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Hatchlings and Neonate Turtle Gonads Have Spatially Restricted Neural Processes

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Morphological and molecular evidence explains the lack of nociception ("pain") associated with very small, laparoscopic gonadal biopsy in neonate turtles. This safe procedure serves to verify neonate sex of late-maturing species, such as sea turtles. Ethical concerns about the potential for biopsy pain, inferred from mammals, limited access to sex verification biopsy for decades. Yet, standard behavioral evidence of pain during biopsy (e.g., escape attempts, biting, guarding behavior after biopsy, inappetence) were negative. Morphological and molecular evidence early in ontogeny, shows that, unlike mice, young turtles have limited neural processes to the gonadal medulla and none reach the cortical layer.

Source: PubMed

DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001327

Authors: Jeanette Wyneken, Boris M. Tezak, Debra Lee Miller

Institutions: Florida Atlantic University, Wesleyan University, Duke University, Duke Medical Center, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Language: English

Topic: Turtle Biology and Conservation

Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4410019367

FWCI:

Cites: 1

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Related to: 10