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Pando P, Langen TJ, Kentner AC. Neighborly Influence: Intrauterine position accounts for individual variability in a mouse model of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 121:72-73. [PMID: 39043343 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Pando
- School of Arts & Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tristen J Langen
- School of Arts & Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amanda C Kentner
- School of Arts & Sciences, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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2
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Amari M, Mary A, Zablocki-Thomas P, Bourgeois A, Pouydebat E. Positive effect of a diggable substrate on the behaviour of a captive naked mole rat colony. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20138. [PMID: 39209873 PMCID: PMC11362154 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64146-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Naked mole rats (Heterocephalus galber) are eusocial mammals from East Africa. Their extraordinary social organisation is accompanied by remarkable adaptations to an underground lifestyle, extreme longevity and resistance to many diseases, making naked mole rats a highly relevant model for biological research. However, their living conditions in controlled environments do not allow them to express fundamental behaviours: digging galleries and exploring. This gap probably constitutes a bias to any behavioural or even medical study, because it represents a potential obstacle to their well-being. In this article, we tested the effects of the introduction of a diggable substrate on the behaviour of a colony of naked mole rats at the Menagerie, le Zoo du Jardin des Plantes, Paris. We measured individual exploratory latencies, the number of entries per minute and the frequency with which naked mole rats gnawed tunnels during observation trials. We found that: (i) young individuals explore more quickly, (ii) the introduction of a diggable substrate encourages exploration and digging behaviour, and (iii) could therefore be a relevant element to introduce under human care. This new environmental design could improve the welfare of naked mole rats by creating opportunities for cognitive challenges such as exploration and environmental control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Amari
- UMR 7179 MECADEV, CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris, France.
- Département de Biologie, École normale supérieure, PSL Université Paris, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Alma Mary
- UMR 7179 MECADEV, CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris, France
| | - Pauline Zablocki-Thomas
- UMR 7179 MECADEV, CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris, France
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Aude Bourgeois
- Ménagerie, Le Zoo du Jardin des Plantes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pouydebat
- UMR 7179 MECADEV, CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris, France
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3
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Fujibayashi M, Abe K. A behavioral analysis system MCFBM enables objective inference of songbirds' attention during social interactions. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024:100844. [PMID: 39232558 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Understanding animal behavior is crucial in behavioral neuroscience, aiming to unravel the mechanisms driving these behaviors. A significant milestone in this field is the analysis of behavioral reactions during social interactions. Despite their importance in social learning, the behavioral aspects of these interaction are not well understood in detail due to the lack of appropriate tools. We introduce a high-precision, marker-based motion-capture system for analyzing behavior in songbirds, accurately tracking body location and head direction in multiple freely moving finches during social interaction. Focusing on zebra finches, our analysis revealed variations in eye use based on individuals presented. We also observed behavioral changes during virtual and live presentations and a conditioned-learning paradigm. Additionally, the system effectively analyzed social interactions among mice. This system provides an efficient tool for advanced behavioral analysis in small animals and offers an objective method to infer their focus of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Fujibayashi
- Lab of Brain Development, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
| | - Kentaro Abe
- Lab of Brain Development, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan; Division for the Establishment of Frontier Sciences of the Organization for Advanced Studies, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan.
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4
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Luciano A, Churchill GA. Quantifying the Impact of Co-Housing on Murine Aging Studies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.06.606373. [PMID: 39149237 PMCID: PMC11326161 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.06.606373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Analysis of preclinical lifespan studies often assume that outcome data from co-housed animals are independent. In practice, treatments, such as controlled feeding or putative life-extending compounds, are applied to whole housing units, and as a result the outcomes are potentially correlated within housing units. We consider intra-class (here, intra-cage) correlation in three published and two unpublished lifespan studies of aged mice encompassing more than 20 thousand observations. We show that the independence assumption underlying common analytic techniques does not hold in these data, particularly for traits associated with frailty. We describe and demonstrate various analytical tools available to accommodate this study design and highlight a limitation of standard variance components models (i.e., linear mixed models) which are the usual statistical tool for handling correlated errors. Through simulations, we examine the statistical biases resulting from intra-cage correlations with similar magnitudes as observed in these case studies and discuss implications for power and reproducibility.
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5
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Miyata S, Tsuda M, Mitsui S. Overexpression of Motopsin, an Extracellular Serine Protease Related to Intellectual Disability, Promotes Adult Neurogenesis and Neuronal Responsiveness in the Dentate Gyrus. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4929-4948. [PMID: 38153682 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03890-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Motopsin, a serine protease encoded by PRSS12, is secreted by neuronal cells into the synaptic clefts in an activity-dependent manner, where it induces synaptogenesis by modulating Na+/K+-ATPase activity. In humans, motopsin deficiency leads to severe intellectual disability and, in mice, it disturbs spatial memory and social behavior. In this study, we investigated mice that overexpressed motopsin in the forebrain using the Tet-Off system (DTG-OE mice). The elevated agrin cleavage or the reduced Na+/K+-ATPase activity was not detected. However, motopsin overexpression led to a reduction in spine density in hippocampal CA1 basal dendrites. While motopsin overexpression decreased the ratio of mature mushroom spines in the DG, it increased the ratio of immature thin spines in CA1 apical dendrites. Female DTG-OE mice showed elevated locomotor activity in their home cages. DTG-OE mice showed aberrant behaviors, such as delayed latency to the target hole in the Barnes maze test and prolonged duration of sniffing objects in the novel object recognition test (NOR), although they retained memory comparable to that of TRE-motopsin littermates, which normally express motopsin. After NOR, c-Fos-positive cells increased in the dentate gyrus (DG) of DTG-OE mice compared with that of DTG-SO littermates, in which motopsin overexpression was suppressed by the administration of doxycycline, and TRE-motopsin littermates. Notably, the numbers of doublecortin- and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled cells significantly increased in the DG of DTG-OE mice, suggesting increased adult neurogenesis. Importantly, our results revealed a new function in addition to modulating neuronal responsiveness and spine morphology in the DG: the regulation of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Miyata
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
| | - Masayuki Tsuda
- Division of Laboratory Animal Science, Science Research Center, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan
| | - Shinichi Mitsui
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
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6
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Schaer R, Mueller FS, Notter T, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Intrauterine position effects in a mouse model of maternal immune activation. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:391-402. [PMID: 38897330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.015] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of maternal immune activation (MIA) are increasingly used as experimental tools in preclinical research of immune-mediated neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Using a viral-like MIA model that is based on prenatal poly(I:C) exposure in mice, we have recently identified the existence of subgroups of MIA-exposed offspring that show dissociable behavioral, transcriptional, brain network and inflammatory profiles even under conditions of genetic homogeneity and identical MIA. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the intrauterine positions of fetuses, which are known to shape individual variability in litter-bearing mammals through variations in fetal hormone exposure, may contribute to the variable outcomes of MIA in mice. MIA was induced by maternal administration of poly(I:C) on gestation day 12 in C57BL/6N mice. Determining intrauterine positions using delivery by Cesarean section (C-section), we found that MIA-exposed offspring developing between female fetuses only (0M-MIA offspring) displayed significant deficits in sociability and sensorimotor gating at adult age, whereas MIA-exposed offspring developing between one or two males in utero (1/2M-MIA offspring) did not show the same deficits. These intrauterine position effects similarly emerged in male and female offspring. Furthermore, while MIA elevated fetal brain levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines independently of the precise intrauterine position and sex of adjacent fetuses during the acute phase, fetal brain levels of TNF-α remained elevated in 0M-MIA but not 1/2M-MIA offspring until the post-acute phase in late gestation. As expected, 1/2M offspring generally showed higher testosterone levels in the fetal brain during late gestation as compared to 0M offspring, confirming the transfer of testosterone from male fetuses to adjacent male or female fetuses. Taken together, our findings identify a novel source of within-litter variability contributing to heterogeneous outcomes of short- and long-term effects in a mouse model of MIA. In broader context, our findings highlight that individual differences in fetal exposure to hormonal and inflammatory signals may be a perinatal factor that shapes risk and resilience to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Notter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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7
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Gille B, Müller-Eigner A, Gottschalk S, Wytrwat E, Langhammer M, Peleg S. Titan mice as a model to test interventions that attenuate frailty and increase longevity. GeroScience 2024; 46:3599-3606. [PMID: 38177967 PMCID: PMC11226689 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01045-4] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Wild-type murine models for aging research have lifespans of several years, which results in long experimental duration and late output. Here we explore the short-lived non-inbred Titan mouse (DU6) as a mouse model to test longevity interventions. We show that Titan mice exhibit increased frailty and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity at an early age. Dietary intervention attenuates the frailty progression of Titan mice. Additionally, cyclic administration of the senolytic drug Navitoclax at an early age increases the lifespan and reduces senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. Our data suggests that Titan mice can serve as a cost-effective and timely model for longevity interventions in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Gille
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Annika Müller-Eigner
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Shari Gottschalk
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Erika Wytrwat
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Martina Langhammer
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Shahaf Peleg
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany.
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8
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Rudroff T. Artificial Intelligence as a Replacement for Animal Experiments in Neurology: Potential, Progress, and Challenges. Neurol Int 2024; 16:805-820. [PMID: 39195562 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint16040060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal experimentation has long been a cornerstone of neurology research, but it faces growing scientific, ethical, and economic challenges. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are providing new opportunities to replace animal testing with more human-relevant and efficient methods. This article explores the potential of AI technologies such as brain organoids, computational models, and machine learning to revolutionize neurology research and reduce reliance on animal models. These approaches can better recapitulate human brain physiology, predict drug responses, and uncover novel insights into neurological disorders. They also offer faster, cheaper, and more ethical alternatives to animal experiments. Case studies demonstrate AI's ability to accelerate drug discovery for Alzheimer's, predict neurotoxicity, personalize treatments for Parkinson's, and restore movement in paralysis. While challenges remain in validating and integrating these technologies, the scientific, economic, practical, and moral advantages are driving a paradigm shift towards AI-based, animal-free research in neurology. With continued investment and collaboration across sectors, AI promises to accelerate the development of safer and more effective therapies for neurological conditions while significantly reducing animal use. The path forward requires the ongoing development and validation of these technologies, but a future in which they largely replace animal experiments in neurology appears increasingly likely. This transition heralds a new era of more humane, human-relevant, and innovative brain research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Rudroff
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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9
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Godoi MM, Reis EM, Koepp J, Ferreira J. Perspective from developers: Tissue-engineered products for skin wound healing. Int J Pharm 2024; 660:124319. [PMID: 38866084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124319] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Tissue-engineered products (TEPs) are at the forefront of developmental medicines, precisely where monoclonal antibodies and recombinant cytokines were 30 years ago. TEPs development for treating skin wounds has become a fast-growing field as it offers the potential to find novel therapeutic approaches for treating pathologies that currently have limited or no effective alternatives. This review aims to provide the reader with the process of translating an idea from the laboratory bench to clinical practice, specifically in the context of TEPs designing for skin wound healing. It encompasses historical perspectives, approved therapies, and offers a distinctive insight into the regulatory framework in Brazil. We explore the essential guidelines for quality testing, and nonclinical proof-of-concept considering the Brazilian Network of Experts in Advanced Therapies (RENETA) and International Standards and Guidelines (ICH e ISO). Adopting a multifaceted approach, our discussion incorporates scientific and industrial perspectives, addressing quality, biosafety, non-clinical viability, clinical trial and real-word data for pharmacovigilance demands. This comprehensive analysis presents a panoramic view of the development of skin TEPs, offering insights into the evolving landscape of this dynamic and promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuella Machado Godoi
- Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina- UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
| | - Emily Marques Reis
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina- UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Biocelltis Biotecnologia, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Janice Koepp
- Biocelltis Biotecnologia, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Juliano Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina- UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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10
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Teboul L, Amos-Landgraf J, Benavides FJ, Birling MC, Brown SDM, Bryda E, Bunton-Stasyshyn R, Chin HJ, Crispo M, Delerue F, Dobbie M, Franklin CL, Fuchtbauer EM, Gao X, Golzio C, Haffner R, Hérault Y, Hrabe de Angelis M, Lloyd KCK, Magnuson TR, Montoliu L, Murray SA, Nam KH, Nutter LMJ, Pailhoux E, Pardo Manuel de Villena F, Peterson K, Reinholdt L, Sedlacek R, Seong JK, Shiroishi T, Smith C, Takeo T, Tinsley L, Vilotte JL, Warming S, Wells S, Whitelaw CB, Yoshiki A, Pavlovic G. Improving laboratory animal genetic reporting: LAG-R guidelines. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5574. [PMID: 38956430 PMCID: PMC11220107 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49439-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The biomedical research community addresses reproducibility challenges in animal studies through standardized nomenclature, improved experimental design, transparent reporting, data sharing, and centralized repositories. The ARRIVE guidelines outline documentation standards for laboratory animals in experiments, but genetic information is often incomplete. To remedy this, we propose the Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting (LAG-R) framework. LAG-R aims to document animals' genetic makeup in scientific publications, providing essential details for replication and appropriate model use. While verifying complete genetic compositions may be impractical, better reporting and validation efforts enhance reliability of research. LAG-R standardization will bolster reproducibility, peer review, and overall scientific rigor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Teboul
- The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0RD, Oxon, UK.
| | - James Amos-Landgraf
- University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
- University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
- Rat Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Fernando J Benavides
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marie-Christine Birling
- PHENOMIN-Institut Clinique de la Souris, CELPHEDIA, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Grafenstaden, 67404, Strasbourg, France
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Visiting Scientist, Institut Clinique de la Souris, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Grafenstaden, 67404, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elizabeth Bryda
- Rat Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | | | - Hsian-Jean Chin
- National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC), NARLabs, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Martina Crispo
- Laboratory Animal Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 1400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Fabien Delerue
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael Dobbie
- Phenomics Australia, Australian National University, 131 Garran Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Craig L Franklin
- University of Missouri Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MU MMRRC), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | | | - Xiang Gao
- National Resource Center of Mutant Mice (NRCMM), Nanjing Biomedical Research Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Christelle Golzio
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, F-67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Rebecca Haffner
- Department Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yann Hérault
- PHENOMIN-Institut Clinique de la Souris, CELPHEDIA, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Grafenstaden, 67404, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, F-67400, Illkirch, France
| | - Martin Hrabe de Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 8, 85354, Freising, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - Terry R Magnuson
- Department of Genetics, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7264, USA
| | - Lluis Montoliu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER-ISCIII), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ki-Hoan Nam
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Lauryl M J Nutter
- Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children and The Centre for Phenogenomics, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Eric Pailhoux
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Fernando Pardo Manuel de Villena
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | | | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Je Kyung Seong
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, and Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Cynthia Smith
- Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI), Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Toru Takeo
- Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Louise Tinsley
- The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0RD, Oxon, UK
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Søren Warming
- Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sara Wells
- The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0RD, Oxon, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - C Bruce Whitelaw
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Atsushi Yoshiki
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan
| | - Guillaume Pavlovic
- PHENOMIN-Institut Clinique de la Souris, CELPHEDIA, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Grafenstaden, 67404, Strasbourg, France.
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11
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Mandino F, Horien C, Shen X, Desrosiers-Gregoire G, Luo W, Markicevic M, Constable RX, Papademetris X, Chakravarty MM, Betzel RF, Lake EMR. Multimodal identification of the mouse brain using simultaneous Ca 2+ imaging and fMRI. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.594620. [PMID: 38826324 PMCID: PMC11142213 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.594620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in neuroimaging are of interest to clinical and cognitive neuroscientists based on their potential for guiding the personalized treatment of various heterogeneous neurological conditions and diseases. Despite many advantages, the workhorse in this arena, BOLD (blood-oxygen-level-dependent) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suffers from low spatiotemporal resolution and specificity as well as a propensity for noise and spurious signal corruption. To better understand individual differences in BOLD-fMRI data, we can use animal models where fMRI, alongside complementary but more invasive contrasts, can be accessed. Here, we apply simultaneous wide-field fluorescence calcium imaging and BOLD-fMRI in mice to interrogate individual differences using a connectome-based identification framework adopted from the human fMRI literature. This approach yields high spatiotemporal resolution cell-type specific signals (here, from glia, excitatory, as well as inhibitory interneurons) from the whole cortex. We found mouse multimodal connectome- based identification to be successful and explored various features of these data.
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12
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Younes S. The relationship between gender and pharmacology. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2024; 7:100192. [PMID: 39101002 PMCID: PMC11295939 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2024.100192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The part of sexuality in pharmacology research was not acknowledged, and it was not thought-out to be a determinant that could impact strength and disease. For decades research has mainly contained male, women and animals, leading to a lack of news about syndromes in females. Still, it is critical to guarantee equal likeness so that determine the security, influence, and resistance of healing agents for all individuals. The underrepresentation of female models in preclinical studies over various decades has surpassed to disparities in the understanding, disease, and treatment of ailments 'tween genders. The closeness of sexuality bias has happened recognized as a contributing determinant to the restricted interpretation and replicability of preclinical research. Many demands operation have stressed the significance of including sexuality as a organic changeable, and this view is acquire growing support. Regardless of important progress in incorporating more female models into preclinical studies, differences prevail contemporary. The current review focuses on the part of sexuality and common in biomedical research and, therefore, their potential function in pharmacology and analyze the potential risks guide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Younes
- Department of Pharmacy, Tartous University, Syria
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13
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Glenn RA, Do SC, Guruvayurappan K, Corrigan EK, Santini L, Medina-Cano D, Singer S, Cho H, Liu J, Broman K, Czechanski A, Reinholdt L, Koche R, Furuta Y, Kunz M, Vierbuchen T. A PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL PLATFORM FOR IN VITRO SYSTEMS GENETICS STUDIES OF MOUSE DEVELOPMENT. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597758. [PMID: 38895226 PMCID: PMC11185710 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from panels of genetically diverse individuals is emerging as a powerful experimental system for characterizing the impact of natural genetic variation on developing cell types and tissues. Here, we establish new PSC lines and experimental approaches for modeling embryonic development in a genetically diverse, outbred mouse stock (Diversity Outbred mice). We show that a range of inbred and outbred PSC lines can be stably maintained in the primed pluripotent state (epiblast stem cells -- EpiSCs) and establish the contribution of genetic variation to phenotypic differences in gene regulation and directed differentiation. Using pooled in vitro fertilization, we generate and characterize a genetic reference panel of Diversity Outbred PSCs (n = 230). Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of pooled culture of Diversity Outbred EpiSCs as "cell villages", which can facilitate the differentiation of large numbers of EpiSC lines for forward genetic screens. These data can complement and inform similar efforts within the stem cell biology and human genetics communities to model the impact of natural genetic variation on phenotypic variation and disease-risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Glenn
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cell and Developmental Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie C. Do
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Emily K. Corrigan
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Present address: Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA and Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura Santini
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Medina-Cano
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Singer
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyein Cho
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Mouse Genetics Core Facility, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karl Broman
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | | | | | - Richard Koche
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yasuhide Furuta
- Mouse Genetics Core Facility, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meik Kunz
- The Bioinformatics CRO, Sanford Florida, 32771 USA
| | - Thomas Vierbuchen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Poddar U, Lam K, Gurevitch J. Trends in research approaches and gender in plant ecology dissertations over four decades. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11554. [PMID: 38863722 PMCID: PMC11165400 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Dissertations are a foundational scientific product; they are the formative product that early-career scientists create and share original knowledge. The methodological approaches used in dissertations vary with the research field. In plant ecology, these approaches include observations, experiments (field or controlled environment), literature reviews, theoretical approaches, or analyses of existing data (including "big data"). Recently, concerns have been raised about the rise of "big data" studies and the loss of observational and field-based studies in ecology, but such trends have not been formally quantified. Therefore, we examined how the emphasis on each of these categories has changed over time and whether male and female authors differ in the methods employed. We found remarkable temporal consistency, with observational studies being dominant over the entire time span examined. There was an increase in the number of approaches employed per dissertation, with increases in analyses of databases and theoretical studies adding to rather than replacing traditional methodologies (like observations and field experiments). The representation of women increased over time. There were some differences in the approaches taken by men and women, which requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urmi Poddar
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionStony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Kristi Lam
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionStony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
- Roslyn High SchoolRoslyn HeightsNew YorkUSA
| | - Jessica Gurevitch
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionStony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
- Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
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15
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Zarn JA, Geiser HC, König SLB, Shaw HV, Zürcher UA. Letter to the Editors regarding "Using historical control data in bioassays for regulatory toxicology" by Kluxen et al. (2021). Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 149:105624. [PMID: 38588772 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jürg A Zarn
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - H Christoph Geiser
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian L B König
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Holly V Shaw
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ursina A Zürcher
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003, Bern, Switzerland
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16
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Gerlach B, Meinhardt MW, Kas MJH. Implementation of the EQIPD Quality System. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 405:110084. [PMID: 38401804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110084] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
The EQIPD Quality System (QS) was conceptualized and established by an international consortium consisting of academic and industrial partners to ensure that non-regulated biomedical research will be conducted according to Good Research Practice expectations. The QS supports researchers to reflect on and improve internal practices by providing a systematic framework and guidance for implementing the EQIPD QS in a time and cost effective manner. This report describes the content of the EQIPD QS with its key features and 18 Core Requirements (CR) in more detail. It gives a short background on each CR and hands on examples on how they were addressed by two different research labs in their respective laboratory environments. Thereby, this article provides examples and direction for other research labs who aim to implement the QS as well. The final paragraphs discuss the potential benefits of the QS in respect to different user groups and stakeholders within the scientific community and summarize the overall governance structure of the EQIPD framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Gerlach
- Guarantors of EQIPD e.V., Heidelberg, Germany; PAASP GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; Institute for Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Marcus W Meinhardt
- Institute for Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martien J H Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
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17
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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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18
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von der Beck B, Wissmann A, Tolba RH, Dammann P, Hilken G. What Can Laboratory Animal Facility Managers Do to Improve the Welfare of Laboratory Animals and Laboratory Animal Facility Staff? A German Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1136. [PMID: 38612375 PMCID: PMC11010866 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Laboratory animal facility managers must ensure that animal experiments can be carried out under optimal scientific conditions, that all legal requirements are met, and that animal welfare is maximized. Animal experimentation is stressful not only for the animals involved but also for the people who maintain these animals or carry out the experiments. Many of those involved find themselves in a constant conflict between scientific necessity, care, and harm. Under the term Culture of Care, procedures have been developed to reduce the burden of animal experimentation on the animals and the staff involved. The focus here is on what laboratory animal facility managers can do to improve the welfare of laboratory animals and the people working with them. Exemplary measures are the improvement of the housing conditions of laboratory animals, the introduction of uniform handling measures, clear and transparent structures via a quality management system, implementation of a no-blame culture of error (e.g., via Critical Incident Reporting System in Laboratory Animal Science [CIRS-LAS]), and open and respectful communication with all parties involved in animal experimentation, including the public and representatives of the authorities (public webpage, open house policy). The 6 Rs must be considered at all times: replacement, reduction, refinement, respect, responsibility, and reproducibility. We are writing this article from the perspective of laboratory animal facility managers in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte von der Beck
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Andreas Wissmann
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Rene H. Tolba
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science & Experimental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Philip Dammann
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
| | - Gero Hilken
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany; (B.v.d.B.); (A.W.)
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Baran JK, Kosztyła P, Antoł W, Labocha MK, Sychta K, Drobniak SM, Prokop ZM. Reproductive system, temperature, and genetic background effects in experimentally evolving populations of Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300276. [PMID: 38557670 PMCID: PMC10984399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300276] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Experimental evolution (EE) is a powerful research framework for gaining insights into many biological questions, including the evolution of reproductive systems. We designed a long-term and highly replicated EE project using the nematode C. elegans, with the main aim of investigating the impact of reproductive system on adaptation and diversification under environmental challenge. From the laboratory-adapted strain N2, we derived isogenic lines and introgressed the fog-2(q71) mutation, which changes the reproductive system from nearly exclusive selfing to obligatory outcrossing, independently into 3 of them. This way, we obtained 3 pairs of isogenic ancestral populations differing in reproductive system; from these, we derived replicate EE populations and let them evolve in either novel (increased temperature) or control conditions for over 100 generations. Subsequently, fitness of both EE and ancestral populations was assayed under the increased temperature conditions. Importantly, each population was assayed in 2-4 independent blocks, allowing us to gain insight into the reproducibility of fitness scores. We expected to find upward fitness divergence, compared to ancestors, in populations which had evolved in this treatment, particularly in the outcrossing ones due to the benefits of genetic shuffling. However, our data did not support these predictions. The first major finding was very strong effect of replicate block on populations' fitness scores. This indicates that despite standardization procedures, some important environmental effects were varying among blocks, and possibly compounded by epigenetic inheritance. Our second key finding was that patterns of EE populations' divergence from ancestors differed among the ancestral isolines, suggesting that research conclusions derived for any particular genetic background should never be generalized without sampling a wider set of backgrounds. Overall, our results support the calls to pay more attention to biological variability when designing studies and interpreting their results, and to avoid over-generalizations of outcomes obtained for specific genetic and/or environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna K. Baran
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Paulina Kosztyła
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Weronika Antoł
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marta K. Labocha
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Karolina Sychta
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Szymon M. Drobniak
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Zofia M. Prokop
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
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20
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Yang Z, Kubant R, Kranenburg E, Cho CE, Anderson GH. The Effect of Micronutrients on Obese Phenotype of Adult Mice Is Dependent on the Experimental Environment. Nutrients 2024; 16:696. [PMID: 38474824 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The environment of the test laboratory affects the reproducibility of treatment effects on physiological phenotypes of rodents and may be attributed to the plasticity of the epigenome due to nutrient-gene-environment interactions. Here, we explored the reproducibility of adding a multi-vitamin-mineral (MVM) mix to a nutrient-balanced high-fat (HF) diet on obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and gene expression in the tissues of adult male mice. Experiments of the same design were conducted in three independent animal facilities. Adult C57BL/6J male mice were fed an HF diet for 6 weeks (diet induced-obesity model) and then continued for 9-12 weeks on the HF diet with or without 5-fold additions of vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, Zn, and 2-fold Se. The addition of the MVM affected body weight, fat mass, gene expression, and markers of IR in all three locations (p < 0.05). However, the direction of the main effects was influenced by the interaction with the experimental location and its associated environmental conditions known to affect the epigenome. In conclusion, MVM supplementation influenced phenotypes and expression of genes related to adipose function in obese adult male mice, but the experimental location and its associated conditions were significant interacting factors. Preclinical studies investigating the relationship between diet and metabolic outcomes should acknowledge the plasticity of the epigenome and implement measures to reproduce studies in different locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Yang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ruslan Kubant
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Eva Kranenburg
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Clara E Cho
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - G Harvey Anderson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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21
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Koike N, Umemura Y, Inokawa H, Tokuda I, Tsuchiya Y, Sasawaki Y, Umemura A, Masuzawa N, Yabumoto K, Seya T, Sugimoto A, Yoo SH, Chen Z, Yagita K. Inter-individual variations in circadian misalignment-induced NAFLD pathophysiology in mice. iScience 2024; 27:108934. [PMID: 38533453 PMCID: PMC10964262 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108934] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathological consequences of circadian misalignment, such as shift work, show considerable individual differences, but the lack of mechanistic understanding hinders precision prevention to prevent and mitigate disease symptoms. Here, we employed an integrative approach involving physiological, transcriptional, and histological phenotypes to examine inter-individual differences in pre-symptomatic pathological progression, preceding irreversible disease onset, in wild-type mice exposed to chronic jet-lag (CJL). We observed that CJL markedly increased the prevalence of hepatic steatosis with pronounced inter-individual differences. Stratification of individual mice based on CJL-induced hepatic transcriptomic signature, validated by histopathological analysis, pinpoints dysregulation of lipid metabolism. Moreover, the period and power of intrinsic behavioral rhythms were found to significantly correlate with CJL-induced gene signatures. Together, our results suggest circadian rhythm robustness of the animals contributes to inter-individual variations in pathogenesis of circadian misalignment-induced diseases and raise the possibility that these physiological indicators may be available for predictive hallmarks of circadian rhythm disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuya Koike
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Umemura
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Inokawa
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Human Nutrition, Chugoku Gakuen University, Okayama 701-0197, Japan
| | - Isao Tokuda
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tsuchiya
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yuh Sasawaki
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Atsushi Umemura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Naoko Masuzawa
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Otsu City Hospital, Otsu 520-0804, Japan
| | - Kazuya Yabumoto
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Takashi Seya
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Akira Sugimoto
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Seung-Hee Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kazuhiro Yagita
- Department of Physiology and Systems Bioscience, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
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22
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Hankenson FC, Prager EM, Berridge BR. Advocating for Generalizability: Accepting Inherent Variability in Translation of Animal Research Outcomes. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2024; 12:391-410. [PMID: 38358839 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-043531] [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] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Advancing scientific discovery requires investigators to embrace research practices that increase transparency and disclosure about materials, methods, and outcomes. Several research advocacy and funding organizations have produced guidelines and recommended practices to enhance reproducibility through detailed and rigorous research approaches; however, confusion around vocabulary terms and a lack of adoption of suggested practices have stymied successful implementation. Although reproducibility of research findings cannot be guaranteed due to extensive inherent variables in attempts at experimental repetition, the scientific community can advocate for generalizability in the application of data outcomes to ensure a broad and effective impact on the comparison of animals to translation within human research. This report reviews suggestions, based upon work with National Institutes of Health advisory groups, for improving rigor and transparency in animal research through aspects of experimental design, statistical assessment, and reporting factors to advocate for generalizability in the application of comparative outcomes between animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C Hankenson
- Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - E M Prager
- Research Program Management, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA;
| | - B R Berridge
- B2 Pathology Solutions LLC, Cary, North Carolina, USA;
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Démoulins T, Yimthin T, Lindtke D, Eggerschwiler L, Siegenthaler R, Labroussaa F, Jores J. Temperature impacts the bovine ex vivo immune response towards Mycoplasmopsis bovis. Vet Res 2024; 55:18. [PMID: 38351086 PMCID: PMC10863263 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01272-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Although cattle are the mammalian species with most global biomass associated with a huge impact on our planet, their immune system remains poorly understood. Notably, the bovine immune system has peculiarities such as an overrepresentation of γδ T cells that requires particular attention, specifically in an infectious context. In line of 3R principles, we developed an ex vivo platform to dissect host-pathogen interactions. The experimental design was based on two independent complementary readouts: firstly, a novel 12-14 color multiparameter flow cytometry assay measuring maturation (modulation of cell surface marker expression) and activation (intracellular cytokine detection) of monocytes, conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, natural killer cells, γδ T cells, B and T cells; secondly, a multiplex immunoassay monitoring bovine chemokine and cytokine secretion levels. The experiments were conducted on fresh primary bovine blood cells exposed to Mycoplasmopsis bovis (M. bovis), a major bovine respiratory pathogen. Besides reaffirming the tight cooperation of the different primary blood cells, we also identified novel key players such as strong IFN-γ secreting NK cells, whose role was so far largely overlooked. Additionally, we compared the host-pathogen interactions at different temperatures, including commonly used 37 °C, ruminant body temperature (38-38.5 °C) and fever (≥ 39.5 °C). Strikingly, working under ruminant physiological temperature influenced the capacity of most immune cell subsets to respond to M. bovis compared to 37 °C. Under fever-like temperature conditions the immune response was impaired compared to physiological temperature. Our experimental approach, phenotypically delineating the bovine immune system provided a thorough vision of the immune response towards M. bovis and the influence of temperature towards that immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Démoulins
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Thatcha Yimthin
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dorothea Lindtke
- Animal GenoPhenomics Group, Agroscope, 1725, Posieux, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Fabien Labroussaa
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joerg Jores
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
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Löscher W. Of Mice and Men: The Inter-individual Variability of the Brain's Response to Drugs. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0518-23.2024. [PMID: 38355298 PMCID: PMC10867552 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0518-23.2024] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological variation is ubiquitous in nature. Despite highly standardized breeding and husbandry under controlled environmental conditions, phenotypic diversity exists in laboratory mice and rats just as it does in humans. The resulting inter-individual variability affects various characteristics of animal disease models, including the responsiveness to drugs. Thus, the common practice of averaging data within an experimental group can lead to misinterpretations in neuroscience and other research fields. In this commentary, the impact of inter-individual variation in drug responsiveness is illustrated by examples from the testing of antiseizure medications in rodent temporal lobe epilepsy models. Individual mice and rats rendered epileptic by treatment according to standardized protocols fall into groups that either do or do not respond to antiseizure medications, thus mimicking the clinical situation in patients with epilepsy. Population responses are not normally distributed, and divergent responding is concealed in averages subjected to parametric statistical tests. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are believed to contribute to inter-individual variation in drug response but the specific molecular and physiological causes are not well understood. Being aware of inter-individual variability in rodents allows an improved interpretation of both behavioral phenotypes and drug effects in a pharmacological experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Löscher
- Translational Neuropharmacology Lab, NIFE, Department of Experimental Otology of the ENT Clinics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany
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25
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Sartori D, Macchia S, Gaion A. Did you consider ammonium? A possible confounding factor in evaluating the toxicity of marine sediments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:116021. [PMID: 38217915 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.116021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Bioassays are a crucial tool for assessing environmental quality, but they face inherent variability due to unexplored confounding factors in marine ecosystems. Ammonium (NH4+) is a vital form of nitrogen in aquatic environments, but it is also a significant focus due to its toxic effects, particularly on marine invertebrates. This study examines the impact of ammonium toxicity on Paracentrotus lividus embryo-development bioassays, which are widely used to evaluate the environmental quality of dredged sediment. The aim is to establish threshold values (EC01, EC05, EC20, and EC50 values) for the correct application of the P. lividus bioassay. The research reveals that ammonium has a significant impact on larval development (EC50 for NH4+ equivalent to 0.81 mg/L). The results emphasize the ecological implications of elevated NH4+ levels in dredged material and highlight the need for precise assessments in environmental management. This study provides essential data for refining guidelines and understanding the complex interactions of this compound in marine ecosystems, ensuring accurate evaluations of environmental quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sartori
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy.
| | - Simona Macchia
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy
| | - Andrea Gaion
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, via del Cedro 38, 57122 Livorno, Italy; University Centre South Devon, Long Road, Paignton TQ4 7EJ, United Kingdom
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26
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Lachance GP, Gauvreau D, Boisselier É, Boukadoum M, Miled A. Breaking Barriers: Exploring Neurotransmitters through In Vivo vs. In Vitro Rivalry. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:647. [PMID: 38276338 PMCID: PMC11154401 DOI: 10.3390/s24020647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter analysis plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and managing neurodegenerative diseases, often characterized by disturbances in neurotransmitter systems. However, prevailing methods for quantifying neurotransmitters involve invasive procedures or require bulky imaging equipment, therefore restricting accessibility and posing potential risks to patients. The innovation of compact, in vivo instruments for neurotransmission analysis holds the potential to reshape disease management. This innovation can facilitate non-invasive and uninterrupted monitoring of neurotransmitter levels and their activity. Recent strides in microfabrication have led to the emergence of diminutive instruments that also find applicability in in vitro investigations. By harnessing the synergistic potential of microfluidics, micro-optics, and microelectronics, this nascent realm of research holds substantial promise. This review offers an overarching view of the current neurotransmitter sensing techniques, the advances towards in vitro microsensors tailored for monitoring neurotransmission, and the state-of-the-art fabrication techniques that can be used to fabricate those microsensors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominic Gauvreau
- Department Electrical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.P.L.); (D.G.)
| | - Élodie Boisselier
- Department Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Mounir Boukadoum
- Department Computer Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC H2L 2C4, Canada;
| | - Amine Miled
- Department Electrical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.P.L.); (D.G.)
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Richter SH. Challenging current scientific practice: how a shift in research methodology could reduce animal use. Lab Anim (NY) 2024; 53:9-12. [PMID: 38172390 PMCID: PMC10766537 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-023-01308-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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28
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von Kortzfleisch VT, Richter SH. Systematic heterogenization revisited: Increasing variation in animal experiments to improve reproducibility? J Neurosci Methods 2024; 401:109992. [PMID: 37884081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109992] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Life sciences are currently facing a reproducibility crisis. Originally, the crisis was born out of single alarming failures to reproduce findings at different times and locations. Nowadays, systematic studies indicate that the prevalence of irreproducible research does in fact exceed 50%. Viewed from a rather cynical perspective, Fett's law of the lab "Never replicate a successful experiment" has thus taken on a completely new meaning. In this respect, animal research has come under particular scrutiny, as the stakes are high in terms of both research ethics and societal impact. To counteract this, it is essential to identify sources of poor reproducibility as well as to iron out these failures. We here review the current debate, briefly discuss potential reasons, and summarize steps that have already been undertaken to improve reproducibility in animal research. By the example of classical behavioural phenotyping studies, we particularly highlight the role strict standardization plays in exacerbating the crisis, and review the concept of systematic heterogenization as an alternative strategy to deal with variation in animal studies. Briefly, we argue that systematic variation rather than strict homogenization of experimental conditions benefits the robustness of research findings, and hence their reproducibility. To this end, we will present concrete examples for systematically heterogenized experiments and provide a practical guide on how to apply systematic heterogenization in experimental practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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29
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Nakagawa S, Lagisz M, Yang Y, Drobniak SM. Finding the right power balance: Better study design and collaboration can reduce dependence on statistical power. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002423. [PMID: 38190355 PMCID: PMC10773938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002423] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Power analysis currently dominates sample size determination for experiments, particularly in grant and ethics applications. Yet, this focus could paradoxically result in suboptimal study design because publication biases towards studies with the largest effects can lead to the overestimation of effect sizes. In this Essay, we propose a paradigm shift towards better study designs that focus less on statistical power. We also advocate for (pre)registration and obligatory reporting of all results (regardless of statistical significance), better facilitation of team science and multi-institutional collaboration that incorporates heterogenization, and the use of prospective and living meta-analyses to generate generalizable results. Such changes could make science more effective and, potentially, more equitable, helping to cultivate better collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Japan
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Theoretical Sciences Visiting Program, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Japan
| | - Yefeng Yang
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Szymon M. Drobniak
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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30
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Soliman N, Denk F. Practical approaches to improving translatability and reproducibility in preclinical pain research. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:38-42. [PMID: 37793487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain research continues to face the challenge of poor translatability of pre-clinical studies. In this short primer, we are summarizing the possible causes, with an emphasis on practical and constructive solutions. In particular, we stress the importance of increased heterogeneity in animal studies; formal or informal pre-registration to combat publication bias; and increased statistical training in order to help pre-clinical scientists appreciate the usefulness of available experimental design and reporting guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Soliman
- Pain Research, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Franziska Denk
- Wolfson Centre for Age-related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom.
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31
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Mu HY, Lin CM, Chu LA, Lin YH, Li J, Liu CY, Huang HC, Cheng SL, Lee TY, Lee HM, Chen HM, Tsai YJ, Chen Y, Huang JH. Ex Vivo Evaluation of Combination Immunotherapy Using Tumor-Microenvironment-on-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302268. [PMID: 37748773 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Combination immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy to address the challenges associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in breast cancer. The efficacy of combination immunotherapy hinges upon the intricate and dynamic nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by cellular heterogeneity and molecular gradients. However, current methodologies for drug screening often fail to accurately replicate these complex conditions, resulting in limited predictive capacity for treatment outcomes. Here, a tumor-microenvironment-on-chip (TMoC), integrating a circulation system and ex vivo tissue culture with physiological oxygen and nutrient gradients, is described. This platform enables spatial infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and their targeted attack on the tumor, while preserving the high complexity and heterogeneity of the TME. The TMoC is employed to assess the synergistic effect of five targeted therapy drugs and five chemotherapy drugs in combination with immunotherapy, demonstrating strong concordance between chip and animal model responses. The TMoC holds significant potential for advancing drug development and guiding clinical decision-making, as it offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Yu Mu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Min Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Li-An Chu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hui Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Yu Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Chien Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Liang Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Ying Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hsin Mei Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Min Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yunching Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Huang Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
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Jaric I, Voelkl B, Amrein I, Wolfer DP, Novak J, Detotto C, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U, Manuella F, Mansuy IM, Würbel H. Using mice from different breeding sites fails to improve replicability of results from single-laboratory studies. Lab Anim (NY) 2024; 53:18-22. [PMID: 38151528 PMCID: PMC10766513 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-023-01307-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Theoretical and empirical evidence indicates that low external validity due to rigorous standardization of study populations is a cause of poor replicability in animal research. Here we report a multi-laboratory study aimed at investigating whether heterogenization of study populations by using animals from different breeding sites increases the replicability of results from single-laboratory studies. We used male C57BL/6J mice from six different breeding sites to test a standardized against a heterogenized (HET) study design in six independent replicate test laboratories. For the standardized design, each laboratory ordered mice from a single breeding site (each laboratory from a different one), while for the HET design, each laboratory ordered proportionate numbers of mice from the five remaining breeding sites. To test our hypothesis, we assessed 14 outcome variables, including body weight, behavioral measures obtained from a single session on an elevated plus maze, and clinical blood parameters. Both breeding site and test laboratory affected variation in outcome variables, but the effect of test laboratory was more pronounced for most outcome variables. Moreover, heterogenization of study populations by breeding site (HET) did not reduce variation in outcome variables between test laboratories, which was most likely due to the fact that breeding site had only little effect on variation in outcome variables, thereby limiting the scope for HET to reduce between-lab variation. We conclude that heterogenization of study populations by breeding site has limited capacity for improving the replicability of results from single-laboratory animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Jaric
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Bernhard Voelkl
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irmgard Amrein
- Institute of Anatomy, Division of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David P Wolfer
- Institute of Anatomy, Division of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Janja Novak
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carlotta Detotto
- Central Animal Facilities, Experimental Animal Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty and Center of Neuroscience Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty and Center of Neuroscience Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Manuella
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETHZ), Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zürich, University Zürich and ETHZ, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics, Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETHZ), Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zürich, University Zürich and ETHZ, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Animal Welfare Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Jing L, Ma C, Xu L, Richter-Levin G. Distinct Neural Representations and Cognitive Behaviors Attributable to Naturally Developed Active Avoidance or Reactive Escape Strategies in the Male Rat. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 26:761-772. [PMID: 37725443 PMCID: PMC10674082 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high individual variability in coping with stress is often attributed to genetic background differences, sustained environmental conditions, or a combination of both. However, the neural mechanisms underlying coping style variability are still poorly understood. METHODS Here we examined the impact of a single extended emotional challenge on coping style variability and the associated involvement of the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 170) were trained in an extended 2-way shuttle avoidance (eTWSA) task for 7 days, and daily avoidance rates were measured. Forced swim test, elevated plus maze, or Morris water maze was tested before or after eTWSA exposure. Excitotoxic lesion of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was performed by Ibotenic infusion. Transient pharmacological blocking of DG, mPFC, or PAG was performed by muscimol or CNQX+TTX infusion. RESULTS Exposing rats to eTWSA was found to lead to naturally developing dichotomous, not continuous, coping styles, which we termed active avoidance (AA) or reactive escape (RE). Prior emotional responses did not predict the developing coping style. AA was associated with beneficial outcomes, including reduced behavioral despair and improved spatial learning. RE led to impaired spatial retrieval. AA was abolished by lesioning or pharmacological blocking of the DG. RE was prevented by blocking mPFC or PAG. CONCLUSION The results indicate that a single exposure to a significant emotional challenge can lead, in otherwise healthy individuals, to dichotomous development of an active or reactive coping style with distinctive neural correlates and subsequent behavioral significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Jing
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Israel
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Ma
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Lab of Learning and Memory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Israel
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Lab of Learning and Memory, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- CAS Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology, Shanghai, China
- Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- KIZ-SU Joint Laboratory of Animal Model and Drug Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gal Richter-Levin
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- The Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center (IBBR), University of Haifa, Israel
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Hawas S, Vagenas D, Haque A, Totsika M. Bladder-draining lymph nodes support germinal center B cell responses during urinary tract infection in mice. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0031723. [PMID: 37882531 PMCID: PMC10652902 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00317-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are both common and exhibit high recurrence rates in women. UTI healthcare costs are increasing due to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, necessitating alternative approaches for infection control. Here, we directly observed host adaptive immune responses in acute UTI. We employed a mouse model in which wild-type C57BL/6J mice were transurethrally inoculated with a clinically relevant MDR UTI strain of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Firstly, we noted that rag1-/- C57BL/6J mice harbored larger bacterial burdens than wild-type counterparts, consistent with a role for adaptive immunity in UTI control. Consistent with this, UTI triggered in the bladders of wild-type mice early increases of myeloid cells, including CD11chi conventional dendritic cells, suggesting possible involvement of these professional antigen-presenting cells. Importantly, germinal center B cell responses developed by 4 weeks post-infection in bladder-draining lymph nodes of wild-type mice and, although modest in magnitude and transient in nature, could not be boosted with a second UTI. Thus, our data reveal for the first time in a mouse model that UPEC UTI induces local B cell immune responses in bladder-draining lymph nodes, which could potentially serve to control infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Hawas
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dimitrios Vagenas
- Research Methods Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ashraful Haque
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Makrina Totsika
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Nawroth C, Wiesmann K, Schlup P, Keil N, Langbein J. Domestication and breeding objective did not shape the interpretation of physical and social cues in goats (Capra hircus). Sci Rep 2023; 13:19098. [PMID: 37925577 PMCID: PMC10625633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial selection by humans, either through domestication or subsequent selection for specific breeding objectives, drives changes in animal cognition and behaviour. However, most previous cognitive research comparing domestic and wild animals has focused on companion animals such as canids, limiting any general claims about the effects of artificial selection by humans. Using a cognitive test battery, we investigated the ability of wild goats (non-domestic, seven subjects), dwarf goats (domestic, not selected for milk production, 15 subjects) and dairy goats (domestic, selected for high milk yield, 18 subjects) to utilise physical and social cues in an object choice task. To increase the heterogeneity of our test samples, data for domestic goats were collected by two experimenters at two research stations (Agroscope; Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology). We did not find performance differences between the three groups in the cognitive test battery for either physical or social cues. This indicates that for a domestic non-companion animal species, domestication and selection for certain breeding objectives did not measurably shape the physical and cognitive skills of goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Nawroth
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Behavioural Physiology, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany.
| | - Katrina Wiesmann
- Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Agroscope Tänikon, 8355, Ettenhausen, Switzerland
| | | | - Nina Keil
- Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Agroscope Tänikon, 8355, Ettenhausen, Switzerland
| | - Jan Langbein
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Behavioural Physiology, 18196, Dummerstorf, Germany
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36
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Rijsketic DR, Casey AB, Barbosa DAN, Zhang X, Hietamies TM, Ramirez-Ovalle G, Pomrenze MB, Halpern CH, Williams LM, Malenka RC, Heifets BD. UNRAVELing the synergistic effects of psilocybin and environment on brain-wide immediate early gene expression in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1798-1807. [PMID: 37248402 PMCID: PMC10579391 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01613-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The effects of context on the subjective experience of serotonergic psychedelics have not been fully examined in human neuroimaging studies, partly due to limitations of the imaging environment. Here, we administered saline or psilocybin to mice in their home cage or an enriched environment, immunofluorescently-labeled brain-wide c-Fos, and imaged iDISCO+ cleared tissue with light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) to examine the impact of environmental context on psilocybin-elicited neural activity at cellular resolution. Voxel-wise analysis of c-Fos-immunofluorescence revealed clusters of neural activity associated with main effects of context and psilocybin-treatment, which were validated with c-Fos+ cell density measurements. Psilocybin increased c-Fos expression in subregions of the neocortex, caudoputamen, central amygdala, and parasubthalamic nucleus while it decreased c-Fos in the hypothalamus, cortical amygdala, striatum, and pallidum in a predominantly context-independent manner. To gauge feasibility of future mechanistic studies on ensembles activated by psilocybin, we confirmed activity- and Cre-dependent genetic labeling in a subset of these neurons using TRAP2+/-;Ai14+ mice. Network analyses treating each psilocybin-sensitive cluster as a node indicated that psilocybin disrupted co-activity between highly correlated regions, reduced brain modularity, and dramatically attenuated intermodular co-activity. Overall, our results indicate that main effects of context and psilocybin were robust, widespread, and reorganized network architecture, whereas context×psilocybin interactions were surprisingly sparse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ryskamp Rijsketic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Austen B Casey
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Daniel A N Barbosa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tuuli M Hietamies
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Grecia Ramirez-Ovalle
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Matthew B Pomrenze
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Casey H Halpern
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Leanne M Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Robert C Malenka
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Boris D Heifets
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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37
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Tsao CH, Wu KY, Su NC, Edwards A, Huang GJ. The influence of sex difference on behavior and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17297. [PMID: 37828065 PMCID: PMC10570284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44360-8] [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] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models have been used extensively in in vivo studies, especially within the biomedical field. Traditionally, single-sex studies, mostly males, are used to avoid any potential confounding variation caused by sex difference and the female estrous cycle. Historically, female animal subjects are believed to exhibit higher variability, and this could increase the statistical power needed to test a hypothesis. This study sets out to evaluate whether a sex difference does exist in mouse behavior, and whether female mice featured higher variability. We assessed the sensorimotor skills, anxiety-like behavior, depression-like behavior, and cognitive abilities of mice through a series of commonly used behavioral tests. Except for the stronger grip force and lower tactile sensory sensitivity detected in male mice, there was no significant difference between males and females in other tests. Furthermore, immunolabeling of neurogenesis markers suggested no significant difference between sexes in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Within group variances were equivalent; females did not exhibit higher variability than males. However, the overall negative results could be due to the limitation of small sample size. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that sex difference in mice does not significantly influence these commonly used behavioral tests nor adult neurogenesis under basal conditions. We suggest that female mice could also be considered for test inclusion in future experiment design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hui Tsao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Yu Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Nicole Ching Su
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Andrew Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry, Dykebar Hospital, National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Paisley, PA2 7DE, Scotland
| | - Guo-Jen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan.
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan.
