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1
Van Der Horst, Dick J. "Insects as Model Systems for Animal Physiology." Netherlands Journal of Zoology 44, no. 1-2 (1993): 130–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156854294x00105.
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Samsel, R. W., G. A. Schmidt, J. B. Hall, L. D. Wood, S. G. Shroff, and P. T. Schumacker. "Cardiovascular physiology teaching: computer simulations vs. animal demonstrations." Advances in Physiology Education 266, no. 6 (1994): S36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advances.1994.266.6.s36.
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The roots of physiology lie in laboratory observation, and physiology courses continue to rely on laboratory observation to provide students with practical information to correlate with their developing base of conceptual knowledge. To this end, animal laboratories provide a functioning example of interactions among organ systems and a source of data for student analysis. However, there are continuing objections to using animals for teaching, and animal labs are costly in time and effort. As an alternative laboratory tool, computer software can simulate the operation of multiple organ systems: responses to interventions illustrate intrinsic organ behavior and integrated systems physiology. Advantages of software over animal studies include alteration of variables that are not easily changed in vivo, repeated interventions, and cost-effective hands-on student access. Nevertheless, simulations miss intangible aspects of experimental physiology, and results depend critically on the assumptions of the model. We used both computer and animal demonstrations in teaching cardiovascular physiology to first-year medical students. The students rated both highly, but the computer-based session received a higher rating. We believe that both forms of teaching have educational merit. At the introductory level, the computer appears to provide an effective alternative.
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Loor, Juan J., Massimo Bionaz, and James K. Drackley. "Systems Physiology in Dairy Cattle: Nutritional Genomics and Beyond." Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 1, no. 1 (2013): 365–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-031412-103728.
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Eisthen, Heather L., and Kevin R. Theis. "Animal–microbe interactions and the evolution of nervous systems." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 371, no. 1685 (2016): 20150052. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0052.
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Animals ubiquitously interact with environmental and symbiotic microbes, and the effects of these interactions on animal physiology are currently the subject of intense interest. Nevertheless, the influence of microbes on nervous system evolution has been largely ignored. We illustrate here how taking microbes into account might enrich our ideas about the evolution of nervous systems. For example, microbes are involved in animals' communicative, defensive, predatory and dispersal behaviours, and have likely influenced the evolution of chemo- and photosensory systems. In addition, we speculate that the need to regulate interactions with microbes at the epithelial surface may have contributed to the evolutionary internalization of the nervous system.
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Fröhlich, Eleonore. "Replacement Strategies for Animal Studies in Inhalation Testing." Sci 3, no. 4 (2021): 45. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sci3040045.
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Animal testing is mandatory in drug testing and is the gold standard for toxicity and efficacy evaluations. This situation is expected to change in the future as the 3Rs principle, which stands for the replacement, reduction, and refinement of the use of animals in science, is reinforced by many countries. On the other hand, technologies for alternatives to animal testing have increased. The need to develop and use alternatives depends on the complexity of the research topic and also on the extent to which the currently used animal models can mimic human physiology and/or exposure. The lung morphology and physiology of commonly used animal species differs from that of human lungs, and the realistic inhalation exposure of animals is challenging. In vitro and in silico methods can assess important aspects of the in vivo effects, namely particle deposition, dissolution, action at, and permeation through, the respiratory barrier, and pharmacokinetics. This review discusses the limitations of animal models and exposure systems and proposes in vitro and in silico techniques that could, when used together, reduce or even replace animal testing in inhalation testing in the future.
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Blair, K. L., and P. A. V. Anderson. "Physiology and pharmacology of turbellarian neuromuscular systems." Parasitology 113, S1 (1996): S73—S82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182000077908.
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SUMMARYOur understanding of the neurobiology of the Platyhelminthes has come in large part from free-living turbellarians. In addition to providing considerable information about the capabilities of the rudimentary nervous system present in all members of the phylum, turbellarians have provided the most definitive information about the variety of ion channels present in the membranes of neurones and muscle cells, and about the physiology and pharmacology of those channels. Furthermore, preparations of single, viable muscle cells have provided some of the most conclusive evidence about the variety of transmitters present, and the types of response they evoke. Here, we review what is known about the physiology and pharmacology of the turbellarian neuromuscular system. Particular attention is given to the triclad flatworm Bdelloura Candida, the best studied species in this respect, but other species are included where relevant.
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Jin, Hengyu, Jianxin Liu, and Diming Wang. "Antioxidant Potential of Exosomes in Animal Nutrition." Antioxidants 13, no. 8 (2024): 964. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080964.
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This review delves into the advantages of exosomes as novel antioxidants in animal nutrition and their potential for regulating oxidative stress. Although traditional nutritional approaches promote oxidative stress defense systems in mammalian animals, several issues remain to be solved, such as low bioavailability, targeted tissue efficiency, and high-dose by-effect. As an important candidate offering regulation opportunities concerned with cellular communication, disease prevention, and physiology regulation in multiple biological systems, the potential of exosomes in mediating redox status in biological systems has not been well described. A previously reported relationship between redox system regulation and circulating exosomes suggested exosomes as a fundamental candidate for both a regulator and biomarker for a redox system. Herein, we review the effects of oxidative stress on exosomes in animals and the potential application of exosomes as antioxidants in animal nutrition. Then, we highlight the advantages of exosomes as redox regulators due to their higher bioavailability and physiological heterogeneity-targeted properties, providing a theoretical foundation and feed industry application. Therefore, exosomes have shown great potential as novel antioxidants in the field of animal nutrition. They can overcome the limitations of traditional antioxidants in terms of dosage and side effects, which will provide unprecedented opportunities in nutritional management and disease prevention, and may become a major breakthrough in the field of animal nutrition.
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Cassar-Malek, I., B. Picard, C. Bernard, and J. F. Hocquette. "Application of gene expression studies in livestock production systems: a European perspective." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, no. 7 (2008): 701. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea08018.
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In the context of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, understanding animal physiology remains a major challenge in the breeding and production of livestock, especially to develop animal farming systems that respond to the new and diversified consumer demand. Physiological processes depend on the expression of many genes acting in concert. Considerable effort has been expended in recent years on examining the mechanisms controlling gene expression and their regulation by biological and external factors (e.g. genetic determinants, nutritional factors, and animal management). Two main strategies have been developed to identify important genes. The first one has focussed on the expression of candidate genes for key physiological pathways at the level of both the transcripts and proteins. An original strategy has emerged with the advent of genomics that addresses the same issues through the examination of the molecular signatures of all genes and proteins using high-throughput techniques (e.g. transcriptomics and proteomics). In this review, the application of the gene expression studies in livestock production systems is discussed. Some practical examples of genomics applied to livestock production systems (e.g. to optimise animal nutrition, meat quality or animal management) are presented, and their outcomes are considered. In the future, integration of the knowledge gained from these studies will finally result in optimising livestock production systems through detection of desirable animals and their integration into accurate breeding programs or innovative management systems.
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Greenwood, Paul L., Igor Kardailsky, Warwick B. Badgery, and Gregory J. Bishop-Hurley. "381 Smart Farming for Extensive Grazing Ruminant Production Systems." Journal of Animal Science 98, Supplement_4 (2020): 139–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.257.
