Search

The TRPV1 channel is actively involved in various neuronal processes and is found in various structures of the nervous system, including peripheral and central neurons, sensory ganglia, spinal cord, and various parts of the brain. Due to its ability to respond to various stimuli, TRPV1 can have a significant impact on the body's responses to stress. Studies indicate the involvement of TRPV1 in the regulation of anxiety behavior. Suppression of TRPV1 activity leads to a decrease in the level of anxiety in animals, which indicates the importance of this channel in psychoemotional regulation. A promising compound for inhibiting this channel is the APHC3 peptide, which is a selective receptor antagonist. The results obtained this study show that this peptide has a pronounced anxiolytic effect, reducing the level of anxiety in the studied animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Hand-foot syndrome is a dose-limiting toxicity of capecitabine. At present, there is no unified gold standard for the establishment of hand-foot syndrome model. To induce hand-foot syndrome and provide a reference for the establishment of hand-foot syndrome model by administering capecitabine in ICR mice. Methods 42 male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group (6 mice) and experimental group (36 mice). The experimental group was given capecitabine (275 mg/kg, twice/d) by intragastric administration for two weeks, and the control group was given 0.5% CMC-Na (4 ml/kg, twice/d), to evaluate whether the animal model of hand-foot syndrome was successfully constructed through H&E staining of mouse foot skin samples and observe morphological changes and the characteristic appearance of mouse foot skin. After the experiment, the mice were sacrificed, and plasma was collected to quantify the concentrations of capecitabine and metabolites. Results Control mice did not showed symptoms of hand-foot syndrome. The skin of the feet of 19 mice in the experimental group showed symptoms such as erythema and swelling, and H&E staining results showed that the plantar skin angular epidermis was thickened, and part of the keratin was exfoliated and damaged, which was considered to be hand-foot syndrome. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of capecitabine and its metabolites between mice with and without hand-foot syndrome. Conclusion The model of hand-foot syndrome induced by capecitabine in mice was successfully established. Differences in exposure levels of capecitabine and metabolites may not be the cause of hand-foot syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ethanol extract of Bidens pilosa L. (EEB) on acute exercise fatigue and its underlying biochemical mechanism were investigated in this study. Sixty adult male ICR mice were divided into control, model, vitamin C (VC) 100, EEB40, EEB80, and EEB160 groups, receiving VC (100 mg/kg) or EEB (40, 80, 160 mg/kg) for 28 days (intragastrically, I.G.). The mice underwent tail- suspension, elevated plus maze (EPM), rotarod, and loaded swimming tasks and biochemical indices were measured. There were no significant differences in body weight, tail suspension time, EPM open arm time/entries and serum cortisone levels among the groups. Compared with the model group, there was an increase in rotarod latency in the VC100/EEB80 groups and an increase in loaded swimming time in the EEB80/EEB160 groups. Furthermore, the haptic and muscle glycogen levels decreased in the model group, while the haptic glycogen levels increased in the all VC/EEB groups. Similarly, the serum lactate and creatinine levels increased in the model group, but decreased in lactate (except for EEB 160), creatinine (except for EEB40) and lactate dehydrogenase in the EEB80 group. In the liver, malonaldehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels increased in the model group; however, glutathione reductase (GR) (except for EEB40), glutathione (GSH) and GSH/GSSG ratios increased, with GSSG levels decreasing in all VC/EEB groups. In the quadriceps, the GR levels increased in the model, whereas it decreased in the VC100, EEB40 and EEB80 groups. These results suggest that EEB has anti-acute fatigue effect, potentially attributed to mitigate metabolite accumulation, enhancing glycogen reserves, and fortifying the antioxidant mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the anti-oxidative and antiinflammatory properties of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis HFY14 (LLSLHFY14) and investigate its effects on the intestinal barrier, cranial nerve, and motor function in mice treated with antibiotics. Methods: Mice were administered an antibiotic mixture (neomycin 5 mg/mL, vancomycin 25 mg/mL, amphotericin B 0.1 mg/mL, ampicillin 10 mg/mL, metronidazole file 5 mg/mL, and lipopolysaccharide 1.5 mg/mL) intraperitoneally, and oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the serum and brain tissues, and liver index were measured. H&E staining was performed to detect pathological alterations in brain tissues. The expression of intestinalbarrier- related genes and that of genes involved in inflammatory pathways in the brain were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: LLSLHFY14 administration extended the weight-loaded swimming and running times of mice and decreased the liver index. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) in the serum and brain tissue were reduced, whereas those of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were elevated. Elevated brain expression of the protein kinase B (AKT)/cAMPresponse element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) pathway, decreased brain expression of the IL-6 gene, and elevated cecum expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin-1, and claudin-1 genes were noted. LLSLHFY14 supplementation significantly increased Bacteroidetes expression but decreased Firmicutes expression, thus increasing the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio. Discussion: Overall, LLSLHFY14 supplementation ameliorated antibioticinduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the mouse central nervous system, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and increased motor function, thus confirming its potential application as probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo compare and evaluate the improvement degree of spermatogenic dysfunction mice at different recovery periods after cyclophosphamide modeling.MethodsForty-eight male ICR mice aged 4-5 weeks with the body weight of approximately 18-20 g were randomly divided into three control groups and three model groups, with 8 mice in each group. Each mouse of three model groups was intraperitoneally injected with 60 mg/kg cyclophosphamide continuously from the 1st to 7th day of the experiment, while each mouse of three control groups was intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding volume of normal saline. Then these mice were continued to be fed for another 7, 14 and 21 days after cyclophosphamide injection, respectively. A corresponding control group was set for each model group. The mice in each group were sacrificed after blood collection through orbital veins at corresponding time points. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were taken and weighed, and their reproductive organ indexes were calculated. Histopathological changes of testis and epididymis were compared after HE staining.Sperm quality analysis was used to determine sperm-related indexes. Serum reproductive hormone content, testicular oxidative stress level and testicular signature enzyme activity were detected by ELISA and related kits.Results Compared with the control group, on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after cyclophosphamide treatment, the testicular index of mice in the model group decreased significantly (P

