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Manta K, Papakyriakopoulou P, Nikolidaki A, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Banella S, Colombo G, Valsami G. Comparative Serum and Brain Pharmacokinetics of Quercetin after Oral and Nasal Administration to Rats as Lyophilized Complexes with β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives and Their Blends with Mannitol/Lecithin Microparticles. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2036. [PMID: 37631250 PMCID: PMC10459069 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Quercetin (Que) is one of the most studied flavonoids with strong antioxidant properties ascribed to its ability to bind free radicals and inactivate them. However, the low solubility of the compound along with its inadequate absorption after oral administration limit its beneficial effects. Que's complexation with two different cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives (hydroxypropyl-β-CD and methyl-β-CD) via the neutralization/lyophilization method has been found to improve its physicochemical properties. Moreover, blends of the lyophilized powders with mannitol/lecithin microparticles (MLMPs) have been proposed as candidates for intranasal (IN) administration after in vitro and ex vivo evaluations. In this context, a comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) study of the IN vs oral administration of Que lyophilized powders and their blends with MLMPs (75:25 w/w) was performed on Wistar rats. The PK parameters estimated by a non-compartmental analysis using the sparse data methodology in Phoenix® 8.3 (Certara, Princeton, NJ, USA) illustrated the effectiveness of IN administration either in brain targeting or in reaching the bloodstream. Significant levels of the compound were achieved at both sites, compared to those after oral delivery which were negligible. These results favor the potential application of the prepared Que nasal powders for systemic and nose-to-brain delivery for the prevention and/or treatment of neuroinflammatory degenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Manta
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (K.M.); (P.P.); (A.N.)
| | - Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (K.M.); (P.P.); (A.N.)
| | - Anna Nikolidaki
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (K.M.); (P.P.); (A.N.)
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Laboratory Animal Facility, Centre of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (N.K.)
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Laboratory Animal Facility, Centre of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (N.K.)
| | - Sabrina Banella
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Gaia Colombo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Georgia Valsami
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (K.M.); (P.P.); (A.N.)
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2
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Siatra P, Vatsellas G, Chatzianastasiou A, Balafas E, Manolakou T, Papapetropoulos A, Agapaki A, Mouchtouri ET, Ruchaya PJ, Korovesi AG, Mavroidis M, Thanos D, Beis D, Kokkinopoulos I. Return of the Tbx5; lineage-tracing reveals ventricular cardiomyocyte-like precursors in the injured adult mammalian heart. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:13. [PMID: 36869039 PMCID: PMC9984483 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00280-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The single curative measure for heart failure patients is a heart transplantation, which is limited due to a shortage of donors, the need for immunosuppression and economic costs. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need for identifying cell populations capable of cardiac regeneration that we will be able to trace and monitor. Injury to the adult mammalian cardiac muscle, often leads to a heart attack through the irreversible loss of a large number of cardiomyocytes, due to an idle regenerative capability. Recent reports in zebrafish indicate that Tbx5a is a vital transcription factor for cardiomyocyte regeneration. Preclinical data underscore the cardioprotective role of Tbx5 upon heart failure. Data from our earlier murine developmental studies have identified a prominent unipotent Tbx5-expressing embryonic cardiac precursor cell population able to form cardiomyocytes, in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. Using a developmental approach to an adult heart injury model and by employing a lineage-tracing mouse model as well as the use of single-cell RNA-seq technology, we identify a Tbx5-expressing ventricular cardiomyocyte-like precursor population, in the injured adult mammalian heart. The transcriptional profile of that precursor cell population is closer to that of neonatal than embryonic cardiomyocyte precursors. Tbx5, a cardinal cardiac development transcription factor, lies in the center of a ventricular adult precursor cell population, which seems to be affected by neurohormonal spatiotemporal cues. The identification of a Tbx5-specific cardiomyocyte precursor-like cell population, which is capable of dedifferentiating and potentially deploying a cardiomyocyte regenerative program, provides a clear target cell population for translationally-relevant heart interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Siatra
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Giannis Vatsellas
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece ,grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Greek Genome Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasia Chatzianastasiou
- grid.5216.00000 0001 2155 0800Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Manolakou
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Papapetropoulos
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece ,grid.5216.00000 0001 2155 0800Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Agapaki
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Histochemistry Facility, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Prashant J. Ruchaya
- grid.60969.300000 0001 2189 1306School of Health, Sport and Biosciences, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Artemis G. Korovesi
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece ,grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Greek Genome Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Manolis Mavroidis
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Thanos
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece ,grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Greek Genome Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Beis
- grid.417593.d0000 0001 2358 8802Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kokkinopoulos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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3
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Pacławski A, Politis S, Balafas E, Mina E, Papakyriakopoulou P, Christodoulou E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Rekkas DM, Valsami G, Giovagnoli S. Development and Pharmacokinetics of a Novel Acetylsalicylic Acid Dry Powder for Pulmonary Administration. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122819. [PMID: 36559312 PMCID: PMC9786194 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspirin is an historic blockbuster product, and it has been proposed in a wide range of formulas. Due to exacerbation risks, the pulmonary route has been seldom considered as an alternative to conventional treatments. Only recently, owing to overt advantages, inhalable acetylsalicylic acid dry powders (ASA DPI) began to be considered as an option. In this work, we developed a novel highly performing inhalable ASA DPI using a nano spray-drying technique and leucine as an excipient and evaluated its pharmacokinetics compared with oral administration. The formulation obtained showed remarkable respirability and quality features. Serum and lung ASA DPI profiles showed faster presentation in blood and higher retention compared with oral administration. The dry powder was superior to the DPI suspension. The relative bioavailability in serum and lungs claimed superiority of ASA DPI over oral administration, notwithstanding a fourfold lower pulmonary dose. The obtained ASA DPI formulation shows promising features for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious lung pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pacławski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688 Cracow, Poland
| | - Stavros Politis
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Ekaterini Mina
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Eirini Christodoulou
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios M. Rekkas
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (D.M.R.); (S.G.); Tel.: +39-075-5585162 (S.G.)
