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PubMed2001

Retroposon analysis of major cetacean lineages: the monophyly of toothed whales and the paraphyly of river dolphins.

SINE (short interspersed element) insertion analysis elucidates contentious aspects in the phylogeny of toothed whales and dolphins (Odontoceti), especially river dolphins. Here, we characterize 25 informative SINEs inserted into unique genomic loci during evolution of odontocetes to construct a cladogram, and determine a total of 2.8 kb per taxon of the flanking sequences of these SINE loci to estimate divergence times among lineages. We demonstrate that: (i) Odontocetes are monophyletic; (ii) Ganges River dolphins, beaked whales, and ocean dolphins diverged (in this order) after sperm whales; (iii) three other river dolphin taxa, namely the Amazon, La Plata, and Yangtze river dolphins, form a monophyletic group with Yangtze River dolphins being the most basal; and (iv) the rapid radiation of extant cetacean lineages occurred some 28-33 million years B.P., in strong accord with the fossil record. The combination of SINE and flanking sequence analysis suggests a topology and set of divergence times for odontocete relationships, offering alternative explanations for several long-standing problems in cetacean evolution.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Sounds produced by Norwegian killer whales, Orcinus orca, during capture.

To date very little is still known about the acoustic behavior of Norwegian killer whales, in particular that of individual whales. In this study a unique opportunity was presented to document the sounds produced by five captured killer whales in the Vestfjord area, northern Norway. Individuals produced 14 discrete and 7 compound calls. Two call types were used both by individuals 16178 and 23365 suggesting that they may belong to the same pod. Comparisons with calls documented in Strager (1993) showed that none of the call types used by the captured individuals were present. The lack of these calls in the available literature suggests that call variability within individuals is likely to be large. This short note adds to our knowledge of the vocal repertoire of this population and demonstrates the need for further studies to provide behavioural context to these sounds.

Acoustics↗

PubMed2001

Gastrointestinal parasites and prey items from a mass stranding of false killer whales, Pseudorca crassidens, in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.

The gastrointestinal tract of 14 false killer whales, 6 males and 8 females, stranded in June 1995 in southern Brazil, with total standard lengths from 338 to 507 cm, were analysed for endoparasites and food items. A pregnant female had a male foetus of 77.5 cm. Parasites were found in all 14 false killer whales. The nematode Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) was found in the stomach of 57% of the animals and the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma capitatum (Linstow, 1889) Porta, 1908 was present in the intestine of all specimens and showed densities up to 600 m-1. An unidentified cestode (Tethrabothridae) was found also in the intestines of 14% of the individuals. The high infections of B. capitatum and A. simplex were not directly related with the cause of death. In the stomachs of four females, beaks of at least eight specimens of the oceanic and epipelagic species Ommastrephes bartramii (Lesueur, 1821) were found, with mantle lengths ranging from 189.8 to 360.9 mm. The distribution of O. bartramii in the coast of Rio Grande do Sul is consistent with false killer whales feeding in continental shelf waters.

Acanthocephala↗

PubMed1996

The native state of apomyoglobin described by proton NMR spectroscopy: the A-B-G-H interface of wild-type sperm whale apomyoglobin.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to sperm whale apomyoglobin to describe the conformation adopted by the protein under native conditions. The study focused on the A-B-G-H interface, a region known to form a compact subdomain in the apoprotein (Hughson and Baldwin, Biochemistry 28:4415-4422, 1989). Two histidine residues located in this subdomain, His24 and His119, interact and are thought to play a role in the acid denaturation process (Barrick et al., J. Mol. Biol. 237:588-601, 1994). A stable double mutant at these positions (His24Val/His119Phe sperm whale apomyoglobin) was compared with wild-type apomyoglobin. The amino acid replacements result in chemical shift perturbations near the mutations, in particular in the AB interhelical region, and in a deceleration of backbone amide hydrogen exchange in the B helix from position 27 to position 33. The double mutant data were used to expand and confirm the wild-type spectral analysis. Signals from the D helix were identified that demonstrate the formation of holoprotein-like structure. The assigned wild-type nuclear Overhauser effects, although in small number, were sufficient to construct a model of the compact subdomain of the apoprotein. This was achieved by using the structure of the holoprotein and restraining it with the geometrical information on the apoprotein in a simulated annealing procedure. The experimental restraints define a low-resolution model of the A-B-G-H interface in apomyoglobin.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Brain sizes, surfaces, and neuronal sizes of the cortex cerebri: a stereological investigation of man and his variability and a comparison with some mammals (primates, whales, marsupials, insectivores, and one elephant).

