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The covers of the 2024 issues of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A are presented at full size and high resolution, together with the stories behind them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gill function in gas exchange and ion regulation has played key roles in the evolution of fishes. In this review, we summarize data from the fields of palaeontology, developmental biology and comparative physiology for when and how the gills first acquired these functions. Data from across disciplines strongly supports a stem vertebrate origin for gas exchange structures and function at the gills with the emergence of larger, more active fishes. However, the recent discovery of putative ionocytes in extant cephalochordates and hemichordates suggests that ion regulation at gills might have originated much earlier than gas exchange, perhaps in the ciliated pharyngeal arches in the last common ancestor of deuterostomes. We hypothesize that the ancestral form of ion regulation served a filter-feeding function in the ciliated pharyngeal arches, and was later coopted in vertebrates to regulate extracellular ion and acid–base balance. We propose that future research should explore ionocyte homology and function across extant deuterostomes to test this hypothesis and others in order to determine the ancestral origins of ion regulation in fish gills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is a well-known fact that assessment drives learning. One of the most important aspects of training a doctor is the acquisition of practical skills. The conventional practical examination (CPE) fails to guarantee the development of the skills expected from students by the end of the course. In addition, the scoring is affected based on the examiner's variability for different students. Objective structured practical examination (OSPE) has been used to evaluate those areas of performance by students. CPE also does not provide any feedback except stating pass or fail. To overcome this problem, an earlier innovation in this regard is the OSPE described in 1975 and greater detail in 1979 by Harden and his group. The OSPE is now an accepted tool in the assessment of practical skills in both pre- and para-clinical subjects. In view of this, we have implemented the system of OSPE for the assessment of practical physiology in the Department of Physiology at SMIMER College in Surat. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to introduce OSPE as a formative assessment method for 1st-year MBBS students within the physiology department. It involves conducting a comparative analysis between CPE and OSPE to evaluate the efficacy of these assessment methods. In addition, the study seeks to assess students' satisfaction with the implementation of OSPE for evaluating practical skills and to investigate faculty perceptions of OSPE as a formative assessment tool. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the physiology department of SMIMER on 138 students of 1st-year MBBS. The first CPE was conducted on 46 students each on 3 alternate days over a period of 1 week by six faculties. The students underwent a second evaluation of the same practical skills, next week through the OSPE method. Feedback from students and faculties was taken separately. CPE was compared with OSCE statistically to find the significance of the difference in means between the marks of these two methods. Results: The results indicate that while students achieved higher marks in the conventional method of practical assessment compared to OSPE, the difference between the two was not deemed statistically significant (P = 0.1). Interestingly, over 80% of students expressed a preference for integrating OSPE into future assessments. Notably, 60% of students perceived OSPE as potentially easier to navigate than traditional practical assessments, while over 80% acknowledged its broader coverage of topics. Furthermore, a significant majority, more than 70% of students, deemed OSPE as a fairer evaluation method compared to traditional while there may not be a statistically significant difference in marks obtained between traditional practical assessment methods and OSPE, there is a strong inclination among students and faculty toward incorporating OSPE into future assessments. Students appreciated the wider coverage of topics in this method. Faculty members recognize the objectivity, validity, and reliability of OSPE but are unsure about its feasibility. The consensus leans toward utilizing OSPE for formative assessment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT There is a current lack of consensus on whether the ancestral parity mode was oviparity (egg‐laying) or viviparity (live‐birth) in amniotes and particularly in squamates (snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenids). How transitions between parity modes occur at the genomic level has primary importance for how science conceptualises the origin of amniotes, and highly variable parity modes in Squamata. Synthesising literature from medicine, poultry science, reproductive biology, and evolutionary biology, I review the genomics and physiology of five broad processes (here termed the ‘Main Five’) expected to change during transitions between parity modes: eggshell formation, embryonic retention, placentation, calcium transport, and maternal–fetal immune dynamics. Throughout, I offer alternative perspectives and testable hypotheses regarding proximate causes of parity mode evolution in amniotes and squamates. If viviparity did evolve early in the history of lepidosaurs, I offer the nucleation site hypothesis as a proximate explanation. The framework of this hypothesis can be extended to amniotes to infer their ancestral state. I also provide a mechanism and hypothesis on how squamates may transition from viviparity to oviparity and make predictions about the directionality of transitions in three species. After considering evidence for differing perspectives on amniote origins, I offer a framework that unifies (i) the extended embryonic retention model and (ii) the traditional model which describes the amniote egg as an adaptation to the terrestrial environment. Additionally, this review contextualises the origin of amniotes and parity mode evolution within Medawar's paradigm. Medawar posited that pregnancy could be supported by immunosuppression, inertness, evasion, or immunological barriers. I demonstrate that this does not support gestation or gravidity across most amniotes but may be an adequate paradigm to explain how the first amniote tolerated internal fertilization and delayed egg deposition. In this context, the eggshell can be thought of as an immunological barrier. If serving as a barrier underpins the origin of the amniote eggshell, there should be evidence that oviparous gravidity can be met with a lack of immunological responses in utero. Rare examples of two species that differentially express very few genes during gravidity, suggestive of an absent immunological reaction to oviparous gravidity, are two skinks Lampropholis guichenoti and Lerista bougainvillii. These species may serve as good models for the original amniote egg. Overall, this review grounds itself in the historical literature while offering a modern perspective on the origin of amniotes. I encourage the scientific community to utilise this review as a resource in evolutionary and comparative genomics studies, embrace the complexity of the system, and thoughtfully consider the frameworks proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intertidal mussels experience prolonged emersion during low tide, followed by rapid submergence cooling during high tide, causing temperature-induced stress responses. This study examined variations in heart rate to investigate the relationship between emerged and submerged thermal stress in Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis and brown mussels Perna perna from one site on a south coast warm-water coastline and two sites on a west coast cold-water coastline in South Africa. Gaping behaviour in air displayed by P. perna appears to contribute towards their survivability under warmer conditions, as their flatline temperature was higher as compared with M. galloprovincialis, which do not display gaping behaviour. Warm-water acclimatised mussels of both species appeared better able to survive higher temperatures than cold-water acclimatised mussels. However, both mussel species are possibly living at their upper thermal tolerance based on their sublethal Arrhenius breakpoint temperature (ABT). The values of ABT were higher while exposed to air than when submerged, revealing physiological mechanisms at work to cope with changes in the intertidal zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Poikilohydric plants respond to hydration by undergoing dry–wet–dry cycles. Carbon balance represents the net gain or loss of carbon from each cycle. Here we present the first standard protocol for measuring carbon balance, including a custom‐modified chamber system for infrared gas analysis, 12‐h continuous monitoring, resolution of plant–substrate relationships, and in‐chamber specimen hydration. Methods and Results: We applied the carbon balance technique to capture responses to water stress in populations of the moss Syntrichia caninervis, comparing 19 associated physiological variables. Carbon balance was negative in desiccation‐acclimated (field‐collected) mosses, which exhibited large respiratory losses. Contrastingly, carbon balance was positive in hydration‐acclimated (lab‐cultivated) mosses, which began exhibiting net carbon uptake <15 min following hydration. Conclusions: Carbon balance is a functional trait indicative of physiological performance, hydration stress, and survival in poikilohydric plants, and the carbon balance method can be applied broadly across taxa to test hypotheses related to environmental stress and global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the light habitat of two populations of opossum shrimps Mysis relicta (Crustacea: Mysidacea) and the molecular mechanism of their visual pigments' spectral tuning. Data are presented according to which spectral tuning is based on the expression of different opsins genes and not on the replacement of chromophore groups: retinal-1 (A1) ↔ retinal-2 (A2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers an overview of publications in the special issue of Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 16: Biologiya (Herald of Moscow University. Series 16: Biology), marking the centennial of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Moscow State University, founded by prominent Russian physiologist Aleksandr F. Samoilov. Additionally, insight is provided into the milestones of the department's history. Studies presented by leading national researchers, including a scientific research group from the Department of Human and Animal Physiology, are discussed within the scope of current challenges faced by physiological science [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary cell culture is a powerful model system to address fundamental questions about organismal physiology at the cellular level, especially for species that are difficult, or impossible, to study under natural or semi-natural conditions. Due to their ease of use, primary fibroblast cultures are the dominant model system, but studies using both somatic and germ cells are also common. Using these models, genome evolution and phylogenetic relationships, the molecular and biochemical basis of differential longevities among species, and the physiological consequences of life history evolution have been studied in depth. With the advent of new technologies such as gene editing and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), the field of molecular evolutionary physiology will continue to expand using both descriptive and experimental approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian clocks play an essential role in adapting locomotor activity as well as physiological, and metabolic rhythms of organisms to the day-night cycles on Earth during the four seasons. In addition, they can serve as a time reference for measuring day length and adapt organisms in advance to annual changes in the environment, which can be particularly pronounced at higher latitudes. The physiological responses of organisms to day length are also known as photoperiodism. This special issue of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A aims to account for diurnal and photoperiodic adaptations by presenting a collection of ten review articles, five original research articles, and three perspective pieces. The contributions include historical accounts, circadian and photoperiodic clock models, epigenetic, molecular, and neuronal mechanisms of seasonal adaptations, latitudinal differences in photoperiodic responses and studies in the wild that address the challenges of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the potential benefits of amino acid infusion on renal function, particularly in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). While high protein consumption has been shown to have negative effects on kidney function, recent studies suggest that amino acid infusion may actually improve renal function and recovery from renal failure. The PROTECTION trial confirmed these findings, showing that amino acid infusion can prevent AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The article discusses various mechanisms through which amino acids may improve renal function, but emphasizes the need for further research in different settings to generalize the findings. [Extracted from the article]

An important goal of environmental and comparative physiology research is to identify species or populations that may be susceptible to environmental change such as heat wave events that are predicted to become more frequent and intense in the future. This study tested the hypothesis that fishes inhabiting alkaline lakes face significant physiological challenges, which results in reduced thermal tolerance. Brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) were collected from an alkaline lake (pH 9.3) in Alberta, Canada and held under neutral conditions in the laboratory. Subsequently, fish were acutely exposed (4 d) to neutral (pH 7) or alkaline (pH 9.5) waters at 10 or 25°C. Exposure to alkaline water reduced critical thermal maximum (CTmax) in stickleback by approximately 1°C, but thermal acclimation capacity ("thermal plasticity") was unaffected by alkaline exposure. Alkaline conditions resulted in physiological disturbances characteristic of exposure to high pH including elevated whole-body ammonia and lactate concentrations. Acute warming to CTmax in alkaline-exposed fish resulted in reductions in whole-body sodium and chloride concentrations. In addition, alkaline exposure compromised recovery from exercise at elevated temperatures. Overall, these results suggest that the physiological disturbances observed in response to alkaline exposure may render fish more susceptible to acute warming, reducing thermal tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms and the sleep/wake cycle allows us, and most life on Earth, to function optimally in a dynamic world, adjusting all aspects of biology to the varied and complex demands imposed by the 24-hour rotation of the Earth upon its axis. A key element in understanding these rhythms, and the success of the field in general, has been because researchers have adopted a comparative approach. Across all taxa, fundamental questions relating to the generation and regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms have been address using biochemical, molecular, cellular, system and computer modelling techniques. Furthermore, findings have been placed into an ecological and evolutionary context. By addressing both the "How" – mechanistic, and "Why" – evolutionary questions in parallel, the field has achieved remarkable successes, including how circadian rhythms are generated and regulated by light. Yet many key questions remain. In this special issue on the Comparative Physiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Journal of Comparative Physiology, important new discoveries are detailed. These findings illustrate the power of comparative physiology to address novel questions and demonstrate that sleep and circadian physiology are embedded within the biological framework of an organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ernst Brücke's 1861 essay Die Elementarorganismen has often been cited as a watershed in the history of physiology as well as in the history of cell theory. In its time it was widely read as a reform of animal cell theory, shifting the concept of the cell away from Schleiden and Schwann's original cell schema of a membranous vesicle with a nucleus, and towards the protoplasm theory that had developed in botany, centered on the cell's living contents. It was also notorious for its arguments against the necessity of both the nucleus and the cell membrane. An English translation of "The Elementary Organisms" is presented for the first time in this journal issue, with annotations and illustrations, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-024-09773-9. Brücke's essay was not only an intervention into cell theory: historians can read it as a continuation of debates on the nature of the organism and theories of organization, and as an epistemological meditation on the microscope. In addition, although Brücke was known as a founder of the Berlin school of organic physics, "The Elementary Organisms" shows how he combined an avant-garde physicalist physiology with a much older tradition of comparative anatomy and physiology. The following introductory essay will provide a scientific biography of Ernst Brücke up to 1863, with background on debates on biological organization, cell theory, and muscle histology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on investigating whether bottlenose dolphins' circulating factors offer protection against age-related endothelial dysfunction, drawing from their unique physiological adaptations. Topics include the impact of serum from bottlenose dolphins on endothelial function in mice, comparative vascular physiology in dolphins versus humans, and the potential for future studies to explore underlying mechanisms of endothelial protection through a multi-omics approach.

