Administration of a Selective Antagonist for Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Receptor in the Hippocampus Causes Anxiolytic Effects in the Male Rat.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) affects rodents' stress-related behaviors, such as anxiety-like behavior or fear conditioning. However, previous studies have investigated the effect of intracerebroventricular, but not hippocampal, injection of this PAC1R-selective antagonist (PACAP-6-38) on anxiety-like behavior. However, it has been reported that administration of PACAP-6-38 to the dorsal hippocampus reduces the fear response in a fear conditioning test.

Metabolism of 1,5-Anhydro-d-fructose to 1,5-Anhydro-d-glucitol.

Background/aim: 1,5-Anhydro-d-fructose (1,5-AF, saccharide) and 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol (1,5-AG) converted from 1,5-AF via the glycemic pathway have health benefits. However, this metabolism has not been sufficiently elucidated. To clarify the in vivo metabolism of 1,5-AF to 1,5-AG, porcine (blood kinetics) and human (urinary excretion) studies were conducted.

Bidirectional effects of voluntary exercise on the expression of Bdnf isoforms in the hippocampus of Hatano rat strains displaying different activity levels.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor has functional mRNA isoforms, whose expression is assumed to mediate the beneficial effects of exercise in neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aims to reveal the mechanism of intensity-dependent effects of voluntary exercise, focusing on the expression of Bdnf mRNA isoforms in Hatano rats. Animals with different voluntary activity were housed in cages with a locked or unlocked wheel for 5 weeks.

Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Seasonal Heat Stress in Kagoshima Berkshire Pigs Reared in the Subtropical Region.

Introduction: Potential biomarkers for chronic seasonal heat stress in Kagoshima Berkshire pigs reared in the subtropical region were investigated by comparing the biomarker changes in the summer (a period of chronic heat stress) and winter (a thermoneutral period) seasons.

Material And Methods: Pigs were allocated to summer- and winter-finishing cohorts, 12 each. The evaluations included assessment of carcass traits and internal organs' normality carried out at the time of slaughter, and measurement of biomarkers in whole blood: derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential as markers of oxidative stress, and serum amyloid A and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio as markers of acute and chronic inflammation, respectively.

Possible effects of voluntary exercise intensity on anxiety-like behavior and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the hippocampus: Results from a study in Hatano rats.

The prevalence of neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety disorders, has increased in recent years. A better understanding of the mechanisms mediating symptoms in these disorders is essential for developing treatments. Although voluntary exercise can alleviate symptoms, its anxiolytic effect varies with the intensity of the activity.

Toxicological effects of Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate exposure in adult male rats differ depending on the history of exposure in the neonatal period.

There is increasing concern about multiple high concentration exposure to toxins in disaster and emergency situations. However, conventional toxicology testing methods may not adequately address these situations. Thus, we assessed whether the toxic effects of exposure in the adulthood differ depending on the presence or absence of neonatal exposure to Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) in male rats to investigate the effects of exposure history of chemicals.

Effects of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate on epididymal sperm parameters in adult male rats.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is widely used as a flame retardant and is known to exhibit anti-androgenic effects in vitro and in vivo. To assess the reproductive toxicity potency of TDCIPP, we investigated the effects of 7 days of TDCIPP oral administration on epididymal sperm motion and concentration in adult male Wistar-Imamichi rats. Thirty-five days after the final administration, sperm parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis.

Alterations between high and low-avoidance lines of Hatano rats in learning behaviors, ultrasonic vocalizations, and histological characteristics in hippocampus and amygdala.

Growing evidence supports interactions between anxiety and cognitive function. The primary object of this study was to elucidate whether high-avoidance (HAA) and low-avoidance (LAA) strains of Hatano rats are suitable for the analysis of interactions between the formation of long-term memory and emotional reactivity. The learning/memory ability of Hatano rats and their Sprague-Dawley (SD) ancestors was evaluated using contextual fear conditioning, Y-maze, and Barnes maze tests from 8 weeks of age.

Impact of dietary exposure to low-dose tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate in allergic asthmatic mice.

Objective: Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCIPP) is an organophosphorus flame retardant that is an alternative to brominated flame retardants. Although TDCIPP can adversely affect human health, information about its effects on immune and allergic responses is scarce. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary exposure to TDCIPP using less than the human tolerable daily intake (TDI) in allergic asthmatic mice.

Maternal traits during lactation period reduce the anxiety-related behavior in male offspring: Results from a fostering study in Hatano rats.

The Hatano strains of the Sprague Dawley rats have been selectively bred to create high- (HAA) and low- (LAA) active avoidance variants. We previously reported that HAA rats display more anxiety-related behavior than LAA rats, but whether this strain difference is affected by postnatal environmental factors remains unclear. In this study, we performed in- and cross-fostering between the HAA and LAA strains and investigated the effect of postnatal maternal traits on the emotional responses in each strain of the male offspring.

Novel toxicity of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate in adult male rats.

The widespread use of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) as a flame retardant has led to its release to the environment. Thus, the toxicological effects of TDCIPP on humans and animals are of importance. For better understanding of its potential toxicities, TDCIPP (250, 500, or 650 mg/kg/day) or vehicle control was administrated orally to adult male Wistar-Imamichi rats for 7 days.

Investigating the effects of nest shading on the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchling phenotype in the Ogasawara islands using a field-based split clutch experiment.

The Ogasawara Islands are an important rookery for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the North Pacific. Green turtles possess temperature-dependent sex determination, and warmer incubation temperatures produce more females than males. Therefore, conservation practices such as nest shading may be required for this population to mitigate the effect of global warming on their sex ratio.

Repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor /neuron-restrictive silencing factor (REST/NRSF) in social stress and depression.

Extreme stress is closely linked with symptoms of depression. Chronic social stress can cause structural and functional changes in the brain. These changes are associated with dysfunction of neuroprotective signalling that is necessary for cell survival, growth, and maturation.

The effects of 28-day early-life exposure to triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) on odor preference and sexual behavior in female rats.

Many chemical substances are detectable in house dust, and they are consequently taken into our bodies via the mouth and nose. Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), a flame retardant that has an estrogen-like effect in vitro, is present in house dust at high concentrations. Estrogen exposure during development has significant influences on reproductive behavior in rodents, and its effects persist until maturity.

The impact of oral exposure to low-dose tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate in allergic asthmatic mice.

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) is a major organophosphorus flame retardant and has been widely increasing as a substitute for brominated flame retardants. TBEP may have adverse effects on human health; however, its impact on immune and allergic responses remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, the effects of low-dose TBEP comparable with the level of actual human exposure to that of human tolerable daily intake on allergic asthmatic mice were explored.

Establishment of the MID-NET medical information database network as a reliable and valuable database for drug safety assessments in Japan.

Purpose: To establish a new medical information database network (designated MID-NET ) to provide real-world data for drug safety assessments in Japan.

Methods: This network was designed and developed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in collaboration with 23 hospitals from 10 healthcare organizations across Japan. MID-NET is a distributed and closed network system that connects all collaborative organizations through a central data center.

Relationship between motor function and ultrasonic vocalizations induced by maternal separation in rat pups.

When rat pups are isolated from their mothers, they emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Although previous studies have reported that USVs are related to anxiety, others have reported that they are related to simple, nonemotional factors, such as physiological reactions to coldness. In this study, we examined the influence of three maternal separations on rat pups.

Hatano rats are a suitable metabolic syndrome model for studying feeding behavior, blood pressure levels, and percent body fat.

Currently, metabolic syndrome is a worldwide concern. Thus, it is imperative to understand the mechanism of metabolic syndrome by establishing various metabolic syndrome models. In this study, we used Hatano high-avoidance animals (HAA) and low-avoidance animals (LAA), both derived from Sprague-Dawley rats by selective breeding to determine high- or low-avoidance rates in shuttle-box active avoidance tests.

Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test.

The elevated plus maze test is a behavioral test for assessing animal anxiety in rodents. Although this test is widely applied in the field of behavioral science, conflicting outcomes are often provided from different laboratories. To identify reasons for the different outcomes, we previously focused on arm features, which differ between laboratories, most notably the presence/absence of ledges at the sides of open arms and the transparency/opaqueness of closed arm walls.

Male Hatano low-avoidance rats show more active sexual behavior with lower plasma testosterone than high-avoidance rats.

Two inbred strains of Sprague-Dawley rats, known as the Hatano high- and low-avoidance animals (HAA and LAA respectively), have been selectively bred for high versus low rates of avoidance responses in a shuttle-box avoidance task. To investigate differences in the sexual behavior of Hatano rats, male HAA, LAA and SD rats were tested from 12 to 15 weeks of age. LAA rats exhibited more rapid and frequent sexual behavior than HAA or SD rats, and such differences increased with repeated sexual experience.

Early-life exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate induces dose-dependent suppression of sexual behavior in male rats.

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may adversely affect animals, particularly during development. Tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is an organophosphate with anti-androgen function in vitro that is present in indoor dust at relatively high concentrations. In male rats, androgens are necessary for the development of reproductive organs, as well as the endocrine and central nervous systems.

Effects of neonatal 17α-ethinyloestradiol exposure on female-paced mating behaviour in the rat.

Correct perinatal oestrogen levels are critical for sexual differentiation. For example, perinatal exposure to oestrogen causes masculinization and defeminization of the brain in female rats and also induces delayed effects after maturation characterized by early onset of abnormal oestrus cycling. However, the mechanisms underlying the above effects of oestrogen remain to be fully determined.

A Single Neonatal Injection of Ethinyl Estradiol Impairs Passive Avoidance Learning and Reduces Expression of Estrogen Receptor α in the Hippocampus and Cortex of Adult Female Rats.

Although perinatal exposure of female rats to estrogenic compounds produces irreversible changes in brain function, it is still unclear how the amount and timing of exposure to those substances affect learning function, or if exposure alters estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the hippocampus and cortex. In adult female rats, we investigated the effects of neonatal exposure to a model estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol (EE), on passive avoidance learning and ERα expression. Female Wistar-Imamichi rats were subcutaneously injected with oil, 0.

Higher detection sensitivity of anxiolytic effects of diazepam by ledge-free open arm with opaque walled closed arm elevated plus maze in male rats.

The elevated plus maze (EPM) is an established method for testing animal anxiety. However, EPM apparatuses and their features can differ among laboratories, most notably in the presence/absence of ledges on the open arm and/or the transparency/opaqueness of walls on the closed arm. The combined effects of these variable arm features on EPM behavior are not yet fully understood.

Dietary deprivation of each essential amino acid induces differential systemic adaptive responses in mice.

Scope: Dietary deprivation of essential amino acids (EAAs) in mammals is known to cause reductions in food intake and body weight. The aim of this study was to determine whether and how mice respond to deprivation of individual EAA species.

Methods And Results: Dietary deprivation of any single EAA (not non-EAA) in mice led to progressive weight loss in the order of Ile(-) > Val(-) > Thr(-) > Leu(-) > Trp(-) > His(-) > Phe(-) > Met(-) > Lys(-) , which correlated with the reduction in food intake.