ABSTRACT.We investigated a possible association between interleukin (IL)-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to and severity of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in a Chinese cohort of 320 patients with LDD and 269 gender-and age-matched controls. The degree of disc degeneration was determined by magnetic resonance imaging using Schneiderman's classification. Genetic analysis of IL-10 promoter polymorphisms (at -1082 A/G, -819 T/C, and -592 A/C) was carried out by PCR-RFLP. A total of 134 herniated lumbar intervertebral discs were collected during surgery for IL-10 mRNA detection. For SNPs at -592, the A allele and AA genotype frequencies were significantly higher in LDD patients than in controls. Similarly, the AA genotype and A allele frequencies at -1082 were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Among the LDD subjects, carriers of AA at -592 and GG at -1082 had significantly lower mean IL-10 mRNA expression than the other two genotypes. The SNPs at each locus were not significantly associated with severity grade in the LDD patients. Logistic regression analyses showed that the AA at -1082, AA at -592, and IL-10 mRNA expression level were independent risk factors for 1720

Artificial insemination (AI) is an important component of captive breeding programs for endangered species, such as the giant panda. The panda has been the subject of increasingly successful captive breeding programs involving a compilation of assisted breeding techniques, including AI using cryopreserved spermatozoa. AI implementation is currently hampered by a lack of understanding of the factors that may cause failure. We investigated factors influencing the probability of success of AI for 14 giant panda females housed at the China Center for Research and Conservation of the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) inseminated in a total of 20 instances using cryopreserved spermatozoa from 11 males currently residing in 6 different captive breeding institutions. One of the pandas was the oldest giant panda female to ever successfully conceive from AI (20.5 years old). The success of AI was significantly affected by the timing of AI in relationship to both timing of peak urinary estrogen of the female and percent decline in urinary estrogen between the peak level and the first AI attempt. Our results suggest that the window for successful AI in giant pandas may be narrower than previously suspected, although individual differences in rates of decline in urinary estrogen may reflect some degree of variation in this crucial window across females. Our results are consistent with recent research on pandas and other species that demonstrates the efficacy of cryopreserved spermatozoa for AI and highlights the need for more in-depth analysis of factors related to female physiology that may influence its success.

The effectiveness of ex situ breeding programs for endangered species can be limited by challenges in mimicking mating competitions that naturally occur among multiple mates in the wild. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of timed natural matings and/or artificial inseminations in the context of the urinary estrogen surge on cub production in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). We used a large cohort of giant pandas, including 12 females and 17 males. DNA paternity exclusion was used to pinpoint accurately the interval during the estrogen surge that coincided with the ideal sperm deposition time to produce offspring. Of the 31 cubs (in 19 pregnancies), 22 (71.0%; 15 pregnancies) were produced from matings occurring on the day of or the day after the maximal urinary estrogen peak. Sixteen of the 19 pregnancies (84.2%) produced at least one offspring sired by the first male mating with the dam. There was a preponderance of twins (12 of 19; 63.2%), and dual paternities were discovered in 3 of 12 twin sets (25%). These findings indicate a strong relationship between the excreted estrogen surge and sperm deposition to achieve pregnancy in the giant panda. To ensure the production of the most genetically diverse young, it is imperative that the most appropriate male mate first and on the day of or the day after the highest detected estrogen value. There is no advantage to increasing the number of copulations or mating partners within 1 day of the estrogen peak on the incidence of twinning, although this practice may increase the prevalence of dual paternity in cases of multiple births.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a low back pain disorder and associated with several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and BDNFOS gene in LDH susceptibility remains unknown. To examine whether the variants contribute to LDH, 7 SNPs were genotyped in 380 patients and 692 healthy controls among Han Chinese population. Multiple genetic models, stratification by age/gender and haploview analysis was used by calculating odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Rs11030064 in BDNFOS gene was associated with modified susceptibility for LDH at age ≤50 years but three loci (rs6265, rs11030104 and rs10767664) of BDNF gene increased LDH risk at age >50 years. Further, rs11030096 polymorphism in BDNFOS gene was associated with LDH the increased susceptibility of LDH in females. Haplotype analysis shown that haplotype “GCC” in the block (rs988712, rs7481311, and rs11030064) increased LDH risk (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.06–2.10, p = 0.022) at age ≤50 years. However, there was no significant association between BDNF/BDNFOS gene and LDH risk in the overall before stratified analysis. For the first time, our results provide evidence on polymorphism of BDNF / BDNFOS gene associated with LDH risk in Chinese Han population.

Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second most common cause of inflammatory arthritis worldwide affecting the axial skeleton. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP3) in the development of AS has few been investigated in Chinese population. Methods A total of 362 patients with AS and 362 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Five SNPs in MMP3 genotypes were identified by Agena MassARRAY. Chi‐squared tests and genetic model were used to evaluate associations. Results rs522616 had a significant risk of AS development compared to those with the TT genotype ( p = 0.008). By multiple logistic regression models analysis, in codominant model, rs522616 CT genotypes also had a 1.44‐fold risk (95% CI = 1.06–1.96, p = 0.008) for AS development compared to those with TT genotypes. In recessive model, the CC genotypes was a significantly reduced AS risk for individuals with TT/CT genotype (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.41–0.99, p = 0.040). Conclusion The present study suggests that MMP3 rs522616 polymorphism is associated with AS susceptibility and MMP3 might be a potential diagnostic biomarker for AS. Further independent studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate our findings in different populations.