Animal Physiology Research Articles

VII International scientific and practical conference Ternopil Bioscience – 2023

The article summarizes the results of the VII International Scientific and Practical Conference Ternopil Bioscience – 2023, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the renowned botanist, taxonomist, and florist, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Botany Valentina Omelianivna Shymanska. The event took place from May 11 to 13, 2023, in Ternopil at the Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. The conference covered the following thematic areas: experimental botany and plant physiology, biology and ecology of animals, microbiology and virology, cytogenetics and histomorphology, human anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics of microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans, hydrobiology, biotechnology in plant cultivation, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, environmental protection and biological aspects of biodiversity reproduction, applied aspects of adaptation of organisms, ecological biotechnology, and rational nature management, the impact of natural and social factors on human health, biomedicine and pharmacognosy, agronomy, plant protection, and quarantine, the history of biology, and the methodology of teaching natural sciences. A collection of abstracts was published before the conference opening. Over 102 participants took part in the conference. There were 8 plenary and 38 sectional reports. Following the discussions, it was decided to schedule and conduct the next conference in the Spring of 2024.

EXPRESSION OF CASPASE 3 IN RAT LIVER CELLS BY MAXIMUM PHYSICAL EXERCISE AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF GAGATAN HARIMAU NANOHERBAL (Paraboea leuserensis B.L.Burtt)

This research aims to analyse Expression of Caspase 3 in Rat Liver Cells With Maximum Physical Exercise After Administration of Gagatan Harimau Nanoherbal (Paraboea leuserensis B.L.Burtt). The research was conducted in April-June 2023. The research location was the Animal Physiology Laboratory and Experimental Animal House, Department of Biology, FMIPA USU, PT. Synergy of Indonesian Nanotech, South Tangerang, Banten and the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, Medan. There were 6 treatments in the study, namely control group (K-), maximum physical exercise (K+), maximum physical exercise + Vitamin C at a dose of 2 mg/Kg Body Weight (P1), maximum physical exercise + Gagatan Harimau nanoherbal 100 mg/Kg BW (P2 ), Maximum physical exercise + Gagatan Harimau nanoherbal dose 125 mg/Kg BW (P3), Maximum physical exercise + Gagatan Harimau nanoherbal dose 150 mg/Kg BW (P4). The data obtained from each observation parameter (variable) is recorded and presented in table form. The data was then analyzed using SPSS version 25 software with significant differences determined at p<0.05. The results of the study showed significant differences between all groups (p<0.05) in the expression of caspase 3 in the liver. A dose of 150 mg/Kg BW from the nanoherbal Gagatan Harimau leaves (Paraboea leuserensis B.L.Burtt) reduced the expression of caspase 3 in rat liver. The induction of gagatan harimau leaf nanoherbal to act as an antioxidant in male rats given swimming physical training showed improvements in liver histology and morphology. The dose of 150 mg/KgBW of nanoherbal gagatan harimau leaves was the best dose because it showed cell regeneration that was close to the normal treatment group.

Behavior and physiology in female Cricetulus barabensis are associated with the expression of circadian genes.

The circadian clock regulates the behavior, physiology, and metabolism of mammals, and these characteristics, such as sleep-wake cycles, exercise capacity, and hormone levels, exhibit circadian rhythms. Light signaling is the main stimulator of the mammalian circadian system. The photoperiod regulates the reproductive cycle of seasonal breeding animals, and the circadian clock plays a pivotal role in this process. However, the role of the clock in coordinating animal behavior and physiology in response to photoperiodic changes needs further investigation. The present study investigated the changes and correlation of behavioral activities, physiological indicators, and gene expression in female striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) within 24 h under a 12L:12D photoperiod. We found that the daily rhythms of sleep-wake and open field were significant in hamsters. The expression of clock genes, melatonin receptor genes, and genes involved in general metabolism oscillated significantly in central and peripheral tissues (brain, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, and thymus) and was significantly associated with behavior and physiology. Our results revealed that the neuroendocrine system regulated the rhythmicity of behavior and physiology, and central and peripheral clock genes (Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per2, Cry1, and Cry2), melatonin receptor genes (MT1, MT2, and GPR50), and metabolizing genes (SIRT1, FGF21, and PPARα) played important roles. Our results suggest that central and peripheral circadian clocks, melatonin receptors, and genes involved in general metabolism may play key roles in maintaining circadian behavior and metabolic homeostasis in striped hamsters. Our results may have important implication for rodent pest control.

