2026-10-10T06:25:21Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34034923 2026-09-30T17:28:59Z category_15 category_734 category_106 category_122 portal_5 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

<p>GWI induction protocols.</p> Rashelle Lashley (7302038) Joshua Brian Foster (20175776) Xueqin Wang (350340) Albert John Muhleman (20175779) Samuel Weaver (1344039) Edison Lin (25145140) Liching Lai (25145143) Chien-liang Glenn Lin (16856919) Neuroscience Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Science Policy Mental Health related chemical agents investigational compound designed including chronic pain improve translational rigor robust behavioral phenotypes like behavioral phenotypes standardize animal models harlan involving exposure experimental conditions evaluated gulf war illness male sd rats experimental conditions behavioral assessments gulf war exposure paradigms animal sources rats using rats may subsequently modified stress levels rat model psychological stress original objective neuropsychiatric symptoms mood problems mild stress initially attempted continued efforts cognitive impairment better interpret <div><p>Gulf War illness (GWI) is characterized by a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including chronic pain, fatigue, mood problems, and cognitive impairment. The pathophysiology is associated with war-related environmental chemical exposure and psychological stress, which are known to disrupt glutamatergic synaptic structure and function. The original objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of LH-001, an investigational compound designed to enhance tripartite glutamatergic synapses, in a rat model of GWI. We initially attempted to induce GWI-like behavioral phenotypes in Charles River male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats using a previously published protocol employed for male SD rats from Harlan involving exposure to Gulf War-related chemical agents and mild stress. Because robust behavioral phenotypes were not detected, we subsequently modified the induction protocol by increasing chemical exposure intensity and stress levels. Despite these adjustments, GWI-like behavioral phenotypes were not detected under the experimental conditions evaluated. To better interpret these findings, we compared our protocol and outcomes with previously published GWI rat studies. This comparison revealed substantial variability across studies in exposure paradigms, animal sources, timing of behavioral assessments, and reported outcomes. Collectively, our findings suggest that detection of GWI-like behavioral phenotypes in rats may be sensitive to experimental conditions and highlight the importance of continued efforts to validate, optimize, and standardize animal models to improve translational rigor and support preclinical therapeutic development.</p></div> 2026-09-30T17:28:43Z Dataset Dataset 10.1371/journal.pone.0337157.t003 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_GWI_induction_protocols_p_/34034923 CC BY 4.0