scholarly journals Caffeine, Nicotine and MDMA Effects on Retina suggestive of Potential Functional Consequences

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Joshua O. Owolabi ◽  
Philip O. Ogunnaike
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Juvenile Male ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Gfap Expression ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Group A ◽  
Higher Doses ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

The implications of the use of psychoactive substances, that are usually abused on the retina are yet to be adequately explored. The retina is neural in nature. Most investigations on psychoactive agents have only studied their effects on the brain and behaviour. The mechanisms employed by these agents in producing their effects on the brain suggest that the retina, being neural, might also be significantly affected by the use of the substances. This research investigated the effects of the prolonged use of caffeine, nicotine and 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA] on the retina. Juvenile male experimental Wistar were grouped and administered the lower and higher dose of each agent while a reference group remained as the Group A. Groups B and C received the lower [30mg/kg body weight]and the higher [50mg/kg body weight]doses of caffeine respectively; Groups D and E received the lower [10mg/kg body weight] and higher [20mg/kg body weight] doses of nicotine respectively while Groups F and G received the lower [20 mg/kg body weight] and the higher [40 mg/kg body weight] doses of MDMA respectively. The substances had effects on the thickness of the retina with higher doses in each instance causing reductions in retina thickness; the patterns of GFAP expression were also aberrant with the MDMA treated groups being most aberrant. There was no sign of extensive loss of any type of retinal cells. Rhodopsin expression generally demonstrated active rods and provided insight into relatively heathy cones. There is evidence that these agents altered retina thickness and GFAP expression but without extensive disruptions to serve as pathological hallmarks of retina degeneration. The consequences of these might be further investigated.

scholarly journals Decreased expression of the satiety signal receptor CCKAR is responsible for increased growth and body weight during the domestication of chickens

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (9) ◽  
pp. E909-E921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C. Dunn ◽  
Simone L. Meddle ◽  
Peter W. Wilson ◽  
Chloe A. Wardle ◽  
Andy S. Law ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Locus ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Type Strains ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Lower Expression

Animal domestication has resulted in changes in growth and size. It has been suggested that this may have involved selection for differences in appetite. Divergent growth between chickens selected for egg laying or meat production is one such example. The neurons expressing AGRP and POMC in the basal hypothalamus are important components of appetite regulation, as are the satiety feedback pathways that carry information from the intestine, including CCK and its receptor CCKAR (CCK1receptor). Using 16 generations of a cross between a fast and a relatively slow growing strain of chicken has identified a region on chromosome 4 downstream of the CCKAR gene, which is responsible for up to a 19% difference in body weight at 12 wk of age. Animals possessing the high-growth haplotype at the locus have lower expression of mRNA and immunoreactive CCKAR in the brain, intestine, and exocrine organs, which is correlated with increased levels of orexigenic AGRP in the hypothalamus. Animals with the high-growth haplotype are resistant to the anorectic effect of exogenously administered CCK, suggesting that their satiety set point has been altered. Comparison with traditional breeds shows that the high-growth haplotype has been present in the founders of modern meat-type strains and may have been selected early in domestication. This is the first dissection of the physiological consequences of a genetic locus for a quantitative trait that alters appetite and gives us an insight into the domestication of animals. This will allow elucidation of how differences in appetite occur in birds and also mammals.

scholarly journals Treatment of GH-deficient children with two different GH doses: effect on final height and cost-benefit implications

2003 ◽  
Vol 148 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Radetti ◽  
F Buzi ◽  
C Paganini ◽  
A Pilotta ◽  
B Felappi
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Final Height ◽  
Standard Deviation Score ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Choice Of Treatment ◽  
Height Gain ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Group B ◽  
Higher Doses

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of GH-deficient (GHD) children with higher doses of recombinant human GH (rhGH) than conventional ones has been reported to result in higher growth velocity and increased final height. These findings, however, were observed by comparing large but heterogeneous groups of children. We wanted to verify whether the same results could be obtained in two groups of appropriately well-matched children with isolated GHD treated with high vs conventional doses of rhGH. METHODS: Out of two cohorts of GHD children, cohort A (on a weekly rhGH dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight) and cohort B (on a weekly rhGH dose of 0.15 mg/kg body weight), we selected two groups, each including 13 patients, who before treatment were matched for age, sex and height standard deviation score (SDS). They were followed up until final height. RESULTS: Final height SDS was significantly higher in group A (-0.45+/-0.36 (s.d.) vs -1.07+/-0.7; P=0.008), as well as height gain SDS (1.81+/-0.58 vs 1.23+/-0.62; P=0.002). The difference between final height SDS and target height SDS was positive only in group A and significantly higher in group A than in group B (0.33+/-0.51 vs -0.46+/-0.7; P=0.01). Glucose tolerance was always normal in the group treated with higher doses. CONCLUSION: The final height of children treated with higher doses of rhGH is increased, also in relation to their genetic target. The economical burden of this choice of treatment, however, has to be taken into account when evaluating the results.

