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Hou W, Ma H, Huang C, Li Y, Li L, Zhang L, Qu Y, Xun Y, Yang Q, He Z, Tai F. Effects of paternal deprivation on empathetic behavior and the involvement of oxytocin receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105536. [PMID: 38522143 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105536] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Paternal deprivation (PD) impairs social cognition and sociality and increases levels of anxiety-like behavior. However, whether PD affects the levels of empathy in offspring and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The present study found that PD increased anxiety-like behavior in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), impaired sociality, reduced the ability of emotional contagion, and the level of consolation behavior. Meanwhile, PD reduced OT neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in both male and female mandarin voles. PD decreased the level of OT receptor (OTR) mRNA in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of male and female mandarin voles. Besides, OTR overexpression in the ACC reversed the PD-induced changes in anxiety-like behavior, social preference, emotional contagion, and consolation behavior. Interference of OTR expression in the ACC increased levels of anxiety-like behaviors, while it reduced levels of sociality, emotional contagion, and consolation. These results revealed that the OTR in the ACC is involved in the effects of PD on empathetic behaviors, and provide mechanistic insight into how social experiences affect empathetic behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Hou
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China; School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, 264005, China
| | - Huan Ma
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yin Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Lu Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Lizi Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yishan Qu
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yufeng Xun
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Qixuan Yang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Zhixiong He
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
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Ueno H, Takahashi Y, Mori S, Murakami S, Wani K, Matsumoto Y, Okamoto M, Ishihara T. Mice Recognise Mice in Neighbouring Rearing Cages and Change Their Social Behaviour. Behav Neurol 2024; 2024:9215607. [PMID: 38264671 PMCID: PMC10805542 DOI: 10.1155/2024/9215607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mice are social animals that change their behaviour primarily in response to visual, olfactory, and auditory information from conspecifics. Rearing conditions such as cage size and colour are important factors influencing mouse behaviour. In recent years, transparent plastic cages have become standard breeding cages. The advantage of using a transparent cage is that the experimenter can observe the mouse from outside the cage without touching the cage. However, mice may recognise the environment outside the cage and change their behaviour. We speculated that mice housed in transparent cages might recognise mice in neighbouring cages. We used only male mice in this experiment. C57BL/6 mice were kept in transparent rearing cages with open lids, and the cage positions were maintained for 3 weeks. Subsequently, we examined how mice behaved toward cagemate mice, mice from neighbouring cages, and mice from distant cages. We compared the level of interest in mice using a social preference test. Similar to previous reports, subject mice showed a high degree of interest in unfamiliar mice from distant cages. By contrast, subject mice reacted to mice from neighbouring cages as familiar mice, similar to cagemate mice. This suggests that mice housed in transparent cages with open lids perceive the external environment and identify mice in neighbouring cages. Researchers should pay attention to the environment outside the mouse cage, especially for the social preference test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama 701-0193, Japan
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan
| | - Sachiko Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan
| | - Shinji Murakami
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kenta Wani
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan
| | - Yosuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Motoi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan
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Sun X, Zhou X, He W, Sun W, Xu Z. Co-Housing and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Technical Support for TCM Herbal Treatment of Extra-Intestinal Diseases Based on Gut Microbial Ecosystem Remodeling. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:3803-3831. [PMID: 38155743 PMCID: PMC10753978 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s443462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the gut microbial ecosystem (GME) (eg, alterations in the gut microbiota, gut-derived metabolites, and gut barrier) may contribute to the onset and progression of extra-intestinal diseases. Previous studies have found that Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs (TCMs) play an important role in manipulating the GME, but a prominent obstacle in current TCM research is the causal relationship between GME and disease amelioration. Encouragingly, co-housing and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) provide evidence-based support for TCMs to treat extra-intestinal diseases by targeting GME. In this review, we documented the principles, operational procedures, applications and limitations of the key technologies (ie, co-housing and FMT); furthermore, we provided evidence that TCM works through the GME, especially the gut microbiota (eg, SCFA- and BSH-producing bacteria), the gut-derived metabolites (eg, IS, pCS, and SCFAs), and intestinal barrier to alleviate extra-intestinal diseases. This will be beneficial in constructing microecological pathways for TCM treatment of extra-intestinal diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Sun
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Zhou
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiming He
- Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China
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Ueno H, Takahashi Y, Murakami S, Wani K, Matsumoto Y, Okamoto M, Ishihara T. Effects of home-cage elevation on behavioral tests in mice. Brain Behav 2023; 14:e3269. [PMID: 38064177 PMCID: PMC10897499 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research reproducibility is a common problem in preclinical behavioral science. Mice are an important animal model for studying human behavioral disorders. Experimenters, processing methods, and rearing environments are the main causes of data variability in behavioral neuroscience. It is likely that mice adapt their behavior according to the environment outside the breeding cage. We speculated that mice housed on elevated shelves and mice housed on low shelves might have differently altered anxiety-like behavior toward heights. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate potential behavioral changes in mice raised at different heights for 3 weeks. Changes in behavior were examined using various experimental tests. RESULTS Mice housed on elevated shelves showed reduced anxiety-like behavior in a light/dark traffic test compared with mice housed on low shelves. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of activity, exploratory behavior, muscle strength, or depression-like behavior. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that different cage heights and corresponding light exposure may alter the anxiety-like behavior of mice in response to brightness. Researchers need to carefully control the cage height and light intensity experienced by the mice to produce reproducible test results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical TechnologyKawasaki University of Medical WelfareOkayamaJapan
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Department of PsychiatryKawasaki Medical SchoolKurashikiJapan
| | - Shinji Murakami
- Department of PsychiatryKawasaki Medical SchoolKurashikiJapan
| | - Kenta Wani
- Department of PsychiatryKawasaki Medical SchoolKurashikiJapan
| | - Yosuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of MedicineDentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Motoi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health SciencesOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
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Ueno H, Takahashi Y, Murakami S, Wani K, Matsumoto Y, Okamoto M, Ishihara T. Effect of simultaneous testing of two mice in the tail suspension test and forced swim test. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9224. [PMID: 35654971 PMCID: PMC9163059 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In mouse studies, the results of behavioural experiments are greatly affected by differences in the experimental environment and handling methods. The Porsolt forced swim test and tail suspension test are widely used to evaluate predictive models of depression-like behaviour in mice. It has not been clarified how the results of these tests are affected by testing single or multiple mice simultaneously. Therefore, this study evaluated the differences between testing two mice simultaneously or separately. To investigate the effect of testing multiple mice simultaneously, the Porsolt forced swim test and tail suspension test were performed in three patterns: (1) testing with an opaque partition between two mice, (2) testing without a partition between two mice, and (3) testing a single mouse. In the Porsolt forced swim test, the mice tested simultaneously without a partition demonstrated increased immobility time as compared to mice tested alone. No difference in immobility time was observed between the three groups in the tail suspension test. Our results showed that the environment of behavioural experiments investigating depression-like behaviour in mice can cause a difference in depression-like behaviour. The results of this experiment indicated that it is necessary to describe the method used for behavioural testing in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0193, Japan.