The microbiome of a Pacific moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea.

The impact of microbiome in animal physiology is well appreciated, but characterization of animal-microbe symbiosis in marine environments remains a growing need. This study characterizes the microbial communities associated with the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea, first isolated from the East Pacific Ocean and has since been utilized as an experimental system. We find that the microbiome of this Pacific Aurelia culture is dominated by two taxa, a Mollicutes and Rickettsiales. The microbiome is stable across life stages, although composition varies. Mining the host sequencing data, we assembled the bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). The bacterial MAGs are highly reduced, and predict a high metabolic dependence on the host. Analysis using multiple metrics suggest that both bacteria are likely new species. We therefore propose the names Ca. Mariplasma lunae (Mollicutes) and Ca. Marinirickettsia aquamalans (Rickettsiales). Finally, comparison with studies of Aurelia from other geographical populations suggests the association with Ca. Mariplasma lunae occurs in Aurelia from multiple geographical locations. The low-diversity microbiome of Aurelia provides a relatively simple system to study host-microbe interactions.

Social information as an entrainment cue for the circadian clock.

Animals adapt to the daily changes in their environmental conditions by means of genetically encoded circadian clocks. These clocks, found throughout the tree of life, regulate diverse biological functions, and allow periodical changes in physiology and behaviour. The molecular underpinnings of these clocks have been extensively studied across taxa, revealing a brain-based system that coordinates rhythmic activities through neuronal networks and signalling pathways. Entrainment, the alignment of internal rhythms with external cues or zeitgebers, is crucial for the adaptive value of these internal clocks. While the solar light-dark cycle is a primary zeitgeber for most animals, other relevant cues such as temperature, meal timing, predators, anxiety, fear, physical activity, and social interactions also play roles in entraining circadian clocks. The search of a detailed description of the circadian clocks is a goal for neurobiology and an area of growing societal interests. Moreover, as disruptions in circadian rhythms are implicated in various diseases, understanding the entrainment pathways contributes to developing interventions for improved wellbeing and health outcomes. This review focuses on socially relevant cues, examining their impact on animal physiology and behaviour, and explores the sensory pathways transmitting information to the central clock.

Design of a dry specialized dairy product and study of its physiology effect on the body

This article is devoted to the development of a dry specialized dairy product. This specialized dairy product will be made from organic raw materials. There are also some descriptions about effects of the ingredients on the human and animal physiology. The developed product must have the following requirements: it belongs to the group of organic products, i.e., produced from organic raw materials; have increased nutritional value, resistance to long-term storage, good transportability, high organoleptic and physico-chemical indicators, meet other quality and safety indicators. The product is made with the innovative technology based on powdered milk and high–fat cream has such requirements. Those facilitate of increased nutritional value and storage capacity. The product is produced by the gentlest method the freeze-drying method. This method of production can be used when you need to preserve all the useful and native properties of the finished product. The specialized product of a dry creamy vegetable spread with high nutritional value and long-term storage (up to 24 months) and its technology will be obtained. The results of the research were carried out at the of the Omsk State Agrarian University and the Omsk Region Budgetary Institution “Omsk Regional Veterinary Laboratory”.

Investigating Plant and Animal Physiology with Vernier Sensors

Investigating Plant and Animal Physiology with Vernier Sensors

Parental thermal conditions affect the brain activity response to alarm cue in larval zebrafish.

