Environmental Enrichment Improves Age-Related Immune System Impairment: Long-Term Exposure Since Adulthood Increases Life Span in Mice

Environmental enrichment with nylon gnaw sticks introduces variation in Sprague Dawley rat immune and lower gastrointestinal parameters with differences between sexes

BACKGROUND

Environmental enrichment (EE) is commonly included as an important component of animal housing to promote well being of laboratory animals; however, much remains to be learned about the impact of chewable forms of EE on experimental outcomes in the context of nutritional and microbiome-related studies, and whether outcomes differ between sexes. In the present study, nylon chew bones (gnaw sticks, GS) were evaluated for their effects on fermentation profiles, microbial community structure, and cytokine profiles of gastrointestinal and systemic tissues in pair-housed female and male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

RESULTS

Food consumption and weight gain were not significantly altered by access to GS. Cecal short-chain fatty acid and branched-chain fatty acid profiles significantly differed between sexes in rats with access to GS, and alpha diversity of the microbiome decreased in females provided GS. Sex-related tissue cytokine profiles also significantly differed between rats with and without access to GS.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that including GS can influence microbiota and immune-related parameters, in a sex dependent manner. This shows that environmental enrichment strategies need to be clearly reported in publications to properly evaluate and compare experimental results, especially with respect to the use of chewable EE in the context of studies examining diet, microbiome and immune parameters.

A bibliometric analysis of studies on environmental enrichment spanning 1967-2024: patterns and trends over the years

Environmental Enrichment (EE) has received considerable attention for its potential to enhance cognitive and neurobiological outcomes in animal models. This bibliometric analysis offers a comprehensive evaluation of the EE research spanning from 1967 to 2024, utilizing data extracted from Scopus and analyzed through R and VOSviewer. The volume of publications, citation patterns, and collaborations were systematically reviewed, highlighting important contributions and emerging trends within the field of animal research. Core concepts of EE research are mapped, revealing key themes such as neuroplasticity, cognitive function, and behavioral outcomes. A significant increase in EE research is demonstrated, particularly after the year 2000, reflecting growing scientific and public interest in EE paradigms. This analysis provides insights into the global contributions and collaborative networks that have shaped EE studies over time. The role of EE in advancing the understanding of neurobiological, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative processes is underscored. Influential contributors, leading countries, and high-impact journals in the field of EE are identified, offering a valuable resource for researchers seeking to understand or extend the current knowledge base. The strategic selection of keywords and rigorous data curation methods ensure that the findings accurately reflect the most impactful aspects of EE research in animals. This study serves as an essential reference for future explorations and applications of EE across disciplines. By providing a clear and structured overview of the field, this paper aims to serve as a foundation for ongoing and future research initiatives, encouraging more robust investigations and applications of EE to enhance cognitive and neurological health globally.

Cannabidiol, a Strategy in Aging to Improve Redox State and Immunity in Male Rats

Aging is characterized by oxidative stress and immune function impairment, and is associated with increased morbidity. Cannabidiol (CBD) has anti-oxidant properties, but its role in aging has been scarcely studied. This work aims to test the effect of CBD on the redox state and immunity during aging in rats. In this study, 15-month-old male Long Evans rats received 10 mg/kg b.w/day of CBD in their diet for 10 weeks and were compared with same-age control and 2-month-old rats serving as a young control group, both following a standard diet. After treatment, they were sacrificed, and the spleen, thymus, and total blood cells were collected. Redox parameters such as glutathione reductase and peroxidase activities, reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione concentration, GSSG/GSH ratio, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. Moreover, immune functions (chemotaxis, natural killer activity, and lymphoproliferation) were analyzed in the spleen. Results show that the 15-month-old control rats exhibited increased oxidative stress and immunosenescence compared to the 2-month-old rats. However, the CBD-treated animals showed higher anti-oxidant defenses, lower oxidants in the spleen, thymus, and blood cells, and better immunity in the spleen than the corresponding age-matched controls. Therefore, CBD administration neutralizes oxidative stress and improves immunity, suggesting it is a strategy for achieving healthy aging.

Does environmental enrichment mitigate the adverse effects of chronic low dose-rate radiation exposure on mice?

The purpose of the study was to determine whether environmental enrichments (EE) can mitigate the adverse effects of chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposure in mice. Female B6C3F1 mice were continuously exposed to 20 mGy d-1 gamma-rays under specific-pathogen-free conditions since 8 weeks of age for 400 d. After completion of the radiation exposure, OV3121 cells, derived from an ovarian granulosa cell tumor, were inoculated subcutaneously alongside age-matched non-irradiated control mice. Irradiated mice were shown to have a significantly reduced ability to eliminate inoculated tumors. The results indicate that EE may be able to mitigate the adverse effects of low-dose-rate radiation exposure, but the effects vary greatly and are complex depending on the type of EE.

Prolonged exposure to a music-enriched environment mitigates acute noise-induced inflammation and apoptosis in the chicken spleen by modulating the Keap-1/Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways

The rise of operational noise as an environmental pollutant for farm animals is an emerging concern. The mechanisms through which music can alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis induced by noise exposure remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the alleviating effects and underlying mechanisms of long-term music exposure on noise-induced damage to the chicken spleen. Male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were divided into four groups: control (C), acute noise stimulation (NS), noise stimulation with music mitigation (NSM), and music only (M). NS and NSM groups were exposed to noise (simulating sudden intensity noise, 115 to 120dB) for 10 minutes daily for a week, starting at 14-days-old. NSM and M groups then received 28 days of 6-hour daily music (Mozart K.448, 60-65 dB). The results showed that noise stimulation significantly activated the Keap-1/Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Long-term music intervention has also been demonstrated to successfully mitigate oxidative stress and abnormal apoptosis induced by acute noise stimulation. Microscopic examination of the spleen revealed that acute noise stimulation resulted in an increase in splenic cells, a decrease in lymphocytes, and blurred boundaries between the red and white pulps in the NS group. However, these pathological changes were alleviated in the NSM group following music intervention. Compared with the control group, the NS group exhibited significantly elevated oxidative stress parameters. In contrast, music intervention in the NSM group notably improved antioxidant capacity and partially alleviated morphological abnormalities in the spleen. Additionally, noise stimulation activated the NF-κB pathway, upregulating the downstream genes of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Noise-induced mitochondrial damage led to apoptosis, as observed by TUNEL staining, along with increased gene and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-C, Casp-3, Casp-8, and Casp-9. These findings indicate that acute noise exposure can induce splenic damage via oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by modulating the Keap-1/Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Prolonged music stimulation effectively mitigates noise-induced damage, offering a vital experimental foundation for further research on noise pollution's impact on organisms and music's alleviating role.

