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1. A comparison of great ape life histories in captivity

   Harwell, Faye; Knott, Cheryl D. (November 2020, 6th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Evolutionary Primatologists)

   null (Ed.)

   Primates, especially great apes, have slow life histories and long lifespans compared to other mammalian groups. Data pertaining to life history variables can be difficult to collect in the wild considering that species can have longer lifespans than the duration of a field site’s existence. Here, we examine life history variables for captive-born great apes housed in the United States. Using studbook data, we investigate stillbirth rates, age at first birth (AFB), interbirth intervals, number of offspring, twinning rates, mean lifespan and maximum lifespans. Analyses presented here exclude individuals with estimated birthdates. The oldest maximum lifespan was recorded for gorillas (60.07yrs (female); n= 656) followed by chimpanzees (57.40yrs (female); n= 559), orangutans (54.88yrs (female); n= 660), and bonobos (52.15yrs (female); n= 144). Excluding individuals living ≤10 years of age, mean lifespan is similar for all great apes in captivity (F(3,417)= 0.849, p= 0.467; bonobos: 23.5 ± 9.8yrs; chimpanzees: 25.2 ± 10.6yrs; gorillas: 26.2 ± 10.2yrs; orangutans: 24.2 ± 10.0yrs). The stillbirth rate is highest in chimpanzees (0.147; n=559) then gorillas (0.144; n=658), bonobos (0.125; n=144), and orangutans (0.010; n=681). Gorillas (11.4 ± 3.7yrs) have a younger AFB, on average, than chimpanzees (15.9 ± 6.9yrs), bonobos (14.3 ± 6.9yrs), or orangutans (14.4 ± 5.1yrs) (F(3,377)= 13.97, p< 0.0001). We discuss how our findings are influenced by changes in husbandry practices as well as the captive environment. By examining the life histories of captive populations, we highlight the plasticity these species exhibit in relation to the timing of developmental and reproductive events. 

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2. A comparison of cannabinoid receptor 1-immunoreactive axon density in the amygdala among nine primate species

   Jones, DN (January 2022, Abstracts Society for Neuroscience)

   The amygdala is a sensory integration center that plays an important role in emotional learning, behavior, and motivation. Cannabinoid signaling in the amygdala modulates aspects of anxiety, aggression, and fear in rodents via cannabinoid receptor 1, however little is known about cannabinoid signaling in the amygdala of humans and nonhuman primates. Primates are behaviorally diverse, with closely related species often displaying distinct social styles characterized by varying degrees of social tolerance and agonistic tendencies. Such behavioral differences are thought to be associated with neurochemical differences among species. Given what is known about the functional role of cannabinoid signaling in the amygdala, we tested whether relatively tolerant species, such as humans, bonobos, and marmosets, possess relatively higher cannabinoid receptor 1-immunoreactive (CB1R-ir) axon density in the basolateral amygdala. We used immunohistochemistry and stereological methods to compare CB1R-ir axon density among 47 primates representing nine species: humans (n=5), chimpanzees (n=6), bonobos (n=2), baboons (n=6), rhesus macaques (n=5), Japanese macaques (n=6), pigtail macaques (n=6), marmosets (n=5), and capuchins (n=6). The basolateral amygdala is comprised of the lateral, basal, and accessory basal nuclei. Stereological data for each nucleus was collected separately. After ruling out sex differences within each species, we used repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate species differences. The interaction (F16,76 = 5.061, p<.001) and main effects of species (F8,38 = 8.007, p<.001) and area (F2,76 = 59.616, p<.001) were all significant. However, the observedspecies differences did not support our hypothesis related to social tolerance nor did the data conform to a phylogenetic pattern. Instead, we found that while some closely related species differed from each other in a nucleus-dependent manner, some distantly related species shared unexpected similarities. Our results highlight the need for additional comparative work on the cannabinoid system from a molecular and genetic perspective. We discuss the implications of our observations with special focus on primate brain evolution and its connection to primate social style. 

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3. Mediation of Cartilage Matrix Degeneration and Fibrillation by Decorin in Post‐traumatic Osteoarthritis

   https://doi.org/10.1002/art.41254  

   Li, Qing; Han, Biao; Wang, Chao; Tong, Wei; Wei, Yulong; Tseng, Wei‐Ju; Han, Li‐Hsin; Liu, X_Sherry; Enomoto‐Iwamoto, Motomi; Mauck, Robert_L; et al (July 2020, Arthritis & Rheumatology)

   ObjectiveTo elucidate the role of decorin, a small leucine‐rich proteoglycan, in the degradation of cartilage matrix during the progression of post‐traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsThree‐month–old decorin‐null (Dcn^−/−) and inducible decorin‐knockout (Dcn^iKO) mice were subjected to surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) to induce post‐traumaticOA. TheOAphenotype that resulted was evaluated by assessing joint morphology and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) staining via histological analysis (n = 6 mice per group), surface collagen fibril nanostructure via scanning electron microscopy (n = 4 mice per group), tissue modulus via atomic force microscopy–nanoindentation (n = 5 or more mice per group) and subchondral bone structure via micro–computed tomography (n = 5 mice per group). Femoral head cartilage explants from wild‐type and Dcn^−/−mice were stimulated with the inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in vitro (n = 6 mice per group). The resulting chondrocyte response toIL‐1β and release ofsGAGs were quantified. ResultsIn both Dcn^−/−and Dcn^iKOmice, the absence of decorin resulted in acceleratedsGAGloss and formation of highly aligned collagen fibrils on the cartilage surface relative to the control (P< 0.05). Also, Dcn^−/−mice developed more salient osteophytes, illustrating more severeOA. In cartilage explants treated withIL‐1β, loss of decorin did not alter the expression of either anabolic or catabolic genes. However, a greater proportion ofsGAGs was released to the media from Dcn^−/−mouse explants, in both live and devitalized conditions (P< 0.05). ConclusionIn post‐traumaticOA, decorin delays the loss of fragmented aggrecan and fibrillation of cartilage surface, and thus, plays a protective role in ameliorating cartilage degeneration. 

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4. Effects of chemical preservation on bulk and amino acid isotope ratios of zooplankton, fish, and squid tissues

   https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8408  

   Hetherington, Elizabeth_D; Kurle, Carolyn_M; Ohman, Mark_D; Popp, Brian_N (April 2019, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry)

   RationaleIt is imperative to understand how chemical preservation alters tissue isotopic compositions before using historical samples in ecological studies. Specifically, although compound‐specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA‐AA) is becoming a widely used tool, there is little information on how preservation techniques affect amino acidδ¹⁵N values. MethodsWe evaluated the effects of chemical preservatives on bulk tissueδ¹³C andδ¹⁵N and amino acidδ¹⁵N values, measured by gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS), of (a) tuna (Thunnus albacares) and squid (Dosidicus gigas) muscle tissues that were fixed in formaldehyde and stored in ethanol for 2 years and (b) two copepod species,Calanus pacificusandEucalanus californicus, which were preserved in formaldehyde for 24–25 years. ResultsTissues in formaldehyde‐ethanol had higher bulkδ¹⁵N values (+1.4,D. gigas; +1.6‰,T. albacares), higherδ¹³C values forD. gigas(+0.5‰), and lowerδ¹³C values forT. albacares(−0.8‰) than frozen samples. The bulkδ¹⁵N values from copepods were not different those from frozen samples, although theδ¹³C values from both species were lower (−1.0‰ forE. californicusand −2.2‰ forC. pacificus) than those from frozen samples. The mean amino acidδ¹⁵N values from chemically preserved tissues were largely within 1‰ of those of frozen tissues, but the phenylalanineδ¹⁵N values were altered to a larger extent (range: 0.5–4.5‰). ConclusionsThe effects of preservation on bulkδ¹³C values were variable, where the direction and magnitude of change varied among taxa. The changes in bulkδ¹⁵N values associated with chemical preservation were mostly minimal, suggesting that storage in formaldehyde or ethanol will not affect the interpretation ofδ¹⁵N values used in ecological studies. The preservation effects on amino acidδ¹⁵N values were also mostly minimal, mirroring bulkδ¹⁵N trends, which is promising for future CSIA‐AA studies of archived specimens. However, there were substantial differences in phenylalanine and valineδ¹⁵N values, which we speculate resulted from interference in the chromatographic resolution of unknown compounds rather than alteration of tissue isotopic composition due to chemical preservation. 

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5. Molecular and electrophysiological characterization of anion transport in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen reveals regulatory roles for pH , Ca ²⁺ and GABA

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15863  

   Domingos, Patrícia; Dias, Pedro N.; Tavares, Bárbara; Portes, Maria Teresa; Wudick, Michael M.; Konrad, Kai R.; Gilliham, Matthew; Bicho, Ana; Feijó, José A. (May 2019, New Phytologist)

   Summary We investigated the molecular basis and physiological implications of anion transport during pollen tube (PT) growth inArabidopsis thaliana(Col‐0).Patch‐clamp whole‐cell configuration analysis of pollen grain protoplasts revealed three subpopulations of anionic currents differentially regulated by cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca²⁺]_cyt). We investigated the pollen‐expressed proteinsAtSLAH3,AtALMT12,AtTMEM16 andAtCCCas the putative anion transporters responsible for these currents.AtCCC‐GFPwas observed at the shank andAtSLAH3‐GFPat the tip and shank of thePTplasma membrane. Both are likely to carry the majority of anion current at negative potentials, as extracellular anionic fluxes measured at the tip ofPTs with an anion vibrating probe were significantly lower inslah3^−/−andccc^−/−mutants, but unaffected inalmt12^−/−andtmem16^−/−. We further characterised the effect ofpHandGABAby patch clamp. Strong regulation by extracellularpHwas observed in the wild‐type, but not intmem16^−/−. Our results are compatible withAtTMEM16 functioning as an anion/H⁺cotransporter and therefore, as a putativepHsensor.GABApresence: (1) inhibited the overall currents, an effect that is abrogated in thealmt12^−/−and (2) reduced the current inAtALMT12 transfectedCOS‐7 cells, strongly suggesting the direct interaction ofGABAwithAtALMT12.Our data show thatAtSLAH3 andAtCCCactivity is sufficient to explain the major component of extracellular anion fluxes, and unveils a possible regulatory system linkingPTgrowth modulation bypH,GABA, and [Ca²⁺]_cytthrough anionic transporters. 

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