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W E Bemis

Publications and source records attributed to W E Bemis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Localization and partial characterization of melatonin receptors in amphioxus, hagfish, lamprey, and skate.

Through its secretion of melatonin, the pineal complex of vertebrates exerts a range of physiological effects including regulation of circadian rhythms, seasonal reproduction, metamorphosis, and body color change. Little is known about phylogenetic differences in the distribution and characteristics of melatonin binding sites in fishes. We used in vitro autoradiography to examine binding of [2-125I]iodomelatonin (IMEL) in 20-micron frozen sections of amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum), Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa), larval and adult lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), little skate (Raja erinacea), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Tissue was incubated with IMEL in the presence or absence of unlabeled melatonin (1 muM, in order to assess nonspecific binding). A concentration of 32 pM IMEL was used for single point assays and competition studies. No specific binding was found in hagfish or amphioxus, which lack a pineal complex. In the optic tecta of lamprey, skate, and trout, IMEL binding is highly specific (melatonin >> N-acetylserotonin > 5- methoxytryptophol >> serotonin). Scatchard analysis revealed that the tectal binding sites are of high affinity (Kd = 36, 38, and 50 pM) and low capacity (Bmax = 8.1, 19.8, and 21.8 fmol/mg protein) in lamprey, skate, and trout, respectively. In adult lampreys, intense specific IMEL binding is found in the optic tectum (layer I > II > III) and preoptic nucleus (pars parvocellularis > magnocellularis). Binding was less intense and consistent in the same areas of ammocoete brain. In skates and trout, intense specific binding is found in optic tectum, lateral geniculate body, diencephalic preoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei, basal hypothalamus, and the medial pallium. These results indicate that specific melatonin binding sites are present in all craniate taxa examined except in hagfish. Although we cannot rule out the possibility that melatonin receptors are secondarily lost in hagfish, their absence in amphioxus makes this unlikely. We speculate that melatonin actions in early vertebrates may have included regulation of visual and endocrine responses to light.

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PubMed1993

Cranial nerves of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae [Osteichthyes: Sarcopterygii: Actinistia], and comparisons with other craniata.

We reconstructed the cranial nerves of a serially sectioned prenatal coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae. This allowed us to correct several mistakes in the literature and to make broad phylogenetic comparisons with other craniates. The genera surveyed in our phylogenetic analysis were Eptatretus, Myxine, Petromyzon, Lampetra, Chimaera, Hydrolagus, Squalus, Mustelus, Polypterus, Acipenser, Lepisosteus, Amia, Neoceratodus, Protopterus, Lepidosiren, Latimeria and Ambystoma. Cladistic analysis of our data shows that Latimeria shares with Ambystoma two characters of the cranial nerves. Our chief findings are: 1) Latimeria possesses an external nasal papilla and pedunculated olfactory bulbs but lacks a discrete terminal nerve. In other respects its olfactory system resembles the plesiomorphic pattern for craniates. 2) The optic nerve is plicated, a character found in many but not all gnathostomes. Latimeria retains an interdigitated partial decussation of the optic nerves, a character found in all craniates surveyed. 3) The oculomotor nerve supplies the same extrinsic eye muscles as in lampreys and gnathostomes. As in gnathostomes generally, Latimeria has a ciliary ganglion but its cells are located intracranially in the root of the oculomotor nerve, and their processes reach the eye via oculomotor and profundal rami. 4) The trochlear nerve supplies the superior oblique muscle as in all craniates that have not secondarily reduced the eye and its extrinsic musculature. 5) The profundal ganglion and ramus are entirely separate from the trigeminal system, with no exchange of fibers. This character has an interesting phylogenetic distribution: in hagfishes, lampreys, lungfishes and tetrapods, the profundal and trigeminal ganglia are fused, whereas in other taxa surveyed the ganglia are separate. The principal tissues innervated by the profundal nerve are the membranous walls of the tubes of the rostral organ. 6) As in lampreys and gnathostomes, the trigeminal nerve has maxillary and mandibular rami. Unlike all other gnathostomes surveyed, the trigeminal nerve of Latimeria lacks a sizable superficial ophthalmic ramus. Thus, Latimeria lacks the well-developed superficial ophthalmic complex reported in most other fishes. As in gnathostomes generally, the maxillary ramus of the trigeminal nerve fuses with the buccal ramus of the anterodorsal lateral line nerve to form the buccal+maxillary complex. We reject the term 'Gasserian ganglion', which is often applied to the fused profundal and trigeminal ganglion of tetrapods. 7) The abducent nerve innervates not only the lateral rectus muscle (a character common to myopterygians) but also the basicranial muscle. As we previously reported, it is probable that the basicranial muscle of Latimeria is homologous to the ocular retracter muscle of amphibians.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Structure and function of the external gill filaments of embryonic skates (Raja erinacea).

We have investigated structure and function of the external gill filaments, which occur transiently in the embryonic little skate, Raja erinacea. Approximately 25-30 days after spawning (body mass 0.03-0.05 g) external gill filaments appear as an outgrowth from the caudal side of the gill arches. These filaments are thread-like, each containing one afferent and one efferent blood vessel, and by day 70-75 (body mass 0.4-0.5 g) they reach their maximum size at a length of about 1 cm and a blood vessel diameter of 70-80 microns. Subsequent resorption of the filaments is characterized by a decrease in both length and diameter of the blood vessel. By day 90-95 (body mass 0.9-1.0 g) the external gill filaments are completely resorbed and replaced by internal gills. Blood velocity, measured in these external filaments, increased with development from 0.1 mm.sec-1 to about 0.7 min.sec-1, and decreased again during resorption. Blood flow, calculated therefrom with blood vessel diameter, showed a similar maximum curve. A model analysis supports the hypothesis that in a full grown filament respiratory gas exchange is mainly perfusion-limited and can contribute significantly to the total oxygen uptake of the embryo. Analysis of the results indicates, however, that the gill filaments are not adequate as a gas exchange organ for later developmental stages.

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PubMed1986

Morphology and function of the feeding apparatus of the lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa (Dipnoi).

The feeding mechanism of the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa retains many primitive teleostome characteristics. In particular, the process of initial prey capture shares four salient functional features with other primitive vertebrates: 1) prey capture by suction feeding, 2) cranial elevation at the cranio-vertebral joint during the mouth opening phase of the strike, 3) the hyoid apparatus plays a major role in mediating expansion of the oral cavity and is one biomechanical pathway involved in depressing the mandible, and 4) peak hyoid excursion occurs after maximum gape is achieved. Lepidosiren also possesses four key morphological and functional specializations of the feeding mechanism: 1) tooth plates, 2) an enlarged cranial rib serving as a site for the origin of muscles depressing the hyoid apparatus, 3) a depressor mandibulae muscle, apparently not homologous to that of amphibians, and 4) a complex sequence of manipulation and chewing of prey in the oral cavity prior to swallowing. The depressor mandibulae is always active during mouth opening, in contrast to some previous suggestions. Chewing cycles include alternating adduction and transport phases. Between each adduction, food may be transported in or out of the buccal cavity to position it between the tooth plates. The depressor mandibulae muscle is active in a double-burst pattern during chewing, with the larger second burst serving to open the mouth during prey transport. Swallowing is characterized by prolonged activity in the hyoid constrictor musculature and the geniothoracicus. Lepidosiren uses hydraulic transport achieved by movements of the hyoid apparatus to position prey within the oral cavity. This function is analogous to that of the tongue in many tetrapods.

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