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Roschke NN, Hillebrandt KH, Polenz D, Klein O, Gassner JMGV, Pratschke J, Krenzien F, Sauer IM, Raschzok N, Moosburner S. Optimizing environmental enrichment for Sprague Dawley rats: Exemplary insights into the liver proteome. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297497. [PMID: 38635534 PMCID: PMC11025844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the expected increase in the elderly population and the growing emphasis on aging-related biomedical research, the demand for aged laboratory animals has surged, challenging established husbandry practices. Our objective was to establish a cost-effective method for environmental enrichment, utilizing the liver as a representative organ to assess potential metabolic changes in response to differing enrichment levels. METHODS We conducted a six-month study involving 24 male Sprague Dawley rats, randomly assigned to four environmental enrichment groups. Two groups were housed in standard cages, while the others were placed in modified rabbit cages. Half of the groups received weekly playtime in an activity focused rat housing unit. We evaluated hormone levels, playtime behavior, and subjective handling experience. Additionally, liver tissue proteomic analysis was performed. RESULTS Initial corticosterone levels and those after 3 and 6 months showed no significant differences. Yet, testosterone levels were lower in the control group by the end of the study (p = 0.007). We observed 1871 distinct proteins in liver tissue, with 77% being common across groups. In gene ontology analysis, no specific pathways were overexpressed. In semiquantitative analysis, we observed differences in proteins associated in lipid metabolism such as Apolipoprotein A-I and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase, which were lower in the control group (p = 0.024 and p = 0.009). Rats in the intervention groups with weekly playtime displayed the least amount of reported distress during inspection or upon room entry and were less prone to accepting treats. Removing animals from their enclosure was most effortless for those in the large cage group. Over time, there was a decrease in conflicts among rats that interacted only twice weekly during playpen time. DISCUSSION In summary, refining husbandry practices for aging rats is both simple and budget-friendly, with no apparent adverse effects on stress levels, animal development, or relevant metabolic changes in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie N. Roschke
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karl H. Hillebrandt
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Academy, Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dietrich Polenz
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Klein
- Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joseph M. G. V. Gassner
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Academy, Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johann Pratschke
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Krenzien
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Academy, Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
| | - Igor M. Sauer
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nathanael Raschzok
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Academy, Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Moosburner
- Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Academy, Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin, Germany
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Bahi A. Gestational environmental enrichment prevents chronic social stress induced anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in offspring. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 234:173679. [PMID: 37977553 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological surveys have shown a strong relationship between maternal stress and offspring's mood disorders. Growing evidence suggested that environmental enrichment (EE) improves cognitive function in models of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the potential protective effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited mood disorders in offspring have not been studied. Knowing that the undeveloped brain is more sensitive to gestational environmental stimuli, we hypothesized that initiating cognitive stimulation, during gestation, would protect against social stress-induced behavioral alterations in adulthood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestational EE on social stress-elicited anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors in adult offspring. EE consisted of free access, of dams, to tubular devices of different shapes, colors, and sizes that were changed regularly. After birth and weaning, young adult offspring were exposed to 19 days of social stress and anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by elevated plus maze, open field, and marbles burying tests. The two-bottle choice (TBC) drinking paradigm was used to assess stress-induced ethanol intake. Results showed that gestational EE prevented social stress-elicited anxiogenic-like effects with no differences in spontaneous locomotor activity. Moreover, in the TBC paradigm, mice pre-exposed to EE consistently showed a significantly decreased consumption and preference for ethanol with no effects on tastants' intakes. Interestingly, gestational EE increased serum BDNF levels, which showed a correlation with measures of anxiety- and ethanol-related behaviors. These findings indicate that some neurodevelopmental changes associated with prenatal EE may counteract adult social stress-induced behavioral alterations through a BDNF mechanism. Therefore, we propose that gestational EE has significant protective and beneficial effects on social stress-induced cognitive impairment. It can also alleviate anxiety-like behavior and subsequent excessive alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Bahi
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy, CMHS, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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3
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Hylander BL, Qiao G, Cortes Gomez E, Singh P, Repasky EA. Housing temperature plays a critical role in determining gut microbiome composition in research mice: Implications for experimental reproducibility. Biochimie 2023; 210:71-81. [PMID: 36693616 PMCID: PMC10953156 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical mouse models are widely used for studying mechanisms of disease and responses to therapeutics, however there is concern about the lack of experimental reproducibility and failure to predict translational success. The gut microbiome has emerged as a regulator of metabolism and immunological processes in health and disease. The gut microbiome of mice differs by supplier and this affects experimental outcomes. We have previously reported that the mandated, mildly cool housing temperature for research mice (22°-26 °C) induces chronic adrenergic stress which suppresses anti-tumor immunity and promotes tumor growth compared to thermoneutral housing (30 °C). Therefore, we wondered how housing temperature affects the microbiome. Here, we demonstrate that the gut microbiome of BALB/c mice is easily modulated by a few degrees difference in temperature. Our results reveal significant differences between the gut microbiome of mice housed at 22°-23 °C vs. 30 °C. Although the genera vary, we consistently observed an enrichment of members of the family Lachnospiraceae when mice are housed at 22°-23 °C. These findings demonstrate that adrenergic stress and need for increased energy harvest to support thermogenesis, in addition to other factors such as diet, modulates the gut microbiome and this could be one mechanism by which housing temperature affects experimental outcomes. Additionally, tumor growth in mice housed at 30 °C also increases the proportion of Lachnospiraceae. The idea that stress can alter the gut microbiome and cause differences in experimental outcomes is applicable to mouse studies in general and is a variable that has significant potential to affect experimental reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Hylander
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
| | - Guanxi Qiao
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
| | - Eduardo Cortes Gomez
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
| | - Prashant Singh
- Genomics Shared Resource, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Repasky
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA.
