Publications

experimental inoculation of broad-nosed caimans (caiman latirostris) and siamese crocodiles (crocodylus siamensis) with mycoplasma alligatoris.	an outbreak of mycoplasmosis caused by mycoplasma alligatoris resulted in the death or euthanasia of 60 american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from a population of 74 captive bull alligators in florida in 1995. the natural reservoir, routes of transmission, and host range of m. alligatoris are unknown. this study was undertaken to determine whether crocodilian species other than american alligators are susceptible to m. alligatoris. six broad-nosed caimans (caiman latirostris) and six ...	2001	12790420
characterization and cardiovascular actions of endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 from the american alligator.	the structures and biological activities of the isoforms of endothelin (et) in a reptile are unknown. et-3, whose primary structure is identical to human et-3 except for the substitution phe4 --> tyr, and a peptide identical to human et-1 were isolated from an extract of the lung of the alligator, alligator mississipiensis. bolus intravenous injections of alligator et-3 (10, 30, and 100 pmol/kg) into anesthetized alligators produced dose-dependent decreases in systemic blood pressure (p(sys)) an ...	2002	11792671
temporal and spatial variation in plasma thyroxine (t4) concentrations in juvenile alligators collected from lake okeechobee and the northern everglades, florida, usa.	we examined variation in plasma thyroxine (t4) in juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) collected from three sites within the kissimmee river drainage basin (fl, usa). based on historical sediment data, moonshine bay served as the low contaminant exposure site, water conservation area 3a served as an intermediate contaminant exposure site, and belle glade served as the high contaminate exposure site. in may 1999, alligators (n = 22) from water conservation area 3a exhibited h ...	2002	12013137
thyroid status in juvenile alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from contaminated and reference sites on lake okeechobee, florida, usa.	exposure to environmental contaminants has been shown to alter normal thyroid function in various wildlife species, including the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis). abnormalities in circulating levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (t4) have been reported in juvenile alligators from several contaminated lakes in florida. to further elucidate these functional thyroid abnormalities, this study examines the structure of thyroids and circulating t4 concentrations from juvenile alliga ...	2002	12137046
comparative patterns of postcranial ontogeny in therian mammals: an analysis of relative timing of ossification events.	data on the relative sequence of ossification of postcranial elements for eight therian mammals (myotis lucifugus, homo sapiens, rattus norvegicus, mus musculus, mesocricetus auratus, cavia porcellus, didelphis albiventris, and sminthopsis macroura) and three outgroups (chelydra serpentina, alligator mississippiensis, and lacerta vivipara) were taken from the literature. for each species, a matrix was constructed in which the relative timing of the onset of ossification in 24 elements was summar ...	2002	12362432
in vitro drug susceptibility pattern of mycoplasma alligatoris isolated from symptomatic american alligators (alligator mississippiensis).	a recently described mycoplasma, mycoplasma alligatoris, was isolated from dead american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) that had demonstrated clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, bilateral ocular discharge, edema. paraparesis, and polyarthritis. the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration for nine antibacterial agents was determined through serial dilution in broth and plate culture for m. alligatoris isolates. the inhibitory concentration obtained for doxycycline, enrofloxacin, sara ...	2002	12398297
low mitochondrial dna variation among american alligators and a novel non-coding region in crocodilians.	we analyzed 1317-1823 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial dna sequence beginning in the 5' end of cytochrome b (cyt b) and ending in the central domain of the control region for 25 american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) and compared these to a homologous sequence from a chinese alligator (a. sinensis). both species share a non-coding spacer between cyt b and trna(thr). chinese alligator cyt b differs from that of the american alligator by 17.5% at the nucleotide level and 13.8% for inferr ...	2002	12461811
microsatellite dna analyses support an east-west phylogeographic split of american alligator populations.	we examined the population genetic structure of american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) sampled from 12 localities across the southeastern united states. the primary goal of this study was to determine the extent of population differentiation among alligators from four florida lakes using eight microsatellite loci and compare the results to additional sites located at varying distances from them. analyses of population structure revealed little differentiation (f(st)=0.039; rho=0.012) a ...	2002	12461815
microgeographic variation in caiman latirostris.	in theory, geographic scale is related to genetic variation at the population level, whereas microgeographic scale may reveal intra-population structure such as social groups and families. in the present work, both levels of genetic variation in the broad-snouted caiman (caiman latirostris) were evaluated in small wetlands associated with the piracicaba river and some of its tributaries in the state of são paulo, brazil. genetic variation was determined using microsatellite dna markers originall ...	2002	12461818
evolutionary dynamics of intron size, genome size, and physiological correlates in archosaurs.	it has been proposed that intron and genome sizes in birds are reduced in comparison with mammals because of the metabolic demands of flight. to test this hypothesis, we examined the sizes of 14 introns in a nonflying relative of birds, the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis), and in 19 flighted and flightless birds in 12 taxonomic orders. our results indicate that a substantial fraction (66%) of the reduction in intron size as well as in genome size had already occurred in nonflying ...	2002	18707506
affinity of the alligator estrogen receptor for serum pesticide contaminants.	top predators, like the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) bioaccumulate and biomagnify persistent pollutants, such as organochlorine pesticides. in a recently published study, several pesticides and pesticide metabolites not previously reported in alligator eggs were identified in the serum of juvenile alligators. this study examines the affinity of these compounds for the alligator estrogen receptor (aer) purified from adult oviductal tissue. of the 11 compounds studied, 9 showed ...	2002	12505301
generation of a sequence characterized amplified region probe for authentication of crocodilian species.	a 209-base pair (bp) crocodilian-specific sequence characterized amplified region (scar) was identified from a 425-bp randomly amplified polymorphic dna (rapd) fragment. the 209-bp scar was produced from amplifications of dna extracted from fresh and/or dry meat samples from at least three species of crocodylus, caiman crocodylus, and alligator mississippiensis. no amplification was observed from dna of other common animal species. the use of scar opens the way for quick authentication of crocod ...	2002	12461817
