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Physiological basis of extended longevity in termite kings and queens - is activation of telomerase mechanism linked with extended longevity of termites?
Pangrácová, Marie ; Hanus, Robert (advisor) ; Kodrík, Dalibor (referee)
- Extended longevity and high fecundity are two phenomena typical for reproductive castes (queens, eventually kings) of eusocial insects. In my thesis, we explore the hypothesis that the longevity of reproductives in the termite Prorhinotermes simplex is linked with the activation of the telomerase enzyme complex. Telomerase is well known for its life-extension functions, due especially to its capacity to prolong the telomeric ends of chromosomes. Therefore, we studied here the gene expression of: (1) the gene TERT coding for the catalytic subunit of the telomerase and (2) the genes of the main endocrine regulatory pathways, known to be responsible for the control of reproduction and longevity in insects. Expression dynamics of these genes were measured in sterile and reproductive castes of P. simplex during their development and sexual maturation. Based on our results obtained from the TERT expression analyses and their comparison with telomerase enzyme activities, we assume that the telomerase action in the long-lived reproductive individuals is regulated at a post-transcription level. Furthermore, we observed in reproductive castes a simultaneous upregulation of some transcription variants of vitellogenin and the genes for insulin signalling pathways. We can, therefore, conclude that in...
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The relationship of exterior of first calved to the performance and longevity of Czech Fleckvieh cows
NOVOTNÝ, Luboš
Genetic relationship was analyzed between type traits and longevity measures in dual-purpose cattle. Data from 91 486 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved between 2003 and 2009 were used. Longevity was defined as the actual number of lactations initiated per cow and also as functional longevity, which incorporated an adjustment to account for variation in voluntary culling based upon milk production. Lifetime performance was defined as cumulative milk production through the 6th parity. All cows were scored for conformation traits during their first lactation. Genetic correlations between these traits and longevity measures were estimated by bivariate analysis using the DMU variance component program package. Type trait heritabilities ranged from 0.30 to 0.59, while heritabilities for longevity and functional longevity were 0.06 and 0.05, respectively. Heritability of lifetime performance was 0.08. Genetic correlations between type traits and longevity measures ranged from low to intermediate values. Genetic correlations of the measured body size traits to the real and functional longevity ranged from ?0.06 to ?0.29, for udder traits from ?0.02 to 0.33, and for foot and leg traits from ?0.03 to 0.17. Genetic correlations between the measured body size traits and lifetime performance ranged from ?0.03 to ?0.30, for udder traits from 0.05 to 0.47, for foot and leg traits from ?0.07 to 0.15. Genetic correlations of composite trait scores for frame, muscularity, feet and legs, and udder with longevity traits ranged from ?0.20 to 0.41 and for lifetime performance ?0.14 to 0.51. The highest genetic correlations between a type trait and functional longevity were for composite udder score (0.25), feet and legs (0.26), and udder depth (0.33), suggesting that these traits could serve as indicators of functional longevity. We conclude that selection based upon easily and inexpensively measured type traits could improve functional longevity of cows as well as lifetime milk production.
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Physiological basis of extended longevity in termite kings and queens - is activation of telomerase mechanism linked with extended longevity of termites?
Pangrácová, Marie ; Hanus, Robert (advisor) ; Kodrík, Dalibor (referee)
- Extended longevity and high fecundity are two phenomena typical for reproductive castes (queens, eventually kings) of eusocial insects. In my thesis, we explore the hypothesis that the longevity of reproductives in the termite Prorhinotermes simplex is linked with the activation of the telomerase enzyme complex. Telomerase is well known for its life-extension functions, due especially to its capacity to prolong the telomeric ends of chromosomes. Therefore, we studied here the gene expression of: (1) the gene TERT coding for the catalytic subunit of the telomerase and (2) the genes of the main endocrine regulatory pathways, known to be responsible for the control of reproduction and longevity in insects. Expression dynamics of these genes were measured in sterile and reproductive castes of P. simplex during their development and sexual maturation. Based on our results obtained from the TERT expression analyses and their comparison with telomerase enzyme activities, we assume that the telomerase action in the long-lived reproductive individuals is regulated at a post-transcription level. Furthermore, we observed in reproductive castes a simultaneous upregulation of some transcription variants of vitellogenin and the genes for insulin signalling pathways. We can, therefore, conclude that in...
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Vyhodnocení ukazatelů užitkovosti a dlouhověkosti ve vybraném stádě holštýnského skotu
BUNKOVÁ, Olga
Cattle farming is one of the most important branches of animal husbandry both in Czechia and worldwide. Cattle is the largest source of milk for human consumption in the world. Its digestibility and high contain of protein are reasons why cow's milk and dairy products have been ireplacable part of human diet for millennia. Holstein cattle is a black and white breed known for the highest milk production and great adaptability. Numerous studies have shown holstein cattle is able to adapt to many different climate conditions while keeping its high usability. Main purpose of modern holstein cattle husbandry is increase of production, shortening of calving intervals and lowering age at first calving. That is however closely connected to longevity and especially to the lenght of productive life, which are the deciding factors as the priority is to maintain cattle farming cost effective. The purpose of this work was to research factors that influence production, reproduction and longevity of holstein dairy cattle. One part is deals with observing and analysing herds of holstein cows from two different farms. Collected and analysed information about production, reproduction and life expectancy were compared using appropriate statistical methods.
