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PubMed2004

Soboliphyme occidentalis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Soboliphymidae) from the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis (Insectivora, Talpidae) in Spain.

A new species of Soboliphyme from the endemic Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis) is described. Soboliphyme occidentalis sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from all of its congeners primarily by the position of the vulva, which clearly shows a posterior oesophageal location, and the number of male caudal papillae. S. occidentalis sp. nov. is the only species that has four pairs of caudal papillae. S. abei, S. caucasica and S. jamesoni can be distinguished from S. occidentalis sp. nov. by not having a notched sucker, the anterior position of the vulva and two polar plugs in the eggs. S. jamesoni has an armate oral sucker and longer spicule; S. caucasica a longer spicule and shorter eggs, and S. abei has shorter eggs, which separate these species from S. occidentalis sp. nov. In the rest of the species with a notched oral sucker, S. baturini and S. hirudiniformis are differentiated from S. occidentalis sp. nov. by the anterior position of the vulva, two polar plugs in the egg and the spicule length in S. baturini and S. hirudiniformis and the size of eggs in S. baturini and S. hirudiniformis. S. ataahai, S. soricis and S. urotrichi have the vulva at the oesophago-intestinal junction, 9-10 male caudal papillae (S. ataahai and S. urotrichi), absence of male caudal papillae (S. soricis), armate oral sucker and long spicule in S. ataahai and one row of six circumoral spines in S. urotrichi. A key to the species of Soboliphyme is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cutaneous eccrine glands of the foot pads of the small Madagascan tenrec ( Echinops telfairi, Insectivora, Tenrecidae): skin glands in a primitive mammal.

In order to find correlations between skin gland morphology and specific ethological features, the cutaneous glands of the foot pads of the primitive mammal the Madagascan tenrec, Echinops telfairi, were studied by histological and various histochemical methods as well as by electron microscopy. In the foot pads specific eccrine skin glands occurred consisting of coiled ducts and tubular secretory portions, the lumina of which were considerably wider than in primate sweat glands. The secretory tubules were composed of branched myoepithelial cells and glandular cells. The latter contained abundant mitochondria, large amounts of glycogen particles and few secretory granules as well as individual heterolysosomes and myelin bodies. The lateral cell membrane was marked by extensive interdigitations. The apical membranes of all glandular cells contained proteoglycans with sulfated and carboxylated groups containing N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-galactosamine, galactose and mannose. The expression pattern of cytokeratins of the glandular epithelium was variable and showed similarities to that of the human eccrine glands. Tubulin, vinculin and actin were expressed in the glandular epithelium. The secretory cells showed positive reactions with antibodies against antimicrobial peptides and IgA. A positive reaction was observed with antibodies against the androgen receptor. The PCNA and TUNEL reactions indicated that the tubular skin glands of Echinops are made up of a slowly renewing tissue. We conclude that the glands fulfill several functions: production of a fluid-rich secretory product, which may prevent slipping of the foot pads on the substrate during running or climbing, secretion of antimicrobial peptides and proteins, and playing a role in thermoregulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A comparative electron microscopic analysis of mechanoreceptors in the hard palate of the mouse (Mus musculus; Rodentia) and the musk shrew (Suncus murinus; Insectivora).

These mechanoreceptors were studied with particular regard to their type and the distribution. In both species they were concentrated in the crests of transverse palatine rugae. In the mouse, Meissner corpuscles, glomerular corpuscles, and Merkel cell nerve endings were seen in every palatine ruga, though the first antemolar ruga also contained simple and atypical lamellated corpuscles. In contrast, the palatine rugae of the musk shrew contained only simple corpuscles and Merkel cell nerve endings. Meissner corpuscles in the mouse palate were frequently aggregated to form a palisade-like, huge corpuscle. Anterior intermolar rugae especially contained a larger number of such huge corpuscles. Simple corpuscles in the palate of the musk shrew were more densely distributed in the anterior than in the posterior rugae. In both species Merkel cell nerve endings were localized within epithelial downgrowths of the rugal crest. These downgrowths tended to increase in number anteroposteriorly.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Caecal size and function in the rock elephant shrew Elephantulus myurus (Insectivora, Macroscelididae) and the Namaqua rock mouse Aethomys namaquensis (Rodentia, Muridae).

1. The relative size of the digestive organs and the function of the caeca of an insectivorous elephant shrew Elephantulus myurus (Macroscelididae) and of a herbivorous rodent Aethomys namaquensis (Muridae) were compared. 2. Both species had similar body mass but A. namaquensis had a significantly heavier total digestive tract, full stomach, and caecum and a longer large intestine and caecum than E. myurus. 3. Both species had similar total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and VFA % composition although A. namaquensis had a significantly higher % of n-butyric acid. Both had a similar caecal NH3-N concentration. 4. The presence of a functional caecum in E. myurus supports the view that Macroscelididae have evolved from ancestral herbivores and not from insectivores.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase activities in liver of Suncus murinus (insectivora).