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Beck J, Wernisch B, Klaus T, Penn DJ, Zala SM. Attraction of female house mice to male ultrasonic courtship vocalizations depends on their social experience and estrous stage. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285642. [PMID: 37816035 PMCID: PMC10564145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285642] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Male house mice (Mus musculus) produce complex ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), especially during courtship and mating. Playback experiments suggest that female attraction towards recordings of male USVs depends on their social experience, paternal exposure, and estrous stage. We conducted a playback experiment with wild-derived female house mice (M. musculus musculus) and compared their attraction to male USVs versus the same recording without USVs (background noise). We tested whether female attraction to USVs is influenced by the following factors: (1) social housing (two versus one female per cage); (2) neonatal paternal exposure (rearing females with versus without father); and (3) estrous stage. We found that females showed a significant attraction to male USVs but only when they were housed socially with another female. Individually housed females showed the opposite response. We found no evidence that pre-weaning exposure to a father influenced females' preferences, whereas estrous stage influenced females' attraction to male USVs: females not in estrus showed preferences towards male USVs, whereas estrous females did not. Finally, we found that individually housed females were more likely to be in sexually receptive estrous stages than those housed socially, and that attraction to male USVs was most pronounced amongst non-receptive females that were socially housed. Our findings indicate that the attraction of female mice to male USVs depends upon their social experience and estrous stage, though not paternal exposure. They contribute to the growing number of studies showing that social housing and estrous stage can influence the behavior of house mice and we show how such unreported variables can contribute to the replication crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Beck
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Wernisch
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Teresa Klaus
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dustin J. Penn
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah M. Zala
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Zhao HN, Thomas SP, Zylka MJ, Dorrestein PC, Hu W. Urine Excretion, Organ Distribution, and Placental Transfer of 6PPD and 6PPD-Quinone in Mice and Potential Developmental Toxicity through Nuclear Receptor Pathways. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13429-13438. [PMID: 37642336 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The rubber antioxidant 6PPD has gained significant attention due to its highly toxic transformation product, 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ). Despite their detection in urines of pregnant women, the placental transfer and developmental toxicity of 6PPD and 6PPDQ are unknown. Here, we treated C57Bl/6 mice with 4 mg/kg 6PPD or 6PPDQ to investigate their urine excretion and placental transfer. Female and male mice exhibited sex difference in excretion profiles of 6PPD and 6PPDQ. Urine concentrations of 6PPDQ were one order of magnitude lower than those of 6PPD, suggesting lower excretion and higher bioaccumulation of 6PPDQ. In pregnant mice treated with 6PPD or 6PPDQ from embryonic day 11.5 to 15.5, 6PPDQ showed ∼1.5-8 times higher concentrations than 6PPD in placenta, embryo body, and embryo brain, suggesting higher placental transfer of 6PPDQ. Using in vitro dual-luciferase reporter assays, we revealed that 6PPDQ activated the human retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) and retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) at concentrations as low as 0.3 μM, which was ∼10-fold higher than the concentrations detected in human urines. 6PPD activated the RXRα at concentrations as low as 1.2 μM. These results demonstrate the exposure risks of 6PPD and 6PPDQ during pregnancy and emphasize the need for further toxicological and epidemiological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqi Nina Zhao
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sydney P Thomas
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Mark J Zylka
- University of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Pieter C Dorrestein
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Wenxin Hu
- University of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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40
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Palka JK, Dyba A, Brzozowska J, Antoł W, Sychta K, Prokop ZM. Evolution of fertilization ability in obligatorily outcrossing populations of Caenorhabditis elegans. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15825. [PMID: 37701823 PMCID: PMC10494835 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15825] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In species reproducing by selfing, the traits connected with outcrossing typically undergo degeneration, a phenomenon called selfing syndrome. In Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, selfing syndrome affects many traits involved in mating, rendering cross-fertilization highly inefficient. In this study, we investigated the evolution of cross-fertilization efficiency in populations genetically modified to reproduce by obligatory outcrossing. Following the genetic modification, replicate obligatorily outcrossing were maintained for over 100 generations, at either optimal (20 °C) or elevated (24 °C) temperatures, as a part of a broader experimental evolution program. Subsequently, fertilization rates were assayed in the evolving populations, as well as their ancestors who had the obligatory outcrossing introduced but did not go through experimental evolution. Fertilization effectivity was measured by tracking the fractions of fertilized females in age-synchronized populations, through 8 h since reaching adulthood. In order to check the robustness of our measurements, each evolving population was assayed in two or three independent replicate blocks. Indeed, we found high levels of among-block variability in the fertilization trajectories, and in the estimates of divergence between evolving populations and their ancestors. We also identified five populations which appear to have evolved increased fertilization efficiency, relative to their ancestors. However, due to the abovementioned high variability, this set of populations should be treated as candidate, with further replications needed to either confirm or disprove their divergence from ancestors. Furthermore, we also discuss additional observations we have made concerning fertilization trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna K. Palka
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Alicja Dyba
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Julia Brzozowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Weronika Antoł
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Karolina Sychta
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Zofia M. Prokop
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Cracow, Poland
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Usai C, Mateu L, Brander C, Vergara-Alert J, Segalés J. Animal models to study the neurological manifestations of the post-COVID-19 condition. Lab Anim (NY) 2023; 52:202-210. [PMID: 37620562 PMCID: PMC10462483 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-023-01231-z] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
More than 40% of individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have experienced persistent or relapsing multi-systemic symptoms months after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) has debilitating effects on the daily life of patients and encompasses a broad spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms including olfactory and gustative impairment, difficulty with concentration and short-term memory, sleep disorders and depression. Animal models have been instrumental to understand acute COVID-19 and validate prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Similarly, studies post-viral clearance in hamsters, mice and nonhuman primates inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 have been useful to unveil some of the aspects of PCC. Transcriptomic alterations in the central nervous system, persistent activation of immune cells and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis seem to have a critical role in the neurological manifestations observed in animal models infected with SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the proinflammatory transcriptomic profile observed in the central nervous system of SARS-CoV-2-inoculated mice partially overlaps with the pathological changes that affect microglia in humans during Alzheimer's disease and aging, suggesting shared mechanisms between these conditions. None of the currently available animal models fully replicates PCC in humans; therefore, multiple models, together with the fine-tuning of experimental conditions, will probably be needed to understand the mechanisms of PCC neurological symptoms. Moreover, given that the intrinsic characteristics of the new variants of concern and the immunological status of individuals might influence PCC manifestations, more studies are needed to explore the role of these factors and their combinations in PCC, adding further complexity to the design of experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Usai
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- IRTA Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Lourdes Mateu
- Infectious Disease Service, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute and Hospital, Badalona, Spain
| | - Christian Brander
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Júlia Vergara-Alert
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- IRTA Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Joaquim Segalés
- Unitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.
- Department de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus de la UAB, Bellaterra, Spain.
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Jakobsen TS, Fabian-Jessing BK, Hansen S, Bek T, Askou AL, Corydon TJ. Porcine models of choroidal neovascularization: A systematic review. Exp Eye Res 2023; 234:109590. [PMID: 37474015 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109590] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) are extensively used in translational studies of CNV formation and to evaluate angiostatic treatment strategies. However, the current paucity of large animal models compared with rodent models constitutes a knowledge gap regarding the clinical translation of findings. Ocular anatomical and physiological similarities to humans suggest the pig as a relevant model animal. Thus, a systematic survey of porcine CNV models was performed to identify pertinent model parameters and suggest avenues for model standardization and optimization. A systematic search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE on November 28, 2022 for porcine models of CNV. Following inclusion by two investigators, data from the articles were extracted according to a predefined protocol. A total of 14 articles, representing 19 independent porcine CNV models were included. The included models were almost equally divided between laser-induced (53%) and surgically-induced (47%) models. Different specified breeds of domestic pigs (71%) were most commonly used in the studies. All studies used normal animals. Female pigs were reported used in 43% of the studies, while 43% did not report on sex of the animals. Younger pigs were typically used. The surgical models reported consistent CNV induction following mechanical Bruch's membrane rupture. The laser models used variants of the infrared diode laser (40%) or the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser (50%). Both lasers enabled successful CNV induction with reported induction rates ranging from 60 to 100%. Collateral damage to the neuroretina was reported for the infrared diode laser. CNV evaluation varied across studies with fluorescein angiography (50%) as the most used in vivo method and retinal sections (71%) as the most used ex vivo method. In interventional studies, quantification of lesions was in general performed between 7 and 14 days. The field of porcine CNV models is relatively small and heterogeneous and almost equally divided between surgically-induced and laser-induced models. Both methods have allowed successful modeling of CNV formation with induction rates comparable to those of non-human primates. However, the field would benefit from standardization of model parameters and reporting. This includes laser parameters and validation of CNV formation as well as methods of CNV evaluation and statistical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stax Jakobsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 167, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - Bjørn K Fabian-Jessing
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 167, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - Silja Hansen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Toke Bek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 167, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - Anne Louise Askou
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 167, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 167, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
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Mathiron AGE, Rejo L, Chapeau F, Malgouyres JM, Silvestre F, Vignet C. Tools for photomotor response assay standardization in ecotoxicological studies: Example of exposure to gentamicin in the freshwater planaria Schmidtea mediterranea. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 102:104242. [PMID: 37573897 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Photomotor response assay (PMR) is very useful in an ecotoxicological context because it allows evaluation of behavioral response to potential toxic compounds. However, a lack of procedure standardization makes results comparison difficult between labs and organisms. Here, we aimed to propose five different tools to standardize the PMR procedure so that it may be applied to all model species, regarding: (1) the minimum total sample size, (2) the acclimation period, (3) the number and duration of light and dark phases alternation, (4) the measured behavior, and (5) the statistical analysis. As an example of procedure application, we analyzed the effect of an exposure to the antibiotic gentamicin on the locomotion behavior during PMR in an invertebrate species: the asexual freshwater planaria Schmidtea mediterranea. We encourage future studies using PMR to follow these five tools to improve data analysis and results comparability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G E Mathiron
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium; Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - Lucia Rejo
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000 Albi, France
| | - Florian Chapeau
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000 Albi, France
| | - Jean-Michel Malgouyres
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000 Albi, France
| | - Frédéric Silvestre
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium; Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Caroline Vignet
- Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417, INU Champollion, Place de Verdun, 81000 Albi, France
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44
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Dzhalilova DS, Zolotova NA, Mkhitarov VA, Kosyreva AM, Tsvetkov IS, Khalansky AS, Alekseeva AI, Fatkhudinov TH, Makarova OV. Morphological and molecular-biological features of glioblastoma progression in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia Wistar rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12694. [PMID: 37542119 PMCID: PMC10403616 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is a major pathogenetic factor in many cancers. Individual resistance to suboptimal oxygen availability is subject to broad variation and its possible role in tumorigenesis remains underexplored. This study aimed at specific characterization of glioblastoma progression in male tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia Wistar rats. Hypoxia resistance was assessed by gasping time measurement in an 11,500 m altitude-equivalent hypobaric decompression chamber. Based on the outcome, the animals were assigned to three groups termed 'tolerant to hypoxia' (n = 13), 'normal', and 'susceptible to hypoxia' (n = 24). The 'normal' group was excluded from subsequent experiments. One month later, the animals underwent inoculation with rat glioblastoma 101.8 followed by monitoring of survival, body weight dynamics and neurological symptoms. The animals were sacrificed on post-inoculation days 11 (subgroup 1) and 15 (subgroup 2). Relative vessels number, necrosis areas and Ki-67 index were assessed microscopically; tumor volumes were determined by 3D reconstruction from histological images; serum levels of HIF-1α, IL-1β, and TNFα were determined by ELISA. None of the tolerant to hypoxia animals died of the disease during observation period, cf. 85% survival on day 11 and 55% survival on day 15 in the susceptible group. On day 11, proliferative activity of the tumors in the tolerant animals was higher compared with the susceptible group. On day 15, proliferative activity, necrosis area and volume of the tumors in the tolerant to hypoxia animals were higher compared with the susceptible group. ELISA revealed no dynamics in TNFα levels, elevated levels of IL-1β in the susceptible animals on day 15 in comparison with day 11 and tolerant ones. Moreover, there were elevated levels of HIF-1α in the tolerant animals on day 15 in comparison with day 11. Thus, the proliferative activity of glioblastoma cells and the content of HIF-1α were higher in tolerant to hypoxia rats, but the mortality associated with the tumor process and IL-1β level in them were lower than in susceptible animals. Specific features of glioblastoma 101.8 progression in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia rats, including survival, tumor growth rates and IL-1β level, can become the basis of new personalized approaches for cancer diseases treatment in accordance to individual hypoxia resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sh Dzhalilova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418.
