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Notre perception des individus ayant recours aux pratiques sexuelles sadiques a longtemps été influencée par la médiatisation d'infractions sexuelles particulièrement graves, généralement des homicides sexuels sadiques. En effet, la plupart des gens associent le sadisme sexuel à des noms de meurtriers sexuels en série tels que Ted Bundy ou Guy Georges. Toutefois, le profil psychologique et les comportements de ces individus ne sont absolument pas représentatifs du profil des individus qui, dans la population générale, pratiquent les activités sexuelles sadiques dans un cadre consensuel. Au-delà des individus pratiquant des activités sexuelles sadiques, les résultats scientifiques (ex. : enquête populationnelle), mais aussi certains succès de la culture populaire (ex. : livres), mettent en évidence que ce qui pouvait paraître autrefois comme étant stigmatisés et « déviants » l'a peut-être été de manière injustifiée en raison de l'engouement populaire que cette thématique peut susciter. Avec plus de 125 millions d'exemplaires imprimées et électroniques vendus dans le monde en 2015, la trilogie de romans érotiques Fifty Shades of Grey (Cinquante nuances de gris) de E.L. James, qui met en avant les pratiques sexuelles impliquant plusieurs déclinaisons du sadisme, de la servitude et de l'initiation à la soumission sexuelle, est en soi un marqueur intéressant des possibles nuances de sadisme au sein de la population générale. Dans cet entretien avec Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Jonathan James, Alexandre Gauthier, Étienne Garant, Ingrid Ménard et Tamsin Higgs dressent l'état des lieux de cet état du sadisme sexuel, que cela soit notamment en termes de pratiques sexuelles consentantes ou en termes d'intérêt sexuels coercitif sadique. Our perception of individuals who engage in sadistic sexual practices has long been influenced by media coverage of highly severe sexual offenses, typically sadistic sexual homicides. Indeed, most people associate sexual sadism with the names of serial sexual murderers such as Ted Bundy or Guy Georges. However, the psychological profile and behaviors of these individuals are in no way representative of the profile of individuals in the general population who practice sadistic sexual activities in a consensual context. In addition from what seems to be a growing number of individuals engaging in consensual sadistic sexual activities, scientific findings (e.g.: population surveys) and certain popular culture successes (e.g.: books) reflect that what have been stigmatized and "deviant" in the past may have been unjustifiably labeled as such. The tremendous success of E. L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy of erotic novels, which showcases initiation into sexual practices involving several declinations of sadism, bondage and sexual submission, supports this argument. With over 125 million print and electronic copies sold worldwide in 2015, it is in itself an interesting marker of an interest towards sexual sadism within the general population. In this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Jonathan James, Alexandre Gauthier, Étienne Garant, Ingrid Ménard and Tamsin Higgs present the current state of knowledge on sexual sadism, both in terms of consensual sadistic sexual practices as well as the engagement in coercive and illegal sadistic sexual behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on multiparameter indexation of wage bargaining structure in goods market considering macroeconomic implications is presented.

Notre perception des auteurs d'homicide sexuel a depuis longtemps été influencée par la médiatisation de leur crime les plus extrêmes, ceux qui se distinguent par leurs degrés de violence et de cruauté. En conséquence, l'opinion du public a été façonnée en partie par les questionnements que peuvent provoquer de telles descriptions : Comment une personne peut-elle être si détachée émotionnellement et motivée par des besoins si destructeurs ? Comment ces individus peuvent-ils obtenir du plaisir à travers des actes si violents ? Tandis que ces descriptions reposent sur des événements qui ont vraiment eu lieu, cette image des auteurs d'homicide sexuel n'est pas un portrait représentatif de qui ils sont vraiment. Bien que les auteurs d'homicide sexuel sadique et sériel existent, ils représentent l'arbre qui cache la forêt. Dans cet entretien, les psychologues Jonathan James et Jean Proulx dressent l'état des lieux sur ce phénomène d'un point de vue épidémiologique, indiquent l'impact que peut avoir ce type de crime sur la vie en communauté, définissent ce à quoi il correspond, décrivent les caractéristiques des différents types d'auteurs d'homicide sexuel, fournissent des indications quant à leur risque de récidive et des recommandations concernant leur traitement. Our perception of sexual murderers has long been influenced by the mediatization of the most spectacular of these crimes–crimes that stand out by virtue of their extreme cruelty and violence, and by the degradation of the victims. Consequently, public opinion has been partly forged by the questions raised by such descriptions: How can anyone be so insensitive to others and driven by such destructive urges? How can these individuals derive any positive experience from such extremely violent acts? But although they are anchored in actual events, these impressions of sexual murderers are not accurate portraits of these individuals' true nature. While sadistic and serial sexual