Publications

species-specific and heterogeneous distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the primary olfactory center of three species of asian salamanders (cynops).	sialic acids (sia) are terminal components of glycoconjugates that are involved in molecular and cellular interactions in the olfactory system. diverse glycoconjugates are expressed in the salamander olfactory projection; however, their sialylation and the linkage of sia to underlying sugars remain largely unknown. the present study aimed to determine the expression of sia linked to galactose (gal)-n-acetylglucosamine and n-acetylgalactosamine (galnac) in the olfactory bulbs of three species of ...	2020	32858481
embryonic epidermal lectins in three amphibian species, rana ornativentris, bufo japonicus formosus, and cynops pyrrhogaster.	intelectins (itlns) are secretory lectins found in several chordate species that recognize carbohydrates on the bacterial cell surface depending on ca2+ . in newly hatched larvae of rana ornativentris (r. orn), bufo japonicus formosus (b. jpn), and cynops pyrrhogaster (c. pyr), an anti-itln monoclonal antibody (mab) labeled a subset of epidermal cells in whole-mount immunocytochemical assays. in western blot analyses, the mab identified protein bands at approximately 33-37 kda in the larval extr ...	2020	32729712
acrosome reaction-inducing substance triggers two different pathways of sperm intracellular signaling in newt fertilization.	the acrosome reaction is induced in the sperm of cynops pyrrhogaster immediately in response to a ligand protein called acrosome reaction-inducing substance (aris) in the egg jelly at fertilization, whereas a spontaneous acrosome reaction occurs time-dependently in correlation with the decline of sperm quality for fertilization. the aris-induced acrosome reaction was recently found to be mediated by trpv4 in association with the nmda type glutamate receptor, although the intracellular mediators ...	2019	32149368
localization of sperm intracellular ca2+ keeps fertilizability in the newt vas deferens.	sperm intracellular ca2+ is crucial for the induction of sperm-egg interaction, but little is known about the significance of ca2+ maintenance prior to induction. in sperm of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster, intracellular ca2+ is localized to the midpiece during storage in the vas deferens, while extracellular ca2+ is influxed in modified steinberg's salt solution to promote a spontaneous acrosome reaction related to the decline of sperm quality. in the present study, sperm from the vas deferens we ...	2020	31940274
identification and characterization of pou class v family genes in japanese red bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	mammalian pou5f1 encodes the pou family class v (pou-v) transcription factor which is essential for the pluripotency of embryonic cells and germ cells. in vertebrates, various pou-v family genes have been identified and classified into the pou5f1 family or its paralogous pou5f3 family. in this study, we cloned two cdnas named cppou5f1 and cppou5f3, which encode pou-v family proteins of the japanese red bellied newt cynops pyrrhogaster. in the predicted amino acid sequence encoded by cppou5f1, th ...	2019	31412969
enhancement of the olfactory response by lipocalin cp-lip1 in newt olfactory receptor cells: an electrophysiological study.	previously, we have detected the expression of 2 lipocalin genes (lp1 and lp2) in the olfactory epithelium of the japanese newt cynops pyrrhogaster. recombinant proteins of these genes (cp-lip1 and cp-lip2, respectively) exhibited high affinities to various odorants, suggesting that they work like the odorant-binding proteins (obps). however, the physiological functions of obp generally remain inconclusive. here, we examined the effect of cp-lip1 on the electrophysiological responses of newt olf ...	2019	31346612
some aspects of the hypothalamic and pituitary development, metamorphosis, and reproductive behavior as studied in amphibians.	in this review article, information about the development of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis, endocrine control of metamorphosis, and hormonal and pheromonal involvements in reproductive behavior in some amphibian species is assembled from the works conducted mainly by our research group. the hypothalamic and pituitary development was studied using bufo embryos and larvae. the primordium of the epithelial hypophysis originates at the anterior neural ridge and migrates underneath the brain to fo ...	2019	31238076
nmda-type glutamate receptors mediate the acrosome reaction and motility initiation in newt sperm.	the n-methyl d-aspartate type glutamate receptor (nmdar) is a ligand-gated cation channel that causes ca2+ influx in nerve cells. an nmdar agonist is effective to the sperm motility in fowls, although the actual role of nmdar in sperm function is unknown. in the present study, rna-seq of the spermatogenic testes suggested the presence of nmdar in the sperm of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster. glutamate of at least 0.7 ± 0.5 mm was detected in the egg-jelly substances along with acrosome reaction-ind ...	2019	31215127
effects of growth hormone and nutrient on limb regeneration in hypophysectomized adult newts.	the effect of hypophysectomy, growth hormone (gh) and an amino acid-glucose mixture on the regenerative ability of the hypophysectomized triturus pyrrhogaster yielded the following results: 1 the survival time of hypophysectomized newts can be prolonged substantially by the sulfamide application. 2 although the limb regeneration in the hypophysectomized newt is retarded as compared with that of the pituitary intact control, it finally completes morphogenetic process under such conditions of prol ...	1973	30332863
skin mucosome activity as an indicator of batrachochytrium salamandrivorans susceptibility in salamanders.	recently emerged fungal diseases, batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) and batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (bsal) are an increasing threat to amphibians worldwide. in europe, the threat of bsal to salamander populations is demonstrated by the rapid decline of fire salamander populations in germany, the netherlands and belgium. although most european urodelans are susceptible to infection in infection trials, recent evidence suggests marked interspecific differences in the course of infection, w ...	2018	30020936
genomic displacement and shift of the hybrid zone in the japanese fire-bellied newt.	hybridizations on a secondary contact zone between 2 diverged lineages can have various evolutionary consequences, including the genetic replacement of one lineage by another. we detected such a case between 2 lineages (the central and western lineages) of the japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster in the chugoku district of western japan. we genotyped 269 individuals from 30 localities using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 11 microsatellite loci. the mitochondrial dna (mtdna) a ...	2018	29566204
comparative transcriptome reveal the potential adaptive evolutionary genes in andrias davidianus.	to search the evidence of molecular evolution mechanism for aquatic and cave habitat in andrias davidianus, the evolution analysis was carried out among several species transcriptome data. the transcriptome data of notophthalmus viridescens, xenopus tropicalis, cynops pyrrhogaster, hynobius chinensis and a. davidianus were obtained from the genbank and reassembled except xenopus tropicalis. the blast search of transcriptome data obtained 1244 single-copy orthologous genes among five species. a p ...	2018	29483849
