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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Operant conditioning in invertebrates.

Learning to anticipate future events on the basis of past experience with the consequences of one's own behavior (operant conditioning) is a simple form of learning that humans share with most other animals, including invertebrates. Three model organisms have recently made significant contributions towards a mechanistic model of operant conditioning, because of their special technical advantages. Research using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster implicated the ignorant gene in operant conditioning in the heat-box, research on the sea slug Aplysia californica contributed a cellular mechanism of behavior selection at a convergence point of operant behavior and reward, and research on the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis elucidated the role of a behavior-initiating neuron in operant conditioning. These insights demonstrate the usefulness of a variety of invertebrate model systems to complement and stimulate research in vertebrates.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Clinical techniques of invertebrates.

This article highlights techniques and equipment needed to successfully restrain, diagnose, and treat gastropods (including snails and slugs) and arthropods (including spiders, scorpions, honey-bees, cockroaches, silkworms, phasmids, centipedes, and millipedes). A review of current clinical techniques for invertebrates kept as pets and those kept for agricultural use is provided. The specific techniques of restraint, assessment of hydration, fluid therapy, diagnostic sampling, imaging, exoskeleton repair, ectoparasite control and removal, euthanasia, and postmortem examination are reviewed for use in the invertebrate patient. The authors intend this article to stimulate further research and reporting on appropriate and humane techniques for use in these species and to increase the ability of the veterinary practitioner to successfully attend to these animals.

Animals↗

PubMed2007

Cytologic diagnosis of diseases of invertebrates.

Invertebrate medicine in the context of an exotic or zoo animal veterinary practice is in its infancy. Establishment of species-specific reference values and evaluation of the effectiveness of cytology for diagnosis of specific diseases are necessary. Despite the lack of normal reference parameters for most species encountered in clinical practice, important information may be obtained from cytologic examination of tissue imprints, aspirates, scrapings, and hemolymph. This information may be essential to establish a specific diagnosis, focus investigations, and influence treatments. It is hoped that this article stimulates veterinarians who work with invertebrates to use diagnostic cytology and disseminate the results of their experience.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Leaf litter processing and invertebrate assemblages along a pollution gradient in a Maine (USA) headwater stream.

During the autumn of 1997 and 1998, leaf litter processing rates and leaf pack invertebrate assemblages were examined at eight stations along a pollution gradient in Goosefare Brook, a first-order coastal plain stream in southern Maine (USA). There was no significant effect on litter softening rate in 1997, and only the most polluted station showed a decrease in 1998. However, litter loss rates showed decreases in both years. The structure of invertebrate assemblages changed in response to the stresses, showing a decline in EPT richness and an increase in the proportion of collecting taxa. However, total shredder biomass was only weakly affected. Shredder biomass at all stations was dominated by Tipula, and biomass of other shredder taxa showed a serial replacement along the gradient of stress related to their pollution tolerance. Rather than the expected relationship with shredder biomass, litter processing rates were directly related to water and sediment quality. Goosefare Brook demonstrates how variable pollution tolerance of community members enables stress resistance and a consequent preservation of ecosystem function.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Sensing and responding to hypoxia via HIF in model invertebrates.

This past decade has brought considerable progress towards elucidating the molecular mechanisms of oxygen sensing pathways by which mammalian cells are able to detect and adjust, or succumb, to hypoxia. In contrast, far less is known about the protein and DNA constituents that endow many invertebrate species to withstand and recover from even more severe and prolonged O2 limitations. In spite of these differences in hypoxia tolerance, inadequacy in oxygen supply is, from mammals to insects to nematodes, signaled onto the DNA level predominantly by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). Across the animal kingdom, HIF accumulates in hypoxic, but not normoxic, cells and functions in a remarkably conserved pathway. Using crustacean (Daphnia magna) and insect (Drosophila melanogaster) models, work by us and others has implicated HIF in restoring O2 delivery via stimulated hemoglobin synthesis (Daphnia) or tracheal remodeling (Drosophila). HIF is essential for these arthropods to adapt and survive during moderate O2 limitations. A similar life-preserving role for HIF-signaling in hypoxic, but not anoxic, environments had previously been established for another stress-tolerant invertebrate model, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Exploring regulations of oxygen-dependent Daphnia and Drosophila genes in cell culture and in vivo have furthermore aided in uncovering novel HIF-targeting mechanisms that might operate to fine-tune the activity of this transcription factor under steadily hypoxic, rather than changing, oxygen tensions. We conclude our review with yet another addition to the growing list of HIF's many functions: the control of cellular growth during fly development.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Non-genomic ecdysone effects and the invertebrate nuclear steroid hormone receptor EcR--new role for an "old" receptor?