This study deals with the stereological estimation of macroscopic sizes of brain and cortex, i.e., volume, surface, and folding, and of microscopic neuronal sizes, i.e., density, mean size, size distribution, and number of neurons. The results show that the degree of variability in man amounts to about 15%. A decrease in volume of the different gray structures can be observed in man after the age of 65 years. The surface, folding index, and length of convolution do not alter with aging. The comparison with mammals of various sizes allows the conclusion that there is a high correlation to brain size for nearly all macroscopic values. Man and elephant, however, have a cortical surface which is, in comparison with whales, relatively small. In contrast, whales have very small cortices compared with man. At the cytoarchitectonic level, the neuronal density has a correlation to brain size. Contrary to other mammals, the primates and man have a high fraction of small granular neurons, especially in layer 4. The assumption that the number of cortical neurons beneath a given surface area of cortex is the same in all mammals cannot be verified, especially in those with large brains. The allometric connection between brain size and parameters is not valid for all measurements (e.g., thickness of cortex, mean size of neurons, perikaryal size distribution, and glial density). Yet some other measurements are well correlated.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Observations on the anatomy of the stomach and duodenum of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus.

Gastric and cranial duodenal structure of the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) was examined grossly and microscopically. The stomach was arranged in a series of four compartments. The first chamber, or forestomach, was a large nonglandular sac lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. It was followed by the fundic chamber, a large, somewhat globular and entirely glandular compartment. At the entrance of the fundic chamber, a narrow cardiac gland region could be defined. The remaining mucosa of the chamber contained the proper gastric glands. A narrow, tubular connecting channel, the third distinct gastric division, was lined by mucous glands and joined the fundic chamber with the final stomach compartment, or pyloric chamber. This fourth chamber was also tubular and lined by mucous glands but was of a diameter considerably larger than the connecting channel. The stomach terminated at the pyloric sphincter which consisted of a well-developed band of circular smooth-muscle bundles effecting a division between the pyloric chamber and small intestine. The small intestine began with the duodenal ampulla, a dilated sac considerably smaller than the fundic chamber of the stomach. The mucosa of this sac contained mucous glands throughout. The ampulla led without a separating sphincter into the duodenum proper which continued the intestine in a much more narrow tubular fashion. The mucosal lining of the duodenum was composed of villi and intestinal crypts. Although their occurrence varied among whales, enteroendocrine cells were identified within the mucous glands of the cardiac region, connecting channel, pyloric chamber, and cranial duodenum. The hepatopancreatic duct entered the wall of the duodenum shortly after the termination of the duodenal ampulla and continued intramurally along the intestine before finally joining the duodenal lumen.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Anatomy of the heart of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas).

The heart of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is described from the dissection of seven specimens. As in most whales the heart is characterized by a transverse broadness and a flatness of the ventricles from one surface to the other and by an apex formed by both ventricles. Heart size parameters are used for comparison with parameters of other marine and land mammals. The heart width index (heart height/heart circumference) averages 31.3 in comparison to 28.7 for the Weddell seal and 39.0 for the felids. The right ventricle is relatively long and narrow with a mean length index (TS/heart height) of 64.7 and a mean breadth index (TP/heart height) of 38.7. These heart parameters are discussed in functional terms.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Arterial and venous vasculature of the heart of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas).