Responses to Many Anti-Aging Interventions Are Sexually Dimorphic

There is increasing appreciation that sex differences are not limited to reproductive organs or traits related to reproduction and that sex is an important biological variable in most characteristics of a living organism. The biological process of aging and aging-related traits are no exception and exhibit numerous, often major, sex differences. This article explores one aspect of these differences, namely sex differences in the responses to anti-aging interventions. Aging can be slowed down and/or postponed by a variety of environmental ("lifestyle"), genetic or pharmacological interventions. Although many, particularly older studies utilized only one sex of experimental animals, there is considerable evidence that responses to these interventions can be very different in females and males. Calorie restriction (CR), that is reducing food intake without malnutrition can extend longevity in both sexes, but specific metabolic alterations and health benefits induced by CR are not the same in women and men. In laboratory mice, several of the genetic alterations that reduce insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) signaling extend longevity more effectively in females or in females only. Beneficial effects of rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR signaling, on mouse longevity are greater in females. In contrast, several anti-aging compounds, including a weak estrogen, 17 alpha estradiol, extend longevity of male, but not female, mice. Apparently, fundamental mechanisms of aging are not identical in females and males and it is essential to use both sexes in studies aimed at identifying novel anti-aging interventions. Recommendations for lifestyle modifications, drugs, and dietary supplements to maintain good health and functionality into advanced age and to live longer will likely need to be tailored to the sex of the user.

A Review of the Effects of Some Extrinsic Factors on Mice Used in Research

Animals have been used in research for over 2,000 y. From very crude experiments conducted by ancient scholars, animal research, as a science, was refined over hundreds of years to what we know it as today. However, the housing conditions of animals used for research did not improve significantly until less than 100 years ago when guidelines for housing research animals were first published. In addition, it was not until relatively recently that some extrinsic factors were recognized as a research variable, even when animals were housed under recommended guidelines. For example, temperature, humidity, light, noise, vibration, diet, water, caging, bedding, etc., can all potentially affect research using mice, contributing the inability of others to reproduce published findings. Consequently, these external factors should be carefully considered in the design, planning, and execution of animal experiments. In addition, as recommended by others, the housing and husbandry conditions of the animals should be described in detail in publications resulting from animal research to improve study reproducibility. Here, we briefly review some common, and less common, external factors that affect research in one of the most popular animal models, the mouse.

Remyelination in multiple sclerosis from the miRNA perspective

Remyelination relies on the repair of damaged myelin sheaths, involving microglia cells, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and mature oligodendrocytes. This process drives the pathophysiology of autoimmune chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to nerve cell damage and progressive neurodegeneration. Stimulating the reconstruction of damaged myelin sheaths is one of the goals in terms of delaying the progression of MS symptoms and preventing neuronal damage. Short, noncoding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs), responsible for regulating gene expression, are believed to play a crucial role in the remyelination process. For example, studies showed that miR-223 promotes efficient activation and phagocytosis of myelin debris by microglia, which is necessary for the initiation of remyelination. Meanwhile, miR-124 promotes the return of activated microglia to the quiescent state, while miR-204 and miR-219 promote the differentiation of mature oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, miR-138, miR-145, and miR-338 have been shown to be involved in the synthesis and assembly of myelin proteins. Various delivery systems, including extracellular vesicles, hold promise as an efficient and non-invasive way for providing miRNAs to stimulate remyelination. This article summarizes the biology of remyelination as well as current challenges and strategies for miRNA molecules in potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

[Touch, a crucial sense in social interactions to improve homeostasis in aging and promote healthy longevity]

Aging is associated with the generalized deterioration of the organism, being of great relevance experienced by homeostatic systems such as the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Among the lifestyle strategies that have been researched to improve these systems and achieve greater healthy longevity, this review will focus on the social environment. In order to verify the effectiveness of these both in the improvement of homeostasis and in life expectancy, the research carried out with experimental animals that have allowed this to be done will be discussed. In addition, as it has been observed that physical contact is crucial for the positive outcomes of social interaction on homeostatic systems and longevity to occur, we will focus on that mechanism, as well as some of the possible molecular pathways underlying the effects found.

[Improved immunity and mean lifespan in mature mice genetically deficient in catecholamine synthesis after living with wild type for two months]

INTRODUCTION

Mice hemizygous in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH-HZ), the limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, show premature immunosenescence, which in females is associated with a shorter lifespan than the corresponding controls (WT). The coexistence of TH-Hz with WT improves the immune function in both males and females in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

To test whether cohabitation for two months of mature male TH-HZ with WT improves the immune function of the former and whether this impacts the lifespan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mature male ICR-CD1 mice (13 ± 1 months) TH-HZ coexisted with WT (2:4 ratio in each cage) for two months. Peritoneal leukocytes were extracted from all animals at baseline, one month, and two months after cohabitation, and macrophage phagocytic capacity, macrophage and lymphocyte chemotaxis, natural killer (NK) antitumor activity, and lymphoproliferative capacity in response to the mitogens concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were assessed. The animals were maintained under these conditions until their natural death.

RESULTS

The TH-HZ, which start, in general, with lower values than the WT in the immune functions studied, improved them after two months of cohabitation, becoming similar to those of the controls. This improvement was already observed in NK activity after one month of cohabitation. The TH-HZ presented lower mean longevity than WT, but when they cohabited with WT, it was similar to the latter.

CONCLUSION

The coexistence of TH-HZ male mice with WT mice for two months at mature age improves these genetically modified animals' immune response and longevity.

Effects of lifespan-extending interventions on cognitive healthspan

Ageing is known to be the primary risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. They are currently incurable and worsen over time, which has broad implications in the context of lifespan and healthspan extension. Adding years to life and even to physical health is suboptimal or even insufficient, if cognitive ageing is not adequately improved. In this review, we will examine how interventions that have the potential to extend lifespan in animals affect the brain, and if they would be able to thwart or delay the development of cognitive dysfunction and/or neurodegeneration. These interventions range from lifestyle (caloric restriction, physical exercise and environmental enrichment) through pharmacological (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors, resveratrol, rapamycin, metformin, spermidine and senolytics) to epigenetic reprogramming. We argue that while many of these interventions have clear potential to improve cognitive health and resilience, large-scale and long-term randomised controlled trials are needed, along with studies utilising washout periods to determine the effects of supplementation cessation, particularly in aged individuals.

