HSF Groups Research Articles

Preventive Effect of Gamma-Oryzanol on Physiopathological Process Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Animals Submitted to High Sugar/Fat Diet

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of liver disease. The physiopathological processes involved in the disease are metabolic syndrome (MetS) components (central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hypertension), genetic, and dietary factors, including unsaturated fats and sweetened beverages, which are able to lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, conditions associated with progression and severity of NAFLD. Gamma-oryzanol (γOz) is a nutraceutical obtained from rice brain oil with many benefits to health, from immunological to metabolic. The aim of this study is to test the preventive effect of γOz on the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to high sugar/fat diet. Male Wistar rats (±187 g) were randomly divided into four experimental groups to receive: control diet (C, n = 6), control diet plus γOz (C + γOz, n = 6), high sugar/fat diet (HSF, n = 6), or high sugar/fat diet plus γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 6) during 30 weeks. HSF groups also received water plus sucrose (25%). γOz was added to diets to reach 0.5% of final concentration. The HSF group presented MetS, liver inflammation and oxidative stress, and micro and macrovesicular steatosis. HSF plus γOz was protected against these changes. It is possible to conclude that gamma-oryzanol was effective in modulating the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to a high sugar/fat diet.

Bergamot leaf extract treats cardiorenal metabolic syndrome and associated pathophysiological factors in rats fed with a high sugar fat diet

Bergamot citrus (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau), have been used as a strategy to prevent or treat comorbidities associated with metabolic syndrome parameters, such as cardiorenal metabolic syndrome (CRMS). The aim was to test the effect of bergamot leaf extract on CRMS and associated pathophysiological factors in rats fed with a high sugar-fat diet. Animals were divided into two experimental groups with control diet (Control, n = 30) and high sugar-fat diet (HSF, n = 30) for 20 weeks. Once CRMS was detected, animals were redivided to begin the treatment with Bergamot Leaf Extract (BLE) by gavage (50 mg/kg) for 10 weeks: control diet + placebo (Control, n = 09), control diet + BLE (Control + BLE, n = 09), HSF diet + placebo (HSF, n = 09), HSF + BLE (n = 09). Evaluation included nutritional, metabolic and hormonal analysis; and renal and cardiac parameters. HSF groups presented obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance. BLE showed protection against effects on hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, renal damage, and structural and functional alterations of the heart. Conclusion: Bergamot leaf extract shows potential as a therapeutic to treat CRMS in animals fed with a high sugar-fat diet.

Gamma-oryzanol as a potential modulator of oxidative stress and inflammation via PPAR-y in adipose tissue: a hypothetical therapeutic for cytokine storm in COVID-19?

The literature has reported a higher prevalence of negative clinical outcomes due to Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) in obese individuals. This can be explained by the cytokine storm, result from the cytokine production from both obesity and viral infection. Gamma-oryzanol (γOz) is a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, little is known about the γOz action as a possible agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that γOz attenuates the cytokine storm by stimulating PPAR-γ in the adipose tissue. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups and fed ad libitum for 30 weeks with control diet (C, n = 6), high sugar-fat diet (HSF, n = 6) or high sugar-fat diet + γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 6). HSF groups also received water + sucrose (25%). The γOz dose was 0.5% in the chow. Evaluation in animals included caloric intake, body weight, adiposity index, plasma triglycerides, and HOMA-IR. In adipose tissue was evaluated: PPAR-γ gene and protein expression, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, and histological analysis. Results: Adipose tissue dysfunction was observed in HSF group, which presented remarkable PPAR-γ underexpression and increased levels of cytokines, other inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. The γOz treatment prevented adipose tissue dysfunction and promoted PPAR-γ overexpression. Conclusion: Natural compounds as γOz can be considered a coadjutant therapy to prevent the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients with obesity conditions.

