Dysregulation of neural tube vascular development as an aetiological factor in autism spectrum disorder: Insights from valproic acid exposure.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition affecting a substantial number of children globally, characterized by diverse aetiologies, including genetic and environmental factors. Emerging research suggests that neurovascular dysregulation during development could significantly contribute to autism. This review synthesizes the potential role of vascular abnormalities in the pathogenesis of ASD and explores insights from studies on valproic acid (VPA) exposure during neural tube development.

Pubertal stress accelerates copulation in adult male rats: Mitigating effects of a high-calorie diet in adulthood.

The pubertal phase involves significant brain reorganization, where external stressors and diet can profoundly influence long-term behavioral outcomes. In this study, we investigated the interaction between acute pubertal stress (via immune challenge) and a hypercaloric diet in adulthood on the copulatory sexual behavior of male Wistar rats. At postnatal day (PND) 35, pubertal males received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1.

On the Cranial Nerves.

The twelve cranial nerves play a crucial role in the nervous system, orchestrating a myriad of functions vital for our everyday life. These nerves are each specialized for particular tasks. Cranial nerve I, known as the olfactory nerve, is responsible for our sense of smell, allowing us to perceive and distinguish various scents.

Effect of Enriched Environment on Cerebellum and Social Behavior of Valproic Zebrafish.

The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been linked to both genetic and epigenetic factors. Among the epigenetic factors, exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic and mood-modulating drug, has been shown to induce characteristic traits of ASD when exposed to during embryogenesis. Conversely, in animal models, enriched environment (EE) has demonstrated positive behavioral and neural effects, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment to pharmacological approaches in central nervous system disorders.

The Anatomy, Histology, and Function of the Major Pelvic Ganglion.

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the pelvic plexus and its regulation across various mammalian species, including rats, cats, dogs, and pigs. The pelvic and hypogastric nerves play crucial roles in regulating pelvic functions such as micturition, defecation, and erection. The anatomical organization of these nerves varies, forming either well-defined ganglia or complex plexuses.

Pubertal stress in male rats: Effects on juvenile play behavior and adult sexual partner preference.

Puberty is a period of brain organization impacting the expression of social and sexual behaviors. Here, we assessed the effects of an acute pubertal stressor (immune challenge) on the expression of juvenile play (short-term) and sexual partner preference (long-term) in male rats. Juvenile play was assessed over ten trials at postnatal days (PND) (31-40) with age- and sex-matched conspecifics, and at PND35 males received a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1.

Cohabitation with receptive females under D2-type agonism in adulthood restores partner preference and brain dimorphism in the SDN-POA following neonatal gonadectomy in male rats.

Perinatal testosterone, or its metabolite estradiol, organize the brain toward a male phenotype. Male rodents with insufficient testosterone during this period fail to display sexual behavior and partner preference for receptive females in adulthood. However, cohabitation with non-reproductive conspecifics under the influence of a D2 agonist facilitates the expression of conditioned partner preference via Pavlovian learning in gonadally intact male rats.

The impact of subchronic hypercaloric and restriction diets on sexual behavior, serum testosterone, and prostate histology in rats.

The role of diet in health is crucial, with calorie intake playing a significant role. Hypercaloric diets (HD) often lead to adipose tissue accumulation and increased risk of chronic diseases, including reproductive impairments. By contrast, restriction diets (RD) help with weight loss, improve cardiovascular function, and ameliorate reproduction.

Multiunit Recording of Cerebellar Cortex in Autistic Male Rats during Social Interaction in Enriched Environments.

Autism in humans is a lifelong behavioral disorder that typically manifests in early infancy, primarily affecting boys. It arises from neurodevelopmental changes that significantly impact social behavior, with the cerebellum being one of the principal affected regions. In this study, we investigated the cerebellum in an autism animal model, recording the multiunit activity of cerebellar vermis lobules 6 and 7 (L6 and L7) in male rats with autism-like behavior induced by postnatal valproate treatment.

Olfactory Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease, Its Functional and Neuroanatomical Correlates.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is known for its motor alterations, but the importance of non-motor symptoms (NMSs), such as olfactory dysfunction (OD), is increasingly recognized. OD may manifest during the prodromal period of the disease, even before motor symptoms appear. Therefore, it is suggested that this symptom could be considered a marker of PD.

Electrophysiological Characterization of Cerebellar Responses during Exploration and Grooming Behaviors in a Rat Model of Parkinsonism.

Parkinson's disease is currently a global public health challenge due to the rapid growth of aging populations. To understand its pathophysiology is necessary to study the functional correlation between the basal ganglia (BG) and the cerebellum, which are involved in motor control. Herein, we explored multiunit electrical activity (MUA) in the cerebellum of rats with induced Parkinsonism as a result of lesions following bilateral placement of electrodes and passing of current in the ventrolateral striatum (VLS).

Neurobiology of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals: Acceptance, Recognition, Motivation, and Rejection.

Among the different species of mammals, the expression of maternal behavior varies considerably, although the end points of nurturance and protection are the same. Females may display passive or active responses of acceptance, recognition, rejection/fear, or motivation to care for the offspring. Each type of response may indicate different levels of neural activation.

Enhanced D2 Agonism Induces Conditioned Appetitive Sexual Responses Toward Non-reproductive Conspecifics.

Brain mechanisms of sexual attraction toward reproductive partners develop from a systematic interrelationship between biology (nature) and learning (nurture). However, the causes of attraction toward non-reproductive partners are poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of Pavlovian learning under dopaminergic agonism on the development of sexual preference and brain activation for young male rats.

