Structural analysis of the female reptile reproductive system by micro-computed tomography and optical coherence tomography†.

Volumetric data provide unprecedented structural insight to the reproductive tract and add vital anatomical context to the relationships between organs. The morphology of the female reproductive tract in non-avian reptiles varies between species, corresponding to a broad range of reproductive modes and providing valuable insight to comparative investigations of reproductive anatomy. However, reproductive studies in reptilian models, such as the brown anole studied here, have historically relied on histological methods to understand the anatomy. While these methods are highly effective for characterizing the cell types present in each organ, histological methods lose the 3D relationships between images and leave the architecture of the organ system poorly understood. We present the first comprehensive volumetric analyses of the female brown anole reproductive tract using two non-invasive, non-destructive imaging modalities: micro-computed tomography (microCT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Both are specialized imaging technologies that facilitate high-throughput imaging and preserve three-dimensional information. This study represents the first time that microCT has been used to study all reproductive organs in this species and the very first time that OCT has been applied to this species. We show how the non-destructive volumetric imaging provided by each modality reveals anatomical context including orientation and relationships between reproductive organs of the anole lizard. In addition to broad patterns of morphology, both imaging modalities provide the high resolution necessary to capture details and key anatomical features of each organ. We demonstrate that classic histological features can be appreciated within whole-organ architecture in volumetric imaging using microCT and OCT, providing the complementary information necessary to understand the relationships between tissues and organs in the reproductive system. This side-by-side imaging analysis using microCT and OCT allows us to evaluate the specific advantages and limitations of these two methods for the female reptile reproductive system.

Anatomy of the female reproductive tract organs of the brown anole (Anolis sagrei).

Female reproduction in squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) is highly diverse and mode of reproduction, clutch size, and reproductive tract morphology all vary widely across this group of ~11,000 species. Recently, CRISPR genome editing techniques that require manipulation of the female reproductive anatomy have been developed in this group, making a more complete understanding of this anatomy essential. We describe the adult female reproductive anatomy of the model reptile the brown anole (Anolis sagrei). We show that the brown anole female reproductive tract has three distinct anterior-to-posterior regions, the infundibulum, the glandular uterus, and the nonglandular uterus. The infundibulum has a highly ciliated epithelial lip, a region where the epithelium is inverted so that cilia are present on the inside and outside of the tube. The glandular uterus has epithelial ducts that are patent with a lumen as well as acinar structures with a lumen. The nonglandular uterus has a heterogeneous morphology from anterior to posterior, with a highly folded, ciliated epithelium transitioning to a stratified squamous epithelium. This transition is accompanied by a loss of keratin-8 expression and together, these changes are similar to the morphological and gene expression changes that occur in the mammalian cervix. We recommend that description of the nonglandular uterus include the regional sub-specification of a "cervix" and "vagina" as this terminology change more accurately describes the morphology. Our data extend histological studies of reproductive organ morphology in reptiles and expand our understanding of the variation in reproductive system anatomy across squamates and vertebrates.

Domestic cat embryos reveal unique transcriptomes of developing incisor, canine, and premolar teeth.

Division of the dentition into morphologically distinct classes of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars) and the acquisition of tribosphenic molars facilitated precise occlusion between the teeth early in mammal evolution. Despite the evolutionary and ecological importance of distinct classes of teeth with unique cusp, crest, and basin morphologies, relatively little is known about the genetic basis for the development of different tooth classes within the embryo. Here we investigated genetic differences between developing deciduous incisor, canine, and premolar teeth in the domestic cat (Felis catus), which we propose to be a new model for tooth development. We examined differences in both developmental timing and crown morphology between the three tooth classes. Using RNA sequencing of early bell stage tooth germs, we showed that each of the three deciduous tooth classes possess a unique transcriptional profile. Three notable groups of genes emerged from our differential expression analysis; genes involved in the extracellular matrix (ECM), Wnt pathway signaling, and members of multiple homeobox gene families (Lhx, Dlx, Alx, and Nkx). Our results suggest that ECM genes may play a previously under-appreciated role in shaping the surface of the tooth crown during development. Differential regulation of these genes likely underlies differences in tooth crown shape and size, although subtle temporal differences in development between the tooth germs could also be responsible. This study provides foundational data for future experiments to examine the function of these candidate genes in tooth development to directly test their potential effects on crown morphology.

Chronic Estrus Disrupts Uterine Gland Development and Homeostasis.

Female mice homozygous for an engineered Gnrhr E90K mutation have reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling, leading to infertility. Their ovaries have numerous antral follicles but no corpora lutea, indicating a block to ovulation. These mutants have high levels of circulating estradiol and low progesterone, indicating a state of persistent estrus. This mouse model provided a unique opportunity to examine the lack of cyclic levels of ovarian hormones on uterine gland biology. Although uterine gland development appeared similar to controls during prepubertal development, it was compromised during adolescence in the mutants. By age 20 weeks, uterine gland development was comparable to controls, but pathologies, including cribriform glandular structures, were observed. Induction of ovulations by periodic human chorionic gonadotropin treatment did not rescue postpubertal uterine gland development. Interestingly, progesterone receptor knockout mice, which lack progesterone signaling, also have defects in postpubertal uterine gland development. However, progesterone treatment did not rescue postpubertal uterine gland development. These studies indicate that chronically elevated levels of estradiol with low progesterone and therefore an absence of cyclic ovarian hormone secretion disrupts postpubertal uterine gland development and homeostasis.

