Predatory aggression, but not maternal or intermale aggression, is associated with high voluntary wheel-running behavior in mice

Predatory (towards crickets), intermale, and maternal aggression were examined in four replicate lines of mice that had been selectively bred for high wheel-running (S) and in four random-bred control lines (C). In generation 18, individual differences in both predatory and intermale aggression were significantly consistent across four trial days, but predatory and intermale aggression were uncorrelated both at the individual level and among the eight line means. Latencies to attack crickets were significantly lower in S lines as a group. Intermale aggression, however, did not differ between S and C lines. S lines were significantly smaller in body mass, but did not differ in either testes mass or plasma testosterone. In generations 28 and 30, respectively, S and C lines did not differ in either maternal or intermale aggression. However, significant differences among the individual lines were found for maternal aggression, and one S line exhibited an extremely high mean time of aggression (>120 sec for a 5-min test). Maternal and intermale aggression were not correlated among the eight line means or at the level of individual variation. Overall, our results suggest: (1) predatory aggression and voluntary wheel-running are positively related at the genetic level; (2) predatory and intermale aggression are unrelated at a genetic level; and (3) maternal and intermale aggression are not tightly related at the genetic level. Possible relationships between predatory aggression, dopamine, and wheel-running behavior are discussed.     

Effect of Nigella sativa and Foeniculum vulgare seeds extracts on male mice exposed to carbendazim

The increasing prevalence of environmental pollutants such as pesticides is a major global problem that affects living organisms. Exposure to environmental pollutants remains a major source of health risk throughout the world. The potential health benefits of various medicinal plants and natural products in relation to protect various diseases are currently receiving considerable attention. A current approach is to develop a new biological compound from natural products that inhibits pain. Ethnopharmacological surveys have been found to be one of the most reliable tools for the discovery of the natural and semi-synthetic drug. The present study was performed to investigate the hematological and biochemical changes induced by carbendazim (CBZ) and the potential protective effect of seeds extracts of Nigella sativa (NSSE) and Foeniculum vulgare (FVSE) against CBZ toxicity in male mice. Mice were distributed into 6 groups. Mice of group 1 were served as control. Group 2 was exposed to CBZ. Group 3 was supplemented with NSSE and exposed to CBZ. Group 4 was treated with FVSE and CBZ. Normal mice of group 5 and 6 were subjected to NSSE and FVSE respectively. Body weight gain was significantly decreased in mice of group 2. In mice of group 2, significant declines of RBC, HB, Hct, WBC, total protein, FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, T3, CAT and SOD were observed. Moreover, the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, creatinine, BUN, uric acid, glucose, cholesterol, CK, LDH, MDA and GSH were significantly enhanced. Treatment with NSSE and FVSE showed attenuation effects against CBZ induced hematological and biochemical changes. The results suggest that the attenuation effects of NSSE and FVSE attributed to their antioxidant properties.     

Effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts on thioacetamide induced hepatic cirrhosis in male albino mice

The effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic cirrhosis were investigated in male albino mice. One hundred sixty mice were used in this study and were randomly distributed into eight groups of 20 each. Mice of group 1 served as controls. Mice of group 2 were treated with TAA. Mice of group 3 were exposed to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster leaves extracts. Mice of group 4 were treated with TAA and supplemented with J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of group 5 were subjected to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of groups 6, 7 and 8 were supplemented with O. oleaster, J. procera, and O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts respectively. Administration of TAA for six and twelve weeks resulted in a decline in body weight gain and increased the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histopathological evaluations of hepatic sections from mice treated with TAA showed severe alterations including increase of fibrogenesis processes with structural damage. Treatment of mice with these extracts showed a pronounced attenuation in TAA induced hepatic cirrhosis associated with physiological and histopathological alterations. Finally, this study suggests that the supplementation of these extracts may act as antioxidant agents and could be an excellent adjuvant support in the therapy of hepatic cirrhosis.     

Ecological studies on sporobolus virginicus (L.) kunth with particular reference to salinity and inundation

Sporobolus virginicus is shown to occupy low-lying areas on the shores of Lake St. Lucia, where it is subjected to periodic inundation and widely varying salinities. Whilst seeds are not permanently affected by storage under waterlogged saline conditions, young plants are markedly influenced by both inundation and salinity. Older plants are more tolerant of these conditions.     

Mycological studies on the equine intestinal tract with particular reference to equine dysautonomia (grass sickness)

A wide variety of non-endophytic fungi was isolated from the stomach, colon and rectum of healthy horses, horses suffering from equine dysautonomia and horses suffering from other disorders clinically resembling dysautonomia. Of the isolates with toxin-producing potential, species of Aspergillus and Penicillium predominated. Absidia spp. occurred in virtually all horses and Rhizopus was very common, but neither is known to produce toxins. The survey did not associate any particular fungal species with equine dysautonomia.     

