Sexual vs. asexual reproduction-unisexual vs. bisexual populations-diploid vs. polyploid biotypes-genetic vs. environmental sex determination: all these natural phenomena are associated with the genus of teleost fish, Carassius. This review places emphasis on two Carassius entities with completely different biological characteristics: one globally widespread and invasive Carassius gibelio, and the other C. carassius with a decreasing trend of natural occurrence. Comprehensive biological and cytogenetic knowledge of both entities, including the physical interactions between them, can help to balance the advantages of highly invasive and disadvantages of threatened species. For example, the benefits of a wide-ranged colonization can lead to the extinction of native species or be compensated by parasitic enemies and lead to equilibrium. This review emphasizes the comprehensive biology and cytogenetic knowledge and the importance of the Carassius genus as one of the most useful experimental vertebrate models for evolutionary biology and genetics. Secondly, the review points out that effective molecular cytogenetics should be used for the identification of various species, ploidy levels, and hybrids. The proposed investigation of these hallmark characteristics in Carassius may be applied in conservation efforts to sustain threatened populations in their native ranges. Furthermore, the review focuses on the consequences of the co-occurrence of native and non-native species and outlines future perspectives of Carassius research.

• Klíčová slova
• Carassius auratus complex, asexuality, biotype, hybridization, ploidy level, sex determination, sexuality, species,
• MeSH
• Cyprinidae * MeSH
• cytogenetické vyšetření MeSH
• cytogenetika MeSH
• diploidie MeSH
• ploidie MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The widely distributed ray-finned fish genus Carassius is very well known due to its unique biological characteristics such as polyploidy, clonality, and/or interspecies hybridization. These biological characteristics have enabled Carassius species to be successfully widespread over relatively short period of evolutionary time. Therefore, this fish model deserves to be the center of attention in the research field. Some studies have already described the Carassius karyotype, but results are inconsistent in the number of morphological categories for individual chromosomes. We investigated three focal species: Carassius auratus, C. carassius and C. gibelio with the aim to describe their standardized diploid karyotypes, and to study their evolutionary relationships using cytogenetic tools. We measured length (q+plength) of each chromosome and calculated centromeric index (i value). We found: (i) The relationship between q+plength and i value showed higher similarity of C. auratus and C. carassius. (ii) The variability of i value within each chromosome expressed by means of the first quartile (Q1) up to the third quartile (Q3) showed higher similarity of C. carassius and C. gibelio. (iii) The fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed higher similarity of C. auratus and C. gibelio. (iv) Standardized karyotype formula described using median value (Q2) showed differentiation among all investigated species: C. auratus had 24 metacentric (m), 40 submetacentric (sm), 2 subtelocentric (st), 2 acrocentric (a) and 32 telocentric (T) chromosomes (24m+40sm+2st+2a+32T); C. carassius: 16m+34sm+8st+42T; and C. gibelio: 16m+22sm+10st+2a+50T. (v) We developed R scripts applicable for the description of standardized karyotype for any other species. The diverse results indicated unprecedented complex genomic and chromosomal architecture in the genus Carassius probably influenced by its unique biological characteristics which make the study of evolutionary relationships more difficult than it has been originally postulated.