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Abstract Smart farming for extensive grazing systems includes applications linking environment and supply-chain, including metrics for climate, soils, pastures, animals and animal products to enhance management, optimization and predictions. Technological developments for remote monitoring in extensive systems have varied in their success and remain limited in uptake, and include: In-field, fixed-device monitoring of livestock numbers, water, photosynthesis and greenhouse gas emissions; body composition and physiology assessments using devices fixed to handling facilities; ground- or aerial-based livestock, water, pasture, invasive weeds and/or soil monitoring using photogrammetry or technologies including LiDAR; multi-channel, satellite-based spectrometry coupled with weather and soil grids to model and predict pasture biomass components; automated in-field liveweight measurement and drafting; virtual fencing; on- and in-animal devices to monitor location, activity, behaviors and physiology; GPS to monitor asset and personnel location. These technologies target productivity, efficiency, health and welfare of ruminants, including genetic improvement, and more efficient, sustainable resource use, including soils, pastures and water, to improve individual ruminants and grazing systems. We have developed and validated technologies for remote, in-field determination of animal behaviors, pasture characteristics including availability and disappearance mapping for calibration and validation of satellite images, and pasture intake under varying grazing conditions. Examples of our R&D include experimental on-animal sensor devices to classify and monitor behaviors in extensive systems, and development of a GrazingApp linking satellite imagery, weather and soil information to model and predict animal production. Development of these technologies has required analytical methods for big data, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. These and other applications that function in near to real-time are enhanced by management and aggregation of enormous amounts of data generated by sensors and other devices into useful metrics before transmission using wireless networks. These metrics are the basis for data-driven management decisions that reduce risk and enhance profit for grazing enterprises.
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Watanabe, Yuuki Y., and Yannis P. Papastamatiou. "Biologging and Biotelemetry: Tools for Understanding the Lives and Environments of Marine Animals." Annual Review of Animal Biosciences 11, no. 1 (2023): 247–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-050322-073657.
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Addressing important questions in animal ecology, physiology, and environmental science often requires in situ information from wild animals. This difficulty is being overcome by biologging and biotelemetry, or the use of miniaturized animal-borne sensors. Although early studies recorded only simple parameters of animal movement, advanced devices and analytical methods can now provide rich information on individual and group behavior, internal states, and the surrounding environment of free-ranging animals, especially those in marine systems. We summarize the history of technologies used to track marine animals. We then identify seven major research categories of marine biologging and biotelemetry and explain significant achievements, as well as future opportunities. Big data approaches via international collaborations will be key to tackling global environmental issues (e.g., climate change impacts), and curiosity about the secret lives of marine animals will also remain a major driver of biologging and biotelemetry studies.
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Thompson, Riley E., Gerrit J. Bouma, and Fiona K. Hollinshead. "The Roles of Extracellular Vesicles and Organoid Models in Female Reproductive Physiology." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23, no. 6 (2022): 3186. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063186.
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Culture model systems that can recapitulate the anatomy and physiology of reproductive organs, such as three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture systems, limit the cost and welfare concerns associated with a research animal colony and provide alternative approaches to study specific processes in humans and animals. These 3D models facilitate a greater understanding of the physiological role of individual cell types and their interactions than can be accomplished with traditional monolayer culture systems. Furthermore, 3D culture systems allow for the examination of specific cellular, molecular, or hormonal interactions, without confounding factors that occur with in vivo models, and provide a powerful approach to study physiological and pathological reproductive conditions. The goal of this paper is to review and compare organoid culture systems to other in vitro cell culture models, currently used to study female reproductive physiology, with an emphasis on the role of extracellular vesicle interactions. The critical role of extracellular vesicles for intercellular communication in physiological processes, including reproduction, has been well documented, and an overview of the roles of extracellular vesicles in organoid systems will be provided. Finally, we will propose future directions for understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in normal and pathological conditions of reproductive organs, utilizing 3D organoid culture systems.
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Neethirajan, Suresh. "Transforming the Adaptation Physiology of Farm Animals through Sensors." Animals 10, no. 9 (2020): 1512. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10091512.
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Despite recent scientific advancements, there is a gap in the use of technology to measure signals, behaviors, and processes of adaptation physiology of farm animals. Sensors present exciting opportunities for sustained, real-time, non-intrusive measurement of farm animal behavioral, mental, and physiological parameters with the integration of nanotechnology and instrumentation. This paper critically reviews the sensing technology and sensor data-based models used to explore biological systems such as animal behavior, energy metabolism, epidemiology, immunity, health, and animal reproduction. The use of sensor technology to assess physiological parameters can provide tremendous benefits and tools to overcome and minimize production losses while making positive contributions to animal welfare. Of course, sensor technology is not free from challenges; these devices are at times highly sensitive and prone to damage from dirt, dust, sunlight, color, fur, feathers, and environmental forces. Rural farmers unfamiliar with the technologies must be convinced and taught to use sensor-based technologies in farming and livestock management. While there is no doubt that demand will grow for non-invasive sensor-based technologies that require minimum contact with animals and can provide remote access to data, their true success lies in the acceptance of these technologies by the livestock industry.
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Hansen, P. J. "Role of Biotechnology in Animal Production Systems in Hot Climates." Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences [JAMS] 1 (January 1, 1996): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jams.vol1iss0pp111-119.
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Developments in the biological sciences in the last three decades have revolutionized mankind's ability to manipulate the genetics, cell biology and physiology of biological organisms. These techniques, collectively termed biotechnology, create the opportunity for modifying domestic animals in ways that markedly increase the efficiency of production. Among the procedures being developed for animal production systems are marker-assisted selection of specific alleles of a gene that are associated with high production, production of transgenic animals , super ovulation and embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, embryo sexing and cloning, production of large amounts of previously-rare proteins through use of genetically -engineered bacteria or other cells, and identification of new biologically-active molecules as potential regulators of animal function. To date, most uses of biotechnology have concentrated on problems of general relevance to animal agriculture rather than specific problems related to livestock production in hot climates. However, it is likely that biotechnology will be used for this latter purpose also. Strategies to increase disease resistance using marker-assisted selection, production of transgenic animals expressing viral proteins, and recombinant cytokines to enhance immune function should prove useful to reducing the incidence and seventy of various tropical diseases. Additionally, there are methods to reduce effects of heat stress on oestrus detection and establishment of pregnancy. These include remote sensing of oestrus, ovulation synchronization systems and embryo transfer. More research regarding the physiological processes determining heat tolerance and of the pathways through which heat stress alters physiological function will be required before molecular biology techniques can be used to reduce the adverse effects of heat stress on animal production.
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Pax, R. A., T. A. Day, C. L. Miller, and J. L. Bennett. "Neuromuscular physiology and pharmacology of parasitic flatworms." Parasitology 113, S1 (1996): S83—S96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003118200007791x.
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SUMMARYThe trematode and cestode flatworms include numerous parasitic forms of major medical and economic importance. A better knowledge of the neuromuscular physiology of these animals could lead to development of new control measures against these parasites. Since these animals are near the stem from which all other animals have evolved, better knowledge of these animals could also yield valuable information about the early evolution of nerve and muscle systems in the animal kingdom. This review focuses on what is known about the characteristics of the somatic muscle in these animals. The anatomy of the muscles is described along with a review of current information about their electrophysiology, including descriptions of the ion channels present. Also included is a summary of recently acquired data concerning the nature of serotonin, peptide, acetylcholine and glutamate receptors on the membranes of the muscles.
