The physical context of previous stress exposure modifies hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to a subsequent homotypic stress

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis becomes less responsive to some types of repeated stress over time, a process termed habituation. Many facets of the stressful stimulus can modify such HPA responses to stressors, such as predictability and controllability. However, the physical context in which the stressor occurred may also provide a discriminative stimulus that can affect the HPA response to that stressor. In the present study, we examined whether a change in the context in which stress exposure occurs can alter HPA responses to a subsequent [corrected] homotypic stressor. Three separate contexts were produced by manipulating odor cues. Rats housed in the 3 context rooms exhibited similar HPA responses to acute 30-min restraint or repeated (8th) 30-min restraint in their home environments. However, rats that were restrained for 30 min per day for 7 days in a room in one context and then restrained on day 8 in a novel context exhibited attenuated habituation compared to rats restrained on day 8 in the familiar context. These results provide evidence that repeated stress-induced HPA activity depends, in part, on the context in which the stress is experienced.     

Prenatal stress differentially affects habituation of corticosterone responses to repeated stress in adult male and female rats

Environmental factors operating early in life have long-lasting and important consequences for the mental and physical health of the adult organism. In particular, prenatal exposure to stress represents one category of adverse early environmental events that are associated with development of depression and schizophrenia in adulthood. In the present studies, we examined whether prenatal stress alters the habituation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity that occurs with repeated stress exposure in adulthood. We compared corticosterone responses to the first vs. the eighth restraint, with lower responses to the eighth vs. the first considered evidence of habituation. In males, prenatal stress prevented the habituation of corticosterone responses to repeated restraint that was observed in non-prenatally stressed rats. Limited evidence of habituation was seen in either group of females and prenatally stressed females did not exhibit the enhanced corticosterone response during recovery from the eighth restraint that was seen in non-prenatally stressed females. Together, these results suggest a sex-specific interaction between prenatal stress and adult chronic stress on HPA activity.     

Chronic variable stress in fathers alters paternal and social behavior but not pup development in the biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus)

Stress and chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels have been shown to disrupt parental behavior in mothers; however, almost no studies have investigated corresponding effects in fathers. The present experiment tested the hypothesis that chronic variable stress inhibits paternal behavior and consequently alters pup development in the monogamous, biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). First-time fathers were assigned to one of three experimental groups: chronic variable stress (CVS, n = 8), separation control (SC, n = 7), or unmanipulated control (UC, n = 8). The CVS paradigm (3 stressors per day for 7 days) successfully stressed mice, as evidenced by increased baseline plasma corticosterone concentrations, increased adrenal mass, decreased thymus mass, and a decrease in body mass over time. CVS altered paternal and social behavior of fathers, but major differences were observed only on day 6 of the 7-day paradigm. At that time point, CVS fathers spent less time with their pairmate and pups, and more time autogrooming, as compared to UC fathers; SC fathers spent more time behaving paternally and grooming the female mate than CVS and UC fathers. Thus, CVS blocked the separation-induced increase in social behaviors observed in the SC fathers. Nonetheless, chronic stress in fathers did not appear to alter survival or development of their offspring: pups from the three experimental conditions did not differ in body mass gain over time, in the day of eye opening, or in basal or post-stress corticosterone levels. These results demonstrate that chronic stress can transiently disrupt paternal and social behavior in P. californicus fathers, but does not alter pup development or survival under controlled, non-challenging laboratory conditions.     

Aggressive behavior in female golden hamsters: development and the effect of repeated social stress

In male golden hamsters, agonistic behavior matures during puberty, changing from play fighting to adult-like aggression. In addition, this transition is accelerated by repeated social subjugation early in puberty. However, little is known about the development of agonistic behavior in females. In the present study, we compared the development of agonistic behavior in male and female golden hamsters. Furthermore, we also tested the effects of repeated social subjugation on the development of agonistic behavior during puberty. Hamsters were tested for agonistic behavior in the presence of a smaller intruder at different intervals during puberty. Several observations were made. First, the frequency of attacks remained stable in females, while varying in males. Second, the transition from play fighting to adult-like aggression occurred at earlier time periods in females than in males. Finally, a clear transitional period marked by attacks focused on the flanks was observable in males around mid-puberty. However, this transitional period was not apparent in females. In addition, juvenile females were exposed to aggressive adult males or females. In both cases, repeated exposure to stress had no statistically significant effect on the development of agonistic behavior. After 2 weeks of subjugation, exposure to aggressive adults had no effect on serum cortisol levels, indicating that juvenile females habituate to repeated social stress. These data show significant sex differences in the development of agonistic behavior and adaptation to repeated stress in juvenile golden hamsters.     

