Glutamic-pyruvic Transaminase Activity Research Articles

Chitosan promotes immune responses, ameliorates glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase, but enhances lactate dehydrogenase levels in normal mice in vivo

Chitosan, a naturally derived polymer, has been shown to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; however, little is known about the effect of chitosan on the immune responses and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in normal mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chitosan has an effect on the immune responses and GOT, GPT and LDH activities in mice in vivo. BALB/c mice were divided into four groups. The negative control group was treated with a normal diet; the positive control group was treated with a normal diet plus orally administered acetic acid and two treatment groups were treated with a normal diet plus orally administered chitosan in acetic acid at doses of 5 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, every other day for 24 days. Mice were weighed during the treatment, and following the treatment, blood was collected, and liver and spleen samples were isolated and weighted. The blood samples were used for measurement of white blood cell markers, and the spleen samples were used for analysis of phagocytosis, natural killer (NK) cell activity and cell proliferation using flow cytometry. The results indicated that chitosan did not markedly affect the body, liver and spleen weights at either dose. Chitosan increased the percentages of CD3 (T-cell marker), CD19 (B-cell marker), CD11b (monocytes) and Mac-3 (macrophages) when compared with the control group. However, chitosan did not affect the phagocytic activity of macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, although it decreased it in the peritoneal cavity. Treatment with 20 mg/kg chitosan led to a reduction in the cytotoxic activity of NK cells at an effector to target ratio of 25:1. Chitosan did not significantly promote B-cell proliferation in lipopolysaccharide-pretreated cells, but significantly decreased T-cell proliferation in concanavalin A-pretreated cells, and decreased the activity of GOT and GPT compared with that in the acetic acid-treated group,. In addition, it significantly increased LDH activity, to a level similar to that in normal mice, indicating that chitosan can protect against liver injury.

The effects of the unsaturated degree of long-chain fatty acids on the rumen microbial protein content and the activities of transaminases and dehydrogenase in vitro

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of the degree of unsaturation (unsaturity) of long-chain fatty acids on microbial protein content and the activities of transaminases and dehydrogenase in vitro using goat rumen fluid as the cultural medium. Six types of fatty acids, stearic acid (C18:0, group A, control group), oleic acid (C18:1, n-9, group B), linoleic acid (C18:2, n-6, group C), α-linolenic acid (C18:3, n-3, group D), arachidonic acid (C20:4, n-6, group E), and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5, n-3, group F), were tested, and the inclusion ratio of each fatty acid was 3% (w/w) in total of culture substrate. Samples were taken at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 h, respectively, during culture for analyses. Compared with stearic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid increased the bacterial protein content, while oleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid had no significant effects; the protozoal protein content was reduced for all the unsaturated fatty acids, and the magnitude of the reduction appeared to be associated with the degree of unsaturity of fatty acids. The total microbial protein content was dominantly accounted by the protozoal protein content (about 4–9 folds of the bacterial protein), and only increased by linoleic acid, but reduced by oleic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. There were no significant effects in the activities of both glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) for all the other fatty acids, except for arachidonic acid which enhanced GOT activity and oleic acid which enhanced GPT activity. The total dehydrogenase activity was positively correlated with the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids. In conclusion, the inclusion of 3% of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids increased bacterial protein content, whereas reduced protozoal protein content and enhanced dehydrogenase activity. The fatty acids with more than three double bonds had detrimental effects on the microbial protein content. This work demonstrates for the first time the effect rule of the unsaturation degree of long-chain fatty acids on the rumen microbial protein in vitro.

