| organization and characterization of the keratin cytoskeleton in the previtellogenic ovarian follicle of the lizard podarcis sicula raf. | the cytokeratin (ck) cytoskeleton, previously described by immunofluorescence in the ovarian follicle of podarcis sicula, at the electron microscope results constituted by bundles of 10 nm thick intermediate filaments containing keratin. these bundles are better evident in the cytoplasm of the pyriform cell apex pointed toward the oocyte surface and mostly in the intercellular bridges connecting fully differentiated pyriform cells to the oocyte. during the differentiation of pyriform cells, the ... | 2000 | 10984416 |
| cytokeratin cytoskeleton in the differentiating ovarian follicle of the lizard podarcis sicula raf. | by immunoblotting and immunocytochemical techniques, we characterized the cytokeratins previously localized by us in the previtellogenic ovarian follicle of podarcis sicula. our results show that these cytokeratins correspond to those expressed in the monolayered epithelia. in fact, the immunoblotting analysis showed that the ncl-5d3 antibody, specific for human low molecular weight cytokeratins expressed in monolayered epithelia, reacted with the cytokeratins extracted both from the ovary and f ... | 1997 | 9364449 |
| coexistence of alpha1 and beta adrenergic receptors in the liver of the frog rana esculenta, the toad bufo bufo, the lizard podarcis sicula campestris, and the turtle pseudemys picta elegans. | in mammals and birds the characteristics of alpha1 adrenergic receptors and their biological role in liver metabolism have been clearly described, although the predominance of receptor subtypes varies with species. in contrast, the actual presence of hepatic alpha1 adrenergic receptors in fish, amphibians, and reptiles has been questioned. only recently has their existence been demonstrated in some fish species and also in the wood frog rana sylvatica. the present study assessed the presence of ... | 1997 | 9268616 |
| expression of alpha sm actin in terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates. | alpha-smooth muscle (alpha sm) actin of endothermic vertebrates is selectively recognized by the monoclonal antibody anti-alpha sm-1. immunoreactivity to this antibody has been shown to be localized in the nh2-terminal sequence ac-eeed (chaponnier et al. 1994). among terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates, two amphibian (triturus vulgaris, rana esculenta) and three reptilian species (pseudemys scripta elegans, natrix natrix, podarcis sicula) were screened to investigate if their vascular and viscer ... | 1995 | 7553770 |
| phylogenetic aspects of the occurrence and distribution of secretogranin ii immunoreactivity in lower vertebrate gut. | a novel monoclonal antibody raised against bovine secretogranin ii (sg ii) was used in immunohistochemical studies on amphibian (rana esculenta), reptilian (podarcis sicula) and avian (gallus gallus) gut. sg ii immunoreactivity was detected in epithelial and nervous elements. cells immunoreactive for sg ii were examined by double immunostainings to determine whether they might also co-store certain previously known bioactive amine/peptide substances. almost all the endocrine cells immunoreactive ... | 1994 | 7529518 |
| an autoradiographic study of neuroblast proliferation in the rhombencephalon of a reptile, lacerta sicula. | | 1974 | 4476131 |
| [a new diphasic serotype of s. egusi:=41:d: [1,5]-sub genus i]. | description of a new serotype of salmonella: s.egusi, var. diphasic=41:d:[1,5], belonging to subgenus i, from the lizard lacerta sicula sicula, raf., captured in messina, sicily, italy. | 1975 | 1241958 |
| the effects of the fungicide methyl thiophanate on adrenal gland morphophysiology of the lizard, podarcis sicula. | endocrine-disrupting chemicals (edcs) are a large group of substances able to modulate endocrine-signaling pathways, altering the normal function of the endocrine system. although the fungicide methyl thiophanate (mt) is not considering a specific reproductive and developmental toxicant, it can induce histopathological damages in rat thyroid and adrenal glands that have a pivotal role in both processes. we investigated the mt effects on adrenal glands of podarcis sicula lizard, the endemic speci ... | 2007 | 17549544 |
| sequence analysis of retinoic acid receptor alpha, beta and gamma isoforms in the lizard, podarcis sicula. | vitamin a and its principal biologically active derivative, retinoic acid (ra), play a fundamental role in diverse processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, metabolism and apoptosis of many types of cells. in addition, ra has been shown to be involved in the regulation of testicular function. these effects are mediated by interaction with two families of nuclear receptors, retinoic acid receptor (rar) and retinoid x receptor (rxr), each with three subtypes alpha, beta and ... | 2007 | 17449240 |
| unusual origin of a nuclear pseudogene in the italian wall lizard: intergenomic and interspecific transfer of a large section of the mitochondrial genome in the genus podarcis (lacertidae). | two distinct cytochrome b-like sequences were discovered in the genome of podarcis sicula. one of them represents a nuclear copy of a mitochondrial sequence (numt-sic) differing by 14.3% from the authentic mitochondrial (mt) sequence obtained from the same individual. this numt, however, differs by only 2.7% from the mt sequence found in one population of podarcis muralis, a related species in which no corresponding numt was detected. the numt-sic sequence extends over at least 7637 bp and is ho ... | 2007 | 17225967 |
| effects of leptin administration on the endocrine pancreas and liver in the lizard podarcis sicula. | in this study, we investigated the presence of leptin receptor in pancreatic islets and the effect of exogenous leptin administration in podarcis sicula on glucose metabolism. our data show the presence of leptin receptor immunoreactivity in the endocrine pancreas suggesting that leptin may act at a peripheral level as previously postulated in mammals. the effects of short- and long-term and dose-response treatment with supraphysiological concentrations of leptin on circulating levels of insulin ... | 2006 | 16526046 |
| [spread of hemoparasites in reptiles and amphibians in italy]. | hemoparasites were harvested from 993 individuals belonging to 15 reptilian and 1 amphibian species, from various italian localities. hemogregarins were found in 10 reptilian species while a flagellate and microfilariae were found only in tarentola mauritanica from lampedusa. for each host species and place of origin the frequencies of hemogregarins are reported and discussed. longitudinal studies with periodical thin smears were carried out on 5 tarentola mauritanica, 4 lacerta viridis, 26 poda ... | 1999 | 10870559 |
| molecular cloning and characterization of the clock gene period2 in the testis of lizard podarcis sicula and its expression during seasonal reproductive cycle. | clock genes are known to oscillate with circadian rhythmicity in the central clock structure, the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, and also in peripheral tissues. reproduction is a peripheral activity that is strongly influenced by a circadian clock in many organisms. most mammals that exhibit a seasonal cycle are able to decode the daily changes in light across the year and to translate these in hormonal signals that regulate reproductive cycles. expression of many clock genes has b ... | 2005 | 16289937 |
