Expression of exploratory activity of rat offspring depends on the expression of exploratory activity of their parents at the moment of mating.

The aim of this work was to study the, so far, unexplored possibility that non-genetic inheritance of animal behavioral characteristics could depend on the state of the parents at the time of conception. In this study, we measured the levels of motor and exploratory activity in rats at the ages of 2 and 5 months. Male and female rats were mated at the age of 5 months.

Influence of a Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor on the Anxiolytic, Stimulating, and Analgesic Effects of Long-Term Perinatal Caffeine Exposure in Rats.

We studied the effect of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine on the behavioral effects of chronic perinatal caffeine exposure. Administration of caffeine in the prenatal and early postnatal periods led to the development of anxiolytic, stimulating, and analgesic effects. Administration of aminoguanidine attenuated the anxiolytic and stimulating effects and potentiated the analgesic effect of perinatal administration of caffeine.

Challenges for Developing Palliative Care Services in Resource- Limited Settings of Kazakhstan.

Approximately 40 million people in need of palliative care worldwide, while 80% of them live in low- and middle-income countries. Kazakhstan, a low-to middle-income country with a reforming healthcare system, is committed to improving quality and accessibility of care for its 100,000 terminal patients in need of palliative care. To join the group of countries where palliative care is available, accessible, and affordable, Kazakhstan must integrate palliative services into the mainstream healthcare system at all levels, from primary healthcare to hospices, and from major cities to remote villages.

The Association of Genotype and Soluble suPAR Serum Level with COVID-19-Related Lung Damage Severity.

Uncovering the risk factors for acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) severity may help to provide a valuable tool for early patient stratification and proper treatment implementation, improving the patient outcome and lowering the burden on the healthcare system. Here we report the results of a single-center retrospective cohort study on 151 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected symptomatic hospitalized adult patients. We assessed the association of several blood test measurements, soluble urokinase receptor (uPAR) serum level and specific single nucleotide polymorphisms of (I/D), (rs2070744, rs1799983), (rs1799768), (rs2227564) and (rs344781, rs2302524) genes, with the disease severity classified by the percentage of lung involvement on computerized tomography scans.

Features of the Effects of Glutamatergic System Modulators in the Model of Hyperthermal Seizures in Rat Pups.

We studied the effect of lamotrigine, an anticonvulsant inhibiting the presynaptic release of glutamate, and LY341495, an antagonist of metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptors, on the development of hyperthermic seizures and the content of LPO products in the brain of 8-10-day-old Wistar rats. Rat pups in the early postnatal period demonstrated pronounced seizures in response to thermal exposure, which was accompanied by an increase in the level of LPO products in the cerebral cortex. It was shown that the latency of generalized seizures increased after administration of both lamotrigine and LY341495.

Cross-Generational Impact of Epigenetic Male Influence on Physical Activity in Rat.

The aim of this work was to study whether epigenetic events at conception influence the formation of behavioral features found in adult rats. First generational inheritance of activity level, anxiety like behavior, and learning ability was studied. To separate genetic and non-genetic inheritance, mating of males and females with average motor activity was carried out in the presence anesthetized or conscious males with high or low activity.

Hereditary predisposition of water voles (Arvicola amphibius L.) to seizures in response to handling.

Finding out the hereditary predisposition to seizures in response to specif ic external stimuli is important for understanding the causes of epileptiform conditions, developing new methods for their prevention and therapies. In the water vole, individuals with convulsive seizures are found both in natural and laboratory conditions. The data of long-lasting maintenance and breeding of water voles in vivarium conditions were analyzed in order to establish a hereditary predisposition to convulsive seizures, and the inf luence of sex and age on their development.

Effect of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor on the Learning and Spatial Memory in Rats Subjected to Long-Term Perinatal Administration of Caffeine.

We studied the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine on learning and spatial memory in rats exposed to long-term administration to caffeine during the prenatal and early postnatal periods. The rats perinatally receiving caffeine demonstrated high learning ability in the Morris water maze. At the same time, the ability to remember the location of the hidden platform in the trial probe in these rats was reduced in comparison with that of the control group rats perinatally receiving water.

Age-Related Individual Behavioural Characteristics of Adult Wistar Rats.

The aim of this work was to study age-related changes in the behaviour of adult Wistar rats using the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. Behavioural changes related to motor activity and anxiety were of particular interest. Results showed that as male and female rats progressed from 2 to 5 months of age, there was a decrease in the level of motor and exploratory activities and an increase in their level of anxiety.

The Development of Pathological Dependence after Intermittent Use of Sodium Glutamate, but Not Sucrose or Sodium Chloride Solutions.

The possibility of development of dependence was studied during the intermittent consumption of sucrose, sodium chloride, and sodium glutamate solutions. Rats were allowed to choose and consume solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride, and sodium glutamate for 28 days. On days 29-31 of the experiment, the animals were deprived of the preferred solutions.

Endogenous opioid dependence after intermittent use of glucose, sodium chloride, and monosodium glutamate solutions.

In 2002, Colantuoni et al described the possibility of dependency in rats after intermittent, excessive consumption of a 25% glucose solution over a one-week period. We hypothesized that the intermittent consumption of any tasty solution can lead to endogenous opioid dependency. Another aim was to determine whether dependency is connected to the taste of the consumed substance or with its physiological significance.

Endogenous Opioid Dependence Induced in Rats by Periodic Intake of 5% Ethanol Solution.