sperm storage influences the potential for spontaneous acrosome reaction of the sperm in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	sperm storage is supposed to influence sperm quality, although the details remain unclear. in the present study, we found that sperm stored in a sperm storage site, the vas deferens of cynops pyrrhogaster, spontaneously undergo acrosome reaction following incubation in steinberg's salt solution (st). percentages of acrosome-reacted sperm increased time-dependently to about 60% in 24 hr. the concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp) was elevated after incubating sperm in st, while di ...	2017	29235206
dietary administration of tetrodotoxin and its putative biosynthetic intermediates to the captive-reared non-toxic japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	the origin of tetrodotoxin (ttx) in amphibians has long been disputed. in this study, ttx and its putative biosynthetic intermediates or shunt compounds (4,9-anhydro-10-hemiketal-5-deoxyttx and cep-242) were dietary administered to the captive-reared, non-toxic japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. after 4 weeks, the ingested compounds were detected mainly in the newt body using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (lc-ms), while these compounds were not converted into other ttx an ...	2017	28734983
sperm motility initiating substance may be insufficient to induce forward motility of cynops ensicauda sperm.	sperm motility-initiating substance (smis) is a key protein for internal fertilization of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, and commonly enhances forward sperm motility in some amphibian species, including external fertilizers. smis action varies among different species in correlation with a species-specific reproductive environment. in the present study, we identified the gene of c. ensicauda smis (cesmis) and examined the mechanism of smis action with reference to that of the closely related cyno ...	2017	28586125
head and trunk-tail organizing effects of the gastrula ectoderm of cynops pyrrhogaster after treatment with activin a.	differentiation tendency and the inducing ability of the presumptive ectoderm of newt early gastrulae were examined after treatment with activin a at a high concentration (100 ng/ml). the activin-treated ectoderm differentiated preferentially into yolk-rich endodermal cells. combination explants consisting of three pieces of activin-treated ectoderm formed neural tissues and axial mesoderm along with endodermal cells. however, the neural tissue was poorly organized and never showed any central n ...	1995	28305862
fertilization of the eggs ofcynops pyrrhogaster (japanese newt) after immersion in water.	cynops pyrrhogaster oviducal eggs with and without jelly envelopes (jelly egg and dejellied egg respectively) were immersed in water, and then inseminated artificially. after 1 h of immersion in water, more than half the dejellied eggs were fertilized and developed, but no jelly eggs developed. the rapid decrease in the ability of jelly eggs to be fertilized after immersion in water is not due to a deficiency in the egg. our results make it clear that hydrated jelly envelopes prevent the eggs fr ...	1984	28305586
studies on the formation and state of determination of the trunk organizer in the newt,cynops pyrrhogaster : iv. the association of the neural-inducing activity with the mesodermization of the trunk organizer.	the stepwise process of the formation and determination of mesoderm incynops pyrrhogaster was analyzed. the presumptive ectoderm (pe) of the early gastrula was transformed into mesoderm within 12 h when transplanted into the upper half of the dorsal marginal zone of the same stage. the self-differentiation capacity and the neural-inducing activity of this newly mesodermized pe (mpe) were examined by both isolation and sandwich cultures.the mpe showed self-differentiation for notochord and muscle ...	1983	28305328
studies on the formation and state of determination of the trunk organizer in the newt,cynops pyrrhogaster.	the exact localization of the presumptive trunk organizer was determined by means of vital staining at the initiation of gastrulation (0 h embryo) and subsequently in 6, 9, 12 and 24 h embryos.the progressive changes in the self-differentiation and inductive capacity of the trunk organizer were studied in isolation cultures (sitting drop) and in sandwich cultures with competent gastrula ectoderm. in the 0 and 6 h embryo cultures the excised trunk organizer predominantly formed atypical ectoderm. ...	1979	28304918
the effect of aging on the neural competence of the presumptive ectoderm and the effect of aged ectoderm on the differentiation of the trunk organizer incynops pyrrhogaster.	the effect of aging on the neural competence of the presumptive ectoderm of the early gastrula, and the effect of aged ectoderm on the differentiation of the still uninvaginated dorsal blastoporal lip at the small yolk-plug stage - representing the trunk organizer - were examined by the sandwich method incynops pyrrhogaster.the presumptive ectoderm to be used as reaction system was taken from 0 to 36 h exogastrulae obtained by operation at the early gastrula stage and combined with trunk organiz ...	1979	28304917
imorin: a sexual attractiveness pheromone in female red-bellied newts (cynops pyrrhogaster).	the male red-bellied newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) approaches the female's cloaca prior to performing any courtship behaviour, as if he is using some released substance to gauge whether she is sexually receptive. therefore, we investigated whether such a female sexual attractiveness pheromone exists. we found that a tripeptide with amino acid sequence ala-glu-phe is secreted by the ciliary cells in the epithelium of the proximal portion of the oviduct of sexually developed newts and confirmed that ...	2017	28120945
pax-6 gene expression in newt eye development.	pax-6 is thought to be a master control gene of eye development in species ranging from insects to mammals. we have isolated a pax-6 cdna homolog of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. rt-pcr and sequence analyses predicted four alternatively spliced forms derived from inclusion or exclusion of the region corresponding to exons 5a and 12 in the human pax-6 ortholog. this gene shared extensive sequence identitiy and similar expression patterns with those of mouse and zebrafish. pax-6 signal was first ...	1997	27747414
temporal alteration of dose-dependent response to activin in newt animal-cap explants.	in this study, we examined the dose-dependent responses of animal-pole cells of the japanese newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, to activin. cynops has a slower developmental rate and a simpler animal cap structure than xenopus. these features enable temporal differences in animal-cap competence to be identified more easily and relatively sharp dose-response profiles can be obtained without cell dissociation. when cynops caps were excised at the mid-blastula stage and transcript levels of marker genes we ...	1997	27747412
metamorphic change in ep37 expression: members of the βγ-crystallin superfamily in newt.	ep37 is an epidermis-specific protein found in the developing embryo of the japanese newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. our previous study predicted the presence of genes homologous to ep37, which show temporary shared expression at the turn of metamorphosis. in this study, we isolated and characterized three cdnas encoding novel ep37 homologues; two from the skin of an adult newt and the other from swimming larva. conceptual translation of the open reading frames of these cdnas predicted proteins carry ...	1997	27747384
a novel cysteine knot protein for enhancing sperm motility that might facilitate the evolution of internal fertilization in amphibians.	internal fertilization ensures successful reproduction of tetrapod vertebrates on land, although how this mode of reproduction evolved is unknown. here, we identified a novel gene encoding sperm motility-initiating substance (smis), a key protein for the internal fertilization of the urodele cynops pyrrhogaster by edman degradation of an isolated protein and subsequent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. the smis gene encoded a 150 amino-acid sequence including the cysteine knot (ck ...	2016	27579691