• Klíčová slova
• Carassius auratus, Carassius carassius, Carassius gibelio, chromosome, i value, in situ hybridization, karyogram, q/p arm ratio,
• MeSH
• chromozomy genetika   MeSH
• diploidie MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genetická variace genetika   MeSH
• genom genetika   MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční metody   MeSH
• kapři genetika   MeSH
• karas zlatý genetika   MeSH
• karyotyp MeSH
• karyotypizace metody   MeSH
• mapování chromozomů metody   MeSH
• polyploidie MeSH
• ryby genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that involves the death or dysfunction of the insulin-secreting β cells in the pancreas. Consequently, most diabetes research is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular bases of pancreatic development, islet formation, β-cell survival, and insulin secretion. Complex interactions of signaling pathways and transcription factor networks regulate the specification, growth, and differentiation of cell types in the developing pancreas. Many of the same regulators continue to modulate gene expression and cell fate of the adult pancreas. The transcription factor NEUROD1 is essential for the maturation of β cells and the expansion of the pancreatic islet cell mass. Mutations of the Neurod1 gene cause diabetes in humans and mice. However, the different aspects of the requirement of NEUROD1 for pancreas development are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of NEUROD1 during the primary and secondary transitions of mouse pancreas development. We determined that the elimination of Neurod1 impairs the expression of key transcription factors for α- and β-cell differentiation, β-cell proliferation, insulin production, and islets of Langerhans formation. These findings demonstrate that the Neurod1 deletion altered the properties of α and β endocrine cells, resulting in severe neonatal diabetes, and thus, NEUROD1 is required for proper activation of the transcriptional network and differentiation of functional α and β cells.

• Klíčová slova
• NEUROD1, genetic mutation, mouse model, pancreatic development, transcriptional network,
• MeSH
• beta-buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• buněčný rodokmen MeSH
• diabetes mellitus genetika   MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   MeSH
• Langerhansovy ostrůvky cytologie   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši transgenní MeSH
• myši MeSH
• novorozená zvířata MeSH
• pankreas cytologie   embryologie   MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• transkripční faktory bHLH genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inzulin MeSH
• Neurod1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory bHLH MeSH

Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma, represent the main causes of a decreased quality of vision or even blindness worldwide. However, despite considerable efforts, the treatment possibilities for these disorders remain very limited. A perspective is offered by cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells can be obtained from the bone marrow or adipose tissue of a particular patient, expanded in vitro and used as the autologous cells. MSCs possess potent immunoregulatory properties and can inhibit a harmful inflammatory reaction in the diseased retina. By the production of numerous growth and neurotrophic factors, they support the survival and growth of retinal cells. In addition, MSCs can protect retinal cells by antiapoptotic properties and could contribute to the regeneration of the diseased retina by their ability to differentiate into various cell types, including the cells of the retina. All of these properties indicate the potential of MSCs for the therapy of diseased retinas. This view is supported by the recent results of numerous experimental studies in different preclinical models. Here we provide an overview of the therapeutic properties of MSCs, and their use in experimental models of retinal diseases and in clinical trials.

• Klíčová slova
• clinical trials, experimental models, mesenchymal stem cells, retinal degenerative diseases, stem cell therapy,
• MeSH
• autologní transplantace MeSH
• buněčná a tkáňová terapie metody   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• buňky kostní dřeně cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• diabetická retinopatie genetika   metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• glaukom genetika   metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• klinické zkoušky jako téma MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makulární degenerace genetika   metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• neurotrofní faktory genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• retina metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• retinopathia pigmentosa genetika   metabolismus   patologie   terapie   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk metody   MeSH
• tuková tkáň cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH
• neurotrofní faktory MeSH

The observation of the immunomodulatory effects of opioid drugs opened the discussion about possible mechanisms of action and led researchers to consider the presence of opioid receptors (OR) in cells of the immune system. To date, numerous studies analyzing the expression of OR subtypes in animal and human immune cells have been performed. Some of them confirmed the expression of OR at both the mRNA and protein level, while others did not detect the receptor mRNA either. Although this topic remains controversial, further studies are constantly being published. The most recent articles suggested that the expression level of OR in human peripheral blood lymphocytes could help to evaluate the success of methadone maintenance therapy in former opioid addicts, or could serve as a biomarker for chronic pain diagnosis. However, the applicability of these findings to clinical practice needs to be verified by further investigations.

• Klíčová slova
• addiction, chronic pain, immune cells, opioid drugs, opioid receptors, stem cells,
• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• chronická bolest farmakoterapie   etiologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• imunitní systém účinky léků   imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• kmenové buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• opioidní analgetika farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory opiátové genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese * MeSH
• zánět komplikace   etiologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• opioidní analgetika MeSH
• receptory opiátové MeSH