Altitudinal Effects on Innate Immune Response of a Subterranean Rodent.

Solak HM, Yanchukov A, Colak F, et al. Altitudinal Effects on Innate Immune Response of a Subterranean Rodent. Zoological science. 2020;37(1):31-41.Immune defense is costly to maintain and deploy, and the optimal investment into immune defense depends on risk of infection. Altitude is a natural environmental factor that is predicted to affect parasite abundance, with lower parasite abundance predicted at higher altitudes due to stronger environmental stressors, which reduce parasite transmission. Using high and low altitude populations of the Turkish blind mole-rat (TBMR) Nannospalax xanthodon, we tested for effects of altitude on constitutive innate immune defense. Field studies were performed with 32 wild animals in 2017 and 2018 from two low- and one high-altitude localities in the Central Taurus Mountains, at respective altitudes of 1010 m, 1115 m, and 2900 m above sea level. We first compared innate standing immune defense as measured by the bacteria-killing ability of blood serum. We then measured corticosterone stress hormone levels, as stressful conditions may affect immune response. Finally, we compared prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of field-captured TBMR. We found that the bacteria-killing ability of serum is greater in the mole-rat samples from high altitude. There was no significant difference in stress (corticosterone) levels between altitude categories. Coccidian prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in 2017 than 2018 samples, but there was no significant difference in prevalence, abundance, or intensity between altitudes, or between sexes. Small sample sizes may have reduced power to detect true differences; nevertheless, this study provides support that greater standing innate immunity in high altitude animals may reflect greater investment into constitutive defense

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Do Seismic Signals Diverge at the Level of Cytotypes in Turkish Blind Mole Rats?

Subterranean animals are limited in mobility and have reduced sensory ability due to living underground, and therefore are presented with a challenge to communicate. One solution is to use seismic signalling, by head drumming, to convey species-specific information. The lesser blind mole rats (Nannospalax sp.) are obligate subterranean rodents known for their remarkable chromosomal variation. In the present study, we investigated whether the structure of seismic signalling is different between the two species found in Turkey, Nannospalax leucodon and the N. xanthodon and whether it is associated with ecological, sex, temporal and chromosomal peculiarities. A cytotype of N. leucodon (2n=56) and three cytotypes of N. xanthodon, (2n=38, 52 and 60) were used in the study. We observed no seismic signalling in N. leucodon. In N. xanthodon, the cytotype 2n=60 had faster rate of signalling in comparison to two other cytotypes (2n=38 and 2n=52), and the cytotypes also differed significantly in the structural components of their signals. There was no difference in signal pattern between different fundamental number variations within cytotypes. We observed temporal variation in seismic signals, but did not found any difference in signalling between the sexes, suggesting the signals are not used for mate recognition. In addition, the signalling structure was not associated with the climate and the soil types of the habitat of origin. We suggest that seismic communication by drumming may be used to recognize conspecifics within the same cytotype or species

Chromosome Differentiation of Four 2n=50 Chromosomal Forms of Turkish Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi

WOS: 000285462400010PubMed: 21186949Nannospalax is a genus of blind rodents adapted to living in underground. The species have numerous chromosomal forms in Turkey, and their taxonomic position is still unknown. In this study, 15 mole rats of four different 2n = 50 forms were used; C- and G- banding processes were applied; and a comparison was made accordingly. Karyological results showed that the 2n = 50S form is a new form for Turkish blind mole rats. 2n = 50S form is determined from Andirin (Kahramanmaras) and has NF = 70. The 2n = 50W form, on the other hand, differs from the others with NF = 74 form. C-banding results showed that heterochromatin blocks of all 2n = 50 are different, while only the 2n = 50W form has telomeric heterochromatin blocks. G-banding results, however, displayed homologies and differences among the chromosomal forms. After comparison, we determined that Robertsonian fusion is an efficient force on chromosomal evolution in blind mole rats in Turkey, and that telomeric heterochromatin is a distinctive character for the 2n = 50W form. We suggest that the chromosomal changing mechanism should be independent from climatic peculiarities. These results support the theory that ancestral karyotype should have the largest distribution in a chromosomally variable species.Zonguldak Karaelmas UniversityBulent Ecevit University [2004-13-06-08, 2008-13-06-01]; TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-106T225]This study was supported by Zonguldak Karaelmas University (Nr: 2004-13-06-08, 2008-13-06-01) and by TUBITAK (TBAG-106T225)

Karyological characteristics, morphological peculiarities, and a new distribution locality for Talpa davidiana (Mammalia: Soricomorpha) in Turkey

Talpa davidiana is the least known species of the genus Talpa, and the karyotype of this species is still unknown. Its distribution records are also very scattered. The karyological, cranial, and pelvic characteristics of 2 samples from Kizildag in Adana Province were analyzed for the first time. It was determined that T davidiana has 2n = 34, NF = 66, and NFa = 62. The X chromosome was large and metacentric and the Y chromosome was dot-like acrocentric. The 2 samples are different from each other, and from previous T davidiana records, in terms of their lower incisor and premolar numbers. Unique among the T davidiana samples examined to date, 1 of the samples studied here had 2 premolars on the lower jaw half instead of 3. In contrast to the literature, 1 sample has a europeoidal pelvis, and the other has an intermediate form. T davidiana has been recorded from 6 localities from the area between Hakkari and Gaziantep provinces in Turkey. The Kizildag high plateau of Adana was a new distribution locality and the most western for T davidiana. The nearest known locality is Meydanakbes village, and it is almost 160 km away, as the bird flies, from Kizildag high plateau. The new distribution record from Kizildag high plateau implies that the mountain range between Tatvan and Adana may include some undiscovered samples

