Submit to JDB Review for JDB

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

J. Dev. Biol., Volume 13, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 5 articles

Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

19 pages, 1862 KB

Open AccessArticle

Activity-Dependent Increases in Quantal Size at the Drosophila NMJ

by Andrew S. Powers, Petar Gajic, Ethan Rittereiser, Kavindra Dasrat and Gregory A. Lnenicka

J. Dev. Biol. 2025, 13(4), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb13040038 - 28 Oct 2025

Abstract

We examined whether an increase in synaptic activity resulted in an increase in quantal size at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of third-instar Drosophila larvae. Spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) or miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) were recorded before and after nerve stimulation. We found that prolonged (60 s) or brief (1.25 s) nerve stimulation produced an increase in quantal size; this appears to be a general property of these synapses since it was seen at all four muscle fibers (MFs) used in this study. The effect was examined along Is and Ib terminals by expressing GCaMP in the MF membrane and examining postsynaptic Ca²⁺ signals produced by spontaneous transmitter release. The activity-dependent increase in quantal size occurred at both Is and Ib terminals, and the increase in frequency and amplitude of quantal events at individual synaptic boutons was correlated. Both the increase in quantal size and frequency were found to be dependent upon an increase in postsynaptic Ca²⁺, based on studies in which MFs were preinjected with the Ca²⁺ chelator BAPTA (1,2-Bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid). To examine the effect of postsynaptic activity on glutamate sensitivity, we iontophoresed glutamate pulses at the NMJ and recorded the glutamate-evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (gEPSPs). Trains of glutamate pulses produced an increase in gEPSP amplitude; this potentiation was not seen when Ca²⁺ was eliminated from the bath or after inhibiting calmodulin or CaMKII. The activity-dependent increase in quantal size may result from an increase in postsynaptic sensitivity due to activation of CaMKII. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drosophila in Developmental Biology—Past, Present and Future)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1576 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Supra-Physiological Dose of 2-Hydroxyestradiol Impairs Meiotic Progression and Developmental Competence of Mouse Antral Oocytes

by Valeria Merico, Paola Rebuzzini, Mario Zanoni, Maurizio Zuccotti and Silvia Garagna

J. Dev. Biol. 2025, 13(4), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb13040037 - 15 Oct 2025

Viewed by 284

Abstract

Estrogen metabolites (EMs) play a local regulatory role in mammalian ovarian function. Among them, 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) exerts dose-dependent effects on reproductive physiology, supporting either normal ovarian processes or contributing to pathological conditions. Specifically, 2-OHE2 modulates ovarian vasculature and progesterone biosynthesis, and at 1–10 nM concentrations, it enhances in vitro developmental competence and blastocyst quality in mouse oocytes. Conversely, doses below 1 nM show no appreciable effects, suggesting the existence of a biological activity threshold. However, the impact of supra-physiological concentrations remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of increasing 2-OHE2 doses (0.05, 0.50, and 5.00 µM) on oocyte meiotic progression and quality. Exposure to 0.50 and 5.00 µM significantly impaired oocyte maturation, while only the highest dose notably reduced the percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage. Morphometric analysis during the GV-to-MII transition revealed altered first polar body morphology, defective asymmetric division, and disruptions in cytoskeletal organization, including enlarged meiotic spindles, increased F-actin cap angles, and aberrant microtubule-organizing centers distribution. These structural alterations were paralleled by distinct changes in cytoplasmic movement velocity patterns observed through time-lapse imaging during meiotic resumption. Together, these findings demonstrate that supra-physiological exposure to 2-OHE2 compromises oocyte maturation and developmental competence by perturbing key cytoskeletal dynamics and cellular architecture necessary for successful meiosis and early embryogenesis. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 3343 KB

Open AccessReview

An Integrated Canonical and Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Network Controls Early Anterior–Posterior Axis Formation in Sea Urchin Embryos

by Jennifer L. Fenner, Boyuan Wang, Cheikhouna Ka, Sujan Gautam and Ryan C. Range