| localization and role of leptin in the thyroid gland of the lizard podarcis sicula (reptilia, lacertidae). | leptin, the product of the ob gene, is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that regulates food intake and energy expenditure. the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis is markedly influenced by the metabolism status, being suppressed during food deprivation. the present study was designed to ascertain whether (1) lizard thyroid gland expresses the long form of leptin receptor (ob-rb) and (2) the leptin administration affects the thyroid gland activity in this species (and to verify whether leptin pla ... | 2005 | 16013046 |
| gene-rich and gene-poor chromosomal regions have different locations in the interphase nuclei of cold-blooded vertebrates. | in situ hybridizations of single-copy gc-rich, gene-rich and gc-poor, gene-poor chicken dna allowed us to localize the gene-rich and the gene-poor chromosomal regions in interphase nuclei of cold-blooded vertebrates. our results showed that the gene-rich regions from amphibians (rana esculenta) and reptiles (podarcis sicula) occupy the more internal part of the nuclei, whereas the gene-poor regions occupy the periphery. this finding is similar to that previously reported in warm-blooded vertebra ... | 2006 | 16404627 |
| hypothermia modulates circadian clock gene expression in lizard peripheral tissues. | the molecular mechanisms whereby the circadian clock responds to temperature changes are poorly understood. the ruin lizard podarcis sicula has historically proven to be a valuable vertebrate model for exploring the influence of temperature on circadian physiology. it is an ectotherm that naturally experiences an impressive range of temperatures during the course of the year. however, no tools have been available to dissect the molecular basis of the clock in this organism. here, we report the c ... | 2007 | 16809482 |
| response of the thyroid gland of the lizard podarcis sicula to endothelin-1. | although endothelins were originally discovered as peptides with vasoconstrictor activity, recent studies have indicated a number of endothelin (et) induced hormonal functions in various tissues. we have studied the interaction of et-1 with thyroid gland of the lizard podarcis sicula. the effects of et-1 administration on the plasma levels of the thyroid hormones (t3 and t4) and tsh were stimulatory. morphological changes in the thyroid after treatment with et-1 were also detected: the height of ... | 2003 | 12658719 |
| characterization of beta-keratins in lizard epidermis: electrophoresis, immunocytochemical and in situ-hybridization study. | lizard scales are composed of alpha-(cyto-) keratins and beta-keratins. the characterization of the molecular weight and isoelectric point (pi) of alpha- and beta-keratins of lizard epidermis (podarcis sicula) has been done by using two-dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. antibodies against cytokeratins, against a chicken scale beta-keratin or against lizard beta-keratin bands of 15-16kda, have been used to recognize alpha- and beta-keratins. acid and basic cyto ... | 2007 | 17101163 |
| progesterone receptor in the liver and oviduct of the lizard podarcis sicula. | in this paper we report the presence of a (3)h-progesterone ((3)h-p) binding moiety, which has the characteristics of a true receptor, in the liver of the female of the lizard podarcis sicula. (3)h-p binding studies show the presence of one type of binding site with an average kd value of 6.2 +/- 2.0 nm in the cytoplasm and 6.3 +/- 1.1 nm in the nucleus. competition experiments showed that progesterone (p) was the best competitor, while testosterone, deoxycorticosterone (doc), corticosterone, 17 ... | 2002 | 12127162 |
| high affinity copper transport protein in the lizard podarcis sicula: molecular cloning, functional characterization and expression in somatic tissues, follicular oocytes and eggs. | copper (cu) is an essential element required in many biological processes including cellular growth and development. the molecular mechanisms involved in copper homeostasis include proteins that play a role in cu uptake. genes encoding high affinity copper transporters (ctr) have been identified in yeast, plant and mammalian cells. analysis of copper and zinc content in growing ovarian follicles and ovulated eggs of the reptilian podarcis sicula demonstrated that the levels of both metals rise d ... | 2002 | 12031492 |
| leptin presence in plasma, liver and fat bodies in the lizard podarcis sicula: fluctuations throughout the reproductive cycle. | leptin is a 16 kda peptide produced by adipocytes in response to increasing fat stores and signals to the brain to stop eating and increase energy expenditure. recent studies point out that the role of leptin is much broader and includes the regulation of reproduction. the lizard, podarcis sicula, is an oviparous species characterized, at this latitude, by a seasonal reproductive cycle. since in podarcis sicula the recovery of the gonadal function coincides with the recovery of metabolic activit ... | 2001 | 11681626 |
| distribution of apelin, the endogenous ligand of the apj receptor, in the lizard podarcis sicula. | apelin is a novel bioactive peptide that has been isolated from bovine stomach extracts and identified as the endogenous ligand for the apj receptor. although the main physiological functions of apelin have not yet been clarified, it is known that apelin is involved in the regulation of blood pressure, central control of body fluid homeostasis and the modulation of immune response. in order to investigate the distribution of apelin in reptiles, we have performed an immunohistochemical analysis o ... | 2004 | 15571329 |
| evidence of regional differences in the lectin histochemistry along the ductus epididymis of the lizard, podarcis sicula raf. | the regional difference in the carbohydrate components of the ductus epididymis epithelium of a lizard was delineated by means of 13 lectins. basal cells expressed only n-acetylglucosamine (glcnac). throughout the ductus, the secretory cells showed oligosaccharides with terminal n-acetylneuraminic acid (neu5ac)alpha(2,6)galactose (gal)/n-acetylgalactosamine (galnac) and internal mannose (man) and/or glucose (glc) in the whole cytoplasm, oligosaccharides terminating in neu5ac alpha(2,6)gal beta(1 ... | 2002 | 12495218 |
| phylogeography of the italian wall lizard, podarcis sicula, as revealed by mitochondrial dna sequences. | in a phylogeographical survey of the italian wall lizard, podarcis sicula, dna sequence variation along an 887-bp segment of the cytochrome b gene was examined in 96 specimens from 86 localities covering the distribution range of the species. in addition, parts of the 12s rrna and 16s rrna genes from 12 selected specimens as representatives of more divergent cytochrome b haploclades were sequenced (together about 950 bp). six phylogeographical main groups were found, three representing samples o ... | 2005 | 15660947 |
| genotoxic effects of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl on podarcis sicula assessed by micronucleus test, comet assay and chromosome analysis. | the increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised the need to evaluate their potential threat to animal and human health. in the present study, the genotoxic effects of environmentally relevant exposure to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (tm) were assessed in the lizard podarcis sicula (reptilia, lacertidae) using micronucleus test, chromosome aberration analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. the number of micronuclei increased significantly with exposure ti ... | 2011 | 21461776 |