reintegration of the regenerated and the remaining tissues during joint regeneration in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	urodele amphibians, such as newts, can regenerate a functional limb, including joints, after amputation at any level along the proximal-distal axis of the limb. the blastema can regenerate the limb morphology largely independently of the stump after proximal-distal identity has been established, but the remaining and regenerated tissues must be structurally reintegrated (matched in size and shape). here we used newt joint regeneration as a model to investigate reintegration, because a functional ...	2015	27499865
composition of the cutaneous bacterial community in japanese amphibians: effects of captivity, host species, and body region.	the cutaneous microbiota plays a significant role in the biology of their vertebrate hosts, and its composition is known to be influenced both by host and environment, with captive conditions often altering alpha diversity. here, we compare the cutaneous bacterial communities of 61 amphibians (both wild and captive) from hiroshima, japan, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of a segment of the 16s rrna gene. the majority of these samples came from a captive breeding facility at hiroshima u ...	2016	27278778
generation of albino cynops pyrrhogaster by genomic editing of the tyrosinase gene.	albino animals are useful for in situ hybridization experiments that demonstrate gene expression in embryos and organs, for the immunological rejection of skin grafts transplanted to host animals, and to identify tissues with regenerative ability during limbs and retina regeneration processes. cynops pyrrhogaster has extensive regenerating capacities. to facilitate regenerative research, in the present study, we produced albino c. pyrrhogaster using genomic editing. the dna fragment containing p ...	2016	27268983
beyond sodefrin: evidence for a multi-component pheromone system in the model newt cynops pyrrhogaster (salamandridae).	sodefrin, a decapeptide isolated from the male dorsal gland of the japanese fire belly newt cynops pyrrhogaster, was the first peptide pheromone identified from a vertebrate. the fire belly salamander and sodefrin have become a model for sex pheromone investigation in aquatically courting salamanders ever since. subsequent studies in other salamanders identified spf protein courtship pheromones of around 20 kda belonging to the same gene-family. although transcripts of these proteins could be pc ...	2016	26935790
proteinaceous pheromone homologs identified from the cloacal gland transcriptome of a male axolotl, ambystoma mexicanum.	pheromones play an important role in modifying vertebrate behavior, especially during courtship and mating. courtship behavior in urodele amphibians often includes female exposure to secretions from the cloacal gland, as well as other scent glands. the first vertebrate proteinaceous pheromone discovered, the decapeptide sodefrin, is a female attracting pheromone secreted by the cloacal gland of male cynops pyrrhogaster. other proteinaceous pheromones in salamanders have been shown to elicit resp ...	2016	26885665
expression of two classes of pax6 transcripts in reprogramming retinal pigment epithelium cells of the adult newt.	the adult newt has the remarkable ability to regenerate a functional retina from retinal pigment epithelium (rpe) cells, even when the neural retina (nr) is completely lost from the eye. in this system, rpe cells are reprogrammed into a unique state of multipotent cells, named rpescs, in an early phase of retinal regeneration. however, the signals that trigger reprogramming remain unknown. here, to approach this issue we focused on pax6, a transcription factor known to be expressed in rpescs. we ...	2016	26853865
purification and molecular cloning of aspartic proteinases from the stomach of adult japanese fire belly newts, cynops pyrrhogaster.	six aspartic proteinase precursors, a pro-cathepsin e (procate) and five pepsinogens (pgs), were purified from the stomach of adult newts (cynops pyrrhogaster). on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the molecular weights of the pgs and active enzymes were 37-38 kda and 31-34 kda, respectively. the purified procate was a dimer whose subunits were connected by a disulphide bond. cdna cloning by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed that thre ...	2016	26711235
amphibians have immunoglobulins similar to ancestral igd and iga from amniotes.	we studied the immunoglobulin genes from either the genomes or rnas of amphibians. in particular, we obtained data from one frog genome (nanorana parkeri) and three transcriptomes of the caudata order (andrias davidianus, notophthalmus viridescens and cynops pyrrhogaster). apart from the immunoglobulins igm and igy previously described, we identified several igd related immunoglobulins. the species n. parkeri, n. viridescens and c. pyrrhogaster have two igd genes, while andrias davidianus has th ...	2016	26675067
[identification of the gene encoding nucleostemin in the eye tissues of pleurodeles waltl].	nucleotide sequences were identified in the eye tissues (lens, retina, and retinal pigment epithelium) of the adult newt pleurodeles waltl by the polymerase chain reaction with primers for the ns gene. sequencing showed that these nucleotide sequences belong to the ns gene of the newt p. walt, which encodes the nucleolar protein nucleostemin. structural analysis revealed a high homology of ns nucleotide sequences of p. walt! with those of newts. cynops pyrrhogaster and notophthalmus viridescens. ...	2016	26638232
ghrelin receptor in japanese fire belly newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	we identified cdna encoding a functional ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue-receptor 1a (ghs-r1a)) in a urodele amphibian, the japanese fire belly newt (cynops pyrrhogaster). two functional receptor proteins, composed of 378- and 362-amino acids, were deduced from the identified cdna because two candidate initiation methionine sites were found. the long-chain receptor protein shared 80%, 69%, and 59% identities with the bullfrog ghs-r1a, human ghs-r1a and tilapia ghs-r1a-like receptor ...	2015	26172570
in silico identification of the genes for sperm-egg interaction in the internal fertilization of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	a specific sperm-egg interaction in the oviductal matrix is crucial for internal fertilization of the red-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. an understanding of the molecular basis of this interaction is expected to elucidate the evolutionary history of internal fertilization in amphibians. recently, deep sequencing technology has provided global gene information even in nonmodel animals, allowing us to understand specific features of the molecular mechanisms underlying fertilization in c. pyrrh ...	2014	26154327
possible hormonal interaction for eliciting courtship behavior in the male newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	reproductive behavior in amphibians, as in other vertebrate animals, is under the control of multiple hormonal substances. prolactin (prl), arginine vasotocin (avt), androgen, and 7α-hydroxypregnenolone (7α-oh preg), four such substances with hormonal activity, are known to be involved in the expression of the tail vibration behavior which is the initial step of courtship performed by the male newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. as current information on the interaction(s) between these hormones in terms ...	2015	26141146