genetic relationships of american alligator populations distributed across different ecological and geographic scales.	although much work has been conducted on coastal populations of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis), less is known about the population dynamics and genetic structure of populations of alligators confined to inland habitats. dna microsatellite loci, derived from the american alligator, were used to investigate patterns of genetic variation within and between populations of alligators distributed at coastal and inland localities in texas. these data were used to evaluate the genet ...	2002	12461812
levels of mercury in alligators (alligator mississippiensis) collected along a transect through the florida everglades.	as part of a multi-agency study of alligator health, 28 american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) were captured along a transect through the florida everglades in 1999. liver and tail muscle tissues were sampled and analyzed on a wet weight basis for total mercury (thg) using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. all tissues had detectable concentrations of thg that ranged from 0.6 to 17 mg/kg in liver and from 0.1 to 1.8 mg/kg in tail muscle. thg was more concentrated in liver ...	2002	12389795
evaluation of medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia with atipamezole reversal in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis).	sixteen captive and wild-caught american alligators (alligator mississippiensis), seven juveniles (< or = 1 m total length [tl]; 6.75 +/- 1.02 kg), and nine adults (> or = 2 m tl; 36.65 +/- 38.85 kg), were successfully anesthetized multiple times (n = 33) with an intramuscular (i.m.) medetomidine-ketamine (mk) combination administered in either the triceps or masseter muscle. the juvenile animals required significantly larger doses of medetomidine (x = 220.1 +/- 76.9 microg/kg i.m.) and atipamez ...	2002	12216791
keratinization and ultrastructure of the epidermis of late embryonic stages in the alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	using specific anti-beta keratin and general anti-alpha keratin antibodies, keratins were located in the epidermis of the alligator during the final developmental stages by ultrastructural and immunocytochemical methods. the maturation of the bilayered periderm (= embryonic epidermis) coincides with the disappearance of cell organelles, including the 25-35-nm-thick coarse filaments, and the coalescing of alpha-keratin filaments into a compact mass. the plasmalemma of peridermal cells forms a 15- ...	2002	12171478
delayed depolarization of the cog-wheel valve and pulmonary-to-systemic shunting in alligators.	alligators and other crocodilians have a cog-wheel valve located within the subpulmonary conus, and active closure of this valve during each heart beat can markedly and phasically increase resistance in the pulmonary outflow tract. if this increased resistance causes right ventricular pressure to rise above that in the systemic circuit, right ventricular blood can flow into the left aorta and systemic circulation, an event known as pulmonary-to-systemic shunting. to understand better how this va ...	2002	12077160
clinical and necropsy findings associated with increased mortality among american alligators of lake griffin, florida.	from december, 1997, through november, 2000, 306 deaths were documented among adult and subadult american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) of lake griffin, florida (usa). some live alligators were lethargic and unresponsive to approach. to determine the cause, we examined ten alligators captured from lake griffin between december 1997 and june 1999. initially, four alligators, three of which were clinically unresponsive, were sacrificed for routine diagnostic necropsy. the other six lake ...	2002	12038132
polychlorinated biphenyl occurrence in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from louisiana and south carolina.	few studies have evaluated pcb concentrations in alligators. this is the first comparison of pcb concentrations in alligators eggs from the southeastern united states. eggs were collected from bear island and winyah bay, south carolina and from the rockefeller wildlife refuge, louisiana. mean pcb concentrations in eggs from bear island (333 ng/g) were the same (p > 0.45) as those found at the rockefeller wildlife refuge (218 ng/g). however, eggs from winyah bay contained 3176 ng/g pcbs which is ...	2002	11996374
amphibious auditory responses of the american alligator (alligator mississipiensis).	animals that thrive both on land and underwater are faced with the task of interpreting stimuli in different media. this becomes a challenge to the sensory receptors in that stimuli (e.g., sound, motion) may convey the same type of information but are transmitted with different physical characteristics. we used auditory brainstem responses to examine hearing abilities of a species that makes full use of these two environments, the american alligator (alligator mississipiensis). in water, alligat ...	2002	11976890
growth rates of chinese and american alligators.	growth rates in two closely related species, alligator mississippiensis (american alligator) and alligator sinensis (chinese alligator), were compared under identical conditions for at least 1 year after hatching. when hatched, chinese alligators were approximately 2/3 the length and approximately 1/2 the weight of american alligator hatchlings. at the end of 1 year of growth in captivity in heated chambers, the chinese alligators were approximately 1/2 as long and weighed approximately 1/10 as ...	2002	11897202
detection by microsatellite analysis of early embryonic mortality in an alligator population in florida.	in the 1980s, alligators (alligator mississippiensis) of lake apopka (florida, usa) underwent a population decline associated with decreased egg viability, effects that have been associated with endocrine-disrupting, persistent organochlorine pesticides. it is currently unknown whether the decreased egg viability is due to fertilization failure or early embryonic death. therefore, we conducted a preliminary study to evaluate the use of microsatellite dna loci to determine the fertilization statu ...	2002	11838207
yolk steroid hormones and sex determination in reptiles with tsd.	in reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (tsd), the temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines the sex of the offspring. the molecular switch responsible for determining sex in these species has not yet been elucidated. we have examined the dynamics of yolk steroid hormones during embryonic development in the snapping turtle, chelydra serpentina, and the alligator, alligator mississippiensis, and have found that yolk estradiol (e(2)) responds differentially to incubat ...	2003	12849957
ontogeny of baroreflex control in the american alligator alligator mississippiensis.	baroreflex regulation appears in different species at different points in embryonic development. this study was designed to understand the development of the baroreflex in embryos of the american alligator at four different points of embryonic development (60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of a total incubation period of 72 days) and in 1-week-old hatchlings. data from a separate study on 1-year-old alligators were included for comparison. the gain of the cardiac limb of the baroreflex was calculated from h ...	2003	12847132
true and false gharials: a nuclear gene phylogeny of crocodylia.	the phylogeny of crocodylia offers an unusual twist on the usual molecules versus morphology story. the true gharial (gavialis gangeticus) and the false gharial (tomistoma schlegelii), as their common names imply, have appeared in all cladistic morphological analyses as distantly related species, convergent upon a similar morphology. in contrast, all previous molecular studies have shown them to be sister taxa. we present the first phylogenetic study of crocodylia using a nuclear gene. we cloned ...	2003	12775527
