Unbalanced thermoregulation in experimental autoimmune encephalitis induced in Lewis rats.

Thermoregulation in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) is impaired and may result in either increases or decreases in body temperature. We have found that rat experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), being a model of MS, is associated with body temperature disturbances as well. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether the altered body temperature in EAE-induced rats is due to either a deficit in thermoregulation or a controlled change in its set point. Subcutaneous injection of encephalitogenic emulsion into both pads of hind feet of the Lewis rats provoked EAE symptoms. Body temperature (Tb) of 6 rats was measured using biotelemetry system, and ambient temperature (Ta) preferred by 6 rats of another group was analyzed using thermal gradient system. Symptoms of EAE started 11 days postinjection and progressed quickly, culminating in a complete paralysis in rats placed in the gradient, which was associated with behavioural fever (accordingly, selected Ta raised to as much as 32.8 ± 0.5 °C vs 27.2 ± 0.6 °C in control rats). On the other hand, EAE rats, placed at a constant Ta of 24 °C, were able to generate fever (Tb of 37.8 ± 0.1 °C) at the start of the illness and then paralysis compromised fever (most likely due to an impairment of thermogenesis), which, surprisingly, resulted in recovery. We conclude that EAE onset in rats is associated with fever and its behavioural supporting leads to aggravation of the autoimmune neurotoxicity.

Deferoxamine prevents cerebral glutathione and vitamin E depletions in asphyxiated neonatal rats: role of body temperature.

Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury involves increased oxidative stress. In asphyxiated newborns iron deposited in the brain catalyses formation of reactive oxygen species. Glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E are key factors protecting cells against such agents. Our previous investigation has demonstrated that newborn rats, showing physiological low body temperature as well as their hyperthermic counterparts injected with deferoxamine (DF) are protected against iron-mediated, delayed neurotoxicity of perinatal asphyxia. Therefore, we decided to study the effects of body temperature and DF on the antioxidant status of the brain in rats exposed neonatally to critical anoxia. Two-day-old newborn rats were exposed to anoxia in 100% nitrogen atmosphere for 10 min. Rectal temperature was kept at 33 °C (physiological to rat neonates), or elevated to the level typical of healthy adult rats (37 °C), or of febrile adult rats (39 °C). Half of the rats exposed to anoxia under extremely hyperthermic conditions (39 °C) were injected with DF. Cerebral concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA, lipid peroxidation marker) and the levels of GSH and vitamin E were determined post-mortem, (1) immediately after anoxia, (2) 3 days, (3) 7 days, and (4) 2 weeks after anoxia. There were no post-anoxic changes in MDA, GSH and vitamin E concentrations in newborn rats kept at body temperature of 33 °C. In contrast, perinatal anoxia at elevated body temperatures intensified oxidative stress and depleted the antioxidant pool in a temperature-dependent manner. Both the depletion of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation were prevented by post-anoxic DF injection. The data support the idea that hyperthermia may extend perinatal anoxia-induced brain lesions.

The Effect of the Queen's Presence on Thermal Behavior and Locomotor Activity of Small Groups of Worker Honey Bees.

We examined effects of the queen's presence on diurnal rhythms of temperature preference (TP) and locomotor activity (LA) in worker honeybees' groups. TP and LA of six queenless and six queenright (with the queen) groups of bees, consisting of 7-8 worker bees, were recorded in a thermal gradient system for four days, under light to darkness (LD) 12:12 photoperiod. The same experiments were conducted on five virgin queens (of the same age as those in the queenright groups), which were placed individually in the gradient chambers. The single virgin queens showed signs of distress and no rhythms of TP and LA. In contrast, there were diurnal rhythms of TP and LA in both group variants with daytime activity and nighttime rest. However, the queen's presence exerted a strong calming effect, reducing LA of bees both at day- and nighttime. The nighttime minimum LA of queenright groups was five times lower than that in queenless groups. Moreover, there was a reversal of the diurnal pattern of TP in queenright groups. The results are discussed in terms of the bee colony organization as a superorganism.

Effect of neonatal body temperature on postanoxic, potentially neurotoxic iron accumulation in the rat brain.

