Behavioural toxicity assessment of silver ions and nanoparticles on zebrafish using a locomotion profiling approach.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is not only a widely used species in the Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET) test but also an emerging model in behavioural ecotoxicology. By using automatic behaviour tracking technology, locomotion of developing zebrafish (ZF) larvae can be accurately recorded and potentially used in an ecotoxicological context to detect toxicant-induced behavioural alterations. In this study, we explored if and how quantitative locomotion data can be used for sub-lethal toxicity testing within the FET framework.

Effects of undernutrition on glycine metabolism in the cerebellum of rats.

Undernutrition is a worldwide problem affecting millions of unborn and young children during the most vulnerable stages of brain development. Total restriction of protein during the perinatal period of life can alter the development of the mammalian fetus and have marked repercussions on development of the central nervous system (CNS). The brain is vulnerable to undernutrition with altered morphologic and biochemical maturation, leading to impaired functions.

Serum and liver lipids in rats and chicks fed with diets containing different oils.

Objectives: Because dietary fat composition is determinant for serum cholesterol level, which is related to cardiovascular disease, we evaluated the effects of diets containing saturated (coconut oil) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (soybean oil) supplemented or not with dietary cholesterol on serum and liver lipid composition in two animal species.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (21 d old) were assigned to one of seven groups and fed with commercial diet or diets containing 5% or 20% soybean oil or 20% coconut oil with or without 1% cholesterol. Chicks were assigned to one of four groups and fed with diets containing 15% soybean oil or 15% coconut oil with or without 1% cholesterol.

Effects of undernutrition on glutamatergic parameters in rat brain.

Early restriction of nutrients during the perinatal period has marked repercussions on CNS ontogeny, leading to impaired functions. This study investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal (up to 75 days) undernutrition (diet: 8% protein; normonourished group: 25% protein) on some glutamatergic and behavioral parameters of rats. Undernutrition reduced: (i) seizures caused by ICV quinolinic acid (QA) administration; (ii) Na-independent [3H]glutamate binding in cell plasma membranes of cerebral cortex, and (ii) basal [3H]glutamate release from synaptosomal preparation.