Body Wall Research Articles (Page 1)

Imidacloprid is the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticide worldwide, but it poses serious risks to non-target soil organisms. This study evaluated the toxicity of the commercial formulation Warrant® (700 mg a.i. kg−1) using three bioindicators. Lactuca sativa germination, root, and shoot growth were inhibited at concentrations between 0.1 and 2 mg L−1. All earthworms (Eisenia andrei) died after exposure to filter paper contaminated with 0.1–2 mg L−1 of imidacloprid, and soil concentrations of 1–2 mg kg−1 induced morphological alterations that led to mortality. Sublethal concentrations (0.2–0.8 mg a.i. kg−1) caused avoidance behavior and histopathological damage to the body wall (0.1–0.8 mg a.i. kg−1) and intestine (0.4–0.8 mg a.i. kg−1). Although imidacloprid was not lethal to millipedes (Rhinocricus padbergi), it caused histopathological alterations in the midgut at 0.5-2 mg a.i. kg−1. The extent of sublethal effects increased with imidacloprid concentration. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating sublethal concentrations and natural soil assays to assess environmental toxicity. It also shows that soil physicochemical properties may influence imidacloprid bioavailability and, consequently, the magnitude of biological responses, underscoring the need for caution in imidacloprid applications to protect soil ecosystems.

Molecular mechanisms of ammonia nitrogen tolerance in sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus).

Creation of colorless transparent tilapia using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated multi-gene mutation.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors function with adhesion molecule SAX-7 to reverse cell orientation during migration.

In this study, the effectiveness of a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) system applied to different regions for the strengthening of historical masonry domes was investigated, and the effects of the CFRP material on the structural performance of different regions were evaluated. One model served as the reference and did not include any reinforcement. In the other three models, reinforcement was applied by wrapping the CFRP around only the skirt region (EPS), only the drum region (EPD), and both the skirt and drum regions (EPSD). The effects of these reinforcement methods on the structural performance were analyzed through experimental tests simulating earthquake effects applied to the dome body wall region. The experimental findings were compared with numerical modeling results obtained using LUSAS V19.0 finite element software, and the overall effectiveness of the reinforcement methods was evaluated holistically. The results show that applying CFRP reinforcement only to the drum (rim) region provides the highest bearing capacity and is the most effective solution in terms of structural performance.

Limb body wall complex (LBWC) is a rare syndrome that consists of, combination of multiple fetal malformations of the thoracoabdominal wall, extremities, cranium, facial and spine. The sonographic hallmarks are abdominal/thoracic wall defect, neural tube defect, severe scoliosis, positional deformity and abnormal fetal membranes. Authors present a case of LBWC abnormality, which was detected in the antenatal ultrasonography at the POG of 13 weeks and later confirmed in the abortus. Early diagnosis of LBWC is only possible through ultrasonography, and it being a fatal condition needs to be distinguished from gastroschisis and omphalocele, which has a better prognosis.

ABSTRACTDeclines in tissue renewal and repair due to alterations in tissue stem cells is a hallmark of aging. Many stem cell pools are maintained by morphologically complex niches. Using the C. elegans hermaphrodite germline stem cell system, we analyzed age-related changes in the morphology of the niche, the distal tip cell (DTC), and identified a molecular mechanism that promotes a subset of these changes. We found decreases in the number and length of long DTC processes with age. We also found that a long-lived daf-2 mutant exhibits a daf-16-dependent maintenance of long DTC processes. Surprisingly, the tissue requirement for daf-16(+) is non-autonomous, and daf-16(+) in body wall muscle is both necessary and sufficient. In addition, after a delay, pre-formed DTC processes deteriorate upon premature germline differentiation, but not upon cell cycle inhibition. We propose a reciprocal DTC-germline interaction model and speculate how reduced daf-2 activity both delays stem cell exhaustion and maintains DTC processes. These studies establish the C. elegans DTC as a powerful in vivo model for understanding age-related changes in cellular morphology and their consequences in stem cell systems.

Low-molecular-weight peptides derived from the digestion of body wall proteins in some sea cucumber species have wound-healing and health-promoting properties, but their potency varies widely by species, growth environment, age, and season. For the first time, small peptide (1–3 kDa) fractions have been isolated from the whole-body wall of the sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus and its constituent collagen and tested for wound healing capacity in vitro. Ultrafiltered digests (1–3 kDa) of the pure collagen, as well as 1–3 kDa digests of the whole-body wall, had potent antioxidant activities and promoted rapid wound healing in a keratinocyte scratch wound assay. Gene expression studies suggested that the wound-healing actions of the individual collagen and body wall 1–3 kDa fractions differed significantly. Low-molecular-weight peptides derived from I. badionotus collagen did promote wound healing in vitro; however, their efficacy may have been modulated by additional factors produced during body wall or collagen digestion. These findings need to be confirmed in vivo.

Research on the role of probiotics in maintaining locomotor function in aged Caenorhabditis elegans is limited. Therefore, we investigated whether a probiotic strain, Bacillus subtilis TO-A (BSTOA), which extends the lifespan of worms can prevent age-related declines in the locomotor functions of aged worms. This study revealed that aged worms fed BSTOA (BSTOA_day13) maintained better locomotor function than those fed Escherichia coli OP50 (OP50_day13). BSTOA_day13 exhibited better activity than OP50_day13 in maintaining actin structure during age-related changes in body wall muscles. Notably, the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes fluctuated in BSTOA_day13; these worms also displayed high survival rates based on the paraquat assay. An examination of the locomotor function of aged gpx-7 mutants revealed that even worms fed BSTOA had a reduced thrashing rate. Therefore, consuming BSTOA may prevent the decline in age-related locomotor functions, such as symptoms of sarcopenia in humans, by inhibiting the decrease in gpx-7 expression in aged worms.

The length–weight relationship (LWR), condition factor (K), and biometric characteristics (body wall, viscera, and gonads) of the commercially important sea cucumber, Holothuria tubulosa Gmelin, 1791, from the northeastern Aegean Sea in Türkiye were analyzed based on 327 individuals collected monthly from October 2018 to September 2019. The total length (TL), wet weight (WW), gutted weight (BW), viscera weight (VW), and gonad weight (GW) were determined for each sea cucumber to the nearest 0.1 cm for length and 0.01 g for weight. The sex of each individual was identified through macroscopic observation of gonad coloration, facilitating the categorization of biometric relationships according to sex. Results revealed negative allometric growth (b = 1.458) for H. tubulosa, with length increasing more than weight. The allometric growth values, calculated as 1.208 in males and 1.584 in females, did not differ significantly between the sexes. The mean condition factor was 2.42 ± 1.04, displaying significant seasonal patterns, with peaks in February and October and the lowest values during summer. Notably, smaller individuals (<100 g) exhibited significantly higher K values, suggesting better health. A strong positive linear relationship was observed between wet and gutted weights (R2 = 0.549). Body composition analyses revealed a declining proportion of gutted weight with increasing total wet weight, whereas the relative proportions of viscera, gonads, and water content were positively correlated with body size. These findings offer region- and species-specific insights that can enhance the accuracy of stock assessments and support adaptive management strategies for the H. tubulosa fishery.

As life expectancy continues to increase, age-related disorders are becoming more prevalent. Among these, vascular complications resulting from chronic inflammation are particularly concerning, as they impair angiogenesis and hinder tissue repair, both processes that heavily rely on a well-structured extracellular matrix (ECM). In this context, MicroMatrix® UBM Particulate, a skin substitute composed of collagen, laminin, and proteoglycans, appears to offer properties conducive to tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regenerative potential of MicroMatrix® combined with the Secretome of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSC-S), using the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana, a well-established model for studying wound healing, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Adult leeches were injected with MicroMatrix® either suspended in FBS-free medium (CTRL) or supplemented with hDPSC-S. 1-week post-treatment, the animals were sacrificed and subjected to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses. Our findings revealed that MicroMatrix® successfully integrated into the leech body wall. Notably, when supplemented with hDPSC-S, there was a marked increase in cell infiltration, including telocytes and Hematopoietic Precursor Stem Cells, along with a significantly higher vessel density compared to CTRL. These results support the effectiveness of the cell-free device composed of MicroMatrix® and hDPSC-S, highlighting its potential as a promising strategy for regenerative therapies aimed at treating complex wounds with poor vascularization.

To create a novel construct for lift laparoscopy in dogs and to determine the maximum lift capacity of the construct and lift force required for maximal cranial abdominal visualization. A 3-D-printed ring (3DPR) was designed for a study conducted from December 1, 2023, to January 20, 2024, to articulate with 2 sizes of a commercially available polyurethane wound retractor (PWR). The PWR and 3DPR were attached to a hanging trapeze following insertion into miniature laparotomies on the ventral abdomen. In 8 cadavers, load was applied to the construct to determine its maximum tensile capabilities. In 6 cadavers, laparoscopic images of the diaphragm were attained at different abdominal wall lift forces based on the percentage of body weight. Diaphragmatic visibility was scored, and diaphragmatic surface area was calculated to determine lift force for maximal cranial abdominal visualization. Visible diaphragmatic surface area was greatest during body wall lifting at 15% body weight (median, 162.56 cm2; IQR, 132.88 to 212.38 cm2) compared to 20% body weight (median, 139.26 cm2; IQR, 105.23 to 155.10 cm2). Median failure force was greater for small (18.01; IQR, 15.51 to 23.00 kilogram-force) versus extra-small (11.65; IQR, 9.63 to 13.00 kilogram-force) 3DPR/PWR constructs. Median failure force for both 3DPR/PWR construct sizes occurred at > 43% of the body weight. The findings of this study demonstrate the preclinical feasibility of a novel construct for cranial abdominal lift at low tensile loads in canine cadavers. The construct reported here may represent an effective lift laparoscopy alternative to capnoperitoneum for cranial abdominal procedures in dogs at risk of complications during abdominal insufflation.

The uterine tubes and uterus develop from the paramesonephric (Müllerian) ducts. Most experimental data are obtained in rodents. Since the (micro-)anatomy of the murine urogenital tract differs from that in humans, evaluation of the translatability of mouse data to human development is relevant. We studied the Müllerian ducts in serially sectioned female human embryos and fetuses between 5 and 15 weeks of development and prepared 3D-reconstructions to establish topographic relations. At 5 weeks of development, the dorsocranial peritoneal epithelium thickens locally to form a placode-like structure, which remodels into the tubal orifice at 6 weeks. The subsequent caudal extension of the Müllerian ducts requires its temporary stay with the mesonephric (Wolffian) duct inside a common basement membrane. The site where the Müllerian segment expands passes as a wave along the Wolffian duct. This wave breaks when the tubes reach the lesser pelvis in the 8th week. There, both Müllerian ducts fuse to form the single uterovaginal canal. No fusion occurs most caudally, where the Müllerian ducts elicit the Müllerian tubercle in the dorsal wall of the urogenital sinus. The uterovaginal canal becomes encased in a mesenchymal cuff, the genital cord. The gubernaculum, which appears at 6.5 weeks as a tissue bridge between the mesonephros and the lateral body wall, eventually becomes the round ligament in females. At 12 weeks, it is still an intraperitoneal structure in an evagination of the abdominal cavity. Unexpectedly, the early development of the uterovaginal canal was similar in human and mouse embryos.

Identification of the deterioration flavor markers based on E-nose, GC-IMS and GC-MS during fresh sea cucumber storage and preservation by thymol.

Functional enzymatic characterisation and microbiome analysis of the digestive tract of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis.

