A Simple and User-Friendly Method for High-Quality Preparation of Pollen Grains for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Blood Plasma Markers in Depressed Mice under Chronic Social Defeat Stress.

It has previously been shown that, in mice, chronic social defeat stress in daily agonistic interactions leads to a depression-like state similar to that in depressive patients. With this model, it has become obvious that it is possible to study peripheral markers of the depression-like state in an experiment. This paper was aimed at searching for protein markers in the blood plasma of depressed mice in the chronic social conflict model, which allows for us to obtain male mice with repeated experiences of defeat.

Correlations of Expression Levels of Lung Cancer Marker Gene Eno2 and Genes of Carcinogenesis and Apoptosis in the Hypothalamus of Mice with Depression-Like Behavior.

We experimentally demonstrated that chronic social stress during the development of a depression-like state enhances lung metastasis and modifies the expression of many carcinogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes in the hypothalamus of mice, including genes involved in lung cancer pathogenesis in humans. Analysis of the expression of genes encoding the major clinical markers of lung cancer in the hypothalamus of mice with depression-like behavior revealed increased expression of the Eno2 gene encoding neuron-specific enolase, a blood marker of lung cancer progression in humans. It was shown that the expression of this gene in the hypothalamus correlated with the expression of many carcinogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes.

Brain-Region-Specific Genes Form the Major Pathways Featuring Their Basic Functional Role: Their Implication in Animal Chronic Stress Model.

The analysis of RNA-Sec data from murine bulk tissue samples taken from five brain regions associated with behavior and stress response was conducted. The focus was on the most contrasting brain region-specific genes (BRSG) sets in terms of their expression rates. These BRSGs are identified as genes with a distinct outlying (high) expression rate in a specific region compared to others used in the study.

The Control of the Crossover Localization in Allium.

Meiotic crossovers/chiasmata are not randomly distributed and strictly controlled. The mechanisms behind crossover (CO) patterning remain largely unknown. In , as in the vast majority of plants and animals, COs predominantly occur in the distal 2/3 of the chromosome arm, while in they are strictly localized in the proximal region.

[Changes in Expression of Genes Associated with Calcium Processes in the Hippocampus in Mice Exposed to Chronic Social Stress].

Whole-transcriptome data were used to study the changes in expression of genes coding proteins involved in the calcium regulation processes in the hippocampus of male mice with symptoms of depression caused by chronic social defeat stress. Cacna1g, Cacnb3, Camk1g, Camk2d, Camk2n2, Caly, Caln1, S100a16, and Slc24a4 genes were upregulated in the hippocampus of depressed mice compared to a control, while Cacna2d1, Cacng5, Grin2a, and Calm2 were downregulated. The greatest number of significant correlations was observed between the expression level of Calm2, which showed the highest transcriptional activity, and other differentially expressed genes.

Elucidation of the Landscape of Alternatively Spliced Genes and Features in the Dorsal Striatum of Aggressive/Aggression-Deprived Mice in the Model of Chronic Social Conflicts.

Both aggressive and aggression-deprived (AD) individuals represent pathological cases extensively studied in psychiatry and substance abuse disciplines. We employed the animal model of chronic social conflicts curated in our laboratory for over 30 years. In the study, we pursued the task of evaluation of the key events in the dorsal striatum transcriptomes of aggression-experienced mice and AD species, as compared with the controls, using RNA-seq profiling.

Effects of Positive Fighting Experience and Its Subsequent Deprivation on the Expression Profile of Mouse Hippocampal Genes Associated with Neurogenesis.

The hippocampus is known as the brain region implicated in visuospatial processes and processes associated with learning and short- and long-term memory. An important functional characteristic of the hippocampus is lifelong neurogenesis. A decrease or increase in adult hippocampal neurogenesis is associated with a wide range of neurological diseases.

Altered Expression of Genes Associated with Major Neurotransmitter Systems in the Reward-Related Brain Regions of Mice with Positive Fighting Experience.

The main neurotransmitters in the brain-dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and opioids-are recognized to be the most important for the regulation of aggression and addiction. The aim of this work was to study differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the main reward-related brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), dorsal striatum (STR), ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, NAcc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and midbrain raphe nuclei (MRNs), in male mice with 20-day positive fighting experience in daily agonistic interactions. Expression of opioidergic, catecholaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic genes was analyzed to confirm or refute the influence of repeated positive fighting experience on the development of "addiction-like" signs shown in our previous studies.