| | - Georgia Valsami
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Stefano Giovagnoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.M.R.); (S.G.); Tel.: +39-075-5585162 (S.G.)
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4
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Siatra P, Hatzianastasiou N, Vatsellas G, Manolakou T, Papapetropoulos A, Balafas E, Ruchaya PJ, Kostomitsopoulos NG, Mouchtouri E, Mavroidis M, Thanos D, Yashiro K, Beis D, Kokkinopoulos I. Tbx5 navigates through the labyrinth of adult cardiac regeneration. Eur Heart J 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.3247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Heart failure is the major cause of death and morbidity in industrialized countries with an estimated 23 million people affected per year, representing 30% of all global deaths. Injury to the adult mammalian cardiac muscle, often leads to a heart attack due to irreversible loss of a large number of cardiomyocytes (CM) and other cardiac interstitial cells, creating an unmet need for identifying a cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) population for cardiac replenishment. In contrast, amphibians and neonatal rodents possess the ability to regenerate their heart upon injury. It has been suggested recently that idle cardiac regenerative mechanisms may be present in adult mammals, inhibited by exogenous cues, or lack of.
Murine and human CPCs can be isolated through the expression of Pdgfra, Kdr, and our novel surface marker, Gfra2. In addition, the expression of the embryonic transcription factor TBX5, is paramount for differentiation towards a cardiomyocyte fate. Therefore, Tbx5-expressing CPCs could be an effective target for proof-of-concept studies in the heart repair field, inclined to pharmacological modulation in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Purpose
To characterise an adult Tbx5-expressing CPC population in the injured heart. Using a developmental approach to two adult heart injury murine models, we show that Tbx5-expressing CPC exist in the injured adult mammalian heart, with a molecular signature that strongly correlates with that of embryonic and neonatal CPCs.
Methods
A well-defined tamoxifen-induced Tbx5-Cre; Rosa26R-eYFP/eYFP transgenic mouse model was employed, where myocardial infarction (MI) was induced through reperfusion/ischemia or chemical injury.
Cardiac cells expressing YFP+ cells were collected from the adult injured hearts five to seven days post-injury. Flow-cytometric and single-cell mRNA-seq analysis was performed in order to collect and compare those YFP+ cells to control adult uninjured cardiac interstitial cells, and early neonatal-derived CPCs.
Results
Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that YFP+ interstitial cells were mostly present in the injury site, but also in distal cardiac areas.
Flow cytometric analysis of live cells pinpoint these YFP+ cells are part of a CPC-like population.
Single-cell mRNA transcriptomic analysis revealed that YFP+ cells resemble early postnatal CPC.
Yet, YFP+ cells never expressed CM markers in vivo, but they did differentiate into CM-like cells, in vitro.
Conclusions
Upon MI, the adult heart possess an interstitial cell population that transiently re-activates the pioneer cardiac embryonic transcription factor Tbx5.
The Tbx5-expressing cell population transcriptomically resembles that of CPC, which could promote CM regeneration upon neonatal injury.