murderers do in fact exist, they nevertheless remain the threes that hide the forest. Through this interview, our objectives are to take stock of the phenomenon from an epidemiological point of view, to indicate the impact that this type of crime can have on community life, to define what it corresponds to, to describe the characteristics of the different types of sexual homicide offenders, but also to provide indications as to their risk of recidivism and recommendations concerning their clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid-induced enamel demineralisation affects many individuals either by exposure to acidic diets, acidic gas pollution (dental erosion) or to dental plaque acids (dental caries). This study aimed to develop in situ X-ray and light imaging methods to determine progression of enamel demineralisation and the dynamic relationship between acid pH and mineral density. Hourly digital microradiograph time-lapse sequences showed the depth of enamel demineralisation in 500 µm thick sections progressed with time from the surface towards the dentine following a power-law function, which was 21% faster than the lateral demineralisation progression after exposure for 85 h to lactic acid (10%, pH 2.2). The minimum greyscale remaining (mineral content) within the induced enamel lesion followed an exponential decay, while the accumulated total greyscale loss with time was linear, which showed a constant anisotropic mineral release within the enamel architecture. This 85 h demineralisation method studied by polarised light microscopy time-lapse sequences showed that once the demineralisation front reached the enamel Hunter-Schreger bands, there was preferential demineralisation along those bands. Mineral density loss was linear with increasing pH acidity between pH 5.2 and pH 4.0 (with 0.4 pH increments) when incubated over a 3-week period exposed to 0.5% lactic acid. At pH 4.0, there was complete mineral loss in the centre of the demineralised area after the 3-week period and the linear function intercepted the x-axis at ~ pH 5.5, near the critical pH for hydroxyapatite (HAp). These observations showed how intrinsic enamel structure and pH affected the progression of demineralisation. Hydroxyapatite crystallites (HAp) in human enamel dissolve when exposed to an acidic environment but little is known about how the intrinsic structures in enamel and pH influence the demineralisation kinetics. We have developed a time-lapse in situ microradiography method to quantify microscopic anisotropic mineral loss dynamics in response to an acid-only caries model. Correlation with polarised light microscopy time-lapse sequences showed that larger structures in enamel also influence demineralisation progression as demineralisation occurred preferentially along the Hunter-Schreger bands (decussating prismatic enamel). The pH-controlled enamel mineral release in a linear manner quantifying the relationship between HAp orientation and acid solubility. These findings should direct the development of improved anti-demineralisation/ remineralisation treatments to retain/ restore the natural intrinsic enamel structure. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We exploit an expansion of post-compulsory schooling that occurred from the late 1980s to the early 1990s to investigate the effect of education on the timing of fertility in England and Wales. We do not find a significant effect on the probability of having a child as a teenager but instead find that the variation in education led to delays in childbearing. Our estimates suggest that an increase in education by one year led to a 5.3% increase in probability of first birth aged 24 or above, 9.4% increase in probability of first birth aged 27 or above, and 13.3% increase in probability of first birth aged 30 or above. The mechanisms driving these findings are not due to an incapacitation effect – by keeping young people in school or university they have less time or opportunity to have a child – but due to a combination of human capital and signalling effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop a psychosocial profile of sexual murderers and characterize their life context at the moment they decided to commit homicide—in some cases, on repeated occasions. To this end, serial sexual murderers (SSMs, n = 33) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs, n = 87) were compared in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, general and sexual lifestyles, criminal behaviors, cognitions, stressful events, and motivation to commit sexual homicide. The results of this study indicate that sexual murderers are marginalized individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives and whose crimes are triggered by stressful events. However, unlike NSMs, SSMs have a psychosocial profile and the criminal skills that allow them to avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbors and police. Moreover, the sexual tension they experience daily motivates them to commit carefully planned crimes. Taken together, these characteristics partially explain why these individuals are more likely than NSMs to commit a series of sexual homicides. While sexual homicide is an extreme phenomenon, it is nevertheless primarily committed by individuals whose characteristics resemble those of individuals who commit less spectacular crimes. It is thus not surprising that psychological theories of sexual assault and criminological theories are suitable for the study of this phenomenon. Highlights • Sexual