Relationship between potassium fertilization and nitrogen metabolism in the leaf subtending the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) boll during the boll development stage

The nitrogen (N) metabolism of the leaf subtending the cotton boll (LSCB) was studied with two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars (Simian 3, low-K tolerant; Siza 3, low-K sensitive) under three levels of potassium (K) fertilization (K0: 0 g K2O plant−1, K1: 4.5 K2O plant−1 and K2: 9.0 g K2O plant−1). The results showed that total dry matter increased by 13.1–27.4% and 11.2–18.5% under K supply for Simian 3 and Siza 3. Boll biomass and boll weight also increased significantly in K1 and K2 treatments. Leaf K content, leaf N content and nitrate (NO3−) content increased with increasing K rates, and leaf N content or NO3− content had a significant positive correlation with leaf K content. Free amino acid content increased in the K0 treatment for both cultivars, due to increased protein degradation caused by higher protease and peptidase activities, resulting in lower protein content in the K0 treatment. The critical leaf K content for free amino acid and soluble protein content were 14 mg g−1 and 15 mg g−1 in Simian 3, and 17 mg g−1 and 18 mg g−1 in Siza 3, respectively. Nitrate reductase (NR), glutamic-oxaloace transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities increased in the K1 and K2 treatments for both cultivars, while glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activities increased under K supply treatments only for Siza 3, and were not affected in Simian 3, indicating that this was the primary difference in nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes activities for the two cultivars with different sensitivity to low-K.

Combined Supplementation with Grape Pomace and Omija Fruit Ethanol Extracts Dose-Dependently Improves Body Composition, Plasma Lipid Profiles, Inflammatory Status, and Antioxidant Capacity in Overweight and Obese Subjects.

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of combined grape pomace and omija fruit ethanol extracts (GO) on metabolic disorders in overweight or obese subjects. Seventy-six subjects (30-70 years, body mass index ≥23.0 kg/m2) were divided into control (starch, 4 g/day, n = 24), low-GO (low dose GO, grape pomace extract [342.5 mg/day] + omija fruit extract [57.5 mg/day], n = 26), and high-GO (high dose GO, grape pomace extract [685 mg/day] + omija fruit extract [115 mg/day], n = 26) groups. Body composition, nutrient intake, plasma lipid profiles, inflammation, antioxidant capacity, and hepatotoxicity markers were assessed in all subjects at the baseline and 10 weeks after taking the supplements. The body weight and body fat of overweight or obese subjects was not significantly altered in the low-GO and high-GO groups. However, the high-GO supplement significantly decreased the baseline-adjusted final plasma total-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels and increased the baseline-adjusted final plasma apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 level compared with that of the control group. In addition, the high-GO supplement significantly lowered apo B, apo B/apo A-1, lipoprotein a (Lp[a]), atherogenic index, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and elevated erythrocyte antioxidant capacity compared with the control group or the baseline levels. The low-GO supplement decreased the plasma IL-1β level and elevated erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity compared with that at baseline. However, in general, high-GO exerted a greater effect than low-GO. There were no significant differences in activities of plasma glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase between the groups. This study is a preliminary clinical study to verify that GO could be beneficial for amelioration of obesity-related dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress without side effect in the overweight or obese subjects.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Mycelia Selenium Polysaccharide by Hypsizigus marmoreus SK-02.

This work was designed to investigate the characteristic properties (bond types and monosaccharide compositions), and hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage of mycelia selenium polysaccharides (MSPS) separated and purified from Hypsizigus marmoreus SK-02. Characteristic analysis of MSPS showed the selenium content (70.15μg/g) in mycelia. The antioxidant activities in vitro demonstrated that MSPS had potential effects on scavenging reactive oxygen species and enhancing the reducing power. The treatment of MSPS for CCl4-induced animal experiment demonstrated that the MSPS could reduce the levels of malondiadehyde (MDA), lipid peroxide (LPO), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) activities and improve the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) in serum/liver homogenate against CCl4-induced injures. Findings presented in this study clearly demonstrated that MSPS might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs in preventing the CCl4-induced acute liver damage.

Effects of dialyzer reuse on dialysis adequacy, anemia control, erythropoieting-stimulating agents use and phosphate level.

Almost 50 years have passed since the first time the concept of dialyzer reuse in hemodialyzed patients was introduced for primarily economic reasons [1]. Hemodialyzers are labeled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) as single use only. In recognition of the widespread practice of reuse in the United States, in 1996 the FDA required manufacturers to label dialyzers for multiple use and to back up this claim with data showing that the performance of the dialyzer is sustained over multiple uses [2]. In Poland there is also a tendency to stop the reuse of dialyzers. There are three major concerns with reuse: the risk of infection; biochemical and immunologic effects; and loss of performance with impairment in clearance and/or ultrafiltration [3].