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Vliv věku při 1. otelení na užitkovost a dlouhověkost dojnic
HARANTOVÁ, Barbora
In this bachelor thesis, it has been dealt with evaluating an influence from level of rearing during the first calving to the performance and longevity of dairy cows from chosen herd near VOD Svatobor. Gathered data has been filtered and ordered due to cause of exclusion, age in first calf, order of lactation and lifelong performance. There were 100 dairy cows to be observed together with their market production of milk. From this set 63 cows were from Czech mottled breed and the rest 37 cows from Holštýn's breed. Cows from both breeds has been housed in same stable and with the same aliment and treatment conditions. From results we can see that belated swallowing has little influence on the amount of produced milk. On the other hand, belated swallowed cows, so even calved cows, did not produce larger amount of milk. The only advantage of belated swallowing has been higher percentage of fat and proteins in milk. The most frequent reason of exclusion in both breeds has been illness of udder. Due to this fact cows were excluded on 1.67 lactation in average. The illness of udder may be caused by insufficient hygiene or incorrect milking procedure.
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Aktivita telomerázy u termita \kur{Prorhinotermes simplex}
JEHLÍK, Tomáš
Social insect is known for its unique caste system, coherence and effective division of labor, but also for the extreme longevity of reproductive individuals in comparison with asexual castes. Although mechanisms leading to lifespan differences between reproductive and non-reproductive castes of social insects are not sufficiently explained, one of the longevity determinants might be telomere length and activity of telomerase as the most common mechanism of telomere length maintenance. Telomere length belongs to general indicators of organismal lifespan. This work is focused on monitoring of telomerase activity in various stages, castes and organs of the termite Prorhinotermes simplex (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) showing up-regulation of telomerase in reproductive castes.
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Telomere length compensation mechanisms as players in longevity and stress adaptation of insects
SÁBOVÁ, Michala
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that are important for genome stability and integrity. They are shortened with each cell cycle and during organismal aging. Although the most common telomere length compensation mechanism is the activity of a special reverse transcriptase, telomerase, in Drosophila telomeres are maintained by the retrotransposition of telomeric elements. In mammals, telomere length and telomerase activity can be influenced by lifestyle and the environmental conditions. This thesis is focused on activity of telomere length maintenance mechanism in insects in relation to aging and stress response.
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Relationship between longevity and non-specific stress in the Early Medieval Moravian population
Zazvonilová, Eliška ; Brůžek, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Stránská, Petra (referee)
Opinions on the relationship between non-specific stress and age at death on adults are not uniform. The inspiration for our diploma thesis was a study by Croatian authors Becic et al. (2014) who reported that individuals with non-specific stress indicators (cribra orbitalia) lived longer. Our aims were following: to estimate the longevity and compared influence of used methods on the relationship between non-specific stress and age at death, to test the relationship between age at death and non-specific stress indicators, particularly cribra orbitalia and linear enamel hypoplasia, and also to test the relationship between non-specific stress indicators and stature. Methods for age estimation are divided into two parts, methods used in the study Becic et al. (2014) and our method selection chosen from the literature appropriate for the oldest individuals. In this study, the presence of cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasia was observed in 294 adult individuals (111 women, 135 men and 48 undetermined individuals) from the Early Mediaeval (9th - 10th century) Slavic skeletal series at Mikulčice (Great Moravia), IIIrd church. When comparing age at death estimated by two different technics we found reduced age at death for the individuals with cribra orbitalia and also with enamel hypoplasia. There...
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Physiological adaptations associated with body size and longevity in endothermic vertebrates
Pazdera, Lukáš ; Tomášek, Oldřich (advisor) ; Blažek, Radim (referee)
Abstact Lifespan is related to a number of physiological processes that are interconnected. Longevous species are assumed to have evolved certain physiological adaptations that slow down ageing rate and enable long lifespan. The aim of my thesis was to review physiological traits that has been hypothesised to be associated with lifespan, and to evaluate the empirical support for such hypotheses. Studies testing the association of these traits with body size has also been included in my thesis, as body size is known to be tightly related to lifespan. Traits that are reviewed in my thesis due to their hypothesised coevolution with lifespan are as follows: metabolic rate (i.e., a total amount of energy expended by the organism per unit of body mass and unit of time), oxidative stress resistance, telomere length and rate of telomere shortening and intensity of stress and immune responses. Key words: Lifespan, longevity, survival, reproduction, oxidative stress, free radicals, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, metabnolic rate, immunity, antioxidants
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