Zebrafish as animal model for aquaculture nutrition research.

The aquaculture industry continues to promote the diversification of ingredients used in aquafeed in order to achieve a more sustainable aquaculture production system. The evaluation of large numbers of diets in aquaculture species is costly and requires time-consuming trials in some species. In contrast, zebrafish (Danio rerio) can solve these drawbacks as an experimental model, and represents an ideal organism to carry out preliminary evaluation of diets. In addition, zebrafish has a sequenced genome allowing the efficient utilization of new technologies, such as RNA-sequencing and genotyping platforms to study the molecular mechanisms that underlie the organism's response to nutrients. Also, biotechnological tools like transgenic lines with fluorescently labeled neutrophils that allow the evaluation of the immune response in vivo, are readily available in this species. Thus, zebrafish provides an attractive platform for testing many ingredients to select those with the highest potential of success in aquaculture. In this perspective article aspects related to diet evaluation in which zebrafish can make important contributions to nutritional genomics and nutritional immunity are discussed

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Spontaneous Large Animal Model of Human HCM.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common disease in pet cats, affecting 10-15% of the pet cat population. The similarity to human HCM, the rapid progression of disease, and the defined and readily determined endpoints of feline HCM make it an excellent natural model that is genotypically and phenotypically similar to human HCM. The Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats are particularly valuable models of HCM because of myosin binding protein-C mutations and even higher disease incidence compared to the overall feline population. The cat overcomes many of the limitations of rodent HCM models, and can provide enhanced translation of information from in vitro and induced small animal models to human clinical trials. Physicians and veterinarians working together in a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach can accelerate the discovery of more effective treatments for this and other cardiovascular diseases affecting human and veterinary patients

Central and peripheral insulin resistance in a large animal model of obesity

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD

Neuropathological events in an animal model resembling human fetal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

Introduction: In premature newborns, intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) probably trigger the disruption of the neurogenic ventricular zone. Most of the cases with severe IVH develop post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). A mouse model with IVH has been developed to research into the common neuropathological events present in PHH and into possible therapies. Methods: In two-day-old mice, the blood serum from littermates was injected into the ganglionic eminence of one hemisphere or both hemispheres. Fourteen days later, a histopathological analysis was carried out. In the case of injection in one hemisphere, the effects were compared with the contralateral non-injected hemisphere. Results: Mice with IVH developed the following neuropathological effects. The ependyma was found denuded and replaced by reactive astrocytes. A reaction of astrocytes over-expressing aquaporin-4 and of NG2 cells was also found developed in the white matter. Alterations in the neurogenesis were also common in the ventricular zone and in the white matter. Conclusions: The animal model of IVH developed shows similar neuropathological events to other forms of congenital hydrocephalus and can be used to research into therapies for PHH.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PI15/0619 (ISCIII/FEDER) to AJJ

Examination of Fluconazole-Induced Alopecia in an Animal Model and Human Cohort.

Fluconazole-induced alopecia is a significant problem for patients receiving long-term therapy. We evaluated the hair cycle changes of fluconazole in a rat model and investigated potential molecular mechanisms. Plasma and tissue levels of retinoic acid were not found to be causal. Human patients with alopecia attributed to fluconazole also underwent detailed assessment and in both our murine model and human cohort fluconazole induced telogen effluvium. Future work further examining the mechanism of fluconazole-induced alopecia should be undertaken

The Chihuahua dog: A new animal model for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis CLN7 disease?

