Carotid bodies are functionally immature at birth and exhibit poor sensitivity to hypoxia. Previous studies have shown that continuous hypoxia at birth impairs hypoxic sensing at the carotid body. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is more frequently experienced in neonatal life. Previous studies on adult animals have shown that IH facilitates hypoxic sensing at the carotid bodies. On the basis of these...

Previous reports have shown that the early postnatal environment has the ability to modify the obesity phenotype of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. To determine whether this early postnatal environment affects hypothalamic signaling systems involved in energy balance, OLETF pups and lean Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) pups were cross-fostered to same or opposite strain Dams ...

Gestational methyl donor deficiency (MDD) leads to growth retardation as well as to cognitive and motor disorders in 21-d-old rat pups. These disorders are related to impaired neurogenesis in the cerebral neurogenic areas. Olfactory bulbs (OB), the main target of neuronal progenitors originating from the subventricular zone, play a critical role during the postnatal period by allowing the pups ...

The olfactory system of infant rats is not an immature version of the adult system but is organized to ensure infants form the attachment to the caregiver necessary for survival. We study a sensitive period during the first nine days of life when rat pups have unique learning abilities that ensure pups quickly and reliably learn a preference for the maternal odor that underlies pup orientation ...

Triple-knockout mice generated by the one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system were examined for the effects of multiple gene modifications on each phenotype and individual gene function. Sixty embryos were transferred, and 9 pups were obtained; all 9 pups had mutations on 3 loci, and 7 pups showed mutations in all-alleles. F0 mice showed knockout phenotypes or no protein expression of target genes simultan...

The period of maternal dependence is a time during which mammalian infants must optimise both their growth and the development of behavioural skills in order to successfully meet the demands of independent living. The rate and duration of maternal provisioning, post-weaning food availability and climatic conditions are all factors likely to influence the growth strategies of infants. While nume...

CGRP, which coexists with acetylcholine in trigeminal motoneurons, could be one of the regulatory anterograde factors responsible for the enhanced expression of AChR subunits in neuromuscular junction. It has been also shown that low level of thyroid hormone plasma concentration has influence on the transitional development of muscle fibers and related motoneurons through a sever reduction in A...

Transgenic mice expressing human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene 1 (NAG-1) have less adipose tissue, improved insulin sensitivity, lower insulin levels and are resistant to dietary induced obesity. The hNAG-1 expressing mice are more metabolically active with a higher energy expenditure. This study investigates female reproduction in the hNAG-1 transgenic mice and finds the ...

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) cause a mixed-type (phenobarbital- plus 3-methylcholanthrene-like) induction of liver microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. However, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl and 2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-heptabromobiphenyl, which together comprise less than 80% of PBBs (FireMaster), were shown to be strictly phenobarbital-type inducers. Other components (unidentified) mus...