Seroprevalence of selected flaviviruses in free-living and captive capuchin monkeys in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and, more recently, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) have a great impact in the public health. In addition, the presence of such viruses might have an impact on wild animal conservation as well as their possible role as animal reservoir. Here, we performed a serological survey searching for antibodies against a panel of flaviviruses [ZIKV, Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), Saint Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV), Ilheus virus (ILHV) and Rocio virus (ROCV)] using plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT ) in both free-ranging and captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius and Sapajus libidinosus).

Limited Evidence for Infection of Urban and Peri-urban Nonhuman Primates with Zika and Chikungunya Viruses in Brazil.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in the Americas in 2013. Limited antigenic variability of CHIKV and ZIKV may restrict urban transmission cycles due to population protective immunity. In Africa, sylvatic transmission cycles involving nonhuman primates (NHP) are known for CHIKV and ZIKV, causing cyclic reemergence in humans.

Risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive Sapajus spp.

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive capuchin monkeys at a facility in the northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 116 bearded capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus), nine blonde capuchin (Sapajus flavius), five black-capped capuchin (Sapajus apella), and four capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) were tested for T.

The novel gamma secretase inhibitor N-[cis-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)cyclohexyl]-1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonamide (MRK-560) reduces amyloid plaque deposition without evidence of notch-related pathology in the Tg2576 mouse.

There is a substantial body of evidence indicating that beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta) are critical factors in the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). One strategy for combating AD is to reduce or eliminate the production of Abeta through inhibition of the gamma-secretase enzyme, which cleaves Abeta from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). We demonstrate here that chronic treatment for 3 months with 3 mg/kg of the potent, orally bioavailable and brain-penetrant gamma-secretase inhibitor N-[cis-4-[(4-chlorophenyl)-sulfonyl]-4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)cyclohexyl]-1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonamide (MRK-560) attenuates the appearance of amyloid plaques in the Tg2576 mouse.

The effects of ad libitum feeding and marked dietary restriction on spontaneous skeletal muscle pathology in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effects of ad libitum (AL) feeding and marked dietary restriction (DR) on spontaneous age-related skeletal muscle changes in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were evaluated at 1 and 2 years. SD rats were fed Certified UAR A04C Rodent Chow ad libitum (AL), or DR at 50% of AL for (106 weeks). Body weights and organ weights were measured at the 1-year interim and 2-year final necropsies.

The ultrastructural localisation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate NR2B receptor subunit in rat lumbar spinal cord.

Glutamate together with its N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has an important role in the transmission of stimuli in the spinal cord. Whilst the expression of the various NMDA receptor subunits within the spinal cord has been investigated the subcellular location of the NMDA NR2B subunit has yet to be definitively established. Both mRNA and light microscopical studies have failed to unequivocally demonstrate the proposed pre-synaptic location of this subunit.

Mechanisms of action of the antidepressants fluoxetine and the substance P antagonist L-000760735 are associated with altered neurofilaments and synaptic remodeling.

Antidepressants are widely prescribed in the treatment of depression, although the mechanism of how they exert their therapeutic effects is poorly understood. To shed further light on their mode of action, we have attempted to identify a common proteomic signature in guinea pig brains after chronic treatment with two different antidepressants. Both fluoxetine and the substance P receptor (NK(1)R) antagonist (SPA) L-000760735 altered cortical expression of multiple heat shock protein 60 forms along with neurofilaments and related proteins that are critical determinants of synaptic structure and function.

The effects of ad libitum overfeeding and moderate and marked dietary restriction on age-related spontaneous pituitary gland pathology in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study compared the effects of ad libitum (AL) overfeeding and moderate or marked dietary restriction (DR) on the pathogenesis of aged-related pituitary gland changes in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. SD rats were fed Purina Certified Rodent Diet AL (group 1), DR at 72-79% of AL (group 2), DR at 68-72% of AL (group 3) or DR at 47-48% of AL (group 4) for 106 weeks. Interim necropsies were performed at 13, 26, and 53 weeks, after a 7-day 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-filled minipump implantation.