This study investigated the potential therapeutic properties of fermented ginseng berry extract (GBE) for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fermented GBE was examined for its ginsenoside content and physiological properties, which have been suggested to have neuroprotective effects and improve cognitive function. The results showed that fermented GBE contains high levels of major active ginsenosides and exhibits antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Post-fermented GBE demonstrated therapeutic potential in AF64A-induced damaged neural stem cells and an animal model of AD. These findings suggest that fermented GBE may hold promise as a candidate for developing new therapeutic interventions for memory deficits and cognitive disorders associated with AD and other neurodegenerative conditions. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of fermented GBE in human subjects and to determine its clinical applications. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that fermented GBE has potential as a natural product for the prevention and treatment of AD. The high levels of active ginsenosides and antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of fermented GBE suggest that it may be a promising therapeutic agent for improving cognitive function and reducing neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyperlipidemia refers to a group of lipid metabolism disorders characterized by increased levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and/or lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and/or decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study aims to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus on lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis in male mice fed with a high-fat diet by measuring blood lipid, hepatic function and hepatocyte morphology. Material and methods: Eighty male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 6 weeks to establish hyperlipidemic models. Then, mice were treated with a high or low concentration of Lactobacillus of human source, mouse source, or plant source, respectively. Results: After 3 weeks of therapy, except for the human Lactobacillus treatment group, the blood cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mice treated with Lactobacillus of mouse and plant source were lower than those in the hyperlipidemic model group. After 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of blood biochemical indexes in mice in all treatment groups were significantly different, when compared to those in the hyperlipidemic model group. Conclusions: Lactobacillus may regulate blood lipid in mice fed with a highfat diet. Lactobacillus can improve the high cholesterol, high blood lipid, and injury of hepatic function, and prevent further development of atherosclerosis caused by a high-fat diet to some extent. Correct dietary structure is the basis for the treatment of dietary hyperlipidemia and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past, phytomolecules are exponentially applied in discovering the antidiabetic drug due to less adverse effects. This work screened the active solvent fraction of Lespedeza cuneata based on the phytochemical, enzyme inhibition, and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant efficacy of the different fractions of the L. cuneata was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing power, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The digestive enzyme (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activity was also evaluated. The phytochemical composition of ethyl acetate fraction of L. cuneata (Lc-EAF) was studied by UHPLC-QTOF–MS/MS. The effect of Lc-EAF treatments on glucose uptake was studied in insulin resistance HepG2 cells (IR-HepG2). Further, the antidiabetic effect of Lc-EAF in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were demonstrated. Ethyl acetate, hexane, and methanol fractions of the L. cuneata showed notable antioxidant, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Among the fractions, Lc-EAF was found to be the most potent. The Lc-EAF exhibited an IC50 of 205.32 ± 23.47 µg/mL and 105.32 ± 13.93 µg/mL for α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, respectively. In addition, 75 µg/mL of Lc-EAF exposure enhanced glucose uptake (68.23%) in IR-HepG2 cells. In vivo study indicated that treatment of Lc-EAF (100 mg/kg b.wt) maintained the blood glucose level through reduced insulin level while improving the lipid profile, hepatic, and renal markers. These findings suggest that Lc-EAF could be considered a prominent source for antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-ROS potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare and evaluate the improvement degree of spermatogenic dysfunction mice at different recovery periods after cyclophosphamide modeling. Methods Forty-eight male ICR mice aged 4-5 weeks with the body weight of approximately 18-20 g were randomly divided into three control groups and three model groups, with 8 mice in each group. Each mouse of three model groups was intraperitoneally injected with 60 mg/kg cyclophosphamide continuously from the 1st to 7th day of the experiment, while each mouse of three control groups was intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding volume of normal saline. Then these mice were continued to be fed for another 7, 14 and 21 days after cyclophosphamide injection, respectively. A corresponding control group was set for each model group. The mice in each group were sacrificed after blood collection through orbital veins at corresponding time points. Testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were taken and weighed, and their reproductive organ indexes were calculated. Histopathological changes of testis and epididymis were compared after HE staining.Sperm quality analysis was used to determine sperm-related indexes. Serum reproductive hormone content, testicular oxidative stress level and testicular signature enzyme activity were detected by ELISA and related kits.Results Compared with the control group, on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after cyclophosphamide treatment, the testicular index of mice in the model group decreased significantly (P<0.01). The epididymis index decreased significantly on the 7th and 14th day, and the seminal vesicle index decreased obviously on the 7th and 21st day (P<0.05). And the histopathological damage of testis and epididymis of the model group gradually alleviated over time. On the 7th and 14th day after cyclophosphamide treatment, the sperm count of the model group declined remarkably (P<0.01), the serum testosterone (T) level reduced (P<0.05), the malonaldehyde (MDA) content of testis increased significantly (P<0.01), the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased obviously (P<0.05),the lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of testis reduced obviously (P<0.05), the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) activity increased significantly (P<0.05), the latter two of which are important testicular signature enzymes. Therein on the 7th day after cyclophosphamide treatment, the sperm motility decreased significantly (P<0.001), the rate of sperm malformation increased obviously (P<0.05), the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) increased notably (P<0.01). Nevertheless on the 21st day after cyclophosphamide treatment, the sperm-related indexes, the content of serum reproductive hormone, the level of testicular oxidative stress and the activity of testicular signature enzyme did not change significantly (P＞0.05). Conclusion The reproductive toxicity in mice was more apparent on the 7th day after intraperitoneal injection with 60 mg/kg cyclophosphamide for seven days, at which time the more desirable spermatogenic dysfunction model of mice could be established. However, with the prolongation of the recovery period, the indexes of spermatogenic dysfunction in mice gradually recovered and approached the normal level on the 21st day after cyclophosphamide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated climbing in mice as a tool to assess the expression and treatment of pain-related behavioral depression in male and female ICR mice. Mice were videotaped during 10-min sessions in a vertical plexiglass cylinder with wire mesh walls, and “Time Climbing” was scored by observers blind to treatments. Initial validation studies demonstrated that baseline climbing was stable across repeated days of testing and depressed by intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) as an acute pain stimulus. Additionally, IP acid-induced depression of climbing was blocked by the positive-control non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen but not by the negative control kappa opioid receptor agonist U69593. Subsequent studies examined effects of single-molecule opioids (fentanyl, buprenorphine, naltrexone) and of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures (10:1, 3.2:1, and 1:1) that vary in their efficacy at the mu opioid receptor (MOR). Opioids administered alone produced a dose- and efficacy-dependent decrease in climbing, and fentanyl/naltrexone-mixture data indicated that climbing in mice is especially sensitive to disruption by even low-efficacy MOR activation. Opioids administered as a pretreatment to IP acid failed to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing. Taken together, these findings support the utility of climbing in mice as an endpoint to evaluate candidate-analgesic effectiveness both to (a) produce undesirable behavioral disruption when the test drug is administered alone, and (b) produce a therapeutic blockade of pain-related behavioral depression. The failure of MOR agonists to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing likely reflects the high sensitivity of climbing to disruption by MOR agonists.

