Mechanisms Of Hormonal Regulation Research Articles

The Integrative Physiology of Hormone Signaling: Insights from Insect models.

Hormones orchestrate virtually all physiological processes in animals, and enable them to adjust internal responses to meet diverse physiological demands. Studies in both vertebrates and insects have uncovered many novel hormones and dissected the physiological mechanisms they regulate, demonstrating a remarkable conservation in endocrine signaling across the tree of life. In this review, we focus on recent advances in insect research, which have provided a more integrative view of the conserved interorgan communication networks that control physiology These new insights have been driven by experimental advantages inherent to insects, which over the past decades have aligned with new technologies and sophisticated genetic tools, to transform insect genetic models into a powerful testbed for posing new questions and exploring longstanding issues in endocrine research. Here, we illustrate how insect studies have addressed classic questions in three main areas-hormonal control of growth and development, neuroendocrine regulation of ion and water balance, and hormonal regulation of behavior and metabolism- and how these discoveries have illuminated our fundamental understanding of endocrine signaling in animals. The application of integrative physiology in insect systems to questions in endocrinology and physiology is expanding, and is poised to be a crucible of discovery, revealing fundamental mechanisms of hormonal regulation that underlie animal adaptations to their environments.

Association of FSHR gene polymorphism with fertility of Holstein cows

Relevance. The view of the mechanisms of hormonal regulation of the ovarian cycle of cows has allowed the development of a large number of synchronization programs. An active search is underway for biomarkers related to the fertility of cows, as well as to identify animals with a high ovarian response to the injection of exogenous gonadotropins. The aim of the work is to study the polymorphism of the FSHR gene and its association with reproduction indicators in black-and-white Holstein dairy cows.Results. Based on the results of genotyping cows (n = 128) using the FSHR gene, the frequency of occurrence of the CC genotype was determined at the level of 0.601, the CG genotype — 0.360, GG — 0.031. It was found that for productive insemination, animals with the CG genotype require fewer inseminations. At the same age, the frequency of insemination of heifers with the CG genotype was 1.43, with the CC genotype — 1.60. After the first calving, the animals with the CG genotype responded more actively to hormonal stimulation in the postpartum period. The interval from the first to fruitful insemination in cows with the CG genotype was 34.7 days, in cows with the CC genotype — 57.2 days (p < 0.05). The number of pregnant cows with the CG genotype re-inseminated after natural hunting was 2.1 times higher than the number of cows with the CC genotype (66.7% and 31.2%). It is assumed that exogenous hormone injection has a stimulating effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad system in cows with the CG genotype.

Bending/force switching control of pneumatic soft actuator based on multi-sensor fusion

Abstract The soft actuator has unlimited freedom, and can realize the grasping of irregular or fragile objects. A pneumatic soft actuator is designed in this paper, which consists of a series of symmetrically distributed pneumatic chambers. The soft actuator consists of a top expansion layer composed of 20 chambers and a bottom restraint layer. The Yeoh model and the finite element method (FEM) were employed to analyze the bending of the soft actuator. To improve the tracking performance, a PID strategy of the endocrine system (ES-PID) based on the neuroendocrine thyroid hormone regulation mechanism was constructed to tune the bending deformation. To achieve steady and precise force control, a bending/force switching control algorithm based on multi-sensor fusion is designed to realize high control accuracy. The bending/force switching control strategy mainly consists of two feedback loops for bending control, a force control, and a switching control. In the experimental process, the bending control is the primary control, and the force control is the primary control when the switching condition is satisfied. In order to prevent the occurrence of a false switching action, a switching factor is constructed using the method of successive comparison of neighboring values. Finally, several experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the control algorithm.

Analysis of the plant hormone expression profile during somatic embryogenesis induction in teak (Tectona grandis).

