Effects of sex hormone manipulation on audiogenic seizures

1961 ◽  
Vol 201 (5) ◽  
pp. 830-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Werboff ◽  
John B. Corcoran
Keyword(s):  
Audiogenic Seizures ◽  
Audiogenic Seizure ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Hormone Balance ◽  
Threshold Conditions ◽  
Testosterone Administration

Albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain exhibited an unusual sex incidence to audiogenic seizures, with females more susceptible than males. It was predicted that altering the sex hormone balance by means of surgical intervention or hormonal injection would alter their seizure susceptibility. Male rats were castrated and then received injections of estradiol (100 RU) and progesterone (0.5 mg). Female rats received testosterone (1.0 and 2.0 mg) and were later ovariectomized. Audiogenic seizure tests under two threshold conditions were conducted prior to and during the respective hormonal treatments. Each group was used as its own control. The results indicated that castration of the males had little effect on seizure responses. Estradiol administration resulted in an increase in seizure responses. In the females, testosterone administration and ovariectomy resulted in a decrease in seizure responses. It was concluded that sex hormones either exert a direct effect or mediate the control of audiogenic seizure responses in rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain.

Abstract P045: Sex And Age Specific Circulating Aldosterone Changes In Transgenic Hypertensive (mRen2)27 Rats And Hannover Sprague Dawley (SD) Rats And Its Association With Blood Pressure And Cardiac Function

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Ryalat ◽  
N Cruz-Diaz ◽  
W Graham ◽  
T Gwathmey-Williams ◽  
P E Gallagher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Target Organ Damage ◽  
Aging Effect ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Aldosterone Antagonists ◽  
Sd Rats

Aldosterone plays a significant role in hypertension and target organ damage. Aldosterone antagonists are used in the management of heart failure. However, neither the influence of age nor sex on aldosterone pathophysiology is well understood. We investigated the changes in circulating aldosterone with age and its association with cardiovascular function, using male and female hypertensive renin transgenic (mRen2)27 rats and SD rats at 20 and 50 weeks of age. Both male (22 ± 3 vs. 12 ± 2 ng/dL, n = 9 - 12, p < 0.05) and female (59 ± 10 vs. 23 ± 8 ng/dL, n = 6 - 10, p < 0.05) hypertensive rats had higher serum aldosterone compared with SD rats at 20 weeks of age. At 50 weeks of age, the difference persisted in the hypertensive female rats (63 ± 8 vs. SD: 33 ± 7 ng/dL, n = 6 - 7, p < 0.05), but not in the males. SD male rats have higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) as they age, and consequently develop cardiac diastolic dysfunction associated with higher aldosterone at 50 weeks compared to 20 weeks (28 ± 3 vs. 12 ± 2 ng/dL, n = 7 - 9, p < 0.05). This aging effect on aldosterone was not significant in the other groups. We showed previously that SD males treated with polyphenol rich muscadine grape extract (MGE) have lower aldosterone, less aortic stiffness and better cardiac diastolic function (E/e’) than controls at the older age; the MGE effect was not seen in (mRen2)27 males. Sex differences in aldosterone were not significant in the SD rats at either time point. However, (mRen2)27 female rats had higher aldosterone than (mRen2)27 males at both 20 weeks (59 ± 10 vs. 22 ± 3 ng/dL, n = 10 - 12, p < 0.05) and 50 weeks (63 ± 8 vs. 31 ± 7 ng/dL, n = 6 - 7, p < 0.05), despite the lack of significant differences in SBP. (mRen2)27 female rats preserve cardiac function better than males throughout their life span, while males develop indices of heart failure. Our data suggest that lower aldosterone levels in hypertensive males compared with females do not protect against the higher lifetime burden of elevated SBP and also may reflect different mechanisms controlling circulating aldosterone between sexes. In addition, data suggest a potential therapeutic effect of MGE in the management of age-associated moderate hypertension.

