| context-dependent changes in motor control and kinematics during locomotion: modulation and decoupling. | successful locomotion through complex, heterogeneous environments requires the muscles that power locomotion to function effectively under a wide variety of conditions. although considerable data exist on how animals modulate both kinematics and motor pattern when confronted with orientation (i.e. incline) demands, little is known about the modulation of muscle function in response to changes in structural demands like substrate diameter, compliance and texture. here, we used high-speed videogra ... | 2014 | 24621949 |
| identification of sex-specific molecular markers using restriction site-associated dna sequencing. | a major barrier to evolutionary studies of sex determination and sex chromosomes has been a lack of information on the types of sex-determining mechanisms that occur among different species. this is particularly problematic in groups where most species lack visually heteromorphic sex chromosomes, such as fish, amphibians and reptiles, because cytogenetic analyses will fail to identify the sex chromosomes in these species. we describe the use of restriction site-associated dna (rad) sequencing, o ... | 2014 | 24506574 |
| ultrastructural immunolocalization of beta-defensin-27 in granulocytes of the dermis and wound epidermis of lizard suggests they contribute to the anti-microbial skin barrier. | the high resistance to infections in lizard wounds suggests that these reptiles possess effective antimicrobial peptides in their tissues. the present immunocytochemical study shows the cellular localization of beta-defensin 27 in tail tissues and in the blood, a defensin previously identified in the lizard anolis carolinensis through biomolecular methods. beta-defensin-27 immunoreactivity is only observed in some large granules mainly contained in heterophilic granulocytes that are sparse withi ... | 2013 | 24386597 |
| heat and aitc activate green anole trpa1 in a membrane-delimited manner. | transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (trpa1) is a member of the large trp super family of ion channels and functions as a ca(2+)-permeable nonselective cation channel that is activated by various noxious stimuli. trpa1 was initially identified as a potential mediator of noxious cold stimuli in mammalian nociceptive sensory neurons, while trpa1s from nonmammalian vertebrates (snakes, green anole lizards, and frogs) were recently reported to be activated by heat, but not cold stimulus. in this s ... | 2014 | 24385018 |
| genetic variation in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) reveals island refugia and a fragmented florida during the quaternary. | the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) is a model organism for behavior and genomics that is native to the southeastern united states. it is currently thought that the ancestors of modern green anoles dispersed to peninsular florida from cuba. however, the climatic changes and geological features responsible for the early diversification of a. carolinensis in north america have remained largely unexplored. this is because previous studies (1) differ in their estimates of the divergence tim ... | 2014 | 24379168 |
| differential inhibition of line1 and line2 retrotransposition by vertebrate aid/apobec proteins. | the role of aid/apobec proteins in the mammalian immune response against retroviruses and retrotransposons is well established. g to a hypermutations, the hallmark of their cytidine deaminase activity, are present in several mammalian retrotransposons. however, the role of aid/apobec proteins in non-mammalian retroelement restriction is not completely understood. | 2013 | 24344916 |
| the impact of tail loss on stability during jumping in green anoles (anolis carolinensis). | lizards that undergo caudal autotomy experience a variety of consequences, including decreased locomotor performance in a number of cases. one mode of locomotion common to many arboreal lizard species is jumping, and yet little is known about the effects of autotomy on this locomotor mode. in this article we review recent literature demonstrating the importance of the lizard tail as an in-air stabilizer. first, we review work highlighting how a variety of lizards from diverse families can use th ... | 2013 | 24241065 |
| ultrastructural immunolocalization of chatelicidin-like peptides in granulocytes of normal and regenerating lizard tissues. | the presence and localization of cathelicidin anti-microbial peptides in the lizard, anolis carolinensis, were investigated by immunocytochemistry. the study showed that immunoreactivity for cathelicidins 1 and 2 was only present in large granules of heterophilic-basophilic granulocytes, rarely found in the dermis and sub-dermal muscle in normal and more frequently in wound and regenerating skin tissues or in the blood. some immunopositive granulocytes were also observed among the keratinocytes ... | 2014 | 24139311 |
| lizards and lines: selection and demography affect the fate of l1 retrotransposons in the genome of the green anole (anolis carolinensis). | autonomous retrotransposons lacking long terminal repeats (ltr) account for much of the variation in genome size and structure among vertebrates. mammalian genomes contain hundreds of thousands of non-ltr retrotransposon copies, mostly resulting from the amplification of a single clade known as l1. the genomes of teleost fish and squamate reptiles contain a much more diverse array of non-ltr retrotransposon families, whereas copy number is relatively low. the majority of non-ltr retrotransposon ... | 2013 | 24013105 |
| seasonal and sexual dimorphisms in expression of androgen receptor and its coactivators in brain and peripheral copulatory tissues of the green anole. | green anoles are seasonally breeding lizards, with an annual rise in testosterone (t) being the primary activator of male sexual behaviors. responsiveness to t is decreased in the non-breeding season (nbs) compared to breeding season (bs) on a variety of levels, including displays of reproductive behavior and the morphology and biochemistry of associated tissues. to evaluate the possibility that seasonal changes in responsiveness to t are regulated by androgen receptors (ar) and/or two of its co ... | 2013 | 23892016 |
| ifn-γ and its receptors in a reptile reveal the evolutionary conservation of type ii ifns in vertebrates. | in this study, interferon gamma (ifn-γ) and interferon gamma receptor (ifn-γr) genes have been identified in non-avian reptile, the north american green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). like their counterparts from other jawed vertebrates, lizard ifn-γ, ifn-γr1 and ifn-γr2 show conserved features in genomic organizations, gene loci and protein sequences. the ifn-γ gene has the full cdna sequence of 936 bp, with 522 bp open reading frame (orf) encoding 174 amino acids, and has the genomic orga ... | 2013 | 23850722 |
| classification and evolutionary analysis of the basic helix-loop-helix gene family in the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis. | helix-loop-helix (bhlh) proteins play essential regulatory roles in a variety of biological processes. these highly conserved proteins form a large transcription factor superfamily, and are commonly identified in large numbers within animal, plant, and fungal genomes. the bhlh domain has been well studied in many animal species, but has not yet been characterized in non-avian reptiles. in this study, we identified 102 putative bhlh genes in the genome of the green anole lizard, anolis carolinens ... | 2013 | 23756994 |
