scholarly journals Insulin-like signalling influences the coordination of Drosophila larval hemocyte number with body size

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Bakopoulos ◽  
Lauren Forbes Beadle ◽  
Katherine M. Esposito ◽  
Christen K. Mirth ◽  
Coral G. Warr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Insulin Signalling ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Embryonic Patterning ◽  
Tissue Remodelling ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Larval Growth Rate ◽  
Impaired Insulin

AbstractBlood cells, known as hemocytes in invertebrates, play important and conserved roles in immunity, wound healing and tissue remodelling. The control of hemocyte number is therefore critical to ensure these functions are not compromised, and studies using Drosophila are proving useful for understanding how this occurs. Recently, the well characterised embryonic patterning gene, torso-like (tsl), was identified as being required both for normal hemocyte number and for providing immunity against certain pathogens. Here, we report that Tsl is required specifically during the larval phase of hematopoiesis, and that the reduced hemocyte number found in tsl mutant larvae is likely the result of a reduced larval growth rate and compromised insulin signalling. Consistent with this, we find that impairing insulin-mediated growth, either by nutrient deprivation or genetically, results in fewer hemocytes. This is likely the result of impaired insulin-like signalling in the hemocytes themselves since modulation of Insulin-like Receptor (InR) activity specifically in hemocytes causes concomitant changes to their population size in developing larvae. Taken together, our work reveals the strong relationship that exists between body size and hemocyte number, and suggests that insulin-like signalling contributes to, but is not solely responsible for, keeping these tightly aligned during larval development.

scholarly journals Insulin-Like Signalling Influences the Coordination of Larval Hemocyte Number with Body Size in Drosophila melanogaster

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2213-2220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Bakopoulos ◽  
Lauren Forbes Beadle ◽  
Katherine M. Esposito ◽  
Christen K. Mirth ◽  
Coral G. Warr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Embryonic Patterning ◽  
Tissue Remodelling ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Larval Growth Rate ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Impaired Insulin

Blood cells, known as hemocytes in invertebrates, play important and conserved roles in immunity, wound healing and tissue remodelling. The control of hemocyte number is therefore critical to ensure these functions are not compromised, and studies using Drosophila melanogaster are proving useful for understanding how this occurs. Recently, the embryonic patterning gene, torso-like (tsl), was identified as being required both for normal hemocyte development and for providing immunity against certain pathogens. Here, we report that Tsl is required specifically during the larval phase of hematopoiesis, and that tsl mutant larvae likely have reduced hemocyte numbers due to a reduced larval growth rate and compromised insulin signaling. Consistent with this, we find that impairing insulin-mediated growth, either by nutrient deprivation or genetically, results in fewer hemocytes. This is likely the result of impaired insulin-like signaling in the hemocytes themselves, since modulation of Insulin-like Receptor (InR) activity specifically in hemocytes causes concomitant changes to their population size in developing larvae. Taken together, our work reveals the strong relationship that exists between body size and hemocyte number, and suggests that insulin-like signaling contributes to, but is not solely responsible for, keeping these tightly aligned during larval development.

The evolution of adult body size in black-bellied salamanders (Desmognathus quadramaculatus complex)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 1712-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos D Camp ◽  
Jeremy L Marshall ◽  
Richard M Austin, Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Period ◽  
Moisture Level ◽  
Adult Body Size ◽  
Larval Growth Rate ◽  
Size At Metamorphosis ◽  
Adult Body ◽  
Desmognathus Quadramaculatus

We investigated the possible role of environmental variables in determining body size within a complex of salamander species (Desmognathus quadramaculatus). We analyzed data generated from life-history studies on populations from throughout the range of this species complex. We incorporated an alternative-hypothesis framework (sensu Platt) to determine the better predictor of adult body size, age at maturity, or size at metamorphosis. We found that almost 90% of the variation in adult body size was explained by size at metamorphosis, which was determined by a combination of rate of larval growth and length of the larval period. Environmental temperature and moisture level were positively correlated with larval growth rate and length of the larval period, respectively. We propose a simple model of body-size evolution that incorporates both adaptive and plastic components. We suggest that the length of the larval period may adaptively respond to moisture-level predictability. In addition, we suggest that the response of the larval growth rate to temperature may be plastic. Because the selection pressure due to drying-induced mortality is pervasive among species of amphibians, it may have played a role in shaping body-size radiation in desmognathines as well as the ecological structure of Appalachian streamside communities.

Explaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among host samples

Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 541-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT POULIN
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Host Body ◽  
Parasite Aggregation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Host Body Size

SUMMARYAggregated distributions among individual hosts are a defining feature of metazoan parasite populations. Heterogeneity among host individuals in exposure to parasites or in susceptibility to infection is thought to be the main factor generating aggregation, with properties of parasites themselves explaining some of the variability in aggregation levels observed among species. Here, using data from 410 samples of helminth parasites on fish hosts, I tested the contribution of (i) within-sample variation in host body size, taken as a proxy for variability in host susceptibility, and (ii) parasite taxon and developmental stage, to the aggregated distribution of parasites. Log-transformed variance in numbers of parasites per host was regressed against log mean number across all samples; the strong relationship (r2 = 0·88) indicated that aggregation levels are tightly constrained by mean infection levels, and that only a small proportion of the observed variability in parasite aggregation levels remains to be accounted for by other factors. Using the residuals of this regression as measures of ‘unexplained’ aggregation, a mixed effects model revealed no significant effect of within-sample variation in host body size or of parasite taxon or stage (i.e. juvenile versus adult) on parasite aggregation level within a sample. However, much of the remaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among samples was accounted for by the number of individual hosts examined per sample, and species-specific and study-specific effects reflecting idiosyncrasies of particular systems. This suggests that with most differences in aggregation among samples already explained, there may be little point in seeking universal causes for the remaining variation.

scholarly journals Contribution of larval growth rate vairability to the recruitment of the Bay of Málaga anchovy (SW Mediterranean) during 2000-2001 spawning seasons

2003 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto García ◽  
Dolores Cortés ◽  
Teodoro Ramírez ◽  
Ana Giráldez ◽  
Ángel Carpena
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Growth Rate

scholarly journals Variation in growth and instar number in field and laboratory Manduca sexta

2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1612) ◽  
pp. 977-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel G Kingsolver
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Physiological Control ◽  
Larval Instars ◽  
Laboratory Colony ◽  
Early Larval Development

The tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta has been an important model system for understanding physiological control of growth, development and metamorphosis of insects for more than half a century. Like all Manduca , M. sexta typically has five larval instars, with developmental commitment to metamorphosis occurring early in the 5th (final) instar. Here we show that M. sexta from a field population in North Carolina (USA) shows substantial intraspecific variation in the number of larval instars when feeding on a modified artificial diet. Individuals with six instars consistently exhibited slower growth rates during early larval development than individuals with five instars. The frequency of individuals with six instars decreased with increased rearing temperature. In contrast, M. sexta from a laboratory colony consistently had five instars, and had more rapid larval growth rates than M. sexta from the field. We identify a threshold body size at the start of the 5th instar that predicts whether an individual will have five (greater than 600 mg) or six instars (less than 600 mg). Variation in field populations in Manduca provides an important resource for understanding physiological control, developmental plasticity and evolution of growth rate, body size and instar number.

Snow-induced changes in dwarf birch chemistry increase moth larval growth rate and level of herbivory

Polar Biology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikaela Torp ◽  
Johan Olofsson ◽  
Johanna Witzell ◽  
Robert Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Growth Rate ◽  
Dwarf Birch ◽  
Induced Changes

scholarly journals Evolution of reduced pre-adult viability and larval growth rate in laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster selected for shorter development time

2000 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. PRASAD ◽  
MALLIKARJUN SHAKARAD ◽  
VISHAL M. GOHIL ◽  
V. SHEEBA ◽  
M. RAJAMANI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Larval Growth Rate ◽  
Laboratory Populations ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Faster Development

Four large (n > 1000) populations of Drosophila melanogaster, derived from control populations maintained on a 3 week discrete generation cycle, were subjected to selection for fast development and early reproduction. Egg to eclosion survivorship and development time and dry weight at eclosion were monitored every 10 generations. Over 70 generations of selection, development time in the selected populations decreased by approximately 36 h relative to controls, a 20% decline. The difference in male and female development time was also reduced in the selected populations. Flies from the selected populations were increasingly lighter at eclosion than controls, with the reduction in dry weight at eclosion over 70 generations of selection being approximately 45% in males and 39% in females. Larval growth rate (dry weight at eclosion/development time) was also reduced in the selected lines over 70 generations, relative to controls, by approximately 32% in males and 24% in females. However, part of this relative reduction was due to an increase in growth rate of the controls populations, presumably an expression of adaptation to conditions in our laboratory. After 50 generations of selection had elapsed, a considerable and increasing pre- adult viability cost to faster development became apparent, with viability in the selected populations being about 22% less than that of controls at generation 70 of selection.

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