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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder. Stress promotes the onset of the NAFLD with a concomitant increment in the activity of the hepatic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1). However, the interaction between the stress and a carbohydrate-enriched diet for the development of NAFLD in young animals is unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of chronic stress on the hepatic triacylglycerol level of young rats fed or not with a high sucrose-diet. For doing this, 21-day old male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups: control (C), chronic restraint stress (St), high-sucrose diet (S30), and chronic restraint stress plus a 30 % sucrose diet (St + S30). Chronic restraint stress consisted of 1-hour daily session, 5 days per week and for 4 weeks. Rats were fed with a standard chow and tap water (C group) or 30 % sucrose diluted in water (S30 group). The St + S30 groups consumed less solid food but had an elevated visceral fat accumulation in comparison with the St group. The St group showed a high level of serum corticosterone and a high activity of the hepatic 11β-HSD-1 concomitantly to the augmentation of hepatic steatosis signs, a high hepatic triacylglycerol content, and hepatic oxidative stress. Conversely, the high-sucrose intake in stressed rats (St + S30 group) reduced the hepatic 11β-HSD-1 activity, the level of serum corticosterone, and the hepatic triacylglycerol content. Present findings show that a high-sucrose diet ameliorates the triacylglycerol accumulation in liver promoted by the restraint stress in young male rats.

Competition for resources can contribute importantly to the early development of individual differences in behavioral and physiological phenotypes. In newborn rabbits, littermates compete for thermally favorable positions within the litter huddle. As brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the principal site of thermogenesis in such altricial young, we investigated differences in rabbit pups' growth and morphological differences in BAT associated with position within the huddle. We formed three treatment groups (7 litters/group): GI-birth (pups killed at birth); GII-chronic thermal challenge (pups killed after exposure to a moderately cold environmental during postnatal days 1-3); GIII-acute thermal challenge (as for GII but pups killed after an additional 30min exposure to a very cold environment on postnatal day 3). Interscapular BAT was removed at death for histological analysis, and triglyceride concentrations measured in serum. Pups occupying central positions in the huddle had higher skin temperatures, obtained more milk, and were more efficient at converting this into body mass, than pups occupying peripheral positions. There was no significant difference in BAT morphology or triglyceride concentrations between pups at birth, nor between central and peripheral pups chronically exposed to moderate cold until postnatal day 3. However, during acute cold exposure at this age, peripheral pups were less able to maintain their body temperature, they depleted BAT fat reserves almost completely, and they had lower serum concentrations of triglycerides than central pups. These findings confirm the contribution of early sibling relations to individual differences in growth and metabolic processes associated with thermoregulation in newborn rabbits., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Beyond its role in the conversion of androgens to estrogens, the expression of aromatase could influence on the estrogenic signalling in targeted tissues. Considering the well-defined biochemical and physiological differences between the pubococcygeus (Pcm) and bulbospongiosus (Bsm) muscles in female rabbits, it is presently hypothesized that the aromatase expression is differentially linked to the estrogen sensitivity of each muscle. To this end, serum estradiol levels and the aromatase expression, presence of ERα and ERβ and morphometry were evaluated in the Pcm and Bsm of female rabbits allocated in control, ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX treated with estradiol benzoate (OVX + EB) groups. Aromatase expression was high in the Pcm. Independently to serum estradiol, ovariectomy increased aromatase expression in the Pcm while decreased it in the Bsm. The EB treatment avoided the effect of ovariectomy only in the Pcm. The number of immunoreactive nuclei anti-ERα and anti-ERβ was high in the Pcm of OVX and OVX + EB rabbits, while those in the Bsm remained unchanged. The number of peripheral nuclei per fibre and the cross-sectional area-to-myonucleus ratio were modified only in the Pcm. Our findings support aromatase expression in the Pcm, and Bsm of rabbits is differentially linked to estrogenic sensitivity of each muscle., (Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to adapt and validate the Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS) transformed into a self-report format in Spanish clinical and non-clinical samples., Method: Eighty-three eating disordered patients and 358 non-clinical participants completed the Self Report-YBC-EDS version (SR-YBC-EDS), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)., Results: Confirmatory factor analyses of a two-factor second-order model showed adequate values of goodness-of-fit indices for non-clinical (normed χ(2)=13.4578; df =18; NFI=0.980; GFI=1.00; RMSEA=0.00) and clinical samples (normed χ(2)=26.5913; df =18; NFI=0.944; GFI=0.981; RMSEA=0.076). The factor loadings were high (preoccupations range: 0.69-0.91; rituals range: 0.61-0.94). Cronbach's alpha (range α=0.85-0.90) and test-retest 2weeks later (range: 0.84-0.91) were excellent in both samples. SR-YBC-EDS showed moderate-high indices of convergent validity with PSWQ and EAT. For the total score, a cutoff of 13 showed a sensitivity of 90.4%, a specificity of 91.6%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 91.4%. Positive and negative predictive values were excellent (71.4% and 97.6%, respectively)., Discussion: Findings indicate that the SR-YBC-EDS is a reliable and valid instrument to identify symptoms and assess the severity of ED, and it can be used as a faster and less costly alternative to the YBC-EDS interview., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In mammals, body mass at birth is an important predictor of early postnatal growth and survival. Within litters, heavier young are more successful in competing for limited resources and show higher rates of growth and survival than their lighter sibs. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of two aspects of the intrauterine environment to within-litter differences in birth mass, growth and survival in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): implantation site along the uterine horns and number of adjacent male fetuses. We used unilaterally ovariectomized mothers in order to infer relative sites of implantation from the birth order of pups from the single functional uterine horn. Pups from the extremities of the horn were significantly heavier at birth and weaning than their siblings from more central positions and had a higher probability of survival. The effect on body mass was still apparent 3 weeks after weaning in pups that had occupied positions at the ovarian end of the horn. The number of adjacent male fetuses did not affect individuals' growth or survival, and there were no differences between females and males. There were also no significant interactions between the different variables considered, indicating that the effects of implantation site on individuals' birth mass, growth and survival relative to littermates were independent of number of male neighbors, sex or litter size. Our study clearly demonstrates that in the rabbit, the site of implantation along the uterine horns is a major contributor to individual differences among littermates in early postnatal growth and survival., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thyroidectomy induces pancreatic edema and immune cells infiltration similarly to that observed in pancreatitis. In spite of the controverted effects of hypothyroidism on serum glucose and insulin concentrations, the number and proliferation of Langerhans islet cells as well as the presence of extracellular matrix are affected depending on the islet size. In this study, we evaluated the effect of methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on the vascularization and immune cells infiltration into islets. A general observation of pancreas was also done. Twelve Chinchilla-breed female adult rabbits were divided into control (n = 6) and hypothyroid groups (n = 6, methimazole, 0.02% in drinking water for 30 days). After the treatment, rabbits were sacrificed and their pancreas was excised, histologically processed, and stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) or Masson's Trichrome techniques. Islets were arbitrarily classified into large, medium, and small ones. The external and internal portions of each islet were also identified. Student-t-test and Mann-Whitney-U test or two-way ANOVAs were used to compare variables between groups. In comparison with control rabbits, hypothyroidism induced a strong infiltration of immune cells and a major presence of collagen and proteoglycans in the interlobular septa. Large islets showed a high vascularization and immune cells infiltration. The present results show that hypothyroidism induces pancreatitis and insulitis.

