Sexual size dimorphism has been widely observed in a large number of animals including fish species. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a powerful tool to dissect the genetic basis of complex traits, whereas the sex-differences in the genomics of animal complex traits have been ignored in the GWAS analysis. Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) is an important aquaculture fish in China with significant sexual size dimorphism. In this study, GWAS was conducted to identify candidate SNPs and genes related to body length (BL) and body weight (BW) in 125 female yellow catfish from a breeding population. In total, one BL-related SNP and three BW-related SNPs were identified to be significantly associated with the traits. Besides, one of these SNPs (Chr15:19195072) was shared in both the BW and BL traits in female yellow catfish, which was further validated in 185 male individuals and located on the exon of stat5b gene. Transgenic yellow catfish and zebrafish that expressed yellow catfish stat5b showed increased growth rate and reduction of sexual size dimorphism. These results not only reveal the genetic basis of growth trait and sexual size dimorphism in fish species, but also provide useful information for the marker-assisted breeding in yellow catfish.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the effect of microencapsulated transgenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on early steroid induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) in rabbits.
UNASSIGNED: Alginate poly- L-lysine-sodium alginate (APA) microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs with high expression of Foxc2 were prepared by high-voltage electrostatic method. Part of the cells were cultured in osteoblasts and observed by alizarin red staining at 2 and 3 weeks. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were used to prepare SONFH models by using hormone and endotoxin. Thirty two rabbits who were successful modeling were screened out by MRI and randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D, n=8); another 6 normal rabbits were taken as normal control (group E). The rabbits in group A did not receive any treatment; and in groups B, C, and D were injected with normal saline, allogeneic BMSCs, and APA microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs respectively after core decompression. At 6 and 12 weeks after operation, specimens of femoral head were taken for HE staining to observe bone ingrowth; the expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), peroxisome proliferative activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins were observed by immunohistochemistry staining. At 12 weeks after operation, the bone microstructure was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the maximum compressive strength and average elastic modulus of cancellous bone and subchondral bone were measured by biomechanics.
UNASSIGNED: After 2 and 3 weeks of induction culture, alizarin red staining showed the formation of calcium nodules, and the number of calcium nodules increased at 3 weeks when compared with 2 weeks. The rabbits in each group survived until the experiment was completed. Compared with groups A, B, and C, the trabeculae of group D were more orderly, the empty bone lacunae were less, there were abundant functional organelles, and obvious osteogenesis was observed, and the necrotic area was completely repaired at 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining showed that, at 6 and 12 weeks after operation, the expressions of OCN and VEGF in groups A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in groups D and E, while those in groups B and C were significantly higher than those in group A, and in group E than in group D ( P<0.05). The expression of PPARγ-2 was significantly higher in groups A, B, and C than in groups D and E, and in group A than in groups B and C, and in group D than in group E ( P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, biomechanical test showed that the average elastic modulus and maximum compressive strength of cancellous bone and subchondral bone in groups D and E were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, and C ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups A, B, and C and between groups D and E ( P>0.05).
UNASSIGNED: In vivo transplantation of microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs can repair early SONFH in rabbits.
UNASSIGNED: 探讨微囊化转基因 BMSCs 移植修复兔早期激素性股骨头坏死（steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head，SONFH）的疗效。.
UNASSIGNED: 采用高压静电法制备海藻酸钠-多聚赖氨酸-海藻酸钠（sodium alginate-poly- L-lysine-sodium alginate，APA）微囊化高表达 Foxc2 转基因 BMSCs，取部分细胞成骨诱导培养，2、3 周时茜素红染色观察。取 40 只新西兰大白兔，采用激素加内毒素方法制备 SONFH 模型，经 MRI 筛选造模成功 32 只，将其随机分为 A、B、C、D 4 组（ n=8）；另取 6 只正常兔作为正常对照组（E 组）。A 组模型动物不作任何处理；B、C、D 组动物双侧后肢股骨头行髓芯减压后，分别于减压区注入生理盐水、同种异体 BMSCs、APA 微囊化转基因 BMSCs。术后 6、12 周取股骨头标本行 HE 染色，观察骨长入情况；免疫组织化学染色观察骨钙蛋白（osteocalcin，OCN）、过氧化酶体增殖剂激活受体 γ 2（peroxisome proliferative activated receptor γ 2，PPARγ-2）和 VEGF 蛋白表达；术后 12 周透射电镜观察骨微结构，生物力学测定松质骨及软骨下骨最大压缩强度及平均弹性模量。.
UNASSIGNED: 诱导培养 2、3 周，茜素红染色后均可见钙结节形成，且 3 周时数量较 2 周时增加。各组实验动物均存活至实验完成。组织学及透射电镜观察示，与 A、B、C 组比较，D 组骨小梁排列较整齐，骨空骨陷窝较少，有丰富的功能细胞器，可见明显成骨，且 12 周时坏死区被完全修复。免疫组织化学染色示，术后 6、12 周，A、B、C 组 OCN 及 VEGF 表达均低于 D、E 组，B、C 组高于 A 组，E 组高于 D 组，差异均有统计学意义（ P<0.05）。A、B、C 组 PPARγ-2 表达高于 D、E 组，A 组高于 B、C 组，D 组高于E 组，差异均有统计学意义（ P<0.05）。术后 12 周生物力学测试显示，D、E 组股骨头松质骨、软骨下骨平均弹性模量和最大压缩强度均高于 A、B、C 组（ P<0.05）；A、B、C 组间及 D、E 组间比较差异均无统计学意义（ P>0.05）。.
UNASSIGNED: 微囊化转基因 BMSCs 体内移植可修复兔早期 SONFH。.

The central nervous system (CNS) has specific barriers that protect the brain from potential threats and tightly regulate molecular transport. Despite the critical functions of the CNS barriers, the mechanisms underlying their development and function are not well understood, and there are very limited experimental models for their study. Claudin 5 is a tight junction protein required for blood brain barrier (BBB) and, probably, choroid plexus (CP) structure and function in vertebrates. Here, we show that the gene claudin 5a is the zebrafish orthologue with high fidelity expression, in the BBB and CP barriers, that demonstrates the conservation of the BBB and CP between humans and zebrafish. Expression of claudin 5a correlates with developmental tightening of the BBB and is restricted to a subset of the brain vasculature clearly delineating the BBB. We show that claudin 5a-expressing cells of the CP are ciliated ependymal cells that drive fluid flow in the brain ventricles. Finally, we find that CP development precedes BBB development and that claudin 5a expression occurs simultaneously with angiogenesis. Thus, our novel transgenic zebrafish represents an ideal model to study CNS barrier development and function, critical in understanding the mechanisms underlying CNS barrier function in health and disease.