Higher rates of dispersal in one sex than the other are widespread, and often attributed to the genetic advantages of reduced inbreeding. The direction of sex-biased dispersal shows strong phylogenetic conservatism (e.g. males disperse more than females in most mammals, but the reverse is true in most birds). By contrast, our genetic data reveal strong inter-population variation in the relative dispersal rates of two species of sea snakes (Laticauda saintgironsi and L. laticaudata) in the Noumea Lagoon of New Caledonia. Assignment methods using microsatellite data identified parallel variation in sex-specific dispersal in both species: dispersal was female-biased in the north-west of the sampling area (in islands far from the main island), but male-biased in the south-east (in islands closer to the main island). This flexibility may reflect sex differences in diets, with spatial variation in sex-specific resources generating spatial variation in sex-specific dispersal distances.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05059.x | DOI Listing |
Chronic stress profoundly affects the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region critical for executive functions and emotional regulation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on stress-induced PFC plasticity, encompassing structural, functional, and molecular changes. We examine how chronic stress leads to dendritic atrophy, spine loss, and alterations in neuronal connectivity within the PFC, particularly affecting the medial PFC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropharmacology
January 2025
Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND), 29590 Málaga, Spain; Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain. Electronic address:
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are critical lipid signaling pathways involved in emotional regulation and behavior. Despite their interconnected roles and shared metabolic pathways, the specific contributions of LPA signaling through the LPA receptor to stress-related disorders remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of LPA receptor deficiency on emotional behavior and neurotransmitter-related gene expression, with a focus on sex-specific differences, using maLPA-null mice of both sexes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenes (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy.
Background/objectives: Frailty is a complex geriatric syndrome resulting in decreased physiological reserve. While genetics plays a role, the underlying mechanisms remain unsolved. Metallothioneins (MTs), metal-binding proteins with high affinity for zinc, an essential mineral for many physiological functions, are involved in processes including oxidative stress and inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
January 2025
Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Grouping behavior is a fundamental component of animal population dynamics, shaped by both environmental factors and the social interactions among individuals, ultimately enhancing adaptability to their habitats. However, the social organization of the wapiti subspecies inhabiting the Tian Shan Mountains remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the grouping behavior of Tianshan wapiti in the Bogda Peak Nature Reserve, northwestern China from July 2019 to November 2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Genes on the X chromosome are extensively expressed in the human brain. However, little is known for the X chromosome's impact on the brain anatomy, microstructure, and functional networks. We examined 1045 complex brain imaging traits from 38,529 participants in the UK Biobank.
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