<p>Chicken and Japanese quail are commonly used models in developmental and sex specific neuroendocrine research. There is relatively little known about the mechanisms behind their sex specific brain development, especially regarding the impact of the sex chromosomes (male: ZZ, female ZW) in relation to gonadal hormones. This thesis explores several aspects of these processes. Gene expression analysis with cDNA and Affymetrix arrays on brain tissue from both pre-gonadal embryos and embryos with differentiated gonads indicate a strong sex chromosomal presence in sexual dimorphic somatic tissue development in both chicken and Japanese quail. This sex chromosome pattern seems to remain in adult brain tissue. The data demonstrates that chicken males exhibit a significant level of Z-gene dosage compared to females in both somatic and germ line derived embryonic tissues. Several avian sex determination gene candidates (MHM non-coding RNA, DMRT1, HINTW, and HINTZ) were analyzed by real-time PCR. DMRT1 is dosage compensated in male brain tissue, in contrast to its reported gene dosage in male gonads. Early embryonic ethinylestradiol (EE2) exposure did not affect male or female neural gene expression patterns during later development. A peptidomics analysis on quail embryonic day 12 (ed12) and ed17 diencephalon by LC-MS identified over 60 endogenous peptides and analyzed the expression patterns for 38 of them with regard to age, sex and early EE2 exposure. There was a general upregulation between ed12 and ed17, but no clear sex effects were detected. Multivariate analysis indicates that EE2 exposed individuals differ from control individuals in a gender independent manner, and that Gonadotropin-inhibiting hormone related peptide 2 (GnIH-RP2) is a candidate for EE2 induced peptidomic alterations in male embryonic brain.</p>

Chicken and Japanese quail are commonly used models in developmental and sex specific neuroendocrine research. There is relatively little known about the mechanisms behind their sex specific brain development, especially regarding the impact of the sex chromosomes (male: ZZ, female ZW) in relation to gonadal hormones. This thesis explores several aspects of these processes. Gene expression analysis with cDNA and Affymetrix arrays on brain tissue from both pre-gonadal embryos and embryos with differentiated gonads indicate a strong sex chromosomal presence in sexual dimorphic somatic tissue development in both chicken and Japanese quail. This sex chromosome pattern seems to remain in adult brain tissue. The data demonstrates that chicken males exhibit a significant level of Z-gene dosage compared to females in both somatic and germ line derived embryonic tissues. Several avian sex determination gene candidates (MHM non-coding RNA, DMRT1, HINTW, and HINTZ) were analyzed by real-time PCR. DMRT1 is dosage compensated in male brain tissue, in contrast to its reported gene dosage in male gonads. Early embryonic ethinylestradiol (EE2) exposure did not affect male or female neural gene expression patterns during later development. A peptidomics analysis on quail embryonic day 12 (ed12) and ed17 diencephalon by LC-MS identified over 60 endogenous peptides and analyzed the expression patterns for 38 of them with regard to age, sex and early EE2 exposure. There was a general upregulation between ed12 and ed17, but no clear sex effects were detected. Multivariate analysis indicates that EE2 exposed individuals differ from control individuals in a gender independent manner, and that Gonadotropin-inhibiting hormone related peptide 2 (GnIH-RP2) is a candidate for EE2 induced peptidomic alterations in male embryonic brain.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / ABSTRACT: The laying phase requires intense activity of the poultry organism, sothe equilibrium in the metabolism is necessary to a efficient production. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the expression of genes superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPX7), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), apolipoprotein A-I (APOA-I),And apolipoprotein B (APOB) in the liver; Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPX7), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in intestine; estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) in ovary; the histomorphometry of intestinal traits, productive performance, organ morphometry, antioxidant activity, oxidative stress markers, and serum parameters of lipid metabolism of Japanese laying quails fed with diets with or without cinnamon powder added to the diet. It was used 144 quail (Coturnix japonica) with initial age of 18 weeks, distributed in two treatments (basal diet without supplementation of cinnamon (SC) and basal diet plus 9g / kg of powdered cinnamon (CC)). At the end of the proposed experimental period, six animals from each treatment were euthanized by cervical dislocation, blood was collected and the organs weighed. Liver, intestinal and ovary tissues were collected for RNA extraction, enzymatic analysis and histological analysis. The cDNA was amplified using primers specific for the genes analyzed by qRT-PCR. Increased ovary weight was observed in the CC treatment birds; they also presented higher villus height, higher crypt depth, as well as better feed conversion by egg mass, higher triglyceride, uric acid and VLDLcontent.Regarding the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activity of the enzyme catalase (CAT), higher values were observed in the liver of SC treatment birds. The CC treatment birds presented higher expression of FAS, ACC, APOA-I, SOD, GPX7 and ESR2 mRNA. The supplementation of cinnamon powder in the laying quail diet makes egg production more efficient by promoting balance in the body through antioxidant activity and modulation of the expression of genes related to antioxidant defense systems and lipid metabolism. / RESUMO: A fase de postura exige intensa atividade do organismo das aves, e para que a produção seja eficiente é necessário que haja equilíbrio no metabolismo como um todo. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão dos genes: superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase 7 (GPX7), acetil-CoAcarboxilase (ACC), ácido graxo sintase (FAS), apolipoproteína A-I (APOA-I), e apolipoproteína B (APOB), no fígado; fator de necrose tumoral alpha (TNFα), glutationa peroxidase 7 (GPX7), catalase (CAT) e superóxido dismutase (SOD) no intestino; além do receptor do estrógeno 1 (ESR1) e receptor do estrógeno 2 (ESR2) no ovário; assim como a histomorfometria de seguimentos do intestino, o desempenho produtivo, a morfometria dos órgãos, atividade antioxidante, marcadores do estresse oxidativo, parâmetros séricos do metabolismo lipídico de codornas japônicas em fase de postura alimentadas com dietas com e sem adição de canela em pó a ração. Foram utilizadas 144 codornas japônicas (Coturnix japonica) com idade inicial de 18 semanas, distribuídas em dois tratamentos (dieta basal sem suplementação de canela (SC) e dieta basal mais suplementação de 9g/kg de canela em pó (CC)). Ao final do período experimental proposto, seis animais de cada tratamento foram eutanaseados por deslocamento cervical, o sangue foi coletado e os órgãos pesados. Tecidos do fígado, intestino e ovário foram coletados paraextração de RNA, análises enzimáticas e analises histológicas. O cDNA foi amplificado usando primers específicos para os genes analisados pela qRT-PCR. Maior peso de ovário foi observado nas aves do tratamento CC, estas também apresentaram maior altura de vilo, maior profundidade de cripta, bem como melhor conversão alimentar por massa de ovo, maior conteúdo de triglicerídeos, ácido úrico e VLDL. Com relação à quantidade de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e a atividade da enzima catalase (CAT) maiores valores foram observados no fígado das aves do tratamento SC. As aves do tratamento CC apresentaram maior expressão de mRNA FAS, ACC, APOA-I, SOD, GPX7e ESR2. A suplementação de canela em pó na dieta de codornas em fase de postura torna a produção de ovos mais eficiente por promover equilíbrio no organismo através da atividade antioxidante e modulação da expressão de genes relacionados aos sistemas de defesa antioxidante e metabolismo lipídico. / São Cristóvão, SE