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4
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Kozol RA, Yuiska A, Han JH, Tolentino B, Lopatto A, Lewis P, Paz A, Keene AC, Kowalko JE, Duboué ER. Novel Husbandry Practices Result in Rapid Rates of Growth and Sexual Maturation Without Impacting Adult Behavior in the Blind Mexican Cavefish. Zebrafish 2023; 20:86-94. [PMID: 37071855 PMCID: PMC10123811 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal model systems are dependent on the standardization of husbandry protocols that maximize growth and reduce generation time. The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, exists as eyed surface and blind cave dwelling populations. The opportunity for comparative approaches between independently evolved populations has led to the rapid growth of A. mexicanus as a model for evolution and biomedical research. However, a slow and inconsistent growth rate remains a major limitation to the expanded application of A. mexicanus. Fortunately, this temporal limitation can be addressed through husbandry changes that accelerate growth rates while maintaining optimal health outcomes. Here, we describe a husbandry protocol that produces rapid growth rates through changes in diet, feeding frequency, growth sorting and progressive changes in tank size. This protocol produced robust growth rates and decreased the age of sexual maturity in comparison to our previous protocol. To determine whether changes in feeding impacted behavior, we tested fish in exploration and schooling assays. We found no difference in behavior between the two groups, suggesting that increased feeding and rapid growth will not impact the natural variation in behavioral traits. Taken together, this standardized husbandry protocol will accelerate the development of A. mexicanus as a genetic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Kozol
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Anders Yuiska
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Ji Heon Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Bernadeth Tolentino
- Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Arthur Lopatto
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Peter Lewis
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandra Paz
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Alex C. Keene
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Johanna E. Kowalko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erik R. Duboué
- College of Arts and Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
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5
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Niiranen L, Stenbäck V, Tulppo M, Herzig KH, Mäkelä KA. Interplay between Learning and Voluntary Wheel Running in Male C57BL/6NCrl Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054259. [PMID: 36901690 PMCID: PMC10001624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise is shown to improve cognitive function in various human and animal studies. Laboratory mice are often used as a model to study the effects of physical activity and running wheels provide a voluntary and non-stressful form of exercise. The aim of the study was to analyze whether the cognitive state of a mouse is related to its wheel-running behavior. Twenty-two male C57BL/6NCrl mice (9.5 weeks old) were used in the study. The cognitive function of group-housed mice (n = 5-6/group) was first analyzed in the IntelliCage system followed by individual phenotyping with the PhenoMaster with access to a voluntary running wheel. The mice were divided into three groups according to their running wheel activity: low, average, and high runners. The learning trials in the IntelliCage showed that the high-runner mice exhibited a higher error rate at the beginning of learning trials but improved their outcome and learning performance more compared to the other groups. The high-runner mice ate more compared to the other groups in the PhenoMaster analyses. There were no differences in the corticosterone levels between the groups, indicating similar stress responses. Our results demonstrate that high-runner mice exhibit enhanced learning capabilities prior to access to voluntary running wheels. In addition, our results also show that individual mice react differently when introduced to running wheels, which should be taken into consideration when choosing animals for voluntary endurance exercise studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Niiranen
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Ville Stenbäck
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko Tulppo
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Karl-Heinz Herzig
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Pediatric Institute, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60572 Poznan, Poland
- Medical Research Center (MRC), Oulu University Hospital, 90220 Oulu, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-94485274
| | - Kari A. Mäkelä
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90220 Oulu, Finland
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Butler-Struben HM, Kentner AC, Trainor BC. What's wrong with my experiment?: The impact of hidden variables on neuropsychopharmacology research. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1285-1291. [PMID: 35338255 PMCID: PMC9117327 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01309-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The field of neuropsychopharmacology relies on behavioral assays to quantify behavioral processes related to mental illness and substance use disorders. Although these assays have been highly informative, sometimes laboratories have unpublished datasets from experiments that "didn't work". Often this is because expected outcomes were not observed in positive or negative control groups. While this can be due to experimenter error, an important alternative is that under-appreciated environmental factors can have a major impact on results. "Hidden variables" such as circadian cycles, husbandry, and social environments are often omitted in methods sections, even though there is a strong body of literature documenting their impact on physiological and behavioral outcomes. Applying this knowledge in a more critical manner could provide behavioral neuroscientists with tools to develop better testing methods, improve the external validity of behavioral techniques, and make better comparisons of experimental data across institutions. Here we review the potential impact of "hidden variables" that are commonly overlooked such as light-dark cycles, transport stress, cage ventilation, and social housing structure. While some of these conditions may not be under direct control of investigators, it does not diminish the potential impact of these variables on experimental results. We provide recommendations to investigators on which variables to report in publications and how to address "hidden variables" that impact their experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda C Kentner
- School of Arts & Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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7
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Bigelow LJ, Cohen AJ, Pimm R, Knight JB, Bernard PB. Ultrasonic Vocalization Analysis as a Novel Metric to Assess Cage Enrichment in Rats. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2022; 61:140-148. [PMID: 35082005 PMCID: PMC8956216 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-21-000024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory rodent housing conditions vary significantly across laboratories and facilities. Variation in housing can be associated with animal stress leading to study variability and the subsequent inability to replicate experimental findings. Optimization and standardization of animal housing are necessary to promote animal welfare and data consistency, thereby reducing the number of animals necessary to detect treatment effects. While interest in environmental enrichment is increasing, many studies do not examine the behavior of animals in the home cage, neglecting important aspects of enrichment. To determine how increased vertical home cage area affects animal welfare, double-decker cages (enriched), which allow rats to upright stand, were compared with standard single-level cages, which impede the ability to upright stand. Home cage welfare was assessed by analyzing ultrasonic vocalizations, fecal corticosterone, upright standing, and fighting. Ultrasonic vocalization was further explored by analyses of call type as defined by a 14 call-type schematic. Rats housed in enriched cages spent more time fighting, produced fewer 50 kHz calls, and had higher levels of fecal corticosterone. Rats in standard cages attempted to upright stand more often but remained upright for a shorter amount of time due to the height limitation imposed by standard cages. In addition, standard cages restrict some naturalistic behaviors such as upright standing and reduce fighting, which may be attributable to their single-tier organization and floor space. Enriched cages permit rats to engage in normal ethological behavior but also increase fighting. This study demonstrates that housing conditions have a meaningful impact on multiple measures of animal affect. When considering study design, researchers should be aware of how housing conditions affect animal subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan J Bigelow
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Andrew J Cohen
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Robyn Pimm
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Jennifer B Knight
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Paul B Bernard
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
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8
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Ratuski AS, Weary DM. Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040414. [PMID: 35203123 PMCID: PMC8868396 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Environmental enrichment has been widely studied with laboratory rodents, but there is no consensus regarding what counts as enrichment or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment. We conducted a metareview to better understand the definitions and goals of enrichment, perceived risks or requirements of enrichment, and what forms of enrichment have previously been endorsed for use with rodents housed in laboratories. This may help researchers and animal care staff to better define their chosen approach and intended outcomes when providing environmental enrichment. Abstract Environmental enrichment has been widely studied in rodents, but there is no consensus on what enrichment should look like or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment, which may slow housing improvements for laboratory animals. Many review articles have addressed environmental enrichment for laboratory rats and mice (Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus). We conducted a metareview of 29 review articles to assess how enrichment has been defined and what are commonly described as its goals or requirements. Recommendations from each article were summarised to illustrate the conditions generally considered suitable for laboratory rodents. While there is no consensus on alternative terminology, many articles acknowledged that the blanket use of the terms “enriched” and “enrichment” should be avoided. Environmental enrichment was most often conceptualised as a method to increase natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. Authors also commonly outlined perceived risks and requirements of environmental enrichment. We discuss these perceptions, make suggestions for future research, and advocate for the adoption of more specific and value-neutral terminology.