| influence of geography and climate on patterns of cell size and body size in the lizard anolis carolinensis. | geographic patterns in body size are often associated with latitude, elevation, or environmental and climatic variables. this study investigated patterns of body size and cell size of the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis, and potential associations with geography or climatic variables. lizards were sampled from 19 populations across the native range, and body size, red blood cell size and size and number of muscle cells were measured. climatic data from local weather stations and latitude ... | 2013 | 23731814 |
| genome reannotation of the lizard anolis carolinensis based on 14 adult and embryonic deep transcriptomes. | the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis, is a key species for both laboratory and field-based studies of evolutionary genetics, development, neurobiology, physiology, behavior, and ecology. as the first non-avian reptilian genome sequenced, a. carolinesis is also a prime reptilian model for comparison with other vertebrate genomes. the public databases of ensembl and ncbi have provided a first generation gene annotation of the anole genome that relies primarily on sequence conservation with ... | 2013 | 23343042 |
| lizards and lines: selection and demography affect the fate of l1 retrotransposons in the genome of the green anole (anolis carolinensis). | | 2013 | 27798071 |
| out of florida: mtdna reveals patterns of migration and pleistocene range expansion of the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). | anolis carolinensis is an emerging model species and the sole member of its genus native to the united states. considerable morphological and physiological variation has been described in the species, and the recent sequencing of its genome makes it an attractive system for studies of genome variation. to inform future studies of molecular and phenotypic variation within a. carolinensis, a rigorous account of intraspecific population structure and relatedness is needed. here, we present the most ... | 2012 | 23139885 |
| immunohistological and electrophysiological evidence that n-acetylaspartylglutamate is a co-transmitter at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. | immunohistochemical studies previously revealed the presence of the peptide transmitter n-acetylaspartylglutamate (naag) in spinal motor neurons, axons and presumptive neuromuscular junctions (nmjs). at synapses in the central nervous system, naag has been shown to activate the type 3 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mglur3) and is inactivated by an extracellular peptidase, glutamate carboxypeptidase ii. the present study tested the hypothesis that naag meets the criteria for classification as a ... | 2013 | 23134476 |
| a histological comparison of the original and regenerated tail in the green anole, anolis carolinensis. | this study provides a histological comparison of the mature regenerated and original tail of the lizard anolis carolinensis. these data will provide a framework for future studies of this emerging model organism whose genome was recently published. this study demonstrated that the cartilage skeleton of the regenerated tail enclosed a spinal cord with an ependymal core, but there was no evidence that dorsal root ganglia or peripheral nerves are regenerated. the cartilage tube contained foramina t ... | 2012 | 22933242 |
| immunolocalization of keratin-associated beta-proteins (beta-keratins) in the regenerating lizard epidermis indicates a new process for the differentiation of the epidermis in lepidosaurians. | the process of keratinocyte differentiation was analyzed in the regenerating epidermis of the lizard anolis carolinensis, where the genes coding for beta-proteins (beta-keratins) are known. the regenerating epidermis forms all epidermal layers found in normal scales (oberhäutchen-, beta-, mesos-, and alpha-layer). three specific proteins representing the larger families of beta-proteins, glycine-rich (hgg5, 28% glycine, 3.6% cysteine), glycine-cysteine medium-rich (hggc10, 13% glycine, 14.5% cys ... | 2012 | 22807268 |
| analysis of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (trpa1) in frogs and lizards illuminates both nociceptive heat and chemical sensitivities and coexpression with trp vanilloid 1 (trpv1) in ancestral vertebrates. | transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (trpa1) and trp vanilloid 1 (v1) perceive noxious temperatures and chemical stimuli and are involved in pain sensation in mammals. thus, these two channels provide a model for understanding how different genes with similar biological roles may influence the function of one another during the course of evolution. however, the temperature sensitivity of trpa1 in ancestral vertebrates and its evolutionary path are unknown as its temperature sensitivities vary ... | 2012 | 22791718 |
| the gross anatomy of the original and regenerated tail in the green anole (anolis carolinensis). | this study investigates the gross anatomy of the original and the regenerated tail in the green anole (anolis carolinensis). dissections were conducted on 24 original and 13 regenerated tails. while the extrinsic muscles of the original tail in a. carolinensis are similar to those in other known anolis lizard species, the extent of the origins of m. caudofemoralis longus and m. caudofemoralis brevis is more restricted. these differences may underlie variation in locomotor performance among anole ... | 2012 | 22753107 |
| distribution of specific keratin-associated beta-proteins (beta-keratins) in the epidermis of the lizard anolis carolinensis helps to clarify the process of cornification in lepidosaurians. | the epidermis of different scales in the lizard anolis carolinensis expresses specific keratin-associated beta-proteins (beta-keratins). in order to localize the sites of accumulation of different beta-proteins, we have utilized antibodies directed against representative members of the main families of beta-proteins, the glycine-rich (hgg5), glycine-cysteine rich (hggc3), glycine-cysteine medium-rich (hggc10), and cysteine-rich (hgc1) beta-proteins. immunoblotting and immunocytochemical controls ... | 2012 | 22711570 |
| multi-locus phylogeographic and population genetic analysis of anolis carolinensis: historical demography of a genomic model species. | the green anole (anolis carolinensis) has been widely used as an animal model in physiology and neurobiology but has recently emerged as an important genomic model. the recent sequencing of its genome has shed new light on the evolution of vertebrate genomes and on the process that govern species diversification. surprisingly, the patterns of genetic diversity within natural populations of this widespread and abundant north american lizard remain relatively unknown. in the present study, we use ... | 2012 | 22685573 |
| how forelimb and hindlimb function changes with incline and perch diameter in the green anole, anolis carolinensis. | the range of inclines and perch diameters in arboreal habitats poses a number of functional challenges for locomotion. to effectively overcome these challenges, arboreal lizards execute complex locomotor behaviors involving both the forelimbs and the hindlimbs. however, few studies have examined the role of forelimbs in lizard locomotion. to characterize how the forelimbs and hindlimbs differentially respond to changes in substrate diameter and incline, we obtained three-dimensional high-speed v ... | 2012 | 22675190 |
| expression of aromatase and two isozymes of 5α-reductase in the developing green anole forebrain. | neural steroids, as well as the enzymes that produce these hormones, are important for sexual differentiation of the brain during development. aromatase converts testosterone into oestradiol. 5α-reductase converts testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone and occurs in two isozymes: type 1 (5αr1) and type 2 (5αr2). each of these enzymes is present in the developing brain in many species, although no work has been carried out examining the expression of all three enzymes in non-avian reptiles with g ... | 2012 | 22487458 |
