Novel sampling strategy for alive animal volatolome extraction combined with GC-MS based untargeted metabolomics: Identifying mouse pup pheromones

In this study, we identify 11 mouse pup volatiles putatively involved in maternal care induction in adult females. For this purpose, we have adapted the dynamic headspace methodology to extract the volatolome of whole alive animals. Untargeted metabolomic methodology was used to compare the volatolome of neonatal (4–6 days) with elder pups until the age of weaning (21–23 days old). Pup volatolome was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to single quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) using automated thermal desorption for sample introduction. After data processing and multivariate statistical analysis, comparison with NIST spectral library allowed identifying compounds secreted preferentially by neonatal pups: di(propylen glycol) methyl ether, 4-nonenal, di(ethylene glycol) monobutyl ether, 2-phenoxyethanol, isomethyl ionone, tridecanal, 1,3-diethylbenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, 2-ethyl-p-xylene and tri(propylene glycol) methyl ether. Palmitic acid was enriched in the volatolome of fourth week youngsters compared to neonatal pups. The results demonstrated the great potential of the new sampling procedure combined with GC-MS based untargeted volatolomics to identify volatile pheromones in mammals.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Untargeted metabolomics approach using UHPLC-IMS-QTOF MS for surface body samples to identify low-volatility chemosignals related to maternal care in mice

The present study is focused on the determination of low-volatile chemosignals excreted or secreted by mouse pups in their early days of life involved in maternal care induction in mice adult females. Untargeted metabolomics was employed to differentiate between samples collected with swabs from facial and anogenital area from neonatal mouse pups receiving maternal care (first two weeks of life) and the elder mouse pups in the weaning period (4th week old). The sample extracts were analysed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to ion mobility separation (IMS) in combination with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). After data processing with Progenesis QI and multivariate statistical analysis, five markers present in the first two weeks of mouse pups life and putatively involved in materno-filial chemical communication were tentatively identified: arginine, urocanic acid, erythro-sphingosine (d17:1), sphingosine (d18:1) and sphinganine. The four-dimensional data and the tools associated to the additional structural descriptor obtained by IMS separation were of great help in the compound identification. The results demonstrated the great potential of UHPLC-IMS-HRMS based untargeted metabolomics to identity putative pheromones in mammals.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Becoming a mother shifts the activity of the social and motivation brain networks in mice

During pregnancy hormones increase motivated pup-directed behaviors. We here analyze hormone-induced changes in brain activity, by comparing cFos-immunoreactivity in the sociosexual (SBN) and motivation brain networks (including medial preoptic area, MPO) of virgin versus late-pregnant pup-naïve female mice exposed to pups or buttons (control). Pups activate more the SBN than buttons in both late-pregnant and virgin females. By contrast, pregnancy increases pup-elicited activity in the motivation circuitry (e.g. accumbens core) but reduces button-induced activity and, consequently, button investigation. Principal components analysis supports the identity of the social and motivation brain circuits, placing the periaqueductal gray between both systems. Linear discriminant analysis of cFos-immunoreactivity in the socio-motivational brain network predicts the kind of female and stimulus better than the activity of the MPO alone; this suggests that the neuroendocrinological basis of social (e.g. maternal) behaviors conforms to a neural network model, rather than to distinct hierarchical linear pathways for different behaviors

Pregnancy Changes the Response of the Vomeronasal and Olfactory Systems to Pups in Mice

Motherhood entails changes in behavior with increased motivation for pups, induced in part by pregnancy hormones acting upon the brain. This work explores whether this alters sensory processing of pup-derived chemosignals. To do so, we analyse the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in the vomeronasal organ (VNO; Egr1) and centers of the olfactory and vomeronasal brain pathways (cFos) in virgin and late-pregnant females exposed to pups, as compared to buttons (socially neutral control). In pup-exposed females, we quantified diverse behaviors including pup retrieval, sniffing, pup-directed attack, nest building and time in nest or on nest, as well as time off nest. Pups induce Egr1 expression in the VNO of females, irrespective of their physiological condition, thus suggesting the existence of VNO-detected pup chemosignals. A similar situation is found in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) and posteromedial part of the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTMPM). By contrast, in the medial amygdala and posteromedial cortical amygdala (PMCo), responses to pups-vs-buttons are different in virgin and late-pregnant females, thus suggesting altered sensory processing during late pregnancy. The olfactory system also shows changes in sensory processing with pregnancy. In the main olfactory bulbs, as well as the anterior and posterior piriform cortex, buttons activate cFos expression in virgins more than in pregnant females. By contrast, in the anterior and especially posterior piriform cortex, pregnant females show more activation by pups than buttons. Correlation between IEGs expression and behavior suggests the existence of two vomeronasal subsystems: one associated to pup care (with PMCo as its main center) and another related to pup-directed aggression observed in some pregnant females (with the BSTMPM as the main nucleus). Our data also suggest a coactivation of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems during interaction with pups in pregnant females

Ready for motherhood. Chemosensory, socio-sexual and motivational brain networks adjust their activity during pregnancy.

Maternal behaviour is instinctively induced by pups during late gestation and postpartum, when hormonal changes elicit increased motivation towards offspring and aggressiveness towards potentially infanticidal intruders. In this thesis, we study the possible role of pup odours/pheromones in the attraction they cause in dams. To do so, we analyse the brain activation induced by pups and by non-social control objects (buttons), and the changes that occur in this activation at the end of pregnancy. We focus on the chemosensory systems (olfactory and vomeronasal) including the vomeronasal organ, demonstrating changes in sensory processing during motherhood. We also analyse the activity patterns in the circuits of social behaviour (socio-sexual brain network) and those of motivation. The results indicate that gestation increases motivation towards pups and decreases motivation towards non-social objects (buttons).Programa de Doctorat en Ciències Biomèdiques i Salu

Integrate and learn. Building a farm-to-table blockchain

DecanatoFac. de VeterinariaFALSEsubmitte

Guía de Terapéutica Antimicrobiana del Área Aljarafe, 3ª edición

Coordinadora: Rocío Fernández Urrusuno. Co-coordinadora: Carmen Serrano Martino.YesEstas guías son un recurso indispensable en los Programas de Optimización de Antibióticos (PROA). No sólo constituyen una herramienta de ayuda para la toma de decisiones en los principales síndromes infecciosos, proporcionando recomendaciones para el abordaje empírico de dichos procesos, sino que son el patrón/estándar de referencia que permitirá determinar la calidad o adecuación de los tratamientos realizados. Las guías pueden ser utilizadas, además, como herramienta de base para la formación y actualización en antibioterapia, ya que permiten mantener actualizados los conocimientos sobre las nuevas evidencias en el abordaje de las infecciones. Por último, deberían incorporar herramientas que faciliten el proceso de toma de decisiones compartidas con el paciente. El objetivo de esta guía es proporcionar recomendaciones para el abordaje de las enfermedades infecciosas más prevalentes en la comunidad, basadas en las últimas evidencias disponibles y los datos de resistencias de los principales patógenos que contribuyan a mejorar la calidad de la prescripción de antimicrobianos