Electrophysiology in plants is understudied, and, moreover, an ideal model for student inclusion at all levels of education. Here, we report on an investigation in open science, whereby scientists worked with high school students, faculty, and undergraduates from Chile, Germany, Serbia, South Korea, and the USA. The students recorded the electrophysiological signals of >15 plant species in response to a flame or tactile stimulus applied to the leaves. We observed that approximately 60% of the plants studied showed an electrophysiological response, with a delay of ~ 3-6 s after stimulus presentation. In preliminary conduction velocity experiments, we verified that observed signals are indeed biological in origin, with information transmission speeds of ~ 2–9 mm/s. Such easily replicable experiments can serve to include more investigators and students in contributing to our understanding of plant electrophysiology.

Large lipid‐storing copepods dominate mesozooplankton biomass in the polar oceans and form a critical link between primary production and higher trophic levels. The ecological success of these species depends on their ability to survive periods of food deprivation in a highly seasonal environment, but the molecular changes that mediate starvation tolerance in these taxa are unknown. We conducted starvation experiments for two dominant Southern Ocean copepods, Calanoides acutus and Calanus propinquus, allowing us to compare the molecular starvation response between species. These species differ in life history, diet and metabolic traits, and expressed overlapping but distinct transcriptomic responses to starvation. Most starvation‐response genes were species‐specific, but we identified a conserved core set of starvation‐response genes related to RNA and protein metabolism. We used phylotranscriptomics to place these results in the context of copepod evolution and found that starvation‐response genes are under strong purifying selection at the sequence level and stabilizing selection at the expression level, consistent with their role in mediating essential biological functions. Selection on starvation‐response genes was especially strong in our focal lipid‐storing lineage relative to other copepod taxa, underscoring the significance of starvation tolerance for these species. We also found that certain key lipid enzymes (elongases and desaturases) have experienced diversification and positive selection in lipid‐storing lineages, reflecting the unique lipid storage needs of these animals. Our results shed light on the molecular adaptations of high‐latitude zooplankton to variable food conditions and suggest that starvation‐response genes are under particularly strong sequence and expression constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizostomeae species attract our attention because of their distinctive body shape, their large size and because of blooms of some species in coastal areas around the world. The impacts of these blooms on human activities, and the interest in consumable species and those of biotechnological value have led to a significant expansion of research into the physiology and functional biology of Rhizostomeae jellyfish over the last years. This review brings together information generated over these last decades on rhizostome body composition, locomotion, toxins, nutrition, respiration, growth, among other functional parameters. Rhizostomes have more than double the carbon content per unit of biomass than jellyfish of Semaeostomeae. They swim about twice as fast, and consume more oxygen than other scyphozoans of the same size. Rhizostomes also have faster initial growth in laboratory and the highest body growth rates measured in nature, when compared to other medusae groups. Parameters such as body composition, nutrition and excretion are highly influenced by the presence of symbiotic zooxanthellae in species of the Kolpophorae suborder. These physiological and functional characteristics may reveal a wide range of adaptive responses, but our conclusions are still based on studies of a limited number of species. Available data indicates that Rhizosotomeae jellyfish have a higher energy demand and higher body productivity when compared to other jellyfish groups. The information gathered here can help ecologists better understand and make more assertive predictions on the role of these jellyfish in their ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiological properties of marine mammal skeletal muscle are foundational in defining diving and foraging capacities. Further, these parameters can be useful when assessing the behavioral flexibility of species faced with environmental change or disturbance. Herein, we define species- and age-specific muscle physiology for three ice-associated seal species experiencing Arctic warming. Specifically, we evaluated myoglobin content ([Mb]), nonbicarbonate buffering capacity (p), and fiber type profiles of a major locomotor muscle, the longissimus dorsi. Muscle samples were obtained from subsistence harvested ringed (Pusa hispida; n = 11), bearded (Erignathus barbatus; n = 41), and spotted (Phoca largha; n = 12) seals of all ages in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Adult ringed seals had the highest [Mb] (6.67 ± 0.20 g 100 g wet tissue-1), followed by spotted (5.38 ± 0.29 g 100 g wet tissue-1) and bearded (4.55 ± 0.07 g 100 g wet tissue-1) seals. [Mb] increased with age for all species, but rates of increase differed by species. In contrast, p was similar for all species and age classes. We documented higher proportions of fast-twitch relative to slow-twitch fibers in these species, and fiber type proportions did not differ significantly with age. Adult bearded seals exhibited the greatest proportion of fast-twitch fibers (68.7 ± 1.5%), followed by ringed (59.0 ± 4.8%) and spotted (55.1 ± 2.1%) seals. Overall, our data suggest a strong link between muscle physiology, diving behavior, and life history strategies, and provide insight into the physiological capacities of these potentially vulnerable species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Editors' and Readers' Choice Awards were established in 2022 to celebrate some of the outstanding articles published every year in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A. The recipients of the 2024 Editors' Choice Awards were selected based on votes cast by the Editorial Board on articles published in 2023. In the category Original Paper, this distinction goes to 'Views from 'crabworld': the spatial distribution of light in a tropical mudflat' by Jochen Zeil (J Comp Physiol A 209:859–876, 2023); and in the category Review Article to 'Olfactory navigation in arthropods' by Theresa J. Steele and colleagues (J Comp Physiol A 209:467–488, 2023). The winners of the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards were determined by the number of online accesses of articles published in 2022. In the category Original Paper, the winner is 'Broadband 75–85 MHz radiofrequency fields disrupt magnetic compass orientation in night‑migratory songbirds consistent with a flavin‑based radical pair