The arteries and veins of the heart of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) are described from the dissection of nine specimens. The arterial distribution is composed of the basic mammalian pattern of two major vessels, the left and right coronary arteries, which supply the cardiac tissue. The venous drainage is provided by three major systems which are the great, middle, and small cardiac veins. The vascular characteristics of the heart of the beluga whale are the marked sinuosity of both coronary arteries and their main branches, the numerous large interarterial anastomoses between major vessels, and the duplication of vessels in parallel branches. These characteristics are discussed in functional terms and correlated with the diving ability of the species.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Catalytic and immunochemical characterization of hepatic microsomal cytochromes P450 in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas).

Understanding the effects of environmental contaminants on cetaceans and other marine mammals will require information on the biochemistry of xenobiotic metabolism in these species. We characterized the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 system in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the Canadian Arctic. The content of native P450 averaged 0.203 and 0.319 nmol/mg microsomal protein, cytochrome b5 content averaged 0.199 and 0.236 nmol/mg, and rates of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase were 79 and 76 nmol/min/mg, for females and males respectively. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase (PROD), and benzo[a]pyrene (BP) hydroxylase (AHH) activities were significantly greater in males than in females, and were highly correlated with one another (r2 between 0.853 and 0.912). HPLC analysis of in vitro BP metabolites revealed benzo-ring (7,8- and 9,10-) dihydrodiols, consistent with activation of this compound, as well as 4,5-dihydrodiol,3-OH-, 7-OH-, and 9-OH-BP and 1,6- and 3,6-quinones. Estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity did not differ between sexes, and rates did not correlate with those of the other activities. Antibodies against scup P450B (an apparent teleost CYP2B) and rat CYP2B1 did not recognize proteins in beluga liver microsomes, but there was a protein detected by antibodies to PB-inducible rabbit CYP2B4. Antibodies to ethanol and ketone-inducible rat CYP2E1 reacted with two proteins in beluga liver microsomes. Antibodies specific to hydrocarbon-inducible CYP1A1 and/or CYP1A2 forms showed a single protein band, apparently more closely related to CYP1A1. The content of CYP1A was fivefold greater in male than in female beluga. CYP1A content was highly correlated with EROD, PROD, and AHH activities, suggesting that this P450 form is a primary catalyst for these reactions in beluga. CYP1A content and activity were highly correlated with the concentrations in blubber of non-ortho and mono-ortho PCB congeners, compounds that induce CYP1A in other mammals. These results indicate that a CYP1A is a catalyst for the metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants in the beluga whale, and strongly suggest that this protein is induced in these organisms by environmental contaminants, including PCBs. The results support the measurement of CYP1A expression as a biomarker of exposure to inducers in marine mammals. The full functional and evolutionary relationships of beluga CYP1A and of beluga proteins immunologically related to other P450 forms are uncertain.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

First consequences of the determination of the entire antigenic structure of sperm-whale myoglobin.

By using the antigenic structure of sperm-whale Mb as a model we have established that the antigenicity of its sites is independent of any sequence identities between the injected myoglobin and the Mb of the immunized animal. Furthermore, the ability to produce in rabbits autoantibodies to rabbit Mb and the successful extrapolation of the antigenic structure of sperm-whale Mb to human hemoglobin strongly demonstrated that the antigenicity of certain parts of a protein molecule is primarily dependent on the uniqueness of their conformational locations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

1H and 15N resonance assignments and secondary structure of the carbon monoxide complex of sperm whale myoglobin.