In rodents, vaginal distention after delivery or experimental manipulation affects innervations as well as the amount of striated/smooth musculature or collagen in both the urethra and vagina. These changes are associated with modifications in excretory and reproductive processes. Although successive and consecutive vaginal deliveries (multiparity) affect the contractile and functional properties of the female lower urogenital tract (LUT), its impact on LUT morphometry, including persistency, has been barely studied. The caudal urethra (CU) and cranial (V1) and caudal (V2) pelvic vaginal regions were excised from young and adult nulliparous (YN and AN, respectively) and multiparous (YM and AM, respectively) rabbits. Tissues were histologically processed and stained with Masson's trichrome. The thickness of the tissue layers and areas covered by tissue components were measured and compared using two-way ANOVA followed by Student-Newmann-Keuls tests to determine statistical differences (P ≤ 0.05). Compared to YN, YM, and AN tissues showed a reduction in the thickness of the epithelium, as well as in areas covered by striated musculature, collagen, and blood vessels of the LUT. In comparison with YM, only some morphometric changes were recovered in the AM group. Our study shows that multiparity and age can be associated with epithelial and muscular atrophy of urethral and vaginal walls. The morphometry of the LUT between young and adult female rabbits varies with multiparity. These findings may help to better understand the effects of multiparity on young and adult females and its correlation with the development of pelvic dysfunctions., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has been involved in lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and aromatase expression, as well as in the steroid synthesis and signaling. Considering that these events occur in reproductive tissues in females, the aim of the present study was to determine the immunolocalization of FXR in the ovary, oviduct, uterus, and vagina of rabbits. Rabbits were sacrificed and their reproductive tissues were excised and histologically processed. Immunohistochemistry for FXR was done and reproductive tissues were photographed. FXR immunoreactivity was found in all types of ovarian follicles, ovarian stroma, and corpus luteum of virgin and pregnant rabbits. Also, oviductal and vaginal epithelium of virgins, as well as the oviductal smooth muscle, showed anti-FXR immunoreactivity. The uterine epithelium and musculature of virgins had scarce anti-FXR immunoreactivity. Although the role of FXR in female reproductive tissues is still not known, it is possible to consider various functions related to the reproductive tissue., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the association between the serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) with components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular risk (CVR), and diet in euthyroid post-menopausal women without and with MetS., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 120 voluntary women of an indigenous population from Tlaxcala-México. Euthyroid status was assessed measuring the serum concentration of thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid hormones, while that of estradiol was measured to confirm the postmenopausal condition. MetS was diagnosed using the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement (AHA/NHLBI) criterion. Estimation of CVR was calculated based on the Framingham scale. Diet components were evaluated based on survey applications. Correlations, logistic regression analyses, ANOVA or Kruskall-Wallis, and chi-square tests were used to determine significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between women without MetS and women with MetS having different serum concentrations of T3., Results: Triiodothyronine was positively correlated with insulin but negatively correlated with glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and CVR. Compared to women without MetS, women with MetS and low-normal T3 concentration showed a high risk for hyperglycemia and moderate/high risk for CVR. In contrast, a high-normal T3 concentration increased the risk to have a big waist circumference, a high concentration of HDL-C, and insulin resistance. Diet analysis showed a high grade of malnutrition in women from all groups. The intake of calories was positively affected by the T3 concentration, albeit it did not affect the extent of malnutrition., Conclusions: In contrast to concentrations of TSH, total thyroxin (T4), and free T4, the concentration of serum T3 was strongly correlated with cardio-metabolic variables in euthyroid postmenopausal women. In comparison to women without MetS, a high-normal serum concentration of T3 in women with MetS is positively associated with reduced glycaemia and CVR but negatively related to body mass index (BMI), insulin, insulin resistance, and HDL-C. Although the analyzed population had a nutritional deficiency, both calories and iron intake were positively affected by the T3 concentration. Our results suggest the necessity of health programs monitoring T3 in old people in order to treat hyperglycemia, cardio-metabolic components, and the ageing anorexia.

Aim: To evaluate the role of pelvic and perineal striated muscles on urethral function during micturition., Methods: Pubococcygeus, or both bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles were electrically stimulated during the voiding phase of micturition, and bladder and urethral pressure were simultaneously recorded in urethane anesthetized female rabbits. Bladder and urethral function were assessed measuring urodynamic and urethral pressure variables obtained before and during the stimulation of muscles. Two-tail paired t-tests were carried out in order to determine significant differences (P < 0.05) between groups., Results: Electric stimulation of the pubococcygeus during voiding decreased voiding efficiency and voided volume, whereas residual volume, the duration of voiding, the interval between bladder contraction and urethral resistance increased. Simultaneously, there was an increase in maximum urethral pressure, as well as an increase in the pressure to return to baseline and in the pressure required to close the urethra. Electrical stimulation of bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles increased voiding efficiency, voiding duration, and the maximal pressure in bladder. Meanwhile, the maximal urethral pressure, the time related to the rise of urethral pressure, and the urethral pressure required to close the urethra decreased., Conclusions: The stimulation of pelvic and perineal muscles have opposing roles in urethral function during micturition. Pubococcygeus muscles facilitate urethral closure, while they inhibit bladder contraction. In contrast, bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles prevent urethral contraction while they promote bladder contraction., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Pelvic and perineal striated muscles are relevant for reproduction and micturition in female mammals. Damage to these muscles is associated with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. The fiber type composition of skeletal muscle influences the susceptibility for damage and/or regeneration. The aim of the present study was to determine the fiber type composition of a perineal muscle, the bulbospongiosus, and a pelvic muscle, the pubococcygeus. Both muscles were harvested from adult female rabbits (8-10 months old). NADH-TR (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase) histochemistry was undertaken to identify oxidative and glycolytic muscle fibers. Alkaline (pH 9.4) ATP-ase (actomyosin adenosine triphosphatase) histochemistry was used to classify type I, type IIb or type IIa/IId muscle fibers. Results showed that the content of glycolytic fibers in the bulbospongiosus muscle was higher than that of oxidative fibers. Meanwhile, the opposite was true for the pubococcygeus. In the bulbospongiosus muscle, the content of type IIb muscle fibers was higher than that of type I, but was similar to that of type IIa/IId. In contrast, the content of each fiber type was similar in the pubococcygeus muscle. The relative proportion of fibers in bulbospongiosus and pubococcygeus muscles is consistent with their function during voiding and storage phases of micturition., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

