Influence Of Enriched Environment Research Articles

Influence of enriched environment on anxiety-related behavior in evidence and mechanisms

Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental disorders that are in a great demand of developing new treatments. Both genetic and environmental factors play essential roles in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Increasing evidence implicates environmental enrichment that shapes neural plasticity exerts beneficial effects on anxiety-related behavior in animal models. Here, we summarize the effects of enriched environment on anxiety-related behavior in rats and mice, highlight the potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of environmental enrichment on emotionality at cellular/molecular level, and discuss the potential directions for further research.

Noise-induced hippocampal oxidative imbalance and aminoacidergic neurotransmitters alterations in developing male rats: Influence of enriched environment during adolescence.

Living in big cities might involuntarily expose people to high levels of noise causing auditory and/or extra-auditory impairments, including adverse effects on central nervous system (CNS) areas such as the hippocampus. In particular, CNS development is a very complex process that can be altered by environmental stimuli. We have previously shown that noise exposure of developing rats can induce hippocampal-related behavioral alterations. However, noise-induced biochemical alterations had not been studied yet. Thus, the aim of this work was to assess whether early noise exposure can affect rat hippocampal oxidative state and aminoacidergic neurotransmission tone. Additionally, the effectiveness of an enriched environment (EE) as a neuroprotective strategy was evaluated. Male Wistar rats were exposed to different noise schemes at 7 or 15days after birth. Upon weaning, some animals were transferred to an EE whereas others were kept in standard cages. Short- and long-term measurements were performed to evaluate reactive oxygen species, thioredoxins levels and catalase activity as indicators of hippocampal oxidative status as well as glutamic acid decarboxylase and a subtype of glutamate transporter to evaluate aminoacidergic neurotransmission tone. Results showed noise-induced changes in hippocampal oxidative state and aminoacidergic neurotransmission markers that lasted until adolescence and differed according to the scheme and the age of exposure. Finally, EE housing was effective in preventing some of these changes. These findings suggest that CNS development seems to be sensitive to the effects of stressors such as noise, as well as those of an environmental stimulation, favoring prompt and lasting molecular changes.

Intensive Physiotherapy Interventions in Speedy Recovery of Sub-acute Stroke: A Case Series

Introduction: Intensive physiotherapy interventions have shown good recovery in stroke if applied to stable patients who can tolerate it. Influence of enriched environment on intensive physiotherapy interventions after acute care has not been studied in low-resource contexts, and therefore, we reported outcome of the interventions in multiple cases with stroke in Nepalese context and cultural background. Case reports: Three patients in sub-acute stage of stroke were admitted in intensive physiotherapy treatment unit where the environment was therapeutically enriched. The therapist-administered interventions were intensive for each domain of impairment and activity limitations, every day for six days a week. Patients were trained to carry out caregiver-assisted practice or self-practice in enriched environment. Training demonstrated visible and measurable outcome in all cases. Conclusion: Intensive physiotherapy interventions in an enriched environment promoted good recovery in short period in stroke. The interventions applied, and the principles adopted were based on the established evidence, and therefore findings of this study may support for its feasibility and applicability.

Influence of enriched environment on visual function and synaptic plasticity in adult amblyopic mice

Objective To examine role and possible mechanism of enriched environment (EE) on regulating recovery of visual function in adult monocular deprivation amblyopia mice. Methods A total of 72 healthy Kunming mice were divided into normal control group, monocular deprivation (MD) group, MD+ EE group and MD+ fluoxetine group by random number table.Except for the normal control group, the mice in the other groups were sutured on the right eyelid 21 days after birth to establish MD amblyopia model.the mice were fed in standard environment or EE for 4 weeks according to the group.Visual acuity and flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) of mice in each group were detected.The distribution of microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) in visual cortex of adult amblyopic mice were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of MAP2, synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) protein in visual cortex of adult amblyopic mice were detected by western blot.The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Hunan Children's Hospital and conformed to the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Results There was a significant difference in the visual acuity of deprived eye among each group (F=114.632, P<0.001). The visual acuity in MD group is lower than that in normal control group, with a significant difference (t=15.480, P<0.001). Compared with MD group, visual acuity was restored in MD+ EE group and MD+ fluoxetine group, with significant differences (t=15.071, P<0.001; t=14.841, P<0.001). There was a significant difference in the P2 latency and amplitude of F-VEP in deprived eye among each group (F=36.510, P=0.000; F=34.140, P=0.000). Compare with normal control group, P2 latency was prolonged and P2 amplitude of F-VEP was decreased in deprived eye in MD group, with significant differences (t=10.220, P=0.000; t=10.09, P=0.000). Western blot assay showed that there was a significant difference in the expression of MAP2 in visual cortex contralateral deprived eye among each group (F=18.142, P=0.000). The expression of MAP2 in MD group was significantly lower than that in normal contral group (t=3.056, P<0.01); Compared with MD group, MAP2 expression was increased in MD+ EE group and MD+ fluoxetine group (t=2.541, P=0.031; t=2.157, P=0.017). There were significant differences in the expression of SYP and PSD-95 in visual cortex contralateral to deprived eye among each group (F=12.871, P=0.000; F=25.060, P=0.000). Compared with normal contral group, SYP and PSD-95 expression in visual cortex were down-regulated in MD group, with significant differences (t=6.054, P=0.000; t=8.631, P=0.000). The expression of SYP and PSD-95 protein in MD+ EE group and MD+ fluoxetine group were significantly higher than those in MD group (all at P<0.05). Conclusions EE can recover visual function through up-regulating the expression of MAP2, which can modulate the dendritic branch trim and neural plasticity of visual cortex in adult MD mice. Key words: Enriched environment; Monocular deprivation; Amblyopia; Visual cortex; Plasticity

Enriched environment contributes to recovery of visual acuity and increases perineuronal nets in monocular-deprived animals.

aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of enriched environment on the distribution of perineuronal nets (PNNs) using a stereogically based unbiased protocol and visual acuity in adult Swiss albino mice that underwent monocular deprivation during the critical period of postnatal development. Eight female Swiss albino mice were monocular deprived on postnatal day 10 and divided into two groups at weaning: standard environment (SE group, n = 4) and enriched environment (EE group, n = 4). After 3 months, all of the mice were subjected to grating visual acuity tests, sacrificed, and perfused with aldehyde fixative. The brains were removed and cut at 70 µm thickness in a vibratome and processed for lectin histochemical staining with Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA). Architectonic limits of area 17 were conspicuously defined by WFA histochemical staining, and the optical fractionator stereological method was applied to estimate the total number of PNNs in the supragranular, granular, and infragranular layers. All groups were compared using Student's t-test at a 95% confidence level. Comparative analysis of the average PNN estimations revealed that the EE group had higher PNNs in the supragranular layer (2726.33 ± 405.416, mean ± standard deviation) compared with the SE group (1543.535 ± 260.686; Student's t-test, p = .0495). No differences were found in the other layers. Visual acuity was significantly lower in the SE group (0.55 cycles/degree) than in the EE group (1.06 cycles/ degree). Our results suggest that the integrity of the specialized extracellular matrix PNNs of the supragranular layer may be essential for normal visual acuity development. Keywords: monocular deprivation, critical period, visual cortex, perineuronal nets, visual acuity, stereology.

The influence of enriched environment on lamotrigine's procognitive effect in rats

The influence of enriched environment on lamotrigine's procognitive effect in rats