Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39994541›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

Genetic and metabolic insights into sexual dimorphism in the flexor carpi radialis of Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans) associated with amplexus behavior.

Hui Ma, Long Jin, Li Zhao, Chengzhi Yan, Zhiping Mi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

5 authors.

Hui MaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, 637009, China.
Long JinKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, 637009, China.
Li ZhaoKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, 637009, China.
Chengzhi YanKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, 637009, China. ychzhi@cwnu.edu.cn.
Zhiping MiKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), Nanchong, 637009, China. mizhp@cwnu.edu.cn.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds of China West Normal University 23kq005National Natural Science Foundation of China 32170429National Natural Science Foundation of China 32200338
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSexual dimorphism, a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom, encompasses differences between sexes in size, morphology, and physiological traits. In this study, we investigated sexual dimorphism in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle, which is critical for amplexus in Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans), using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches.

resultsMale toads exhibited significantly larger FCR muscles, reflecting enhanced muscle function required for sustained amplexus. Transcriptomic analysis identified 818 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between sexes, with 389 upregulated and 429 downregulated in males, predominantly associated with muscle contraction, sarcomere organization, and energy metabolism. Metabolomic profiling revealed 69 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), with male-biased enrichment in pathways involved in protein synthesis and degradation, energy metabolism, and material transport. Integrated analysis pinpointed key metabolic pathways-such as glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; fatty acid degradation; and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-as central to the observed sexual dimorphism. Among these, the genes AGXT, ACADL, ACAT1, MDH2, and SUCLG2 emerged as pivotal regulators.

conclusionsCollectively, these findings provide novel insights into the genetic and metabolic basis of sexual dimorphism in B. gargarizans, offering a deeper understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms driving sex-specific traits in vertebrates.

Indexed as

BufonidaeMuscle, SkeletalSex CharacteristicsAnimalsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingMaleMetabolomeMetabolomicsTranscriptomeAmplexusMetabolomicMuscleSexual dimorphismTranscriptomic

Identifiers

PMID39994541
PMCPMC11853992

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.