-
Toxins Jan 2020Pinnatoxin G (PnTx-G) is a marine cyclic imine toxin produced by the dinoflagellate , frequently detected in edible shellfish from Ingril Lagoon (France). As other...
Pinnatoxin G (PnTx-G) is a marine cyclic imine toxin produced by the dinoflagellate , frequently detected in edible shellfish from Ingril Lagoon (France). As other pinnatoxins, to date, no human poisonings ascribed to consumption of PnTx-G contaminated seafood have been reported, despite its potent antagonism at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and its high and fast-acting toxicity after intraperitoneal or oral administration in mice. The hazard characterization of PnTx-G by oral exposure is limited to a single acute toxicity study recording lethality and clinical signs in non-fasted mice treated by gavage or through voluntary food ingestion, which showed differences in PnTx-G toxic potency. Thus, an acute toxicity study was carried out using 3 h-fasted CD-1 female mice, administered by gavage with PnTx-G (8-450 µg kg). At the dose of 220 µg kg and above, the toxin induced a rapid onset of clinical signs (piloerection, prostration, hypothermia, abdominal breathing, paralysis of the hind limbs, and cyanosis), leading to the death of mice within 30 min. Except for moderate mucosal degeneration in the small intestine recorded at doses of 300 µg kg, the toxin did not induce significant morphological changes in the other main organs and tissues, or alterations in blood chemistry parameters. This acute oral toxicity study allowed to calculate an oral LD for PnTx-G equal to 208 g kg (95% confidence limits: 155-281 µg kg) and to estimate a provisional NOEL of 120 µg kg.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Alkaloids; Animals; Female; Intestine, Small; Lethal Dose 50; Marine Toxins; Mice; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; Spiro Compounds
PubMed: 32012834
DOI: 10.3390/toxins12020087 -
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2021
PubMed: 34728956
DOI: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_1124_20 -
Comparative Medicine Oct 2019Female urine-induced male mice ultrasonic vocalizations (FiUSV) are ultrasonic vocalizations produced by adult male mice after presentation of adult female urine,...
Female urine-induced male mice ultrasonic vocalizations (FiUSV) are ultrasonic vocalizations produced by adult male mice after presentation of adult female urine, whereas intruder-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (IiUSV) are produced by resident adult female mice when interacting with an intruder female mouse. These affiliative behaviors may be reduced when mice have decreased wellbeing or are in pain and distress. To determine whether FiUSV and IiUSV can be used as proxy indicators of animal wellbeing, we assessed FiUSV produced by male C57BL/6J mice in response to female urine and IiUSV produced by female C57BL/6J mice in response to a female intruder at baseline and 1 and 3 h after administration of a sublethal dose of LPS (6 or 12.5 mg/kg IP) or an equal volume of saline. Behavior was assessed by evaluating orbital tightness, posture, and piloerection immediately after USV collection. We hypothesized that LPS-injected mice would have a decreased inclination to mate or to interact with same-sex conspecifics and therefore would produce fewer USV. At baseline, 32 of 33 male mice produced FiUSV (149 ± 127 USV in 2 min), whereas all 36 female mice produced IiUSV (370 ± 156 USV in 2 min). Saline-injected mice showed no change from baseline at the 1- and 3-h time points, whereas LPS-injected mice demonstrated significantly fewer USV than baseline, producing no USV at both 1 and 3 h. According to orbital tightness, posture, and piloerection, LPS-injected mice showed signs of poor wellbeing at 3 h but not 1 h. These findings indicate that FiUSV and IiUSV can be used as proxy indicators of animal wellbeing associated with acute inflammation in mice and can be detected before the onset of clinical signs.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Vocalization, Animal
PubMed: 31578163
DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-18-000147 -
Journal of Neuroimmunology Aug 2020We report six patients with anti-LGI1 associated epilepsy. Two patients presented with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures, four developed faciobrachial dystonic...
We report six patients with anti-LGI1 associated epilepsy. Two patients presented with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures, four developed faciobrachial dystonic seizures and two piloerection. All patients had significant cognitive complaints at the time of diagnosis. All patients described seizure reduction during the first week of carbamazepine, and seizure freedom was obtained at a median of 13 days (range 7-22), sustained after the initiation of immunosuppression. Median time from symptom onset to carbamazepine initiation was 164 days (range 38-206 days). We discuss the particular seizure response to sodium channel blocking antiepileptic drugs, alone or associated with immunosuppression in this antibody mediated seizures.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Anticonvulsants; Autoantibodies; Carbamazepine; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatients; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32480242
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577268 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Fungal PJI is one of the most feared complications after arthroplasty. Although a rare finding, its high associated morbidity and mortality makes it an important object...