The effects of ad libitum overfeeding and moderate and marked dietary restriction on age-related spontaneous pancreatic islet pathology in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study compared the effects of ad libitum (AL) overfeeding and moderate or marked dietary restriction (DR) on aged-related degenerative and proliferative changes of the endocrine pancreas in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. SD rats were fed Purina Certified Rodent Diet AL (group 1), DR at 72-79% of AL (group 2), DR at 68-72% of AL (group 3) or DR at 47-48% of AL (group 4) for 106 weeks. Interim necropsies were performed at 13, 26, and 53 weeks, after a 7-day 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-filled minipump implantation.

Chronic nephropathy in ad libitum overfed Sprague-Dawley rats and its early attenuation by increasing degrees of dietary (caloric) restriction to control growth.

The early development and progression of chronic nephropathy and its amelioration by moderate and marked dietary restriction (DR) was determined in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 20, 33, 60, and 113 weeks of age. Both sexes of SD rats were overfed ad libitum (AL) or DR-fed at 72-79%, 68-72%, or 47-48% of the adult AL intake. The AL-fed rats rapidly developed increased body and kidney size, increased glomerular area (GA) and urinary protein loss, followed by declining creatinine clearance.

The effects of diet, ad Libitum feeding, and moderate and severe dietary restriction on body weight, survival, clinical pathology parameters, and cause of death in control Sprague-Dawley rats.

A 2-year study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats to compare the effects of ad libitum (AL) feeding and dietary restriction (DR) on body weight, survival, cause of death, and clinical pathology parameters. Three groups of 120 rats/sex each received the following daily rations of a maintenance rodent diet: ad libitum (AL group); 75% of adult AL food consumption (25% DR group); and 45% of adult AL food consumption (55% DR group). Among the 3 groups, there were generally no differences in relative (food intake per gram of body weight) food consumption.

Morphological changes in the kidney of dogs chronically exposed to exogenous growth hormone.

Porcine growth hormone was administered subcutaneously to beagle dogs at doses of 0.025, 0.1, and 1 IU/kg/d for 14 weeks, markedly elevating serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels.

Diet, caloric restriction, and the rodent bioassay.

The diet can significantly alter the results of toxicity and carcinogenicity studies. Ad libitum (AL) overfeeding of excessive calories to sedentary adult rodents is one of the most poorly controlled variables affecting the current rodent bioassay. AL-overfed rodents develop an early onset of adverse metabolic events, endocrine-disruptive degenerative diseases, and tumors that result in early morbidity and mortality.

Need for dietary control by caloric restriction in rodent toxicology and carcinogenicity studies.

The conditions under which laboratory animals are maintained can powerfully influence the results of toxicological studies utilized for risk assessment. Nutrition is of importance in toxicological bioassays and research, because diet composition and the conditions under which it is fed can affect the metabolism and activity of xenobiotic test substances and alter the results and reproducibility of long-term studies. It is known that ad libitum (AL) overfed sedentary laboratory rodents suffer from an early onset of degenerative disease and diet-related tumors that lead to poor survival in chronic bioassays.

Effect of chronic growth hormone administration on skeletal muscle in dogs.

Administration of growth hormone (GH) results in increased body weight gain in dogs. Increased body weight gain is believed to be a result of the trophic effect of GH on the musculoskeletal system. However, edema is one of the side effects described in man following exogenous GH administration.

Morphological changes in the pituitary gland of dogs chronically exposed to exogenous growth hormone.

Growth hormone (GH) synthesis and release from the pituitary is regulated by hypothalamic releasing hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and somatostatin. However, the potential effects of pharmacological doses of exogenous GH on the pituitary are not well studied. To determine the potential chronic effects of exogenous GH on pituitary morphology in dogs, porcine GH (pGH) was administered subcutaneously to 3 groups of dogs (4 animals/sex/group) at doses of 0.

