Avoidance Reaction Research Articles

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

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

Disgust and preference for familiar brands

Disgust represents an undesired state that signals the presence of threats in the external environment, leading to a change in needs and motivations aimed at coping with the threats. The present research aims at studying the effects of disgust in a consumer setting, proposing that once disgusted consumers show an immediate avoidance for familiar (vs. unfamiliar) brands. However, this avoidant reaction is followed by an opposite response of preference for familiar (vs. unfamiliar) brands. Moreover, conversely to the immediate response of avoidance of familiar brands, the subsequent response of preference for familiar brands is even stronger in case the consumer is depleted, showing a more deliberative nature of that response. The proposed results contribute to both emotion and consumer research debates demonstrating how an externally induced emotion, as disgust, influences consumers’ brand choice over time. Moreover, the present findings offer interesting suggestions to brand managers and retailers in order to better promoting the commercialized brands.

Preferential snake detection in a simulated ecological experiment

According to Isbell's snake detection theory (SDT), the need to rapidly detect and thus avoid snakes had a major impact on the evolution of the primate visual system, and thus the origin and evolution of the primate lineage, as expansion of the visual sense is a key characteristic of primates. The SDT rests on the assumption that there are both cortical (conscious) and subcortical (unconscious) brain structures and pathways that are responsible for rapid visual detection of and quick avoidance reactions to snakes. Behavioral evidence for the SDT primarily comes from visual search tasks and presentations of images on a computer screen; our aim was to evaluate the SDT under more ecologically valid circumstances. We asked participants to take a virtual hike in which a realistic model of a snake, rabbit, or bottle had been placed on the trail. Subjects were instructed simply to imagine themselves as the hiker while watching the video. We measured heart rate and skin conductance reactions while the participants viewed the video. After the video, the participants were shown pictures of the three stimuli and asked if they had seen any of them. We found that snakes were detected more often than rabbits or bottles, and that participants showed greater changes in heart rate and greater skin conductance responses in the snake condition than in the other two conditions, even when the participant did not report having seen the snake. A critical component of the SDT is that primates must be able to quickly detect snakes even when their attention is directed elsewhere. Using a novel experimental context-a simulated hike-we assessed arousal and detection without directing participants to attend to any particular stimulus or event. Our data support the SDT by providing evidence of enhanced detection and autonomic arousal even in the absence of detection. Replication of these results using additional controls and experimental contexts will help refine our understanding of snake avoidance by primates.

A Numerical Approach for Active Fish Behaviour Modelling with a View Toward Hydropower Plant Assessment

A numerical approach for assessing the injury risk of fish during turbine passages is introduced. The approach combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete element method (DEM), and extends it with fish behaviour models. The fish behaviour is achieved by an additional force term acting on the particles. Based on ethohydraulic observations three rules of conduct were defined and combined via weighting factors. These rules represent 1) the aim to follow the main flow direction, 2) the instinct of downstream migration, and 3) an avoidance reaction towards moving objects. It is shown that the behavior of the fish surrogates can be actively tuned and adapted. This allows for the expression of both individual and collective behavior with the implementation of instantaneous reactions to the local, unsteady flow conditions in a trade-off with global behavior rules. Therefore, the approach allows for the investigation of a large bandwidth of tasks related to etho- and ecohydraulics and is not limited to the case at hand. In this study, the model is deployed on an example case of a water vortex power plant (WVPP) that allows for the presentation of the general mechanisms and advantages of the method.

Vascular, molecular and cellular mechanisms of development of cognitive impairments after occlusion of carotid arteries

The study was aimed at determining the role of vascular endothelial dysfunction in induction of molecular and cellular mechanisms of the development of cognitive impairments after occlusion of common carotid arteries. The experiments were carried out on Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - control, sham-operated animals; group 2 - rats with cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion. The model of cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion was reproduced by means of simultaneous occlusion of common carotid arteries (for 5 minutes). The degree of endothelial dysfunction was assessed by determining the amount of circulating endotheliocytes and concentration of nitrogen oxide products in blood plasma. In the brain, we measured the content of malonic dialdehyde, the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Pathomorphological studies of cerebral structures and morphometric analysis of the number of damaged neurons in ischaemic exposure were carried out by means of light microscopy. Cognitive functions in rats were assessed by means of conditioned reaction of passive avoidance and the test of pattern identification. Common carotid arteries occlusion in rats induced an increase in the level of circulating endotheliocytes and a decrease in end products of nitrogen oxide - nitrites in blood plasma as compared with the control (p≤0.05); the content of malonic dialdehyde in the brain increased 2.6-fold, the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased 5.9-fold and 2.8-fold, respectively (p≤0.05). The findings of pathomorphological examination registered signs of vasoconstrictive reactions, endothelial oedema, an increase in the proportion of damaged neurons in the cortex of greater hemispheres and hippocampus (p≤0.05). It was determined that occlusion of common carotid arteries in rats resulted in memory disorders revealed in tests of conditioned passive avoidance response and pattern identification (p≤0.05). Occlusion of common carotid arteries in rats becomes a cause of endothelial dysfunction, neurometabolic alterations, damage of neurons in vulnerable regions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cognitive impairments. Damaging factors of the neurovascular system are intensification of oxidative processes and a decrease in the level of antioxidant defence, presenting important targets of neuroprotection.