Response of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) to dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera essential oil under heat stress condition

The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of the dietary use of different doses of Moringa oleifera essential oil (MOEO) on performance parameters, internal organ weights and meat quality in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) exposed to Heat Stress (HS). For this purpose, 320 male day-old quail chicks were used. Seven days of preliminary (physical exercise) and a 35-day fattening period were applied. The animals were divided into 8 groups, each including 40 animals according to temparature (C: 25 °C and SC: 37 °C) and dietary doses (C, 200, 400 and 600). Each group was divided into 4 subgroups, each comprising 10 animals. The consequences of this study showed that, in the stress-free (HSF) groups, while all of the different doses of dietary MOEO positively affected growth performance, feed intake and feed efficiency, in the HS groups, similar positive effects were observed with the use of 200 ppm of dietary MOEO. While no effect was detected on internal organ weights on Days 21 and 42 in the HSF and HS groups, a dose-dependent increase was determined in the intestinal pH value on day 42 in the HS group (p < .05). Additionally, in the analysis of meat quality on the 21st and 42 days compared to the controls, no effect was observed on the meat colour parameters value and TBARS level in the HS and HSF groups. Based on the consequences of this study, it is considered that, MOEO could be used as an alternative product in poultry, at a dose of 200 ppm, to reduce the detrimental effects of HS. HIGHLIGHTS Temperature stress, performance parameters and serious problems in the health of poultry. Moringa olifera helps regulate performance parameters in poultry exposed to heat stress. Since the addition of Moringa oleifera to the diets does not affect the organ weight and meat quality in 21 and 42 days, it does not cause any negative effects for the consumer.

Altered expression of signaling pathways regulating neuronal excitability in hippocampal tissue of temporal lobe epilepsy patients with low and high seizure frequency

Despite recent advances in our understanding of synaptic transmission associated with epileptogenesis, the molecular mechanisms that control seizure frequency in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remain obscure. RNA-Seq was performed on hippocampal tissue resected from 12 medically intractable TLE patients with pre-surgery seizure frequencies ranging from 0.33 to 120 seizures per month. Differential expression (DE) analysis of individuals with low (LSF, mean = 4 seizure/month) versus high (HSF, mean = 60 seizures/month) seizure frequency identified 979 genes with ≥2-fold change in transcript abundance (FDR-adjusted p-value ö0.05). Comparisons with post-mortem controls revealed a large number of downregulated genes in the HSF (1676) versus LSF (399) groups. More than 50 signaling pathways were inferred to be deactivated or activated, with Signal Transduction as the central hub in the pathway network. While neuroinflammation pathways were activated in both groups, key neuronal system pathways were systematically deactivated in the HSF group, including calcium, CREB and Opioid signaling. We also infer that enhanced expression of a signaling cascade promoting synaptic downscaling may have played a key role in maintaining a higher seizure threshold in the LSF cohort. These results suggest that therapeutic approaches targeting synaptic scaling pathways may aid in the treatment of seizures in TLE.

Shenfu injection prolongs survival and protects the intestinal mucosa in rats with sepsis by modulating immune response.

The aim of present study was to assess the protective effects of Shenfu injection (SI) on the intestinal mucosa and its regulation on the mucosal immune responses in rats with sepsis. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham, model, low-dose SI (LSF), and high-dose SI (HSF) groups. Sham animals underwent laparotomy only, whereas sepsis was modeled by cecal ligation and puncture in the remaining groups. At 2 h post-surgery, the LSF and HSF groups were intraperitoneally administered 5 and 20 mL/kg SI, respectively, whereas other animals with saline. At 12 h and 24 h post-surgery, eight rats per group were sacrificed, and blood and intestinal tissues were collected. The intestinal mucosa was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations, as well as secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content in the intestinal mucosa, were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD3 and γδT lymphocytes were quantified by flow cytometry. Animal survival until 72 h was also recorded. Intestinal mucosal injury was significantly higher in model animals than in sham animals at postoperative 12 h and 24 h. Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were markedly increased, whereas sIgA and CD3 and γδT cell amounts were overtly decreased (p<0.01). The LSF and HSF rats showed lower mortality, intestinal mucosal injury, and serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels (p<0.05), as well as higher sIgA levels and CD3 and γδT cell amounts, than the model group (p<0.01), with a dose-dependent manner. SI dose-dependently prolongs survival and protects the intestinal mucosa in rats with sepsis, possibly through strengthening innate immunity instead of acquired immunity.