The ecdysteroids (Ec), invertebrate steroid hormones, elicit genomic but also non-genomic effects. By analogy to vertebrates, non-genomic responses towards Ec may be mediated not only by distinct membrane-integrated but also by membrane-associated receptors like the classical nuclear ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) of arthropods. This is supported by a comparison of physiological properties between invertebrate and vertebrate steroid hormone systems and recent findings on the subcellular localization of EcR. The measured or predicted high degree of conformational flexibility of both Ec and the ligand binding domain (LBD) of EcR give rise to a conformational compatibility model: the compatibility between conformations of the cognate receptor's ligand binding domain and structures or conformations of the ligand would determine their interaction and eventually the initiation of genomic versus non-genomic pathways. This model could also explain why specific non-genomic effects are generally not observed with non-steroidal agonists of the bisacylhydrazine group.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Hypoxic tolerance in air-breathing invertebrates.

Terrestrial invertebrates experience hypoxia in many habitats and under a variety of physiological conditions. Some groups (at least insects) are much more capable of recovery from anoxia than most vertebrates, but there is still a tremendous unexplained variation in hypoxia/anoxia tolerance among terrestrial invertebrates. Crustaceans and arachnids may be less often confronted with hypoxic environments than insects and myriapods and also seem to be less hypoxia/anoxia tolerant. Tracheated groups, especially those that are able to ventilate their tracheal system like many insects, cope with lower critical PO2 than nontracheated groups. Modulation of oxygen carrier proteins is normally not important in hypoxia resistance. Recent application of genetic and cellular tools are revealing that many of the same pathways documented for mammals (e.g. HIF, nitric oxide) function to regulate morphological and biochemical responses to hypoxia/anoxia in insects.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Structural and functional diversity of lectin repertoires in invertebrates, protochordates and ectothermic vertebrates.

During the past few years, substantial progress has been accomplished in the elucidation of the structural diversity of the lectin repertoires of invertebrates, protochordates and ectothermic vertebrates, providing particularly valuable information on those groups that constitute the invertebrate/vertebrate 'boundary'. Although representatives of lectin families typical of mammals, such as C-type lectins, galectins and pentraxins, have been described in these taxa, the detailed study of selected model species has yielded either novel variants of the structures described for the mammalian lectin representatives or novel lectin families with unique sequence motifs, multidomain arrangements and a new structural fold. Along with the high structural diversity of the lectin repertoires in these taxa, a wide spectrum of biological roles is starting to emerge, underscoring the value of invertebrate and lower vertebrate models for gaining insight into structural, functional and evolutionary aspects of lectins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Comparative toxicity of alternative antifouling biocides on embryos and larvae of marine invertebrates.

This study evaluates the impact of commonly used "booster" biocides (chlorothalonil, Sea-Nine 211, dichlofluanid, tolylfluanid and Irgarol 1051) on early developmental stages of marine invertebrates of commercial and ecological relevance. Toxicity tests were conducted with embryos and larvae of the bivalve Mytilus edulis, the sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Toxicity was quantified in terms of the EC50 (median effective concentration) and EC10 reducing embryogenesis success, larval growth and larval settlement by 50% and 10% respectively. The EC10 and EC50 for chlorothalonil ranged from 2 to 108 and from 25 to 159 nM; for Sea-Nine 211 values were 6-204 and 38-372 nM; for dichlofluanid effective concentrations were 95-830 and 244-4311 nM; tolylfluanid yielded values between 99-631 and 213-2839 nM; and Irgarol 1051 was the least toxic compound showing values from 3145 to >25600 and from 6076 to >25600 nM. Those biocides may be ranked in the following order from highest to lowest toxicity to embryos and larvae of M. edulis, P. lividus and C. intestinalis: chlorothalonil>Sea-Nine 211>dichlofluanid=tolylfluanid>Irgarol 1051. The registered effective concentrations were compared to worst-case environmental concentrations reported in literature in order to evaluate the risk posed by these biocides to those invertebrate species. Our data support that chlorothalonil, Sea-Nine 211 and dichlofluanid predicted levels in marinas represent a threat to M. edulis, P. lividus, and C. intestinalis populations, whilst Irgarol 1051 showed no toxic effects on the biological responses tested here at worst-case environmental concentrations.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Retinoic acid induces neurite outgrowth and growth cone turning in invertebrate neurons.

