Anatomy of the genital ganglion of the male acanthocephalan, Moniliformis moniliformis

Male Moniliformis moniliformis possess paired genital ganglia each measuring approximately 280 micron long by 80 micron wide by 25 micron thick. They are located on either side of Saefftigen's pouch on the ventral surface of the ejaculatory duct where it joins the bursal cap. The cellular organization consists of externally located soma and a poorly developed internal neuropile. Most of the 19 cells in each ganglion exit via axons from the anterior and posterior extremities. A single dorsal commissure connects the 2 ganglia. No ventral commissure was observed. Many cells contained large nuclei with perinuclear rings but no cell had 2 nuclei.     

Note on rhinoceros thyroid gland constitution

In the absence of direct embryological information an estimation of rhinoceros thyroid gland constitution is essayed on the basis of indirect evidence provided by a study of 22 rhinoceros thyroid lobes, representing all available rhinoceros species. It is concluded that the rhinoceros thyroid gland comprises two embryonal elements, deriving from the thyro-glossal duct and from the 4th pharyngeal pouch, responsible respectively for its ventral and dorsal portions.     

雄蚤阳茎体的研究：角叶蚤科三种雄蚤阳茎体的观察

用光镜和扫描电镜观察鞋形共系蚤Syngenopsyllus calceatus (Rothochild)、无值大锥蚤Macrostylophora euteles (Jordan et Rothschiold)和不等单蚤Monopsyllus anisus(Rothechild)的阳茎体侧面、背面和腹面。其中三种蚤阳茎体的背、腹面和无值大锥蚤阳茎体的侧面形态结构是首次报道。鞋形共系蚤有一对明显的阳茎囊突和一对与其相连的"c-骨片", 首次报道该蚤具有前距。无值大锥蚤具一对“茄形骨片”,阳茎钩突末端分为长而宽的腹叶和短而末端尖的背叶,阳茎内突后半部分特化为“后阳茎内突”。三种蚤的钩突桩略呈牛角形,由后弯向前。三种蚤阳茎体的形态结构差异显著,指出了它们是分类上值得注意的特征。认为交配时阳茎杆只在一定范围内作定向滑动。将阳茎体从蚤体内解剖出来,并且观察其背腹面,有助于清晰、完整和准确地观察其形态结构。     

Ultrastructure of Male Sexual Apparatus of Scutellonema brachyurum

Electron micrographs of serial sections show that the male sexual apparatus of Scutellonema brachyurum includes two morphologically identical spicules. Each is composed of a swollen tubular head, crescentic shaft, and leaf-like blade with membranous velum expanded from the central trunk. The spicules are concave and grooved on the ventral side and convex on the dorsal side near the trunk. The trunk is continuous with the shaft and head. Nerve tissue occupies the core of the spicule and includes a dendritic process which gains access to the exterior via a small pore on the lateral side of the spicule tip. Three protractor and two retractor muscles are associated with each spicule. A sensory accessory piece connects with the tip of the gubernaculum and protrudes from the lower side of the opening of the spicular pouch; it protracts and retracts with the muscularized gubernaculum. The gubernaculum varies from bow-shaped in the distal part to boat-shaped in the mid region. A sac exits beneath the accessory piece as a buffer for its movement. A cuticular guiding bar originating from the dorsal wall of the spicular pouch has a tongue. The ventral surface of the tongue is sclerotized to separate the two spicules. It is mobile by muscles of the protractor gubernaculi, retractor gubernaculi, and seductor gubernaculi.     

悬游双眉虫(原生动物,纤毛门)无性生殖期间的形态发生

应用蛋白银染色技术研究了悬游双眉虫青岛种群无性生殖期间皮层结构和核器的演化过程,其主要特征为:后仔虫口原基独立地出现于紧靠虫体左侧第一根横棘毛的皮层下小龛,其中毛基粒不参与其它棘毛原基的形成;老的口围带发生后半部的局部重建而非整个的由前仔虫简单继承;在前仔虫中,波动膜原基来自老结构的反分化,而在后仔虫中则来自口原基;所有棘毛原基均为独立发生并与老结构没有任何关系;在前仔虫中,口棘毛(即左侧第一根额棘毛)来自于波动膜的反分化,而在后仔虫中则为独立发生;背触毛列于老的结构当中产生,并由最右一列原基演化出3根尾棘毛;两大核片段的改组带从一端向另一端移动 ,并随着两者的融合而消失.文中同时对前人有关该属发生模式的若干存疑问题做了探讨 [动物学报 54(3):517-524,2008].     