Temperature is a crucial factor affecting the physiology of ectothermic animals, but exposure to elevated temperature during specific life stages and across generations may confer fish resilience through phenotypic plasticity. In this study, we investigate the effects of developmental and parental temperature on brain activity response to an olfactory cue in the larval zebrafish, Danio rerio. We exposed parents during reproduction and their offspring during development to control (28°C) or elevated temperature (30°C) and observed the response of the larval telencephalon to an alarm cue using live calcium imaging. Parental exposure to elevated temperature decreased the time till maximum brain activity response regardless of the offspring's developmental temperature, revealing that parental thermal conditions can affect the excitability of the offspring's neural circuitry. Furthermore, brain activity duration was affected by the interaction between parental and offspring thermal conditions, where longer brain activity duration was seen when either parents or offspring were exposed to elevated temperature. Conversely, we found shorter brain activity duration when the offspring were exposed to the same temperature as their parents, in both control and elevated temperature. This could represent an anticipatory parental effect influencing the offspring's brain response to match the parental environment, or an early developmental effect occurring within a susceptible short time window post-fertilization. Overall, our results suggest that warming can alter processes involved in brain transmission and show that parental conditions could aid in the preparation of their offspring to respond to olfactory stimuli in a warming environment.

Regulation of long-term memory by a few clock neurons in Drosophila.

Identification of the neural circuits in the brain regulating animal behavior and physiology is critical for understanding brain functions and is one of the most challenging goals in neuroscience research. The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster has often been used to identify the neural circuits involved in the regulation of specific behaviors because of the many neurogenetic tools available to express target genes in particular neurons. Neurons controlling sexual behavior, feeding behavior, and circadian rhythms have been identified, and the number of neurons responsible for controlling these phenomena is small. The search for a few neurons controlling a specific behavior is an important first step to clarify the overall picture of the neural circuits regulating that behavior. We previously found that the clock gene period (per), which is essential for circadian rhythms in Drosophila, is also essential for long-term memory (LTM). We have also found that a very limited number of per-expressing clock neurons in the adult brain are required for the consolidation and maintenance of LTM. In this review, we focus on LTM in Drosophila, introduce the concept of LTM regulation by a few clock neurons that we have recently discovered, and discuss how a few clock neurons regulate Drosophila LTM.

Exposure to an aversive odor alters Caenorhabditis elegans physiology.

Perception of external cues is important for enhancing the fitness and survival of animals. However, the role of odor perception in regulation of longevity and health is incompletely defined. Here, we show that the exposure to an aversive odor 2-nonanone reduces life span, brood size, feeding rate, and increases lipid storage in worms. These effects are restored to normal levels in mutant worms lacking functional olfactory AWB neurons, suggesting a potential role of odor perception in the regulation of animal physiology and longevity.

Role of melanocortin system in the locomotor activity rhythms and melatonin secretion as revealed by agouti-signalling protein (asip1) overexpression in zebrafish.

Temporal signals such as light and temperature cycles profoundly modulate animal physiology and behaviour. Via endogenous timing mechanisms which are regulated by these signals, organisms can anticipate cyclic environmental changes and thereby enhance their fitness. The pineal gland in fish, through the secretion of melatonin, appears to play a critical role in the circadian system, most likely acting as an element of the circadian clock system. An important output of this circadian clock is the locomotor activity circadian rhythm which is adapted to the photoperiod and thus determines whether animals are diurnal or nocturnal. By using a genetically modified zebrafish strain known as Tg (Xla.Eef1a1:Cau.asip1)iim04, which expresses a higher level of the agouti signalling protein 1 (Asip1), an endogenous antagonist of the melanocortin system, we observed a complete disruption of locomotor activity patterns, which correlates with the ablation of the melatonin daily rhythm. Consistent with this, in vitro experiments also demonstrated that Asip1 inhibits melatonin secretion from the zebrafish pineal gland, most likely through the melanocortin receptors expressed in this gland. Asip1 overexpression also disrupted the expression of core clock genes, including per1a and clock1a, thus blunting circadian oscillation. Collectively, these results implicate the melanocortin system as playing an important role in modulating pineal physiology and, therefore, circadian organisation in zebrafish.