confirmation of the absence of tetrodotoxin and its analogues in the juveniles of the japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, captive-reared from eggs in the laboratory using hilic-lc-ms.	the tetrodotoxin (ttx) contents of the japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, captive-reared from eggs to metamorphosed juveniles with a non-toxic diet for 70 weeks, as well as wild-caught juvenile newts, were investigated using a high-resolution hydrophilic interaction chromatography-lc-ms. ttx was detected in 0- to 22-week-old captive-reared juvenile newts but was not detected (<15 ng/g) in the 36- to 70-week-old newts, while significant levels of ttx (1.3-14 μg/g) were detected in t ...	2015	25986913
locomotion pattern and trunk musculoskeletal architecture among urodela.	we comparatively examined the trunk musculature and prezygapophyseal angle of mid-trunk vertebra in eight urodele species with different locomotive modes (aquatic siren intermedia, amphiuma tridactylum, necturus maculosus and andrias japonicus; semi-aquatic cynops pyrrhogaster, cynops ensicauda; and terrestrial hynobius nigrescens, hynobius lichenatus and ambystoma tigrinum). we found that the more terrestrial species were characterized by larger dorsal and abdominal muscle weight ratios compare ...	2015	25914411
the newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) rpe65 promoter: molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis.	the adult newt has the ability to regenerate the neural retina following injury, a process achieved primarily by the retinal pigment epithelium (rpe). to deliver exogenous genes to the rpe for genetic manipulation of regenerative events, we isolated the newt rpe65 promoter region by genome walking. first, we cloned the 2.8 kb rpe65 promoter from the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. sequence analysis revealed several conserved regulatory elements described previously in mouse and human rpe65 promoters. ...	2015	25490979
functional diversity of voltage-sensing phosphatases in two urodele amphibians.	voltage-sensing phosphatases (vsps) share the molecular architecture of the voltage sensor domain (vsd) with voltage-gated ion channels and the phosphoinositide phosphatase region with the phosphatase and tensin homolog (pten), respectively. vsps enzymatic activities are regulated by the motions of vsd upon depolarization. the physiological role of these proteins has remained elusive, and insights may be gained by investigating biological variations in different animal species. urodele amphibian ...	2014	25347851
a transcriptome for the study of early processes of retinal regeneration in the adult newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	retinal regeneration in the adult newt is a useful system to uncover essential mechanisms underlying the regeneration of body parts of this animal as well as to find clues to treat retinal disorders such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy. here, to facilitate the study of early processes of retinal regeneration, we provide a de novo assembly transcriptome and inferred proteome of the japanese fire bellied newt (cynops pyrrhogaster), which was obtained from eyeball samples of day 0-14 after surgi ...	2014	25290450
sperm proteases that may be involved in the initiation of sperm motility in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	a protease of sperm in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster that is released after the acrosome reaction (ar) is proposed to lyse the sheet structure on the outer surface of egg jelly and release sperm motility-initiating substance (smis). here, we found that protease activity in the sperm head was potent to widely digest substrates beneath the sperm. the protease activity measured by fluorescein thiocarbamoyl-casein digestion was detected in the supernatant of the sperm after the ar and the activity wa ...	2014	25170808
expression of g proteins in the olfactory receptor neurons of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster: their unique projection into the olfactory bulbs.	we analyzed the expression of g protein α subunits and the axonal projection into the brain in the olfactory system of the semiaquatic newt cynops pyrrhogaster by immunostaining with antibodies against gαolf and gαo , by in situ hybridization using probes for gαolf , gαo , and gαi2 , and by neuronal tracing with dii and dia. the main olfactory epithelium (oe) consists of two parts, the ventral oe and dorsal oe. in the ventral oe, the gαolf - and gαo -expressing neurons are located in the apical ...	2014	24771457
contribution of different ca²⁺ channels to the acrosome reaction-mediated initiation of sperm motility in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	initiation of sperm motility in urodeles, which is induced by a sperm motility-initiating substance (smis) in the sequestered granules on the surface of egg jelly, is mediated by the acrosome reaction (ar), which is triggered by an ar-inducing substance (aris) on a sheet-like structure. details of the unique process of the interaction between egg jelly and sperm in these species is still unclear. the current study showed the fine structure of egg jelly in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster, a urodele ...	2015	24355577
differential expression of annexin v during spermatogenesis in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	in order to isolate genes whose expression is up-regulated after the initiation of meiosis, we screened a cdna expression library of newt testes with antiserum against homogenates of testes derived from the spermatogonial and spermatocyte stages. we report the isolation of spermatocyte-specific cdna clones encoding a newt homologue of the calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, annexin v. northern blot analysis showed that newt annexin v mrna was 1.7 kb in length and was expressed strong ...	1996	24173398
functional and morphological variety in trunk muscles of urodela.	trunk musculature in urodela species varies by habitat. in this study, trunk musculature was examined in five species of adult salamanders representing three different habitats: aquatic species, amphiuma tridactylum and necturus maculosus; semi-aquatic species, cynops pyrrhogaster; terrestrial species, hynobius nigrescens and ambystoma tigrinum. more terrestrial species have heavier dorsal and ventral trunk muscles than more aquatic forms. by contrast, the lateral hypaxial musculature was strong ...	2014	24065082
spatial and temporal instability of local biotic community mediate a form of aposematic defense in newts, consisting of carotenoid-based coloration and tetrodotoxin.	most animals advertise their unprofitability to potential predators via conspicuous signals. whether the strength of this aposematic signal indicates the quality and quantity of chemical defenses in animals is controversial. here, we investigated the relationship between the conspicuousness of an aposematic signal and toxicity, which likely depends, at least in part, on dietary sources, in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster. our results indicate that the magnitude of the aposematic signal was not corr ...	2013	24014098
distinct ca2+ channels maintain a high motility state of the sperm that may be needed for penetration of egg jelly of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	activation state of sperm motility named "hyperactivation" enables mammalian sperm to progress through the oviductal matrix, although a similar state of sperm motility is unknown in non-mammalian vertebrates at fertilization. here, we found a high motility state of the sperm in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster. it was predominantly caused in egg jelly extract (je) and characterized by a high wave velocity of the undulating membrane (um) that was significantly higher at the posterior midpiece. an ins ...	2013	23980623
molecular cloning of pepsinogens a and c from adult newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) stomach.	the full-length cdnas of three pepsinogens (pgs) were cloned from the stomach of newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, and nucleotide sequences of the full-length cdnas were determined. molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that two pgs, named pgc1 and pgc2, belong to the pepsinogen c group, and one pg, named pga, belongs to the pepsinogen a group. the sequences contain an open reading frame (orf) encoding 385 amino acid residues for pgc1, 383 amino acid residues for pgc2 and 377 amino acid residues for p ...	2013	23701991