The pathogenic potential of the combined action of chronic Opisthorchis felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress in C57BL/6 mice

Parasitic food-borne diseases and chronic social stress are frequent attributes of day-to-day human life. Therefore, our aim was to model the combined action of chronic Opisthorchis felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress in C57BL/6 mice. Histological examination of the liver revealed inflammation sites, pronounced periductal fibrosis, and cholangiofibrosis together with proliferation of bile ducts and hepatocyte dystrophy in the infected mice, especially in the stress-exposed ones. Simultaneously with liver pathology, we detected significant structural changes in the cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemical analysis of the hippocampus indicated the highest increase in numerical density of Iba 1-, IL-6-, iNOS-, and Arg1-positive cells in mice simultaneously subjected to the two adverse factors. The number of GFAP-positive cells rose during repeated social defeat stress, most strongly in the mice subjected to both infection and stress. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of genes Aif1 and Il6 differed among the analysed brain regions (hippocampus, hypothalamus, and frontal cortex) and depended on the adverse factors applied. In addition, among the brain regions, there was no consistent increase or decrease in these parameters when the two adverse treatments were combined: (i) in the hippocampus, there was upregulation of Aif1 and no change in Il6 expression; (ii) in the hypothalamus, expression levels of Aif1 and Il6 were not different from controls; and (iii) in the frontal cortex, Aif1 expression did not change while Il6 expression increased. It can be concluded that a combination of two long-lasting adverse factors, O. felineus infection and repeated social defeat stress, worsens not only the hepatic but also brain state, as evidenced behaviorally by disturbances of the startle response in mice.     

Repeated exposure to social stress alters the development of agonistic behavior in male golden hamsters

In male golden hamsters, exposure to social stress during puberty alters aggressive behavior. Interestingly, agonistic behavior undergoes two major transitions during puberty: a decline in attack frequency and a shift from play fighting to adult-like aggression. Based on previous observations, we developed an approach for characterizing offensive responses as play fighting or adult-like. The present studies had two aims. First, we validated our approach by looking at the development of attack types during puberty. Second, we looked at the effects of repeated social stress on the development of agonistic behavior by repeatedly exposing individuals to aggressive adults during puberty. In the first phase of the study, our results point to three different developmental periods. Initially, animals engage in agonistic behavior though attacks targeted at the face and cheeks. This period lasts from Postnatal Day 20 (P-20) to P-40 (early puberty). This phase corresponding to play fighting is followed by a transitional period characterized by attacks focused on the flanks (from P-40 to P-50, mid-puberty). Afterward, animals perform adult-like aggression characterized by attacks focused on the belly and rear. Our data also show that repeated exposure to aggressive adults has two separate effects on the development of agonistic behavior. Repeated social stress accelerated the onset of adult-like agonistic responses. Furthermore, attack frequency, while decreasing during puberty, remained at a higher level in early adulthood in stressed animals. These results show that repeated exposure to social stress during puberty alters the development of agonistic behavior both qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Growth,developmental and stress responses of larvae of the clouded sulphur butterfly Colias eriphyle to repeated exposure to high,sub‐lethal temperatures

The optimal temperature at which an organism grows and develops is commonly correlated with latitude and elevation; however, the maximum temperature for physiological performance often is not. This makes performance at temperatures between the optimum and the maximum of particular interest. Temperature can influence long‐term performance (growth and development), as well as short‐term performance (heat shock protein) responses differentially. In the present study, two populations of the clouded sulphur butterfly Colias eriphyle Edwards that differ in elevation, thermal regime and optimal and maximum temperatures are studied to quantify their responses to repeated, sub‐lethal heat treatments early in development (second instar). Heat treatments accelerate development during the second to fourth instars in both populations initially, although this effect disappears by pupation. Heat treatment decreases pupal mass in the lower elevation population, suggesting that repeated exposure to high temperatures early in development may reduce final size and fecundity in this population. Heat shock protein gene (hsp70) expression levels in the lower elevation (1633 m a.s.l.) population are highest 24 h after the start of the heat treatment and then the fall to pre‐exposure levels by 36–72 h, suggesting a rapid response to stressful temperatures. By contrast, heat treatment has no significant effect on pupal mass in the higher elevation (2347 m a.s.l.) population. This population has higher levels of hsp70 expression overall but constant expression levels, suggesting that the temperature treatments used are insufficient to elicit a heat stress response. Overall, the effects of repeated exposure to sub‐lethal high temperatures early in development on growth, final size and gene expression differ between populations that differ in thermal sensitivity.     