magnetoreceptor' by Bo Leberecht and colleagues (J Comp Physiol A 208:97–106, 2022). In the category Review Article, the winner is 'Magnetic maps in animal navigation' by Kenneth J. Lohmann and colleagues (J Comp Physiol A 208:41–67, 2022), which already won the Editors' Choice Award in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homeostasis of the whole organism and the analysis of hematological parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus) play an essential role in comparative physiology for health assessment and disease diagnosis. The obtained blood results can be the basis for assessing the condition of wild deer populations with an existing clinical picture or characterize the nutritional status, habitat, or other stress factors, as the hematopoietic system is susceptible to any changes in the animal body. In the course of the research, it was found that the body weight of adult deer varied depending on the population. Female deer of the Latvian and Lithuanian crossbreeds and the Eastern European population had the highest weight. As for the males, the animals of the Hungarian population had a higher weight than the English population. A high level of growth intensity in the early postnatal period was characteristic of both young females (body weight gain was in the range of 44.8–45.8 kg) and males (42.6–44.12 kg). The analysis of hematological parameters confirmed that the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin content increased in the blood of animals of the English population under technological stress (by 5.6 and 4.4 %). Regarding individual populations, it was noted that under the same conditions of immobilization of animals (medication), the number of red blood cells in the blood of Latvian crossbred deer was 8.5 % higher than the English population. The hemoglobin content was 5.3 % lower, and the saturation of red blood cells with hemoglobin was 12.9 % lower. It was found that the hematological parameters of 3–4 month-old fawns (females and males) of the English population were characterized by relative stability. Against the background of a tendency to a higher number of red blood cells in females (by 12.8 %), the hemoglobin content was 3.3 % lower than in males. The number of leukocytes in the blood of females was slightly higher than that of males, although no significant deviations were noted in some forms of white blood cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycophorin A and glycophorin B are structural membrane glycoproteins bound in the band 3 multiprotein complexes on human red blood cells (RBCs). Band 3 is an erythroid-specific anion exchanger (AE1). AE1-mediated HCO3− transport provides the substrate for the enzyme-catalyzed conversion HCO3− (aq) # CO2(g), which takes place inside the RBCs. Bicarbonate transport via AE1 supports intravascular acid–base homeostasis and respiratory excretion of CO2. In the past decade, we conducted several comparative physiology studies on Taiwanese people having the glycophorin variant GPMur RBC type (which accompanies greater AE1 expression). We found that increased anion transport across the erythrocyte membrane not only enhances gas exchange and lung functions but also elevates blood pressure (BP) and reduces nitric oxide (NO)- dependent vasodilation and exhaled NO fraction (FeNO) in healthy individuals with GP.Mur. Notably, in people carrying the GPMur blood type, the BP and NO-dependent, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) are both more strongly correlated with individual hemoglobin (Hb) levels. As blood NO and nitrite (NO2− ) are predominantly scavenged by intraerythrocytic Hb, and NO2− primarily enters RBCs via AE1, could a more monoanion-permeable RBC membrane (i.e., GPMur/ increased AE1) enhance NO2− /NO3− permeability and Hb scavenging of NO2− and NO to affect blood pressure? In this perspective, a working model is proposed for the potential role of AE1 in intravascular NO availability, blood pressure, and clinical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change has led to severe cold events, adversely impacting global crop production. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a significant economic crop, is highly susceptible to cold damage, affecting both yield and quality. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing cold resistance, including the identification of key genes and comprehensive transcriptional regulatory pathways, is crucial for developing new varieties with enhanced tolerance. Results: In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of leaf physiological indices and transcriptome sequencing results. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) highlighted peroxidase (POD) activity and soluble protein as crucial physiological indicators for both varieties. RNA-seq data analysis revealed that a total of 7024 and 6209 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from variety "A" and variety "B", respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment of DEGs demonstrated that the significant roles of starch and sucrose metabolism, glutathione metabolism, terpenoid synthesis, and energy metabolism (sucrose and starch metabolism) were the key pathways in eggplant. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) shown that the enrichment of numerous cold-responsive genes, pathways, and soluble proteins in the MEgrep60 modules. Core hub genes identified in the co-expression network included POD, membrane transporter-related gene MDR1, abscisic acid-related genes, growth factor enrichment gene DELLA, core components of the biological clock PRR7, and five transcription factors. Among these, the core transcription factor MYB demonstrated co-expression with signal transduction, plant hormone, biosynthesis, and metabolism-related genes, suggesting a pivotal role in the cold response network. Conclusion: This study integrates physiological indicators and transcriptomics to unveil the molecular mechanisms responsible for the differences in cold tolerance between the eggplant cold-tolerant variety "A" and the cold-sensitive variety "B". These mechanisms include modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevation in osmotic carbohydrate and free proline content, and the expression of terpenoid synthesis genes. This comprehensive understanding contributes valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of cold stress tolerance, ultimately aiding in the improvement of crop cold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Comparative Physiology A is the premier peer-reviewed scientific journal in comparative physiology, in particular sensory physiology, neurophysiology, and neuroethology. Founded in 1924 by Karl von Frisch and Alfred Kühn, it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024. During these 100 years, many of the landmark achievements in these disciplines were published in this journal. To commemorate these accomplishments, we have compiled a list of the Top 100 Authors over these 100 years, representing approximately 1% of all its authors. To select these individuals, three performance criteria were applied: number of