Arthur Perramon

Light-dark and societal synchronization of respiratory and motor activities in laboratory mice, rats, guinea-pigs and quails

Abstract 1. 1. In small adult laboratory vertebrates, kept under controlled environmental conditions: LD12:12 (L = 100 lx), temperature: 20–21°C, humidity: 60–90%, food and water ad libitum, continuous respiratory and displacement activity recordings, performed on isolated, separated and 5–10 grouped animals, in alternating light and dark (L-D) or in constant illumination, show statistically significant different circadian and ultradian rhythms. 2. 2. Comparative studies show a strong respiratory and locomotor activity synchronization by interindividual contacts in mice, and by L-D in quails. 3. 3. In rats, interindividual synchronization is as important as L-D synchronization. 4. 4. An ultradian societal rhythmicity has been demonstrated in guinea-pigs.

Body dimorphism and sex difference of resistance to an acute hypoxic challenge in rodents and birds of different ages

1. 1. Sprague-Dawley SPF rats (291 males, 298 females) of various ages (neonates, 62, 121, 526 days old), OF1 SPF mice (328 males, 296 females) of various ages (17, 28, 41, 56, 62, 82 days old) and Japanese adult (33–35 days old) quails (178 males, 189 females) and 9-day old chicken embryos (105 males, 85 females) were submitted to an acute hypoxic challenge. 2. 2. In all experiments statistically significant differences between males and females of the same age were related to a sex body dimorphism, and were greater with the bigger animals which had the higher per animal (and not per unit weight) oxygen consumption.

Inter and intraspecies genetic differences in survial to an acute hypoxic challenge in mice, rats, quails and chickens

1. 1. Groups of rodents (mice, rats) and birds (quails, chickens), of both sexes, have been submitted to an acute nitrogen hypoxic challenge close to a LD50. 2. 2.The interspecific comparison of mice, rats, quails and chickens shows that the hypoxic resistance is less in animals which have greater body weights and higher total (per animal) Vo2 and Vco2. 3. 3. Hypoxic survival differences have been shown in several strains of mice (C57B1, CBA, OF1), rats (Sprague-Dawley, Wistar), quails (low and high weighted) and chickens (R+, R−; A, I; dwarf, non-dwarf). 4. 4.These intraspecific differences appear to be mostly independent of body weight, Vo2 and Vco2 and rather to be related to various endocrine (sex, thyroid), psychophysiological, circadian rhythmic and other, at present unknown, discrepancies.

Ultradian and circadian respiratory rhythms in grouped small laboratory vertebrate species as a method to assess the effects of environmental challenges

The recording over several days of the respiratory gases of groups of different laboratory vertebrates (mice, rats, quails), placed in a chamber with controlled ventilation, and in standardized environmental conditions of temperature, humidity, light, noise and feeding, shows ultradian (tau less than 24 hr) and circadian (tau congruent to 24 hr) rhythms. A simple variance analysis method shows periodic carbon dioxide changes, due to different environmental stimuli. Societal, light, acoustical, carbon monoxide and starvation challenges are given as examples. This technique enables us quickly to collect, on a great number of animals, data which correspond to societal behavior changes peculiar to the considered species.

Animal models and acute and long-term carbon monoxide intoxication

Abstract Small rodents are the animals most utilized in investigating the effects of acute and long-term carbon monoxide intoxications. These animals can be used in sufficient numbers to produce statistically significant results. Furthermore, the 2- to 3-year life span of rats and mice enable life-long exposures and make possible studies of several subsequent generations in controlled environmental conditions. Experimental investigations of acute toxicity show differences related to age, sex, pregnancy, and adrenal factors. Differences in strains, body size, respiratory parameters, span of life, carboxyhemoglobin dissociation, endogen carbon monoxide production, and circadian rhythms must be taken into consideration when comparing results obtained with different animal models. Experiments of the effects of tobacco smoke and automotive exhaust are of great interest for they associate carbon monoxide with other toxic components that constitute a risk for human health.

Grouping and respiratory behavior induced in rats and quails by LD12:12 illumination.