THE EFFECT OF REPEATED ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION ON ADRENAL ASCORBIC ACID AND CHOLESTEROL IN THE RAT

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 975-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kalant ◽  
Caroline Czaja
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Ascorbic Acid Content ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Chronic Alcoholic ◽  
Alcoholic Intoxication ◽  
Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication ◽  
Inclined Plane Test

Groups of adult male and female albino rats received daily gavage of 1.25 ml of water or of 20% ethanol per 100 g body weight for a period of 1 month, and were killed either 1.5 hours or 24 hours after the last dose. Such daily treatment with either water or alcohol, ending 24 hours before death, did not result in any significant change from control values in the relative weight of the adrenal glands, or their ascorbic acid and cholesterol contents. No changes in these values were found in animals which received an additional dose of water or alcohol 1.5 hours before death. The female rats showed lower values for adrenal ascorbic acid content than the males in corresponding groups, but did not differ from the males with respect to the effects of the various treatments. A similar experiment with male rats only, carried on for 2 months, also showed no significant differences among any of the treatment groups.Measurements of the degree of intoxication produced by single doses of ethanol were carried out by means of the inclined-plane test. Intraperitoneal injection of 2 g/kg produced much more rapid and marked intoxication than did gavage with either 2 or 4 g/kg.It was concluded that daily gavage for 1-2 months with ethanol in a moderately intoxicating dose (2 g/kg) does not constitute a stimulus to adrenal cortical activity or result in exhaustion atrophy of the adrenal cortex, and that adrenal cortical stimulation is not an invariable accompaniment of acute or chronic alcoholic intoxication.

Sexual dimorphism in vasopressin-induced contraction of rat aorta

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (2) ◽  
pp. H453-H458 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Stallone ◽  
J. T. Crofton ◽  
L. Share
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Tension Development ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

Previously, we reported that, in the rat, pressor responsiveness to vasopressin (VP) is higher in males than in females during most phases of the estrous cycle. To explore the role of the vasculature in this phenomenon, we examined vascular reactivity to VP in thoracic aortas of male rats and female rats during each phase of the estrous cycle. Aortic rings were prepared from age-matched male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and mounted for isometric tension recording. Maximal response of female aortas to VP (4,246 +/- 163 mg/mg ring dry wt) was more than twice (P less than 0.001) that of male aortas (1,877 +/- 215 mg/mg ring wt). Sensitivity of female aortas to VP was substantially higher (P less than 0.001) than that of male aortas (EC50: 10.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 19.0 +/- 1.6 nM, respectively). Maximal rate of tension development (dT/dtmax) during contraction with VP was nearly twofold higher (P less than 0.01) in female aortas (536 +/- 23 mg/min) than in male aortas (300 +/- 19 mg/min). Maximal response, sensitivity, and dT/dtmax of female aortas did not vary significantly during the estrous cycle. Maximal response of female aortas to phenylephrine (PE; 1,251 +/- 93 mg/mg ring wt) was half that (P less than 0.001) of male aortas (2,546 +/- 194 mg/mg ring wt); sensitivity to PE did not differ significantly (EC50: 0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.06 microM, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies of the Toxicological Potential of Capsinoids: VIII. A 13-Week Toxicity Study of Commercial-Grade Dihydrocapsiate in Rats

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 101-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eri Watanabe ◽  
Terutaka Kodama ◽  
Takeshi Masuyama ◽  
Shoji Tsubuku ◽  
Akira Otabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Toxicity Study ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Organ Weights

