Shaw, G. A. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

Adolescent predatory stress increases peripheral TNFα response to LPS regardless of sex

Chronic adolescent stress has been shown to cause increased adverse effects in response to an immune stressor later in life including the development of anxiety and PTSD. Following stress, the production of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1{beta} and TNF is expected to increase in response to an immune challenge such as LPS. Male and female mice underwent fifteen consecutive days of predatory stress. Chronic adolescent stress was shown to increase both anxiety-like behavior (F(1, 28) = 19.82, p = 0.0001) and TNF levels within the periphery (F(1, 19) = 4.748, p = 0.0421).

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Low Cost Metabolic Fuel Sensor for On-Demand Personal Health and Fitness Tracking

Metabolic health in the general population has declined significantly in just one to two generations despite increased emphasis on dieting and exercise. A challenge in prescribing a healthy diet and exercise regimen is the variability individuals exhibit in response to particular foods, calorie restricted diets and exercise regimens. This paper describes a prototype metabolic fuel sensor designed for ease of use and personal tracking of metabolic energy expenditure and fuel substrate utilization. Examples of the sensor measurements and potential applications to weight management and tracking of chronically high blood glucose are described.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2019

A History of Chronic Repeated Predation Stress Reduces Aversion to Ethanol Adulteration in Male, but not Female, C57Bl/6J Mice

BackgroundTrauma related psychiatric disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid illnesses that separately present an opposing, sex-specific pattern, with increased prevalence of PTSD in females and increased prevalence of AUD diagnoses in males. Likewise, PTSD is a risk factor in the development of AUD, with conflicting data on the impact of sex in the comorbid development of both disorders. Because the likelihood of experiencing more than one traumatic event is high, we aim to utilize chronic repeated predatory stress (CRPS) to query the extent to which sex interacts with CRPS to influence alcohol consumption, or cessation of consumption. MethodsMale (n=16) and female (n=15) C57BL/6J mice underwent CRPS or daily handling for two weeks during adolescence (P35-P49) and two weeks during adulthood (P65-P79). Following the conclusion of two rounds of repeated stress, behavior was assessed in the open field. Mice subsequently underwent a two-bottle choice intermittent ethanol access (IEA) assessment (P90-131) with the options of 20% ethanol or water. After establishing drinking behavior, increasing concentrations of quinine were added to the ethanol to assess the drinking response to adulteration of the alcohol. ResultsCRPS increased fecal corticosterone concentrations and anxiety-like behaviors in the open field in both male and female mice as compared to control mice that had not been exposed to CRPS. Consistent with previous reports, we observed a sex difference in alcohol consumption such that females consumed more ethanol per gram of body mass than males. In addition, CRPS reduced alcohol aversion in male mice such that higher concentrations of quinine were necessary to reduce alcohol intake as compared to control mice. CRPS did not alter alcohol-related behaviors in female mice. ConclusionCollectively, we demonstrate that repeated CRPS can induce anxiety-like behavior in both sexes but selectively influences the response to ethanol adulteration in males.

neuroscience↗