Behavioural reactions of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena to startle-eliciting stimuli: movement responses and practical applications

Acoustic deterrent devices are frequently used as a mitigation method to exclude harbour porpoisesPhocoena phocoenafrom areas of potential harm, such as wind farm construction sites. However, there is increasing evidence that the devices themselves have the capacity to cause hearing damage. Here, we investigated the response of harbour porpoises to a 15 min sequence of 200 ms sound (peak frequency 10.5 kHz, range 5.5-20.5 kHz, 27 sounds total), which elicits the acoustic startle reflex. We used a duty cycle (0.6%) and sound exposure level that were significantly lower than in conventional acoustic deterrent devices. Harbour porpoises were exposed to startle sounds from a small vessel, and groups were visually tracked during 13 sound exposure sequences and 11 no-sound control trials. Porpoises showed a significant avoidance reaction during exposure, travelling a mean distance of 1.78 km (max. 3.21 km). In all cases, they left the area within 1 km of the sound source in the first 15 min after the start of the startle sequence. No avoidance was exhibited during control trials. Results are consistent with the startle reflex mediating this behaviour at low response thresholds. Our method can be used for mitigating collision risk and the risk of hearing damage from renewable energy installations, their construction and the deterrence device itself.

Feeding status alters exploratory and anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish larvae exposed to quinpirole

The dysfunction of dopaminergic signaling is associated with several neurological disorders. The use of pharmacological agents that interact with this signaling system may be employed to understand mechanisms underlying such disorders. Nutritional status can impact dopamine reuptake, receptor affinity, transporter activity, and the effects of drugs that bind to dopamine receptors or interact with dopaminergic system. Here we evaluated the effects of quinpirole (a dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist) exposure on fed and non-fed zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish larvae (6 days post-fertilization, dpf) were exposed to quinpirole (5.5, 16.7, and 50.0 μM) or water (control group) for one hour. To evaluate the effect of feeding status on quinpirole exposure, the experiments were performed on fed and non-fed animals, a between subject experimental design. Both fed and non-fed quinpirole treated larvae exhibited increased erratic movements compared to controls in an open tank exploration task. No alterations were observed on the main parameters of exploratory behavior and swim activity for non-fed larvae treated with quinpirole compared to controls. However, fed animals exposed to quinpirole exhibited increased locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and repetitive circular movements when compared to controls and non-fed exposed animals. In addition, we observed quinpirole exposure to have no effects on morphological parameters and heartbeat, but to impair optomotor responses in both fed and non-fed larvae compared to control. We also found quinpirole effects to interact with feeding status, as quinpirole-treated fed larvae improved while quinpirole treated non-fed larvae impaired their avoidance reaction towards an aversive stimulus. These results indicate that the behavioral effects of quinpirole exposure depended upon feeding status. They showed that consumption of food, a naturally rewarding stimulus known to engage the dopaminergic system, made this neurotransmitter system more susceptible to quinpirole's effects.

A strategy for population pharmaceutical quality assessment based on quality by design

From a regulatory perspective, drug quality consistency evaluation must concern different processes used for the same drug. In this study, an assessment strategy based on quality by design (QbD) was developed for population pharmaceutical quality evaluation. A descriptive analysis method based on QbD concept was first established to characterize the process by critical evaluation attributes (CEAs). Then quantitative analysis method based on an improved statistical process control (SPC) method was established to investigate the process indicators (PIs) in the process population, such as mean distribution, batch-to-batch difference and abnormal quality probability. After that rules for risk assessment were established based on the SPC limitations and parameters. Both the SPC parameters of the CEAs and the risk of PIs were visualized according to the interaction test results to obtain a better understanding of the population pharmaceutical quality. Finally, an assessment strategy was built and applied to generic drug consistency assessment, process risk assessment and quality trend tracking. The strategy demonstrated in this study could help reveal quality consistency from the perspective of process control and process risk, and further show the recent development status of domestic pharmaceutical production processes. In addition, a process risk assessment and population quality trend tracking provide data-based information for approval. Not only can this information serve as a further basis for decision-making by the regulatory authority regarding early warnings, but it can also reduce some avoidable adverse reactions. With continuous addition of data, dynamic population pharmaceutical quality is meaningful for emergencies and decision-making regarding drug regulation.

