Project description:Deer antler-derived medicinal materials include antler velvet, antlers, and deer antler base. Antler velvet refers to the young antlers of male sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck) or red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) prior to ossification, which are covered with dense hair. Antler velvet is harvested by sawing during the summer and autumn seasons. After processing, it is dried in shade or by baking. Antler velvet is sweet and salty in taste, warm in nature, and enters the kidney and liver meridians. Its functions include tonifying kidney yang, replenishing essence and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, regulating the Chong and Ren vessels, and expelling toxins to promote wound healing [ref.]. Antlers and deer antler base refer to the ossified antlers or the antler bases shed in the following spring after the antler velvet harvest from red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus) or sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck). Their functions include warming kidney yang, strengthening tendons and bones, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling.
Project description:Studies of the gene expression profiles associated with the postnatal late growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle are lacking in sika deer. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the growth and development of sika deer skeletal muscle, we used de novo RNA-seq analyses to determine the differential expression of unigenes from skeletal muscle tissues at 1, 3, 5, and 10-year-old in sika deer. A total of 51716 unigenes were identified based on four mRNA libraries. 2044 unigenes were differentially expressed between adolescence and juvenile sika deer, 1946 unigenes were differentially expressed between adult and adolescence sika deer, and 2209 unigenes were differentially expressed between aged and adult sika deer. GO and KEGG analyses showed that DE unigenes were mainly related to energy and substance metabolism, processes that are closely associate with growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle. We also constructed mRNA-mRNA interaction networks related to growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle. The results showed that Myh1, Myh2, Myh7, ACTN3 etc. may play important roles in muscle growth and development, and WWP1, DEK, UCP3, FUS etc. may have key roles in muscle aging. In this study, we determined the dynamic unigenes transcriptome in muscle tissue for the first time in sika deer. The age-dependent unigenes identified will offer insights into the molecular mechanism underlying muscle development, growth and maintenance and also provide valuable information for sika deer genetic breeding.
Project description:Studies of the miRNA expression profiles associated with the postnatal late growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle are lacking in sika deer. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the growth and development of sika deer skeletal muscle, we used de novo RNA-seq analyses to determine the differential expression of miRNAs from skeletal muscle tissues at 1, 3, 5, and 10-year-old in sika deer. A total of 171 known miRNAs and 60 novel miRNAs were identified based on four small RNA libraries. 11 miRNAs were differentially expressed between adolescence and juvenile sika deer, 4 miRNAs were differentially expressed between adult and adolescence sika deer, and 1 miRNAs were differentially expressed between aged and adult sika deer. GO and KEGG analyses showed that miRNA were mainly related to energy and substance metabolism, processes that are closely associate with growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle. We also constructed mRNA-mRNA and miRNA-mRNA interaction networks related to growth, development and aging of skeletal muscle. The results showed that miR-133a, miR-133c, miR-192, miR-151-3p etc. may play important roles in muscle growth and development, and miR-17-5p, miR-378b, miR-199a-5p, miR-7 etc. may have key roles in muscle aging. In this study, we determined the dynamic miRNA in muscle tissue for the first time in sika deer. The age-dependent miRNAs identified will offer insights into the molecular mechanism underlying muscle development, growth and maintenance and also provide valuable information for sika deer genetic breeding.