Here, we report the presence of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system in the calcisponge Leucandra aspera and examine the cellular localization of the components of this system, including GABA-like receptors using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that GABA plays a functional role as a messenger in regulating sponge-feeding behavior. We found that both GABA(B) R1 and R2 subunits are present in the choanocytes of sponges as well as in the eso- and endopinacocytes. The functional role of GABA in the feeding behavior of this sponge was tested. The involvement of GABA receptors in the endocytic processes in L. aspera was demonstrated with dextran conjugated to Texas Red as a marker for material ingestion and by treating isolated sponge cells with a GABA(B) receptor agonist and an antagonist. The amount of dextran that was ingested increased in dissociated sponge cells when the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen was used, and this stimulatory effect was prevented by treatment with the GABA(B) receptor antagonist phaclofen. The baclofen effect on uptake was blocked by treatment with pertussis toxin, thus indicating a role for G proteins in modulating feeding behavior in L. aspera. Moreover, we found evidence that GABA receptors are involved in the consumption of dissolved organic matter by sponge cells. These findings suggest that GABA receptors and their functional role are highly conservative traits in the animal kingdom prenervous system evolution.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jez.657 | DOI Listing |
PeerJ
December 2024
Departmant of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) awareness scale and examine whether having a DOHaD education module may affect dietary behavior in college students.
Background: Some studies conducted within the scope of the DOHaD hypothesis show associations between early-life environmental factors, especially maternal health and nutritional status, with the next generation's health and disease status. Despite the increase in elucidating of the underpinning mechanisms of early life determinants and chronic disease risk, there is limited knowledge on how public perceive and understand DOHaD concepts.
Front Immunol
December 2024
Department of Medical, Taixing People's Hospital, Taixing, China.
Background: Respiratory health is closely related to immune system function, and diet can also influence immune homeostasis. Diet, an important part of a healthy lifestyle, is also linked to respiratory health. We aimed to explore the relationship between different dietary patterns and the risk of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including chronic bronchitis (CB), emphysema, and asthma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Exp Biol
December 2024
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
The ability for snakes to ingest large prey (macrostomy) is a widespread, derived trait that involves distending the skin during ingestion and metabolic upregulation during digestion. The material behavior of the skin must accommodate significant stretch associated with a large prey bolus, but data remain sparse for how the material properties of snake skin vary: longitudinally within an individual, after ingesting large prey and among species. To test whether these three factors affected the mechanical properties of snake skin, we quantified uniaxial stresses and strains in circumferential loops of skin from the neck, mid-body and tail of fasted and recently fed Boa constrictor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity (Silver Spring)
January 2025
Department of Physiology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Objective: In this cross-sectional study, we aim to investigate the interactions between obesity, siesta behavior, and the genetic propensity for siesta in a Mediterranean population, in whom siesta is deeply rooted.
Methods: We applied a previously generated Siesta-Polygenic Score (PGS) in the ONTIME study (n = 1278). Siesta and other Mediterranean lifestyle behaviors were characterized using questionnaires.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand
January 2025
Radiodiagnosis, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
Background: Preoperative fasting aims to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration. Our aim was to compare the incidence of increased gastric content after preoperative liberal versus a standard fasting in children.
Method: Two hundred children, presented for elective surgeries, were instructed to follow either 6-4-2 (standard group) or 6-4-0 (liberal group) preoperative fasting regimens.
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