Abstract Continuous recordings of the respiratory VCO 2 and VO 2 of isolated, separated or grouped rats (Sprague-Dawley) and quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in a LD 12:12 (L=100 lux) lighting regimen, under controlled environmental conditions of temperature, humidity and noise, and with food ad lib, show circadian rhythmicity with marked increases in respiratory amplitude at L→D in rats and at D→L in quails. Grouping increases these respiratory amplitude variations at L→D and D→L in rats but not in quails. Continuous illumination (LL; 100 lux) provokes respiratory interindividual desynchronization after 13 days in grouped rats and after 3 days in quails. The differences in grouping effects shown between these two species are mostly due to interindividual contacts which, under the above experimental conditions, are closer in rats than in quails.

Harmonic analysis of ultradian respiratory rhythms in four small laboratory vertebrates lit in LD12:12

Fourier harmonic analysis has been applied to 20-min samples of VCO2, recorded every 12 sec over several (7-12) days, in one mouse, one rat, one guinea-pig, or one quail, maintained in controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and ventilation, and lit in LD12:12 (100 lux). The harmonic computations, during L and D of ultradian periods (1.2 hr less than tau less than 12 hr) evidence statistically significant differences in amplitude and phase between these four small laboratory species. These periodic respiratory differences correspond to discrepancies in their diurnal and nocturnal activities, and in their responses to light and dark.

Effets quantitatifs associés au gène albinos lié au sexe chez la Caille japonaise

Deux années successives (1979 et 1980), des cailles femelles (Coturnix coturrvix japo!aica), les unes de type sauvage, les autres, soeurs ou demi-soeurs des premières, portant le gène sa’ (albinos lié au sexe), ont été comparées pour la survie en fin d’incubation et après l’éclosion, l’activité en open-field, et divers paramètres quantitatifs mesurant la croissance pondérale, la production et les qualités des oeufs, l’efficacité alimentaire en cages individuelles, enfin l’état du plumage des pondeuses après transfert en cages collectives. Les albinos comparées aux cailles pigmentées présentent une mortalité nettement plus élevée après l’éclosion. Ce phénomène se limite aux premières semaines d’élevage et disparaît après 5 semaines d’âge. Leur croissance initiale est retardée, mais l’écart, en valeur absolue

Inter and intraspecies genetic differences in survival to an acute carbon monoxide challenge in mice, rats, guinea-pigs, quails and chickens

1. Groups of small laboratory vertebrates, of both sexes, have been submitted to an acute carbon monoxide challenge, close to a LD50. 2. An interspecific classification, from low to high CO sensitivity, gives: guinea-pigs-mice-chicks-rats-quails. 3. Interstrain statistical differences were observed in all species, with the exception of guinea-pigs. Furthermore, among two selected genotypes of Japanese quails, one was resistant to acute nitrogen hypoxia and to carbon monoxide intoxication and the other sensitive to both these types of hypoxia. 4. Interspecific comparisons show similarities of genetic differences to acute CO intoxication and acute nitrogen normobaric hypoxia.

Ultradian and orcadian CO2 emission variations in nocturnal and diurnal animals exposed to a light stimulus

1. Carbon dioxide emission (VCO2) has been continuously recorded in three laboratory animal species (Sprague-Dawley rats, Japanese quail, Hartley guinea-pigs) which differ by their nocturnal and diurnal activities. A 100 lux stimulus has been delivered at various time intervals. 2. A regular alternation of 12, 3 or 1.5 hr light (L) and darkness (D) gives VCO2 circadian and ultradian rhythms of 24, 6 or 3 hr periods, respectively, in quail and rats. 3. Such circadian and ultradian LD rhythms are not induced in all guinea-pigs. 4. The amplitudes of the VCO2 responses are greatest at D----L when the animals have a maximum diurnal activity and at L----D when their maximum activity is nocturnal. 5. Interactions between circadian and ultradian rhythms are seen in all LD experiments, as well as in continuous light (LL) or continuous dark (DD). 6. No more well-marked or even inverted VCO2 responses to the light stimuli may occur after several days of exposure to these LD alternations.