molecular genetic system for regenerative studies using newts.	urodele newts have the remarkable capability of organ regeneration, and have been used as a unique experimental model for more than a century. however, the mechanisms underlying regulation of the regeneration are not well understood, and gene functions in particular remain largely unknown. to elucidate gene function in regeneration, molecular genetic analyses are very powerful. in particular, it is important to establish transgenic or knockout (mutant) lines, and systematically cross these lines ...	2013	23305125
phylogeny and historical demography of cynops pyrrhogaster (amphibia: urodela): taxonomic relationships and distributional changes associated with climatic oscillations.	we investigated the phylogenetic relationships and estimated the historical demography of the japanese fire-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, from japanese mainlands using 1407-bp sequences of the mitochondrial dna (nadh6, trnaglu, cyt b) and 1208-bp sequences of nuclear dna (rag-1) genes. phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial dna revealed four major haplotype clades (northern, central, western, and southern clades) within this species. degree of genetic differentiation among major haplotyp ...	2013	23103571
lens regenerates by means of similar processes and timeline in adults and larvae of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	it is widely accepted that juvenile animals can regenerate faster than adults. for example, in the case of lens regeneration of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster, larvae and adults require approximately 30 and 80 days for completion of lens regeneration, respectively. however, when we carefully observed lens regeneration in c. pyrrhogaster at the cellular level using molecular markers in the present study, we found that lens regeneration during the larval stage proceeded at similar speed and by means ...	2012	22930574
sperm motility initiation by egg jelly of the anuran, discoglossus pictus may be mediated by sperm motility-initiating substance of the internally-fertilizing newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	the egg jelly of discoglossus pictus contains sperm motility-activating activity, the molecular basis of which has not been studied. discoglossus pictus sperm initiated motility immediately after immersion in egg-jelly extract, as well as after immersion in hyposmotic solution, which initiates sperm motility in the external fertilization of anuran amphibians. sequential treatment of the d. pictus sperm with these two solutions revealed the predominant effect of hyposmolality in initiation of mot ...	2012	22805164
involvement of the neurosteroid 7α-hydroxypregnenolone in the courtship behavior of the male newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	reproductive behavior in amphibians, as in other vertebrate animals, is controlled by multiple hormones. a neurosteroid, 7α-hydroxypregnenolone, has recently been found to enhance locomotor activity in the male newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. here, we show that this neurosteroid is also involved in enhancing the expression of courtship behavior. intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone enhanced courtship behavior dose-dependently in the sexually undeveloped males that had bee ...	2012	22796546
hematological- and neurological-expressed sequence 1 gene products in progenitor cells during newt retinal development.	urodele amphibians such as japanese common newts have a remarkable ability to regenerate their injured neural retina, even as adults. we found that hematological- and neurological-expressed sequence 1 (hn1) gene was induced in depigmented retinal pigment epithelial (rpe) cells, and its expression was maintained at later stages of newt retinal regeneration. in this study, we investigated the distribution of the hn1 protein, the product of the hn1 gene, in the developing retinas. our immunohistoch ...	2012	22719773
gastrulation and pre-gastrulation morphogenesis, inductions, and gene expression: similarities and dissimilarities between urodelean and anuran embryos.	studies of meso-endoderm and neural induction and subsequent body plan formation have been analyzed using mainly amphibians as the experimental model. xenopus is currently the predominant model, because it best enables molecular analysis of these induction processes. however, much of the embryological information on these inductions (e.g., those of the spemann-mangold organizer), and on the morphogenetic movements of inductively interacting tissues, derives from research on non-model amphibians, ...	2012	22634398
metamorphosis inhibition: an alternative rearing protocol for the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	the newt is an indispensable model animal, of particular utility for regeneration studies. recently, a high-throughput transgenic protocol was established for the japanese common newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. for studies of regeneration, metamorphosed animals may be favorable; however, for this species, there is no efficient protocol for maintaining juveniles after metamorphosis in the laboratory. in these animals, survival drops drastically after metamorphosis as their foraging behaviour changes t ...	2012	22559962
effects of overtraining on extinction in newts (cynops pyrrhogaster).	the overtraining extinction effect (oee), a phenomenon in which extended training facilitates extinction, has been found in mammals and reptiles. however, fish have never shown oee. no study has yet investigated oee in newts, a representative amphibian species. we tested whether newts, cynops pyrrhogaster, show oee in a straight-array task. all animals received five trials per day and were given a piece of dried worm during reinforced trials. they showed significant acquisition and extinction ef ...	2012	22468939
evidence for true fall-mating in japanese newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	the mating season of japanese newt cynops pyrrhogaster is generally thought to occur once a year in spring to early summer, during the months of april to june, as in many other japanese amphibians. however, in fall, from september to october, we often observed breeding colored males demonstrating a mating behavior with females in the field. in this study, in order to identify their true mating season, we anatomically and histologically investigated the annual maturation cycle of gonads and repro ...	2011	21967224
Phase-II conjugation ability for PAH metabolism in amphibians: Characteristics and inter-species differences.	The present study examines amphibian metabolic activity - particularly conjugation - by analysis of pyrene (a four ring, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector (FD), a mass spectrometry detector (MS) system and kinetic analysis of conjugation enzymes. Six amphibian species were exposed to pyrene (dissolved in water): African claw frog (Xenopus laevis); Tago's brown frog (Rana tagoi); Montane brown frog (Rana orn ...	2011	21819814
lectin histochemical study on the olfactory bulb of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	the function and/or morphological features of the vomeronasal olfactory system remain unclear in aquatic animals, although the system appeared first in urodeles based on phylogenic data. we examined the lectin binding patterns in the olfactory bulb of a semi-aquatic urodele, the japanese red-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, using 22 different lectins. eleven of the lectins showed specific binding to the nerve fibres and glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. among these, wheat germ agglutinin, pokew ...	2011	21592192
