ for 60 days. At the end of the feeding experiment, the biggest shell length and body weight was found in 20‰, followed by 30‰ and 10‰. No significant differences in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed among the clams held in 10‰, 20‰ and 30‰. Na+/K+ -ATPase (NKA) activity of the clams held in 20‰ and 30‰ were significantly lower than that in group 10‰. The lowest activities of lysozyme (LZM) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were found in group 10‰. The Integrated Biomarker Response index (IBR) values of the clams had an inverse relationship with salinity: 11.28, 3.40 and 2.85 in 10‰, 20‰ and 30‰, respectively. At the end of the feeding experiment, the clams were infected with V. parahaemolyticus. As time after infection goes on, the survival rate of clams reared in 20‰ was not significantly different with the other two treatments from 24 to 48h after infection. However, from 72 to 120h after infection, it was significantly lower than those reared in 10‰, while it was significantly higher than those reared in 30‰. It is concluded that the clam C. sinensis reared in 10‰ seawater may reduce growth performance and immune ability, whereas increase resistance against V. parahaemolyticus infection

Population Genetic Analysis of Rainbow Clam Moerella iridescens by Using rDNA

To assess the genetic background of the germplasm resource of rainbow clam Moerella iridescens along China coasts, population genetic structure and genetic diversity of rainbow clam from five geographical populations in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea (Lianyungang, Chongming, Cixi, Zhoushan, and Ningde) were analyzed based on rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) sequences. Forty-Seven rDNA haplotypes were identified among 109 rainbow clam individuals of the five populations. Gen4 and Gen21 were the dominant haplotypes, accounting for 49.5% of rDNA whole gene sequences, and shared by the five populations. Six to eight exclusive haplotypes were found in each population. The average haplotype diversity index (HD) of the five populations was 0.8733. The genetic distance among populations ranged from 0.002 to 0.004, and haplotypes from the same population were not clustered in a single clade. Molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) demonstrated that the main genetic differentiation mainly occurred within population, and the genetic differentiation coefficient (FST) among five populations was between -0.02836 and 0.01896, which meant that no genetic differentiation among populations occurred. Overall, the five geographical populations showed a high genetic diversity, but no evident genetic structure or genetic differentiation