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Iman IN, Ahmad NAZ, Mohd Yusof NA, Talib UN, Norazit A, Kumar J, Mehat MZ, Hassan Z, Müller CP, Muzaimi M. Mitragynine (Kratom)-Induced Cognitive Impairments in Mice Resemble Δ9-THC and Morphine Effects: Reversal by Cannabinoid CB 1 Receptor Antagonism. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:708055. [PMID: 34603022 PMCID: PMC8481666 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.708055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Kratom is a widely abused plant-based drug preparation with a global interest in recent years, well beyond its native grounds in Southeast Asia. Mitragynine, its major psychoactive constituent is known to exhibit opioid-like behavioral effects with resultant neuroplasticity in the brain reward system. Its chronic administration is associated with cognitive impairments in animal studies. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for such a deficit remains elusive. In this study, the involvement of cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in cognitive deficits after chronic mitragynine exposures was investigated for 28 days (with incremental dose sensitization from 1 to 25 mg/kg) in adult male Swiss albino mice using the IntelliCage® system. Chronic high-dose mitragynine exposure (5–25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.]), but not low-dose exposure (1–4 mg/kg, i.p.), induced hyperlocomotion, potentiated the preference for sucrose reward, increased resistance to punishment, and impaired place learning and its reversal. Comparable deficits were also observed after chronic treatments with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) or morphine (5 mg/kg, subcutaneous). Mitragynine-, morphine-, and THC-induced learning and memory deficits were reversed by co-treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist, NIDA-41020 (10 mg/kg, i.p.). A significant upregulation of CB1 receptor expression was found in the hippocampal CA1 region and ventral tegmental area after chronic high-dose mitragynine and morphine, whereas a downregulation was observed after chronic THC. In conclusion, the present study suggests a plausible role of the CB1 receptor in mediating the dose-dependent cognitive deficits after chronic high-dose mitragynine exposure. This also highlights the potential of CB1 receptor antagonism in ameliorating the cognitive deficits associated with long-term kratom/mitragynine consumption in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Nurul Iman
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aimi Zawami Ahmad
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Aiman Mohd Yusof
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Ummi Nasrah Talib
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
| | - Anwar Norazit
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Zulfadli Mehat
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Zurina Hassan
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | - Christian P Müller
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia.,Section of Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mustapha Muzaimi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
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10
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Xiao R, Ali S, Caligiuri MA, Cao L. Enhancing Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Functions of Natural Killer Cells in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:695859. [PMID: 34394087 PMCID: PMC8355812 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.695859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The environment of an organism can convey a powerful influence over its biology. Environmental enrichment (EE), as a eustress model, has been used extensively in neuroscience to study neurogenesis and brain plasticity. EE has also been used as an intervention for the treatment and prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders with limited clinical application. By contrast, the effects of EE on the immune system are relatively less investigated. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that EE can robustly impact immune function. In this review, we summarize the major components of EE, the impact of EE on natural killer (NK) cells, EE's immunoprotective roles in cancer, and the underlying mechanisms of EE-induced NK cell regulation. Moreover, we discuss opportunities for translational application based on insights from animal research of EE-induced NK cell regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Xiao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Seemaab Ali
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Michael A. Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center and the Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH, United States
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11
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Eller OC, Yang X, Fuentes IM, Pierce AN, Jones BM, Brake AD, Wang R, Dussor G, Christianson JA. Voluntary Wheel Running Partially Attenuates Early Life Stress-Induced Neuroimmune Measures in the Dura and Evoked Migraine-Like Behaviors in Female Mice. Front Physiol 2021; 12:665732. [PMID: 34122137 PMCID: PMC8194283 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.665732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that affects three times more women than men and can be triggered by endogenous and exogenous factors. Stress is a common migraine trigger and exposure to early life stress increases the likelihood of developing chronic pain disorders later in life. Here, we used our neonatal maternal separation (NMS) model of early life stress to investigate whether female NMS mice have an increased susceptibility to evoked migraine-like behaviors and the potential therapeutic effect of voluntary wheel running. NMS was performed for 3 h/day during the first 3 weeks of life and initial observations were made at 12 weeks of age after voluntary wheel running (Exercise, -Ex) or sedentary behavior (-Sed) for 4 weeks. Mast cell degranulation rates were significantly higher in dura mater from NMS-Sed mice, compared to either naïve-Sed or NMS-Ex mice. Protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) protein levels in the dura were significantly increased in NMS mice and a significant interaction of NMS and exercise was observed for transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) protein levels in the dura. Behavioral assessments were performed on adult (>8 weeks of age) naïve and NMS mice that received free access to a running wheel beginning at 4 weeks of age. Facial grimace, paw mechanical withdrawal threshold, and light aversion were measured following direct application of inflammatory soup (IS) onto the dura or intraperitoneal (IP) nitroglycerin (NTG) injection. Dural IS resulted in a significant decrease in forepaw withdrawal threshold in all groups of mice, while exercise significantly increased grimace score across all groups. NTG significantly increased grimace score, particularly in exercised mice. A significant effect of NMS and a significant interaction effect of exercise and NMS were observed on hindpaw sensitivity following NTG injection. Significant light aversion was observed in NMS mice, regardless of exercise, following NTG. Finally, exercise significantly reduced calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) protein level in the dura of NMS and naïve mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that while voluntary wheel running improved some measures in NMS mice that have been associated with increased migraine susceptibility, behavioral outcomes were not impacted or even worsened by exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia C. Eller
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Xiaofang Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Isabella M. Fuentes
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Angela N. Pierce
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Physiology, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Joplin, MO, United States
| | - Brittni M. Jones
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Aaron D. Brake
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Ruipeng Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Gregory Dussor
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Julie A. Christianson
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
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12
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The Contribution of Environmental Enrichment to Phenotypic Variation in Mice and Rats. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0539-20.2021. [PMID: 33622702 PMCID: PMC7986535 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0539-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproducibility and translation of neuroscience research is assumed to be undermined by introducing environmental complexity and heterogeneity. Rearing laboratory animals with minimal (if any) environmental stimulation is thought to control for biological variability but may not adequately test the robustness of our animal models. Standard laboratory housing is associated with reduced demonstrations of species typical behaviors and changes in neurophysiology that may impact the translation of research results. Modest increases in environmental enrichment (EE) mitigate against insults used to induce animal models of disease, directly calling into question the translatability of our work. This may in part underlie the disconnect between preclinical and clinical research findings. Enhancing environmental stimulation for our model organisms promotes ethological natural behaviors but may simultaneously increase phenotypic trait variability. To test this assumption, we conducted a systematic review and evaluated coefficients of variation (CVs) between EE and standard housed mice and rats. Given findings of suboptimal reporting of animal laboratory housing conditions, we also developed a methodological reporting table for enrichment use in neuroscience research. Our data show that animals housed in EE were not more variable than those in standard housing. Therefore, environmental heterogeneity introduced into the laboratory, in the form of enrichment, does not compromise data integrity. Overall, human life is complicated, and by embracing such nuanced complexity into our laboratories, we may paradoxically improve on the rigor and reproducibility of our research.