杠柳幼苗对不同强度干旱胁迫的生长与生理响应

以黄土丘陵区常见灌木杠柳(Periploca sepium Bunge.)的两年生苗木为试验材料,模拟不同程度的土壤干旱环境,研究了土壤干旱对杠柳生长和生理生化特性的影响。结果表明,在3种土壤水分条件下杠柳的耗水和快速生长期均集中在6-8月,与黄土丘陵区雨热期重叠。在干旱胁迫下杠柳生长减慢,生物量累积减小,生物量优先向根系分配,根冠比显著增大。与适宜水分下相比,干旱胁迫下杠柳的水分利用效率随生物量与耗水量减小而显著升高,表明杠柳具有节约型水分利用对策。杠柳在干旱前期和中期丙二醛(MDA)含量下降、膜透性略有增加,干旱末期MDA含量和细胞膜透性与适宜水分相比显著升高。在中度干旱与严重干旱下,杠柳的超氧化物歧化酶与过氧化物保护酶活性持续上升直到试验末期才稍有下降。干旱胁迫对杠柳叶片渗透调节物质含量的影响显著,脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均随着干旱胁迫程度的加大而显著升高,且随着胁迫时间的延长,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量一直保持上升趋势;可溶性蛋白含量在前期急剧上升,中、后期下降,但含量一直高于适宜水分处理。本研究表明,杠柳能够充分利用黄土丘陵区局部雨热资源优势、具备减少地上蒸发面积、增加地下生长、吸收深层土壤水源等御旱策略以及保持较高的抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节能力等生理学耐旱机制,本研究从生长、生理特征上揭示了杠柳在黄土高原植被自然恢复中普遍存在的原因。     

花期海蓬子对盐胁迫的生理响应

研究了花期阶段不同浓度NaCl(0、10‰、20‰、30‰、40‰、50‰和60‰)对海蓬子(Salicornia bigelovii)生长、光合色素、光合作用参数、抗氧化和离子含量的影响.结果表明:10‰NaCl盐处理下海蓬子株高、茎生物量、叶绿素(Chl)含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、茎SOD活性和POD活性等指标值均显著高于其它处理,而高盐(40‰NaCl及其以上)胁迫下,上述指标值均表现为下降,同时茎K+含量也显著下降,而茎Na+、Cl、Na+/K+和MDA含量等显著上升.相关分析显示,生物量与Chl a/Chl b呈现显著正相关,与株高、茎Pn、Gs、Ci、Chl、Chl含量、K+含量、SOD和POD活性呈现极显著正相关,与气孔限制值(Ls)、Car/Chl、MDA含量、Cl含量和Na+/K+等均呈极显著负相关.综上所述,10‰NaCl处理是花期海蓬子生长和光合生长的最适宜盐度,而无盐和高盐下海蓬子光合抑制主要是来自气孔因素,同时高盐胁迫下还伴随着非气孔限制.     

Physiological responses of the legume model Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong to water deficit

In Medicago truncatula Gaertn. cv. Jemalong plants some mechanisms involved in drought resistance were analysed in response to a progressive water deficit imposed by suppression of soil irrigation. Withholding water supply until the soil had reached one-half of its maximum water content had no significant effect on leaf RWC, gas exchanges or chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Under severe drought conditions, the plants resistance to water shortage involved mainly drought avoidance mechanisms through a decrease in stomatal conductance. The consequent decrease in the internal CO₂ concentration (C_i) should have limited the net CO₂ fixation (A). Since A decreased slightly more than C_i under severe water deficit, non-stomatal limitations of photosynthesis may have also occurred. Analysis of A/C_i curves showed reduced carboxylation efficiency due to limitations in RuBP regeneration and Rubisco activity, confirming the presence of non-stomatal limitations of photosynthesis. Drought tolerance mechanisms involving osmotic adjustment and an increase in cell membrane integrity were also present. Altogether, these mechanisms allowed M. truncatula cv. Jemalong plants to still maintain a quite elevated level of net CO₂ fixation rate under severe water deficit conditions. These results may contribute to identify useful physiological traits for breeding programs concerning drought adaptation in legumes.     

