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Pazzaglia UE, Zecca PA, Terova G, Serena F, Mancusi C, Raimondi G, Zarattini G, Raspanti M, Reguzzoni M. Comparative Morphology of Skeletal Development in Homo sapiens and Raja asterias: Divergent Stiffening Patterns Due to Different Matrix Calcification Processes. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2575. [PMID: 39272360 PMCID: PMC11394434 DOI: 10.3390/ani14172575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Before calcification begins, the early embryonic and fetal skeletal development of both mammalian Homo sapiens and the chondrichthyan fish Raja asterias consists exclusively of cartilage. This cartilage is formed and shaped through processes involving tissue segmentation and the frequency, distribution, and orientation of chondrocyte mitoses. In the subsequent developmental phase, mineral deposition in the cartilage matrix conditions the development further. The stiffness and structural layout of the mineralized cartilage have a significant impact on the shape of the anlagen (early formative structure of a tissue, a scaffold on which the new bone is formed) and the mechanical properties of the skeletal segments. The fundamental difference between the two studied species lies in how calcified cartilage serves as a scaffold for osteoblasts to deposit bone matrix, which is then remodeled. In contrast, chondrichthyans retain the calcified cartilage as the definitive skeletal structure. This study documents the distinct mineral deposition pattern in the cartilage of the chondrichthyan R. asterias, in which calcification progresses with the formation of focal calcification nuclei or "tesserae". These are arranged on the flat surface of the endo-skeleton (crustal pattern) or aligned in columns (catenated pattern) in the radials of the appendicular skeleton. This anatomical structure is well adapted to meet the mechanical requirements of locomotion in the water column. Conversely, in terrestrial mammals, endochondral ossification (associated with the remodeling of the calcified matrix) provides limb bones with the necessary stiffness to withstand the strong bending and twisting stresses of terrestrial locomotion. In this study, radiographs of marine mammals (reproduced from previously published studies) document how the endochondral ossification in dolphin flippers adapts to the mechanical demands of aquatic locomotion. This adaptation includes the reduction in the length of the stylopodium and zeugopodium and an increase in the number of elements in the autopodium's central rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo E Pazzaglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Piero A Zecca
- Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Genciana Terova
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Serena
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-IRBIN), 80131 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region (ARPAT), 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Guido Zarattini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario Raspanti
- Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Marcella Reguzzoni
- Department of Medicine and Technological Innovation, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Burgess S. Universal optimal design in the vertebrate limb pattern and lessons for bioinspired design. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:051004. [PMID: 39042109 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad66a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
This paper broadly summarizes the variation of design features found in vertebrate limbs and analyses the resultant versatility and multifunctionality in order to make recommendations for bioinspired robotics. The vertebrate limb pattern (e.g. shoulder, elbow, wrist and digits) has been proven to be very successful in many different applications in the animal kingdom. However, the actual level of optimality of the limb for each animal application is not clear because for some cases (e.g. whale flippers and bird wings), the basic skeletal layout is assumed to be highly constrained by evolutionary ancestry. This paper addresses this important and fundamental question of optimality by analysing six limbs with contrasting functions: human arm, whale flipper, bird wing, human leg, feline hindlimb and frog hindlimb. A central finding of this study is that the vertebrate limb pattern is highly versatile and optimal not just for arms and legs but also for flippers and wings. One key design feature of the vertebrate limb pattern is that of networks of segmented bones that enable smooth morphing of shapes as well as multifunctioning structures. Another key design feature is that of linkage mechanisms that fine-tune motions and mechanical advantage. A total of 52 biomechanical design features of the vertebrate limb are identified and tabulated for these applications. These tables can be a helpful reference for designers of bioinspired robotic and prosthetic limbs. The vertebrate limb has significant potential for the bioinspired design of robotic and prosthetic limbs, especially because of progress in the development of soft actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Burgess
- School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Bristol University, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Barrett CE, Evans I, Morgan T, Olivier AK. Novel processing and staining methodology of bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) teeth for age determination. J Histotechnol 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38465369 DOI: 10.1080/01478885.2024.2327155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Age determination of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) is a critical tool in understanding both individual and population health. There are many methods of aging bottlenose dolphins including analysis of teeth, pectoral flipper radiographs, and epigenetics. The most common and oldest method for aging toothed cetaceans is the counting of growth layer groups (GLGs) in the teeth. Current techniques have technical and repeatability challenges. Therefore, a processing technique that results in better resolution of GLGs is needed. This study compares different decalcifications and different histochemical staining techniques. Decalcification was done using 10% EDTA, Kristensen's decalcification, and Rapid Decalcification Solution (RDO). Following decalcification and routine processing, GLGs were assessed using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), hematoxylin, Giemsa, Wright-Giemsa, Toluidine Blue (T-Blue), Masson's Trichrome, and Congo Red staining techniques. Decalcification with Kristensen's and staining with Masson's Trichrome and Congo Red were determined to best highlight GLGs. This processing and staining was then applied to a sample population of 102 bottlenose dolphins that were evaluated independently and blindly by two observers. Of the 102 dolphin samples, 13 (12.7%) were unable to age due to no clear distinction or distortion between GLGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa E Barrett
- Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, USA
| | - Ian Evans
- Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, USA
| | - Timothy Morgan
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, USA
| | - Alicia K Olivier
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, MS, USA
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Consoli FMA, Bernaldo de Quirós Y, Arbelo M, Fulle S, Marchisio M, Encinoso M, Fernandez A, Rivero MA. Cetaceans Humerus Radiodensity by CT: A Useful Technique Differentiating between Species, Ecophysiology, and Age. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12141793. [PMID: 35883340 PMCID: PMC9311750 DOI: 10.3390/ani12141793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetaceans are mammals that underwent a series of evolutionary adaptations to live in the aquatic environment, including morphological modifications of various anatomical structures of the skeleton and their bone mineral density (BMD); there are few studies on the latter. BMD is related to the radiodensity measured through computed tomography (CT) in Hounsfield units (HU). This work aimed to test and validate the usefulness of studying humeral bone radiodensity by CT of two cetacean species (the Atlantic spotted dolphin and the pygmy sperm whale) with different swimming and diving habits. The radiodensity was analysed at certain levels following a new protocol based on a review of previous studies. Humeral radiodensity values were related to four aspects: species, diving behaviour, swimming activity level, and age. We observed that the consistent differences in the radiodensity of the cortical bone of the distal epiphysis between animals of different life-history categories suggest that this bone portion could be particularly useful for future ontogenetic studies. Hence, this technique may be helpful in studying and comparing species with different ecophysiologies, particularly distinguishing between swimming and diving habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Maria Achille Consoli
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35400 Las Palmas, Spain; (F.M.A.C.); (M.A.); (A.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Yara Bernaldo de Quirós
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35400 Las Palmas, Spain; (F.M.A.C.); (M.A.); (A.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Manuel Arbelo
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35400 Las Palmas, Spain; (F.M.A.C.); (M.A.); (A.F.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Stefania Fulle
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Marco Marchisio
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University G. D’Annunzio, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Mario Encinoso
- Hospital Clínico Veterinario, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain;
| | - Antonio Fernandez
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35400 Las Palmas, Spain; (F.M.A.C.); (M.A.); (A.F.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Miguel A. Rivero
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Atlantic Center for Cetacean Research, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35400 Las Palmas, Spain; (F.M.A.C.); (M.A.); (A.F.); (M.A.R.)
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Buddhachat K, Brown JL, Kaewkool M, Poommouang A, Kaewmong P, Kittiwattanawong K, Nganvongpanit K. Life Expectancy in Marine Mammals Is Unrelated to Telomere Length but Is Associated With Body Size. Front Genet 2021; 12:737860. [PMID: 34630527 PMCID: PMC8498114 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.737860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals vary greatly in size and lifespan across species. This study determined whether measures of adult body weight, length and relative telomere length were related to lifespan. Skin tissue samples (n = 338) were obtained from 23 marine mammal species, including four Mysticeti, 19 Odontoceti and one dugong species, and the DNA extracted to measure relative telomere length using real-time PCR. Life span, adult body weight, and adult body length of each species were retrieved from existing databases. The phylogenetic signal analysis revealed that body length might be a significant factor for shaping evolutionary processes of cetacean species through time, especially for genus Balaenoptera that have an enormous size. Further, our study found correlations between lifespan and adult body weight (R2 = 0.6465, p < 0.001) and adult body length (R2 = 0.6142, p ≤0.001), but no correlations with relative telomere length (R2 = −0.0476, p = 0.9826). While data support our hypothesis that larger marine mammals live longer, relative telomere length is not a good predictor of species longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kittisak Buddhachat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.,Excellence Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Janine L Brown
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Manthanee Kaewkool
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Anocha Poommouang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | | | - Korakot Nganvongpanit
- Excellence Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Accurate Epigenetic Aging in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), an Essential Step in the Conservation of at-Risk Dolphins. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2030030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics, specifically DNA methylation, allows for the estimation of animal age from blood or remotely sampled skin. This multi-tissue epigenetic age estimation clock uses 110 longitudinal samples from 34 Navy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), identifying 195 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites associated with chronological aging via cross-validation with one individual left out in each fold (R2 = 0.95). With a median absolute error of 2.5 years, this clock improves age estimation capacity in wild dolphins, helping conservation efforts and enabling a better understanding of population demographics.
