BehavEcolPapers (@behavecolpapers)

Molecular characterization of the novel Glu-Ax1* gene of the high molecular weight gluten subunit from wild emmer wheat The molecular composition of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) plays a pivotal role in determining the processing quality of wheat flour. Utilizing the germplasm resources of wild wheat relatives to explore novel HMW-GS genes is crucial for wheat quality breeding and improvement. In this study, the Glu-Ax1* gene of HMW-GS was cloned from wild emmer wheat accession TD-129, which exhibits strong dough rheological properties, using directed deletion subcloning. The open reading frame (ORF) of the Glu-Ax1* gene was 2,523 bp and showed 98% sequence similarity with the known Triticeae HMW-GS genes. Comparative analysis of the amino acid sequence with published Glu-Ax subunits revealed that the Glu-Ax1* subunit contained an additional nine-peptide insertion (PTQGQQGQQ) in the central repeat region. Furthermore, this subunit possessed the highest glutamine (Q) content observed to date (289 residues). Secondary structure prediction indicated that the Glu-Ax1* subunit comprised nine elements, seven α-helices and two β-strands. The extended polypeptide length, elevated glutamines (Q) content and the increased number of predicted secondary structures suggest that the Glu-Ax1* subunit may positively influence bread making qualities. This novel Glu-Ax1* gene identified in wild emmer wheat accession TD-129 provides valuable genetic resources for the improvement of Glu-Ax locus in common wheat.

Molecular characterization of the novel Glu-Ax1* gene of the high molecular weight gluten subunit from wild emmer wheat @peerj.bsky.social

11.03.2026 12:52 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Visual attention in peripersonal space is dependent on differential modulation of V2 feature selectivity by hand vision and proprioception Ramezanpour et al. demonstrate that the early visual cortex encodes peripersonal space through visuo-proprioceptive integration. A visible hand sharpens V2 orientation tuning, whereas occlusion degrades it, revealing dual feedback signals that enhance visual processing during sensory congruence and suppress it when vision and proprioception conflict.

Visual attention in peripersonal space is dependent on differential modulation of V2 feature selectivity by hand vision and proprioception CurrentBiology

11.03.2026 12:49 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Detrimental effects of atomoxetine on visual signal detection in rats: Comparison with ADHD psychomotor stimulant drugs Rationale: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with executive dysfunction involving inattention and impulsivity, with evidence of disrupted functional expression of the dopamine and noradrenaline transporters. Objective: We investigated the dose-dependent modulation of anti-ADHD drugs on selective and sustained visual attention in low-, mid- and high-attention phenotypes. Two mathematical approaches, signal detection theory and theory of visual attention were applied to further characterise the effects and mechanisms. Methods: Rats were trained to detect and respond to the presence or absence of a visual target to obtain food reward on a signal detection task. After attentional performance stabilised, the indirect catecholamine agonist, d-amphetamine (0.1; 0.2; 0.4 mg/kg), the dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor methylphenidate (0.3; 1; 3 mg/kg), and the NA reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine (0.1; 0.3; 1 mg/kg), were administered systemically. Results: Low-dose d-amphetamine produced baseline-dependent effects on attention, improving target discrimination only in rats with lower attentive performance, whereas methylphenidate did not significantly improve attention but increased guessing. In contrast, low-dose atomoxetine selectively impaired attention in low-attentive subjects, whereas high-dose atomoxetine generally impaired discrimination performance. All three drugs had expected effects on motor response output. Conclusions: As well as demonstrating baseline-dependent effects of amphetamine on visual attention, the findings for methylphenidate and atomoxetine suggest important, apparently opposing effects on visual signal detection performance produced via blockade of the DA and NA transporters. The deleterious effects of atomoxetine on performance were especially noteworthy in view of its use as a treatment in ADHD.

Detrimental effects of atomoxetine on visual signal detection in rats: Comparison with ADHD psychomotor stimulant drugs bioRxivpreprint

11.03.2026 12:34 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Daily briefing: A daily multivitamin slows the signs of biological ageing Nature, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00792-6The daily supplement slows markers of ageing on two epigenetic ‘clocks’. Plus, the real science of skincare and the domino effect of fictional case studies involving opioids in breastmilk.

Daily briefing: A daily multivitamin slows the signs of biological ageing @Nature.com

11.03.2026 12:22 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A GABAergic network from AVP- to VIP-neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus sets the timing of circadian #behavior rhythms by Yubo Peng, Yusuke Tsuno, Takashi Maejima, Mohan Wang, Jaehun Jung, Ayako Matsui, Michihiro Mieda The central circadian clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) consists of a network of multiple types of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons and glial cells. However, the precise role of GABAergic transmission in the SCN remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the GABAergic regulation from arginine vasopressin (AVP)-producing neurons in the SCN shell to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-producing neurons in the SCN core. Blocking GABA release from AVP neurons via deletion of the vesicular GABA transporter (Vgat) gene lengthened the activity time (the interval between the onset and offset of locomotor activity) and shortened the duration of high Ca2+ activity in VIP neurons to correspond to the behavioral rest time. Conversely, eliminating functional GABAA receptors (GABAAR) in VIP neurons by in vivo genome editing reduced morning locomotor activity level and shortened the activity time, while lengthening the high Ca2+ duration in VIP neurons. Optogenetic activation of AVP neurons in vivo increased Ca2+ levels in VIP neurons during the night; this effect was significantly reduced in AVP neuron-specific Vgat-deficient mice. A similar Ca2+ response in VIP neurons following AVP neuronal activation was observed in SCN slices and was inhibited by the GABAAR antagonist gabazine. Importantly, gabazine application alone elevated baseline Ca2+ levels in VIP neurons, suggesting tonic GABA-mediated inhibition of these neurons. Moreover, AVP neuronal activation decreased Ca2+ levels in nonAVP neurons located between AVP- and VIP-rich regions of the SCN. These results suggest that GABA released from AVP neurons indirectly disinhibits VIP neurons by suppressing intermediate non-AVP neurons, thereby precisely setting behavioral activity/rest time.

A GABAergic network from AVP- to VIP-neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus sets the timing of circadian #behavior rhythms @PLOSBiology.org

11.03.2026 12:07 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Behavioural adaptation and stress regulation in operant training: The role of the Default Variant of #behavior Publication date: Available online 10 March 2026 Source: Applied Animal Behaviour Science Author(s): Markéta Lukavská, Veronika Rudolfová, Tomáš Bušina, Petra Eretová, Tereza Nekovářová

Behavioural adaptation and stress regulation in operant training: The role of the Default Variant of #behavior AAnimBehS

11.03.2026 11:52 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Commentary on Garas et al., “Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis” Brain and Behavior, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2026.

Commentary on Garas et al., “Longitudinal Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis” Br&Beh

11.03.2026 11:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Beach Buffet: First Observations of White‐Backed Vultures Gyps africanus Feeding on a Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus on the Skeleton Coast Ecology and Evolution, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2026.

Beach Buffet: First Observations of White‐Backed Vultures Gyps africanus Feeding on a Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus on the Skeleton Coast Ecol&Evol

11.03.2026 10:40 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Reconstructing fine-scale 3D wind fields with terrain-informed machine learning Nature Communications, Published online: 09 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70562-5This study presents a terrain-aware AI framework trained on computational fluid dynamics that reconstructs fine-scale 3D wind fields from coarse weather forecasts, enabling accurate wind prediction over complex terrain without costly simulations.

ICYMI: Reconstructing fine-scale 3D wind fields with terrain-informed machine learning @natcomms.nature.com

11.03.2026 10:02 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Chiral gliding: Right-handed navigation of filamentous cyanobacteria Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 9, March 2026. SignificanceFilamentous cyanobacteria use gliding motility to move along solid surfaces. They can respond to environmental stimuli by reversing the direction of motion. Our study reveals an additional mechanism by which gliding cyanobacteria can steer ...

Chiral gliding: Right-handed navigation of filamentous cyanobacteria @PNAS.org

11.03.2026 09:02 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Lifestyle change accelerates epigenetic ageing in King penguins Nature Communications, Published online: 11 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70527-8For calorie-restriction-adapted King penguins, living a sedentary life at the zoo increases life expectancy; but by suppressing metabolic challenges, it also accelerates the epigenetic markers of ageing, decoupling lifespan from health.

Lifestyle change accelerates epigenetic ageing in King penguins @natcomms.nature.com

11.03.2026 08:45 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Torpor in a passerine #bird expands the scope of avian heterothermy Barratt et al. show that torpor is used by a passerine bird, which was thought capable only of shallow reductions in body temperature. Torpor provides energy savings that compensate for reduced foraging activity associated with rainfall events. Their findings suggest torpor is more widespread and important than appreciated among birds.