| characterization of snp, a novel tissue- and phase-specific nuclear protein expressed during the proliferative phase in the oviduct of the lizard podarcis sicula raf. | the amino acid sequence of a novel tissue-and phase-specific nuclear protein (snp) has been determined, after purification from the nuclei of the oviduct of the lizard podarcis sicula raf. during the reproductive period of the seasonal growth. snp has a pi of 9.0 and contains 81 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 9211.88 +/- 0.09. it shows a bipartite organization as the first 40 amino acids contain all 8 cysteinyl residues, while the last 41 amino acids contain 16 prolyl residues. t ... | 2000 | 10987369 |
| morphological and functional changes in the thyroid gland of methyl thiophanate-injected lizards, podarcis sicula. | the thyroid has been shown to be a target organ for environmental chemicals, specifically endocrine-disrupting contaminants. reptiles are particularly suitable as contaminant biomonitors due to their persistence in a variety of habitats, wide geographic distribution, longevity, and, in many cases, site fidelity. methyl thiophanate is a systemic broad-spectrum fungicide used to prevent and control plant diseases caused by various fungi. the aim of this study was to develop an integrated biologica ... | 2008 | 18196192 |
| pyriform cell differentiation in podarcis sicula is accompanied by the appearance of surface glycoproteins bearing alpha-galnac terminated chains. | the present histochemical and cytochemical study using a lectin panel (wga, gsi-a4, gsi-b4, psa uea-i, pna, lca, con-a, dba, mpa, bpa) has demonstrated that, in podarcis sicula, the differentiation of small follicle cells into pyriform cells by means of intermediate cells is accompanied by the appearance of glycoproteins bearing alpha-galnac terminated o-linked side chains on the cell surface. the distribution of dba- and mpa-binding sites over the follicular epithelium changed during the differ ... | 2001 | 11331965 |
| pcna immunoreactivity revealing normal proliferative activity in the brain of adult lampetra planeri (bloch, 1784). | it is now well known that the teleosts among osteichthyes, urodele and anuran amphibians, lacertilian reptiles possess encephalic natural proliferative activities even into adulthood, as demonstrated by a great number of researches performed both under normal and various experimental conditions. few years ago we have undertaken in adult heterothermic vertebrates a reappraisal on spontaneous cerebral proliferative events involving some organisms (podarcis sicula, triturus carnifex, rana esculenta ... | 2015 | 17580660 |
| expression of pcna positivity in the brain of normal adult heterothermic vertebrates: further observations. | as part of our study of non-experimentally induced encephalic proliferation in unequivocally adult individuals of several heterothermic vertebrates (podarcis sicula, triturus carnifex, rana esculenta, carassius carassius), we deal here with areas not considered in previous investigations, i.e. various encephalic regions (except the telencephalon) in podarcis sicula, triturus carnifex and rana esculenta, the diencephalon and medulla oblongata in carassius carassius, and the olfactory bulbs in the ... | 2015 | 16277156 |
| location of exit channel for nascent protein in 80s ribosome. | ribosomes crystallize on endoplasmic reticulum membranes in oocytes of the southern italian lizard, lacerta sicula, during winter. electron crystallographic studies of the crystals have been made to elucidate the arrangement of the ribosomal subunits on the membrane surface. we have now obtained more extensive and better ordered crystals of the same habit, grown from chick embryo ribosomes, and report here on their native structure preserved by rapid freezing of the crystals in thin aqueous film ... | 2013 | 3951541 |
| immunocytochemical localization of substance p in the adrenal gland of podarcis sicula (reptilia, lacertidae): evidence for its involvement in the modulation of adrenal activity. | the occurrence of substance p (sp) immunoreactivity was investigated in the adrenal gland of the lizard podarcis sicula by abc immunocytochemical technique: sp-immunoreactivity was present in both adrenaline and noradrenaline cells, in ganglion cells and nerve fibers in the connective capsule surrounding the gland. the involvement of substance p in the modulation of pituitary-interrenal axis was studied in vivo by intraperitoneal injections of sp. the effects were estimated by means of the morph ... | 2003 | 14636629 |
| variation in the cranium shape of wall lizards (podarcis spp.): effects of phylogenetic constraints, allometric constraints and ecology. | we used geometric morphometrics to explore the influence of phylogenetic and allometric constraints as well as ecology on variation in cranium shape in five species of monophyletic, morphologically similar podarcis lizards (podarcis erhardii, podarcis melisellensis, podarcis muralis, podarcis sicula and podarcis taurica). these species belong to different clades, they differ in their habitat preferences and can be classified into two distinct morphotypes: saxicolous and terrestrial. we found (i) ... | 2012 | 22748667 |
| gnrh and substance p regulate prostaglandins and sex steroids from reptilian (podarcis sicula sicula) ovarian follicles and corpora lutea. | the in vitro effects of salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sgnrh), substance p (sp), and their antagonists on prostaglandin f2 alpha (pgf2 alpha), prostaglandin e2 (pge2), progesterone, androgens, and estradiol-17 beta release by follicles and corpus luteum (cl) of the oviparous lizard, podarcis sicula sicula, were studied. follicles and cl were divided according to the different developmental stages; follicles: pre-vitellogenic, early-vitellogenic, mid-vitellogenic, and fully grown; cl: cl1 ... | 1994 | 7513670 |
| proliferative events experimentally induced by a transient cold shock in the brain of adult terrestrial heterothermic vertebrates: preliminary analysis of pcna expression in podarcis sicula. | in past studies on the encephalic regenerative phenomena some authors adopted a pre-surgi- cal stratagem (drastic, sudden, transient thermal stimulus) to adult brain-injured newts to limit death rate upon surgery and with this method, unexpected tissue reparation was obtained. this procedure became a routine technicality also in frog and lizard to stimulate an increase in the neurogenesis, attributable to putative stem cells which appear either in clusters ("matrix areas" or "matrix zones"), mos ... | 2014 | 25665278 |
| pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and its receptor pac1 in the testis of triturus carnifex and podarcis sicula. | the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (pacap) is a member of the glucagon-related family that occurs in two amidated forms with 38 (pacap38) and 27 (pacap27) amino acids. first discovered in the brain, it was then localized in several peripheral tissues of mammals, including the testis. however, current knowledge of the expression and function of pacap and its receptor pac(1) in the reproductive system of non-mammalian vertebrates, and particularly in the testis, is still limite ... | 2010 | 20338177 |
| trk neurotrophin receptor-like proteins in the kidney of frog (rana esculenta) and lizard (podarcis sicula): an immunohistochemical study. | the present study investigates the occurrence of trk-like neurotrophin receptor proteins in the lizard and frog kidney. in lizard rare trkb-like immunoreactive cells in intermediate and distal tubules were found. trkc-like immunoreactive cells were numerous in collecting tubules and became less numerous in collecting ducts. no trkc-like immunoreactivity was detected in the ureteric duct. in the frog, we observed numerous trkc-like immunoreactive cells in collecting tubules and ducts while they w ... | 2004 | 14758546 |