| a performance-based cost to honest signalling in male green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | sexual signals are considered costly to produce and maintain under the handicap paradigm, and the reliability of signals is in turn thought to be maintained by these costs. although previous studies have investigated the costly nature of signal production, few have considered whether honesty might be maintained not by the costliness of the signal itself, but by the costs involved in producing the signalled trait. if such a trait is itself costly to produce, then the burden of energetic investmen ... | 2012 | 22418258 |
| assessment of xylazine for euthanasia of anoles (anolis carolinensis and anolis distichus). | intracoelomic (ic) injection of xylazine was evaluated as a chemical euthanasia method for anolis lizards (anolis carolinensis or anolis distichus). lizards were allocated into 5 groups of 10 animals each. each group was euthanized by one of these methods: 10 mg xylazine (100 mg/ml) ic; 10 mg xylazine and 0.5 mg acepromazine (10 mg/ml) ic; 10 mg xylazine ic followed by intracardiac injection of 0.1 meq kcl (2 meq/ml) once heart beats were no longer discernable by doppler; 500 mg/kg 1% naco(3)-b ... | 2012 | 22330873 |
| aromatase and 5α-reductase type 2 mrna in the green anole forebrain: an investigation of the effects of sex, season and testosterone manipulation. | aromatase and 5α-reductase (5αr) catalyze the synthesis of testosterone (t) metabolites: estradiol and 5α-dihydrotestosterone, respectively. these enzymes are important in controlling sexual behaviors in male and female vertebrates. to investigate factors contributing to their regulation in reptiles, male and female green anole lizards were gonadectomized during the breeding and non-breeding seasons and treated with a t-filled or blank capsule. in situ hybridization was used to examine main effe ... | 2012 | 22326351 |
| sculpting reproductive circuits: relationships among hormones, morphology and behavior in anole lizards. | morphology parallels function on a variety of levels in reproductive circuits in anole lizards, as in many vertebrate groups. for example, across species within the anole genus the muscle fibers regulating extension of a throat fan used in courtship are larger in males than females. endocrine factors controlling behavior and morphology have been studied in detail in one species, the green anole (anolis carolinensis). this review briefly describes the results that have been obtained and highlight ... | 2012 | 22202602 |
| total recoil: perch compliance alters jumping performance and kinematics in green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | jumping is a common form of locomotion for many arboreal animals. many species of the arboreal lizard genus anolis occupy habitats in which they must jump to and from unsteady perches, e.g. narrow branches, vines, grass and leaves. anoles therefore often use compliant perches that could alter jump performance. in this study we conducted a small survey of the compliance of perches used by the arboreal green anole anolis carolinensis in the wild (n=54 perches) and then, using perches within the ra ... | 2012 | 22189765 |
| the distribution of estrogen receptor β mrna in male and female green anole lizards. | estrogens are critical for a variety of aspects of brain development and adult processes. these steroids act via receptors within specific tissues. several estrogen receptors (er) are thought to exist, including erα and erβ, which function via classical, genomic mechanisms. these two ers are found in a variety of species and are critical to diverse functions, including reproductive behaviors. erβ was discovered more recently than erα, and very little work has been done on this receptor in reptil ... | 2012 | 22119399 |
| developing a community-based genetic nomenclature for anole lizards. | comparative studies of amniotes have been hindered by a dearth of reptilian molecular sequences. with the genomic assembly of the green anole, anolis carolinensis available, non-avian reptilian genes can now be compared to mammalian, avian, and amphibian homologs. furthermore, with more than 350 extant species in the genus anolis, anoles are an unparalleled example of tetrapod genetic diversity and divergence. as an important ecological, genetic and now genomic reference, it is imperative to dev ... | 2011 | 22077994 |
| wounding in lizards results in the release of beta-defensins at the wound site and formation of an antimicrobial barrier. | after tail loss in lizards no infections occur indicating the presence of an effective anti-microbial barrier in the exposed tissues of the tail stump. previous molecular studies on the lizard anolis carolinensis have identified some beta-defensin-like genes and the deduced peptides that may be involved in anti-infective protection. the present study has analyzed the tissues of wounded and normal tails in lizards in order to immune-localize one of the beta-defensins previously found (acbd15) and ... | 2012 | 22001772 |
| accumulation and effects of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (hmx) exposure in the green anole (anolis carolinensis). | environmental contamination by energetic compounds is an increasing international concern, although little is known of their accumulation in and affect on wildlife. reptiles are often good models for contaminants studies due to natural history traits that increase their potential for exposure. we report a study to assess accumulation and effects of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (hmx, high melting explosive) in green anoles (anolis carolinensis). acute oral toxicity (ld(50)) wa ... | 2012 | 21947615 |
| the effect of light on melatonin secretion in the cultured pineal glands of anolis lizards. | melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, is important for regulating circadian rhythms in many animals. light at night causes an acute suppression of melatonin in nearly all vertebrate species. a previous study found that light failed to suppress melatonin in the lizard anolis carolinensis. this is a surprising result given that the anolis pineal gland is intrinsically photosensitive, is a key pacemaker controlling locomotor activity, and can be directly entrained to a light-dark cycle ... | 2011 | 21757022 |
| evolution of leptin structure and function. | leptin, the protein product of the obese(ob or lep) gene, is a hormone synthesized by adipocytes that signals available energy reserves to the brain, and thereby influences development, growth, metabolism and reproduction. in mammals, leptin functions as an adiposity signal: circulating leptin fluctuates in proportion to fat mass, and it acts on the hypothalamus to suppress food intake. orthologs of mammalian lep genes were recently isolated from several fish and two amphibian species, and here ... | 2011 | 21677426 |
| loading effects on jump performance in green anole lizards, anolis carolinensis. | locomotor performance is a crucial determinant of organismal fitness but is often impaired in certain circumstances, such as increased mass (loading) resulting from feeding or gravidity. although the effects of loading have been studied extensively for striding locomotion, its effects on jumping are poorly understood. jumping is a mode of locomotion that is widely used across animal taxa. it demands large amounts of power over a short time interval and, consequently, may be affected by loading t ... | 2011 | 21613524 |