publications, total number of citations attracted by these articles, and mean citation rate of the papers published by each author. The resulting list of the Top 100 Authors provides a fascinating insight into the history of the disciplines covered by the Journal of Comparative Physiology A and into the academic careers of many of their leading representatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Comparative Physiology A, also known as JCPA, was founded by Karl von Frisch and Alfred Kühn in 1924, then under its German title Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie. During the 100 years of its history, it became the leading international journal in comparative physiology and its daughter discipline, neuroethology. As such, it had a major impact on the development of these disciplines. In celebration of this achievement and the nearly 10,000 articles that appeared during the last 100 years, this Centennial Issue is published. Its authors reflect on the history of JCPA and the early pioneers, including women scientists, of comparative physiology; share the impact that the Journal had on their careers; discuss the benefit of the enormous taxonomic diversity of model systems used in studies published in JCPA; contrast this philosophy with the strategy of a limited number of standard biomedical model systems; review popular and trending research topics covered in JCPA; and, by interrogating the past, take a peek into the future of neuroethology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For 100 years, the Journal of Comparative Physiology-A has significantly supported research in the field of neuroethology. The celebration of the journal's centennial is a great time point to appreciate the recent progress in neuroethology and to discuss possible avenues of the field. Animal behavior is the main source of inspiration for neuroethologists. This is illustrated by the huge diversity of investigated behaviors and species. To explain behavior at a mechanistic level, neuroethologists combine neuroscientific approaches with sophisticated behavioral analysis. The rapid technological progress in neuroscience makes neuroethology a highly dynamic and exciting field of research. To summarize the recent scientific progress in neuroethology, I went through all abstracts of the last six International Congresses for Neuroethology (ICNs 2010–2022) and categorized them based on the sensory modalities, experimental model species, and research topics. This highlights the diversity of neuroethology and gives us a perspective on the field's scientific future. At the end, I highlight three research topics that may, among others, influence the future of neuroethology. I hope that sharing my roots may inspire other scientists to follow neuroethological approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karl von Frisch, one of the leading zoologists of the twentieth century and co-founder of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A, has been frequently portrayed as an opponent of the Nazi regime because he, as a 'quarter-Jew,' faced the threat of forced retirement from his position as a professor at the University of Munich during the Third Reich. However, doubts about an active opposition role have surfaced in recent years. A litmus test for assessing the validity of this notion is provided by our discovery that four of the six core members of the anti-Nazi resistance group 'White Rose'—Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, Christoph Probst, and Alexander Schmorell—were his students. When they were arrested, sentenced to death, and executed, he seemed to ignore this historic event, both during and after World War II—in line with his belief that resistance leads to self-destruction, and research can flourish only by ignoring what happens around oneself. On the other hand, this seemingly apolitical attitude did not prevent him from making use of politics when it served his interests. Such actions included his (pseudo-)scientific justification of forced sterilization of people suffering from hereditary disorders during the Third Reich and his praise of the Nazi government's efforts to "keep races pure." As unsettling as these and some other political views and actions of Karl von Frisch are, they enabled him to carry out several critical pieces of his research agenda during the Third Reich, which three decades later earned him a Nobel Prize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Comparative Physiology lived up to its name in the last 100 years by including more than 1500 different taxa in almost 10,000 publications. Seventeen phyla of the animal kingdom were represented. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is the taxon with most publications, followed by locust (Locusta migratoria), crayfishes (Cambarus spp.), and fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster). The representation of species in this journal in the past, thus, differs much from the 13 model systems as named by the National Institutes of Health (USA). We mention major accomplishments of research on species with specific adaptations, specialist animals, for example, the quantitative description of the processes underlying the axon potential in squid (Loligo forbesii) and the isolation of the first receptor channel in the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and electric ray (Torpedo spp.). Future neuroethological work should make the recent genetic and technological developments available for specialist animals. There are many research questions left that may be answered with high yield in specialists and some questions that can only be answered in specialists. Moreover, the adaptations of animals that occupy specific ecological niches often lend themselves to biomimetic applications. We go into some depth in explaining our thoughts in the research of motion vision in insects, sound localization in barn owls, and electroreception in weakly electric fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fateful decision as a 15-year-old high school student, and good advice from a distinguished professor of zoology, were the catalysts that not only decided my entire career but also led me to the Journal of Comparative Physiology A, and to the myriad biological wonders that were held within its covers. In my celebration of JCPA, I look back on the formative years of my career in Australia, and the crucial role that the journal played in shaping my emerging research interests, and ultimately my entire life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is not meant to be a review article. Instead, it gives an overview of the major research projects that the author, together with his students, colleagues and collaborators, has worked on. Although the main focus of the author's work has always been the fish lateral line, this paper is mainly about all the other research projects he did or that were done in his laboratory. These include studies on fishing spiders, weakly electric fish, seals, water rats, bottom dwelling sharks, freshwater rays, venomous snakes, birds of prey, fire loving beetles and backswimmers. The