Plant somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an efficient regeneration system for propagation. It involves the regulation of a complex molecular regulatory network encompassing endogenous hormone synthesis, metabolism, and signal transduction processes, induced through exogenous plant growth regulators. Previous studies have focused primarily on traditional propagation methods for Tectona grandis, but there is limited knowledge on SE and its hormonal regulatory mechanisms. In our study, different SE stages, including the nonembryogenic callus (NEC), embryogenic callus (EC), and globular and heart-shaped embryo (E-SEs) stages, were induced in teak cotyledons incubated on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ). Morphological and histological observations indicated that EC primarily originates from the development of embryogenic cell clusters. During SE induction, the levels of six classes of endogenous hormones, IAA, CTK, ETH, ABA, SA, and JA, changed significantly. Transcriptome analysis revealed that endogenous hormones participate in SE induction in teak through various biological processes, such as biosynthesis, metabolism, and signal transduction pathways. We found that IAA biosynthesis primarily occurs through the IAM pathway during these three stages. The ETH receptor kinase gene SERF1 exhibited the highest expression levels in E-SEs. The ABA-, SA-, and JA-related signal transduction genes ABI3, NPR1, and JAZ exhibited no differential expression during different stages. Moreover, key encoding genes of SE regulators, including WUS, WOX and SERK, were differentially expressed during SE. In conclusion, this study offers insights into the roles of endogenous hormones and their interactions during SE induction.

Physiological Parameters and Transcriptomic Levels Reveal the Response Mechanism of Maize to Deep Sowing and the Mechanism of Exogenous MeJA to Alleviate Deep Sowing Stress

Deep sowing, as a method to mitigate drought and preserve soil moisture and seedlings, can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on seedling growth. The elongation of the hypocotyl plays an important role in the emergence of maize seeds from deep-sowing stress. This study was designed to explore the function of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in the growth of the maize mesocotyl and to examine its regulatory network. The results showed that the addition of a 1.5 μ mol L−1 MeJA treatment significantly increased the mesocotyl length (MES), mesocotyl and coleoptile length (MESCOL), and seedling length (SDL) of maize seedlings. Transcriptome analysis showed that exogenous MeJA can alleviate maize deep-sowing stress, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly include ornithine decarboxylase, terpene synthase 7, ethylene responsive transcription factor 11, and so on. In addition, candidate genes that may regulate the length of maize hypocotyls were screened by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). These genes may be involved in the growth of maize hypocotyls through transcriptional regulation, histones, ubiquitin protease, protein binding, and chlorophyll biosynthesis and play an important role in maize deep-sowing tolerance. Our research findings may provide a theoretical basis for determining the tolerance of maize to deep-sowing stress and the mechanism of exogenous hormone regulation of deep-sowing stress.

The underlying molecular mechanisms of hormonal regulation of fruit color in fruit-bearing plants.

Fruit color is a key feature of fruit quality, primarily influenced by anthocyanin or carotenoid accumulation or chlorophyll degradation. Adapting the pigment content is crucial to improve the fruit's nutritional and commercial value. Genetic factors along with other environmental components (i.e., light, temperature, nutrition, etc.) regulate fruit coloration. The fruit coloration process is influenced by plant hormones, which alsoplay a vital role in various physiological and biochemical metabolic processes. Additionally, phytohormones play a role in the regulation of a highly conserved transcription factor complex, called MBW (MYB-bHLH-WD40). The MBW complex, which consists of myeloblastosis (MYB), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), and WD40 repeat (WDR) proteins, coordinates the expression of downstream structural genes associated with anthocyanin formation. In fruit production, the application of plant hormones may be important for promoting coloration. However, concerns such as improper concentration or application time must be addressed. This article explores the molecular processes underlying pigment formation and how they are influenced by various plant hormones. The ABA, jasmonate, and brassinosteroid increase anthocyanin and carotenoid formation, but ethylene, auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin have positive as well as negative effects on anthocyanin formation. This article establishes the necessary groundwork for future studies into the molecular mechanisms of plant hormones regulating fruit color, ultimately aiding in their effective and scientific application towards fruit coloration.