We studied the possibility of formation of endogenous opioid dependence in rats during periodic intake of 5% ethanol solution. In the control group, both drinking bottles contained water. In the experimental group, the second bottle was filled with 5% ethanol solution for 12 h per day; in the following 12 h, these rats were deprived of food and ethanol.

Reproduction and mortality rates in ecologically distinct species of murid rodents.

The trade-off between reproduction and somatic maintenance is one of the most studied concepts of modern evolutionary ecology. This theory predicts a negative relationship between maximum species longevity and total reproductive output. However, studies performed on natural animal populations have found contradictory results, probably due to the unlikelihood of wild animals gaining both maximum longevity and maximum potential fecundity.

Influence of Caffeine Consumption by Pregnant Rats on Behavior and Learning in Their Offspring.

We studied the effect of long-term prenatal administration of caffeine on the behavior and learning of rats in postnatal ontogeny. Experiments were carried out on male rats born by females receiving caffeine solution as the only source of fluid throughout gestation. The control group consisted of pups obtained from females receiving drinking water throughout pregnancy.

Effect of Peripheral μ-, δ-, and κ-Opioid Ligands on the Development of Tolerance to Ethanol-Induced Analgesia.

We studied the rate of development of tolerance to the ethanol-induced analgesia under the effect of μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid agonists and antagonists not crossing the blood-brain barrier and rapidly inactivated by gastric and duodenal proteolytic enzymes. Activation of gastric κ-opioid receptors eliminated the analgesic effect of ethanol and accelerated the development of tolerance to ethanol-induced analgesia. In contrast, activation of gastric μ-opioid receptors decelerated the development of this tolerance.

New Experimental Model of Rat Risk Behavior. Effects of Nicotine and Phenazepam.

We described a new model of risk behavior in rats that allows selection of animals predisposed to risk behavior in the absence of other biological motivations. Phenazepam administration did not change the intensity of risk behavior in "risky" animals, but stimulated risk behavior in rats that were not predisposed to it. Nicotine inhibited risk behavior in "risky" animals and strengthened it in "cautious" rats.

Anxiolytic, Psychostimulant, and Analgesic Effects of Various Volumes of Ethanol Solution in Different Concentrations, but in the Same Dose.

We studied the effect of ethanol (dose 2 g/kg) in various concentrations (5, 13, and 40%) and different volumes (40, 15.5, and 5 ml/kg) on the level of anxiety, locomotor activity, and pain sensitivity in rats. Administration of 40 ml/kg water to animals was followed by a significant increase in the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze.

The Presence Of Strange Males' Odor Induces Behavioral Responses And Elevated Levels Of Low Molecular Weight Proteins Excreted In The Urine Of Mature Water Vole Males (Arvicola amphibius L).

We hypothesized that low molecular weight urinary proteins play a role in male-male chemical communication in the water vole, Arvicola ampibius L. We studied the effect of placing soiled litter from strange males into the cage of another sexually mature male on the intensity of its digging and scattering, urination on the litter, and alteration in the levels of low molecular weight proteins (15-25 kDa) excreted in the urine before and after 4 days of exposure as determined by chip electrophoresis. The intensity of digging and scattering was positively correlated with levels of testosterone in serum of males exposed to strange male odors (r = 0.

[Correlations of reproductive parameters of water vole females (Arvicola amphibius) with morphometric and hormonal characteristics].

Fluctuations in water vole population size depend on abiotic and intra-population factors affecting the physiological condition of females. The relationship between variability in reproductive success and morpho-physiological characteristics of female during pregnancy is studied quite poorly. In standard vivarium conditions, the morphometric and hormonal characteristics of female were assessed at different stages of pregnancy (first trimester--days 4-7, second trimester--days 8-14, third semester--days 15-20), and their relationship with potential and actual fecundity and the level of embryonic lethality was elucidated.

Antihypoxic activity of cycloprolylglycine analogs.

We studied antihypoxic activity of analogs of endogenous cyclic dipeptide cycloprolylglycine in a mouse model of normobaric hypoxia with hypercapnia and found that antixypoxic effect depends on the structure of the substance. It was shown that different pharmacophores are responsible for the antihypoxic, nootropic, and anxiolytic effects of cycloprolylglycine.

Peripheral administration of a μ-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO suppresses the anxiolytic and stimulatory effects of caffeine.

We studied the possibility of modulation of the stimulatory and anxiolytic effects of caffeine by activation of μ-opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. Caffeine in a dose of 10 mg/kg (but not in a dose of 100 mg/kg) had a strong anxiolytic and psychostimulant effect. This effect was manifested in a significant increase in the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze, elevation of locomotor activity, and stimulation of metabolism.

Changes in feeding behavior, locomotor activity, and metabolism in rats upon modulation of opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract.

We studied the role of μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors of the stomach in the regulation of natural feeding behavior, metabolism, and locomotor activity of rats. Locomotor activity (number of crossed squares), food and water intake, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide release in animals were estimated in the standard home cage using a Phenomaster device (TSE) for 24 h at 40-min intervals. Administration of a μ-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO suppressed feeding behavior of animals in the light phase, but had little effect on locomotor activity and metabolism.

Effect of activated peripheral κ-opioid receptors on the action of nicotine and its withdrawal in nicotine-dependent rats.

We studied the possibilities of modulating the effects of nicotine and its withdrawal in nicotine-dependent rats by peripheral injection of κ-opioid receptor agonist ICI 204,448. Injection of nicotine to rats previously treated with nicotine for 14 days reduced motor activity, suppressed metabolism, and increased food intake. In rats receiving ICI 204,448 after chronic administration of nicotine, food intake did not differ from that in control animals receiving isotonic NaCl solution.