intrarenal-injection-escherichia-coli-rat-model

Intrarenal Injection of <em>Escherichia coli</em> in a Rat Model of Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidney and is most commonly caused by Escherichia coli. Recurrent infections can cause significant renal ...

The TMAO-Producing Enzyme Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 Regulates Obesity and the Beiging of White Adipose Tissue.

We sought to determine whether the fa (leptin receptor) mutation was a major determinant of the putative obesity effects on respiratory frequency in an intercross between the Brown Norway (low breathing frequency, nonobese strain) and the Zucker (moderately high breathing frequency, with the fa mutation) strains. The hypothesis was that rats bearing one (heterozygote) or two (homozygote) alleles of the Glu296Pro point mutation (fa) would have a uniformly high respiratory frequency in the second filial (F2) generation, compared with wild-type animals. In addition to breathing frequency, tidal volume and minute ventilation were assessed during baseline, acute hypoxic (10% O2-0% CO2-balance nitrogen), hypercapnic (93% O2-7% CO2), hyperoxic (100% O2-0% CO2), and combined (10% O2-3% CO2-balance nitrogen) challenges in fa homozygote (fa/fa; n = 24), fa heterozygote (fa/wt; n = 33), and wild-type (wt/wt; n = 19) animals. Phenotypes were adjusted with stepwise regression analyses for the effects of age, sex, length, and litter size. Broad-sense heritability was estimated by examining the variance of the traits in first filial and F2 generations. ANOVAs were used to determine the mode of inheritance of the fa allele in the F2 generation. As anticipated, weight demonstrated the greatest overall broad-sense heritability (77%) and was the result of the recessive mutation. Breathing parameters during the hypoxic, hypercapnic, and combined challenges demonstrated a wide range of heritability from 5 to 96%, with a very nonuniform proportion of heritability explained by the leptin receptor. At best, for frequency 4.5 min into the hypercapnic hypoxic challenge, approximately 20% of the total heritability (approximately 67%) could be attributed to an effect of the leptin receptor mutation. We conclude that, unlike its major effect on weight, the effect of the fa allele is not a major gene involved in the regulation of breathing frequency.

The fa leptin receptor mutation and the heritability of respiratory frequency in a Brown Norway and Zucker intercross.

To define some of the specific cellular effects of chronic hypoxia on the small intestine, we measured the concentration of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) at two sites, the jejunum and ileum. Wister rats were subjected to 21-day normoxia (n = 6) or to continuous 21-day hypobaric hypoxia approximately 0.5 ATM (n = 5). Western blot analysis was performed and the abundance of GLUT2 protein was quantified as relative densitometric units and normalized to actin. GLUT2 content was similar in the jejunum and ileum under normoxic (jejunum = 0.65 +/- 0.13 mean +/- SD; ileum = 0.56 +/- 0.22 OD; mean difference 0.09, p = 0.09) and hypoxic conditions (jejunum = 0.56 +/- 0.14 OD mean +/- SD; ileum = 0.58 +/- 0.16; mean difference -0.01, p = 0.42). GLUT2 decreased by 14% of the mean normoxic jejunal levels whereas ileal GLUT2 was slightly increased. A maximum decline in weight of 15% occurred at day 4 followed by a blunted rate of weight gain for rats in the hypoxic group. Thus, sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxia reduced the availability of GLUT2 for glucose transport in the jejunum. Regulating small intestinal content of glucose transporters may be an important mechanism for tissue adaptation to chronic hypoxia. This finding provides initial insight into hypoxic tolerance of the gut to chronic hypobaric hypoxic exposure.

Hypobaric hypoxia reduces GLUT2 transporter content in rat jejunum more than in ileum.

We investigated the effect of a heat-shock protein co-inducer, arimoclomol (CytRx, LA, CA), on hypoxia-adaptive responses using a rat model of simulated altitude exposure (hypobaric hypoxia).Cognitive function was measured using a T-maze and an object recognition test.Motor function was measured using an inclined-screen test and an adhesion removal test. Immunohistochemical analyses were assessed in brain for heat-shock protein 70 (HSP 70), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM- 1) and apoptosis (TUNEL staining). Results show that both cognitive and motor performances were improved in rats treated with arimoclomol during hypoxic exposure; the hypoxia-induced expression of HSP70 and ICAM-1, and TUNEL-positive cells were reduced in brain with the treatment.Our data suggest that the arimoclomol treatment reduces the hypoxia-induced stress in brain tissue, and also improves the behavioral performance in rats during hypoxic adaptation.

A heat-shock protein co-inducer treatment improves behavioral performance in rats exposed to hypoxia.