CCKR signaling map, G-Protein bindings, hormonal regulation, and neural mechanisms may influence the osteogenic/cementogenic differentiation potential of hPDLSCs

ObjectivePeriodontal regeneration poses challenges due to the periodontium's complexity, relying on mesenchymal cells from the periodontal ligament (hPDLSCs) to regenerate hard tissues like bone and cementum. While some hPDLSCs have high regeneration potential (HOP-hPDLSCs), most are low potential (LOP-hPDLSCs). This study analyzed hPDLSCs from a single donor to minimize inter-individual variability and focus on key differences in differentiation potentials. DesignThis study used RNA-seq, genomic databases, and bioinformatics tools to explore signaling pathways (SPs), biological processes (BPs), and molecular functions (MFs) guiding HOP cells to mineralized matrix production. It also investigated limitations of LOP cells and strategies for enhancing their osteo/cementogenesis. ResultsIn basal conditions, HOP exhibited a multifunctional gene network with higher expression of genes related to osteo/cementogenesis, cell differentiation, immune modulation, stress response, and hormonal regulation. In contrast, LOP focused on steroid hormone biosynthesis and nucleic acid maintenance. During osteo/cementogenic induction, HOP showed strong modulation of genes related to angiogenesis, cell division, mesenchymal differentiation, and extracellular matrix production. LOP demonstrated neural synaptic-related processes and preserved cellular cytoskeleton integrity. CCKR map signaling and G-protein receptor bindings gained significance during osteo/cementogenesis in HOP-hPDLSCs. Both HOP and LOP shared common BPs related to gastrointestinal and reproductive system development. ConclusionThe osteo/cementogenic differentiation of HOP cells may be regulated by CCKR signaling, G-protein bindings, and specific hormonal regulation. LOP cells seem committed to neural mechanisms. This study sheds light on hPDLSCs' complex characteristics, offering a deeper understanding of their differentiation potential for future periodontal regeneration research and therapies.

Corrigendum to: Salt tolerance in Brassicaceae crops: physiological responses and molecular mechanisms.

Soil salinisation is a growing threat to global agriculture, reducing crop yields. Brassicaceae crops are vital vegetables and cash crops. Salt stress significantly affects the growth and development of Brassicaceae crops. A better understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of salt tolerance is of theoretical and practical importance to improve Brassicaceae crop's salt tolerance and crop quality. Combined with previous research results, we discuss recent advances in research on salt stress response and salt tolerance in Brassicaceae crops. We summarised recent research progress on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of ionic homeostasis, antioxidant regulation, hormonal regulation and accumulation of osmotic-adjustment substances. We also discussed the molecular mechanism of Brassicaceae crop salt tolerant varieties from the perspective of differentially expressed genes, differentially expressed proteins and metabolites through transcriptome, proteome and metabonomic analysis methods. This paper summarises the molecular mechanisms in the perspective of differentially expressed genes, differentially expressed proteins, and metabolites through transcriptomic, proteome and metabolomics analysis. The review provides abundant data for accelerating the breeding of salt-tolerant Brassicaceae and laid a foundation for understanding the mechanism of salt tolerance of Brassicaceae crops and breeding salt-tolerance varieties.

Endocrine regulation of reproductive biology in echinoderms: An evolutionary perspective from closest marine invertebrate relatives to chordates

Echinoderms are a phylum of invertebrate deuterostomes, which contain echinoids, asteroids, holothuroids, crinoids, and ophiuroids. Echinoderms have special evolutionary position and unique characteristics, including pentamerous radial body structure, elaborate calcareous endoskeletons, and versatile water vascular system. Echinoderms exhibit extraordinarily diverse reproductive modes: asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, sexual reversal, etc. Endocrine regulation plays important well-known roles in sex differentiation, gonadal development and maturation, gametogenesis, and reproductive behavior in vertebrates. However, the entire picture of reproductive endocrinology in echinoderms as an evolutionary model of the closest marine invertebrate relatives to chordates has not been revealed. Here, we reviewed previous and recent research progress on reproductive endocrinology in echinoderms, mainly including two sections: Sex steroids in echinoderms and neuropeptide regulation in echinoderm reproduction. This review introduces a variety of endocrine regulatory mechanisms in reproductive biology of echinoderms. It discusses the vertebrate-like sex steroids, putative steroidogenic pathway and metabolism, and reproduction-related neuropeptides. The review will provide a deeper understanding about endocrine regulatory mechanisms of gonadal development in lower deuterostomes and the application of endocrine control in economic echinoderm species in aquaculture.