Torpor in a passerine #bird expands the scope of avian heterothermy CurrentBiology

11.03.2026 08:11 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Cognitive capacity shapes both the "whether" and "how" of social learning Social learning is widely understood as offering a mechanism to mitigate the costs and risks of individual trial-and-error exploration. This cost-avoidance account implies a framing of social learning as a resource-rational adaptation, which should be most beneficial to populations with limited capacity to learn asocially. But in cases of peer-to-peer transmission, that same limited capacity may hinder the reliability of social information---rendering it less, not more, useful. So how do these conflicting intuitions resolve? Across a series of simulation experiments, we find evidence for an `inverse-U' relationship where social information use emerges most strongly in populations with moderate capacity relative to the complexity of their environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate a co-evolutionary transition in social learning strategies: as population capacity rises, selection pressure shifts from favouring a success bias to a conformist approach. Our findings highlight cognitive capacity as a fundamental constraint on the emergence of culture, determining not just if a species learns socially, but also how.

Cognitive capacity shapes both the "whether" and "how" of social learning bioRxivpreprint

11.03.2026 07:53 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Spiral phyllotaxis in the moss Physcomitrium patens emerges from simple division rules of the apical cell Cammarata et al. explore how cell division orientation generates phyllotaxis in moss with a unicellular meristem. They show that successive rotational divisions in the apical cell are precisely placed through a modified shortest wall rule that avoids older neighboring cell walls. This spacing mechanism mirrors that of plants with multicellular meristems.

Spiral phyllotaxis in the moss Physcomitrium patens emerges from simple division rules of the apical cell CurrentBiology

11.03.2026 06:51 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Repeatable differences in male care and sexual conflict resolution during biparental care in a subsocial insect Publication date: April 2026 Source: Animal Behaviour, Volume 234 Author(s): Maximilian Körner, Lena Zywucki, Marlena Reinbold, Sandra Steiger

Repeatable differences in male care and sexual conflict resolution during biparental care in a subsocial insect AnimBeh

11.03.2026 06:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Sound-evoked facial motion in ferrets: evidence for species differences in sensorimotor coupling A growing body of evidence from mice shows that uninstructed movements tightly covary with cortical activity, raising the question of how much apparent sensory encoding reflects behaviorally driven signals. Whether this coupling generalizes beyond rodents remains unclear. Here we characterize sound-evoked facial motion and pupil dynamics in head-fixed ferrets passively exposed to broadband, natural, and synthetic auditory stimuli. Ferrets reliably produced facial motion responses to sounds, but unlike mice, these responses were dominated by a single onset-locked component peaking at 200-300 ms, tracked only low-frequency temporal modulations below 2 Hz, and carried no information about sound identity or category. Paradoxically, synthetic sounds, which preserved spectrotemporal statistics but lack higher-order natural structure, elicited significantly stronger responses than their natural counterparts, suggesting that ferret behavioral responses reflect acoustic novelty rather than ecological salience. Pupil dynamics mirrored facial motion, consistent with a shared arousal mechanism. Together, these results place ferrets closer to primates than to mice in the degree of sound-movement coupling, and suggest that the tight sensorimotor integration observed in rodents may reflect a species-specific organization rather than a general mammalian principle.

Sound-evoked facial motion in ferrets: evidence for species differences in sensorimotor coupling bioRxivpreprint

11.03.2026 06:38 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Getting robots back on track by reconstituting control in unexpected situations with online learning Nature Communications, Published online: 09 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70256-yRobots struggle to operate when unexpected disturbances arise. The authors introduce a fast learning method that restores control in real time, reducing the impact of perturbations and improving resilience across diverse conditions.