We show that Tbx5 lies in the centre of a novel adult CPC population. The adult heart microenvironment may hinder mammalian CM regeneration through regulation of the Tbx5-induced cardiac gene program.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Hellenic Foundation for Research & Innovation
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Affiliation(s)
- P Siatra
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - N Hatzianastasiou
- National & Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - G Vatsellas
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - T Manolakou
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - A Papapetropoulos
- National & Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - E Balafas
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - P J Ruchaya
- King's College London, Centre for Human and Applied Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - N G Kostomitsopoulos
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - E Mouchtouri
- University of Ioannina, Cardiology, Ioannina, Greece
| | - M Mavroidis
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - D Thanos
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - K Yashiro
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - D Beis
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - I Kokkinopoulos
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Translational Medicine, Athens, Greece
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Züchner M, Escalona MJ, Teige LH, Balafas E, Zhang L, Kostomitsopoulos N, Boulland JL. How to generate graded spinal cord injuries in swine - tools and procedures. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049053. [PMID: 34464444 PMCID: PMC8419714 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically, psychologically and socially disabling condition. A large body of our knowledge on the basic mechanisms of SCI has been gathered in rodents. For preclinical validation of promising therapies, the use of animal models that are closer to humans has several advantages. This has promoted the more-intensive development of large-animal models for SCI during the past decade. We recently developed a multimodal SCI apparatus for large animals that generated biomechanically reproducible impacts in vivo. It is composed of a spring-load impactor and support systems for the spinal cord and the vertebral column. We now present the functional outcome of farm pigs and minipigs injured with different lesion strengths. There was a correlation between the biomechanical characteristics of the impact, the functional outcome and the tissue damage observed several weeks after injury. We also provide a detailed description of the procedure to generate such a SCI in both farm pigs and minipigs, in the hope to ease the adoption of the swine model by other research groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Züchner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Manuel J. Escalona
- Department for Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lena Hammerlund Teige
- Department for Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Center of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Lili Zhang
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, 0450 Oslo, Norway
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Center of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Jean-Luc Boulland
- Department for Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0372 Oslo, Norway
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Balafas E, Katsila T, Melissa P, Doulou A, Moltsanidou E, Agapaki A, Patrinos GP, Kostomitsopoulos N. A Noninvasive Ocular (Tear) Sampling Method for Genetic Ascertainment of Transgenic Mice and Research Ethics Innovation. OMICS 2019; 23:312-317. [PMID: 31099704 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2019.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Animal models, animal welfare and research ethics are both facilitators and gatekeepers for Big Data generation in genomics and multi-omics R&D. Safeguarding animal welfare is also a research ethics issue that can benefit from technical innovations in biosample collection in particular. Animal welfare draws from the guiding principles of 3R, namely, "Replacement" (methods avoiding the use of animals in research), "Reduction" (methods using fewer animals or derive more information from the same number of animals), and "Refinement" (methods removing or minimizing pain or distress). We report here that noninvasive ocular (tear) sampling for genetic ascertainment of transgenic mice can serve as an innovative ethical safeguard for animal welfare, and as a veritable alternative to the surgical tail biopsies, ear puncture, or blood sampling from the weanling transgenic mice. We compared ocular versus tail biopsy sampling in regard to ascertainment, by genotyping, of apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) transgenic weanling mice (n = 60) by one-round polymerase chain reaction analysis. We found that ocular sampling compares to the results obtained by tail sampling with the obvious benefit of being noninvasive and improving the 3R, especially for the Refinement principle of animal welfare. To place the importance of this new biosample collection approach into further context, transgenic mice research and animal models are at the epicenter of Big Data translation to health innovation. We suggest that ocular sampling is considered and evaluated further in transgenic mice models, not to mention warrant exploration for applications in other types of animal models that require noninvasive biosample collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Balafas
- 1 Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Katsila
- 2 Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Pelagia Melissa
- 3 Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasia Doulou
- 1 Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Moltsanidou
- 1 Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Agapaki
- 4 Histochemistry Unit, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Patrinos
- 5 Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.,6 Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- 1 Laboratory Animal Facilities, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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7
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Fragopoulou AF, Polyzos A, Papadopoulou M, Sansone A, Manta AK, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Skouroliakou A, Chatgilialoglu C, Georgakilas A, Stravopodis DJ, Ferreri C, Thanos D, Margaritis LH. Hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome profile alterations triggered by acute exposure of mice to GSM 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation: An exploratory study. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e01001. [PMID: 29786969 PMCID: PMC5991598 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The widespread use of wireless devices during the last decades is raising concerns about adverse health effects of the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted from these devices. Recent research is focusing on unraveling the underlying mechanisms of RF-EMR and potential cellular targets. The "omics" high-throughput approaches are powerful tools to investigate the global effects of RF-EMR on cellular physiology. METHODS In this work, C57BL/6 adult male mice were whole-body exposed (nExp = 8) for 2 hr to GSM 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation at an average electric field intensity range of 4.3-17.5 V/m or sham-exposed (nSE = 8), and the RF-EMR effects on the hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome profiles were assessed 6 hr later. RESULTS The data analysis of the phospholipid fatty acid residues revealed that the levels of four fatty acids [16:0, 16:1 (6c + 7c), 18:1 9c, eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 (EPA, 20:5 ω3)] and the two fatty acid sums of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SFA and MUFA) were significantly altered (p < 0.05) in the exposed group. The observed changes indicate a membrane remodeling response of the tissue phospholipids after nonionizing radiation exposure, reducing SFA and EPA, while increasing MUFA residues. The microarray data analysis demonstrated that the expression of 178 genes changed significantly (p < 0.05) between the two groups, revealing an impact on genes involved in critical biological processes, such as cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, cell death, cell signaling, nervous system development and function, immune system response, lipid metabolism, and carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary evidence that mobile phone radiation induces hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome changes that may explain the brain proteome changes and memory deficits previously shown by our group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamantia F. Fragopoulou
- Department of Cell Biology and BiophysicsFaculty of BiologyUniversity of AthensZografouAthensGreece
- Department of Women’s and Children’s HealthKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Alexandros Polyzos
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Genetics and BiotechnologyBiomedical Research FoundationAcademy of AthensAthensGreece
- Present address:
Joan and Sanford I. Weill Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York10065New York
| | - Maria‐Despoina Papadopoulou
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Genetics and BiotechnologyBiomedical Research FoundationAcademy of AthensAthensGreece
| | - Anna Sansone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle RicercheISOFBolognaItaly
| | - Areti K. Manta
- Department of Cell Biology and BiophysicsFaculty of BiologyUniversity of AthensZografouAthensGreece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Laboratory Animal FacilitiesCenter of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational ResearchBiomedical Research FoundationAcademy of AthensAthensGreece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Laboratory Animal FacilitiesCenter of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational ResearchBiomedical Research FoundationAcademy of AthensAthensGreece
| | | | - Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu
- Consiglio Nazionale delle RicercheISOFBolognaItaly
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN)NCSR DemokritosAthensGreece
| | - Alexandros Georgakilas
- DNA Damage LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsSchool of Applied Mathematical and Physical SciencesNational Technical University of Athens (NTUA)AthensGreece
| | - Dimitrios J. Stravopodis
- Department of Cell Biology and BiophysicsFaculty of BiologyUniversity of AthensZografouAthensGreece
| | | | - Dimitris Thanos
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Genetics and BiotechnologyBiomedical Research FoundationAcademy of AthensAthensGreece
| | - Lukas H. Margaritis
- Department of Cell Biology and BiophysicsFaculty of BiologyUniversity of AthensZografouAthensGreece
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8
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Andreadou I, Efentakis P, Balafas E, Togliatto G, Davos CH, Varela A, Dimitriou CA, Nikolaou PE, Maratou E, Lambadiari V, Ikonomidis I, Kostomitsopoulos N, Brizzi MF, Dimitriadis G, Iliodromitis EK. Empagliflozin Limits Myocardial Infarction in Vivo and Cell Death in Vitro: Role of STAT3, Mitochondria, and Redox Aspects. Front Physiol 2017; 8:1077. [PMID: 29311992 PMCID: PMC5742117 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.01077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Empagliflozin (EMPA), a drug approved for type 2 diabetes management, reduced cardiovascular death but is unknown if it reduces myocardial infarction. We sought to investigate: (i) the effect of EMPA on myocardial function and infarct size after ischemia/reperfusion in mice fed with western diet (WD), (ii) the underlying signaling pathways, (iii) its effects on cell survival in rat embryonic-heart-derived cardiomyoblasts (H9C2) and endothelial cells (ECs). To facilitate the aforementioned aims, mice were initially randomized in Control and EMPA groups and were subjected to 30 min ischemia and 2 h reperfusion. EMPA reduced body weight, blood glucose levels, and mean arterial pressure. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and AGEs remained unchanged. Left ventricular fractional shortening was improved (43.97 ± 0.92 vs. 40.75 ± 0.61%) and infarct size reduced (33.2 ± 0.01 vs. 17.6 ± 0.02%). In a second series of experiments, mice were subjected to the above interventions up to the 10th min of reperfusion and myocardial biopsies were obtained for assessment of the signaling cascade. STAT3 was increased in parallel with reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced expression of myocardial iNOS and interleukin-6. Cell viability and ATP content were increased in H9C2 and in ECs. While, STAT3 phosphorylation is known to bestow infarct sparing properties through interaction with mitochondria, we observed that EMPA did not directly alter the mitochondrial calcium retention capacity (CRC); therefore, its effect in reducing myocardial infarction is STAT3 dependent. In conclusion, EMPA improves myocardial function and reduces infarct size as well as improves redox regulation by decreasing iNOS expression and subsequently lipid peroxidation as shown by its surrogate marker MDA. The mechanisms of action implicate the activation of STAT3 anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Andreadou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Efentakis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Centre of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Constantinos H Davos
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aimilia Varela
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos A Dimitriou
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota-Efstathia Nikolaou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eirini Maratou
- Hellenic National Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications, Athens, Greece
| | - Vaia Lambadiari
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ignatios Ikonomidis
- 2nd University Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Centre of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria F Brizzi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - George Dimitriadis
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios K Iliodromitis
- 2nd University Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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9