Dietary Supplementation of Chestnut Tannins in Prepartum Dairy Cows Improves Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms Interacting with Thyroid Status.

Cows in the peripartal period undergo changes in thyroid hormones and are susceptible to lipomobilization and/or oxidative stress. The addition of chestnut tannins as polyphenolic compounds in the diet may improve feed efficiency and prevent oxidative stress-related health disorders in transition cows. However, the relationship between chestnut tannin supplementation and thyroid function, which plays an important role in metabolic regulation, has not been investigated in dairy cows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chestnut tannin supplementation during the close-up period on thyroid status and to evaluate the interaction between thyroid hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers in prepartum dairy cows. Forty multiparous Holstein cows were fed either a diet containing chestnut tannins (CNTs, n = 20, 1.96 g chestnut tannins/kg feed, dry matter) or a non-supplemented diet (CON, n = 20) during the last 25 ± 2 days of gestation. Blood samples were collected on the first day of study (before chestnut tannin supplementation) and d 5 before parturition to measure hormonal and oxidative stress indices. Serum concentrations of T3 (p = 0.04) and T4 (p = 0.05) were higher in CNT cows than in the CON group on day 5 before parturition. Thyroid status of CNT cows was associated with higher serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, p < 0.01), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, p = 0.03) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, p = 0.01), and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH, p = 0.05). Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower (p = 0.04) which was associated with lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p = 0.02), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, p = 0.01) activities in the CNT than in the CON group. Estradiol and progesterone did not differ between CNT and CON cows. Chestnut tannin supplementation improves antioxidant protection, prevents oxidation-reduction processes, reduces the degree of liver cell membrane damage, and protects thyroid tissue from damage, allowing higher T3 and T4 synthesis. Considering the importance of the thyroid hormone status before parturition, mechanisms of thyroid hormone regulation in CNT-supplemented dairy cows require more detailed investigations.

Progress on the Role of Estrogen and Progesterone Signaling in Mouse Embryo Implantation and Decidualization.

Embryo implantation and decidualization are key steps in establishing a successful pregnancy. Defects in embryo implantation and decidualization can cause a series of adverse chain reactions which can contribute to harmful pregnancy outcomes, such as embryo growth retardation, preeclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, and so on. Approximately 75% of failed pregnancies are considered to be due to embryo implantation failure or defects. Decidualization, characterized by proliferation and differentiation of uterine stromal cells, is one of the essential conditions for blastocyst implantation, placental formation, and maintenance of pregnancy and is indispensable for the establishment of pregnancy in many species. Embryo implantation and decidualization are closely regulated by estrogen and progesterone secreted by the ovaries. Many cellular events and molecular signaling network pathways are involved in this process. This article reviews the recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of estrogen- and progesterone-regulating uterine receptivity establishment, blastocyst implantation, and decidualization, in order to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of hormonal regulation of embryo implantation and to develop new strategies for preventing or treating embryo implantation defects and improving the pregnancy rate of women.

Leaf-size control beyond transcription factors: Compensatory mechanisms.