osteology and skeletal development of apalone spinifera (reptilia: testudines: trionychidae).	despite considerable attention that other groups of reptiles have received, few descriptions of the development and sequences of chondrification and ossification of the entire skeleton of turtles exist. herein, the adult skeleton of the spiny softshell turtle, apalone spinifera (testudines: trionychidae), is described; this description forms a basis of comparison for the embryonic skeleton and its ontogenesis. descriptions are made on the basis of cleared and double-stained embryos and dry skele ...	2003	12616574
seasonal acclimatisation of muscle metabolic enzymes in a reptile (alligator mississippiensis).	reptiles living in heterogeneous thermal environments are often thought to show behavioural thermoregulation or to become inactive when environmental conditions prevent the achievement of preferred body temperatures. by contrast, thermally homogeneous environments preclude behavioural thermoregulation, and ectotherms inhabiting these environments (particularly fish in which branchial respiration requires body temperature to follow water temperature) modify their biochemical capacities in respons ...	2003	12604579
new terpene hydrocarbons from the alligatoridae (crocodylia, reptilia).	the contents of the paracloacal gland secretions of the alligatorids alligator mississippiensis, a. sinensis, paleosuchus palpebrosus, and p. trigonatus were investigated. novel acyclic hydrocarbon terpenes with a rare trisubstituted 2,4-diene system were identified in the secretions of a. sinensis, p. palpebrosus, and p. trigonatus. the structures of the monoterpene (2e,4e)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4-octadiene (9) and the sesquiterpene (2e,4e,7s)-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadiene (14) were proven by synth ...	2003	12542341
liver disease caused by failure to racemize trihydroxycholestanoic acid: gene mutation and effect of bile acid therapy.	inborn errors of bile acid metabolism may present as neonatal cholestasis and fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption or as late onset chronic liver disease. our aim was to fully characterize a defect in bile acid synthesis in a 2-week-old african-american girl presenting with coagulopathy, vitamin d and e deficiencies, and mild cholestasis and in her sibling, whose liver had been used for orthotopic liver transplantation (olt).	2003	12512044
motor control of locomotor hindlimb posture in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	crocodilians are unusual among quadrupedal tetrapods in their frequent use of a wide variety of hindlimb postures, ranging from sprawling to a more erect high walk. in this study, we use synchronized kinematic videos and electromyographic recordings to test how the activity patterns of hindlimb muscles in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis daudin) differ between sprawling and more upright postures. previous force platform analyses suggested that upright posture in alligators would r ...	2003	14581602
[extreme evolutionary conservation of casox4 gene in alligator alligator sinensis].	the sox genes form a gene family related by homology to the high-mobility-group (hmg) box region of the testis-determining gene, sry. using degenerate primer pcr, we have cloned and sequenced the hmg-box motif of casox4 gene from genomic dna of the chinese alligator, alligator sinensis, a species closely related to american alligator, alligator mississippiensis. sequence comparison showed that casox4 gene shared 97% homology at the nucleotide level and complete identity at the amino acid level, ...	2003	12942775
antibacterial properties of serum from the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	treatment of alligator (alligator mississippiensis) and human serum samples with escherichia coli resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial proliferation. when inoculated with e. coli, alligator serum exhibited 10-fold lower bacterial survival rates after 1 h than human serum. in addition, the antibacterial spectrum of alligator serum was shown to be much broader than that of human serum, with growth inhibition occurring in 100% of bacterial strains tested (compared ...	2003	14602158
eat and run: prioritization of oxygen delivery during elevated metabolic states.	the principal function of the cardiopulmonary system is the matching of oxygen and carbon dioxide transport to the metabolic requirements of different tissues. increased oxygen demands (vo2), for example during physical activity, result in a rapid compensatory increase in cardiac output and redistribution of blood flow to the appropriate skeletal muscles. these cardiovascular changes are matched by suitable ventilatory increments. this matching of cardiopulmonary performance and metabolism durin ...	2004	15556104
alligators as west nile virus amplifiers.	recent evidence suggests that american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) may be capable of transmitting west nile virus (wnv) to other alligators. we experimentally exposed 24 juvenile alligators to wnv parenterally or orally. all became infected, and all but three sustained viremia titers >5.0 log10 pfu/ml (a threshold considered infectious for culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes) for 1 to 8 days. noninoculated tankmates also became infected. the viremia profiles and multiple routes of infe ...	2004	15663852
amoebacidal effects of serum from the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	treatment of axenic naegleria gruberi cultures with alligator serum resulted in time-dependent amoebacidal activity, with measurable activity at 5 min and maximal activity occurring at 20 min. the amoebacidal activity was concentration dependent, with measurable activity at 25% serum, whereas treatment of amoebas with undiluted serum resulted in only 16% survival. the efficacy was dependent on the concentration of amoebas, with higher survival rates at high amoeba densities and lower survival ra ...	2004	15715248
organochlorine pesticides and thiamine in eggs of largemouth bass and american alligators and their relationship with early life-stage mortality.	thiamine deficiency has been linked to early mortality syndrome in salmonids in the great lakes. this study was conducted to compare thiamine concentrations in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) and florida largemouth bass (micropterus salmoides floridanus) eggs from sites with high embryo mortality and high exposure to organochlorine pesticides (ocps) (lakes apopka and griffin, and emeralda marsh, florida, usa) to those from sites that have historically exhibited low embryo mortal ...	2004	15650100
predicting maternal body burdens of organochlorine pesticides from eggs and evidence of maternal transfer in alligator mississippiensis.	few data exist regarding maternal-embryonal transfer of organochlorine pesticides (ocps) in reptiles. the objective of the present study was to evaluate maternal transfer of ocps in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from low-, intermediate-, and high-ocp-exposure sites. overall, total ocp burdens ranged from less than 0.8 ppb in blood to more than 44,000 ppb in abdominal adipose tissue (wet wt concentrations). lipid-adjusted ratios of maternal adipose burdens (total ocps) to yolk ...	2004	15648766
histological organization and its relationship to function in the femur of alligator mississippiensis.	histological analysis of a growth series of alligator femora tests the correlation between strain milieu and microstructure. from mid-diaphyseal cross-sections of these femora (n = 7), vascular canal orientation and density as well as collagen fibre organization were recorded. throughout ontogeny, the proportion of transverse-spiral (ts) collagen in the dorsal cortex is significantly greater than it is in the ventral cortex (p = 0.008). this regional difference in the proportion of ts collagen i ...	2004	15032909
