Regulatory effect of NK homeobox 1 (NKX2.1) on melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) promoter in Mandarin fish.

The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled transporter that mediates the regulation of thyroid hormones and leptin on energy balance and food intake. However, the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of Mc4r by thyroid hormone and leptin in fish have been rarely reported. The messenger RNA expression of Mc4r gene was significantly higher in brain than those in other tissues of mandarin fish.

[Character and sources identification of heavy metals contamination in sediment from the core sediment in Nanshan Lake, the Zhalong wetland].

NSH2 sediment core from Nanshan Lake in the south of Zhalong wetland was studied, which was a typical lake for both empolder and aquaculture. The vertical distributions of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Mn, Ag, Cu, Co, Fe and Zn) were investigated. The method of principal component analysis (PCA) was adopted to apportion the sources of heavy metals, and particle size, combined with 210Pb(ex) dating data were used to indicate characteristics, sources and polluted history of heavy metals in lake sediments since 1829.