Exposure to atrazine, a common herbicide frequently used in dry crops such as corn, can have negative effects on the reproductive and endocrine systems, according to several studies. Resveratrol, a naturally occurring phytoalexin antioxidant, is recognized as an effective treatment for the prevention of aging and reproductive impairments. A study in Scientific Reports explores whether resveratrol can

Organ development and maturation are complex processes requiring dynamic fluctuations and precise balance of a multitude of molecules, especially during adolescence. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms in various organs during life is especially important for clarifying fundamental biological questions such as aging diseases. A study in Nature Communications presents a multi-organ proteome atlas

Medulloblastoma (MB), sonic hedgehog (SHH)-activated tumors are malignant pediatric tumors of the central nervous system. Although numerous SHH MB mouse models have been developed to better understand the mechanisms driving SHH MB progression and identify therapies, treatment regimens remain suboptimal for patients. A new study reports the development of a zebrafish model of SHH MB using CRISPR to

Several animal and human studies have shown sex differences in gut microbiota, but the results are inconsistent. A study in Communications Biology provides new insights into the effects of testosterone and sex on the mouse gut microbiome by comparing the gut microbiome of male and female mice before and after puberty. The results indicated differences in the microbiome composition between male and

Many cellular processes produce reactive oxygen species, which can produce cellular damage. Therefore, antioxidants are essential for cells to survive. Many diseases seem to be connected to impaired antioxidant functions. However, the impact of the most abundant antioxidant in the body, glutathione (GSH), across all tissues in adult animals is unknown, as knocking out GCLC, the enzyme that controls

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most used nanomaterials in cosmetics and topical products. These nanoparticles have also been tested for drug delivery and in tissue engineering. However, some studies raise the possibility that ZnO NPs might cause cardiotoxic effects and systemic toxicity. A study in Scientific Reports investigated the toxic effects of ZnO NPs on the hearts of Wistar

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic condition due to a mutation in the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene that causes a range of developmental problems, including features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Metformin, an antidiabetic FDA-approved drug, has emerged as a candidate drug for the targeted treatment of FXS based on animal studies, including a study in which metformin treatment

Several studies have established a link between microbial metabolite dysregulation and the progression of diseases such as obesity and hypertension. However, the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains largely unknown. A new study demonstrates that reductions in the levels of Lactobacillus johnsonii and microbial-derived indole-3-aldehyde (IAld) largely

The Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting (LAG-R) framework, developed by a team of international experts, was recently published in Nature Communications. The LAG-R framework proposes a collection of guidelines to improve the reporting of genetic information for animal models. Lab Animal spoke with corresponding authors Lydia Teboul and Guillaume Pavlovic to know more about the motivation for these

A highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus is spreading in U.S. dairy cattle and has been transmitted to other species, including humans, probably through contaminated milk. Understanding how the virus spreads among cattle and its potential for mammalian adaptation and airborne transmission is crucial for effective outbreak control and public health safety.

Concerns for high-dose ionizing radiation exposure have been growing since past radiation events and the global push for clean nuclear energy. Ionizing radiation harms living tissue by causing DNA double-strand breaks or generating free radicals and reactive oxygen species. However, accurate radiation dose assessment in individuals developing acute radiation syndrome is currently impossible, which

Previous studies have shown that climatic factors, including humidity and temperature, can increase negative emotions such as fatigue syndrome, depression and anxiety. A new study using a conditioned housing mouse model shows that humidity and heat cause anxiety-like disorder in mice via alterations of the gut microbiome. Compared with mice housed in an ordinary environment (NC mice, 22–24°C and 45–55%

Food additives, such as flavoring agents, preservatives and emulsifiers, are commonly used in the food processing industry to improve color, taste, smell and shelf-life of food products. Although several toxicological investigations are usually conducted to evaluate the safety of food additives, questions remain about their impact on gut microbiota and their relationship with obesity and metabolic