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Shinji Murakami
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kenta Wani
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Yosuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Motoi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
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Jeon D, Choi J, Yang AR, Yoo JS, Kim S, Lee SK, Chu K. Chronic social stress during early development elicits unique behavioral changes in adulthood. ENCEPHALITIS 2022; 2:45-53. [PMID: 37469652 PMCID: PMC10295912 DOI: 10.47936/encephalitis.2021.00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chronic social stress is known to induce inflammation in the brain, and early-life stress affects the brain and social behavior in adulthood. To study the relationship between social stress in childhood development and social behavior in adulthood, we subjected mice to a sequential early-life social stresses and characterized their adult behavioral phenotypes. Methods C57BL/6 mice were sequentially subjected to maternal separation (MS), social defeat (SD), and social isolation (SI) in that order. The body weights of the MS/SD/SI mice were measured. Behavioral tasks related to anxiety, depression, locomotion, learning/memory, and repetitive/compulsive-like behavior were conducted. Social behaviors suggesting sociability, social interaction, aggression, and social fear were investigated. Results MS/SD/SI mice weighed less than the control mice. At 7 and 8 weeks of age. These mice displayed normal behaviors in anxiety-, depression-, and learning/memory-related tasks, but they exhibited increased locomotor activity and a low level of repetitive/compulsive-like behavior. Notably, they exhibited increased social interaction, impaired empathy-related fear, reduced predator fear, and increased defensive aggressiveness. Conclusion Social stress during childhood development resulted in behavioral alterations, and MS/SD/SI mice generated by mimicking child abuse or maltreatment showed unique abnormalities in social behaviors. MS/SD/SI mice might be useful not only to study the relationship between social stress and brain inflammation but also psychosocial behaviors observed in individuals with brain disorders, such as psychopaths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiye Choi
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ah Reum Yang
- Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung-Seok Yoo
- Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sangwoo Kim
- Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Kun Lee
- Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kon Chu
- Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Harmon-Jones SK, Graham BM, King G, Richardson R. It's all about who you know: Memory retention of a rat's cagemates during infancy negatively predicts adulthood hippocampal FGF2. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 182:107448. [PMID: 33915298 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in infant fear memory positively predict adulthood anxiety-like behavior and conditioned fear expression. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this relationship and the effect of environmental (e.g., social) influences on the stability of this relationship have not been explored. In the present study, we examined whether individual differences in infant fear memory predict levels of endogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2; a biomarker of fear/anxiety) in adulthood, and whether the mean memory retention of a rat's cagemates predicts conditioned fear expression and FGF2 in adulthood. We conditioned infant rats to associate a white noise with shock, and tested their memory of the association 1 week later. They were then weaned and randomly assigned to cage/cagemates. In adulthood, rats received weak context conditioning (i.e., a single shock) and were tested for fear of the context the following day. Rats were then euthanized and their brains extracted to measure levels of hippocampal FGF2 protein. Across 2 experiments, an individual rat's fear memory during infancy positively predicted their own fear expression in adulthood, but the mean memory retention of their cagemates did not predict fear expression. In contrast, the mean memory retention of a rat's cagemates during infancy negatively predicted hippocampal FGF2 protein in adulthood, but an individual rat's memory retention did not predict their own levels of FGF2. These data support the idea that variations in the fearfulness of a rat's cagemates predict individual differences on physiological measures in adulthood.
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Ma J, Hong Y, Zheng N, Xie G, Lyu Y, Gu Y, Xi C, Chen L, Wu G, Li Y, Tao X, Zhong J, Huang Z, Wu W, Yuan L, Lin M, Lu X, Zhang W, Jia W, Sheng L, Li H. Gut microbiota remodeling reverses aging-associated inflammation and dysregulation of systemic bile acid homeostasis in mice sex-specifically. Gut Microbes 2020; 11:1450-1474. [PMID: 32515683 PMCID: PMC7524276 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1763770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is usually characterized with inflammation and disordered bile acids (BAs) homeostasis, as well as gut dysbiosis. The pathophysiological changes during aging are also sexual specific. However, it remains unclear about the modulating process among gut microbiota, BA metabolism, and inflammation during aging. In this study, we established a direct link between gut microbiota and BA profile changes in the liver, serum, and four intestinal segments of both sexes during aging and gut microbiota remodeling by co-housing old mice with young ones. We found aging reduced Actinobacteria in male mice but increased Firmicutes in female mice. Among the top 10 altered genera with aging, 4 genera changed oppositely between male and female mice, and most of the changes were reversed by co-housing in both sexes. Gut microbiota remodeling by co-housing partly rescued the systemically dysregulated BA homeostasis induced by aging in a sex- and tissue-specific manner. Aging had greater impacts on hepatic BA profile in females, but intestinal BA profile in males. In addition, aging increased hepatic and colonic deoxycholic acid in male mice, but reduced them in females. Moreover, muricholic acids shifted markedly in the intestine, especially in old male mice, and partially reversed by co-housing. Notably, the ratios of primary to secondary BAs in the liver, serum, and all four intestinal segments were increased in old mice and reduced by co-housing in both sexes. Together, the presented data revealed that sex divergent changes of gut microbiota and BA profile in multiple body compartments during aging and gut microbiota remodeling, highlighting the sex-specific prevention and treatment of aging-related disorders by targeting gut microbiota-regulated BA metabolism should particularly be given more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junli Ma
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Hong
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningning Zheng
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoxiang Xie
- Human Metabolomics Institute, Inc, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanzhi Lyu
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Yu Gu
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuchu Xi
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Linlin Chen
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gaosong Wu
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Tao
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhong
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Cent Hospital Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | - Zhenzhen Huang
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Lin
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiong Lu
- Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Department of Phytochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Jia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus and Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China,Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Medicine Phenome Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China,Wei Jia Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Center, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lili Sheng
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,Lili Sheng Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai201203, China
| | - Houkai Li
- Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China,CONTACT Houkai Li Functional Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Laboratory, Institute for Interdisciplinary Medicine Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai201203, China
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Conformity-like behaviour in mice observing the freezing of other mice: a model of empathy. BMC Neurosci 2020; 21:19. [PMID: 32357830 PMCID: PMC7195716 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-020-00566-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Empathy refers to the ability to recognise and share emotions with others. Several research groups have recognised observational fear in mice as a useful behavioural model for assessing their ability to empathise. However, in these observation systems, it remains unclear whether the observer mouse truly recognises the movements of, and empathises with, the demonstrator mouse. We examined changes in the behaviour of an observer mouse when a demonstrator mouse was anaesthetised, when the demonstrator’s activity was increased, and when the interval of electrical stimulation was altered. If mice exhibit an ability to empathise, then the observer should display empathic behaviour when the demonstrator experiences pain or discomfort under any circumstances. Results Relative to low-frequency stimulation, frequent electrical stimulation reduced immobility time among observer mice. Moreover, when demonstrators exhibited excessive activity, the activity of the observers significantly increased. In addition, the proportion of immobility time among observer mice significantly increased when demonstrator mice exhibited fear learning and excessive immobility. Conclusion Although our results indicate that observer mice change their behaviour based on the movements of demonstrator mice, increases in immobility time may reflect conformity-like behaviour rather than emotional empathy. Thus, not only visual but also auditory and odour information additionally influenced the conformity-like behaviour shown by observer mice. Thus, our findings suggest that methods other than the fear observation system should be used to investigate rodent empathy-like behaviour.
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10
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Liu W, Hu X, An D, Zhou D, Gong Q. Resting-state functional connectivity alterations in periventricular nodular heterotopia related epilepsy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18473. [PMID: 31804610 PMCID: PMC6895037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a neural migration disorder which often presents clinically with seizures. However, the underlying functional neural basis of PNH is still unclear. We aimed to explore the underlying pathological mechanism of PNH by combining both whole brain functional connectivity (FC) and seed-based FC analyses. We utilized resting-state fMRI to measure functional connectivity strength (FCS) in 38 patients with PNH-related epilepsy and 38 control subjects. The regions with FCS alterations were selected as seeds in the following FC analyses. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to explore associations between these functional neural correlates and clinical features. In comparison with controls, PNH patients showed lower FCS in bilateral insula (P < 0.05, family wise error (FWE) correction), higher FC in the default mode network and lower FC in the fronto-limbic-cerebellar circuits (P < 0.05, FWE correction). Pearson correlation analyses revealed that FCS in bilateral insula was negatively correlated with the epilepsy duration (P < 0.05); medial prefronto-insular connectivity was negatively correlated with Hamilton Anxiety Scale (P < 0.05) and cerebellar-insular connectivity was also negatively correlated with Hamilton Depression Scale (P < 0.05). Using the resting-state FCS analytical approach, we identified significant insular hypoactivation in PNH patients, which suggests that the insula might represent the cortical hub of the whole-brain networks in this condition. Additionally, disruption of resting state FC in large-scale neural networks pointed to a connectivity-based neuropathological process in PNH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Liu
- Departments of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Departments of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dongmei An
- Departments of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Departments of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Departments of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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11
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Feeding Behavior of Mice under Different Food Allocation Regimens. Behav Neurol 2019; 2019:1581304. [PMID: 31871492 PMCID: PMC6913290 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1581304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interaction, a basic survival strategy for many animal species, helps maintain a social environment that has limited conflict. Social dominance has a dramatic effect on motivation. Recent evidence suggests that some primate and nonprimate species display aversive behavior toward food allocation regimens that differ from their peers. Thus, we examined the behaviors displayed by mice under different food allocation regimens. We analyzed changes in food intake using several parameters. In the same food condition, the mice received the same food; in the quality different condition, the mice received different foods; in the quantity different condition, one mouse did not receive food; and in the no food condition, none of the mice received food. To test differences based on food quality, one mouse received normal solid food as a less preferred reward, and the other received chocolate chips as a high-level reward. No behavioral change was observed in comparison to the same food condition. To test differences based on food quantity, one mouse received chocolate chips while the other received nothing. Mice who received nothing spent more time on the other side of the reward throughout the experiment. Interestingly, highly rewarded mice required more time to consume the chocolate chips. Thus, under different food allocation regimens, mice changed their behavior by being more hesitant. Moreover, mice alter food intake behavior according to the social environment. The findings help elucidate potential evolutionary aspects that help maintain social cohesion while providing insights into potential mechanisms underlying socially anxious behavior.
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Ueno H, Suemitsu S, Murakami S, Kitamura N, Wani K, Takahashi Y, Matsumoto Y, Okamoto M, Ishihara T. Rescue-like Behaviour in Mice is Mediated by Their Interest in the Restraint Tool. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10648. [PMID: 31375693 PMCID: PMC6677799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46128-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acting without the expectation of compensation is called prosocial behaviour. Since prosocial behaviour requires high cognitive and social abilities, it has been thought to be only shown by primates. Although prosocial behaviour has been recently reported in rats, there are still questions regarding this finding. We demonstrated rescue-like behaviour in mice in a previous report. In this study, we investigated the motives underlying rescue-like behaviour for constrained cage-mates among mice. We prepared either a tube containing a ball of yarn or an opaque tube and assessed whether mice displayed the same rescue-like behaviour shown in the case of tube-restrained cage-mates. Mice did not open the lid of the tube containing the ball of yarn but opened the opaque tube lid. Mice showed a high interest in the tube in which the cage-mate had been restrained and prioritized staying in this tube rather than rescuing additional cage-mates. Oxytocin, which increases empathy, had no effect on the lid-opening behaviour. Thus, the rescue-like behaviour of mice is not based on empathy but is related to social interest in the cage-mate and the tube itself. These results suggest that rodent lid-opening behaviour may not conclusively prove the presence of prosocial behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, 701-0193, Japan.
| | - Shunsuke Suemitsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Shinji Murakami
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Naoya Kitamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kenta Wani
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Yosuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Motoi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
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13
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Helping-Like Behaviour in Mice Towards Conspecifics Constrained Inside Tubes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5817. [PMID: 30967573 PMCID: PMC6456590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Prosocial behaviour, including helping behaviour, benefits others. Recently, helping-like behaviour has been observed in rats, but whether it is oriented towards rescue, social contact with others, or other goals remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether helping-like behaviour could be observed in mice similar to that in rats. Because mice are social animals widely used in neuroscience, the discovery of helping-like behaviour in mice would be valuable in clarifying the psychological and biological mechanisms underlying pro-sociability. We constrained mice inside tubes. Subject mice were allowed to move freely in cages with tubes containing constrained conspecifics. The subject mice released both cagemates and stranger mice but did not engage in opening empty tubes. Furthermore, the same behaviour was observed under aversive conditions and with anesthetised conspecifics. Interestingly, hungry mice opened the tubes containing food before engaging in tube-opening behaviour to free constrained conspecifics. Mice showed equal preferences for constrained and freely moving conspecifics. We demonstrated for the first time that mice show tube-opening behaviour. Furthermore, we partly clarified the purpose and motivation of this behaviour. An effective mouse model for helping-like behaviour would facilitate research on the mechanisms underlying prosocial behaviour.