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13
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Mesa-Gresa P, Ramos-Campos M, Redolat R. Behavioral impact of experience based on environmental enrichment: Influence of age and duration of exposure in male NMRI mice. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1071-1081. [PMID: 33452673 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have suggested that short periods of exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) in rodents induce physiological and behavioral effects. In the present study, our aim was to evaluate if the impact of experiences based on EE could be modulated by the age of onset and the developmental period of exposure. NMRI male mice (n = 64) were exposed to EE or standard environment (SE) and behavioral changes (anxiety, exploration, memory and social interaction) were evaluated. Groups compared were: (a) SE: exposure to SE on post-natal day (PND) 28 and lasting 6 months; (b) EE-6: exposure to EE on PND 28 and lasting 6 months; (c) EE-4: exposure to EE on PND 91 and lasting 4 months; (d) EE-2: exposure to EE on PND 154 and lasting 2 months. Results indicated that in the hole-board task the decrease in exploratory behavior reached significance when EE was initiated at adolescence whereas anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze tend to diminish after a longer period of EE. No significant effects of EE on aggressive behavior or novel object recognition were obtained. Taking these results into account, further studies are needed in order to determine the possible modulating role of age and duration of exposure to enriched environments on behavior. Results obtained could explain some discrepancies reported in previous studies, providing new evidence that could contribute to the design of future research related to the benefits of complex and enriched environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Mesa-Gresa
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Ramos-Campos
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Redolat
- Departamento Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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14
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Pritchett-Corning KR. Environmental Complexity and Research Outcomes. ILAR J 2020; 60:239-251. [PMID: 32559304 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental complexity is an experimental paradigm as well as a potential part of animals' everyday housing experiences. In experimental uses, researchers add complexity to stimulate brain development, delay degenerative brain changes, elicit more naturalistic behaviors, and test learning and memory. Complexity can exacerbate or mitigate behavioral problems, give animals a sense of control, and allow for expression of highly driven, species-typical behaviors that can improve animal welfare. Complex environments should be designed thoughtfully with the animal's natural behaviors in mind, reported faithfully in the literature, and evaluated carefully for unexpected effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Pritchett-Corning
- Office of Animal Resources, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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15
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Marrocco J, Einhorn NR, McEwen BS. Environmental epigenetics of sex differences in the brain. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 175:209-220. [PMID: 33008526 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64123-6.00015-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Experiences throughout the life course lead to unique phenotypes even among those with the same genotype. Genotype sets the substrate on which physiologic processes, which communicate with the brain, mediate the effects of life experiences via epigenetics. Epigenetics modify the expression of genes in the brain and body in response to circulating hormones and other mediators, which are activated to facilitate survival responses through a process called allostasis. Epigenetic signatures can even be inherited, resulting in transgenerational effects. This chapter addresses epigenetics in the context of sex differences, discussing the intersection between genetics and gonadal hormones and their effect in the brain at discrete developmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Marrocco
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Nathan R Einhorn
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Bruce S McEwen
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Kloefkorn H, Aiani LM, Lakhani A, Nagesh S, Moss A, Goolsby W, Rehg JM, Pedersen NP, Hochman S. Noninvasive three-state sleep-wake staging in mice using electric field sensors. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 344:108834. [PMID: 32619585 PMCID: PMC7454007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Validate a novel method for sleep-wake staging in mice using noninvasive electric field (EF) sensors. METHODS Mice were implanted with electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) electrodes and housed individually. Noninvasive EF sensors were attached to the exterior of each chamber to record respiration and other movement simultaneously with EEG, EMG, and video. A sleep-wake scoring method based on EF sensor data was developed with reference to EEG/EMG and then validated by three expert scorers. Additionally, novice scorers without sleep-wake scoring experience were self-trained to score sleep using only the EF sensor data, and results were compared to those from expert scorers. Lastly, ability to capture three-state sleep-wake staging with EF sensors attached to traditional mouse home-cages was tested. RESULTS EF sensors quantified wake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM sleep with high agreement (>93%) and comparable inter- and intra-scorer error as EEG/EMG. Novice scorers successfully learned sleep-wake scoring using only EF sensor data and scoring criteria, and achieved high agreement with expert scorers (>91%). When applied to traditional home-cages, EF sensors enabled classification of three-state (wake, NREM and REM) sleep-wake independent of EEG/EMG. CONCLUSIONS EF sensors score three-state sleep-wake architecture with high agreement to conventional EEG/EMG sleep-wake scoring 1) without invasive surgery, 2) from outside the home-cage, and 3) and without requiring specialized training or equipment. EF sensors provide an alternative method to assess rodent sleep for animal models and research laboratories in which EEG/EMG is not possible or where noninvasive approaches are preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Kloefkorn
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - L M Aiani
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - A Lakhani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - S Nagesh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - A Moss
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - W Goolsby
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J M Rehg
- School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - N P Pedersen
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - S Hochman
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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17
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Distinct Influence of Hypercaloric Diets Predominant with Fat or Fat and Sucrose on Adipose Tissue and Liver Inflammation in Mice. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25194369. [PMID: 32977558 PMCID: PMC7584000 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Overfeeding of a hypercaloric diet leads to obesity, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and fatty liver disease. Although limiting fat or carbohydrate intake is the cornerstone for obesity management, whether lowering fat or reducing carbohydrate intake is more effective for health management remains controversial. This study used murine models to determine how dietary fat and carbohydrates may influence metabolic disease manifestation. Age-matched C57BL/6J mice were fed 2 hypercaloric diets with similar caloric content, one with very high fat and low carbohydrate content (VHF) and the other with moderately high fat levels with high sucrose content (HFHS) for 12 weeks. Both groups gained more weight and displayed hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and liver steatosis compared to mice fed a normal low-fat (LF) diet. Interestingly, the VHF-fed mice showed a more robust adipose tissue inflammation compared to HFHS-fed mice, whereas HFHS-fed mice showed liver fibrosis and inflammation that was not observed in VHF-fed mice. Taken together, these results indicate macronutrient-specific tissue inflammation with excess dietary fat provoking adipose tissue inflammation, whereas moderately high dietary fat with extra sucrose is necessary and sufficient for hepatosteatosis advancement to steatohepatitis. Hence, liver and adipose tissues respond to dietary fat and sucrose in opposite manners, yet both macronutrients are contributing factors to metabolic diseases.
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18
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Cantara SI, Blas-Machado U, Zhao X, Moore RH, Schroeder JP, Lee VK. Comparative Effects of 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch Corncob Bedding on Cage Ammonia Levels, Behavior, and Respiratory Pathology of Male C57BL/6 and 129S1/Svlm Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020; 59:695-702. [PMID: 32878682 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Corncob is a common bedding material used in laboratory rodents, but little is known about differences in the effects of the 2 available sizes on rodent models and health. This study compared the effects of these 2 corncob bedding sizes on cage ammonia levels, behavior, and respiratory pathology in mice. We hypothesized that the beddings would not differ significantly in their effects on these parameters. Two strains of male mice (C57BL/6 and 129S1/Svlm) were housed in static, filter-top cages containing 1 of the 2 bedding types for the duration of the study (12 wk). Intracage ammonia was measured during 1 wk of the study on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. Behavior was evaluated by using circadian rhythm, open field, and Morris water-maze tests. Animals were euthanized with injectable euthanasia solution to collect respiratory and ocular tissues for histopathologic lesion scoring. Animals that were euthanized immediately upon arrival from the vendor served as negative controls. Bedding size did not significantly affect behavior or ammonia levels. Average intracage ammonia levels on day 7 were 525 ppm for 1/4-in. bedding and 533 ppm for 1/8-in. bedding. Regardless of the bedding size, lesions noted in both strains of mice were of similar incidence and severity, were limited to the nose, and consisted of minimal to mild suppurative rhinitis. The eyes, trachea, and lungs were not affected. In conclusion, 1/4-in. and 1/8-in. corncob beddings have comparable effects on cage ammonia levels and the behavior and respiratory pathology in male mice of the strains tested.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uriel Blas-Machado
- Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
| | - Xiwen Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Renee H Moore
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jason P Schroeder
- Emory Integrated Core Facilities, Rodent Behavioral Core, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vanessa K Lee
- Division of Animal Resources, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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19
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Vogt MA, Mertens S, Serba S, Palme R, Chourbaji S. The ‘Cage Climber’ - A new enrichment for use in large-dimensioned mouse facilities. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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20
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Possible challenges in behavioral phenotyping of rodents following COVID-19 lockdown. Lab Anim (NY) 2020; 49:159. [DOI: 10.1038/s41684-020-0559-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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21
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Fernández-García J, Altea-Manzano P, Pranzini E, Fendt SM. Stable Isotopes for Tracing Mammalian-Cell Metabolism In Vivo. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:185-201. [PMID: 31955965 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metabolism is at the cornerstone of all cellular functions and mounting evidence of its deregulation in different diseases emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive understanding of metabolic regulation at the whole-organism level. Stable-isotope measurements are a powerful tool for probing cellular metabolism and, as a result, are increasingly used to study metabolism in in vivo settings. The additional complexity of in vivo metabolic measurements requires paying special attention to experimental design and data interpretation. Here, we review recent work where in vivo stable-isotope measurements have been used to address relevant biological questions within an in vivo context, summarize different experimental and data interpretation approaches and their limitations, and discuss future opportunities in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Fernández-García
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Patricia Altea-Manzano
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Erica Pranzini
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Abstract
Animal care and use play a pivotal role in the research process. Ethical concerns on the use of animals in research have promoted the creation of a legal framework in many geographical areas that researchers must comply with, and professional organizations continuously develop recommendations on specific areas of laboratory animal science. Scientific evidence demonstrates that many aspects of animal care and use which are beyond the legal requirements have direct impact on research results. Therefore, the review and oversight of animal care and use programs are essential to identify, define, control, and improve all of these aspects to promote the reproducibility, validity, and translatability of animal-based research outcomes. In this chapter, we summarize the ethical principles driving legislation and recommendations on animal care and use, as well as some of these laws and international recommendations. Examples of the impact of specific animal care and use aspects on research, as well as systems of internal and external oversight of animal care and use programs, are described.
