Sensory pathways and their modulation in the control of locomotion

Recent experiments have extended our understanding of how sensory information in premotor networks controlling motor output is processed during locomotion, and at what level the efficacy of specific sensory—motor pathways is determined. Phasic presynaptic inhibition of sensory transmission combined with postsynaptic alterations of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission from interneurons of the premotor networks contribute to the modulation of reflex pathways and to the generation of reflex reversal. These mechanisms play an important role in adapting the operation of central networks to external demands and thus help optimize sensory—motor integration.     

Context-dependent symbioses and their potential roles in wildlife diseases

It is well known in ecology, evolution and medicine that both the nature (commensal, parasitic and mutualistic) and outcome (symbiont fitness, survival) of symbiotic interactions are often context-dependent. Less is known about the importance of context-dependence in symbioses involved in wildlife disease. We review variable symbioses, and use the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis to demonstrate how understanding context-dependence can improve the understanding and management of wildlife diseases. In chytridiomycosis, the host-pathogen interaction is context-dependent; it is strongly affected by environmental temperature. Skin bacteria can also modify the interaction; some bacteria reduce amphibians' susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. Augmentation of protective microbes is being considered as a possible management tool, but informed application of bioaugmentation requires understanding of how the interactions between host, beneficial bacteria and pathogen depend upon environmental context. The community-level response of the amphibian skin microbiota to environmental conditions may explain the relatively narrow range of environmental conditions in which past declines have occurred. Environmental context affects virulence and the protection provided by mutualists in other host-pathogen systems, including threatened bats and corals. Increased focus on context-dependence in interactions between wildlife and their symbionts is likely to be crucial to the future investigation and management of emerging diseases of wildlife.     

Rapid glucocorticoid stimulation and GABAergic inhibition of hippocampal serotonergic response: in vivo dialysis in the lizard anolis carolinensis

Central serotonin (5-HT) is activated during stressful situations and aggressive interactions in a number of species. Glucocorticoids secreted peripherally during stressful events feed back on central systems and may affect 5-HT mediation of stress-induced behavioral events. To test the neuromodulatory effect of stress hormone secretion, serotonin overflow was measured from the hippocampus of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Microdialysis was used to collect repeated samples from anesthetized lizards, with perfusate measured by HPLC with electrochemical analysis. Following initially high levels of 5-HT, concentrations stabilized to basal levels after approximately 2 h. Intracortical infusion of 200 ng/ml corticosterone evoked transient increases in 5-HT release of approximately 400%. The effect of corticosterone on 5-HT overflow appears to be dose dependent as 20 ng/ml stimulated an increase of 200%, whereas 2 ng/ml stimulated a 50% increase. Administration of 0.1 and 1 ng/ml GABA via the dialysis probe significantly inhibited 5-HT overflow by 20 and 40%, respectively. The duration of GABA inhibition is greater than the stimulatory response for glucocorticoids. Short-lived glucocorticoid stimulation of 5-HT release suggests a possible mechanism for endocrine mediation of continuously changing social behavioral events.     

Hormones, sexual signals, and performance of green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis)

The evolutionary processes that result in reliable links between male signals and fighting capacity have received a great deal of attention, but the proximate mechanisms underlying such connections remain understudied. We studied a large sample of male green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis) to determine whether testosterone or corticosterone predicted dewlap size and/or bite-force capacity, as dewlap size is known to be a reliable predictor of bite-force capacity in territorial males. We also examined whether these relationships were consistent between previously described body size classes ("lightweights" and "heavyweights"). Heavyweights had 50% higher testosterone concentrations than lightweights during the breeding season, suggesting a mechanism for the disproportionately larger heads and dewlaps and higher bite-forces of heavyweights. Plasma testosterone concentrations were positively correlated with dewlap size and bite-force performance in lightweights (but not heavyweights) but only because of mutual intercorrelation of all three variables with body size. We suggest two possibilities for the relationship between testosterone levels and body size: (1) testosterone promotes growth in this species or (2) smaller sexually mature males are unable to compete with larger males such that the benefits of elevated testosterone do not outweigh the costs. Corticosterone levels did not differ between the male morphs, and lightweights, but not heavyweights, showed an inverse relationship between testosterone levels and corticosterone levels. Our results suggest that testosterone is important for traits related to dominance in adult male green anoles and may influence the ability to compete with rivals via fighting ability or through the use of signals.     