Sequence-specific backbone 1H and 15N resonance assignments have been made for 95% of the amino acids in sperm whale myoglobin, complexed with carbon monoxide (MbCO). Many assignments for side-chain resonances have also been obtained. Assignments were made by analysis of an extensive series of homonuclear 2D spectra, measured with unlabeled protein, and both 2D and 3D 1H-15N-correlated spectra obtained from uniformly 15N-labeled myoglobin. Patterns of medium-range NOE connectivities indicate the presence of eight helices in positions that are very similar to those found in the crystal structures of sperm whale myoglobin. The resonance assignments of MbCO form the basis for determination of the solution structure and for hydrogen-exchange measurements to probe the stability and folding pathways of myoglobin. They will also form a basis for assignment of the spectra of single-site mutants with altered ligand-binding properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1978

Conservation and chromosomal localization of DNA satellites in balenopterid whales.

DNA satellites were isolated from three balenopterid species, viz. the minke, sei, and fine whales. In each of them at least two DNA satellites were recognizable with buoyant densities in neutral CsCl of rho = 1.702/1.703 and rho = 1.710/1;711, respectively. cRNAs from each satellite group were used for filter and in situ hybridisations. Homo-and heterologous DNA-cRNA hybrids within each satellite group yielded virtually identical melting curve profiles showing conservation of at least a considerable part of the DNA satellite sequences. There was no evident sequence homology between the rho = 1.702/1.703 and the rho = 1.710/1;711 satellites by filter hybridisation.--The in situ hybridisation showed that in each species the rho = 1.702/1.703 satellite was located in centromeric-paracentromeric C-bands in a few pairs, whereas the rho = 1.710/1.711 satellite was located in terminal C-bands throughout the karyotypes.--The data on the whale DNA satellites indicate that the quantitative evolution of the sateliite DNA sequences preceded species divergence of the balenopterids and that the satellite sequences have remained relatively unaltered since the divergence took place. The function of satellite DNA is considered to imply the introduction of both chromosomal and genic polymorphisms and thus being of great importance in speciation, Based upon these concepts a model is postulated for the function of satellite DNA. According to this model at meiotic pairing euchromatinheterochromatin overlapping between homologous chromosomes is considered to be of a general occurrence. This overlapping is presumed to be accentuated by the size heteromorphism frequently observed between homologous heterochromatic segments (C-bands). In the region of such euchromatinheterochromatin overlapping, cross-over would be excluded. The overlapping is suggested to be rectified progresssively in the chromosome arms, leaving unaffected crossing-over distant to the euchromatin-heterochromatin junctions. The consequence of this will be that genes in the proximity of the junctions are collectively inherited and selected, whereas genes distant to the the heterochromatin will be independently assorted and selected.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Ontogenetic development of the nervus terminalis in toothed whales. Evidence for its non-olfactory nature.

For the first time in cetaceans, the development of the terminalis system and its continuity between the olfactory placode and the telencephalon has been demonstrated by light microscopy. In the early development of toothed whales (Odontoceti) this system is partially incorporated within the fila olfactoria which grow out from the olfactory placode. As the peripheral olfactory system is reduced in later stages, a strongly developed ganglionlike structure (terminalis ganglion) remains within the primitive meninx. Peripherally it is connected via the cribriform plate with ganglionic cell clusters near the septal mucosa. Centrally it is attached to the telencephalon (olfactory tubercle, septal region) by several nerve fibre bundles. In contrast to all other mammalian groups, toothed whales and dolphins are anosmatic while being totally adapted to aquatic life. Therefore the remaining ganglion and plexus must have non-olfactory properties. They may be responsible for the autonomic innervation of intracranial arteries and of the large mucous epithelia in the accessory nasal air sacs. The morphology, evolution and functional implications of the terminalis system in odontocetes and other mammals are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Organochlorine levels in North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) blubber.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total DDT (DDT + DDE + DDD), dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, chlordanes, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were found in blubber biopsies from endangered North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Bay of Fundy and on Browns-Baccaro Banks. Analyses included four sex and age class composite samples from 1988, and 21 individual samples from 1989. Generally, PCBs demonstrated the highest wet weight residue levels (up to 1.9 micrograms/g), followed by total DDT (DDT + DDE + DDD) (trace to 0.47 micrograms/g). Relatively low residue levels in adult females suggest that transmammary organochlorine (OC) residue transfer occurs during lactation. The actual blubber residue loads may have been underestimated, because the samples were taken when the whales were depositing fat reserves and the samples may not have been representative of the remainder of the blubber.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1981

Reassignment of residue 122 in the myoglobin from the killer whale, Orcinus orca.