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Efentakis P, Rizakou A, Christodoulou E, Chatzianastasiou A, López MG, León R, Balafas E, Kadoglou NPE, Tseti I, Skaltsa H, Kostomitsopoulos N, Iliodromitis EK, Valsami G, Andreadou I. Saffron (Crocus sativus) intake provides nutritional preconditioning against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in Wild Type and ApoE (-/-) mice: Involvement of Nrf2 activation. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2017; 27:919-929. [PMID: 28964663 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Saffron is an antioxidant herbal derivative; however, its efficacy as a nutritional cardioprotective agent has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the cardioprotective properties of a standardized saffron aqueous extract (SFE) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in Wild-Type (WT) and ApoE(-/-) mice and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS WT and ApoE(-/-) mice were subjected to 30 min I and 2 h R, with the following per os interventions for 4 weeks: 1) WT Control Group, receiving Water for Injection (WFI); 2) WT Crocus Group, receiving SFE at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day; 3) WT Crocus + Wort group, receiving SFE as described above and wortmannin at a dose of 60 μg/kg bolus 15 min before R; 4) ApoE(-/-) Control Group, receiving WFI; 5) ApoE(-/-) Crocus Group, receiving SFE at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day and 6) ApoE(-/-) Crocus + Wort: receiving SFE as described above and wortmannin at a dose of 60 μg/kg bolus, 15 min before R. Ischemic area/area at risk (I/R%) ratio was measured. Blood samples and ischemic myocardial tissue were collected at the 10th min of reperfusion for assessment of troponin I, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrotyrosine (NT), p-eNOS, eNOS, p-Akt, Akt, p-p42/p-p44, p-GSK3β, GSK3β, IL-6, Nrf2, HO-1 and MnSOD expression. The effect of SFE on Nrf2 expression was also evaluated in vitro. SFE reduced infarct size in WT (16.15 ± 3.7% vs 41.57 ± 2.48%, ***p < 0.001) and in ApoE(-/-) mice (16.14 ± 1.47% vs 45.57 ± 1.73%, ***p < 0.001). The administration of wortmannin resulted in partial inhibition of the infarct size limitation efficacy of SFE (in both WT and Apo-E(-/-) mice). Mice receiving SFE showed increased levels of eNOS, p-Akt, p-ERK1/2, p-44/p-42 and p-GSK3β-Ser9 and reduced expression of IL-6 and iNOS; furthermore, SFE reduced the levels of MDA and NT. SFE induced Nrf2 expression and its downstream targets, HO-1 and MnSOD in the myocardium of the treated animals, and induced Nrf2 expression in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS SFE limits myocardial infarction in Wild-Type and ApoE(-/-) mice in a multifaceted manner including activation of Akt/eNOS/ERK1/2/GSK3-β and through Nrf2 pathway, bestowing antioxidant protection against I/R.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Efentakis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - A Rizakou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - E Christodoulou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - A Chatzianastasiou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - M G López
- Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Instituto Téofilo Hernando, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - R León
- Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Instituto Téofilo Hernando, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario la Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Balafas
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Centre of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - N P E Kadoglou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - I Tseti
- Uni-Pharma S.A., Athens, Greece
| | - H Skaltsa
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Pharmacognocy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - N Kostomitsopoulos
- Academy of Athens Biomedical Research Foundation, Centre of Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - E K Iliodromitis
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Second University Department of Cardiology, Athens, Greece
| | - G Valsami
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
| | - I Andreadou
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece.
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10
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Efentakis P, Rizakou A, Christodoulou E, Chatzianastasiou A, Lopez M, Leon R, Balafas E, Kadoglou N, Tseti I, Kostomitsopoulos N, Iliodromitis E, Valsami G, Andreadou I. P5324Saffron (Crocus sativus) intake provides nutritional preconditioning against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in wild type and Apo-E(−/−) mice: involvement of Nrf2 activation. Eur Heart J 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx493.p5324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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11
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Emmanouilidou E, Minakaki G, Keramioti MV, Xylaki M, Balafas E, Chrysanthou-Piterou M, Kloukina I, Vekrellis K. GABA transmission via ATP-dependent K+channels regulates α-synuclein secretion in mouse striatum. Brain 2016; 139:871-90. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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12
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Christodoulou E, Kechagia IA, Tzimas S, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Archontaki H, Dokoumetzidis A, Valsami G. Serum and tissue pharmacokinetics of silibinin after per os and i.v. administration to mice as a HP-β-CD lyophilized product. Int J Pharm 2015. [PMID: 26222744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.07.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Silibinin, the main active component of Silybum marianum is a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent with antitumor effect, exhibiting very low aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability limiting its use in therapeutics. We characterized serum and tissue pharmacokinetics of SLB, calculated its absolute bioavailability and developed an open loop physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model, after oral (per os, p.o) and intravenous (i.v.) administration in mice as water-soluble silibinin-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (SLB-HP-β-CD) lyophilized product. 60 C57Bl/6J mice were divided into groups of 5, each group representing one sampling time point. SLB-HP-β-CD lyophilized product was administered orally (50mg/kg) and i.v. (20mg/kg) after reconstitution with water for injection. Blood and tissue samples were collected at selected time points after animal sacrificed, properly treated and analyzed with HPLC-PDA for non-metabolized and total SLB. NONMEM pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a 2-compartment PK model to describe serum SLB pharmacokinetics, with zero order absorption after oral administration and was applied as forcing function to an open loop PBPK model incorporating heart, liver, kidneys and lungs. Tissue/plasma Kp values were estimated using i.v. data and can be used to predict tissue SLB distribution after oral administration. Absolute oral bioavailability of SLB from the lyophilized SLB-HP-β-CD product was 10 times higher than after administration of pure SLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Christodoulou
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics-Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Irene-Ariadne Kechagia
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics-Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Stavros Tzimas
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Bioresearch Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou str., 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Bioresearch Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou str., 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Helen Archontaki
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Aristides Dokoumetzidis
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics-Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Valsami
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics-Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece.