Effect of heat stress on meat quality: A review

One of the stressful situations for livestock and poultry is heat stress (HS), which has a detrimental effect on animal physiology, production, and product quality. Because of their quick development and metabolism, high production, and species-specific characteristics including decreased sweating, the protective layer of skin, and rumen fermentation, some varieties of livestock are more vulnerable to heat stress than others. Muscle that is pale, soft and exudative (PSE) and lacks the ability to retain water can be produced by short-term heat stress that occurs pre-slaughter. This stress increases muscle glycogenolysis. In contrast, animals that experience prolonged heat stress have lower muscle glycogen reserves, which results in meat that is dark, firm, and dry (DFD), has a high final pH and water retention capacity. Moreover, HS causes shortened shelf life, oxidative stress. According to a recent study, HS might plausibly modify the rate and amount of postmortem muscle glycolysis and the resulting pH, which can impact the physiological and metabolic disturbances that occur in live animals as well as the features of carcasses and meat quality. This review reflects the effect of heat stress on meat quality.

Circadian Genes and Economic Traits in Livestock Animals

Circadian rhythms are oscillators of endogenous autonomic activity in all living organisms and regulate economic traits such as reproduction, milk characteristics and growth performance in farm animals. These rhythms are directly or indirectly controlled by the circadian clock in a 24-hour cycle. It has evolved as an adaptive system for living organisms in a cyclical natural environment. A regular circadian rhythm can be associated with good health, well-being, strong immunity, and high economic characteristics. The interaction between circadian rhythmicity and the physiology of farm animals is becoming an important focus of animal science. Understanding the circadian genes (CLOCK, BMAL, PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2) and actions regulating circadian oscillation in farm animals is important to improve management and increase economic traits. The study aimed to summarise the research on the effects of circadian rhythm genes on productivity and to highlight the importance of this topic

Season affects the estrogen system and the immune response of common carp.

The physiology of ectothermic animals, including fish, is strictly regulated by season-related external factors such as temperature or photoperiod. The immune response and the production of hormones, such as estrogens, are therefore also subject to seasonal changes.This study in common carp aimed to determine how the season affects the estrogen system and the immune response, including the antibacterial response during Aeromonas salmonicida infection. We compared the immune reaction in spring and autumn in the head kidney and liver and found that carp have higher levels of blood 17β-estradiol in autumn, while in the liver of these fish there is a higher constitutive expression of genes encoding vitellogenin, estrogen receptors and Cyp19 aromatase than in spring. Fish sampled in autumn also exhibited higher expression of immune-related genes in the liver. In contrast, in the head kidney from fish sampled in the autumn, the expression of genes encoding estrogen receptors and aromatase was lower than in spring, and a similar profile of expression was also measured in the head kidney for inos, arginases and il-10. In turn, during bacterial infection, we observed higher upregulation of the expression of inos, il-12p35, ifnγ-2, arginase 2 and il-10 in the liver of carp sampled in spring. In the liver of carp infected in spring a higher upregulation of the expression of the genes encoding CRPs was observed compared to fish infected during autumn. The opposite trend occurred in the head kidney, where the upregulation of the expression of the genes involved in the immune response was higher in fish infected in autumn than in those infected in spring. During the infection, also season-dependent changes occurred in the estrogen system.In conclusion, we demonstrated that season differentially affects the estrogenic and immune activity of the head kidney and liver. These results reinforce our previous findings that the endocrine and immune systems cooperate in maintaining homeostasis and fighting infection.