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23
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Jirkof P, Abdelrahman A, Bleich A, Durst M, Keubler L, Potschka H, Struve B, Talbot SR, Vollmar B, Zechner D, Häger C. A safe bet? Inter-laboratory variability in behaviour-based severity assessment. Lab Anim 2019; 54:73-82. [PMID: 31696771 DOI: 10.1177/0023677219881481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Evidence-based severity assessment is essential as a basis for ethical evaluation in animal experimentation to ensure animal welfare, legal compliance and scientific quality. To fulfil these tasks scientists, animal care and veterinary personnel need assessment tools that provide species-relevant measurements of the animals' physical and affective state. In a three-centre study inter-laboratory robustness of body weight monitoring, mouse grimace scale (MGS) and burrowing test were evaluated. The parameters were assessed in naïve and tramadol treated female C57BL/6J mice. During tramadol treatment a body weight loss followed by an increase, when treatment was terminated, was observed in all laboratories. Tramadol treatment did not affect the MGS or burrowing performance. Results were qualitatively comparable between the laboratories, but quantitatively significantly different (inter-laboratory analysis). Burrowing behaviour seems to be highly sensitive to inter-laboratory differences in testing protocol. All locations obtained comparable information regarding the qualitative effect of tramadol treatment in C57BL/6J mice, however, datasets differed as a result of differences in test and housing conditions. In conclusion, our study confirms that results of behavioural testing can be affected by many factors and may differ between laboratories. Nevertheless, the evaluated parameters appeared relatively robust even when conditions were not harmonized extensively and present useful tools for severity assessment. However, analgesia-related side effects on parameters have to be considered carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulin Jirkof
- Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Animal Welfare and 3Rs, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Abdelrahman
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Mattea Durst
- Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lydia Keubler
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany
| | - Birgitta Struve
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Germany
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24
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Hylander BL, Gordon CJ, Repasky EA. Manipulation of Ambient Housing Temperature To Study the Impact of Chronic Stress on Immunity and Cancer in Mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:631-636. [PMID: 30670578 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mice are the preeminent research organism in which to model human diseases and study the involvement of the immune response. Rapidly accumulating evidence indicates a significant involvement of stress hormones in cancer progression, resistance to therapies, and suppression of immune responses. As a result, there has been a concerted effort to model human stress in mice. In this article, we discuss recent literature showing how mice in research facilities are chronically stressed at baseline because of environmental factors. Focusing on housing temperature, we suggest that the stress of cool housing temperatures contributes to the impact of other imposed experimental stressors and therefore has a confounding effect on mouse stress models. Furthermore, we propose that manipulation of housing temperature is a useful approach for studying the impact of chronic stress on disease and the immune response and for testing therapeutic methods of reducing the negative effects of chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Hylander
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263
| | - Christopher J Gordon
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263
| | - Elizabeth A Repasky
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263
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25
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Bolker JA. Selection of Models: Evolution and the Choice of Species for Translational Research. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2019; 93:82-91. [PMID: 31416088 DOI: 10.1159/000500317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary thinking can inform the choice and assessment of model species in neuroscience, particularly when such models are intended to generate knowledge that will translate to humans. Avoiding errors that arise from oversimplified notions of phylogeny or genotype-phenotype mapping is one contribution; evolutionary biology also offers positive guidance. The challenge of finding adequate non-human models for translational research is particularly acute in neuroscience: neurobiological and behavioral phenotypes are complex and plastic, and many traits important in humans are absent, radically different, or difficult to assess in other species. Evolutionary perspectives help to articulate and address these challenges. Darwin's description of "descent with modification" points to two aspects of evolution that can help us assess the matching between a prospective model species and its intended target. One is trees that represent the structure of phylogenetic relationships; the other is phenotypic traits, i.e. the unique characteristics of each species' evolved biology and natural history. Mapping traits onto a phylogeny is the first step toward analyzing the source of similarities between a target and a potential model. Whether similar traits arise from shared ancestry or from adaptive convergence has important implications for what kinds of inferences can be justified, and for the likely translatability of findings. Evolution offers both a rich source of possible models, and guidance for choosing the best ones for a given purpose. Considering model choice from an evolutionary angle not only helps to answer the question "What species might be a good model for studying x?" but also suggests additional questions we should be asking to assess the utility of both potential and current models. Recognizing the diverse ways model organisms can function expands our search image as we seek species to study that can both extend general knowledge, and generate translatable insights relevant to human neurobiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Bolker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA,
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26
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Ronca AE, Moyer EL, Talyansky Y, Lowe M, Padmanabhan S, Choi S, Gong C, Cadena SM, Stodieck L, Globus RK. Behavior of mice aboard the International Space Station. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4717. [PMID: 30976012 PMCID: PMC6459880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40789-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in space habitation has grown dramatically with planning underway for the first human transit to Mars. Despite a robust history of domestic and international spaceflight research, understanding behavioral adaptation to the space environment for extended durations is scant. Here we report the first detailed behavioral analysis of mice flown in the NASA Rodent Habitat on the International Space Station (ISS). Following 4-day transit from Earth to ISS, video images were acquired on orbit from 16- and 32-week-old female mice. Spaceflown mice engaged in a full range of species-typical behaviors. Physical activity was greater in younger flight mice as compared to identically-housed ground controls, and followed the circadian cycle. Within 7-10 days after launch, younger (but not older), mice began to exhibit distinctive circling or 'race-tracking' behavior that evolved into coordinated group activity. Organized group circling behavior unique to spaceflight may represent stereotyped motor behavior, rewarding effects of physical exercise, or vestibular sensation produced via self-motion. Affording mice the opportunity to grab and run in the RH resembles physical activities that the crew participate in routinely. Our approach yields a useful analog for better understanding human responses to spaceflight, providing the opportunity to assess how physical movement influences responses to microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- April E Ronca
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Division, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA. .,Wake Forest School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
| | - Eric L Moyer
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98154, USA.,Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Technology Program, Universiteitsweg 98, 3584 CG, UTRECHT, The Netherlands
| | - Yuli Talyansky
- Universities Space Research Association, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA.,San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA.,Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Moniece Lowe
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, 98154, USA
| | - Shreejit Padmanabhan
- San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA.,Duke Empirical Inc., 2829 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Sungshin Choi
- KBRwyle, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Cynthia Gong
- KBRwyle, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Samuel M Cadena
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Louis Stodieck
- BioServe Space Technologies, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - Ruth K Globus
- NASA Ames Research Center, Space Biosciences Division, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
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Peleh T, Ike KG, Wams EJ, Lebois EP, Hengerer B. The reverse translation of a quantitative neuropsychiatric framework into preclinical studies: Focus on social interaction and behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 97:96-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Mesa-Gresa P, Duque A, Monleón S, Vinader-Caerols C, Redolat R. Methods for Evaluating the Interaction Between Social Stress and Environmental Enrichment in Animal Models of Nicotine Addiction. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2011:267-280. [PMID: 31273704 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The environmental enrichment (EE) paradigm has been evaluated as a means of counteracting some of the consequences of chronic stress in rodents as well as a model of protective environment against drug abuse development. In the present chapter, our main aim is to describe the models of EE and chronic social stress and how they can be applied jointly in order to evaluate the effects of early psychosocial stress in animals exposed of different environments (enriched environment or standard environment). Furthermore, both paradigms could be applied in animal models of nicotine addiction, so the guidelines for the application of a chronic oral nicotine treatment in mice will be described. The heterogeneity of the procedures carried out in different laboratories makes it interesting to specify their characteristics in order to obtain replicable and valid animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Santiago Monleón