Anti Psychotic Evaluation and GC-MS Analysis of Cassia occidentalis Leaves

Aim: To evaluate the effect of an active fraction from Cassia occidentalis leaves on Wistar rats against psychosis were investigated.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Aditya Bangalore Institute of Pharmacy Education and Research, Bangalore, India between June -2019 to July – 2020.
 Methods: For the assessment of neuroleptic activity of the Cassia occidentalis leaves with different antipsychotic animal models, Chloroform and ethanol extract (200 mg.kg-1) were used for the study with different animal models. The extract showing higher anti psychotic activity was subjected to column chromatography and led to the isolation of an active fraction and examined in GC-MS analysis.
 Results: A significant decrease of amphetamine-caused stereotype and conditioned avoidance reaction turned into found with extract treated animals as in comparison to control. Phencyclidine induced weird sample of locomotor activity and social withdrawal test in test extracts does no longer proven any significant activity as in comparison to control. Minor symptoms of catalepsy have been seen extract-treated group and decreased dopamine level in the frontal cortex and corpus striatum in comparison to the control group. GC-MS evaluation was identified two active principles present in the eluted fraction.
 Conclusion: The study revealed that the ethanol extract of Cassia occidentalis may possess the property to alleviate the positive symptoms of psychosis.

A Time for Transitions

A Time for Transitions

The impact of emotional videos and emotional static faces on postural control through a personality trait approach.

During social interactions, perception of emotions affects motor behaviour by triggering responses like freezing or approach and avoidance reactions. It is however difficult to get a clear picture of the relationship between emotion and posture as previous studies showed inconsistent results, due to methodological differences on stimuli and/or the postural measures used. In this study, we thoroughly investigate how the perception of emotions affects postural control and action tendencies, by contrasting two types of stimuli (emotional static faces or emotional videos) expressing different types of basic emotions (happy, fear, angry, sad, disgust and neutral). We also take into account some other contributing factors relying on stable individual traits (e.g., extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, empathy, etc) and emotional state (e.g., anxiety). Our results show that dynamic stimuli have a greater impact than static stimuli on postural control. Moreover, a crucial aspect of our work lay in the modulation of the relationship between emotions and posture, by stable individual traits.

Neurochemical study of the mechanism of action of thymus peptides in emotional stress

A comparative study of the effect of the thymus hormone thymulin and thymus peptides (thymosin fraction 5) on the content of monoamines and their metabolites in the frontal cortex, striatum, adjacent nucleus, hypothalamus, hippocampus of the brain of Wistar rats, by high performance liquid chromatography, was performed. The hormone and peptides of the thymus were found to reduce emotional stress during functional impairment ofthe avoidance reaction and improved adaptation under stressful conditions in rats, which indicates the anti-stress effect of thymus hormones. The positive effect of the hormone and peptides of the thymus were manifested in a change in the balance of serotonin and norepinephrine in favor of the former in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex.

A specialized reciprocal connectivity suggests a link between the mechanisms by which the superior colliculus and parabigeminal nucleus produce defensive behaviors in rodents

The parabigeminal nucleus (PBG) is the mammalian homologue to the isthmic complex of other vertebrates. Optogenetic stimulation of the PBG induces freezing and escape in mice, a result thought to be caused by a PBG projection to the central nucleus of the amygdala. However, the isthmic complex, including the PBG, has been classically considered satellite nuclei of the Superior Colliculus (SC), which upon stimulation of its medial part also triggers fear and avoidance reactions. As the PBG-SC connectivity is not well characterized, we investigated whether the topology of the PBG projection to the SC could be related to the behavioral consequences of PBG stimulation. To that end, we performed immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and neural tracer injections in the SC and PBG in a diurnal rodent, the Octodon degus. We found that all PBG neurons expressed both glutamatergic and cholinergic markers and were distributed in clearly defined anterior (aPBG) and posterior (pPBG) subdivisions. The pPBG is connected reciprocally and topographically to the ipsilateral SC, whereas the aPBG receives afferent axons from the ipsilateral SC and projected exclusively to the contralateral SC. This contralateral projection forms a dense field of terminals that is restricted to the medial SC, in correspondence with the SC representation of the aerial binocular field which, we also found, in O. degus prompted escape reactions upon looming stimulation. Therefore, this specialized topography allows binocular interactions in the SC region controlling responses to aerial predators, suggesting a link between the mechanisms by which the SC and PBG produce defensive behaviors.