expressing exogenous genes in newts by transgenesis.	the great regenerative abilities of newts provide the impetus for studies at the molecular level. however, efficient methods for gene regulation have historically been quite limited. here we describe a protocol for transgenically expressing exogenous genes in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster. this method is simple: a reaction mixture of i-scei meganuclease and a plasmid dna carrying a transgene cassette flanked by the enzyme recognition sites is directly injected into fertilized eggs. the protocol a ...	2011	21527918
comparative morphology of the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system in various vertebrates.	osteocytes are embedded in the bone matrix, and they communicate with adjacent osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts through the osteocyte lacunocanalicular system. osteocytes are believed to be essential for the maintenance of bone homeostasis because they regulate mechanical sensing and mineral metabolism in mammalian bones; however, osteocyte morphology in other vertebrates has not been well documented. we conducted a comparative study on the morphology of osteocytes and the lacunocanalicu ...	2011	21499992
development of ca²(+) signaling mechanisms and cell motility in presumptive ectodermal cells during amphibian gastrulation.	this study investigated the development of ca²(+) signaling mechanisms and their role in initiating morphogenetic cell movement in the presumptive ectoderm of japanese newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) during gastrulation. histochemical staining using fluorescently labeled ryanodine and dihydropyridine probes revealed that dihydropyridine receptor (l-type ca²(+) channels) appeared in stage 12b embryos, while ryanodine receptors were expressed in both stage 11 and 12b embryos. transmission electron micr ...	2011	21261609
the ca2+ increase by the sperm factor in physiologically polyspermic newt fertilization: its signaling mechanism in egg cytoplasm and the species-specificity.	the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, exhibits physiological polyspermic fertilization, in which several sperm enter an egg before egg activation. an intracellular ca(2+) increase occurs as a ca(2+) wave at each sperm entry site in the polyspermic egg. some ca(2+) waves are preceded by a transient spike-like ca(2+) increase, probably caused by a tryptic protease in the sperm acrosome at the contact of sperm on the egg surface. the following ca(2+) wave was induced by a sperm factor derived from sperm c ...	2011	21237143
learning about non-predators and safe places: the forgotten elements of risk assessment.	a fundamental prerequisite for prey to avoid being captured is the ability to distinguish dangerous stimuli such as predators and risky habitats from non-dangerous stimuli such as non-predators and safe locations. most research to date has focused on mechanisms allowing prey to learn to recognize risky stimuli. the paradox of learned predator recognition is that its remarkable efficiency leaves room for potentially costly mistakes if prey inadvertently learn to recognize non-predatory species as ...	2011	21203793
localization of three types of arginine vasotocin receptors in the brain and pituitary of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	the distribution of three types of arginine vasotocin (avt) receptors in the brain and pituitary of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster, namely, the v1a-, v2-, and v3/v1b-type receptors, was studied by means of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. mrna signals and immunoreactive cells for the v1a-type receptor were observed in the telencephalon (mitral layer of the olfactory bulb, dorsal and medial pallium, lateral and medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the decussation of the fasciculus telence ...	2010	21079998
expression of cytochrome p450 side-chain cleavage enzyme mrna and production of pregnenolone in the brain of the red-bellied newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	it is becoming clear that the vertebrate brain has the capability of forming steroids de novo, the so-called "neurosteroids". to understand neurosteroidogenesis in the brain, it is essential to demonstrate the formation of pregnenolone, a main precursor of neurosteroids. in amphibians, the pregnenolone formation from cholesterol is still unclear, although the brain accumulates pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate and 7α-hydroxypregnenolone. this study was addressed to obtain basic information abou ...	2011	21050853
sperm motility-initiating activity in the egg jelly of the externally-fertilizing urodele amphibian, hynobius lichenatus.	low osmolality initiates sperm motility during the external fertilization of aquatic anuran amphibians. it is thought that this process occurs also in urodeles, but this has not been fully examined in these species. we report here that fertilization was achieved in the externally fertilizing hynobiid, hynobius lichenatus, by direct insemination onto the egg jelly surface without initial exposure of the sperm to a hypoosmotic solution. to identify the factors in addition to low osmolality that in ...	2010	21039127
simple and efficient transgenesis with i-scei meganuclease in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	newts have been recognized as an ideal model for body-parts regeneration after traumatic injury since the 18(th) century. however, molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration remain a mystery because of technical limitations. in the current study, to break this obstacle, we established a simple and efficient transgenic protocol for the newt cynops pyrrhogaster by adapting an i-scei microinjection technique, as well as a two-aquarium-tank (tat) system that allows us to constantly obtain fertiliz ...	2010	20981826
temperature-dependent aposematic behavior in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	aposematic animals advertise their unprofitability to potential predators via morphological and behavioral signals. strong signals are detectable and memorable for the predators, and such signals would therefore be expected to be most effective. however, many apparently well-defended animals do not have very conspicuous signals. to better understand this paradoxical phenomenon, i compared intra-individual variation in an immobile aposematic behavior of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster under differen ...	2010	20608843
distribution of 7b2 (secretogranin v)-like immunoreactivity in the japanese red-bellied newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) pituitary.	in this study, we examined 7b2 (secretogranin v)-like immunoreactivity (ir) in the japanese red-bellied newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) pituitary. results showed that the pars nervosa was filled with immunoreactive granules. in the pars intermedia, all melanotrophs showed 7b2-ir. in the pars distalis, immunoreactive cells were dispersed, and the 7b2-immunoreactive cells were also immunopositive for the beta-subunit of bullfrog luteinizing hormone (flhbeta). 7b2-ir co-localized with flhbeta-ir in the ...	2010	20434189
changes in the olfactory response to amino acids in japanese newts after transfer from an aquatic to a terrestrial habitat.	amphibians are capable of smelling both volatile and water-soluble (e.g., amino acids) odorants. adult japanese newts, cynops pyrrhogaster, live mostly in water, except during hibernation, but sometimes on land. to examine olfactory responses of the newts to adaptation to a short-term stay on land (land adaptation), we measured the magnitude of the olfactory response at five different time points (land adaptation time: 0, 30, 54, 90, and 114 h after transfer from an aquatic to a terrestrial habi ...	2010	20377357
the effect of x-rays on chromosomes and nucleoli in ovarian eggs of the salamander, triturus pyrrhogaster.		1947	20268160