scholarly journals A Drosophila Model of Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia Reveals a Critical Role for the RNA Exosome in Neurons

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derrick J. Morton ◽  
Binta Jalloh ◽  
Lily Kim ◽  
Isaac Kremsky ◽  
Rishi J. Nair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Rna Exosome ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe RNA exosome is an evolutionarily-conserved ribonuclease complex critically important for precise processing and/or complete degradation of a variety of cellular RNAs. The recent discovery that mutations in genes encoding structural RNA exosome subunits cause tissue-specific diseases makes defining the role of this complex within specific tissues critically important. Mutations in the RNA exosome component 3 (EXOSC3) gene cause Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia Type 1b (PCH1b), an autosomal recessive neurologic disorder. The majority of disease-linked mutations are missense mutations that alter evolutionarily-conserved regions of EXOSC3. The tissue-specific defects caused by these amino acid changes in EXOSC3 are challenging to understand based on current models of RNA exosome function with only limited analysis of the complex in any multicellular model in vivo. The goal of this study is to provide insight into how mutations in EXOSC3 impact the function of the RNA exosome. To assess the tissue-specific roles and requirements for the Drosophila ortholog of EXOSC3 termed Rrp40, we utilized tissue-specific RNAi drivers. Depletion of Rrp40 in different tissues reveals a general requirement for Rrp40 in the development of many tissues including the brain, but also highlight an agedependent requirement for Rrp40 in neurons. To assess the functional consequences of the specific amino acid substitutions in EXOSC3 that cause PCH1b, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to generate flies that model this RNA exosome-linked disease. These flies show reduced viability; however, the surviving animals exhibit a spectrum of behavioral and morphological phenotypes. RNA-seq analysis of these Drosophila Rrp40 mutants reveals increases in the steady-state levels of specific mRNAs and ncRNAs, some of which are central to neuronal function. In particular, Arc1 mRNA, which encodes a key regulator of synaptic plasticity, is increased in the Drosophila Rrp40 mutants. Taken together, this study defines a requirement for the RNA exosome in specific tissues/cell types and provides insight into how defects in RNA exosome function caused by specific amino acid substitutions that occur in PCH1b can contribute to neuronal dysfunction.Author SummaryPontocerebellar Hypoplasia Type 1b (PCH1b) is a devastating genetic neurological disorder that preferentially affects specific regions of the brain. Typically, children born with PCH1b have structural defects in regions of the brain including those associated with key autonomic functions. Currently, there is no cure or treatment for the disease. PCH1b is caused by mutations in the RNA exosome component 3 (EXOSC3) gene, which encodes a structural component of the ubiquitous and essential multi-subunit RNA exosome complex. The RNA exosome is critical for both precise processing and turnover of multiple classes of RNAs. To elucidate the functional consequences of amino acid changes in EXOSC3 that cause PCH1b, we exploited well-established genetic approaches in Drosophila melanogaster that model EXOSC3 mutations found in individuals with PCH1b. Using this system, we find that the Drosophila EXOSC3 homolog (termed Rrp40) is essential for normal development and has an important function in neurons. Furthermore, PCH1b missense mutations modeled in Rrp40 cause reduced viability and produce neuronal-specific phenotypes that correlate with altered levels of target RNAs that encode factors with key roles in neurons. These results provide a basis for understanding how amino acid changes that occur in the RNA exosome contribute to neuronal dysfunction and disease.

Electron microscopic radioautographic studies on the incorporation of 3H proline in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in antistreptococcal-cell-membrane (SCM) injected mice

1984 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 188-189
Author(s):  
R.P. Nayyar ◽  
C.F. Lange ◽  
J. L. Borke
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Glomerular Basement Membrane ◽  
Mesangial Matrix ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Group A ◽  
Injection Protocol

Streptococcal cell membrane (SCM) antiserum injected mice show a significant thickening of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and an increase in mesangial matrix within 4 to 24 hours of antiserum administration (1,2,3). This study was undertaken to evaluate the incorporation of 3H proline into glomerular cells and GBM under normal and anti-SCM induced conditions. Mice were administered, intraperitoneally, 0.1 ml of normal or anti-SCM serum followed by a 10 µC/g body weight injection of 3H proline. Details of the preparation of anti-SCM (Group A type 12 streptococcal pyogenes) and other sera and injection protocol have been described elsewhere (2). After 15 minutes of isotope injection a chase of cold proline was given and animal sacrificed at 20 minutes, 1,2,4,8,24 and 48 hours. One of the removed kidneys was processed for immunofluorescence, light and electron microscopic radioautographic studies; second kidney was used for GBM isolation and aminoacid analysis.

