Adult Male Research Articles

Modulation of marble-burying behavior in adult versus adolescent C57BL/6J mice of both sexes by ethologically relevant chemosensory stimuli

Abstract The marble-burying test is a pharmacologically validated paradigm used to study anxiety-like behaviors in laboratory rodents. Our laboratory has employed this assay as part of a behavioral screen to examine drug-induced negative affective states. Historically, the majority of our prior binge alcohol-drinking studies employed male subjects exclusively and reliably detected adolescent-adult differences in both basal and alcohol withdrawal-induced negative affect. However, age-related differences in marble-burying behavior were either absent or opposite those observed in our prior work when female subjects were included in the experimental design. As chemosensory cues from females are reported to be anxiolytic in males, the present study examined how odors from adult members of the opposite and same sex (obtained from soiled bedding) influence marble-burying behavior in adult, as well as adolescent, mice. Control studies examined the responsiveness of mice in the presence of novel neutral (vanilla) and aversive (tea tree) odors. Adult males exhibited reduced signs of anxiety-like behavior in the presence of female-soiled bedding, while adult females and adolescent mice of both sexes increased marble-burying behavior in the presence of both male- and female-soiled bedding. All mice exhibited increased burying in the presence of an aversive odor, while only adolescents increased marble-burying in response to the novel neutral odor. These data indicate sex by age interactions in the effects of volatile and nonvolatile odors from sexually-naive adult conspecifics on indices of anxiety-like behavior in the marble-burying test of relevance to the experimental design and procedural timing of experiments including sex as a biological variable.

A phase 1 study to assess the absolute bioavailability, mass balance, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of [14C]-mobocertinib, an oral inhibitor of EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, in healthy participants.

Mobocertinib (TAK-788) is a first-in-class oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that received accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. This phase 1, 2-period, study was conducted to assess the absolute bioavailability of mobocertinib (Period 1), as well as mass balance, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of [14C]-mobocertinib (Period 2) in healthy adult males. In Period 1, participants received a single oral capsule dose of 160mg mobocertinib, followed by a 15-minute intravenous infusion of 50µg (~ 2 µCi) [14C]-mobocertinib administered from 3.75 to 4h after the capsule dose. In Period 2, a single oral dose of 160mg (~ 100 µCi) [14C]-mobocertinib was administered as an oral solution. The geometric mean absolute bioavailability of mobocertinib was determined to be 36.7%. After oral administration of [14C]-mobocertinib, mobocertinib and its active metabolites, AP32960 and AP32914, were minor components in plasma, accounting for only 0.275% of total plasma radioactivity as the majority of mobocertinib-related material was covalently bound to plasma proteins. The geometric mean percentage of the administered radioactive dose recovered in the urine and feces was 3.57% and 76.0%, respectively. Only 0.39% of the oral dose of [14C]-mobocertinib was recovered in the urine as mobocertinib; thus, indicating that renal excretion of unchanged drug was a very minor pathway of elimination. In both treatment periods, mobocertinib was generally safe and well-tolerated as all adverse events were Grade 1 in severity. (Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03811834. Registration date January 22, 2019).

Reliability of Obstacle-Crossing Parameters during Overground Walking in Young Adults

We aimed to evaluate the intra-session relative and absolute reliability of obstacle-crossing parameters during overground walking in young adults, and to determine the number of trials required to ensure reliable assessment. We analysed data from 43 young male adults who were instructed to walk at a self-selected velocity on a pathway and to step over an obstacle (height = 15 cm; width = 80 cm, thickness = 2 cm) three times. Spatial–temporal gait parameters of the approaching and crossing phases (i.e., before and after the obstacle) and obstacle clearance parameters (i.e., vertical and horizontal distance between the foot and the obstacle during crossing) were computed using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to compute the relative reliability, while standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were used to assess the absolute reliability for all possible combinations between trials. Results showed that most spatial–temporal gait parameters and obstacle clearance parameters are reliable using the average of three trials. However, the mean of the second and third trials ensures the best relative and absolute reliabilities of most obstacle-crossing parameters. Further works are needed to generalize these results in more realistic conditions and in other populations.

