Reducing sugar intake through chronic swimming training: Exploring palatability changes and central vasopressin mechanisms

Excessive sugar intake has been associated with the onset of several non-communicable chronic diseases seen in humans. Physical activity could affect sweet taste perception which may affect sugar intake. Therefore, it was investigated the chronic effects of swimming training on sucrose intake/preference, reactivity to sucrose taste, self-care in neurobehavioral stress, and the possible involvement of the vasopressin type V1 receptor in sucrose solution intake. Male Wistar rats, of from different cohorts were used, subjected to a sedentary lifestyle (SED) or swimming training (TR - 1 h/day, 5×/week, for 8 weeks, with no added load). Weekly intake was verified in SED and TR rats after access to a sucrose solution 1×/week, 2 h/day, for eight weeks. Chronic effects of swimming and/or a sedentary lifestyle were carried out three days after the end of the physical exercise protocol. Swimming training reduced the intake of sucrose solution from the third week onwards in the two-bottle test measured once a week for 8 weeks. After the ending of the swimming protocol, sucrose intake was also reduced as per its preference. This reduced intake is probably correlated with the carbohydrate aspect of sucrose since saccharin intake was not affected. In addition, chronic swimming training was shown to reduce ingestive responses, increase neutral responses, without interfering with aversive, in the sucrose solution taste reactivity test. In addition, these results are not related to a depressive-like behavior, nor to neurobehavioral stress. Furthermore, treatment with vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist abolished the reduced sucrose intake in trained rats. The results suggest that swimming performed chronically is capable of reducing intake and preference for sucrose by decreasing the palatability of sucrose without causing depressive-type behavior or stress. In addition, the results also suggest that central V1 vasopressin receptors are part of the mechanisms activated to reduce sucrose intake in trained rats.

Pollen morphology for successful pollination dependent on pollinator taxa in a generalist plant: relationship with foraging behavior

Pollen morphology varies at inter- and intraspecific levels. Its interaction with pollinator behavior and morphology determines the probability of successful pollination. We tested whether pollen morphology promoting successful pollination differs depending on pollinator taxa in a generalist shrub, Weigela hortensis (Caprifoliaceae). We identified flower visitors carrying pollen from anthers to stigmas and compared the spine length and diameter of the pollen grains they carried. We found that pollen on the bodies of bumble bees and hunch-back flies and the scopae of small bees (including andrenid bees) contributed to seed production. Pollen grains on the bodies of bumble bees had longer spines than those on the scopae of andrenid bees or the bodies of hunch-back flies. Pollen grains on the bodies of bumble bees and the scopae of andrenid bees had larger diameters than those on hunch-back flies. Bumble bees collected pollen grains with shorter spines and larger diameters on their corbiculae while andrenid bees collected pollen grains with shorter spines and intermediate diameters on their scopae. The differences in morphology of pollen carried by pollinators reflected the tendency of bees to collect pollen with specific morphology into corbiculae/scopae. Our findings suggest that pollen morphology has diversified to facilitate successful pollination by pollinating partners.

Trade-offs between reproduction and behavioural resistance against ectoparasite infection

Reproduction is a key determinant of organismal fitness, but organisms almost always face the threat of parasite infection. Thus, potential trade-offs between mating and parasite resistance may have substantial impacts on the ecology and evolution of host species. Although trade-offs between microbial resistance and mating in arthropods are well-documented, there is a paucity of evidence that mating compromises host resistance to the ubiquitous threat posed by ectoparasites. Despite the centrality of reproduction to host fitness and the widespread risk of parasites, there is a dearth of experiments showing a trade-off between mating/reproduction and anti-parasite behaviours. In this study, we test if mating increases the susceptibility of female flies to mite infection. We also investigated a potential underlying mechanism for the trade-off: that mating reduces overall endurance and hence anti-parasitic defenses among female flies. We experimentally mated female Drosophila nigrospiracula, with or without a chance to recover from male harassment, and challenged them with a natural ectoparasite, the mite Macrocheles subbadius. Mated females, regardless of time for recovery from male harassment, acquired more infections than unmated females. Furthermore, mated females had lower endurance in negative geotaxis assays, suggesting the increased susceptibility is due to reduced endurance. Our research shows a trade-off between reproduction and parasite resistance in a host-macroparasite system and suggests that trade-off theory is a fruitful direction for understanding these associations.