Effect of early body weight and moderate dietary restriction on the survival of the Sprague-Dawley rat.

The effects of ad libitum (AL) feeding, moderate dietary restriction (DR), and initial (6-week) and one-year body weights on the two-year survival of the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat were evaluated. DR-fed rats were given approximately 75 percent of the adult AL food intake. At two years, body weights of DR-fed males and females were approximately 69 and 58 percent of the AL-fed male and female body weights, respectively.

The effects of diet, overfeeding and moderate dietary restriction on Sprague-Dawley rat survival, disease and toxicology.

Overfeeding by ad libitum (AL) food consumption is the most significant, uncontrolled variable affecting the outcome of the current rodent bioassay. The correlation of food consumption, the resultant adult body weight and the 2-y survival in Sprague-Dawley rats is highly significant. Feeding natural ingredient diets that varied in protein, fiber and metabolizable energy content did not improve low 2-y survival if Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed AL food consumption.

The effects of diet, ad libitum overfeeding, and moderate dietary restriction on the rodent bioassay: the uncontrolled variable in safety assessment.

Ad libitum (AL) overfeeding is the most significant, uncontrolled variable affecting the outcome of the current rodent bioassay. There is a highly significant correlation between AL food consumption, the resultant obesity and body weight, and low 2-yr survival in rodents. AL feeding of diets with lowered protein, metabolizable energy (ME), and increased fiber does not improve survival.

Mediation by the central nervous system is critical to the in vivo activity of the GH secretagogue L-692,585.

To investigate the effect of hypophyseal transection (HST) on GH secretagogue activity of the non-peptidyl GH secretagogue L-692,585 in the conscious pig, male castrated swine were randomly assigned to either a hypophyseal stalk transection group (HST; n = 3) or to a sham-operated control group (SOC; n = 3). Treatments administered were L-692,585 (100 micrograms/kg), human GH-releasing factor(1-29)NH2 (GRF; 20 micrograms/kg) or L-692,585 (100 micrograms/kg) + GRF (20 micrograms/kg) on days -7 to -3 before surgery and days +3 to +8 after surgery. To evaluate the integrity of the pituitary gland, the animals were challenged with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH; 150 micrograms) or GnRH (150 ng/kg) both before and after surgery.

The effects of overfeeding and moderate dietary restriction on Sprague-Dawley rat survival, pathology, carcinogenicity, and the toxicity of pharmaceutical agents.

Ad libitum (AL) overfeeding is the most significant uncontrolled variable effecting the rodent bioassay. There is a highly significant correlation between food consumption, the resultant body weight, and two-year survival in laboratory rats. We have studied the effects of AL overfeeding, moderate dietary restriction (DR) and several modified diets on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat longevity, spontaneous disease, carcinogenesis and the toxicity of pharmaceuticals.

Quantitative evaluation of glandular and stromal compartments in hyperplastic dog prostates: effect of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 2 different 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride and MK-0434) on the glandular and stromal compartments of hyperplastic canine prostates. In this study, dogs received 1 of the 2 compounds orally, at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 16 weeks; control dogs received a placebo. The morphological changes in the glandular and stromal compartments in the prostate were quantitated by a point-counting method on Masson's trichrome-stained sections.

Effects of chronic oral administration of a selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, on the dog prostate.

Young mature dogs received finasteride, a selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, orally at 0, 5, 15, and 45 mg/kg/day for 27 or 53 weeks. The effect of finasteride administration on prostatic size and morphology was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Changes in glandular and fibromuscular compartments were quantitated by a point counting method on trichrome-stained sections.

Hysteresis of the venous pressure-volume relationship in the forearm of borderline hypertensive subjects.

1. The forearm venous pressure-volume relationship was studied in 14 young men with borderline hypertension and in 16 control subjects of the same age and sex. Strain-gauge plethysmography was used to evaluate volume changes after slow increases and decreases in distention, in order to estimate the amplitude of the hysteresis curve.