murderers are not different from the criminals described by classic criminology. • Sexual murderers are marginalized individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives. • Nonserial murderers were described as dysfunctional and having alcohol problems. • Serial murderers avoid arousing the suspicion of neighbors and police. • Homicidal fantasy may partially explain why some murderers become serial murderers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed logit models with normally distributed random coefficients are typically estimated under the extreme assumptions that either the random coefficients are completely independent or fully correlated. A factor structured covariance offers a range of alternatives between these two assumptions. However, because these models are more difficult to estimate they are not frequently used to model preference heterogeneity. This paper develops a simple expectation-maximization algorithm for estimating mixed logit models when preferences are generated from a factor structured covariance. The algorithm is easy to implement for both exploratory and confirmatory factor models. The estimator is applied to stated-preference survey data from residential energy customers (Train, 2007). Comparing the fit across five different models, which differed in their assumptions on the covariance of preferences, the results show that all three factor specifications produced a better fit of the data than the fully correlated model measured by BIC and two out of three performed better in terms of AIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this current systematic review was to describe the characteristics of the modus operandi of serial and nonserial sexual murderers, and the contextual and situational factors associated with them. It analyzes detailed data on 1836 sexual murderers (serial sexual murderers = 176; nonserial sexual murderers = 1660) taken from 45 empirical descriptive studies carried out between 1985 and 2013. In order to better characterize serial sexual murderers (SSMs) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs), four categories of variables were established: precrime variables; crime scene and modus operandi variables; postcrime variables; and victimology variables. Sexual murder possesses specific choice-structuring properties, and interactions between internal constraints and external constraints produce a limited number of crime scripts. SSMs' modus operandi reflects sadistic sexual fantasies, sexual sadism, and organization. SSMs plan their murders in order to make them as congruent as possible with their fantasies. NSMs' modus operandi is the result of an explosion of anger. These sexual murderers are impulsive and extremely violent, and use sexual murder to diminish their internal tension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of a key source of wealth (the stock market) on road traffic collisions. Using data on over 2 million road accidents we do not find a linear relationship between stock prices and road crashes (fatal or otherwise) in Great Britain. However, we do find a V-shaped effect – collisions respond to the absolute change in stock market returns. The results are robust to a series of falsification exercises that potentially support a causal interpretation. We also examine another source of wealth that has not previously been examined – house prices. Similarly, we do not find that changes in monthly house prices have an impact on accidents, but a symmetric V-shaped is also shown for slight and serious accidents. • We examine the impact of stock price changes on road collisions in Great Britain. • We use administrative data on road collisions by type: fatal, serious and slight. • There is not a linear relationship between stock prices changes and collisions. • Collisions instead respond to the absolute change in stock market returns. • Using another source of wealth, house prices, we find a similar V-shaped effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I exploit a reform that expanded UK post-compulsory education during the 1980s and 1990s to examine the effect of education on health. The expansion resulted in a rapid increase in education over the whole education distribution. I find evidence that education had an effect in reducing body mass index, waist circumference and weight. For other health measures (self-reported general health, long term or limiting illnesses), blood pressure and health behaviours (smoking and drinking) there were small to no improvements. There is suggestive evidence that the mechanisms driving these results are improvements in labour market and social status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use for small temporary incentives to encourage healthy eating is promising at least to trigger changes in the short run. • Long-run effects are less studied, the little evidence available suggests temporary incentives are not effective in changing habits permanently. • There is little evidence that incentives backfire. This article reviews recent evidence on the effectiveness of using small monetary and non-monetary incentives to encourage children to choose healthier foods. We discuss the rationale for using such incentives from the perspective of behavioral economics, and discuss the controversial aspects of such interventions. In reviewing the evidence, we compare key parameters of incentives schemes, such as their nature (monetary or not), the frequency at which they are given and how long they are in place. Overall, we