Identification of molecules involved in neurite outgrowth during development and/or regeneration is a major goal in the field of neuroscience. Retinoic acid (RA) is a biologically important metabolite of vitamin A that acts as a trophic factor and has been implicated in neurite outgrowth and regeneration in many vertebrate species. Although abundant in the CNS of many vertebrates, the precise role of RA in neural regeneration has yet to be determined. Moreover, very little information is available regarding the role of RA in invertebrate nervous systems. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that RA induces neurite outgrowth from invertebrate neurons. Using individually identified neurons isolated from the CNS of Lymnaea stagnalis, we demonstrated that a significantly greater proportion of cells produced neurite outgrowth in RA. RA also extended the duration of time that cells remained electrically excitable in vitro, and we showed that exogenously applied RA acted as a chemoattractive factor and induced growth cone turning toward the source of RA. This is the first demonstration that RA can induce turning of an individual growth cone. These data strongly suggest that the actions of RA on neurite outgrowth and cell survival are highly conserved across species.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in invertebrates: structure, function, and evolution.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is central to the initiation and maintenance of reproduction in vertebrates. GnRH is found in all major groups of Phylum Chordata, including the protochordates. Studies on functional and structural evolution of GnRH have, in the past, focused exclusively on chordates. However, the recent structural elucidation of an octopus GnRH-like molecule and increasing evidence that GnRH-like substances are present in multiple invertebrate phyla suggest GnRH is an ancient peptide that arose prior to the divergence of protostomes and deuterostomes. The extraordinary conservation of GnRH structure and function raises interesting questions regarding the functional role assumed by GnRH over the course of evolution. This review will focus on the current understanding of GnRH structure and function in non-chordate invertebrates. Special emphasis will be placed upon the possible and speculated functions of GnRH in mollusks.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Invertebrate proenkephalin: delta opioid binding sites in leech ganglia and immunocytes.

The leech Theromyzon tessulatum and the marine mussel Mytilus edulis immunocytes contain a mammalian-like proenkephalin molecule. The opioid precursor was purified by gel permeation chromatography, anti-Met- and Leu-enkephalin-affinity column separation and then by reversed-phase HPLC. The amino acid sequence analysis, determined by Edman degradation, enzymatic treatments and matrix assisted laser desorption time of flight. The structure of the leech proenkephalin material demonstrates considerable amino acid sequence similarity with amphibian proenkephalin (e.g. 25.4% with Xenopus laevis) but it is smaller, 15 kDa vs. 30 kDa. In contrast, Mytilus proenkephalin is not only larger (26 kDa) but it exhibits a higher sequence identity with guinea pig proenkephalin (50%). Both of the invertebrate materials possess Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin in a ratio of 3:1 for Mytilus and 1:2 in the leech. They also contain Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe sequences that are flanked by dibasic amino acid residues, demonstrating cleavage sites. Furthermore, using sequence comparison with bovine proenkephalin A (209-237), enkelytin (FAEPLPSEEEGESYSKEVPEMEKRYGGFM), an antibacterial peptide is found in the proenkephalin of both animals and it exhibits a 98% sequence identity with mammalian material. Finally, opioid binding experiments demonstrate the presence in leech ganglia and immunocytes of delta1 and delta2 opioid receptor subtypes as also found human and Mytilus immune cells. This report constitutes the first complete biochemical characterization of mammalian proenkephalin in invertebrates, demonstrating its origin in simpler animals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Carbonyl reduction of an anti-insect agent imidazole analogue of metyrapone in soil bacteria, invertebrate and vertebrate species.