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Li CL, Yu Y, He T, Wang RR, Geng KW, Du R, Luo WJ, Wei N, Wang XL, Wang Y, Yang Y, Yu YQ, Chen J. Validating Rat Model of Empathy for Pain: Effects of Pain Expressions in Social Partners. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:242. [PMID: 30386220 PMCID: PMC6199527 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain can be socially transferred between familiar rats due to empathic responses. To validate rat model of empathy for pain, effects of pain expressions in a cagemate demonstrator (CD) in pain on empathic pain responses in a naïve cagemate observer (CO) after 30 min priming dyadic social interactions (PDSI) were evaluated. The CD rats were prepared with four pain models: bee venom (BV), formalin, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), and spared nerve injury (SNI). Both BV and formalin tests are characterized by displayable and eye-identifiable spontaneous pain-related behaviors (SPRB) immediately after treatment, while CFA and SNI models are characterized by delayed occurrence of evoked pain hypersensitivity but with less eye-identifiable SPRB. After 30 min PDSI with a CD immediately after BV and formalin, respectively, the empathic mechanical pain hypersensitivity (EMPH) could be identified at both hind paws in CO rats. The BV—or formalin-induced EMPH in CO rats lasted for 4–5 h until full recovery. However, EMPH failed to develop in CO after socially interacting with a CD immediately after CFA, or 2 h after BV when SPRB completely disappeared. The CO's EMPH was partially relieved when socially interacting with an analgecized CD whose SPRB had been significantly suppressed. Moreover, repeated exposures to a CD in pain could enhance EMPH in CO. Finally, social transfer of pain hypersensitivity was also identified in CO who was being co-housed in pairs with a conspecific treated with CFA or SNI. The results suggest that development of EMPH in CO rats would be determined not only by extent of familiarity but also by visually identifiable pain expressions in the social partners during short period of PDSI. However, the visually unidentifiable pain can also be transferred to naïve cagemate when being co-housed in pairs with a distressed conspecific. In summary, the vicariously social contagion of pain between familiar rats is dependent upon not only expressions of pain in social partners but also the time that dyads spent in social communications. The rat model of empathy for pain is a highly stable, reproducible and valid model for studying the neural mechanisms of empathy in lower animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Li Li
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Ting He
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui-Rui Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Kai-Wen Geng
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Du
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wen-Jun Luo
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Na Wei
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao-Liang Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Yao-Qing Yu
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, China
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15
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Ueno H, Suemitsu S, Murakami S, Kitamura N, Wani K, Okamoto M, Matsumoto Y, Aoki S, Ishihara T. Empathic behavior according to the state of others in mice. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e00986. [PMID: 29845752 PMCID: PMC6043708 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Empathic behavior is essential for social activities in social animals. Therefore, lack of empathy is a feature of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of empathy and which animals possess it remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether mice show empathic behavior. METHODS We tested mice for empathy-like behaviors toward conspecifics who were distressed. We investigated behavioral changes in cage-mate or stranger mice. RESULTS When the conspecific mice were in a painful state, subject mice showed preferential approach behavior toward them, presumably recognizing the state. Both visual information and olfactory information are indispensable for this empathic behavior. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the mouse recognizes the emotional state of the conspecific and engages in social interaction. The results of this study are useful for the elucidation of the causal mechanisms involved in neuropsychiatric disorders and may contribute in the development of novel treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueno
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | | | - Shinji Murakami
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Naoya Kitamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kenta Wani
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Motoi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Technology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yosuke Matsumoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shozo Aoki
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ishihara
- Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
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16
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Chen J. Empathy for Distress in Humans and Rodents. Neurosci Bull 2017; 34:216-236. [PMID: 28493169 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-017-0135-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is traditionally thought to be a unique ability of humans to feel, understand, and share the emotional state of others. However, the notion has been greatly challenged by the emerging discoveries of empathy for pain or distress in rodents. Because empathy is believed to be fundamental to the formation of prosocial, altruistic, and even moral behaviors in social animals and humans, studies associated with decoding the neural circuits and unraveling the underlying molecular and neural mechanisms of empathy for pain or distress in rodents would be very important and encouraging. In this review, the author set out to outline and update the concept of empathy from the evolutionary point of view, and introduce up-to-date advances in the study of empathy and its neural correlates in both humans and rodents. Finally, the author highlights the perspectives and challenges for the further use of rodent models in the study of empathy for pain or distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China. .,Key Laboratory of Brain Stress and Behavior, PLA, Xi'an, 710038, China. .,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100069, China.
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