Dihydrocapsiate, (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl 8-methylnonanoate; CAS No. 205687-03-2) is a naturally occurring capsinoid compound found in nonpungent chili peppers. Although the safety of synthetically produced dihydrocapsiate has been previously evaluated, the purpose of this 13-week gavage toxicity study is to evaluate dihydrocapsiate produced with a slightly modified manufacturing process. Sprague-Dawley rats, 10 rats/sex/group, 6 weeks of age at study initiation, were administered the dihydrocapsiate daily by gavage at dose levels of 0 (vehicle), 100,300, or 1000 mg/kg/day. The rats were observed for antimortem and postmortem signs of toxicity, including changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis), tissue findings (macroscopic and microscopic examination), as well as organ weights. There were no changes observed in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, or blood chemistry that were attributable to the administration of dihydrocapsiate. The only change observed attributable to the dihydrocapsiate administration involved the liver and that change occurred only at the high dose (1000 mg/kg). Both sexes had an increase in organ weights, but this increase correlated with a change in histopathology (i.e., hepatocyte hypertrophy) only in the males. No dihydrocapsiate-related histopathological changes were observed in males at doses ≤300 mg/kg or in females at any of the doses tested (≤1000 mg/kg). It was concluded that the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of dihydrocapsiate was 300 mg/kg/day for male rats and 1000 mg/kg/day for female rats in this 13 week gavage study.

scholarly journals Some nutritional properties of unrefined sugar and its promotion of the survival of new-born rats

1985 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eisa Omer Ahmed ◽  
Yudkin John
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Synthetase ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Maize Starch ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Brown Sugar ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase

1. The claims that rats fed on diets with ‘brown sugar’ (unrefined muscovado) perform better in a number of ways than do rats fed on refined white sugar (sucrose) have been examined.2. Male Wistar rats were fed on purified diets from weaning, in which the carbohydrate component was either maize starch or unrefined sugar or sucrose. The sugars produced no differences in growth rate, body composition, or the weights of liver or kidneys. Compared with sucrose, unrefined sugar produced an increase in blood cholesterol and in the activity of hepatic fatty acid synthetase, and a greater increase in blood triglyceride. In confirmation of earlier results, rats fed on either sugar had heavier livers and kidneys, increased activity of hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and a higher concentration of plasma triglyceride compared with rats fed on maize starch.3. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on the same three diets as the male rats, and mated when they weighed about 200 g. No difference was seen in their ability to mate, the progress of pregnancies, or the sizes of the litters. Does fed on unrefined sugar produced litters of higher viability than did does fed on starch or sucrose. Survival was between 85 and 100% with unrefined sugar and between 30 and 75% with starch or sucrose.4. Unrefined muscovado sugar has thus been shown to contain a factor required by female rats for the proper viability of their pups. This may be the same ‘Reproductive Factor R’ as that described by Wiesner & Yudkin (1951). In certain circumstances, unrefined muscovado sugar might therefore contribute to the nutritional value of a human diet, although in what circumstances, in what respect and to what extent it might do so, is by no means clear.

Estrogen enhances baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious ovariectomized rats

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud M El-Mas ◽  
Abdel A Abdel-Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Baroreflex Sensitivity ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Baroreflex Control ◽  
Baroreflex Function ◽  
Vehicle Treatment

In previous studies, we have shown that the baroreflex control of heart rate is significantly attenuated in females compared with age-matched males. This study investigated the role of estrogen in the modulation of baroreflex function in conscious unrestrained rats. Baroreflex-mediated decreases in heart rate in response to increments in blood pressure evoked by phenylephrine were evaluated in conscious freely moving male and female Sprague-Dawley rats as well as in ovariectomized rats. The effect of a 2-day 17 beta -estradiol (50 µg ·kg-1 ·day-1, s.c.) or vehicle treatment on baroreflex sensitivity was investigated in ovariectomized rats. Intravenous bolus doses of phenylephrine (1-16 µg/kg) elicited dose-dependent pressor and bradycardic responses in all groups of rats. Regression analysis of the baroreflex curves relating increments in blood pressure to the associated heart rate responses revealed a significantly (p < 0.05) smaller baroreflex sensitivity in female compared with male rats (-1.22 ± 0.07 and -1.85 ± 0.15 beats ·min-1 ·mmHg-1, respectively), suggesting an attenuated baroreflex function in females. In age-matched ovariectomized rats, baroreflex sensitivity showed further reduction (-0.93 ± 0.02 beats ·min-1 ·mmHg-1). Treatment of ovariectomized rats with 17 beta -estradiol significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the baroreflex sensitivity (-1.41 ± 0.16 beats ·min-1 ·mmHg-1) to a level that was slightly higher than that of sham-operated female rats. Furthermore, baroreflex sensitivity of ovariectomized estradiol-treated rats was not significantly different from that of age-matched male rats. The vehicle, on the other hand, had no effect on baroreflex sensitivity of ovariectomized rats. These data support our earlier findings that sexual dimorphism exists in baroreflex control of heart rate. More importantly, the present study provides experimental evidence that suggests a facilitatory role for estrogen in the modulation of baroreflex function.Key words: rat, gender, baroreflex sensitivity, 17 beta -estradiol, ovariectomy.