Maladaptive Denial of Severe Pain and Acute Orthopedic Injuries in a Patient With a Schizoaffective Disorder.

Persistent denial of severe and acute pain following orthopedic injuries has not been previously reported. We present a case of a 24-year-old woman with a history of schizoaffective disorder who suffered severe pain secondary to acute orthopedic injuries who insisted, “I am fine! There is nothing wrong with me.” Her maladaptive denial resulted in an initial refusal of necessary medical/surgical care, but she eventually accepted the necessary treatments despite her persistent belief she did not need such care. Her verbalizations and behaviors were characterized by active avoidance and angry reactions when a consulting psychiatrist spoke to her regarding her clinical condition. A modified version of the Conscious Avoidance subscale of the Denial of Illness Questionnaire was useful in measuring the severity level of her denial. This case report suggests that the behavioral features of psychological denial appear different from those associated impaired self-awareness secondary to an underlying brain disorder.

Early-Life Social Experience Shapes Social Avoidance Reactions in Larval Zebrafish

Social experiences greatly define subsequent social behavior. Lack of such experiences, especially during critical phases of development, can severely impede the ability to behave adequately in social contexts. To date, it is not well characterized how early-life social isolation leads to social deficits and impacts development. In many model species, it is challenging to fully control social experiences, because they depend on parental care. Moreover, complex social behaviors involve multiple sensory modalities, contexts, and actions. Hence, when studying social isolation effects, it is important to parse apart social deficits from general developmental effects, such as abnormal motor learning. Here, we characterized how social experiences during early development of zebrafish larvae modulate their social behavior at 1week of age, when social avoidance reactions can be measured as discrete swim events. We show that raising larvae in social isolation leads to enhanced social avoidance, in terms of the distance at which larvae react to one another and the strength of swim movement they use. Specifically, larvae raised in isolation use a high-acceleration escape swim, the short latency C-start, more frequently during social interactions. These behavioral differences are absent in non-social contexts. By ablating the lateral line and presenting the fish with local water vibrations, we show that lateral line inputs are both necessary and sufficient to drive enhanced social avoidance reactions. Taken together, our results show that social experience during development is a critical factor in shaping mechanosensory avoidance reactions in larval zebrafish.

The effects of predator odors on stress response and reproduction in Norway rats: A review

Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) is an invaluable laboratory model organism as well as one of the most common rodent pest species. The currently used rodenticides have several significant drawbacks: toxicity to humans and non-target species, environmental harm, the development of avoidance reactions and genetic resistance to the applied substances in rat populations. One of the proposed approaches for rodent pest control is based on natural ways, such as predation, which could be emulated by predator scents. In rodents, olfaction plays a key role in danger recognition, especially in detection of potential predator. Predator odors can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via central nervous system and thus induce the release of stress hormones. A well-documented suppression of reproduction under psychosocial stress appears to be associated with specific interactions of HPA axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Hereby we review research on the influences of predator chemical cues on stress response and reproduction in Norway rats with a special focus on long lasting and chronic effects. We describe the effects of predator odors of fox (Vulpes vulpes), ferret (Mustela putorius) and domestic cat (Felis catus) in detail. Assessment of reproductive success in rats may be treated as a robust experimental model to evaluate ecologically relevant stress effects of predator odors. Application of this approach could promote development of environmentally friendly methods to control rat population density.

Influence of lecithins on disorders of cognitive functions of animals caused by tetrachloromethane.

In our time the study of the influence of soya and especially sunflower lecithin as one of the natural monopolies inUkraine, on the state of cognitive functions is relevant. Specified neurotropic activity of lecithin is characterized by the obstacle to the development of behavioral manifestations of neurotoxic action of carbon tetrachloride, prevention of inhibition of mobility, research, unconditional reflex activity. In this article the determination of the effects of soy lecithin (L), and sunflower lecithin on a state of cognitive processes in rats showed that there is no significant differences between them. Changes in memory were judged by conventional passive-defensive reactions. Conditional reaction of passive avoidance (passive avoidance reaction) was produced on the basis of a single electric-skin support. We proposed modified method of assessing the presence of individually obtained memory trace and a group of genetically fixed form of memory. The establishment of this fact allows to make a comparative analysis of changes caused by the two lecithins in reproduction of individually obtainjed memory trace. Lecithin, derived from both plants in the conditions of intoxication by carbon tetrachloride prevents and improves reproduction of conditional reaction of passive avoidance. Soy lecithin and sunflower lecithin prevent the development of behavioral manifestations of neurotoxic action of carbon tetrachloride, preventing inhibition of mobility, research, unconditional reflex activity, cause expressive anti-amnesic effect contributing to the course of protective instinctive behavior in recognition of new circumstances as a safe. Both lecithins of plant origin exhibit the improving effect on the course of cognitive processes and their neuro-hormonal mechanisms in conditions of poisoning with carbon tetrachloride. Sunflower lecithin has more antidepressive, nootropic effect whereas soy lecithin has been demonstrated to have significant anti-amnestic effect.