While the enhanced permeability and retention effect may promote the preferential accumulation of nanoparticles into well-vascularized primary tumors, it is ineffective in the case of metastases hidden within a large population of normal cells. Due to their small size, high dispersion to organs, and low vascularization, metastatic tumors are less accessible to targeted nanoparticles. To tackle these challenges, we designed a nanoparticle for vascular targeting based on an α(v)β(3) integrin-targeted nanochain particle composed of four iron oxide nanospheres chemically linked in a linear assembly. The chain-shaped nanoparticles enabled enhanced "sensing" of the tumor-associated remodeling of the vascular bed, offering increased likelihood of specific recognition of metastatic tumors. Compared to spherical nanoparticles, the chain-shaped nanoparticles resulted in superior targeting of α(v)β(3) integrin due to geometrically enhanced multivalent docking. We performed multimodal in vivo imaging (fluorescence molecular tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) in a non-invasive and quantitative manner, which showed that the nanoparticles targeted metastases in the liver and lungs with high specificity in a highly aggressive breast tumor model in mice.

Imaging metastasis using an integrin-targeting chain-shaped nanoparticle.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a valuable non-contrast perfusion MRI technique with numerous clinical applications. Many previous ASL MRI studies have utilized either echo-planar imaging (EPI) or true fast imaging with steady-state free precession (true FISP) readouts, which are prone to off-resonance artifacts on high-field MRI scanners. We have developed a rapid ASL-FISP MRI acquisition for high-field preclinical MRI scanners providing perfusion-weighted images with little or no artifacts in less than 2 s. In this initial implementation, a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) ASL preparation was combined with a rapid, centrically encoded FISP readout. Validation studies on healthy C57/BL6 mice provided consistent estimation of in vivo mouse brain perfusion at 7 and 9.4 T (249 ± 38 and 241 ± 17 mL/min/100 g, respectively). The utility of this method was further demonstrated in the detection of significant perfusion deficits in a C57/BL6 mouse model of ischemic stroke. Reasonable kidney perfusion estimates were also obtained for a healthy C57/BL6 mouse exhibiting differential perfusion in the renal cortex and medulla. Overall, the ASL-FISP technique provides a rapid and quantitative in vivo assessment of tissue perfusion for high-field MRI scanners with minimal image artifacts.

Arterial spin labeling-fast imaging with steady-state free precession (ASL-FISP): a rapid and quantitative perfusion technique for high-field MRI.

A simple one-step method for preparing biocompatible nanoparticles of gadolinium ferrocyanide coordination polymer KGd(H2O)2[Fe(CN)6]·H2O is reported. The crystal structure of this coordination polymer is determined by X-ray powder diffraction using the bulk materials. The stability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and MR phantom and cellular imaging studies suggest that this coordination-polymer structural platform offers a unique opportunity for developing the next generation of T1-weighted contrast agents with high relaxivity as cellular MR probes for biological receptors or markers. Such high-relaxivity MR probes may hold potential in the study of molecular events and may be used for in vivo MR imaging in biomedical research and clinical applications.

Biocompatible nanoparticles of KGd(H₂O)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·H₂O with extremely high T₁-weighted relaxivity owing to two water molecules directly bound to the Gd(III) center.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a potentially lethal multi-organ disease affecting both the kidneys and the liver. Unfortunately, there are currently no non-invasive methods to monitor liver disease progression in ARPKD patients, limiting the study of potential therapeutic interventions. Herein, we perform an initial investigation of T1 relaxation time as a potential imaging biomarker to quantitatively assess the two primary pathologic hallmarks of ARPKD liver disease: biliary dilatation and periportal fibrosis in the PCK rat model of ARPKD. T1 relaxation time results were obtained for five PCK rats at 3 months of age using a Look-Locker acquisition on a Bruker BioSpec 7.0 T MRI scanner. Six three-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were also scanned as controls. All animals were euthanized after the three-month scans for histological and biochemical assessments of bile duct dilatation and hepatic fibrosis for comparison. PCK rats exhibited significantly increased liver T1 values (mean ± standard deviation = 935 ± 39 ms) compared with age-matched SD control rats (847 ± 26 ms, p = 0.01). One PCK rat exhibited severe cholangitis (mean T1  = 1413 ms), which occurs periodically in ARPKD patients. The observed increase in the in vivo liver T1 relaxation time correlated significantly with three histological and biochemical indicators of biliary dilatation and fibrosis: bile duct area percent (R = 0.85, p = 0.002), periportal fibrosis area percent (R = 0.82, p = 0.004), and hydroxyproline content (R = 0.76, p = 0.01). These results suggest that hepatic T1 relaxation time may provide a sensitive and non-invasive imaging biomarker to monitor ARPKD liver disease.

Initial evaluation of hepatic T1 relaxation time as an imaging marker of liver disease associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

Accumulating evidences suggests that obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) contribute towards lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) through alterations in the phenotype of bladder and prostate gland. Clinical studies indicate a link between MetS and LUTS. Nevertheless, there is lack of suitable animal model(s) which could illustrate an association linking obesity to LUTS. We examined the lower urinary tract function in an obesity-initiated MetS mouse model.

Obesity-initiated metabolic syndrome promotes urinary voiding dysfunction in a mouse model.

Human brain tumors such as glioblastomas are typically detected using conventional, nonquantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as T2-weighted and contrast enhanced T1-weighted MRI. In this manuscript, we tested whether dynamic quantitative T1 mapping by MRI can localize orthotopic glioma tumors in an objective manner. Quantitative T1 mapping was performed by MRI over multiple time points using the conventional contrast agent Optimark. We compared signal differences to determine the gadolinium concentration in tissues over time. The T1 parametric maps made it easy to identify the regions of contrast enhancement and thus tumor location. Doubling the typical human dose of contrast agent resulted in a clearer demarcation of these tumors. Therefore, T1 mapping of brain tumors is gadolinium dose dependent and improves detection of tumors by MRI. The use of T1 maps provides a quantitative means to evaluate tumor detection by gadolinium-based contrast agents over time. This dynamic quantitative T1 mapping technique will also enable future quantitative evaluation of various targeted MRI contrast agents.

Dynamic Quantitative T1 Mapping in Orthotopic Brain Tumor Xenografts.

Growth failure in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been well-documented and shown to correlate with poorer disease outcomes. This observation is also true in CF animal models, including mouse, pig, rat, and ferret. The etiology underlying growth deficits is unknown, and our previous work demonstrated reduced tubulin acetylation in CF cell models and tissue that is correctable by inhibition of histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6). Here, we hypothesize that loss of HDAC6 will improve growth phenotype in a CF mouse model. Hdac6 knockout mice were crossed with F508del (CF) mice to generate F508del/Hdac6 (CF/HDA) mice. Growth, fat deposits, survival, and bioelectric measurements were analyzed. CF/HDA mice displayed improvements in length and weight with no correction of CFTR function. Mechanistically, Igf1 levels likely account for increased length and improvements in fertility. Weight gain is attributed to increased fat deposits potentially mediated by increased adipocyte differentiation. CF-related growth deficits can be improved via inhibition of HDAC6, further implicating it as a potential therapeutic target for CF.

Improved Growth Patterns in Cystic Fibrosis Mice after Loss of Histone Deacetylase 6.

Emerging evidence suggests that microbes resident in the human intestine represent a key environmental factor contributing to obesity-associated disorders. Here, we demonstrate that the gut microbiota-initiated trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-generating pathway is linked to obesity and energy metabolism. In multiple clinical cohorts, systemic levels of TMAO were observed to strongly associate with type 2 diabetes. In addition, circulating TMAO levels were associated with obesity traits in the different inbred strains represented in the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel. Further, antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown or genetic deletion of the TMAO-producing enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) conferred protection against obesity in mice. Complimentary mouse and human studies indicate a negative regulatory role for FMO3 in the beiging of white adipose tissue. Collectively, our studies reveal a link between the TMAO-producing enzyme FMO3 and obesity and the beiging of white adipose tissue.

Article	Year
The TMAO-Producing Enzyme Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 Regulates Obesity and the Beiging of White Adipose Tissue. Cell reports\| PubMed ID: 28683320	2017
The fa leptin receptor mutation and the heritability of respiratory frequency in a Brown Norway and Zucker intercross. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)\| PubMed ID: 15033967	2004
Hypobaric hypoxia reduces GLUT2 transporter content in rat jejunum more than in ileum. Advances in experimental medicine and biology\| PubMed ID: 18290345	2008
A heat-shock protein co-inducer treatment improves behavioral performance in rats exposed to hypoxia. Advances in experimental medicine and biology\| PubMed ID: 21445803	2011
Imaging metastasis using an integrin-targeting chain-shaped nanoparticle. ACS nano\| PubMed ID: 23005348	2012
Arterial spin labeling-fast imaging with steady-state free precession (ASL-FISP): a rapid and quantitative perfusion technique for high-field MRI. NMR in biomedicine\| PubMed ID: 24891124	2014
Biocompatible nanoparticles of KGd(H₂O)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·H₂O with extremely high T₁-weighted relaxivity owing to two water molecules directly bound to the Gd(III) center. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids\| PubMed ID: 25238130	2014
Initial evaluation of hepatic T1 relaxation time as an imaging marker of liver disease associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). NMR in biomedicine\| PubMed ID: 26608869	2016
Obesity-initiated metabolic syndrome promotes urinary voiding dysfunction in a mouse model. The Prostate\| PubMed ID: 27040645	2016
Dynamic Quantitative T1 Mapping in Orthotopic Brain Tumor Xenografts. Translational oncology\| PubMed ID: 27084431	2016
Improved Growth Patterns in Cystic Fibrosis Mice after Loss of Histone Deacetylase 6. Scientific reports\| PubMed ID: 28623308	2017
The TMAO-Producing Enzyme Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 Regulates Obesity and the Beiging of White Adipose Tissue. Cell reports\| PubMed ID: 28636934	2017

Bernadette O. Erokwu

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