Distribution of arginine vasotocin in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis

Summary The distribution of immunoreactive arginine vasotocin (AVT-ir) was determined in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Cells and fibers containing AVT-ir were found in the medial septal region, lamina terminalis, lateral forebrain bundle, preoptic area, supraoptic nucleus, anterior hypothalamus, paraventricular nucleus, periventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, and ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus. Occasional AVT-ir cells were found in the interpeduncular nucleus. Fibers containing AVT-ir were found in the cortex, around the olfactory ventricle, in the diagonal band of Broca, amygdala area, dorsal ventricular ridge, striatum, nucleus accumbens, septum, ventromedial hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, median eminence, pars nervosa, nucleus of the solitary tract, locus coeruleus, cerebellar cortex (granular layer), dorsal part of the nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, substantia nigra, and myelencephalon. The intensity of AVT-ir staining was, in general, greater in males than in females. Comparison of AVT-ir distribution in A. carolinensis with those previously published for other reptilian species revealed species-specific differences in distribution of AVT.     

The value of comparative approaches to our understanding of puberty as illustrated by investigations in birds and reptiles

This article is part of a Special Issue "Puberty and Adolescence". Studies of birds and reptiles have provided many basic insights into the neuroendocrine control of reproductive processes. This research has elucidated mechanisms regulating both early development, including sexual differentiation, and adult neuroendocrine function and behavior. However, phenomena associated with the transition into sexual maturation (puberty) have not been a focus of investigators working on species in these taxonomic classes. Research is complicated in birds and reptiles by a variety of factors, including what can be extended times to maturation, the need to reach particular body size regardless of age, and environmental conditions that can support or inhibit endocrine responses. However, careful selection of model systems, particularly those with available genetic tools, will lead to important comparative studies that can elucidate both generalizability and diversity of mechanisms regulating the onset of reproductive maturity.     

Transmission of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus through Oviposition Wounds of Monochamm carolinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Transmission of pinewood nematode through Monochamus carolinensis oviposition wounds was documented. Nematode transmission was measured as the average number of nematodes isolated per oviposition wound excavated and also as the percentage of oviposition wounds from which nematodes were isolated. The influence of three factors that might affect nematode transmission was investigated: age of the beetle vector, number of nematodes carried per beetle, and egg deposition in the oviposition wound. Only the number of nematodes carried by the beetle was found to have a significant effect on transmission. Nematodes were transmitted more frequently and in slightly greater numbers by beetles carrying more nematodes. The influence of pinewood on nematode exit from beetles were investigated by comparing nematode exit from beetles placed over pine chips with those placed over distilled water. Nematodes exited in greater numbers and at a higher frequency from beetles over pine chips than from beetles over distilled water. Apparently, the nematodes are able to detect a factor from the pine chips that promotes their exit from the beetles.     

Degradation of ribosomal RNA during starvation: comparison to quality control during steady-state growth and a role for RNase PH

Ribosomal RNAs are generally stable in growing Escherichia coli cells. However, their degradation increases dramatically under conditions that lead to slow cell growth. In addition, incomplete RNA molecules and molecules with defects in processing, folding, or assembly are also eliminated in growing cells in a process termed quality control. Here, we show that there are significant differences between the pathways of ribosomal RNA degradation during glucose starvation and quality control during steady-state growth. In both processes, endonucleolytic cleavage of rRNA in ribosome subunits is an early step, resulting in accumulation of large rRNA fragments when the processive exoribonucleases, RNase II, RNase R, and PNPase are absent. For 23S rRNA, cleavage is in the region of helix 71, but the exact position can differ in the two degradative processes. For 16S rRNA, degradation during starvation begins with shortening of its 3' end in a reaction catalyzed by RNase PH. In the absence of this RNase, there is no 3' end trimming of 16S rRNA and no accumulation of rRNA fragments, and total RNA degradation is greatly reduced. In contrast, the degradation pattern in quality control remains unchanged when RNase PH is absent. During starvation, the exoribonucleases RNase II and RNase R are important for fragment removal, whereas for quality control, RNase R and PNPase are more important. These data highlight the similarities and differences between rRNA degradation during starvation and quality control during steady-state growth and describe a role for RNase PH in the starvation degradative pathway.     

Genome-wide DNA methylation changes in skeletal muscle between young and middle-aged pigs

Background

Age-related physiological, biochemical and functional changes in mammalian skeletal muscle have been shown to begin at the mid-point of the lifespan. However, the underlying changes in DNA methylation that occur during this turning point of the muscle aging process have not been clarified. To explore age-related genomic methylation changes in skeletal muscle, we employed young (0.5 years old) and middle-aged (7 years old) pigs as models to survey genome-wide DNA methylation in the longissimus dorsi muscle using a methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing approach.

