nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Intensity invariance properties of auditory neurons compared to the statistics of relevant natural signals in grasshoppers
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

The temporal pattern of amplitude modulations (AM) is often used to recognize acoustic objects. To identify objects reliably, intensity invariant representations have to be formed. We approached this problem within the auditory pathway of grasshoppers. We presented AM patterns modulated at different time scales and intensities. Metric space analysis of neuronal responses allowed us to determine how well, how invariantly, and at which time scales AM frequency is encoded. We find that in some neurons spike-count cues contribute substantially (20–60%) to the decoding of AM frequency at a single intensity. However, such cues are not robust when intensity varies. The general intensity invariance of the system is poor. However, there exists a range of AM frequencies around 83 Hz where intensity invariance of local interneurons is relatively high. In this range, natural communication signals exhibit much variation between species, suggesting an important behavioral role for this frequency band. We hypothesize, just as has been proposed for human speech, that the communication signals might have evolved to match the processing properties of the receivers. This contrasts with optimal coding theory, which postulates that neuronal systems are adapted to the statistics of the relevant signals.
Bioelectrical activity in the heart of the lugworm Arenicola marina
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Standard microelectrode technique was used to study electrical activity of the isolated heart of the polychaete annelid, Arenicola marina. Typical pacemaker activity with slow diastolic depolarization was observed in all recordings. The average maximum diastolic potential (−58.4 ± 3.2 mV), the average amplitude of the action potential (28.7 ± 4.7 mV) and the average total duration of the action potential (2,434 ± 430 ms) were determined. There has been no gradient of automaticity observed in our studies, which suggests that all regions of the Arenicola heart could possess pacemaker functions. Acetylcholine (ACh) produced a concentration dependent (5 × 10−8–5 × 10−5 M) increase of the beating rate via increase in the rate of the diastolic depolarization. ACh (5 × 10−5 M) increased beating rate by 2.5-fold compared to the control rate. A stronger action of ACh resulted in depolarization, block of action potential generation and contracture of the heart. The non-hydrolysable ACh analog carbacholine (10−8–10−6 M) produced similar effects. All effects of ACh and carbacholine were abolished by 5 × 10−6 M atropine. d-Tubocurarine (5 × 10−5 M) did not significantly alter effects of ACh or carbacholine. Epinephrine (10−8–10−6 M) caused the slowing of pacemaker activity and marked decrease of action potential duration. 10−6 M epinephrine produced complete cardiac arrest. The effects of epinephrine were not significantly altered by the β-blocker propranolol (5 × 10−6 M). The β-agonist isoproterenol (10−7–10−5 M) and the α-agonist xylometazoline (10−6–10−5 M) did not produce significant effects. Thus, cholinergic effects in the Arenicola heart are likely to be mediated via muscarinic receptors, while the nature of adrenergic effects needs further investigation.
Oxygen-dependence of metabolic rate in the muscles of craniates
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

We present evidence that oxygen consumption $$ (V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} ) $$ is oxygen partial pressure $$ (P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} ) $$ dependent in striated muscles and $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$-independent in the vasculature in representatives of three craniate taxa: two teleost fish, a hagfish and a rat. Blood vessel $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ displayed varying degrees of independence in a $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ range of 15–95 mmHg, while $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ by striated muscle tissue slices from all species related linearly to $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ between 0 and 125 mmHg, despite $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ rates varying greatly between species and muscle type. In salmon red muscle, lactate concentrations fell in slices incubated at a $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ of either 30 or 100 mmHg, suggesting aerobic rather than anaerobic metabolism. Consistent with this finding, potential energy, a proxy of ATP turnover, was $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$-dependent. Our data suggest that the reduction in $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ with falling $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ results in a decrease in ATP demand, suggesting that the hypoxic signal is sensed and cellular changes effected. Viability and diffusion limitation of the preparations were investigated using salmon cardiac and skeletal muscles. Following the initial $$ P_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$ depletion, reoxygenation of the Ringer bathing salmon cardiac muscle resulted in $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} {\text{s}} $$ that was unchanged from the first run.  $$ increased in all muscles uncoupled with p-trifluoromethoxylphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). Mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity, quantified by reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) to formazan, was constant over the course of the experiment. These three findings indicate that the tissues remained viable over time and ruled out diffusion-limitation as a constraint on $$ V_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} $$.
Electrophysiological properties of isthmic neurons in frogs revealed by in vitro and in vivo studies
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