| predator feeding choice on conspicuous and non-conspicuous carabid beetles: first results. | insects use various types of behaviour, chemical defences, mimetic, aposematic or cryptic appearances as anti-predatory strategies. among insects, carabid beetles of the genus brachinus are distasteful prey because they discharge an irritating "cloud" of quinones when threatened. these beetles live in aggregations and adopt warning (conspicuous pattern) colours and chemicals to create a template that is easily learnt by predators. another carabid beetle, anchomenus dorsalis, mimics the colours a ... | 2011 | 21738410 |
| [synthesis of mucin in the oviduct of rana esculenta and lacerta sicula during the reproductive cycle]. | | 1975 | 1085983 |
| effect of estradiol-17-beta on the distribution of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the testes of rana esculenta and lacerta sicula. | | 1967 | 6050510 |
| heterotopic synaptic bodies in the auditory hair cells of adult lizards. | the auditory hair cells of adults of eight species of lizards (three gekkonids: coleonyx variegatus, gekko gecko, and cosymbotus platyurus; two teiids: ameiva ameiva and cnemidophorus tigris; one anguid: celestus costatus; one lacertid: podarcis (lacerta) sicula; and one iguanid: crotaphytus wislizeni) were studied by transmission electron microscopy. heterotopic synaptic bodies were found in some of the auditory hair cells of all of the above species, occurring frequently in the gekkonids but i ... | 2010 | 2820267 |
| deleterious mutations of a claw keratin in multiple taxa of reptiles. | we have recently shown that homologs of mammalian hair keratins are expressed in the claws of the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis. to test whether reptilian hair keratin homologs are functionally associated with claws, we investigated the conservation of the prototypical reptilian hair keratin homolog, hard acidic keratin 1 (ha1), in representative species from all main clades of reptiles. a complete cdna of ha1 was cloned from the claw-forming epidermis of the lacertid lizard podarcis s ... | 2011 | 21181402 |
| immunohistochemical investigations on the pyloric glands of the ruin lizard (podarcis sicula campestris de betta). | mucous cells and enteroendocrine cells of the pyloric region of the ruin lizard (podarcis sicula campestris de betta) have been examined by lectin histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. binding to five plant lectins (canavalia ensiformis, con a; triticum vulgare, wheat germ, wgl; lotus tetragonolobus, winged pea, wpl; glycine max, soybean, sbl; arachis hypogaea, peanut, pnl) was performed to characterize glycoconjugates in the secretory products of superficial and glandular mucous cells. ... | 1994 | 7913280 |
| skrjabinelazia rizzoi n. sp. (nematoda: seuratoidea) from a sicilian lacertid, with comments on specific and biological diversity in the genus. | skrjabinelazia rizzoi n. sp. (seuratoidea), from podarcis sicula captured at cammarata, agrigento province, sicily, is distinct from the 13 known species of the genus, including skrjabinelazio sp. rizzo from catania. it is identified with the following set of characters: in the male, short spicules and gubernaculum, thin body; in the female, buccal cavity with a crown of leaflets, body cuticle without internal ornamentation, presence of cephalic and caudal vesicles, tail with a terminal digitifo ... | 2008 | 18416246 |
| testicular steroidogenic enzymes in the lizard podarcis sicula during the spermatogenic cycle. | steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-hsd), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-hsd), 5α-reductase (5α-red), p450 aromatase are key enzymes involved in steroidogenesis. recently, we showed the expression and the localization of p450 aromatase in podarcis sicula testis during the different phases of the reproductive cycle, showing its involvement in the control of steroidogenesis, particularly in 17β-estradiol synthesis. now, we have investigated the ... | 2017 | 29126714 |
| estrogenic contamination by manure fertilizer in organic farming: a case study with the lizard podarcis sicula. | in the last years, worldwide organic farming has grown exponentially; as a consequence, the use of animal manure as a soil fertility source has become the principal agricultural choice. however, the use of manure as fertilizer can increase the amount of steroid hormone metabolites in the soil. in southern italy, lacertidae lizards are the most abundant vertebrate group in agroecosystems and have been identified as potential model species for ecotoxicological studies. the aim of this study was to ... | 2016 | 26475047 |
| expression of caspase 3 in ovarian follicle cells of the lizard podarcis sicula. | in this study, our aim was to determine whether caspase 3 plays a role, during previtellogenesis, in the ovarian follicular epithelium of the lizard podarcis sicula. we investigated the presence and localization of proform and active caspase 3 by enzyme assay, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. in parallel, a fragment of caspase 3 was cloned for the first time in this species, sequenced and used for in situ hybridization to localize messengers and analysed by a phylogenetic survey to shed ... | 2017 | 27718023 |
| the first transcriptome of italian wall lizard, a new tool to infer about the island syndrome. | some insular lizards show a high degree of differentiation from their conspecific mainland populations, like licosa island lizards, which are described as affected by reversed island syndrome (ris). in previous works, we demonstrated that some traits of ris, as melanization, depend on a differential expression of gene encoding melanocortin receptors. to better understand the basis of syndrome, and providing raw data for future investigations, we generate the first de novo transcriptome of the it ... | 2017 | 28953924 |
| interferences of an environmental pollutant with estrogen-like action in the male reproductive system of the terrestrial vertebrate podarcis sicula. | nonylphenol (np) is classified among the endocrine disruptor chemicals with estrogen-like properties. it is widely used in many industries and to dilute pesticides in agriculture, and is known to affect the reproductive system of many aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms. this study aimed to verify how np, administered via food and water, may interfere with the reproductive cycle of a terrestrial vertebrate. our model was the male italian wall lizard podarcis sicula, a seasonal breeding species th ... | 2015 | 25680815 |
| spauligodon aloisei n. sp. (nematoda: pharyngodonidae) parasite of podarcis sicula (reptilia: lacertidae) from italy. | a new species of an oxyurid nematode is described from the large intestine of the lacertid lizard podarcis sicula (rafinesque. 1810) (reptilia: lacertidae) from italy. spauligodon aloisei n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological and metrical characters, including a spined tail in males and females, absence of a spicule in males, arrangement of the last pair of the male caudal papillae, vulva location, and egg morphology. the species most similar to s. aloi ... | 2003 | 12880259 |
| reactive oxygen species and glutathione antioxidants in the testis of the soil biosentinel podarcis sicula (rafinesque 1810). | important toxicological achievements have been made during the last decades using reptiles. we focus our investigation on gonadal reproductive health of the soil biosentinel podarcis sicula which is very sensitive to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. the aim of this study is to quantitatively detect, by sensitive microassays, reactive oxygen species and the glutathione antioxidants in the testis and investigate if they are differentially expressed before and after remediation of a site of the "lan ... | 2017 | 28936697 |