find the evidence for using incentives encouraging, even if there is little evidence they succeed in permanently changing dietary habits. They are nevertheless very effective in changing behavior in the short run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this current systematic review is to identify the main characteristics of sexual murderers and the areas in which further research is warranted. It analyzes detailed data on 1836 sexual murderers (serial sexual murderers = 176; nonserial sexual murderers = 1660) taken from 45 empirical descriptive studies carried out between 1985 and 2013. In order to better characterise serial sexual murderers (SSMs) and nonserial sexual murderers (NSMs), three categories of variables were established: developmental variables; adult life and criminal career variables; and psychopathological variables. Characteristics of different types of sexual murderers were identified. Sexuality and sadism are the key features of SSMs. They are socially isolated, rejected, and humiliated, and take refuge in compulsive masturbation in paraphilias, which compensate for the poverty of their emotional, relational, and sexual lives. NSMs are polymorphic criminals who are easily angered when their immediate needs are not met. They adopt a victim stance, and sexual murder is a way of exacting vengeance and an outlet for their anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Radiological investigations of the breast are integral to the assessment of symptomatic breast patients and fundamental to the screening programme. Mammography and ultrasound are the standard imaging modalities, supplemented by magnetic resonance imaging in appropriate situations. Possible pathological findings on mammography include masses, architectural distortion, areas of asymmetry between the right and left breast and microcalcification. Ultrasound is the primary method of imaging the breast in younger women. It provides further information about a clinical or mammographic abnormality and can distinguish between solid, cystic or complex lesions. MRI is used in selected cases, to assist with the diagnosis and local staging of primary or recurrent breast cancer. It is also used to assess implant integrity and to screen for malignancy in high-risk women. Image-guided biopsy enables pre-operative diagnosis in most cases of benign and malignant breast conditions. Larger cores of tissue can be obtained with a vacuum assisted biopsy, which may also be used to excise a biopsy-proven benign lesion. As part of the triple assessment, radiological investigations must be correlated with the clinical examination and with any subsequent histology, to ensure-each member of the team is evaluating the same area of the breast. This enables appropriate reassurance to be given when the findings are normal or benign, and accuracy in the diagnosis and staging of patients with breast cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Interferon-α (IFN-α) is used as a front-line treatment for cancer and other diseases. Reports of depression as a consequence of IFN-α therapy scatter the literature, generating interest in the CNS disruptions elicited by this cytokine. In the present work, we investigated the short- and long-term effects of a single systemic injection of vehicle, 10, or 1000 units of IFN-α on temperature, body weight, food intake, sickness behaviours, locomotor activity, and brain stimulation reward (BSR) thresholds elicited from the ventral tegmental area in female Long–Evans rats. Pioneered for studying motivational processes, BSR has been exploited as a tool for tracking hedonic status in animal models of depression. In this study, the main findings were that IFN-α did not induce anhedonia as defined by no increase in frequency thresholds. However, the analyses of sickness behaviours unveiled a significant increase in piloerection in all sham control animals that received an IFN-α injection while the BSR animal scores remained relatively unchanged between pre- and post-injection days. This pattern was also evident in the overall total sickness behaviour scores. Our data suggest that a single exposure to IFN-alpha treatment in female rats elicits long-term somatic effects, without altering hedonic status. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: This retrospective study determined whether a test-set based assessment scheme (PERFORMS) used in a national breast screening programme could be used to predict real-life performance by investigating if the number of cancers missed by mammography readers in real-life related to the number of cancers missed in the PERFORMS test-set and whether real-life reading volumes affected performance.Method: Data was obtained from consenting readers in the screening programme in England (NHSBSP) where double reading is standard. The rate of cancers missed by individual first readers but correctly identified by second readers was compared with the number of cancers missed in the PERFORMS test-set over a 3-year period. NHSBSP readers are required to interpret at least 1500 cases per year as a first reader, so results were compared between readers who exceeded this target and those that did not. Parametric and non-parametric correlations were calculated.Results: Amongst the 536 readers, there was a highly significant positive correlation between the real-life and PERFORMS test-set missed cancer metrics (Pearson Correlation = 0.228, n = 536, p < .0001, Spearman's rho = 0.265, n = 536, p < .0001). There was no significant difference in rates