Longitudinal study of daily variation of rats' behavior in the elevated plus-maze

We conducted a longitudinal study about daily variation of Wistar male rats' behavior in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) evaluated in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th months of life. Animals were submitted to the plus-maze in 12 sessions at 2-h intervals (n=72, 6 per time point). Spontaneous rest-activity rhythm of four animals was assessed by observation of 24-h videotape records. Time series were analyzed by Cosinor method. Behavioral rates on the six occasions and in light and dark phases were compared by means of two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Exploratory behavior in EPM was smaller in the light phase and in older animals. Higher values of open and closed arms exploration were observed in the first and third months of the dark phase, and in the first month of the light phase. Adjustment to the 24-h period was significant at all stages for rest-activity data, number of entries in closed arms, and time on center, and for three to five stages for open-arm exploration. In general, 24 h variability was more pronounced in younger animals compared with older ones. The present study showed that: (1). a significant amount of total variability of the behavioral indexes analyzed could be attributed to 24 h variation, (2). light/dark phases differences in EPM exploration were present at all developmental stages, (3). older Wistar rats explored less the EPM and were less active in their home cage compared with younger ones, and (4). behavioral indexes (EPM) decrease was phase related and partially related to a reorganization of rest-activity rhythm.     

Solubilization and immunological identification of presynaptic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors in the rat hippocampus

Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors have been identified mostly as postsynaptic receptors mediating fast glutamatergic synaptic transmission. However, neurochemical studies based on the modulation of neurotransmitter release have suggested the existence of presynaptic AMPA receptors. We have used a recently described technique that allows a high-purity fractionation of the pre- and postsynaptic proteins of synaptic junctions to evaluate the distribution of the different AMPA receptor subunits in rat hippocampal synapses. Surprisingly, we found very high levels of GluR1- and GluR2/3-like immunoreactivity in the presynaptic fraction, but also in the postsynaptic and extrasynaptic fractions. GluR4-like immunoreactivity was much less abundant but was still detected, predominantly in the postsynaptic fraction. This methodology appears to be far more sensitive than the classical immunogold electron microscopy to determine the localization of synaptic receptors.     

Interleukin 10 protects mice against staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced lethal shock.

We investigated the ability of interleukin 10 (IL-10) to protect mice against lethal shock induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Treatment of mice with IL-10 prevented the death of mice injected with SEB in a dose-dependent manner. IL-10-mediated protection was apparent when administered either prior to or concurrent with SEB but was less effective when administered following SEB injection. This observation indicates that IL-10 is capable of regulating T-cell activation in vivo.     

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in repair of the injured lung

We sought to determine whether an intact bone marrow is essential to lung repair following bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice, and the mechanisms of any protective effects conferred by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMDMSC) transfer. We found that myelosupression increased susceptibility to bleomycin injury and that BMDMSC transfer was protective. Protection was associated with the differentiation of engrafted BMDMSC into specific and distinct lung cell phenotypes, with an increase in circulating levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF (known for their ability to promote the mobilization of endogenous stem cells) and with a decrease in inflammatory cytokines. In vitro, cells from injured, but not from normal, mouse lung produced soluble factors that caused BMDMSC to proliferate and migrate toward the injured lung. We conclude that bone marrow stem cells are important in the repair of bleomycin-injured lung and that transfer of mesenchymal stem cells protects against the injury. BMDMSC localize to the injured lung and assume lung cell phenotypes, but protection from injury and fibrosis also involves suppression of inflammation and triggering production of reparative growth factors.     

Housing and house-dust mites

Because the mite-allergen content in homes is highly variable even in the same geographic area, we tried to determine which variables influence mite infestation. We evaluated mite-allergen content in bedding relative to housing conditions and living habits. This cross-sectional study included 108 homes. Housing conditions were assessed by an architect and living habits by a researcher specialized in social and family economics. Group I allergen level was measured on the mattress dust with monoclonal antibodies, and relative humidity (RH) was monitored in the bedroom during a 2-week period. Homes with low RH did have low mite-allergen content. In contrast, homes with intermediate RH levels had very variable mite-allergen content. Using analysis of variance and a logistic regression analysis, we were unable to identify any variable predictive of mite-allergen content. Thus, factors other than relative humidity seem to influence mite infestation. Moreover, the absence of association between mite infestation and ventilation rate might be accounted for by the gentle climate in our area with notable outdoor RH.     