| relationships among reproductive morphology, behavior, and testosterone in a natural population of green anole lizards. | laboratory studies of reproductive systems have long supported the idea that neural and/or muscular structures used frequently are often enhanced in size. however, field studies integrating behavioral, morphological, and hormonal data are needed to better understand relationships in natural environments. we examined a natural population of green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis) to determine whether variation in reproductive morphology both within and between the sexes paralleled differences i ... | 2011 | 21600228 |
| mining online genomic resources in anolis carolinensis facilitates rapid and inexpensive development of cross-species microsatellite markers for the anolis lizard genus. | online sequence databases can provide valuable resources for the development of cross-species genetic markers. in particular, mining expressed tag sequences (est) for microsatellites and developing conserved cross-species microsatellite markers can provide a rapid and relatively inexpensive method to develop new markers for a range of species. here, we adopt this approach to develop cross-species microsatellite markers in anolis lizards, which is a model genus in evolutionary biology and ecology ... | 2011 | 21429109 |
| temperature-induced plasticity at cellular and organismal levels in the lizard anolis carolinensis. | among ectotherms, individuals raised in cooler temperatures often have larger body size and/or larger cell size. the current study tested whether geographic variation in cell size and plasticity for cell size exist in a terrestrial, ectothermic vertebrate, anolis carolinensis voigt, 1832. we demonstrated temperature-induced plasticity in erythrocytes and epithelial cells of hatchlings lizards derived from the eggs of females sampled from four populations and incubated at multiple temperatures. l ... | 2010 | 21392339 |
| ultrastructural localization of hair keratin homologs in the claw of the lizard anolis carolinensis. | the claw of lizards is largely composed of beta-keratins, also referred to as keratin-associated beta-proteins. recently, we have reported that the genome of the lizard anolis carolinensis contains alpha keratin genes homologous to hair keratins typical of hairs and claws of mammals. molecular and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that two hair keratin homologs named hard acid keratin 1 (ha1) and hard basic keratin 1 (hb1) are expressed in keratinocytes forming the claws of a. carolinensi ... | 2011 | 21312232 |
| developmental regulation of hemoglobin synthesis in the green anole lizard anolis carolinensis. | tetrapod vertebrates possess multiple α- and β-like globin genes that are ontogenetically regulated, such that functionally distinct hemoglobin (hb) isoforms are synthesized during different stages of development. the α- and β-like globin genes of amphibians, birds and mammals are differentially expressed during embryonic development and postnatal life, but little is known about the developmental regulation of globin gene expression in non-avian reptiles. here we report an investigation into the ... | 2011 | 21270305 |
| the evolution and diversity of dna transposons in the genome of the lizard anolis carolinensis. | dna transposons have considerably affected the size and structure of eukaryotic genomes and have been an important source of evolutionary novelties. in vertebrates, dna transposons are discontinuously distributed due to the frequent extinction and recolonization of these genomes by active elements. we performed a detailed analysis of the dna transposons in the genome of the lizard anolis carolinensis, the first non-avian reptile to have its genome sequenced. elements belonging to six of the prev ... | 2011 | 21127169 |
| distribution of two isozymes of 5α-reductase in the brains of adult male and female green anole lizards. | the 5α-reductase (5αr) enzyme converts testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone. this local metabolism within the brain is important for the full expression of male sexual behavior in many species, including green anole lizards. two isozymes of 5αr exist and little is known about their specific distributions. we conducted in situ hybridization for both isozymes in intact male and female green anole brains during the breeding (bs) and non-breeding (nbs) seasons. 5αr1 mrna was only detected in the b ... | 2010 | 21116109 |
| relationships among hormones, brain and motivated behaviors in lizards. | lizards provide a rich opportunity for investigating the mechanisms associated with arousal and the display of motivated behaviors. they exhibit diverse mating strategies and modes of conspecific communication. this review focuses on anole lizards, of which green anoles (anolis carolinensis) have been most extensively studied. research from other species is discussed in that context. by considering mechanisms collectively, we can begin to piece together neural and endocrine factors mediating the ... | 2011 | 20816970 |
| newly deposited maternal hormones can be detected in the yolks of oviductal eggs in the green anole lizard. | studies often examine egg yolks after oviposition with the goal of drawing conclusions about maternal allocation of gonadal steroid hormones and how it may affect offspring development. however, these hormones might originate from a few sources, including the ovary, blood plasma, or the embryo itself. the goal of this study was to investigate whether maternal steroids can enter oviductal eggs. in experiment 1, gravid female green anole lizards were injected with 1 microci 3h-t. plasma, ovarian f ... | 2010 | 20336789 |
| opponent recognition and social status differentiate rapid neuroendocrine responses to social challenge. | individual social status discriminates rapid neuroendocrine responses to non-social stress in male anolis carolinensis, but whether such status-influenced reactions are retained in response to subsequent social stress is unknown. dominant and subordinate males modify their behavioral responses to social challenge according to familiarity of the opponent, suggesting that accompanying neuroendocrine responses may differ according to opponent recognition despite social rank. we examined endocrine a ... | 2010 | 20138068 |
| social influences on female choice in green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | we conducted an experiment on female anolis carolinensis lizards to investigate whether social factors influenced their selection of an end-chamber in a test arena. we tested (1) whether characteristics of males previously seen in the end-chambers would influence female choice and (2) whether the presence of other females simultaneously choosing would influence choice. in experiment one, females observed a large and a small male in the end-chambers prior to choosing. females were tested individu ... | 2010 | 20083170 |
| phylogeny, genomic organization and expression of lambda and kappa immunoglobulin light chain genes in a reptile, anolis carolinensis. | the reptiles are the last major taxon of jawed vertebrates in which immunoglobulin light chain isotypes have not been well characterized. using the recently released genome sequencing data, we show in this study that the reptile anolis carolinensis expresses both lambda and kappa light chain genes. the genomic organization of both gene loci is structurally similar to their respective counterparts in mammals. the identified lambda locus contains three constant region genes each preceded by a join ... | 2010 | 20056120 |
| testosterone selectively affects aromatase and 5alpha-reductase activities in the green anole lizard brain. | testosterone (t) and its metabolites are important in the regulation of reproductive behavior in males of a variety of vertebrate species. aromatase converts t to estradiol and 5alpha-reductase converts t to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (dht). male green anole reproduction depends on androgens, yet 5alpha-reductase in the brain is not sexually dimorphic and does not vary with season. in contrast, aromatase activity in the male brain is increased during the breeding compared to non-breeding season, ... | 2010 | 19917285 |