Negative correlation between metabolic score for insulin resistance index and testosterone in male adults

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is strongly correlated with the decreased deficiency of testosterone levels in males. The metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index is regarded as an innovative measure for the assessment on IR. The research aims to explore the correlation between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in males.MethodsIn this study, a cross-sectional design was made through the data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013 to 2020. Besides, the METS-IR index was derived from serum triglyceride levels, fasting plasma glucose, HDL-C and BMI.ResultsA total of 2082 participants were included in the final analysis. After controlling for confounding variables, it was found that METS-IR was independently and negatively correlated with testosterone levels (β = −3.88, 95% CI = −4.49, −3.27, P < 0.001). As shown by the generalized smooth curve fitting, METS-IR had a linear correlation with testosterone levels without threshold or saturation effects, which was consistently observed across all subgroups through stratified analysis (all P > 0.05). As revealed by the analysis on the ROC curve, the area under the curve (AUC) for the METS-IR index (0.732, 95% CI = 0.705, 0.760) was significantly larger than that of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TG/HDL ratio, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and body mass index (BMI).ConclusionThe findings suggest a negative relationship between the METS-IR index and the testosterone levels in male adults. Furthermore, the METS-IR index demonstrates superior predictive ability for testosterone deficiency in comparison to HOMA-IR, TG/HDL ratio, TyG and BMI.

Somatometric Characteristics of the Grey Wolf&amp;nbsp;(Canis lupus) in Bulgaria

Grey wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus 1758) is the largest representative of the Canidae family in Bulgaria. It inhabits almost the whole territory, most frequently the mountainous and hilly areas. The grey wolf is a hunting species in the country. Despite this, there is little information in the literature on its size. The aim of this work was to provide the first systematized data of the somatometric characteristics (weight &amp;ndash; P; total body length &amp;ndash; L; length of the body to the base of the tail &amp;ndash; Lb; tail length &amp;ndash; Lo and height at the withers &amp;ndash; Hb) of the grey wolf in Bulgaria and to establish what is the degree of their sexual dimorphism. We found that the adult males are 24.3% heavier than the females (t=4.46; p&lt;0.001). They also have a longer body by 8.8% (t = 3.66; p&lt;0.001) and a greater height by 6.5% (U=546; p=0.005). The smallest difference (6.2%) between the two sexes was observed in tail length (U=629.5; p=0.03). The results of our study support the clear sexual dimorphism established in other wolf populations. Further studies are needed to link the wolf &amp;rsquo;s body size data with prey type data in the respective areas for more clarity. This will be beneficial both for better wolf population management and for the accumulation of a database. &amp;nbsp;

Molecular Cloning and Expression Profiling of Minus-C Odorant Binding Proteins from Apocheima cinerarius (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)1

Abstract Based on transcriptome data of adults and pupae, 3 Minus-C OBPs (odorant binding proteins) genes were cloned and analyzed in various tissues (including head, thorax, abdomen, legs of female and male adults, and wings of males) of Apocheima cinerarius Erschoff (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Expression patterns were examined across the developmental stages of egg, larva (1st–5th instars), pupa (non-diapause and diapause), and adults. The qRT-PCR results revealed a significant up-regulation of OBP8 in 3rd and 4th larval instars, with the highest expression level observed in 4th-instar larvae. OBP14 exhibited higher expression levels in diapausing pupal and adult stages, with highest levels in the female adult. Conversely, OBP18 displayed highest expression in the non-diapausing pupae, while exhibiting extremely low expression levels among other stages. The tissue expression profile revealed a gradual increase in the expression of OBP14, with highest levels in the male legs, whereas the expression pattern of OBP18 exhibited an inverse trend with maximum expression observed in the male head (including antennae). OBP8 exhibited high expression levels in the abdomen of the female adult, while OBP14 showed high expression in the legs of the male adult. Additionally, OBP18 displayed high expression in the female head. These findings suggest the crucial role played by OBP genes in both olfactory and non-olfactory tissues of A. cinerarius. The results provide a fundamental basis for further investigation into the recognition of odorant binding in A. cinerarius.