The frog nucleus isthmi (parabigeminal nucleus in mammals) is a visually responsive, cholinergic and anatomically well-defined group of neurons in the midbrain. It shares reciprocal topographic projections with the ipsilateral optic tectum (superior colliculus in mammals) and strongly influences visual processing. Anatomical and biochemical information indicates the existence of distinct neural populations within the frog nucleus isthmi, which raises the question: are there electrophysiological distinctions between neurons that are putatively classified by their anatomical and biochemical properties? To address this question, we measured frog nucleus isthmi neuron cellular properties in vitro and visual response properties in vivo. No evidence for distinct electrophysiological classes of neurons was found. We thus conclude that, despite the anatomical and biochemical differences, the cells of the frog nucleus isthmi respond homogeneously to both current injections and simple visual stimuli.
Interactions between light, mealtime and calorie restriction to control daily timing in mammals
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Daily variations in behaviour and physiology are controlled by a circadian timing system consisting of a network of oscillatory structures. In mammals, a master clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus, adjusts timing of other self-sustained oscillators in the brain and peripheral organs. Synchronisation to external cues is mainly achieved by ambient light, which resets the SCN clock. Other environmental factors, in particular food availability and time of feeding, also influence internal timing. Timed feeding can reset the phase of the peripheral oscillators whilst having almost no effect in shifting the phase of the SCN clockwork when animals are exposed (synchronised) to a light–dark cycle. Food deprivation and calorie restriction lead not only to loss of body mass (>15%) and increased motor activity, but also affect the timing of daily activity, nocturnal animals becoming partially diurnal (i.e. they are active during their usual sleep period). This change in behavioural timing is due in part to the fact that metabolic cues associated with calorie restriction affect the SCN clock and its synchronisation to light.
Bioenergetics of torpor in the Microbiotherid marsupial, Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides): the role of temperature and food availability
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Torpor is the physiologically controlled reduction of metabolic rate and body temperature experienced by small birds and mammals when facing periods of low temperature and/or food shortage. In this study, we provide a first quantitative description of torpor in the relict marsupial Dromiciops gliroides by: (1) characterizing body temperature (TB) and torpor patterns, (2) evaluating the combined effects of ambient temperature and different levels of food restriction on torpor incidence and (3) exploring the metabolic depression during torpor. D. gliroides exhibited short bouts of torpor on a daily basis, during which TB decreased close to ambient temperature. During the active phase, TB also exhibited pronounced variation (range 34–38°C). In order to evaluate the consistency of torpor, we computed the repeatability of TB. Using the whole dataset, repeatability was significant (τ = 0.28). However, when torpid individuals were excluded from the analysis, repeatability was non-significant: some individuals were more prone to experience torpor than others. Our results indicate that this species also exhibits short bouts of daily torpor, whose depth and duration depends on the joint effects of TA and food availability. At TA = 20°C, the maximum torpor incidence was found at 70–80% food reduction, while at both extremes of the food continuum (100 and 0–10% food reduction) individuals were completely active, although considerable variation in TB was recorded. At TA = 10°C, individuals developed a deep form of torpor that was independent of the amount of food provided. On average, torpid D. gliroides reduced their metabolic rate up to 92% of their active values. In general, our results suggest that TA was the most immediate determinant of torpor, followed by energy availability.
Muscular waves contribute to gliding rate in the freshwater gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

This study revises the mechanisms of ciliary locomotion and demonstrates muscular contribution to locomotion rate in Lymnaea stagnalis. L. stagnalis sticks to the substratum by the foot sole and moves smoothly with no visible contractions of the foot. A ciliated epithelium covering the sole is underlain by smooth muscle cells containing giant mitochondria. It is shown here that slow (basal) locomotor activity (measured as the flow rate of physiological saline over isolated sole) appears spontaneously or is induced by 10−8–10−7 M 5-HT. 5-HT (10−7–10−4 M) facilitates locomotor activity dose-dependently, and KCN (an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration) decreases these effects to the basal level. 5-HT and KCN have no effect on the frequency of ciliary beat (stroboscopic measurements), and blockers of anaerobic glycolysis inhibit ciliary motility. Under anaerobic conditions locomotion of a snail is slow and insensitive to 5-HT in contrast to that in aerobic environments. It is concluded that glycolysis supplies energy to ciliated cells and respiration to sole muscle cells; 5-HT stimulates ciliary beating in an all-or-none fashion and muscular waves in a dose-dependent manner; cilia provide slow (basal) gliding, and locomotory rate up to 80% above the basal level is determined by muscular waves.
Freshwater elasmobranchs: a review of their physiology and biochemistry
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Only 5% of elasmobranch species live in freshwater (FW) compared to more than 40% of known teleost species. The factors affecting the poor penetration of elasmobranchs into FW environments are currently unknown, however, an important consideration may be the high urea requirement of many proteins in marine elasmobranchs. Urea is an important osmolyte in marine elasmobranchs and must be reduced in dilute environments. There are three identifiable stages in the successful colonization of FW. The euryhaline marine species freely entering and leaving FW represent the initial stage of FW colonization. In this group, there is an apparent inability to eliminate all urea due to protein integrity issues and this results in energy and nitrogen losses that may constrain growth and reproduction. The second stage is represented by those species that live entirely in FW but must also retain some urea. This group also suffers from the same constraints as the first group. These two groups have kidneys and sensory organs that more closely resemble strictly marine forms. The third and final stage is represented by the Potamotrygonid stingrays where the need for urea in FW has been eliminated. Consequently nitrogen and energy losses are reduced and those sections of the kidney needed for urea conservation have been eliminated. The driving force for such modifications is a reduction in urea levels and the concomitant saving of energy needed for urea synthesis. Other physiological adaptations associated with survival in FW include giving birth to live young, the capacity of sperm to be activated in freshwater and modifications of the electrosensory system to function in a low conductivity environment. The need for many anatomical, metabolic and physiological modifications for FW existence may constrain the rapidity and hence the frequency of FW colonization, compared to the situation in the more advanced osmoregulating teleosts. Once optimally adapted to FW, recolonization of sea water by elasmobranchs is problematic due to the loss of urea synthetic capacity and renal structures for urea retention.
Postnatal development of muscle biochemistry in nursing harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups: limitations to diving behavior?
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

