Effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on the morpho-functional state of the epididymis and prostate gland in rats

In the primary culture of bone marrow cells obtained from young (3-month-old) and old (20-month-old) rats, the change in the number of cells from day 0 to day 4, the pattern of cell morphotypes, and the lifespan of myelocytes, metamyelocytes, and stab and segment neutrophils was studied. It was shown that the number of bone marrow cells obtained from old animals (20-month-old) in the primary culture increased faster than the number of bone marrow cells in young animals (3-month-old). The presence of Copper-induced liver fibrosis in animals had a different effect on the rate of increase in the number of bone marrow cells obtained in young and old animals. The administration of 4 and 8 mmol of CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O into the culture of bone marrow cells in young and old animals caused a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferative processes in the cells of young animals. When copper ions were administered into the culture of bone marrow cells obtained from old animals, the inhibition of proliferation was less pronounced than for young animals, and a concentration of 8 mmol of CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O inhibited proliferation to a lesser extent than 4 mmol of CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O. The presence of liver fibrosis in animals accelerated the process of bone marrow cell death in the primary culture in young and old animals. However, this effect was more pronounced in young animals. It is suggested that bone marrow cells undergo such epigenetic changes, which change their functional properties, during ontogeny.

Aging and glucose transporter plasticity in response to hypobaric hypoxia

The connections between the tectorial membrane and the organ of Corti in the cat and guinea pig were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Postnatal development of the organ of Corti is extensive during the first month after birth. Therefore, young kittens from 1 to 32-day-old as well as adult animals were examined. The outer margin of the tectorial membrane was attached to the 3rd row of Deiters' cells in young animals. This attachment started to deteriorate around the 20th postnatal day. No marginal connections were found in adult animals. In the adult animals, there was a shallow insertion of the tips of the longest hairs of the outer hair cells into the undersurface of the tectorial membrane. With the exception of a 10-day-old cat specimen, the inner hair cell hairs were not inserted into the tectorial membrane and, instead of a direct connection, the inner hair cell region appeared to be loosely connected to the tectorial membrane by fibrous strands. In a 10-day-old cat, the under-surface of the tectorial membrane showed imprints which indicated the insertion and possible attachment of the inner sensory hair tips to the membrane.

Dynamics of bone marrow cells number (BMC) in the primary culture isolated from young (3 months) and old (20 months) Wistar rats was investigated. Proliferative activity of BMC of old animals was 2 times higher than that of young animals in the primary culture. Such superiority of the proliferative activity of BMC in the primary culture obtained from old animals is associated with the ability to actively divide lymphocytes and longer “lifespan” of segmented neutrophils obtained from old animals. It should be noted, that the lymphocytes of young animals did not proliferate in the primary culture. The content of intracellular calcium in BMC in the cells of old animals was 3 times higher compared with cells of young animals, which revealed the relationship of intracellular calcium and proliferative activity of BMC. Induction of liver fibrosis led to an increase in the lymphocyte content in young animals by 167%, and in old ones only by 26%, while the lymphocytes of young animals acquired the ability to proliferate in the primary culture. It has been suggested that such differences in the behavior of BMC in primary culture obtained in young and old animals reflect differences in the BMC microenvironment of young and old animals, which leads to changes in the epigenetic-metabolic characteristics of BMC.

Exposure to chronic mild stress (CMS) is known to induce anhedonia in adult animals, and is associated with induction of depression in humans. However, the behavioral effects of CMS in young animals have not yet been characterized, and little is known about the long-term neurochemical effects of CMS in either young or adult animals. Here, we found that CMS induces anhedonia in adult but not in young animals, as measured by a set of behavioral paradigms. Furthermore, while CMS decreased neurogenesis and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of adult animals, it increased these parameters in young animals. We also found that CMS altered alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor GluR1 subunit levels in the hippocampus and the nucleus accumbens of adult, but not young animals. Finally, no significant differences were observed between the effects of CMS on circadian corticosterone levels in the different age groups. The substantially different neurochemical effects chronic stress exerts in young and adult animals may explain the behavioral resilience to such stress young animals possess.

Modulating Role of Dietary Fat, Energy Restriction, and the Effect of Age on the Expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen and Protein Kinase C Activity in Prostate Glands of Rats

A computational model for the adaptation of muscle and tendon length to average muscle length and minimum tendon strain