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Macdonald, Alexander, Lucy A. Hawkes, and Damion K. Corrigan. "Recent advances in biomedical, biosensor and clinical measurement devices for use in humans and the potential application of these technologies for the study of physiology and disease in wild animals." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 376, no. 1831 (2021): 20200228. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0228.
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The goal of achieving enhanced diagnosis and continuous monitoring of human health has led to a vibrant, dynamic and well-funded field of research in medical sensing and biosensor technologies. The field has many sub-disciplines which focus on different aspects of sensor science; engaging engineers, chemists, biochemists and clinicians, often in interdisciplinary teams. The trends which dominate include the efforts to develop effective point of care tests and implantable/wearable technologies for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring. This review will outline the current state of the art in a number of relevant fields, including device engineering, chemistry, nanoscience and biomolecular detection, and suggest how these advances might be employed to develop effective systems for measuring physiology, detecting infection and monitoring biomarker status in wild animals. Special consideration is also given to the emerging threat of antimicrobial resistance and in the light of the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, zoonotic infections. Both of these areas involve significant crossover between animal and human health and are therefore well placed to seed technological developments with applicability to both human and animal health and, more generally, the reviewed technologies have significant potential to find use in the measurement of physiology in wild animals. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Measuring physiology in free-living animals (Part II)’.
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Smith, Gerard P. "Pavlov and integrative physiology." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 279, no. 3 (2000): R743—R755. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.2000.279.3.r743.
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Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was the first physiologist to win the Nobel Prize. The Prize was given in 1904 for his research on the neural control of salivary, gastric, and pancreatic secretion. A major reason for the success and novelty of his research was the use of unanesthetized dogs surgically prepared with chronic fistulas or gastric pouches that permitted repeated experiments in the same animal for months. Pavlov invented this chronic method because of the limitations he perceived in the use of acute anesthetized animals for investigating physiological systems. By introducing the chronic method and by showing its experimental advantages, Pavlov founded modern integrative physiology. This paper reviews Pavlov's journey from his birthplace in a provincial village in Russia to Stockholm to receive the Prize. It begins with childhood influences, describes his training and mentors, summarizes the major points of his research by reviewing his book Lectures on the Work of the Digestive Glands, and discusses his views on the relationship between physiology and medicine.
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Laca, Emilio A. "Precision livestock production: tools and concepts." Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 38, spe (2009): 123–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1516-35982009001300014.
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Precision livestock production (PLP) is the augmentation of precision agriculture (PA) concepts to include all components of agroecosystems, particularly animals and plant-animal interactions. Soil, plants and soil-plant interactions are the subjects of PA or site-specific farming, where the main principle is to exploit natural spatial heterogeneity to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. For the most part, PA has been studied and developed for intensive cropping systems with little attention devoted to pastoral and agropastoral systems. PLP focuses on the animal component and exploits heterogeneity in space and among individual animals towards more efficient and environmentally friendly production. Within PLP, precision grazing consists of the integration of information and communication technologies with knowledge about animal behavior and physiology to improve production of meat, milk and wool in grazing conditions. Two main goals are to minimize overgrazing of sensitive areas and to maximize the quality of the product through enhanced traceability. An integrated precision grazing system is outlined with its components: sensors of animal position, behavior and physiological status, real-time transmission of information to a decision support system, and feed-back through a series of actuators. Control of animal movement and diets is based on knowledge about species specific responses to various stimuli within the paradigms of flavor aversions and operant conditioning. Recent advances in the technologies and instrumentation available are reviewed briefly and linked to current livestock identification systems. The precision grazing vision is presented in full and the areas that need further research and development are discussed.
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Shih, Michael J., William W. Weiner, Kathleen Kier Wheatley, Jennifer L. DePonceau, Mary Anne Sydlik, and Steven C. Chamberlain. "Development of the lateral eye of American horseshoe crabs: Visual field and dioptric array." Visual Neuroscience 12, no. 3 (1995): 485–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800008385.
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AbstractWe used a precision two-circle goniometer mounted to the stage of a compound microscope to determine the optical alignment and to measure the entrance aperture diameter of individual cuticular cones in the dioptric array of the lateral eye of juvenile horseshoe crabs in order to learn about the development of the visual field. Our results show that the extent of the visual field of juvenile horseshoe crabs with prosomal lengths about 20% ofadult size (14–21 mm) is about 70% that of the visual field of adult horseshoe crabs (prosomal lengths: 100+ mm). The visual field of such juvenile animals covers between 77 and 85 deg vertically and 140 and 145 deg horizontally. Assuming that the dioptric array is uniform and square packed, the average interommatidial angle of the juvenile animals is between 5.6 and 6.0 deg as compared to 4.6 deg for an adult animal. The diameter of the entrance aperture of individual cuticular cones increases markedly with increasing animal size. In addition, we noted a statistically significant trend for entrance aperture diameters to increase from anterior to posterior within the eye for animals of all sizes. There may be a slight trend for entrance aperture diameters to increase from dorsal to ventral within the eye. Our results indicate that the extent of the visual field and the resolution of the lateral eye approach adult values in advance of animals' reaching sexual maturity.
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Miller, Earl K., Paul M. Gochin, and Charles G. Gross. "Habituation-like decrease in the responses of neurons in inferior temporal cortex of the macaque." Visual Neuroscience 7, no. 4 (1991): 357–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800004843.
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AbstractIn both anesthetized and behaving macaques, we examined the responses of neurons in the inferior temporal cortex (IT) to repeated presentation of a visual stimulus. In anesthetized animals, the responsiveness of IT neurons decreased with repeated stimulus presentation at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 2–12 s but not at 20 s. Responsiveness recovered after a 5-min period of no stimulus presentation. The response decrement was similar in anesthetized and awake animals at a 2-s ISI, but at a 6-s ISI, response decrement in the awake animal was much less.
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Ruxton, Graeme D., and H. Martin Schaefer. "The conservation physiology of seed dispersal." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 367, no. 1596 (2012): 1708–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0001.
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At a time when plant species are experiencing increasing challenges from climate change, land-use change, harvesting and invasive species, dispersal has become a very important aspect of plant conservation. Seed dispersal by animals is particularly important because some animals disperse seeds to suitable sites in a directed fashion. Our review has two aims: (i) to highlight the various ways plant dispersal by animals can be affected by current anthropogenic change and (ii) to show the important role of plant and (particularly) animal physiology in shaping seed–dispersal interactions. We argue that large-bodied seed dispersers may be particularly important for plant conservation because seed dispersal of large-seeded plants is often more specialized and because large-bodied animals are targeted by human exploitation and have smaller population sizes. We further argue that more specialized seed-dispersal systems on island ecosystems might be particularly at risk from climate change both owing to small population sizes involved but also owing to the likely thermal specialization, particularly on tropical islands. More generally, the inherent vulnerability of seed-dispersal mutualisms to disruption driven by environmental change (as well as their ubiquity) demands that we continue to improve our understanding of their conservation physiology.
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Maunsell, John H. R., Gary Sclar, Tara A. Nealey, and Derryl D. DePriest. "Extraretinal representations in area V4 in the macaque monkey." Visual Neuroscience 7, no. 6 (1991): 561–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095252380001035x.
