-
Ecotoxicology (London, England) Dec 2023Animal reproduction under stressful conditions is often reduced, with current survival and future reproduction being generally traded off against current reproductive...
Animal reproduction under stressful conditions is often reduced, with current survival and future reproduction being generally traded off against current reproductive activity. This study examines the impacts of physical and chemical stressors on the rates of asexual reproduction of the invasive planarian Girardia tigrina. 320 wild-caught planaria (mixed size class) were kept individually in Petri dishes such that their individual rates of fission through fragmentation could be easily monitored. Four treatment groups were compared, one chemical (5 mg/L ammonia) and one physical (decapitation), in comparison to a negative control (animals were starved of food) and a positive control where the animals were given an abundance of food. The two treatment groups immediately began reproducing asexually and accumulated the highest number of fissions over the course of the 12-day investigation period, while the positive control only began to fission after 7 days. We propose that the reproductive response observed here is an adaptive one to stressful conditions, whereby the likelihood of survival through numerical abundance is enhanced, although the size and vulnerability of resulting fragments may impose a balancing cost. The response may play a role in the invasiveness of G. tigrina by making it able to colonize environments where adverse conditions prevail.
Topics: Animals; Planarians; Reproduction, Asexual; Reproduction
PubMed: 37975975
DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02713-z -
Hippokratia 2021Despite the important advances in pregnancy and newborn follow-up, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is still one of the prominent causes of newborn mortality and...
BACKGROUND
Despite the important advances in pregnancy and newborn follow-up, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is still one of the prominent causes of newborn mortality and disability worldwide, and there is no sufficiently effective treatment for it yet. This study aimed to investigate whether the ozone injection, administered in a single-dose as a preconditioning agent before the hypoxia and in single and repeated doses on different days following the hypoxia, would affect the spatial memory performance of the rats in the Morris water maze test or on their apoptotic cell numbers.
METHODS
The study consisted of 102 seven-day-old male Wistar baby rats randomly divided into five groups. Rats in all groups were induced with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) except for the Sham group, and 1.2 mg/kg ozone was administered intraperitoneally. For the apoptosis evaluation, eight rats from each of the first four groups were decapitated by cervical dislocation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay was used for immunohistochemical quantification of apoptosis in the excised brains. Blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured in the blood samples collected through cardiac puncture. Fourteen-week-old rats underwent the Morris water maze test to test their long-term spatial memory.
RESULTS
On apoptotic quantification in the right hemisphere using the TUNEL assay, the numbers of apoptotic neurons in the ozone preconditioning group (Group 3) and the group given ozone on the day of hypoxia (Group 4) were found to be significantly higher than the Sham group (Group 1), but significantly lower than the non-treatment group (Group 2) (p <0.001; p <0.001, respectively). Group 3 rats had the highest mean MDA level and SOD activity. Considering the platform finding times in the first four days of the tests, Group 4 had the shortest times after Group 1; and on Day 4, Group 4 found the platforms significantly sooner than Groups 2, 3, and 5 (p <0.001). Comparison of Groups 1 and 4 revealed significantly shorter times for Group 1 for each day except for Day 2.
CONCLUSIONS
Other studies have shown that controlled application of ozone would result in oxidative preconditioning and reduce the damage induced by reactive oxygen species through enabling adaptation to oxidative stress. Our study obtained remarkable and encouraging findings for ozone administration in HIBI by examining Group 4's performance in the first four days and the difference in its platform finding times between Day 1 and Day 4. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (2):56-62.
PubMed: 35937511
DOI: No ID Found -
Food Science & Nutrition Mar 2023The integrity of the distal alveolar epithelium is crucial for lung regeneration following an injury. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of extract;...