Adult marine mammal muscles rely upon a suite of adaptations for sustained aerobic metabolism in the absence of freely available oxygen (O2). Although the importance of these adaptations for supporting aerobic diving patterns of adults is well understood, little is known about postnatal muscle development in young marine mammals. However, the typical pattern of vertebrate muscle development, and reduced tissue O2 stores and diving ability of young marine mammals suggest that the physiological properties of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pup muscle will differ from those of adults. We examined myoglobin (Mb) concentration, and the activities of citrate synthase (CS), β-hydroxyacyl coA dehydrogenase (HOAD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in muscle biopsies from harbor seal pups throughout the nursing period, and compared these biochemical parameters to those of adults. Pups had reduced O2 carrying capacity ([Mb] 28–41% lower than adults) and reduced metabolically scaled catabolic enzyme activities (LDH/RMR 20–58% and CS/RMR 29–89% lower than adults), indicating that harbor seal pup muscles are biochemically immature at birth and weaning. This suggests that pup muscles do not have the ability to support either the aerobic or anaerobic performance of adult seals. This immaturity may contribute to the lower diving capacity and behavior in younger pups. In addition, the trends in myoglobin concentration and enzyme activity seen in this study appear to be developmental and/or exercise-driven responses that together work to produce the hypoxic endurance phenotype seen in adults, rather than allometric effects due to body size.
Intralateral hypothalamic area injection of isoproterenol and propranolol affects food and water intake in broilers
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

The role played by adrenergic system in water intake, especially food intake, has long been known in mammals. In avian species, there have been many experiments exploring the effects of the adrenergic system in different sites in the central nervous system in meat- and egg-type poultry. This study was designed to examine the possible effects of intralateral hypothalamic area (ILHy) microinjections of a beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, and a beta-adrenoceptor blocker, propranolol, on food and water intake in 3-h food-deprived and 3-h water-deprived broiler cockerels. Our findings suggest that the β-adrenergic system directly affects food especially water intake in broilers. Although isoproterenol significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased food intake for the first 15 min, it reduced food intake during the experiment. Isoproterenol reduced water intake significantly (P ≤ 0.05), which was abolished by pretreatment with propranolol. It is proposed that β-adrenoceptors in LHy play a direct and indirect role in the regulation of food especially water intake in broiler cockerels.
Target-approaching behavior of barn owls (Tyto alba): influence of sound frequency
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

We studied the influence of frequency on sound localization in free-flying barn owls by quantifying aspects of their target-approaching behavior to a distant sound source during ongoing auditory stimulation. In the baseline condition with a stimulus covering most of the owls hearing range (1–10 kHz), all owls landed within a radius of 20 cm from the loudspeaker in more than 80% of the cases and localization along the azimuth was more accurate than localization in elevation. When the stimulus contained only high frequencies (>5 kHz) no changes in striking behavior were observed. But when only frequencies from 1 to 5 kHz were presented, localization accuracy and precision decreased. In a second step we tested whether a further border exists at 2.5 kHz as suggested by optimality models. When we compared striking behavior for a stimulus having energy from 2.5 to 5 kHz with a stimulus having energy between 1 and 2.5 kHz, no consistent differences in striking behavior were observed. It was further found that pre-takeoff latency was longer for the latter stimulus than for baseline and that center frequency was a better predictor for landing precision than stimulus bandwidth. These data fit well with what is known from head-turning studies and from neurophysiology.
Effects of training on lipid metabolism in swimming muscles of sea trout (Salmo trutta)
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology B