In rabbits, like other mammals, there are proposals for the oviduct regionalization. Reports consider different regions with inconsistent tissue characteristics, which make it difficult to compare results between studies. Our aim was to analyze morphohistological characteristics of the rabbit oviduct, such as thickness of epithelium, proportion of secretory or ciliated epithelial cells, presence of submucosa or crypts, shape of transverse sections, and thickness of smooth muscle layer, in order to identify regions and discriminate the possible limits between them. To do this, Masson's thricrome was used to identify tissue characteristics along the oviduct. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Additionally, Mann-Whitney-U or Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to determine significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) for variables between oviductal regions. Five regions were well distinguished: fimbria, infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and utero-tubal junction. Each region had particular histological characteristics that permit its identification. Fimbria and infundibulum had more ciliated cells, the ampulla had a similar proportion of secretory and ciliated cells, and isthmus and utero-tubal junction had more secretory cells. Crypts were observed in all oviductal regions, mainly in isthmus and utero-tubal junction. Fimbria presented packages of smooth musculature. Infundibulum and ampulla showed a thin smooth muscle layer (circular orientation of fibers). Isthmus and utero-tubal junction had a thick smooth muscle layer (inner longitudinal and outer circular orientation of fibers). A single and precise regionalization of oviduct could be very useful to compare studies that analyze the influence of natural conditions or treatments for tissue components or regions., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: (1) To describe the morphology of paravaginal ganglia and the neurochemical pattern of their neurons in virgin rabbits. (2) To analyze the effects of multiparity, primiparity and late pregnancy on morphometry of ganglia and their neurons., Study Design: The morphology and neurochemical pattern of paravaginal ganglia were described in virgin nulliparous Chinchilla breed rabbits. Acetylcholinesterase histochemistry, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemistry for cholinergic and adrenergic neurons, and estrogen receptors (ERs) were undertaken. The area covered by ganglia (ganglionic area), the number of neurons, and the neuron soma area were measured in multiparas (4 consecutive and successive deliveries) and age-matched nulliparas. The same variables were measured in primiparous, late-pregnant, and age-matched nulliparous rabbits., Results: Paravaginal ganglia were adjoined to the dorsolateral walls of the pelvic vagina. Their neurons were mostly cholinergic and expressed ERα and ERβ. Multiparity increased the ganglionic area and reduced the number of ganglionic neurons. Late pregnancy transiently reduced the neuron soma area, which was coincident with a low expression of ERs., Conclusion: Multiparity but not primiparity affected the morphometry of ganglia. The hormonal state present in late pregnancy alters the neuron soma area and ER expression. Our findings support the notion that reproduction influences the morphometry of the pelvic plexus., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This review concerned the important pediatric studies published between April 2012 and March 2013. Symptomatology in Helicobacter pylori-positive children is nonspecific, except for those suffering from peptic ulcer diseases. Investigation of H. pylori status in children and adolescents with sideropenic anemia is recommended, and it is the aim of several studies worldwide. Associations of H. pylori with plasma ghrelin levels as well as the negative association of H. pylori with atopic disease were interesting objectives for several studies this year. Success rates of sequential therapy tended to be lower in recent studies than in previous trials, which probably reflects the increase in macrolide resistance. A beneficial effect of probiotics was reported although not all trials supported this result in children. Intrafamilial transmission and young age could be major risk factors associated with reinfection in children., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The altricial young of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are not brooded by the mother, and although they are born into an underground nest, depend importantly on the warmth and insulation provided by littermates for their early growth and survival. Consistent with previous studies, heavier pups occupied more central, thermally advantageous positions in the litter huddle, maintained higher body temperatures, obtained more milk, were more efficient at converting it to body mass, and consequently grew faster than their lighter sibs occupying the periphery of the huddle. In the present study we measured the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1), which is essential for the metabolism of brown adipose tissue to generate body heat in response to cold. In nine litters of domestic rabbits maintained for the first four postnatal days at temperatures below their critical thermoneutral temperature, peripheral pups showed greater expression of UCP-1 than intermediate pups, and these greater expression than central pups. This suggests that during early development littermates of the rabbit experience differing degrees of activation of the sympathetic nervous system as a consequence of exposure to different thermal environments associated with different positions in the litter huddle. Whether this is associated with long term differences in the physiological response to cold and perhaps in the manner of responding to other environmental challenges is currently under investigation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artificial insemination is commonly practiced in several domestic animals, including sows. Postcervical insemination is used to increase the fertility index, given that the volume of semen is optimized. Knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the genital tract can be used to improve our understanding of the fertilization process that occurs during artificial insemination, and possibly to improve the technique. The aim of our study was to examine the gross morphology and histological properties of the cervix of recently slaughtered multiparous sows, using different stains. The results indicate that the porcine cervix has two regions: a uterine region characterized by the presence of glandular acini, and a vaginal region with a large vascular network. Both regions showed a mixed secretory activity by epithelial cells, which produced sulfated mucins (mucous secretion), intermingled with abundant glycogen-rich cells (serous secretion). This study contributes to the understanding of the morphologic features of the porcine cervix.

Objective: To quantify levels of exposure to cytotoxic drugs among health professionals in order to establish an exposure threshold and implement measures to increase protection and safety., Material and Method: Contamination with 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine and cyclophosphamide was measured on work surfaces in the following areas: a class II type B3 biological safety cabinet (S(1)), a treatment prep table in an antechamber (S(2)) and a desk from the administrative room in the Outpatient Unit (S(3)). We took samples from the work surfaces by wiping them with an absorbent cloth at time t(0), prior to the work session, and at t(1) after three hours of work. For each surface, we calculated the median mass value with respect to the baseline value and the 90th, 75th, 50th and 25th percentiles for each cytotoxin in μg/m(2). Distribution normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests. Statistical significance was established for values of P<.05., Results: We gathered a total of 90 samples, 30 from each of the studied work surfaces. The mean recorded mass of any of the cytotoxic compounds was higher for S(1) and t(1), with values of P=.017 and P=.004 respectively. The target value for each cytotoxic drug was established at the 25th percentile, where undetectable contamination values were obtained., Conclusions: Introducing a continuous programme to monitor work surfaces for an array of cytotoxic compounds is fundamental in order to establish acceptable levels of residual contamination and reduce exposure in the workplace., (Copyright © 2011 SEFH. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Temporal and coordinated activation of pelvic- (pubococcygeous) and perineal- (bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus) striated muscles occurs during micturition in female rabbits. We have hypothesized that the coordinated activation of pelvic and perineal muscles is modified during the micturition of young multiparous rabbits. Young virgin and multiparous female chinchilla rabbits were used to simultaneously record cystometrograms and electromyograms of the pubococcygeous, ischocavernosus, and bulbospongiosus muscles. Bladder function was assessed using standard urodynamic variables. The temporal coordination of pelvic- and perineal-striated muscle activity was changed in multiparous rabbits. The cystometrogram recordings were different than those obtained from virgin rabbits, as seen in alterations of the threshold volume, the residual volume, the voiding duration, and the maximum pressure. In rabbits, we find that multiparity causes uncoordinated activity of pubococcygeous, ischiocavernosus, and bulbospongiosus muscles and modifies the urodynamics.

Many aspects of an animal's early development might potentially contribute to long-term individual differences in physiology and behavior. Here we asked whether differences among littermates of the domestic rabbit in the position in the litter huddle that they occupy during the early nest period might contribute to the development of distinct behavioral and physiological phenotypes. In each of 12 litters we determined the pup occupying the most peripheral, the most central, and an intermediate position in the huddle during the first postnatal week. We then tested the responses of these same individuals as nestlings, juveniles and young adults when confronted by a range of age-appropriate environmental challenges. Two behavioral tests appeared particularly discriminatory in identifying differences associated with early position in the huddle; latency of pre-weaning pups to jump down from a shelf, and the response of young adults to the fearful screams of a conspecific. In both cases animals that had occupied the periphery of the huddle showed behavioral responses indicative of a more proactive behavioral style than their "intermediate" or "central" littermates. We conclude that while consistent long-term differences in behavioral style associated with early position in the litter huddle exist in rabbits, future work is needed to confirm the causal nature of this association, to identify underlying mechanisms, and to refine methods of behavioral and physiological testing across the life span., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the Spanish mobile phone industry to determine how mobile phone companies and certain institutions can improve protection for children who use mobile phones. We carried out a multivariate statistical analysis using anonymous primary data from mobile phone companies, and institutions and associations that protect children, to compare these stakeholders' opinions and to put forward solutions. We proved that, even though some European countries have made an effort to provide safer ICT services, all stakeholders still need to cooperate and agree on solutions to the commercial problems associated with children using mobile phones. This can be done by signing codes of conduct. We found that even though some companies implement measures to protect children from accessing harmful content via their mobile phones, they do so for reasons of legal and not social responsibility.

Background: The increasing number of pediatric patients infected with multiresistant Helicobacter pylori strains calls for evaluation of treatment regimens. Second-line antibiotics such as tetracycline or quinolones are not licensed for children. Because in vivo resistance to metronidazole may be overcome in vivo by a high dose and prolonged intake, we evaluated the eradication rate and side effects of a high-dose triple therapy in pediatric patients with culture-proven double resistance., Patients and Methods: In this open multicentre trial, 62 children (<18 years, body weight >15 kg) infected with an H pylori strain resistant to metronidazole and clarithromycin were treated according to body weight classes with amoxicillin (∼ 75 mg/kg/day), metronidazole (∼ 25 mg/kg/day) and esomeprazole (∼ 1.5 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Adherence and adverse events were assessed by a 2-week diary and telephone interviews at days 7 and 14 of treatment. Primary outcome was a negative C-urea breath test after 6 weeks., Results: Of 62 patients, 5 were lost to follow-up, 12 were nonadherent, and 45 treated per protocol. Eradication rates were 66% (41/62) [confidence interval 54-78] (intention to treat) and 73% (33/45) [confidence interval 60-86] (per protocol). Success of treatment was not related to dose per kilogram body weight. Mild to moderate adverse events were reported by 21 patients, including nausea (10.8%), diarrhoea (8.9%), vomiting (7.1%), abdominal pain (5.4%), and headache (3.6%), and led to discontinuation in 1 child., Conclusion: High-dose amoxicillin, metronidazole, and esomeprazole for 2 weeks is a good treatment option in children infected with a double resistant H pylori strain.

Interest has been growing in the influence siblings may have on individual development. While mammalian research has tended to emphasize competition among siblings for essential but often limited resources such as the mother's milk, there is also evidence of mutual benefits to be had from sibling presence, most notably for altricial young in enhanced thermoregulatory efficiency. In the present study we asked whether littermates of an altricial mammal, the domestic rabbit, might gain other developmental benefits from sibling presence. From postnatal days 1 to 25 we raised rabbit pups either together with their littermates or alone except for the brief, once daily nursing characteristic of this species, while controlling for litter size and ambient nest box temperature. At weaning on Day 25 the young were then transferred to individual cages. Before weaning, we found that pups raised separately from their littermates obtained less milk, and showed lower weight gain and slower development of the ability to maintain body equilibrium than their litter-raised sibs. This was the case even though the two groups did not differ in birth weight or in the ratio of converting milk into body mass in their temperature-controlled nest boxes. Postweaning, the isolation-raised animals were also less successful in competing for food and water when tested after deprivation than their litter-raised sibs. The present study adds to the growing evidence of the influence, in this case positive, that sibs (or half sibs) may have in shaping one another's development., (© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

In mammals the mechanisms underlying female sexual and reproductive biology are poorly understood. Little attention has been paid to striated muscles and their neural regulation. The aim of the present study was to describe the components of the vaginocavernosus reflex in adult rabbits. It was found that mechanical stimulation of the glans of the clitoris and the perineal vagina induced electromyographic (EMG) responses in bulbocavernosus (Bcm) and ischiocavernosus (Icm) muscles. Unilateral and bilateral nerve transection indicated that the clitoral nerve is the main afferent path of the reflex and that it recruits ipsilateral and contralateral perineal motoneurons. Injection of horseradish peroxides-wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) into the Bcm and Icm labeled spinal motoneurons scattered in L7 and S1 segments. According to the results of this study and previous work, the elements of the vaginocavernosus reflex may be described as follows. Mechanical receptors are located in the glans clitoris and in the wall of the perineal vagina. The main afferent pathway is the clitoral nerve. It activates ipsilateral and contralateral Bcm and Icm motoneurons in lumbosacral segments. Axons of efferent neurons travel through the clitoral and ischiocavernosus nerves, and the effectors are the Bcm and Icm perineal muscles. Identification of neural components of the vaginocavernosus reflex in rabbits will allow the use of this animal as a model to assess the physiological characteristics of the perineal motoneurons as well as the contribution of the Bcm and Icm in female urogenital functions.

Surprisingly little is known about the effects of big-city air pollution on olfactory function and even less about its effects on the intranasal trigeminal system, which elicits sensations like burning, stinging, pungent, or fresh and contributes to the overall chemosensory experience. Using the Sniffin' Sticks olfactory test battery and an established test for intranasal trigeminal perception, we compared the olfactory performance and trigeminal sensitivity of residents of Mexico City, a region with high air pollution, with the performance of a control population from the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, a geographically comparable but less polluted region. We compared the ability of 30 young adults from each location to detect a rose-like odor (2-phenyl ethanol), to discriminate between different odorants, and to identify several other common odorants. The control subjects from Tlaxcala detected 2-phenyl ethanol at significantly lower concentrations than the Mexico City subjects, they could discriminate between odorants significantly better, and they performed significantly better in the test of trigeminal sensitivity. We conclude that Mexico City air pollution impairs olfactory function and intranasal trigeminal sensitivity, even in otherwise healthy young adults.

Purpose: To determine the motor basis of urine expulsion the activity of the pelvic (pubococcygeus) and perineal (bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus) muscles was recorded during micturition in anesthetized female rabbits., Material and Methods: Virgin female chinchilla rabbits were used for simultaneously recording cystometrograms and electromyograms of the pubococcygeus, ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles. The particular contribution of each muscle during micturition was analyzed in another set of experiments in which each was inactivated by bilateral lidocaine injection. Bladder function was assessed using standard urodynamic parameters., Results: Cystometrography showed that micturition comprises 2 phases, that is storage and voiding phases. During the latter phase no high frequency oscillations were recorded. On simultaneous electromyography recordings a temporal, coordinated activation of pelvic (pubococcygeus) and perineal (bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus) muscles was observed. During specific blockade of each muscle some modifications in urodynamic parameters were found., Conclusions: Our findings indicate a specific role for the pelvic and perineal muscles during feminine micturition.

In European rabbits, the distal urethra (DU) opens into the anterior pelvic vagina forming a single canal by which females copulate, give birth, and urinate. We investigated whether the histological characteristics of the DU and the pelvic and perineal vagina are different. The DU and vagina of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome (n = 3). Data were compared by using Friedman's ANOVA for repeated measures. The walls of the DU and vagina are composed of mucosa, submucosa, smooth muscle, and an external layer. Differences in tissue characteristics of the mucosa, orientation of the smooth muscle fibers, components of the external layer (connective tissue, blood vessels, and striated musculature), and thickness of the tissue layers were found among regions. The lack of histological homogeneity along the urethra and vagina possibly reflects differences in the functions of each segment.

Interest is growing among psychobiologists and behavioral ecologists in the role of sibling relations in shaping individual development and life histories. In litters of domestic rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus the heaviest pups at birth are more likely to survive the critical first postnatal week, they compete more effectively with littermates for milk and well-insulated positions in the litter huddle, and are the heaviest at weaning. Here we report that high birth weight pups are also better able to maintain body equilibrium. Testing pups' ability to maintain equilibrium when placed on a 15 degrees ramp for 2 min each day during the first postnatal week, we found that pups showed a continual daily improvement in their ability to maintain balance while moving on the ramp, rarely lost balance by postnatal day 8, and that heavier pups could maintain balance better and earlier than their lighter littermates. Better ability to maintain body equilibrium, however achieved, may help explain heavier pups' advantage in competing for vital resources such as milk and in gaining access to better-insulated positions in the litter huddle. It also provides further support for the usefulness of birth weight, not only as an absolute measure but also relative to the weight of other littermates, as a predictor of different developmental trajectories, behavioral and physiological, among same-age siblings in this mammal.

Birth mass can vary considerably among mammalian littermates. Heavier pups often show higher growth rates than their lighter siblings, which might positively affect fitness-relevant parameters during later life. Such a correlation between birth mass and pre-weaning growth within litters was confirmed by our study of wild-type and domestic European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) living in a semi-natural environment and under laboratory housing conditions, respectively. Our study indicates that at least two main mechanisms account for this relationship in our study species: heavier pups had a higher milk intake and also showed a more efficient conversion of milk into body mass. Furthermore, our study suggests that the better milk conversion by heavy pups was driven by three synergistic mechanisms: heavier pups had comparatively more huddling partners in the nest, they did not need to perform large amounts of proactive behavior in order to reach and remain in a central position within the litter huddle, and they could maintain a comparatively higher body temperature most probably due to their more favorable surface area to volume ratio. In conclusion, our study of European rabbits provides strong evidence that both under natural conditions and in the laboratory, within-litter differences in birth mass are maintained and may even increase during pups' early postnatal development.

The European rabbit, both in its wild and domesticated forms, has been a pioneer species in the study of mammalian chemical communication, and illustrates well the difficulty of understanding the functional significance of these often complex signals. Here we investigate the performance of one of the rabbit's most conspicuous chemical signaling behaviors, chin marking (chinning), and the hypothesis that this expresses social dominance. In tests of 21 chinchilla-strain sexually mature males we predicted 1) that animals would show marked and stable individual differences in the frequency of chinning, 2) that these differences would correlate with behaviors associated with dominance such as intrasexual mounting, and 3) that individual differences in the frequency of chinning and dominance-related behaviors would correlate with individual differences in a commonly used physiological indicator of dominance, concentration of serum testosterone. Supporting these predictions and consistent with previous reports, animals showed large and stable individual differences in the frequency of chinning which correlated with the behavioral indicators of dominance and less strongly, with serum testosterone. As our animals had been kept in single cages and without direct contact with other males since weaning, these findings raise the question as to how and when during development such differences among individuals arise. We are currently investigating the possible relation between pups' intrauterine position, postnatal competition among littermates for milk and thermally advantageous positions in the litter huddle, and later differences in indicators of dominance such as those reported here.

In women, birth trauma can result in altered anatomy of supporting structures of the pelvic floor and in the development of urinary incontinence. The goal of this study was to investigate the association between parturition and the morphology and function of perineal and pelvic muscles in the female rabbit. In ten nulliparous and ten multiparous same-age females, we investigated morphological, histological (n = 5 females/group), and contractile characteristics (n = 5 females/group) of the perineal bulbospongiosus (Bsm) and the pelvic pubococcygeus (Pcm) muscles. Bsm and Pcm muscles of multiparous females were significantly lighter, they had a smaller cross-sectional fiber area, and developed significantly lower twitch and tetanic tension force in response to electrical stimulation than muscles of nulliparous females. In female rabbits, multiparity is associated with potentially pathological changes in the morphological and functional characteristics of these perineal and pelvic muscles, possibly as a result of stretching during parturition.

The present paper deals with the enantiomeric separation of six antihistaminic enantiomers by affinity electrokinetic chromatography (AEKC)-partial filling technique using human serum albumin (HSA) as chiral selector. A multivariate optimization approach of the most critical experimental variables in enantioresolution, running pH, HSA concentration and HSA plug length (SPL) was carried out since there are interactions between variables that could not be considered in an univariate optimization. The estimated and experimental resolution values obtained for antihistaminic enantiomers varied from 1.13 (for orphenadrine) to 2.15 (for brompheniramine). The optimum experimental conditions for enantioresolution of each compound were: brompheniramine, pH 8.5, [HSA] 180 microM, SPL 180 s; chlorcyclizine, pH 6.5, [HSA] 180 microM, SPL 150 s; chlorpheniramine, pH 8.25, [HSA] 160 microM, SPL 150 s; hydroxyzine, pH 7.0, [HSA] 180 microM, SPL 150 s; and orphenadrine, pH 7.8, [HSA] 160 microM, SPL 150 s. pH and the quadratic term of pH seem to be the most critical factors that determine enantioresolution of antihistamines. The validity of the developed methodologies to enantiomeric quality control of antihistamines in pharmaceutical formulations is demonstrated analyzing the content of brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine and hyroxyzine enantiomers in commercially available pharmaceutical formulations containing racemic mixtures of compounds. Resolution, accuracy, reproducibility, cost and sample throughput of the proposed methodologies make them suitable for quality control of the enantiomeric composition of antihistamines in pharmaceutical preparations.

All guidelines, protocols and recommendations underline the importance of therapeutic education as a key element in asthma management and control. Considerable evidence supports the efficacy and effectiveness of this measure. Health personnel, as well as patients and their parents, can and should be educated with two main objectives: to achieve the best possible quality of life and to allow self control of the disease. These goals can be attained through an educational process that should be individually tailored, continuous, progressive, dynamic, and sequential. The process poses more than a few difficulties involving patients, health professionals, and the health systems. Knowledge of the various psychological factors that can be present in asthmatic patients, as well as the factors related to the highly prevalent phenomenon of non-adherence, is essential. Awareness of the factors influencing physician-patient-family communication is also highly important to achieve the objectives set in therapeutic education. The educational process helps knowledge and abilities to be acquired and allows attitudes and beliefs to be modified. Patients and caregivers should be provided with an individual written action plan based on symptoms and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Periodic follow-up visits are also required.

An important topic in the drug discovery and development process is the role of drug binding to plasma proteins. In this paper the characterization of the interaction between antihistamines (cationic drugs) towards human serum albumin (HSA) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) under physiological conditions by capillary electrophoresis-frontal analysis is presented. Furthermore, the binding of these drugs to all plasma proteins is evaluated by using ultrafiltration and capillary electrophoresis. Antihistamines present a wide-ranging behaviour with respect to their affinities towards plasma proteins. Orphenadrine, phenindamine, tripelenamine and tripolidine principally bind to HSA; carbinoxamine, dimetindene and etintidine principally bind to AGP; brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine and ranitidine present an important binding to lipoproteins and/or globulins and finally, chlorcyclizine, cinarizine, cyclizine, doxylamine, hydroxyzine, perphenazine and terfenadine do not bind to lipoproteins and/or globulins but bind to HSA and AGP in different extension. The interaction of antihistamines with HSA is determined by the hydrophobicity (direct relationship) and the polar surface area (indirect relationship) of the compounds. The steric parameters and hydrogen bonding character of compounds seems to be related with the binding of antihistamines to AGP. The antihistamine-HSA affinity constants were evaluated and the K(1) values ranged from 7 x 10(2)M(-1) (for doxylamine) to 4 x 10(4)M(-1) (for phenindamine).

To our knowledge there has been no study of the effect of everyday air pollution on olfactory function. It was therefore the aim of this study to compare the olfactory performance of long-term residents of Mexico City, an environment with high air pollution, with the olfactory performance of residents of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, a region geographically similar to Mexico City but with low air pollution. Healthy volunteers [82 Mexico City subjects (MEX), 86 Tlaxcala subjects (TLX)] 20-63 years of age and balanced for age and gender between the two localities were tested for the perception of the odors of everyday beverages presented in squeeze bottles. When tested with ascending concentrations of stimuli in a three-way oddball paradigm, residents of Tlaxcala detected the odors of instant coffee and of an orange drink at significantly lower concentrations than residents of Mexico City. They also performed significantly better in discriminating between the two similar-smelling Mexican beverages horchata and atole in an oddball test. Significant differences between the two populations in overall olfactory performance were apparent in three of the four age classes (20- to 29-, 30- to 39-, and 40- to 49-year-old subjects) but not in the 50-63 years age class. About 10% of MEX subjects compared to about 2% of TLX subjects were judged to have poor olfactory function; all were from the older age classes (mean age: 48.6 years). Thus, air pollution in Mexico City appears to have a substantial impact on olfactory function even in young and middle-aged residents.

Here we describe the nerves innervating the perineal skin together with their sensory fields in the adult female rat. Electrophysiological recording showed that the lumbosacral and L6-S1 trunks, in part by way of the sacral plexus, transmit sensory information from the perineal skin via four nerves: the viscerocutaneous branch of the pelvic nerve innervating the skin at the midline between the vaginal opening and anus, the sensory branch of the pudendal nerve innervating the clitoral sheath, the distal perineal branch of the pudendal nerve innervating a broad area of skin adjacent to the vaginal opening and anus, and the proximal perineal branch of the sacral plexus innervating a broad area of skin adjacent to the clitoris and vaginal opening. The sensory fields of three of these nerves overlapped to some degree: the viscerocutaneous branch of the pelvic and the distal perineal branch of the pudendal nerves at the midline skin between the vaginal opening and the anus, and the distal perineal branch of the pudendal nerve and the proximal perineal branch of the sacral plexus at the skin lateral to the vaginal opening. Such overlap might provide a safeguard helping to ensure that somatosensory input from the perineal region important for triggering reproductive and nonreproductive reflexes reaches the CNS.

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), like many small mammals, have a marked postpartum estrus, and during the breeding season, are often both pregnant and lactating. We examined reproductive performance and allocation of resources by rabbit mothers with overlapping litters under presumably optimal conditions of unrestricted food, standardized litter size, and young reproductive age. Even under these conditions, females raising overlapping litters incurred higher costs in terms of greatly increased food intake and pup mortality than females raising nonoverlapping litters. Despite such costs, females with overlapping litters raised a larger total number of young to weaning than females without the load of simultaneous lactation and pregnancy. By more than doubling food intake during lactation, females maintained a stable baseline body weight throughout the study, suggesting that this, in a species with low fat reserves, might have priority over the short-term raising of a maximum number of young. Contrary to the expectation that females with overlapping litters would allocate more resources to their senior young, no appreciable difference in number, growth, or survival between pups of senior and junior litters was found either at birth or weaning. While this might reflect a strategy in this opportunistic breeder of distributing reproductive chances similarly between senior and junior litters, it is now necessary to investigate females' breeding strategy when resources are limited., (Copyright 2004 Elsevier Inc.)

Anatomical descriptions of the genitofemoral nerve (GFn) innervating the lower pelvic area are contradictory. Here we re-examine its origin and innervation by its various branches of principal target organs in the male rat. Using gross dissection, electrophysiological techniques and retrograde tracing of motoneurones with horseradish peroxidase, we confirm that the GFn originates from lumbar spinal nerves 1 and 2, and that at the level of the common iliac artery it divides into a lateral femoral and a medial genital branch. In contrast to previous studies, we report that the genital and not the femoral branch innervates the abdominal-inguinal skin, and not only the genital but also the femoral branch innervates the cremaster muscle (Cm) surrounding the testes. Motoneurones innervating the Cm proper are located in the ventral nucleus of L1 and L2, and those innervating the muscular transition region of the rostral Cm are located in the ventral nucleus in L1 and the ventrolateral nucleus in L2. The GFn may contribute to male reproductive performance by transmitting cutaneous information during copulation and, via contraction of the Cm to promote ejaculation, the protective displacement of the testes into the abdominal cavity during fighting and as a sperm-protecting thermoregulatory measure.

Little information is available on the participation of the perineal striated muscles in female reproductive processes. Here, we describe the gross anatomy and innervation of two striated perineal muscles in the female rabbit, the bulbospongiosus (BSM) and ischiocavernosus (ISM), and analyze their reflex electromyographic (EMG) activity in response to stimulation of the perigenital skin and vaginal tract. Twenty-four mature chinchilla-breed rabbit does were used: 12 to describe the anatomy and innervation of the muscles, 9 to determine reflex EMG activity of the muscles in response to stimulation of the perigenital skin and specific levels of the vaginal tract and 3 to analyze the effect of contraction of the muscles on intravaginal pressure. Both muscles were well developed, with their fibers originating at the ischiadic arch and inserting onto the ligamentum suspensorium clitoridis. Branches of the clitoral and perineal nerves innervated the BSM and ISM, respectively. Bilateral electrical stimulation of these nerves provoked retraction of the clitoral sheath and an increase in intravaginal pressure at the level of the perineal vagina. Whereas neither muscle responded to stimulation of the perigenital skin, both were reflexively activated during mechanical stimulation of the inner walls of the perineal vagina. Prolonged cervical stimulation inhibited this reflex. Thus, in reproductive processes such as copulation and/or parturition, the contraction of these muscles may be induced during stimulation of the perineal vagina.

Although the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) continues to play an important role in the study of parturitional processes, a detailed behavioral description of birth in this species, necessary for accurately assessing the effects of experimental manipulation, is lacking. It is the aim of this report to provide such a description and to compare it with corresponding behavior in the better-studied rat. Ten pregnant chinchilla-breed rabbits and 10 pregnant Wistar rats were placed in glass-bottomed observation cages 2 days before term, and their behavior recorded on closed-circuit video, viewing the animals from below. All aspects of parturition were accomplished much faster in rabbits than rats; latency to birth of first pup, rate of delivery, duration of vaginal retention, time spent by mothers eating placentas, and in licking and nursing pups. In contrast to rat pups, rabbits were usually born separated from the placenta and already free from membranes. They were much more active, and well able to cast off any remaining membranes, suckle, and survive, whether directly attended to by the mother or not. We conclude that the tight temporal organization of events in the rabbit provides an unusually sensitive assay for investigating mechanisms underlying mammalian parturition.

To investigate the influence of experience on odor perception the responses of 40 Japanese and 44 age-matched German women to everyday odorants were compared. Subjects were presented with six 'Japanese,' six 'European' and six 'international' odorants and asked to rate them on intensity, familiarity, pleasantness and edibility, and to describe associations elicited by them, and if possible to name them. Significant differences were found between the two populations on all measures, with a close association of pleasantness ratings and edibility judgments suggesting the particular influence of eating habits on odor perception. Positive correlations between familiarity and pleasantness, strength of hedonic judgment and intensity, and familiarity and intensity were also found in both groups and for most individuals. The generality of these findings was supported by the results obtained from testing 40 Mexican women with the same odorants.

