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Author Jeong, S.; Han, M.; Lee, H.; Kim, M.; Kim, J.; Nicol, C.J.; Kim, B.H.; Choi, J.H.; Nam, K.-H.; Oh, G.T.; Yoon, M.
Title (up) Effects of fenofibrate on high-fat diet-induced body weight gain and adiposity in female C57BL/6J mice Type Journal Article
Year 2004 Publication Metabolism: clinical and experimental Abbreviated Journal Metabolism
Volume 53 Issue 10 Pages 1284-1289
Keywords Adipose Tissue/*anatomy & histology/drug effects; Animals; Antilipemic Agents/*pharmacology; Body Composition/*drug effects; Body Weight/drug effects; Dietary Fats/*pharmacology; Eating/drug effects; Fatty Acids/metabolism; Female; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects; Leptin/metabolism; Liver/metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Ovariectomy; Procetofen/*pharmacology; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis/genetics; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism; Weight Gain/*drug effects
Abstract Our previous study suggested that fenofibrate affects obesity and lipid metabolism in a sexually dimorphic manner in part through the differential activation of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) in male and female C57BL/6J mice. To determine whether fenofibrate reduces body weight gain and adiposity in female sham-operated (Sham) and ovariectomized (OVX) C57BL/6J mice, the effects of fenofibrate on not only body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, and food intake, but also the expression of both leptin and PPARalpha target genes were measured. Compared to their respective low-fat diet-fed controls, both Sham and OVX mice exhibited increases in body weight and WAT mass when fed a high-fat diet. Fenofibrate treatment decreased body weight gain and WAT mass in OVX, but not in Sham mice. Furthermore, fenofibrate increased the mRNA levels of PPARalpha target genes encoding peroxisomal enzymes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, and reduced apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) mRNA, all of which were expressed at higher levels in OVX compared to Sham mice. However, leptin mRNA levels were found to positively correlate with WAT mass, and food intake was not changed in either OVX or Sham mice following fenofibrate treatment. These results suggest that fenofibrate differentially regulates body weight and adiposity due in part to differences in PPARalpha activation, but not to differences in leptin production, between female OVX and Sham mice.
Address Department of Life Sciences, Mokwon University, Taejon, Korea
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ISSN 0026-0495 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:15375783 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 72
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Author Lindberg, A.C.; Kelland, A.; Nicol, C.J.
Title (up) Effects of observational learning on acquisition of an operant response in horses Type Journal Article
Year 1999 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 61 Issue 3 Pages 187-199
Keywords Horse; Observational learning; Stereotyped behaviour; Operant behaviour; Breed influence; Age influence
Abstract The effect of observational learning on the acquisition of an operant response was examined in eighteen riding horses and ponies. The test horses were randomly divided into three groups of six and individually exposed to one of three treatments. An additional horse was trained as a demonstrator, to perform the operant response. The observer horses watched either the demonstrator performing the bin-opening response (Group D+B); the demonstrator standing passively (Group D); or the operant bin in the absence of the demonstrator (Group B). Observers had access to and were free to interact with an identical bin during testing. Observers in Groups D+B and D were socially familiar with the demonstrator. Each test horse was tested once a day for 10 days. An ANOVA revealed no significant differences between treatment groups in the number of responses or the time taken to reach the learning criterion. However, there were highly significant differences between breed types, with non-warmbloods performing more bouts of opening the bin and feeding (p=0.02), feeding from the bin sooner (p=0.01) and reaching the criterion for learning sooner than warmbloods (p=0.05). There was also a significant negative linear relationship between horses' ages and time spent investigating the bin, with younger horses performing more investigative behaviour (y=-3.08x+106.86; p=0.02).
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 562
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Author Clarke, J.V.; Nicol, C.J.; Jones, R.; McGreevy, P.D.
Title (up) Effects of observational learning on food selection in horses Type Journal Article
Year 1996 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 177-184
Keywords Horse; Observational learning; Food discrimination
Abstract Fourteen riding horses of mixed age and breed were randomly allocated to observer and control treatments. An additional horse was pre-trained as a demonstrator to walk the 13.8 m length of the test arena and select one of two food buckets using colour and pattern cues. Observer horses were exposed to correct performances of the task by the trained demonstrator, for 20 trials held over 2 days. Control horses were subjected to the same handling and placement procedures as the observer horses but without exposure to the behaviour of the demonstrator. The third day for all subjects was designated as a test day. Each subject was released individually in a predetermined place in the arena, and the latency to walk the length of the test arena to the food buckets, the latency to feed, the identity of the bucket approached and the identity of the bucket selected were recorded on ten consecutive trials. During tests both food buckets contained food to minimize the possibility of individual trial and error learning. On the first trial the mean latency to approach the goal area was 18 s for observer horses, compared with 119 s for control horses (t = 2.8, d.f. = 12, P < 0.01) and the mean latency to eat was 35 s for observer horses, compared with 181 s for control horses (t = 4.86, d.f. = 11, P < 0.001). However, observer horses were no more likely to choose the demonstrated bucket than control horses on the first trial. Twelve of the 14 horses decreased their latency to approach the goal area during the series of ten trials, but there were no significant changes in the buckets selected.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 563
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Author Nicol, C.J.; Brown, S.N.; Glen, E.; Pope, S.J.; Short, F.J.; Warriss, P.D.; Zimmerman, P.H.; Wilkins, L.J.