#1270 Exploring the shift in gut microbiota due to renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Background and Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI) due to renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a major clinical problem in renal transplantation and partial nephrectomy, which is associated with morbidity and mortality and substantial healthcare expenditures, but there is no effective and specific treatment. Recently, the clinical impact of the interaction between gut bacteria and the kidney function has become increasingly clear. Experimental evidence has highlighted a bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and kidney disease. Therefore, we investigated the possibility that I/R can ameliorate AKI by studying gut-renal interactions and gut microbiota in AKI. Method We induced varying degrees of renal I/R injury in adult male Wistar rats by clamping the left renal pelvis for 30 and 45 minutes, simulating mild and severe conditions, respectively. These samples were subjected to extensive histologic examination using standard techniques such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Sirius Red, and F4/80 staining. In addition, we performed a quantitative analysis of the mRNA expression levels of fibrotic and inflammatory markers in both kidney and colon tissues using real-time PCR. Gut microbiota genomic DNA was extracted from rat feces and microbial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing was performed. Results Renal function deteriorated with increasing ischemia time and fibrosis progressed, as confirmed by Sirius Red staining and qPCR of fibrosis genes such as TGFB. The expression of inflammatory genes such as IL-1B and IL-6 was also increased. The expression of inflammatory genes such as Toll-like receptor, C3, and IL-1B in the intestine also increased with ischemia time. In the fecal microbiota, the total read percentage of Bacteroides acidifaciens at the species level increased with increasing ischemia time. Conclusion The observed shifts in gut microbiota composition may serve as a critical indicator of chronic kidney disease (CKD)-induced gut dysbiosis secondary to AKI. This finding highlights the need for further research into the identification and migration patterns of the gut microbiota, which represents a promising avenue for early detection, prevention, and therapeutic intervention in AKI. Future investigations elucidating the mechanisms by which the microbiota influence IRI-induced AKI and the development of practical therapeutic strategies have the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients suffering from IRI-induced AKI.

#2284 Clinical characteristics and renal survival of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS)

Abstract Background and Aims Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) comprises a diverse group of renal disorders related to a nephrotoxic monoclonal immunoglobulin. Due to the rarity of the disease and the recent definition of MGRS-associated kidney lesions, data about long-term clinical outcomes remain limited. Method A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted including data of all patients with biopsy-proven MGRS who were followed at our center between 2005 and 2023. We examined the clinicopathologic characteristics and renal survival of the patients. Disease progression was defined as an eGFR decline &amp;gt;30% or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between clinical features and disease progression. Results A total of 23 adults (males 43.5%) with a median age of 65 years (IQR 55-70) were included in our study. At presentation, median eGFR was 51 ml/min/1.73 m2 (IQR 40-80) and proteinuria 3.94 g/24 h (IQR 2.00-6.26). Serum or urine monoclonal protein was not detected in 4 patients (18.2%). MGRS-associated renal lesions included Ig-related amyloidosis (n = 8), monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (n = 7), cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (n = 2), C3 glomerulopathy (n = 2), proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (n = 1), immunotactoid glomerulopathy (n = 1) and miscellaneous (n = 2). Most patients were treated with a plasma cell-directed regimen (77.3%) and the rest with B-cell-directed (13.6%) or conservative therapy (9.1%). Median follow-up for the cohort was 45 months (IQR 27-67). Thirteen patients responded to treatment (52.1%), achieving a reduction in proteinuria (0.44 vs 3.94 g/24 h, p:001) and maintenance of eGFR (60 vs 56 ml/min, p:0.363) at the last follow-up visit. All responders had received clone-directed therapy. Disease progression occurred in 8 patients (34.8%), three of whom reached ESKD (13.0%). Renal survival, defined as survival without ESKD, was 84.6% at 48 months (CI 73.3-101.7). Factors that were associated with disease progression were Ig-related amyloidosis (HR: 6.94, CI: 1.30-36.84, p:0.023) and eGFR &amp;lt; 45 ml/min at diagnosis (HR: 14.73, CI: 1.62-132.95, p:0.017). Conclusion MGRS is a heterogeneous clinical entity manifesting with varying degrees of proteinuria and kidney injury. Impaired kidney function at diagnosis and Ig-related amyloidosis correlated with worse renal prognosis in our cohort. Early identification and clone-directed treatment of MGRS may improve long-term renal survival.

