1,721,019 research outputs found
Genetic and phenotypic characterization of the Maremmano horse stud in Castelporziano
No full textThe Maremmano is an indigenous Italian horse
probably descending from the native breed of the Etruscans
(800 BC) bred in Maremma areal that spans from Southern
Tuscany to Northern Latium. The Maremmano breed rep-
resents an important cultural resource in Italy as in the past
was used as the symbiotic counterpart of the re-known
‘‘Butteri’’ (the Italian cowboys). After a period of oblivion,
in the early eighties, the breeders decided to find an asso-
ciation and to refresh the procedures of selection with the
institution of a Performance test for stallions and mares. In
this context one of the main studs is the one held in the
Presidential Estate of Castelporziano that represents one of
the most important stocks of Maremmano. We character-
ized both via genetic evaluation and molecular analysis at
certain loci this important stud and compared these values
with the entire population, revealing that Castelporziano’s
stud has one of the most interesting stock together with
higher genetic evaluations
Variation of DNA methylation and phenotypic traits following unilateral sexual polyploidization in Medicago
No full textSexual hybridization is an important
generator of biodiversity and a powerful breeding tool.
Hybridization can also overcome ploidy barriers when
it involves 2n gametes, as in the case of unilateral
sexual polyploidization (USP) that has been utilized in
several crops, among which alfalfa. This research was
aimed at gaining insights into the effects of USP on
genome methylation and on phenotypic traits in alfalfa,
an important forage species. The Methylation-Sensitive
Amplified Polymorphism technique was used to
estimate the cytosine methylation changes occurring
in a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 32) USP progeny from
crosses between a diploid Medicago sativa subsp.
falcata genotype that produces 2n eggs and a cultivated
tetraploid Medicago sativa subsp. sativa variety. De
novo methylation or demethylation in the USP progeny
were observed for 13% of the detected genomic sites,
indicating that methylation changes can be relevant.
USP plants showed larger surface area of the leaf epidermis cells than both parents, but this did not result
in larger leaf size or higher plant biomass. They
displayed significant higher ovule sterility than the
tetraploid parent, but normal fertility was observed in
crosses with unrelated male testers. We conclude that
hybridization and sexual polyploidization resulted in
novel variation in terms of remodeling of the methylation
landscape as well as changes in phenotypic traits
in alfalfa
A new selectable marker gene from alfalfa
No full textAbstract comunicazione orale 12th Congress of the International Association of Plant Biotechnology and 2010 In vitro Biology Meeting, St. Louis, MO, USA, June 6-11, 2010
BIPARENTAL PLASTID INHERITANCE IN MEDICAGO SATIVA REASSESSED USING PLASTOME POLYMORPHISMS
No full textCongresso nazionale periodic
Comparison between 800K and 54K in Genome Wide Association Studies for production and morphologic traits in Italian Holstein
No full textDifferential Effects of Dietary Oregano Essential Oil on the Inflammation Related Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Outdoor and Indoor Reared Pigs
Full text linkIntensive farming systems represent a stressful environment for pigs and negatively influence neuroendocrine functions, behavior, and performance. Outdoor farming is an alternative option, which is thought to imply several beneficial effects for the animal. Dietary essential oils are known to be an innovative strategy to improve pig health and performance, and oregano essential oil (ORE) possesses beneficial effects due to its antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties. We tested the effect of dietary ORE on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 36 growing pigs, either reared under indoor or outdoor conditions. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) assay was used to evaluate the effect of diet (control vs. ORE) and the time of sampling (T1-120 days vs. T2-190 days) on the expression of inflammatory and immune-related genes (TNF, IL1beta, IL8, IL18, IL10, IL1RN, STAT3, HSP90, ICAM-1, and NFKB1). Under outdoor condition, the majority of transcripts were upregulated (p < 0.05), assuming a general inflammatory status (TNF, HSP90, NFKB1, IL1beta, and STAT3). However, an interaction between diet and the farming system was observed: HSP90, NFKB1, and STAT3 were downregulated (p < 0.05) in the outdoor reared pigs when fed the ORE diet. Our study showed that bioactive compounds of ORE exert their activity, especially when the animals are exposed to stressful stimuli. Dietary ORE can be an acceptable strategy to help pigs tolerate the stress related to the harsh, outdoor, rearing conditions
Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Maremmano horse breed: new genetic insights of an ancient Etruscan connection
No full textMicroarray analysis after strenuous exercise in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of endurance horses
No full textIt is known that moderate physical activity may have beneficial effects on health, whereas strenuous effort induces a state resembling inflammation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular response to exercise remain unclear, although it is clear that the immune system plays a key role. It has been hypothesized that the physio-pathological condition that develops in athletes subjected to heavy training is caused by derangement of cellular immune regulation. The purpose of the present study was to obtain information on endurance horse gene transcription under strenuous conditions and to identify candidate genes causing immune system derangement. We performed a wide gene expression scan, using microarray technology, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ten horses chosen from high-level participants in national and international endurance races. The use of three different timepoints revealed changes in gene expression when post-effort samples (T1, taken immediately after the race; and T2, taken 24 h after the race) were compared with basal sample (T0, at rest). Statistical analysis showed no differences in gene expression between T0 and T2 samples, indicating complete restoration of homeostasis by 24 h after racing, whereas T1 showed strong modulation of expression, affecting 132 genes (97 upregulated, 35 downregulated). Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that the main mechanisms and biofunctions involved were significantly associated with immunological and inflammatory responses. Real-time PCR was performed on 26 gene products to validate the array data
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