Cytokines and Immune Cells Profile in Different Tissues of Rodents Induced by Environmental Enrichment: Systematic Review

Environmental Enrichment (EE) is based on the promotion of socio-environmental stimuli, which mimic favorable environmental conditions for the practice of physical activity and health. The objective of the present systematic review was to evaluate the influence of EE on pro-and anti-inflammatory immune parameters, but also in cell activation related to the innate and acquired immune responses in the brain and peripheral tissues in rodents. Three databases [PubMed (2209 articles), Scopus (1154 articles), and Science Direct (1040 articles)] were researched. After applying the eligibility criteria, articles were selected for peer review, independently, as they were identified by September 2021. The protocol for this systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO. Of the 4417 articles found, 16 were selected for this systematic review. In the brain, EE promoted a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In the blood, EE promoted a higher percentage of leukocytes, an increase in CD19+ B lymphocytes, and the proliferation of Natura Killer (NK cells). In the bone marrow, there was an increase in the number of CD27- and CD11b+ mature NK cells and a reduction in CD27- and CD11b+ immature Natural Killer cells. In conclusion, EE can be an immune modulation approach and plays a key role in the prevention of numerous chronic diseases, including cancer, that have a pro-inflammatory response and immunosuppressive condition as part of their pathophysiology.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IMPROVES THE CYTOKINE PROFILE AND LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE RESPONSE IN CHRONOLOGICALLY OLD AND PREMATURELY AGING MICE

Among the age-associated changes in the immune system, the most evident is the decrease in proliferative responses of lymphocytes to mitogenic stimuli, which is accompanied by the loss of cytokine network homeostasis. Chronic low-grade inflammatory stress, termed as sterile inflammation, is also observed during aging. In chronologically and prematurely aging mice, cohabitation with adult animals for two months favored improvements in several immune functions. This study aimed to determine whether cohabitation could restore several cytokine networks, improve lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens, and diminish sterile inflammation. Chronologically old mice (76±4 weeks) and prematurely aging mice (33±4 weeks) (PAM and TH-HZ) were cohabited with adults (without premature aging) for two months. Subsequently, lymphoproliferation in both basal (unstimulated) conditions and in the presence of mitogenic stimuli lipopolysaccharide A (LPS) or concanavalin A (ConA) was analyzed in cultures of peritoneal leukocytes for 48h. Cytokine secretions (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17) in these cultures were also evaluated. The results showed that cohabitation restored the levels of these cytokines in old and prematurely aging mice and improved the subsequent lymphoproliferative responses. In addition, this social strategy diminished sterile inflammation and decreased inflammatory stress in unstimulated conditions. Therefore, this strategy seems to be capable of restoring the relevant immune function of lymphocytes and reducing the inflammatory stress, which are the improvements required for an adequate immune response.

Neurogenesis in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases

Adult neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated in certain areas of the adult brain, declines in an age-dependent manner and is one potential target for extending cognitive healthspan. Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and, as lifespans are increasing, these health challenges are becoming more prevalent. An age-associated loss in neural stem cell number and/or activity could cause this decline in brain function, so interventions that reverse aging in stem cells might increase the human cognitive healthspan. In this review, we describe the involvement of adult neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases and address the molecular mechanistic aspects of neurogenesis that involve some of the key aggregation-prone proteins in the brain (i.e., tau, Aβ, α-synuclein, …). We summarize the research pertaining to interventions that increase neurogenesis and regulate known targets in aging research, such as mTOR and sirtuins. Lastly, we share our outlook on restoring the levels of neurogenesis to physiological levels in elderly individuals and those with neurodegeneration. We suggest that modulating neurogenesis represents a potential target for interventions that could help in the fight against neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

Environmental Enrichment for Rats and Mice Housed in Laboratories: A Metareview

Simple Summary

Environmental enrichment has been widely studied with laboratory rodents, but there is no consensus regarding what counts as enrichment or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment. We conducted a metareview to better understand the definitions and goals of enrichment, perceived risks or requirements of enrichment, and what forms of enrichment have previously been endorsed for use with rodents housed in laboratories. This may help researchers and animal care staff to better define their chosen approach and intended outcomes when providing environmental enrichment.

Abstract

Environmental enrichment has been widely studied in rodents, but there is no consensus on what enrichment should look like or what it should achieve. Inconsistent use of the term “enrichment” creates challenges in drawing conclusions about the quality of an environment, which may slow housing improvements for laboratory animals. Many review articles have addressed environmental enrichment for laboratory rats and mice (Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus). We conducted a metareview of 29 review articles to assess how enrichment has been defined and what are commonly described as its goals or requirements. Recommendations from each article were summarised to illustrate the conditions generally considered suitable for laboratory rodents. While there is no consensus on alternative terminology, many articles acknowledged that the blanket use of the terms “enriched” and “enrichment” should be avoided. Environmental enrichment was most often conceptualised as a method to increase natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. Authors also commonly outlined perceived risks and requirements of environmental enrichment. We discuss these perceptions, make suggestions for future research, and advocate for the adoption of more specific and value-neutral terminology.

An enriched environment reestablishes metabolic homeostasis by reducing obesity-induced inflammation

Obesity can lead to chronic inflammation in different tissues, generating insulin and leptin resistance and alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism, favoring the development of degenerative diseases, including type II diabetes. Congruently, the inflammatory signaling inhibition prevents the development of obesity and restores insulin sensitivity. Via the enhancement of central nervous system activity, an enriched environment (EE) has beneficial effects on learning and memory as well as on immune cell functions and inflammation in different disease models. Here, we explored whether an EE can restore energy balance in obese mice that previously presented metabolic alterations. We discovered that an EE improved glucose metabolism, increased insulin signaling in liver, and reduced hepatic steatosis and inflammation, and increased lipolysis and browning in the white adipose tissue of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Finally, we found reduced inflammatory signaling and increased anorexigenic signaling in the hypothalamus of HFD-fed mice exposed to an EE. These data indicate that an EE is able to restore the metabolic imbalance caused by HFD feeding. Thus, we propose EE as a novel therapeutic approach for treating obesity-related metabolic alterations.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary: A series of physiological, histochemical and molecular analyses reveal that enriched environment decreases inflammation in adipose tissue and in hypothalamus, re-establishing glucose metabolism in metabolically compromised mice.

A short social interaction between adult and old mice improves the homeostatic systems and increases healthy longevity

The aging process can be influenced by environmental factors, such as the social environment. The continuous cohabitation of the chronologically old mice with adult animals improves them at the behavioral level, immune function, oxidative stress and longevity, but causes a deterioration of these parameters in adults. Therefore, the objective of the study was to study whether the coexistence for only 15 min a day of old mice with adult mice, can produce that improvement and greater longevity in old animals without causing deterioration in adults. For that, old and adult CD1 female mice, after two months of that social interaction, were submitted to a behavioral battery and then peritoneal leukocytes were collected to assess several immune functions, oxidative and inflammatory stress parameters as well as catecholamine concentrations. When the adult mice reached old age, the same parameters were again analyzed. The life span of each animal was also recorded. Plasmatic concentration of oxytocin was also studied. The results showed that old mice presented better behavioral capacity, immunity and oxi-inflammatory state after this social interaction with adult animals, and consequently an extended life span. Adult mice, in general, did not show any changes after social interaction with old animals, but when they achieved old age, improvements of some parameters and of longevity were observed in comparison with animals that never had a that social interaction. In conclusion, a short social interaction between old and adult individuals can be an excellent strategy for improving in both the health state and longevity.

