scholarly journals Morphology of the Cutaneous Poison and Mucous Glands in Amphibians with Particular Emphasis on Caecilians (Siphonops annulatus)

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Beatriz Mauricio ◽  
Pedro Luiz Mailho-Fontana ◽  
Luciana Almeida Sato ◽  
Flavia Ferreira Barbosa ◽  
Renato Mancini Astray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mucous Gland ◽  
Main Duct ◽  
Apical Position ◽  
Unusual Structure ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Skin Gland ◽  
Poison Glands ◽  
Tree Frogs

Caecilians (order Gymnophiona) are apodan, snake-like amphibians, usually with fossorial habits, constituting one of the most unknown groups of terrestrial vertebrates. As in orders Anura (frogs, tree frogs and toads) and Caudata (salamanders and newts), the caecilian skin is rich in mucous glands, responsible for body lubrication, and poison glands, producing varied toxins used in defence against predators and microorganisms. Whereas in anurans and caudatans skin gland morphology has been well studied, caecilian poison glands remain poorly elucidated. Here we characterised the skin gland morphology of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus, emphasising the poison glands in comparison to those of anurans and salamanders. We showed that S. annulatus glands are similar to those of salamanders, consisting of several syncytial compartments full of granules composed of protein material but showing some differentiated apical compartments containing mucus. An unusual structure resembling a mucous gland is frequently observed in lateral/apical position, apparently connected to the main duct. We conclude that the morphology of skin poison glands in caecilians is more similar to salamander glands when compared to anuran glands that show a much-simplified structure.

Fine Structure of Interdental Cells in the Mouse Cochlea

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 140-141
Author(s):  
Roberta M. Bruck
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Ground Substance ◽  
Tectorial Membrane ◽  
Lead Citrate ◽  
Unusual Structure ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Collagenous Fibers

An unusual structure in the cochlea is the spiral limbus; this periosteal tissue consists of stellate fibroblasts and collagenous fibers embedded in a translucent ground substance. The collagenous fibers are arranged in vertical columns (the auditory teeth of Haschke). Between the auditory teeth are interdental furrows in which the interdental cells are situated. These epithelial cells supposedly secrete the tectorial membrane.The fine structure of interdental cells in the rat was reported by Iurato (1962). Since the mouse appears to be different, a description of the fine structure of mouse interdental cells' is presented. Young adult C57BL/6J mice were perfused intervascularly with 1% paraformaldehyde/ 1.25% glutaraldehyde in .1M phosphate buffer (pH7.2-7.4). Intact cochlea were decalcified in .1M EDTA by the method of Baird (1967), postosmicated, dehydrated, and embedded in Araldite. Thin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were examined in a Phillips EM-200 electron microscope.

Terrestrial vertebrates of post-coalmining sites in the Donets Basin (Ukraine)

Geo&Bio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (16) ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
E. Ulyura ◽  
◽  
V. Tytar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Donets Basin ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates

Fauna of Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Eastern Escarpment of Ustyurt Plateau

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 74-88
Author(s):  
Elena A. Bykova ◽  
Alexander V. Esipov ◽  
Dmitry E. Golovtsov ◽  
Denis A. Nuridzhanov
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Ustyurt Plateau

scholarly journals Flavivirus NS1 and Its Potential in Vaccine Development

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Kassandra L. Carpio ◽  
Alan D. T. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Unusual Structure ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Flavivirus Infection

The Flavivirus genus contains many important human pathogens, including dengue, Japanese encephalitis (JE), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), West Nile (WN), yellow fever (YF) and Zika (ZIK) viruses. While there are effective vaccines for a few flavivirus diseases (JE, TBE and YF), the majority do not have vaccines, including WN and ZIK. The flavivirus nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein has an unusual structure–function because it is glycosylated and forms different structures to facilitate different roles intracellularly and extracellularly, including roles in the replication complex, assisting in virus assembly, and complement antagonism. It also plays a role in protective immunity through antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity, and anti-NS1 antibodies elicit passive protection in animal models against a virus challenge. Historically, NS1 has been used as a diagnostic marker for the flavivirus infection due to its complement fixing properties and specificity. Its role in disease pathogenesis, and the strong humoral immune response resulting from infection, makes NS1 an excellent target for inclusion in candidate flavivirus vaccines.

scholarly journals Sex difference in travel is concentrated in adolescence and tracks reproductive interests

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1796) ◽  
pp. 20141476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Miner ◽  
Michael Gurven ◽  
Hillard Kaplan ◽  
Steven J. C. Gaulin
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Travel Behaviour ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sexual Competition ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Market Town ◽  
Sexual Selection Theory ◽  
Women's Travel ◽  
The Life Course

Sexual selection theory suggests that the sex with a higher potential reproductive rate will compete more strongly for access to mates. Stronger intra-sexual competition for mates may explain why males travel more extensively than females in many terrestrial vertebrates. A male-bias in lifetime distance travelled is a purported human universal, although this claim is based primarily on anecdotes. Following sexual maturity, motivation to travel outside the natal territory may vary over the life course for both sexes. Here, we test whether travel behaviour among Tsimane forager–horticulturalists is associated with shifting reproductive priorities across the lifespan. Using structured interviews, we find that sex differences in travel peak during adolescence when men and women are most intensively searching for mates. Among married adults, we find that greater offspring dependency load is associated with reduced travel among women, but not men. Married men are more likely to travel alone than women, but only to the nearest market town and not to other Tsimane villages. We conclude that men's and women's travel behaviour reflects differential gains from mate search and parenting across the life course.

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