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13
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Konstantakou EG, Voutsinas GE, Velentzas AD, Basogianni AS, Paronis E, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Syrigos KN, Anastasiadou E, Stravopodis DJ. 3-BrPA eliminates human bladder cancer cells with highly oncogenic signatures via engagement of specific death programs and perturbation of multiple signaling and metabolic determinants. Mol Cancer 2015. [PMID: 26198749 PMCID: PMC4511243 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-015-0399-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urinary bladder cancer is one of the most fatal and expensive diseases of industrialized world. Despite the strenuous efforts, no seminal advances have been achieved for its clinical management. Given the importance of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cell survival and growth, we have herein employed 3-BrPA, a halogenated derivative of pyruvate and historically considered inhibitor of glycolysis, to eliminate bladder cancer cells with highly oncogenic molecular signatures. METHODS Bladder cancer cells were exposed to 3-BrPA in the absence or presence of several specific inhibitors. Cell viability was determined by MTT and flow-cytometry assays; cell death, signaling activity and metabolic integrity by Western blotting and immunofluorescence; mutant-gene profiling by DNA sequencing; and gene expression by RT-sqPCR. RESULTS 3-BrPA could activate dose-dependent apoptosis (type 1 PCD) and regulated necrosis (type 3 PCD) of T24 (grade III; H-Ras(G12V); p53(ΔY126)), but not RT4 (grade I), cells, with PARP, MLKL, Drp1 and Nec-7-targeted components critically orchestrating necrotic death. However, similarly to RIPK1 and CypD, p53 presented with non-essential contribution to 3-BrPA-induced cellular collapse, while reactivation of mutant p53 with PRIMA-1 resulted in strong synergism of the two agents. Given the reduced expression of MPC components (likely imposing mitochondrial dysfunction) in T24 cells, the suppression of constitutive autophagy (required by cells carrying oncogenic Ras; also, type 2 PCD) and derangement of glucose-homeostasis determinants by 3-BrPA critically contribute to drug-directed depletion of ATP cellular stores. This bioenergetic crisis is translated to severe dysregulation of Akt/FoxO/GSK-3, mTOR/S6, AMPK and MAPK (p44/42, p38 and SAPK/JNK) signaling pathways in 3-BrPA-treated T24 cells. Sensitivity to 3-BrPA (and tolerance to glucose deprivation) does not rely on B-Raf(V600E) or K-Ras(G13D) mutant oncogenic proteins, but partly depends on aberrant signaling activities of Akt, MAPK and AMPK kinases. Interestingly, MCT1- and macropinocytosis-mediated influx of 3-BrPA in T24 represents the principal mechanism that regulates cellular responsiveness to the drug. Besides its capacity to affect transcription in gene-dependent manner, 3-BrPA can also induce GLUT4-specific splicing silencing in both sensitive and resistant cells, thus dictating alternative routes of drug trafficking. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, it seems that 3-BrPA represents a promising agent for bladder cancer targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eumorphia G Konstantakou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15784, Athens, Greece.
| | - Gerassimos E Voutsinas
- Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, NCSR Demokritos, Athens, Greece.
| | - Athanassios D Velentzas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15784, Athens, Greece.
| | - Aggeliki-Stefania Basogianni
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15784, Athens, Greece.
| | - Efthimios Paronis
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos N Syrigos
- Oncology Unit GPP, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. .,Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Ema Anastasiadou
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Dimitrios J Stravopodis
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15784, Athens, Greece.
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14
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Stasinopoulou M, Mantziaras G, Paronis E, Balafas E, Lelovas P, Samara A, Kostomitsopoulos N. Use of real-time ultrasonography as an alternative method for early detection, confirmation and evaluation of rat pregnancy. Ultrasound Med Biol 2014; 40:1372-1378. [PMID: 24462150 PMCID: PMC7126348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2013.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Researchers sometimes face difficulties in the diagnosis of pregnancy and assessment of embryonic development. Ultrasonography (US) is a non-invasive imaging method with minimal side effects on the subjects or operators. It provides real-time evaluation of the physiology of rapidly moving structures (i.e., heart) and facilitates evaluation of fetal tissue development. US discerns tissues based on composition, making it the imaging method of choice for abdominal examination. In this study we used real-time US as an alternative method for early diagnosis of pregnancy in rats. Sixty-four Wistar rats aged 16-20 wk were examined, and day 8 was the earliest point at which pregnancy could be detected. We constructed a detailed timeline of embryonic features detectable by US on days 8 to 19. We trust this index will be a valuable tool. More refined work toward a more detailed "atlas" will help to reduce animal sacrifice during embryonic development studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Stasinopoulou
- Laboratory of Animal Facilities, Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George Mantziaras
- Veterinary Department, Medical Directorate of Hellenic Airforce General Staff, Athens, Greece.
| | - Euthimios Paronis
- Laboratory of Animal Facilities, Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Laboratory of Animal Facilities, Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pavlos Lelovas
- Laboratory of Animal Facilities, Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athina Samara
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Clinical Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Laboratory of Animal Facilities, Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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15
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Krikri A, Alexopoulos V, Zoumakis E, Katsaronis P, Balafas E, Kouraklis G, Karayannacos PE, Chrousos GP, Skalkeas G. Laparoscopic vs. open abdominal surgery in male pigs: marked differences in cortisol and catecholamine response depending on the size of surgical incision. Hormones (Athens) 2013; 12:283-91. [PMID: 23933697 DOI: 10.14310/horm.2002.1412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Minimally invasive operations, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy and adrenalectomy, result in a more rapid recovery of normal function, less physiological disturbances and less stress to the organism than similar open operations. The purpose of this study was to determine the stress response associated with minimally invasive abdominal surgery compared to conventional small or large incision laparotomy. METHODS We compared the responses of the stress hormones cortisol and the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline to elective conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and unilateral adrenalectomy in male pigs. Blood samples were taken from all animals at the same time, one day before surgery, at the beginning of the operation, every 15 minutes during surgery and on the first postoperative morning. RESULTS Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were significantly lower in both cholecystectomies (p<0.05) and adrenalectomies (p<0.01) during laparoscopic than during open surgery. Plasma cortisol levels were significantly lower in laparoscopic than in open adrenalectomies both during surgery and on postoperative day one (p<0.05), while no major differences in cortisol levels were observed between laparoscopic and open cholecystectomies. Thus, the stress-related benefit of laparoscopic surgery depended on the size of the surgical incision in the conventional operation. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic surgery was associated with less surgical stress than open surgery and this difference was accentuated as the surgical abdominal wall trauma increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Krikri
- Center of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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16
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Lampropoulos KM, Sokolis DP, Dimitriou CA, Katsimpoulas M, Balafas E, Agapaki A, Karayannacos PE, Boudoulas H. The effect of propranolol on aortic structure and function in normotensive rats. Hellenic J Cardiol 2012; 53:101-107. [PMID: 22484775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Beta-blocking agents are widely used for the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. The effect of these agents, however, on the aortic wall structure and function has not been well defined. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of therapy with propranolol on wall structure and aortic function in rats. METHODS 20 healthy Wistar rats (350-400 g) were assigned to a control group (n=8), with rats receiving only water and food, and an experimental group (n=12), in which 100 mg/kg/day propranolol was administered in the drinking water. Three months after initiation of treatment, aortic pressures and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured using high-fidelity Millar catheters. Extensive histopathologic studies were performed in the wall of the descending thoracic aorta. RESULTS Systolic, mean, diastolic, and pulse pressure were significantly lower in the propranolol-treated rats compared to controls (p<0.05). For any given systolic, mean, and pulse pressure, PWV was greater in the propranolol-treated animals (p<0.05). The heart rate was lower and the response to isoproterenol infusion was less in the propranolol-treated animals. Smooth muscle content was decreased and collagen content was increased in the aortic wall of the propranolol-treated animals compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Long-term propranolol administration elicits an increase in PWV adjusted for aortic pressure. This may be related to accumulation of collagen in the aortic wall at the expense of smooth muscle cells. The aortic stiffening may explain some of the reported data, suggesting that the effect of β-blockade therapy in patients with arterial hypertension may be inferior to other pharmacologic agents.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/administration & dosage
- Animals
- Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects
- Aorta, Thoracic/pathology
- Aorta, Thoracic/physiopathology
- Aortic Diseases/chemically induced
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/physiopathology
- Blood Pressure/drug effects
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Male
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Propranolol/administration & dosage
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Vascular Stiffness/drug effects
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17
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Kostomitsopoulos N, Dontas IA, Alexakos P, Lelovas P, Galanos A, Paronis E, Balafas E, Paschidis K, Kostakis A. Growing male rats in individually ventilated and open-top cages. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2011; 50:879-883. [PMID: 22330780 PMCID: PMC3228924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Revised: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
During the past few decades, the development and use of individually ventilated cages (IVC), which are now commercially available for housing laboratory mice and rats, have increased. Because limited information is available regarding the influence of caging systems on the growth of rats, the present study assessed body weight and food and water consumption in growing male rats that were housed in IVC and open-top cages (OTC). We allocated 21-d-old male Wistar outbred rats (HsdOla:WI; n = 24) into 2 groups, which then were housed in pairs in IVC (n = 12) and OTC (n = 12). After an 8-d acclimatization period, body weight and food and water consumption were assessed every 3 d until the rats were 94 d old. There were no significant differences between the body weights of rats housed in IVC compared with OTC over the 65-d observation period. Food and water consumption were greater in rats housed in OTC compared with IVC, becoming significantly different when the rats were 50 and 53 d old, respectively. In conclusion, IVC and OTC housing conditions influenced food and water intakes but not body weight in growing male rats. Further research is needed to clarify the exact basis for these changes in food and water consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ismene A Dontas
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece
| | - Pavlos Alexakos
- Center for Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Pavlos Lelovas
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios Galanos
- Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, Greece
| | - Euthimios Paronis
- Center for Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Center for Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Konstantinos Paschidis
- Center for Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
| | - Alkiviadis Kostakis