| unravelling the role of metallothionein on development, reproduction and detoxification in the wall lizard podarcis sicula. | metallothioneins (mts) are an evolutionary conserved multigene family of proteins whose role was initially identified in binding essential metals. the physiological role of mt, however, has been revealed to be more complex than expected, since not only are mts able to bind to toxic heavy metals, but many isoforms have shown specialized and alternative functions. within this uncertainty, the information available on mts in non-mammalian vertebrates, particularly in neglected tetrapods such as the ... | 2017 | 28753953 |
| metallothionein expression and synthesis in the testis of the lizard podarcis sicula under natural conditions and following estrogenic exposure. | metallothionein (mt) is the main protein involved in the homeostasis of metallic micronutrients and in cellular defence against heavy metals and reactive oxygen species. found in almost all vertebrate tissues, mt presence and localization in the testis has been controversial. in the present study, by using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis we assessed the localization of both mt transcript and protein in podarcis sicula testes during two different phases of the reproductive ... | 2017 | 28735517 |
| molecular cloning of vip and distribution of vip/vpacr system in the testis of podarcis sicula. | using molecular, biochemical, and cytological tools, we studied the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequence of phi/vip and the distribution of vip/vpac receptor system in the testis of the italian wall lizard podarcis sicula to evaluate the involvement of such a neuropeptide in the spermatogenesis control. we demonstrated that (1) podarcis sicula vip had a high identity with other vertebrate vip sequences, (2) differently from mammals, vip was synthesized directly in the testis, and (3) v ... | 2014 | 24753326 |
| phylogenetic relationships of podarcis siculus (rafinesque-schmaltz, 1810) and podarcis tauricus (pallas, 1814) in turkey, based on mitochondrial dna. | the italian wall lizard and the balkan wall lizard have a series of taxonomic revisions. however, their phylogenetic relationships still remain uncertain in turkey. in the present study, we have assessed taxonomic relationships, both of podarcis siculus and podarcis tauricus through estimation of phylogenetic relationships among 43 and 42 specimens, respectively, using mtdna (16 s rrna and cytb) from great main populations in turkey. the genetic distances among the populations of p. siculus in t ... | 2017 | 28673190 |
| pl10 dead-box protein is expressed during germ cell differentiation in the reptile podarcis sicula (family lacertidae). | among genes involved in the regulation of germ cell differentiation, those of ddx4/vasa and the ded1/ddx3 subfamilies encode for dead-box atp-dependent rna helicases, proteins involved in many mechanisms related to rna processing. for the first time in reptiles, using specific antibodies at confocal microscopy, we analysed the localization pattern of a ded1/ddx3 subfamily member in testis and ovary of podarcis sicula (ps-pl10) during the reproductive cycle. in testis, ps-pl10 is expressed in the ... | 2017 | 28656658 |
| nervous connections of the parietal eye in adult lacerta s. sicula rafinesque as demonstrated by anterograde and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. | subsequent to the injection of horseradish peroxidase into the parietal eye of adult lacerta sicula, the course of the parietal nerve and its projections were determined. the parietal nerve enters the left habenular ganglion where it branches into a medial and a lateral route. some nerve fibers decussate within the habenular commissure. whereas this pathway exhibits a striking asymmetry at the level of the habenular ganglia, its projections to the dorsolateral nucleus of the thalamus, the perive ... | 1981 | 6168382 |
| [the orbitotemporal region in the cranium of chelydra serpentina linnaeus (chelonia) and lacerta sicula rafinesque (lacertilia)]. | an analysis of the ontogenesis of the chondrocranium gives the following homologies in the skull of lacerta and chelydra: (see article). it is shown that the extracranial position of the cavum epiptericum in lacerta corresponds to the stage of maximal development of the chondrocranium in chelydra. but further development brings about a dermal sidewall in the orbitotemporal region, b,ilt up by descending parietal flanges which incorporate the epipterygoid. this not only allows the pila antotica t ... | 1976 | 1007875 |
| vasoactive intestinal peptide (vip) localization in the epididymis of two vertebrate species. | vip and its receptors (vpacrs) are largely investigated in vertebrate testis, as well as their functions in the control of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. by contrast, a few data are available about the presence and role of vip in the epididymis. the aim of the present paper was to investigate the localization of vip and its receptors in the epididymis of two vertebrates: podarcis sicula, a seasonal reproducer, and rattus rattus, a continuous reproducer. by immunohystochemical investigation ... | 2017 | 28784577 |
| immunohistochemical localization of substance p-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus of the lizard, podarcis sicula, r. | the distribution of substance p (sp) immunoreactivity was investigated in the hypothalamus (preoptic area included) of the lizard by single and double immunocytochemical procedures, sp-immunopositive cell bodies were seen in the paraventricular nucleus and periventricular hypothalamic gray (including the paraventricular organ) together with some more lateral elements. extensive nerve fibers were seen in the white matter and surrounding the paraventricular and supraoptic neurons, and more caudall ... | 1984 | 6208082 |
| quantitative abilities in a reptile (podarcis sicula). | the ability to identify the largest amount of prey available is fundamental for optimizing foraging behaviour in several species. to date, this cognitive skill has been observed in all vertebrate groups except reptiles. in this study we investigated the spontaneous ability of ruin lizards to select the larger amount of food items. in experiment 1, lizards proved able to select the larger food item when presented with two alternatives differing in size (0.25, 0.50, 0.67 and 0.75 ratio). in experi ... | 2017 | 28404818 |
| from tameness to wariness: chemical recognition of snake predators by lizards in a mediterranean island. | antipredatory defenses are maintained when benefit exceeds cost. a weak predation pressure may lead insular lizards to tameness.podarcis lilfordiexhibits a high degree of insular tameness, which may explain its extinction from the main island of menorca when humans introduced predators. there are three species of lizards in menorca: the nativep. lilfordi, only on the surrounding islets, and two introduced lizards in the main island,scelarcis perspicillataandpodarcis siculus. in addition, there a ... | 2017 | 28123905 |
| alterations in brain morphology and hsp70 expression in lizard embryos exposed to thermal stress. | the teratogenic effects of thermal stress were studied in the oviparous italian wall lizard podarcis sicula. to this purpose, the eggs were exposed to continuous or temporary cold (15°c) or warm (30°c) stresses and the effects were analysed at the cytological and molecular levels. the results demonstrated the lethality of the continuous regimes and of the warm temporary regime, no matter if given at early (5 days) or late (15 days) stages of development. temporary cold stress also resulted in le ... | 2017 | 27544310 |
