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Simões BF, Sampaio FL, Jared C, Antoniazzi MM, Loew ER, Bowmaker JK, Rodriguez A, Hart NS, Hunt DM, Partridge JC, Gower DJ. Visual system evolution and the nature of the ancestral snake. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:1309-20. [PMID: 26012745 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The dominant hypothesis for the evolutionary origin of snakes from 'lizards' (non-snake squamates) is that stem snakes acquired many snake features while passing through a profound burrowing (fossorial) phase. To investigate this, we examined the visual pigments and their encoding opsin genes in a range of squamate reptiles, focusing on fossorial lizards and snakes. We sequenced opsin transcripts isolated from retinal cDNA and used microspectrophotometry to measure directly the spectral absorbance of the photoreceptor visual pigments in a subset of samples. In snakes, but not lizards, dedicated fossoriality (as in Scolecophidia and the alethinophidian Anilius scytale) corresponds with loss of all visual opsins other than RH1 (λmax 490-497 nm); all other snakes (including less dedicated burrowers) also have functional sws1 and lws opsin genes. In contrast, the retinas of all lizards sampled, even highly fossorial amphisbaenians with reduced eyes, express functional lws, sws1, sws2 and rh1 genes, and most also express rh2 (i.e. they express all five of the visual opsin genes present in the ancestral vertebrate). Our evidence of visual pigment complements suggests that the visual system of stem snakes was partly reduced, with two (RH2 and SWS2) of the ancestral vertebrate visual pigments being eliminated, but that this did not extend to the extreme additional loss of SWS1 and LWS that subsequently occurred (probably independently) in highly fossorial extant scolecophidians and A. scytale. We therefore consider it unlikely that the ancestral snake was as fossorial as extant scolecophidians, whether or not the latter are para- or monophyletic.
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Affiliation(s)
- B F Simões
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - F L Sampaio
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - C Jared
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M M Antoniazzi
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - E R Loew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - J K Bowmaker
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Rodriguez
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - N S Hart
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - D M Hunt
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - J C Partridge
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- M. M. Antoniazzi
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular; Instituto Butantan; São Paulo Brazil
| | - P. R. Neves
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular; Instituto Butantan; São Paulo Brazil
| | | | - M. T. Rodrigues
- Depto. Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo Brazil
| | - C. Jared
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular; Instituto Butantan; São Paulo Brazil
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Conceição K, Bruni FM, Sciani JM, Konno K, Melo RL, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Lopes-Ferreira M, Pimenta DC. Identification of bradykinin: related peptides from Phyllomedusa nordestina skin secretion using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after a single-step liquid chromatography. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2009. [DOI: 10.1590/s1678-91992009000400004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Carvalho RL, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Silva AMJ, Santos AA, Egami MI. Morphological, cytochemical, and ultrastructural observations on the blood cells of the reptile Tupinambis merianae (Squamata). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-006-0628-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Katchburian E, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Faria FP, Souza Santos H, Freymüller E. Mineralized dermal layer of the Brazilian tree-frog Corythomantis greeningi. J Morphol 2001; 248:56-63. [PMID: 11268058 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Some species of anuran amphibians possess a calcified dermal layer (the Eberth-Kastschenko layer) located between the "stratum spongiosum" and the "stratum compactum." This layer consists of calcium phosphate deposits, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans. Although regarded as a protective layer against desiccation, a calcium reservoir, or possibly a remnant of a dermal skeleton present in anuran ancestors, very little is known about its origin, structure, and function. Thus, we studied the structure and composition of the mineralized dermal layer of Corythomantis greeningi, a peculiar hylid from the Brazilian semiarid region (caatinga), using conventional and cryosubstitution methods combined with transmission, scanning, and analytical electron microscopy. Results show that the dermal layer consists of dense, closely juxtaposed, globular structures. Although the electron opacity of the globules was variable, depending on the type of preparation, crystal-like inclusions were present in all of them, as confirmed by dark field microscopy. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis showed calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen, and electron diffraction revealed a crystalline structure comparable to that of a hydroxyapatite.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Katchburian
- Department of Morphology and Electron Microscopy Center, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Abstract