The integrity of the distal alveolar epithelium is crucial for lung regeneration following an injury. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of extract; cross-talk of epidermal growth factor () and erythropoietin () genes in a smoke-induced lung injury rat model. For experimentation ( = 27), albino rats were divided equally into three groups, i.e., negative control (NC), positive control (PC), and treatment group (TG). Cigarette smoke was exposed to PC and TG (4 CG/day). was given orally (350 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days. Decapitation ( = 3) was done on 14th, 18th, and 21st days, respectively. Analyses (hematology, biochemical, high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], histology, and gene expression) were carried out and results were statistically analyzed by two-way analysis of variance. HPLC analysis of ethanolic extract of was done to identify the presence of phenolic constituents which showed high concentrations of quercetin and P-coumaric acid. Serum oxidative parameters such as total oxidant status, malondialdehyde, and hematological parameters such as red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and white blood cells were significantly ( < .05) elevated in the PC group; however, these parameters were significantly ( < .05) improved in TG. While total antioxidant capacity and serum parameters such as total protein, albumin, and globulin were significantly ( < .05) reduced in the PC group but significantly improved ( < .05) in TG. Histological analysis revealed that smoke exposure resulted in a measurable increase in alveolar septal thickening while ethanolic extract of greatly ameliorated the histopathological changes in the lung alveoli. The gene expression analysis of and genes showed a significant upregulation ( < .05) of both genes in PC group while in TG, the level of both genes downregulated, in which lung damage was ameliorated due to cytoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of
PubMed: 36911850
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3188 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2023Lactation overnutrition is a programming agent of energy metabolism, and litter size reduction leads to the early development of obesity, which persists until...
Lactation overnutrition is a programming agent of energy metabolism, and litter size reduction leads to the early development of obesity, which persists until adulthood. Liver metabolism is disrupted by obesity, and increased levels of circulating glucocorticoids are pointed as a possible mediator for the obesity development, since bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX) can reduce obesity in different models of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of glucocorticoids on metabolic changes and liver lipogenesis and insulin pathway induced by lactation overnutrition. For this, on the postnatal day 3 (PND), 3 pups (small litter-SL) or 10 pups (normal litter-NL) were kept with each dam. On PND 60, male Wistar rats underwent bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX) or fictitious surgery (sham), and half of ADX animals received corticosterone (CORT- 25 mg/L) diluted in the drinking fluid. On PND 74, the animals were euthanized by decapitation for trunk blood collection, and liver dissection and storage. SL rats presented increased corticosterone, free fatty acids, total and LDL-cholesterol plasma levels, without changes in triglycerides (TG) and HDL-cholesterol. The SL group also showed increased content of liver TG, and expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), but decreased expression of PI3K in the liver, compared to NL rats. In the SL group, the ADX decreased plasma levels of corticosterone, FFA, TG and HDL cholesterol, liver TG, and liver expression of FASN, and IRS2, compared to sham animals. In SL animals, CORT treatment increased plasma levels of TG and HDL cholesterol, liver TG, and expression of FASN, IRS1, and IRS2, compared with the ADX group. In summary, the ADX attenuated plasma and liver changes observed after lactation overnutrition, and CORT treatment could reverse most ADX-induced effects. Thus, increased circulating glucocorticoids are likely to play a pivotal role in liver and plasma impairments induced by lactation overnutrition in male rats.
PubMed: 37234421
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1161582 -
European Journal of Nutrition Aug 2022Our previous studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei HII01, prebiotic xylooligosaccharide (XOS), and synbiotics on several...
PURPOSE
Our previous studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei HII01, prebiotic xylooligosaccharide (XOS), and synbiotics on several parameters in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. However, the gut microbiota composition in these rats has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of biotic therapies on gut microbiota in HFD-induced obese-insulin-resistant rats.
METHODS
Male Wistar rats were fed with a normal diet (ND, n = 5) and a HFD (n = 20) for 24 weeks. At week 13, HFD-fed rats were given either a probiotic (L. paracasei, HF-Pro, n = 5), prebiotic (XOS, HF-Pre, n = 5), synbiotic (XOS + L. paracasei, HF-Syn, n = 5), or vehicle (HF-V, n = 5) for 12 weeks. ND-fed rats received vehicle (ND-V, n = 5). At week 24, all rats were decapitated, and metabolic parameters and gut microbiota were analyzed.
RESULTS
HF-V rats developed an obese-insulin-resistant condition as indicated by impaired metabolic parameters. The prebiotic and synbiotic restored those metabolic parameters to the same level of ND-V rats. The gut microbiota composition of ND-V and HF-V rats differed as indicated by beta diversity. Verrucomicrobia in ND-V rats and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in HF-V rats were dominant. Interestingly, Verrucomicrobia was also prominent in the HF-Syn rats. HF-Pre rats showed a distinct gut microbiota the predominant family being Ruminococcaceae.