1. The distribution of L-alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT) activities were found in Suncus liver, 55% in particulate fraction and 45% in supernatant. 2. 65% of AGT activities in particulate were dependent on AGT isoenzyme 2 (AGT 2) having molecular weight 210,000, the remainder (35%) of AGT activities were dependent on AGT isoenzyme 1 (AGT 1) which have aminotransferase activity for serine. AGT activities in supernatant were dependent on AGT 1, AGT 2 and alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GPT), and their activity ratios were 10, 15 and 75%, respectively. 3. Km values for alanine were 0.52 mM; AGT 1, 3.3 mM; AGT 2, 0.88 mM; GPT measuring with AGT activity. AGT activity of GPT was inhibited by addition of glutamate and its Ki value was 1.8 mM. 4. Some other properties of AGT 1, AGT 2 and GPT are described.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1989

Organ distribution, purification and characterization of kynureninase in Suncus murinus (Insectivora) and anthranilic acid level in the serum.

1. The highest kynureninase activity was measured in Suncus liver compared with other organs tested. The holo-enzyme activity detected in liver was 25%. 2. The enzyme mainly localized in liver cytosol was purified to a single protein band by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-sepharose, hydroxyapatite and phenyl-sepharose column chromatography. 3. The purified enzyme was effective for both kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine, and showed the optimum pH at 8.5 against both substrates. 4. Km values were 250 microM, 18 microM and 70 microM for kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, respectively. Various compounds such as histidine, aspartate and nicotinamide enhanced the enzyme activities. 5. Anthranilate, the product of kynureninase, was present at a concentration in Suncus serum of 1.96 microM. This value was higher than those of rat and human.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Analysis of dental anomalies in the Siberian mole, Talpa altaica (Insectivora, Talpidae).

We re-examined tooth variation in specimens of the Siberian mole, Talpa altaica, from the collection of the Siberian Zoological Museum and discuss the mechanisms of dental evolution. The number of teeth counted in 1789 specimens ranged from 34 to 47, and supernumerary, absent, and connate teeth were observed. The most frequent tooth anomaly was an absent tooth in the premolar region (200 maxillary first premolars and 190 mandibular third premolars), which does not support Fujita and Kirino's terminal reduction hypothesis in the mandible [Fujita T, Kirino T. Ha No Kaibougaku. 21st ed. Tokyo: Kanehara Publishers Inc.; 1976 (in Japanese)]. Supernumerary teeth were found in premolar rows and in the incisor and molar regions. An maxillary fourth molar, positioned distal to the normal third molar, was thought to result from a genetically programmed atavistic event during the natal stages. Connate teeth were observed only in the premolar rows and were thought to have developed with the fusion of two independent tooth germs. Connate premolars appeared to result from an expression of an incomplete division of tooth germ at an early developmental stage or a reunion of independent tooth germs, based on the morphological similarity of the normal and supernumerary premolars. These extraordinarily frequent tooth anomalies of T. altaica are of much interest both in terms of tooth development and classification.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Energy expenditure in Crocidurinae shrews (Insectivora): is metabolism a key component of the insular syndrome?

A cascade of morphological, ecological, demographical and behavioural changes operates within island communities compared to mainland. We tested whether metabolic rates change on islands. Using a closed circuit respirometer, we investigated resting metabolic rate (RMR) of three species of Crocidurinae shrews: Suncus etruscus, Crocidura russula, and C. suaveolens. For the latter, we compared energy expenditure of mainland and island populations. Our measurements agree with those previously reported for others Crocidurinae: the interspecific comparison (ANCOVA) demonstrated an allometric relation between energy requirements and body mass. Energy expenditure also scaled with temperature. Island populations (Corsica and Porquerolles) of C. suaveolens differed in size from mainland (gigantism). A GLM showed a significant relationship between energy expenditure, temperature, body mass and locality. Mass specific RMR allometrically scales body mass, but total RMR does not significantly differ between mainland and island, although island shrews are giant. Our results are consistent with other studies: that demonstrated that the evolution of mammalian metabolism on islands is partially independent of body mass. In relation to the insular syndrome, we discuss how island selective forces (changes in resource availability, decrease in competition and predation pressures) can operate in size and physiological adjustments.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Maximal enzyme activities, and myoglobin and glutathione concentrations in heart, liver and skeletal muscle of the Northern Short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda; Insectivora: Soricidae).

We measured the enzymes of glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, beta-oxidation and electron transport in the heart, liver and skeletal muscle of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda. Additionally, we measured the amount of myoglobin in skeletal and heart muscle as well as the concentration of glutathione in heart. The picture that emerges is of an aerobically well-endowed animal with constrained anaerobic capacity as indicated by small activities of glycolytic enzymes and creatine kinase. Lipid metabolism and amino acid transamination, as well as gluconeogenesis, are predominant in processing carbon resources and probably reflect the large contribution lipid and protein make to the diet of this carnivore. The citrate synthase activity is the largest of any reported value for vertebrate heart (250 U/g). The additional, very active cytochrome c oxidase activity (220 U/g) and large myoglobin concentrations (8 mg/g) in heart are clearly the underpinnings of the rapid metabolic rates reported for small insectivores. The potential for generation of reactive oxygen species must be great since the total glutathione concentration (165 mumol/g) is 300-fold greater in shrew hearts than in hearts of rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Retinal cysts in the eye of the Asian musk shrew, Suncus murinus, (Mammalia, Insectivora).