Daily ingestion of Akkermansia mucciniphila for one month promotes healthy aging and increases lifespan in old female mice

The ingestion of certain probiotics has been suggested as a promising nutritional strategy to improve aging. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the daily intake, for a month, of a new probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) (2 × 10⁸ cfu/100µL PBS) on behavior, as well as function and redox state of immune cells of old female ICR-CD1 mice (OA group). For this, several behavioral tests were performed, and function and oxidative-inflammatory stress parameters of peritoneal leukocytes were analyzed in OA group, in a group of the same age that did not take AKK (old control, OC group) and in another adult control (AC) group. The results showed, in OA group, a significant improvement of several behavioral responses (coordination, balance, neuromuscular vigor, exploratory ability and anxiety like-behaviors), as well as in immune functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, NK activity and lymphoproliferation) and in oxidative stress parameters (glutathione peroxidase and reductase activities, oxidized glutathione and lipid oxidation concentrations) of the peritoneal leukocytes in comparison to those observed in OC group. In addition, peritoneal immune cells from the OA group released lower basal concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α) compared to those from the OC group. The values of parameters in OA were similar to those in AC group. These improvements in the old mice receiving the probiotic were reflected in an increase in their lifespan. In conclusion, our data indicate that AKK supplementation for a short period could be a good nutritional strategy to promote healthy longevity.

The Effects of Sensory Enrichment After a Laboratory Stressor on Human Skin Barrier Recovery in a Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE

Environmental enrichment (EE) can reduce stress, alter immunity, and speed wound healing in animals. However, it is not known whether these effects translate to humans. This study aimed to investigate whether sensory EE could improve wound healing after a stressor in humans.

METHODS

A total of 105 participants underwent a tape-stripping procedure and were then stressed using a laboratory stress paradigm. After this, they were randomized to interact for 30 minutes with one of two possible sensory EE interventions (music as auditory enrichment or a Paro robot as multisensory enrichment) or to a control condition. Skin barrier recovery was measured using transepidermal water loss at baseline, after the stressor, and after the intervention. Stress was measured using self-report, heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary stress-related biological measures. Enjoyment during the intervention was measured by self-report as a possible mediator.

RESULTS

The Paro condition had significantly improved skin barrier recovery (mean [M] = 44%, standard error [SE] = 1.92) compared with the control condition (M = 37% SE = 2.01, F(2,88) = 3.25, p = .043), both with and without controlling for covariates. The music condition did not significantly differ from the other conditions (M = 42%, SE = 1.95, p values > .05). Both objective and subjective stress measures did not significantly differ between conditions. Mediational analysis showed that enjoyment levels during the intervention period significantly mediated the relationship between condition and skin barrier recovery (z = 2.00, p = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

Paro, or other companion robots, may be an effective form of enrichment to improve skin barrier recovery in humans after a laboratory stressor, and this effect may be due to enjoyment. Further research with patient groups is required to investigate whether Paro can help heal clinical wounds.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12618000953235, registered at https://anzctr.org.au.

Enhancing Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Functions of Natural Killer Cells in Mice

The environment of an organism can convey a powerful influence over its biology. Environmental enrichment (EE), as a eustress model, has been used extensively in neuroscience to study neurogenesis and brain plasticity. EE has also been used as an intervention for the treatment and prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders with limited clinical application. By contrast, the effects of EE on the immune system are relatively less investigated. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that EE can robustly impact immune function. In this review, we summarize the major components of EE, the impact of EE on natural killer (NK) cells, EE's immunoprotective roles in cancer, and the underlying mechanisms of EE-induced NK cell regulation. Moreover, we discuss opportunities for translational application based on insights from animal research of EE-induced NK cell regulation.

Environmental activation of a hypothalamic BDNF-adipocyte IL-15 axis regulates adipose-natural killer cells

Physical and social environments influence immune homeostasis within adipose tissue, yet the mechanisms remain poorly defined. We report that an enriched environment (EE) housing modulates the immune cell population in white adipose tissue of mice including an increase in the abundance of natural killer (NK) cells. EE upregulates the expression of IL-15 and its receptor IL-15Rα specifically within mature adipocytes. Mechanistically, we show that hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upregulates IL-15 production in adipocytes via sympathetic β-adrenergic signaling. Overexpressing BDNF mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector in the hypothalamus expands adipose NK cells. Conversely, inhibition of hypothalamic BDNF signaling via gene transfer of a dominant negative TrkB receptor suppresses adipose NK cells. In white adipose tissue, overexpression of IL-15 using an adipocyte-specific rAAV vector stimulates adipose NK cells and inhibits the progression of subcutaneous melanoma, whereas local IL-15 knockdown blocks the EE effect. These results suggest that bio-behavioral factors regulate adipose NK cells via a hypothalamic BDNF-sympathoneural-adipocyte IL-15 axis. Targeting this pathway may have therapeutic significance for cancer.

Cognitive Enrichment in Practice: A Survey of Factors Affecting Its Implementation in Zoos Globally

Simple Summary

Cognitive enrichment gives animals the opportunity to challenge themselves and control aspects of their environment through problem solving. Despite the known benefits of giving captive animals cognitive enrichment, not much is known about how it is used in zoos. This survey found that staff within zoos think that cognitive enrichment is very important for the welfare of animals. However, its use is not widespread. While some animal groups like carnivores commonly receive cognitive enrichment, animals like fish and reptiles are overlooked. Time and financial support were found to be common factors that had a high impact on the use of cognitive enrichment, while zookeeper interest was said to be important for its success. Findings suggest that animal keepers, who are most often involved in enrichment programs, need to be better supported to deliver cognitive enrichment. Enrichment programs need to be prioritized with the creation of job roles specifically for enrichment or increased time and training given to keepers to carry out these duties.