| estradiol facilitates mounting behavior in male green anole lizards. | steroid hormones activate sexual behaviors across vertebrate species. in green anole lizards, testosterone is particularly important for the display of courtship and copulation by adult males. however, unlike a variety of other species, the role of its metabolite, estradiol, has been unclear. to evaluate its function and potential interaction with testosterone in the facilitation of reproductive behaviors, adult males were gonadectomized and given two treatments. the first consisted of either es ... | 2010 | 19879887 |
| forty keratin-associated beta-proteins (beta-keratins) form the hard layers of scales, claws, and adhesive pads in the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis. | using bioinformatic methods we have detected the genes of 40 keratin-associated beta-proteins (kabetaps) (beta-keratins) from the first available draft genome sequence of a reptile, the lizard anolis carolinensis (broad institute, boston). all genes are clustered in a single but not yet identified chromosomal locus, and contain a single intron of variable length. 5'-race and rt-pcr analyses using rna from different epidermal regions show tissue-specific expression of different transcripts. these ... | 2010 | 19593748 |
| the influence of metabolic heat production on body temperature of a small lizard, anolis carolinensis. | little is known about the impact of increased metabolism on body temperatures of small ectotherms. we found that postprandial metabolic rates of 5 g anolis carolinensis lizards were elevated by factorial increases of 2.3+/-1.0 (mean+/-s.e.) at 26 degrees c and 3.8+/-2.1 at 30 degrees c over their fasting rates. cloacal body temperatures exceeded environmental temperatures by a small amount in fasted individuals (26 degrees c: 0.3+/-0.02 degrees c, 30 degrees c: 0.3+/-0.02 degrees c), and by a si ... | 2009 | 19535028 |
| the evolutionary dynamics of autonomous non-ltr retrotransposons in the lizard anolis carolinensis shows more similarity to fish than mammals. | the genome of the lizard anolis carolinensis (the green anole) is the first nonavian reptilian genome sequenced. it offers a unique opportunity to comparatively examine the evolution of amniote genomes. we analyzed the abundance and diversity of non-ltr (long terminal repeat) retrotransposons in the anole using the genome parsing suite. we found that the anole genome contains an extraordinary diversity of elements. we identified 46 families of elements representing five clades (l1, l2, cr1, rte, ... | 2009 | 19420048 |
| effects of estradiol, sex, and season on estrogen receptor alpha mrna expression and forebrain morphology in adult green anole lizards. | steroid hormones, especially estradiol, facilitate reproductive behaviors in male and female rodents and birds. in green anole lizards estradiol facilitates receptivity in females but, unlike in some other species, is not the activating hormone for courtship and copulatory behavior in males. instead, testicular androgens directly facilitate male courtship and copulation. yet, activity of the estradiol synthesizing enzyme aromatase is higher in the brain of male than female green anoles, and it i ... | 2009 | 19272420 |
| locomotor-feeding coupling during prey capture in a lizard (gerrhosaurus major): effects of prehension mode. | in tetrapods, feeding behaviour in general, and prey capture in particular, involves two anatomical systems: the feeding system and the locomotor system. although the kinematics associated with the movements of each system have been investigated in detail independently, the actual integration between the two systems has received less attention. recently, the independence of the movements of the jaw and locomotor systems was reported during tongue-based prey capture in an iguanian lizard (anolis ... | 2009 | 19251991 |
| atypical relaxation of structural constraints in hox gene clusters of the green anole lizard. | hox genes control many aspects of embryonic development in metazoans. previous analyses of this gene family revealed a surprising diversity in terms of gene number and organization between various animal species. in vertebrates, hox genes are grouped into tightly organized clusters, claimed to be devoid of repetitive sequences. here, we report the genomic organization of the four hox loci present in the green anole lizard and show that they have massively accumulated retrotransposons, leading to ... | 2009 | 19228589 |
| losing stability: tail loss and jumping in the arboreal lizard anolis carolinensis. | voluntary loss of an appendage, or autotomy, is a remarkable behavior that is widespread among many arthropods and lower vertebrates. its immediate benefit, generally escape from a predator, is balanced by various costs, including impaired locomotor performance, reproductive success and long-term survival. among vertebrates, autotomy is most widespread in lizards, in which tail loss has been documented in close to 100 species. despite numerous studies of the potential costs of tail autotomy in l ... | 2009 | 19218510 |
| the evolution of two partner line/sine families and a full-length chromodomain-containing ty3/gypsy ltr element in the first reptilian genome of anolis carolinensis. | transposable elements have been characterized in a number of vertebrates, including whole genomes of mammals, birds, and fishes. the anolis carolinensis draft assembly provides the first opportunity to study retroposons in a reptilian genome. here, we identified and reconstructed a number of retroposons based on database searches: five sauria short interspersed element (sine) subfamilies, 5s-sauria sine chimeras, anolis bov-b long interspersed element (line), anolis sine 2, anolis line 2, anolis ... | 2009 | 19118606 |
| social status differentiates rapid neuroendocrine responses to restraint stress. | male anolis carolinensis that win aggressive interactions mobilize neuroendocrine responses to social stress more rapidly than defeated lizards. we initially examined temporal patterns of neuroendocrine response to restraint stress in lizards of unknown status, and then investigated whether winning males respond more rapidly to this non-social stressor. size-matched male pairs interacted to establish social status, and then were returned to individual home cages for 3 days. plasma and brains wer ... | 2009 | 18957299 |
| the effects of diet on plasma and yolk steroids in lizards (anolis carolinensis). | steroids present in egg yolk have been shown to vary as a result of numerous social and environmental influences and to produce both positive and negative phenotypic outcomes in offspring. in the present study, we examined how quality of the diet affects plasma and yolk steroids in the green anole (anolis carolinensis), a lizard species with genotypic sex determination. we documented the effects of body condition on plasma testosterone (t) and corticosterone (cort)-steroids with frequently oppos ... | 2008 | 21669804 |
| effect of locomotor approach on feeding kinematics in the green anole (anolis carolinensis). | squamates are well-known models for studying to examine locomotor and feeding behaviors in tetrapods, but studies that integrate both behavioral activities remain scarce. anolis lizards are a classical lineage to study the evolutionary relationships between locomotor behavior and complex structural features of the habitat. here, we analyzed prey-capture behavior in one representative arboreal predator, anolis carolinensis, to demonstrate the functional links between locomotor strategies and the ... | 2008 | 18661471 |
