Aquisição de uma tarefa temporal (DRL) por ratos submetidos a lesão seletiva do giro denteado The acquisition of a temporal task (DRL) by dentate gyrus-selective colchicine lesioned rats

A lesão seletiva do giro denteado (DG) reduz a eficiência do desempenho de ratos treinados pré-operatoriamente em um esquema de reforçamento diferencial de baixas taxas (DRL); embora os animais lesados sejam capazes de suprimir a resposta de pressão na barra por determinado intervalo de tempo após a resposta anterior, eles subestimam esse intervalo, resultando em um desempenho menos eficiente. Como os animais tinham recebido treinamento pré-operatório, não ficou claro se a lesão interfere na aquisição da discriminação temporal. Este estudo avaliou o efeito da lesão do DG na aquisição de uma tarefa de DRL-20 s. Ratos foram submetidos à neurocirurgia e então ao treino na tarefa de DRL-20 s. Os resultados mostraram que embora os animais lesados se beneficiem do treinamento na tarefa, sua aquisição não é tão eficiente quanto a exibida pelos animais controle. Os resultados sugerem ainda que a lesão do giro denteado interfere na acuidade da discriminação temporal.<br>Previous studies have shown that dentate gyrus damage render rats less efficient than sham-operated controls in the performance of a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL-20 s) task acquired prior to the lesion; even though the lesioned rats were able to postpone their responses after a previous bar press, they seem to underestimate time relative to sham-operated controls, which interferes with their performance. This study investigated the effects of multiplesite, intradentate, colchicine injections on the acquisition and performance of a DRL-20 s task in rats not exposed to preoperatory training, i.e., trained after the lesion. Results showed that the lesioned rats improved along repetitive training in the DRL-20 s task; however, relative to the sham-operated controls, their acquisition rate was slower and the level of proficiency achieved was poorer, indicating that damage to the dentate gyrus interferes with temporal discrimination

A Sodium Oxalate-Rich Diet Induces Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiac Dysfunction in Rats

International audienceChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health issue affecting 14% of the general population. However, research focusing on CKD mechanisms/treatment is limited because of a lack of animal models recapitulating the disease physiopathology, including its complications. We analyzed the effects of a three-week diet rich in sodium oxalate (OXA diet) on rats and showed that, compared to controls, rats developed a stable CKD with a 60% reduction in glomerular filtration rate, elevated blood urea levels and proteinuria. Histological analyses revealed massive cortical disorganization, tubular atrophy and fibrosis. Males and females were sensitive to the OXA diet, but decreasing the diet period to one week led to GFR significance but not stable diminution. Rats treated with the OXA diet also displayed classical CKD complications such as elevated blood pressure and reduced hematocrit. Functional cardiac analyses revealed that the OXA diet triggered significant cardiac dysfunction. Altogether, our results showed the feasibility of using a convenient and non-invasive strategy to induce CKD and its classical systemic complications in rats. This model, which avoids kidney mass loss or acute toxicity, has strong potential for research into CKD mechanisms and novel therapies, which could protect and postpone the use of dialysis or transplantation