Hepato-Renal Toxicity of <i>Gongronema latifolium</i> Extracts on Streptozocin Induced Diabetes in Rats

This study evaluated the effect of methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous and crude extracts of Gongronema latifolium leaves on some nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic parameters in streptozocin induced diabetic rats. Thirty albino rats divided into six experimental groups were used. Two groups served as control were fed normal saline and glibenclamide. Four groups were fed methanolic, ethanolic, crude and aqueous extracts of Gongronema latifolium leaves respectively. Treatment lasted four 14 days after which the rats were sacrificed and blood collected for biochemical evaluation. The results showed that treatment with all the various extracts of Gongronema latifolium leave did not cause any significant increase in the nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic parameters. Treatment with methanolic extract caused a significant decrease in the serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity (P<0.001). The histological analysis revealed a recovery from inflammatory phase of the cells of the kidney and liver from the toxic effect of the streptozocin.

Toxicity of furadan (carbofuran 3% g) in Cyprinus carpio: Haematological, biochemical and enzymological alterations and recovery response

Furadan, a carbamate pesticide is widely used in paddy fields and it has been detected in ground, surface and rain waters. In this study, fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio were exposed to different concentrations of furadan ranging from 25 to 50 mg L−1 for 96 h and the acute toxicity was calculated as 43.651 mg L−1. To assess the effect of furadan, fish were exposed to two concentrations of furadan (8.730 mg L−1, Treatment I and 4.365 mg L−1, Treatment II) and certain haematological, biochemical and enzymological parameters were evaluated at the end of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure periods with a recovery period of 96 h. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC), plasma protein and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity in gill, liver and kidney (except at the end of 96 h in Treatment I) were noted in both the concentrations tested while white blood cells (WBC) and glucose level were significantly increased after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure periods when compared to untreated groups. A mixed trend in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity in gill, liver and kidney was noted. During the recovery study period (96 h) MCHC and plasma glucose level was recovered to some extent whereas the other parameters remain altered. The alterations of these parameters can be used to assess the toxic levels of the pesticide furadan on aquatic biota.

Enzymatic Efficiency and Genotypic Differences for Nitrogen Assimilation in Wheat

The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of nitrogen applied in soil (90, 120 and 150 kg/ha) on activities of nitrogen assimilating enzymes viz. nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in relation to protein, amino acid and nitrogen content with respect to source-sink relationship (flag leaf and grains) at different developmental stages of six wheat genotypes (PBW 621, PBW 636, PBW 343, PBW 550, HD 2967 and GLU 1356). GLU 1356, HD 2967 and PBW 621 genotypes responded better at suboptimal dose of N (90 and 120 kg/ha N), while PBW 636, PBW 343 and PBW 550 at recommended dose of N. Significant increase in the activities of NR, GS, GOGAT, GOT and GPT was noted under 150 kg/ha N application, which caused an increase in protein and amino acid contents in all the genotypes. Activity pattern of studied enzymes revealed an increasing trend from tillering to anthesis stage and thereafter declined in parallel with decrease in protein and amino acid contents. Conversely, nitrogen and chlorophyll content showed a consistent decline with leaf growth. In crux, sub-optimal N doses had significant influence on nitrogen metabolism especially in GLU 1356 due to high activities of GS and GOGAT. GOT and GPT regulated protein and amino acid biosynthesis. GLU 1356, HD 2967 and PBW 621 were observed as nitrogen efficient genotypes for enhancing wheat crop productivity under low dose of nitrogen to save environment and input cost.