Bmp4 and Noggin expression during early thymus and parathyroid organogenesis

The thymus and parathyroids originate from the third pharyngeal pouches, which form as endodermal outpocketings in the pharyngeal region beginning on embryonic day 9 (E9.0) of mouse development. Using organ-specific markers, we have previously shown that thymus and parathyroid-specific organ domains are established within the primordium prior to formation of the organs proper: Gcm2 expression defines the prospective parathyroid cells in the dorsal pouch from E9.5, while Foxn1 is expressed in the thymus domain from E11.25. Bmp (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling has been implicated in thymic epithelial cell differentiation and thymus organogenesis. In the present study, we report expression patterns of Bmp4 and Noggin, a Bmp4 antagonist, in the third pharyngeal pouch using two lacZ transgenic mouse strains. Results from this gene expression study revealed localization of Bmp4 expression to the ventral region of the third pharyngeal pouch endoderm at E10.5 and E11.5, in those cells that will express Foxn1 and form the thymus. Conversely, the expression of Noggin was confined to the dorsal region of the pouch and primordium at these stages, and thus appeared to be co-expressed with Gcm2 in the parathyroid domain. This represents the first detailed study of Bmp4 and Noggin expression during the early stages of thymus and parathyroid organogenesis.     

Testing homology with morphology, development and gene expression: sex-specific thoracic appendages of the ant Diacamma

Females of the ants belonging to the queenless genus Diacamma have a pair of unique tiny thoracic appendages, called "gemmae," located on the mesothoracic segment. They are covered with sensory hairs, filled with exocrine glands and are involved in the behavioral regulation of reproduction. We report here a morphological, developmental, and genetic study of the development of the gemmae. Both male and female larvae have dorsal mesothoracic discs, although differing in shape and fate. In Diacamma ceylonense, we show that, contrary to butterflies, these discs specify parts of the adult thorax in addition to wing tissues, as in Drosophila. We have cloned and studied the expression of wingless (wg) and scalloped (sd), two genes known to play a critical role in wing morphogenesis in Drosophila. In the fly's mesothoracic dorsal disc, sd is specifically expressed in the wing pouch. In Diacamma, we show that sd is also expressed in male dorsal thoracic discs, whereas its expression was undetectable in females. From this result and observations of shape and growth of cultured isolated discs, we suggest that gemmae originate from a more ventral part of the dorsal disc than the wing pouch and discuss the pro and cons of gemma/wing homology.     

Hypobranchial placodes in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Xenopus laevis</Emphasis> give rise to hypobranchial ganglia,a novel type of cranial ganglia

Recently, a novel type of neurogenic placode was described in anurans. These hypobranchial placodes were recognized as ectodermal thickenings situated ventral to the second and third pharyngeal pouch that give rise to neurons of unknown fate. Here, the development of hypobranchial placodes in Xenopus laevis is described in more detail using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for various placodal ( Six1, Eya1) and neurogenic ( NGNR-1, NeuroD, Delta-1, Hu, acetylated tubulin) markers. Moreover, the fate of hypobranchial placodes was determined by analyzing tadpoles that had received orthotopic grafts of ventral branchial arch ectoderm at embryonic stages from donor embryos injected with the lineage tracer green fluorescent protein. The neurogenic epibranchial and hypobranchial placodes are shown to develop in certain subregions of a broader branchial placodal area as defined by Six1 and Eya1 expression, viz., adjacent to the dorsal and ventral tip of the pharyngeal pouches, respectively. Grafting experiments show that each of the two hypobranchial placodes gives rise to a small and previously undescribed hypobranchial ganglion (identified by its immunoreactivity for the neuron-specific Hu protein) of unknown function located in the ventral branchial arch region. No contributions of hypobranchial placodes to any other ganglia (including cardiac ganglia and the ganglia of branchiomeric nerves located dorsal to pharyngeal pouches) were found.     