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AbstractSeveral neurophysiological studies have shown that the visual cerebral cortex of macaque monkeys performing delayed match-to-sample tasks contains individual neurons whose levels of activity depend on the sample the animal is required to remember. Haenny et al. (1988) reported that the activity of neurons in area V4 of monkeys performing an orientation matching task depends on the orientation for which the animal is searching. It was proposed that these neurons contribute to a representation of the orientation being sought.We have further characterized these neurons by recording visual responses from individual neurons during multiple behavioral tasks. Animals were trained to perform an orientation match-to-sample task using either a visual or a tactile orientation sample. In a set of 89 neurons examined using both types of sample, 25% showed statistically significant effects of sample orientation regardless of whether the sample was visual or tactile. Most of these preferred the same sample orientation in both conditions. These results allow us to specify the nature of the information signaled by these neurons more precisely than has previously been possible.For 193 units tested using one of the matching tasks, responses were also recorded while the animal performed a simple fixation task. In this task the animal was not required to attend to the visual stimuli that were presented. A few neurons that were responsive during the matching task were silent during fixation, but a comparable number was much more responsive during fixation. Across the whole population there was no systematic change in either responsivity or selectivity for orientation under the two conditions.
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Daan, S. "Circadian tuning of motivation. A little organ of yesterday?" Acta Neuropsychiatrica 7, no. 2 (1995): 21–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0924270800037455.
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The analysis of motivational systems underlying temporal organisation in animal behaviour has relied primarily on two conceptual functional frameworks: Homeostasis and biological clocks. Homeostasis is one of the most general and influential concepts in physiology. Walter Cannon introduced homeostasis as a universal regulatory principle which animals employ to maintain constancy of their ‘internal milieu’ in the face of challenges and perturbations from the external environment. Cannon spoke of “The Wisdom of the Body”, the collective of responses designed to defend the ideal internal state against those perturbations.
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Appleby, M. C. "The science of animal welfare." Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) 1990 (March 1990): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0308229600017906.
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Current scientific progress in the understanding of animal welfere is resulting in the possibility of realistic assessments of welfare and the application of such assessments. Understanding has been advanced by the recognition that welfare is not a unitary variable but has different aspects, which may be compromised independently. Some problems which arise, such as injury and disease, also reduce production and may be covered by veterinary and production science. Others, though, such as behavioural restriction and stress, do not affect production so clearly. There is increasing input to these areas from behavioural science and physiology. Ethology has contributed theoretical insights into the control of behaviour, basic knowledge of the behaviour of farm animals and comparisons between different environments (e.g. intensive, extensive and feral). It has also highlighted occurrence of abnormal behaviour, such as stereotypies and cannibalism, in some circumstances. To investigate causes of abnormal behaviour, though, observation must be complemented by experimentation, and by behavioural physiology and neurophysiology. These are now producing notable advances in our understanding of stress. Experimental work is also progressing on motivation for normal behaviour, such as feeding,and for different features in the environment. With increased understanding of different aspects of welfare comes a move away from unrealistic expectations of unitary welfare meesurements or indices, and towards an acceptance that there are scientific grounds for abroader assessment. Further, there is increasing recognition that assessment of welfare has a valid, scientific role in the design end management of housing and husbandry systems for our farm animals.
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Hanifin, John P., Robert T. Dauchy, David E. Blask, Steven M. Hill, and George C. Brainard. "Relevance of Electrical Light on Circadian, Neuroendocrine, and Neurobehavioral Regulation in Laboratory Animal Facilities." ILAR Journal 60, no. 2 (2019): 150–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilaa010.
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Abstract Light is a key extrinsic factor to be considered in operations and design of animal room facilities. Over the past four decades, many studies on typical laboratory animal populations have demonstrated impacts on neuroendocrine, neurobehavioral, and circadian physiology. These effects are regulated independently from the defined physiology for the visual system. The range of physiological responses that oscillate with the 24 hour rhythm of the day include sleep and wakefulness, body temperature, hormonal secretion, and a wide range of other physiological parameters. Melatonin has been the chief neuroendocrine hormone studied, but acute light-induced effects on corticosterone as well as other hormones have also been observed. Within the last two decades, a new photosensory system in the mammalian eye has been discovered. A small set of retinal ganglion cells, previously thought to function as a visual output neuron, have been shown to be directly photosensitive and act differently from the classic photoreceptors of the visual system. Understanding the effects of light on mammalian physiology and behavior must take into account how the classical visual photoreceptors and the newly discovered ipRGC photoreceptor systems interact. Scientists and facility managers need to appreciate lighting impacts on circadian, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral regulation in order to improve lighting of laboratory facilities to foster optimum health and well-being of animals.
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Thijs, Tim, Hans Deckmyn, and Katleen Broos. "Model systems of genetically modified platelets." Blood 119, no. 7 (2012): 1634–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2011-10-381715.
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Abstract Although platelets are the smallest cells in the blood, they are implied in various processes ranging from immunology and oncology to thrombosis and hemostasis. Many large-scale screening programs, genome-wide association, and “omics” studies have generated lists of genes and loci that are probably involved in the formation or physiology of platelets under normal and pathologic conditions. This creates an increasing demand for new and improved model systems that allow functional assessment of the corresponding gene products in vivo. Such animal models not only render invaluable insight in the platelet biology, but in addition, provide improved test systems for the validation of newly developed anti-thrombotics. This review summarizes the most important models to generate transgenic platelets and to study their influence on platelet physiology in vivo. Here we focus on the zebrafish morpholino oligonucleotide technology, the (platelet-specific) knockout mouse, and the transplantation of genetically modified human or murine platelet progenitor cells in myelo-conditioned mice. The various strengths and pitfalls of these animal models are illustrated by recent examples from the platelet field. Finally, we highlight the latest developments in genetic engineering techniques and their possible application in platelet research.
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Alabwah, Yaqoub, Yadong Ji, David A. Seminowicz, Raimi L. Quiton, and Radi Masri. "Alcohol-triggered signs of migraine: An animal model." Somatosensory & Motor Research 33, no. 1 (2016): 35–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08990220.2016.1163258.
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Schnichels, Sven, Tobias Kiebler, José Hurst, et al. "Retinal Organ Cultures as Alternative Research Models." Alternatives to Laboratory Animals 47, no. 1 (2019): 19–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0261192919840092.
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Ex vivo organ cultures represent unique research models, as they combine the advantages of cell cultures with those of animal models. Being able to mimic in vivo situations through the use of organ cultures provides an excellent opportunity to investigate cellular processes, molecular pathways and cell–cell interactions, as well as structural and synaptic organisation. Human and animal organ cultures are now well established and comprise sensitive, easy-to-manipulate experimental systems that raise minimal ethical concerns. The eye, in particular, is a very complex organ that is not easy to reproduce in vitro. However, a lot of research has been dedicated to the development of suitable ocular organ cultures. This review covers the various ex vivo retinal organ culture systems available for use in ophthalmology research and compares them with commonly used animal models. In particular, bovine and porcine retinal organ culture systems are described, because the size, anatomy, physiology and vessel morphology of bovine and porcine eyes are similar to the human eye in an undisputed way, thus making them good models. In addition, these animals are widely used by the food industry and the eyes are considered surplus material. A short overview of murine, rat, rabbit, cat, canine and simian retinal organ cultures is also provided.