morphology of the ovary of caiman crocodilus (crocodylia: alligatoridae).	we describe the ovarian histology and characterize the folliculogenesis of adult females of caiman crocodilus in order to compare them with other species of reptilia. the gonad has a thin irregular cortex and a well-developed reticular stroma, composed of vascularized chordae, drained by large lymphatic vessels and separated by extensive lacunae. simple cuboidal to squamous epithelium, dense connective tissue with numerous elastin fibers, and smooth muscle constitute the ovarian wall. this morph ...	2004	14994908
rapid suppression of testosterone secretion after capture in male american alligators (alligator mississippiensis).	all reptiles studied to date show an increase in circulating corticosterone following capture. this rise in corticosterone has also been shown in a number of instances to result in a decline in reproductive steroids within hours after capture. as a result of these observations it has been considered imperative to collect blood samples as soon as possible after capture to get reliable measures of reproductive hormones. it has been claimed, however, that there is no effect of capture stress on rep ...	2004	14697308
the tale of the tail: limb function and locomotor mechanics in alligator mississippiensis.	crocodilians tow their large muscular tail behind them during terrestrial bouts when they high walk (a walking trot). analysis of ground reaction forces in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) revealed the consequences of tail-dragging. individual limb and tail ground reaction force records show that the hindlimbs of alligator take on a substantial role in body mass support consistent with the more caudal location of its center of mass due to the presence of a particularly heavy t ...	2004	14691103
seasonal variation in plasma sex steroid concentrations in juvenile american alligators.	seasonal variation in plasma sex steroid concentrations is common in mature vertebrates, and is occasionally seen in juvenile animals. in this study, we examine the seasonal pattern of sex hormone concentration in juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) and make a limited comparison of these seasonal patterns on two different lakes in florida. male juvenile alligators from a reference lake, lake woodruff, displayed temporal patterns in plasma testosterone (t) concentrations tha ...	2004	14644641
phase i and ii liver enzyme activities in juvenile alligators (alligator mississippiensis) collected from three sites in the kissimmee-everglades drainage, florida (usa).	we examined cyp1a (measured using hepatic erod and mrod activities) and glutathione-s-transferase (gst) activities in juvenile alligators (alligator mississippiensis) collected from three sites with varying contamination in the kissimmee-everglades drainage in south florida. we hypothesized that contaminants present in areas with intermediate or higher contaminant concentrations would alter hepatic enzyme activities in juvenile alligators from those sites when compared to hepatic enzyme activity ...	2004	15556064
pharmacokinetic disposition of a long-acting oxytetracycline formulation after single-dose intravenous and intramuscular administrations in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	the pharmacokinetics of a long-acting oxytetracycline preparation administered i.v. and i.m. to american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) at 10 mg/kg was determined. plasma levels of oxytetracycline were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the resulting concentration versus time curve was analyzed using compartmental modeling and noncompartmental modeling techniques for i.v. and i.m. samples, respectively. a two-compartment model best represented the i.v. data. intr ...	2004	15526889
pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin after single-dose oral and intravenous administration in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin administered orally and i.v. to american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) at 5 mg/kg was determined. plasma levels of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and the resulting concentration versus time curve analyzed using compartmental modeling techniques for the i.v. data and noncompartmental modeling techniques for the oral data. a two-compartment model best represented the i.v. data. ...	2004	15526888
[ssr polymorphism of alligator sinesis and conservation strategy of genetic diversity].	chinese alligator, alligator sinesis, is a critically endangered endemic species under legislative protection. results of recent investigations revealed that the number of the alligator was continuously declining in the past 50 years and less than 150 individuals were surviving in the wild until 2000. in order to prevent the extinguishing of this species, the reproductive research center of alligator sinesis and the national nature reserve of alligator sinesis were set up in early 1980s in xuanz ...	2004	15473304
ontogeny of the palatoquadrate and adjacent lateral cranial wall of the endocranium in prehatching alligator mississippiensis (archosauria: crocodylia).	the purpose of this article is to gain insight into the ossification sequence of the palatoquadrate and the adjacent lateral cranial wall of prehatching alligator mississippiensis, a process about which there is almost no published information. results were obtained by studying serial histological sections of the series of ontogenetic stages and enlarged wax-plate models of several stages. the cartilage of the palatoquadrate starts to ossify endochondrally in the quadrate portion of the pars pte ...	2004	15376273
maternal transfer of selenium in alligator mississippiensis nesting downstream from a coal-burning power plant.	selenium (se) is embryotoxic in many oviparous vertebrates, but little is known about maternal transfer of se and its impact in reptiles. over a four-year period, we collected three clutches of eggs of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) from a single nest at a site contaminated with se and compared egg and hatchling se concentrations and clutch viability from this nest to nests downstream from the contaminated site (two clutches from two nests) and at a reference site (two clutc ...	2004	15352486
developmental effects of embryonic exposure to toxaphene in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	a variety of organochlorine pesticides have been shown to adversely affect embryonic development. a number of abnormalities have been documented in alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from highly-contaminated lake apopka, fl, usa that are similar to the results of experimental studies exposing embryos to pesticides. in the current study, we exposed developing alligator embryos to varying concentrations of toxaphene, a broad-spectrum pesticide found in relatively high concentration in lake ap ...	2004	15313450
variation in sex steroids and phallus size in juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) collected from 3 sites within the kissimmee-everglades drainage in florida (usa).	this 3-year study was designed to examine variation in plasma sex steroids, phallus size, and the standard error (s.e.) associated with these endpoints in juvenile alligators collected from 3 sites within the kissimmee-everglades drainage (florida, usa) with varying concentrations of sediment organochlorine contaminants. we hypothesized that decreased plasma sex steroid concentrations and phallus size would be observed in the higher contaminant site when compared to the intermediate and lower co ...	2004	15183995