Title (up) Effects of stocking density, flock size and management on the welfare of laying hens in single-tier aviaries Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication British poultry science Abbreviated Journal Br Poult Sci
Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 135-146
Keywords Animal Husbandry/*methods; *Animal Welfare; Animals; Body Constitution/*physiology; Chickens/*physiology; Crowding; Feathers; Female; *Housing, Animal/standards; Mortality; Organ Size; Oviposition/physiology; Population Density; Population Dynamics; Random Allocation
Abstract Management practices, stocking rate and flock size may affect laying hen welfare but there have been few replicated studies in commercial non-cage systems that investigate this. This study used a broad range of physical and physiological indicators to assess the welfare of hens in 36 commercial flocks. Six laying period treatments were examined with each treatment replicated 6 times. It was not possible to randomly allocate treatments to houses, so treatment and house were largely confounded. Three stocking rates were compared: 7 birds/m(2) (n = 2450), 9 birds/m(2) (n = 3150) and 12 birds/m(2) in either small (n = 2450) or large (n = 4200) flocks. In addition, at 12 birds/m(2), in both small and large flocks, birds were subjected to either standard (SM) or modified (MM) management. MM flocks had nipple drinkers and no nest-box lights. Bone strength, fracture incidence, heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, live weight, organ weights, serum creatine, serum osmolality, muscle pH and faecal corticosterone were measured on samples of birds at the end of the rearing period and at the end of lay. During the laying period, mortality, production and integument condition were recorded at regular intervals. Birds housed at 9 birds/m(2) had higher mortality than birds housed at 12 birds/m(2) by the end of lay, but not higher than birds housed at 7 birds/m(2). Birds housed at 7 and 9 birds/m(2) had lower percent liver weight, and worse plumage condition than most of the 12 bird/m(2) treatments. Modified management tended to improve plumage condition. There were no clear effects of flock size on the welfare indicators recorded. At the end of the rearing period fracture incidence was almost negligible and H:L ratio was within a normal range. By the end of lay fracture incidence was 60% and H:L ratio was high, with no treatment effect for either measure. This, together with information on faecal corticosterone, feather loss and mortality, suggests that the welfare of birds in all treatments was relatively poor by the end of lay.
Address School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU and ADAS Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Notts NG20 9PF, England. c.j.nicol@bristol.ac.uk
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ISSN 0007-1668 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:16641024 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 65
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Author Guo, G.L.; Moffit, J.S.; Nicol, C.J.; Ward, J.M.; Aleksunes, L.A.; Slitt, A.L.; Kliewer, S.A.; Manautou, J.E.; Gonzalez, F.J.
Title (up) Enhanced acetaminophen toxicity by activation of the pregnane X receptor Type Journal Article
Year 2004 Publication Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology Abbreviated Journal Toxicol Sci
Volume 82 Issue 2 Pages 374-380
Keywords Acetaminophen/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity; Animals; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/biosynthesis; Biotransformation; Blotting, Northern; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating/biosynthesis; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile/pharmacology; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*drug effects; Receptors, Steroid/*drug effects; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism
Abstract The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Activation of PXR represents an important mechanism for the induction of cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes that can convert acetaminophen (APAP) to its toxic intermediate metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Therefore, it was hypothesized that activation of PXR plays a major role in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Pretreatment with the PXR activator, pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), markedly enhanced APAP-induced hepatic injury, as revealed by increased serum ALT levels and hepatic centrilobular necrosis, in wild-type but not in PXR-null mice. Further analysis showed that following PCN treatment, PXR-null mice had lower CYP3A11 expression, decreased NAPQI formation, and increased maintenance of hepatic glutathione content compared to wild-type mice. Thus, these results suggest that PXR plays a critical role in APAP-induced hepatic toxicity, probably by inducing CYP3A11 expression and hence increasing bioactivation.
Address Laboratory of Metabolism, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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ISSN 1096-6080 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:15456926 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 71
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Author Hothersall, B.; Nicol, C.
Title (up) Equine learning behaviour: accounting for ecological constraints and relationships with humans in experimental design Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Behavioural Processes Abbreviated Journal Behav. Process.
Volume 76 Issue 1 Pages 45-48
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 632
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Author Nicol, C. J.