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and deadly of the subtypes. Most therapies are inefficient as molecular targets are poorly identified due to the molecular heterogeneity nature of TNBC. One main limitation for finding new therapeutics is the difficulty in developing genetic models for TNBC. A study in Disease Models & Mechanisms

One of the main limitations of using small fish, like zebrafish, for learning tests is the high levels of stress experienced by a single individual when placed in novel conditions. Therefore, it would be better to use larger fish, such as Cichlids as they show fewer signs of distress in novel conditions. A study in Behavioural Brain Research validates a learning protocol using the T-maze test to study

Despite the development of many nonanimal methods, animal models are still needed to study the pathology of cancer and identify effective therapies. With more than one million mice utilized in oncology research in the EU in 2019, it is clearly important to protect the welfare of the animals, both from an ethical point of view and to improve scientific quality and reproducibility. In Nature Protocols

Although zebrafish are well suited for transgenic manipulation, routine transgenesis in zebrafish with random DNA integration presents considerable challenges. A study in Science Advances reports the development of a new transgenesis approach using well-validated ‘safe harbor’ sites in the zebrafish genome for reproducible, routine incorporation of transgenes into predictable loci. Lalonde et al. adapted

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication that occurs in approximately 20% of hospitalized patients. Clinical and preclinical studies have revealed that AKI is a complex systemic disease affecting every organ. Addressing these systemic complications is essential to reduce AKI mortality. However, the effects of AKI on the liver, another major metabolic organ, are still unknown. A study in Scientific

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is widely used as a powerful model organism in biomedical and drug screening research1. With an exceptional capacity to assess multiple compounds per day, fish-based screenings have already been used to identify several drugs that reached preclinical and clinical trials2. Zebrafish have also emerged as an important species for probing mechanisms of brain function and dysfunction

Optimal conditions represent the golden standard in experimental biology studies. Yet, the definition of ‘optimal’ is rather vague and optimal conditions are non-existent in nature, which operates at suboptimal conditions. This apparent paradox has implications in both curiosity-driven research that seeks answers to fundamental biological questions and in preclinical research that aims to identify

Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a useful model to study cardiovascular diseases, including both developmental abnormalities and adult functional impairments. Despite being much simpler, the Drosophila heart displays several developmental and functional similarities to the vertebrate heart. The fruit fly heart, located ~100 μm below the dorsal surface, has also the advantage of being easily accessed

Surgery is the primary form of treatment for colorectal cancer, resulting in cure for approximately 50% of patients. However, recurrence after surgery is a major problem and patients can greatly benefit from post-surgical systemic therapies. However, finding the optimal therapy for a patient can be challenging, leading to unnecessary side effects and loss of valuable time. In a new study, Rita Fior’s

Zebrafish are not only a common research model but also a popular pet fish. Laboratory-bred zebrafish have well-characterized associated microbes. Pet shop zebrafish are frequently used in the laboratory setting. However, given that their associated microbes are still uncharacterized, the ramifications of introducing them to a laboratory environment are unknown. A study in PLOS Biology identifies a

Chemogenetics is a gene therapy approach in development where designer receptors activated exclusively by designer drugs (DREADD) are introduced via genetic manipulation to modulate specific pathways and, in the case of the nervous system, specific neurons or brain areas. Despite their potential interest in human therapeutics, the lack of proper preclinical validation impedes their advancement. A study

Episodic memory refers to the unique set of personal experiences lived. The hippocampus is an essential hub for episodic memory processing. Studies focusing on the role of the hippocampus in learning and the contribution of adult hippocampal neurogenesis to cognition have mostly involved manipulating the brain bilaterally. However, current imaging methods, such as in vivo calcium imaging in freely

Peroxisomes are membrane-bound organelles that are critical for lipid metabolism and redox homeostasis. The importance of these organelles for human health and development is underlined by the existence of several inherited diseases, so called peroxisomal disorders. Existing approaches for imaging peroxisomes in animal models and patient samples are not suitable to study peroxisome dysfunction and