The complete amino acid sequence of the major component myoglobin from killer whale, Orcinus orca, was determined by automated Edman degradation. In this study residue 122 was found to be glutamic acid instead of glutamine as was originally reported (Castillo et al. 1977). This reassignment affects the phylogenetic relationship of killer whale myoglobin with the myoglobins from other closely related cetacean species and also affects studies concerned with the physical parameters of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1978

Lipids of the antarctic sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis.

The blubber, liver, and muscle of the Antarctic sei whale were analyzed for total lipid content, composition of lipid by classes and positional distribution of fatty acids in individual lipids. The major glycerolipids (triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine) were fractionated by silver nitrate thin layer chromatography. The phospholipid fractions were analyzed for fatty acid positional distribution. The whale stomach contained almost exclusively the amphipod Parathemisto gaudichaudi. Its lipids were also studied and compared with the lipids of the body tissues. The results indicate that the stomach content lipids are subjected to modifications before being deposited in the blubber, liver, and muscle. According to the silver nitrate thin layer chromatographic studies, liver and blubber triglycerides resembel each other in their patterns of positional distribution of fatty acids and in molecular species composition. The phospholipids of liver and blubber also exhibited closely related fatty acid distribution patterns. In general, while the proportions of lipid classes and their predominant fatty acids varied from tissue to tissue, the patterns according to which the lipids had been synthesized seemed to be common.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1978

Distinctive medium chain wax esters, triglycerides, and diacyl glyceryl ethers in the head fats of the Pacific beaked whale, Berardius bairdi.

Lipids were extracted from the mandibular fat body (jaw), the fatty forehead (melon), and the dorsal blubber of a Pacific beaked whale (Berardius bairdi) and separated into lipid classes by preparative thin layer chromatogrphy. The head fats were mixtures of wax esters and triglycerides with a very small amount of diacyl glyceryl ether. The blubber fat contained 97% wax ester and 3% triglyceride. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of the intac lipid classes indicated an unusually low C26-C30 range for most of the jaw and melon wax esters compared to the more normal C32-C40 molecules found in the blubber. Distinctive lower molecular weight C24-C40 triglycerides occurred in the head fats vs. the usual C44-C58 range in the blubber. Most diacyl glyceryl ethers were in the C35-C46 range, below the molecular weight of hexadecyldipalmitoyl glyceryl ether (C48). GLC of the derived fatty acid methyl esters showed that the lower molecular weight neutral lipids in the head fats were due to high levels of iso-10:0, n-10:0, iso-11:0, iso-12:0, N-12:0, and iso-13:0 acids. The wax ester fatty alcohols and the alkoxy chains of the glyceryl ethers were mostly the C14-C20 chain lengths commonly observed in marine organisms. The distinctive medium chain neutral lipids in the jaw and melon fats of this whale may be related to the postulated acoustical role of these tissues in echolocation.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1997

Novel phylogeny of whales supported by total molecular evidence.

Given that the analysis of a single gene does not necessarily provide unambiguous phylogenetic information, it is important to scrutinize as many genes as possible. Using the maximum likelihood method, particularly suitable for a total evidence approach, we evaluated the phylogenetic information provided by the 12S and 16S rRNA, cytochrome b, and myoglobin sequence data in order to resolve one of the most debated phylogenetic questions: the relationships among the major groups of cetaceans. Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that sperm whales are closer to baleen whales than to dolphins.

Animals↗