Effects of repeated aggressive encounters on approach to a female and plasma testosterone in male mice

Effects of repeated experience of aggression accompanied by social victories or social defeat in 10 daily agonistic confrontations on testosterone levels in and the behavioral response of CBA/Lac male mice exposed to a receptive female from behind a perforated transparent partition have been examined. Testosterone levels were not changed significantly in the mice that had consistently been victorious over 10 days (winners) or in the mice that had consistently been defeated over 10 days (losers). Losers and controls (mice that had been caged individually for 5 days) responded with increased levels of behavioral activity near the partition and elevated testosterone. Winners showed a significantly poorer behavioral and hormonal response. It is concluded that the repeated display of aggression by male mice led to a reduction in both their behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to an estrous female.     

Hematological and biochemical investigations on the effect of curcumin and Thymoquinone in male mice exposed to Thioacetamide

Currently, living organisms are increasingly exposed to many toxic chemicals in the environment. These substances pose a threat to human life, other living organisms and ecosystem. In fact, there is an increasing requirement to search for safe therapeutic sources today. Medicinal plants and natural products have become of great importance globally because of their therapeutic potential and medicinal properties, as well as their availability and the absence of harmful side effects for most of them. The present study was designed to explore the potential protective effect of curcumin (CUR) and thymoquinone (TQ) in male rats exposed to thioacetamide (TAA). The experimental mice were divided into eight groups. Group 1 was served as control. Group 2 was exposed to 50 mg/ kg body weight of TAA. Group 3 was exposed to CUR and TAA. Mice of group 4 were treated with TQ and TAA. Mice of group 5 were exposed to CUR plus TQ and TAA. Group 6 was supplemented with CUR. Group 7 was subjected to TQ. Mice of group 8 were treated with CUR and TQ. Hematological and biochemical alterations were evaluated after one month. Significant increases of white blood corpuscles (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) values were observed in group 2, while the values of red blood corpuscles (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb(, hematocrit (Hct), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were statistically decreased. Treatment with CUR, TQ and their combination inhibited the hematological and biochemical alterations induced by TAA toxicity. Moreover, the most protective effect was observed in mice treated with CUR plus TQ. These new results suggested that the protective effect of CUR and TQ attributed to their antioxidant properties.     

Rapid effects of estradiol on male aggression depend on photoperiod in reproductively non-responsive mice

In three genuses and four species of rodents, housing in winter-like short days (8L:16D) increases male aggressive behavior. In all of these species, males undergo short-day induced regression of the reproductive system. Some studies, however, suggest that the effect of photoperiod on aggression may be independent of reproductive responses. We examined the effects of photoperiod on aggressive behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus), which do not display reproductive responsiveness to short days. As expected, short days had no effect on plasma testosterone. Estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta immunostaining did not differ in the lateral septum, medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or medial amygdala. However, males housed in short days were significantly more aggressive than males housed in long days. Similar to previous work in beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus), estradiol rapidly increased aggression when male California mice were housed in short days but not when housed in long days. These data suggest that the effects of photoperiod on aggression and estrogen signaling are independent of reproductive responses. The rapid action of estradiol on aggression in short-day mice also suggests that nongenomic mechanisms mediate the effects of estrogens in short days.     

Further studies on the sexuality of the hermaphroditic teleost Diplodus sargus, with particular reference to protandrous sex inversion

Histological events associated with the process of sex inversion are described in the protandrous teleost Diplodus sargus reared in captivity. This species possesses typical sparid ovotestes in which the testis and ovary occur in separate zones. After spawning, the testicular tissue within the bisexual gonad undergoes regressive changes such as spermatogonial degeneration, deposition of yellowish pigment and proliferation of connective cells and fibres. At the same time ovarian tissue begins to develop. Transitional individuals were 26–7% of examined fish, while the other 73–3% were functional males.     

Effect of streptomycin on lipid composition with particular reference to cyclic depsipeptide biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens and other micro-organisms

The addition of low concentrations of streptomycin (5-10mug/ml of medium) to Serratia marcescens caused significant alterations in the lipid composition of this organism, but neither growth nor pigmentation was affected. The acetone-soluble cyclic depsipeptides, which comprise on average 15% of the total lipid, were decreased almost to zero and the total lipid phosphorus was more than doubled in the presence of streptomycin. Most of the phospholipid increase was due to an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine. Cyclic depsipeptides were not leached from the cell in the presence of streptomycin, indicating a definite inhibition of the biosynthetic pathway. The effect of streptomycin on the reported peptidolipids of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, Halobacterium halobium, Nocardia asteroides and Pseudomonas tabaci was investigated. In the case of the only strictly comparable cellular cyclic depsipeptide (that of N. asteroides) the biosynthesis was strongly inhibited by streptomycin, but cell weight was maintained or even slightly increased. A possible mode and site of action of low concentrations of streptomycin on bacterial lipids is discussed.     