of missed cancers between the 452 readers who exceeded the 1500 first read per year target and those who did not (t(94.2) = -1.87, p = .0643, r = 0.19).Conclusions: The use of a test-set based assessment scheme accurately reflects real-life mammography reading performance, indicating that it can be a useful tool in identifying poor reader performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactive-proactive aggression dichotomy is a valid, reliable, and useful concept widely used in psychology and criminology but paradoxically largely ignored in the field of sexual offending research. The objective of this study was to test whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as well as psychopathology relevant to physical and sexual violence (psychopathy and sexual sadism) predict the type of aggression (reactive/proactive) exhibited in the commission of a sexual homicide. Data were collated from criminal case files held across 46 courthouses in France. Reactive sexual homicide offenders (SHO-R, n = 31) and proactive sexual homicide offenders (SHO-P, n = 58) were compared in terms of ACEs and psychometric measures of psychopathy (PCL: SV) and sexual sadism (SeSaS). The findings indicated that ACEs and PCL: SV Factor 2 were associated with reactive aggression in the context of sexual homicide, whereas PCL: SV Factor 1 and sexual sadism were associated to proactive aggression. This study emphasized the role of ACEs and personality traits in the development of different types of aggression exhibited in sexual homicide and highlighted advantages of applying mainstream psychological and criminological concepts to extreme violence phenomena. • Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Sexual Homicide Offenders. • Adverse childhood experiences were associated with reactive aggression (RA). • Sexual sadism was associated with proactive aggression (PA). • Impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits were associated with RA. • Affective-interpersonal psychopathic traits were associated with PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jusqu'à tout récemment, la population générale avait tendance à croire qu'une femme ne pouvait être l'auteur de comportements sexuels coercitifs. Tandis qu'il est difficile d'identifier les éléments ayant pu alimenter cette croyance, il est possible que celle-ci soit associée à des conceptions erronées concernant les comportements féminins (exemple : une femme est rarement violente, elle est plutôt la cible de violences) et/ou les agressions sexuelles (exemple : une agression sexuelle consiste en un viol, cela implique nécessairement une pénétration vaginale pénienne). Cependant, la recherche a mis en évidence ces dernières années que les femmes sont aussi capables de commettre des infractions sexuelles (exemple : attouchements), seules ou avec un partenaire, parfois sous la contrainte et d'autres fois de leur propre initiative. Qui sont donc ces femmes ? Dans le cadre de cet entretien avec Jean-Pierre Bouchard, c'est à cette question qu'Alexandre Gauthier, Ingrid Ménard, Tamsin Higgs et Jonathan James tentent de répondre, en abordant : les fausses croyances entourant cette forme de délinquance et leurs impacts sur les taux de prévalence ; le profil type de la délinquante sexuelle, en distinguant celles qui agissent seules de celles qui agissent avec un partenaire ; et les principaux modèles explicatifs de cette forme de délinquance. Les chercheurs terminent en présentant les principaux paramètres à prendre en considération dans la prise en charge de ces femmes dans un contexte thérapeutique. Until recently, the general population tended to believe that a woman could not be the perpetrator of coercive sexual behavior. While it is difficult to identify what may have fueled this belief, it may be associated with misconceptions about female behavior (example: a woman is rarely violent, but rather the target of violence) and/or sexual assault (example: a sexual assault is rape, which necessarily involves penile vaginal penetration). However, research in recent years has shown that women are also capable of committing sexual offenses (example: touching), alone or with a partner, sometimes under duress and other times on their own initiative. Who are these women? During this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard, Alexandre Gauthier, Ingrid Ménard, Tamsin Higgs, and Jonathan James attempt to answer this question by addressing: the false beliefs surrounding this form of delinquency and their impact on prevalence rates; the typical profile of female sexual offenders, distinguishing between those who act alone and those who act with a partner; and the main explanatory models of this form of delinquency. The researchers conclude by presenting the main parameters to be considered in the management of these women in a therapeutic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dans le discours populaire, pédophile et agresseur sexuel d'enfant sont généralement compris comme étant des synonymes : les pédophiles seraient des individus qui ont commis une agression sexuelle sur un enfant et les agresseurs sexuels d'enfants seraient nécessairement des individus ayant une préférence sexuelle pour les enfants. Bien que les études antérieures aient mis en évidence que la préférence sexuelle envers les enfants joue un rôle important dans le processus de passage à l'acte et la récidive des individus, elle constitue un facteur parmi d'autres (ex.: manque d'empathie, distorsions cognitives). Dans le cadre de cet