Fine structural basis of the cutaneous water barrier in nestling Zebra Finches <i>Poephila guttata</i>

Menon, Gopinathan K.; Baptista, Luis F.; Elias, Peter M.; Bouvier, Michele

doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.1988.tb02715.x

Cited by 21 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…While they are secreted to ensure survival of the naked hatchlings of altricial species, with attainment of a full feather coating and flight (fledglings), the MGBs are degraded in situ to lipid droplets (Fig. 2B) that escape to the SC extracellular domains, providing the owners with a 'leaky barrier' that aids in evaporative cooling, of avian skin where sweat glands are absent [48]. Again, when experimentally subjected to severe xeric stress/lack of water, the MGBs are secreted, the TEWL reduced and survival is assured [49].…”

Section: Lessons From Birds and Marine Mammals Of Ingenious Adaptations Of The Scmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of epidermal lamellar bodies: Novel roles in biological adaptations and secondary barriers

Menon

Lee

2018

Journal of Dermatological Science

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The epidermal lamellar bodies (LBs) are specialized organelles that contain pro-barrier lipids imparting a fully lamellar internal structure, but also other cargoes such as enzymes (lipid metabolizing and proteolytic), enzyme inhibitors, and antimicrobial peptides. Thus, the LB secretory system, by virtue of delivering these cargoes to the stratum corneum (SC) interstices, is essential for forming the various skin barriers located in the SC. Ultrastructural studies have suggested that the morphologic features of LBs reflect the functional status of the SC. Several ichthyotic skin diseases as well as experimental animal models with defective epidermal lipogenesis show only partial lamellar contents or even empty appearing LB, reflecting an abnormal cargo composition. We suggest that LB polymorphism reflects a wide array of barrier adaptations to environmental challenges, rather than just a defective barrier function, based on observations on a) LB morphology in inherited skin disorders of lipid metabolism (Refsum disease, Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome) characterized by deficiency of lamellar lipids and accumulation of toxic metabolites; b) Psoriasis (with a high expression of Psoriasin antimicrobial peptide within lesions) and c) the Pitohui, a toxic bird where diet-derived toxin is eliminated via the LB secretory system that creates a chemical defense system. Morphological features of LBs from these models suggest a hitherto unrecognized function for the LBs in elimination of toxic substances from the body. We also provide preliminary evidence that indicate yet another function for the LBs- as a type of recycling endosomes allowing for uptake of certain topically applied materials by the epidermis.

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Section: Lessons From Birds and Marine Mammals Of Ingenious Adaptations Of The Scmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of epidermal lamellar bodies: Novel roles in biological adaptations and secondary barriers

Menon

Lee

2018

Journal of Dermatological Science

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“…The first involves accelerating heat dissipation across the surfaces of the respiratory tract via increases in respiration frequency and decreases in tidal volume ( panting) and/or rapid vibration of gular membranes (gular flutter; Dawson, 1982). The second involves increases in the rate of trans-cutaneous evaporation (Marder and Arieli, 1988;Webster and Bernstein, 1987), a process regulated over short time scales by adjustments to peripheral microcirculation (Ophir et al, 2002), and over longer time scales by changes in epidermal lipid composition (Haugen et al, 2003;Menon et al, 1989Menon et al, , 1988Muñoz-Garcia et al, 2008). The relative contributions of respiratory and cutaneous evaporative water loss (REWL and CEWL, respectively) to evaporative heat dissipation at high T a vary phylogenetically, with the data currently available indicating that REWL predominates in the Passeriformes (Tieleman and Williams, 2002;Wolf and Walsberg, 1996) and Galliformes (Bouverot et al, 1974;Richards, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian thermoregulation in the heat: efficient evaporative cooling allows for extreme heat tolerance in four southern Hemisphere columbids

McKechnie

Whitfield

Smit

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

113

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Birds show phylogenetic variation in the relative importance of respiratory versus cutaneous evaporation, but the consequences for heat tolerance and evaporative cooling capacity remain unclear. We measured evaporative water loss (EWL), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body temperature (T b ) in four arid-zone columbids from southern Africa [Namaqua dove (Oena capensis, ∼37 g), laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis, ∼89 g) and Cape turtle dove (Streptopelia capicola, ∼148 g)] and Australia [crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), ∼186 g] at air temperatures (T a ) of up to 62°C. There was no clear relationship between body mass and maximum T a tolerated during acute heat exposure. Maximum T b at very high T a was 43.1±1.0, 43.7±0.8, 44.7±0.3 and 44.3±0.8°C in Namaqua doves, laughing doves, Cape turtle doves and crested pigeons, respectively. In all four species, RMR increased significantly at T a above thermoneutrality, but the increases were relatively modest with RMR at T a =56°C being 32, 60, 99 and 11% higher, respectively, than at T a =35°C. At the highest T a values reached, evaporative heat loss was equivalent to 466, 227, 230 and 275% of metabolic heat production. The maximum ratio of evaporative heat loss to metabolic production observed in Namaqua doves, 4.66, exceeds by a substantial margin previous values reported for birds. Our results support the notion that cutaneous evaporation provides a highly efficient mechanism of heat dissipation and an enhanced ability to tolerate extremely high T a .

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“…Compared to the non-scaled skin of extant birds, the skin of Psittacosaurus resembles the ventral apterium of zebra finch and blue rock pigeon; this is an unexposed, non-feathered, skin region where the stratum corneum is ca. 15–25 corneocytes thick 18 , 56 . In exposed, non-scaled skin regions of extant birds, however, the stratum corneum is usually thicker; for instance, the naked neck skin in ostriches is ca.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular structure of dinosaur scales reveals retention of reptile-type skin during the evolutionary transition to feathers

Yang,

Jiang,

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

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Fossil feathers have transformed our understanding of integumentary evolution in vertebrates. The evolution of feathers is associated with novel skin ultrastructures, but the fossil record of these changes is poor and thus the critical transition from scaled to feathered skin is poorly understood. Here we shed light on this issue using preserved skin in the non-avian feathered dinosaur Psittacosaurus. Skin in the non-feathered, scaled torso is three-dimensionally replicated in silica and preserves epidermal layers, corneocytes and melanosomes. The morphology of the preserved stratum corneum is consistent with an original composition rich in corneous beta proteins, rather than (alpha-) keratins as in the feathered skin of birds. The stratum corneum is relatively thin in the ventral torso compared to extant quadrupedal reptiles, reflecting a reduced demand for mechanical protection in an elevated bipedal stance. The distribution of the melanosomes in the fossil skin is consistent with melanin-based colouration in extant crocodilians. Collectively, the fossil evidence supports partitioning of skin development in Psittacosaurus: a reptile-type condition in non-feathered regions and an avian-like condition in feathered regions. Retention of reptile-type skin in non-feathered regions would have ensured essential skin functions during the early, experimental stages of feather evolution.

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Fine structural basis of the cutaneous water barrier in nestling Zebra Finches Poephila guttata

Cited by 21 publications

References 14 publications

An overview of epidermal lamellar bodies: Novel roles in biological adaptations and secondary barriers

An overview of epidermal lamellar bodies: Novel roles in biological adaptations and secondary barriers

Avian thermoregulation in the heat: efficient evaporative cooling allows for extreme heat tolerance in four southern Hemisphere columbids

Cellular structure of dinosaur scales reveals retention of reptile-type skin during the evolutionary transition to feathers

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