Neurophysiological and behavioral synchronization in group-living and sleeping mice

Social interactions profoundly influence animal development, physiology, and behavior. Yet, how sleep-a central behavioral and neurophysiological process-is modulated by social interactions is poorly understood. Here, we characterized sleep behavior and neurophysiology in freely moving and co-living mice under different social conditions. We utilized wireless neurophysiological devices to simultaneously record multiple individuals within a group for 24 h, alongside video acquisition. We first demonstrated that mice seek physical contact before sleep initiation and sleep while in close proximity to each other (hereafter, "huddling"). To determine whether huddling during sleep is a motivated behavior, we devised a novel behavioral apparatus allowing mice to choose whether to sleep in close proximity to a conspecific or in solitude, under different environmental conditions. We also applied a deep-learning-based approach to classify huddling behavior. We demonstrate that mice are willing to forgo their preferred sleep location, even under thermoneutral conditions, to gain access to social contact during sleep. This strongly suggests that the motivation for prolonged physical contact-which we term somatolonging-drives huddling behavior. We then characterized sleep architecture under different social conditions and uncovered a social-dependent modulation of sleep. We also revealed coordination in multiple neurophysiological features among co-sleeping individuals, including in the timing of falling asleep and waking up and non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) intensity. Notably, the timing of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) was synchronized among co-sleeping male siblings but not co-sleeping female or unfamiliar mice. Our findings provide novel insights into the motivation for physical contact and the extent of social-dependent plasticity in sleep.

The presence/absence of conspecifics modulates the circadian locomotor activity and body mass in spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata)

ABSTRACT Biological clocks regulate the behavior and physiology of animals by tracking the local time using diverse time cues. Social cues are relevant in studying the behavior of gregarious animals, but these cues have not been widely studied in birds. Temporal information for circadian timekeeping is socially communicated through visual, physical, olfactory, and auditory means. We examined the efficacy of pulsatile social interactions on locomotor activity and its associated characteristics such as distribution profile of rest and activity, total counts, activity duration, phase shift in activity onset, and circadian periodicity in spotted munia. Besides, we analyzed the effect of such social interactions on their body mass. Spotted munia exhibited phase shift in the onset of activity when subjected to social isolation, but these cues could not affect their circadian periodicity. In Pair as well as in Group, social isolation led to increased activity and activity duration, and decreased body mass in guests relative to the host bird. Our results suggest that the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in spotted munia is quite sensitive to socialization and isolation, and isolation is detrimental for the birds. Consistent with these observations, the decline in body mass revealed the physiological consequences of social isolation on spotted munia.

Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes contribute to mass gain variation in female obligate hibernators

Abstract Obtaining body condition is an important life history challenge that directly impacts individual fitness and is particularly important for hibernating animals, whose maintenance of adequate body fat and mass is essential for survival. It is well-documented that host-associated microorganisms play a vital role in animal physiology and behavior. Recent work demonstrates that gut microbes are associated with fat accumulation and obesity, particularly the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The focus of most microbiome studies has been on human health or involved lab-reared animals used as a model system. However, these microbes likely are important for individual fitness in wild populations and provide potential mechanistic insights into the adaptability and survival of wildlife. Here we tested whether symbiotic microorganisms within the phyla of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were associated with summer mass gain in an exceptionally well-studied wild population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer) by analyzing 207 fecal samples collected over 5 summer active seasons. Results showed that marmots with higher mass gain rates had a greater relative abundance of Firmicutes. In contrast, a higher relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was associated with lower mass gain rates, but only for marmots living in harsher environments. Similar patterns were found at the family level where Ruminococcaceae, a member of Firmicutes, was associated with higher mass gain rates, and Muribaculaceae, a member of Bacteroidetes, was associated with lower mass gain rates in harsher environments. Although correlative, these results highlight the potential importance of symbiotic gut microbiota to mass gain in the wild—a trait associated with survival and fitness in many taxonomic groups.

Intelligent methodologies: An integrated multi-modeling approach to predict adaptive mechanisms in farm animals