CONCLUSION
The changes in gut microbiota after HFD consumption included increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The treatment with the prebiotic and synbiotic showed an association with the increase in Ruminococcaceae and Verrucomicrobia, respectively. These changes in gut microbiota due to biotics may mediate the beneficial effects on metabolic parameters.
Topics: Animals; Diet, High-Fat; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Insulin; Male; Obesity; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Synbiotics
PubMed: 35199196
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-022-02839-6 -
Dental Research Journal 2022The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of eggshell-membrane (ESM)-containing hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of open gingival embrasure (OGE)...
BACKGROUND
The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of eggshell-membrane (ESM)-containing hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of open gingival embrasure (OGE) following orthodontic tooth movement (OTM).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study is an quasi experimental research. A total of 24 were equally divided into two groups, treatment (10% HA injection) and control (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS]). A separator was inserted between mandibular incisors to induce an OGE. A volume of 20 μl of either PBS ( = 12) or ESM extract ( = 12) was locally injected within the interdental papilla. Decapitation of animals was made on day 1, 4, and 7 postinjection. The staining was done using hemotoxylin and eosin to observe angiogenesis and Mallory to observe the collagen density. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis were performed to detect the amount of HA available in ESM. The results were then compared with independent -tests and the Mann-Whitney test. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.
RESULTS
The FTIR and TLC analysis showed that HA was successfully identified in the ESM samples. Local injection of 10% HA induced an increase of angiogenesis compared to the control group on day 1 and 4 postinjection ( < 0.05). Significant differences ( < 0.05) were also noted in the collagen density and the growth of interdental papilla on day 4 and 7 postinjection.
CONCLUSION
ESM has the potential effect of regenerating the interdental papilla construction after OTM by increasing the collagen fiber density and inducing angiogenesis.
PubMed: 36605137
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2019Terminal differentiation of male germ cells into functional spermatozoa requires shaping and condensation of the nucleus as well as the formation of sperm-specific...
Terminal differentiation of male germ cells into functional spermatozoa requires shaping and condensation of the nucleus as well as the formation of sperm-specific structures. A transient microtubular structure, the manchette, is mandatory for sperm head shaping and the development of the connecting piece and the sperm tail. The connecting piece or head-to-tail coupling apparatus (HTCA) mediates the tight linkage of sperm head and tail causing decapitation and infertility when faulty. Using mice as the experimental model, several proteins have already been identified affecting the linkage complex, manchette or tail formation when missing. However, our current knowledge is far too rudimentary to even draft an interacting protein network. Depletion of the major outer dense fiber protein 1 (ODF1) mainly caused decapitation and male infertility but validated binding partners collaborating in the formation of sperm-specific structures are largely unknown. Amongst all candidate proteins affecting the HTCA when missing, the structural protein CCDC42 attracted our attention. The coiled-coil domain containing 42 (CCDC42) is important for HTCA and sperm tail formation but is otherwise largely uncharacterized. We show here that CCDC42 is expressed in spermatids and localizes to the manchette, the connecting piece and the tail. Beyond that, we show that CCDC42 is not restricted to male germ cells but is also expressed in somatic cells in which it localizes to the centrosome. Although centrosomal and sperm tail location seems to be irrespective of ODF1 we asked whether both proteins may form an interacting network in the male germ cell. We additionally considered ODF2, a prevalent protein involved in the formation of spermatid-specific cytoskeletal structures, as a putative binding partner. Our data depict for the first time the subcellular location of CCDC42 in spermatids and deepen our knowledge about the composition of the spermatid/sperm-specific structures. The presence of CCDC42 in the centrosome of somatic cells together with the obvious restricted male-specific phenotype when missing strongly argues for a compensatory function by other still unknown proteins most likely of the same family.
PubMed: 31475146
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00151 -
Plant & Cell Physiology Dec 2019The biosynthesis and roles of strigolactones (SLs) have been investigated in herbaceous plants, but so far, their role in trees has received little attention. In this...