| latent effects of egg incubation temperature on growth in the lizard anolis carolinensis. | varied egg incubation temperatures can result in immediate effects on the phenotype of reptiles, and also latent effects that can augment or contradict effects evident at egg hatching. i examined the effects of incubation temperature on embryonic development, hatching morphology, and subsequent growth in multiple populations of the lizard anolis carolinensis. eggs from wild-caught females in four populations were incubated at up to three temperatures, 23.5, 27, and 30 degrees c. measures of body ... | 2008 | 18646184 |
| effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on thermoregulation in green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | fever is a non-specific host defense mechanism that comprises part of the innate immune response. innate immune function is thought to be an important adaptive immunological response to infection because it occurs across a broad diversity of phyla. some reptiles can mount a febrile response, despite the fact that their internal body temperatures (t(b)s) are, to some extent, controlled by the environmental temperatures in which they live. this study was undertaken to determine if lps would induce ... | 2008 | 18514328 |
| steroid receptor expression in the developing copulatory system of the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). | in adulthood, the copulatory system in male green anole lizards is characterized by the presence of two hemipenes, each controlled by ipsilateral muscles. these structures are present in both sexes early in development, but prior to hatching regress completely in females. embryonic treatment with steroid hormones alters the morphology of the copulatory system, suggesting active roles for both androgens and estrogens in sexual differentiation. to elucidate the timing and sites of steroid hormone ... | 2008 | 18448105 |
| digit ratios in green anolis lizards (anolis carolinensis). | the development of tetrapod digits is directed by the homeobox (hox) genes. the expression of hox genes is influenced by exposure to endogenous sex steroids during development so that prenatal exposure to estrogens and androgens positively influences the lengths of digits 2 (2d) and 4 (4d), respectively. because of this, manning (2002) predicted that male tetrapods should have smaller 2d:4d than that of females because males are exposed to higher levels of androgens during development. we measur ... | 2008 | 18286614 |
| behavioral diversity and neurochemical plasticity: selection of stress coping strategies that define social status. | social interactions include a variety of stimulating but challenging factors that are the basis for strategies that allow individuals to cope with novel or familiar stressful situations. evolutionarily conserved strategies have been identified that reflect specific behavioral and physiological identities. in this review we discuss a unique model for social stress in the lizard anolis carolinensis, which has characteristics amenable to an investigation of individual differences in behavioral resp ... | 2007 | 17914257 |
| hormones, sexual signals, and performance of green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | the evolutionary processes that result in reliable links between male signals and fighting capacity have received a great deal of attention, but the proximate mechanisms underlying such connections remain understudied. we studied a large sample of male green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis) to determine whether testosterone or corticosterone predicted dewlap size and/or bite-force capacity, as dewlap size is known to be a reliable predictor of bite-force capacity in territorial males. we also ... | 2007 | 17612540 |
| memory of opponents is more potent than visual sign stimuli after social hierarchy has been established. | during agonistic interactions between male anolis carolinensis, perception of a visual sign stimulus (darkened eyespots) not only inhibits aggression and promotes initial attainment of dominant social status, but also evokes distinct neuroendocrine responses in each opponent. this study was designed to examine the effect of eyespot manipulation on behavior and social rank during a second interaction between opponents that had previously established a natural dyadic social hierarchy. prior to a s ... | 2007 | 17602761 |
| incubation temperature modifies neonatal thermoregulation in the lizard anolis carolinensis. | the thermal environment experienced during embryonic development can profoundly affect the phenotype, and potentially the fitness, of ectothermic animals. we examined the effect of incubation temperature on the thermal preferences of juveniles in the oviparous lizard, anolis carolinensis. temperature preference trials were conducted in a laboratory thermal gradient within 48 hr of hatching and after 22-27 days of maintenance in a common laboratory environment. incubation temperature had a signif ... | 2007 | 17577200 |
| androgen receptor expression and morphology of forebrain and neuromuscular systems in male green anoles displaying individual differences in sexual behavior. | investigating individual differences in sexual performance in unmanipulated males is important for understanding natural relationships between behavior and morphology, and the mechanisms regulating them. among male green anole lizards, some court and copulate frequently (studs) and others do not (duds). to evaluate potential factors underlying differences in the level of these behaviors, morphology and androgen receptor expression in neuromuscular courtship and copulatory structures, as well as ... | 2007 | 17531996 |
| androgen dependent seasonal changes in muscle fiber type in the dewlap neuromuscular system of green anoles. | green anoles (anolis carolinensis) possess two sexually dimorphic neuromuscular systems involved in reproductive behaviors. one controls extension of a red throat fan (dewlap), which males employ during courtship, and the other controls intromission of copulatory organs (hemipenes). although seasonal changes in circulating androgens mediate both courtship and copulatory behaviors, testosterone has differential effects on the underlying neuromuscular morphology. the present experiments were desig ... | 2007 | 17477939 |
| social experience organizes parallel networks in sensory and limbic forebrain. | successful social behavior can directly influence an individual's reproductive success. therefore, many organisms readily modify social behavior based on past experience. the neural changes induced by social experience, however, remain to be fully elucidated. we hypothesize that social modulation of neural systems not only occurs at the level of individual nuclei, but also of functional networks, and their relationships with behavior. we used the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis), which d ... | 2007 | 17443788 |
| endocannabinoids mediate muscarine-induced synaptic depression at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. | endocannabinoids (ecbs) inhibit neurotransmitter release throughout the central nervous system. using the ceratomandibularis muscle from the lizard anolis carolinensis we asked whether ecbs play a similar role at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. we report here that the cb(1) cannabinoid receptor is concentrated on motor terminals and that ecbs mediate the inhibition of neurotransmitter release induced by the activation of m(3) muscarinic acetylcholine (ach) receptors. n-(piperidin-1-yl)-5- ... | 2007 | 17408433 |
| rapid neuroendocrine responses evoked at the onset of social challenge. | at the onset of agonistic social challenge, individuals must assess the degree of threat the opponent represents in order to react appropriately. we aimed to characterize the neuroendocrine changes accompanying this period of initial social assessment using the lizard anolis carolinensis. conveyance of aggressive intent by male a. carolinensis is facilitated by rapid postorbital skin darkening (eyespot), whereas eyespot presence inhibits opponent aggression. by manipulating this visual signal, w ... | 2007 | 17187831 |
