Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Molecular Characterization of Adipose Tissue in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Nilsson, Emeli M.; Fainberg, Hernan P.; Choong, Siew S.; Giles, Thomas C.; Sells, James; May, Sean; Stansfield, Fiona J.; Allen, William R.; Emes, Richard D.; Mostyn, Alison; Mongan, Nigel P.; Yon, Lisa

Molecular Characterization of Adipose Tissue in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Thumbnail


Authors

Emeli M. Nilsson

Hernan P. Fainberg

Siew S. Choong

Thomas C. Giles

James Sells

Fiona J. Stansfield

William R. Allen

Richard D. Emes

ALISON MOSTYN alison.mostyn@nottingham.ac.uk
Director of Teaching and Learning

NIGEL MONGAN nigel.mongan@nottingham.ac.uk
Associate Pro-Vice Chancellorglobal Engagement

LISA YON LISA.YON@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Associate Professor



Contributors

Jean-Marc A. Lobaccaro
Editor

Abstract

Adipose tissue (AT) is a dynamic and flexible organ with regulatory roles in physiological functions including metabolism, reproduction and inflammation; secreted adipokines, including leptin, and fatty acids facilitate many of these roles. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is experiencing serious challenges to optimal reproduction in captivity. The physiological and molecular basis of this impaired fertility remains unknown. AT production of leptin is a crucial molecular link between nutritional status, adiposity and fertility in many species. We propose that leptin has a similar function in the African elephant. African elephant visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) was obtained from both sexes and a range of ages including females with known pregnancy status. RNA was extracted and histological sections created and analyzed by microarray, PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Gas-chromatography was used to determine the fatty acid composition of AT. Microarray expression profiling was used to compare gene expression profiles of AT from pre-pubertal versus reproductively competent adult African elephants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, leptin mRNA and protein expression in African elephant AT. The derived protein sequence of the elephant leptin protein was exploited to determine its relationship within the class I helical cytokine superfamily, which indicates that elephant leptin is most closely related to the leptin orthologs of Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit), Lepus oiostolus (woolly hare), and members of the Ochotonidae (Pika). Immunohistological analysis identified considerable leptin staining within the cytoplasm of adipocytes. Significant differences in fatty acid profiles between pregnant and non-pregnant animals were revealed, most notably a reduction in both linoleic and α linoleic acid in pregnant animals. This report forms the basis for future studies to address the effect of nutrient composition and body condition on reproduction in captive and wild elephants.

Citation

Nilsson, E. M., Fainberg, H. P., Choong, S. S., Giles, T. C., Sells, J., May, S., …Yon, L. (2014). Molecular Characterization of Adipose Tissue in the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana). PLoS ONE, 9(3), Article e91717. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091717

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 14, 2014
Online Publication Date Mar 14, 2014
Publication Date Mar 14, 2014
Deposit Date Jul 2, 2015
Publicly Available Date Jul 2, 2015
Journal PLoS ONE
Electronic ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher Public Library of Science
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 3
Article Number e91717
DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091717
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/725043
Publisher URL http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0091717
Contract Date Jul 2, 2015

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations