The effect of salt dosing for chytrid mitigation on tadpoles of a threatened frog, Litoria aurea.

The novel fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid) is one of the greatest threats to amphibians worldwide. Small increases in water salinity (up to ca. 4 ppt) have been shown to limit chytrid transmission between frogs, potentially providing a way to create environmental refugia to reduce its impact at a landscape scale.

Increased rates of dispersal of free-ranging cane toads (Rhinella marina) during their global invasion.

Invasions often accelerate through time, as dispersal-enhancing traits accumulate at the expanding range edge. How does the dispersal behaviour of individual organisms shift to increase rates of population spread? We collate data from 44 radio-tracking studies (in total, of 650 animals) of cane toads (Rhinella marina) to quantify distances moved per day, and the frequency of displacement in their native range (French Guiana) and two invaded areas (Hawai'i and Australia). We show that toads in their native-range, Hawai'i and eastern Australia are relatively sedentary, while toads dispersing across tropical Australia increased their daily distances travelled from 20 to 200 m per day.

Endocannabinoids Regulate Stem Cells of the Apical Papilla via a Cannabinoid Receptor and TRPV1-Independent Mechanism.

Introduction: Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids [eCBs]) have been shown to have a multitude of functions including neurotransmission and immune modulatory effects. This study aimed to evaluate if stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP) express the receptors and enzymes of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and whether eCBs regulate their proliferation and mineralization potential.

Methods: Gene expression of the main components of the ECS and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) was evaluated in SCAP cultures.

Angiotensin II Regulates Proliferation and Function of Stem Cells of Apical Papilla.

Introduction: Stem cells of apical papilla (SCAP) may be affected by inflammatory mediators released by activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from infected pulpal cavities of necrotic immature teeth. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) on the modulation of SCAP in vitro.

Methods: Primary cultures of SCAP were incubated with LPS (0.

Prostaglandin E Affects Interleukin 6 and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1/CCL2 Production by Cultured Stem Cells of Apical Papilla.

Introduction: Root canal treatment of immature necrotic teeth is a major challenge in current endodontics. The effect of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin, on the modulation of stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP) is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of prostaglandin E (PGE) on SCAP activation by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro.