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Seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum, ID-alG™, was evaluated for its chronic effects on weight management in high-fat-fed Sprague-Dawley rats. ID-alG™ was orally administered daily during 9 weeks at doses of 40 and 400 mg/kg/day with fat-enriched diet (FED) in comparison with two control groups consuming standard diet (negative control) or FED (positive control) and orally treated with vehicle. Body weight, percentage of body fat mass and lipid parameters were measured. After 9 weeks, the oral administration of ID-alG™ at both doses decreased significantly the mean body weight gains (MBWG) of rats submitted to the FED in comparison to the positive control (−6.8% and −11.8%). ID-alG™ at both doses improved significantly the MBWG of rats and decreased significantly the percentage of body fat mass of rats (−9.8% and −19.0%), in comparison to the positive control. In the same way, the triglyceride blood level was also significantly improved for the dose of 400 mg/kg/day (−30.6% vs. +49.9% for the positive control); and the dose of 40 mg/kg/day just lead to a trend. Moreover, in both controls and ID-alG™-treated groups, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL blood levels were not modified. The seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum, ID-alG™, demonstrated beneficial effects on weight management of rats submitted to a high-fat diet. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous clinical study, a probiotic formulation (PF) consisting of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 (PF) decreased stress-induced gastrointestinal discomfort. Emerging evidence of a role for gut microbiota on central nervous system functions therefore suggests that oral intake of probiotics may have beneficial consequences on mood and psychological distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anxiolytic-like activity of PF in rats, and its possible effects on anxiety, depression, stress and coping strategies in healthy human volunteers. In the preclinical study, rats were daily administered PF for 2 weeks and subsequently tested in the conditioned defensive burying test, a screening model for anti-anxiety agents. In the clinical trial, volunteers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised parallel group study with PF administered for 30 d and assessed with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-90), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Perceived Stress Scale, the Coping Checklist (CCL) and 24 h urinary free cortisol (UFC). Daily subchronic administration of PF significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviour in rats (P < 0·05) and alleviated psychological distress in volunteers, as measured particularly by the HSCL-90 scale (global severity index, P < 0·05; somatisation, P < 0·05; depression, P < 0·05; and anger–hostility, P < 0·05), the HADS (HADS global score, P < 0·05; and HADS-anxiety, P < 0·06), and by the CCL (problem solving, P < 0·05) and the UFC level (P < 0·05). L. helveticus R0052 and B. longum R0175 taken in combination display anxiolytic-like activity in rats and beneficial psychological effects in healthy human volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dehydrated extract of the prickly pear fruit Opuntia ficus indica, Cacti-Nea®, was evaluated for its chronic diuretic and antioxidant effects in Wistar rats. Cacti-Nea® was orally administered daily for seven days at the dose of 240 mg/kg/day. A positive group was orally treated with hydrochlorothiazide at the dose of 10 mg/kg/day and a control group with vehicle. Daily measurements of body weight, urine volume, and concentration of sodium, potassium and uric acid in urine were performed for each rat. At the end of the study, the blood globular level of glutathione peroxidase was determined. Cacti-Nea® significantly increased the urine volumes excreted by rats in comparison with the control group and it showed a trend to reduce significantly the body weight gain of rats. No significant differences were observed in the urine concentration of sodium, potassium and uric acid in comparison with the control group. The chronic diuretic effects of Cacti-Nea® were comparable with that of the standard drug hydrochlorothiazide. Chronic oral administration of Cacti-Nea® significantly increased the blood globular levels of glutathione peroxidase in comparison with control and hydrochlorothiazide groups. The prickly pear fruit extract Cacti-Nea® demonstrated chronic diuretic and antioxidant effects in Wistar rats with respect to the excretion of the metabolites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is poorly understood. A growing body of literature suggests that amyloid beta oligomers (AβO) as the root cause of this disease. Here, we describe new translational in vitro and in vivo models of AD, induced by minute amount of in‐house preparation of human AβO. Method: AβO were reproducibly prepared from human Aβ 1‐42 monomers. Rodent primary neurons were used to assess the neurotoxic activities of AβO in vitro and elderly wild‐type mice administered by a single intracerebral injection AβO in vivo. Result: The oligomeric preparations were characterized by SDS‐page, electron microscopy and dot‐plot tests. In vitro, AβO induced a dose‐dependent neurodegeneration on rodent primary neurons based on various read‐outs. Interestingly, neurotoxicity was greater with AβO than fibrillar Aβ, while Aβ monomers did not induce any neuronal damage. AβO‐induced neurotoxicity was significantly attenuated by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In vivo, a single intracerebral microinjection of AβO in 18‐month‐old wild‐type mice, led to a significant memory impairment, synaptic loss in hippocampus and increased secretion of brain proinflammatory cytokines 15 days post administration. Moreover, the memory deficits were significantly reversed with Donepezil used as reference drug. Conclusion: In conclusion, we characterized new tools for drug screening based on the soluble AβO hypothesis of AD. In vivo, this new non‐inherited Alzheimer model can be used both to evaluate disease modifying and symptomatic drugs. Finally, these models are also valuable tools to understand the mechanisms underlying AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of Garum Armoricum® (GA), a protein autolysate from the blue ling fish, were studied in male Wistar rats using the conditioned defensive burying (CDB) and the forced swimming (FST) tests, respectively. In the CDB, all doses of GA (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, PO) decreased the global score of anxiety and the latency of the first approach towards the probe after shock, in a similar way to diazepam (DZP) at the dose of 3 mg/kg PO. But unlike DZP, the latency before touching again