Sildenafil Effect on Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Level in Pulmonary Hypertensive Rats.

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) leads to changes in pulmonary vascular architecture, hypertrophy of the right ventricle, and heart failure. Sildenafil is a drug that can modulate PH by inducing smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. To investigate the ability of sildenafil to alleviate the monocritaline (MCT)-induced PH in rats and to estimate the role and its effect on the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels. 28 adult male rats were divided randomly into four groups: Group A (control group; n=7). Group B (MCT-treated group; n=7) was given a single dose of MCT 60 mg/kg subcutaneously. Group C (The reversal group; n=7) received a single dose of MCT 60 mg/kg subcutaneously for three weeks and then sildenafil at 50 mg/kg/day, given daily for another three weeks. Group D (The prevention group; n=7) simultaneously received a single dose of MCT 60 mg/kg subcutaneously and sildenafil daily at 50 mg/kg for three weeks. The animals in the prevention group showed a significant decrease in ANP levels compared to the reversal and MCT-treated groups. This decrease was associated with a significant reduction in the Fulton index ratio in the prevention group compared to the reversal group. The nitric oxide levels were also significantly higher in the reversal group than in the control group. Preventive sildenafil treatment was associated with a significant decrease in ANP levels and reduced MCT-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

Impact of Trauma on Resilience Building and Self Concept in Men: A Psychological Perspective

This study aims to investigate the repercussions of trauma on the cultivation of resilience and self-concept among unmarried young adult males. The research utilizes a questionnaire-based methodology along with rigorous statistical analysis to gather empirical evidence. Revised-Impact Of Events Scale (R-IES) is used to measure the trauma history and it’s impact in a person, Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ) and Mohsin Self Concept Inventory tools were used to take the responses of the participants (N=50). By focusing on this demographic, we aim to illuminate the ways in which adverse experiences shape their ability to bounce back from hardships and perceive themselves positively.

Protective Role of Hesperidin Nanoparticles and Hesperidin against Methotrexate-Induced Reproductive System Toxicity in Male Albino Rats

Background: In light of the widespread use of the drug methotrexate in the medical field and the lack of awareness of its side effects and its impact on fertility, it was necessary to search for some treatments that do not contain side effects. Objective: find effective substances from medical plants to reduce the effect of the drug’s side effects on fertility. Materials and Methods: The study involved a group of 30 adult male rats, rats were divided into five groups: control group These animals were dosed with Normal Saline ,second group animals that were dosed orally with Methotrexate at 1 mg/kg once a week for two consecutive months ,third group dosed orally with hesperidin (62mg/kg). The fourth group were dosed simultaneously with the hesperidin (62mg/kg) and with the 1 mg/kg Methotrexate. The fifth group were dosed with(62mg/kg) hesperidin nanoparticles and simultaneously with 1 mg/kg methotrexate orally for 60 days. The dosage amount was also chosen based on previous research, and an experiment was conducted on hemolysis and antioxidant activity to determine the safety of the dosage concentration. Results: The Methotrexate caused a decrease in the level of sex hormones and had a negative effect on the level of sperm count and morphology, while hesperidin had a clear effect in raising the level of LH, FSH and testosterone and also sperm count and reducing abnormalities in the sperm, while on the histological level it was found that Methotrexate displays a distorted structure of the testicular tissue. This is characterized by an enlargement of the spaces between the seminiferous tubules, resulting in increased diameters. Additionally, there is a decrease in the size of the epithelial cell layer, cell necrosis, and a scarcity or absence of sperm. The cohort administered with the active compound hesperidin had a typical configuration of testicular tissue, characterized by the presence of tubules. Sperm has an oval morphology and exhibit a consistent and organized arrangement. The tubules are enveloped by a basement membrane that is composed of sperm-generating cells, including dispersed Sertoli cells with triangular nuclei. In close proximity to the cavity, the cells exhibited a larger size and had black, round nuclei, accompanied by spermatids that displayed a round or rectangular form. The presence of sperm was discovered within the interior spaces of the seminal tubules. Conclusion: The hesperidin nanoparticles had the best effect on increasing fertility, Hesperidin played a role in reducing the amount of damage caused by the drug Methotrexate on the tissues of the reproductive system. Hesperidin had a role in restoring the level of reproductive hormones to a level similar to normal, while the nanoparticles of hesperidin had a greater role in maintaining the level of hormones in a way similar to the control groups and in protecting the reproductive tissues from the damage caused by methotrexate.