Descriptive morphology of yolk sac larval Solenostomus paradoxus collected from Libong Island, Trang, southern Thailand

Yolk-sac larvae of Solenostomus paradoxus are described from 19 specimens (2.8–5.1 mm in body length) discharged from the brood pouch of a single female collected by hand at Libong Island, Trang, southern Thailand, on 30 January 2002. Although the larvae of S. paradoxus were closely similar to those of S. cyanopterus in general appearance and pigmentation patterns, the former differed in lacking clusters of melanophores on the edge of the dorsal finfold and dark oblique streaks on the dorsal and ventral finfolds near the tail tip.     

The anatomy of fertilization in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Female yellow dung flies, Scathophaga stercoraria, can influence the traffic of sperm stored in their spermathecae to the site of fertilization in the bursa copulatrix. However, the anatomical mechanisms employed are largely unknown. We investigated the anatomy of the female genital tract, seeking structures involved in sperm transfer and egg fertilization. We found a membranous structure descending from the ends of the spermathecal and accessory gland ducts into the bursa copulatrix. We call this the prolatus. Sperm accumulate in the prolatus during oviposition. When an egg is in the bursa the egg micropyle, rather than being aligned towards the dorsal openings of the spermathecal ducts, lies on the opposite, ventral side. We also confirm the presence, and suggest a function for, a cuticularized pouch on the ventral wall of the anterior bursa copulatrix. This pouch, plus a previously undescribed chamber, may be homologous to the ventral receptacle/fertilization chamber found in other dipterans. Further, we describe a translucent cap, apparently transversed by channels, covering the micropyle. Sperm were observed to aggregate on and in the micropyle cap, which appears to attract and hold sperm. We interpret the prolatus as a structure that allows an ovipositing female to transfer a few sperm onto the ventral bursal wall and thus, indirectly, onto the micropyle cap. Such anatomy potentially gives the female a large degree of control over sperm traffic from storage to the site of fertilization.     

Qualitative analysis of proteins rapidly transported in ventral horn motoneurons and bidirectionally from dorsal root ganglia

Two-dimensional electrophoresis has allowed a higher-resolution comparison of rapid transport in ventral horn motoneurons and bidirectionally in dorsal root sensory neurons. Dorsal root ganglia 8 and 9, or hemisected spinal cords, from frog were selectively exposed in vitro to 35S-methionine. Transported, labelled proteins that accumulated in 3 mm segments proximal to ligatures on dorsal roots and spinal nerves or sciatic nerves were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Comparisons were made of fluorographic patterns from dried gels. Sixty-five species of proteins were found to be rapidly transported in both bifurcations of dorsal root sensory neurons. No abundant species of protein was rapidly transported in dorsal roots that was not also found in spinal nerves. A comparison of proteins rapidly transported in the sciatic nerve from ventral horn motoneurons with those from dorsal root sensory neurons yielded 50 common species of polypeptides. At most four minor species were possibly transported only in ventral horn motoneurons. An overall comparison indicates that at least 45 species of proteins, including all of the more abundantly transported ones, were consistently common to both dorsal root bifuractions and to ventral horn motoneurons. This appears to be the case despite the very different functions carried out by motoneurons and sensory neurons.     

Localization of prolactin receptor in the dorsal and ventral skin of the frog (Rana ridibunda)

The dorsal and ventral skin in amphibians plays an important role in osmoregulation. Prolactin hormone is involved in regulation of amphibian skin functions, such as water and electrolyte balance. Therefore, amphibians may be useful as a model for determining the sites of the prolactin receptor. In this study, prolactin receptor was detected in frog dorsal and ventral skin using immunohistochemical staining method. Prolactin receptor immunoreactivity was localized in all epidermal layers except stratum corneum of dorsal skin epidermis, stratum germinativum layer of ventral skin epidermis, myoepithelial cells, secretory epithelium and secretory channel cells of granular glands in both skin regions. The mucous glands and secretory granules of granular glands did not show immunoreactivity for the prolactin receptor. According to our immunohistochemical results, the more widespread detection of prolactin receptor in dorsal skin epidermis indicates that prolactin is more effective in dorsal skin. Presence of prolactin receptors in epidermis points out its possible osmoregulatory effect. Moreover, detection of receptor immunoreactivity in various elements of poison glands in the dermis of both dorsal and ventral skin regions suggests that prolactin has a regulatory effect in gland functions.     