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Del Vecchio, Gianmarco, Aurora Mazzei, Roberta Schiavone, et al. "Rearing Conditions and Automated Feed Distribution Systems for Zebrafish (Danio rerio)." Applied Sciences 12, no. 21 (2022): 10961. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app122110961.
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Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well-established animal model, used in a number of research areas. In the last decade, it has also emerged as a tool to evaluate the effects of diets and dietary components and to test novel paradigms in nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics, and nutritional physiology. Despite its worldwide use, the standardization of the zebrafish rearing conditions, including daily nutritional and good feed management practices, is not yet achieved. This is surprising when compared with what is available for other reared animals, such as rodents or other (e.g., commercial) fishes. To date, a major applicative goal in zebrafish nutritional physiology research is to define common, standard, and reproducible protocols of rearing and feeding conditions to generate reliable and comparable results among research laboratories. This review aims to focus on limitations and disadvantages of the current rearing and feeding practices and on some recent technological solutions provided by research groups and/or biotech companies in the field of facility design, with emphasis on automated feeding distribution systems. A general overview of some common schemes of zebrafish husbandry is also given.
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Baldwin, T., R. Riley, N. Zitomer, et al. "The current state of mycotoxin biomarker development in humans and animals and the potential for application to plant systems." World Mycotoxin Journal 4, no. 3 (2011): 257–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/wmj2011.1292.
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Filamentous fungi that contaminate livestock feeds and human food supply often produce toxigenic secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins. Among the hundreds of known mycotoxins, aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone are considered the most commercially important. Intense research on these mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin, has resulted in the development of 'biomarkers' used to link exposure to disease risk. In the case of aflatoxin this effort has led to the discovery of both exposure and mechanism-based biomarkers, which have proven essential for understanding aflatoxin's potential for causing disease in humans, including subtle effects on growth and immune response. Fumonisin biomarkers have also been used extensively in farm and laboratory animals to study the fumonisin-induced disruption of cellular and systemic physiology which leads to disease. This review summarises the status of mycotoxin biomarker development in humans and animals for the commercially important mycotoxins. Since the fungi responsible for the production of these mycotoxins are often endophytes that infect and colonise living plant tissues, accumulation of mycotoxins in the plant tissues may at times be associated with development of plant disease symptoms. The presence of mycotoxins, even in the absence of disease symptoms, may still have subtle biological effects on the physiology of plants. This review examines the question of whether or not the knowledge gained from mechanistic studies and development of biomarkers in animal and human systems is transferable to the study of mycotoxin effects on plant systems. Thus far, fumonisin has proven amenable to development of mechanism-based biomarkers to study maize seedling disease caused by the fumonisin producer, Fusarium verticillioides. Expanding our knowledge of mechanisms of toxicity and the overt and subtle effects on animal, human, and plant systems through the identification and validation of biomarkers will further our ability to monitor and limit the damage and economic impact of mycotoxins.
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Holton, Mark D., Rory P. Wilson, Jonas Teilmann, and Ursula Siebert. "Animal tag technology keeps coming of age: an engineering perspective." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 376, no. 1831 (2021): 20200229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0229.
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Animal-borne tags (biologgers) have now become extremely sophisticated, recording data from multiple sensors at high frequencies for long periods and, as such, have become a powerful tool for behavioural ecologists and physiologists studying wild animals. But the design and implementation of these tags is not trivial because engineers have to maximize performance and ability to function under onerous conditions while minimizing tag mass and volume (footprint) to maximize the wellbeing of the animal carriers. We present some of the major issues faced by tag engineers and show how tag designers must accept compromises while maintaining systems that can answer the questions being posed. We also argue that basic understanding of engineering issues in tag design by biologists will help feedback to engineers to better tag construction but also reduce the likelihood that tag-deploying biologists will misunderstand their own results. Finally, we suggest that proper consideration of conventional technology together with new approaches will lead to further step changes in our understanding of wild-animal biology using smart tags. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Measuring physiology in free-living animals (Part II)’.
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Casamassima, D., A. Sevi, M. Palazzo, R. Ramacciato, G. E. Colella, and A. Bellitti. "Effects of two different housing systems on behavior, physiology and milk yield of Comisana ewes." Small Ruminant Research 41, no. 2 (2001): 151–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0921-4488(01)00201-2.
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Stuart-Fox, Devi, Elizabeth Newton, and Susana Clusella-Trullas. "Thermal consequences of colour and near-infrared reflectance." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 372, no. 1724 (2017): 20160345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0345.
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The importance of colour for temperature regulation in animals remains controversial. Colour can affect an animal's temperature because all else being equal, dark surfaces absorb more solar energy than do light surfaces, and that energy is converted into heat. However, in reality, the relationship between colour and thermoregulation is complex and varied because it depends on environmental conditions and the physical properties, behaviour and physiology of the animal. Furthermore, the thermal effects of colour depend as much on absorptance of near-infrared ((NIR), 700–2500 nm) as visible (300–700 nm) wavelengths of direct sunlight; yet the NIR is very rarely considered or measured. The few available data on NIR reflectance in animals indicate that the visible reflectance is often a poor predictor of NIR reflectance. Adaptive variation in animal coloration (visible reflectance) reflects a compromise between multiple competing functions such as camouflage, signalling and thermoregulation. By contrast, adaptive variation in NIR reflectance should primarily reflect thermoregulatory requirements because animal visual systems are generally insensitive to NIR wavelengths. Here, we assess evidence and identify key research questions regarding the thermoregulatory function of animal coloration, and specifically consider evidence for adaptive variation in NIR reflectance. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application’.
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Weber, Brett C., Robert F. Waldeck, and Edward R. Gruberg. "Seeing beyond the midline: The role of the contralateral isthmotectal projection in the leopard frog." Visual Neuroscience 13, no. 3 (1996): 467–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523800008142.
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AbstractThe ground level visual field of each eye of the leopard frog includes the entire ipsilateral 180-deg field and approximately 60 deg into the frontal contralateral field. When one eye is covered with an opaque patch, a frog responds to prey stimuli over the entire field of the other eye. Nevertheless, when one optic nerve is cut, the animal responds to prey in the ipsilateral hemifield of the connected eye, but only responds as far as about 30 deg past the frontal midline. If one optic tract is cut, the animal does not respond to prey past the frontal midline. We hypothesized that the responses past the frontal midline might be mediated by input from contralaterally projecting isthmotectal fibers. These fibers originate in the nucleus isthmi, a posterior midbrain structure. We found that when we placed an opaque patch over one eye and either ablated the ipsilateral nucleus isthmi, or cut crossing isthmotectal fibers in the optic chiasm, or blocked input to nucleus isthmi by ablating the ipsilateral tectal lobe, animals did not respond to prey stimuli past the frontal midline. We found that when we placed an opaque patch over one eye and cut crossing optic fibers in the anterior part of the optic chiasm (sparing crossing isthmotectal fibers), animals responded to prey stimuli in the nasal half of the seeing eye's contralateral frontal field. Our results suggest that contralaterally projecting isthmotectal fibers enable the frog to respond to stimuli past the frontal midline. We suggest a one-dimensional model of how nucleus isthmi influences tectal function.
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Singhvi, Aakanksha, and Shai Shaham. "Glia-Neuron Interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans." Annual Review of Neuroscience 42, no. 1 (2019): 149–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-070918-050314.
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Glia are abundant components of animal nervous systems. Recognized 170 years ago, concerted attempts to understand these cells began only recently. From these investigations glia, once considered passive filler material in the brain, have emerged as active players in neuron development and activity. Glia are essential for nervous system function, and their disruption leads to disease. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans possesses glial types similar to vertebrate glia, based on molecular, morphological, and functional criteria, and has become a powerful model in which to study glia and their neuronal interactions. Facile genetic and transgenic methods in this animal allow the discovery of genes required for glial functions, and effects of glia at single synapses can be monitored by tracking neuron shape, physiology, or animal behavior. Here, we review recent progress in understanding glia-neuron interactions in C. elegans. We highlight similarities with glia in other animals, and suggest conserved emerging principles of glial function.
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Macchiarini, Francesca, Markus G. Manz, A. Karolina Palucka, and Leonard D. Shultz. "Humanized mice." Journal of Experimental Medicine 202, no. 10 (2005): 1307–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20051547.
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Animal models have been instrumental in increasing the understanding of human physiology, particularly immunity. However, these animal models have been limited by practical considerations and genetic diversity. The creation of humanized mice that carry partial or complete human physiological systems may help overcome these obstacles. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases convened a workshop on humanized mouse models for immunity in Bethesda, MD, on June 13–14, 2005, during which researchers discussed the benefits and limitations of existing animal models and offered insights into the development of future humanized mouse models.
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Cotter, Paul A., and Kenneth J. Rodnick. "Fishing for an ECG: a student-directed electrocardiographic laboratory using rainbow trout." Advances in Physiology Education 31, no. 2 (2007): 211–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advan.00096.2006.
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Cardiac physiology is emphasized in many undergraduate physiology courses, but few nonmammalian vertebrate model systems exist that 1) can be studied fairly noninvasively, 2) are well suited for controlled experimentation, and 3) emphasize principles characteristic of the vertebrate heart. We have developed an inquiry-based undergraduate/graduate-level laboratory in cardiac physiology and electrocardiography using rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) and the BioPac MP30 data-acquisition system (other fish species and/or electrocardiographic recording devices can be substituted). This laboratory facilitates intensive study of vertebrate electrocardiograms (ECGs) under a variety of environmental and physiological perturbations and is ideal for use in multisession, inquiry-based laboratory projects in animal physiology. Furthermore, students gain valuable experience in scientific inquiry, study design, following and/or developing scientific protocols, and animal care. This laboratory requires the ability to keep captive fish of at least 100 g and equipment to record ECGs. Departments meeting these requirements can adopt this technique at modest expense. Student enthusiasm and feedback were positive, and several students commented that the nonlethal methods used added to the laboratory's perceived value.
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De Spirito, Marco, Valentina Palmieri, Giordano Perini, and Massimiliano Papi. "Bridging the Gap: Integrating 3D Bioprinting and Microfluidics for Advanced Multi-Organ Models in Biomedical Research." Bioengineering 11, no. 7 (2024): 664. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11070664.
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Recent advancements in 3D bioprinting and microfluidic lab-on-chip systems offer promising solutions to the limitations of traditional animal models in biomedical research. Three-dimensional bioprinting enables the creation of complex, patient-specific tissue models that mimic human physiology more accurately than animal models. These 3D bioprinted tissues, when integrated with microfluidic systems, can replicate the dynamic environment of the human body, allowing for the development of multi-organ models. This integration facilitates more precise drug screening and personalized therapy development by simulating interactions between different organ systems. Such innovations not only improve predictive accuracy but also address ethical concerns associated with animal testing, aligning with the three Rs principle. Future directions include enhancing bioprinting resolution, developing advanced bioinks, and incorporating AI for optimized system design. These technologies hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, regenerative medicine, and disease modeling, leading to more effective, personalized, and humane treatments.
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Baulain, U., and M. Henning. "Untersuchungen zur Schlachtkörper- und Fleischqualität mit Hilfe von MR-Tomographie und MR-Spektroskopie." Archives Animal Breeding 44, no. 2 (2001): 181–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/aab-44-181-2001.
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Abstract. Title of the paper: Studies of carcass and meat quality by means of MR tomography and MR spectroscopy Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) is an important diagnostic tool, originally developed for imaging in human medicine. In animal science it has been applied primarily to determine body composition in live animals and in carcasses. Studies in pigs, sheep and waterfowl indicate that quantification of soft tissue by means of prediction equations or by direct measurement of lean and fat volume is highly accurate. So MRT is particularly suitable to analyse growth and development of animals regarding to quality safety in meat production. A precise discrimination between soft tissues enables this technique to serve as a reference for the improvement of Systems used in practical animal breeding and carcass grading. Based on the same principle magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers a new possibility to investigate muscle physiology in live animals. The energy metabolism of muscle in pigs with different MHS genotype was studied by means of MRS regarding to an optimum meat quality.
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Pasternak, J. J. "Molecular studies of animal systems/Études au niveau moléculaire des systèmes animaux: Introduction." Canadian Journal of Zoology 66, no. 12 (1988): 2590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-382.
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The 26th annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, held in May 1987, included a symposium entitled Molecular Studies of Animal Systems. Certainly, a recent and pervasive research thrust in the study of animals has been the accessibility of molecular biology techniques to complement existing research strategies. In organizing this session, Dr. Marilyn Scott had two major objectives: first, to demonstrate how studies at the molecular level facilitate an understanding of the biology of animals and second, to use examples of research programmes that would be of interest to zoologists, in particular those concerned with insect and fish physiology, parasitology, and evolutionary biology. An attempt was made to provide some breadth without being too divergent. The specific research topics derived from the original lectures and included in this issue of the Canadian Journal of Zoology describe and discuss (i) molecular commonality of cuticular and genomic structures between a free-living nematode and a parasitic one, (ii) regulation of vitellogenesis in the locust, and (iii) characterization at the molecular level of fish antifreeze proteins. These papers illustrate how various molecular biology methodologies can be used to resolve problems of biological interest.
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ADAMS, DANIEL L., and JONATHAN C. HORTON. "Ocular dominance columns in strabismus." Visual Neuroscience 23, no. 5 (2006): 795–805. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523806230116.
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During development, the projection from the lateral geniculate nucleus to striate cortex becomes segregated into monocular regions called ocular dominance columns. Prior studies in cats have suggested that experimental strabismus or alternating monocular occlusion increases the width and segregation of columns. In the squirrel monkey, strabismus has been reported to induce the formation of ocular dominance columns. However, these studies are difficult to interpret because no animal can serve as its own control and the degree of inter-individual variability among normal subjects is considerable. We have re-examined the effect of strabismus on ocular dominance columns in a large group of strabismic and normal squirrel monkeys. Five animals rendered strabismic at age one week had well-developed, widely spaced columns. Among 16 control animals, a wide spectrum of column morphology was encountered. Some control animals lacked ocular dominance columns, whereas others had columns similar to those observed in strabismic animals. Natural variation in column expression in normal squirrel monkeys, and potential uncontrolled genetic influences, made it impossible to determine if strabismus affects ocular dominance columns. It was evident however, that strabismus does not affect the binocular projection from the lateral geniculate nucleus to each CO patch in the upper layers. In strabismic monkeys, just as in normal animals, each patch received input from geniculate afferents serving both the left eye and the right eye. In addition, in strabismic monkeys, as in normal animals, patches were not aligned with ocular dominance columns.