| p450 aromatase: a key enzyme in the spermatogenesis of the italian wall lizard, podarcis sicula. | p450 aromatase is a key enzyme in steroidogenesis involved in the conversion of testosterone into 17β-estradiol. we investigated the localization and the expression of p450 aromatase in podarcis sicula testes during the different phases of the reproductive cycle: summer stasis (july-august), early autumnal resumption (september), middle autumnal resumption (october-november), winter stasis (december-february), spring resumption (march-april) and the reproductive period (may-june). using immunohi ... | 2016 | 27489219 |
| cadmium impairment of reproduction in the female wall lizard podarcis sicula. | the exposure to environmental toxicants such cadmium (cd) is an important research area in wildlife protection. in this study, the effect of cd oral administration on the ovarian structure and function and on reproductive performance of the italian wall lizard podarcis sicula was studied. in vivo, adult female lizards were randomly assigned to three groups. cd was given with food in single dose and in multiple doses 3 days/week for 4 weeks at dose of 1.0 μg/g body weight. following euthanasia, t ... | 2013 | 24022997 |
| estrogen-dependent, extrahepatic synthesis of vitellogenin in male vertebrates: a mini-review. | in the last years, the hormonal balance is threatened by the interferences of substances with hormone-like action (endocrine disruptor chemicals, edcs) that may harm animal reproduction. most edcs are resistant to environmental degradation and are considered ubiquitous contaminants. edcs may have synthetic or natural origins. pesticides used in intensive agriculture contain large amounts of chemicals with estrogenic properties, such as the alkylphenol nonylphenol (np). besides, animal feeding op ... | 2017 | 28242272 |
| ectopic synthesis of vitellogenin in testis and epididymis of estrogen-treated lizard podarcis sicula. | in oviparous vertebrates, vitellogenin (vtg) is the major yolk precursor synthesized in the liver of sexually mature females during the reproductive period. in males, the vtg gene is silent, but it may be activated by estradiol-17β (e2) or estrogen-like substances. until now, extra-hepatic expression and synthesis of vtg after estrogen exposure has been reported only for aquatic vertebrates. this study demonstrates the ability of testis and epididymis of the terrestrial oviparous lacertid podarc ... | 2016 | 27292789 |
| the organization of tip links and stereocilia on hair cells of bird and lizard basilar papillae. | auditory papillae from three species of bird (pigeon, starling, and chick), and two species of european lizard (podarcis muralis and podarcis sicula) were examined by scanning electron microscopy. hair bundles from all papillae showed tip links oriented along the direction of gradation in heights of the stereocilia (i.e. parallel to the hair-cell axis of bilateral symmetry, and so parallel to the excitatory-inhibitory axis for mechanotransduction). this orientation was seen irrespective of the o ... | 1989 | 2793612 |
| molecular identification of estrogen receptors (eralpha and erbeta) and their differential expression during vtg synthesis in the liver of lizard podarcis sicula. | in non-mammalian vertebrates yolk deposition in the oocytes is a hormone-dependent, gender-specific process. produced by the ovary under gonadotropin stimulation, estradiol 17-beta (e(2)) plays a key role in the liver synthesis of vitellogenin (vtg) which in turn is taken up by vitellogenic oocytes in the ovary. in many species a negative role in liver synthesis of vtg in females is also played by progesterone. experimental administration of e(2) induces the expression of the vtg silent gene als ... | 2010 | 20417209 |
| role of pacap on testosterone and 17β-estradiol production in the testis of wall lizard podarcis sicula. | pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (pacap) is a neuropeptide that in mammalian testis is involved in the control of testosterone and 17β-estradiol synthesis. a similar involvement was recently postulated in the testis of a nonmammalian vertebrate, the wall lizard podarcis sicula. indeed, we reported the presence of pacap and its receptors throughout the reproductive cycle within both germ and somatic cells. now, we investigated the effects of pacap on steroidogenesis in significant p ... | 2016 | 26517944 |
| sex steroid hormone secretion in the wall lizard podarcis sicula testis: the involvement of vip. | vasoactive intestinal peptide (vip) is a pleiotropic neuropeptide involved in different functions, including testosterone synthesis. recently, we reported the presence of vip in the testis of podarcis sicula, throughout the reproductive cycle. now, we investigated the effects of the vip on steroidogenesis in significant periods of the podarcis reproductive cycle: winter stasis, reproductive period, and summer stasis. using vip treatments in testis culture in absence or presence of receptors anta ... | 2015 | 26351243 |
| vasa expression in spermatogenic cells during the reproductive-cycle phases of podarcis sicula (reptilia, lacertidae). | the vasa gene encodes a dead-box atp-dependent rna helicase that regulates the translation of multiple mrnas involved in germ line differentiation. this protein has been deeply studied in many animals, but few data are available to date on reptiles. in this work, we sequenced a portion of podarcis sicula vasa gene (ps-vasa), developed a specific antibody and verified its specificity. using anti-ps-vasa and confocal microscopy, we studied vasa expression in male germ cells during the reproductive ... | 2015 | 25944282 |
| effects of leptin on fsh cells in the pituitary gland of podarcis siculus. | leptin is the hormone synthesised by adipocytes, which plays an important role in regulating appetite and metabolism. in mammals, this pleiotropic hormone also plays a key role in controlling gonadotropin secretion by stimulatory hypothalamic and pituitary actions. however, little is known about leptin in lower vertebrates and particularly few studies are available on reptiles. in the present work, we analysed the action of recombinant human leptin on fsh cells in the pituitary gland of podarcis ... | 2015 | 25617161 |
| relationships between seasonal thermal variations and cell proliferation in heterothermic vertebrates, as revealed by pcna expression in the brain of adult podarcis sicula. | in adult terrestrial heterothermic vertebrates, spontaneous or experimentally induced plasticity of the brain is widely demonstrated. this phenomenon is more pronounced in amphibians than in lacertilians, the most investigated among the reptiles. in the lizard it has been observed that the summer photoperiod and temperature exert a positive influence on the proliferative activity of cerebral putative stem cells, which then differentiate into glial or neuronal cells. in the present investigation, ... | 2014 | 25345073 |
| imidacloprid induces morphological and molecular damages on testis of lizard (podarcis sicula). | the insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated under laboratory conditions in the adult male italian wall lizards (podarcis sicula) to assess its potential toxicity. by an acute oral test, ld50 was 503.76 mg/kg. changes in spermatogenesis, plasma sex hormone levels and androgen and oestrogen receptor mrnas were analysed by subchronic test and simulated environmental exposure. 15-days subchronic test, in which lizards were orally dosed on alternate days at 0, 10, 50, 100 mg/kg bw, showed a dose-depen ... | 2015 | 25314907 |
