title: UV laser radiation alters the embryonic protein profile of adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex and gonadal differentiation in the lizard, Calotes Versicolor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of ultraviolet (UV) laser radiation on the embryos of Calotes versicolor in terms of its effects on the protein profile of the adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex (AKG), sex determination and differentiation, embryonic development and hatching synchrony.
  
  
  METHODS
  The eggs of C. versicolor, during thermo-sensitive period (TSP), were exposed to third harmonic laser pulses at 355 nm from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for 180 sec. Subsequent to the exposure they were incubated at the male-producing temperature (MPT) of 25.5 ± 0.5°C. The AKG of hatchlings was subjected to protein analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and to histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The UV laser radiation altered the expression of the protein banding pattern in the AKG complex of hatchlings and it also affected the gonadal sex differentiation. SDS-PAGE of AKG of one-day-old hatchlings revealed a total of nine protein bands in the control group whereas UV laser irradiated hatchlings expressed a total of seven protein bands only one of which had the same Rf as a control band. The UV laser treated hatchlings have an ovotestes kind of gonad exhibiting a tendency towards femaleness instead of the typical testes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is inferred that 355 nm UV laser radiation during TSP induces changes in the expression of proteins as well as their secretions. UV laser radiation had an impact on the gonadal differentiation pathway but no morphological anomalies were noticed.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology & Development Laboratory, Department of Zoology.
authors.forename: Bharati S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Khodnapur
authors.forename: Laxmi S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Inamdar
authors.forename: Robertraj S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Nindi
authors.forename: Shivkumar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Math
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Mulimani
authors.forename: Sanjeev R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Inamdar
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D030162:Reptilian Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D030162:Reptilian Proteins
keywords: SDS-PAGE protein profile; UV laser irradiation; gonadal sex differentiation; lizard embryos