The Dysfunction of Carcinogenesis- and Apoptosis-Associated Genes that Develops in the Hypothalamus under Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Male Mice.

Chronic social stress caused by daily agonistic interactions in male mice leads to a mixed anxiety/depression-like disorder that is accompanied by the development of psychogenic immunodeficiency and stimulation of oncogenic processes concurrently with many neurotranscriptomic changes in brain regions. The aim of the study was to identify carcinogenesis- and apoptosis-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus of male mice with depression-like symptoms and, for comparison, in aggressive male mice with positive social experience. To obtain two groups of animals with the opposite 20-day social experiences, a model of chronic social conflict was used.

Integrating Genetic and Chromosome Maps of : From Markers Visualization to Genome Assembly Verification.

The ability to directly look into genome sequences has opened great opportunities in plant breeding. Yet, the assembly of full-length chromosomes remains one of the most difficult problems in modern genomics. Genetic maps are commonly used in de novo genome assembly and are constructed on the basis of a statistical analysis of the number of recombinations.

Dorsal Striatum Transcriptome Profile Profound Shift in Repeated Aggression Mouse Model Converged to Networks of 12 Transcription Factors after Fighting Deprivation.

Both aggressive and aggression-deprived (AD) species represent pathologic cases intensely addressed in psychiatry and substance abuse disciplines. Previously, we reported that AD mice displayed a higher aggressive behavior score than the aggressive group, implying the manifestation of a withdrawal effect. We employed an animal model of chronic social conflicts, curated in our lab for more than 30 years.

Transposons Hidden in Genome Assembly Gaps and Mobilization of Non-Autonomous LTR Retrotransposons Unravelled by Nanotei Pipeline.

Long-read data is a great tool to discover new active transposable elements (TEs). However, no ready-to-use tools were available to gather this information from low coverage ONT datasets. Here, we developed a novel pipeline, nanotei, that allows detection of TE-contained structural variants, including individual TE transpositions.

Correlation of Expression Changes between Genes Controlling 5-HT Synthesis and Genes and in the Midbrain Raphe Nuclei of Chronically Aggressive and Defeated Male Mice.

Midbrain raphe nuclei (MRNs) contain a large number of serotonergic neurons associated with the regulation of numerous types of psychoemotional states and physiological processes. The aim of this work was to study alterations of the MRN transcriptome in mice with prolonged positive or negative fighting experience and to identify key gene networks associated with the regulation of serotonergic system functioning. Numerous genes underwent alterations of transcription in the MRNs of male mice that either manifested aggression or experienced social defeat in daily agonistic interactions.

Chronic Lithium Treatment Affects Anxious Behaviors and theExpression of Serotonergic Genes in Midbrain Raphe Nuclei of Defeated Male Mice.

There is experimental evidence that chronic social defeat stress is accompanied by the development of an anxiety, development of a depression-like state, and downregulation of serotonergic genes in midbrain raphe nuclei of male mice. Our study was aimed at investigating the effects of chronic lithium chloride (LiCl) administration on anxiety behavior and the expression of serotonergic genes in midbrain raphe nuclei of the affected mice. A pronounced anxiety-like state in male mice was induced by chronic social defeat stress in daily agonistic interactions.

Development of Mixed Anxiety/Depression-Like State as a Consequence of Chronic Anxiety: Review of Experimental Data.

The review presents experimental data considered from the point of view of dynamic changes in the brain neurochemistry, physiology, and behavior of animals during the development of mixed anxiety/depression-like disorder caused by chronic social stress from norm to severe psychopathology. Evidences are presented to support the hypothesis that chronic anxiety rather than social defeat stress is an etiological factor in depression. The consequences of chronic anxiety for human health and social life are discussed.

Reduced Expression of Genes in the VTA and NAcc of Male Mice with Positive Fighting Experience.