Background: Osteoporosis may be associated with parenchymal hepatopathy and chronic alcoholism. Biochemical studies which are linked with bone metabolism and the bone densitometry may help to understand its physiopathology, before the symptoms appear and its consequences become inevitable., Patients and Methods: The study of bone metabolism and densitometry has been carried out in a population of 86 males, distributed in 4 groups: group I, control (17 men), group II, patients with chronic hepatopathy without alcoholism (25 patients), group III, chronic alcoholic without hepatopathy (21 patients), and group IV, patients with chronic alcoholic hepatopathy (23 patients). The results of densitometry and biochemical parameters in relation with bone metabolism are cross checked among these 4 groups., Results: We found out that patients with chronic alcoholic hepatopathy have bone mineral density (BMD), at femoral level, significatively lower than that of the other 3 groups (p < 0.05). In chronic hepatopathy, regardless of its etiology, significant alterations in biochemical parameters of bone metabolism found, consisting basically in shrinked plasmatic level of 25-hydroxivitamin-D (25-OH-D) (p < 0.05). The plasmatic levels of calcitriol, magnesium and intact parathyroid hormone (PTHi) were significantly lower in chronic alcoholic hepatopathy than in the others 3 groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively)., Conclusions: Chronic hepatopathy is associated with deficiency in vitamin D. Alcoholism added to chronic hepatopathy has a negative influence on the plasmatic levels of calcitriol, magnesium and PTHi as well as in the femur BMD. Alcoholism not associated with chronic hepatopathy is not sufficient to cause significant alterations in the studied parameters.

In the rat the pelvic nerve consists of a viscerocutaneous (sensory) branch which receives information from pelvic viscera and the midline perineal region, and a somatomotor (muscular) branch which innervates the ilio- and pubococcygeous muscles. To investigate the contribution of these branches to the parturition process, the length of gestation and course of delivery were closely monitored in 43 pregnant, Wistar-strain rats randomly assigned to five groups: untreated control animals, animals in which the somatomotor branch of the pelvic nerve was bilaterally sectioned on Day 14 of gestation, animals in which the viscerocutaneous branch of the pelvic nerve was bilaterally sectioned on Day 14 of gestation, animals treated similarly to the previous group but with young delivered by C-section at term, and sham-operated controls. Sectioning the viscerocutaneous branch seriously disrupted parturition and resulted in major dystocia and a high percentage of stillbirths in all females. In contrast, sectioning the somatomotor branch had no apparent effect on parturition and no significant differences were found between females of this group and sham or control dams on any of the measures recorded. It is concluded that the viscerocutaneous branch of the pelvic nerve is vital for the normal course of parturition in the rat but that the somatomotor branch plays little role, if any.

The role of the male rat pubococcygeus muscle (Pcm) in the micturition reflex was analyzed. Anatomical features of Pcm, electrical stimulation of its nerve, electrical recording and stimulation of the muscle and cystometrograms were carried out. Results showed that Pcm has fibers attached to the ventrolateral part of the external urethral sphincter, and that its activity contributes to hold the tail in the midline. Pcm shows activity during fluid expulsion in cystometrograms and spontaneous micturitions. This activity produced reflex inhibition of detrusor contraction and was not the cause of intravesical high frequency oscillations. Thus, it is proposed that Pcm activity produces the discharge of its afferents which in turn activates a spinal reflex to promote continence.

Background: Despite the importance of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in reproductive research, no comprehensive account of the anatomical organization of the female reproductive tract is presently available., Methods: Based on gross dissection and on the electrical stimulation of striated muscles in 10 domestic female rabbits, it was the aim of this study to help fill this gap by describing the origin, insertion, and general action of muscles associated with the vaginal tract and with associated scent glands., Results: Compared with the better-studied rat or cat, the long vaginal tract of the rabbit is characterized by a well-developed and complex musculature. The bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus, constrictor vestibuli, and constrictor vulvae muscles, poorly developed or absent in the female rat or cat, were particularly conspicuous. Scent glands, including the newly identified preputial glands, were also a distinctive feature., Conclusion: These structures may represent specializations underlying the rapid copulation, rapid parturition, and well-developed chemical communication characteristic of the reproductive efficiency of the rabbit.

Responsiveness to pain was determined in female rats across the whole reproductive cycle using the tail-flick test. When tested immediately after mating, pain thresholds were unaltered, whereas 10 min later animals typically demonstrated hyperalgesia (Experiment 1). They also demonstrated hyperalgesia during most of pregnancy, and had significantly lower pain thresholds than the unmated controls except for the 24 h before parturition, when a sudden increase in tail-flick latencies was recorded (Experiment 2). Pain thresholds were also significantly lower throughout the nursing period but increased significantly when dams were separated from their litters for 6 h, and returned to premating baseline values within 24 h of weaning (Experiment 3). These findings confirm and extend earlier reports that female reproductive state may significantly modify responsiveness to noxious stimuli, and it is suggested that differences between the results of this and previous studies may be at least partly explained by the relatively stress-free test procedure adopted here.

Pain threshold was determined in female rats using the tail flick test. Latency to respond depended on the locus of the tail heated, with the most distal sites resulting in the shortest response times (Experiment 1). Tail flick latency also varied according to the time of day, with shorter response times recorded around the middle of the dark phase than near its beginning or after its end. This was the case for intact, for ovariectomized, and for ovariectomized, estradiol-treated rats (Experiment 2). However, response times also varied across the estrous cycle, with significantly shorter latencies recorded during estrus and metestrus. Ovariectomy abolished these fluctuations, and whereas administration of estradiol increased response times, progesterone had little effect (Experiment 3). These results suggest that site of tail heating, time of day, and presence of ovarian hormones can influence tail flick latency independently, thus demonstrating the complexity of the mechanisms that may contribute to pain threshold even within the same paradigm.

Background: Ultraviolet B radiation decidedly influences the synthesis of vitamin D and therefore mineral and bone metabolism. It must also be taken into account that a normal unsupplemented diet is usually deficient in this vitamin. Two groups of subjects pertaining to the Spanish Antarctic Expedition 1988-1989 were studied to determine whether special conditions of irradiation and solar exposure found in Antarctica induce alterations in the abovementioned metabolism., Methods: Each group consisted of 11 healthy males with ingestion of less than 500 mg/day of calcium. The second group was administered vitamin D3 supplements of 1,000 UI/day. Two blood samples were performed at an interval of 22 days during the Antarctic summer to determine calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, parathormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D]., Results: Neither group varied in calcemia, phosphoremia or magnesemia. In the first group the 25(OH)D decreased markedly (p less than 0.01) with no variations being observed in PTH. In the supplemented group, and insignificant increase of 25(OH)D was observed which was significant enough to cause a marked decrease in PTH (p less than 0.01)., Conclusions: Subjects passing periods of time in Antarctica should receive vitamin D3 supplementation at doses less than 1,000 UI/day.