| evolutionary background for stress-coping styles: relationships between physiological, behavioral, and cognitive traits in non-mammalian vertebrates. | reactions to stress vary between individuals, and physiological and behavioral responses tend to be associated in distinct suites of correlated traits, often termed stress-coping styles. in mammals, individuals exhibiting divergent stress-coping styles also appear to exhibit intrinsic differences in cognitive processing. a connection between physiology, behavior, and cognition was also recently demonstrated in strains of rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for consistently high or low c ... | 2007 | 17182101 |
| uterine motility in the reptile anolis carolinensis: interactive effects of tension, prostaglandins, calcium, and vasotocin. | uteri of anolis carolinensis exhibited spontaneous rhythmic contractions in vitro. addition of arginine vasotocin (avt) caused an immediate, strong, tonic contraction followed by rhythmic contractions with the same frequency as spontaneous contractions but of a greater amplitude. at low tension (1.5 g) the avt-induced tonic contraction was blocked by low dose of indomethacin, suggesting that it is influenced by calcium rather than prostaglandins (pgs). an increase in tension (from 1.5 to 15 g) r ... | 2006 | 17041917 |
| dopaminergic activity modulation via aggression, status, and a visual social signal. | social interaction may elicit aggression, establish social rank, and be influenced by changes in central dopaminergic activity. in the lizard anolis carolinensis, a sign stimulus (darkening of postorbital skin or eyespots) inhibits aggressive response from opponents, in part because it forms more rapidly in dominant males. the authors report that artificially hiding or darkening eyespots influences central dopaminergic activity, social status, and aggression during dyadic social interaction. all ... | 2006 | 16492120 |
| effect of temperature on toxicity of a natural pyrethrin pesticide to green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). | metabolic rates of reptiles vary with body temperature; therefore, the sensitivity of reptiles to a particular dose level of a pesticide might be expected to vary as well. the purpose of the present study was twofold: to evaluate the effects of temperature on the toxicity to green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis) of a single concentration of a natural pyrethrin pesticide via percutaneous exposure, and to compare the effects of temperature (20 vs 35 degrees c) on the toxicity of different conc ... | 2005 | 16445093 |
| age-specific forced polymorphism: implications of ontogenetic changes in morphology for male mating tactics. | age-specific forced polymorphism is the presence of two or more distinct phenotypes (here we consider only males) that occur in separate sexually mature age groups (e.g., horns in older males but not younger males). the life-stage morph maturation hypothesis posits that all younger males that possess a particular structure can transform into older males with a different structure, most likely via the influence of hormones. the life-stage morph selection hypothesis posits that polymorphism is due ... | 2006 | 16380929 |
| glucocorticoid interaction with aggression in non-mammalian vertebrates: reciprocal action. | socially aggressive interaction is stressful, and as such, glucocorticoids are typically secreted during aggressive interaction in a variety of vertebrates, which may both potentiate and inhibit aggression. the behavioral relationship between corticosterone and/or cortisol in non-mammalian (as well as mammalian) vertebrates is dependent on timing, magnitude, context, and coordination of physiological and behavioral responses. chronically elevated plasma glucocorticoids reliably inhibit aggressiv ... | 2005 | 16298361 |
| current research on the behavioral neuroendocrinology of reptiles. | selected reptilian species have been the targets of investigations in behavioral neuroendocrinology for many years. reptiles offer a particularly powerful set of traits that facilitate comparisons at multiple levels, including those within and between individuals of a particular species, between different environmental and social contexts, as well as across species. these types of studies, particularly as they are considered within the framework of results from other vertebrates, will enhance ou ... | 2005 | 16239163 |
| sex chromosomes and sex determination in reptiles. | reptiles occupy a crucial position with respect to vertebrate phylogeny, having roamed the earth for more than 300 million years and given rise to both birds and mammals. to date, this group has been largely ignored by contemporary genomics technologies, although the green anole lizard was recently recommended for whole genome sequencing. future experiments using flow-sorted chromosome libraries and high-throughout genomic sequencing will help to discover important findings regarding sex chromos ... | 2005 | 16214335 |
| stress induces rapid changes in central catecholaminergic activity in anolis carolinensis: restraint and forced physical activity. | immobilization stress and physical activity separately influence monoaminergic function. in addition, it appears that stress and locomotion reciprocally modulate neuroendocrine responses, with forced exercise ameliorating stress-induced serotonergic activity in lizards. to investigate the interaction of forced physical activity and restraint stress on central dopamine (da), norepinephrine (ne), and epinephrine (epi), we measured these catecholamines and their metabolites in select brain regions ... | 2005 | 16144657 |
| testosterone regulates androgen receptor immunoreactivity in the copulatory, but not courtship, neuromuscular system in adult male green anoles. | androgens regulate the expression of male reproductive behaviour in diverse vertebrate species, often acting on androgen receptors (ar) to induce structural or functional changes in the nervous system and periphery. male green anoles possess two sexually dimorphic neuromuscular systems, one controlling throat fan (dewlap) extension, which occurs during courtship, and the other mediating copulatory organ function. although androgens are required for behavioural activation in both systems, testost ... | 2005 | 16101894 |
| does serotonin influence aggression? comparing regional activity before and during social interaction. | serotonin is widely believed to exert inhibitory control over aggressive behavior and intent. in addition, a number of studies of fish, reptiles, and mammals, including the lizard anolis carolinensis, have demonstrated that serotonergic activity is stimulated by aggressive social interaction in both dominant and subordinate males. as serotonergic activity does not appear to inhibit agonistic behavior during combative social interaction, we investigated the possibility that the negative correlati ... | 2013 | 16059845 |
| sexual differentiation of the copulatory neuromuscular system in green anoles (anolis carolinensis): normal ontogeny and manipulation of steroid hormones. | the copulatory neuromuscular system of green anoles is sexually dimorphic and differentiates during embryonic development, although details of the process were unknown. in experiment 1, we determined the time course of normal ontogeny. both male and female embryos possessed bilateral copulatory organs (hemipenes) and associated muscles until incubation day 13; the structures completely regressed in female embryos by incubation day 19 (total incubation 34 days). in experiment 2, we treated eggs w ... | 2005 | 16025462 |