A range of several psychiatric medications targeting the activity of solute carrier (SLC) transporters have proved effective for treatment. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate the expression profiles of the genes, which may serve as markers of altered brain metabolic processes and neurotransmitter activities in psychoneurological disorders. We studied the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using transcriptomic profiles in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of control and aggressive male mice with psychosis-like behavior induced by repeated experience of aggression accompanied with wins in daily agonistic interactions.

A Dual-Color Tyr-FISH Method for Visualizing Genes/Markers on Plant Chromosomes to Create Integrated Genetic and Cytogenetic Maps.

In situ imaging of molecular markers on a physical chromosome is an indispensable tool for refining genetic maps and validation genome assembly at the chromosomal level. Despite the tremendous progress in genome sequencing, the plant genome assembly at the chromosome level remains a challenge. Recently developed optical and Hi-C mapping are aimed at assistance in genome assembly.

Gene Expression Changes in the Ventral Tegmental Area of Male Mice with Alternative Social Behavior Experience in Chronic Agonistic Interactions.

Daily agonistic interactions of mice are an effective experimental approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the excitation of the brain neurons and the formation of alternative social behavior patterns. An RNA-Seq analysis was used to compare the ventral tegmental area (VTA) transcriptome profiles for three groups of male C57BL/6J mice: winners, a group of chronically winning mice, losers, a group of chronically defeated mice, and controls. The data obtained show that both winners and defeated mice experience stress, which however, has a more drastic effect on defeated animals causing more significant changes in the levels of gene transcription.

Dopamine response gene pathways in dorsal striatum MSNs from a gene expression viewpoint: cAMP-mediated gene networks.

Background: Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) comprise the main body (95% in mouse) of the dorsal striatum neurons and represent dopaminoceptive GABAergic neurons. The cAMP (cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate)-mediated cascade of excitation and inhibition responses observed in MSN intracellular signal transduction is crucial for neuroscience research due to its involvement in the motor and behavioral functions. In particular, all types of addictions are related to MSNs.

Comparative Tyramide-FISH mapping of the genes controlling flavor and bulb color in Allium species revealed an altered gene order.

Evolutionarily related species often share a common order of genes along homeologous chromosomes. Here we report the collinearity disruption of genes located on homeologous chromosome 4 in Allium species. Ultra-sensitive fluorescence in situ hybridization with tyramide signal amplification (tyr-FISH) allowed the visualization of the alliinase multigene family, chalcon synthase gene and EST markers on Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum chromosomes.

Aberrant Expression of Collagen Gene Family in the Brain Regions of Male Mice with Behavioral Psychopathologies Induced by Chronic Agonistic Interactions.

Chronic agonistic interactions promote the development of experimental psychopathologies in animals: a depression-like state in chronically defeated mice and the pathology of aggressive behavior in the mice with repeated wins. The abundant research data indicate that such psychopathological states are associated with significant molecular and cellular changes in the brain. This paper aims to study the influence of a 20-day period of agonistic interactions on the expression patterns of collagen family genes encoding the proteins which are basic components of extracellular matrix (ECM) in different brain regions of mice using the RNA-Seq database.

Cytological Evaluations of Advanced Generations of Interspecific Hybrids Between Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum Showing Resistance to Stemphylium vesicarium.

Interspecific crossing is a promising approach for introgression of valuable traits to develop cultivars with improved characteristics. Allium fistulosum L. possesses numerous pest resistances that are lacking in the bulb onion (Allium cepa L.

The Power of Genomic situ Hybridization (GISH) in Interspecific Breeding of Bulb Onion ( L.) Resistant to Downy Mildew ( [Berk.] Casp.).

We exploited the advantages of genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to monitor the introgression process at the chromosome level using a simple and robust molecular marker in the interspecific breeding of bulb onion ( L.) that is resistant to downy mildew. Downy mildew ( [Berk.

Altered Slc25 family gene expression as markers of mitochondrial dysfunction in brain regions under experimental mixed anxiety/depression-like disorder.

Background: Development of anxiety- and depression-like states under chronic social defeat stress in mice has been shown by many experimental studies. In this article, the differentially expressed Slc25* family genes encoding mitochondrial carrier proteins were analyzed in the brain of depressive (defeated) mice versus aggressive mice winning in everyday social confrontations. The collected samples of brain regions were sequenced at JSC Genoanalytica ( http://genoanalytica.