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The variety of stressful conditions in daily human activity requires nutritional support with safe, specialized food products containing functional food ingredients (FFIs) enriched with biologically active plant substances with proven adaptogenic properties. In this in vivo study, by evaluating a set of physiological parameters and biochemical markers, we investigated the effectiveness of the developed FFIs from Chenopodium quinoa grains in stress conditions induced by daily episodes of immobilization for 36 days. The results of the evaluation of the anxiety-like functions, locomotor, and search activity of rats in the "open field" and "elevated plus maze" tests demonstrated the ability of FFIs to reduce stressful behavior induced by immobilization. The improvement in the long-term memory of animals treated with FFIs was noted in the passive avoidance test. Together with the hypolipidemic effect and compensation of transaminase levels, FFIs normalized the excretion of catecholamines in the urine and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde to values of the control group. According to the results of the assessment of FFI acute oral toxicity, the LD50 value exceeded 5000 mg/kg of body weight, which categorizes the FFIs under hazard class 5—substances with low hazard. The conducted experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of nutritional support with FFIs on the selected stress model. The positive safety profile of FFIs makes them reasonable to study on other stress models and to conduct clinical testing as part of specialized food products in various categories of people exposed to chronic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbred stocks of mice are widely used in pre-clinical research as these animals possess a diversified genetic background when compared with inbred strains of mice. It is crucial to assess particular alterations in the physiological and functional profiles of laboratory animals using haematological and biochemical indicators. These values can also differ between laboratories because they are influenced by many different factors. We aimed to provide normal values and reference intervals for selected haematology and biochemistry analytes of 570 ICR mice at three different ages: 6–8 weeks, 10–14 weeks and 6–9 months. Reference values were calculated by non-parametric methods. For comparisons between sexes, the independent-sample t-test and Mann–Whitney test were employed, and analysis of variance was used for age differences. The findings of the study revealed age-related declines in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations. Mice aged 6–9 months had statistically higher platelet counts in their blood than mice of other ages. The white blood cell count had a significant age effect and progressively decreased with age. As mice get older, the percentage of neutrophils, monocytes and basophils increases, but the percentage of lymphocytes decreases. For the biochemical values, age-related significant differences in glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin concentrations were found. It was also found that creatinine concentrations were comparable across all age ranges. The values presented in the present work can be used as a reference to interpret clinical pathology data for other studies and to evaluate health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, plastics are used in various products. Concerns regarding the human body's exposure to plastics and environmental pollution have increased with increased plastic use. Microplastics can be detected in the atmosphere, leading to potential human health risks through inhalation; however, the toxic effects of microplastic inhalation are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the pulmonary toxicity of polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in C57BL/6, BALB/c, and ICR mice strains. Mice were intratracheally instilled with 5 mg/kg of PS, PP, or PVC daily for two weeks. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of C57BL/6 and ICR mice. Histopathological analysis of PS-instilled C57BL/6 and PP-instilled ICR mice showed inflammatory cell infiltration. PS increased the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome components in the lung tissue of C57BL/6 and ICR mice, while PS-instilled BALB/c mice remained unchanged. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, in BALF of C57BL/6 mice. PP-instilled ICR mice showed increased NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the lung tissue compared to the control groups and increased IL-1β levels in BALF. These results could provide baseline data for understanding the pulmonary toxicity of microplastic inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D-Allose is a rare natural sugar, which is attractive as a sweetener alternative to sugar because of its biological functions and low-calorie content. However, there is a lack of basic information regarding the use of D-allose as a food ingredient. In this study D-allose toxicity to ICR mice was investigated. The mice were treated with a single dose of D-allose (1,250, 2,500 or 5,000 mg/kg body weight). No organ injury was observed, nor any changes observed in the clinical sign, body weight and the blood serum chemistry. The approximate lethal dose was estimated to exceed 5,000 mg/kg in mice. These results suggest that D-allose is practically non-toxic to mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are a growing concern as pollutants that impact both public health and the environment. However, the toxic effects of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PP-MPs on cardiotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms. The cardiotoxicity of exposure to different amounts of PP-MPs were investigated in both ICR mice and H9C2 cells. Our results demonstrated that sub-chronic exposure to 5 and 50 mg/L PP-MPs led to myocardial structural damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis in mice cardiomyocytes. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that PP-MPs could decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and induce apoptosis in H9C2 cells. Western blotting revealed decreased expression of Bcl-2, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase 3 and increased expression of Bax, cleaved-PARP, and cleaved-caspase 3 in PP-MPs-treated cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. These results confirmed the apoptotic effects induced by PP-MPs. Moreover, PP-MPs treatment triggered oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased levels of malondialdehyde; reduction in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in mice cardiac tissues; and increased reactive oxygen species levels in H9C2 cells. Finally, western blotting demonstrated that exposure to PP-MPs significantly reduced the expression levels of Nrf2 and p-ERK proteins associated with MAPK-Nrf2 pathway in both cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. Overall, our findings indicate that PP-MPs can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through MAPK-Nrf2 signaling pathway, which is triggered by oxidative stress. This study provides a foundation for determining the effects of PP-MPs on cardiotoxicity and their underlying mechanisms., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) is a frequently used model to investigate pressure overload-induced progressive heart failure (HF); however, there is considerable phenotypic variation among different mouse strains and even sub-strains. Moreover, less is known about the TAC model in ICR mice. Therefore, to determine the suitability of the ICR strain for TAC-induced HF research, we compared the effects of TAC on ICR and C57BL/6J mice at one, two and four weeks post-TAC via echocardiography, organ index, morphology, and histology. At the end of the study, behavior and gene expression patterns were assessed, and overall survival was monitored. Compared to the sham-operated mice, ICR and C57BL/6J mice displayed hypertrophic phenotypes with a significant increase in ventricle wall thickness, heart weight and ratio, and cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes after a 2-week TAC exposure. In addition, ICR mice developed reduced systolic function and severe lung congestion 4 weeks post-TAC, whereas C57BL/6J did not. Besides, ICR mice demonstrated comparable survival, similar gene expression alteration but severer fibrotic remodeling and poor behavioral performance compared to the C57BL/6J mice. Our data demonstrated that ICR was quite sensitive to TAC-induced heart failure and can be an ideal research tool to investigate mechanisms and drug intervention for pressure overload-induced HF.

