Contribution of Social Isolation, Restraint, and Hindlimb Unloading to Changes in Hemodynamic Parameters and Motion Activity in Rats

The most accepted animal model for simulation of the physiological and morphological consequences of microgravity on the cardiovascular system is one of head-down hindlimb unloading. Experimental conditions surrounding this model include not only head-down tilting of rats, but also social and restraint stresses that have their own influences on cardiovascular system function. Here, we studied levels of spontaneous locomotor activity, blood pressure, and heart rate during 14 days under the following experimental conditions: cage control, social isolation in standard rat housing, social isolation in special cages for hindlimb unloading, horizontal attachment (restraint), and head-down hindlimb unloading. General activity and hemodynamic parameters were continuously monitored in conscious rats by telemetry. Heart rate and blood pressure were both evaluated during treadmill running to reveal cardiovascular deconditioning development as a result of unloading. The main findings of our work are that: social isolation and restraint induced persistent physical inactivity, while unloading in rats resulted in initial inactivity followed by normalization and increased locomotion after one week. Moreover, 14 days of hindlimb unloading showed significant elevation of blood pressure and slight elevation of heart rate. Hemodynamic changes in isolated and restrained rats largely reproduced the trends observed during unloading. Finally, we detected no augmentation of tachycardia during moderate exercise in rats after 14 days of unloading. Thus, we concluded that both social isolation and restraint, as an integral part of the model conditions, contribute essentially to cardiovascular reactions during head-down hindlimb unloading, compared to the little changes in the hydrostatic gradient

RISE-Vac-co-production of vaccine education materials with persons living in prison

Increasing vaccination knowledge is effective in addressing hesitancy and is particularly important in populations deprived of liberty who may not routinely have access to health information, ensuring health equity. RISE-Vac is a European Union–funded project aiming to promote vaccine literacy, offer, and uptake in prisons in Europe. We consulted persons living in prisons in the United Kingdom (through the Prisoner Policy Network), France, and Moldova to determine their vaccination knowledge gaps, the information they would like to receive, and how they would like to receive it. We received 344 responses: 224 from the United Kingdom, 70 from France, and 50 from Moldova. Participants were particularly interested in learning about the effectiveness, side effects, and manufacturing of vaccines. Their responses guided the development of educational materials, including a brochure that will be piloted in prisons in Europe. Persons with experience of imprisonment were involved at every stage of this project

Design of the experimental cages.

<p>Control (<b>A</b>), isolated-control (<b>B</b>), isolated (<b>C</b>), attached (<b>D</b>), and unloaded (<b>E</b>) rats.</p

Nighttime (NT) and daylight (DL) spontaneous locomotor activity.

<p>Activity was measured in standard cages (BL) and during 14 days (d1–d14) for control (<b>A</b>), isolated-control (<b>B</b>), isolated (<b>C</b>), attached (<b>D</b>), and unloaded (<b>E</b>) rats. Data are given as a mean ± SEM. *- P < 0.05 <i>versus</i> basal level (BL).</p

Heart rate and blood pressure during treadmill running.

<p>Heart rate (left) and mean arterial pressure (right) during a treadmill running test before (<b>PRE</b>) and after (<b>POST</b>) 14-days of control (<b>A</b>), isolation-control (<b>B</b>), isolation (<b>C</b>), attachment (<b>D</b>), and unloading (<b>E</b>). Cage: in experimental cage. TM1: in the treadmill cage, at rest, before exercise. EX: during treadmill running. TM2: in the treadmill cage, at rest, after exercise. Data are given as a mean ± SEM. *and # - P < 0.05 <i>versus</i> respective TM1 level.</p

Heart rate changes.

<p>Nighttime (NT) and daylight (DL) heart rate measured in standard cages (BL) and during 14 days (d1–d14) for control (<b>A</b>), isolated-control (<b>B</b>), isolated (<b>C</b>), attached (<b>D</b>), and unloaded (<b>E</b>) rats. Data are given as a mean ± SEM. *- P < 0.05 <i>versus</i> basal level (BL).</p

Body weight and food consumption.

<p>Values are group means for 7 days ± SEM, *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> < 0.01 ***<i>P</i> < 0.001 <i>vs.</i> control group.</p