scholarly journals Video: Dragonfly Righting Reflex

Author(s):  
Z Jane Wang ◽  
Raymond Chang ◽  
Leif Ristroph
Keyword(s):  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1293-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Ivani ◽  
Isaac Karimi ◽  
Seyed Reza Fatemi Tabatabaei ◽  
Leila Syedmoradi

Carbon nanotubes with extraordinary properties may become a novel drug and gene delivery tool in nanomedicine; however, insufficient information is available regarding their biosafety. Therefore, this work was performed to study the effect of prenatal exposure of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on reproductive and neurobehavioral endpoints in mice. Thirty pregnant female mice were assigned to three groups ( n = 10 for each group). The two treated groups were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 1 or 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of SWCNTs suspended in 1 ml of phosphate buffer saline (PBS) on gestational days 0 and 3. The control group was injected i.p. with an equal volume of PBS. The neurobehavioral ontogeny of pups was evaluated using a modified Fox battery. A decrease in litter size on postnatal day 2 was observed in the group treated with 10 mg/kg b.w. of SWCNTs whereas no significant differences between groups were observed in any other parameters. The behavioral development of pups did not show significant differences during growth except for the surface righting reflex, which showed significant delay compared to control in the group treated with 1 mg/kg b.w. SWCNTs. Moreover, exposed offspring (10 mg/kg b.w. SWCNTs) displayed enhanced anxiety in the elevated plus maze; however, other ethological analysis (Morris water maze and open field test) did not show behavioral changes in the experimental groups. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated small changes in offspring sensory and motor development following exposure to SWCNTs and support the idea that SWCNT risk assessment merits further investigation.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e0161053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia M. Grin’kina ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Margalit Haber ◽  
Michael Sangobowale ◽  
Elena Nikulina ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Meghan M. Louis ◽  
Gregory Scott ◽  
Dustin Smith ◽  
Brigid V. Troan ◽  
Larry J. Minter ◽  
...  

Euthanasia techniques in amphibians are poorly described and sparsely validated. This study investigated potassium chloride (KCl) for euthanasia of anesthetized marine toads ( Rhinella marina ). Twenty three toads were immersed in buffered MS-222 (2 g/L) for five minutes (min) beyond loss of righting reflex, manually removed, and randomly administered KCl (n = 6/group) via one of three routes: intracardiac at 10 mEq/kg (IC), intracoelomic at 100 mEq/kg (ICe), or immersion at 4500 mEq/L (IMS) or no treatment (C) (n = 5/group). Doppler sounds were assessed continuously from prior to treatment until two min post-treatment and every five min thereafter until sound cessation or resumption of spontaneous movement. Plasma potassium concentration (K+) was measured at the time of Doppler sound cessation in ICe and IMS. In IC, ICe, IMS, and C, Doppler sound cessation occurred in 4/6, 6/6, 6/6, and 1/5 toads with median (range) or mean + SD times of 0.23 (0-4.65), 17.5 + 9.0, 40.6 + 10.9, and >420 min, respectively. Nonsuccess in 2/6 toads in IC was suspected due to technique failure. Plasma K+ exceeded the limits of detection (>9 mmol/L) in 12/12 toads in ICe and IMS. Five of six toads in C resumed spontaneous movement at median (range) times of 327 (300-367) min. KCl delivered via an intracardiac, intracoelomic, or immersion routes resulted in Doppler sound cessation in 16 of 18 toads and may be appropriate for euthanasia of anesthetized marine toads.


1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
H.N.P.M. Sondag ◽  
H.A.A. de Jong ◽  
W.J. Oosterveld

We studied vestibular function in 20 adult hamsters (3 months old) subjected to either prolonged hypergravity (n=10) or normal gravity (n=10) for 2 months. Locomotion and swimming of the hypergravity hamsters under light conditions were normal. Equilibrium maintenance was severely disturbed; only 6 of 10 hypergravity hamsters managed to walk on the small tube after 2 months, whereas all 10 controls were able to walk on the tube. The air-righting reflex was severely disturbed; the hypergravity hamsters made 30% correct responses. Finally, 5 of 8 hypergravity hamsters had to be saved from drowning when swimming in total darkness. Histological examination of the utricular otoconial layers afterwards, using energy dispersive X-ray element (EDAX) analysis and scanning electron microscopy, did not reveal any differences in calcium content, shape and size distribution of the otoconia between hypergravity hamsters and controls. We suggest that adult hamsters adapt to hypergravity, leading to problems in normal functioning when tested in 1 G, especially in tasks in which sensory input of the vestibular system is important for spatial orientation. These disturbances were more severe in adult hamsters than in young ones, tested in previous experiments. Therefore, we assume that age is a factor for adaptation to altered gravity conditions.