prolactin increases the synthesis of 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, a key factor for induction of locomotor activity, in breeding male newts.	we recently found that the japanese red-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, actively produces 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, a previously undescribed amphibian neurosteroid. 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone stimulates locomotor activity of male newts. locomotor activity of male newts increases during the breeding period as in other wild animals, but the molecular mechanism for such a change in locomotor activity is poorly understood. here we show that the adenohypophyseal hormone prolactin (prl) stimulate ...	2010	20219980
identification of the sperm motility-initiating substance in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, and its possible relationship with the acrosome reaction during internal fertilization.	motility initiation is a key event during internal fertilization of female-stored sperm, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. in internally fertilizing urodeles, quiescent sperm initiate motility on the surface of the egg-jelly, a thick extracellular matrix that accumulates around the egg in oviduct. by immunizing mice with egg-jelly extracts, we successfully generated an alpha34 monoclonal antibody (mab) which neutralized sperm motility-initiating activity in the egg-jelly of the ...	2010	20209432
molecular cloning and characterization of ligand- and species-specificity of amphibian estrogen receptors.	estrogens are essential for normal reproductive activity in both males and females as well as for ovarian differentiation during a critical developmental stage in most vertebrates. to understand the molecular mechanisms of estrogen action and to evaluate estrogen receptor ligand interactions in amphibians, we isolated cdnas encoding the estrogen receptors (eralpha and erbeta) from the japanese firebelly newt (cynops pyrrhogaster), tokyo salamander (hynobius tokyoensis), axolotl (ambystoma mexica ...	2010	20064516
electron microscopic examination of the sites of nuclear rna synthesis during amphibian embryogenesis.	the site of h(3)-uridine incorporation and the fate of labeled rna during early embryo-genesis of the newt triturus pyrrhogaster were studied with electron microscopic autoradiography. isolated ectodermal and mesodermal tissues from the embryos were treated in h(3)-uridine for 3 hours and cultured in cold solution for various periods before fixation with oso(4) and embedding in epon. at the blastula stage, the only structural component of the nucleus seen in electron micrographs is a mass of chr ...	1965	19866688
origin of the prechordal plate and patterning of the anteroposterior regional specificity of the involuting and extending archenteron roof of a urodele, cynops pyrrhogaster.	we analyzed the notochord formation, formation of the prechordal plate, and patterning of anteroposterior regional specificity of the involuting and extending archenteron roof of a urodele, cynops pyrrhogaster. the lower (ldmz) and upper (udmz) domains of the dorsal marginal zone (dmz) of the early gastrula involuted and formed two distinct domains: the anterior fore-notochordal endodermal roof and the posterior domain containing the prospective notochord. cygsc is expressed in the ldmz from the ...	2009	19643103
hormone-mediated reproductive behavior in the red-bellied newt.	hormonal involvement in the performance of reproductive behavior of the red-bellied newt cynops pyrrhogaster is described. the sexually developed male newt is likely to recognize the sexually responsive female newt by a yet unidentified substance released from the oviduct, secretion of this substance being stimulated by prolactin (prl) and estrogen. at the initial stage of courtship behavior, the male newt vibrates his tail vigorously in front of the female partner. this action is elicited by pr ...	2009	19456338
identification of egg-jelly substances triggering sperm acrosome reaction in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	our previous studies have shown that the acrosome reaction (ar) occurs in egg-jelly of the japanese newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. this is analogous to the substances of echinoderms but distinct from those of many other vertebrates derived from the egg envelope or its derivative, the zona pellucida. to identify the ar-inducing substances in newt egg jelly, a monoclonal antibody (mab) was generated against the jelly by screening the culture supernatants to find the one that best neutralized the ar-in ...	2009	18937322
the roles of pericystic cells and sertoli cells in spermatogonial proliferation stimulated by some growth factors in organ culture of newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) testis.	we have previously shown fsh promotes spermatogonial proliferation and their differentiation into primary spermatocytes in organ culture of newt testicular fragments. several growth factors identified in newt testis, such as stem cell factor (scf), insulin-like growth factor (igf)-i, and neuregulin (nrg)1, also stimulate spermatogonial proliferation in the organ culture. however, any growth factor added in vitro might not work on spermatogonia directly, but act on somatic cells such as sertoli c ...	2008	18755191
promotion of spermatogonial proliferation by neuregulin 1 in newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) testis.	we have previously shown that mammalian follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh) promotes the proliferation of spermatogonia and their differentiation into primary spermatocytes in organ culture of newt testis. in the current study, we performed microarray analysis to isolate local factors secreted from somatic cells upon fsh treatment and acting on the germ cells. we identified neuregulin 1 (nrg1) as a novel fsh-upregulated clone homologous to mouse nrg1 known to control cell proliferation, different ...	2008	18586089
endocrine regulation of reproductive behavior in the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	hormonal control of the expression of courtship behavior and of secretion of the female-attracting pheromone sodefrin by the male red-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, together with the hormonal influence on the responsiveness to the pheromone in the female, is reviewed.expression of the initial stage of the courtship behavior, i.e., tail vibration by the male in front of the female, is dependent on prolactin (prl) and androgen. during the courtship, sodefrin seems to be released from the cloac ...	2000	18517290
evidences for direct involvement of microtubules in cleavage furrow formation in newt eggs.	this paper aims at examining the effect of colchicine, a microtubular poison, on the process of furrow formation in whole eggs and egg fragments as well as the process of artificial induction of furrow-like dents, in eggs of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. to apply colchicine locally to eggs, the eggs were slit across or along a furrow in a colchicine solution during first cleavage. when a slit was made across or in front of a growing furrow at the onset of its growth, the furrow quickly ceased g ...	1998	18429669
a novel non-lens betagamma-crystallin and trefoil factor complex from amphibian skin and its functional implications.	in vertebrates, non-lens betagamma-crystallins are widely expressed in various tissues, but their functions are unknown. the molecular mechanisms of trefoil factors, initiators of mucosal healing and being greatly involved in tumorigenesis, have remained elusive.	2008	18335045
phylogenic aspects of the amphibian dual olfactory system.	the phylogenic significance of the subdivision of dual olfactory system is reviewed mainly on the basis of our findings by electron microscopy and lectin histochemistry in the three amphibian species. the dual olfactory system is present in common in these species and consists of the projection from the olfactory epithelium (oe) to the main olfactory bulb (mob) and that from the vomeronasal epithelium (vne) to the accessory olfactory bulb (aob). the phylogenic significance of subdivisions in the ...	2008	18250565