Quantification of neural and hormonal receptors at the prostate of long-term sexual behaving male rats after lesion of pelvic and hypogastric nerves.

Prostate function is regulated by androgens and a neural control via the pelvic and hypogastric nerves. As such, this sexual gland contains receptors for acetylcholine and noradrenaline, although it is unknown whether the expression of these receptors is affected by sexual behavior and even less by denervation of the gland. Thus, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of repeated sexual behavior on the expression of noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and androgen receptors at the prostate, and how they are affected by denervation.

Long-term effects of status epilepticus during infancy in male rats: Sexual behavior and brain response upon exposure to sexually receptive females.

Previous research in female rats showed that induction of status epilepticus (SE) during infancy impairs proceptive sexual behavior at the long run in adulthood but temporarily, since full proceptivity is recovered after four mating trials. In male rats, such equivalent effects have not been explored yet. Thus, SE was experimentally induced by injecting lithium chloride (3 mEq/kg, i.

Disruptive effects of neonatal gonadectomy on adult sexual partner preference and brain dimorphism in male rats: partial restoration with pubertal testosterone.

According to the organizational-activational hypothesis, testosterone or its metabolite estradiol, can organize the brain in a male direction (permanently or for long periods) if exposure occurs during a critical (sensitive) time of brain development like the prenatal period. Male rodents with insufficient levels of testosterone during such critical period would irreversibly fail to display sexual partner preference for receptive females in adulthood. However, exposure to testosterone during puberty is believed to function as a second critical period for organization of brain and behavior.

Changes in multiunit activity pattern in cerebellar cortex associated to olfactory cues during sexual learning in male rats.

The cerebellum is a structure of the central nervous system which has been previously studied with different techniques and animal models and even humans, so it is associated with multiple functions such as cognition, memory, emotional processing, balance, control of movement, among others. Its relationship with sensory systems has already been explored, however, the role it plays in olfactory processing in the cerebellum is unclear. Several hypotheses have been proposed from work done in humans and animal models with neuroimaging and immunohistochemical techniques.

Brain activation associated to olfactory conditioned same-sex partner preference in male rats.

Sexual preferences can be strongly modified by Pavlovian learning. For instance, olfactory conditioned same-sex partner preference can occur when a sexually naïve male cohabits with an scented male during repeated periods under the effects of enhanced D2-type activity. Preference is observed days later via social and sexual behaviors.

Olfactory stimulation induces cerebellar vermis activation during sexual learning in male rats.

The cerebellum is a complex structure mainly recognized for its participation in motor activity and balance, and less understood for its role in olfactory processing. Herein, we assessed Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in the cerebellar vermis following exposure to different odors during sexual training in male rats. Males were allowed to copulate for either one, three or five sessions.

Heterosexual experience prevents the development of conditioned same-sex partner preference in male rats.

Sexual partner preferences can be strengthened, weakened or even drastically modified via Pavlovian conditioning. For example, conditioned same-sex partner preference develops in sexually-naïve male rats that undergo same-sex cohabitation under the effects of quinpirole (QNP, D2 agonist). Here, we assessed the effect of prior heterosexual experience on the probability to develop a conditioned same-sex preference.

Pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in developing rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid.

Background: Epidemiological evidence indicates epilepsy is more common in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (20-25%) than in the general population. The aim of this project was to analyze seizure susceptibility in developing rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA) as autism model.

Methods: Pregnant females were injected with VPA during the twelfth embryonic day.

Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate alters androgen receptor expression in the developing cerebellum in a region and age specific manner in male and female rats.

Valproic acid (VPA) is an anti-epileptic drug with teratogenicity activity that has been related to autism. In rodents, exposure to VPA in utero leads to brain abnormalities similar than those reported in the autistic brain. Particularly, VPA reduces the number of Purkinje neurons in the rat cerebellum parallel to cerebellar abnormalities found in autism.

Effect of hyperprolactinemia on PRL-receptor expression and activation of Stat and Mapk cell signaling in the prostate of long-term sexually-active rats.

The abnormal elevation of serum PRL, referred to as hyperprolactinemia (HyperPRL), produces alterations in several reproductive parameters of male rats such as penile erection or decreased tendency to reach ejaculation. Additionally, this situation produces a significant modification of prostate histology, as observed in the epithelial structure and alveolar area, which could reach a level of hyperplasia in the long-term. In this tissue, HyperPRL produces an increase in expression of PRL receptors and activation of the Stat3 signaling pathway that is correlated with the evolution of prostate pathologies.

Androgen receptors in Purkinje neurons are modulated by systemic testosterone and sexual training in a region-specific manner in the male rat.

The androgen receptor (AR) is a widely distributed molecule indicating the spread actions of its ligand steroid, and plays an important role underlying male sexual behavior. Nevertheless, the influence of steroid hormones and their receptors on cerebellar neurons, as foundation of sexual behavior, is largely unknown. We sought to determine the influence of peripheral hormones on the AR expression in Purkinje neurons across cerebellar lobules in the vermis of male rats.

Have we been ignoring the elephant in the room? Seven arguments for considering the cerebellum as part of addiction circuitry.

Addiction involves alterations in multiple brain regions that are associated with functions such as memory, motivation and executive control. Indeed, it is now well accepted that addictive drugs produce long-lasting molecular and structural plasticity changes in corticostriatal-limbic loops. However, there are brain regions that might be relevant to addiction other than the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and basal ganglia.