The biosynthesis and roles of strigolactones (SLs) have been investigated in herbaceous plants, but so far, their role in trees has received little attention. In this study, we analyzed the presence, spatial/temporal expression and role of SL pathway genes in Populus tremula � Populus tremuloides. In this proleptic species, axillary buds (AXBs) become para-dormant at the bud maturation point, providing an unambiguous starting point to study AXB activation. We identified previously undescribed Populus homologs of DWARF27 (D27), LATERAL BRANCHING OXIDOREDUCTASE (LBO) and DWARF53-like (D53-like) and analyzed the relative expression of all SL pathway genes in root tips and shoot tissues. We found that, although AXBs expressed MORE AXILLARY GROWTH1 (MAX1) and LBO, they did not express MAX3 and MAX4, whereas nodal bark expressed high levels of all SL biosynthesis genes. By contrast, expression of the SL perception and signaling genes MAX2, D14 and D53 was high in AXBs relative to nodal bark and roots. This suggests that AXBs are reliant on the associated nodes for the import of SLs and SL precursors. Activation of AXBs was initiated by decapitation and single-node isolation. This rapidly downregulated SL pathway genes downstream of MAX4, although later these genes were upregulated coincidently with primordia formation. GR24-feeding counteracted all activation-related changes in SL gene expression but did not prevent AXB outgrowth showing that SL is ineffective once AXBs are activated. The results indicate that nodes rather than roots supply SLs and its precursors to AXBs, and that SLs may restrain embryonic shoot elongation during AXB formation and para-dormancy in intact plants.
Topics: Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Lactones; Plant Proteins; Plant Shoots; Populus; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 31504881
DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz170 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023One of the promising and relevant directions in the treatment of oncological diseases is currently the development of a system for the delivery of antitumor drugs based...
UNLABELLED
One of the promising and relevant directions in the treatment of oncological diseases is currently the development of a system for the delivery of antitumor drugs based on polyanions. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the specifics of pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of a 5-Fluorouracil polymeric complex compared with commercial 5-Fluorouracil.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Monomeric methacrylic acid was used to synthesize polymers; 2-phenylpropane-2-ilbenzodithioate was used for the synthesis of poly(methacrylic acid). To study the molecular-weight characteristics of poly(methacrylic acid) by gel permeation chromatography, an experimental neoplasm model was obtained by grafting PC-1 cancer cells. Blood samples were drawn from the tail vein at different points in time. The rats were sacrificed via decapitation after drawing the last pharmacokinetic blood sample. To study the biodistribution, internal organs were isolated and analyzed. The measurements were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that incorporation in a polymeric complex changes the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profile of 5-FU. The polymeric complex was shown to accumulate to a higher level in the lung and spleen.
CONCLUSION
The results obtained are the basis for further studies to verify the efficacy of the 5-Fluorouracil polymeric complex.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Fluorouracil; Tissue Distribution; Drug Carriers; Polymers
PubMed: 38138585
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248096 -
Journal of the American Association For... May 2024Blood collection is frequently used for neonatal and juvenile mice in toxicology, developmental, and immunology studies and is often a terminal procedure. However, the... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Blood collection is frequently used for neonatal and juvenile mice in toxicology, developmental, and immunology studies and is often a terminal procedure. However, the use of nonterminal blood collection techniques, including the submandibular and the submental collection techniques described for adult mice, may offer opportunities to reduce animal numbers and refine current methods. The use of the submental technique has not been described for neonatal or juvenile mice. In this study, we compared the submental and submandibular blood collection techniques to determine their suitability for use in neonatal and juvenile mice. Male and female CD1 mice, ages 7, 14, 21, and 28 d, were randomized by sex into submental (n = 16), submandibular (n = 16), or control (n = 8) groups. Each mouse was weighed, bled per its assigned group (or only restrained in the case of control mice), and then decapitated without anesthesia for terminal blood collection. Blood collection volume and corticosterone concentrations were measured. The 2 methods showed significant differences in the volume of blood collected at ages 14 and 28, with the submandibular technique yielding significantly higher volumes. No significant differences were detected in corticosterone levels between the 2 techniques based on age or sex. A subset of mice (n = 8, 2 per age group) were bled via submental or submandibular technique and were evaluated 48 h later for gross and histopathologic evidence of trauma. Seven of the 8 mice showed expected inflammation and healing at the collection sites, with 4 mice having embedded strands of fur in the tissue. These data indicate that the submental blood collection is a viable method for nonterminal blood collection method in neonatal and juvenile mice, especially when smaller amounts of blood are needed.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Female; Male; Animals, Newborn; Blood Specimen Collection; Corticosterone; Random Allocation; Submandibular Gland
PubMed: 38514171
DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-23-000116