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Pereira-Figueiredo I, Rosa I, Sancho Sanchez C. Forced Handling Decreases Emotionality but Does Not Improve Young Horses' Responses toward Humans and their Adaptability to Stress. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:784. [PMID: 38473169 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050784] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Horses are often still exposed to stressful or inadequate conditions and difficult relationships with humans, despite growing concerns about animal welfare. In the present study, we investigated the impact of different approaches of short-term handling sessions on young Lusitanian horses raised on a high-breed farm, specifically on their later adaptability to humans and stressful environments. Thirty-one foals (3 months old ± 15 days), from both sexes, were separated into three groups, one submitted to 3 consecutive days of handling sessions (Int-H), another to one handling session each month for 3 months (Month-H), and one left undisturbed (control). At 8 months old ± 15 days, all foals were evaluated during behavioral tests (restraint in a stock and forced-person test). Evaluations were based on behavioral observations and physiological assessments. The handled foals (Int-H and Month-H) reacted less to being isolated and restrained and better tolerated human contact and veterinary procedures than the control ones. The handled foals displayed less evasive and negative behaviors toward human approach, but also sought less human contact and did not interact, regardless of the handling timeframe. All animals displayed signs of stress when restrained in the stock, with increased neutrophil counts and CHCM levels in the blood, and no differences in metabolic (CK and LDH) and other hematological parameters. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in handled foals than in control ones, suggesting low standards of welfare. Our data suggest that early forced handling decreases fearfulness in new environments; however, it does not improve the horses' relationship with humans, and it decreases welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Pereira-Figueiredo
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, C. Pintor Fernando Gallego, 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Thekidsfellows-Research Group in Anthrozoology, 6060-309 Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
| | - Ilda Rosa
- Thekidsfellows-Research Group in Anthrozoology, 6060-309 Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Laboratory, Center of Interdisciplinary Investigation in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Consuelo Sancho Sanchez
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, C. Pintor Fernando Gallego, 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Thekidsfellows-Research Group in Anthrozoology, 6060-309 Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Chaves RDC, Mallmann ASV, de Oliveira NF, Capibaribe VCC, da Silva DMA, Lopes IS, Valentim JT, Barbosa GR, de Carvalho AMR, Fonteles MMDF, Gutierrez SJC, Barbosa Filho JM, de Sousa FCF. The neuroprotective effect of Riparin IV on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation related to chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104758. [PMID: 32304685 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is identified as one of the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and can extensively affect the quality of life of patients. Based on these findings, this study aimed to investigate the possible effects of Riparin IV (Rip IV) on cognitive impairment induced by chronic administration of corticosterone in mice. METHODS Female Swiss mice were divided into four groups: control (Control), corticosterone (Cort), Riparin IV (Cort + Rip IV), and Fluvoxamine (Cort + Flu). Three groups were administered corticosterone (20 mg/kg) subcutaneously during the 22-day study, while the control group received only vehicle. After the 14th day, the groups were administered medications: Riparin IV (Rip IV), fluvoxamine (Flu), or distilled water, by gavage, 1 h after the subcutaneous injections. After treatment, mice underwent behavioral testing, and brain areas were removed for oxidative stress and cytokine content assays. RESULTS The results revealed that Cort-treated mice developed a cognitive impairment and exhibited a neuroinflammatory profile with an oxidative load and Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance. Rip IV treatment significantly ameliorated the cognitive deficit induced by Cort and displayed a neuroprotective effect. CONCLUSION The antidepressant-like ability of Rip IV treatment against chronic Cort-induced stress may be due to its potential to mitigate inflammatory damage and oxidative stress. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect observed indicates Rip IV as a possible drug for antidepressant treatment of non-responsive patients with severe and cognitive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquell de Castro Chaves
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Auriana Serra Vasconcelos Mallmann
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Natália Ferreira de Oliveira
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Victor Celso Cavalcanti Capibaribe
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Daniel Moreira Alves da Silva
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Iardja Stéfane Lopes
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - José Tiago Valentim
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Riello Barbosa
- Multi-User Facility, Drug Research and Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil
| | - Alyne Mara Rodrigues de Carvalho
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Stanley Juan Chavez Gutierrez
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - José Maria Barbosa Filho
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
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Pereira-Figueiredo I, Castellano O, Riolobos AS, Ferreira-Dias G, López DE, Sancho C. Long-Term Sertraline Intake Reverses the Behavioral Changes Induced by Prenatal Stress in Rats in a Sex-Dependent Way. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:99. [PMID: 28611606 PMCID: PMC5446993 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stress is a major factor underlying the vulnerability to respond to stressful events later in life. The present study attempted to evaluate the role of prenatal stress affecting the development of stress-related disorders and their reversion by postnatal exposure to Sertraline (SERT), a front-line medication for medication for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. To achieve this, adult male and female prenatally stressed (PS) or unstressed (Controls) offspring rats, following oral chronic treatment with SERT (5 mg/kg/day; from 1 month to 4 months old), or not, were studied prior to and after a traumatic event. First, anxiety-like behavior during the prepulse inhibition (PPI) test, a modulation of the startle reflex, was examined in all animals. Subsequently, the animals were subjected to a session of mild inescapable footshocks (IS; 0.35 mA, 5 s) in a shuttle box that was followed by 4 days of situational reminders in the aversive context. Prior to the footshocks no effects of PS or SERT were shown, and no changes in PPI and the habituation to the shuttle box were found. After them, PS led animals to exhibit behavioral alterations. When compared to the Controls, PS animals of both sexes displayed less rearing activity in the aversive environment. PS males responded less to footshock delivery and, in most of the animals, fear extinction was impaired. Moreover, the early postnatal exposure to SERT lessened the behavioral impact of PS in females, while in males it had no effect. Current results extend previous data from our laboratory, showing that PS heightened vulnerability to stress later on, and that SERT acts differently in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Pereira-Figueiredo
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain
| | - Orlando Castellano
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain
| | - Adelaida S Riolobos
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain
| | - Graça Ferreira-Dias
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of LisbonLisbon, Portugal
| | - Dolores E López
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain
| | - Consuelo Sancho
- Neuroscience Institute of Castilla y León, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of SalamancaSalamanca, Spain
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