Life history and environment predict variation in testosterone across vertebrates.

Endocrine systems act as key intermediaries between organisms and their environments. This interaction leads to high variability in hormone levels, but we know little about the ecological factors that influence this variation within and across major vertebrate groups. We study this topic by assessing how various social and environmental dynamics influence testosterone levels across the entire vertebrate tree of life. Our analyses show that breeding season length and mating system are the strongest predictors of average testosterone concentrations, whereas breeding season length, environmental temperature, and variability in precipitation are the strongest predictors of within-population variation in testosterone. Principles from small-scale comparative studies that stress the importance of mating opportunity and competition on the evolution of species differences in testosterone levels, therefore, likely apply to the entire vertebrate lineage. Meanwhile, climatic factors associated with rainfall and ambient temperature appear to influence variability in plasma testosterone, within a given species. These results, therefore, reveal how unique suites of ecological factors differentially explain scales of variation in circulating testosterone across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

Baseline and stress-induced corticosterone levels across birds and reptiles do not reflect urbanization levels.

Rates of human-induced environmental change continue increasing with human population size, potentially altering animal physiology and negatively affecting wildlife. Researchers often use glucocorticoid concentrations (hormones that can be associated with stressors) to gauge the impact of anthropogenic factors (e.g. urbanization, noise and light pollution). Yet, no general relationships between human-induced environmental change and glucocorticoids have emerged. Given the number of recent studies reporting baseline and stress-induced corticosterone (the primary glucocorticoid in birds and reptiles) concentrations worldwide, it is now possible to conduct large-scale comparative analyses to test for general associations between disturbance and baseline and stress-induced corticosterone across species. Additionally, we can control for factors that may influence context, such as life history stage, environmental conditions and urban adaptability of a species. Here, we take a phylogenetically informed approach and use data from HormoneBase to test if baseline and stress-induced corticosterone are valid indicators of exposure to human footprint index, human population density, anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night in birds and reptiles. Our results show a negative relationship between anthropogenic noise and baseline corticosterone for birds characterized as urban avoiders. While our results potentially indicate that urban avoiders are more sensitive to noise than other species, overall our study suggests that the relationship between human-induced environmental change and corticosterone varies across species and contexts; we found no general relationship between human impacts and baseline and stress-induced corticosterone in birds, nor baseline corticosterone in reptiles. Therefore, it should not be assumed that high or low levels of exposure to human-induced environmental change are associated with high or low corticosterone levels, respectively, or that closely related species, or even individuals, will respond similarly. Moving forward, measuring alternative physiological traits alongside reproductive success, health and survival may provide context to better understand the potential negative effects of human-induced environmental change.

Macroevolutionary Patterning in Glucocorticoids Suggests Different Selective Pressures Shape Baseline and Stress-Induced Levels.

Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones are important phenotypic mediators across vertebrates, but their circulating concentrations can vary markedly. Here we investigate macroevolutionary patterning in GC levels across tetrapods by testing seven specific hypotheses about GC variation and evaluating whether the supported hypotheses reveal consistent patterns in GC evolution. If selection generally favors the "supportive" role of GCs in responding effectively to challenges, then baseline and/or stress-induced GCs may be higher in challenging contexts. Alternatively, if selection generally favors "protection" from GC-induced costs, GCs may be lower in environments where challenges are more common or severe. The predictors of baseline GCs were all consistent with supportive effects: levels were higher in smaller organisms and in those inhabiting more energetically demanding environments. During breeding, baseline GCs were also higher in populations and species with fewer lifetime opportunities to reproduce. The predictors of stress-induced GCs were instead more consistent with the protection hypothesis: during breeding, levels were lower in organisms with fewer lifetime reproductive opportunities. Overall, these patterns indicate a surprising degree of consistency in how some selective pressures shape GCs across broad taxonomic scales; at the same time, in challenging environments selection appears to operate on baseline and stress-induced GCs in distinct ways.