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van de Ven, L. J. F., A. V. van Wagenberg, E. Decuypere, B. Kemp, and H. van den Brand. "Perinatal broiler physiology between hatching and chick collection in 2 hatching systems." Poultry Science 92, no. 4 (2013): 1050–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02534.
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Seebacher, Frank, and Jens Krause. "Physiological mechanisms underlying animal social behaviour." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 372, no. 1727 (2017): 20160231. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0231.
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Many species of animal live in groups, and the group represents the organizational level within which ecological and evolutionary processes occur. Understanding these processes, therefore, relies on knowledge of the mechanisms that permit or constrain group formation. We suggest that physiological capacities and differences in physiology between individuals modify fission–fusion dynamics. Differences between individuals in locomotor capacity and metabolism may lead to fission of groups and sorting of individuals into groups with similar physiological phenotypes. Environmental impacts such as hypoxia can influence maximum group sizes and structure in fish schools by altering access to oxygenated water. The nutritional environment determines group cohesion, and the increase in information collected by the group means that individuals should rely more on social information and form more cohesive groups in uncertain environments. Changing environmental contexts require rapid responses by individuals to maintain group coordination, which are mediated by neuroendocrine signalling systems such as nonapeptides and steroid hormones. Brain processing capacity may constrain social complexity by limiting information processing. Failure to evaluate socially relevant information correctly limits social interactions, which is seen, for example, in autism. Hence, functioning of a group relies to a large extent on the perception and appropriate processing of signals from conspecifics. Many if not all physiological systems are mechanistically linked, and therefore have synergistic effects on social behaviour. A challenge for the future lies in understanding these interactive effects, which will improve understanding of group dynamics, particularly in changing environments. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Physiological determinants of social behaviour in animals’.
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Barathan, Muttiah, Sook Luan Ng, Yogeswaran Lokanathan, Min Hwei Ng, and Jia Xian Law. "The Profound Influence of Gut Microbiome and Extracellular Vesicles on Animal Health and Disease." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 7 (2024): 4024. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms25074024.
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The animal gut microbiota, comprising a diverse array of microorganisms, plays a pivotal role in shaping host health and physiology. This review explores the intricate dynamics of the gut microbiome in animals, focusing on its composition, function, and impact on host–microbe interactions. The composition of the intestinal microbiota in animals is influenced by the host ecology, including factors such as temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability, as well as genetic makeup, diet, habitat, stressors, and husbandry practices. Dysbiosis can lead to various gastrointestinal and immune-related issues in animals, impacting overall health and productivity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes derived from gut microbiota, play a crucial role in intercellular communication, influencing host health by transporting bioactive molecules across barriers like the intestinal and brain barriers. Dysregulation of the gut–brain axis has implications for various disorders in animals, highlighting the potential role of microbiota-derived EVs in disease progression. Therapeutic approaches to modulate gut microbiota, such as probiotics, prebiotics, microbial transplants, and phage therapy, offer promising strategies for enhancing animal health and performance. Studies investigating the effects of phage therapy on gut microbiota composition have shown promising results, with potential implications for improving animal health and food safety in poultry production systems. Understanding the complex interactions between host ecology, gut microbiota, and EVs provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying host–microbe interactions and their impact on animal health and productivity. Further research in this field is essential for developing effective therapeutic interventions and management strategies to promote gut health and overall well-being in animals.
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Vinogradova, O. L., E. S. Tomilovskaya, and I. B. Kozlovskaya. "GRAVITATIONAL FACTOR AS A BASE OF THE EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION OF ANIMAL ORGANISMS TO ACTIVITIES IN THEEARTH CONDITIONS." Aerospace and Environmental Medicine 54, no. 6 (2020): 5–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.21687/0233-528x-2020-54-6-5-26.
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A review of the currently available ideas about the role of gravitational factor in the activity of the sensorimotor and cardiovascular systems, as well as new fundamental problems and questions for space medicine and physiology, is presented. The review presents data on the embryogenesis of animals under conditions of weightlessness, the evolution of the motor and cardiovascular systems and the peculiarities of their functioning under conditions of gravity, as well as in the change of gravitational load. Much attention is paid to the results of unique studies in modeling gravitational unloading on Earth: antiorthostatic hypokinesia, dry immersion and suspension, which made it possible to study the mechanisms of regulation of various body systems under conditions of altered gravity. Terrestrial organisms have learned to function in the gravitational field. Almost all systems of their body are gravitationally dependent. However, the extent and mechanisms of this dependence have long remained unclear. Space flights have opened up the possibility of studying the activity of living systems in the absence of gravity. Among the factors mediating the effect of weightlessness on the motor system, changes in the activity of sensory systems occupy an important place. Under the Earth conditions, the afferent support of motion control systems is polyreceptive: this is vision, and the vestibular apparatus, supporting and muscular afferentations. In zero gravity, the activity of some channels is completely eliminated (support afferentation), others are distorted (vestibular apparatus), and still others are weakened (proprioception). Similar processes occur in the cardiovascular system: with the loss of the pressure gradient caused by gravity, profound changes occur in the structure and functioning of the heart and vessels, both resistive and capacitive. The question of how much the various changes occurring in the cardiovascular system are associated with the disappearance of the gravitationally dependent pressure gradient is still open. It is not possible to solve all the problems of gravitational physiology In space flights. Therefore, various methods have been developed for simulating gravitational unloading on Earth. New data on the mechanisms of changes occurring in the sensorimotor system were obtained by comparing flight data and data obtained in model experiments. The fundamental problem for the gravitational physiology of cardiovascular system is the degree of correspondence of the changes observed in laboratory animals and under model conditions (antiorthostatic hypokinesia, immersion, suspension) with the changes that are recorded in real space flight in humans. This problem is specially discussed in the review. At the same time, in the light of the upcoming interplanetary expeditions, many questions remain unresolved, in particular, the problems of post-flight readaptation of the motor and cardiovascular systems to gravity conditions. This is a fight against loss of strength, endurance, orthostatic instability. The development and improvement of a system for preventing the negative effects of space flight factors is impossible without understanding the mechanisms of development of the observed changes.
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MANCUSO, KATHERINE, MAUREEN NEITZ, and JAY NEITZ. "An adaptation of the Cambridge Colour Test for use with animals." Visual Neuroscience 23, no. 3-4 (2006): 695–701. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523806233364.
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Recently, molecular biological techniques have presented new opportunities for addressing questions concerning the neural mechanisms involved in color coding, thereby rousing renewed interest in animal color vision testing. We have modified a computer-based assessment tool, the Cambridge Colour Test, to make it suitable for use with animals. Here, the validity and reliability of the testing method were evaluated using squirrel monkeys. Because the chromatic stimuli and the achromatic backgrounds of the test consist of dots that vary in lightness, the stimulus parameters can be adjusted so that animals are not able to use luminance differences to make correct discriminations. Thus, in contrast to methods used previously, this test does not require that time be spent equating the luminance of each chromatic stimulus examined. Furthermore, the computer video-display based design of the testing apparatus can be easily replicated and adapted for use with many species in a variety of settings. In the present experiments, the squirrel monkeys' behavioral results agreed with the predictions for their color vision based on genetic analysis and electroretinography (ERG) spectral sensitivity data. Repeated measurements were highly consistent. Thus, an adaptation of the Cambridge Colour Test provides a valid and reliable method for testing color vision in animals.