“Welcome to the Machine” is the second song on Pink Floyd's 1975 album “Wish You Were Here”. Today, 49 years later, machine learning is a field of artificial intelligence that has been gaining prominence, especially in order to solve multifactorial problems such as animal adaptation, which involves thermoregulatory, morphological, hematological and immunological responses. For the first time, we seek to trace the adaptive profile, identify biomarkers of animal adaptation to thermal stress and investigate the potential effects underlying the complex relationships of animal adaptation with climatic variables, morphological, thermoregulatory, hematological, immunological and productive responses in the animal model using an intelligent predictive modeling as an auxiliary method. The database contains 7608 pieces of information. All variables were measured simultaneously on the animal. Machine learning techniques and path analyses were used. Our main results were: (i) we identified patterns that hematological variables represent important biomarkers to study animal adaptation; (ii) there are three adaptive profiles with thermoregulatory, hematological and immunological mechanisms varying according to the thickness of the coat; (iii) age, body condition score and lactation order are factors that influence adaptive responses; and (iv) environmental variables and thermal comfort indices influence thermoregulatory responses (primary mechanism), but do not influence hematological and immunological responses, while thermoregulatory variables influence hematological and immunological responses (secondary mechanism). Most of the variables under study and other indicators such as behavioral, biochemical, metabolic and physical related to the adaptive physiology in production animals are already measured by sensors. These variables can be used in a machine intelligence approach for assertive decision-making by farmers, as technology based on sensors in production animals is an innovative approach to maximize animal welfare and provide better alternatives to evaluate the animal response.

An arteriovenous mock circulatory loop and accompanying bond graph model for invitro study of peripheral intravascular bioartificial organs.

Silicon nanopore membrane-based implantable bioartificial organs are dependent on arteriovenous implantation of a mechanically robust and biocompatible hemofilter. The hemofilter acts as a low-resistance, high-flow network, with blood flow physiology similar to arteriovenous shunts commonly created for hemodialysis access. A mock circulatory loop (MCL) that mimics shunt physiology is an essential tool for refinement and durability testing of arteriovenous implantable bioartificial organs and silicon blood-interfacing membranes. We sought to develop a compact and cost-effective MCL to replicate flow conditions through an arteriovenous shunt and used data from the MCL and swine to inform a bond graph mathematical model of the physical setup. Flow physiology through bioartificial organ prototypes was obtained in the MCL and during extracorporeal attachment to swine for biologic comparison. The MCL was tested for stability overtime by measuring pressurewave variability over a 48-h period. Data obtained invitro and extracorporeally informed creation of a bond graph model of the MCL. The arteriovenous MCL was a cost-effective, portable system that reproduced flow rates and pressures consistent with a pulsatile arteriovenous shunt as measured in swine. MCL performance was stable over prolonged use, providing a cost-effective simulator for enhanced testing of peripherally implanted bioartificial organ prototypes. The corresponding bond graph model recapitulates MCL and animal physiology, offering a tool for further refinement of the MCL system.

Does a flashing artificial light have more or conversely less impacts on animals than a continuous one? A systematic review

Background: Light pollution has been increasingly recognised as a threat to biodiversity, especially with the current expansion of public lighting. Although the impacts of light intensity, spectral composition and temporality are more often studied, another component of light, its flicker frequency, has been largely overlooked. However, flashing light could also have impacts on biodiversity, and especially on animal behaviour and physiology. Objective: This systematic review aimed at identifying the reported physiological and behavioural impacts of flashing light on animals when compared to continuous light. Methods: We followed the standards recommended by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) in order to achieve a comprehensive, transparent and replicable systematic review. Citations were primarily extracted from three literature databases and were then screened for relevance successively on their titles, abstracts and full-texts. Retained studies were finally critically appraised to assess their validity and all relevant data were extracted. Only studies which compared a flashing light to a continuous one were included. Results: At first, we found 19,730 citations. Screening and critical appraisal resulted in 32 accepted articles corresponding to 54 accepted observations—one observation corresponding to one species and one outcome. We collated data on four main taxa: Aves (the most studied one), Actinopterygii, Insecta and Mammalia as well as on plankton. Conclusions: The impacts of flashing light are currently critically understudied and varied between species and many light specificities (e.g. frequency, wavelength, intensity). Therefore, no definitive conclusions could be drawn for now. Thus, research on flashing light should be pressingly carried out in order to better mitigate the impacts of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on wildlife. In the meantime, we would recommend precautionary principles to be applied: flashing lighting should be limited when not deemed essential and flicker frequencies managed to prevent animals from experiencing any potential harm from flashing light.