scholarly journals Effect of a Strawberry and Spinach Dietary Supplement on Spatial Learning in Early and Late Middle-Aged Female Rats

Antioxidants ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Paula Millin ◽  
Gina Rickert
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Supplement ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Antioxidant Diet

The present experiment sought to determine the effect of an eight-week, high antioxidant, whole-foods dietary supplement on Morris Water Maze performance in early and late middle-aged female rats. To improve ecological validity over past experimental studies, rats in the current study received antioxidants by consuming freeze-dried organic strawberries and spinach rather than by being given food extracts or antioxidant injections. Latency and path length measures both indicated that late middle-aged rats fed the high antioxidant diet performed on a par with the younger animals earlier in training than their standard diet counterparts (p < 0.05). Superior performance was not due to improved fitness in the antioxidant-supplemented rats. Thus, our model showed that a high antioxidant diet of relatively short duration mitigated the mild cognitive decline that was seen in control animals during the developmental period of late middle-age. The current results offer support for the promising role of dietary antioxidants in maintaining cognitive health in normal aging and extend past findings to females, who have been relatively neglected in experimental investigations. Moreover, the current model suggests that the period of transition from early to late middle age is a promising target for dietary intervention in healthy adults.

scholarly journals Androgens Enhance Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Males but Not Females in an Age-Dependent Manner

Endocrinology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 160 (9) ◽  
pp. 2128-2136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Duarte-Guterman ◽  
Stephanie E Lieblich ◽  
Steven R Wainwright ◽  
Carmen Chow ◽  
Jessica A Chaiton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Age ◽  
Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Age Dependent

Abstract Androgens (testosterone and DHT) increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis by increasing survival of new neurons in male rats and mice via an androgen receptor pathway, but it is not known whether androgens regulate neurogenesis in female rats and whether the effect is age-dependent. We investigated the effects of DHT, a potent androgen, on neurogenesis in young adult and middle-aged male and female rats. Rats were gonadectomized and injected with the DNA synthesis marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The following day, rats began receiving daily injections of oil or DHT for 30 days. We evaluated cell proliferation (Ki67) and survival of new neurons (BrdU and BrdU/NeuN) in the hippocampus of male and female rats by using immunohistochemistry. As expected, DHT increased the number of BrdU+ cells in young males but surprisingly not in middle-aged males or in young and middle-aged females. In middle age, DHT increased the proportion of BrdU/NeuN cells, an effect driven by females. Androgen receptor expression also increased with aging in both female and male rats, which may contribute to a lack of DHT neurogenic effect in middle age. Our results indicate that DHT regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis in a sex- and age-dependent manner.

Soybean phytoestrogens reduce 27-hydroxycholesterol concentration in the liver of middle-aged female rats

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branka Šošić-Jurjević ◽  
Snežana Janković ◽  
Dieter Lutjohann ◽  
Ivana Jarić ◽  
Marko Miler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Rats ◽  
Middle Aged

Effect of Fetal and Neonatal Hypothyroidism on Glucose Tolerance in Middle-Aged Female Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Jeddi ◽  
Saeedeh Khalifi ◽  
Mahboubeh Ghanbari ◽  
Asghar Ghasemi
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Plasma Glucose ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Intravenous Glucose ◽  
Neonatal Hypothyroidism ◽  
Glucose Levels

Background and objective: The effects of hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation on carbohydrate metabolism have been mostly studied in male animals. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate effect of fetal and neonatal hypothyroidism (FH and NH) on the glucose tolerance in middle-aged female rat offspring. Methods: Pregnant female rats were divided into three groups: Rats in the control group consumed tap water, while those in the FH and NH groups consumed 250 mg/L of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in their drinking water during gestation or lactation periods, respectively. After weaning, the female offspring were separated and divided into 3 groups (n=8/group): Control, FH, and NH. Body weight was recorded monthly and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed at month 12. Results: Compared to controls, female rats in the FH group had significantly higher plasma glucose levels than controls throughout the IVGTT except at min 60. Values at min 5 of the FH and control group were 196.1±1.9 and 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, respectively (P<0.05). In the NH group, plasma glucose levels were significantly higher only at min 5 (185.7±14.1 vs. 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism during fetal or neonatal periods caused glucose intolerance in middle-aged female offspring rats.

scholarly journals Several frailty parameters highly prevalent in middle age (50–65) are independent predictors of adverse events

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauriane Segaux ◽  
Amaury Broussier ◽  
Nadia Oubaya ◽  
Claire Leissing-Desprez ◽  
Marie Laurent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Balance Impairment ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Paris Area

AbstractAlthough frailty can arise in middle age, very few studies have investigated frailty before 65 years. Our objectives were to assess the prevalence of frailty parameters in middle-aged individuals and probe the association with future adverse events. We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of community-dwelling individuals aged 50 to 65 (n = 411, median age: 59.0) having undergone a multidomain geriatric assessment (2010–2015) in an outpatient clinic in the greater Paris area of France (SUCCEED cohort). The primary outcome was a composite measure of adverse events (non-accidental falls, fractures, unplanned hospitalizations, death), recorded in 2016/2017. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify independent predictors. Six frailty parameters were highly prevalent (> 20%): low activity (40.1%), exhaustion (31.3%), living alone (28.5%), balance impairment (26.8%), weakness (26.7%), and executive dysfunction (23.2%). Female sex (odds ratio: 2.67 [95% confidence interval: 1.17–6.11]), living alone (2.39 [1.32–4.33]), balance impairment (2.09 [1.16–3.78]), executive dysfunction (2.61, [1.18–5.77]), and exhaustion (2.98 [1.65–5.39]) were independent predictors of adverse events. Many frailty parameters are already altered in middle-aged individuals and are predictive of adverse health events. Our findings highlight a possible need for frailty screening and preventive programs targeting middle-aged individuals.

