The genetic basis of novel trait gain in walking fish.

A major goal in biology is to understand how organisms evolve novel traits. Multiple studies have identified genes contributing to regressive evolution, the loss of structures that existed in a recent ancestor. However, fewer examples exist for genes underlying constructive evolution, the gain of novel structures and capabilities in lineages that previously lacked them. Sea robins are fish that have evolved enlarged pectoral fins, six mobile locomotory fin rays (legs) and six novel macroscopic lobes in the central nervous system (CNS) that innervate the corresponding legs. Here, we establish successful husbandry and use a combination of transcriptomics, CRISPR-Cas9 editing, and behavioral assays to identify key transcription factors that are required for leg formation and function in sea robins. We also generate hybrids between two sea robin species with distinct leg morphologies and use allele-specific expression analysis and gene editing to explore the genetic basis of species-specific trait diversity, including a novel sensory gain of function. Collectively, our study establishes sea robins as a new model for studying the genetic basis of novel organ formation, and demonstrates a crucial role for the conserved limb gene tbx3a in the evolution of chemosensory legs in walking fish.

Anesthetic Efficacy of Magnesium Chloride and Ethyl Alcohol in Temperate Octopus and Cuttlefish Species.

Cephalopods are important in biologic and biomedical research, yet relatively little objective information is available to guide researchers and veterinarians regarding the best methods for anesthetizing these animals for various experimental procedures. Recent studies demonstrate that ethyl alcohol and magnesium chloride are effective at depressing efferent and afferent neural signals in some tropical cephalopod species when measured via the pallial nerve. Here we used similar methods to test 2 temperate species (Octopus bimaculoides and Sepia officinalis) and demonstrate that (1) ethyl alcohol and magnesium chloride were effective at reversibly depressing evoked activity in the pallial nerve, (2) ethyl alcohol generally had shorter induction and recovery times compared with magnesium chloride, (3) both agents were associated with a latency between the behavioral and neural effects, and it was longer with magnesium chloride, and (4) senescent animals generally had longer induction or recovery times than young animals. Both agents successfully anesthetized both life stages; however, our data show that assessing anesthesia based solely on behavior may lead to premature commencement of invasive procedures. We conclude that temperate cephalopods can be humanely, effectively, and completely anesthetized by using these 2 agents and that the loss of neural signal we show here is consistent with true anesthesia and not merely paralysis. This relatively simple, nondestructive nerve recording technique can be applied to the study of other prospective anesthetic agents in cephalopods.

Effect of orally administered tramadol alone or with an intravenously administered opioid on minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in cats.

OBJECTIVE-To compare the effect of oral administration of tramadol alone and with IV administration of butorphanol or hydromorphone on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane in cats. DESIGN-Crossover study. ANIMALS-8 Healthy 3-year-old cats. PROCEDURES-Cats were anesthetized with sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. A standard tail clamp method was used to determine the MAC of sevoflurane following administration of tramadol (8.6 to 11.6 mg/kg [3.6 to 5.3 mg/lb], PO, 5 minutes before induction of anesthesia), butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], IV, 30 minutes after induction), hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg [0.04 mg/lb], IV, 30 minutes after induction), saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.05 mL/kg [0.023 mL/lb], IV, 30 minutes after induction), or tramadol with butorphanol or with hydromorphone (same doses and routes of administration). Naloxone (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb], IV) was used to reverse the effects of treatments, and MACs were redetermined. RESULTS-Mean +/- SEM MACs for sevoflurane after administration of tramadol (1.48 +/- 0.20%), butorphanol (1.20 +/- 0.16%), hydromorphone (1.76 +/- 0.15%), tramadol and butorphanol (1.48 +/- 0.20%), and tramadol and hydromorphone (1.85 +/- 0.20%) were significantly less than those after administration of saline solution (2.45 +/- 0.22%). Naloxone reversed the reductions in MACs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Administration of tramadol, butorphanol, or hydromorphone reduced the MAC of sevoflurane in cats, compared with that in cats treated with saline solution. The reductions detected were likely mediated by effects of the drugs on opioid receptors. An additional reduction in MAC was not detected when tramadol was administered with butorphanol or hydromorphone.

Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine following intravenous and oral transmucosal administration in dogs.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of buprenorphine administered to six healthy dogs via the oral transmucosal (OTM) route at doses of 20 and 120 microg/kg was conducted using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Bioavailability was 38% plus or minus 12% for the 20 microg/kg dose and 47%+/-16% for the 120 microg/kg dose. Maximum plasma concentrations were similar for buprenorphine doses of 20 microg/kg IV and 120 microg/kg OTM. Sedation and salivation were common side effects, but no bradycardia, apnea, or cardiorespiratory depressive effects were seen. When the two OTM dosing rates were normalized to dose, LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of buprenorphine and its metabolites detected no significant difference (P>.05), indicating dose proportionality. The results of this study suggest that OTM buprenorphine may be an alternative for pain management in dogs.

A comparison of anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of tiletamine-zolazepam-butorphanol and tiletamine-zolazepam-butorphanol- medetomidine in cats.

Using a randomized crossover design, this study compared the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of three intramuscular anesthetic combinations in seven 2-year-old cats: tiletamine-zolazepam (8 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) (TT); tiletamine-zolazepam (3 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.15 mg/kg), and medetomidine (15 microg/kg) (TTD); or the TTD protocol plus atipamezole (75 microg/kg IM) given 20 minutes later to reverse medetomidine. Analgesia was assessed using algometry and needle pricking. All three combinations effectively induced anesthesia suitable for orotracheal intubation within 5 minutes after injection. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation was lower than 90% at least once in all three groups between 5 and 15 minutes after drug administration. Blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates were within normal ranges. Both TT and TTD appeared to be effective injectable anesthetic combinations. TTD provided significantly better analgesia with a longer duration than did TT. Atipamezole administration shortened the duration of analgesia and decreased blood pressure but did not shorten total recovery time.