Plant leaves display abundant morphological richness yet grow to characteristic sizes and shapes. Beginning with a small number of undifferentiated founder cells, leaves evolve via a complex interplay of regulatory factors that ultimately influence cell proliferation and subsequent post-mitotic cell enlargement. During their development, a sequence of key events that shape leaves is both robustly executed spatiotemporally following a genomic molecular network and flexibly tuned by a variety of environmental stimuli. Decades of work on Arabidopsis thaliana have revisited the compensatory phenomena that might reflect a general and primary size-regulatory mechanism in leaves. This review focuses on key molecular and cellular events behind the organ-wide scale regulation of compensatory mechanisms. Lastly, emerging novel mechanisms of metabolic and hormonal regulation are discussed, based on recent advances in the field that have provided insights into, among other phenomena, leaf-size regulation.

Salt tolerance in Brassicaceae crops: physiological responses and molecular mechanisms.

Soil salinisation is a growing threat to global agriculture, reducing crop yields. Brassicaceae crops are vital vegetables and cash crops. Salt stress significantly affects the growth and development of Brassicaceae crops. A better understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms of salt tolerance is of theoretical and practical importance to improve Brassicaceae crop's salt tolerance and crop quality. Combined with previous research results, we discuss recent advances in research on salt stress response and salt tolerance in Brassicaceae crops. We summarised recent research progress on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of ionic homeostasis, antioxidant regulation, hormonal regulation and accumulation of osmotic-adjustment substances. We also discussed the molecular mechanism of Brassicaceae crop salt tolerant varieties from the perspective of differentially expressed genes, differentially expressed proteins and metabolites through transcriptome, proteome and metabonomic analysis methods. This paper summarises the molecular mechanisms in the perspective of differentially expressed genes, differentially expressed proteins, and metabolites through transcriptomic, proteome and metabolomics analysis. The review provides abundant data for accelerating the breeding of salt-tolerant Brassicaceae and laid a foundation for understanding the mechanism of salt tolerance of Brassicaceae crops and breeding salt-tolerance varieties.

Osteoporosis – a Silent Epidemic of XXI Century: Secondary Forms

The objective of the study was to determine the main causes of osteoporosis in chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary sarcoidosis and understand how the disease develops in these conditions.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. To study the mechanisms of developing secondary osteoporosis, a literature review was conducted.&#x0D; Results. Secondary forms of osteoporosis account for approximately 15-20% of reported cases and result mainly from concomitant diseases or from using drugs that have a negative effect on bone tissue. Despite its inert and stable appearance, bone tissue is a metabolically active, continuously renewing system. Throughout life, it continuously undergoes remodeling cycles involving the two main processes: the first one is called bone resorption and involves the breakdown of old bone followed by the destruction and removal of both the mineral substance and the organic matrix from resorption sites; the second one is called new bone formation and involves bone matrix synthesis and its subsequent mineralization. The imbalance between these two processes, the predominance of bone resorption over bone formation, is the key link in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Such an imbalance reflects the impairment of the major mechanisms of systemic hormonal and local (cytokine) regulation of cellular activity and occurs in secondary osteoporosis.&#x0D; Conclusions. To date, at the stage of providing medical care to patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases and chronic kidney disease, inadequate attention is paid to timely diagnosis and treatment of concomitant osteoporosis. The latter often develops as a secondary condition due to systemic inflammation, severe hypoxia, low physical activity, taking inhaled and systemic glucocorticoids. Its signs are not clinically apparent; hence, it is referred to as the ‘silent epidemic. Since osteoporosis has no pathognomonic symptoms and its clinical presentation is rather vague, in patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases and chronic kidney disease, its early diagnosis by determining mineral bone density is recommended to prevent the development of severe complications, including low-energy fractures.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ СВОЙСТВ НЕРВНЫХ ПРОЦЕССОВ И ВНИМАНИЯ У ПОДРОСТКОВ НА СЕВЕРЕ