The femoral or cloacal region of many species of lizards and amphisbaenians exhibits epidermal glands. The pores of these glands are plugged with holocrine solid secretions that serve as semiochemical sources. Many authors assume that these glands are mainly associated with reproduction and demarcation of territory. The structure of precloacal glands in Amphisbaena alba was previously studied by Antoniazzi et al. (Zoomorphology 113:199-203, 1993; J. Morphol. 221:101-109, 1994). These authors suggested that as the animal moves inside tunnels, the secretion plugs are abraded against the substrate, releasing a secretion trail. Some aspects of the plug were difficult to interpret in fine sections due to the dense and brittle nature of the plug. The morphology of the trail, and the manner of deposition on the substrate, have never been reported. This study presents a primarily scanning electron microscopic description of A. alba precloacal glands and of the secretion plugs. It also demonstrates experimentally the formation of the trail and its fine morphology. The results show that when the plugs scrape against the substrate, their constitution helps them to fragment into tiny pieces, which are spread on the ground, thus forming a trail. Each one of the fragments corresponds to a secretion granule of the precloacal gland's secretory cells. In this way, the trail might have an extensive area for volatilization of semiochemicals, constituting an efficient means of intraspecific communication inside the tunnels.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jared
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Jared C, Navas C, Toledo R. An appreciation of the physiology and morphology of the Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 1999. [DOI: 10.1016/s1095-6433(99)00076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Spadacci-Morena DD, Jared C, Antoniazzi MM, Brunner O, Morena P, Brunner A. Comparative cytomorphology of maturing amphisbaenian (Amphisbaena alba) and snake (Waglerophis merremii) erythroid cells with regard to haemoglobin biosynthesis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02628098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Junqueira LCU. Epidermal glands in squamata: Fine structure of pre-cloacal glands inAmphisbaena alba (Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae). J Morphol 1994; 221:101-109. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1052210108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Pellegrini CMR, Macha N. Epidermal glands in Squamata: morphology and histochemistry of the pre-cloacal glands in Amphisbaena alba (Amphisbaenia). ZOOMORPHOLOGY 1993. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00394860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
1. Ultrastructural observations on maturing rabbit embryo erythroid cells led to the finding of hemoglobinized organelles distinguishable from mitochondria due to their highly dense matrix, two or three longitudinally arranged double lamellae, and smaller diameters. Intraorganellar 50-60 A particles identical to those contained in the hemoglobinized cytoplasm were found. 2. Their hemoglobin (Hb) content was demonstrated by electrophoresis of the concentrated supernatant from the isolated, washed, and osmotically lysed organellar fraction. We have proposed that these organelles are the sites for heme integration into the globin (G) polypeptide chains and subunits assembly. The term hemosome has been suggested for such entities. 3. This hypothesis has been sustained by several analytical and experimental works based on the postulation that hemosomes should be found at higher frequencies where the Hb biosynthesis rate is more intensive, or where the induction of this biosynthesis is always dependent on the formation of hemosomes. 4. Maturing erythroid cells of the circulating embryo blood contain hemosomes in higher frequency than in liver erythroid cells, coinciding with the higher Hb biosynthesis rate in peripheral blood than in the liver. In bleeding anemia, the decay of Hb concentration parallels the reduction of the mean number of hemosomes per reticulocyte, in comparison with normal reticulocytes. 5. In HeLa cells and epithelial cultured cells induced to synthesize Hb, it was shown that this biosynthesis is ever concomitant with the formation of hemosomes and depends on the presence of erythropoietin, as occurs in erythroid cells. 6. Studies on hemosomegenesis and Hb biosynthesis experimentally effected in epithelial cultured cells, allowed the interpretation of the sequence of events leading to hemosome formation in maturing erythroid cells. Simultaneously with iron uptake, mitochondria differentiate to lamellated bodies and, successively, expansions rise for ferruginous compounds and G polypeptides gathering, followed by prehemosome vesicles formation, which condense and change to prohemosomes that afterwards evolve to hemosomes. 7. These dynamics, and organellar Hb have been detected in immature erythrocytes of mammalians, including humans, avians, reptilians, amphibians and representative fish specimens. It appears that these events occur in the erythrocytary maturation of all vertebrate classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brunner Júnior
- Laboratories of Electron Microscopy, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil
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Abstract
