This study evaluates the protective effect of Echinacoside on acute liver toxicity induced by acetaminophen in mice and the mechanism behind it. Echinacoside and N-Acetyl Cysteine were intragastrically administrated for 7 days, and acetaminophen was intraperitoneally injected into mice 1 h after the last treatment on day 7. At the end of the experimental period, histological examination, parameters for the level of oxidative damage, hepatic malondialdehyde, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, and sulfotransferases changes were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and standard biochemical procedures. The expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 protein was assessed by western blot, followed by in silico molecular docking. Acetaminophen treatment obviously increased the levels of ALT and AST, changed hepatic histopathology, promoted oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, and elevated the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Echinacoside significantly attenuated Acetaminophen-induced liver damage in a dose-dependent manner, with the most effective dose at 100 mg/kg. The pretreatments of Echinacoside in different concentrations altered the Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity levels by decreasing the level of liver enzymes, reducing the liver necrosis with vacuolization, decreasing the hepatic malondialdehyde formation, increasing hepatic antioxidants activities, suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-1beta), inhibiting Nitric Oxide production, enhancing sulfotransferases and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases activities. Notably, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 was inhibited by Echinacoside in a dose-dependent manner and the binding energy was -214.3 MeV. Echinacoside showed a significant protective effect against Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through the inhibition of oxidative stress, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytochrome P450 2E1 protein expression.

• MeSH
• glykosidy terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lékové postižení jater etiologie   patologie   MeSH
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• paracetamol otrava   škodlivé účinky   toxicita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Animal populations adopting a commensal way of life, e. g. house mice in buildings and stores, are subject to different selection pressures than those living in a non-commensal environment. This may radically influence their behaviour. This study investigated the effects of a commensal way of life on exploratory behaviour in mice. The focal population was non-commensal Mus musculus musculus from Northern Iran. To assess the effect of commensal way of life on exploratory behaviour, it was compared with commensal M. m. musculus from the Czech Republic and to assess the effect of subspecies, it was compared to non-commensal M. m. domesticus from Eastern Syria. We compared their behaviour in five tests of exploratory behaviour and boldness: an open field test with 1) free exploration and 2) forced exploration, 3) hole-board test, 4) test of vertical activity and 5) elevated plus maze. We detected a significant effect of population on behaviour in all five tests. M. m. domesticus was generally bolder and more active than M. m. musculus. Commensal mice were characterized by a higher level of vertical activity (climbing, rearing, jumping). These results suggest that the specific selection pressures of the commensal lifestyle select mice for higher affinity towards elevated places.

• MeSH
• bludiště - učení MeSH
• divoká zvířata * klasifikace   fyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• myši * klasifikace   fyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• pátrací chování * MeSH
• pohybová aktivita MeSH
• symbióza * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši * klasifikace   fyziologie   psychologie   MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: The authors investigated whether fluorescent pigment in thermoset melamine microcapsules incorporated into monitoring baits would be excreted in the faeces of wild house mice in a quantity and intensity that would be detectable by a human observer. RESULTS: Experimental mice produced 24-116 UV-visible faecal pellets per 24 h; the mean dry weight was 582 mg. The number and weight of the faeces was independent of mouse sex and weight. The defecation of UV-visible faeces began at 2-3 h, peaked at 5-8 h and was complete at 17 h after bait ingestion. The detectability of the highly fluorescent faecal pellets using a small UV flashlight approached 100%, and no false positives were recorded. CONCLUSION: The tested formulation is of significant value for rodent pest monitoring because faeces that are highly visible by UV light are produced for 15 h by mice after ingestion, and their detection is easy and unambiguous.

• MeSH
• deratizace přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• feces chemie   MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• přijímání potravy MeSH
• ultrafialové záření MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The house mouse hybrid zone (HMHZ) is a species barrier thought to be maintained by a balance between dispersal and natural selection against hybrids. While the HMHZ is characterized by frequency discontinuities for some sex chromosome markers, there is an unexpected large-scale regional introgression of a Y chromosome across the barrier, in defiance of Haldane's rule. Recent work suggests that a major force maintaining the species barrier acts through sperm traits. Here, we test whether the Y chromosome penetration of the species barrier acts through sperm traits by assessing sperm characteristics of wild-caught males directly in a field laboratory set up in a Y introgression region of the HMHZ, later calculating the hybrid index of each male using 1401 diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We found that both sperm count (SC) and sperm velocity were significantly reduced across the natural spectrum of hybrids. However, SC was more than rescued in the presence of the invading Y. Our results imply an asymmetric advantage for Y chromosome introgression consistent with the observed large-scale introgression. We suggest that selection on sperm-related traits probably explains a large component of patterns observed in the natural hybrid zone, including the Y chromosome penetration.