scholarly journals A New Spontaneously Diabetic Non-obese Torii Rat Strain With Severe Ocular Complications

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masami Shinohara ◽  
Taku Masuyama ◽  
Toshiyuki Shoda ◽  
Tadakazu Takahashi ◽  
Yoshiaki Katsuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Ocular Complications ◽  
Tractional Retinal Detachment ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Disease Condition ◽  
Rat Strain

A new spontaneously diabetic strain of the Sprague-Dawley rat was established in 1997 and named the SDT (Spontaneously Diabetic Torii) rat. In this research, we investigated the characteristics of the disease condition in the SDT rats. The time of onset of glucosuria was different between male and female SDT rats; glucosuria appeared at approximately 20 weeks of age in male rats and at approximately 45 weeks of age in female rats. A cumulative incidence of diabetes of 100% was noted by 40 weeks of age in male rats, while it was only 33.3% even by 65 weeks of age in female rats. The survival rate up to 65 weeks of age was 92.9% in male rats and 97.4% in female rats. Glucose intolerance was observed in male rats from 16 weeks of age. The clinical characteristics of the male SDT rats were (1) hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia (from 25 weeks of age); (2) long-term survival without insulin treatment; (3) hypertriglyceridemia (by 35 weeks of age); however, no obesity was noted in any of the male rats. The histopathological characteristics of the male rats with diabetes mellitus (DM) were (1) fibrosis of the pancreatic islets (by 25 weeks of age); (2) cataract (by 40 weeks of age); (3) tractional retinal detachment with fibrous proliferation (by 70 weeks of age) and (4) massive hemorrhaging in the anterior chamber (by 77 weeks of age). These clinical and histopathological characteristics of the disease in SDT rats resemble those of human Type 2 diabetes with insulin hyposecretion. In conclusion, SDT rat is considered to be a potentially useful model for studies of diabetic retinopathy encountered in humans.

scholarly journals Sex-, tissue-, and exposure duration-dependent effects of imidacloprid modulated by piperonyl butoxide and menadione in rats. Part I: oxidative and neurotoxic potentials

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Yardimci ◽  
Yusuf Sevgiler ◽  
Eyyup Rencuzogullari ◽  
Mehmet Arslan ◽  
Mehmet Buyukleyla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cholinesterase Activity ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Piperonyl Butoxide ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Total Protein Content ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Adverse Action ◽  
Liver And Kidney

Abstract Earlier research has evidenced the oxidative and neurotoxic potential of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in different animal species. The primary aim of this study was to determine how metabolic modulators piperonyl butoxide and menadione affect imidacloprid’s adverse action in the liver and kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes. The animals were exposed to imidacloprid alone (170 mg kg-1) or in combination with piperonyl butoxide (100 mg kg-1) or menadione (25 mg kg-1) for 12 and 24 h. Their liver and kidney homogenates were analysed spectrophotometrically for glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, total cholinesterase specific activities, total glutathione, total protein content, and lipid peroxidation levels. Imidacloprid displayed its prooxidative and neurotoxic effects predominantly in the kidney of male rats after 24 h of exposure. Our findings suggest that the observed differences in prooxidative and neurotoxic potential of imidacloprid could be related to differences in its metabolism between the sexes. Co-exposure (90-min pre-treatment) with piperonyl butoxide or menadione revealed tissue-specific effect of imidacloprid on total cholinesterase activity. Increased cholinesterase activity in the kidney could be an adaptive response to imidacloprid-induced oxidative stress. In the male rat liver, co-exposure with piperonyl butoxide or menadione exacerbated imidacloprid toxicity. In female rats, imidacloprid+menadione co-exposure caused prooxidative effects, while no such effects were observed with imidacloprid alone or menadione alone. In conclusion, sex-, tissue-, and duration-specific effects of imidacloprid are remarkable points in its toxicity

