Neonatal administration of a subanaesthetic dose of JM-1232(−) in mice results in no behavioural deficits in adulthood

In animal models, neonatal exposure of general anaesthetics significantly increases apoptosis in the brain, resulting in persistent behavioural deficits later in adulthood. Consequently, there is growing concern about the use of general anaesthetics in obstetric and paediatric practice. JM-1232(−) has been developed as a novel intravenous anaesthetic, but the effects of JM-1232(−) on the developing brain are not understood. Here we show that neonatal administration of JM-1232(−) does not lead to detectable behavioural deficits in adulthood, contrarily to other widely-used intravenous anaesthetics. At postnatal day 6 (P6), mice were injected intraperitoneally with a sedative-equivalent dose of JM-1232(−), propofol, or midazolam. Western blot analysis of forebrain extracts using cleaved poly-(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase antibody showed that JM-1232(−) is accompanied by slight but measurable apoptosis 6 h after administration, but it was relatively small compared to those of propofol and midazolam. Behavioural studies were performed in adulthood, long after the neonatal anaesthesia, to evaluate the long-term effects on cognitive, social, and affective functions. P6 administration to JM-1232(−) was not accompanied by detectable long-term behavioural deficits in adulthood. However, animals receiving propofol or midazolam had impaired social and/or cognitive functions. These data suggest that JM-1232(−) has prospects for use in obstetric and paediatric practice.

Effects of Perinatal and Neonatal Sodium Nitrite on Serum Levels of Uric Acid, Urea, Creatinine, and Tissue Structure of Rats’ Offspring Kidneys

Aims: Sodium nitrite is a food preservative that can endanger human health. This study aimed to investigate the perinatal and neonatal effects of sodium nitrite on the functional and tissue structure of rats’ offspring kidneys. Methods & Materials: In this experimental study, 56 female rats were divided into seven groups (n=8): control, perinatal and neonatal control groups, experimental groups 1 and 2 perinatal and neonatal (under oral treatment of doses of 90 and 180 mg/kg sodium nitrite during pregnancy and lactation). At the end of infancy, 8 offspring of rats were randomly selected from each group. After blood sampling, creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels were measured, and by extracting their kidneys, histopathological evaluation was performed. Findings: Perinatal and neonatal administration of 90 and 180 mg/kg sodium nitrite impaired renal tissue structure and significantly increased serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels (P<0.001) in rats’ offspring compared to those in the control groups. Conclusion: Sodium nitrite consumption during pregnancy and lactation increases the serum levels of urea, uric acid, and creatinine by changing the tissue structure of the offspring kidneys.

Synthesis and study of the effect of arginine-vasopressin (6-9) analogue on the behavior of rats of different ages

The article presents the synthesis and results of the study of the effect of chronic neonatal administration by intranasal method of an analogue of the C-terminal fragment of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) - N-Ac-DMet-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2 on the training and level of depression in white rats of three age groups. It is shown that the most significant effect of the analogue was manifested in the test for the development of conditional reaction of active avoidance. A favorable effect on the degree of depression of animals is also well expressed. According to the data obtained, we conclude that the action of the peptide is manifested only under the influence of a biologically significant stimulus.

Exercise and Vitamin D Supplementation Modify Spleen Morphology in Lean, but not, in Monosodium-Glutamate-Obese Rats

We evaluated the effect of exercise and vitamin D supplementation on histological aspects of the spleens of lean and obese rats. Male Wistar rats received neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4g/Kg), while Control (CON) rats received an equimolar solution. At 30 days of age, CON and MSG rats were subdivided into Exercised (E) or Sedentary (S) groups and Vitamin D (VD; 12µg/Kg) supplemented or non-supplemented (NS) groups. At the 86th day of life, rats were euthanized, and their body weights and adiposity were evaluated. Spleens were submitted to histomorphometric analysis of the white pulp (WP), germinal center (GC) and lymphatic nodule (LN). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (p<0.05). MSG treatment promoted a reduction in spleen weight, increased LN thickness and WP area, but reduced GC occupation, compared to spleens of CON-lean rats (p<0.05). Exercise and VD did not provoke changes in the spleens of MSG-obese rats. In CON-lean rats, E and VD induced augmentation of LN thickness. VD supplementation increased the WP area, while E reduced GC area occupation in spleens of CON-lean rats (p<0.05). In conclusion, exercise and VD supplementation increased LN thickness and WP area, but had the opposite effect on the GC in spleens of CON-lean rats. However, neither exercise nor VD supplementation prevented the development of morphological abnormalities in the spleens of MSG-obese rats.