Impaired bone mineral density and microarchitecture in female adolescents with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy.

Persistent immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA) may impair bone parameters and increase the risk of fractures. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is a novel methodology that not only assesses trabecular and cortical bone compartments and volumetric density measurements, but also evaluates bone microarchitecture and estimates biomechanical properties through finite element analysis (FEA). Both HR-pQCT and bone strength parameters derived from FEA have shown a strong correlation with fracture risk. To assess the bone density, microarchitecture, and bone strength of adolescents with persistent IgE-mediated CMA (IgE-CMA). This was an observational, cross-sectional study with female adolescents with persistent IgE-CMA and healthy control participants matched by female sex and sexual maturation. Bone parameters were assessed by areal bone mineral density (aBMD) through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone microarchitecture by HR-pQCT at the radius and tibia, and laboratory markers related to bone metabolism. The median age of adolescents with persistent IgE-CMA (n = 26) was 13.0years (interquartile range (IQR) 11.4-14.7) and of healthy control participants (n = 28) was 13.6years (IQR 11.9-14.9). Adolescents with IgE-CMA ingested 27.4% less calcium (p = 0.012) and 28.8% less phosphorus (p = 0.009) than controls. Adolescents with IgE-CMA had lower bone mineral content (BMC) (38.83g vs. 44.50g) and aBMD (0.796g/cm2 vs. 0.872g/cm2) at lumbar spine, and lower BMC (1.11kg vs. 1.27kg) and aBMD (0.823g/cm2 vs. 0.877g/cm2) at total body less head (TBLH) (p < 0.05). However, Z-scores BMC and Z-scores aBMD at lumbar spine and TBLH, when adjusted for Z-score height/age, were not significantly different between the groups. Moreover, CMA adolescents had lower bone strength at the distal tibia (S 169 kN/mm vs. 194 kN/mm; F Load 8030 N vs. 9223 N) (p < 0.05). Pairing of groups by the presence of menarche showed compromised parameters at the tibia-lower total volumetric BMD (Tt.vBMD) (293.9mg HA/cm3 vs. 325.9mg HA/cm3) and trabecular vBMD (Tb.vBMD) (170.8mg HA/cm3 vs. 192.2mg HA/cm3), along with lower cortical thickness (Ct.th) (1.02mm vs. 1.16mm) and bone strength (S 174 kN vs. 210 kN; F Load 8301 N vs. 9950 N)-and at the radius (S 61 kN/mm vs. 71 kN/mm; F Load 2920 N vs. 3398 N) (p < 0.05) among adolescents with IgE-CMA. Adolescents with IgE-CMA on a total exclusion diet (n = 12) showed greater impairment of bone features than those on a partial exclusion diet (n = 14), with lower lumbar spine Z-score BMC (- 0.65 vs. 0.18; p = 0.013), lumbar spine trabecular bone score (TBS) (1.268 vs. 1.383; p = 0.005), Z-score TBS (0.03 vs. 1.14; p = 0.020), TBLH Z-score BMC (- 1.17 vs. - 0.35; p = 0.012), TBLH Z-score aBMD (- 1.13 vs. - 0.33; p = 0.027), Tt.vBMD at the tibia (259.0mg HA/cm3 vs. 298.7mg HA/cm3; p = 0.021), Ct.th at the tibia (0.77mm vs. 1.04mm; p = 0.015) and Ct.th at the radius (0.16mm vs. 0.56mm; p = 0.033). Adolescents with persistent IgE-CMA had lower aBMD and compromised microarchitecture (impaired trabecular microarchitecture and lower bone strength). Adolescents on a partial exclusion diet had better bone parameters than those on a total exclusion diet.