| pacap and pac₁ receptor in the reproductive cycle of male lizard podarcis sicula. | pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (pacap) is a neuropeptide involved in multiple functions, including vertebrate reproduction. recently, we reported the presence of pacap in the testis of italian wall lizard podarcis sicula during reproductive period (may-june). herein we investigated the pacap mrna expression and the localization of pacap/pacap receptor system, in the other periods of the podarcis reproductive cycle, namely in summer stasis, early autumnal resumption, mid-autumnal ... | 2014 | 24852351 |
| the vip/vpacr system in the reproductive cycle of male lizard podarcis sicula. | starting from the knowledge that in the reproductive period the vasoactive intestinal peptide (vip) is widely distributed in podarcis sicula testis, we studied vip expression and the localization of the neuropeptide and its receptors in the testis of the italian wall lizard p. sicula in the other phases of its reproductive cycle (summer stasis, autumnal resumption, winter stasis, spring resumption). by real time-pcr, we demonstrated that testicular vip mrna levels change during the reproductive ... | 2014 | 24694517 |
| distribution and molecular evolution of the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (pacap) and its receptors in the lizard podarcis sicula (squamata, lacertidae). | the presence of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (pacap) and its receptors pac(1), vpac(1), and vpac(2) was studied in the lizard podarcis sicula gastrointestinal and respiratory tissues. the expression and distribution of this neuropeptide was investigated using rt-pcr, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization techniques. rt-pcr showed that several tissues of this reptile synthesize an mrna encoding for pacap. performing in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistr ... | 2009 | 19184550 |
| celestial orientation with the sun not in view: lizards use a time-compensated sky polarization compass. | the present investigation was aimed at testing whether the lizard sky polarization compass is time compensated. for this purpose, ruin lizards, podarcis sicula, were both trained and tested for orientation inside a morris water maze under clear skies with the sun not in view. during training, lizards showed a striking bimodal orientation along the training axis, demonstrating their capability of determining the symmetry plane of the sky polarization pattern and thus the use of polarization infor ... | 2014 | 24682208 |
| nonylphenol effects on the hpa axis of the bioindicator vertebrate, podarcis sicula lizard. | nonylphenol (np) is an endocrine disruptor widely distributed in the environment. it accumulates in the lipids of living organisms and enters the human food chain. the main source of human exposure is expected to be food, drinking water and foodstuff contaminated through leaching from packaging or pesticide formulation applications. np acts as an estrogenic compound and it is able to mimic the action of estradiol 17β (e2) by binding to the estrogen receptor (er). the aim of the present study was ... | 2014 | 24290296 |
| microtubule organization and nucleation in the differentiating ovarian follicle of the lizard podarcis sicula. | we analyzed the organization of the microtubular cytoskeleton and the distribution of centrosomes at the different stages of differentiation of the ovarian follicle of the lizard podarcis sicula by examining immunolabeled α- and γ-tubulins using confocal microscopy. we observed that in the follicular epithelium the differentiation of the nurse pyriform cells is accompanied by a reorganization of the microtubules in the oocyte cortex, changing from a reticular to a radial pattern. furthermore, th ... | 2012 | 22707399 |
| the lizard celestial compass detects linearly polarized light in the blue. | the present study first examined whether ruin lizards, podarcis sicula, are able to orientate using plane-polarized light produced by an lcd screen. ruin lizards were trained and tested indoors, inside a hexagonal morris water maze positioned under an lcd screen producing white polarized light with a single e-vector, which provided an axial cue. white polarized light did not include wavelengths in the uv. lizards orientated correctly either when tested with e-vector parallel to the training axis ... | 2012 | 22693032 |
| expression of estrogen receptor alpha switches off secretory activity in the epididymal channel of the lizard podarcis sicula. | the epididymis in the male reproductive tract allows the survival, viability, and storage of spermatozoa from the testis. in the lizard podarcis sicula, the epididymis can be regionalized to an initial segment called the caput that comprises the efferent ductules, followed by the middle and terminal segments, respectively termed the corpus and cauda. by means of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, we analyzed the expression of the estrogen receptors of the alpha and beta type (erα and ... | 2012 | 22139898 |
| further data on the occurrence and evolution of satellite dna families in the lacertid genome. | this paper reports the isolation and characterization of two hindiii repetitive dna families from the genome of two lacertid lizards, podarcis sicula and lacerta saxicola. these satellites did not appear to be related to each other. the consensus sequences of their monomeric units did not show any similarity, though both dnas were a-t rich. moreover, each of them was found only in closely related species. the monomeric unit of the hindiii dna family isolated from p. sicula (plhs) showed a close ... | 1994 | 7921648 |
| lectin cytochemical localisation of glycoconjugates in the olfactory system of the lizards lacerta viridis and podarcis sicula. | to investigate the presence of defined carbohydrate moieties on the cell surface of the olfactory and vomeronasal receptor cells and the projections of the latter into the olfactory bulbs, a lectin binding study was performed on the olfactory system of the lizards: lacerta viridis and podarcis sicula. both lizards showed a high lectin binding for n-acetyl-glucosamine in the sensory neurons. the lectin binding patterns in lacerta indicated that the main olfactory system possessed a moderate densi ... | 2000 | 10926095 |
| effects of cadmium on the glial architecture in lizard brain. | the glial cells are positioned to be the first cells of the brain parenchyma to face molecules crossing the blood-brain barrier with a relevant neuroprotective role from cytotoxic action of heavy metals on the nervous system. cadmium is a highly toxic metal and its levels in the environment are increasing due to industrial activities. this element can pass the blood-brain barrier and have neurotoxic activity. for this reason we have studied the effects of cadmium on the glial architecture in the ... | 2017 | 28348417 |
| influence of temperature on the liver circadian clock in the ruin lizard podarcis sicula. | reptiles represent an interesting animal model to investigate the influence of temperature on molecular circadian clocks. the ruin lizard podarcis sicula lives in a continental climate and it is subjected to wide range of environmental temperatures during the course of the year. as consequence, ruin lizard daily activity pattern includes either the hibernation or periods of inactivity determined by hypothermia. here we showed the rhythmic expression of two clock genes, lper2 and lclock, in the l ... | 2007 | 17262789 |
| a combination of long term fragmentation and glacial persistence drove the evolutionary history of the italian wall lizard podarcis siculus. | the current distribution of genetic diversity is the result of a vast array of microevolutionary processes, including short-term demographic and ecological mechanisms and long-term allopatric isolation in response to quaternary climatic fluctuations. we investigated past processes that drove the population differentiation and spatial genetic distribution of the italian wall lizard podarcis siculus by means of sequences of mitochondrial cytb (n = 277 from 115 localities) and nuclear mc1r and β-fi ... | 2017 | 28056768 |