reasons for this diversity of research projects? Simple. The authors's lifelong enthusiasm for animals, and nature's ingenuity in inventing new biological solutions. Indeed, this most certainly was a principal reason why Karl von Frisch and Alfred Kühn founded the Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie (now Journal of Comparative Physiology A) 100 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Comparative Physiology A was founded in 1924 as the Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie by Karl von Frisch and Alfred Kühn. Given the marginalization of women in science at that time, it is remarkable that the first article in the Journal was authored by a female scientist, Ruth Beutler. Throughout her scientific career, she was affiliated with the Zoological Institute of the University of Munich, which, under the leadership of von Frisch, evolved into a world-class academic institution. Despite chronic health problems, Beutler was one of the first women who succeeded in obtaining the Habilitation as qualification for appointment to a professorial position. She was also one of the first scientists who applied methods from physiological chemistry to the study of zoological phenomena. Yet, for many years she was employed as a technician only, and she was never appointed to an Ordinarius (tenured full professorship) position. Her most important contributions to comparative physiology outside her own area of research were her support for, and protection of, Karl von Frisch, particularly during the Nazi era when he, as a 'quarter-Jew,' faced imminent threat of forced retirement; and after World War II, when her efforts as interim Ordinarius were instrumental in re-building the bombed-out Zoological Institute to persuade Karl von Frisch to return to Munich. It was also one of her observations that prompted him to revisit, and revise, his earlier (incorrect) model of how honeybees communicate, through their dances, the direction and distances of food sources from the hive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Comparative Physiology is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Founded in 1924, the journal focuses on the publication of articles in neurophysiology, sensory physiology, metabolic physiology, and environmental adaptation. Comparative physiology aims to understand the diversity and plasticity of physiological mechanisms among animal species, and its research contributes to a better understanding of human biology and medicine. The journal has published numerous articles on a wide range of topics, including glucose metabolism in fish, the evolution of brown adipose tissue, and the role of membrane lipids in animal longevity. The editorial board has changed over the years, and the current editors are from various countries. The journal also published a special issue on the comparative physiology of sleep and circadian rhythms for its 100th anniversary. Overall, the journal continues to support basic research in animal physiology. [Extracted from the article]

Synechococcus, the second most abundant marine phytoplanktonic organism, displays the widest variety of pigment content of all marine oxyphototrophs, explaining its ability to colonize all spectral niches occurring in the upper lit layer of oceans. Seven Synechococcus pigment types (PTs) have been described so far based on the phycobiliprotein composition and chromophorylation of their light-harvesting complexes, called phycobilisomes. The most elaborate and abundant PT (3d) in the open ocean consists of cells capable of type IV chromatic acclimation (CA4), i.e., to reversibly modify the ratio of the blue light-absorbing phycourobilin (PUB) to the green light-absorbing phycoerythrobilin (PEB) in phycobilisome rods to match the ambient light color. Two genetically distinct types of chromatic acclimaters, so-called PTs 3dA and 3dB, occur at similar global abundance in the ocean, but the precise physiological differences between these two types and the reasons for their complementary niche partitioning in the field remain obscure. Here, photoacclimation experiments in different mixes of blue and green light of representatives of these two PTs demonstrated that they differ by the ratio of blue-to-green light required to trigger the CA4 process. Furthermore, shift experiments between 100% blue and 100% green light, and vice-versa, revealed significant discrepancies between the acclimation pace of the two types of chromatic acclimaters. This study provides novel insights into the finely tuned adaptation mechanisms used by Synechococcus cells to colonize the whole underwater light field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review uses the marine bivalve Crassostrea gigas to highlight redox reactions and control systems in species living in dynamic intertidal environments. Intertidal species face daily and seasonal environmental variability, including temperature, oxygen, salinity, and nutritional changes. Increasing anthropogenic pressure can bring pollutants and pathogens as additional stressors. Surprisingly, C. gigas demonstrates impressive adaptability to most of these challenges. We explore how ROS production, antioxidant protection, redox signaling, and metabolic adjustments can shed light on how redox biology supports oyster survival in harsh conditions. The review provides (i) a brief summary of shared redox sensing processes in metazoan; (ii) an overview of unique characteristics of the C. gigas intertidal habitat and the suitability of this species as a model organism; (iii) insights into the redox biology of C. gigas , including ROS sources, signaling pathways, ROS-scavenging systems, and thiol-containing proteins; and examples of (iv) hot topics that are underdeveloped in bivalve research linking redox biology with immunometabolism, physioxia, and development. Given its plasticity to environmental changes, C. gigas is a valuable model for studying the role of redox biology in the adaptation to harsh habitats, potentially providing novel insights for basic and applied studies in marine and comparative biochemistry and physiology. [Display omitted] • Redox biology connects environmental stimuli to biological functions. • The intertidal species Crassostrea gigas adapts to daily stress through redox processes. • Oyster metabolism is adapted to minimize oxidative damage in hypoxia and reoxygenation. • Their adaptable antioxidant system is controlled by the Nrf2 and HIF-1 pathways. • Redox biology extends to oyster immunity and development through yet understudied pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A frequent complaint of editors of scientific journals is that it has become increasingly difficult to find reviewers for evaluating submitted manuscripts. Such claims are, most commonly, based on anecdotal evidence. To gain more insight grounded on empirical evidence, editorial data of manuscripts submitted for publication to the Journal of Comparative Physiology A between 2014 and 2021 were analyzed. No evidence was found that more invitations were necessary over time to get manuscripts reviewed; that the reviewer's response