A morphometric and molecular study of the genus Pseudopodisma (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

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Phenotype-dependent Ca2+ dynamics in single boutons of various anatomically identified GABAergic interneurons in the rat hippocampus

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Data on the terrestrial Isopoda fauna of the Alsó-hegy, Aggtelek National Park, Hungary

Field surveys in dolines of Alsó-hegy, Aggtelek Karst (Hungary) yielded 10 terrestrial isopod species. Despite of the relatively low species richness, we would like to emphasize the high naturalness of the area indicated by the presence of endemic and rare species

A morphometric and molecular study of the genus Pseudopodisma (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The specific status of three described taxa belonging to the genus Pseudopodisma (P. fieberi, P. transilvanica, P. nagyi) is based on a single character, because the original descriptions separate the species solely on the basis of genital structure of the males, and the three species are seemingly indistinguishable based on external morphology. To test this taxonomic separation we conducted morphometric and molecular investigations in the genus. Males were a priori identified by the original descriptions of the taxa, and from 18 external morphometric characters collected, the six most eligible characters of males and females were selected for linear discriminant analysis. The linear discriminant based classification agreed for 35 (85.3%) male and 30 (88.2%) female specimens out of the 41 a priori identified males and 34 females. Besides morphometrics, we sequenced the cytochrome b gene with newly devised primers in all species plus two outgroups. The phylogenetic analysis of resulting sequences indicated a strong species-delimitation within the genus Pseudopodisma (i.e., multiple individuals of the a priori species formed monophyletic clades). Thus, taking the morphometric and molecular results into consideration, we conclude the validation of specific status of Pseudopodisma fieberi, P. nagyi and P. transilvanica within the genus

Data on the terrestrial Isopoda fauna of the Alsó-hegy, Aggtelek National Park, Hungary

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Microglial control of neuronal development via somatic purinergic junctions

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, play important roles during development. Although bi-directional communication between microglia and neuronal progenitors or immature neurons has been demonstrated, the main sites of interaction and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By using advanced methods, here we provide evidence that microglial processes form specialized contacts with the cell bodies of developing neurons throughout embryonic, early postnatal, and adult neurogenesis. These early developmental contacts are highly reminiscent of somatic purinergic junctions that are instrumental for microglia-neuron communication in the adult brain. The formation and maintenance of these junctions is regulated by functional microglial P2Y12 receptors, and deletion of P2Y12Rs disturbs proliferation of neuronal precursors and leads to aberrant cortical cytoarchitecture during development and in adulthood. We propose that early developmental formation of somatic purinergic junctions represents an important interface for microglia to monitor the status of immature neurons and control neurodevelopment