1976 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Wright

The critical thermal maximum (the colonic temperature of heat-induced convulsion and righting reflex loss) and thermoregulatory response of male mice were examined following I, exposure to colonic temperature (Tco) 42 degrees C; II, a single exposure to the critical thermal maximum (Tco 44 degrees C); AND III, acclimation at ambient temperatures of 15 or 30 degrees C for 14 days. The critical thermal maximum (CTM) was greater in 30 degrees C acclimated mice than 15 degrees C acclimated mice but was unchanged in mice surviving exposure to Tco 42 degrees C or the CTM. The heating time to apparent breakdown of thermoregulation coincident with an explosive rise in the Tco during exposure to ambient temperature 40.8 degrees C was increased (100%) during the 48-h period following exposure to Tco 42 degrees. It appeared that mice exposed to severe, short-term heat stress (Tco 42 degrees) undergo a compensatory increase in their thermoregulatory cooling capacity with little or no change in the upper temperature tolerated. The animals did, however, exhibit the capability for adaptive adjustments of the upper thermal limit during extended exposure to the more prolonged and less severe environmental heat stress of acclimation at 30 degrees C.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 837-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Dickinson ◽  
Ian White ◽  
William R. Lieb ◽  
Nicholas P. Franks

Background Although it is accepted widely that optically active intravenous general anesthetics produce stereoselective effects in animals, the situation regarding volatile agents is confused. Conventional studies with scarce isoflurane enantiomers have been limited to small numbers of animals and produced conflicting results. By injecting these volatile enantiomers intravenously, however, it is possible to study large numbers of animals and obtain reliable results that can help to identify the molecular targets for isoflurane. Methods Pure isoflurane enantiomers were administered intravenously to rats after solubilization in a lipid emulsion. The ability of each enantiomer to produce a loss of righting reflex was determined as a function of dose, and quantal dose-response curves were constructed. In addition, sleep times were recorded with each enantiomer. Chiral gas chromatography was used to measure relative enantiomer concentrations in the brains of rats injected with racemic isoflurane. Results The S(+)-enantiomer was 40 +/- 8% more potent than the R(-)-enantiomer at producing a loss of righting reflex. The S(+)-enantiomer induced longer sleep times (by about 50%) than did the R(-)-enantiomer. Rats anesthetized by a dose of racemic isoflurane sufficient to achieve a half-maximal effect had essentially identical brain concentrations of the two enantiomers. Conclusions The S(+)-enantiomer of the general anesthetic isoflurane is significantly (P < 0.001) more potent than the R(-)-enantiomer at causing a loss of righting reflex in rats. This confirms the view that isoflurane acts by binding to chiral sites. The observed degree of stereoselectivity provides a useful guide for ascertaining from in vitro experiments which molecular targets are most likely to play major roles in the loss of righting reflex caused by isoflurane.


2019 ◽  
pp. S97-S103
Author(s):  
A. KURZOVÁ ◽  
J. MÁLEK ◽  
L. HESS ◽  
M. JAČEK ◽  
J. SLÍVA

Remifentanil is ultrashort-acting opioid with a unique pharmacokinetic profile. It is used exclusively intravenously. While considering its rapid onset of action and other pharmacokinetic properties, we decided to assess its effects following administration via non-traditional routes. Rabbits (n=10 per each group) were randomized into six groups: remifentanil 1 μg/kg and 3 μg/kg IM, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/kg conjunctivally, and 10 μg/kg and 25.0 μg/kg intranasally. Sedating effects were assessed via a loss of the righting reflex. Secondary, mean arterial blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and pulse rate was monitored in all rabbits. Non-traditional routes of administration were shown to provide a rapid onset of action as well as fast recovery. Importantly, the administration of remifentanil did not result in any deterioration of cardiovascular functions.


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