Sheng-Mei Yang

Yangzhou University

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prevalent chronic liver disease that lacks effective treatment. In this study, the anti-NASH effects of four flavonoids (pinocembrin, galangin, chrysin, and naringenin) rich in propolis were investigated in an in vitro NASH model established in free fatty acids (FFAs)-stimulated HepG2 cells. Using a co-trea...

To investigate the gender differences in anxiety-like behavior, anti-predator behavior, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis levels of Brandt's voles, the behavioral changes in the open field box, light-dark box, and anti-predator box, as well as adrenalotropic hormone(ACTH)and corticosterone(CORT)levels of the HPA axis were measured. Th...

Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is a small herbivorous mammal that feeds on plants rich in secondary metabolites (PSMs), including tannins. However, plant defense mechanisms against herbivory by Brandt's voles are not clearly established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary tannic acid (TA) on the growth performance, intest...

Introduction: Stress during adolescence causes long-term behavioral changes in adulthood. We previously found that adolescent exposure to predatory risk augments adolescent social contact and adult parental behavior in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Methods: Here we determined whether this experience alters sexual behavior, pair-bond fo...

Maternal stress influences offspring survival strategies under predation risk. This study investigated foraging behavior and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) responses of Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) offspring after their mothers had been repeatedly exposed to predator odors during pregnancy. We exposed pregnant Brandt’s voles to d...

Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American foulbrood (AFB) disease, a contagious bacterial disease that infects larvae of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). Screening naturally occurring compounds to negate concerns related to the wide use of antibiotics is an urgent need for the prevention and treatment of AFB disease. In this study, we...

The three-chamber test has been widely used to investigate social approach/novelty preference in rodents. Most studies have used the briefly familiar and unfamiliar individuals as stimuli to examine social recognition; however, little is known about the effects of long-term familiar peers in this paradigm. In the present study, we made a slight mod...

Predation risk can program offspring behavior, physiology, and fitness through maternal effect, but most studies have mainly focused on this effect during pregnancy; little is known about the effect of postpartum predation risk on offspring’s phenotype. Here, we compared the antipredator behaviors of adult offspring (approximately 90 days old) prod...

In this study, 28-day-old female Brandt’s voles (Lasipodomys brandtii) were exposed to distilled water, rabbit urine, and cat urine for 60 min daily for 18 consecutive days, and paired with normal males when they became adults. The behavioral responses to these three odors and basal HPA axis (including hypothalamus corticotropin‑releasing hormone,...

The predator odor has an important effect on the behavior and physiology of the prey.This paper aimed to investigate the change of anti-predator, anxiety-like behaviors and endocrine level of juvenile Brandt's voles(Lasiopodomysbrandtii) after repeated exposure to cat odor for 18 days.We also discuss the response strategy of juvenile Brandt's voles...

Gallic acid (GA), a phenol that is present in various plants, potentially contains antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GA on the reproduction of adolescent male Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861)). Antioxidant levels and apoptosis in the testis, as well as reproductive physiology, were evaluated i...

It is well known that tannins can influence the reproduction of animals, but there is little research published to elucidate the mechanics of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of antioxidation in the influence of tannic acid on the ovarian development of Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), which is a species...

Research suggests that predation risk during adolescence can program adult stress response and emotional behavior; however, little is known about the short-term and lasting residual effects of this experience on social behavior. We explored this concept in social Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Adolescent male and female voles were exposed...

American foulbrood (AFB) disease and chalkbrood disease (CBD) are important bacterial and fungal diseases, respectively, that affect honeybee broods. Exposure to agrochemicals is an abiotic stressor that potentially weakens honeybee colonies. Gut microflora alterations in adult honeybees associated with these biotic and abiotic factors have been in...

Tannins are polyphenols that are present in various plants, and potentially contain antioxidant properties that promote reproduction in animals. This study investigated how tannic acid (TA) affects the reproductive parameters of male Brandt's voles, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861). Specifically, the anti-oxidative level of serum, autophagy in t...

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of three propolis-abundant flavonoids, pinocembrin (PI), galangin (GA), and chrysin (CH) against ethanol-induced injuries in HepG2 cells. Results showed that the pre-treatment of flavonoids could significantly reverse cellular injuries caused by ethanol, which was evidenced by the decreased pro...

The selective feeding of plants and excavation of soil by small mammals, especially rodents, have important effects on plant-animal interactions, but few studies have explored these effects and their potential mechanisms. In the present study, large-scale enclosure manipulative experiments were performed to explore the effects of Brandt’s vole (Las...

Animals may use different reproductive strategies depending on environmental conditions. This study investigated the effects of maternal stress induced by exposure to predator odors on reproductive output and adult offspring quality in pregnant Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). We exposed pregnant Brandt’s voles to cat urine, rabbit urine, or...

Objectives: The current study investigated the potential hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extracts of Chinese propolis (EECP) on ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice. Materials and methods: C57BL/6J mice were orally gavaged with 50% ethanol alone or co-administrated with EECP at the dose of 0.2 ml/kg bodyweight for eight weeks. The dose...

The hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) on alcohol-induced liver steatosis were investigated in Wistar rats. Chronic alcoholic fatty liver was induced by administration of 52% alcohol to male Wistar rats at the dose of 1% body weight for 7 weeks. Then animals were simultaneously treated with 50% ethanol solutions of...

Maternal effects play a crucial role in regulating populations of small mammals and anti‐predator behaviors of offspring. This study investigated the effects of maternal stress induced by exposure to predator odors during gestation on the behavioral and physiological responses of offspring in Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Effects included...

Xin Dai, Ling-Yu Zhou, Jie-Xia Cao, Yan-Qi Zhang, Feng-Ping Yang, Ai-Qin Wang, Wan-Hong Wei, and Sheng-Mei Yang (2018) Population density is well known to influence animal physiology and behavior. How population density affects the aggressive behavior of the Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is, however, little known. The aim of this study was...