comparison of molecular and cellular events during lower jaw regeneration of newt (cynops pyrrhogaster) and west african clawed frog (xenopus tropicalis).	when mammals, including humans, lose a major part of their lower jaw, they are unable to regenerate the lost structures. urodele amphibians, especially newts, can regenerate their lower jaw after amputation, whereas most anuran amphibians, including the west african clawed frog, can not. in the present study, we investigated the difference between newts and frogs during lower jaw regeneration. one difference was the distribution of myosin heavy chain (mhc) mrna after lower jaw amputation: mhc mr ...	2008	18161063
evidence for processing enzymes in the abdominal gland of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, that generate sodefrin from its biosynthetic precursor.	sodefrin (ser-ile-pro-ser-lys-asp-ala-leu-leu-lys) is a female-attracting peptide pheromone secreted by the abdominal gland of the male red-bellied newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. sequence analysis of a cdna encoding sodefrin revealed that the peptide is located in the c-terminal region of its precursor protein (residues 177-186 of preprosodefrin) and extended from its c-terminus by the tripeptide sequence ile(187)-ser(188)-ala(189) and flanked at its n-terminus by leu(174)-gly(175)-arg(176). this su ...	2007	17867852
stathmin expression during newt retina regeneration.	japanese common newts (cynops pyrrhogaster) have high ability to regenerate their injured organs including neural tissues, for example, the neural retina belonging to central nervous system. we attempted to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of a neural network during newt retina regeneration, and focused on the microtubule dynamics controlled by stathmin family proteins. stathmin is a small cytoplasmic phosphoprotein known to be a microtubule regulator. we isolated a clone ...	2007	17707372
heart formation and left-right asymmetry in separated right and left embryos of a newt.	during vertebrate cardiac development, the heart tube formed by fusion of right and left presumptive cardiac mesoderms (pcms) undergoes looping toward the right, resulting in an asymmetrical heart. here, we examined the right and left pcms with regard to heart-tube looping using right- and left-half newt embryos (cynops pyrrhogaster ). in the half embryos, the rightward (normal) loop of the heart tube was formed from the left pcm, irrespective of the timing of its separation, while the leftward ...	2007	17554678
establishment of high-resolution fish mapping system and its application for molecular cytogenetic characterization of chromosomes in newt, cynops pyrrhogaster (urodela, amphibia).	urodele amphibians (newts and salamanders) are important animal models for understanding regeneration mechanisms and genome evolution. we constructed ideograms of brdu/dt- and c-banded karyotypes in the japanese fire-belly newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, which is useful as a model animal with extremely high ability of regeneration. we also established a high-resolution fish mapping system for newts, and localized satellite dna sequences, 18s rdnas, telomeric (ttaggg)n repeats and seven functional gen ...	2007	17525830
characterization of a sperm factor for egg activation at fertilization of the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	eggs of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, arrested at the second meiotic metaphase are activated by sperm at fertilization and then complete meiosis to initiate development. we highly purified a sperm factor for egg activation from a sperm extract with several chromatographies. the purified fraction containing only a 45 kda protein induced egg activation accompanied by an intracellular ca2+ increase when injected into unfertilized eggs. although injection of mouse phospholipase c (plc) zeta-mrna ca ...	2007	17499700
molecular cloning of three types of arginine vasotocin receptor in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	three types of cdna encoding the arginine vasotocin (avt) receptors from the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster were cloned and the gene expression of each receptor analyzed in the organs and tissues of the newt. the deduced amino acid sequence of one type of avt receptor, consisting of 418 amino acid residues, showed a high degree of sequence identity with the mammalian arginine vasopressin (avp) v1a receptors (61-68%). the second type of cdna, encoding an amino acid sequence consisting of 367 amino aci ...	2007	17367790
egg jelly of the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster contains a factor essential for sperm binding to the vitelline envelope.	the acrosome reaction of newt sperm is induced at the surface of egg jelly and the acrosome-reacted sperm acquire the ability to bind to the vitelline envelope. however, because the substance that induces the acrosome reaction has not been identified, the mechanism by which the acrosome-reacted sperm bind to the vitelline envelope remains unclear. we found here that a dolichos biforus agglutinin (dba) specifically mimicked the acrosome reaction immediately upon its addition in the presence of mi ...	2007	17366620
size-selective junctional barrier and ca(2+)-independent cell adhesion in the testis of cynops pyrrhogaster: expression and function of occludin.	in urodeles which has testicular structure different from that in mammals, blood-testis barrier was reported to exist like in mammals. however, molecular and functional analyses of the components of the blood-testis barrier in urodeles have not been reported yet. toward elucidation of the barrier functions and their molecular components in newt testis, we aimed to isolate occludin cdnas and obtained two kinds of occludin partial cdnas (occludin 1 and 2) encoding the putative second extracellular ...	2008	17342736
isolation, characterization and bioactivity of a region-specific pheromone, [val8]sodefrin from the newt cynops pyrrhogaster.	previous analysis of pcr products derived from total rna from the abdominal gland of the male newt, cynops pyrrhogaster, inhabiting the nara area of japan led to the identification of a gene encoding [val(8)]sodefrin, as well as the female-attracting peptide pheromone, sodefrin. in this study, purification of this sodefrin variant from the abdominal glands of male newts from the nara area was accomplished using gel-filtration chromatography and reversed-phase hplc. amino acid sequence analysis a ...	2007	17275139
evidence for notch signaling involvement in retinal regeneration of adult newt.	involvement of notch signaling in retinal regeneration by transdifferentiation of pigment epithelium cells was investigated using the adult newt cynops pyrrhogaster. during retinal regeneration, cells expressing notch-1 first appeared in the regenerating retina one to two cells thick (stage e-3) originated from the retinal pigment epithelium (rpe) cells, and increased in number as the regenerating retina increased in thickness. notch-1 expression was decreased in the central retina in associatio ...	2007	17217933
the outermost layer of egg-jelly is crucial to successful fertilization in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster.	the significance of egg-jelly layers in internal fertilization was evaluated in the newt, cynops pyrrhogaster. in this species, six egg-jelly layers, j1, j2, j3, j4, j5 and the outermost j6 layers, are accumulated on the surface of the fertilizable eggs in pars convoluta of the oviduct. when a large number of sperm (about 6 x 10(5)) were placed on eggs having different numbers of jelly layers, all the eggs were fully fertilized, although many of the eggs developed abnormally. upon insemination u ...	2006	17068800