Results

We observed a tendency toward a global loss of DNA methylation in the gene-body region of the skeletal muscle of the middle-aged pigs compared with the young group. We determined the genome-wide gene expression pattern in the longissimus dorsi muscle using microarray analysis and performed a correlation analysis using DMR (differentially methylated region)-mRNA pairs, and we found a significant negative correlation between the changes in methylation levels within gene bodies and gene expression. Furthermore, we identified numerous genes that show age-related methylation changes that are potentially involved in the aging process. The methylation status of these genes was confirmed using bisulfite sequencing PCR. The genes that exhibited a hypomethylated gene body in middle-aged pigs were over-represented in various proteolysis and protein catabolic processes, suggesting an important role for these genes in age-related muscle atrophy. In addition, genes associated with tumorigenesis exhibited aged-related differences in methylation and expression levels, suggesting an increased risk of disease associated with increased age.

Conclusions

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in aging pig skeletal muscle. Our findings will serve as a valuable resource in aging studies, promoting the pig as a model organism for human aging research and accelerating the development of comparative animal models in aging research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-653) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Transmission of Pinewood Nematode Through Feeding Wounds of Monochamus carolinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Transmission of pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, to mature, field grown Scots pines through feeding wounds of Monochamus carolinensis was investigated by caging nematode-infested beetles on pine branches for 24 hours. Nematodes were transmitted to 31 of 64 branches. Frequency of successful transmission was independent of the sex of the beetle but dependent upon beetle age. Transmission frequencies were highest for beetles 2, 3, and 4 weeks after emergence as adults. The number of nematodes transmitted per branch was low and did not differ between beetle sexes or among beetle age categories. The number of nematodes extracted per branch was correlated with the number of nematodes carried per beetle but was not correlated with the feeding area on the branch.     

Trichinella spiralis: modulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in DA rats

Helminth infection has a potent systemic immunomodulatory effect on the host immune response, which also affects the development of autoimmune diseases. We investigated the dose-dependent influence of Trichinella spiralis infection on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our model of concomitant T. spiralis infection and EAE demonstrates that established infection of Dark Agouti (DA) rats with the parasite causes amelioration of the clinical course of induced EAE in a dose-dependent way. Infection with T. spiralis L1 stage muscle larvae (TSL1) reduced the severity of the autoimmune disease as judged by lower maximal clinical score, cumulative index, duration of illness and degree of mononuclear cell infiltration in T. spiralis infected animals compared to control, EAE-induced group. This study provides a valuable model of worm infection to investigate helminth-induced regulatory mechanisms for optimal benefit to the host.     

Abdicating power for control: a precision timing strategy to modulate function of flight power muscles

Muscles driving rhythmic locomotion typically show strong dependence of power on the timing or phase of activation. This is particularly true in insects' main flight muscles, canonical examples of muscles thought to have a dedicated power function. However, in the moth (Manduca sexta), these muscles normally activate at a phase where the instantaneous slope of the power-phase curve is steep and well below maximum power. We provide four lines of evidence demonstrating that, contrary to the current paradigm, the moth's nervous system establishes significant control authority in these muscles through precise timing modulation: (i) left-right pairs of flight muscles normally fire precisely, within 0.5-0.6 ms of each other; (ii) during a yawing optomotor response, left-right muscle timing differences shift throughout a wider 8 ms timing window, enabling at least a 50 per cent left-right power differential; (iii) timing differences correlate with turning torque; and (iv) the downstroke power muscles alone causally account for 47 per cent of turning torque. To establish (iv), we altered muscle activation during intact behaviour by stimulating individual muscle potentials to impose left-right timing differences. Because many organisms also have muscles operating with high power-phase gains (Δ(power)/Δ(phase)), this motor control strategy may be ubiquitous in locomotor systems.     

OLFML3 expression is decreased during prenatal muscle development and regulated by microRNA-155 in pigs

The Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) gene has matrix-related function involved in embryonic development. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155), 21- to 23-nucleotides (nt) noncoding RNA, regulated myogenesis by target mRNA. Our LongSAGE analysis suggested that OLFML3 gene was differently expressed during muscle development in pig. In this study, we cloned the porcine OLFML3 gene and detected its tissues distribution in adult Tongcheng pigs and dynamical expression in developmental skeletal muscle (12 prenatal and 10 postnatal stages) from Landrace (lean-type) and Tongcheng (obese-type) pigs. Subsequently, we analyzed the interaction between OLFML3 and miR-155. The OLFML3 was abundantly expressed in liver and pancreas, moderately in lung, small intestine and placenta, and weakly in other tissues and postnatal muscle. There were different dynamical expression patterns between Landrace and Tongcheng pigs during prenatal skeletal muscle development. The OLFML3 was down-regulated (33-50 days post coitus, dpc), subsequently up-regulated (50-70 dpc), and then down-regulated (70-100 dpc) in Landrace pigs, while in Tongcheng pigs, it was down-regulated (33-50 dpc), subsequently up-regulated (50-55 dpc) and then down-regulated (55-100 dpc). There was higher expression in Tongcheng than Landrace in prenatal muscle from 33 to 60 dpc, and opposite situation from 65 to 100 dpc. Dual luciferase assay and real time PCR documented that OLFML3 expression was regulated by miR-155 at mRNA level. Our research indicated that OLFML3 gene may affect prenatal skeletal muscle development and was regulated by miR-155. These finding will help understanding biological function and expression regulation of OLFML3 gene in mammal animals.     

Ecological and anthropogenic drivers of rabies exposure in vampire bats: implications for transmission and control

Despite extensive culling of common vampire bats in Latin America, lethal human rabies outbreaks transmitted by this species are increasingly recognized, and livestock rabies occurs with striking frequency. To identify the individual and population-level factors driving rabies virus (RV) transmission in vampire bats, we conducted a longitudinal capture-recapture study in 20 vampire bat colonies spanning four regions of Peru. Serology demonstrated the circulation of RV in vampire bats from all regions in all years. Seroprevalence ranged from 3 to 28 per cent and was highest in juvenile and sub-adult bats. RV exposure was independent of bat colony size, consistent with an absence of population density thresholds for viral invasion and extinction. Culling campaigns implemented during our study failed to reduce seroprevalence and were perhaps counterproductive for disease control owing to the targeted removal of adults, but potentially greater importance of juvenile and sub-adult bats for transmission. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of RV maintenance in vampire bats and highlight the need for ecologically informed approaches to rabies prevention in Latin America.     

How the timberline formed: altitudinal changes in stand structure and dynamics around the timberline in central Japan

Background and Aims

Altitudinal timberlines are thought to move upward by global warming, a crucial topic in ecology. Tall tree species (the conifer Abies mariesii and the deciduous broad-leaved Betula ermanii) dominate the sub-alpine zone between 1600 and 2500 m a.s.l., the timberline, on Mount Norikura in central Japan. Dwarf pine Pinus pumila dominates above the timberline to near the summit (3026 m a.s.l.). This study evaluated how the timberline formed on Mount Norikura by examining altitudinal changes in stand structure and dynamics around the timberline.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-five plots of 10 m × 10 m were established around the timberline (2350–2600 m a.s.l.). Trunk diameter growth rate during 6 years was examined for A. mariesii, B. ermanii and P. pumila. Mortality during this period and mechanical damage scars on the trunks and branches due to strong wind and snow were examined for A. mariesii only.

Key Results

The density, maximum trunk height and diameter of A. mariesii in plots decreased with altitude. The maximum trunk height of B. ermanii decreased with altitude, but density and maximum trunk diameter did not decrease. In contrast, the density of P. pumila abruptly increased from around the timberline. A strong negative correlation was found between the densities of P. pumila and tall tree species, indicating their interspecific competition. Trunk diameter growth rates of A. mariesii and B. ermanii did not decrease with altitude, suggesting that these two tall tree species can grow at the timberline. The ratio of trees with mechanical damage scars increased with altitude for A. mariesii, a tendency more conspicuous for larger trees. The mortality of larger A. mariesii was also greater at higher altitude. Tall tree species may not increase their trunk height and survive around the timberline because of mechanical damage.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the altitudinal location of the timberline is mainly affected by mechanical damage due to strong wind and snow rather than by growth limitation due to low temperature. Therefore, the timberline would not move upward even under global warming if these growth and mortality characteristics do not change for a long time.     

Catecholaminergic cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis identified by traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry

Summary Using traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry, we described the location of tyrosine hydroxylase-and dopamine beta hydroxylase-positive cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Major catecholaminergic cell groups were in the ependyma in certain ventricular regions, alous coeruleus, anterior hypothalamic and lateral hypothalamic areas, and in the mesencephalic tegmental region, locus coeruleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, vagal motor nucleus, and rhombencephalic reticular formation. Major catecholaminergic fibers, tracts and varicosities included tuberohypophysial, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, isthmocortical, medullohypothalamic, and coeruleospinal systems. Although the catecholaminergic systems in A. carolinensis are similar to those in the brains of other lizards studied, there are a few species differences. Our information about A. carolinensis will be used to help localize the hypothalamic asymmetry in catecholamine metabolism previously described in this lizard.