The effects of high temperature level on square Bt protein concentration of Bt cotton

Higher boll worm survival rates were detected after high temperature presented during square period in Bt cotton. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of high temperature level on the Bt efficacy of two different types of Bt cotton cultivars at squaring stage. During the 2011 to 2013 cotton growth seasons, high temperature treatments ranged from 34 to 44°C in climate chambers, and field experiments under high temperature weather with various temperature levels were conducted to investigate the effects of the high temperature level on square Bt protein concentration and nitrogen metabolism. The climate chamber experiments showed that the square insecticidal protein contents reduced after 24 h elevated temperature treatments for both cultivars, whereas significant declines of the square insecticidal protein contents were detected at temperature >38°C, and only slightly numerical reductions were observed when temperature below 38°C. Similar high temperature responses were also observed at the two field experimental sites in 2013. Correspondingly, high temperature below 38°C seems have little effect on the square amino acid concentrations, soluble protein contents, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activities as well as protease and peptidase activities; however, when the temperature was above 38°C, reduced soluble protein contents, enhanced amino acid concentrations, decreased GPT and GOT activities, bolstered protease and peptidase activities in square were detected. In general, the higher the temperature is (>38°C), the larger the changes for the above compound contents and key enzymes activities of the square protein cycle. The findings indicated that the unstable insect resistance of the square was related to high temperature level during square stage.

Anti-diabetic Effect of FriedelanTriterpenoids in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rat

We herein report the anti-diabetic effect of the natural friedelan tritepenoid, 4-oxa-3, 4-secofriedelan (cerin), isolated from cork tissue of Quercus suber L. and its oxygenated derivative, 4-oxa-3, 4-secofriedelan-3-oic acid (cerinox) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: non-diabetic control (Group I), STZ-induced diabetic rats (Group II), STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with cerin (Group III), and STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with cerinox (Group IV). Administration of cerin (3mg/kg) and cerinox (3mg/kg) orally to STZ-diabetic rats for three weeks improved the body weight, reduced serum glucose level and activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, and restored liver antioxidant status.

사염화탄소로 유도된 간 손상에 대한 비피도박테리움 어돌레센티스 SPM0212의 보호효과

Probiotics are microbial food supplements or components of bacteria which have traditionally been added to dairy foods for extra health boost. Our aim was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Bifidobacterium adolescentis SPM0212 as probiotics, which we previously found has potential anti-hepatitis B virus activity. The study was conducted using Wistar albino rats and probiotics were treated orally for 9 days consecutively and acute liver injury was induced by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) on the 7th and 8th days. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), as well as by histopathological examination. B. adolescentis SPM0212 significantly prevented the elevation of SGOT and SGPT levels, and reduced the negative effect of CCl₄ on body and organ weights. Histopathological study revealed the livers of the carbon tetrachloride treated rats showed almost complete loss of normal hepatocyte architecture, but that rats treated with B. adolescentis SPM0212 showed minimal damage and normal hepatocyte architecture. Our results suggest that B. adolescentis SPM0212 be considered useful probiotics for protecting the liver from xenobiotics and hepatitis B virus, and as well as useful as a functional food for maintaining human health.

Effects of dietary protein/energy ratio on growth performance, carcass trait, meat quality, and plasma metabolites in pigs of different genotypes.

BackgroundThe protein/energy ratio is important for the production performance and utilization of available feed resources by animals. Increased protein consumption by mammals leads to elevated feed costs and increased nitrogen release into the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary protein/energy ratio on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and plasma metabolites of pigs of different genotypes.MethodsBama mini-pigs and Landrace pigs were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups (Chinese conventional diet with low protein/energy ratio or National Research Council diet with high protein/energy ratio; n = 24 per treatment) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Blood and muscle samples were collected at the end of the nursery, growing, and finishing phases.ResultsWe observed significant interactions (P < 0.05) between breed and diet for total fat percentage, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, protein content in biceps femoris (BF) muscle, and plasma urea nitrogen (UN) concentration in the nursery phase; for average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), dry matter, IMF content in psoas major (PM) muscle, and plasma total protein and albumin concentrations in the growing phase; and for drip loss and plasma UN concentration in the finishing phase. Breed influenced (P < 0.05) growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality, but not plasma metabolites. Throughout the trial, Landrace pigs showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, dressing percentage, lean mass rate, and loin-eye area than did Bama mini-pigs, but significantly lower (P < 0.05) feed/gain ratio, fat percentage, backfat thickness, and IMF content. Dietary protein/energy ratio influenced the pH value, chemical composition of BF and PM muscles, and plasma activities of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and plasma concentration of UN.ConclusionsCompared with Landrace pigs, Bama mini-pigs showed slower growth and lower carcass performance, but had better meat quality. Moreover, unlike Landrace pigs, the dietary protein/energy ratio did not affect the growth performance of Bama mini-pigs. These results suggest that, in swine production, low dietary protein/energy ratio may be useful for reducing feed costs and minimizing the adverse effects of ammonia release into the environment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40104-015-0036-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of pH and temperature on antioxidant responses of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus.