ICYMI: Getting robots back on track by reconstituting control in unexpected situations with online learning @natcomms.nature.com

11.03.2026 04:05 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Cis-regulatory #evolution of Wnt family genes contributes to a morphological difference between silkworm species by Kenta Tomihara, Ana Pinharanda, Young Mi Kwon, Andrew M. Taverner, Laura S. Kors, Matthew L. Aardema, Julia C. Holder, Lin Poyraz, Takashi Kiuchi, Peter Andolfatto Closely related species often exhibit distinct morphologies that can contribute to species-specific adaptations and reproductive isolation. One example is Lepidopteran caterpillar appendages, such as the “caudal horn” of Bombycoidea moths, which have evolved substantial morphological diversity among species in this group. Using interspecific crosses, we identify the genetic basis of the caudal horn size difference between Bombyx mori and its closest relative Bombyx mandarina. The three largest of eight QTL account for one third the mean horn length difference between the species. The largest of these, on chromosome 4, encompasses a conserved Wnt family gene cluster, key upstream regulators that are well-known for their roles in morphological diversification in animals. Using allele-specific expression analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts, we show that tissue-specific cis-regulatory changes to Wnt1 and Wnt6 contribute to the species difference in caudal horn size. This kind of modularity enables highly pleiotropic genes, including key upstream growth regulators, to contribute to the evolution of morphological traits without causing widespread deleterious effects.

Cis-regulatory #evolution of Wnt family genes contributes to a morphological difference between silkworm species @PLOSBiology.org

11.03.2026 04:03 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Cognitive capacity and control in the #evolution of intelligence A diversity of intelligences arises from the constraints under which animals evolve. However, characterizing how constraints shape intelligence is challenging because it requires relating the restrictions on cognitive mechanisms to those that affect their evolution. We demonstrate the potentially complex interaction between constraints by considering the case study of working memory. Here, information-processing capability is limited by the storage capacity available to hold representations, and the degree of control over those representations. We present an evolutionary model that is mechanistically detailed enough to capture the interactions between capacity and control. This allows us to make quantitative predictions about the distinct patterns of information processing that might be observed across animals. Further, our model's cognitive detail allows us to fit recall performance on the retro-cue task, illustrating how model predictions can be tested by comparing humans and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). We find that capacity and control are synergistic and amplify each other's effects. However, evolution prioritizes investment in capacity because it is required for control to be effective. The strength of synergy varies due to interactions between these cognitive components depending on task complexity, cue reliability, and the availability of metabolic energy. Consequently, our model predicts diversity in investment in capacity and control across animals, and identifies a small number of regimes into which lineages could evolve. We discuss how the computational structure of tasks exerts selection on cognitive designs.

Cognitive capacity and control in the #evolution of intelligence bioRxivpreprint

11.03.2026 01:57 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Immune activation suppresses reproductive growth in Arabidopsis through cytokinin signaling Johnston et al. report that defense hormones suppress cytokinin signaling, causing yield penalties. Restoring cytokinin in autoimmune plants relieves reproductive defects, confers broad pathogen resistance, and reveals a role for defense hormones in meristem regulation. Manipulating cytokinin signaling offers a strategy to improve yield and disease resistance in plants.

Immune activation suppresses reproductive growth in Arabidopsis through cytokinin signaling CurrentBiology

