Prunin modulates the Expression of Cerebral Serotonin Induced by Anxiety-Like Behavior in Mice

Anxiety is a state that becomesa disorder when a person experiences disproportionate levels of anxiety on a regular basis. This disproportion is also accompanied by excessive nervousness and fear. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of prunin using different anxiety models. Three preclinical anxiety models, elevated plus maze, light/dark, and social interaction, were employed in the study. Albino mice were selected and treated with pruninand other drugs for 7 days to determine their anti-anxiety effect. Thereafter, their behavior was examined using the plus maze, light-dark chamber, and other stimulatory parameters, such asimmobility, sniffing, and crawling during experimentation. Two doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) of prunin were administered to two separate mice groups. Further, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg; p.o.) was administered to one of the mice groups for 7 days. Thereafter, the levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and GABA, in brain samples were determined. Based on the results, prunin significantly improved the behavior and mobility of animals in all three anxiety models. Further, prunin modulated the release of serotonin and GABA, demonstrating the mechanistic approach it employs to interact with cellular receptors to mimic neurotransmission. The mRNA expression levels of tph2 (5-HT synthesizing enzyme) and slc6a4 (5-HT transporter) were also found to be downregulated in both prunin- and fluoxetine-treated mice brains. Collectively, our findings suggest that prunin could be administered to treat anxiety in mice. However, further studies should be carried out to explore its potential for clinical application.

First report of Fuasium wilt caused by Fusarium kyushuense in China

Gerbera daisy, Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus ex. Hooker, is an important flower grown globally. In September 2020, gerbera seedlings in a greenhouse farm in the region of Fujian, China, developed symptoms of severe wilting and stunting. The main stem exhibited reddish to light brown vascular discoloration. Approximately 30% of the 60,000 plants showed symptoms. To isolate the causal agent, necrotic tissue pieces (3×3 mm) from the symptomatic stem were surface-disinfected with 1% NaClO for 1 min and washed three times with sterile water. The disinfected pieces were dried and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C in the darkness for 4 days inside a dark chamber. Reddish-white and floccose mycelia developed on PDA after 3 days incubation. Ten single-spored isolates were identified as Fusarium kyushuense based on morphological features (Aoki & O'Donnell, 1998). Hyaline and straight or slightly curved macroconodia were observed with 3 to 5 septate, 24.5 - 46.6 × 3.6 - 5.7 μm (n = 100). Microconidia were ellipsoidal to clavate, 0 to 1 septate, and 6.3 to 19.5 × 3.2 to 5.3 μm (n = 100). No chlamydospores were observed. In order to validate this result, partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) combined with translation elongation factor (EF-1α) gene regions were amplified and sequenced from three isolates with primers 5f2/11ar (Liu et al., 1999) and primers EF1/EF2 (Geiser et al. 2004), respectively. Fusarium MLST analysis showed that the RPB2 (Genbank accession No. MZ130468, No. MZ130469, No. MZ130470) matched 99.72% (MH582170) to F. kyushuense, and the EF-1α (MZ130471, MZ130472, MZ130473) matched 99.84% (MH582297) to F. kyushuense in the Fusarium MLST. Besides, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the neighbor-joining algorithm based on the RPB2 and EF-1α gene sequences. The isolates clustered with F. kyushuense. To assess pathogenicity, the three molecularly identified isolates were used. The isolates were grown on carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) medium (carboxymethyl-cellulose (Sigma C-4888) 15.0 gram, NH4NO3 1.0 gram, KH2PO4 monobasic 1.0 gram, MgSO4·7H2O 0.5 gram, yeast extract 1.0 gram, distilled water filled to 1.0 liter) for sporulation. The roots of 12 healthy 30-day-old gerbera plants were inoculated by treating them with 10 mL of conidia suspension (1×106 conidial/mL). A group of 12 seedlings of the same age was treated with sterile water to serve as the control. Plants were grown in a glasshouse at 23 °C, relative humidity >70%, and 16 h light per day. Typical symptoms of wilt and discoloration of the vascular system in roots and stems developed within 10 days. Uninoculated plants remained healthy. Isolates were consistently re-isolated from the symptomatic stem and the recovered isolates were identified as F. kyushuense by amplifing the EF-1α gene. The assays were conducted twice. F. kyushuense has been reported to cause wilt and rot of tobacco (Wang et al., 2013), maize ears (Wang et al., 2014) and rice (Zhao et al., 2007) in China. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. kyushuense causing stem and root wilt on G. jamesonii. The disease must be considered in existing management practices.

The Protective Effects of Nicotine and Bucladesine on Impaired Avoidance Memory Caused by Sodium Arsenate Toxicity in Mice

Background: The toxic effect of sodium arsenate on nervous system has been shown; but the protective effects of several compounds against sodium arsenate are not clear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of nicotine and bucladesine, two positive modulators of neuronal function, on sodium arsenate toxicity against avoidance memory impairment. Methods: Male mice (N=154) were assigned to 22 groups (12 experimental and 10 control) of seven animals each and were treated as follows: sodium arsenate (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) for 28 days, nicotine (1 mg/kg) for either 1, 2, or 4 days, bucladesine (600 nM/mouse) for either 1, 2, or 4 days, and nicotine (1 mg/kg)+bucladesine (600 nM/mouse)+sodium arsenate (2.5 mg/kg). The last group was treated with 2.5 mg/kg sodium arsenate first, and then received the combination of nicotine and bucladesine for 1, 2, or 4-days. The corresponding control groups did not receive any drug but either saline, deionized water, or combination of deionized water and DMSO, but went through the same procedure as other animals. All mice were trained 24 h in the step-through passive avoidance task. The avoidance memory retention was assessed at 24, 48, 96, and 168 h after the training period by measuring the time they stayed in a dark chamber. Results: All sodium arsenate doses significantly reduced the time stayed in the dark chamber regardless of the treatment duration (24, 48, 96 & 168 h) after training. Both nicotine and bucladesine, whether used singly or combined for 1, 2, and 4 days significantly enhanced the time latency compared to the controls at all of the experimental timepoints following the training. Conclusion: Nicotine and bucladesine showed synergistic effects and reversed the sodium arsenate-induced avoidance memory deficits in mice.

Inferring ecosystem-level rates of gross primary productivity, respiration, and evapotranspiration with automatic light-dark measurement chambers

<p>In experimental ecosystem ecology, plot sizes are most often too small to apply eddy flux techniques and estimation of ecosystem gas exchange rates relies on various chamber measurement technologies. Furthermore, drained areas often results in increased growth of trees which complicates application of eddy flux measurements on small plots.</p><p>We combined ECO<sub>2</sub>FluX ecosystem-level automatic chambers (prenart.dk) with an LI-8100/LI-8150 multiplexer systems (licor.com) in a range of Danish and Norwegian ecosystems experiments spanning agriculture, grassland/heathlands and peatland ecosystems. The automatic closed, none-steady state chambers each cover an area of 3,117 cm<sup>2</sup> (63 cm diameter), are 80 cm tall (volume: 250L), and are capable of switching automatically between transparent and darkened mode, enabling separation of light-sensitive and light-indifferent processes in the ecosystems covered. For CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes, net exchange (NEE) was estimated as the flux in transparent mode, ecosystem respiration (R<sub>E</sub>) in darkened mode, while Gross Ecosystem Productivity (GPP) was estimated as NEE – R<sub>E</sub>.</p><p>Chambers were set up to measure gas concentrations every second using enclosure times of 4-5 minutes, first in light mode and 10-30 minutes later in dark mode, with 3-48 repetitions per day. The longest time series spans 5 years of measurements and contain >60,000 point measurements.</p><p>In this presentation, we will present an analysis of the ability of the light-dark chamber data to infer ecosystem-level rates of gross primary productivity, respiration, net CO<sub>2</sub> exchange, and evapotranspiration. In the two Norwegian peatland sites, flux measurements may be compared directly with eddy flux measurements. We also compare the rates of the direct estimates of GPP from the light-dark chamber measurements to estimates inferred from using the light (NEE) measurements only followed by applying methodologies normally used for eddy flux measurements. This comparison may help constrain potential biases in both the closed chamber and eddy flux techniques. Finally, we investigate the ability of using such closed chambers to estimate ecosystem evapotranspiration rates at the plot scale. Such application may be useful for estimating the effects on evapotranspiration in field-scale experiments manipulating the ecosystem water balance either directly or indirectly.</p>

Behavioral Evaluation of the Effects of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts of Suaeda vermiculata Forssk on Rats

Background: Suaeda vermiculata is one of the widely distributed halophytes in central Saudi Arabia. The plant is used as a remedy for liver diseases, jaundice, and inflammation. S. vermiculata is also used as camels' food by local shepherds. Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the behavioral antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of S. vermiculata aqueous and ethanol extracts. Methods: Aqueous and ethanol extracts of S. vermiculata were prepared by the maceration technique. Standard forced swim test cylinder and light/dark chamber device were used to evaluate the antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of the extracts (200 mg/kg) in rats model, respectively. Results: The aqueous and ethanol extracts of S. vermiculata showed remarkable antidepressant activity with significant increase in the swimming time and reduced immobility in the rats compared to imipramine treated animals (P<0.05). Ethanol extract increased the swimming time by 20% and decreased the immobility time by more than 60% compared to the control group of animals. In contrast, the extracts induced the anxiety behavior in experimental rats compared to vehicle- treated animals. The extracts significantly (P<0.001) reduced the time spent by rats in the light chamber by more than 50% and increased the time spent in dark chamber as compared with the control group and the group receiving diazepam. Conclusion: The medicinally important plant S. vermiculata induced anxiety behavior with antidepressant activity in rats. These effects from our point of view are similar to the effects of some common beverages containing caffeine such as coffee and tea.

Isoflurane and Carbon Dioxide Elicit Similar Behavioral Responses in Rats

Euthanasia in rodents is an ongoing topic of debate due to concerns regarding the aversive nature of gases with anesthetic properties such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and isoflurane. The aim of this study was to expand upon previously published work evaluating the aversiveness of CO2 by introducing an isoflurane treatment group in parallel. Aversion was tested using a forced exposure setup and an aversion-avoidance setup. In the first part of the study, 12 naïve female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed during four consecutive days, once to each of four treatments: isoflurane, fox urine, oxygen, and CO2. In the second part of the study, 24 naïve female Sprague–Dawley rats and 12 rats from the first experiment were exposed to CO2, isoflurane, or both gases. In the forced exposure study, there were no significant differences between CO2 and isoflurane treatments except in line crosses. Overall, rats were more active in the isoflurane and CO2 treatments compared to the control groups, suggesting that isoflurane and CO2 are similarly aversive. In the aversion-avoidance study, rats previously exposed to isoflurane left the dark chamber significantly earlier compared to naïve rats during exposure to isoflurane. We also show that learned aversion to isoflurane is sustained for at least 15 days after initial exposure. Given this result, we suggest that CO2 is superior to isoflurane when euthanizing rodents with prior exposure to isoflurane. Overall, these results confirm previous studies which suggest that care should be taken when considering the serial use of isoflurane as an anesthetic.

Desarrollo de una superficie de Fresnel tipo canal usando un LED de alta potencia para adaptarlo a un reactor fotoquímico

A channel-type Fresnel surface was designed using the polynomial interpolation adjustment method. The experimental arrangement was composed of a metal complex, a high power LED lighting source, a cooling system and a Fresnel concentrator. The tests were done in a dark chamber, placing the compound at an effective focal distance from the reflected rays of the concentrator, for a time. By exposing the sample to the LED irradiation, its changes were registered in a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, obtaining an absorbance graph vs wavelength, the changes observed in the transition bands in displacement and intensity of the blue region to the red of the spectrum, confirmed the efficiency and usefulness of the Fresnel-type concentrator in the development of the photochemical reactor. This photochemical reactor has an advantage over commercial reactors, because it uses samples of compounds in small solutions, is portable, it can be implemented in university and pharmaceutical laboratories. The results were favorable, a low energy consumption was obtained, and a reduction of time in the molecular reaction process of the analyzed compound.

Câmara escura ou a captação simbólica do interdito na obra O fotógrafo e a rapariga de Mário Cláudio / Dark chamber or the symbolic capture of the interdict in the work The photographer and the girl of Mário Cláudio

Resumo: Neste texto faz-se uma análise interpretativa da novela de Mário Cláudio O fotógrafo e a rapariga, partindo dos vários símbolos poéticos usados pelo escritor para exprimir o interdito. Demonstramos como a natureza dúplice e dissimuladora do símbolo poético atenua o choque e mitiga a obscenidade, ao mesmo tempo que obriga o leitor a uma desautomatização do juízo ético, forçando-o a alargar o seu campo de análise e de interpretação, abrindo o seu olhar a novas perspetivas. Salientamos também o modo como Mário Cláudio consegue questionar e transtornar os sagrados e estandardizados padrões éticos e culturais da sociedade em que se insere.Palavras-chave: Mário Cláudio; O Fotógrafo e a Rapariga; símbolos poéticos; o interdito.Abstract: In this text an interpretative analysis is made of the novel of Mário Cláudio The photographer and the girl, starting from the several poetic symbols used by the writer to express the interdict. We demonstrate how the dualistic and dissimulating nature of the poetic symbol attenuates shock and mitigates obscenity, forcing the reader simultaneously to a de-automation of the ethical judgment, forcing him to widen his field of analysis and interpretation, opening his eyes to new perspectives. We also emphasize how Mario Cláudio manages to question and upset the sacred and standardized ethical and cultural standards of the society in which he is inserted.Keywords: Mário Cláudio; The photographer and the girl; poetic symbols; the interdict.

NARINGENIN MITIGATES BERYLLIUM INDUCED BEHAVIORAL ALTERATIONS IN RATS

Beryllium induced neurotoxicity and therapeutic potential of naringenin had been explored for the first time in rats. For this purpose, 30 female albino rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was naringenin per se and rest of the four groups were exposed to beryllium nitrate (1mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 28 days. Naringenin was orally administered in group 4, 5 and 6 at different doses (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) for 5 days after 28 days of neurotoxicity. All the animals were subjected to elevate plus maze, light dark chamber and rotarod experiments. Beryllium exposure decreased body weight, time spent and number of entries in open arm, increased time spent in close arms as compared to control in elevated plus maze whereas decreased % time spent in bright arena, number of entries in bright arena and increased % time spent in the dark arena in light and dark chamber; decreased motar coordination and balance skills on rotarod. Naringenin showed therapeutic potential and brought the studied variables more towards control at 20 mg/kg dose. It can thus, be concluded that naringenin may be an agent of therapeutic choice in case of beryllium induced behavioral alterations.