Validation of the dorsal air pouch model to predict and examine immunostimulatory responses in the gut

Aims:  To validate the use of the air pouch system to predict and examine early immune responses induced by the presumptive probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei B112, DC205, DC215 and DC412 strains in the gut mucosa.
Methods and Results:  Only the DC412 strain interacted strongly with the cells forming the air pouch lining tissue and induced early innate immune responses such as polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell recruitment, phagocytosis and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production that equal the respective responses induced by the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFB 1748. The strains exhibiting strong immunoregulatory activity in the air pouch also interacted strongly with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The strain DC412 exerts its effect on the intestine through stimulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2/TLR4-mediated signalling events leading to secretion of a certain profile of cytokines in which gamma interferon (IFN-γ), TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 are included. The probiotic Lact. acidophilus NCFB 1748 induces the same cytokine profile in addition to IL-12B, and this response is potentially mediated by the synergy of TLR2 and TLR9.
Conclusion:  The strain DC412 possesses the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of a probiotic micro-organism.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The dorsal mouse or rat air pouch may be used as an alternative and rapid method for the initial discrimination and selection of potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains.     

Identification of a specialized extracellular matrix component in Drosophila imaginal discs

We have generated a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a major component of a specialized extracellular matrix in Drosophila imaginal discs. In mature larvae, antibody binding is observed almost exclusively on imaginal discs. On the basal surface of the thoracic discs, the antigen is localized to particular regions of the epithelium, and ultrastructural studies indicate that the antigen is found in a fibrous network secreted between the cells and the basal lamina. The localized expression indicates that the matrix is not simply related to disc differentiation, as all regions of the columnar disc epithelium are determined to secrete adult cuticle. A correlation of the antigen distribution with known developmental events leads us to propose that the antigen-containing network provides an extensible matrix for the rapid elongation of the disc epithelium during evagination; consistent with this, the antigen is a component of the matrix between the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the evaginated wing pouch. The antigen is very large (greater than 5 X 10(5) Da), can be labeled metabolically with methionine and sulfate, and is digested by chondroitinase ABC; these biochemical characteristics indicate that the antigen is a proteoglycan.     

Restriction of Wnt signaling in the dorsal otocyst determines semicircular canal formation in the mouse embryo

The mouse inner ear develops from a simple epithelial pouch, the otocyst, with the dorsal and ventral portions giving rise to the vestibule and cochlea, respectively. The otocyst undergoes a morphological change to generate flattened saclike structures, known as outpocketings, in the dorsal and lateral regions. The semicircular canals of the vestibule form from the periphery of the outpocketings, with the central region (the fusion plate) undergoing de-epithelialization and disappearing. However, little is known of the mechanism that orchestrates formation of the semicircular canals. We now show that the area of canonical Wnt signaling changes dynamically in the dorsal otocyst during its morphogenesis. The genes for several Wnt ligands were found to be expressed in the dorsal otocyst according to specific patterns, whereas those for secreted inhibitors of Wnt ligands were expressed exclusively in the ventral otocyst. With the use of whole-embryo culture in combination with potent modulators of canonical Wnt signaling, we found that forced persistence of such signaling resulted in impaired formation both of the lateral outpocketing and of the fusion plates of the dorsal outpocketing. Canonical Wnt signaling was found to suppress Netrin1 expression and to preserve the integrity of the outpocketing epithelium. In addition, inhibition of canonical Wnt signaling reduced the size of the otocyst, likely through suppression of cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis. Our stage-specific functional analysis suggests that strict regulation of canonical Wnt signaling in the dorsal otocyst orchestrates the process of semicircular canal formation.     

THE DEVELOPMENTAL BASIS OF ANISOPHYLLY IN SELAGINELLA MARTENSII. I. INITIATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF GROWTH

The dorsiventral shoot system of Selaginella martensii is characterized by opposite pairs of ventral and dorsal leaves that are dimorphic in size and form. This study was undertaken to determine if the smaller dorsal leaf can be appropriately regarded as an arrested form of the larger leaf. Although the pattern of cell divisions and cell enlargement associated with leaf initiation is similar for both leaf types, the extent of localized growth results in distinctly larger primordia on the ventral side of the shoot. Ventral leaf primordia are also distinguished by the early formation of more extensive mesophyll tissue. Regression analysis of quantitative data on leaf length vs. position and leaf width vs. length indicates that the growth pattern of ventral and dorsal leaves is significantly different. These observations indicate that the developmental pathways of the dimorphic leaves of Selaginella martensii do not diverge at a relatively late developmental stage, but rather can be distinguished from inception.     