In asphyxiated newborns iron, released from heme and ferritin and deposited in the brain, contributes to neurodegeneration. Because hypothermia provides neuroprotection, newborn mammals, showing spontaneously reduced body temperature, might avoid the iron-mediated neurotoxicity. Therefore, we decided to study the effects of body temperature and chelation of iron with deferoxamine on iron accumulation in the brain of three weeks old rats exposed neonatally to a critical anoxia. At the age of two days, newborn rats were exposed to anoxia in 100% nitrogen atmosphere. Rectal temperature was kept at 33 degrees C (typical of the rat neonates), or elevated to a level typical of febrile (39 degrees C) adults. Control rats were exposed to atmospheric air in the respective thermal conditions. Half of the rats exposed to anoxia under hyperthermic conditions were injected with deferoxamine (DF), immediately after anoxia and 24 h later. Regional changes in cerebral iron deposition were examined in the frontal cortex, the hippocampus and the striatum, using iron histochemistry, when the rats reached the age of three weeks. Increased iron staining was found in neurons of each of the three cerebral regions in rats exposed to neonatal anoxia under hyperthermic conditions and the iron accumulation was prevented by postanoxic DF injection. In conclusion, febrile body temperature amplifies cerebral hyperferremia, which might induce neurodegenerative disturbances in the brain. On the other hand, a protection against the brain hyperferremia can be achieved by both the reduced physiological neonatal body temperature and by postasphyxic DF administration.

Deferoxamine improves antioxidative protection in the brain of neonatal rats: The role of anoxia and body temperature.

After hypoxic-ischemic insult iron deposited in the brain catalyzes formation of reactive oxygen species. Newborn rats, showing reduced physiological body temperature and their hyperthermic counterparts injected with deferoxamine (DF), a chelator of iron, are protected both against iron-mediated neurotoxicity and against depletion of low-molecular antioxidants after perinatal asphyxia. Therefore, we decided to study the effects of DF on activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD, glutathione peroxidase-GPx and catalase-CAT) in the brain of rats exposed neonatally to a critical anoxia at body temperatures elevated to 39°C. Perinatal anoxia under hyperthermic conditions intensified oxidative stress and depleted the pool of antioxidant enzymes. Both the depletion of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation were prevented by post-anoxic DF injection. The present paper evidenced that deferoxamine may act by recovering of SOD, GPx and CAT activity to reduce anoxia-induced oxidative stress.

Perinatal asphyxia, hyperthermia and hyperferremia as factors inducing behavioural disturbances in adulthood: a rat model.

Alertness was studied in adult male Wistar rats after neonatal critical anoxia applied under three different thermal conditions: (i) at physiological neonatal body temperature of 33 degrees C, (ii) at body temperature elevated to 37 degrees C, and (iii) at body temperature elevated to 39 degrees C (both during anoxia and for 2 h postanoxia). To elucidate the effect of iron-dependent postanoxic oxidative damage to the brain, half of the group (iii) was injected with deferoxamine, a chelator of iron. Postanoxic behavioural disturbances were recorded in open-field, elevated plus-maze, and sudden silence tests when the rats reached the age of 4 month. Moreover, spontaneous motor activity of the rats was recorded radiotelemetrically in their home-cages. Both open-field stress-induced and spontaneous motor activity were reduced in rats subjected to neonatal anoxia under hyperthermic conditions. In contrast, these rats were hyperactive in the plus-maze test. Both the plus-maze and sudden silence tests revealed that these rats show reduced alertness to external stimuli signalling potential dangers. The behavioural disturbances were prevented by the body temperature of 33 degrees C and by postanoxic administration of deferoxamine. These data support the conclusion that permanent postanoxic behavioural disturbances are due to iron-dependent oxidative damage to the brain, which can be prevented by the reduced neonatal body temperature.

Social versus individual behaviour: a comparative approach to thermal behaviour of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana L.).

To study the relationship between the individual and social thermoregulatory behaviour, we used honeybee workers and American cockroaches. Single insects or groups of 10-20 individuals were placed in a temperature gradient chamber, and their thermal preference was recorded for 48 h under natural summer photoperiod. Single bees showed diurnal changes in selected ambient temperature, which culminated at 14:00 reaching 34+/-2 degrees C, and then slowly decreased, reaching a nocturnal minimum of 28+/-2 degrees C at 04:00. In contrast, the zenith of temperature selected by groups of bees (31+/-1 degrees C) was reached at 04:00 and the nadir (29+/-2 degrees C) was recorded at 14:00. Groups of bees clustered together during the night time, and dispersed during intense day time activity. Such changes were absent in groups of cockroaches. Cockroaches selected an ambient temperature of 30+/-1 degrees C both during day and night. In conclusion, there is a striking analogy in the diurnal thermal behaviour between a colony of bees and mammals. During their nychthemeral rest phase, both of them select higher temperatures than during the activity phase and, simultaneously, they reduce their overall surface area of heat loss to conserve metabolic heat. Therefore, the colony behaves as a homeothermic superorganism. In contrast, a single bee, isolated from the colony, utilizes a heterothermic strategy to save energy for a morning warm up.

Stress-induced behaviour in juvenile rats: effects of neonatal asphyxia, body temperature and chelation of iron.