Incidence of human rabies following bite or exposure to laboratory confirmed rabid animals

Background: Rabies is one of the important endemic fatal zoonotic viral disease afflicting humans and animals in Punjab, India. The present study investigated the incidence of rabies in humans bitten/exposed to laboratory confirmed rabid animals, as well as incidence after use of vaccine or rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) and clinico-epidemiological studies. Methods: A study was conducted during August 2021 to September 2022 on forty (40) rabies suspected animals presented to diagnose rabies by direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) at rabies diagnostic laboratory (RDL), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Punjab, India. A detailed questionnaire was prepared for obtaining information about exposure/bite of humans by rabid animals, death of humans, demographic and epidemiological information of victims. Results: Out of total forty (40) suspected rabies cases, 30(75%) were found positive for rabies by dFAT. Laboratory confirmed rabies (LCR) incidence was 60.80% and 21.73% in stray and pet dogs, respectively. All pet dogs were vaccinated but no stray dog was vaccinated. The LCR incidence in buffaloes and cattle was 77.77% and 100%, respectively. Further in humans exposed to rabid animals (59), males were at more risk than females. The human rabies incidence was 3.38% (2/59). Highest incidence of dog bites in adult males on lower limb was observed from urban stray dogs (60.80%) followed by children. Post exposure vaccination was given to 98.3% humans exposed to rabid animals. Human’s rabies in two cases was due to no vaccination or RIG. Conclusions: Vaccination is an important step in controlling rabies in India. There is a need for integrated and comprehensive management of street dogs and bite management.

Communal nesting shapes the sex-dependent glutamatergic response to early life stress in the rat prefrontal cortex

IntroductionEarly social environment, either positive or negative, shapes the adult brain. Communal nesting (CN), a naturalistic setting in which 2-3 females keep their pups in a single nest sharing care-giving behavior, provides high level of peer interaction for pups. Early social isolation (ESI) from dam and siblings represents, instead, an adverse condition providing no peer interaction.MethodsWe investigated whether CN (enrichment setting) might influence the response to ESI (impoverishment setting) in terms of social behavior and glutamate system in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of adult and adolescent male and female rats.ResultsPinning (a rewarding component of social play behavior) was significantly more pronounced in males than in females exposed to the combination of CN and ESI. CN sensitized the glutamate synapse in the mPFC of ESI-exposed male, but not female, rats. Accordingly, we observed (i) a potentiation of the glutamatergic neurotransmission in the mPFC of both adolescent and adult males, as shown by the recruitment of NMDA receptor subunits together with increased expression/activation of PSD95, SynCAM 1, Synapsin I and αCaMKII; (ii) a de-recruiting of NMDA receptors from active synaptic zones of same-age females, together with reduced expression/activation of the above-mentioned proteins, which might reduce the glutamate transmission. Whether similar sex-dependent glutamate homeostasis modulation occurs in other brain areas remains to be elucidated.DiscussionCN and ESI interact to shape social behavior and mPFC glutamate synapse homeostasis in an age- and sex-dependent fashion, suggesting that early-life social environment may play a crucial role in regulating the risk to develop psychopathology.

Cannabidiol improves nonmotor symptoms, attenuates neuroinflammation and favors hippocampal newborn neuronal maturation in a rat model of Parkinsonism.