cardiovascular development in embryos of the american alligator alligator mississippiensis: effects of chronic and acute hypoxia.	chronic hypoxic incubation is a common tool used to address the plasticity of morphological and physiological characteristics during vertebrate development. in this study chronic hypoxic incubation of embryonic american alligators resulted in both morphological (mass) and physiological changes. during normoxic incubation embryonic mass, liver mass and heart mass increased throughout the period of study, while yolk mass fell. chronic hypoxia (10%o2) resulted in a reduced embryonic mass at 80% and ...	2005	15601875
respiratory bronchoscopy of subadult american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) and tracheal wash evaluation.	twelve healthy approximately 3-yr-old captive-born 4.5-9 kg american alligators (alligator mississipiensis) each had bronchoscopy and tracheal washes performed four times during a 10-mo period to evaluate seasonal respiratory microbiology and cytology. cytologic evaluation of most samples showed a small amount of mucus and low numbers of ciliated columnar epithelium, cubodial epithelium, and keratinized squamous cells. no bacteria or parasites were observed, and there was no seasonal variation i ...	2005	17315452
androgynous rex - the utility of chevrons for determining the sex of crocodilians and non-avian dinosaurs.	the sex of non-avian dinosaurs has been inferred on numerous occasions using a variety of anatomical criteria, but the efficacy of none has been proven. nearly 50 years ago romer suggested that the cranial-most or first chevron in the tails of some reptiles, including crocodilians, is sexually dimorphic. recent work on this subject purportedly substantiated that the female first chevron articulates in a more caudal position than in males. furthermore, it was concluded that this element is shorte ...	2005	16351976
ontogeny of the partial secondary wall of the otoccipital region of the endocranium in prehatching alligator mississippiensis (archosauria, crocodylia).	the ontogeny of the posterior otic and anterior occipital portions of the neural endocranium of prehatching alligator mississippiensis was investigated by reconstruction from sectioned material. in stage 6 of this species, in which the endochondral ossification of the otoccipital region of the neural endocranium is only in its very early stage, two bony outgrowths-laminae-are present at the external wall of the posterior portion of the neural endocranium. the anterior lamina arises from the exte ...	2005	16235248
chompy: an infestation of mite-like repetitive elements in the crocodilian genome.	interspersed repeats are a major component of most eukaryotic genomes and have an impact on genome size and stability, but the repetitive element landscape of crocodilian genomes has not yet been fully investigated. in this report, we provide the first detailed characterization of an interspersed repeat element in any crocodilian genome. chompy is a putative miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (mite) family initially recovered from the genome of alligator mississippiensis (american al ...	2005	16183215
alligator tears: a reevaluation of the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians.	the harderian gland is a poorly understood anterior ocular gland that occurs in most terrestrial vertebrates. numerous extraorbital functions have been ascribed to the harderian gland, principally based on its association with the nasolacrimal duct. few studies have centered on archosaurs and the majority of those available focused solely on the harderian gland of birds. little is known about the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians. we examined the lacrimal apparatus of several specimens of a ...	2005	16163706
developmental alterations as a result of in ovo exposure to the pesticide metabolite p,p'-dde in alligator mississippiensis.	the pesticide metabolite p,p'-dde (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene), has been implicated in numerous reproductive and developmental abnormalities. previous work has shown this ubiquitous contaminant to behave in an estrogenic or antiandrogenic manner, depending on the species and endpoints examined. in the current study, we examined the effects of embryonic exposure to p,p'-dde in the alligator, a species that exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. we compared sex ratio ...	2005	16112671
terrestrial locomotion does not constrain venous return in the american alligator, alligator mississippiensis.	the effects of treadmill exercise on components of the cardiovascular (heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, venous return) and respiratory (minute ventilation, tidal volume, breathing frequency, rate of oxygen consumption, rate of carbon dioxide production) systems and on intra-abdominal pressure were measured in the american alligator, alligator mississippiensis, at 30 degrees c. alligators show speed-dependent increases in tidal volume and minute ventilation, demo ...	2005	16109894
altered neonatal development and endocrine function in alligator mississippiensis associated with a contaminated environment.	reduced reproductive success, altered reproductive tract development, and differences in circulating hormones have been documented in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from lake apopka, fl, compared to less contaminated sites, such as the lake woodruff national wildlife refuge, fl. comparative studies among alligators of varying size and age suggest that in ovo contaminant-induced alterations of endocrine function are further modified during postembryonic development and/or throug ...	2005	16034001
antiviral activity of serum from the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	serum from wild alligators was collected and tested for antibiotic activity against three enveloped viruses using cell-based assays. alligator serum demonstrated antiviral activities against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1; ic50=0.9%), west nile virus (wnv; ic50=4.3%), and herpes simplex virus type 1 (hsv-1; ic50=3.4%). the inhibitory concentration (ic50) is defined as the concentration of serum that inhibits 50% of viral activity. the antiviral effects of the alligator serum were dif ...	2005	15781130
west nile virus infection in farmed american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) in florida.	in september and october 2002, an epizootic of neurologic disease occurred at an alligator farm in florida (usa). three affected american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) were euthanatized and necropsied, and results confirmed infection with west nile virus (wnv). the most significant microscopic lesions were a moderate heterophilic to lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalomyelitis, necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis, pancreatic necrosis, myocardial degeneration with necrosis, mild interstit ...	2005	15827215
validation and use of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to west nile virus in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) in florida.	in october 2002, west nile virus (wnv) was identified in farmed american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) in florida showing clinical signs and having microscopic lesions indicative of central nervous system disease. to perform seroepidemiologic studies, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) was developed to determine exposure of captive and wild alligators to wnv. to validate the test, a group of wnv-seropositive and -seronegative alligators were identified at the affecte ...	2005	15827216