Aim. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is an inducible repair enzyme that removes alkyl residues from DNA, thereby reducing the effectiveness of alkylating chemotherapy. Therefore, the MGMT inhibitors are used in medical practice. However, the most common of them, O6-benzylguanine and its analogs, have proven to be toxic to hematopoietic cells. That is why the search for new alternative inhibitors is essential. Methods. New nonnucleoside potential MGMT inhibitors were developed using semi-flexible docking. From an initial pool of 98 inhibitors, the most cytotoxic ones were screened out using the MTT-test and the clonogenic assay. Subsequently, a selected number of the inhibitors were tested alone and in combination with alkylating agent N-methyl-N′-nitro-Nnitrosoguanidine (MNNG) for investigation of the efficacy. This phase included clonogenic assay, Western blot analysis, and studies on their effects on autophagy and cell mortality in cancer cells in vitro using Monodansylcadaverine dying for autophagosomes and dying by Live-Dead Imaging Cell Kit respectively. In the final stage of the research, the efficacy of the combination therapy was evaluated using an in vivo ICR mice model. The tumor growth dynamics and changes in MGMT and other proteins level were investigated via Western blot. Results. Based on the data obtained, a number of new MGMT inhibitors exhibited low cytotoxicity and high efficacy at a concentration of 10 μM in vitro compared to O6-benzylguanine. Western blot analysis indicated that the inhibitors 41, 41B, 72, and 89 reduced MGMT level in the HEp-2 laryngeal carcinoma cells and T98G glioma cells compared to the controls. The combined treatment with the inhibitors and MNNG induced a high level of autophagy in the T98G cell line (glioma cells with highMGMT expression). However, a low level of autophagy was observed under the same conditions in U251MG cells (glioma cells lacking MGMT expression). The inhibitors did not increase the level of dead cells in either glioma cell line. Nevertheless, the combined treatment resulted in a high death rate exclusively in T98G cells. In vivo, the combined therapy with inhibitors 41, 41B, and 89 led to a significant reduction in tumor growth or remission, with inhibitor 89 more frequently achieving complete remission. Western blot analysis of treated tumors revealed decreased MGMT levels and increased cleaved caspase 3, suggesting apoptosis induction. Conclusions. The new low molecular weight non-nucleoside MGMT inhibitors effectively reduce MGMT protein levels and enhance the cytotoxic effects of MNNG across different cancer cell lines. In T98G cells, the combination treatment increases autophagy and makes cells more sensitive to MNNG. The in vivo study confirms the therapeutic potential of these inhibitors, with significant tumor reduction or remission observed. Inhibitor 41B demonstrated the greatest overall efficacy, making it a promising candidate for further development in the combined alkylating chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, cow’s milk allergy, and lactose intolerance, soymilk is a potential alternative to cow’s milk. In this study, we aimed to identify the effects of a soy protein-based low-protein diet on the body and organ weights and the gut microbiome of six-week-old mice fed a diet containing 20% (SP) or 5% (LP) soy protein for 14 days via 16S rRNA (V4) amplicon sequencing. Body weight gain (growth) and liver, spleen, and fat tissue weight were significantly suppressed by the LP diet. Operational taxonomic unit numbers and α-diversity were lower in the LP group than in the SP group. A principal coordinate analysis revealed differences in the gut microbiome compositions of SP and LP mice. The abundances of caecal Roseburia sp., Alistipes sp., and bacteria from the family Muribaculaceae were lower in the LP group than in the SP group. In contrast, the abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae, which is positively correlated with inflammation, was higher in the LP group than in the SP group. These results differed from the effects of a milk casein-based low-protein diet (reported previously). Based on these findings, we conclude that the undesirable effects of a low-protein diet and/or protein deficiency are related to changes in the gut microbiome composition and may differ depending on the kind of proteins used.

Introduction Hyperlipidemia refers to a group of lipid metabolism disorders characterized by increased levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and/or low- density lipoprotein cholesterol and/or decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study aims to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus on lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis in male mice fed with a high-fat diet by measuring blood lipid, hepatic function and hepatocyte morphology. Material and methods Eighty male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 6 weeks to establish hyperlipidemic models. Then, mice were treated with a high or low concentration of Lactobacillus of human source, mouse source, or plant source, respectively. Results After 3 weeks of therapy, except for the human Lactobacillus treatment group, the blood cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in mice treated with Lactobacillus of mouse and plant source were lower than those in the hyperlipidemic model group. After 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of blood biochemical indexes in mice in all treatment groups were significantly different, when compared to those in the hyperlipidemic model group. Conclusions Lactobacillus may regulate blood lipid in mice fed with a high-fat diet. Lactobacillus can improve the high cholesterol, high blood lipid, and injury of hepatic function, and prevent further development of atherosclerosis caused by a high-fat diet to some extent. Correct dietary structure is the basis for the treatment of dietary hyperlipidemia and its complications.

The variety of stressful conditions in daily human activity requires nutritional support with safe, specialized food products containing functional food ingredients (FFIs) enriched with biologically active plant substances with proven adaptogenic properties. In this in vivo study, by evaluating a set of physiological parameters and biochemical markers, we investigated the effectiveness of the developed FFIs from Chenopodium quinoa grains in stress conditions induced by daily episodes of immobilization for 36 days. The results of the evaluation of the anxiety-like functions, locomotor, and search activity of rats in the “open field” and “elevated plus maze” tests demonstrated the ability of FFIs to reduce stressful behavior induced by immobilization. The improvement in the long-term memory of animals treated with FFIs was noted in the passive avoidance test. Together with the hypolipidemic effect and compensation of transaminase levels, FFIs normalized the excretion of catecholamines in the urine and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde to values of the control group. According to the results of the assessment of FFI acute oral toxicity, the LD50 value exceeded 5000 mg/kg of body weight, which categorizes the FFIs under hazard class 5—substances with low hazard. The conducted experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of nutritional support with FFIs on the selected stress model. The positive safety profile of FFIs makes them reasonable to study on other stress models and to conduct clinical testing as part of specialized food products in various categories of people exposed to chronic stress.

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globally, plastics are used in various products. Concerns regarding the human body’s exposure to plastics and environmental pollution have increased with increased plastic use. Microplastics can be detected in the atmosphere, leading to potential human health risks through inhalation; however, the toxic effects of microplastic inhalation are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the pulmonary toxicity of polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in C57BL/6, BALB/c, and ICR mice strains. Mice were intratracheally instilled with 5 mg/kg of PS, PP, or PVC daily for two weeks. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of C57BL/6 and ICR mice. Histopathological analysis of PS-instilled C57BL/6 and PP-instilled ICR mice showed inflammatory cell infiltration. PS increased the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome components in the lung tissue of C57BL/6 and ICR mice, while PS-instilled BALB/c mice remained unchanged. PS stimulation increased inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, in BALF of C57BL/6 mice. PP-instilled ICR mice showed increased NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the lung tissue compared to the control groups and increased IL-1β levels in BALF. These results could provide baseline data for understanding the pulmonary toxicity of microplastic inhalation.

Objectives In the developing auditory cortex, maturation of electrophysiological properties and cell types before and after hearing onset has been reported previously. However, the exact timing of firing pattern change has not been reported. In this study, firing pattern change was investigated from postnatal day 3 (P3) to P12 in auditory cortical layer II/III neurons to investigate whether firing pattern changes dramatically after a specific point during development. Methods ICR mice pups aged from P3 to P12 were sacrificed to obtain 300-mm-thick brain slices containing the primary auditory cortex. From cortical layer II/III neurons, the patterns of action potential firing generated by current injection were examined using whole cell current clamp technique and the characteristics of Na+ currents involved in action potential firing were investigated using whole cell voltage clamp technique. Results From P3 to P6, most cells did not show action potential firing (29 of 46 cells), and some cells responding to current injection showed a single action potential at the initial depolarizing current step (17 of 46 cells). This firing pattern changes from P7. From P7 to P9, cells begin to show regular spiking to current injection. The spiking frequency increased after P10. In studying Na+ current with whole cell voltage clamp, Na+ current densities increased gradually (32.0±2.0 pA/pF [P3–P6, n=7], 51.2±2.0 pA/pF [P7–P9, n=13], and 69.5±3.7 pA/pF [P10–P12, n=13]) in low external [Na+] condition. Na+ current recovery was accelerated and inactivation curves shifted to hyperpolarization with age. Conclusion As regular spiking cells were observed from P7 but never from P3 to P6, P7 might be regarded as an important milestone in the development of auditory cortical layer II/III neurons. This change might mainly result from the increase in Na+ current density.

Co-infections of mammalian hosts with intestinal helminths and bacterial pathogens are common, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation. Interactions between co-infecting species and host microbiota can cause significant changes in host immunity, disease severity, and pathogen transmission, requiring unique treatment for each case. A greater understanding of the influences of parasite-bacteria co-infections will improve diagnosis and therapeutic approaches to control infectious diseases. To study the influence of the trematode parasite Echinostoma caproni on commensal and pathogenic bacteria in the mouse gut, we examined the abundance of intestinal lactic acid bacteria and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in control mice not exposed to E. caproni (P–) or S. Typhimurium (S–), E. caproni–infected (P+S–), S. Typhimurium-infected (P –S+), and E. caproni–S. Typhimurium co-infected (P+S+) mice, and determined bacterial burdens in the livers and spleens of the P–S+ and P+S+ mice. We also examined a subset of P+S– and P+S+ mice for survival and the relative location of E. caproni in the small intestine. The numbers of presumptive lactic acid bacteria were significantly higher in the P+S+ and P–S+ mice compared to the uninfected mice, and S. Typhimurium colonization in the liver and spleen was significantly reduced in the P+S+ mice compared to the P–S+ mice. Echinostoma caproni were located anteriorly in the intestine of P+S– mice, while in the P+S+ mice, the parasites were distributed more posteriorly. Survival of E. caproni was unaffected in either group. The results of our study suggest that E. caproni facilitates a higher abundance of presumptive lactic acid bacteria in the mouse intestine and reduces colonization of S. Typhimurium in the liver and spleen of the co-infected host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, a freshwater cyanobacterium harvested from Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, USA, is employed as a functional food material. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae can be fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. Here, to determine the dietary effects of A. flos-aquae (AFA) and fermented A. flos-aquae (F-AFA) on the mouse gut microbiome, high-sucrose diet containing no dietary fibre (NF), 5% AFA or 5% F-AFA was administered to ICR mice for 14 days. Compared with those in mice fed the NF, lower body weight gains and epididymal fat pad tissue weights were observed in mice fed the diet containing F-AFA. After feeding, the caecal microbiome was analysed by 16S rRNA (V4) gene amplicon sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq system. Sequences were clustered into operational taxonomic units, with a 97% identity cutoff, using the QIIME2 workflow script and SILVA database. The caecal microbiome alpha diversity was high in mice fed the F-AFA diet. The abundances of Muribaculum- and Alistipes inops-like bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014-like bacteria belonging to phylum Firmicutes were higher in the F-AFA group than in the AFA group. Isolation of typical F-AFA-susceptible gut indigenous bacteria and functional studies of the isolates in the presence of F-AFA are warranted to validate the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Skin transplantation is one of the most effective methods for treating large-area burns. How to effectively suppress the immune rejection after allogeneic skin transplantation is a problem that needs to be solved urgently. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) on the immunoregulation of skin grafts in different strains of mice. METHODS: Isolated hADSCs were cultured to the 3rd generation. Sixty ICR neonatal mice, 2-4 days of age, were randomly divided into four groups (n=15). The skin tissues of ICR neonatal mice were transplanted into adult C57BL/6 mice to establish a different strain of mouse skin graft immune rejection model. PBS and low dose (5×104), medium dose (10×104), high dose (20×104) hADSCs were injected into the model mice through tail vein, and the survival time of transplanted skin in each group was recorded. On the 7th day after operation, five mice from each group were randomly selected to remove their spleen and serum, and the expression of immune factors interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA respectively. The transplanted part of the skin was taken to make pathological sections for observing the infiltration of lymphocytes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the PBS group, the survival time of the skin was prolonged in the low dose hADSCs group; however, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the PBS and low dose hADSCs groups, the survival time of the skin was significantly increased in the medium and high dose groups (P < 0.01), and no significant difference was found between the medium and high dose groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the PBS group, the relative expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ in the spleen and serum was significantly decreased in the low, medium and high dose hADSCs groups (P < 0.05), whereas the level of interleukin-10 was significantly elevated in the medium and high dose hADSCs groups (P < 0.05). To conclude, the appropriate dose of hADSCs can significantly prolong the survival time of transplanted skin between different strains of mice, by regulating the expression of related immune factors in the recipient mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to examine the influences of two human chorion gonadotrophins (hCGs) being injected into young or aged (45- to 65-week old) outbred (ICR) mice on developmental capacity of oocytes retrieved. in vitro-culture and parthenogenetic activation of oocytes retrieved were employed for the assessment. Superovulation was determined as being induced when more than 25 oocytes were retrieved. No aged mice were superovulated, while in contrast, 67-100% were superovulated in the 6- to 8-week-old (young) mice. In the aged, hCG injection yielded better retrieval (5 vs. 13 to 14.8 oocytes/mouse). Overall, no significant difference between two hCGs was detected but between the young and aged, significant differences in maturational arrest (0% vs. 39% MI arrest and 46% vs. 15% degeneration) and developmental capacity (24% vs. 46% 8-cell embryo development) were detected. In conclusion, hCG injection contributes to increasing oocyte retrieval from aged outbred mice, but the kinds of gonadotrophin influenced the efficiency of hyperstimulation induction in specific ages.

Exhaustive exercise may damage muscles due to oxidative stress and inflammation and cause muscle fatigue and soreness. The study investigated the effects of Chinese herbal supplements (CHS) B307 on muscle endurance after exhaustive swimming (ES). Thirty‐two male ICR mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Sham + ES, pretreatment of CHS B307 + ES (Pre + ES), post‐treatment of CHS B307 + ES (Post + ES), and dual treatment of CHS B307 + ES (Dual + ES). All mice were subjected to ES in the form of a forced swimming test. Then, we compared ES time (EST) as the index of muscular endurance. Also, we examined the fatigue, oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage in the muscle tissue among these groups by using immunohistochemistry (IHC), chemiluminescence, and biochemical analysis. Our results revealed that those mice of Pre + ES and Dual + ES groups had remarkably better EST than those mice of Sham + ES and Post + ES groups. Those mice with oral treatment of CHS B307(Pre + ES, Post + ES, and Dual + ES groups) showed significantly reduced leukocyte counts in the urine, and reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophils, and lactic acid in the blood than those mice of Sham + ES. In addition, those mice with oral treatment of CHS B307 (Pre + ES, Post + ES, and Dual + ES groups) showed significant alleviation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage in the muscle tissue than those mice of Sham + ES. Thus, we suggested that CHS B307 can be a functional sports supplement because it can enhance muscle endurance after exhaustive swimming via suppressing fatigue, oxidative stress, and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Brewing is the property of China Brewing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice have been widely used in various research fields including toxicology, oncology, pharmacology, and pharmaceutical product safety testing for decades. However, annual tendency of research papers involving ICR mice in various biomedical fields has not been previously analyzed. In this study, we examined the numbers of papers that used ICR mice as experimental animals in the social science, natural science, engineering, medicine-pharmacy, marine agriculture-fishery, and art-kinesiology fields by analyzing big data. Numbers of ICR mouse-used papers gradually increased from 1961 to 2014, but small decreases were observed in 2015 and 2016. The largest number of ICR-used papers were published in the medicine-pharmacy field, followed by natural science and art-kinesiology fields. There were no ICR mouse-used papers in other fields. Furthermore, ICR mice have been widely employed in cell biology studies within the natural science field as well as in biochemistry and pathology in the medicine-pharmacy field. Few ICR mouse-used papers were published in exercise biochemistry and exercise nutrition in the art-kinesiology field. Regardless in most fields, the total numbers of published papers involving ICR mice were higher in 2014 than in other years, although the numbers in some fields including dentistry, veterinary science, and dermatology were high in 2016. Taken together, the present study shows that various ICR stocks, including Korl:ICR mice, are widely employed as experimental animals in various biomedical research fields.

Increasing the ability of the human body to adapt in conditions of physical or emotional stress is promising from the standpoint of the use of preventive nutrition containing functional food ingredients (FFI) with proven effectiveness in complex physiological in vivo studies. In this work, we developed FFI from spinach leaves (Spinacia oleracea L.) with a high content of polyphenols and adaptogens—phytoecdysteroids. Using in vivo models of increased physical activity and immobilization-induced emotional stress, we evaluated the nonspecific resistance of rats in response to the addition of the developed FFI to the diet. In the acute toxicity experiment, we found no signs of FFI toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. As a result of the daily 26-day consumption of FFI, we observed an anxiolytic effect in physiological studies. FFI prevented an increase in the content of biogenic amines in the blood, the main markers of the stress system, and had a positive effect on the lipid metabolism of the rats. The obtained results demonstrate a “smoothing” effect on the body’s reaction in response to induced stress conditions.

Nutritional supplements have been used to improve immune function. Condensed fuzheng extract (CFE) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that is predominantly made from sheep placenta, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, and Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl. However, the toxicological profile of CFE has not been determined. In this study, we investigated the acute (14 days) and sub-chronic (90 days) oral toxicities of CFE in mice and rats and the phytochemical composition of CFE., Materials and Methods: For the assessment of acute toxicity, 80 ICR mice of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were treated with 4500, 2250 and 1125 mg/kg/d bw CFE daily (n = 10/group per sex) for 14 days; a separate group was used as control. To test the sub-chronic toxicity, male and female Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered 8150, 4075 or 2037 mg/kg bw of CFE for 90 days; a control group was included. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological markers were tested at the end of the experiment. The chemical composition of CFE was determined by UPLC-HRMS method., Results: In both acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies, no mortalities, indications of abnormality, or treatment-related adverse effects were observed. The LD50 of CFE was higher than 4500 mg/kg. There were no significant changes in the hematological and biochemical data in the treatment group compared with the control group ( p  > 0.05). Histopathological analyses of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, thymus, testes (male rats) and ovaries (female rats) revealed no anatomical changes of each organ. Phytochemical analysis of CFE revealed the presence of flavonoids (highest abundance), phenols and alkaloids. In conclusion, our results showed that CFE is a safe and non-toxic formula. We also reported phytochemicals in CFE that may possess important pharmacological effects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In this paper, we investigated the effects of protein from sea buckthorn seed on the expression of genes involved in liver glucose metabolism and on the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ICR mice. The investigated factors included oral glucose tolerance test, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity index, AMPK and SIRT1 activity and the expression of liver glucose metabolism genes. Seabuckthorn seed protein (SSP) improved the oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reduced insulin resistance, suppressed expression of liver glucose metabolism genes and upregulated activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Therefore, the results demonstrate that SSP can improve insulin resistance, suppress expression of these genes and upregulate activation on the AMPK /SIRT1 pathway in STZ-induced diabetic ICR mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acute methamphetamine (MA) administration decreased latency to initial attacks and thereby increased the number and duration of attacks in male ICR mice. • Medium melatonin pretreatment dose (5 mg/kg) could significantly reverse acute MA-induced aggressive behavior accompanied by increases in DA, HVA, and 5-HIAA levels, and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios in the hippocampus. • Those results provide potential clinical value for controlling the aggression of methamphetamine addicts. Aggression is one of the symptoms of methamphetamine (MA) use and withdrawal, which can exacerbate MA addiction and relapse. Many studies have demonstrated that poor sleep is significantly associated with aggression. Melatonin has been indicated to be effective in treating sleep disorders induced by MA, and it can also protect neuronal cells against MA-induced neurotoxicity. However, the underlying effects of melatonin on MA-reduced aggression remain unclarified. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on acute MA-induced aggressive behavior in male ICR mice and the effects on neurotransmitters related to aggression. Fifty male ICR mice were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups pretreated with MA (3 mg/kg) or melatonin (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) plus MA. Aggressive behaviors were observed through isolation-induced aggression in the resident-intruder model. High-performance liquid chromatography combined with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) was used to anatomize the levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), and the concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in the hippocampus involved in behavior processing. The results showed that acute MA administration decreased latency to initial attacks and thereby increased the number and total duration of attacks. Furthermore, HVA level as well as 5-HIAA and 5-HT turnover estimated by 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios declined compared to those in the vehicle group. The medium melatonin pretreatment dose (5 mg/kg) could significantly reverse acute MA-induced aggressive behavior in the form of prolonging latency to initial attacks and thereby attenuating the number of attacks and total duration of attacks. HVA and 5-HIAA levels, 5-HT turnover estimated by 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios, and DA turnover estimated by HVA/DA ratios and (DOPAC + HVA)/DA ratios were elevated compared to those in the MA group. These results indicate that the DA and 5-HT systems are involved in the processes of MA-induced aggressive behaviors and that melatonin has the capacity to reverse MA-induced aggressive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (HcARF1) is one of the Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus) excretory/secretory proteins involved in modulating the immune response of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Here, we evaluated the immunogenic potential of recombinant HcARF1 (rHcARF1) against H. contortus infection in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Briefly, rHcARF1 was entrapped in poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NP) and injected into mice as a vaccine. Fifty-six ICR mice were assigned randomly into seven groups, with eight animals in each group, and they were vaccinated subcutaneously. At the end of the experiment (14th day), the blood and the spleen were collected from euthanized mice to detect lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine analysis, and the production of antigen-specific antibodies. Scanning electron microscope was used to determine the size, morphology, and zeta potential of nanoparticles. Flow cytometry was performed, which presented the increase percentages of CD4+ T cells (CD3e+CD4+), CD8+ T cells (CD3e+CD8+) and dendritic cells (CD11c+CD83+, CD11c+CD86+) in mice vaccinated with rHcARF1+PLGA NP. Immunoassay analysis show raised humoral (Immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2a, IgM) and cell-mediated immune response (Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, and IL-17, and Interferon (IFN)-γ) induced by rHcARF1+PLGA NP. Experimental groups that were treated with the antigen-loaded NP yield higher lymphocyte proliferation than the control groups. Based on these results, we could propose that the rHcARF1 encapsulated in NP could stimulate a strong immune response in mice rather than administering alone against the infection of H. contortus.

Gut microbiota play vital roles in the maintenance of human health and in various diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of gut microbiota with aging and sarcopenia. This study contained two experimental designs using the ICR mouse model for 1) determining the association between aging and gut microbiota (by analyzing murine fecal samples) and 2) determining the association between sarcopenia and gut microbiota in mice treated with microorganisms or dexamethasone. The composition of the gut microbiota was determined by next-generation sequencing. Marginally significant differences were observed in taxon composition of the gut microbiota depending on age; particularly, the abundance of the genus Alistipes increased with increasing age. In addition, the abundance of the class Bacteroidia decreased with increasing age, whereas that of the genus Oscillibacter increased. The microbiome composition differed between young mice and aging mice with sarcopenia. Moreover, the gut microbiota in aging and sarcopenia showed altered abundances of Alistipes , Lachnospiraceae , and Bacteroides. Although the sample size was small, these results point to similarities in the gut microbiota between aging and sarcopenia and to differences between young and old individuals. The results on gut microbiota obtained in this study form a basis for studying the development of sarcopenia in geriatric animal models in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the anti-hyperglycemic effects of aqueous Lenzites betulina (L. betulina) extracts on normoglycemic glucose-loaded mice. Methods: Different doses of aqueous extract from L. betulina were administered to 45 ICR mice (Mus musculus) to determine whether there was an effect of L. betulina extracts on the blood glucose level of the ICR mice. Aqueous extracts of L. betulina were orally gavaged to mice using oral glucose tolerance test. A total of five groups were used to determine the effect of the fungi on blood glucose of the mice. Group A (positive control) was given 16.7 μg/kg glimepiride; Group B (negative control) was given distilled water; Group C (low dosage) was given 200 mg/kg aqueous extract; Group D (mid dosage) was given 400 mg/kg aqueous extract and Group E (high dosage) was given 800 mg/kg aqueous extract. Baseline blood glucose value was firstly acquired before induction of hyperglycemia through d-glucose, after which another check on blood glucose was made after 0.5 h. Immediately, after the acquisition of hyperglycemic blood glucose level, the individual administration of treatments were done. After that, three blood collections were done spanning 3 h with 1 h interval. Results: The low dose (200 mg/kg) and the mid dose (400 mg/kg) of L. betulina extracts were significantly different (P 0.05) from its corresponding baseline value, acting faster than the positive control (glimepiride), which only became significantly different (P

The proper choice of cryoprotectant and thawing method affects cryopreservation efficiency. A freezing-thawing method for sparing embryonic cells was evaluated in experiments with ICR mice. Cleavage-stage embryos of ICR mice, GC rats, and OXYS rats were collected on Day 3 of pregnancy and frozen in plastic straws according to a standard protocol. Permeating (ethylene glycol and glycerol) and nonpermeating (sucrose) cryoprotectants and their combinations were compared during the freezing of ICR mouse embryos. With these mice, two thawing methods were compared: rapid (water bath, 10 s, 37 °С) and slow (40 s, room temperature; 40 s, 30 °С). Embryo viability in mice and rats was evaluated by their in vitro culturing after thawing. Our data on mice indicate that slow thawing is more suitable for sparing the integrity of embryonic cells; moreover, supplementation of the main cryoprotectant (either ethylene glycol or glycerol) with sucrose is beneficial for subsequent in vitro culture, especially in the case of glycerol. This freezing-thawing protocol (with glycerol and sucrose as cryoprotectant agents and slow thawing) was applied to rats of the GC and OXYS strains; the survival rate after cryopreservation was 68–83.3 %, and the rate of in vitro development was 64.7–66.6 %.

This study investigated the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans for its bioactive compounds and acute and subacute toxicity effects of C. nutans ethanolic leaf extract (CELE) on blood, liver and kidneys of ICR mice. A total of 10 8-week-old female mice were divided into groups A (control) and B (2000 mg/kg) for the acute toxicity study. A single dose of 2000 mg/kg was administered to group B through oral gavage and mice were monitored for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity study, mice were divided into five groups: A (control), B (125 mg/kg), C (250 mg/kg), D (500 mg/kg) and E (1000 mg/kg). The extract was administered daily for 28 days via oral gavage. The mice were sacrificed, and samples were collected for analyses. Myricetin, orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, isookanin, apigenin and ferulic acid were identified in the extract. Twenty-eight days of continuous oral administration revealed significant increases (p < 0.05) in creatinine, ALT and moderate hepatic and renal necrosis in groups D and E. The study concluded that the lethal dose (LD50) of CELE in mice is greater than 2000 mg/kg and that repeated oral administrations of CELE for 28 days induced hepatic and renal toxicities at 1000 mg/kg in female ICR mice.

Mumefural is a bioactive compound derived from the processed fruit of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc., a traditional health food; however, its safety has not been evaluated. We investigated the toxicity of mumefural through single and repeated oral administration at doses of 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. The acute toxicity assessment was not associated with adverse effects or death. Similarly, the subacute (four weeks) toxicity assessment did not reveal any mumefural-associated mortality, abnormal organ damage, or altered clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, or hematological parameters. However, albumin/globulin ratio and chloride ion levels were significantly increased in male mice treated with mumefural at ≥2500 mg/kg. Female mice exhibited significantly higher levels of chloride, sodium, and potassium ions, at a dose of 5000 mg/kg. Furthermore, the administration of 2500 and 5000 mg/kg mumefural decreased the absolute weight of spleen in male mice. These findings indicated that the approximate lethal dose of mumefural in ICR mice was >5000 mg/kg. No significant mumefural toxicity was observed at ≤5000 mg/kg. Our findings provide a basis for conducting future detailed studies to evaluate reproductive, neurological, genetic, and chronic toxicity of mumefural.

Objective: To analyze the hematological effects of administering Ipomoea batatas (I. batatas) and Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) in the ICR mice. Methods: Powdered leaves of I. batatas and P. niruri were fed to mice for 4 weeks. A total of six groups were used to determine the effect of the plants to the complete blood count of the mouse. Group A (blank control) mice were feed with pellets only; Group B (negative control) mice were fed with pellets coated with honey; Group C (low dosage) mice were fed with honey-coated pellets and powdered leaves of I. batatas at 10 g/kg body weight of the mouse; Group D (high dosage) mice were fed with honey-coated pellets and powdered leaves of I. batatas at 20 g/kg body weight of the mouse; Group E (low dosage) mice were fed with honey-coated pellets and powdered leaves of P. niruri at 10 g/kg body weight of the mouse; and Group F (high dosage) mice were fed with honey-coated pellets and powdered leaves of P. niruri at 20 g/kg body weight of the mouse. Complete blood count was performed on Days 0, 14 and 28. Results: It was shown that I. batatas can increase the values of hematocrit and hemoglobin on both the low dose and high dose at Day 28 and red blood cells (RBC) on both Days 14 and 28 of testing. On the other hand, P. niruri can increase RBC, hematocrit and hemoglobin on Day 28 with only the low dose. There were no significant differences with white blood cell, absolute granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte, and platelet counts observed for both plant samples. Conclusions: I. batatas and P. niruri have effects on the hematocrit, RBC and hemoglobin levels in mice.

Rederivation allows laboratory animal populations to be purged from specified pathogens and thus turns these animals to the SPF (specified pathogens free) status. Results of the rederivation of two unique rat strains selected at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics and one mouse strain are presented. The two rat strains are: tame Norway rats and rats with Inherited Stress Induced Arterial Hypertension (ISIAH strain). The ICR mouse strain has been named as abbreviation of the Institute of Cancer Research wherefrom these mice were distributed to laboratories all over the world. The SPF status of the rats after rederivation was confirmed by the method of indicator animals (sentinel animals). The optimized model of rederivation offered here involves a combination of such embryotechnological methods as freezing/cryopreservation of embryos, their washing through the number of fresh volumes of sterile media, growing in vitro for 48 hours, and subsequent transfer into either one or both uterine horns of recipient females. Application of this model to rederivation of ICR mice yielded 39 pups born in an SPF vivarium. It should be noticed that the effectiveness of the procedure met international standards, and characteristic features of phenotype were retained in all the three strains after rederivation.

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by bloody stools, a shortened colon, and damage to the colon mucosal layer. Research has shown that the intake of rice bran aqueous extract suspension (RB-AES) via drinking water does not ameliorate the effects of IBD induced by 5% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in ICR mice. However, RB fermented using Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (FRB) does ameliorate the symptoms of IBD. The ameliorating effect of heat-sterilized FRB (HFRB) is not as pronounced as that of FRB. In the present study, the caecal contents of DSS-induced IBD model mice were sampled. Then the caecal bacterial microbiota were analysed using amplicon sequencing the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA using MiSeq. DSS-RB increased the prevalence of some bacterial groups associated with gut inflammation, such as Bacteroides species including B. acidifaciens , and Enterobacteriaceae operational taxonomic units. There were no increases in the prevalence of bacterial groups in mice fed FRB and HFRB. Furthermore, the prevalence of the predominant Lactobacillus; s2 was only reduced in the DSS-RB group. These results indicate that RB, FRB, and HFRB affected the gut microbiota in different ways. Although RB and the other food materials showed functional effects in vitro , such effects are influenced by the comprehensive interaction of the functional materials, the gut microbiota, and the host immune reaction in vivo. Highlights • Rice bran (RB) and fermented RB (FRB) were administered to DSS induced IBD mice. • Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria increased, whereas Firmicutes decreased with RB. • Some bacterial OTU, including B. acidifaciens and Enterobacteriaceae, were increased with RB. • Lactobacillus , which was the predominant OTU in normal mice, was reduced with RB. • These changes with RB but not FRB might be un-desirable in suppressing IBD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifespan of Japanese ladies is one of the longest in the world and that of Japanese man is also longer. However, the number of elder persons with active health in both men and women is not so much higher in the world. In the Japanese younger and middle generation, their life style is getting to be similar to the Western style (carnivorous life). Then Japan faces to the severe crisis that are the decreased number of children and the increased number of old aged persons. Therefore, we have studied in an attempt to achieve healthy, sustained weight loss among individuals with overweight and obesity. In this study, we evaluated effects of Japanese traditional food materials (sticky and slimy) on the abdominal fat and biochemical changes in the high fat mice. These sticky ad slimy foods showed the significant reduction of abdominal fat and also suppression of renin production in the fat. These results indicate that the sticky and slimy food materials can be helpful in weight control along with nutrition education and maintaining high-mucopolysaccharide of intestinal mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the different effects of live and heat-killed probiotics on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum AN1 cells isolated from the fermented fish aji-narezushi on murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells and in ICR mice with dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced IBD were determined. L . plantarum AN1 cells showed anti-inflammatory activities in vitro , indicated by secretion of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW264.7 cells in the presence and absence of Escherichia coli 0111 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). L . plantarum AN1 cells also protected RAW264.7 cells against hydrogen peroxide toxicity. There was no difference between these effects in heat-killed and ultraviolet irradiation-killed cells. In the murine IBD model, both live and heat-killed L . plantarum AN1 cells via drinking water tended to ameliorate atrophy of colon length, mucosal tissue damage, and spleen enlargement. Amplicon sequencing of 16S rDNA (V4) revealed that both live and heat-killed AN1 cells increased abundance of indigenous lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri . The results suggest that increased indigenous lactic acid bacterial abundance and feeding with L . plantarum AN1 cells synergistically improve effects against IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]