entretien, les chercheurs apportent quelques nuances en, notamment, délimitant plusieurs concepts tels que celui d'agression sexuelle d'enfant et en abordant : les différents types de délits sexuels, les caractéristiques et les profils des agresseurs sexuels d'enfant et les différences entre la pédophilie et l'agression sexuelle d'enfants. Les chercheurs terminent en présentant le concept de pédophile abstinent , soit un individu ayant une préférence sexuelle envers les enfants, mais qui n'a jamais commis d'infraction sexuelle. Les chercheurs présentent les ressources qui s'offrent à ce type d'individus, les difficultés qu'ils peuvent vivre au quotidien et proposent des pistes de réflexion en matière d'accompagnement et de traitement. In popular discourse, the terms pedophile and child sex. offender are generally understood to be synonymous : pedophiles are considered to be individuals who have sexually assaulted a child and child sex. offenders are necessarily defined as individuals with a sexual preference for children. Although previous studies have shown that sexual preference for children plays an important role in the offending process and in recidivism, it is but one factor among others (e.g. lack of empathy, cognitive distortions). In this interview, the researchers provide some nuance by, among other things, delimiting several concepts such as child sexual abuse and by addressing the different types of sexual offenses, the characteristics and profiles of child sexual offenders and the differences between pedophilia and child sexual abuse. The researchers conclude by introducing the concept of the non-offending pedophile, an individual with a sexual preference towards children but who has never committed a sexual offense. The researchers discuss the resources available to this type of individual, the difficulties they may experience on a daily basis and suggest areas of further reflection in terms of support and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intranasal route of drug administration has gained increased popularity as it is thought to allow large molecules, such as peptide hormones, more direct access to the brain, while limiting systemic exposure. Several studies have investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration in humans as this peptide is associated with prosocial behavior. There are, however, few preclinical studies investigating the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration in rodents. Oxytocin modulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning and it has been suggested that oxytocin’s ability to increase sociability may occur through a reduction in stress reactivity. Another peptide that appears to influence both social behavior and HPA axis activity is gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), but it is not known if these GRP-induced effects are related. With this in mind, in the present study, we assessed the effects of intranasal and intraperitoneal oxytocin and GRP administration on social interaction and release of corticosterone in rats. Intranasal and intraperitoneal administration of 20, but not 5 μg, of oxytocin significantly increased social interaction, whereas intranasal and peripheral administration of GRP (20 but not 5 μg) significantly decreased levels of social interaction. In addition, while intranasal oxytocin (20 μg) had no effect on blood corticosterone levels, a marked increase in blood corticosterone levels was observed following intraperitoneal oxytocin administration. With GRP, intranasal (20 μg) but not peripheral administration increased corticosterone levels. These findings provide further evidence that intranasal peptide delivery can induce behavioral alterations in rodents which is consistent with findings from human studies. In addition, the peptide-induced changes in social interaction were not linked to fluctuations in corticosterone levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigated the suitability of juvenile three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., for detecting both androgen- and oestrogen-induced endocrine disruption. The investigated endpoints were kidney hypertrophy and the induction of the protein markers spiggin and vitellogenin. Juveniles were exposed to steroid hormones 17β-oestradiol (E2: nominal 0.01, 1.0 and 10μg/L), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2: nominal 0.05μg/L) and 17α-methyltestosterone (MT: nominal 1.0μg/L) from the day of hatching until the termination of the experiments between 39 and 58 days after hatching. E2 (10μg/L) and MT were applied during different time windows: (a) 14 days after hatching only and (b) continuously with start 14 days after hatching. Kidney hypertrophy is an androgen-dependent secondary sexual character in adult male sticklebacks and corresponds to the production of the glue protein spiggin during the breeding season. The kidneys were hypertrophied and spiggin levels were elevated in juvenile sticklebacks after treatment with MT. Paradoxically, slightly elevated spiggin levels and kidney hypertrophy were observed also in fish treated with high dose E2. Levels of vitellogenin, the oestrogen-inducible yolk precursor protein, were elevated in juvenile sticklebacks after E2 medium and high dose and EE2 treatment. The tested endpoints are suitable for the study of endocrine disruption in juvenile sticklebacks, a fish species that is easy to handle in laboratory and relevant for temperate geographical regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]