Progression of obsessive compulsive disorder-like grooming in Sapap3 knockout mice: A longitudinal [11C]ABP688 PET study

We aimed to evaluate [3-(6-methyl-pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-cyclohex-2-enone-0-¹¹C-methyloxime] ([¹¹C]ABP688) small animal positron emission tomography (μPET) as a biomarker to visualize possible longitudinal changes in metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) availability in the brain of SAP90/PSD-95 associated protein 3 (Sapap3) knockout (ko) mice, showing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)-like behavior.

METHODS

Alongside the assessment of grooming, we performed [¹¹C]ABP688 μPET/CT imaging in wildtype (wt; n=10) and ko (n=11) mice both at 3 and 9 months. Using the simplified reference tissue method (SRTM), the nondisplaceable binding potential (BP_ND) was calculated representing the in vivo availability of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the brain with the cerebellum as a reference region. Longitudinal voxel-based statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was performed on BP_ND images. Results were verified using [¹¹C]ABP688 ex vivo autoradiography, [³H]ABP688 in vitro autoradiography, and mGluR5 immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Cross-sectional comparisons revealed significantly increased grooming parameters in ko animals, at both time points. A significant longitudinal increase in % grooming duration (+268.25%; p<0.05) reflected aggravation of this behavior in ko mice. [¹¹C]ABP688 μPET revealed significantly lower mGluR5 availability in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala of ko mice at both ages. A significant longitudinal BP_ND decline was present for ko mice (p<0.01: cortex -17.14%, striatum -19.82%, amygdala -23.57%; p<0.05: hippocampus -15.53%), which was confirmed by SPM (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Sapap3 ko mice show a decline in mGluR5 availability in OCD relevant brain regions parallel to the worsening of OCD-like behavior. This demonstrates a potential role for [¹¹C]ABP688 PET as a biomarker to monitor disease progression in vivo.

Parental morphine exposure affects repetitive grooming actions and marble burying behavior in the offspring: Potential relevance for obsessive-compulsive like behavior

Family, adoption and twin studies have highlighted the significant role of heritable influences on individual differences in opioid addiction. Meanwhile, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder wherein the individual experiences recurring thoughts that cause irrational fears and anxiety. In the present study, adult male and female rats received morphine solution for 21 days and were drug-free for 10 days. Offspring were used in 4 distinct groups; (1) paternal morphine-exposed, (2) maternal morphine-exposed, (3) maternal and paternal morphine-exposed, and (4) drug-naïve subjects. We assessed the grooming behavior and marble burying test as an indicator of obsessive-compulsive behavior. To clarify the mechanisms underlying these changes, the mRNA level of BDNF, the phosphorylation level of CREB and the protein level of D2 dopamine receptor (DR) were evaluated in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The grooming behavior in male offspring with one or two morphine-abstinent parent(s) increased compared with the offspring of drug naïve rats. In addition, the offspring of morphine-exposed parents buried more marbles when compared with the offspring of drug-naïve parents. Also, the BDNF mRNA was down-regulated in the NAC. However, the levels of phospho-CREB and D2 DR were elevated. Previous studies indicated that exposure to morphine in adulthood enhances the risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring. OCD is one the comorbid disorders with addiction and increases the risk of substance abuse disorder in patients. In this survey, we found that morphine exposure in parents before gestation can encourage obsessive-compulsive behavior in offspring.

Olfactory cues play a significant role in removing fungus from the body surface of Drosophila melanogaster

Many insects and Dipterans in particular are known to spend considerable time grooming, but whether these behaviors actually are able to remove pathogenic fungal conidia is less clear. In this study, we examined whether grooming serves to protect flies by reducing the risk of fungal infection in Drosophila melanogaster. First, we confirmed that fungi were removed by grooming. Entomopathogenic, opportunistic, and plant pathogenic fungi were applied on the body surface of the flies. To estimate grooming efficiency, the number of removal conidia through grooming was quantified and we successfully demonstrated that flies remove fungal conidia from their body surfaces via grooming behavior. Second, the roles of gustatory and olfactory signals in fungus removal were examined. The wildtype fly Canton-S, the taste deficiency mutant poxn 70, and the olfactory deficiency mutant orco1 were used in the tests. Comparisons between Canton-S and poxn 70 flies indicated that gustatory signals do not have a significant role in fungal removal via grooming behavior in D. melanogaster. In contrast, the efficiency of conidia removal in orco1 flies was drastically decreased. Consequently, this study indicated that flies rely on mechanical stimulus for the induction of grooming and olfaction for more detailed removal.

Differential Gene Expression Associated with Honey Bee Grooming Behavior in Response to Varroa Mites

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) grooming behavior is an important mechanism of resistance against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. This research was conducted to study associations between grooming behavior and the expression of selected immune, neural, detoxification, developmental and health-related genes. Individual bees tested in a laboratory assay for various levels of grooming behavior in response to V. destructor were also analyzed for gene expression. Intense groomers (IG) were most efficient in that they needed significantly less time to start grooming and fewer grooming attempts to successfully remove mites from their bodies than did light groomers (LG). In addition, the relative abundance of the neurexin-1 mRNA, was significantly higher in IG than in LG, no groomers (NG) or control (bees without mite). The abundance of poly U binding factor kd 68 and cytochrome p450 mRNAs were significantly higher in IG than in control bees. The abundance of hymenoptaecin mRNA was significantly higher in IG than in NG, but it was not different from that of control bees. The abundance of vitellogenin mRNA was not changed by grooming activity. However, the abundance of blue cheese mRNA was significantly reduced in IG compared to LG or NG, but not to control bees. Efficient removal of mites by IG correlated with different gene expression patterns in bees. These results suggest that the level of grooming behavior may be related to the expression pattern of vital honey bee genes. Neurexin-1, in particular, might be useful as a bio-marker for behavioral traits in bees.

Behavioral and neurochemical characterization of maternal care effects on juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats

Maternal care represents a major constituent of early life environment and has the potential to modulate critical neurobehavioral responses to stress. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of naturally occurring variations in maternal care on behavioral and neurochemical responses of juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats. A group of dams were classified based on their licking behavior in high and low licking-grooming mothers. Afterwards, the male offspring was tested in a series of behavioral tests: open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, monoamine concentrations were determined post-mortem in three brain regions: hippocampus, ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex. Our findings suggest that maternal care variations have an effect on several anxiety-related behaviors in OFT and EPM but not in depression-like behaviors in FST. Such behavioral differences could be related to an increased DOPAC concentration and 5-HT turnover in prefrontal cortex. These evidences suggest that natural variations in maternal care modified some behavioral and neurochemical parameters related with anxiety and stress in this strain.

Behavioral responses by bumble bees to variation in pollen availability

Pollen-collecting bumble bees (Bombus spp.) detect differences between individual flowers in pollen availability and alter their behavior to capitalize on rewarding flowers. Specific responses by bees to increased pollen availability included: longer visits to flowers; visits to more flowers within an inflorescence, including an increased frequency of revisits; an increased likelihood of grooming while the bee flow between flowers within the inflorescence; and more protracted inter-flower flights, probably because of longer grooming bouts. The particular suite of responses that a bee adopted depended on the pollen-dispensing mechanism of the plant species involved. Bees buzzed previously-unvisited Dode-catheon flowers longer than empty flowers. In contrast, pollen availability did not significantly affect the duration of visits to Lupinus flowers, which control the amount of pollen that can be removed during a single visit. Simulation results indicate that the observed movement patterns of bumble bees on Lupinus inflorescences would return the most pollen per unit of expended energy. The increased foraging efficiency resulting from facultative responses by bees to variation in pollen availability, especially changes in the frequency and intensity of grooming, could correspondingly decrease pollen dispersal between plants.