ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of high temperature on learning and memory ability, behavioral activity, and fatigue as well as the intervention effect of compound nutrients on the exercising mice. METHODS: Thirty specific pathogen-free healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the normal-temperature exercise, high-temperature exercise, and high-temperature exercise supplement groups, with 10 mice in each group. The mice in these three groups performed treadmill exercise for one hour every day, six days per week, and continued for four weeks. The mice in the high-temperature exercise supplement group were fed with 0.3 mL of compound nutrients 30 minutes before each treadmill exercise, whereas the mice in the normal-temperature exercise and the high-temperature exercise groups were fed with an equal volume of distilled water. At the end of the treadmill exercise, the mice were subjected to experiments on their neurological behaviors. The serum of mice in each group were collected to detect the lactic acid level, urea nitrogen level, and creatine kinase activity. The liver and gastrocnemius muscle tissues were then taken for detecting the levels of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen.RESULTS: Compared with the mice in the normal-temperature exercise group, the escape latency of the mice in the high-temperature exercise group was prolonged(P<0.05), whereas the number of platform crossings, percentage of target quadrant time, and distance were reduced(all P<0.05). Compared with the mice in the high-temperature exercise group, the escape latency of the mice in the high-temperature exercise supplement group was shortened(P<0.05), whereas the number of platform crossings, percentage of target quadrant time, and distance were increased(all P<0.05). Compared with the mice in the normal-temperature exercise group, the first fall time and grip strength of the mice in the high-temperature exercise group were reduced(all P<0.05), whereas the number of falls was increased(P<0.05). Compared with the mice in the high-temperature exercise group, the first fall time and grip strength of the mice in the high-temperature exercise supplement group were increased(all P<0.05), whereas the number of falls was reduced(P<0.05). Compared with the mice in the normal-temperature exercise group, the serum lactic acid level, urea nitrogen level, and creatine kinase activity of the mice in the high-temperature exercise group were increased(all P<0.05), whereas the levels of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen were decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the mice in the high-temperature exercise group, the serum lactic acid level, urea nitrogen level, and creatine kinase activity of the mice in the high-temperature exercise supplement group were decreased(all P<0.05), whereas the levels of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen were increased(all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High temperature exercise can lead to decreased learning and memory ability and behavioral activity in mice, resulting in exercise-induced fatigue. Supplemental compound nutrients can prevent these changes.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficiency of a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay for the detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections in Oncomelania hupensis snails. Methods A group test was employed. Fifty Oncomelania snails were collected as a detection sample. The detection samples without infected snails were designated as negative specimens, while the detection samples that contained different numbers of infected snails were designated as positive specimens. A total of 10 negative specimens, 10 positive specimens containing 1 infected snail, 20 positive specimens containing 2 infected snails and 10 positive specimens containing 3 infected snails were assigned. Following random grouping, 40 specimens were subject to the florescent RAA assay using a blind method. The miradium shedding method served as a gold standard, and the sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s index and coincidence rate of the florescent RAA assay were estimated. In addition, 20 samples consisted of 5 negative specimens and 15 positive specimens with 1, 2 and 3 infected snails respectively were grouped randomly. The same specimens were detected using the crushing method and fluorescent RAA assay with the blind method in a paired-design manner. Then, the test results were compared and analyzed. Results Florescent RAA assay detected 29 positives in the 30 specimens containing different numbers of infected snails, with a sensitivity of 96.67%, and 8 negatives in the 10 detection specimens without infected snails, with a specificity of 80.00%, showing a Youden’s index of 0.77. The coincidence rate was 100% among 10 repeated assays for a detection specimen. In addition, there was no significant difference in the detection of infected snails between the florescent RAA assay and the crushing method (χ2 = 0, P > 0.05), and the actual coincidence rates of the florescent RAA assay and crushing method were 95.00% (19/20) and 90.00% (18/20) with the real results, respectively. Conclusion Fluorescent RAA assay has a favorable efficiency for the detection of S. japonicum infections in Oncomelania snails, which shows a potential in screening of S. japonicum-infected Oncomelania snails.