| out of cuba: overwater dispersal and speciation among lizards in the anolis carolinensis subgroup. | overwater dispersal and subsequent allopatric speciation contribute importantly to the species diversity of west indian anolis lizards and many other island radiations. here we use molecular phylogenetic analyses to assess the contribution of overwater dispersal to diversification of the anolis carolinensis subgroup, a clade comprising nine canopy-dwelling species distributed across the northern caribbean. although this clade includes some of the most successful dispersers and colonists in the a ... | 2005 | 15969724 |
| performance capacity, fighting tactics and the evolution of life-stage male morphs in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). | the evolution of alternative male phenotypes is probably driven by male-male competition for access to reproductive females, but few studies have examined whether whole-organism performance capacities differ between male morphs, and if so whether any such differences affect fighting ability. we show how ontogenetic changes in performance and morphology have given rise to two distinct life-stage male morphs exhibiting different fighting tactics within the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). ... | 2004 | 15590602 |
| partial island submergence and speciation in an adaptive radiation: a multilocus analysis of the cuban green anoles. | sympatric speciation is often proposed to account for species-rich adaptive radiations within lakes or islands, where barriers to gene flow or dispersal may be lacking. however, allopatric speciation may also occur in such situations, especially when ranges are fragmented by fluctuating water levels. we test the hypothesis that miocene fragmentation of cuba into three palaeo-archipelagos accompanied species-level divergence in the adaptive radiation of west indian anolis lizards. analysis of mor ... | 2004 | 15539351 |
| effects of l-dopa on aggressive behavior and central monoaminergic activity in the lizard anolis carolinensis, using a new method for drug delivery. | the dopamine (da) precursor, l-dopa (500 microg), was injected into living crickets, which were ingested (one each) by adult male anolis carolinensis. this method of delivery elevated plasma l-dopa and da concentrations by approximately 1000-fold. in contrast, plasma epinephrine (epi) and norepinephrine (ne) were not influenced by l-dopa treatment, although they were elevated following the consumption of the cricket. lizards that ingested l-dopa treated crickets had elevated l-dopa in all brain ... | 2005 | 15474650 |
| social stress and corticosterone regionally upregulate limbic n-methyl-d-aspartatereceptor (nr) subunit type nr(2a) and nr(2b) in the lizard anolis carolinensis. | social aggression in the lizard anolis carolinensis produces dominant and subordinate relationships while elevating corticosterone levels and monoaminergic transmitter activity in hippocampus (medial and mediodorsal cortex). adaptive social behavior for dominant and subordinate male a. carolinensis is learned during aggressive interaction and therefore was hypothesized to involve hippocampus and regulation of n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) receptors. to test the effects of social stress and cortico ... | 2004 | 15464276 |
| dynamics and mechanics of social rank reversal. | stable social relationships are rearranged over time as resources such as favored territorial positions change. we test the hypotheses that social rank relationships are relatively stable, and although social signals influence aggression and rank, they are not as important as memory of an opponent. in addition, we hypothesize that eyespots, aggression and corticosterone influence serotonin and n-methyl-d: -aspartate (nmda) systems in limbic structures involved in learning and memory. in stable a ... | 2005 | 15372303 |
| an external communicating lesion to the coelemic cavity in a green anole (anolis carolensis). | | 2004 | 15334105 |
| effectiveness of the defence mechanism of the turnip sawfly, athalia rosae (hymenoptera: tenthredinidae), against predation by lizards. | the turnip sawfly, athalia rosae linnaeus, is a pest on cruciferous crops. larvae sequester secondary plant compounds, namely glucosinolates, in their haemolymph. when attacked, their integument is easily disrupted and a droplet of haemolymph is exuded ('easy bleeding'). this has been shown to be an effective, chemical-based, defence against invertebrate predators. the efficiency of this proposed defence was tested against a vertebrate predator, using groups of the iguanid lizard anolis caroline ... | 2004 | 15191629 |
| effects of testosterone on the development of neuromuscular systems and their target tissues involved in courtship and copulation in green anoles (anolis carolinensis). | male green anole lizards court females using a red throat fan (dewlap) and copulate by intromitting one of two penises (hemipenes). these structures begin sexually monomorphic, but by adulthood males have larger dewlaps, only males have hemipenes, and many of the neuromuscular components of both systems show male-biased dimorphisms. we hypothesized that testosterone (t), which increases in juvenile males but not females about a month after hatching, facilitates masculinization. to test this idea ... | 2004 | 15109903 |
| intersexual differences in energy expenditure of anolis carolinensis lizards during breeding and postbreeding seasons. | although the amount of energy that males and females invest in reproduction is an integral component of theories explaining the evolution of particular mating strategies, few studies have actually determined the amount of energy that each sex allocates to reproduction. we compared how energy is expended by male and female anolis carolinensis lizards during both the breeding and postbreeding seasons. we used laboratory respirometry to determine resting metabolic rates (rmrs) of inactive, freshly ... | 2006 | 15057717 |
| fiber type composition of the muscle responsible for throat fan extension in green anole lizards. | throat fan (dewlap) extension is sexually dimorphic in green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis). males have larger dewlaps which they display more frequently than females. correlated with the behavior, sexual dimorphisms occur in the skeletal, muscular and neural structures responsible for dewlap extension in green anoles. we used histochemical techniques to stain for myosin atpase and succinate dehydrogenase (sdh) to determine whether sex differences also exist in fiber type composition of the ... | 2004 | 15051965 |
| characterization of projections from a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus in the spinal cord of adult green anoles. | male green anoles possess two copulatory organs (hemipenes), which are independently controlled by bilateral muscles: the transversus penis (tpn) and retractor penis magnus (rpm). adult females do not possess hemipenes or either of the two related muscles. motoneurons projecting to the tpn lie in spinal segments trunk 17 and sacral 1 (t17-s1). overall, motoneurons in this region are larger and more numerous in males than females. the present studies were designed to determine 1) whether motoneur ... | 2004 | 14986311 |
| the green anole (anolis carolinensis): a reptilian model for laboratory studies of reproductive morphology and behavior. | the green anol (anolis carolinensis) is an excellent reptilian model for studying reproductive behavior and the neural and muscular morphology that supports it. this lizard has been the subject of behavioral and ecological study for more than 100 yr, and a rich literature exists on its natural history. both courtship and copulatory behaviors reveal sex and seasonal differences, which allow for the study of mechanisms regulation naturally occurring variation in performance at multiple levels with ... | 2004 | 14756155 |