Metabolic Scaling of Stress Hormones in Vertebrates.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are stress hormones that can strongly influence physiology, behavior, and an organism's ability to cope with environmental change. Despite their importance, and the wealth of studies that have sought to understand how and why GC concentrations vary within species, we do not have a clear understanding of how circulating GC levels vary within and across the major vertebrate clades. New research has proposed that much interspecific variation in GC concentrations can be explained by variation in metabolism and body mass. Specifically, GC concentrations should vary proportionally with mass-specific metabolic rates and, given known scaling relationships between body mass and metabolic rate, GC concentrations should scale to the -1/4 power of body mass and to the power of 1 with mass-specific metabolic rate. Here, we use HormoneBase, the newly compiled database that includes plasma GC concentrations from free-living and unmanipulated vertebrates, to evaluate this hypothesis. Specifically, we explored the relationships between body mass or mass-specific metabolic rate and either baseline or stress-induced GC (cortisol or corticosterone) concentrations in tetrapods. Our phylogenetically-informed models suggest that, whereas the relationship between GC concentrations and body mass across tetrapods and among mammals is close to -1/4 power, this relationship does not exist in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Moreover, with the exception of a positive association between stress-induced GC concentrations and mass-specific metabolic rate in birds, we found little evidence that GC concentrations are linked to metabolic rate, although the number of species sampled was quite limited for amphibians and somewhat so for reptiles and mammals. Nevertheless, these results stand in contrast to the generally accepted association between the two and suggest that our observed positive association between body mass and GC concentrations may not be due to the well-established link between mass and metabolism. Large-scale comparative approaches can come with drawbacks, such as pooling and pairing observations from separate sources. However, these broad analyses provide an important counterbalance to the majority of studies examining variation in GC concentrations at the population or species level, and can be a powerful approach to testing both long-standing and new questions in biology.

HormoneBase, a population-level database of steroid hormone levels across vertebrates.

Hormones are central regulators of organismal function and flexibility that mediate a diversity of phenotypic traits from early development through senescence. Yet despite these important roles, basic questions about how and why hormone systems vary within and across species remain unanswered. Here we describe HormoneBase, a database of circulating steroid hormone levels and their variation across vertebrates. This database aims to provide all available data on the mean, variation, and range of plasma glucocorticoids (both baseline and stress-induced) and androgens in free-living and un-manipulated adult vertebrates. HormoneBase (www.HormoneBase.org) currently includes >6,580 entries from 476 species, reported in 648 publications from 1967 to 2015, and unpublished datasets. Entries are associated with data on the species and population, sex, year and month of study, geographic coordinates, life history stage, method and latency of hormone sampling, and analysis technique. This novel resource could be used for analyses of the function and evolution of hormone systems, and the relationships between hormonal variation and a variety of processes including phenotypic variation, fitness, and species distributions.

The evolution of androgen receptor expression and behavior in Anolis lizard forelimb muscles.

The motor systems that produce behavioral movements are among the primary targets for the action of steroid hormones, including androgens. Androgens such as testosterone bind to androgen receptors (AR) to induce physiological changes in the size, strength, and energetic capacity of skeletal muscles, which can directly influence the performance of behaviors in which those muscles are used. Because tissues differentially express AR, resulting in tissue-specific sensitivity to androgens, AR expression may be a major target of selection for the evolution of behavior. Anolis lizards (i.e., anoles) provide a robust system for the study of androgen-regulated traits, including the behavioral traits that facilitate social display and locomotion. In this study, we examined six anole species that demonstrate significant variation in the behavioral use of the forelimbs to measure the proportion of myonuclei in the bicep muscles that express AR. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we found that species with a greater proportion of nuclei positive for AR expression in the biceps exhibited greater frequencies of locomotor movements and pushup displays. These results suggest that AR expression in skeletal muscles may influence the evolution of androgen-regulated behaviors in this group.

Model Clades Versus Model Species: Anolis Lizards as an Integrative Model of Anatomical Evolution.

Anolis lizards , known for their replicated patterns of morphological diversification, are widely studied in the fields of evolution and ecology. As a textbook example of adaptive radiation, this genus has supported decades of intense study in natural history, behavior, morphological evolution, and systematics. Following the publication of the A. carolinensis genome, research on Anolis lizards has expanded into new areas, toward obtaining an understanding the developmental and genetic bases of anole diversity. Here, we discuss recent progress in these areas and the burgeoning methodological toolkit that has been used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying anatomical variation in this group. We also highlight the growing number of studies that have used A. carolinensis as the representative squamate in large-scale comparison of amniote evolution and development . Finally, we address one of the largest technical challenges biologists are facing in making Anolis a model for integrative studies of ecology, evolution, development , and genetics, the development of ex-ovo culturing techniques that have broad utility. Ultimately, with the power to ask questions across all biological scales in this diverse genus full, anoles are rapidly becoming a uniquely integrative and powerful biological system.

The incredible shrinking dewlap: signal size, skin elasticity, and mechanical design in the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis).

The expression of male secondary sexual traits can be dynamic, changing size, shape, color, or structure over the course of different seasons. However, the factors underlying such changes are poorly understood. In male Anolis carolinensis lizards, a morphological secondary sexual signal called the dewlap changes size seasonally within individuals. Here, we test the hypothesis that seasonal changes in male dewlap size are driven by increased use and extension of the dewlap in spring and summer, when males are breeding, relative to the winter and fall. We captured male green anole lizards prior to the onset of breeding and constrained the dewlap in half of them such that it could not be extended. We then measured dewlap area in the spring, summer, and winter, and dewlap skin and belly skin elasticity in summer and winter. Dewlaps in unconstrained males increase in area from spring to summer and then shrink in the winter, whereas the dewlaps of constrained males consistently shrink from spring to winter. Dewlap skin is significantly more elastic than belly skin, and skin overall is more elastic in the summer relative to winter. These results show that seasonal changes in dewlap size are a function of skin elasticity and display frequency, and suggest that the mechanical properties of signaling structures can have important implications for signal evolution and design.