The development of retinal cysts in the eye primordia of Suncus murinus embryos was studied. Retinal infoldings were first identified in the 17.5-day-old embryo (crown rump length--CRL = 6.3 mm). At this time, the apex of the developing retinal fold could be identified attached to the lens. The pigmented epithelium did not take part in the formation of the cyst. The retinal fold closed, to form a cyst, by day 23 of embryonic development (CRL = 14.0 mm). The newly formed retinal cyst remained continuous with the retina and extended toward the lens where it attached to the lens epithelium. Retinal cysts had an oval, bilaterally symmetrical shape and a narrow lumen, which, lined by the internal limiting membrane, occasionally contained cellular debris. The dimensions of the cysts were usually 100 to 150 microns (diameter) by 200 to 250 microns (length). Retinal cysts appeared in 45 per cent of the embryos examined.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Patterns of diversification in two African forest shrews: Sylvisorex johnstoni and Sylvisorex ollula (Soricidae, Insectivora) in relation to paleo-environmental changes.

We analysed the phylogeographic patterns of two congeneric and syntopic species of forest shrews and compared them with biogeographical scenarios proposed for the Central African tropical forest. Our results, based on 82 partial 16s rRNA mitochondrial sequences, suggest that both species must have originated in the Plio-Pleistocene and that their haplotype distributions could reflect the effect of forest fragmentation and expansion associated with paleoclimatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. However, it seems that the two species responded very differently to environmental changes. While Sylvisorex johnstoni populations exhibit ancient haplotype segregation that may even represent currently unrecognised allopatric species, Sylvisorex ollula haplotypes are much less differentiated and suggest that this taxon has undergone a recent range expansion. The observed differences between these taxa may be explained by their presumably different ecological requirements and colonisation abilities, which in turn may be the result of a significant difference in body size between the two species. In conclusion, our results suggest that it is necessary to incorporate several ecologically well-documented species in studies that attempt to infer evolutionary processes from phylogeographic patterns

Africa, Central↗
PubMed2003

Molecular estimation of eulipotyphlan divergence times and the evolution of "Insectivora".

"Insectivores" are one of the key groups in understanding mammalian origins. For years, systematics of "Lipotyphla" taxa remained extremely unstable and challenged. Today, with the application of molecular techniques, "Lipotyphla" appears to be a paraphyletic assemblage that encompasses hedgehogs, shrews, and moles (i.e., Eulipotyphla-a member of Laurasiatheria), and golden moles and tenrecs (i.e., Afrosoricida-a member of Afrotheria). Based on nuclear genes and on this well-established phylogenetic framework, we estimated Bayesian relaxed molecular clock divergence times among major lineages of "Lipotyphla." Crown placental mammals are shown to diversify 102+/-6 million years ago (Mya; mean+/-one standard-deviation), followed by Boreoeutheria (94+/-6 Mya), Laurasiatheria (85+/-5 Mya), and Eulipotyphla (73+/-5), with moles separating from hedgehogs+shrews just at the K/T boundary (65+/-5 Mya). During the Early and Middle Eocene, all extant eulipotyphlan subfamilies originated: Uropsilinae (52+/-5 Mya), and Desmaninae, Talpinae, Erinaceinae, Hylomyinae, Soricinae, and Crocidurinae (38-42+/-5 Mya). Afrosoricida separated from Macroscelidae 69+/-5 Mya, golden moles from tenrecs 63+/-5 Mya, and the diversification within tenrecs occurred 43+/-5 Mya. Divergence times are shown to be in reasonably good agreement with the fossil record of eulipotyphlans, but not with the one of afrosoricid "insectivores." Eulipotyphlans diversification might have been sculpted by variations in paleoclimates of the cenozoic era.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Inheritance of litter size at birth in the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora, Soricidae).

In this research we estimated the contribution of a major-gene effect to the control of litter size in hybrids between two local populations of the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus). Segregation analysis was performed on the basis of a mixed polygene and major-gene model. The model presumes that two parental populations may differ from each other in gene frequencies and in the values of polygenic effects but not in the major-gene contribution of the trait. Moreover, the peculiarity of the trait--litter size--is taken into account. This trait is not an individual attribute. It characterizes the parental couple and may depend on the genotypes of both parents. Results of segregation analysis of a large hybrid pedigree of Suncus murinus indicate that the parental populations differ in the allele frequency of the major gene (one population is homozygous, while the other contains the two alleles in approximately equal proportions) and in the values of average polygenic effects. Both major-gene and polygenic components are necessary for the correct description of litter size inheritance in interracial hybrids of S murinus, inasmuch as the exclusion of either of them leads to a significant drop in likelihood. The Elston-Stewart criterion also confirms the Mendelian inheritance of the major gene.

Animals↗