Abstract

Information on the practical use of cognitive enrichment in zoos is scarce. This survey aimed to identify where cognitive enrichment is being used while identifying factors that may limit its implementation and success. Distributed in eight languages to increase global range, responses to this survey (n = 177) show that while agreement on what constitutes cognitive enrichment is poor, it is universally perceived as very important for animal welfare. Carnivores were the animal group most reported to receive cognitive enrichment (76.3%), while amphibians and fish the least (16.9%). All animal groups had a percentage of participants indicating animal groups in their facility were not receiving cognitive enrichment when they believe that they should (29.4–44.6%). On average, factors relating to time and finance were rated most highly in terms of effect on cognitive enrichment use, and keeper interest was the highest rated for effect on success. Results of this study indicate that cognitive enrichment is perceived as important. However, placing the responsibility of its development and implementation on animal keepers who are already time-poor may be impeding its use. A commitment to incorporating cognitive enrichment into routine husbandry, including financial support and investment into staff is needed from zoos to ensure continued improvement to captive animal welfare.

How environmental enrichment balances out neuroinflammation in chronic pain and comorbid depression and anxiety disorders

Depression and anxiety commonly occur in chronic pain states and the coexistence of these diseases worsens outcomes for both disorders and may reduce treatment adherence and response. Despite the advances in the knowledge of chronic pain mechanisms, pharmacological treatment is still unsatisfactory. Research based on exposure to environmental enrichment is currently under investigation and seems to offer a promising low-cost strategy with no side effects. In this review, we discuss the role of inflammation as a major biological substrate and aetiological factor of chronic pain and depression/anxiety and report a collection of preclinical evidence of the effects and mechanisms of environmental enrichment. As microglia participates in the development of both conditions, we also discuss microglia as a potential target underlying the beneficial actions of environmental enrichment in chronic pain and comorbid depression/anxiety. We also discuss how alternative interventions under clinical guidelines, such as environmental enrichment, may improve treatment compliance and patient outcomes.

Effects of music stimulus on behavior response, cortisol level, and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals' welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.

Short-Term Environmental Enrichment is a Stronger Modulator of Brain Glial Cells and Cervical Lymph Node T Cell Subtypes than Exercise or Combined Exercise and Enrichment

Physical exercise (PE) and environmental enrichment (EE) can modulate immunity. However, the differential effects of short-term PE, EE, and PE + EE on neuroimmune mechanisms during normal aging has not been elucidated. Hence, a cohort of 3-, 8-, and 13-month-old immunologically unchallenged C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly assigned to either Control, PE, EE, or PE + EE groups and provided with either no treatment, a running wheel, a variety of plastic and wooden objects alone or in combination with a running wheel for seven weeks, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and 8-color flow cytometry were used to determine the numbers of dentate gyrus glial cells, and the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers and their subsets from cervical lymph nodes, respectively. An increase in the number of IBA1+ microglia in the dentate gyrus at 5 and 10 months was observed after EE, while PE and PE + EE increased it only at 10 months. No change in astroglia number in comparison to controls were observed in any of the treatment groups. Also, all treatments induced significant differences in the proportion of specific T cell subsets, i.e., CD4+ and CD8+ T naïve (TN), central memory (TCM), and effector memory (TEM) cells. Our results suggest that in the short-term, EE is a stronger modulator of microglial and peripheral T cell subset numbers than PE and PE + EE, and the combination of short-term PE and EE has no additive effects.

Environmental Complexity and Research Outcomes

Environmental complexity is an experimental paradigm as well as a potential part of animals' everyday housing experiences. In experimental uses, researchers add complexity to stimulate brain development, delay degenerative brain changes, elicit more naturalistic behaviors, and test learning and memory. Complexity can exacerbate or mitigate behavioral problems, give animals a sense of control, and allow for expression of highly driven, species-typical behaviors that can improve animal welfare. Complex environments should be designed thoughtfully with the animal's natural behaviors in mind, reported faithfully in the literature, and evaluated carefully for unexpected effects.

Enduring neuroimmunological consequences of developmental experiences: From vulnerability to resilience

The immune system is crucial for normal neuronal development and function (neuroimmune system). Both immune and neuronal systems undergo significant postnatal development and are sensitive to developmental programming by environmental experiences. Negative experiences from infection to psychological stress at a range of different time points (in utero to adolescence) can permanently alter the function of the neuroimmune system: given its prominent role in normal brain development and function this dysregulation may increase vulnerability to psychiatric illness. In contrast, positive experiences such as exercise and environmental enrichment are protective and can promote resilience, even restoring the detrimental effects of negative experiences on the neuroimmune system. This suggests the neuroimmune system is a viable therapeutic target for treatment and prevention of psychiatric illnesses, especially those related to stress. In this review we will summarise the main cells, molecules and functions of the immune system in general and with specific reference to central nervous system development and function. We will then discuss the effects of negative and positive environmental experiences, especially during development, in programming the long-term functioning of the neuroimmune system. Finally, we will review the sparse but growing literature on sex differences in neuroimmune development and response to environmental experiences.

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The immune system is essential for development and function of the central nervous system (neuroimmune system)

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Environmental experiences can permanently alter neuroimmune function and associated brain development

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Altered neuroimmune function following negative developmental experiences may play a role in psychiatric illnesses

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Positive experiences can promote resilience and rescue the effects of negative experiences on the neuroimmune system

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The neuroimmune system is therefore a viable therapeutic target for preventing and treating psychiatric illnesses

Sex-related differences in behavioural markers in adult mice for the prediction of lifespan

Finding biomarkers to assess the rate of ageing and consequently, to forecast individual lifespan is a challenge in ageing research. We recently published a mathematical model for lifespan prediction in adult female mice using behavioural parameters such as internal locomotion and time spent in open arms in the hole board (HB) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests, respectively. Nevertheless, it is still not known if these behavioural variables could be useful in forecasting lifespan in male mice. Therefore, two groups of ICR-CD1 mice, male and female were subjected to the EPM, HB and T-maze tests at the adult age. Mice were monitored until they died and individual lifespans were registered. In general, adult male mice showed more anxiety-like behaviours than females. The mathematical model previously developed in females was validated with the female cohort, but found to be suboptimal for lifespan prediction in males. Thus, a new model for male lifespan prediction was constructed including the behavioural variables that were predictive of lifespan in males: time in the central platform of the EPM, inner locomotion, number of groomings and number and duration of head-dippings in the HB. These results confirm that the higher the anxiety-like behaviour at the adult age, the shorter the lifespan.