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a group of incurable lysosomal storage disorders characterized by neurodegeneration and accumulation of lipopigments mainly within the neurons. We studied two littermate Chihuahua dogs presenting with progressive signs of blindness, ataxia, pacing, and cognitive impairment from 1 year of age. Because of worsening of clinical signs, both dogs were euthanized at about 2 years of age. Postmortem examination revealed marked accumulation of autofluorescent intracellular inclusions within the brain, characteristic of NCL. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on one of the affected dogs. After sequence alignment and variant calling against the canine reference genome, variants were identified in the coding region or splicing regions of four previously known NCL genes (CLN6, ARSG, CLN2 [=TPP1], and CLN7 [=MFSD8]). Subsequent segregation analysis within the family (two affected dogs, both parents, and three relatives) identified MFSD8:p.Phe282Leufs13*, which had previously been identified in one Chinese crested dog with no available ancestries, as the causal mutation. Because of the similarities of the clinical signs and histopathological changes with the human form of the disease, we propose that the Chihuahua dog could be a good animal model of CLN7 disease

Postnatal maturation of the glomerular filtration rate in conventional growing piglets as potential juvenile animal model for preclinical pharmaceutical research

Adequate animal models are required to study the preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and safety of drugs in the pediatric subpopulation. Over the years, pigs were presented as a potential animal model, since they display a high degree of anatomical and physiological similarities with humans. To assess the suitability of piglets as a preclinical animal model for children, the ontogeny and maturation processes of several organ systems have to be unraveled and compared between both species. The kidneys play a pivotal role in the PK and PD of various drugs, therefore, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured as clearance of endogenous creatinine (Jaffe and enzymatic assay) and exo-iohexol was determined in conventional piglets aging 8 days (n = 16), 4 weeks (n = 8) and 7 weeks (n = 16). The GFR data were normalized to bodyweight (BW), body surface area (BSA) and kidney weight (KW). Normalization to BSA and KW showed an increase in GFR from 46.57 to 100.92 mL/min/m2 and 0.49 to 1.51 mL/min/g KW from 8 days to 7 weeks of age, respectively. Normalization to BW showed a less pronounced increase from 3.55 to 4.31 mL/min/kg. The postnatal development of the GFR was comparable with humans, rendering the piglet a convenient juvenile animal model for studying the PK, PD and safety of drugs in the pediatric subpopulation. Moreover, to facilitate the assessment of the GFR in growing piglets in subsequent studies, a formula was elaborated to estimate the GFR based on plasma creatinine and BW, namely eGFR =1.879 × BW^1.092/Pcr^0.600

The crab Neohelice (=Chasmagnathus) granulata: An emergent animal model from emergent countries

Neohelice granulata (previously known as Chasmagnathus granulata and C. granulatus) is a burrowing semiterrestrial crab found in the intertidal zone of estuaries, salt marshes and mangroves of the South-western Atlantic Ocean. Beginning in the late 1989s, an explosion of publications appeared in international journals dealing with its ecology, physiology, toxicology and behavior. A bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database allowed detecting 309 papers that deal with this species during the period 1986–2009. The number of papers per year increased continuously, reaching a mean annual value of 22.6 during the last 5 years; a great majority of them were authored by researchers from Argentina and Brazil. Neohelice granulata has become now one of the most studied crab species, after Carcinus maenas, Callinectes sapidus, Scylla serrata and Cancer pagurus and C. magister, and it can be considered as an emergent animal model for biochemical, physiological and ecological research.Fil: Spivak, Eduardo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Activity Based Anorexia as an Animal Model for Anorexia Nervosa–A Systematic Review

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder affecting around 1 per 100 persons. However, the knowledge about its underlying pathophysiology is limited. To address the need for a better understanding of AN, an animal model was established early on in the late 1960's: the activity-based anorexia (ABA) model in which rats have access to a running wheel combined with restricted food access leading to self-starving/body weight loss and hyperactivity. Both symptoms, separately or combined, can also be found in patients with AN. The aim of this systematic review was to compile the current knowledge about this animal model as well as to address gaps in knowledge. Using the data bases of PubMed, Embase and Web of science 102 publications were identified meeting the search criteria. Here, we show that the ABA model mimics core features of human AN and has been characterized with regards to brain alterations, hormonal changes as well as adaptations of the immune system. Moreover, pharmacological interventions in ABA animals and new developments, such as a chronic adaptation of the ABA model, will be highlighted. The chronic model might be well suited to display AN characteristics but should be further characterized. Lastly, limitations of the model will be discussed