0. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry with protein-specific antisera revealed that both CjapCSP1 and CjapCSP13 are detected in the antennae, but differ in their specific internal localization. Binding to four compounds, including the ant CHC (z)-9-tricosene, was examined. Although both CjapCSP1 and CjapCSP13 bound to (z)-9-tricosene, CjapCSP13 bound with higher affinity than CjapCSP1 and showed different binding properties. CjapCSP1 and CjapCSP13 are synthesized by the same cells of the antenna, but function differently in CHC distribution due to differences in their localization and binding characteristics.For marine benthic animals, the selection of substrate by larvae is important for their survival, with early post-settlement mortality often being affected by the microenvironment where they settle. We tested the substrate preference of the larvae of the ascidian Phallusia philippinensis toward nine commercially available substrates. In the present assay, the larvae settled on one of four substrates for seven substrate combinations with different wettabilities; we counted the number of settled larvae on each of the four substrates, and Manly's selection indices were compared to determine the preference rank of each substrate. Larvae significantly preferred more hydrophobic and oleophilic substrates to hydrophilic and oleophobic ones. While it is uncertain how the larvae detect the properties of the substrate surface, they might be able to sense the physical force, such as stickiness and repellent force. Although a hydrophobic surface is not common in a natural marine environment, the use of hydrophobic materials (as flypaper-like tools) for ascidian larvae might help to prevent the settlement of non-indigenous ascidians in aquaculture facilities.Crickets were arbitrarily fed a caffeine-containing diet during their lifetime or were orally administered caffeine in solution once during the conditioning session. These chronically or acutely treated crickets were used to test whether there were positive effects of caffeine on their learning performance. The effects of chronic exposure to caffeine on crickets' growth were also examined by measuring their body weight and counting the number of adults that emerged from larvae. Chronic treatment with relatively high concentrations of caffeine (5 mg/g and 0.5 mg/g in the diet) impaired the growth of crickets. Mortality was higher with 5 mg/g caffeine, and the survivors could not attain the final molt (eclosion). Body weight gain and eclosion rate were also negatively influenced in the group fed 0.5 mg/g caffeine. The olfactory learning paradigm was used to examine the effects of chronic caffeine treatment. Of the caffeine concentrations tested (0.5 µg/g to 0.5 mg/g), significant improvement in long-term memory (LTM) formation was observed only with 50 µg/g caffeine. Acute effects on olfactory learning were examined after oral administration of 0.1 nM to 10 µM caffeine solutions during the conditioning session. Administration of caffeine ≥ 1 nM consistently resulted in a significant improvement in LTM formation. These results suggest that chronic exposure to caffeine enhances learning performance in crickets at a specific dose (50 µg/g in the diet), although it inhibits their growth at higher doses (≥ 0.5 mg/g). In contrast, acute oral administration of caffeine in naive crickets may enhance their learning performance even at a very low (nanomolar) concentration.The hynobiid salamander genus Hynobius is a basal taxon in the urodeles that plays a key role in understanding the evolution of sexual dimorphism in urodeles. We examined the age (juveniles vs. adults) and sexual differences in the external and skeletal morphology of a Japanese lentic breeding salamander, Hynobius setouchi. We found that juveniles had larger heads than those of adults, and most characters were larger in adult males than in females, except for trunk size. This was also observed in skeletal morphology, although some tail characters differed only in the skeleton.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/bmh-21.html  We suggest that intra- and interspecific comparisons of the external and skeletal characters of salamanders should consider age, sexual, and seasonal differences.Intelectins (Itlns) are secretory lectins found in several chordate species that recognize carbohydrates on the bacterial cell surface depending on Ca2+ . In newly hatched larvae of Rana ornativentris (R. orn), Bufo japonicus formosus (B. jpn), and Cynops pyrrhogaster (C. pyr), an anti-Itln monoclonal antibody (mAb) labeled a subset of epidermal cells in whole-mount immunocytochemical assays. In western blot analyses, the mAb identified protein bands at approximately 33-37 kDa in the larval extracts and concentrated larval culture media. Using RT-PCR and RACE techniques, we isolated cDNAs from newly hatched larvae that encoded proteins of 343 (R. orn), 336 (B. jpn), and 337 (C. pyr) amino acids having 70%, 71%, and 60% identities with that of the Xenopus laevis embryonic epidermal lectin (XEEL), respectively. The proteins, designated REEL, BEEL, and CEEL, showed characteristics conserved among reported Itln proteins, and their amino acid sequences following the signal peptides were identical to those of the N-terminal peptides determined on Itln proteins in the respective larval extracts. Recombinant REEL (rREEL), rBEEL, and rCEEL proteins produced by HEK-293T cells were homo-oligomers of 34-37 kDa subunit peptides, which were similar to the Itlns found in the newly hatched larvae. The rEELs showed carbohydrate-binding specificities similar to that of XEEL and agglutinated Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cells depending on Ca2+ . These results suggest that REEL, BEEL, and CEEL are Itlns produced and secreted by epidermal cells of R. orn, B. jpn, and C. pyr larvae, respectively, and that Itlns have a conserved role as pathogen recognition molecules in the larval innate immune system.The population dynamics of lancelet Branchiostoma japonicum are reported for six sampling sites in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, for November 2007-2016. Lancelet growth and life span varied spatially, being faster and shorter, respectively, at Stn 3 (off Marugame, western Bisan-seto) than at other sites; average body length at Stn 3 was 36.1 mm for 2-year-old lancelets, and 38.9-42.1 mm for 4-year-old lancelets at sites 1, 2, 4 and 6. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed adult growth rate to be significantly positively related to chlorophyll a concentration, and negatively correlated to lancelet density. Density of newly settled and adult lancelets varied spatially. Chlorophyll a concentration best predicted the density of newly settled lancelets, and sediment particle size best predicted that of adults, indicating that factors affecting lancelet density differ during their life history.