The antibiotic 5-nitrofurantoin (5-NF) has been used widely for the treatment of urosepsis in children during the last 20 years. Recent experimentation suggests the need for reevaluating its genotoxic potential. Because of possible differences in the metabolism and clearance of 5-NF in young and adult animals, we conducted a study to determine whether micronuclei caused by 5-NF were age-related. The in vivo micronucleus (MN) assay was performed on 3- and 8-week-old mice given single intraperitoneal injections of 5, 10, and 50 mg/kg 5-NF. Blood samples from the tail vein were taken before injection (baseline) and at 48, 96, 168, and 336 hr (2 weeks) after the treatment. One thousand reticulocytes were analyzed for micronuclei from each animal. Compared to similar baseline values for young and adult mice, 5-NF caused a significant increase in MN frequency in both age groups. The mean MN frequency in the young animals was higher than in the adult animals for each dose and sampling time. MN frequencies remained significantly elevated in young animals even 2 weeks after exposure to 5-NF. The results of the study confirm the genotoxic potential of 5-NF in young and adult animals, and indicate that young animals are more sensitive to the genotoxic effects of 5-NF than adult mice and that the response in young mice persists for a significantly longer time. These findings may be related to poorly developed mechanisms of xenobiotic detoxification and renal elimination in young animals.

Satellite cells are a heterogeneous population of myogenic precursors responsible for muscle growth and repair in mammals. The objectives of the experiment were to examine the growth rates and degree of heterogeneity within bovine satellite cells (BSC) isolated from young and adult animals. The BSC were harvested from the semimembranosus of young (4.3 ± 0.5 d) and adult (estimated 24 to 27 mo) cattle and cultured en masse. Young animal BSC re-enter the cell cycle sooner and reach maximal 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation earlier (P < 0.05) than adult contemporaries. Adult BSC contain fewer (P < 0.05) MyoD and myogenin immunopositive nuclei than BSC isolated from young animals after 3, 4, and 5 d in culture. These results indicate that BSC from young animals activate, proliferate, and differentiate sooner than isolates from adult animals. Lineage heterogeneity within BSC was examined using antibodies specific for Pax7 and Myf5, lineage markers of satellite cells, and myoblasts. Immunocytochemistry revealed the majority of Pax7-expressing BSC also express Myf5; a minor population (~5%) fails to exhibit Myf5 immunoreactivity. The percentage of Pax7:Myf5 BSC from young animals decreases sooner (P < 0.05) in culture than adult BSC, indicating a more rapid rate of muscle fiber formation. A subpopulation immunopositive for Myf5 only was identified in both ages of BSC isolates. The growth kinetics and heterogeneity of young BSC was further evaluated by clonal analysis. Single cell clones were established and analyzed after 10 d. Colonies segregated into 2 groups based upon population doubling time. Immunostaining of the slow-growing colonies (population doubling time ≥ 3 d) revealed that a portion exhibited asymmetric distribution of the lineage markers Pax7 and Myf5, similar to self-renewable mouse muscle stem cells. In summary, these results offer insight into the heterogeneity of BSC and provide evidence for subtle differences between rodent and bovine myogenic precursors.

To find answers to the many questions about abnormal postnatal growth and change of the craniofacial skeleton, a series of surgical experiments was carried out in both young and adult animals. The purpose of this review is to relate this information to basic ideas about bone change and some local factors which may or may not affect skeletal changes. No gross regional deformity was noted after resection of sutures in young animals. The growth of bone at sutures was secondary or compensatory to other factors. In young animals, increase in size of the nasal or orbital cavities decelerated considerably after resection of either nasal septum or orbital tissues. With an increase in volume of orbital contents, orbital volume increased. These prominent gross changes in young animals were not noted in adult animals after resection of nasal septum, enucleation of the eye, or intrabulbar injection of silicone. After unilateral resection of the mandibular condyle in both young and adult monkeys, an extreme unilateral facial skeletal deformity developed. The important factor apparently was loss of integrity of the temporomandibular joint rather than loss of a growth site. The craniofacial skeleton, a three-dimensional mosaic of bones and cavities, develops as a result of the synchronous coordination of the differential activities at various sites. The dynamics of the growth and change are a fascinating, complex, incomplete chapter of biology. An understanding of factors that may or may not influence the craniofacial skeleton in both young and adult animals can aid diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Background &amp; ObjectivesThe degree of liver injury in indeterminate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection patients with Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)‐negative and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (PNALT) levels is yet unclear. Therefore, we aimed to assess liver histological changes in such patients by liver biopsy and explore possible predictors.MethodsOverall, 711 HBeAg‐negative CHB patients with PNALT levels who underwent liver biopsy from January 2017 to June 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The relationships between histological changes and predictors were assessed by smooth curve fitting and multivariate logistic regression analysis models. Data were also analyzed using American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) modified alanine aminotransferase (ALT) criteria.ResultsThe proportion of significant histological changes in the indeterminate phase was higher than that in the inactive phase (53.97% vs. 41.33%). The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of significant necroinflammation and histological changes for the indeterminate phase were 2.05 and 1.43, respectively, when compared with the inactive phase by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Significant histological changes in the‐phase were positively associated with age, ALT, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels but negatively correlated with platelet (PLT) levels. HBV DNA ≥5 log10 U/L and PLT &lt;200 × 109/L were independent predictive factors for assessing histological changes in indeterminate‐phase patients. Similar analysis findings were obtained using the two sets of modified ALT criteria.ConclusionsSignificant histological changes are not rare in indeterminate‐phase CHB patients and are higher than in the inactive phase, regardless of the ALT criteria. Histological investigation is strongly suggested for intermediate stage patients with HBV DNA &gt;5 log10 U/L or PLT &lt;200 × 109/L and antiviral therapy should be considered for such patients.