We examined the effect of exercise intensity and endurance training on plasma free fatty acid (FFA) kinetics and lipid metabolism in swimming muscles of reared sea trout. In both training groups [water current velocities 1 and 2 body lengths per second (bl s−1)] the plasma level of FFAs decreased significantly (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. Similar significant (P < 0.01) post-exercise decrease was observed also in the lipase-esterase activity in the red muscle, but not in white. Moreover, in the group swimming with higher intensity a significantly higher (P < 0.05) lipase-esterase activity in the red muscle was found compared with the group on moderate exercise. As with cytochrome c oxidase activity, a significant elevation in the enzyme activity was also observed after training in the 1 bl s−1 group in red and white muscle (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). No changes were observed in β hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activity. The lipid content was on average nine times higher in red compared to white muscle being 16.7, 21.1, and 24.9% in the red muscle of the control, 1 and 2 bl s−1 groups, respectively, with a significant (P < 0.05) increase after training. We conclude that (1) unlike in mammals, plasma FFA kinetics and oxidation are not linearly related to exercise intensity in reared sea trout, (2) training enhances the capacity to uptake FFA from plasma, and (3) high intensity training shifts the proportion of energy derived from fat oxidation to carbohydrate-derived energy.
Species-specific behavioral patterns correlate with differences in synaptic connections between homologous mechanosensory neurons
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

We characterized the behavioral responses of two leech species, Hirudo verbana and Erpobdella obscura, to mechanical skin stimulation and examined the interactions between the pressure mechanosensory neurons (P cells) that innervate the skin. To quantify behavioral responses, we stimulated both intact leeches and isolated body wall preparations from the two species. In response to mechanical stimulation, Hirudo showed local bending behavior, in which the body wall shortened only on the side of the stimulation. Erpobdella, in contrast, contracted both sides of the body in response to touch. To investigate the neuronal basis for this behavioral difference, we studied the interactions between P cells. Each midbody ganglion has four P cells; each cell innervates a different quadrant of the body wall. Consistent with local bending, activating any one P cell in Hirudo elicited polysynaptic inhibitory potentials in the other P cells. In contrast, the P cells in Erpobdella had excitatory polysynaptic connections, consistent with the segment-wide contraction observed in this species. In addition, activating individual P cells caused asymmetrical body wall contractions in Hirudo and symmetrical body wall contractions in Erpobdella. These results suggest that the different behavioral responses in Erpobdella and Hirudo are partly mediated by interactions among mechanosensory cells.
Synchronization of wing beat cycle of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, by periodic light flashes
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

Studies on the generation of rhythmic motor patterns have shown that peripheral sensory input may contribute substantially to the rhythm generating network. A prominent example is the wing beat frequency of desert locusts, which can be entrained to rhythmic mechanosensory input, but also to the frequency of periodic light flashes. To further analyze the entrainment by light, tethered flying locusts were presented with periodic light flashes, while the position of the forewing was filmed. We show that entrainment of wing beat occurs both in the UV and green range of light. Animals maintained a characteristic phase relationship to the light stimulus with the most elevated wing position occurring at the end of the dark phase. Speed and time course of entrainment varied greatly and ranged from the duration of a single wing beat cycle to several seconds. To identify the visual system mediating entrainment, synchronization to UV light was tested after cutting the optic stalks to the optic lobes/compound eyes or the ocellar nerves. The results show that light entrainment of the locust flight pattern is largely and perhaps exclusively mediated via the fast ocellar pathway and may have a role to stabilize flight with respect to the horizon.
Temporal properties of the lens eyes of the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora
Venue: Journal of Comparative Physiology A

Box jellyfish (Cubomedusae) are visually orientating animals which posses a total of 24 eyes of 4 morphological types; 2 pigment cup eyes (pit eye and slit eye) and 2 lens eyes [upper lens-eye (ule) and lower lens-eye (lle)]. In this study, we use electroretinograms (ERGs) to explore temporal properties of the two lens eyes. We find that the ERG of both lens eyes are complex and using sinusoidal flicker stimuli we find that both lens eyes have slow temporal resolution. The average flicker fusion frequency (FFF) was found to be approximately 10 Hz for the ule and 8 Hz for the lle. Differences in the FFF and response patterns between the two lens eyes suggest that the ule and lle filter information differently in the temporal domain and thus are tuned to perform different visual tasks. The data collected in this study support the idea that the visual system of box jellyfish is a collection of special purpose eyes.