Effects of air pollution on cup a 3 allergen in Cupressus arizonica pollen grains.

BACKGROUND: Cupressaceae is a family of plants resistant to airborne contamination, and its pollen is the main cause of winter allergic respiratory diseases, especially in North America, Japan, and Mediterranean countries. Recently, a major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen grains, Cup a 3, was cloned and expressed. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of air pollution on the expression of Cup a 3, a thaumatinlike protein, in C. arizonica pollen grains using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemical techniques. METHODS: Observations were made in mature and hydrated C. arizonica pollen grains from various regions in Spain with different degrees of air pollution. Specimens were fixed using freezing protocols, and ultrathin sections were incubated with anti-rCup a 3 rabbit polyclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Labeling of Cup a 3 was detected in mature and hydrated C. arizonica pollen grains. It was more intense in pollen from polluted air regions, and abundant gold particles were observed as they were released through the pollen grain walls. Furthermore, gold particles remained abundant in the pollen cytoplasm. The labeling was noticeably lower in pollen grains from unpolluted air regions. CONCLUSIONS: Cup a 3 is present in the cytoplasm and walls of cypress pollen grains during the air dispersion and hydration stages. The abundance of Cup a 3 in pollen grains under polluted air conditions indicates that these cypresses intensify their activity as a defense from environmental pollution, thus strengthening their allergenicity.     

Haptic selective attention by foot and by hand

Nonvisual perceptions of a wielded object's spatial properties are based on the quantities expressing the object's mass distribution, quantities that are invariant during the wielding. The mechanoreceptors underlying the kind of haptic perception involved in wielding – referred to as effortful, kinesthetic, or dynamic touch – are those embedded in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The present experiment's focus was the selectivity of this muscle-based form of haptic perception. For an occluded rod grasped by the hand at some intermediate position along its length, participants can attend to and report selectively the rod's full length, its partial lengths (fore or aft of the hand), and the position of the grip. The present experiment evaluated whether participants could similarly attend selectively when wielding by foot. For a given rod attached to and wielded by foot or attached to (i.e. grasped) and wielded by hand, participants reported (by magnitude production) the rod's whole length or fractional length leftward of the point of attachment. On measures of mean perceived length, accuracy, and reliability, the degree of differentiation of partial from full extent achieved by means of the foot matched that achieved by means of the hand. Despite their neural, anatomical, and experiential differences, the lower and upper limbs seem to abide by the same principles of selective muscle-based perception and seem to express this perceptual function with equal facility.     

Noradrenergic and opioidergic alterations in neuropathy in different rat strains

The Fischer 344 (F344) rat strain differs from the Lewis strain in the response to neuropathic pain. Recently, we found that F344 rats totally recover from mechanical allodynia induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve 28 days after surgery whereas Lewis rats are initiating their recovery at this time point. Thus, the use of this neuropathic pain model in these different rat strains constitutes a good strategy to identify possible target genes involved in the development of neuropathic pain. Since differences between Lewis and F344 rats in their response to pain stimuli in acute pain models have been related to differences in the endogenous opioid and noradrenergic systems, we aimed to determine the levels of expression of key genes of both systems in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of both strains 28 days after CCI surgery. Real time RT-PCR revealed minimal changes in gene expression in the spinal cord after CCI despite the strain considered, but marked changes in DRG were observed. A significant upregulation of prodynorphin gene expression occurred only in injured DRG of F344 rats, the most resistant strain to neuropathic pain. In addition, we found a significant downregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase and proenkephalin gene expression levels in both strains whereas δ-opioid receptor was found to be significantly downregulated only in injured DRG of Lewis rats although the same trend was observed in F344 rats. The data strongly suggest that dynorphins could be involved in strain differences concerning CCI resistance.