Colorectal distension (CRD) is a well-characterized model of visceral nociception, which we adapted to the mouse. CRD reproducibly evoked contractions of the abdominal musculature [visceromotor response (VMR)], which was graded to stimulus intensity. The magnitude of VMR was greater in male C57BL6 and female 129S6 mice than in male 129S6 and B6.129 mice. In 129S6, C57BL6, and B6.129 mice strain...

BACKGROUND Weight in infancy correlates with risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity in adulthood. Clinical observations have been confounded by obesity-prone genotypes and obesity-linked lifestyles. OBJECTIVES To define the effects of isolated neonatal macrosomia in isogenic animals, we compared macrosomic and control C57Bl6 mice co-fostered by healthy dams receiving standard labo...

Background Oxidative stress (OS), the production of free oxygen radicals caused by for instance renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), results in age associated diseases and accelerated aging. We have shown that preoperative fasting in young-lean C57BL6 male mice protects against renal IRI [1]. Since human patients are usually older and suffer from (co)morbidities, we investigated the effects...

The degradation of ANG II by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), leading to the formation of ANG(1-7), is an important step in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and one that is significantly altered in the diabetic kidney. This study examined the role of ACE2 in the hyperfiltration associated with diabetes. Streptozotocin diabetes was induced in male C57BL6 ...

AIM We investigated differences of metastatic spread of normal proteinase-activated receptor-2 (Par2+/+) melanoma B16 in Par2-/- (knock-out) animals compared to C57Bl6 mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine knock-out mice B6.Cg-F2rl1tm1Mslb/J (Par2-/-) and nine C57Bl6/J controls were subcutaneously inoculated with B16 melanoma tissue cells. Twelve days after inoculation, all primary tumors were rem...