Title (up) Equine learning: progress and suggestions for future research Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 78 Issue 2-4 Pages 193-208
Keywords Learning; Horse; Equine; Discrimination; Training
Abstract Horses are well able to form classical and instrumental associations and so the focus of much recent research has been on the stimulus control of instrumental learning. Horses appear to discriminate using spatial cues more easily than other stimulus features, as indicated both by the speed of initial task acquisition and by the extent to which acquired discriminations can be reversed. Phenomena associated with discrimination learning in laboratory animals, including generalisation and peak shift, have been demonstrated in horses. However, the ability of horses to classify stimuli into categories is more controversial. Although there is some evidence that horses may be able to form categories based on similarities in the physical appearance of different stimuli, there is currently no evidence that they are able to develop abstract concepts. Their performance on social learning tasks has also been poor. Few correlations are observed between the learning ability of individual horses on different tasks, suggesting that it may not be possible to classify individual horses as `good' or `poor' learners. Better learning performance by horses that are naturally calm is probably due to reduced interference in the learning process. Correct handling procedures can lower reactivity levels in horses, and may facilitate learning in some circumstances. Future research on equine learning needs to take into account the complex nature of equine social interaction. Studies on the effects of stress on learning, and on social and spatial cognition, are also particularly needed.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 405
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Author Nicol, C.J
Title (up) Equine Stereotypies. In: Houpt K.A. (Ed.), Type Book Chapter
Year 2000 Publication Recent Advances in Companion Animal Behavior Problems Abbreviated Journal
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Publisher International Veterinary Information Service Place of Publication Editor
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 477
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Author Waters, A.J.; Nicol, C.J.; French, N.P.
Title (up) Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study Type Journal Article
Year 2002 Publication Equine veterinary journal Abbreviated Journal Equine Vet J
Volume 34 Issue 6 Pages 572-579
Keywords Age Factors; Animal Husbandry/*methods; Animal Welfare; Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Female; Horse Diseases/epidemiology/prevention & control/*psychology; Horses; Housing, Animal; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; *Stereotyped Behavior; Weaning
Abstract Stereotypies are invariant and repetitive behaviour patterns that seemingly have no function, which tend to develop in captive animals faced with insoluble problems and may be indicative of reduced welfare. A 4 year prospective study of the factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours (abnormal behaviour) in a population of 225 young Thoroughbred and part-Thoroughbred horses was conducted between 1995 and 1999. Abnormal behaviour affected 34.7% of the population. Multivariable analysis showed that foals of low- or middle-ranking mares were less likely to develop abnormal behaviour than foals of dominant mares (rate ratio (RR) 0.23, P<0.01; RR 0.48, P<0.01, respectively). Weaning by confinement in a stable or barn was associated with an increased rate of development of abnormal behaviour, compared with paddock-weaning (RR 2.19, P<0.05), and housing in barns, rather than at grass after weaning, was associated with a further increase (RR 2.54, P<0.01). Specific stereotypic and redirected behaviours were then considered as separate outcomes. Crib-biting was initiated by 10.5% of horses at median age 20 weeks, weaving by 4.6% of horses at median age 60 weeks, box-walking by 2.3% of horses at median age 64 weeks and wood-chewing by 30.3% of horses at median age 30 weeks. Wood-chewing developed at a lower rate in horses born to subordinate or mid-ranking mares than in horses born to dominant mares (RR 0.29, P<0.01; RR 0.41, P<0.01, respectively), and at a higher rate in horses kept in barns or stables rather than at grass after weaning (RR 4.49, P<0.001; RR 1A6, P<0.001, respectively). Feeding concentrates after weaning was associated with a 4-fold increase in the rate of development of crib-biting (RR 4.12, P = 0.02). The results of this study support the idea that simple changes in feeding, housing and weaning practices could substantially lower the incidence of abnormal behaviour in young horses.
Address University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol, UK
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ISSN 0425-1644 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:12357996 Approved no
Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 84
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Author Nicol, C.J.
Title (up) How animals learn from each other Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Applied Animal Behaviour Science Abbreviated Journal Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.
Volume 100 Issue 1-2 Pages 58-63
Keywords Social learning; Chickens; Demonstrators; Dominance
Abstract This paper explores ways by which animals may learn from one another, using examples drawn mostly from the chicken, an animal for which social learning is likely to be less dangerous than individual learning. In early life, the behaviour of the hen is important in encouraging chicks to peck at edible items. Maternal display not only attracts chicks to profitable food items, but also redirects their attention away from harmful or non-profitable items. Older chicks can enhance their foraging success by observing the behaviour of conspecifics within their own social group. Hens have been trained to perform a novel behaviour (key-pecking for food) by observation of a trained demonstrator bird. Moreover, observers learnt most from watching dominant demonstrators. Thus the ability to learn from others is not `fixed', but depends on the context and the social identity of both the observer and the demonstrator.
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 564
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