Contrasting migratory journeys and changes in hippocampal astrocyte morphology in shorebirds. (8th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henrique, Ediely Pereira; de Oliveira, Marcus Augusto; Paulo, Dario Carvalho; Pereira, Patrick Douglas Corrêa; Dias, Cleyssian; de Siqueira, Lucas Silva; de Lima, Camila Mendes; Miranda, Diego de Almeida; do Rego, Péricles Sena; Araripe, Juliana; de Melo, Mauro André Damasceno; Diniz, Daniel Guerreiro; de Morais Magalhães, Nara Gyzely; Sherry, David Francis; Picanço Diniz, Cristovam Wanderley; Diniz, Cristovam Guerreiro
• Other Names: Majewska Ania guestEditor.; Verkhratsky Alexej guestEditor.; Hughes Ethan guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 54:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 5687
• Page End: 5704
• Publication Date: 2020-06-08
• Subjects: astrocyte morphology -- Calidris pusilla -- Charadrius semipalmatus -- hippocampus -- migration -- Nearctic birds -- non‐stop flight -- semipalmated plover -- semipalmated sandpiper -- shorebird -- transatlantic flight; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14781
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: Semipalmated sandpiper ( Calidris pusilla ) migration to the Southern Hemisphere includes a 5‐day non‐stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean, whereas semipalmated plover ( Charadrius semipalmatus ) migration, to the same area, is largely over land, with stopovers for feeding and rest. We compared the number and 3D morphology of hippocampal astrocytes of Ch. semipalmatus before and after autumnal migration with those of C. pusilla to test the hypothesis that the contrasting migratory flights of these species could differentially shape hippocampal astrocyte number and morphology. We captured individuals from both species in the Bay of Fundy (Canada) and in the coastal region of Bragança (Brazil) and processed their brains for selective GFAP immunolabeling of astrocytes. Hierarchical cluster analysis of astrocyte morphological features distinguished two families of morphological phenotypes, named type I and type II, which were differentially affected after migratory flights. Stereological counts of hippocampal astrocytes demonstrated that the number of astrocytes decreased significantly in C. pusilla, but did not change in Ch. semipalmatus . In addition, C. pusilla and Ch. semipalmatus hippocampal astrocyte morphological features were differentially affected after autumnal migration. We evaluated whether astrocyte morphometric variables were influenced by phylogenetic differences between C. pusilla and Ch. semipalmatus, using phylogenetically independent contrast approach, and phylogenetic trees generated by nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Our findings suggest that phylogenetic differences do not explain the results and that contrasting long‐distance migratory flights shape plasticity of type I and type II astrocytes in different ways, which may imply distinct physiological roles for these cells. Abstract : Semipalmated sandpiper ( Calidris pusilla ) migration to the Southern Hemisphere includes a 5‐day non‐stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean, whereas semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus migration is largely over land, with multiple stopovers. Hippocampal 3D reconstructed astrocyte morphometric analysis of migrating and wintering birds showed that contrasting long‐distance migratory flights shape plasticity in different ways, and that phylogenetic differences do not explain the results.