11.03.2026 00:54 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Rejuvenation of the Aged Cerebrovascular System via Protein Corona-Guided Fusogenic Liposome Delivery Brain vascular aging is increasingly recognized as a critical therapeutic target for age-related cognitive decline. Oxidative stress, bioenergetic dysfunction, and molecular damage play central roles in the progression of vascular aging, contributing to cerebrovascular dysfunction and impaired cognitive function. While naturally occurring polyphenols such as resveratrol (RSV) have demonstrated potential in mitigating aging-related pathologies, their poor bioavailability and limited brain targeting efficiency significantly constrain their therapeutic impact. As a result, high doses or advanced drug delivery strategies are necessary to achieve meaningful physiological effects. We introduce a novel nanocarrier system designed to enhance RSV delivery to the cerebral endothelium by leveraging the natural formation of an apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-enriched protein corona around fusogenic liposomes (FL) in vivo. These nanoparticles directly fuse with cytoplasmic cell membranes and thus evade endocytosis. We found that once in the circulation FL spontaneously acquire a protein corona, which is highly enriched in ApoE, a key ligand for brain endothelial low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). Based on this observation, we engineered an ApoE-functionalized protein corona around FL (ApoE-FL) to systematically evaluate whether this mechanism could be exploited for targeted brain delivery. Following optimization and physicochemical characterization, the RSV-loaded liposomes were evaluated in vitro using human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and in vivo C57BL/6 aged mice to assess their therapeutic potential. Both FL and engineered ApoE-FL liposomal delivery systems exhibited a strong affinity for endothelial cell membranes in vitro. The knockdown of the ApoE receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), significantly reduced liposomal docking. Microscopy analysis revealed that both ApoE-FL and non-functionalized FL directly fused with endothelial plasma membranes, thus bypassing intracellular organelles and minimizing lysosomal degradation. This suggests that the naturally formed ApoE corona in vivo may contribute to efficient cerebrovascular targeting, a property successfully replicated by the engineered ApoE corona strategy. In vivo biodistribution and kinetic studies demonstrated that especially ApoE-FL achieved enhanced brain-targeting efficiency, prolonged cerebrovascular retention, and extended targeting distance along the arteriovenous axis. This emphasizes that fusogenic liposomes effectively engage almost the entire microvascular network, including capillaries and post-capillary venules. Functionally, fusogenic liposome-delivered RSV improved blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, enhanced neurovascular coupling (NVC) responses, and promoted brain vascularization in aged mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed enhanced endothelial angiogenesis and barrier protective transcriptional profiles in cerebrovascular cells treated with ApoE-FL/RSV, suggesting a molecular basis for the observed vascular benefits. Liposomal RSV delivery achieved near-complete cerebrovascular and cognitive rejuvenation in aged mice applying a 2000-fold lower RSV dose than oral administration used as control sample. Thus, ApoE-FL liposomes exhibited exceptionally high delivery efficiency in deeper brain regions, further expanding their therapeutic potential. These findings underscore the importance of targeted drug delivery in optimizing therapeutic outcomes and establish ApoE-functionalized fusogenic liposomes as a promising strategy for mitigating brain vascular aging and cognitive decline.

Rejuvenation of the Aged Cerebrovascular System via Protein Corona-Guided Fusogenic Liposome Delivery bioRxivpreprint

11.03.2026 00:40 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The #evolution of sex differences in competitive and social dream content Publication date: April 2026 Source: Hormones and Behavior, Volume 180 Author(s): Zachary Grant, Aisha Mir, Lampros Perogamvros, Virginie Sterpenich, Noor Abbas, David R. Samson

The #evolution of sex differences in competitive and social dream content HormBehav

11.03.2026 00:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Knowledge Structure and Evolution of Hotspots in Play Therapy: A Bibliometric Analysis via Multiple Visualization Tools Brain and Behavior, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2026.

Knowledge Structure and Evolution of Hotspots in Play Therapy: A Bibliometric Analysis via Multiple Visualization Tools Br&Beh

10.03.2026 23:45 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Monitoring Zoo Elephant Rumble Activity Using Combined Seismic and Acoustic Data Ecology and Evolution, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2026.

Monitoring Zoo Elephant Rumble Activity Using Combined Seismic and Acoustic Data Ecol&Evol

10.03.2026 22:43 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Directional dynamics in the entorhinal cortex of male #mice driven by behavioral constraints Nature Communications, Published online: 09 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70289-3How behavioral constraints re-organize functionally-defined HD (head direction) cells within the wider entorhinal network is not fully understood. Here authors show the complementary role of learning and self-organization in some entorhinal subpopulations, enabling animals to adaptively represent themselves within their environment, shaped by ongoing behavioral constraints.

ICYMI: Directional dynamics in the entorhinal cortex of male #mice driven by behavioral constraints @natcomms.nature.com

10.03.2026 22:08 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Evolutionary remodeling of a remnant GET pathway factor into PEX38, an essential peroxin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 9, March 2026. SignificanceNeglected tropical diseases affect over 1.5 billion people worldwide, with trypanosomatid parasites responsible for three major diseases: African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. These parasites rely on glycosomes, ...

Evolutionary remodeling of a remnant GET pathway factor into PEX38, an essential peroxin @PNAS.org

10.03.2026 21:05 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

The role of amygdala GABA neurons in controlling stress and reproduction in female #mice Nature Communications, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70364-9How acute stress activates amygdala inhibitory circuits that regulate reproduction remains elusive. Here, the authors uncover a neural tug-of-war between functionally distinct GABA neuronal populations in the posterodorsal medial amygdala that translate stress signals into changes in reproductive hormone rhythms in female mice.