6种草本植物对干旱胁迫和CO2浓度升高交互作用的生长响应

以CO2浓度升高为主要标志的全球气候变化及由其引起的极端气候变化对陆地生态系统产生了重要的影响。利用步入式CO2生长室模拟研究了CO2浓度变化(400和700μL/L)和干旱胁迫(水分充足CK:100%FC(田间持水量);中度干旱MS:40%FC;重度干旱SS:20%FC)的交互作用对草本植物网果酸模(Rumex chalepensis)、野豌豆(Vicia sepium)、泥胡菜(Hemmistepta lyrata)、风轮菜(Clinopodium chinense)、藜(Chenopodium album)和玉米石(Sedum album)生长特性的影响。结果表明:CO2浓度升高总体上刺激了网果酸模、野豌豆、泥胡菜、风轮菜和藜这5种C3植物在任何水分条件下的生长,也刺激了玉米石在水分条件较好下的生长;干旱胁迫总体上抑制了所有6种植物的生长,但中度干旱胁迫有刺激CAM植物玉米石生长的趋势。CO2浓度升高能否缓解干旱的负面影响具有明显的种间差异:CO2浓度升高减缓了干旱胁迫对泥胡菜和风轮菜的负面影响,这种缓解作用在网果酸模和野豌豆中显著降低,对藜没有明显的促进作用,对干旱下的玉米石的生长却起到了抑制作用。CO2浓度升高总体上增加了根质量分数和干物质含量;干旱胁迫明显提高了6种草本植物的根生物量的分配比例,降低了干物质含量;但CO2浓度升高和干旱胁迫的交互作用可导致不同的物种产生不同的响应,说明植物能够通过调节生物量分配和植株本身的水分含量保持能力来适应CO2浓度和干旱胁迫的交互影响,这种调节能力取决于植物在碳的吸收和水分散失之间的平衡"trade-off"。研究结果有助于增进草本植物对未来气候变化的适应性理解,为评估和预测全球气候和水文变化对植物的生理生态影响提供理论依据。     

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signalling is responsible for the differential susceptibility of myoblasts and myotubes to menadione-induced oxidative stress

In this study, it was found that undifferentiated myoblasts were more vulnerable to menadione-induced oxidative stress than differentiated myotubes. Cell death occurred with a relatively low concentration of menadione in myoblasts compared to myotubes. With the same concentration of menadione, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased and nuclei containing condensed chromatin were observed in myoblasts to a greater extent than in myotubes. However, myotubes became increasingly susceptible to menadione when phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) was blocked by pre-incubation with LY294002, a PI3-K inhibitor. Actually, PI3-K activity was reduced by menadione in myoblasts but not in myotubes. In addition, the phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream effector of PI3-K, was inhibited in myoblasts by menadione but increased in myotubes. Both LY294002 and API-2, an Akt inhibitor, decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in menadione-exposed myotubes. These results suggest that the differential activity of PI3-K/Akt signalling is responsible for the differential susceptibility of myoblasts and myotubes to menadione-induced oxidative stress.     

Generation of selectable marker-free transgenic tomato resistant to drought, cold and oxidative stress using the Cre/loxP DNA excision system

The aim of this research was to generate selectable marker-free transgenic tomato plants with improved tolerance to abiotic stress. An estradiol-induced site-specific DNA excision of a selectable marker gene using the Cre/loxP DNA recombination system was employed to develop transgenic tomato constitutively expressing AtIpk2β, an inositol polyphosphate 6-/3-kinase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic tomato plants containing a selectable marker were also produced as controls. The expression of AtIpk2β conferred improved resistance to drought, cold and oxidative stress in both sets of transgenic tomato plants. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using this Cre/loxP-based marker elimination strategy to generate marker-free transgenic crops with improved stress tolerance.     

A laboratory high‐throughput glass chamber using dynamic headspace TD‐GC/MS method for the analysis of whole Brassica napus L. plantlet volatiles under cadmium‐related abiotic stress

Introduction

The dynamic headspace sampling technique using thermal desorption, gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (TD‐GC/MS) is a powerful method for analysing plant emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and experiments performed in sterile and controlled conditions can be useful for VOC metabolism investigations.

Objective

The main purpose of this study was to set up a laboratory high‐throughput glass chamber for whole plant volatiles analysis. Brassica napus L. plantlets were tested with the developed system to better understand the relationship between low emission of induced terpene and cadmium (Cd)‐related abiotic stress.

Methodology

VOCs emitted by 28‐day‐old Brassica napus L. plantlets cultivated in vitro were trapped with our device using adsorbent cartridges that were desorbed with a thermal desorption unit before cryofocusing with a cooled injection system and programmable temperature vaporising inlet into an HP‐5 ms GC column. Terpene detection and quantitation from chromatogram profiles were acquired using selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode during full scan analysis and mass spectra were obtained with a quadrupole‐type mass spectrometer.

Results

The new trapping method produced reliable qualitative profiles of oilseed rape VOCs. Typical emissions of monoterpenes (myrcene, limonene) and sesquiterpenes (β‐elemene, (E,E)‐α‐farnesene) were found for the different concentrations tested. One‐way analysis of variance for quantitative results of (E,E)‐α‐farnesene emission rates showed a Cd concentration effect.

Conclusion

This inexpensive glass chamber has potential for wide application in laboratory sterile approach and replicated research. Moreover, the non‐invasive dynamic sampling technique could also be used to analyse volatiles under both abiotic and biotic stresses.