Differential impact of stress and environmental enrichment on corticolimbic circuits

Stress exposure can produce profound changes in physiology and behavior that can impair health and well-being. Of note, stress exposure is linked to anxiety disorders and depression in humans. The widespread impact of these disorders warrants investigation into treatments to mitigate the harmful effects of stress. Pharmacological treatments fail to help many with these disorders, so recent work has focused on non-pharmacological alternatives. One of the most promising of these alternatives is environmental enrichment (EE). In rodents, EE includes social, physical, and cognitive stimulation for the animal, in the form of larger cages, running wheels, and toys. EE successfully reduces the maladaptive effects of various stressors, both as treatment and prophylaxis. While we know that EE can have beneficial effects under stress conditions, the morphological and molecular mechanisms underlying these behavioral effects are still not well understood. EE is known to alter neurogenesis, dendrite development, and expression of neurotrophic growth factors, effects that vary by type of enrichment, age, and sex. To add to this complexity, EE has differential effects in different brain regions. Understanding how EE exerts its protective effects on morphological and molecular levels could hold the key to developing more targeted pharmacological treatments. In this review, we summarize the literature on the morphological and molecular consequences of EE and stress in key emotional regulatory pathways in the brain, the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. The similarities and differences among these regions provide some insight into stress-EE interaction that may be exploited in future efforts toward prevention of, and intervention in, stress-related diseases.

Environmental enrichment modulates inflammation during development in long-evans rats (Rattus norvegicus)

It is unknown whether increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators during the life span is caused by aging per se or via the combination of a cumulative allostatic load due to life challenges. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of stress and environmental enrichment on the inflammatory status associated with aging in rats. Animals were assigned to the following five treatment groups: chronic stress with and without environmental enrichment; acute stress with and without environmental enrichment; control animals. Enrichment was provided as an open field containing novel objects (30 min three times per week). Animals assigned to chronic stress groups were exposed to predator sound stressors (e.g., hawk sound) for 30 min daily, while animals assigned to acute stress groups were exposed once a week for 30 min. The interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the immune system was investigated by measuring metabolized dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and peripheral levels of the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10. Results suggested that inflamm-aging was more pronounced in animals with low DHEA levels, which in turn were affected by exposure to environmental enrichment and acute stress. This study showed that environmental enrichment and acute stress can significantly attenuate disruptions in DHEA production, consequently contributing to improved neuroimmune function of aging animals.

The effects of environmental enrichment on skin barrier recovery in humans: a randomised trial

This study investigated whether environmental enrichment (EE) could reduce stress and improve wound healing in humans. 120 participants underwent a standardised tape-stripping procedure and were then randomised to interact for 30 minutes with one of three EE interventions (comfort blankets as tactile enrichment, music as auditory enrichment or a Paro robot as multi-sensory enrichment) or to a control group. Skin barrier recovery (SBR) was measured using transepidermal water loss at baseline, after tape-stripping and after the intervention. Psychological variables, cortisol and alpha-amylase were measured at the three time-points. SBR did not significantly differ between the EE conditions and the control condition. The music condition had higher stimulation levels than the control condition, and the comfort condition had significantly lower relaxation levels than the control condition after the intervention. The EE interventions tested were not beneficial for wound healing compared to a control group. Limitations were that the sample were not stressed and an active control condition was used.

The ratio of prematurely aging to non-prematurely aging mice cohabiting, conditions their behavior, immunity and lifespan

Adult prematurely aging mice (PAM) show behavioral deterioration, premature immunosenescence and increased oxidative stress, impairments that are associated with their shorter lifespan, compared to the corresponding exceptional non-prematurely aging mice (ENPAM). When PAM live in a predominantly ENPAM environment (2/5, respectively) they exhibit an improvement of immunity and redox state in their spleen and thymus leukocytes, and an increased lifespan. Nevertheless, it is unknown if other PAM/ENPAM ratios could affect behavioral and peritoneal leukocyte functions of PAM and change their lifespan. ENPAM and PAM were divided into the following groups: C-ENPAM (8 ENPAM in the cage); C-PAM (8 PAM in the cage); ENPAM>50% and PAM<50% (5 ENPAM/2 PAM in each cage); ENPAM = 50% and PAM = 50% (4 ENPAM/4 PAM in each cage), and PAM>50% and ENPAM<50% (5 PAM/2 ENPAM in each cage). After two months, mice were submitted to a battery of behavioral tests. Several functions and oxidative stress parameters were then assessed in their peritoneal leukocytes. Animals were maintained in these conditions to analyze their lifespan. The results showed that PAM>50%, PAM = 50% and PAM<50% exhibited better behavioral responses, immunity and redox states in their peritoneal leukocytes than C-PAM. This improvement was higher when the number of ENPAM in the cage was increased, with most of the parameters in PAM<50% reaching similar values to those in C-ENPAM, and an increased lifespan. However, ENPAM that cohabited with PAM showed, in general, an impairment of parameters studied. In conclusion, the PAM/ENPAM cohabitation ratio is relevant to behavior and immunity.

Environmental enrichment improves cognitive symptoms and pathological features in a focal model of cortical damage of multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease affecting white and grey matter, it is characterized by demyelination, axonal degeneration along with loss of motor, sensitive and cognitive functions. MS is a heterogeneous disease that displays different clinical courses: relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS), and MS progressive forms: primary progressive (PPMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS). Cortical damage in the progressive MS forms has considerable clinical relevance due to its association with cognitive impairment and disability progression in patients. One treatment is available for the progressive forms of the disease, but none are specific for cognitive deficits. We developed an animal model that reflects most of the characteristics of the cortical damage, such as cortical neuroinflammation, demyelination, neurodegeneration and meningeal inflammation, which was associated with cognitive impairment. Cognitive rehabilitation, exercise and social support have begun to be evaluated in patients and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Environmental enrichment (EE) provides exercise as well as cognitive and social stimulation. EE has been demonstrated to exert positive effects on cognitive domains, such as learning and memory, and improving anxiety-like symptoms. We proposed to study the effect of EE on peripherally stimulated cortical lesion induced by the long term expression of interleukin IL-1β (IL-1β) in adult rats. Here, we demonstrated that EE: 1) reduces the peripheral inflammatory response to the stimulus, 2) ameliorates cognitive deficits and anxiety-like symptoms, 3) modulates neurodegeneration, demyelination and glial activation, 4) regulates neuroinflammation by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhancing the expression of anti-inflammatory ones. Our findings correlate with the fact that EE housing could be considered an effective non- pharmacological therapeutic agent that can synergistically aid in the rehabilitation of the disease.

Immune Relevant and Immune Deficient Mice: Options and Opportunities in Translational Research

In 1989 ILAR published a list and description of immunodeficient rodents used in research. Since then, advances in understanding of molecular mechanisms; recognition of genetic, epigenetic microbial, and other influences on immunity; and capabilities in manipulating genomes and microbiomes have increased options and opportunities for selecting mice and designing studies to answer important mechanistic and therapeutic questions. Despite numerous scientific breakthroughs that have benefitted from research in mice, there is debate about the relevance and predictive or translational value of research in mice. Reproducibility of results obtained from mice and other research models also is a well-publicized concern. This review summarizes resources to inform the selection and use of immune relevant mouse strains and stocks, aiming to improve the utility, validity, and reproducibility of research in mice. Immune sufficient genetic variations, immune relevant spontaneous mutations, immunodeficient and autoimmune phenotypes, and selected induced conditions are emphasized.