Social Distance Towards Mental Illness Among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students in a Nigerian University.

To evaluate the level of social distance towards people with mental illness among pharmacy students in a Nigerian university and to explore its associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 433 pharmacy students in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The 8-item Social Distance Scale was used to assess an individuals' avoidance reaction directed towards people with mental disorder. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test, and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis. Overall, the students demonstrated a low social distance towards people with mental illness. Lower social distance towards people with mental disorder was associated with younger students (p = 0.006) and students who have had contact with a person with mental illness (p = 0.026), who have visited a mental hospital (p = 0.019), who have experienced mental illness (p = 0.028), and who know a family member or friend with mental illness (p = 0.015). Independent predictors for high social distance towards people with mental illness were age of ≥25 years (odds ratio = 1.488, p = 0.046) and no prior visit to a mental hospital (odds ratio = 2.676, p = 0.016). Our pharmacy students had a low social distance towards people with mental illness. Predictors for the low social distance were younger age and previous visits to a mental hospital. We recommend more robust educational and training programme, and increased exposure to clinical clerkship in psychiatry to improve social distance towards people with mental illness among pharmacy students.

Neonatal sevoflurane exposure induces impulsive behavioral deficit through disrupting excitatory neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex in mice

Sevoflurane, in particular multiple exposures, has been reported to cause the abnormal neurological development including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study is to investigate ADHD-like impulsivity in adult mice after repeated sevoflurane exposures at the neonatal stage. Six-day-old pups were exposed to 60% oxygen in the presence or absence of 3% sevoflurane for 2 h and the treatment was administrated once daily for three consecutive days. To assess the impulsivity, the cliff avoidance reaction (CAR) was carried out at the 8th week. Our results showed that repeated sevoflurane treatment increased the number of jumps and shortened the jumping latency in the CAR test. The cortices were harvested for immunostaining to detect c-Fos and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We found that mPFC neurons, especially excitatory neurons, were highly activated and related to impulsive behavior. The activation viruses (AAV-CaMKIIα-hM3Dq) were injected to evaluate the effects of specific activation of mPFC excitatory neurons on impulsive behavior in the presence of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Likewise, the inhibitory viruses (AAV-CaMKIIα-hM4Di) were injected in the sevoflurane group to explore whether the mPFC excitatory neuronal inhibition reduced the impulsivity. Our results revealed that chemogenetic activation of mPFC excitatory neurons induced impulsive behavior whereas inhibition of mPFC excitatory neurons partially rescued the deficit. These results indicate that repeated sevoflurane exposures at the critical time induce impulsive behavior accompanied with overactivation of mPFC excitatory neurons in adult stages. This work may further extend to understand the ADHD-like impulsive behavior of the anesthetic neurotoxicity.

THE SIGNIFIER AS RUINS

Even though the seduction of ruins seems to be coming from a nostalgia for the past which, possibly, refers to the lived experience (Dasein) of youth, of glory and as a result to the vanity of the human creation, to the vanity of life itself, even if we consider ruins as a resistance and victory against time and of this against this very vanity, however, this perception for ruins is nothing but a concealment from the glance of the relation “thing”-signifier and of the way that the “thing” dictates the signifier. Ruins as a regression of the existence towards non-existence, of creativity towards fall, demonstrate the signifier as flowing from the “thing”, the Logos from ineffable, the image from unimagined, of “something” from “nothing”, art itself as a reaction of avoidance of chaos. Essentially, ruins demonstrate meaning as a reaction to “nothing”, for which “nothing” the meaning as ruins regresses when the reason of resistance disappears. Ruins on the way to “nothing”, a step before their absolute disappearance and their return to the protogenic materials of nature from which, besides, they come, that is the fall and crash of the meaning, allow a quick look over the origin of the meaning without the glance being in danger from the emergence of the absolute “nothing” as an origin of the meaning. Ruins attract us because they disclose while at the same time appeal to us because they conceal the void of the “thing” as a descent of the rational world.