seasonal variation in plasma thyroxine concentrations in juvenile alligators (alligators mississippiensis) from three florida lakes.	circulating concentrations of thyroxine (t(4)) vary seasonally in many vertebrates. this study examined the seasonal variation in plasma concentrations of t(4) in juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) from three populations in central florida, usa. one site, lake woodruff national wildlife refuge, is considered a reference site whereas the other two lakes, lake apopka and orange lake, are significantly impacted by human activity. juvenile american alligators ranging from 75-1 ...	2005	15894497
identification of alternative pathway serum complement activity in the blood of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	incubation of different dilutions of alligator serum with sheep red blood cells (srbcs) that had not been sensitized with antibodies resulted in concentration-dependent hemolytic activity. this hemolytic activity was not affected by the presence of ammonium hydroxide and methylamine, known inactivators of the classical complement cascade. however, the hemolytic activities were inhibited by edta and salicylaldoxime, indicating that the alternate pathway is primarily responsible for these activiti ...	2005	15921941
role of divalent metal ions in serum complement activity of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	treatment of alligator serum with different concentrations of edta resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of serum-mediated sheep red blood cell (srbc) hemolysis. this inhibition of serum-dependent hemolysis was observed for other chelators of divalent metal ions, such as phosphate and citrate. treatment of alligator serum with 5 mm edta completely inhibited srbc hemolysis, which could be totally restored by the addition of 5 mm ca(2+) or mg(2+), but not cu(2+) or ba(2+). these data in ...	2005	15922642
structure and function of the esophagus of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	esophageal structure and function were studied in juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis). the anatomy of alligators differs from humans in several important aspects: the crocodilian esophagus is more muscular and is composed entirely of smooth muscle. functionally, the crocodilian esophagus is similar to that of mammals, but alligators have peak esophageal peristaltic pressures that are 2-3-fold greater than pressures in the human esophagus. as is found in humans, the incidenc ...	2005	16081603
vertebrate phylogeny of hydrogen sulfide vasoactivity.	hydrogen sulfide (h(2)s) is a recently identified endogenous vasodilator in mammals. in steelhead/rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss, osteichthyes), h(2)s produces both dose-dependent dilation and a unique dose-dependent constriction. in this study, we examined h(2)s vasoactivity in all vertebrate classes to determine whether h(2)s is universally vasoactive and to identify phylogenetic and/or environmental trends. h(2)s was generated from nahs and examined in unstimulated and precontracted syste ...	2005	15345473
lymphoid follicular cloacal inflammation associated with a novel herpesvirus in juvenile alligators (alligator mississippiensis).	multifocal hyperemic nodules and plaques associated with the cloacal mucosa of juvenile alligators (alligator mississippiensis) at a public aquarium were investigated. grossly, pale pink to dark red multifocal, circular lesions of varying degrees of severity were identified on the cloacal and, in males, phallus mucosa. cloacal mucosa biopsies were obtained from 2 of the alligators. these samples were examined histologically and by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) using consensus primers targeting ...	2005	16312242
seroprevalence of mycoplasma alligatoris among free-ranging alligators (alligator mississippiensis) in florida--2003.	mycoplasma alligatoris causes acute lethal infection of alligators (alligator mississippiensis). the objective of this study was to assess the current seroprevalence of m. alligatoris among free-ranging, juvenile and subadult alligators in florida. thirty-two of 592 (5.4%) plasma samples from alligators at 12 of 20 sites (60%) in april and october 2003 were tested seropositive (titer 1: > or = 32) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-m. alligatoris antibodies. these results show that al ...	2005	17323582
phylogenomic investigation of cr1 line diversity in reptiles.	it is unlikely that taxonomically diverse phylogenetic studies will be completed rapidly in the near future for nonmodel organisms on a whole-genome basis. however, one approach to advancing the field of "phylogenomics" is to estimate the structure of poorly known genomes by mining libraries of clones from suites of taxa, rather than from single species. the present analysis adopts this approach by taking advantage of megabase-scale end-sequence scanning of reptilian genomic clones to characteri ...	2006	17345672
[importance of development of ecotoxicogenomics in understanding molecular mechanisms of chemicals in developing animals].	developing organisms are sensitive to estrogenic chemicals. exposure to estrogens or estrogenic chemicals during critical periods of development induces persistent changes in reproductive as well as nonreproductive organs, including persistent molecular alterations. chemicals released into the environment potentially disrupt the endocrine system in wild animals and humans, some of which exhibit estrogenic or anti-androgenic activity by binding to estrogen or androgen receptors. estrogen-responsi ...	2006	16506650
effects of bacterial lipopolysachharide on peripheral leukocytes in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	alligators were injected intraperitoneally with four different doses (10, 1.0, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/kg body weight) of a mixture of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (lps) derived from three different types of bacteria (escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and klebsiella pneumoniae). injection of the alligators with the lps mixture resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in total peripheral leukocytes lymphocytes increased at days 3 and 4 post-injection, and decreased back to baseline level ...	2006	16516979
isolation of the alligator (alligator mississippiensis) thyroid hormone receptor alpha and beta transcripts and their responsiveness to thyroid stimulating hormone.	thyroid hormones (ths) play key regulatory roles in growth, development and metabolism in vertebrates. modulation of the cellular hormonal response is largely through the activity of two nuclear th receptors, tralpha and trbeta, which act as transcription factors and alter gene expression programs. little information is available regarding their structure and regulation in reptiles. we have cloned the expressed sequences encoding these two receptors in the american alligator, alligator mississip ...	2006	16884722
blood meal identification from mosquitoes collected at a commercial alligator farm.	outbreaks of west nile virus on a florida alligator farm prompted an investigation of which species of mosquitoes were feeding on the animals at the farm. mosquitoes were collected on 4 separate overnight trips in september and october 2003 by using co2-baited centers for disease control light traps and wooden resting boxes that were placed inside or near the alligator housing pens. mosquitoes were identified to species, bloodfed individuals were separated, and their abdomens were removed for dn ...	2006	17067063
an indoor air quality study of an alligator (alligator mississippiensis) holding facility.	an environmental microbiologic investigation was conducted in an alligator (alligator mississippiensis) holding facility in a zoo in the southeastern u.s. the facility had housed five alligators between march 1999 and february 2005. in the exhibit, one alligator died and all experienced poor health. it was hypothesized that environmental microbial contamination was associated with these issues. samples were collected for fungal identification and quantification, microcystin analysis, and airborn ...	2006	17312787
