Changes in motor behavior and lumbar motoneuron morphology following repeated chlorpyrifos exposure in rats.

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide associated with numerous health effects including motor performance decrements. While many studies have focused on the health effects following acute chlorpyrifos poisonings, almost no studies have examined the effects on motoneurons following occupational-like exposures. The main objective of this study was to examine the broad effects of repeated occupational-like chlorpyrifos exposures on spinal motoneuron soma size relative to motor activity.

Indications of Endocrine Disruptor Effects of JP-5 Jet Fuel Using a Rat-Model Reproductive Study and an In Vitro Human Hormone Receptor Assay.

Recent events concerning jet fuel contamination of drinking water have shown that we need a better understanding of the effects of ingested jet fuel. To this end, a reproductive study with ingested jet fuel in rats was undertaken with relatively high concentrations of Jet Propellant (JP)-5 along with a human estrogen receptor activation in vitro assay using JP-5, JP-8, and an alternative jet fuel derived from the camelina plant referred to as HydroRenewable Jet (HRJ) fuel, to help evaluate potential effects of ingested jet fuel. The results of the in vivo study provide evidence that JP-5 can act as an endocrine disruptor, with specific observations including altered hormone levels with JP-5 exposure (significantly lower estradiol levels in male rats and significantly increased Dehydroepiandrosterone levels in females), and a decreased male/female offspring ratio.

Atomic Layer Deposition of Alumina-Coated Thin-Film Cathodes for Lithium Microbatteries.

This work shows the electrochemical performance of sputter-deposited, binder-free lithium cobalt oxide thin films with an alumina coating deposited via atomic layer deposition for use in lithium-metal-based microbatteries. The AlO coating can improve the charge-discharge kinetics and suppress the phase transition that occurs at higher potential limits where the crystalline structure of the lithium cobalt oxide is damaged due to the formation of Co, causing irreversible capacity loss. The electrochemical performance of the thin film is analysed by imposing 4.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on brain cytokine levels in rats.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown therapeutic potential to mitigate symptoms of various neurological disorders. Studies from our group and others used rodent models to demonstrate that tDCS modulates synaptic plasticity. We previously showed that 30 min of 0.

Vagus nerve stimulation-induced cognitive enhancement: Hippocampal neuroplasticity in healthy male rats.

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) improves cognition in humans and rodents, but the effects of a single session of VNS on performance and plasticity are not well understood.

Objective: Behavioral performance and hippocampal (HC) electrophysiology/neurotrophin expression were measured in healthy adult rats after VNS paired training to investigate changes in cognition and synaptic plasticity.

Methods: Platinum/iridium electrodes were surgically implanted around the left cervical branch of the VN of anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 47).