| cadmium distribution and metallothionein expression in lizard tissues following acute and chronic cadmium intoxication. | the present report is an attempt to investigate the influence of intraperitoneal and dietary cadmium exposure on the distribution of cadmium accumulation and induction of metallothionein gene expression in different tissues of the lizard podarcis sicula. cadmium accumulation in liver, kidney, ovary, brain and intestine was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. metallothionein gene induction was determined by dot blot analyses on the total rna extracted from the same organs. our data indica ... | 2006 | 17097355 |
| glucose transporter (glut-1) distribution in the brain vessels of the adult italian wall lizard, podarcis sicula. | the glut-1 isoform of the glucose transporter is commonly accepted as a reliable molecular marker of blood-brain barrier endothelia in neural vasculature organized in a three-dimensional network of single vessels. the brain of the lizard podarcis sicula is characterized by a vascular architecture based on a pattern of paired vessels. the presence and distribution of glut-1 were studied in adult lizards using both light and transmission electron microscopic techniques. immunoperoxidase histochemi ... | 2006 | 16828846 |
| cadmium induces changes on acth and prl cells in podarcis sicula lizard pituitary gland. | we analyzed the effect of cadmium on corticotropic (acth) and prolactin (prl) cells in the pituitary gland of the podarcis sicula lizard under chronic exposure to this metal. adult lizards were given cdcl2 in drinking water at the dose of 10 μg/10 g body mass for 120 days. light microscopy was performed after histological and immunohistochemical staining, and the effects were followed at regular time intervals up to 120 days post-treatment. we detected substantial variations in the general mo ... | 2010 | 21263744 |
| the blue lizard spandrel and the island syndrome. | many small vertebrates on islands grow larger, mature later, lay smaller clutches/litters, and are less sexually dimorphic and aggressive than their mainland relatives. this set of observations is referred to as the 'island syndrome'. the syndrome is linked to high population density on islands. we predicted that when population density is low and/or fluctuating insular vertebrates may evolve correlated trait shifts running opposite to the island syndrome, which we collectively refer to as the ' ... | 2010 | 20854657 |
| circadian expression of the clock gene per2 is altered in the ruin lizard (podarcis sicula) when temperature changes. | when exposed to the cold, the body temperature of the ruin lizard (podarcis sicula), an ectothermic vertebrate, comes into equilibrium with that low environmental temperature. during this time, the behavioral output of the circadian clock, locomotor activity, disappears. we tested the activity of the circadian clockwork at low temperature (6 degrees c) by following the expression of one of its essential components, the period2 (per2) gene. here we show that lizard per2 (lper2) expression, which ... | 2005 | 15710245 |
| spatiotemporal changes in metallothionein gene expression during embryogenesis in the wall lizard podarcis sicula. | lizard embryos are nutritionally independent from their environment. during the early phases of oogenesis, the egg prepares for development by storing reserve organelles, proteins, and rnas sufficient to allow the zygote to transform into a juvenile. this preparation also includes the storage of metallothionein (mt) transcripts. this study investigated the localization of these transcripts by in situ hybridization throughout podarcis sicula developmental stages. our data show that mt expression ... | 2010 | 20623798 |
| a sky polarization compass in lizards: the central role of the parietal eye. | the present study first examined whether ruin lizards podarcis sicula are able to orientate using the e-vector direction of polarized light. ruin lizards were trained and tested indoors, inside a hexagonal morris water maze, positioned under an artificial light source producing plane polarized light with a single e-vector, which provided an axial cue. lizards were subjected to axial training by positioning two identical goals in contact with the centre of two opposite side walls of the morris wa ... | 2010 | 20511518 |
| anatomical and physiological changes associated with a recent dietary shift in the lizard podarcis sicula. | dietary shifts have played a major role in the evolution of many vertebrates. the idea that the evolution of herbivory is physiologically constrained in squamates is challenged by a number of observations that suggest that at least some lizards can overcome the putative physiological difficulties of herbivory on evolutionary and even ecological timescales. we compared a number of morphological and physiological traits purportedly associated with plant consumption between two island populations o ... | 2016 | 20504228 |
| morphology of the lingual dorsal surface and oral taste buds in italian lizard (podarcis sicula). | the italian lizard (podarcis sicula) is the most diffused reptile in italy, but it is also present in other european countries. this lizard belongs to the lacertidae family, lives near walls, slants and along the borders of the paths; its diet includes bugs and aracnids. no data are so far available in literature about the three-dimensional morphology of the tongue of podarcis sicula, therefore the aim of the present paper was to study by scanning electron and light microscopy the three-dimensio ... | 2010 | 20377553 |
| differential dmrt1 expression in the gonads of podarcis sicula (reptilia: lacertidae). | dmrt genes encode a large family of transcription factors which share an unusual cysteine-rich dna-binding motif, the dm domain. dm family members have been studied in the context of sexual development; in particular, the dmrt1 gene appeared to be the one most directly involved in sex determination, but its activity is largely unexplored and possible downstream targets of this factor have yet to be identified. dmrt1 of the lacertid lizard podarcis sicula (psdmrt1) was isolated as a model to stud ... | 2010 | 20234155 |
| responses to cadmium intoxication in the liver of the wall lizard podarcis sicula. | this study examined the cytological and molecular effects of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in the liver of the italian wall lizard podarcis sicula. cadmium was administered in single dose, by diet, to induce a concentration comparable with that measured in animals living in contaminated sites. for comparison, cadmium was also administered in multiple doses by food (chronic) or in a single dose intraperitoneally (i.p.); the effects were followed at regular time intervals up to 30 days post treatm ... | 2010 | 19861172 |
| temporal expression of thyroid hormone receptor alpha1 in the liver of the lizard podarcis sicula. | the effects of thyroid hormones on metabolism and development are mediated by thyroid hormone receptors (trs). to gain a better understanding of the potential role of thyroid hormone receptors in the liver of the lizard podarcis sicula, we have evaluated the expression of trs during the more critical periods of the annual variations of thyroid activity. the results obtained have indicated that in the liver of the lizard p. sicula there are three transcripts: mrna of 5.0 kb for tralpha1, mrna of ... | 2004 | 14981779 |