To investigate the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on emotional and cognitive symptoms in rats with intra-nigral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions. Adult male Wistar rats received bilateral intranigral 6-OHDA infusions and were tested in a battery of behavioral paradigms to evaluate nonmotor symptoms. The brains were obtained to evaluate the effects of CBD on hippocampal neurogenesis. 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats exhibited memory impairments and despair-like behavior in the novelty-suppressed feeding test and forced swim test, respectively. The animals also exhibited dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), striatum, and ventral tegmental area and a reduction of hippocampal neurogenesis. Cannabidiol decreased dopaminergic neuronal loss in the SNpc, reduced the mortality rate and decreased neuroinflammation in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. In parallel, CBD prevented memory impairments and attenuated despair-like behavior that were induced by bilateral intranigral 6-OHDA lesions. Repeated treatment with CBD favored the neuronal maturation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus in Parkinsonian rats. The present findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of CBD on nonmotor symptoms induced by intra-nigral 6-OHDA infusion in rats.

Is It Possible to Use the Speech-Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response Test During Sleep as It Is Used During Wakefulness?

Background and Aim: It is important to know how much are the auditory electrophysi- ological tests affected by sleep and wakefulness to be employed in different situations. This problem is more important for the speech-evoked Auditory Brainstem Response (speech- ABR) test that is affected by higher-level processing. This study aimed to compare the results of the speech-ABR test between wakefulness and sleep states. Methods: Sixteen young male adults (aged 20–28 years) with normal hearing participated in this study. The speech-ABR to the /da/ syllable was recorded during wakefulness and sleep. Electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioral tests (eyes position, body movements, etc.) were monitored during the test time to confirm the sleep state. Results: The speech-ABR test parameters showed significant changes during sleep compared to wakefulness (latencies of waves V and A were longer and the amplitudes of waves V and A, the slope of V-A complex, and the spectral magnitude of F1 were lower). However, the spectral magnitude of higher frequencies was not significantly different. In addition, no significant statistical difference was observed in speech-ABR parameters between right and left ears. Conclusion: Although the speech-ABR originates from brainstem centers, unlike conventional click-evoked ABR, it is affected by sleep as it is affected by the higher-level auditory processing functions. Although, further studies are needed. However, our study opens the way for many applied auditory studies about the possibility to use speech-ABR for auditory processing assessments in sleep state of different population groups, such as neonates. Keywords: Auditory brainstem response; speech acoustics; sleep; electroencephalography

Alleviative effect of betaine against copper oxide nanoparticles-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male albino rats: histopathological, biochemical, and molecular studies

BackgroundCopper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have gained interest due to their availability, efficiency, and their cost-effectiveness. Betaine is an essential methyl donor and takes part in various physiological activities inside the body; it is found to have protective and curative effects against various liver diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxic effect of CuO-NPs on adult male albino rats and the ability of betaine to alleviate such hepatotoxicity.MethodsForty adult male albino Wister rats were grouped into 4 groups (10 rats/group): group I a negative control, group II (CuO-NPs) injected with CuO-NPs intra peritoneal by insulin needle (0.5 mg/kg/day), group III (betaine + CuO-NPs) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day 1 h before CuO-NPs) and CuO-NPs (0.5 mg/kg/day) finally, group IV (betaine) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day) for consecutive 28 days. Blood and liver samples were gathered and processed for biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical investigations.ResultsGroup II displayed a marked rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, there is an excessive upregulation of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). On the other hand, substantial reduction in glutathione (GSH) levels and significant downregulation at glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mRNA gene expression. Regarding the histopathological deviations, there were severe congestion, dilatation and hyalinization of blood vessels, steatosis, hydropic degeneration, hepatocytic necrosis, increased binucleation, degenerated bile ducts, hyperplasia of ducts epithelial lining, and inflammatory cells infiltration. Immunohistochemically, there was a pronounced immunoreactivity toward IL-1β. Luckily, the pre-administration of betaine was able to mitigate these changes. MDA was dramatically reduced, resulting in the downregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α. Additionally, there was a considerable rise in GSH levels and an upregulation of GPx. Histopathological deviations were substantially improved as diminished dilatation, hyalinization and congestion of blood vessels, hepatocytes, and bile ducts are normal to some extent. In addition, IL-1β immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked decreased intensity.ConclusionBetaine can effectively reduce the hepatotoxicity caused by CuO-NPs via its antioxidant properties and its ability to stimulate the cell redox system.

