The neonatal treatment of rats with monosodium glutamate induces morphological changes in the subfornical organ

The parenteral administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to neonatal rats induces specific lesions in the central nervous system that lead to a well characterized neuroendocrinological dysfunction. Additionally, it has been shown that MSG-treated rats present a blunted blood pressure response to the injection of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. Recently, a similar cardiovascular alteration has been reported after the electrolytic lesion of the anteroventral region of the third ventricle affecting the connections of the subfornical organ (SFO). We hypothesized that the treatment of neonatal rats with MSG could affect the nitrergic cells of the SFO. In the present work, we have looked for alterations in the NADPH-diaphorase activity (a commonly used marker for nitrergic neurons) in the SFO of MSG-treated rats of either sex and at two different ages. Our results shown that the treatment of neonatal rats with MSG induced a substantial reduction in the volume of the SFO and in the number of its nitrergic cells with regard to control animals. These findings suggest that the SFO could be implicated in some of the cardiovascular alterations observed in MSG-treated rats.     

How is agroforestry perceived in Europe? An assessment of positive and negative aspects by stakeholders

Whilst the benefits of agroforestry are widely recognised in tropical latitudes few studies have assessed how agroforestry is perceived in temperate latitudes. This study evaluates how stakeholders and key actors including farmers, landowners, agricultural advisors, researchers and environmentalists perceive the implementation and expansion of agroforestry in Europe. Meetings were held with 30 stakeholder groups covering different agroforestry systems in 2014 in eleven EU countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). In total 344 valid responses were received to a questionnaire where stakeholders were asked to rank the positive and negative aspects of implementing agroforestry in their region. Improved biodiversity and wildlife habitats, animal health and welfare, and landscape aesthetics were seen as the main positive aspects of agroforestry. By contrast, increased labour, complexity of work, management costs and administrative burden were seen as the most important negative aspects. Overall, improving the environmental value of agriculture was seen as the main benefit of agroforestry, whilst management and socio-economic issues were seen as the greatest barriers. The great variability in the opportunities and barriers of the systems suggests enhanced adoption of agroforestry across Europe will be most likely to occur with specific initiatives for each type of system.     

A Preliminary Study of the Biological Control of Strongyles Affecting Equids in a Zoological Park

The main goal in this research was to determine the beneficial effect of incorporating biological procedures in parasite control programs for equids in zoological parks. Two trials were developed for Equus quagga, E asinus , and E africanus asinus. The first trial (September 2010 to August 2011) consisted of chemotherapy only (ivermectin plus praziquantel), and the second trial (September 2011 to September 2012) consisted of administration of chemotherapy and chlamydospores of the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys (Duddingtonia) flagrans. The effect of these measures was evaluated by the estimation of the reduction in the fecal egg counts (FECR). In the first trial, 100% FECR values were achieved 15 days after treatment in all the animals. The egg reappearance period (ERP) was 2-3 months for the equids, and all of them were passing strongyle eggs in the feces at 2-4 months after their deworming. In the second experiment, the FECR values were 100% in the three species. ERPs of 3 months in the European donkeys, 4 months in the Africans, and 6 months in the zebras were recorded. All the equids had positive results for the coprological flotation test 4-8 months after anthelmintic administration. This preliminary study demonstrates the incorporation of chlamydospores of nematophagous fungus, as A flagrans appears highly promising for reduction of the infective stages of the strongyles affecting captive animals, but the experimental design precludes true determination of whether the treatment is fully efficacious.