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Rosa Redolat
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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29
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Guo L, He Y, Li H, Chen Y, Zhu F, Yang M, Yang C, Dai Q, Shi H, Liu L. Monitoring and evaluation of the immune status of female Kunming mice maintained in different biosafety level laboratories. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio.035006. [PMID: 30404902 PMCID: PMC6310890 DOI: 10.1242/bio.035006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
High-level biosafety laboratories (BSL), such as BSL-3 and BSL-4, which deal with high infectivity and virulence pathogens, have become indispensable. Mice are frequently used in animal BSL (ABSL) to establish animal models for infection and to evaluate in vivo immune responses. A project of monitoring and evaluation on the physiology and immune status of mice housed in different ABSL labs was performed in the ABSL-2/3/4 labs of Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, China. Female Kunming mice were housed in the ABSL-2/3/4 labs for 1 month, and mouse behavior, body physiology/immune status, pulmonary immune status and respiratory bacteria composition were evaluated and compared among mice from the different labs. Mice settled in their new housing environment of the different labs after transfer and gained weight steadily. Blood hematology testing, serum cytokine/chemokine profiles and blood/spleen lymphocyte constitutions were comparable between the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. The numbers of different pulmonary leukocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were at baseline levels in mice from the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. Diversity and dominance of mice respiratory bacteria were semblable among the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. Our results confirm the stability of physiology and immune status of Kunming mice maintained in different ABSL-2/3/4 labs for at least 1 month.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Guo
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Yuan He
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Heng Li
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Fanli Zhu
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Mengli Yang
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Chengyun Yang
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Qing Dai
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Haijing Shi
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Longding Liu
- Department of respiratory infection, Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
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30
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Kuo A, Smith MT. In vivo profiling of four centrally administered opioids for antinociception, constipation and respiratory depression: Between-colony differences in Sprague Dawley rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2018; 45:1056-1066. [PMID: 29786873 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.12972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Outbred rodent stocks including Sprague Dawley rats, are known for their genetic diversity and so they are often used to develop animal models of human disease. Although between-colony differences in pharmaco-behavioural studies have been published previously, a direct head-to-head comparison study, whereby all research was performed in the same laboratory by the same experimenter utilising the supraspinal route of drug administration in the same strain of rat, is lacking. Herein, we report our head-to-head comparison study, involving assessment of antinociception, constipation and respiratory depression evoked by single bolus intracerebroventricular (ICV) doses of morphine, buprenorphine, DPDPE and U69,593 using male Sprague Dawley rats sourced from a different breeding colony (BC2) from that (BC1) used by us previously. Our data show that there are marked differences in the potency rank order for morphine and buprenorphine between rats sourced from BC2 and BC1. Although ICV morphine evoked a bell-shaped dose-response curve in the constipation test for rats from both colonies, this occurred at higher doses for rats from BC2. In conclusion, our head-to-head comparison shows considerable between-colony differences for the same rat strain, in the potency rank order of two clinically important strong opioid analgesics given by the ICV route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Kuo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maree T Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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31
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Giles JM, Whitaker JW, Moy SS, Fletcher CA. Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Aggression in BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ Mice Monitored by Using an Automated System. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2018; 57:236-243. [PMID: 29669621 PMCID: PMC5966230 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-17-000122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aggression among mice remains a common undesirable problem in laboratory settings, and animal welfare and scientific outcomes may become compromised depending on the severity of aggression. This study evaluated the effect of cage enrichment comprising a bilevel, mounted 'mezzanine' compared with a cotton square or shelter on intracage male aggression over a 6-wk period. Our first study involved home-cage behavioral challenges to male mice from a high aggression substrain (BALB/cJ) and low-aggression substrain (BALB/cByJ). Aggressive interactions and locomotor activity were scored manually and then compared with measures of activity obtained by using a continuous automated home-cagemonitoring system, the Digital Ventilated Caging (DVC) system. BALB/cJ mice exhibited similar levels of aggression acrosshousing conditions, whereas BALB/cByJ mice had lower aggression when housed with a mezzanine. In the second study,videorecordings and continuous DVC automated measures were collected over 24 h and divided into 12-h light and dark phases. BALB/cByJ mice-but not BALB/cJ-mice had increased aggressive behaviors during the dark phase. However, the DVC detected higher activity levels during the dark phase, compared with the light phase, in both substrains. Elevated activity levels recorded by the DVC correlated with fighting bouts and high levels of locomotion. These results show that a bilevel structural form of enrichment reduces aggression, depending on the BALB/c substrain, and confirms higher aggression levels in the BALB/cJ substrain. In addition, our findings provide evidence that the DVC is effective in identifying mouse cages with patterns of high activity levels, signaling possible aggression incidences, thus potentially allowing for early intervention and consequently improving animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sheryl S Moy
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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32
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André V, Gau C, Scheideler A, Aguilar-Pimentel JA, Amarie OV, Becker L, Garrett L, Hans W, Hölter SM, Janik D, Moreth K, Neff F, Östereicher M, Racz I, Rathkolb B, Rozman J, Bekeredjian R, Graw J, Klingenspor M, Klopstock T, Ollert M, Schmidt-Weber C, Wolf E, Wurst W, Gailus-Durner V, Brielmeier M, Fuchs H, Hrabé de Angelis M. Laboratory mouse housing conditions can be improved using common environmental enrichment without compromising data. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005019. [PMID: 29659570 PMCID: PMC5922977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare requires the adequate housing of animals to ensure health and well-being. The application of environmental enrichment is a way to improve the well-being of laboratory animals. However, it is important to know whether these enrichment items can be incorporated in experimental mouse husbandry without creating a divide between past and future experimental results. Previous small-scale studies have been inconsistent throughout the literature, and it is not yet completely understood whether and how enrichment might endanger comparability of results of scientific experiments. Here, we measured the effect on means and variability of 164 physiological parameters in 3 conditions: with nesting material with or without a shelter, comparing these 2 conditions to a “barren” regime without any enrichments. We studied a total of 360 mice from each of 2 mouse strains (C57BL/6NTac and DBA/2NCrl) and both sexes for each of the 3 conditions. Our study indicates that enrichment affects the mean values of some of the 164 parameters with no consistent effects on variability. However, the influence of enrichment appears negligible compared to the effects of other influencing factors. Therefore, nesting material and shelters may be used to improve animal welfare without impairment of experimental outcome or loss of comparability to previous data collected under barren housing conditions. Adequate housing of laboratory animals is essential to guarantee their well-being. From a scientific perspective, physically and mentally healthy animals also contribute to increased validity and reproducibility of experimental results. The choice of nesting material or shelter type, referred to as environmental enrichment, may influence how laboratory animals perform species-specific behaviors. Consequently, changes in these nesting and shelter materials could influence scientific results by, for example, increasing variability in measured characteristics. Whether studies using different environmental enrichment materials can be compared is currently questioned. Our study shows that simple, species-specific environmental enrichment in the form of nesting material alone or in combination with a shelter did not consistently increase variability of physiological parameters in mice. Differences in parameter average values appeared to be of minor biological relevance when compared to the effects of other environmental factors. These simple environmental enrichment devices may therefore be applied to improve the housing environment of laboratory mice without compromising data validity or comparability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola André
- Research Unit Comparative Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Christine Gau
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Angelika Scheideler