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Herrman JM, Morey JS, Takeshita R, De Guise S, Wells RS, McFee W, Speakman T, Townsend F, Smith CR, Rowles T, Schwacke L. Age determination of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using dental radiography pulp:tooth area ratio measurements. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242273. [PMID: 33216762 PMCID: PMC7678971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age is an important parameter to better understand wildlife populations, and is especially relevant for interpreting data for fecundity, health, and survival assessments. Estimating ages for marine mammals presents a particular challenge due to the environment they inhabit: accessibility is limited and, when temporarily restrained for assessment, the window of opportunity for data collection is relatively short. For wild dolphins, researchers have described a variety of age-determination techniques, but the gold-standard relies upon photo-identification to establish individual observational life histories from birth. However, there are few populations with such long-term data sets, therefore alternative techniques for age estimation are required for individual animals without a known birth period. While there are a variety of methods to estimate ages, each involves some combination of drawbacks, including a lack of precision across all ages, weeks-to-months of analysis time, logistical concerns for field applications, and/or novel techniques still in early development and validation. Here, we describe a non-invasive field technique to determine the age of small cetaceans using periapical dental radiography and subsequent measurement of pulp:tooth area ratios. The technique has been successfully applied for bottlenose dolphins briefly restrained during capture-release heath assessments in various locations in the Gulf of Mexico. Based on our comparisons of dental radiography data to life history ages, the pulp:tooth area ratio method can reliably provide same-day estimates for ages of dolphins up to about 10 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean M. Herrman
- Companion Animal Dental Services, Bolton, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jeanine S. Morey
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Ryan Takeshita
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Randall S. Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Wayne McFee
- NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - Todd Speakman
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Forrest Townsend
- Bayside Hospital for Animals, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Cynthia R. Smith
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Teresa Rowles
- Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lori Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
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Vargas-Castro I, Crespo-Picazo JL, Rivera-Arroyo B, Sánchez R, Marco-Cabedo V, Jiménez-Martínez MÁ, Fayos M, Serdio Á, García-Párraga D, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Alpha- and gammaherpesviruses in stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Spain: first molecular detection of gammaherpesvirus infection in central nervous system of odontocetes. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:288. [PMID: 32787898 PMCID: PMC7425534 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpesvirus infections in cetaceans have always been attributed to the Alphaherpesvirinae and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies. To date, gammaherpesviruses have not been reported in the central nervous system of odontocetes. CASE PRESENTATION A mass stranding of 14 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) occurred in Cantabria (Spain) on 18th May 2019. Tissue samples were collected and tested for herpesvirus using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for cetacean morbillivirus using reverse transcription-PCR. Cetacean morbillivirus was not detected in any of the animals, while gammaherpesvirus was detected in nine male and one female dolphins. Three of these males were coinfected by alphaherpesviruses. Alphaherpesvirus sequences were detected in the cerebrum, spinal cord and tracheobronchial lymph node, while gammaherpesvirus sequences were detected in the cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord, pharyngeal tonsils, mesenteric lymph node, tracheobronchial lymph node, lung, skin and penile mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological post-mortem examinations did not unveil the potential cause of the mass stranding event or any evidence of severe infectious disease in the dolphins. The only observed lesions that may be associated with herpesvirus were three cases of balanitis and one penile papilloma. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of gammaherpesvirus infection in the central nervous system of odontocete cetaceans. This raises new questions for future studies about how gammaherpesviruses reach the central nervous system and how infection manifests clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Vargas-Castro
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Belén Rivera-Arroyo
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Sánchez
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Manena Fayos
- Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre de Cantabria, 39690, Santander, Spain.,Tragsatec, 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - Ángel Serdio
- Dirección General de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Cambio Climático, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | | | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Center and Animal Health Department, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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