J. Dev. Biol. 2025, 13(4), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb13040036 - 8 Oct 2025

Viewed by 501

Abstract

Wnt signaling is an ancient developmental mechanism that drives the initial specification and patterning of the primary axis in many metazoan embryos. Yet, it is unclear how exactly the various Wnt components interact in most Wnt-mediated developmental processes as well as in the molecular mechanism regulating adult tissue homeostasis. Recent work in invertebrate deuterostome sea urchin embryos indicates that three different Wnt signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Wnt/JNK, and Wnt/PKC) form an interconnected Wnt signaling network that specifies and patterns the primary anterior–posterior (AP) axis. Here, we detail our current knowledge of this critical regulatory process in sea urchin embryos. We also illustrate examples from a diverse group of metazoans, from cnidarians to vertebrates, that suggest aspects of the sea urchin AP Wnt signaling network are deeply conserved. We explore how the sea urchin is an excellent model to elucidate a detailed molecular understanding of AP axis specification and patterning that can be used for identifying unifying developmental principles across animals. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 2513 KB

Open AccessArticle

High Concentrations of Non-Esterified Fatty Acids During Bovine In Vitro Fertilisation Are Detrimental for Spermatozoa Quality and Pre-Implantation Embryo Development

by Abdullah F. Idriss, Edward J. Okello, Roger G. Sturmey and Miguel A. Velazquez

J. Dev. Biol. 2025, 13(4), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb13040035 - 5 Oct 2025

Viewed by 625

Abstract

High non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) during negative energy balance in dairy cattle can impair reproduction. While their effects on oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development are known, their impact during fertilisation is largely unexplored. This study examined the effects of high NEFA exposure exclusively during in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro and fertilised under physiological or high NEFA concentrations. High NEFA concentrations decreased fertilisation, cleavage, and blastocyst rates. Reactive oxygen species production in zygotes was not affected, but blastocysts derived from the High-NEFA group had fewer cells. Spermatozoa exposed to high NEFA concentrations exhibited increased plasma membrane and acrosome damage, higher DNA fragmentation, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. The expression of H3K27me3, a repressive histone mark normally erased from fertilisation to embryonic genome activation, was higher in 2-cell than in 4-cell embryos on day 2 after IVF, but only in the High-NEFA group. This delayed H3K27me3 loss, along with increased DNA damage, could partially explain the reduced blastocyst formation observed. In conclusion, high NEFA concentrations can impair pre-implantation embryo development during zygote formation, potentially via effects on both the oocyte and spermatozoon. The latter warrants further investigation using an intracytoplasmic sperm injection model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embryonic Development and Regenerative Medicine)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1861 KB

Open AccessBrief Report

Exploring the Regulation of Tmem182 Gene Expression in the Context of Retinoid X Receptor Signaling

by Saadia Khilji, Munerah Hamed, Jihong Chen and Qiao Li

J. Dev. Biol. 2025, 13(4), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb13040034 - 24 Sep 2025

Viewed by 410

Abstract

We have previously established that bexarotene, a clinically approved agonist of retinoid X receptor (RXR), promotes the differentiation and fusion of skeletal myoblasts. We have also analyzed the genomic programs underlying rexinoid-enhanced myogenic differentiation to identify novel regulatory pathways. As such, we observed a significant upregulation of a transcript encoding a predicted transmembrane protein, Tmem182, during C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Despite the documentation of Tmem182 expression in skeletal muscles, its regulation had yet to be explored. Here, we show that Tmem182 gene expression is markedly augmented in early myoblast differentiation and further enhanced by RXR signaling. In addition, Tmem182 expression is specific to muscle tissues and related to muscle master regulator MyoD. We found that MyoD and histone acetyltransferase p300 are bound to the Tmem182 promoter, and Tmem182 expression is p300-dependent. Thus, our data display a putative epigenetic signature associated with p300 and histone acetylation in rexinoid-responsive locus activation and transcription of myogenic targets. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Displaying articles 1-5

Previous Issue

Volume 13, September

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

J. Dev. Biol., Volume 13, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 5 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI