Topic: Wistar rats

It was previously reported that the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor agmatine had anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects in rodents (Aglawe et al Brain Res Bull 167:37, 2021). Since serotonergic (5-HT) neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), expressing NOS, had lower excitability than the non-NOS expressing ones (Gartside et al Eur J Neurosci 51:1881, 2020), the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of agmatine might involve stimulation of 5-HT neurons of the DRN. The present study aimed to examine this hypothesis. Acute and chronic effects of agmatine were tested. In acute ex

Ketamine has gained significant attention as a treatment for depression. However, it is also associated with undesirable side effects. In our preclinical study, we explored the behavioral effects of ketamine enantiomers, hypothesizing that R-ketamine will have fewer behavioral effects than S-ketamine. During repeated intermittent treatment with doses relevant to antidepressant therapy, we examined behaviors that are regarded as behavioral markers of unwanted effects: locomotor stimulation and sensitization, ataxia, and disruption of natural behaviors (grooming and rearing). Male Wistar rats we

Trimethyltin (TMT)-induced neurodegeneration leads to molecular and behavioral changes similar to those of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) has shown promise in psychiatric and neurological disorders but remains largely unexplored in AD models. For this reason, a well-characterized animal model of TMT-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration was used to investigate, for the first time, the effects of cTBS on learning/memory and behavioral disturbances.Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: intact control, TMT (8mg/kg, ip) and TMT trea

Many neuroscience experiments involve manual scoring of animal behavior by a human operator. This operation is time consuming, is liable to bias and hinders reproducibility. For these reasons, automatic systems to score animal behavior from videos have gained increasing attention in recent years. Here, we present a machine learning approach to automatically score behavior in the Forced Swim Test (FST). During FST, animals perform three different behaviors: climbing, swimming and immobility. So far, these behaviors have been evaluated by an operator (a bias-prone method) or using automatic syst

Many neuroscience studies in rodents are limited spatially and temporally by the use of tethered devices, head-fixed recordings or battery-powered telemetric implants. When subtle behavioural readouts are needed, protruding implants may affect neurophysiological and psychobehavioural parameters. We have successfully deployed and continue to develop ADInstruments’ KAHA Wireless Optogenetics Biopotential Telemeter which allows simultaneous user-defined optogenetic stimulation (460nm) and continuous electroencephalogram recording at 2kHz. Powered by inductive charging to remove the limitations of

Age-related declines in sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities are a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary restriction (DR) can slow or postpone these changes, improving memory, learning, and cognitive abilities, but may not always yield positive results. In this study, we examined the impact of 30% DR (70% of ad libitum daily intake) during adolescence on the short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memory performance in 6- and 18-month-old female Wistar rats. The effects of DR were examined in three onsets and durations: DR1 (28th to 35th day of life), DR2 (35th to 42nd day

Sex is an important factor in the progression and treatment of alcohol addiction, and therapeutic approaches may have to be tailored to potential sex differences. This highlights the importance of understanding sex differences in behaviors that reflect key elements of clinical alcohol addiction, such as compulsive use.Large populations of genetically heterogeneous male and female Wistar rats were tested in an established model of compulsive alcohol self-administration, operationalized as alcohol responding despite contingent foot shock punishment. We also tested baseline alcohol self-administr

Binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity are complex diseases characterized by maladaptive feeding behaviors, particularly towards palatable foods. The mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, also known as the "reward system," plays a crucial role in hedonic food intake and is implicated in both disorders. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), present in the reward system, regulates feeding behaviors but its involvement in BED and obesity is not fully elucidated. Recent research suggests its significant role in feeding behaviors, especially in addictive-like eating behaviors, prompting the hypothesis of

Conjugated 3α5β neuroactive steroids, such as allopregnanolone and pregnanolone, have garnered significant interest due to their potential therapeutic effects in various neurological conditions. Previously, the neuroprotective effect of 3α5β pregnanolone glutamate (3α5β-PG) was demonstrated in the model of focal cerebral ischemia in immature rats. The goal of this study was to determine electrophysiological correlates of ischemia-induced seizures and validate effects of 3α5β-PG treatment on seizure’s onset and EEG changes in twelve-day-old (P12) Wistar rats. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced

Control of cursor on a PC monitor using a joystick is a common paradigm to elucidate the neural mechanisms of visuomotor skill learning and performance in human and non-human primates. However, this paradigm, even for reaching targets in one-dimensional space, has not been available for rodents yet. In this work, we present an ergonomic head fixation apparatus for Wistar rats to control a cursor on a PC monitor by operating two levers for acquiring stationary targets. All six axes of the apparatus, composed of V-slot aluminum profiles and 3D-printed parts, are easily adjustable according to th

Lindane is organochloride environmentally persistent pollutant used manly as pesticide. Neurotoxicity of lindane is manifested through cellular and behavioral changes including expression of anxiety, seizures and lethal outcome in higher doses. Ferulic acid is polyphenol organic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in different tissues including neuroprotective effects in acute and chronic application. We hypothesized that it could ameliorate some of the lindane neurotoxic effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ferulic acid chronic supplementation on anxiety-like

The brain parenchyma undergoes several structural changes throughout life that significantly impact on its physiology, and are reflected in changes in cognitive abilities. The aim of this healthy ageing study was to investigate how age-related microstructural alterations affect the degree of preserved cognition in the elderly. We sought to identify brain region- and age-specific patterns that contribute to the physiological decline in cognition. To this end, we compared behavioral and microstructural MRI biomarkers in adult (6 months) and old (1.5 years) Wistar rats. Additionally, we analyzed