Effect of Opuntia dejecta (Salm-Dyck) flowers in liver of fructose-fed rats: Biochemicals, enzymatic and histological studies

2021 ◽  
pp. 096032712110134
Author(s):  
O Zouaoui ◽  
K Adouni ◽  
A Jelled ◽  
A Thouri ◽  
A Ben Chrifa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Diabetes Type 2 ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Standard Drug ◽  
High Fructose ◽  
Group A ◽  
Histological Architecture

Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of flowers decoction at post-flowering stage (F3D) of Opuntia dejecta were determined. The obtained findings demonstrate that F3D has a marked antioxidant activity in all tested assays. Furthermore, the present study was designed to test the protective activity of F3D against induced Diabetes type 2 (DT2) in male rats. Those metabolic syndromes were induced by a high-fructose diet (HFD) (10% fructose solution) for a period of 20 weeks. F3D was administered orally (100 and 300 mg/kg body weight) daily for the last 4 weeks. Metformin (150 mg/kg body weight) was used as a standard drug and administrated orally for the last 4 weeks. The results showed a significant increase in blood glucose, triglycerides and hepatic markers (ALAT, ASAT and ALK-P) in HFD group. A significant increase in hepatic TBARS and a significant decrease in SOD, CAT and GPX were observed in fructose fed rats compared to control group. Administration of F3D showed a protective effect in biochemical and oxidative stress parameters measured in this study. Also, oral administration of F3D restored the histological architecture of rat liver in comparison with rats fed HFD. In conclusion, F3D attenuated hepatic oxidative stress in fructose-fed rats.

scholarly journals Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis Caused by Chicken Proventricular Necrosis Virus Displaying Serological Cross-Reactivity with IBDV

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Marcin Śmiałek ◽  
Michał Gesek ◽  
Daria Dziewulska ◽  
Jowita Samanta Niczyporuk ◽  
Andrzej Koncicki
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Necrosis Virus ◽  
Bursal Disease ◽  
Group A ◽  
Potential Factor

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) of chickens is manifested in decreased body weight gains, poor feed conversion and weight diversity. Although TVP etiology has not been defined, a Birnaviridae family member, named chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV) is considered as a potential factor of a disease. This study was undertaken in order to reproduce TVP and to evaluate its etiology. Broiler chickens of the TVP-infected group were inoculated with TVP positive proventriculi homogenate on the 24th day of life. Samples were collected, on infection day and 14 days post-infection (dpi). The 14 dpi anatomo- and histopathological evaluation, revealed that we have succeeded to reproduce TVP. TVP-infected birds gained 30.38% less body weight. In the TVP-infected group a seroconversion against picornaviruses, fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) and infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDV) was recorded with an ELISA test. Using RT-PCR and PCR, CPNV was detected in proventriculi and FAdV in spleens and livers of infected birds, 14 dpi. Our study supports that CPNV is involved in the development of TVP. We did not record the presence of IBDV in TVP or control birds, despite our recording of a seroconversion against IBDV in TVP infected birds. CPNV and IBDV belong to the same family, which allows us to assume serological cross-reactivity between them. The role of FAdV needs further evaluation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Lambs’ State of Consciousness Signs during Halal and Traditional Slaughtering

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Roberta Barrasso ◽  
Vincenzo Tufarelli ◽  
Edmondo Ceci ◽  
Francesco Luposella ◽  
Giancarlo Bozzo
Keyword(s):  
Electric Current ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Traditional Method ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Corneal Reflex ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Brain

The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of two signs of consciousness (rhythmic breathing and corneal reflex) in lambs slaughtered according to the traditional method and Halal ritual rite. A total of 240 lambs were examined and divided into two equal groups (n = 120 each). Lambs of group A were subjected to the stunning phase by the action of an electric current on the brain, while lambs of group B were slaughtered according to the religious Halal method without prior stunning. Rhythmic breathing (RB) and corneal reflex (CR) were used as indicators of prolonged brain function, and their evaluation was carried out by the operators in three subsequent steps at 15 s, 30 s, and 90 s post-bleeding, respectively. The stunning of the lambs reduced the animal’s state of consciousness and, consequently, reduced suffering, pain, and distress. Indeed, the lambs of group B showed longer duration consciousness than the animals stunned by electrodes. The permanence of the reflexes in Halal slaughter could be reduced by introducing a reversible stunning method to make the animal temporarily unconscious. Moreover, given that our results revealed consciousness also after 90 s post-cut, the assessment of the animal’s state of consciousness in wider time intervals than those commonly used is recommended.

Regional blood flow in the brain and spinal cord of hypothermic rats

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (3) ◽  
pp. H785-H790
Author(s):  
T. Sakamoto ◽  
W. W. Monafo
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Regional Blood Flow ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Pentobarbital Sodium ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Brain

[14C]butanol tissue uptake was used to measure simultaneously regional blood flow in three regions of the brain (cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres and brain stem) and in five levels of the spinal cord in 10 normothermic rats (group A) and in 10 rats in which rectal temperature had been lowered to 27.7 +/- 0.3 degrees C by applying ice to the torso (group B). Pentobarbital sodium anesthesia was used. Mean arterial blood pressure varied minimally between groups as did arterial pH, PO2, and PCO2. In group A, regional spinal cord blood flow (rSCBF) varied from 49.7 +/- 1.6 to 62.6 +/- 2.1 ml.min-1.100 g-1; in brain, regional blood flow (rBBF) averaged 74.4 +/- 2.3 ml.min-1.100 g-1 in the whole brain and was highest in the brain stem. rSCBF in group B was elevated in all levels of the cord by 21-34% (P less than 0.05). rBBF, however, was lowered by 21% in the cerebral hemispheres (P less than 0.001) and by 14% in the brain as a whole (P less than 0.05). The changes in calculated vascular resistance tended to be inversely related to blood flow in all tissues. We conclude that rBBF is depressed in acutely hypothermic pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats, as has been noted before, but that rSCBF rises under these experimental conditions. The elevation of rSCBF in hypothermic rats confirms our previous observations.

Effects of the SNAP25 on Integration Ability of Brain Functions in Children With ADHD

2020 ◽  
pp. 108705472096456
Author(s):  
Yue Yang ◽  
Gang Peng ◽  
Hongwu Zeng ◽  
Diangang Fang ◽  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Window ◽  
Precentral Gyrus ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Lingual Gyrus ◽  
Window Method ◽  
Central Gyrus ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effects of SNAP25 on the integration ability of intrinsic brain functions in children with ADHD, and whether the integration ability was associated with working memory (WM). Methods: A sliding time window method was used to calculate the spatial and temporal concordance among five rs-fMRI regional indices in 55 children with ADHD and 20 healthy controls. Results: The SNAP25 exhibited significant interaction effects with ADHD diagnosis on the voxel-wise concordance in the right posterior central gyrus, fusiform gyrus and lingual gyrus. Specifically, for children with ADHD, G-carriers showed increased voxel-wise concordance in comparison to TT homozygotes in the right precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus. The voxel-wise concordance was also found to be related to WM. Conclusion: Our findings provided a new insight into the neural mechanisms of the brain function of ADHD children.

Effect of beta-Carotene Supplementation on Plasma and Yolk IgY Levels Induced by NDV Vaccination in Japanese Quail

2003 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiss ◽  
Bárdos ◽  
Szabó ◽  
Lengyel ◽  
Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Japanese Quail ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Beta Carotene ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Commercial Diet ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Group A ◽  
Higher Doses

Newly hatched Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks were fed diets containing different levels of retinoids (vitamin A) or beta-carotene. Group A received a commercial diet containing 10000 IU vitamin A per kilogram. The diets of Groups B, C, and D contained no vitamin A but were supplemented with 1-, 2.5-, and 5-fold retinol equivalents of beta-carotene. Each group contained 16 quails in a 1:1 sex ratio. At 8 weeks of age the quails were immunized orally with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Boosters were given three times at two-week intervals. Blood samples were taken at two-week intervals until 14 weeks of age. The anti-NDV IgY titre was determined by a locally developed direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Groups A and B showed nearly the same antibody response. This indicates that the preformed vitamin A and the equivalent beta-carotene have the same immunomodulatory effect. Groups receiving higher doses of beta-carotene (Groups C and D) exhibited significantly higher plasma IgY levels compared to Groups A and B. The results indicate that elevated doses of beta-carotene have a slight effect on the adaptive immune response in Japanese quail.

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