The quality of education, which is the main task of secondary education, depends on the functional state of the central nervous system, on the level of development of cognitive functions of the student’s body. The teenage period is characterized by the stress of the functional state of the body due to the restructuring of hormonal and nervous regulation mechanisms. The change and formation of the properties of nervous processes at this age leads to activation or, conversely, to a decrease in cognitive functions, to a change in behavioral and emotional-motivational systems of the brain. The purpose of this work is to study the features of nervous processes, the functional state of the central nervous system according to the parameters of sensorimotor reaction and the main properties of attention in adolescents, depending on gender, during the period of educational activity in the North. The object of the study was teenagers, students of grades 7-8 of secondary schools in Yakutsk, in the number of 58 people (30 girls, 28 boys), whose average age is 13.96 ± 0.11 years. To assess the functional state of the central nervous system and the characteristics of the properties of nervous processes, the method of simple visual-motor reaction (PMR) and choice reaction (RV) was used using the hardware and software complex “NS-Psychotest” (Ivanovo, Neurosoft). The main properties of attention (volume of attention, distribution and switchability of attention) were investigated using the technique of the red-black tables of Schulte-Platonov at the agro-industrial complex “NS-Psychotest” (LLC “Neurosoft”, Ivanovo, Russia). The results of our research showed that more than half of the adolescents of all the studied groups have a low level of functional state, which indicates the presence of a process of inhibition in the central nervous system; a state of fatigue; a decrease in mental performance and cognitive activity. The presence of differences in gender identity was revealed. Thus, in adolescents, there are gender differences in all parameters of a simple visual-motor reaction, the predominance of inertia of nervous processes in girls and the predominance of imbalance of nervous processes in boys. The presence of significant gender differences is also noted in such properties of attention as the volume and distribution of attention.

Important Hormones Regulating Lipid Metabolism.

There is a wide variety of kinds of lipids, and complex structures which determine the diversity and complexity of their functions. With the basic characteristic of water insolubility, lipid molecules are independent of the genetic information composed by genes to proteins, which determine the particularity of lipids in the human body, with water as the basic environment and genes to proteins as the genetic system. In this review, we have summarized the current landscape on hormone regulation of lipid metabolism. After the well-studied PI3K-AKT pathway, insulin affects fat synthesis by controlling the activity and production of various transcription factors. New mechanisms of thyroid hormone regulation are discussed, receptor α and β may mediate different procedures, the effect of thyroid hormone on mitochondria provides a new insight for hormones regulating lipid metabolism. Physiological concentration of adrenaline induces the expression of extrapituitary prolactin in adipose tissue macrophages, which promotes fat weight loss. Manipulation of hormonal action has the potential to offer a new therapeutic horizon for the global burden of obesity and its associated complications such as morbidity and mortality.

GPCRs in the regulation of the functional activity of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells.

Adipose tissue is one of the tissues in the human body that is renewed during the whole life. Dysregulation of this process leads to conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. The key role in maintaining the healthy state of adipose tissue is played by a specific group of postnatal stem cells called multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). They are both precursors for new adipocytes and key paracrine regulators of adipose tissue homeostasis. The activity of MSCs is tightly adjusted to the needs of the organism. To ensure such coordination, MSCs are put under strict regulation which is realized through a wide variety of signaling mechanisms. They control aspects of MSC activity such as proliferation, differentiation, and production of signal molecules via alteration of MSC sensitivity to hormonal stimuli. In this regard, MSCs use all the main mechanisms of hormonal sensitivity regulation observed in differentiated cells, but at the same time, several unique regulatory mechanisms have been found in MSCs. In the presented review, we will cover these unique mechanisms as well as specifics of common mechanisms of regulation of hormonal sensitivity in stem cells.

The impacts of nanoplastic toxicity on the accumulation, hormonal regulation and tolerance mechanisms in a potential hyperaccumulator - Lemna minor L.

