Periodic ER-plasma membrane junctions support long-range Ca signal integration in dendrites.

Neuronal dendrites must relay synaptic inputs over long distances, but the mechanisms by which activity-evoked intracellular signals propagate over macroscopic distances remain unclear. Here, we discovered a system of periodically arranged endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane (ER-PM) junctions tiling the plasma membrane of dendrites at ∼1 μm intervals, interlinked by a meshwork of ER tubules patterned in a ladder-like array. Populated with Junctophilin-linked plasma membrane voltage-gated Ca channels and ER Ca-release channels (ryanodine receptors), ER-PM junctions are hubs for ER-PM crosstalk, fine-tuning of Ca homeostasis, and local activation of the Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Putative Nociceptive Responses in a Decapod Crustacean: The Shore Crab ().

Nociceptors are receptors that detect injurious stimuli and are necessary to convey such information from the periphery to the central nervous system. While nociception has been extensively studied in various taxa, there is relatively little electrophysiological evidence for the existence of nociceptors in decapod crustaceans. This study investigated putative nociceptive responses in the shore crabs, specifically their response to mechanical and noxious chemical stimuli.

Effects of hypoxia on the olfactory sensitivity of gilt-head seabream (Sparus aurata).

Coastal environments around the world are becoming increasingly hypoxic owing to anthropogenic effects. We hypothesized that, because the olfactory epithelium is in contact with the external environment, decreased external oxygen will impair olfaction. We performed electro-olfactograms on juvenile gilt-head seabream (Sparus aurata) and measured the response to three amino acids at five different concentrations (1×10-7 to 1×10-3 mol l-1) in normoxic (20 kPa O2) and two hypoxic conditions (12.

Minimizing the time to evaluate pheromone-mediated reduction of aggressive behavior in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

Some cichlid fishes release urine-containing chemical cues that lower aggression in their opponents. Bioassays to identify the aggression-modulating pheromone include assessing the effect of urine fractions on the behavior towards a mirror image or in interactions with another male. However, many of these methods can be time-consuming and require many fish.