• MeSH
• chromozom Y * MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• hybridizace genetická * MeSH
• jednonukleotidový polymorfismus MeSH
• modely genetické MeSH
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• selekce (genetika) MeSH
• spermie fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH

A recently observed developmental instability of the ano-genital distance (AGD) in female mice indicates that natural prenatal androgens do not have such a robust effect on female genital morphology as has been generally assumed. Part of this instability might be caused by oestrous cyclicity. To check this assumption, we examined the effect of the stage of the oestrous cycle on the AGD in adult (61-75 days old) female mice. Consistent with our assumption, the female AGD (1) varied during the oestrous cycle (p < 0.05), indicating thus rapid changes in morphology of female external genitalia, and (2) showed good repeatability (>0.66) in each stage of the oestrous cycle, suggesting that female genital morphology systematically varied within the oestrous cycle. Therefore, the stage of the oestrous cycle should be considered when assessing prenatal masculinization in adult female mice.

• MeSH
• estrální cyklus fyziologie   MeSH
• myši inbrední ICR MeSH
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• perineum anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• tělesné váhy a míry MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• elastická tkáň anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• experimenty na zvířatech MeSH
• exprese genu genetika   MeSH
• fibrin genetika   klasifikace   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrofibrily fyziologie   genetika   patologie   MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH

Převodní systém srdce je důležitý pro tvorbu a synchronizaci srdeční činnosti. Počínaje Tawarou, Einthovenem a dalšími průkopníky bylo během posledních 100 let nasbíráno množství informací o histologických, morfologických a fyziologických charakteristikách specializovaných srdečních tkání. V posledních deseti letech bylo značné úsilí vynaloženo na pochopení buněčných a molekulárních mechanizmů řídících vývoj převodního systému srdce. Během tohoto období vznikly určité kontroverze o povaze mechanizmů signalizace působících na vznik a diferenciaci převodního systému, zvláště u savců. V tomto přehledném článku se pokusíme shrnout současný stav znalostí v této oblasti a poukázat na některé zbývající otázky.

The cardiac conducting system is vital for generating and synchronizing the heartbeat. Beginning with Tawara, Einthoven and other pioneering workers, a wealth of information has been collected over the last 100 years on the histologic, morphologic and physiologic characteristics of specialized cardiac tissues. However, in the last ten years considerable effort has been put into understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing its development. During this latter period, controversies have also arisen as to the nature of the signaling mechanisms involved in induction and patterning of the conducting system, particularly with respect to the pathways functioning in mammals. In this review, we will try to summarize the current state of knowledge in this field and point out some of the remaining questions.

• MeSH
• embryonální vývoj fyziologie   MeSH
• endoteliny fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• farmakologické účinky - molekulární mechanismy MeSH
• financování vládou MeSH
• myši fyziologie   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• přehledová literatura jako téma MeSH
• převodní systém srdeční fyziologie   MeSH
• Purkyňova vlákna fyziologie   MeSH
• savci fyziologie   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• srdce fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši fyziologie   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH

We investigated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1) during muscle regeneration by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. On days 5 and 7 after the induction of injury, VEGF and Flt-1 were detected in the cytoplasm and KDR/Flk-1 in the cytoplasm and on cell membranes of the same regenerating muscle fibers. The levels of these proteins in the regenerating muscle fibers gradually decreased until day 20. In contrast, these proteins were not detected in the fibers of normal muscle. This suggests that regenerating muscle fibers express VEGF and its receptors in response to injury. In addition, we found that the VEGF mRNA transcript transiently increased after 12 h of muscle injury and then returned to the basal levels observed in normal muscles on day 1. The expression of Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1 mRNA transcripts also peaked on day 3 and then returned to the basal levels observed in normal muscles on day 10. These findings suggest that regenerating muscle fibers are an important source of VEGF and that VEGF signaling through Flt-1 and KDR/Flk-1 may be involved in the process of muscle regeneration in vivo.

• MeSH
• exprese genu fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• financování vládou MeSH
• imunohistochemie metody   využití   MeSH
• interpretace statistických dat MeSH
• kosterní svaly fyziologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí metody   využití   MeSH
• receptory vaskulárního endoteliálního růstového faktoru genetika   MeSH
• vaskulární endoteliální růstový faktor A fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši anatomie a histologie   fyziologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• srovnávací studie MeSH

• MeSH
• antagonisté dopaminu farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• bludiště - učení fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• corpus striatum fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• finanční podpora výzkumu jako téma MeSH
• hipokampus fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• mozeček fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• myši fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• receptory dopaminové fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• srovnávací studie MeSH

• MeSH
• bludiště - učení fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• finanční podpora výzkumu jako téma MeSH
• hipokampus fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• indazoly farmakokinetika   farmakologie   MeSH
• interpretace statistických dat MeSH
• motivace MeSH
• myši fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• pohybová aktivita fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• srovnávací studie MeSH