Detection of local lung air content by electrical impedance tomography compared with electron beam CT.

The aim of the study was to validate the ability of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to detect local changes in air content, resulting from modified ventilator settings, by comparing EIT findings with electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) scans obtained under identical steady-state conditions. The experiments were carried out on six anesthetized supine pigs ventilated with five tidal volumes (VT) at three positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels. The lung air content changes were determined both by EIT (Goe-MF1 system) and EBCT (Imatron C-150XP scanner) in six regions of interest, located in the ventral, middle, and dorsal areas of each lung, with respect to the reference air content at the lowest VT and PEEP, as a change in either local electrical impedance or lung tissue density. An increase in local air content with VT and PEEP was identified by both methods at all regions studied. A good correlation between the changes in lung air content determined by EIT and EBCT was revealed. Mean correlation coefficients in the ventral, middle, and dorsal regions were 0.81, 0.87, and 0.93, respectively. The study confirms that EIT is a suitable, noninvasive method for detecting regional changes in air content and monitoring local effects of artificial ventilation.     

Vascular organization of the head and respiratory organs of the air-breathing catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis

Light and scanning electron microscopy of vascular replicas from the facultative air-breathing fish Heteropneustes fossilis show modifications in the macrocirculation of the respiratory organs and systemic circulation, whereas, gill microcirculation is similar to that found in typical water-breathing fish. Three and sometimes four ventral aortae arise directly from the bulbus. The most ventral vessel supplies the first pair of arches. Dorsal to this another aorta supplies the second gill arches, and a third, dorsal to, and larger than the other two, supplies the third and fourth arches and the air sacs. Occasionally a small vessel that may be the remnant of a primitive aortic arch arises from the first ventral aorta and proceeds directly to the mandibular region without perfusing gill tissue. The air sac is perfused by a large-diameter extension of the afferent branchial artery of the fourth gill arch and its circulation is in parallel with the gill arches. Blood drains from the air sac into the fourth arch epibranchial artery. A number of arteries also provide direct communication between the efferent air sac artery and the dorsal aorta. All four gill arches are well developed and contain respiratory (lamellar) and nonrespiratory (interlamellar and nutrient) networks common to gills of water-breathing fish. Air sac lamellae are reduced in size. The outer 30% of the air sac lamellar sinusoids are organized into thoroughfare channels; the remaining vasculature, normally embedded in the air sac parenchyma, is discontinuous. A gill-type interlamellar vasculature is lacking in the air sac circulation. Despite the elaborate development of the ventral aortae, there is little other anatomical evidence to suggest that gill and air sac outflow are separated and that dorsal aortic oxygen tensions are maintained when the gills are in a hypoxic environment. Physiological adjustments to hypoxic water conditions probably include temporal regulation of gill and air sac perfusion to be effective, if indeed they are so.     

The role of TGF beta signaling in the formation of the dorsal nervous system is conserved between Drosophila and chordates

Transforming growth factor beta signaling mediated by Decapentaplegic and Screw is known to be involved in defining the border of the ventral neurogenic region in the fruitfly. A second phase of Decapentaplegic signaling occurs in a broad dorsal ectodermal region. Here, we show that the dorsolateral peripheral nervous system forms within the region where this second phase of signaling occurs. Decapentaplegic activity is required for development of many of the dorsal and lateral peripheral nervous system neurons. Double mutant analysis of the Decapentaplegic signaling mediator Schnurri and the inhibitor Brinker indicates that formation of these neurons requires Decapentaplegic signaling, and their absence in the mutant is mediated by a counteracting repression by Brinker. Interestingly, the ventral peripheral neurons that form outside the Decapentaplegic signaling domain depend on Brinker to develop. The role of Decapentaplegic signaling on dorsal and lateral peripheral neurons is strikingly similar to the known role of Transforming growth factor beta signaling in specifying dorsal cell fates of the lateral (later dorsal) nervous system in chordates (Halocythia, zebrafish, Xenopus, chicken and mouse). It points to an evolutionarily conserved mechanism specifying dorsal cell fates in the nervous system of both protostomes and deuterostomes.