This study evaluated the combined effects of seawater pH decrease and temperature increase on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus, an ecological and economic bivalve species widely distributed along the East China Sea. Mussels were exposed to three pH levels (8.1, 7.7 and 7.3) and two temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C) for 14 days. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione (GSH), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were measured in gills and digestive glands after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days of exposure. All enzymatic activities were significantly impacted by pH, temperature. Enzymatic activities at the high temperature were significantly higher than those at the low temperature, and the mussels exposed to pH 7.3 showed significantly higher activities than those under higher pH condition for all enzymes except ACP. There was no interaction between temperature and pH in two third of the measured activities suggesting similar mode of action for both drivers. Interaction was only consistently significant for GPX. PCA revealed positive relationships between the measured biochemical indicators in both gills and digestive glands. Overall, our results suggest that decreased pH and increased temperature induce a similar anti-oxidative response in the thick shell mussel.

In vivo activity of albendazole in combination with thymol against Echinococcus multilocularis

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis and is usually lethal if left untreated. The current strategy for treating human AE is surgical resection of the parasite mass complemented by chemotherapy with benzimidazole compounds. However, reliable chemotherapeutic alternatives have not yet been developed stimulating the research of new treatment strategies such as the use of medicinal plants. The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of the combination albendazole (ABZ)+thymol on mice infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes. For this purpose, mice infected with parasite material were treated daily for 20 days with ABZ (5mg/kg), thymol (40mg/kg) or ABZ (5mg/kg)+thymol (40mg/kg) or left untreated as controls. After mice were euthanized, cysts were removed from the peritoneal cavity and the treatment efficacy was evaluated by the mean cysts weight, viability of protoscoleces and ultrastructural changes of cysts and protoscoleces. The application of thymol or the combination of ABZ+thymol resulted in a significant reduction of the cysts weight compared to untreated mice. We also found that although ABZ and thymol had a scolicidal effect, the combination of the two compounds had a considerably stronger effect showing a reduction in the protoscoleces viability of 62%. These results were also corroborated by optical microscopy, SEM and TEM. Protoscoleces recovered from ABZ or thymol treated mice showed alterations as contraction of the soma region, rostellar disorganization and presence of blebs in the tegument. However both drugs when combined lead to a total loss of the typical morphology of protoscoleces. All cysts removed from control mice appeared intact and no change in ultrastructure was detected. In contrast, cysts developed in mice treated with ABZ revealed changes in the germinal layer as reduction in cell number, while the treatment with thymol or the ABZ+thymol combination predominantly showed presence of cell debris. On the other hand, no differences were found in alkaline phosphatase (AP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities between control and treated mice, indicating the lack of toxicity of the different drug treatments during the experiment. Because combined ABZ+thymol treatment exhibited higher treatment efficiency compared with the drugs applied separately against murine experimental alveolar echinococcosis, we propose it would be a useful option for the treatment of human AE.

Threonine influences the absorption capacity and brush-border enzyme gene expression in the intestine of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