time after invitation increased; that the number of reviewers who completed their reports, relative to the number of reviewers who had agreed to review a manuscript, decreased; and that the recommendation behavior of reviewers changed. The only significant trend observed was among reviewers who completed their reports later than agreed. The average number of days that these reviewers submitted their evaluations roughly doubled over the period analyzed. By contrast, neither the proportion of late vs. early reviews, nor the time for completing the reviews among the punctual reviewers, changed. Comparison with editorial data from other journals suggests that journals that serve a smaller community of readers and authors, and whose editors themselves contact potential reviewers, perform better in terms of reviewer recruitment and performance than journals that receive large numbers of submissions and use editorial assistants for sending invitations to potential reviewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cut tulip flower production, typically cultivated using hydroponic systems, often faces the challenge of stem toppling due to calcium (Ca) deficiency in the nutrient solution. Growers generally grow various tulip cultivars to meet market demands. In hydroponic production, plants require precise nutrient concentrations to promote growth and development, as the food reserves in the mother bulb are insufficient and vary depending on the plant cultivar. This study aimed to assess the impact of different tulip cultivars and Ca deficiency on tulip growth, flowering, and physiological changes. Two cultivars of tulip, namely, 'Strong Gold' and 'Orange Juice', were subjected to three distinct nutrient solution treatments, namely (1) deionized water (DI) only (without any plant nutrition added), (2) complete solution (Hoagland's complete nutrient solution), and (3) Ca deficiency solution. The results indicate that the 'Orange Juice' tulip was particularly susceptible to Ca deficiency, exhibiting stem toppling and flower abortion similar to those grown in DI. Ca deficiency led to a reduction in root length and leaf area but did not affect the plant height. Additionally, it had a negative impact on bulb qualities, resulting in a decreased bulb fresh weight and bulb circumference in both tulip cultivars. Furthermore, Ca deficiency and DI reduced the photosynthetic rates, and Ca deficiency increased the transpiration rate in the tulip. The leaf concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and Ca were decreased under Ca deficiency and DI, while magnesium (Mg) levels increased under Ca deficiency treatment compared to the complete nutrient solution treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings from comparative and evolutionary physiologists reveal novel insights into the regulation of inflammation and immune function under conditions of chronic-sustained and intermittent hypoxia. Comparative approaches provide a valuable gateway for discovering essential principals of physiology and adaptive molecular strategies utilized in nature that protect against clinically relevant stressors, which can guide therapeutic developments in biomedical science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albinism is a unique problem encountered in tissue culture experiments, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear in most bamboo species. In this study, we identified the putative regulatory genes in an albino mutant of Bambusa oldhamii using comparative physiology and transcriptome analysis. The degeneration of chloroplasts, low chlorophyll (Chl) content and reduced photosynthetic capacity were observed in albinotic B. oldhamii compared to normal lines. A total of 6191 unigenes were identified that were clearly differentially expressed between albino and normal lines by transcriptome sequencing. Most genes related to chloroplast development (such as Psa, Psb) and pigment biosynthesis (such as LHC, GUN4, ZEP) were downregulated significantly in albinotic lines, which might be responsible for the albino phenotype. Moreover, some transcription factors (TFs) such as PIF and GLK1 were identified to be involved in chloroplast development and Chl synthesis, indicating the involvement of putative regulatory pathways PIF-LHC and GLK1-LHC/Psa/Psb in albinotic B. oldhamii. Finally, the downregulation of some stress responsive TFs (like ICE1 and EREB1) suggested a reduction in stress resistance of albinotic B. oldhamii. The above findings provided new insights into the molecular mechanism of albinism in bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the phenomenon of autotomy, which is the self-induced loss of a body part as a defense mechanism against predation. Autotomy occurs in various animal species, including spiders, lizards, and crustaceans. While autotomy can improve survival and reproductive success, it also has costs, such as reduced locomotor performance and immune response. The article focuses on the effects of autotomy on the locomotor performance of scorpions, specifically the Ananteris balzani species. The study found that autotomy did not have short-term effects on the maximum running speed of scorpions, but in the long term, it slowed down the movement of males, potentially impairing their mate searching and increasing their risk of predation. The research contributes to our understanding of autotomy in invertebrates and suggests the need for further investigation into the response of immature scorpions to autotomy. [Extracted from the article]

Synechococcus, the second most abundant marine phytoplanktonic organism, displays the widest variety of pigment content of all marine oxyphototrophs, explaining its ability to colonize all spectral niches occurring in the upper lit layer of oceans. Seven Synechococcus pigment types (PTs) have been described so far based on the phycobiliprotein composition and chromophorylation of their light-harvesting complexes, called phycobilisomes. The most elaborate and abundant PT (3d) in the open ocean consists of cells capable of type IV chromatic acclimation (CA4), i.e., to reversibly modify the ratio of the blue light-absorbing phycourobilin (PUB) to the green light-absorbing phycoerythrobilin (PEB) in phycobilisome rods to match the ambient light color. Two genetically distinct types of chromatic acclimaters, so-called PTs 3dA and 3dB, occur at similar global abundance in the ocean, but the precise physiological differences between these two types and the reasons for their complementary niche partitioning in the field remain obscure. Here, photoacclimation experiments in different mixes of blue and green light of representatives of these two PTs demonstrated that they differ by the ratio of blue-to-green light required to trigger the CA4 process. Furthermore, shift experiments between 100% blue and 100% green light, and vice-versa, revealed significant discrepancies between the acclimation pace of the two types of chromatic acclimaters. This study provides novel insights into the finely tuned adaptation mechanisms used by Synechococcus cells to colonize the whole underwater light field.