Cell-based therapy for generating salivary glands is a promising future therapy for patients suffering from dry mouth, Sjögren’s syndrome or the side effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. In Cell Reports, researchers used a conditional blastocyst complementation (CBC) technique to generate fully functional salivary glands from pluripotent stem cells in mice. Given that CBC is based on

Anxiety and depression are prevalent mental disorders involving abnormal neural function and dysregulated fear response circuits. Drugs used for the treatment of mental disorders are not always effective and produce side effects. Developing a high-throughput assay to test behavior alterations in animal models after drug exposure would improve the detection of therapeutic components and the understanding

3R centers around the world are confronting the challenges of 3R implementation in animal research by sharing outcomes, resources and training with scientists.

Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) have been increasingly used in biomedical research, but commercial vendors have been struggling to provide enough animals for large projects. Many laboratories have therefore resorted to breeding animals to create their own colonies. However, breeding can be rather difficult and time-consuming, with female marmosets failing to reproduce efficiently. The current system

In many species, members of a group respond to their conspecifics’ physiological and emotional states. In some situations, affective mirroring is present, in which the affective state seems to be socially transmitted from one conspecific to another. However, it is unclear if the same phenomenon occurs in inflammatory states. In a recent preprint (not peer-reviewed), Quintana et al. explored the potential

The psychoactive drug market is ever-evolving and difficult to track as new designer drugs are rapidly released into the market each year. These drugs are characterized by various structures and unknown metabolic profiles that make them difficult to detect in traditional tests. Novel synthetic opioids are one of the most dangerous drugs and have been involved in around 80% of opioid abuse-related deaths

Dysbiosis – defined by an imbalance in the gut microbiome – is an important feature of many chronic diseases and involves the outgrowth of pathobionts such as Klebsiella pneumoniae in the gut. Given that diet can alter microbiota composition, identifying the dietary components that contribute to dysbiosis is critical. A study in JCI showing that dietary carbohydrates are critical for K. pneumoniae

Systemic inflammation might be connected to the cognitive impairment reported in patients with sepsis or after major surgery. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a drug that acts as an agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors, has been hypothesized to be neuroprotective, with reports showing that DEX reduces neuroinflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mouse models. Previous work has shown that DEX enhances the expression

Throughout life, we are exposed to a huge variety of microorganisms, be they exogenous or endogenous, such as our gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is involved in many physiological functions, but the influence of our internal microbiome on external microbes is unknown. A study in Cell Reports using gnotobiotic Drosophila melanogaster, a model with a simple gut microbiome consisting of one or two

Iron is biologically essential and participates in a wide variety of metabolic processes including oxygen transport, oxidative metabolism and cellular proliferation. However, iron is also potentially toxic and abnormal iron levels have been associated with several disorders, including iron deficiency anemia, porphyrias and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Iron level must

Migraines are one of the most common debilitating neurological disorders affecting people’s lives. Evidence has emerged indicating that the environment can influence the onset and treatment of various neurological disorders and influence pain. However, the effect of the environment on migraine is still unknown. In a new study, the team analyzed behavioral responses and alterations in protein expression

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a X-linked genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration caused by DMD gene mutations leading to the absence of dystrophin in the muscle membrane. The clinical course of human DMD is severe, with gradual inability to walk and premature death due to respiratory and cardiac failure. Although rodent and dog models have been useful to study DMD pathogenesis

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is known to facilitate fear extinction, and REM sleep deprivation after a traumatic event increases the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the mechanisms by which REM sleep protects against fearful memories are largely unknown. In a new study published in Current Biology, Hong and colleagues identified the infralimbic cortex (IL) – a brain

Animals used in biomedical research may experience pain or distress as part of the experimental protocol. By implementing humane endpoints, pain or distress can be prevented or alleviated whilst still meeting scientific aims and objectives. We invited experts from Arizona State University (Samantha Sullivan) and Loma Linda University (Obed Rutebuka), along with USDA and OLAW representatives (Louis