Newborn mammals, showing reduced normal body temperature, might be protected against iron-mediated, delayed neurotoxicity of perinatal asphyxia. Therefore, we investigated the effects of (1) neonatal body temperature and neonatal critical anoxia as well as (2) postanoxic chelation of iron with deferoxamine, on open-field stress-induced behaviour in juvenile rats. The third aim of this study was to compare (after the above-mentioned treatments) circadian changes in spontaneous motor activity and body temperature in juvenile rats permanently protected from any stress. Neonatal anoxia at body temperature adjusted (both during anoxia and 2 h reoxygenation) to a level typical of healthy (37 degrees C) or febrile (39 degrees C) adults led to the stress-induced hyperactivity in juvenile (5-45 days old) rats. Both normal neonatal body temperature of 33 degrees C and chelation of iron prevented the hyperactivity in rats. Neither neonatal body temperature nor neonatal anoxia affected spontaneous motor activity or body temperature of juvenile rats, recorded in their home-cages with implantable transmitters. Circadian rhythmicity was also undisturbed. Presented data support the hypothesis that physiologically reduced neonatal body temperature can provide a protection against iron-mediated postanoxic disturbances of behavioural stress responses in juvenile rats.

Defence against oxidative stress in two species of land snails (Helix pomatia and Helix aspersa) subjected to estivation.

During summer, land snails are exposed to estivation/arousal cycles that imposes oxidative stress, but they exhibit different patterns of antioxidant defence. To test the ability of two related species, Helix pomatia and Helix aspersa, to modulate their antioxidant defence mechanism during estivation/arousal cycles, we examined activities of catalase and glutathione-related enzymes and concentrations of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; as products of lipid peroxidation). In both species, estivation evoked changes in activity of total and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx), but did not affect activity of catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione transferase, and had no effect on concentration of glutathione. Activity of catalase in estivating snails, instead of the expected increase, showed a tendency to diminish. Extremely low activities of catalase in the foot were usually associated with extremely high activities of both forms of GPx. In conclusion, maintenance of relatively high activities of the antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of glutathione, resulting in a low and stable concentration of TBARS, plays an important role in scavenging oxygen free radicals from the organism of both species.

Neonatal asphyxia under hyperthermic conditions alters HPA axis function in juvenile rats.

Neonatal anoxia is an example of early-life threatening experience that might exert long-lasting behavioral disturbance. One of the consequences of neonatal asphyxia is hyperactivity in open-field test. Changes in open-field activity are coupled with changes in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. A critical determinant of the severity of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in newborn rats is body temperature. Hyperthermia under anoxic conditions increases locomotor activity in the open-field test. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test whether body temperature during neonatal anoxia can affect basal and stress-induced corticosterone secretion in rats. At the age of 2 days Wistar rat pups were exposed to anoxia in 100% nitrogen atmosphere. Rectal temperature was kept at 33 degrees C (typical for the rat pups), or was elevated to a level typical for febrile adults (39 degrees C). Control rats were exposed to atmospheric air under the respective thermal conditions. Basal and stress-induced corticosterone levels were assessed using sulphuric acid-induced fluorescence, on postnatal day 14. Body temperature during neonatal asphyxia altered the early developmental profile of plasma corticosterone. Hyperthermia under anoxic conditions decreased the corticosterone response to open-field stress. In conclusion, febrile body temperature changes corticosterone release, which might induce neurobehavioral disturbances. On the other hand, a protection against the HPA dysfunction can be achieved by the reduced physiological neonatal body temperature.

Antioxidants and oxidative stress in Helix pomatia snails during estivation.

Estivation enables land snails to survive a prolonged dryness but the return to active state imposes conditions of oxidative stress on internal organs due to a transient large increase in oxygen consumption, which augments mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, activities of antioxidant enzymes, concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and TBARS as an index of lipid peroxidation, were evaluated in Helix pomatia snails (i) during summer activity, (ii) during estivation, which was induced experimentally, (iii) at the start of arousal from estivation, and (iv) being aroused for 24 h. Estivation induced significant decreases in activity of catalase in the kidney and hepatopancreas and glutathione peroxidase in the kidney. Activity of glutathione reductase was unaffected by estivation/arousal cycle. Summer-active and estivating snails maintained high activity of glutathione transferase. Concentration of GSH was organ-dependent and was positively affected by estivation. Lack of increase in TBARS concentration during estivation/arousal cycle suggests that antioxidant defence system of H. pomatia snails is highly efficacious. In conclusion, permanent maintenance of relatively high activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the high concentration of GSH in H. pomatia snails indicate that they have well-developed strategy of defence against oxidative injury.