scholarly journals Experimental Evaluation of Airlift Performance for Vertical Pumping of Water in Underground Mines

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviz Enany ◽  
Oleksandr Shevchenko ◽  
Carsten Drebenstedt
Keyword(s):  
Water Flow ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Flow Mode ◽  
New Device ◽  
Riser Pipe ◽  
Airlift Pump

AbstractThis paper presents experimental studies on the optimization of air–water flow in an airlift pump. Airlift pumps use compressed gas to verticall transport liquids and slurries. Due to the lack of theoretical equations for designing and predicting flow regimes, experimental investigations must be carried out to find the best condition to operate an airlift pump at high efficiency. We used a new air injection system and different submergence ratios to evaluate the output of a simple pump for vertical displacement of water in an underground mine. The tests were carried out in a new device with 5.64 m height and 10.2 cm circular riser pipe. Three air-jacket pipes, at different gas flows in the range of 0.002–0.09 m3/s were investigated with eight submergence ratios. It was found that with the same air flow rate, the most efficient flow of water was achieved when an air jacket with 3 mm diameter holes was used with a submergence ratio between 0.6 and 0.75. In addition, a comparison of practical results with two theoretical models proposed by other investigators showed that neither was able to accurately predict airlift performance in air–water flow mode.

scholarly journals Folic Acid Affects Iron Status in Female Rats with Deficiency of These Micronutrients

2019 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 551-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Suliburska ◽  
Katarzyna Skrypnik ◽  
Agata Chmurzyńska
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Female Wistar Rats ◽  
Iron And Folic Acid

Abstract Although simultaneous supplementation with iron and folic acid is justified, the potential interactions between these micronutrients are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of oral iron and folic acid, administered together or separately, on iron concentration in tissues in rats with a deficiency of both these micronutrients. In the first stage of the experiment (28 days), 150 8-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control group (C; n = 30) fed the standard diet and to a study group (n = 120) fed a diet deficit in iron and folate. The study group was then randomly divided to four groups: D group fed a deficit diet, FE group fed a deficit diet with iron gluconate, the FOL group fed a deficit diet with folate acid, and the FEFOL group fed a deficit diet with iron gluconate and folate acid. After 2, 10, and 21 days of supplementation, ten animals from each group were killed. Morphological parameters were measured in whole blood. Iron concentration was assayed in serum, liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, and kidneys. Folic acid supplementation more significantly decreased iron concentrations in the pancreas and spleen than in the D group after 10 and 21 days of supplementation. Moreover, the combination of iron with folic acid markedly decreased iron levels in the liver and spleen, in comparison with iron alone, after 10 and 21 days of the experiment. In conclusion, folic acid affects iron status in female rats deficient in these micronutrients in moderate and long-term supplementation.

scholarly journals Age-Related Effects on Right Femoral Bone of Male Wistar Rats: A Morphometric and Biomechanical Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Martins Puelker ◽  
Sonia Regina Ribeiro de Castro ◽  
Romeu Rodrigues de Souza ◽  
Laura Beatriz Mesiano Maifrino ◽  
Ricardo Aparecido Baptista Nucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Aged Rats ◽  
Femoral Bone ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Left Femur ◽  
Bone Stiffness ◽  
The Right

Abstract Introduction Study of the variations of bone characteristics with age in different animal models is important to design musculoskeletal studies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the bone mass, dimensions, and biomechanical parameters of the femur in young, middle-aged, and aged Wistar rats. Materials and Methods Thirty male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided in three groups (n = 10 per group)—3-month-old young rats, 12-month-old middle-aged rats, and 18-months-old aged rats. The right femurs were subjected sequentially to morphometric study (bone weight, cortical thickness) and biomechanical tests (maximum resistance strength and bone stiffness). Results We observed a significant increase in femur histological (cortical thickness) and biomechanical (maximum strength and bone stiffness) parameters with aging when compared with young animals. Conclusions With the advancing age, the right femoral bone of middle-aged and old animals had greater variations when compared with young animals. However, further studies with the aid of a comparison between right and left femur and other long bones in both male and female rats are needed to corroborate with our findings.

Acute effect of high-intensity interval training exercise on redox status in the ovaries of rats fed a high-fat diet

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Rodrigo L. Furtado ◽  
Jonathan Elias R. Martins ◽  
Maria Alice F. Oliveira ◽  
Denise D. Guerreiro ◽  
Naiza A. R. de Sá ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
High Intensity Interval Training ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
High Intensity Interval

This study demonstrates the effect of a single high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session on the redox status of rat ovaries with excess adiposity. Forty Wistar female rats (mean (±s.e.m.) weight 94.40 ± 13.40 g) were divided into two groups and fed either a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 62 days. At the end of this period, the rats were subjected to a single HIIT session and were killed 24 h after exercise. Both groups subjected to exercise (SDex and HFDex) generated a significantly higher antioxidant environment by presenting a higher thiol content, which represents a lower oxidation rate of GSH than their respective controls (SD and HFD). The percentage of morphologically normal primary follicles decreased, whereas that of antral follicles increased, in the SDex group. In addition, the HFD group had a higher percentage of degenerated antral follicles than the SD and SDex groups. Cells immunoreactive for α-smooth muscle actin were seen in the cortical stroma and thecal layer enclosing late secondary and tertiary follicles in all groups. Moreover, heme oxygenase and cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp19A1) labelling was seen in all antral follicles. Progesterone concentrations were significantly higher in the HFDex than SDex group. In conclusion, this study indicates that a single session of HIIT may result in an improvement in ovary redox status because of metabolic muscle activity by inducing physiological adaptation after exercise in a paracrine manner.

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