in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of mycoplasma iguanae proposed sp. nov. isolated from vertebral lesions of green iguanas (iguana iguana).	mycoplasma iguanae proposed species nova was isolated from vertebral abscesses of two feral iguanas (iguana iguana) from florida. three strains were evaluated for sensitivity to a variety of antibiotics. the minimum inhibitory concentrations for m. iguanae, assessed by broth dilution methods, of clindamycin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and tylosin (all <1 microg/ml) were lower than those of chloramphenicol (32 micro/ml) and erythromycin (64 microg/ml). the profile was identical t ...	2006	17312804
broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of leukocyte extracts from the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	leukocytes were isolated from whole blood of wild alligators by differential sedimentation. the leukocytes were disrupted in 5% acoh and the crude extracts processed by ultrafiltration. the extracts were subjected to solvent exchange (0.1% acoh) and the fraction that contained macromolecules between 1 and 10 kda were subjected to further analyses. the acid extracts of the alligator leukocytes exhibited substantial antimycotic activities against six of eight species of candida yeast tested. in ad ...	2006	16298430
laser ablation icp-ms analysis of the radial distribution of lead in the femur of alligator mississippiensis.	a laser ablation icp-ms technique has been used to examine the radial distribution of lead in transverse sections of alligator femur. annual bone growth in the femur results in the deposition of incremental layers of calcified tissue at the periphery of existing bone. patterns of lead concentration within these layers provide a record of time-dependent accumulation from which exposure history can potentially be deduced. femur specimens obtained from captive-reared alligators exhibited levels of ...	2006	15982720
use of a nerve locator to facilitate administration of mandibular nerve blocks in crocodilians.	as part of a clinical workup of dental problems in a large crocodilian collection, mandibular nerve blocks were performed in the animals. a nerve locator was used to facilitate placement of the nerve blocks in american alligators (alligator mississippiensis), yacare caiman (caiman yacare), and a dwarf crocodile (osteolaemus tetraspis). provision of analgesia is a frequently underused aspect of patient care in reptiles. use of a nerve stimulator provides an objective measurement of nerve conducti ...	2006	17319144
caiman bite.	caiman crocodilus, commonly called the spectacled caiman, is a very widely distributed resident of the western-hemisphere wetlands. caiman bites to humans can cause trauma and infection. there are few reports of caiman bites; however, there is information about bites by other members of the same family, including alligator mississippiensis. a case of acute caiman bite to the hand is described, including initial treatment and outcome. the bite resulted in multiple lacerations, interarticular frac ...	2006	17219789
contribution of the diaphragmaticus muscle to vital capacity in fasting and post-prandial american alligators (alligator mississippiensis).	the importance of the diaphragmaticus muscle to vital capacity was investigated in juvenile american alligators by transection of this muscle. in both fasting and post-prandial animals a pneumotach was used to study vital capacity that was stimulated by either a hypercapnic-anoxic gas mixture or a hypercapnic-normoxic gas mixture in two types of control groups of animals (a shamoperated group and a group receiving no treatment) and in the experimental (transected) group. transection did not sign ...	2006	17050846
biomechanics of the rostrum in crocodilians: a comparative analysis using finite-element modeling.	this article reports the use of simple beam and finite-element models to investigate the relationship between rostral shape and biomechanical performance in living crocodilians under a range of loading conditions. load cases corresponded to simple biting, lateral head shaking, and twist feeding behaviors. the six specimens were chosen to reflect, as far as possible, the full range of rostral shape in living crocodilians: a juvenile caiman crocodilus, subadult alligator mississippiensis and croco ...	2006	16835925
wave reflection effects in the central circulation of american alligators (alligator mississippiensis): what the heart sees.	a large central compliance is thought to dominate the hemodynamics of all vertebrates except birds and mammals. yet large crocodilians may adumbrate the avian and mammalian condition and set the stage for significant wave transmission (reflection) effects, with potentially detrimental impacts on cardiac performance. to investigate whether crocodilians exhibit wave reflection effects, pressures and flows were recorded from the right aorta, carotid artery, and femoral artery of six adult, anesthet ...	2006	16714365
necropsy findings in american alligator late-stage embryos and hatchlings from northcentral florida lakes contaminated with organochlorine pesticides.	increased american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) embryo and neonatal mortality has been reported from several northcentral florida lakes contaminated with old-use organochlorine pesticides (ocps). however, a clear relationship among these contaminants and egg viability has not been established, suggesting the involvement of additional factors in these mortalities. thus, the main objective of this study was to determine the ultimate cause of mortality of american alligator late-stage emb ...	2006	16699149
pressor responses to alligator angiotensin i and some analogs in the spectacled caiman (caiman crocodilus).	discovery of the chemical structure of alligator (alligator mississipiensis) [asp(1), val(5), ala(9)]-angiotensin i (ang i) has permitted the investigation of cardiovascular responses to this peptide and its analogs in spectacled caimans (caiman crocodilus), close relatives of alligators. ang i and [asp(1), val(5)]- angiotensin ii (ang ii) i.v. gave dose-dependent increases in mean arterial pressure but there was no pressor response to [val(4)]-ang iii (ang iii). pressor responses to a series of ...	2006	16494878
recovery from an activity-induced metabolic acidosis in the american alligator, alligator mississippiensis.	the metabolic acidosis resulting from an intense exercise bout is large in crocodilians. here we studied recovery from this ph perturbation in the american alligator. metabolic rate, minute ventilation, arterial ph and gases, and strong ion concentration were measured for 10 h after exhaustion to elucidate the mechanisms and time course of recovery. exhaustion resulted in a significant increase in lactate, metabolic rate, and ventilation, and a decrease in arterial pco2), ph and bicarbonate. by ...	2006	16443382
body temperature null distributions in reptiles with nonzero heat capacity: seasonal thermoregulation in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	regulation of body temperature may increase fitness of animals by ensuring that biochemical and physiological processes proceed at an optimal rate. the validity of current methods of testing whether or not thermoregulation in reptiles occurs is often limited to very small species that have near zero heat capacity. the aim of this study was to develop a method that allows estimation of body temperature null distributions of large reptiles and to investigate seasonal thermoregulation in the americ ...	2006	12905121