Inhibitor Properties of Rue (Ruta graveolens L.) on Spermatogenesis in Guppy Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Rue (RE), a medicinal herb having anti-androgenic characteristic on the sexuality of guppy males. In total, 120 males were selected randomly, acclimated and divided equally into four groups that received the RE ethanolic extract at 0, 1, 10 and 100 mg.kg-1, respectively for 30 days. The findings revealed that 100 mg.kg-1 had significantly lower whole-body testosterone levels than control. Furthermore, males administered RE at all doses had a significantly lower gonopodial index than the control group. Whereas, administration of RE at 10 and 100 mg.kg-1 causes a lowering in sperm counts than the control group. Regarding with histopathological examination, the testes of control males were well-differentiated with an increase in spermatozeugmata proportion at all spermatogenesis stages with a significant proportion of cystic structures containing spermatozoa. On the other hand, RE-fed animals showed a dose-dependent decrease in spermatozeugmata and an increase in spermatocytes' number of ducts, indicating the role of RE in reducing the development of guppy’s spermatogenesis. In conclusion, Rue can impact the sexual parameters of adult guppy males by confirming the anti-androgenic properties of RE.

Cryopreservation of spermatozoa from black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) using egg yolk-based or soy lecithin-based extenders.

There are more than 200 species and subspecies of Neotropical Primates of which more than 40% are listed as threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Both in situ and ex situ conservation programs can benefit from the use of assisted reproductive technologies. The objective of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, cryopreservation techniques for Alouatta caraya semen. Semen samples were collected from five adult males, analyzed, and frozen in either Test-egg yolk or Test-soy lecithin-based extenders containing either 3 or 4% glycerol. Frozen-thawed samples were analyzed at 10, 40, and 80min post-thaw. Egg yolk-based extenders were overall better than soy lecithin-based extenders. There was no significant difference between 3 and 4% glycerol in any of the parameters analyzed, however, 4% glycerol in egg yolk-based extender produced more favorable results for total motility, intact plasma membrane, lipidperoxidation, and DNA fragmentation index. This study brought novel information on semen characteristics and cryopreservation aspects for A. caraya, which can help shape future experiments to improve the outcome of frozen-thawed sperm for this and other species of Neotropical primates.

Suicide by ligature strangulation and/or hanging inside a motor vehicle: a comprehensive review.

Suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles is uncommon, and only few cases have been reported in the literature. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of reported cases of suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles, analyzing the features of the death scene, of the ligature and furrow, autopsy findings, and causes of death. The comprehensive review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines by using the most common scientific databases. According to inclusion criteria, a total of 20 cases of vehicle-assisted strangulation/hanging were reviewed: 13 cases were assessed as ligature strangulation resulting in 7 complete decapitations and 7 other cases as hanging. All victims were young or adult males, except for one 48-year-old female. Death was assessed as suicide in all cases, except for a possible accidental autoerotic death. In 8 cases, a history of depression or other psychiatric disorders was reported. Toxicological analysis were positive in 7 cases. Hard ligature materials (nylon, steel, plastic, hemp ropes) were used in most cases, but only 13 cases had a well-demarcated furrow. In 2 cases, no internal findings of asphyxia were found. An additional case of ligature strangulation inside a motor vehicle off is also presented, where no autopsy findings of asphyxia were observed, except for a broad pale furrow and monolateral conjunctival petechiae. This study highlights the challenges in classifying suicidal hanging and ligature strangulation in motor vehicles.