Prey species show specific adaptations that allow recognition, avoidance, and defense against predators. This study was undertaken to investigate the processing of a chronic, life-threatening stimulus to Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). One hundred forty-four Norway rats were tested by repeated presentation of cat urine for 1 h at different days in...

Plant secondary metabolite 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) has been suggested to stimulate animal reproduction. 6-MBOA is detected in Leymus chinensis, a main diet of Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). We have previously reported a stimulatory effect of 6-MBOA on reproduction of male Brandt’s voles under a short-day photoperiod. The goal of t...

Predation is a strong selective force that affects animal population dynamics either through direct killing or predation risk effects. Although recent empirical research has shown that the non-consumptive effect of predator risk on prey dynamics can be as large (or even larger) as direct effects, little is known about the strength of predation risk...

Despite the fact that squab is consumed throughout the world because of its high nutritional value and appreciated sensory attributes, aspects related to its characterization, and in particular genetic issues, have rarely been studied. In this study, meat traits in terms of pH, water holding capacity, intramuscular fat content, and fatty acid profi...

The plant secondary metabolite 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) can stimulate and enhance animal reproduction. This compound has been successfully detected in Leymus chinensis, which is the main diet of Brandt’s voles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different 6-MBOA doses on the reproductive physiology of male Brandt’s vole...

This study was designed to investigate the physiological and biochemical responses of Brandt's voles to the persistent presence of dietary tannic acid. The diet for animals in the experimental group was supplemented with 3% dietary tannic acid for 5 weeks. The control group received a commercial lab chow. No significant differences were detected in...

Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is one of the most destructive invasive weeds in South-eastern China. To evaluate its potential application as dietary supplement in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), the antibacterial properties of aqueous and ethanol extracts of this plant against three major pathogenic bacteria in crayfish aquacul...

Tannins, which are polyphenols present in various plants, have anti-nutritional activity; however, their negative effects are mitigated by the presence of tannin-degrading microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. This has never been investigated in the plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) - the predominant small herbivore in the alpine...

Limited information is available about how mammalian browsing activity influences the dynamic defense mechanisms of plants. Here, we aimed to clarify the response mechanism of a herbaceous plant (Chinese lyme grass, leymus chinensis) to browsing by a mammalian herbivore (Brandt's vole, Lasiopodomy brandtii). We used high-performance liquid chromato...

Gut microorganisms are thought to play a role in the degradation of plant secondary metabolites in herbivores. Here, we examined the presence of tannin-degrading microorganisms in the gut of two herbivores, plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and root voles (Microtus oeconomus). Tannase activity in the feces of wild plateau pikas and root voles incr...

Using cafeteria trials conducted during June–September 2008 in Qinghai Province, China, we investigated the selection of 20 plant species by root voles (Microtus oeconomus). It was found that both favored and edible plant groups of root voles comprised 6 species, while the remaining 8 species were anorectic plants. Three plant secondary metabolites...

Predator odors are nonintrusive natural stressors of high ethological relevance. Behavioral and hormonal responses and changes in the expression of medial hypothalamic c-fos mRNA were examined in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) after exposure to feces of a domestic cat (Felis catus), weasel (Mustela sibirica), snake (Xenopeltis hainanensis),...

An organism’s food is a fundamental aspect of its survival niche. Free-ranging rodents are presented regularly with different types of novel food. To investigate the novel food selection process in Norway rats concerning chemical and physical characteristics, 288 laboratory bred Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were tested with a 2-h free choice for...

Predator odors are non-intrusive naturalistic stressors of high ethological relevance. Prey species show specific adaptations that allow recognition, avoidance, and defense against predators. For many mammalian species, this includes sensitivity towards predator-derived odors. The typical sources of such odors include predator skin and fur, urine,...

Predator odors are non-intrusive natural stressors of high ethological relevance. Animals are daily challenged with stressors of varying intensity and it is essential for their survival to respond to a wide range of threats. Behavioral and hormonal responses and changes in the level of medial hypothalamic c-fos mRNA were examined in Brandt's voles...

Predator odors are non-intrusive natural stressors of high ethological relevance. The objective of this study was to investigate the processing of a chronic, life-threatening stimulus during repeated prolonged presentation to Brandt's voles. One hundred and twenty voles were tested by repeated presentation of cat feces in a defensive withdrawal app...

Interleukin-22 (IL-22), an IL-10 family cytokine, mediates the crosstalk between leukocytes and epithelial cells. Previous studies reported that IL-22 expresses in mouse brain, and the rat PC12 cells are responsive to IL-22 stimulation. However, the biological roles of IL-22 in neuronal cells remain largely unknown. We show here that IL-22 activate...

Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni Lesson, 18271 is the dominant species of mustelids in the alpine meadow ecosystem of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) plateau in China. Using the live and dead rats as the experimental prey, researchers investigated the effects of prey body masses, numbers and activities on predatory behaviors of the polecat. The resu...

Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) ami root voles (Microtus oeconomus) are herbivorous mammals inhabiting in the highest plateau of the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. They feed on plants that contain many kinds of secondary metabolites. Our study objectives were to verify that secondary metabolites in their diets have some effects on the hormone...

In many social species, competition and cooperation between group members may lead to a large variance in reproductive success among individuals, especially for adult male. From April to August 2002, we studied the adult male reproductive success of plateau pikas in Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Science, using...

The mixture of the feces and urine of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) was used to increase the perception of predation risk of plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae Hodgson) in the field. The influence of the predation risk on the reproduction and behavior of plateau pikas was examined through comparing reproductive characteristics and five differ...