The parotid glands of toads are constituted by an accumulation of venom-producing granular alveoli. Parotid glands of Bufo ictericus were manually compressed and immediately excised. Normal glands (not submitted to compression) were also excised and processed for histological and ultrastructural observations. The glandular body of large granular alveoli in parotid glands is formed by a myoepithelial layer, internally covered by a syncytial secretory layer. In the normal parotid gland this layer is very electron dense, thus preventing clear visualization of organelles. Large secretion granules are located in the main secretion mass, near the syncytium. In the compressed parotid gland, the myoepithelium shows a number of alterations, including presence of myelin figures and foci of degradation in the cytoplasm. The organelles of the syncytial cytoplasm are easily observed. The mitochondria are swollen; the cristae are shortened or absent. Syncytial secretion granules and lengthened structures linked to the syncytial matrix are to be seen. A large amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum is present, while the rough endoplasmic reticulum is reduced. This large quantity of smooth endoplasmic reticulum suggests enhanced synthesis of the cardiotoxic steroids of the venom. Alterations in the mitochondria and the presence of myelin figures and degenerative foci in the cytoplasm may probably be regarded as consequences of the cellular injury provoked by compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Toledo
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
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Carneiro SM, Pinto VR, Jared C, Lula LA, Faria FP, Sesso A. Morphometric studies on venom secretory cells from Bothrops jararacussu (Jararacuçu) before and after venom extraction. Toxicon 1991; 29:569-80. [PMID: 1926160 DOI: 10.1016/0041-0101(91)90051-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A comparative morphometrical analysis was carried out on secretory cells from Bothrops jararacussu venom glands, before manual extraction of the venom (milking) and 4 and 8 days after milking. At the 8th day after milking, the cytoplasmic volume increased by 160%. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) volume density increase, up to the 8th day after milking, is mainly due to widening of the intra-scisternal space. The total volume and membrane surface of the RER. Golgi apparatus and subcomponents, secretory vesicles and mitochondria, increased during the experimental period while the volume and surface densities of these organelles, with the exception of the RER, did not vary. The numerical density of Golgi-associated microvesicles per Golgi volume unit also increased. The greatest relative increments in these parameters occurred within the first 4 days. These results are compatible with an increased rate of membrane synthesis and transport in the milked glands and suggest that the membrane biogenesis, degradation and circulation that takes place in the first week after milking is achieved through coordinated cellular mechanisms that maintain the rate between total membrane surface and total cytoplasmic volume unaltered.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Carneiro
- Seção de Venenos, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil
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de Toledo RC, Jared C. [Histologic study of the lumbar glands of Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)]. Rev Bras Biol 1989; 49:421-8. [PMID: 2608945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Frogs of the Pleurodema thaul species have a pair of prominent elevated cutaneous glands dorsolaterally, just posterior to the sacrum, which are named lumbar glands. We have studied histologically these glands and found that their chromatophores are disposed mainly immediately under the epidermis structuring a dermal chromatophore unit. Similar to the other anuran macroglands, the lumbar glands are constituted basically by granular alveoli filled with secretion. The presence of these granular alveoli and the typical distribution of the dermal chromatophores to suggest a defensive role for the lumbar glands. In most of the amphibians granular alveoli contain secretions with toxicity for several vertebrates. On the other hand, chromatophores in this frog species, probably play an aposematic function, since their disposition on the skin permits that the lumbar glands might be taken for eyes, probably giving to an eventual predator the impression that it may be an animal of higher dimensions.
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Cianciarullo AM, Spadacci Morena DD, Morena P, Jared C, Brunner A. Comparative ultrastructure of maturing toad (Bufo ictericus) and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) erythroid cells with regard to hemoglobin biosynthesis. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol 1989; 94:525-9. [PMID: 2574098 DOI: 10.1016/0300-9629(89)90133-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
1. Toad and rabbit maturing erythroid cells were comparatively analysed with regard to their ultrastructural modifications involved in hemoglobin (Hb) biosynthesis. 2. The mitochondrial inner membrane differentiates to a lamellated body that, successively, gives rise to prehemosomal vesicles, prohemosomes, and to hemoglobinized organelles called hemosomes. 3. The prehemosomal vesicle involves ferruginous inclusions, taken as iron sources for heme biosynthesis, as well as the polypeptide globin chains, assembling themselves in the course of volume reduction. 4. From the prohemosomal stage onwards, where possibly heme biosynthesis occurs, hemosomes are formed; these organelles are presumably sites where the final Hb biosynthesis could take place. 5. All development stages leading to hemosome formation are similar in toad and rabbit erythroid cells, except that, in the toad, the structural prohemosome characteristics persist in hemosomes. 6. Through toad erythroid cell fractionation and electrophoresis of the organelle lysate supernatant, a wide and a weak cytoplasmic Hb bands were obtained; the latter coincides with the intraorganellar Hb band.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Cianciarullo
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil
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