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At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Exposure to hexanal odor influences maternal behavior and induces neonatal death in Fyn tyrosine kinase-deficient mice.

Fyn-deficient pups born of Fyn-deficient parents die because they fail to suckle within 1-2 days after birth. Here we demonstrate that the neonatal death phenotype was influenced by the genetic background and an environmental odor. The odor of hexanal (C6-aldehyde) partially impaired mouse maternal behavior and induced the neonatal death of Fyn-deficient pups born of Fyn-deficient parents. This death phenotype was first observed in the breeding environment using autoclaved chips of Douglas fir. An analysis of the volatile chemicals in the autoclaved chips revealed an approximately 10-fold greater amount of hexanal than in non-autoclaved chips. Hexanal influenced the length of time virgin female mice engage in the maternal crouching behavior. In addition, Fyn-deficient females exhibited defects in the maternal behavior of nest building and pup retrieval, regardless of exposure to hexanal. These observations provide new insights into the regulation of maternal behavior by environmental and genetic factors.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1991

The importance of animal cognition in agricultural animal production systems: an overview.

To describe and then fulfill agricultural animals' needs, we must learn more about their fundamental psychological and behavioral processes. How does this animal feel? Is that animal suffering? Will we ever be able to know these things? Scientists specializing in animal cognition say that there are numerous problems but that they can be overcome. Recognition by scientists of the notion of animal awareness has been increasing in recent years, because of the work of Griffin and others. Feeling, thinking, remembering, and imagining are cognitive processes that are factors in the economic and humane production of agricultural animals. It has been observed that the animal welfare debate depends on two controversial questions: Do animals have subjective feelings? If they do, can we find indicators that reveal them? Here, indirect behavioral analysis approaches must be taken. Moreover, the linear additivity of several stressor effects on a variety of animal traits suggests that some single phenomenon is acting as a "clearinghouse" for many or all of the stresses acting on an animal at any given time, and this phenomenon might be psychological stress. Specific situations animals may encounter in agricultural production settings are discussed with respect to the animals' subjective feelings.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2002

Severe impairment of NMDA receptor function in mice carrying targeted point mutations in the glycine binding site results in drug-resistant nonhabituating hyperactivity.

NMDA receptor hypofunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and pharmacological and genetic approaches have been used to model such dysfunction. We previously have described two mouse lines carrying point mutations in the NMDA receptor glycine binding site, Grin1(D481N) and Grin1(K483Q), which exhibit 5- and 86-fold reductions in receptor glycine affinity, respectively. Grin1(D481N) animals exhibit a relatively mild phenotype compatible with a moderate reduction in NMDA receptor function, whereas Grin1(K483Q) animals die shortly after birth. In this study we have characterized compound heterozygote Grin1(D481N/K483Q) mice, which are viable and exhibited biphasic NMDA receptor glycine affinities compatible with the presence of each of the two mutated alleles. Grin1(D481N/K483Q) mice exhibited a marked NMDA receptor hypofunction revealed by deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation, which were rescued by the glycine site agonist d-serine, which also facilitated NMDA synaptic currents in mutant, but not in wild-type, mice. Analysis of striatal monoamine levels revealed an apparent dopaminergic and serotonergic hyperfunction. Behaviorally, Grin1(D481N/K483Q) mice were insensitive to acute dizocilpine pretreatment and exhibited increased startle response but normal prepulse inhibition. Most strikingly, mutant mice exhibited a sustained, nonhabituating hyperactivity and increased stereotyped behavior that were resistant to suppression by antipsychotics and the benzodiazepine site agonist Zolpidem. They also displayed a disruption of nest building behavior and were unable to perform a cued learning paradigm in the Morris water maze. We speculate that the severity of NMDA receptor hypofunction in these mice may account for their profound behavioral phenotype and insensitivity to antipsychotics.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electrophoretic, skeletal, and behavioral divergence of two C3H substrains of mice.

Two C3H substrains of mice, one Australian and one English, were reared under identical conditions in the same laboratory. Electrophoretic and morphometric studies indicated there were genetic differences between the substrains. There were skeletal differences for both metrical and nonmetrical traits of the skeleton scored, and the substrains differed for two of 29 biochemical markers screened electrophoretically. In combination, these results indicate that the two substrains have diverged genetically. A comparison of nest-building behavior indicated that the substrains also differed from one another for the weight of material used to build a nest and the shape of the nest built. The demonstration of genetic divergence in biochemical and morphological traits makes it plausible that these behavioral differences also are due to genetic differences. The implications of these findings for animal studies, especially behavior-genetic studies, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Parental and first generation effects of exogenous 17beta-estradiol on reproductive performance of female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Steroids hormones have numerous "activational" effects in adult birds, regulating sexual behavior, and more recently maternal androgens have been shown to have potentially important "organizational" effects in ovo, influencing offspring growth, development, and behavior. In this study I investigated parental and first-generation effects of exogenous estrogens on female reproduction in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). 17beta-Estradiol (E2; 1.2 microg/g, 4 daily injections i.m.) elevated plasma levels of the yolk precursors, vitellogenin (VTG) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), in nonbreeding females to levels similar to those of breeding females. However, E2-treatment of breeding females caused no significant change in plasma VTG or VLDL levels compared to control birds (measured at the 1-egg stage), and there was no difference in reproductive performance between groups (egg size, clutch size, timing of laying). E2-treated females produced significantly more daughters than sons (21F:8M) at fledging, compared to control females (18F:19M). Nestling mortality was significantly higher in broods of E2-treated females, suggesting that the skewed sex ratio may have resulted from differential mortality of male chicks. The pattern of chick mortality in E2-broods was not consistent with this being caused by estrogen-mediated changes in parental behavior (e.g., provisoning). Mean egg mass of daughters of E2-treated females was typical of experienced, adult breeders, and larger than normal, first-time breeders or control offspring (0.947 vs 0.850 g). There was no treatment effect on offspring clutch size or laying interval. These results suggest that early exposure to maternal estrogens in ovo might be involved in establishing intraindividual variation in female-specific phenotypic traits, as has previously been demonstrated for androgens and male behavioral traits (e.g., aggression).

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Normal and experimentally induced changes in hormonal hemolymph titers during parental behavior of the earwig Labidura riparia.

The reproductive cycle of Labidura riparia includes two distinct phases of behavior: a feeding and sexual phase followed by a parental and fasting phase. These phases correspond to two contrasting physiological phases (vitellogenesis, followed by ovarian inactivity). These correlations have been verified by correlating radioimmunoassay (RIA) measurements of the levels of circulating juvenile hormones (JH) and ecdysteroids with ovarian state during the first reproductive cycle. Similar studies were also made after experimentally suppressing parental activity (care of eggs) either by depriving females of their eggs or by force-feeding during the egg-care phase. Taking eggs away without feeding caused the disappearance of parental behavior and a short lived period of vitellogenesis. Likewise, feeding in the presence of eggs resulted in vitellogenesis and disappearance of egg-care behavior. Thus, it appears that in order for the parental phase to develop normally it is necessary to preserve the proper external conditions (the presence of eggs) and physiological conditions (fasting).

Animals↗