Music alleviates cognitive impairments in an animal model of autism

Chitosan/PLA-loaded Magnesium oxide nanocomposite to attenuate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity in rat models of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and dysfunction in the mitochondria and cholinergic system. In this study, the synthesis of chitosan-polylactic acid-loaded magnesium oxide nanocomposite (CH/PLA/MgONCs) was examined using the green precipitation method. The synthesized CH/PLA/MgONCs were confirmed by using the UV-Vis spectrum, FT-IR, SEM-EDAX, and physical properties. The experiments were carried out using male Wistar rats by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) bilaterally into the brain's ventricles through the intracerebroventricular (ICV) route at a dose of 3 mg/kg. We also evaluated the effects of CH/PLA/MgONCs at doses of 10 mg/kg. To assess the cognitive dysfunction induced by ICV-STZ, we performed behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological analyses. In our study results, UV-Vis spectrum analysis of CH/PLA/MgONCs showed 285 nm, FT-IR analyses confirmed that the various functional groups were present, and SEM-EDAX analysis confirmed that a cauliflower-like spherical shape, Mg and O were present. Treatment with CH/PLA/MgONCs (10 mg/kg) showed a significant improvement in spatial and non-spatial memory functions. This was further supported by biochemical analysis showing improved antioxidant enzyme (GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx activity) activities that significantly attenuated cholinergic activity and oxidative stress. In the CH/PLA/MgONCs-treated group, significant improvement was observed in the mitochondrial complex activity. ICV-STZ-induced neuroinflammation, as indicated by increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP, was significantly reduced by CH/PLA/MgONCs treatment. Additionally, CH/PLA/MgONCs treated histological results showed improved healthy neuronal cells in the brain. Furthermore, in silico studies confirm that these molecules have good binding affinity and inhibit Aβ aggregation. In conclusion, CH/PLA/MgONCs treatment reversed AD pathology by improving memory and reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings recommend that CH/PLA/MgONCs are possible therapeutic agents to treat AD.

Long-term music stimulating alleviated the inflammatory responses caused by acute noise stress on the immune organs of broilers by NF-κB signaling pathway

As an environmental enrichment, music can positively influence the immune function, while noise has an adverse effect on the physical and mental health of humans and animals. However, whether music-enriched environments mitigate noise-induced acute stress remains unclear. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of music on the immune organs of broiler chickens under conditions of early-life acute noise stress, 140 one-day-old white feather broilers (AA) were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), the music stimulation (M) group, the acute noise stimulation (N) group, the acute noise stimulation followed by music (NM) group. At 14 days of age, the N and NM groups received 120 dB noise stimulation for 10 min for one week. After acute noise stimulation, the NM group and M group were subjected to continuous music stimulation for 14 days (6 h per day, 60 dB). At 28 days of age, the body temperature of the chicks, the histopathological changes, quantification of ROS-positive density and apoptosis positivity in tissues of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius (BF) were measured. The results showed that acute noise stimulation led to an increase in the number and area of splenic microsomes and the cortex/medulla ratio of the detected immune organs. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of immune tissues of broilers in N group were decreased compared to the broilers in C group, while the mRNA levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-1β increased. In addition, the gene and protein expression levels of IKK, NF-κB, and IFN-γ of three immune organs from broilers in the N group were increased. Compared to the C and N group, chickens from the NM group showed a decrease in the number and area of splenic follicles, an increase in the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and a decrease in the expression levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-1β. Therefore, a music-enriched environment can attenuate oxidative stress induced by acute noise stimulation, inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and consequently alleviating the inflammatory response in immune organs.

Transmission of behavioral and cognitive impairments across generations in rats subjected to prenatal valproic acid exposure

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents an inheritable neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors. Numerous studies have underscored the significant roles played by genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of ASD, and these factors are known to perpetuate behavioral impairments across generations.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to assess the behavioral and cognitive attributes in the second filial (F2) generation of male and female rats, with a particular focus on those whose parents had been exposed to valproic acid (VPA) during embryonic development.

METHODS

In this study, a cohort of 32 male and 32 female rats from the second filial (F2) generation, referred to as Mother.ASD, Father.ASD, or Both.ASD, was examined. These designations indicate whether the mother, father, or both parents had experienced embryonic exposure to valproic acid (600 mg/kg, i.p.). During adolescence, the F2 pups underwent behavioral and cognitive assessments, including open field testing, marble burying, social interaction evaluations, and Morris water maze tasks.

RESULTS

Our data revealed that while both the Mother.ASD and Father.ASD groups, regardless of sex, exhibited elevated anxiety-like behavior in the open field test. Only the Mother.ASD group displayed repetitive behaviors and deficits in social memory. Additionally, spatial memory impairments were observed in both sexes. These findings highlight the transmission of autistic-like behaviors in the offspring of Mother.ASD rats from both sexes. Nevertheless, future research endeavors should be more targeted in identifying the specific genes responsible for this transmission.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our findings underscore the transmission of autistic-like behaviors, including anxiety-like behavior, repetitive actions, impairments in social interactions, and deficits in memory, to the offspring of the Mother.ASD group, irrespective of their sex.

Effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sex of adult rats exposed prenatally to valproic acid

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in reciprocal social interactions, deficits in communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests. In previous studies, music has been identified as an intervention therapy for children with ASD.

OBJECTIVES

The present study evaluated the effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sexes of adult rats exposed prenatally to Valproic acid.

METHODS

For induction of autism, pregnant female rats were pretreated with either saline or VPA (600 mg/kg.i.p.) at gestational day (GD) 12.5. Male and female offspring were divided into Saline.Non-Music, VPA.Non-Music, Saline.Music, and VPA.Music groups. The adult rats in the music groups were exposed to Mozart's piano sonata K.448 for 30 days (4 h/day), from postnatal day (PND) 60 to 90. Social interaction and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks were tested at PND 90.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that prenatal exposure to VPA decreased sociability and social memory performance in both sexes of adult rats. Moreover, prenatal exposure to VPA created learning and memory impairments in both sexes of adult rats in the MWM task. Music intervention improved sociability in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats and social memory in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats, especially in females. Furthermore, our results revealed that music ameliorated learning impairments in VPA-exposed female rats in the MWM task. In addition, music improved spatial memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes, especially in females, which needs more investigation in molecular and histological fields in future studies.

CONCLUSION

Music intervention improved sociability and social memory in adult VPA-exposed rats, especially in female animals. Furthermore, music improved memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes. It seems that music had a better influence on female rats. However, future studies need more investigations in molecular and histological fields.