Two major clades of blind mole rats (Nannospalax sp.) revealed by mtDNA and microsatellite genotyping in Western and Central Turkey

The Anatolian and the Lesser blind mole rats (Nannospalax xanthodon and N. leucodon) are widely distributed in Anatolia and Thrace and feature remarkable diversity of chromosomal races. The evolutionary relationship among various cytotypes has not been fully resolved, and little is known about the genetic diversity at the population level. Traditionally, N. xanthodon is divided into Western and Central Anatolian phylogenetic clades, but the inclusion of particular cytotypes into one or the other Glade still causes controversy, and the relationship of N. leucodon from Thrace to other Turkish populations is not known. We genotyped 67 and 62 individuals, sampled across Western Turkey, respectively at one mtDNA (1048 bp long fragment of cyt b) and ten highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. The population genetic structure was analyzed (i) in respect to previously assigned karyotype (cytotypes 2n =38, 50, 52, 56 and 60 of N. xanthodon and 2n = 56 of N. leucodon) and geographic locality data, and (ii) without assuming any prior grouping. Both the phylogeny constructed from the cyt b sequence and the population structure revealed by the microsatellite genotyping revealed the presence of two major clades. The first included the Western Anatolian populations of N. xanthodon (cytotypes 2n =38, 2n = 50 and 2n = 52), but also N. leucodon from Thrace (2n =56). The second Glade included the Central Anatolian populations of N. xanthodon with cytotypes 2n = 56 and 2n = 60. These findings support and refine the previously suggested relationships between 2n =38, Thracian N. leucodon and 2n = 60 (Hadid et al., 2012). We also revealed higher genetic diversity, particularly within cytotype 2n =38 (race anatolicus), and stronger population structuring within the Western Anatolian Glade. In contrast, the microsatellite genotypes of two races in Central Anatolian Glade (2n = 60 and 2n = 56 from Manisa province), showed less diversity and weaker population structure. (C) 2018 Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Saugetierkunde. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Two new cytotypes and additional karyological records for blind mole rats, Nannospalax xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi (Mammalia, Rodentia) in Turkey

Blind mole rats are model organisms for studies of chromosomal evolution, and have a variety of chromosomal forms in Turkey. This study was performed on subterranean mole rats of Nannospalax xanthodon (Satunin, 1898) and N. ehrenbergi (Nehring, 1898) in Turkey. Karyotypes of 63 specimens originating from 30 localities were analysed. Two new cytotypes with 2n = 54 from Adana and 2n = 56 from Karaman, two different populations of the cytotypes 2n = 54C and 2n = 58S, and four different chromosomal arm numbers of the 2n = 60 cytotype (NF = 74, 76, 78 and 80) were determined in N. xanthodon. The cytotypes characterized by 2n = 54, NF = 74 from Tufanbeyli and Saimbeyli in the Adana province (54S), and by 2n = 56, NF = 70 from Karaman (56K) are new for N. xanthodon in Turkey. A population of N. ehrenbergi from the Osmaniye province in southern Anatolia had a complement with 2n = 56, NF = 70. Additional karyological records for other cytotypes have extended their known distribution areas, and filled most karyological gaps in Turkey

Cytotypes of Nannospalax xanthodon (Satunin, 1898) (Rodentia: Spalacidae) from western Anatolia

We performed this study on the subterranean mole rat Nannospalax xanthodon (Nehring, 1898) in western Turkey and we analyzed karyotypes of 121 specimens from 54 localities. We determined that N. xanthodon has 2n = 36, NF = 70; 2n = 38, NF = 74; 2n = 40, NF = 72; 2n = 50, NF = 70; 2n = 50, NF = 74; 2n = 52, NF = 70; 2n = 56, NF = 72; and 6 different cytotypes of 2n = 60, NF = 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 in the specimens analyzed from western Turkey. We filled most of the karyological gaps in western Anatolia and documented distributional areas of cytotypes

Chromosome Differentiation of Four 2n=50 Chromosomal Forms of Turkish Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi

Nannospalax is a genus of blind rodents adapted to living in underground. The species have numerous chromosomal forms in Turkey, and their taxonomic position is still unknown. In this study, 15 mole rats of four different 2n = 50 forms were used; C- and G- banding processes were applied; and a comparison was made accordingly. Karyological results showed that the 2n = 50S form is a new form for Turkish blind mole rats. 2n = 50S form is determined from Andirin (Kahramanmaras) and has NF = 70. The 2n = 50W form, on the other hand, differs from the others with NF = 74 form. C-banding results showed that heterochromatin blocks of all 2n = 50 are different, while only the 2n = 50W form has telomeric heterochromatin blocks. G-banding results, however, displayed homologies and differences among the chromosomal forms. After comparison, we determined that Robertsonian fusion is an efficient force on chromosomal evolution in blind mole rats in Turkey, and that telomeric heterochromatin is a distinctive character for the 2n = 50W form. We suggest that the chromosomal changing mechanism should be independent from climatic peculiarities. These results support the theory that ancestral karyotype should have the largest distribution in a chromosomally variable species