Effect of moisture stress on abscisic acid levels in Ricinus communis L. with particular reference to phloem exudate

Summary Abscisic acid (ABA) increased considerably in stem apices attached to Ricinus plants during a moisture stress but only slightly in stem apices which were detached and then allowed to lose water. A very marked rise in ABA also occurred in phloem-sap of moisture-stressed Ricinus plants. These results suggest that in apices of moisture-stressed plants the increased ABA does not arise in situ but is translocated to the apex after synthesis in the mature leaves.     

Inheritance of components of partial resistance of barley to Rhynchosporium secalis with particular reference to race specificity

Six spring barley cultivars with no known genes for resistance to specific virulences but varying in partial resistance to Rhynchosporium secalis, were crossed in all combinations (6 × 6 diallel including reciprocals). In addition to seeds from naturally selfed plants, seeds of all parent cultivars were also produced by artificial selfing (emasculation followed by pollination using pollen from the same cultivar). This ensured comparability between seeds of parents and F₁. Both sets of parents, F₁ and F₂ families were grown in the field as single spaced plants and inoculated at Zadoks growth stage 49 with spore suspensions (2 × 10⁶ spores ml^-1) of three races (pathotypes) of R. secalis (Zadoks, Chang & Konzak, 1974). Components of partial resistance, incubation period (ICP), infection frequency (IF) and spore production per lesion (SP/L) were assessed on each plant. There were highly significant differences for all three components of partial resistance in both sets of parent cultivars but rank order in both sets was similar as evidenced by correlation coefficients, r= 0.96 for ICP and IF and r= 0.87 for SP/L. All three components of partial resistance were strongly correlated with NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, UK) resistance ratings. Means of F₁ and F₂ families were correlated with mid-parent values for ICP and IF but not SP/L. No difference in aggressiveness was found between races but for each component of partial resistance there was a significant interaction between race and parent cultivar (artificial selfs) and, for IF and ICP, a significant interaction between race and F₁ family. There was no evidence of interaction between parent (natural selfs) and race nor between race and F₂ family. Examination of genetic control of resistance showed evidence of strong additive effects (combining ability) in both F₁ and F₂ for ICP and IF but not for SP/L. There was no evidence for maternal or reciprocal differences, but there was evidence for dominance effects although their nature differed between components of partial resistance and between F₁ and F₂ generations. In the F₁, but not the F₂ generation, several elements of dominance (direction, distribution of dominant genes between parent cultivars, specific combining ability) showed for ICP or IF (but not SP/L) significant interaction with race.     

Effect of the D1-receptor antagonist SCH-23390 on the individual and aggressive behavior in male mice with various aggression experience

It has been shown that dopaminergic systems are involved in mechanisms of aggressive behavior. Effects of SCH 23390 (dopamine Di receptors antagonist. 0-1 mg/kg, i/p, 30 min) on aggressive and individual behaviors were studied in male C57BL/6J mice with different experience of aggression. SCH 23390 reduced aggressive attacks in animals without preliminary experience of aggression. However total time of hostile behavior (sum of the total time of attacks, aggressive grooming and diggings) didn't changed. No significant effects on behaviors were found in mice with long (20 days) repeated experience of aggression. It was supposed that long aggressive experience produces pharmacological desensitization of Di receptors as a result of enhanced dopaminergic activity shown earlier in aggressive animals.     

雄性麋鹿胆量和侵犯耦合与等级序位变化的关系

发情期的雄性麋鹿根据序位分为群主、挑战者和单身汉3个等级,序位变化是雄性麋鹿应对环境压力的直 观体现。本文利用胆量和侵犯2个行为指标在麋鹿生活史不同阶段的耦合强弱,来解释幼体时麋鹿序位发育、亚 成体时雄性序位定型及发情期时挑战者对群体序位的扰动。行为取样采用焦点取样法和扫描取样法相结合;分 析个体间行为样本流的非同步化水平,以同类型行为中较早发生、同步化率较低的判断为胆大;侵犯则结合攻 击行为和取胜指数来判定;粪样睾酮水平测定采用放射免疫分析法。结果显示雄性麋鹿幼体胆量和侵犯耦合与 等级序位呈负相关(r=-0.111 8,P=0.018 3);成体胆量和侵犯耦合与等级序位的波动呈正相关(r=0.917 9,P= 0.002 6)。从亚成体到成体:4头雄性麋鹿序位上升(胆量和侵犯耦合r=0.852 3,P=0.000 3),其中1头成为鹿 王;4头序位未发生改变(胆量和侵犯耦合r=0.482 9,P=0.006 3);3头序位下降(胆量和侵犯耦合r=0.251 7, P=0.003 5)。雄性麋鹿幼体睾酮水平与等级序位呈正相关(r=0.860 7,P=0.005 5);亚成体睾酮水平与等级序 位呈正相关(r=0.845 7,P=0.004 4);成体睾酮水平与等级序位呈正相关(r=0.954 6,P=0.001 8)。结果表明雄 性麋鹿发情期胆量和侵犯耦合强度与等级序位波动呈正相关;等级序位上升与睾酮水平升高有关。