How do large and small reptiles defend against infections, given the consequences of body mass for physiology and disease transmission? Functionally equivalent mammalian and avian granulocytes increased disproportionately with body mass (i.e., scaled hypermetrically), such that large organisms had higher concentrations than expected by a prediction of proportional protection across sizes. However, as these scaling relationships were derived from endothermic animals, they do not necessarily inform the scaling of leukocyte concentration for ectothermic reptiles that have a different physiology and evolutionary history. Here, we asked whether and how lymphocyte and heterophil concentrations relate to body mass among more than 120 reptile species. We compared these relationships to those found in birds and mammals and to existing scaling frameworks (i.e., protecton, complexity, rate of metabolism, or safety factor hypotheses). Both lymphocyte and heterophil concentrations scaled almost isometrically among reptiles. In contrast, functionally equivalent granulocytes scaled hypermetrically and lymphocytes scaled isometrically in birds and mammals. Life history traits were also poor predictors of variation in reptilian heterophil and lymphocyte concentrations. Our results provide insight into differences in immune protection in birds and mammals relative to that in reptiles through a comparative lens. The shape of scaling relationships differs, which should be considered when modeling disease dynamics among these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover images of the 2023 issues of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A, as well as its logo image, are presented at full size and high resolution, together with the stories behind them. These images are testament to the artistic quality of the scientific illustrations published in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By living underground, fossorial animals may be challenged by limited gas exchange due to prolonged exposure to low oxygen levels (hypoxia) and carbon dioxide buildup (hypercarbia) in their burrows. The negative effects of hypoxia and hypercarbia generally relate to changes in breathing and energy metabolism. In mammals, reduced metabolic rates are a common adaptation to a fossorial lifestyle. It is unclear, however, whether fossoriality exerted a similar selection pressure over the metabolism of fossorial ectotherms. In this study, we tested whether fossorial amphibians showed reduced metabolic rates compared to non-fossorial and aquatic ones in a phylogenetic framework. We found that whole-organism resting metabolic rates varied according to body mass and temperature. However, our analyses did not support the hypothesis of lowered energy expenditure in fossorial species. We suggest that the intrinsically low energetic requirements of amphibians, coupled with their relatively small body sizes, and ability to breathe through both lungs and skin, potentially circumvented the energetic and respiratory challenges imposed by fossoriality. Our analyses further suggest that species from higher latitudes have higher metabolic rates than those from lower latitudes regardless of lifestyle. This finding supports a mechanism of negative compensation in metabolic responses, whereby species from cooler habitats would be able to sustain relatively high activity levels despite thermal constraints. This view of energetics in the context of fossoriality integrates central tenets of eco-physiological theory (metabolic scaling, metabolic variation along environmental gradients) and comparative physiology (control of bimodal breathing). Ultimately, our work contributes to a broader understanding of the metabolic correlates in vertebrate ectotherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The typical seasonally dry forests in Southeast Asia are the mixed deciduous forest (MDF), dry dipterocarp (deciduous) forest (DDF), and dry evergreen forest (DEF). We obtained 21 physiological traits in the top/sunlit leaves of 107, 65 and 51 tree species in MDF, DEF and DDF, respectively. Approximately 70%, 95% and 95% of canopy tree species which consist of MDF, DEF and DDF are sampled, respectively. Light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Asat) exhibit a positive correlation with foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on leaf mass and area bases across tree species. Decreased leaf mass-based P reduces the positive slope of the mass-based N and Asat relationship across species and habitats. The differences in nutrient and water use and leaf habits are well matched to the variation in soil properties among the forest types, highlighting the reliability of this comprehensive database for revealing the mechanism of niche segregation based on edaphic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of cell-cell communication during muscle remodeling and regeneration by a novel RNA-b... Jorge Ruas Karolinska Institutet, Sweden B Synopsis b Chronic inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling are important players in many diseases. Autoregulation-driven microcirculation of the kidney Olga Sosnovtseva University of Copenhagen, Denmark B Synopsis b Renal autoregulation is how the kidney manages renal blood flow in the face of constantly fluctuating blood pressure. Intricate kidney circulation is key to understanding and treating kidney injury Pontus Persson Charité Berlin, Germany B Synopsis b Blood supply to the kidney is generous, but medullary regions are prone to hypoxic damage, due to the few and remarkably arranged vessels supplying inner-nephron portions. Tissue specific control of mitochondrial calcium uptake György Hajnóczky Thomas Jefferson University, USA B Synopsis b Different tissues employ different temporal and spatial organization of intracellular calcium signals to control cell function. [Extracted from the article]

The document is an obituary honoring the life and work of Professor Sue Nicolson, a renowned leader in evolutionary and ecological physiology in South Africa. Sue's research focused on water and energy balance in insects, nectar-producing plants, and vertebrates like sunbirds and rodents. She authored numerous papers and books, mentored students, and made significant contributions to the field of zoology. Sue's legacy includes her impactful research, mentorship, and leadership within the scientific community. [Extracted from the article]

Acta Physiologica is a journal owned by the Scandinavian Physiological Society and is the official journal of the Federation of European Physiological Societies. It publishes high-quality original research in physiology and related areas from authors worldwide. The journal also includes reviews and commentaries. Manuscripts can be submitted online, and other materials should be sent to the Chief Editor. The journal is indexed by various services and is available online through Wiley Online Library. [Extracted from the article]

The dynamic nature of developing organisms and how they function presents both opportunity and challenge to researchers, with significant advances in understanding possible by adopting innovative approaches to their empirical study. The information content of the phenotype during organismal development is arguably greater than at any other life stage, incorporating change at a broad range of temporal, spatial and functional scales and is of broad relevance to a plethora of research questions. Yet, effectively measuring organismal development, and the ontogeny of physiological regulations and functions, and their responses to the environment, remains a significant challenge. “Phenomics”, a global approach to the acquisition of phenotypic data at the scale of the whole organism, is uniquely suited as an approach. In this perspective, we explore the synergies between phenomics and Comparative Developmental Physiology (CDP), a discipline of increasing relevance to understanding sensitivity to drivers of global change. We then identify how organismal development itself provides an excellent model for pushing the boundaries of phenomics, given its inherent complexity, comparably smaller size, relative to adult stages, and the applicability of embryonic development to a broad suite of research questions using a diversity of species. Collection, analysis and interpretation of whole organismal phenotypic data are the largest obstacle to capitalising on phenomics for advancing our understanding of biological systems. We suggest that phenomics within the context of developing organismal form and function could provide an effective scaffold for addressing grand challenges in CDP and phenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]