Minimum environmental enrichment is effective in activating antitumor immunity to transplanted tumor cells in mice

Studies of environmental enrichment are progressing in the fields of nervous system, stress and exercise. Recently, housing in enriched environment have shown to influence to carcinogenesis and life span. However, the study for antitumor effect of environmental enrichment are difficult to reproduce due to the complexity of the experimental technique. Thus, a simpler experiment system is needed for antitumor study using environmental enrichment. In this research, we propose a minimum environmental enrichment, which is an experimental system by placing one mouse igloo which is normally used as a mouse shelter in the rearing environment. The experimental system of minimum environmental enrichment is not only easy to reproduce but also have enhanced activity to suppress the growth of transplanted tumor significantly. It was found that the activation of NK cells is involved also in the immune system related to tumor immunity of minimum environmental enrichment. Because minimum environmental enrichment is effective in activating antitumor immunity to transplanted tumor cells in mice, we believe this will be useful for promoting antitumor studies using environmental enrichment.

Differential Microglial Morphological Response, TNFα, and Viral Load in Sedentary-like and Active Murine Models After Systemic Non-neurotropic Dengue Virus Infection

Peripheral inflammatory stimuli increase proinflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream and central nervous system and activate microglial cells. Here we tested the hypothesis that contrasting environments mimicking sedentary and active lives would be associated with differential microglial morphological responses, inflammatory cytokines concentration, and virus load in the peripheral blood. For this, mice were maintained either in standard (standard environment) or enriched cages (enriched environment) and then subjected to a single (DENV1) serotype infection. Blood samples from infected animals showed higher viral loads and higher tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mRNA concentrations than control subjects. Using an unbiased stereological sampling approach, we selected 544 microglia from lateral septum for microscopic 3D reconstruction. Morphological complexity contributed most to cluster formation. Infected groups exhibited significant increase in the microglia morphological complexity and number, despite the absence of dengue virus antigens in the brain. Two microglial phenotypes (type I with lower and type II with higher morphological complexity) were found in both infected and control groups. However, microglia from infected mice maintained in enriched environment showed only one morphological phenotype. Two-way ANOVA revealed that environmental changes and infection influenced type-I and II microglial morphologies and number. Environmental enrichment and infection interactions may contribute to microglial morphological change to a point that type-I and II morphological phenotypes could no longer be distinguished in infected mice from enriched environment. Significant linear correlation was found between morphological complexity and TNFα peripheral blood. Our findings demonstrated that sedentary-like and active murine models exhibited differential microglial responses and peripheral inflammation to systemic non-neurotropic infections with DENV1 virus.

Effects of Various Commercially Available Enrichment Options on Handling and Chronic Stress Markers in Female ICR Mice

Although social housing of mice generally is preferred, mice must be individually housed in some situations. In these cases, enhanced attention to environmental enrichment is encouraged, but few studies assess the wellbeing of mice provided various enrichments. In this study, we used female ICR mice to evaluate enrichment strategies that encouraged natural behaviors including foraging, exercise, sheltering, and socialization. After 3 mo of exposure to the assigned enrichment strategy, wellbeing was assessed by evaluating behavioral and physiologic differences between groups. The results suggested that the use of red-tinted igloos may decrease markers of mouse wellbeing. However, none of the selected strategies yielded measures of wellbeing indicating improvement as compared to individually housed mice with no enrichment (negative control). Furthermore, measures were not significantly different between paired mice and individually housed mice with no enrichment.

Exposure to an enriched environment promotes the terminal maturation and proliferation of natural killer cells in mice

The maturation of natural killer (NK) cells is critical for the acquisition of robust effector functions and the immune response to tumors. However, the influence of psychological stress on NK-cell maturation remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the alteration of NK-cell maturation in response to enriched environment (EE) exposure, which induced eustress, or positive stress, in mice. Analysis of markers representing distinct mature stages revealed that EE promoted the terminal maturation of NK cells both centrally in the bone marrow and peripherally in the spleen and blood. Additionally, EE increased CD27⁺ immature and intermediate-mature NK cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Furthermore, EE exposure brought about a similar promoting effect on NK-cell maturation in tumor-bearing mice. In tumor-bearing mice, EE substantially enhanced the proliferative potential of splenic CD27⁺ NK cells compared to those in the bone marrow. EE-housed mice displayed a tumor-resistant phenotype and an increased proportion of intratumoral NK cells, especially CD11b⁺ CD27^- mature NK cells, while splenectomy abolished the tumor-retardant effect caused by EE and EE-induced NK-cell infiltration into tumors. Given that our previous study demonstrated an important role for NK cells in EE-induced tumor inhibition, the findings of this study further indicate that the enhanced maturation and proliferation of splenic NK cells may contribute to EE-induced tumor inhibition to some extent. Taken together, the results of this study suggest a positive modulating effect of environment-induced eustress on NK-cell maturation, with potential implications for understanding how eustress boosts NK-cell antitumor immunity.

Induction of prolonged natural lifespans in mice exposed to acoustic environmental enrichment

We investigated the effect of acoustic environmental enrichment (EE) on the lifespans and behaviours of mice to the end of their natural lifespan in different acoustic environments. Acoustic EE induced a significantly prolonged natural lifespan (nearly 17% longer) and was associated with increased voluntary movements. However, no correlation between lifespan and voluntary movements was detected, suggesting that increased voluntary movements are not a primary cause of lifespan prolongation. Analyses of individual differences in lifespan demonstrated that lifespan extension induced by acoustic EE could be related to changes in social relationships (e.g., reduction of social conflict) among individuals kept within a cage. Therefore, an acoustic component may be an important factor inducing the positive effects of EE.

Experimental studies on the biological effects of chronic low dose-rate radiation exposure in mice: overview of the studies at the Institute for Environmental Sciences

This review summarizes the results of experiments conducted in the Institute for Environmental Sciences for the past 21 years, focusing on the biological effects of long-term low dose-rate radiation exposure on mice. Mice were chronically exposed to gamma rays at dose-rates of 0.05, 1 or 20 mGy/day for 400 days to total doses of 20, 400 or 8000 mGy, respectively. The dose rate 0.05 mGy/day is comparable to the dose limit for radiation workers. The parameters examined were lifespan, neoplasm incidence, antineoplasm immunity, body weight, chromosome aberration(s), gene mutation(s), alterations in mRNA and protein levels and trans-generational effects. At 20 mGy/day, all biological endpoints were significantly altered except neoplasm incidence in the offspring of exposed males. Slight but statistically significant changes in lifespan, neoplasm incidences, chromosome abnormalities and gene expressions were observed at 1 mGy/day. Except for transient alterations in the mRNA levels of some genes and increased liver neoplasm incidence attributed to radiation exposure, the remaining biological endpoints were not influenced after exposure to 0.05 mGy/day. Results suggest that chronic low dose-rate exposure may induce small biological effects.

