Pamela M. Phillips

Rat strain and stock comparisons using a functional observational battery: Baseline values and effects of amitraz☆☆☆

A functional observational battery (FOB) was utilized to assess the effects of 3-day exposure to the formamidine pesticide amitraz in outbred Sprague-Dawley-derived and inbred Fischer-344-derived (F344) rats (both from Charles River Laboratories) and in outbred Long-Evans rats obtained from two commercial suppliers (Charles River Breeding Laboratories and Blue Spruce Farms). Significant strain and stock differences were obtained in baseline values for one-third of the FOB measures. In most cases, F344 rats were different from the others. Characteristic signs of amitraz exposure consisting of increased excitability, hyper-reactivity, and physiological and autonomic changes were evident in all treated rats. These effects increased with repeated dosing, and many were still present 6 days after dosing. On individual measures, there were differences between the strains and stocks in terms of sensitivity and time course of amitraz effects. In general, Blue Spruce Long-Evans rats displayed more effects of amitraz and F344 rats recovered more quickly than others. Although Sprague-Dawley rats showed the least effect overall, they displayed the largest increases in the sensorimotor responses to stimuli. These data indicate that although some behavioral and physiological parameters showed strain and supplier differences, in both baseline values and the effects of amitraz, conclusions concerning its neurotoxic potential in a screening context would be similar.

Time-course, dose-response, and age comparative sensitivity of N-methyl carbamates in rats.

N-Methyl carbamate insecticides are reversible inhibitors of central and peripheral acetylcholinesterase (ChE). Despite their widespread use, there are few studies of neurotoxicity in young animals. To study potential age-related differences, we evaluated seven carbamates (carbaryl, carbofuran, formetanate, methiocarb, methomyl, oxamyl, and propoxur) in preweanling (17 days old or postnatal day [PND] 17) male rats. Motor activity was monitored, and ChE inhibition was measured in brain and red blood cells (RBCs) using a radiometric assay that minimized reactivation of ChE. First, we conducted time-course studies in PND17 Long-Evans male rats, using a single oral dose of each carbamate. Almost all carbamates showed maximal ChE inhibition at a 45-min time point; only methomyl showed an earlier peak effect (15 min). At 24 h, most inhibition had recovered. Next, dose-response data were collected for each carbamate, using four doses and control, with motor activity testing beginning 15 min after dosing and tissue collection at 40-45 min. RBC ChE was generally inhibited to a greater degree than brain. Motor activity was not as sensitive a measure for some of the carbamates, with some differences across carbamates in the shapes of the dose-response curves. Additional studies documented age-related differences by comparing ChE inhibition in PND11, PND17, and adult rats following administration of carbaryl or carbofuran. Only the youngest (PND11) rats were more sensitive than adults to carbaryl, but both younger ages showed more effects than adults with carbofuran. Comparisons of the other carbamates to previous studies in adult rats suggest similar age-related sensitivity. Thus, these data show the time-course and dose-response characteristics for each carbamate and document greater sensitivity of the young for carbofuran and carbaryl.

Effect of genetic strain and gender on age-related changes in body composition of the laboratory rat.

ABSTRACT Body fat serves as a storage compartment for lipophilic pollutants and affects the pharmacokinetics of many toxic chemicals. Understanding how body fat varies with gender, strain, and age may be essential for development of experimental models to study mechanisms of toxicity. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based analysis serves as a noninvasive means of assessing proportions of fat, lean, and fluid in rodents over their lifetime. The aim of this study was to track changes in body composition of male and female Long-Evans (LE), Sprague-Dawley (SD), Fischer (F334), and Brown Norway (BN) rats from postweaning over a >2-yr period. Percent fat of preweaned LE and SD rats was markedly higher compared to the other strains. LE and SD strains displayed marked increases in body fat from weaning to 8 mo of age. Postweaned F344 male and females showed relatively low levels of percent fat; however, at 2 yr of age percent fat of females was equal to that of SD and LE in females. BN rats showed the highest levels of lean tissue and lowest levels of fat. Percent fat of the BN strain rose at the slowest rate as they aged. Percent fluid was consistently higher in males for all strains. Females tended to have higher percent fat than males in LE, SD, and F344 strains. Assessing changes in body fat as well as lean and fluid of various strains of male and female rats over their lifetime may prove useful in many research endeavors, including pharmacokinetics of lipophilic toxicants, mechanisms underlying obesity, and metabolic disorders.

Pulmonary sensitivity to ozone exposure in sedentary versus chronically trained, female rats

Abstract Epidemiological data suggest that a sedentary lifestyle may contribute to increased susceptibility for some environmental toxicants. We developed an animal model of active versus sedentary life style by providing female Sprague-Dawley rats with continuous access to running wheels. Sedentary rats were housed in standard cages without wheels. After training for 12 wks, rats were exposed to 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0u2009ppm ozone [O3 for 5u2009h/d, 1 d/wk, for 6 wk (Nu2009=u200910 per group)]. Body composition (%fat, lean and fluid) was monitored noninvasively over the course of the study. Ventilatory parameters [tidal volume, minute ventilation, frequency and enhanced pause (Penh)] were assessed using whole-body plethysmography prior to O3 and 24u2009h after the 5th O3 exposure. Trained rats lost ∼2% body fat after 12 wk of access to running wheels. Peak wheel activity was reduced by 40% after exposure to 1.0u2009ppm O3. After the 5th O3 exposure, body weight and %fat were reduced in sedentary but not trained rats. Penh was significantly elevated in sedentary but not trained rats the day after exposure to 1.0u2009ppm O3. However, lung lavage cell counts and biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation measured 1u2009day after the final exposure were inconsistently affected by training. Wheel running led to marked physiological responses along with some indication of improved pulmonary recovery from O3 exposure. However, wheel running with O3 exposure may also be a detriment for some pulmonary endpoints. Overall, a sedentary lifestyle may increase susceptibility to O3, but additional studies are needed.