achieving environmentally relevant organochlorine pesticide concentrations in eggs through maternal exposure in alligator mississippiensis.	alligator mississippiensis eggs from organochlorine pesticide (ocp) contaminated sites in florida exhibit high rates of embryonic mortality compared to reference sites (p < 0.05). the objective of the present study was to use captive adult alligators to test the hypotheses that maternal exposure to ocps results in increased ocp concentrations in eggs, and that increased exposure is associated with increased embryonic mortality. a total of 24 adult alligators (8 males and 16 females) were housed ...	2007	15178124
do egg-laying crocodilian (alligator mississippiensis) archosaurs form medullary bone?	it is beyond question that mesozoic dinosaurs, like aves and crocodylia, are archosaurs. however, within the archosaurian clade, the origin and distribution of some major features are less clear, particularly with respect to reproductive physiology. medullary bone, a highly mineralized, bony reproductive tissue present in the endosteal cavities of all extant egg-laying birds thus far examined, has recently been reported in tyrannosaurus rex. its presence or absence in extant crocodilians, theref ...	2007	17223615
estimated source intensity and active space of the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) vocal display.	in this article the results are reported of a study to measure the intensity of the vocal displays of a population of american alligators (alligator mississippiensis). it was found that the dominant frequencies in air range between 20 and 250 hz with a source sound pressure level (spl) of 91-94 db at 1 m. the active space for the air-borne component is defined by the background and was estimated to be in a range up to 159 m in the 125-200 hz band. for the water-borne component the dominant frequ ...	2007	18189580
death roll of the alligator: mechanics of twist feeding in water.	crocodilians, including the alligator (alligator mississippiensis), perform a spinning maneuver to subdue and dismember prey. the spinning maneuver, which is referred to as the ;death roll', involves rapid rotation about the longitudinal axis of the body. high-speed videos were taken of juvenile alligators (mean length=0.29 m) performing death rolls in water after biting onto a pliable target. spinning was initiated after the fore- and hindlimbs were appressed against the body and the head and t ...	2007	17690228
low cost of ventilation in the vagotomised alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	pulmonary ventilation requires energy, but the estimated costs of breathing in reptiles vary from 1 to 30% of resting metabolic rate. the low values have been estimated from changes in oxygen uptake during hypoxia or hypercapnia, but it remains possible that these treatments affected metabolism. we equipped alligators with masks for simultaneous measurements of ventilation and oxygen uptake during hypercapnia, hypoxia and bilateral vagotomy. hypercapnia and hypoxia caused a marked increase in to ...	2007	17561449
iron withholding as an innate immune mechanism in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	pathogenic microbes require fe and zn for growth and proliferation. upon infection, microbes produce proteins, called sidephores, designed to strip serum divalent metals away from host proteins. higher vertebrates respond to infection by increasing the expression of proteins that sequester serum iron away from bacteria. as a result, host plasma fe levels decrease during the initial phases of infection. this study was conducted to determine if the american alligator, an ancient reptile, exhibits ...	2007	17541966
dose verification after topical treatment of alligator (alligator mississippiensis) eggs.	numerous studies have used temperature-dependent sex determination in reptilian eggs to investigate potential developmental effects of exogenously applied substances. however, few studies have measured the dose carried across the eggshell. we report embryonic mortality and internal egg concentrations determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry two weeks after exposure of american alligator (alligator mississippiensis) eggs to chlorinated organic pesticides via injection or topical applica ...	2007	17521136
characterization of inhibitor of growth 2 tumor suppressor in alligator mississippiensis, its conservation in archosauria, and response to thyroid stimulating hormone.	inhibitor of growth 2 (ing2) belongs to a family of tumor suppressors that are important regulators of a wide range of cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and dna repair. ing family members are found in yeast, plants, invertebrates and many vertebrate species. however, to date, ing has not been characterized in reptiles. herein we describe the isolation of expressed ing2 sequence in the american alligator, alligator mississippiensis, and compare this sequence with that isolate ...	2007	17208481
growth plate formation and development in alligator and mouse metapodials: evolutionary and functional implications.	mammalian metapodials (metacarpals and metatarsals), unlike most long bones, form a single growth plate, and undergo longitudinal growth at only one end. the growth dynamics of non-mammalian tetrapod metapodials have not been systematically examined in order to determine if unidirectional growth is unique to mammals. here we compare murine metapodial ossification in growth stages that parallel those of embryonic, juvenile and subadult american alligators (alligator mississippiensis). safranin o ...	2007	17285637
parental exposure to pesticides and poor clutch viability in american alligators.	in central florida, alligators (alligator mississippiensis) inhabiting lakes contaminated with organochlorine pesticides (ocps) produce eggs that have high ocp concentrations and low clutch viability (proportion of eggs in a clutch that yield a live hatchling) compared to those from less contaminated lakes (reference lakes). however, a clear dose-response relationship has not been established between ocps and poor clutch viability. in order to better elucidate a cause and effect relationship bet ...	2007	17822132
febrile response to infection in the american alligator (alligator mississippiensis).	temperature probes were inserted into the stomachs of juvenile american alligators (alligator mississippiensis) maintained outdoors at ambient fluctuating temperatures. internal body temperatures (t(b)) were measured every 15 min for two days, and then the alligators were injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (lps), pyrogen-free saline, or left untreated. alligators injected intraperitoneally with lps exhibited maximum t(b)s 2.6+/-1.1 degrees c and 3.5+/-1.2 degrees c higher than untreated ...	2007	17977038
olfactory and solitary chemosensory cells: two different chemosensory systems in the nasal cavity of the american alligator, alligator mississippiensis.	the nasal cavity of all vertebrates houses multiple chemosensors, either innervated by the ist (olfactory) or the vth (trigeminal) cranial nerve. various types of receptor cells are present, either segregated in different compartments (e.g. in rodents) or mingled in one epithelium (e.g. fish). in addition, solitary chemosensory cells have been reported for several species. alligators which seek their prey both above and under water have only one nasal compartment. information about their olfacto ...	2007	17683564
effects of hypoxia on vertebrate blood vessels.	hypoxia contracts mammalian respiratory vessels and increases vascular resistance in respiratory tissues of many vertebrates. in systemic vessels these responses vary, hypoxia relaxes mammalian vessels and contracts systemic arteries from cyclostomes. it has been proposed that hypoxic vasoconstriction in cyclostome systemic arteries is the antecedent to mammalian hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, however, phylogenetic characterization of hypoxic responses is lacking. in this study, we characte ...	2008	18214862