Plastic pollution, which is currently one of the most striking problems of our time, raises concerns about the dispersal of micro and nano-sized plastic particles in ecosystems and their toxic effects on living organisms. This study was designed to reveal the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastic (PS NP) exposure on the freshwater macrophyte Lemna minor. In addition, elucidating the interaction of this aquatic plant, which is used extensively in the phytoremediation of water contaminants and wastewater treatment facilities, with nanoplastics will guide the development of remediation techniques. For this purpose, we examined nanoplastic accumulation, oxidative stress markers, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant system activity and phytohormonal changes in L. minor leaves subjected to PS NP stress (P-1, 100 mg L-1; P-2, 200 mg L-1 PS NP). Our results showed no evidence of PS NP-induced oxidative damage in P-1 group plants, although PS NP accumulation reached 56 µg g-1 in the leaves. Also, no significant changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were observed in this group, indicating unaffected photosynthetic efficiency. PS NP exposure triggered the antioxidant system in L. minor plants and resulted in a 3- and 4.6-fold increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the P-1 and P-2 groups. On the other hand, high-dose PS NP treatment resulted in insufficient antioxidant activity in the P-2 group and increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS contents) by 25 % and 17 % compared to the control plants. Furthermore, PS NP exposure triggered abscisic acid biosynthesis (two-fold in the P-1 and three-fold in the P-2 group), which is also involved in regulating the stress response. In conclusion, L. minor plants tolerated NP accumulation without growth suppression, oxidative stress damage and limitations in photosynthetic capacity and have the potential to be used in remediation studies of NP-contaminated waters.

Do Non-climacteric Fruits Share a Common Ripening Mechanism of Hormonal Regulation?

Fleshy fruits have been traditionally categorized into climacteric (CL) and non-climacteric (NC) groups. CL fruits share a common ripening mechanism of hormonal regulation, i.e., the ethylene regulation, whereas whether NC fruits share a common mechanism remains controversial. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been commonly thought to be a key regulator in NC fruit ripening; however, besides ABA, many other hormones have been increasingly suggested to play crucial roles in NC fruit ripening. NC fruits vary greatly in their organ origin, constitution, and structure. Development of different organs may be different in the pattern of hormonal regulation. It has been well demonstrated that the growth and development of strawberry, the model of NC fruits, is largely controlled by a hormonal communication between the achenes and receptacle; however, not all NC fruits contain achenes. Accordingly, it is particularly important to understand whether strawberry is indeed able to represent a universal mechanism for the hormonal regulation of NC fruit ripening. In this mini-review, we summarized the recent research advance on the hormone regulation of NC ripening in relation to fruit organ origination, constitution, and structure, whereby analyzing and discussing whether NC fruits may share a common mechanism of hormonal regulation.

Thyroxine Metabolism in an Avian Model of Induced Thyrotoxicosis

Craniosynostosis (CS) is the premature fusion of cranial sutures which leads to abnormal cranial structure and causes abnormal neurocognition and behavior. Maternal thyroid disorders are associated with incidence of CS in infants. However, the mechanism of TH-induced CS is still obscure. Thyroxine (T4) metabolism is regulated by the expression of deiodinases. Type I and type II deiodinases (DIO1 and DIO2) remove iodine from T4 producing active triiodothyronine (T3). Deiodinase III (DIO3) inactivates both T4 and T3. Our lab is establishing a model to study the effects of thyrotoxicosis induced CS using fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs were injected into the air cell with either saline or 25 ng T4 on days E11 and E15 of embryonic development. Heart rates were measured daily from EKG recordings and on E19, tissue samples were collected for qRT-PCR analysis. The main objective was to validate the induced state of thyrotoxicosis by evaluating negative feedback mechanisms of thyroid hormone regulation following exposure by measuring expression of DIO1 and DIO3 in embryonic livers. Since livers are the main site of metabolism, we hypothesize that levels of DIO3 will increase following thyroxine exposure. Results demonstrated a significant upregulation of DIO3 2 days after exposure and a significant downregulation 4 days following exposure. No significant differences were observed in DIO1 on any of the days after exposure. These results, along with correlating heart rates, support our model by of induced thyrotoxicosis by demonstrating the metabolism of thyroxine in response to our treatment regimen.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Acknowledgment of NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium (Grant #80NSSC20M0055) and the Genomics Core Facility and WV-INBRE (NIH grant P20GM103434).&#x0D;