Oral bioavailability of P-glycoprotein substrate drugs do not differ between ABCB1-1#x0394; and ABCB1 wild type dogs
In this study, dogs lacking functional P-gp were used to determine the contribution of P-gp to the oral bioavailability and systemic pharmacokinetics of several P-gp substrate drugs. The P-gp substrates quinidine, loperamide, nelfinavir, cyclosporin and the control (non P-gp substrate) drug diazepam were individually administered intravenously and per os to ABCB1-1[Delta] dogs, which have a P-gp null phenotype and ABCB1 wildtype dogs. ABCB1-1[Delta] dogs have been shown to have greater brain penetration of P-gp substrates, but limited information is available regarding oral bioavailability of P-gp substrate drugs in this animal model. Plasma drug concentration vs. time curves were generated and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for each drug. There were no differences in oral bioa...

NIH-supported study shows how immune cells change wiring of the developing mouse brain
Researchers have shown in mice how immune cells in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. This research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, sheds light on how brain activity influences brain development, and highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in how the brain is wired, as well as how the brain forms new connections throughout life in response to change. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)