the probe after shock was not significantly reduced by GA. In the FST, the two higher doses of GA (15 and 45 mg/kg PO) reduced immobility time in a similar way to imipramine (IMI) at the dose of 20 mg/kg, PC). But unlike IMI, GA did not reduce open-field activity and, unlike DZP, did not cause a place preference to develop. These results indicate the potential anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like properties of GA in the absence of any change in cerebral activation and dependence. These psychotropic properties of GA may be due to the synergistic action of its active constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of the dextrin NUTRIOSE®6 (Dex) on colonic inflammation. Five percent of Dex or Glucose (Glu) diets were administered for 2 weeks to Wistar male rats prior to colitis induction with 1mg of TNBS (2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) or 20% ethanol (vehicle). An aversive light stimulus avoidance test (ALSAT) was performed to assess the cognitive performances of rats that are correlated to pain. Growth, food intake and biological parameters as caecal wall thickness, enzyme activities, short chain fatty acid content were investigated. Macro and microscopic scores of colonic inflammation of each treatment groups were compared. The results suggest that Dex prevents colonic inflammation induced by ethanol and TNBS administrations and have positive consequences on cognitive impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-term intervention with oligofructose-enriched inulin on behavioral cognitive, and visuomotor coordination in rats. Three-month-old male and female rats were randomly distributed into two groups receiving either a diet with 10% oligofructose-enriched inulin (SYN1) or a standard diet tested at 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Rats supplemented with SYN1 showed age- and sex-related improvements in spatial learning abilities, depression, anxiety, and visuomotor speed more prominent at 12 and 18 months. These results suggest that long-term intervention with SYN1 can improve cognitive and emotional aspects of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garum Armoricum® (GA), a compound rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, free amino acids, small peptides, vitamins and minerals, was evaluated on two fear-related assays in rats. GA and diazepam (DZP) increased entries into open arms relative to placebo, as well as percentage of open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test. In a similar fashion, all drugged groups spent more time inside the open arms and less time inside the enclosed arms. After a two-day period of conditioned avoidance learning of an aversive bright light, GA and vehicle groups successfully discriminated the active from the inactive lever. On the initial day of acquisition, GA and piracetam (PIR) groups achieved successful discrimination though the control group did not. These results indicate that GA may have anxiolytic-like effects without causing learning deficiencies. These psychotropic properties of GA may be due to the synergistic action of its active constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The green seaweed Ulva sp. contains a large amount of ulvans, a family of sulphated polysaccharides. The present study was designed to investigate in rats the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of a hydrophilic extract of Ulva sp. (MSP) containing about 45% of ulvans., Methods: After a 14-day administration of MSP at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day, 48 and 60 male adult Wistar rats were respectively tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the forced swimming test (FST). In the FST, MSP effects were compared to the reference antidepressant drug imipramine (IMI) (10 mg/kg/day). Acute and sub-chronic toxicities of the extract were also assessed in male and female rats following OECD guidelines., Results: MSP treatment did not modify anxiety-related behaviour in the EPM. In contrast, MSP induced a dose-dependent reduction of immobility behaviour in the FST. At the highest tested dose of 40 mg/kg, MSP displayed a significant antidepressant-like effect similar to IMI. MSP did not modify the exploratory behaviour of rats in the open field test and did not produce any toxic effect., Discussion: MSP may potentially represent a good adjunct or alternative to existing antidepressant therapeutics. Further studies are necessary to confirm the mechanism of action of MSP and its modulation of brain functioning.

Dehydrated extract of the prickly pear fruit Opuntia ficus indica, Cacti-Nea, was evaluated for its chronic diuretic and antioxidant effects in Wistar rats. Cacti-Nea was orally administered daily for seven days at the dose of 240 mg/kg/day. A positive group was orally treated with hydrochlorothiazide at the dose of 10 mg/kg/day and a control group with vehicle. Daily measurements of body weight, urine volume, and concentration of sodium, potassium and uric acid in urine were performed for each rat. At the end of the study, the blood globular level of glutathione peroxidase was determined. Cacti-Nea significantly increased the urine volumes excreted by rats in comparison with the control group and it showed a trend to reduce significantly the body weight gain of rats. No significant differences were observed in the urine concentration of sodium, potassium and uric acid in comparison with the control group. The chronic diuretic effects of Cacti-Nea were comparable with that of the standard drug hydrochlorothiazide. Chronic oral administration of Cacti-Nea significantly increased the blood globular levels of glutathione peroxidase in comparison with control and hydrochlorothiazide groups. The prickly pear fruit extract Cacti-Nea demonstrated chronic diuretic and antioxidant effects in Wistar rats with respect to the excretion of the metabolites., (Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Epidermoid carcinomas, clinically and histologically similar to human squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), were obtained in hairless Skh-1 mice. Tumor cells originated from chemically-induced skin cancers. We developed three models of orthotopic skin tumors: (1) intradermal injection of a tumor cell suspension, (2) superficial abrasion of the skin, cell grafting and application of a hydrocolloid dressing, (3) skin incision, seeding and application of a hydrocolloid dressing. Intradermal injection was 100% successful. Skin incision, displaying histological evidence of rapid invasive tumor growth, was 75% successful. Though skin tumor growth after abrasion was only 20% successful, the tumor histogenesis exactly imitated human SCC development. These carcinomas provide research models for further experiments such as photodynamic therapy or antiangiogenesis therapy.