Carbaryl and 1-Naphthol Tissue Levels and Related Cholinesterase Inhibition in Male Brown Norway Rats from Preweaning to Senescence

Studies incorporating both toxicokinetic and dynamic factors provide insight into chemical sensitivity differences across the life span. Tissue (brain, plasma, liver) levels of the N-methyl carbamate carbaryl, and its metabolite 1-naphthol, were determined and related to brain and RBC cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition in the same animals. Dose-response (3, 7.5, 15, or 22.5 mg/kg, 40–45 min postdosing) and time course (3 or 15 mg/kg at 30, 60, 120, or 240 min postdosing) of acute effects of carbaryl (oral gavage) in preweanling (postnatal day [PND] 18) and adult male Brown Norway rats from adolescence to senescence (1, 4, 12, 24 mo) were compared. At all ages there were dose-related increases in carbaryl and 1-naphthol in the dose-response study, and the time-course study showed highest carbaryl levels at 30 min postdosing. There were, however, age-related differences in that the 1- and 4-mo rats showed the lowest levels of carbaryl and 1-naphthol, and PND18 and 24-mo rats had similar, higher levels. The fastest clearance (shortest half-lives) was observed in 1- and 4-mo rats. Carbaryl levels were generally higher than 1-naphthol in brain and plasma, but in liver, 1-naphthol levels were similar to or greater than carbaryl. Brain ChE inhibition closely tracked brain carbaryl concentrations regardless of the time after dosing, but there was more variability in the relationship between RBC ChE and plasma carbaryl levels. Within-subject analyses suggested somewhat more brain ChE inhibition at lower carbaryl levels only in the PND18 rats. These findings may reflect maturation followed by decline in kinetic factors over the life span.

A noninvasive method to study regulation of extracellular fluid volume in rats using nuclear magnetic resonance.

Time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR)-based measurement of body composition of rodents is an effective method to quickly and repeatedly measure proportions of fat, lean, and fluid without anesthesia. TD-NMR provides a measure of free water in a living animal, termed %fluid, and is a measure of unbound water in the vascular and extracellular spaces. We hypothesized that injecting a bolus of fluid into the peritoneal cavity would lead to an abrupt increase in %fluid and the rate of clearance monitored with TD-NMR would provide a noninvasive assessment of the free water homeostasis in an awake rat. Several strains of laboratory rats were injected intraperitoneally with 10 ml/kg isotonic or hypertonic saline and %fluid was monitored repeatedly with a Bruker Minispec TD-NMR body composition system. Following isotonic saline, %fluid increased immediately by 0.5% followed by a recovery over ∼6 h. Injecting hypertonic (3 times normal saline) resulted in a significantly greater rise in %fluid and longer recovery. Intraperitoneal and subcutaneous fluid injection led to similar rates of clearance. The Wistar-Kyoto rat strain displayed significantly slower recovery to fluid loads compared with Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley strains. Rats exercised chronically showed significant increases in %fluid, but the rate of clearance of fluid was similar to that of sedentary animals. We conclude that this technique could be used to study vascular and extracellular volume homeostasis noninvasively in rats.

Acute peat smoke inhalation sensitizes rats to the postprandial cardiometabolic effects of a high fat oral load

Wildland fire emissions cause adverse cardiopulmonary outcomes, yet controlled exposure studies to characterize health impacts of specific biomass sources have been complicated by the often latent effects of air pollution. The aim of this study was to determine if postprandial responses after a high fat challenge, long used clinically to predict cardiovascular risk, would unmask latent cardiometabolic responses in rats exposed to peat smoke, a key wildland fire air pollution source. Male Wistar Kyoto rats were exposed once (1u202fh) to filtered air (FA), or low (0.36u202fmg/m3 particulate matter) or high concentrations (3.30u202fmg/m3) of peat smoke, generated by burning peat from an Irish bog. Rats were then fasted overnight, and then administered an oral gavage of a HF suspension (60u202fkcal% from fat), mimicking a HF meal, 24u202fh post-exposure. In one cohort, cardiac and superior mesenteric artery function were assessed using high frequency ultrasound 2u202fh post gavage. In a second cohort, circulating lipids and hormones, pulmonary and systemic inflammatory markers, and circulating monocyte phenotype using flow cytometry were assessed before or 2 or 6u202fh after gavage. HF gavage alone elicited increases in circulating lipids characteristic of postprandial responses to a HF meal. Few effects were evident after peat exposure in un-gavaged rats. By contrast, exposure to low or high peat caused several changes relative to FA-exposed rats 2 and 6u202fh post HF gavage including increased heart isovolumic relaxation time, decreased serum glucose and insulin, increased CD11 b/c-expressing blood monocytes, increased serum total cholesterol, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and alpha-2 macroglobulin (pu202f=u202f0.063), decreased serum corticosterone, and increased lung gamma-glutamyl transferase. In summary, these findings demonstrate that a HF challenge reveals effects of air pollution that may otherwise be imperceptible, particularly at low exposure levels, and suggest exposure may sensitize the body to mild inflammatory triggers.