The prenatal microbiome influences offspring health, by potentially altering postpartum maternal behavior. Identified as microbiome disruptors, prenatal stress and gestational antibiotic administration pose risks to maternal and offspring health.We conducted two studies exploring the impact of 1.Antibiotic administration and 2.Stress during gestation on postpartum maternal behavior using Wistar rats. Additionally, we examined the potential benefits of a multi-strain probiotic intervention.In the first study, a subgroup of pregnant rats received an antibiotic cocktail (ampicillin+vancomycin+neo

Adolescent adverse social experiences can evoke long-lasting neurobiological changes, thereby affecting subsequent behaviors including propensity to develop alcohol use disorder. The aim of this study was to explore the long- term consequences of early social isolation on alcohol consumption and motivation for alcohol.Here, we exposed male and female Wistar rats to social stress during adolescence and investigated the consequences on alcohol-related behaviors in adulthood. Adolescent rats (p21-60) were exposed to social isolation (SI) that was achieved by single housing rats throughout adolesc

Epidemiological studies have long acknowledged that only a minority of the population is at risk of losing control over alcohol consumption. Aiming at identifying the roots of this vulnerability, ongoing evidence from our laboratory revealed a significant vulnerability to lose control over alcohol consumption in male Wistar rats subjected to a chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMUS) during adolescence. This excessive alcohol seeking behaviour correlated with significant changes in the gut microbiota composition. Most importantly, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) from resilient to vulner

Diabetes mellitus is a widespread disorder and hypoglycaemia is one of the most serious complications. The outcome might be influenced by several factors, such as the sex, previous fasting or the time of day when the episode occurs (see e.g. Somogyi effect). Our aim was to reveal these influencing factors using an insulin-induced hypoglycaemia model in Wistar rats.Fast-acting insulin (Novorapid, NR, 20NE/100g/0.2ml saline) or saline were injected intraperitoneally at the beginning of the light or dark phase (9am or 9pm) with or without 12h fasting. 60 minutes after intervention we collected tr

Seizures produce autonomic symptoms, mainly sympathetic but also parasympathetic in origin. As the vagus nerve (VN) is the main parasympathetic output, the aims of the project is to characterize VN activity during seizures for potential future development closed-loop VNS.Spontaneous seizures were pharmacologically induced in two male Wistar rats (380±14g) by IP kainic acid systemic administration. Surgeries were performed three months after status induction. Three epidural electrodes were implanted for EEG recording. A tripolar Micro-cuff electrode was placed around the left cervical VN to rec

The intrauterine milieu significantly influences the future health trajectory of offspring, wherein adverse prenatal conditions can induce aberrant fetal neurodevelopment with enduring consequences. Prenatal stress represents a notable adverse condition known to affect offspring health detrimentally, often correlated with dysregulations in gut microbiome composition. Therefore, we aim to investigate the impact of prenatal stress on offspring neurodevelopment and to evaluate the potential mitigative role of probiotics. Randomly chosen pregnant female Wistar rats underwent daily restraint stress

Nonhuman primates are commonly used to study the neural basis and the performance of motor neuroprosthetic control. Rodents are mostly not preferred in such studies due to their limited cognitive and visual abilities. In this work, we examine the capability of Wistar rats for neuroprosthetic control for reaching two distant targets. Three rats were chronically and bilaterally implanted with two 16-channel microelectrode arrays in the primary motor cortex. A behavioral setup and shaping paradigm was developed to direct the attention of rats to a motor neuroprosthetic endpoint, and to enable cor

Acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), represent global health challenges, stroke ranking as the third leading combined cause of death and disability, and TBI contributing to over 7 million disability-adjusted life years. Functional recovery in ABIs is influenced by age, older individuals showing poorer recovery. Axonal plasticity, a form of structural neuroplasticity, holds promise for understanding and promoting recovery. Injuries were carried out in 14-month-old male Wistar rats. Focal stroke was induced by unilateral intracerebral administration of

Introduction: Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a leading cause of mortality and chronic disability. Hypothermia (HT) is the gold standard for the treatment of term babies; however, its neuroprotective effects are limited. Lactoferrin (LF) is the major whey protein in milk presenting iron-binding, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic against HI damage. We hypothesize that combining oral administration of LF to the dams enhances the neuroprotection caused by HT following experimental HI. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats were fed with bovine LF-supplemented diet (1mg/kg) or Control diet from P6 to

To circumvent the challenges of longitudinal human studies, rodents can be leveraged as they have experimentally tractable lifespans. At present, only limited number of studies have tracked longitudinal resting-state functional connectivity in rodents, with these studies only using male animals. The aim of this study is to determine sex-specific developmental trajectories of brain development using functional connectivity analysis. Male and female Wistar rats were scanned at postnatal day 28, 35, 49, 70 and 91 under light sedation. Functional connectivity was measured between several regions o

Administration of ethanol activates the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, resulting in elevated corticosterone release in adulthood (see Barney et al., 2022; Willey et al., 2012). This response could depend on the subjects' degree of ethanol exposure (see Barney et al., 2022). On the other hand, sex differences have been described in the response of the HPA axis associated with alcohol consumption (Retson et al., 2015). Taking this background into account, in the present research we examine possible sex differences in ethanol-induced plasma cortisol levels in adult Wistar rats with differen

Propionic acid (PA), a short-chain fatty acid and a metabolite of the gut microbiome, plays a significant role in health but has been associated with various pathologies, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Experimental studies in rodents have shown that elevated levels of PA can induce molecular and immune changes similar to those observed in ASD (MacFabe, et al.). However, limited knowledge exists regarding its impact on brain structural integrity. In this study, we examined the effects of a single intraperitoneal injection of PA at a dose of 175 mg/kg on adolescent male Wistar rats. S