Review

Reptiles: A New Model for Brain Evo-Devo Research†

  1. Tadashi Nomura2,*,
  2. Masahumi Kawaguchi3,4,‡,
  3. Katsuhiko Ono2,
  4. Yasunori Murakami3,*

Article first published online: 14 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22484

Issue

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution

Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution

Volume 320, Issue 2, pages 57–73, March 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nomura T, Kawaguchi M, Ono K, Murakami Y. 2013. Reptiles: A New Model for Brain Evo-Devo Research J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:57–73.

Author Information

  1. 2

    Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Taisyogun, Kitaku, Kyoto, Japan

  2. 3

    Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan

  3. 4

    Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan

  1. ‡

    Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan

* Correspondence to: Tadashi Nomura, Developmental Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Nishitakatsukasa-cho13, Taisyogun, Kitaku, Kyoto 603-8334, Japan. E-mail: tadnom@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Correspondence to: Yasunori Murakami, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 2-5, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan. E-mail: bothrop@sci.ehime-u.ac.jp

  1. †

    All authors have declared that no conflict of interests existed.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 MAR 2013
  2. Article first published online: 14 JAN 2013
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 OCT 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 5 OCT 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 19 APR 2012

Funded by

  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI). Grant Number: 24657158
  • Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (Project Research Grant)
  • Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Studies on Environmental Chemistry in Ehime University (GCOE Program)

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Abstract

Vertebrate brains exhibit vast amounts of anatomical diversity. In particular, the elaborate and complex nervous system of amniotes is correlated with the size of their behavioral repertoire. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying species-specific brain morphogenesis remain elusive. In this review we introduce reptiles as a new model organism for understanding brain evolution. These animal groups inherited ancestral traits of brain architectures. We will describe several unique aspects of the reptilian nervous system with a special focus on the telencephalon, and discuss the genetic mechanisms underlying reptile-specific brain morphology. The establishment of experimental evo-devo approaches to studying reptiles will help to shed light on the origin of the amniote brains. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:57–73, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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