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Lee, Vanessa K., John M. David, and Michael J. Huerkamp. "Micro- and Macroenvironmental Conditions and Stability of Terrestrial Models." ILAR Journal 60, no. 2 (2019): 120–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilaa013.
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Abstract Environmental variables can have profound effects on the biological responses of research animals and the outcomes of experiments dependent on them. Some of these influences are both predictable and unpredictable in effect, many are challenging to standardize, and all are influenced by the planning and conduct of experiments and the design and operation of the vivarium. Others are not yet known. Within the immediate environment where the research animal resides, in the vivarium and in transit, the most notable of these factors are ambient temperature, relative humidity, gaseous pollutant by-products of animal metabolism and physiology, dust and particulates, barometric pressure, electromagnetic fields, and illumination. Ambient temperatures in the animal housing environment, in particular those experienced by rodents below the thermoneutral zone, may introduce degrees of stress and thermoregulatory compensative responses that may complicate or invalidate study measurements across a broad array of disciplines. Other factors may have more subtle and specific effects. It is incumbent on scientists designing and executing experiments and staff responsible for animal husbandry to be aware of, understand, measure, systematically record, control, and account for the impact of these factors on sensitive animal model systems to ensure the quality and reproducibility of scientific studies.
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Newman, Amy E. M., Nicholas B. Edmunds, Shannon Ferraro, et al. "Using ecology to inform physiology studies: implications of high population density in the laboratory." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 308, no. 6 (2015): R449—R454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00328.2014.
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Conspecific density is widely recognized as an important ecological factor across the animal kingdom; however, the physiological impacts are less thoroughly described. In fact, population density is rarely mentioned as a factor in physiological studies on captive animals and, when it is infrequently addressed, the animals used are reared and housed at densities far above those in nature, making the translation of results from the laboratory to natural systems difficult. We survey the literature to highlight this important ecophysiological gap and bring attention to the possibility that conspecific density prior to experimentation may be a critical factor influencing results. Across three taxa: mammals, birds, and fish, we present evidence from ecology that density influences glucocorticoid levels, immune function, and body condition with the intention of stimulating discussion and increasing consideration of population density in physiology studies. We conclude with several directives to improve the applicability of insights gained in the laboratory to organisms in the natural environment.
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Narayan, Edward, Michelle Barreto, Georgia-Constantina Hantzopoulou, and Alan Tilbrook. "A Retrospective Literature Evaluation of the Integration of Stress Physiology Indices, Animal Welfare and Climate Change Assessment of Livestock." Animals 11, no. 5 (2021): 1287. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11051287.
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In this retrospective study, we conducted a desktop-based analysis of published literature using the ScienceDirect™ search engine to determine the proportion of livestock research within the last 7 years (2015–2021) that have applied animal welfare assessment combining objective measures of physiological stress and evaluation of climate change factors in order to provide an account of livestock productivity. From the search results, 563 published articles were reviewed. We found that the majority of the literature had discussed animal production outcomes (n = 491) and animal welfare (n = 453) either individually or in conjunction with another topic. The most popular occurrence was the combination of animal welfare assessment, objective measures of stress physiology and production outcomes discussed collectively (n = 218). We found that only 125 articles had discussed the impact of climate change (22.20%) on livestock production and/or vice versa. Furthermore, only 9.4% (n = 53) of articles had discussed all four factors and published research was skewed towards the dairy sector. Overall, this retrospective paper highlights that although research into animal welfare assessment, objective measures of stress and climate change has been applied across livestock production systems (monogastrics and ruminants), there remains a shortfall of investigation on how these key factors interact to influence livestock production. Furthermore, emerging technologies that can boost the quantitative evaluation of animal welfare are needed for both intensive and extensive production systems.
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LU, BIN, CATHERINE W. MORGANS, SERGEY GIRMAN, RAYMOND LUND, and SHAOMEI WANG. "Retinal morphological and functional changes in an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa." Visual Neuroscience 30, no. 3 (2013): 77–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0952523813000011.
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AbstractThe P23H-1 transgenic rat carries a mutated mouse opsin gene, in addition to endogenous opsin genes, and undergoes progressive photoreceptor loss that is generally characteristic of human autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Here, we examined morphological changes correlated with visual function that is comparable to clinical application in the pigmented P23H-1 rat retina as photoreceptor degeneration progressed. We found that rod function was compromised as early as postnatal day 28 and was a good indicator for tracking retinal degeneration. Cone function was normal and did not change until the thickness of the photoreceptor layer was reduced by 75%. Similar to the threshold versus intensity curves used to evaluate vision of RP patients, light-adaptation curves showed that cone thresholds depended on the number of remaining functioning cones, but not on its length of outer segments (OS). By 1 year of age, both rod and cone functions were significantly compromised. Correlating with early abnormal rod function, rods and related secondary neurons also underwent progressive degeneration, including shortening of inner and OS of photoreceptors, loss of rod bipolar and horizontal cell dendrites, thickening of the outer Müller cell processes, and reduced density of pre- and postsynaptic markers. Similar early morphological modifications were also observed in cones and their related secondary neurons. However, cone function was maintained at nearly normal level for a long period. The dramatic loss of rods at late stage of degeneration may contribute to the dysfunction of cones. Attention has to be focused on preserving cone function and identifying factors that damage cones when therapeutic regimes are applied to treat retinal degeneration. As such, these findings provide a foundation for future studies involving treatments to counter photoreceptor loss.
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Caves, Eleanor M., Stephen Nowicki, and Sönke Johnsen. "Von Uexküll Revisited: Addressing Human Biases in the Study of Animal Perception." Integrative and Comparative Biology 59, no. 6 (2019): 1451–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icz073.
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AbstractMore than 100 years ago, the biologist Jakob von Uexküll suggested that, because sensory systems are diverse, animals likely inhabit different sensory worlds (umwelten) than we do. Since von Uexküll, work across sensory modalities has confirmed that animals sometimes perceive sensory information that humans cannot, and it is now well-established that one must account for this fact when studying an animal’s behavior. We are less adept, however, at recognizing cases in which non-human animals may not detect or perceive stimuli the same way we do, which is our focus here. In particular, we discuss three ways in which our own perception can result in misinformed hypotheses about the function of various stimuli. In particular, we may (1) make untested assumptions about how sensory information is perceived, based on how we perceive or measure it, (2) attribute undue significance to stimuli that we perceive as complex or striking, and (3) assume that animals divide the sensory world in the same way that we as scientists do. We discuss each of these biases and provide examples of cases where animals cannot perceive or are not attending to stimuli in the same way that we do, and how this may lead us to mistaken assumptions. Because what an animal perceives affects its behavior, we argue that these biases are especially important for researchers in sensory ecology, cognition, and animal behavior and communication to consider. We suggest that studying animal umwelten requires integrative approaches that combine knowledge of sensory physiology with behavioral assays.