The role of amygdala GABA neurons in controlling stress and reproduction in female #mice @natcomms.nature.com

10.03.2026 20:52 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Chronic consumption of energy drinks and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in rats The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) has notably increased, particularly among adolescents and young adults, due to their perceived benefits in enhancing physical and cognitive performance. However, growing evidence points to their potential adverse health effects, raising concerns regarding their safety. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the metabolic impacts of three commercially available EDs on male albino rats. A total of 42 rats were randomly assigned into seven groups (n = 6 per group). The control group received a standard basal diet, while the remaining groups administered the three EDs types (Red Bull, Power Horse, and Black) at doses of 10 or 20 mL/kg body weight, twice daily via oral gavage, over a period of eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, body weight gain, adiposity index, and multiple biochemical and physiological parameters were assessed. Serum analyses were performed to evaluate blood glucose levels, metabolic hormones (insulin and leptin), kidney function markers, liver enzymes, lipid profile, cardiovascular risk index, calcium levels, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral concentration (BMC). The findings revealed that energy drink consumption, particularly at the higher dose (20 mL/kg bw) and with the third EDs type, induced significant adverse effects compared to controls. These included elevated blood glucose, leptin, liver enzymes, lipid profile, cardiovascular risk index, and serum calcium, alongside reduced insulin levels, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), albumin, globulin, total protein, BMD, and BMC. Histopathological analysis of liver tissues showed evidence of cellular atrophy and structural damage. In conclusion, chronic intake of high doses of EDs may contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular risk, and osteoporosis. These findings underscore the need for public health awareness and regulation of EDs consumption, especially among vulnerable populations.

Chronic consumption of energy drinks and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in rats @peerj.bsky.social

10.03.2026 19:01 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Cannabidiol dose modulates behavioral response to acute and repeated administration of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol by strain and sex Cannabis contains many bioactive compounds, including {Delta}9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which influence behavior through complex pharmacological interactions with endogenous targets. This study examines whether CBD influences THC-induced changes in motor activity, hypothermia, and antinociception traits across different THC:CBD ratios, sexes, and genetic backgrounds. Traits were measured in C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice of both sexes following baseline intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of vehicle (VEH) and two consecutive daily doses of VEH or THC (10 mg/kg) alone or in combination with 0.56, 5, or 10 mg/kg CBD (THC:0.56CBD, THC:5CBD, or THC:10CBD, respectively). Motor activity and hypothermia were quantified daily from 0 to 120 min following injection and antinociception was measured daily at 60 min. We found that CBD alters THC-induced changes in motor activity and hypothermia as a function of day, dose, time, sex, and strain. In D2 females, CBD dose-dependently attenuated the hypolocomotor effects of THC immediately following acute injection and enhanced these effects later at 75 min. Following repeated exposure, CBD dose-dependently enhanced THC-induced hypolocomotion in B6 females at 75 min and in D2 males at 30 min while attenuating THC-induced hypolocomotion in D2 females immediately following injection. In D2 females, CBD dose-dependently attenuated THC-induced hypothermia at 15 min and enhanced hypothermia relative to THC at 30 min in D2 males following acute injection. After repeated exposure, CBD dose-dependently enhanced THC-induced hypothermia in B6 females at 15 min and in D2 males from 30 to 120 mins, while attenuating hypothermia in D2 females at 30 min. No significant effects of CBD on antinociception were observed. Our results indicate that CBD can modulate some THC-induced traits acutely and after repeated exposure. Regulation of THC-induced behavioral responses is dependent on CBD dose, genetic background, and sex. A candidate gene search using brain gene expression in recombinant inbred mice revealed greater genetic variation in ion channel genes relative to key metabolic genes, suggesting an underlying pharmacodynamic mechanism. Future research and validation of molecular mechanisms underlying these differences is expected to enhance our understanding of potential health risks and clinical relevance of cannabis and cannabinoid compounds containing THC and CBD.

Cannabidiol dose modulates behavioral response to acute and repeated administration of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol by strain and sex bioRxivpreprint

10.03.2026 18:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

‘Virtual cell’ captures most-basic process of life: bacterial division Nature, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00786-4Researchers simulated nearly every molecule in a bacterial cell — and then watched the cell grow and reproduce.

‘Virtual cell’ captures most-basic process of life: bacterial division @Nature.com

10.03.2026 18:31 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

BehavEcolPapers

Latest posts by BehavEcolPapers @behavecolpapers