Carbonyl reduction to the respective alcohol metabolites of the anti-insect agent imidazole analogue of metyrapone, NKI 42255 (2-(1-imidazolyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1-propanone) and its parent compound metyrapone was characterized in subcellular fractions previously described bacterial and mammalian hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases/carbonyl from soil bacteria, as well as insect, invertebrate and teleost species. The enzymes involved in this metabolic step were characterized with respect to their cosubstrate specificities, inhibitor susceptibilities, and immunological crossreactivities with antibodies directed against reductases (HSD/CR). All fractions investigated rapidly reduced metyrapone, with highest specific activities found in insect, invertebrate and vertebrate fractions. Except for the insect fractions, all species examined reduced the NKI compound. Cosubstrate dependence and inhibitor specificities suggest that the enzymes described belong to the protein superfamilies of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) or aldo-keto reductases (AKR). Immunological crossreactions to the previously established subgroup of HSD/CRs were found in trout liver microsomes and insect homogenates, but not in all bacterial extracts or earthworm microsomes. These findings suggest that the high CR activities found in these fractions belong to different subgroups of SDR or AKR.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed2003

Heavy metals of inshore benthic invertebrates from the Barents Sea.

To assess metals in biota of the Barents Sea, information is presented on concentrations of Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn in the marine inshore benthic invertebrates Gammarus oceanicus, Littorina rudis, Nucella lapillus, Mytilus edulis and Arenicola marina collected in summer 1994. For geographical comparisons, the metal content to body size relationship was taken into account due to the different body sizes found at the localities investigated. In general, our data provide further evidence for the cadmium anomaly in invertebrates from polar waters which has been frequently discussed in the literature, with Cd concentrations reaching 1 mg x kg(-1) dry wt in G. oceanicus, 7 mg x kg(-1) in L. rudis and 24 mg x kg(-1) in N. lapillus. In contrast, our results obtained for Cd in M. edulis and A. marina are largely within a world-wide reported range (1-2 and 0.2-0.9 mg x kg(-1), respectively). Although some severe Ni emissions in the Kola region (Russia) mainly from nickel smelters have been reported, we do not find indications of an enhanced Ni availability in the marine biota studied compared to other areas

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Invertebrate opioid precursors: evolutionary conservation and the significance of enzymatic processing.

Invertebrate tissues contain mammalian-like proenkephalin, prodynorphin, and proopiomelanocortin. Amino acid sequence determination of these opioid gene products reveals the presence of various opioid peptides exhibiting high sequence identity with their mammalian counterparts. These associated peptides are flanked by dibasic amino acid residues, indicating cleavage sites. Together with the presence of various processing enzymes, i.e., neutral endopeptidase 24.11 and angiotensin-converting enzymes, this suggests that opioid precursor processing is also similar to that described in mammals. It is noted that the levels and/or activity of invertebrate neutral endopeptidase 24.11 can be upregulated by signaling molecules shown to perform the same function in mammals, i.e., morphine. Critical to opioid precursor processing are immunocytes that contain the precursors and transport processing enzymes to sites of inflammation, in part, to cleave these peptide precursors, thus liberating immune-stimulating molecules. Furthermore, in response to lipopolysaccharides, Met-enkephalin levels peak immediately and hours after the exposure, revealing a release and induction process. It appears that the opioid precursors and their processing enzymes first evolved in "simple" animals and the have been maintained and embellished during the course of evolution guided by conformational matching.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vertebrate and invertebrate TRPV-like mechanoreceptors.

Our senses of touch, hearing, and balance are mediated by mechanosensitive ion channels. In vertebrates, little is known about the molecular composition of these mechanoreceptors, an example of which is the transduction channel of the inner ear's receptor cells, hair cells. Members of the TRP family of ion channels are considered candidates for the vertebrate hair cell's mechanosensitive transduction channel and here we review the evidence for this candidacy. We start by examining the results of genetic screens in invertebrates that identified members of the TRP gene family as core components of mechanoreceptors. In particular, we discuss the Caenorhabditis elegans OSM-9 channel, an invertebrate TRPV channel, and the Drosophila melanogaster TRP channel NOMPC. We then evaluate basic features of TRPV4, a vertebrate member of the TRPV subfamily, which is gated by a variety of physical and chemical stimuli including temperature, osmotic pressure, and ligands. Finally, we compare the characteristics of all discussed mechanoreceptive TRP channels with the biophysical characteristics of hair cell mechanotransduction, speculating about the possible make-up of the elusive inner ear mechanoreceptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Transuranic biokinetic parameters for marine invertebrates--a review.

