ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Molecular Insights into Zoology: 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 289

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: zoology; molecular evolution; ethology; cephalopods; cetaceans; marine biodiversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of animals, including their structure, physiology, classification, and ecological and evolutionary processes, has always interested researchers. The classical zoological approach can be improved by contemporary molecular biology tools that could provide important answers to classic problems. This integrated and transformative approach can be used not only for living species but also for extinct species, reconstructing the phylogeny and evolution at the genomic and molecular levels.

The first edition of the Special Issue “Molecular Insights into Zoology” (IJMS) of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences has been highly successful, resulting in the publication of eleven peer-reviewed articles that collectively demonstrate the breadth, vitality, and international relevance of molecular approaches in modern zoology. These contributions have attracted significant interest and have highlighted the strength of interdisciplinary research bridging zoology, molecular biology, ecology, and evolution.

The advent of omics sciences and other emerging technologies has totally altered the scientific research approach, first with transcriptomic and genomic analysis and then with metagenomic analysis from environmental samples. The most important challenges include data integration, technical limitations due to protocol adaptation, and animal welfare restrictions. Moreover, it is possible to consider the integration with other disciplines as ecological dynamics that enhance our understanding of biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the adaptive responses of species to environmental changes.

This multidisciplinary vision is fully captured in this Special Issue “Molecular Insights into Zoology: 2nd Edition” of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which provides concrete examples of how molecular sciences can expand and refine classical zoological research across diverse biological systems. We warmly invite researchers working at the interface of zoology and molecular biology to contribute original research articles, reviews, or short communications to the forthcoming edition of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Valeria Maselli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zoology
  • genomics
  • transcriptomics
  • phylogeny
  • molecular evolution
  • mtDNA
  • eDNA
  • RNA
  • molecular zoology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 2541 KB  
Article
Novel Insights into the Regulation of GnRH Secretion in Sheep Hypothalamic Nerve Cells by the GRM1 Gene
by Manjun Zhai, Wenlong Zheng, Zongsheng Zhao and Yifan Xie
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 4046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27094046 - 30 Apr 2026
Abstract
Seasonal estrus limits sheep farming efficiency, making enhanced reproductive capacity and year-round estrus crucial for efficient breeding. GRM1 could modulates neuronal signals and stimulates neuron excitability. Our preliminary transcriptomic analysis of hypothalamic tissues from Kazakh ewes during nonbreeding season anestrus and nonbreeding season [...] Read more.
Seasonal estrus limits sheep farming efficiency, making enhanced reproductive capacity and year-round estrus crucial for efficient breeding. GRM1 could modulates neuronal signals and stimulates neuron excitability. Our preliminary transcriptomic analysis of hypothalamic tissues from Kazakh ewes during nonbreeding season anestrus and nonbreeding season nutritionally induced estrus strongly suggested that GRM1 is a candidate gene that regulates estrus. The role of GRM1 in sheep estrus remains to be investigated. GRM1 expression was measured in hypothalamic tissues of Kazakh sheep during nonbreeding anestrus and nutritionally induced estrus via qPCR and immunohistochemistry. GRM1’s regulatory role in GnRH secretion and gene expression was studied in hypothalamic neurons via overexpression and RNAi. GnRH secretion changes were quantified by ELISA. GRM1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in the hypothalamus of estrous Kazakh sheep, as confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. The results of hypothalamic neuron experiments revealed that the expression of GRM1 was significantly upregulated after overexpression, which affected the expression of GnAQ, ITPR1, PLCB1 and PRKCB and ultimately promoted the secretion of GnRH. The expression of GnRH decreased after the interference in GRM1 expression. GRM1 modulates the secretion of GnRH in the hypothalamic nerve cells of Kazakh sheep through the glutamatergic synapse–calcium signaling pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Zoology: 2nd Edition)
Back to TopTop