scholarly journals Intraperitoneal Alfaxalone and Alfaxalone–Dexmedetomidine Anesthesia in Sprague–Dawley Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 531-538
Author(s):  
Sylvia E West ◽  
Jonathan C Lee ◽  
Tinika N Johns ◽  
Elizabeth A Nunamaker
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Laboratory Rodent ◽  
Physiologic Parameters

Due to their unpredictability and variable effects, injectable anesthetic regimens in laboratory rodent species warrant refinement. In our study we sought to evaluate alfaxalone, which has gained recent popularity in veterinary medicine, alone and in combination with dexmedetomidine to evaluate their anesthetic ability in Sprague–Dawley rats when administered intraperitoneally. Three doses of alfaxalone only and 4 dose combinations of alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine were tested in males and female rats. The time to induction, anesthetic duration, pulse rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and time to recovery were recorded by a blind observer. The level of anesthesia induced by the various anesthetic protocols was assessed by using pedal withdrawal reflex to a noxious stimulus and scored according to the response. Dependent on the treatment group, atipamezole or saline was administered intraperitoneally once animals reached 60 min of anesthesia. Regardless of the dose, alfaxalone alone achieved only a sedative level of anesthesia, whereas all alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine combinations led to a surgical level of anesthesia in all animals. Anesthesia regimens using alfaxalone alone and in combination with dexmedetomidine demonstrated sex-associated differences, with female rats maintaining longer durations of sedation or anesthesia than their male counterparts. Both male and female rats displayed decreases in physiologic parameters consistent with the effects of dexmedetomidine. Given the results described herein, we recommend 20 mg/kg alfaxalone for sedation and 30 mg/kg alfaxalone combined with 0.05 mg/kg dexmedetomidine for surgical anesthesia in female rats. Appropriate doses of alfaxalone only and alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine for male rats were not determined in this study and need further evaluation.

scholarly journals 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Enhances Cue-Conditioned Alcohol Reinstatement in Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Hogarth ◽  
Elvan Djouma ◽  
Maarten van den Buuse
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Progressive Ratio ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Ethanol Solution ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Bdnf Expression ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a detrimental disease that develops through chronic ethanol exposure. Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression has been associated with AUD and alcohol addiction, however the effects of activation of BDNF signalling in the brain on voluntary alcohol intake reinstatement and relapse are unknown. We therefore trained male and female Sprague Dawley rats in operant chambers to self-administer a 10% ethanol solution. Following baseline acquisition and progressive ratio (PR) analysis, rats were split into drug and vehicle groups during alcohol lever extinction. The animals received two weeks of daily IP injection of either the BDNF receptor, TrkB, agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), or vehicle. During acquisition of alcohol self-administration, males had significantly higher absolute numbers of alcohol-paired lever presses and a higher PR breakpoint. However, after adjusting for body weight, the amount of ethanol was not different between the sexes and the PR breakpoint was higher in females than males. Following extinction, alcohol-primed reinstatement in male rats was not altered by pretreatment with 7,8-DHF when adjusted for body weight. In contrast, in female rats, the weight-adjusted potential amount of ethanol, but not absolute numbers of active lever presses, was significantly enhanced by 7,8-DHF treatment during reinstatement. Analysis of spontaneous locomotor activity in automated photocell cages suggested that the effect of 7,8-DHF was not associated with hyperactivity. These results suggest that stimulation of the TrkB receptor may contribute to reward craving and relapse in AUD, particularly in females.

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