A catalogue of biokinetic parameters for the transuranic elements plutonium, americium, curium, neptunium, and californium in marine invertebrates is presented. The parameters considered are: the seawater-animal concentration factor (CF); the sediment-animal concentration ratio (CR); transuranic assimilation efficiency; transuranic tissue distribution and transuranic elimination rates. With respect to the seawater-animal CF, authors differ considerably on how they define this parameter and a seven-point reporting system is suggested. Transuranic uptake from sediment by animals is characterised by low CRs. The assimilation efficiencies of transuranic elements in marine invertebrates are high compared to vertebrates and mammals in general and the distribution of transuranics within the body tissue of an animal is dependent on the uptake path. The elimination of transuranics from most species examined conformed to a standard biphasic exponential model though some examples with three elimination phases were identified.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

DNA integrity determination in marine invertebrates by Fast Micromethod.

This study was focused toward the adaptation of the previously developed Fast Micromethod for DNA damage determination to marine invertebrates for the establishment of biomonitoring assessment. The Fast Micromethod detects DNA damage (strand breaks, alkali-labile sites and incomplete excision repair) and determines DNA integrity in cell suspensions or tissue homogenates in single microplates. The procedure is based on the ability of the specific fluorochrome dye PicoGreen to preferentially interact with high integrity DNA molecules, dsDNA, in the presence of ssDNA and proteins in high alkaline medium, thereby allowing direct fluorometric measurements of dsDNA denaturation without sample handling and stepwise DNA separations. The results presented herein describe the influence of the DNA amount and the pH of the denaturation media on slopes of the kinetic denaturation curves and calculated strand scission factors (SSFs). The optimal amount of DNA in Mytilus galloprovincialis gills homogenate was found to be 100 ng ml(-1) and the greatest differences in DNA unwinding kinetics (slopes and SSF values) were reached at pH 11.5. The induction of DNA damage and loss of DNA integrity was measured in native DNA isolated from cotton-spinner Holothuria tubulosa, marine sponge Suberites domuncula cells and mussel M. galloprovincialis gills homogenate. DNA damage and loss of DNA integrity were detected after induction by different doses of (gamma-rays, generated by 137Cs 1800 Ci; 0-500 rad in marine sponge S. domuncula cells up to SSFx(-1) values 0.082 +/- 0.012 for the highest radiation dose). Analysis by chemical xenobiotics based on the in vitro action of bleomycin (bleomycin-Fe(II) complex 0-50 or 0-83 microg ml(-1) (microM)) with native DNA from cotton-spinner H. tubulosa and mussel M. galloprovincialis gills homogenate yielded values of 0.537 +/- 0.072 and 0.130 +/- 0.018, respectively. In vivo experiments with mussel M. galloprovincialis gills homogenate by 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (NQO; 0-1 microg g(-1) NQO mussel) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P; 0-20 microg g(-1) B[a]P mussel) indicated SSFx(-1) values of 0.121 +/- 0.016 and 0.090 +/- 0.007, respectively, for the highest applied doses of chemical xenobiotics. The analytical technique described here allows simple and fast analysis of DNA integrity, requires very short time for multiple analyses (less than 3 h) and even less than 100 ng DNA per single well (50 ng DNA isolated from cotton-spinner, 12,500 sponge cells or about 10 mg of mussel gills homogenate) in a microplate. This makes the Fast Micromethod applicable for the measurement of DNA integrity of small samples for genotoxicity assessment (biomonitoring), the effects of genotoxins on lower marine taxa or sessile invertebrates in marine environment (e.g. sponges, mussels) and the estimation of directional changes and harmful effects in the ecosystem.

Animals↗