A 9-week experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary threonine levels on the enzyme activities, plasma ammonia content and intestinal brush-border enzyme gene expressions in juvenile blunt snout bream. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi-purified diets (34% crude protein) were formulated to contain graded levels of dietary threonine (0.6 (un-supplemented control), 1.1, 1.6, 2.1 and 2.6% in dry matter). The diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0% l-crystalline threonine. l-Amino acid mixtures were prepared taking into account the amount of amino acids contributed by fish meal, casein and gelatin. Juvenile fish (initial weight, 3.01±0.01g) were assigned into triplicate groups and fed with their respective diet to near satiation four times per day. The results indicated that the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), sodium/potassium-ATPase transporter (Na+/K+-ATPase) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) in the three intestinal segments rose as dietary threonine levels increased and reached a pick value at 1.58% dietary threonine and thereafter decreased. The highest glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activity in hepatopancreas was found in the group fed with high (2.58%) threonine diet (P<0.05). Glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity in hepatopancreas and plasma ammonia content (PAC) exhibited significant (P<0.05) “V-shaped” trends with increasing dietary threonine levels and the lowest values were found at 1.58% threonine, while plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) didn't significantly respond to threonine supplementation. Dietary threonine regulated the gene expressions of brush-border enzymes (AKP, Na+/K+-ATPase and γ-GT) in the intestinal segments, which may explain further that threonine enhanced the absorptive function of fish via regulating brush-border enzyme synthesis and secretion. Statement of relevanceBlunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) is one of the major aquaculture species in China with extremely high economic value. In the last decade, its production in China has been rapidly increased and reached approximately 0.7million tons in 2012. It is also introduced to North America (northern Canada to southern Mexico), Africa and Eurasia. Recently, many studies have been reported regarding nutrient requirement of blunt snout bream. This study is part of our previous studies that investigated the effects of threonine on the growth, feed utilization, digestive capacity, immune function, and gene expressions of digestive enzymes, signaling molecules related to protein synthesis, immune and cytokines in blunt snout bream. Animal growth depends on the nutrient digestion and absorption, which is governed by the activities of enzymes including brush-border enzymes. In fish species the activities of brush-border enzymes appear to be strongly correlated with the composition of diet. Among indispensible amino acids, threonine has been proved to be an indispensible amino acid for optimal growth of fish, and it is extracted in greater proportion by the small intestine in animals, suggesting that threonine is involved in intestinal functionality and maintenance. However, there is no report regarding the effects of threonine on the activities of brush-border enzymes in blunt snout bream. To date, there is no report regarding the relationship between dietary threonine and the gene expressions of brush-border enzymes in fish. Indeed, this study was conducted to test the following hypothesis: firstly, an adequate level of threonine may play an important role in absorptive function by enhancing the activities of brush-border enzymes in blunt snout bream; secondly, threonine may regulate the brush-border enzyme gene expressions in the intestinal segments of blunt snout bream, which may explain further the role of threonine in absorptive function of this fish species.

Antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective activities of residue polysaccharide from Cordyceps militaris SU-12

Cordyceps militaris has been artificially cultivated in China, and the great amounts of produced medium residue were discarded after the harvest. The aims of this work were to analyze the structure of the residue polysaccharide (RPS) of C. militaris SU-12, and to investigate the pharmacological effects of RPS on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. RPS was composed of glucose, arabinose and mannose with a ratio of 62:1.6:1 by gas chromatography analysis, and the Mw (weight-average molecular weight), Mn (number-average molecular weight) and Mz (z-average molecular weight) of RPS were 2.86×103, 6.85×102, and 1.97×104Da, respectively. The mice experiments demonstrated that RPS could reduce the levels of blood and liver lipid, and improve the glutamate pyruvate transaminase and antioxidant activity. The histopathological observations of mice livers indicated that RPS could attenuate liver cell injury. Results suggest that the RPS might be used as a potential antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant product.

Antidiabetics in combination with hydroxychloroquine improve antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Hyperglycemia exerts toxic effects on the pancreatic ?-cells. This study investigated the hypothesis that the antidiabetic drugs glibenclamide and metformin, in combination with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) offer additional protection for the pancreas against oxidative stress and produce hepatoprotective effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Long-Evans rats by a single dose of alloxan (120 mg/kg; i.p.). Different groups of diabetic animals were treated with glibenclamide (10 mg/70 kg, i.p.), metformin (850 mg/70 kg, i.p.), HCQ (300 mg/70 kg, i.p.) and combination of both glibenclamide and metformin with HCQ, separately for a period of 28 days. Diabetic rats had significantly elevated levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), while catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly reduced. Glibenclamide and metformin produced no significant effects on antioxidant enzymes but both showed significant (p&lt;0.05) result in reducing SGOT and SGPT level in diabetic rats. In contrast, the combination of glibenclamide or metformin with HCQ showed better effect on up-regulation of CAT and SOD activity and down-regulation of SGOT and SGPT activity in comparison with the antidiabetic drug alone. These findings suggest that, HCQ potentiates the effect of glibenclamide and metformin to protect pancreas against oxidative stress and produce hepatoprotective effect in diabetic rats.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 18(1): 72-77, 2015

Effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis B10 on biochemical and molecular parameters in the serum and liver of high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

While a high-fat diet (HFD) is assumed to be related to fat-mediated oxidative stress decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity, probiotics are believed to have positive effects on the regulation of HFD-induced obesity as well as lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, and anti-oxidation. Because Bacillus subtilis B10 has beneficial effects on the abnormal lipid metabolism and the oxidative stress in HFD-induced obese mice, ICR mice were randomly assigned into an HFD group and the HFD was supplemented with 0.1% (w/w) Bacillus subtilis B10 (HFD+B10 group). Thereafter, 30-d treatments were run, and then hepatic lipid level and antioxidant status were measured. The expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in the liver was determined by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found that HFD-induced obese mice treated with B10 showed a decrease in weight gain, serum glucose activity as well as hepatic triglyceride (TG), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities. In addition, the gene expressions of antioxidant genes, glutathione reductase (GR), xanthine oxidase (XO), heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90), and lipid synthesis gene 3β-hydroxysteroid-∆24 reductase (DHCR24) in the HFD+B10 group were down-regulated, suggesting alleviation of oxidative stress, while the lipolysis gene 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), energy metabolism gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and the gene encoding tumor-suppressor protein p53 were up-regulated. The regulatory and positive effect of dietary supplementation of probiotic B10 suggests that it has a beneficial effect on the homeostasis of the lipid metabolism and on alleviating oxidative stress in HFD-induced obese mice.

Toxic effects of two sources of dietborne cadmium on the juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum L. and tissue-specific accumulation of related minerals

In the present study, juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum L. were fed diets contaminated by two different sources of cadmium: squid viscera meal (SVM-Cd, organic form) and cadmium chloride (CdCl2–Cd, inorganic form). The Cd concentrations in fish diet were approximate 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg Cd kg−1 for both inorganic and organic forms. In the control diet (0.312mg Cd kg−1 diet, Cd mainly come from fish meal), no cadmium was added. The experiment lasted for 16 weeks and a statistically significant inverse relationship was observed between specific growth rate (SGR) and the concentration of dietary Cd. The SGR of cobia fed a diet with SVM-Cd increased at the lowest doses and decreased with the increasing level of dietary SVM. Fish fed diet contaminated SVM-Cd had significantly higher SGR than those fed diets contaminated CdCl2–Cd among the high Cd level diets treatments. The dietary Cd levels also significantly affected the survival rate of the fish.Among the hematological characteristics and plasma constituents, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities and alkaline phosphatase activities in serum and liver increased and hepatic superoxide dismutase activity decreased with the increasing dietary Cd levels. The cobia fed diet contaminated by high level of CdCl2–Cd had significantly higher ALP activity than cobia fed diet contaminated by high level of SVM-Cd. The results from these studies indicate no differences in toxicity response to dietborne SVM-Cd and CdCl2–Cd at a low level of Cd. However, at a higher level, cobia was more sensitive to dietborne CdCl2–Cd than SVM-Cd. Based on quadratic regression of SGR, The Cd concentrations was 3.617mg kg−1 in the optimal diet, Cd source was SVM (126mg Cd kg−1 in SVM) which stimulate the growth of cobia and the added level was determined to be 26.7g kg−1 diet in the present study. Cd accumulations in the kidney of cobia fed both types of Cd were higher than other tissues, and the order of Cd accumulation in tissues were kidney>liver>intestine>gill>muscle. Iron accumulation in liver and kidney and calcium accumulation in vertebra and scale were also significantly affected by dietary Cd levels.