The neurotoxic 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a freckled milk vetch-derived inhibitor of mitochondrial enzymatic processes that is capable of mimicking the typical pathological features of neurodegenerative disorders, behaved in a differentiated manner in a hibernating rodent (hamster) with respect to a nonhibernating rodent (rat). Treatment of the two rodents with both an acute and chronic 3-NP dose supplied deleterious neuronal effects due to distinct histamine receptor (H n R) transcriptional activities, especially in the case of the rat. In hamsters, these treatment modalities accounted for overall reduced global activity in a freely moving environment and overt motor symptoms such as hindlimb dystonia and clasping with respect to the greater abnormal motor behaviors in rats. This behavioral difference appeared to be strongly related to qualitative fewer neuronal alterations and, namely, lesser crenated cell membranes, swollen mitochondria, and darkened nuclei in hamster brain areas. Moreover, a mixed H 1,3 R mRNA expression pattern was reported for both rodents treated with a chronic 3-NP dose as demonstrated by predominantly low H 1 R mRNA levels (Ͼ50%) in rat striatum and cortex, whereas extremely high H 3 R levels (Ͼ80%) characterized the lateral and central amygdala nuclei plus the striatum of hamsters. Interestingly, the H 3 R antagonist (thioperamide) blocked 3-NP-dependent behaviors plus induced an up-regulation of H 1 R levels in mainly the above-reported hamster amygdalar nuclei. Overall, these results show, for the first time, that a major protective role against neurodegenerative events appears to be strongly related to the expression activity of H 1,3 R subtypes of amygdalar neurons in this hibernating model.

Bendamustine seems to be efficacious either in monotherapy or in combination with other drugs in previously treated or untreated patients. This is due to its unique mechanism of action including its ability to activate apoptosis and inhibit mitotic checkpoints, making it potentially more effective than other alkylating agents. Moreover, it has an acceptable toxicity profile and is suitable for patients with renal impairment. Finally, this drug does not seem to compromise the possibility of achieving a stem-cell mobilization. Nonetheless, data from Phase III studies demonstrating its effectiveness in terms of overall survival are not yet available.

The hibernating golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is becoming a useful rodent model to study the neurophysiological role of some neuromediators on vital behaviors such as sleep and thermoregulation. Recent works have shown that the histamine neuroreceptor subtypes (H-sub(1-3)R) are able to modulate such behaviors. Here, specific subtype(s) and cerebral nuclei that were actively operating on feeding behaviors in pubertal and adult hamsters were identified. Of the subtypes assessed, H-sub-3R antagonist (thioperamide) provoked significant (p < .001) changes in behavior (very low total food and water intake) in adults, whereas it did not significantly modify these behaviors in pubertals. The H-sub-3R antagonist's role seemed to be related to elevated amounts of stress-induced damaged neurons displaying, mainly, shrunken crenated cell membranes and altered synaptic processes in limbic areas such as amygdala, cortex, and hippocampus. At the transcription level, an evident expression pattern of H-sub-3R messenger RNA appeared in pubertals, especially in neurons of the cortex and hippocampus, whereas the same trend was featured in amygdalar areas of hibernating adult hamsters, suggesting early H-sub-3R regulatory activities, at least in limbic sites of this rodent model.

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