- Research Unit Comparative Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Juan A. Aguilar-Pimentel
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Oana V. Amarie
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lore Becker
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lillian Garrett
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hans
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sabine M. Hölter
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Janik
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kristin Moreth
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Frauke Neff
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Manuela Östereicher
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ildiko Racz
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Birgit Rathkolb
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jan Rozman
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Raffi Bekeredjian
- Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Graw
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center, Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
- ZIEL—Center for Nutrition and Food Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Deutsches Institut für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Adolf-Butenandt-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Ollert
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense Research Center for Anaphylaxis (ORCA), Odense University hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Carsten Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany and Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Gießen, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wurst
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Deutsches Institut für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Adolf-Butenandt-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Chair of Developmental Genetics, c/o Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Valérie Gailus-Durner
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Markus Brielmeier
- Research Unit Comparative Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabé de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
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Ashokan A, Hegde A, Balasingham A, Mitra R. Housing environment influences stress-related hippocampal substrates and depression-like behavior. Brain Res 2018; 1683:78-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Alquier T, Poitout V. Considerations and guidelines for mouse metabolic phenotyping in diabetes research. Diabetologia 2018; 61:526-538. [PMID: 29143855 PMCID: PMC5805661 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-017-4495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mice are the most commonly used species in preclinical research on the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. Although they are extremely useful for identifying pathways, mechanisms and genes regulating glucose and energy homeostasis, the specificities of the various mouse models and methodologies used to investigate a metabolic phenotype can have a profound impact on experimental results and their interpretation. This review aims to: (1) describe the most commonly used experimental tests to assess glucose and energy homeostasis in mice; (2) provide some guidelines regarding the design, analysis and interpretation of these tests, as well as for studies using genetic models; and (3) identify important caveats and confounding factors that must be taken into account in the interpretation of findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Alquier
- Montreal Diabetes Research Center and Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 rue Saint-Denis, Office R08-418, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Vincent Poitout
- Montreal Diabetes Research Center and Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 rue Saint-Denis, Office R08-418, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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35
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Joshi N, Leslie RA, Perrot TS. Analyzing the experiences of adolescent control rats: Effects of the absence of physical or social stimulation on anxiety-like behaviour are dependent on the test. Physiol Behav 2017; 179:30-41. [PMID: 28527682 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The present study was designed to systematically assess the control experience routinely used in our laboratory as part of studies on predator odour stress. Specifically, we examined effects of the physical and social components of this control experience on measures of anxiety-like behaviour in adolescent rats. Adolescent animals are at increased susceptibility to environmental perturbations and have been used for such studies much less often. Long-Evans rats of both sexes were subjected to physical stimulation (Exposed or Unexposed) and social stimulation (Single-Housed or Pair-Housed), resulting in four groups. Exposed rats received six 30-min exposures to an enclosed arena containing an unscented piece of cat collar occurring between adolescence and early adulthood, while Unexposed remained in the home cage. Groups of Exposed and Unexposed animals were housed singly (Single-Housed) from early adolescence to early adulthood or Pair-Housed during this time. Experimental procedures began in adolescence and involved repeated assessment of startle amplitude (measure of anxiety-like behaviour) and prepulse inhibition (PPI; a measure of sensorimotor gating) to gauge the short-term impact of social and/or physical stimulation. All animals were re-paired in adulthood prior to a final startle/PPI session to assess if isolation limited to adolescence could impose long-term effects that were not reversible. We also measured anxiety-like behaviour in adulthood using an extended open field test (EOFT; addition of novel objects to the open field on later days), and the elevated plus maze task (EPM), as well as a sucrose preference test (SPT) to measure anhedonia. An absence of social or physical stimulation resulted in increased startle amplitude and some measures of anxiety-like behaviour in the EOFT, but a reduction in such anxiety-like behaviour in the EPM task. These results suggest common neural substrates for the physical and social experiences. Performance in the SPT was unaltered by any experimental treatments. Sensorimotor gating, as measured by PPI, was increased in the absence of physical stimulation with no short-term effect of isolation, or of re-pairing. These results indicate the importance of considering individual components of the rearing environment of rats, while showing the need to use multiple assays of anxiety-like behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Joshi
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Ronald A Leslie
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Tara S Perrot
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada; Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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36
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Kane AE, Ayaz O, Ghimire A, Feridooni HA, Howlett SE. Implementation of the mouse frailty index. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2017; 95:1149-1155. [PMID: 28463656 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2017-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Frailty is considered a state of high vulnerability for adverse health outcomes for people of the same age. Those who are frail have higher mortality, worse health outcomes, and use more health care services than those who are not frail. Despite this, little is known about the biology of frailty, the effect of frailty on pharmacological or surgical outcomes, and potential interventions to attenuate frailty. In humans, frailty can be quantified using a frailty index (FI) based on the principle of deficit accumulation. The recent development of an FI in naturally ageing mice provides an opportunity to conduct frailty research in a validated preclinical model. The mouse FI has been successfully used across a wide range of applications; however, there are some factors that should be considered in implementing this tool. This review summarises the current literature, presents some original data, and suggests areas for future research on the current applications of the mouse FI, inter-rater reliability of the FI, the effect of observer characteristics and environmental factors on mouse FI scores, and the individual items that make up the FI assessment. The implementation of this tool into preclinical frailty research should greatly accelerate translational research in this important field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice E Kane
- Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.,Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
| | - Omar Ayaz
- Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.,Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
| | - Anjali Ghimire
- Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.,Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
| | - Hirad A Feridooni
- Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.,Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
| | - Susan E Howlett
- Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada.,Pharmacology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4H7, Canada
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Rivalan M, Munawar H, Fuchs A, Winter Y. An Automated, Experimenter-Free Method for the Standardised, Operant Cognitive Testing of Rats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169476. [PMID: 28060883 PMCID: PMC5218494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of human pathology are essential for biomedical research. However, a recurring issue in the use of animal models is the poor reproducibility of behavioural and physiological findings within and between laboratories. The most critical factor influencing this issue remains the experimenter themselves. One solution is the use of procedures devoid of human intervention. We present a novel approach to experimenter-free testing cognitive abilities in rats, by combining undisturbed group housing with automated, standardized and individual operant testing. This experimenter-free system consisted of an automated-operant system (Bussey-Saksida rat touch screen) connected to a home cage containing group living rats via an automated animal sorter (PhenoSys). The automated animal sorter, which is based on radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, functioned as a mechanical replacement of the experimenter. Rats learnt to regularly and individually enter the operant chamber and remained there for the duration of the experimental session only. Self-motivated rats acquired the complex touch screen task of trial-unique non-matching to location (TUNL) in half the time reported for animals that were manually placed into the operant chamber. Rat performance was similar between the two groups within our laboratory, and comparable to previously published results obtained elsewhere. This reproducibility, both within and between laboratories, confirms the validity of this approach. In addition, automation reduced daily experimental time by 80%, eliminated animal handling, and reduced equipment cost. This automated, experimenter-free setup is a promising tool of great potential for testing a large variety of functions with full automation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Rivalan