| | - N A Zolotova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - V A Mkhitarov
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - A M Kosyreva
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow, Russia, 117198
| | - I S Tsvetkov
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - A S Khalansky
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - A I Alekseeva
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - T H Fatkhudinov
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow, Russia, 117198
| | - O V Makarova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery", 3 Tsyurupy Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
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Parsons MH, Stryjek R, Fendt M, Kiyokawa Y, Bebas P, Blumstein DT. Making a case for the free exploratory paradigm: animal welfare-friendly assays that enhance heterozygosity and ecological validity. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1228478. [PMID: 37600759 PMCID: PMC10436217 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1228478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael H. Parsons
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Rafal Stryjek
- Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Markus Fendt
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Yasushi Kiyokawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Piotr Bebas
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Pinto D, López-Yerena A, Almeida A, Sarmento B, Lamuela-Raventós R, Vallverdú-Queralt A, Delerue-Matos C, Rodrigues F. Metabolomic insights into phenolics-rich chestnut shells extract as a nutraceutical ingredient - A comprehensive evaluation of its impacts on oxidative stress biomarkers by an in-vivo study. Food Res Int 2023; 170:112963. [PMID: 37316050 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present study attempted for the first time to explore the effects of the daily oral intake of a phenolics-rich extract from chestnut shells (CS) on the metabolomic profiling of rat tissues by liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) targeted to polyphenolics and their metabolites and screen potential oxidative stress biomarkers, validating its use as a promising nutraceutical ingredient with outstanding antioxidant properties for the prevention and co-therapy of lifestyle-related diseases triggered by oxidative stress. The results demonstrated new insights into the metabolomic fingerprinting of polyphenols from CS, confirming their absorption and biotransformation by phase I (hydrogenation) and II (glucuronidation, methylation, and sulfation) enzymes. Phenolic acids were the main polyphenolic class, followed by hydrolyzable tannins, flavanols, and lignans. In contrast to the liver, sulfated conjugates were the principal metabolites reaching the kidneys. The multivariate data analysis predicted an exceptional contribution of polyphenols and their microbial and phase II metabolites to the in-vivo antioxidant response of the CS extract in rats, recommending its use as an appealing source of anti-aging molecules for nutraceuticals. This is the first study that explored the relation between metabolomic profiling of rat tissues and in-vivo antioxidant effects after oral treatment with a phenolics-rich CS extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pinto
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anallely López-Yerena
- Polyphenol Research Group, Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy XIA, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA-UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreia Almeida
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; CESPU - Institute for Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Rosa Lamuela-Raventós
- Polyphenol Research Group, Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy XIA, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Vallverdú-Queralt
- Polyphenol Research Group, Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy XIA, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA-UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Cristina Delerue-Matos
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisca Rodrigues
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal.
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Piotrowska M. Diversity and inclusion for rodents: how animal ethics committees can help improve translation. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2023:jme-2023-109166. [PMID: 37407026 DOI: 10.1136/jme-2023-109166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Translation failure occurs when a treatment shown to be safe and effective in one type of population does not produce the same result in another. We are currently in a crisis involving the translatability of preclinical studies to human populations. Animal trials are no better than a coin toss at predicting the safety and efficacy of drugs in human trials, and the high failure rate of drugs entering human trials suggests that most of the suffering of laboratory animals is futile, creating no commensurate benefit for human patients. Here, I argue that animal ethics committees have a role to play in getting us out of this crisis. Inadequate representation is a known contributor to translation failures and is a matter of both scientific and ethical concern. Ethical review committees have the authority to address it by reprioritising the values already enshrined in their guiding principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Piotrowska
- Philosophy, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
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Carneiro CFD, Drude N, Hülsemann M, Collazo A, Toelch U. Mapping strategies towards improved external validity in preclinical translational research. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1273-1285. [PMID: 37691294 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2251886] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Translation is about successfully bringing findings from preclinical contexts into the clinic. This transfer is challenging as clinical trials frequently fail despite positive preclinical results. Limited robustness of preclinical research has been marked as one of the drivers of such failures. One suggested solution is to improve the external validity of in vitro and in vivo experiments via a suite of complementary strategies. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors summarize the literature available on different strategies to improve external validity in in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo experiments; systematic heterogenization; generalizability tests; and multi-batch and multicenter experiments. Articles that tested or discussed sources of variability in systematically heterogenized experiments were identified, and the most prevalent sources of variability are reviewed further. Special considerations in sample size planning, analysis options, and practical feasibility associated with each strategy are also reviewed. EXPERT OPINION The strategies reviewed differentially influence variation in experiments. Different research projects, with their unique goals, can leverage the strengths and limitations of each strategy. Applying a combination of these approaches in confirmatory stages of preclinical research putatively increases the chances of success in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa F D Carneiro
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natascha Drude
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maren Hülsemann
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Collazo
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Toelch
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
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Hernández-Arteaga E, Ågmo A. Seminatural environments for rodent behavioral testing: a representative design improving animal welfare and enhancing replicability. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1192213. [PMID: 37424748 PMCID: PMC10323197 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1192213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The low replicability of scientific studies has become an important issue. One possible cause is low representativeness of the experimental design employed. Already in the 1950's, Egon Brunswick pointed out that experimental setups ideally should be based on a random sample of stimuli from the subjects' natural environment or at least include basic features of that environment. Only experimental designs satisfying this criterion, representative designs in Brunswikian terminology, can produce results generalizable beyond the procedure used and to situations outside the laboratory. Such external validity is crucial in preclinical drug studies, for example, and should be important for replicability in general. Popular experimental setups in rodent research on non-human animals, like the tail suspension test or the Geller-Seifter procedure, do not correspond to contexts likely to be encountered in the animals' habitat. Consequently, results obtained in this kind of procedures can be generalized neither to other procedures nor to contexts outside the laboratory. Furthermore, many traditional procedures are incompatible with current notions of animal welfare. An approximation to the natural social and physical context can be provided in the laboratory, in the form of a seminatural environment. In addition to satisfy the basic demands for a representative design, such environments offer a far higher level of animal welfare than the typical small cages. This perspective article will briefly discuss the basic principles of the generalizability of experimental results, the virtues of representative designs and the coincidence of enhanced scientific quality and animal welfare provided by this kind of design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anders Ågmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
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50
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Allegra S, Chiara F, Di Grazia D, Gaspari M, De Francia S. Evaluation of Sex Differences in Preclinical Pharmacology Research: How Far Is Left to Go? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:786. [PMID: 37375734 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Until the last quarter of the 20th century, sex was not recognized as a variable in health research, nor was it believed to be a factor that could affect health and illness. Researchers preferred studying male models for a variety of reasons, such as simplicity, lower costs, hormone confounding effects, and fear of liability from perinatal exposure in case of pregnancy. Equitable representation is imperative for determining the safety, effectiveness, and tolerance of therapeutic agents for all consumers. Decades of female models' underrepresentation in preclinical studies has resulted in inequality in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of disease between the sexes. Sex bias has been highlighted as one of the contributing factors to the poor translation and replicability of preclinical research. There have been multiple calls for action, and the inclusion of sex as a biological variable is increasingly supported. However, although there has been substantial progress in the efforts to include more female models in preclinical studies, disparities today remain. In the present review, we consider the current standard practice of the preclinical research setting, why the sex bias exists, why there is the need to include female models, and what risks may arise from continuing this exclusion from experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Allegra
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Francesco Chiara
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Daniela Di Grazia
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Marco Gaspari
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Silvia De Francia
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
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