Fungal PJI is one of the most feared complications after arthroplasty. Although a rare finding, its high associated morbidity and mortality makes it an important object of study. The most frequent species causing fungal PJI is . New technology to treat this type of PJI involves organic-inorganic sol-gels loaded with antifungals, as proposed in this study, in which anidulafungin is associated with organophosphates. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an anidulafungin-loaded organic-inorganic sol-gel in preventing prosthetic joint infection (PJI), caused by using an in vivo murine model that evaluates many different variables. Fifty percent (3/6) of mice in the -infected, non-coated, chemical-polished (CP)-implant group had positive culture and 100% of the animals in the -infected, anidulafungin-loaded, sol-gel coated (CP + A)-implant group had a negative culture (0/6) ( = 0.023). Taking the microbiology and pathology results into account, 54.5% (6/11) of -infected CP-implant mice were diagnosed with a PJI, whilst only 9.1% (1/11) of -infected CP + A-implant mice were PJI-positive ( = 0.011). No differences were observed between the bone mineral content and bone mineral density of noninfected CP and noninfected CP + A ( = 0.835, and = 0.181, respectively). No histological or histochemical differences were found in the tissue area occupied by the implant among CP and CP + A. Only 2 of the 6 behavioural variables evaluated exhibited changes during the study: limping and piloerection. In conclusion, the anidulafungin-loaded sol-gel coating showed an excellent antifungal response in vivo and can prevent PJI due to in this experimental model.
PubMed: 34204833
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10060711 -
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 2022Considering that previous studies suggest that pesticides may cause hearing disorders in humans, as well as the lack of studies proving the specific mechanisms of injury...
INTRODUCTION
Considering that previous studies suggest that pesticides may cause hearing disorders in humans, as well as the lack of studies proving the specific mechanisms of injury and the difficulty of separating concomitant etiological factors of the hearing damage, such as noise and vibration, it is important to develop studies using animal models to elucidate the effects of exposure to those substances isolated from other hearing damage etiologies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if the exposure to a dichlorvos based organophosphorus insecticide may induce ototoxicity.
METHODS
36 male Wistar rats were assigned to 3 groups (12 rats/group): control (exposed to water), positive control (treated with cisplatin to induce hearing damage) and experimental (exposed to dichlorvos based organophosphorus insecticide). The amplitude of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in the frequencies of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12kHz was evaluated before and after exposure, as well as systemic toxicity signs, body mass gain and plasma cholinesterase. Open field and plus maze tests were performed in 24 rats: experimental (n=8), control (n=8) and positive control group (n=8 introduced new rats to induce anxiolytic activity) to evaluate the locomotor activity and anxiety, respectively.
RESULTS
There was no significant change in body mass gain and plasma cholinesterase in the dichlorvos based organophosphorus insecticide group, however, the animals showed transient piloerection, depression and dyspnea during exposure. The behavior was not affected in any group. The frequencies of 8 and 10kHz were significantly affected bilaterally in the insecticide group, which also showed a significant difference of the control in 10kHz on the right and 8 and 10kHz on the left ear.
CONCLUSION
Subchronic inhalation exposure to dichlorvos based organophosphorus insecticide induced ototoxicity in the cochlear function of rats without relevant systemic toxicity.
Topics: Animals; Dichlorvos; Inhalation Exposure; Insecticides; Male; Organophosphorus Compounds; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Rats; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 32532628
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2020.04.005 -
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2017
PubMed: 28615914
DOI: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_427_16 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2017This psychophysiological study is the first to examine the relationship between emotional tears and emotional piloerection (i.e., goosebumps). Although both phenomena...
This psychophysiological study is the first to examine the relationship between emotional tears and emotional piloerection (i.e., goosebumps). Although both phenomena have been related to peak states of being moved, details about their temporal occurrence and the associated levels of physiological arousal have remained unknown. In our study, we used emotionally powerful film scenes that were self-selected by participants. Our findings show that even within peak moments of emotional arousal, a gradation of intensity is possible. The overlap of tears and goosebumps signifies a maximal climax within peak moments. On the side of the stimulus, we found that displays of prosocial behavior play a crucial role in the elicitation of tears and goosebumps. Finally, based on the results of a formal film analysis of the tears-eliciting clips provided by our participants, as compared to randomly extracted, equally long control clips from the same films, we show how the technical and artistic making of the clips was optimized for the display of social interaction and emotional expressions.
PubMed: 28223946
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00041 -
Biology Letters Jan 2023We identify for wild, free-living short-beaked echidnas () a novel evaporative window, along with thermal windows, and demonstrate the insulating properties of the...
We identify for wild, free-living short-beaked echidnas () a novel evaporative window, along with thermal windows, and demonstrate the insulating properties of the spines, using infrared thermography. The moist tip of their beak, with an underlying blood sinus, functions as a wet bulb globe thermometer, maximizing evaporative heat loss via an evaporative window. The ventral surface and insides of the legs are poorly insulated sites that act as postural thermal windows, while the spines provide flexible insulation (depending on piloerection). These avenues of heat exchange likely contribute to the higher-than-expected thermal tolerance of this species. Our study highlights how technological advances that allow for non-contact measurement of thermal variables allow us to better understand the physiological capacity of animals in their natural environment.
Topics: Animals; Tachyglossidae; Environment; Body Temperature Regulation; Hot Temperature; Beak
PubMed: 36651031
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0495