Emerging Roles of Ganoderma Lucidum in Anti-Aging

Ganoderma lucidum is a white-rot fungus that has been viewed as a traditional Chinese tonic for promoting health and longevity. It has been revealed that several extractions from Ganoderma lucidum, such as Ethanol extract, aqueous extract, mycelia extract, water soluble extract of the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia, Ganodermasides A, B, C, D, and some bioactive components of Ganoderma lucidum, including Reishi Polysaccharide Fraction 3, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides I, II, III, IV, Ganoderma lucidum peptide, Ganoderma polysaccharide peptide, total G. lucidum triterpenes and Ganoderic acid C1 could exert lifespan elongation or related activities. Although the use of Ganoderma lucidum as an elixir has been around for thousands of years, studies revealing its effect of lifespan extension are only the tip of the iceberg. Besides which, the kinds of extractions or components being comfrimed to be anti-aging are too few compared with the large amounts of Ganoderma lucidum extractions or constituients being discovered. This review aims to lay the ground for fully elucidating the potential mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum underlying anti-aging effect and its clinical application.

Unbridle biomedical research from the laboratory cage

Many biomedical research studies use captive animals to model human health and disease. However, a surprising number of studies show that the biological systems of animals living in standard laboratory housing are abnormal. To make animal studies more relevant to human health, research animals should live in the wild or be able to roam free in captive environments that offer a natural range of both positive and negative experiences. Recent technological advances now allow us to study freely roaming animals and we should make use of them.

The impact of environmental enrichment on the murine inflammatory immune response

Living in a mentally and physically stimulating environment has been suggested to have a beneficial effect on the immune response. This study investigates these effects, utilizing a 2-week program of environmental enrichment (EE) and 2 models of acute inflammation: zymosan-induced peritonitis (ZIP) and the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis. Our results revealed that following exposure to EE, mice possessed a significantly higher circulating neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio compared with control animals. When subject to ZIP, EE animals exhibit enhanced neutrophil and macrophage influx into their peritoneal cavity. Corresponding results were found in CLP, where we observed an improved capacity for enriched animals to clear systemic microbial infection. Ex vivo investigation of leukocyte activity also revealed that macrophages from EE mice presented an enhanced phagocytic capacity. Supporting these findings, microarray analysis of EE animals revealed the increased expression of immunomodulatory genes associated with a heightened and immunoprotective status. Taken together, these results provide potentially novel mechanisms by which EE influences the development and dynamics of the immune response.

A housing period as little as 2 weeks in an enriched environment with an increase in spatial and sensorial stimuli improved the ability of mice to clear infections.

The role of cognitive activity in cognition protection: from Bedside to Bench

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline poses a great concern to elderly people and their families. In addition to pharmacological therapies, several varieties of nonpharmacological intervention have been developed. Most training trials proved that a well-organized task is clinically effective in cognition improvement.

MAIN BODY

We will first review clinical trials of cognitive training for healthy elders, MCI and AD patients, respectively. Besides, potential neuroprotective and compensatory mechanisms in animal models of AD are discussed. Despite controversy, cognitive training has promising effect on cognitive ability. In animal model of AD, environmental enrichment showed beneficial effect for cognitive ability, as well as neuronal plasticity. Neurotrophin, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator signaling pathway were also involved in the process. Well-designed cognitive activity could benefit cognitive function, and thus life quality of patients and their families.

CONCLUSION

The positive effects of cognitive activity is closely related with neural plasticity, neurotrophin, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator signaling pathway changes.

Enriching the Housing Environment for Mice Enhances Their NK Cell Antitumor Immunity via Sympathetic Nerve-Dependent Regulation of NKG2D and CCR5

Mice housed in an enriched environment display a tumor-resistant phenotype due to eustress stimulation. However, the mechanisms underlying enriched environment-induced protection against cancers remain largely unexplained. In this study, we observed a significant antitumor effect induced by enriched environment in murine pancreatic cancer and lung cancer models. This effect remained intact in T/B lymphocyte-deficient Rag1^-/- mice, but was nearly eliminated in natural killer (NK) cell-deficient Beige mice or in antibody-mediated NK-cell-depleted mice, suggesting a predominant role of NK cells in enriched environment-induced tumor inhibition. Exposure to enriched environment enhanced NK-cell activity against tumors and promoted tumoral infiltration of NK cells. Enriched environment increased the expression levels of CCR5 and NKG2D (KLRK1) in NK cells; blocking their function effectively blunted the enriched environment-induced enhancement of tumoral infiltration and cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Moreover, blockade of β-adrenergic signaling or chemical sympathectomy abolished the effects of enriched environment on NK cells and attenuated the antitumor effect of enriched environment. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the mechanism by which eustress exerts a beneficial effect against cancer. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1611-22. ©2017 AACR.

Environmental Enrichment Stimulates Immune Cell Secretion of Exosomes that Promote CNS Myelination and May Regulate Inflammation

Environmental enrichment (EE) consists of increased physical, intellectual, and social activity, and has wide-ranging effects, including enhancing cognition, learning and memory, and motor coordination. Animal studies have demonstrated that EE improves outcome of brain trauma and neurodegenerative disorders, including demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis, making it a promising therapeutic option. However, the complexity of applying a robust EE paradigm makes clinical use difficult. A better understanding of the signaling involved in EE-based neuroprotection may allow for development of effective mimetics as an alternative. In prior work, we found that exosomes isolated from the serum of rats exposed to EE impact CNS myelination. Exosomes are naturally occurring nanovesicles containing mRNA, miRNA, and protein, which play important roles in cell function, disease, and immunomodulation. When applied to hippocampal slice cultures or nasally administered to naïve rats, EE-serum exosomes significantly increase myelin content, oligodendrocyte precursor (OPC) and neural stem cell levels, and reduce oxidative stress (OS). We found that rat EE exosomes were enriched in miR-219, which is necessary and sufficient for OPC differentiation into myelinating cells. Thus, peripherally produced exosomes may be a useful therapy for remyelination. Here, we aim to better characterize the impact of EE on CNS health and to determine the cellular source of nutritive exosomes found in serum. We found that exosomes isolated from various circulating immune cell types all increased slice culture myelin content, contained miR-219, and reduced OS, suggesting that EE globally alters immune function in a way that supports brain health.