A morphologically very distinctive new species of stenopodidean shrimp collected by ROV at a depth of 497.57 m between the islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola is tentatively assigned to the genus Richardina A. Milne-Edwards, 1881. The diagnosis of Richardina is significantly emended to include several novel features of the new species, most notably, the reduction of teeth on the dorsal rostral carina and absence of pleurobranchs on the body wall above the first to fifth pereiopods. The holotype and single specimen of Richardina taina sp. nov. was collected together with a tunicate, Ascidia sp., and a small sponge of the family Raspailiidae.

Response strategy of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera) larvae to high temperature stress: body wall defense mediated by LdCP1.

Sponges have thrived in diverse environmental conditions since the early Cambrian until today. However, little is known about how their adaptive capability and strategies have been shaped throughout evolutionary history. Here, we explore this question based on a new leptomitid sponge fossil from the Cambrian Stage 4. The family Leptomitidae was an abundant sponge group inhabiting Cambrian soft substrates but significantly declined thereafter. The new species exhibits a sophisticated set of morphological characteristics adaptive to a shallow siliciclastic environment, which are unprecedented among leptomitids. These include (i) a robust body wall woven by spirally twisted monaxonic spicules; (ii) a thick stub-like root tuft for anchoring; (iii) spicules radiating out from the sponge body to prevent clogging and sinking; and (iv) the inferred capability to close the osculum against unfavourable stimuli. Nevertheless, the new fossil species maintains a leptomitid body plan and lacks modularity and morphological plasticity, the two common and critical attributes in extant sponges to enhance flexibility and resilience in changing environmental conditions. This juxtaposition of evolutionary innovation and structural conservatism offers a compelling case for further exploration of the evolutionary mechanisms that shaped early sponge lineages.

Abstract Sea cucumbers suffer from non-enzymatic deterioration during heat processing and storage, which significantly devaluates the product. In the present investigation, it was found that ι-carrageenan oligosaccharide (ι-CO) synergized with Ca2+ is able to protect sea cucumbers from deterioration. The textural strength and water-holding capacity of the sea cucumber body wall were improved after treatment with ι-CO and Ca2+, and the collagen structure was more resistant to destructive experiments. In addition, pepsin-solubilized sea cucumber collagen (SCC) was extracted and demonstrated that the positive effect was due to co-gelation between ι-CO and collagen supported by rheological and thermal property studies. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that ι-CO spontaneously binds to SCC, while Ca2+ promotes the crosslinking strength of the ι-CO-SCC mixed gel and enhances its water-holding capacity and mechanical strength. Therefore, the ι-CO/Ca2+ can permeate and stabilize collagen hydrogel, which provides valuable information for the development of new food additives to improve the texture of collagen-based foods. Graphical Abstract

Proctolin, an arthropod neuropeptide, is present in synaptic terminals innervating body wall muscles of Drosophila larvae. It acts as a cotransmitter with the excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate (Glu). Previous work showed that exogenous proctolin increases nerve-evoked contractions in larval muscles, and increasing neural activity decreases threshold and EC50 values for the effect. We investigated the possibility that the decrease in threshold is related to an increase in Glu release as neural activity increases. We directly applied exogenous Glu to muscles to mimic Glu release in the absence of nerve activity to avoid synaptic release of proctolin and other cotransmitters. Applying Glu to larval muscles elicited contraction, and increasing Glu concentration increased contraction amplitude in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing Glu from a low to a moderate concentration decreased the threshold for exogenous proctolin to enhance contraction. At a higher Glu concentration, however, the threshold increased to the same level observed at the lower concentration. These results do not agree with predicted effects of exogenous proctolin. Applying proctolin also increased caffeine-induced contractions, but increasing caffeine concentration did not alter the threshold for this effect. Exogenous proctolin did not alter Glu-induced depolarization. These results suggest that the activity-dependent increase in exogenous proctolin's effectiveness is not due solely to increased Glu release, increased muscle depolarization or increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in muscle. Exogenous proctolin and Glu both induced contraction. Their effects were supra-additive, but proctolin did not decrease the threshold for Glu to elicit contractions. Thus, the two substances do not exhibit synergism.