Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24633017›Full record

ArticlePloS one2014

Molecular characterization of adipose tissue in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Emeli M Nilsson, Hernan P Fainberg, Siew S Choong, Thomas C Giles, James Sells, Sean May, Fiona J Stansfield, William R Allen, Richard D Emes, Alison Mostyn and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 45% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Emeli M NilssonFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Hernan P FainbergFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Siew S ChoongFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Thomas C GilesAdvanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
James SellsFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Sean MayThe Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Fiona J StansfieldThe Elephant Research and Conservation Unit, Savé Valley Conservancy, Harare, Zimbabwe.
William R AllenThe Paul Mellon Laboratory, "Brunswick," Woodditton Road, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Richard D EmesFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom; Advanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Alison MostynFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Nigel P MonganFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
Lisa YonFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom.
University of Nottingham · GB

Funding

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/E01772X/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/E022758/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/I001271/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BBS/B/1356XBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council G17764Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council G18881
6 · The paper itself

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.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsCluster AnalysisElephantsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationLeptinMaleModels, MolecularMolecular Sequence DataPhospholipidsPhylogenyProtein ConformationLeptinPhospholipids

Identifiers

PMID24633017
PMCPMC3954733
OpenAlexW1989070000

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.