- Center for Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
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18
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Katsila T, Balafas E, Liapakis G, Limonta P, Montagnani Marelli M, Gkountelias K, Tselios T, Kostomitsopoulos N, Matsoukas J, Tamvakopoulos C. Evaluation of a stable gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog in mice for the treatment of endocrine disorders and prostate cancer. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 336:613-23. [PMID: 21106905 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.174375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor agonists have wide clinical applications including the treatment of prostate cancer and endocrine disorders. However, such agonists are characterized by poor pharmacokinetic properties, often requiring repeated administration or special formulations. Therefore, the development of novel peptide analogs with enhanced in vivo stability could potentially provide therapeutic alternatives. The pharmacological evaluation of a bioactive peptide [Des-Gly¹⁰,Tyr⁵(OMe),D-Leu⁶,Aze-NHEt⁹]GnRH, analog 1, is presented herein and compared with leuprolide. Peptide stability was evaluated using mouse kidney membrane preparations, followed by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based approach that afforded identification and quantification of its major metabolites. The analog was significantly more stable in vitro in comparison with leuprolide. In vitro and in vivo stability results correlated well, encouraging us to develop a clinically relevant pharmacokinetic mouse model, which facilitated efficacy measurements using testosterone as a biomarker. Analog 1, an agonist of the GnRH receptor with a binding affinity in the nanomolar range, caused testosterone release in mice that was acutely dose-dependent, an effect blocked by the GnRH receptor antagonist cetrorelix. Repeated dosing studies in mice demonstrated that analog 1 was well tolerated and had potency similar to that of leuprolide, based on plasma and testis testosterone reduction and histopathological findings. Analog 1 also shared with leuprolide similar significant antiproliferative activity on androgen-dependent prostate cancer (LNCaP) cells. On the basis of pharmacokinetic advantages, we expect that analog 1 or analogs based on this new design will be therapeutically advantageous for the treatment of cancer and endocrine disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Katsila
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Sokolis DP, Lampropoulos KM, Dimitriou CA, Balafas E, Boudoulas H, Karayannacos PE. Time-course of mechanical changes of the rat aorta following chronic beta-blocker treatment. Hellenic J Cardiol 2010; 51:19-26. [PMID: 20118040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mechanical properties of the aorta play an important role in arterial homeostasis and constitute a prognostic factor in cardiovascular disease. This study determined the time-course of mechanical changes of the thoracic aorta following prolonged beta (beta)-blocker treatment. METHODS Sixty-six healthy male Wistar rats were randomized to 4 groups. Group A was divided into subgroups A1 (n=6), A2 (n=6), and A3 (n=6), with animals receiving only water. In groups B (n=16), C (n=16), and D (n=16), propranolol was added to the drinking water (100 mg/kg/day). Animals of groups A1 and B, A2 and C, and A3 and D were sacrificed after 1, 2, and 3 months. The effect of beta-blockade was assessed by heart rate changes in response to isoproterenol infusion. The thoracic aorta was excised and submitted to mechanical testing. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between elastic modulus and stress for low (part I), physiologic (part II), and high (part III) stresses. RESULTS Data from subgroups A1, A2, and A3 were pooled together and were used as a control. Differences were found in the regression parameters of parts II and III between the propranolol-treated groups and controls, indicating that the aorta was stiffer in propranolol-treated rats compared to controls at physiologic stresses, and at physiologic and high strains. Changes developed progressively with the duration of treatment. No differences were found in the regression parameters of part I, indicative of non-varying elastic modulus, i.e. stiffness, at low stresses and strains. CONCLUSIONS Chronic blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors induces changes in the mechanical properties of the thoracic aorta. Aortic stiffening in response to beta-blocker treatment may be of great clinical significance.
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Siskos AP, Katsila T, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Tamvakopoulos C. Simultaneous Absolute Quantification of the Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptides GIP1−42 and GIP3−42 in Mouse Plasma by LC/ESI-MS/MS: Preclinical Evaluation of DP-IV Inhibitors. J Proteome Res 2009; 8:3487-96. [DOI: 10.1021/pr900155h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros P. Siskos
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology and Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Theodora Katsila
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology and Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Evangelos Balafas
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology and Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology and Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Constantin Tamvakopoulos
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology and Centre of Experimental Surgery, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Efesiou Street, Athens 11527, Greece
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Fanourgiakis P, Perivolioti E, Katsimpoulas M, Michailidis C, Balafas E, Fanourgiakis I, Vryonis E, Gikas E, Tsarbopoulos A, Karayannakos P, Paniara O, Skoutelis A. 046 EFFICACY OF DAPTOMYCIN IN MONOTHERAPY OR COMBINED WITH RIFAMPICIN IN A RABBIT MODEL OF EXPERIMENTAL ENDOCARDITIS DUE TO E. FAECIUM. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s0924-8579(09)70065-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Katsila T, Sofianos Z, Balafas E, Kostomitsopoulos N, Matsoukas J, Tselios T, Tamvakopoulos C. Evaluation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues in mice – pharmacokinetic studies and biomarker based efficacy by mass spetrometry. EJC Suppl 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(08)71718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Kostomitsopoulos NG, Paronis E, Alexakos P, Balafas E, van Loo P, Baumans V. The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2007; 10:111-21. [PMID: 17559319 DOI: 10.1080/10888700701313256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The improvement of housing conditions for mice by using environmental enrichment materials is of high concern for the scientific community. Plastic, autoclavable nest boxes are commercially available and ready to use for specific cases such as in individually ventilated cages, metabolic cages, or during toxicological studies. The aim of this study was to see if the location of the nest box within the cage could influence the mice to prefer and use it. Located on the cage floor or hung from the cage lid, a nest box (MPLEX, Otto Environmental, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), enriched the cages. The study concluded that the location of the nest boxes in the individually ventilated cage plays a significant role in the mice preferring to use it or to avoid it. It is also important to use environmental enrichment items that provide animals with the possibility of expressing their preferences and manipulating them in a way to cope better with their environmental conditions.
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