- Department of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (MR); (YW)
| | - Humaira Munawar
- Department of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Fuchs
- Department of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - York Winter
- Department of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (MR); (YW)
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Hylander BL, Eng JWL, Repasky EA. The Impact of Housing Temperature-Induced Chronic Stress on Preclinical Mouse Tumor Models and Therapeutic Responses: An Important Role for the Nervous System. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1036:173-189. [PMID: 29275472 PMCID: PMC9423006 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67577-0_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In the last 10-15 years, there has been a recognition that the catecholamines (norepinephrine, NE, and epinephrine, Epi) released by the sympathetic nervous system under stressful conditions promote tumor growth through a variety of mechanisms. Tumors recruit autonomic nerves during their development and NE is then released locally in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Acting through adrenergic receptors present on a variety of cells in the TME, NE and Epi induce proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, metastasis of tumor cells, angiogenesis, and inflammation in the TME. These pre-clinical studies have been conducted in mouse models whose care and housing parameters are outlined in "The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals [1]. In particular, the Guide mandates that mice be housed at standardized sub-thermoneutral temperatures; however, this causes a state of chronic cold-stress and elevated levels of NE. Although mice are able to maintain a normal body temperature when kept at these cool temperatures, it is becoming clear that this cold-stress is sufficient to activate physiological changes which affect experimental outcomes. We find that when mice are housed under standard, sub-thermoneutral temperatures (~22 °C, ST), tumor growth is significantly greater than when mice are housed at thermoneutrality (~30 °C TT). We also find that the anti-tumor immune response is suppressed at ST and this immunosuppression can be reversed by housing mice at TT or by administration of propranolol (a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) to mice housed at ST. Furthermore, at ST tumors are more resistant to therapy and can also be sensitized to cytotoxic therapies by housing mice at TT or by treating mice with propranolol. The implications of these observations are particularly relevant to the way in which experiments conducted in preclinical models are interpreted and the findings implemented in the clinic. It may be that the disappointing failure of many new therapies to fulfill their promise in the clinic is related to an incomplete preclinical assessment in mouse models. Further, an expanded understanding of the efficacy of a therapy alone or in combination obtained by testing under a wider range of conditions would better predict how patients, who are under various levels of stress, might respond in a clinical setting. This may be particularly important to consider since we now appreciate that long term outcome of many therapies depends on eliciting an immune response.It is clear that the outcome of metabolic experiments, immunological investigations and therapeutic efficacy testing in tumors of mice housed at ST is restricted and expanding these experiments to include results obtained at TT may provide us with valuable information that would otherwise be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Hylander
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jason W-L Eng
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
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A review of fundamental principles for animal models of DOHaD research: an Australian perspective. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2016; 7:449-472. [DOI: 10.1017/s2040174416000477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiology formed the basis of ‘the Barker hypothesis’, the concept of ‘developmental programming’ and today’s discipline of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Animal experimentation provided proof of the underlying concepts, and continues to generate knowledge of underlying mechanisms. Interventions in humans, based on DOHaD principles, will be informed by experiments in animals. As knowledge in this discipline has accumulated, from studies of humans and other animals, the complexity of interactions between genome, environment and epigenetics, has been revealed. The vast nature of programming stimuli and breadth of effects is becoming known. As a result of our accumulating knowledge we now appreciate the impact of many variables that contribute to programmed outcomes. To guide further animal research in this field, the Australia and New Zealand DOHaD society (ANZ DOHaD) Animals Models of DOHaD Research Working Group convened at the 2nd Annual ANZ DOHaD Congress in Melbourne, Australia in April 2015. This review summarizes the contributions of animal research to the understanding of DOHaD, and makes recommendations for the design and conduct of animal experiments to maximize relevance, reproducibility and translation of knowledge into improving health and well-being.
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Hendershott TR, Cronin ME, Langella S, McGuinness PS, Basu AC. Effects of environmental enrichment on anxiety-like behavior, sociability, sensory gating, and spatial learning in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2016; 314:215-25. [PMID: 27498148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The influence of housing on cognition and emotional regulation in mice presents a problem for the study of genetic and environmental risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders: standard laboratory housing may result in low levels of cognitive function or altered levels of anxiety that leave little room for assessment of deleterious effects of experimental manipulations. The use of enriched environment (EE) may allow for the measurement of a wider range of performance in cognitive domains. Cognitive and behavioral effects of EE in male mice have not been widely reproduced, perhaps due to variability in the application of enrichment protocols, and the effects of EE in female mice have not been widely studied. We have developed an EE protocol using common laboratory equipment that, without a running wheel for exercise, results in significant cognitive and behavioral effects relative to standard laboratory housing conditions. We compared male and female wild-type C57BL/6J mice reared from weaning age in an EE to those reared in a standard environment (SE), using common measures of anxiety-like behavior, sensory gating, sociability, and spatial learning and memory. Sex was a significant factor in relevant elevated plus maze (EPM) measures, and bordered on significance in a social interaction (SI) assay. Effects of EE on anxiety-like behavior and sociability were indicative of a general increase in exploratory activity. In male and female mice, EE resulted in reduced prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response, and enhanced spatial learning and use of spatially precise strategies in a Morris water maze task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor R Hendershott
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, United States
| | - Marie E Cronin
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, United States
| | - Stephanie Langella
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, United States
| | - Patrick S McGuinness
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, United States
| | - Alo C Basu
- Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, United States.
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The effects of enrichment novelty versus complexity in cages of group-housed rats (Rattus norvegicus). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Mesa-Gresa P, Ramos-Campos M, Redolat R. Corticosterone levels and behavioral changes induced by simultaneous exposure to chronic social stress and enriched environments in NMRI male mice. Physiol Behav 2016; 158:6-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Hylander BL, Repasky EA. Thermoneutrality, Mice, and Cancer: A Heated Opinion. Trends Cancer 2016; 2:166-175. [PMID: 28741570 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The 'mild' cold stress caused by standard sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures used for laboratory mice in research institutes is sufficient to significantly bias conclusions drawn from murine models of several human diseases. We review the data leading to this conclusion, discuss the implications for research and suggest ways to reduce problems in reproducibility and experimental transparency caused by this housing variable. We have found that these cool temperatures suppress endogenous immune responses, skewing tumor growth data and the severity of graft versus host disease, and also increase the therapeutic resistance of tumors. Owing to the potential for ambient temperature to affect energy homeostasis as well as adrenergic stress, both of which could contribute to biased outcomes in murine cancer models, housing temperature should be reported in all publications and considered as a potential source of variability in results between laboratories. Researchers and regulatory agencies should work together to determine whether changes in housing parameters would enhance the use of mouse models in cancer research, as well as for other diseases. Finally, for many years agencies such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have encouraged the development of newer and more sophisticated mouse models for cancer research, but we believe that, without an appreciation of how basic murine physiology is affected by ambient temperature, even data from these models is likely to be compromised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Hylander
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Immunology, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263-0001, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Repasky
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Immunology, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263-0001, USA.
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