OBJETIVO: Verificar os níveis de PSA total no Hamster Sírio, Mesocricetus auratus, jovem e adulto e demonstrar possíveis correlações entre esses níveis com as alterações histológicas dos anexos sexuais: próstata, vesículas seminais e testículos. MÉTODO: Foram examinados dez (n=10) Hamsters jovens, com idade inferior a sete semanas de vida e vinte (n=20) Hamsters com idade superior a um ano. Fez-se a dosagem do PSA e estudo histológico dos anexos sexuais em ambos os grupos e procurou-se a correlação entre o PSA encontrado e as alterações histológicas. RESULTADOS: A média de idade para os animais jovens, (grupo controle), foi de 46,7 dias (Desvio-Padrão-DP=1,16). Nos animais adultos, (grupo experimental), a média de idade não foi determinada, embora todos apresentassem idade acima de um ano no momento da morte. A média do peso dos animais jovens quando foram mortos foi de 57kg e dos animais adultos 126,5g. O PSA foi dosado no plasma de todos os animais adultos e em sete dos animais jovens. Em três animais do grupo jovem o PSA não foi detectado. A média do PSA nos animais jovens foi de 0,252ng/mL (nanogramo por mililitro) e nos animais adultos de 0,325ng/mL. Os animais jovens não apresentaram alterações histológicas nos anexos sexuais examinados. Entre os Hamsters adultos, quatorze (70%) animais apresentaram alguma alteração nos anexos sexuais: dez (50%) apresentaram Hiperplasia Benigna da Próstata (HBP); um (5%) apresentou HBP, prostatite e inflamação das vesículas seminais; um (5%) inflamação supurativa das vesículas seminais; um (5%) apresentou infarto testicular e prostatite; um (5%) apresentou inflamação das vesículas seminais, sem HBP e prostatite. Não se detectou relação estatística entre os níveis de PSA e a ocorrência de HBP, embora os portadores da hiperplasia prostática exibissem médias de PSA bastante superiores às apresentadas pelos não portadores de hiperplasia. Não foram também determinadas relações estatísticas entre os níveis de PSA e as alterações das vesículas seminais e testículo. CONCLUSÕES: 1- O Hamster Sírio, Mesocricetus auratus, apresenta PSA sérico dosável e seu valor médio para o Hamster jovem é de 0,252ng/mL e no Hamster adulto é de 0,325ng/mL.2. Não foi possível correlacionar os níveis de PSA com as alterações histológicas encontradas nos anexos sexuais do Mesocricetus auratus.

Ontogenic development of antidiuretic hormone receptors in rat kidney: Comparison of hormonal binding and adenylate cyclase activation

Morphological plasticity of synaptic mitochondria during aging

The impact of childhood conductive HL (CHL) on development of auditory function has long been debated. The present study was conducted to define and compare the consequences of CHL and cochlear ablation (CA) in young and adult animals, using 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake as a measure of metabolic activity. It was hypothesized that, for both ages, CHL would result in a decrease in activity in the major ascending central auditory system pathway of the manipulated ear, but that this decrease would be significantly less than that observed with CA. Sham-controlled study of metabolic effects of CHL during sound stimulation. Gerbils (aged 21 days or adult), underwent malleus removal, CA, or a sham procedure. Young animals survived either 48 hours or 3 weeks; adults survived 3 weeks. Each age/survival CHL group contained eight animals; otherwise, each group (CA and sham) contained five animals, for a total number of 54. At the appropriate survival time, animals were given an intracardiac injection of 14C-2-DG, and sacrificed under anesthesia after 45 minutes of exposure to normal laboratory sounds. Tissue sections were prepared for exposure to x-ray film for optical density measurements, and alternate sections stained for identification of nuclei. Measurements from auditory nuclei of experimental animals were corrected against an unaffected control area (abducens nucleus) and compared with measurements taken from animals in the sham group. Auditory evoked potential thresholds to both air- and bone-conducted stimuli were obtained in a second group of neonatal and adult animals. Both CHL and CA resulted in a marked decrease in 2-DG uptake in the major ascending projection of the manipulated ear, in both the neonatal and adult animals. In young animals, effects of CHL and CA were similar. Effects of CHL in adult animals were less marked and significantly different from either effects of CHL in young animals or effects of CA in adult animals. HL following malleus removal only was purely conductive and ranged from 38 to 55 dB across frequency. Results suggest that, particularly in young animals, a unilateral CHL may have profound effects on metabolic activity in the central auditory system.