Effect of level of soluble fiber and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio on performance of rabbit does and their litters.

The aim of this work was to study whether the dietary supplementation with soluble fiber (SF) and the reduction of the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio or the combination of both influences the survival, body and milk composition, and reproductive performance of rabbit does during the first four parturitions. Four diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement were used with two levels of SF (7.8 vs. 13.0, on dry matter [DM] basis; high soluble fiber [HSF] and low soluble fiber [LSF]) and two different n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios (13.4/1 vs. 3.5/1). Nulliparous does (24/diet) were inseminated 11 d after parturition. Body chemical composition and energy content of rabbit does and their performance, litter growth, and milk production were measured between birth and weaning (25 d) along four parturitions, and milk composition and fecal digestibility were also recorded. The proportion of total removed does decreased in HSF respect to LSF groups (22.9 vs. 50.0%; P = 0.005), and it tended to decrease in LSF groups when the n-6/n-3 ratio increased and in HSF groups when the n-6/n-3 ratio decreased (P = 0.059). The increase of the level of SF reduced the digestible crude protein (CP)/digestible energy ratio (by 4%; P < 0.001) and improved the digestibility of all fibrous fractions (P < 0.001). The reduction of the n-6/n-3 ratio reduced the total dietary fiber digestibility in rabbit does fed LSF diets, but it had no effect in those fed HSF diets (P = 0.043). Treatments had no effect on average daily feed intake among parturitions (P = 0.16), but the digestible CP intake among parturitions was lower in HSF than in LSF groups (P = 0.003). Treatments had no effect on the total number of kits born, litter or average kit weight at birth, or litter size at weaning, fertility, feed efficiency, total milk production, and body chemical composition and energy content of rabbit does (P ≥ 0.29). The average weight of kits at weaning of LSF_Hn-6/n-3 and HSF_Ln-6/n-3 groups decreased by 6% compared with those from the other two groups (P = 0.030). The reduction of the dietary n-6/n-3 ratio increased the milk fat content by 12% with no effect on protein and DM content (P = 0.031). The proportion of milk odd fatty acids and saturated fatty acid increased in rabbit does fed the HSF diets compared with those fed LSF diets (P ≤ 0.037) with no effect of the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. In conclusion, SF reduced the replacement rate of rabbit does with no effect of the n-6/n-3 ratio, while both dietary factors modified milk composition and fatty acid profile with minor influence on litter productivity.

Effect of Gamma-Oryzanol as Therapeutic Agent to Prevent Cardiorenal Metabolic Syndrome in Animals Submitted to High Sugar-Fat Diet.

Background: The high consumption of fat and sugar contributes to the development of obesity and co-morbidities, such as diabetes, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Different strategies have been used to prevent these diseases associated with obesity, such as changes in eating habits and/or the addition of dietary components with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, such as gamma-oryzanol (γOz) present mainly in bran layers and rice germ. Methods: Animals were randomly divided into four experimental groups and fed ad libitum for 20 weeks with control diet (C, n = 8), control diet + γOz (C + γOz, n = 8), high-sugar and high-fat diet (HSF, n = 8), and high-sugar and high-fat diet + γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 8). HSF groups also received water + sucrose (25%). The dose of γOz was added to diets to reach 0.5% of final concentration (w/w). Evaluation in animals included food and caloric intake, body weight, plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, uric acid, HOMA-IR, glomerular filtration rate, protein/creatinine ratio, systolic blood pressure, and Doppler echocardiographic. Results: Animals that consumed the HSF diet had weight gain compared to group C, increased insulin, HOMA, glucose and triglycerides, there were also atrial and ventricular structural alterations, deterioration of systolic and diastolic function, decreased glomerular filtration rate, and proteinuria. Gamma-oryzanol is significantly protective against effects on body weight, hypertriglyceridemia, renal damage, and against structural and functional alteration of the heart. Conclusion: Gamma-oryzanol shows potential as a therapeutic to prevent Cardiorenal Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome and inflammation in adipose tissue occur at different times in animals submitted to a high-sugar/fat diet.

Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation, triggered in adipose tissue, which may occur due to an excess of SFA from the diet that can be recognised by Toll-like receptor-4. This condition is involved in the development of components of the metabolic syndrome associated with obesity, especially insulin resistance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and adipose tissue inflammation as a function of the period of time in which rats were submitted to a high-sugar/fat diet (HSF). Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups to receive the control diet (C) or the HSF for 6, 12 or 24 weeks. HSF increased the adiposity index in all HSF groups compared with the C group. HSF was associated with higher plasma TAG, glucose, insulin and leptin levels. Homeostasis model assessment increased in HSF compared with C rats at 24 weeks. Both TNF-α and IL-6 were elevated in the epididymal adipose tissue of HSF rats at 24 weeks compared with HSF at 6 weeks and C at 24 weeks. Only the HSF group at 24 weeks showed increased expression of both Toll-like receptor-4 and NF-κB. More inflammatory cells were found in the HSF group at 24 weeks. We can conclude that the metabolic syndrome occurs independently of the inflammatory response in adipose tissue and that inflammation is associated with hypertrophy of adipocytes, which varies according to duration of exposure to the HSF.

Perceptual Learning of Inverted Faces across Different Spatial Frequency Bands

Practicing a perceptual task can improve the ability to detect, discriminate, and identify stimuli, a phenomenon known as perceptual learning (1). Improvements have been found for simple and complex visual stimuli, including upright faces (2,3). However, little is known about the effects of practice on recognition of inverted faces (4,5). Here we hypothesized that adults might be better at learning to recognize inverted faces if trained with low spatial frequency images (<5 cpi; LSF) than full spectrum (FULL) or high spatial frequency images (>24 cpi; HSF) since newborns learn to recognize upright faces despite poor visual acuity (6). We trained 3 groups of 16 adults in a 10-AFC task with LSF, HSF or FULL inverted faces presented with different viewpoints. Participants were exposed either to the same or a different set of faces on Day 2. Although reaction times became significantly faster for all groups during training, accuracy improved only in the FULL (14%) and HSF (7%) groups. In contrast, the LSF group's overall improvement was only 1% (Fig1). Improvements from before to after training were assessed by comparisons to an untrained control group on 4 tasks. The FULL group showed more improvement in both accuracy and reactions time than controls on the delayed matching task of full spectrum inverted faces, thereby demonstrating generalization of training to novel faces. They were also faster on the same task with upright faces. The HSF group showed increased and decreased holistic processing of full spectrum inverted and upright faces, respectively, as indexed by reaction times on the composite face effect. Despite no improvement in accuracy during training, the LSF group improved more than controls on reaction times to match simultaneously presented full-spectrum inverted faces. These results suggest that perceptual learning of inverted faces and its generalization depend strongly on their spatial frequency content.

Sodium Intake and Reproduction in BALB/C Mice

The effect of sodium intake on the reproductive performance of BALB/C mice was assessed in four groups of 11 or 12 mice that received ad lib access to low or higher sodium food (LSF 4–5, HSF 120–143 mmol Na+/kg). The two groups that received HSF had (mean values) 100% matings, 83 and 91% litters, 5.9 pups/litter, pups weighing 2.05 and 2.22 g (3 days after birth) and 10.47 and 10.96 g at weaning (19 days). One of the HSF groups that also had 300 mM NaCl to drink did not show any benefit. Two groups received LSF, and one of them also received 30 mM NaCl. The group given LSF only had 83% matings, 20% litters, 1.5 pups/litter, and pups that were significantly smaller at birth and at weaning. However, the LSF group given 30 mM NaCl to drink performed almost as well as the two HSF groups. The results show that (a) the daily sodium requirement for optimal reproduction was ⩾400 (μmol/day, based on voluntary sodium intake late in gestation and lactation; (b) sodium deficiency was the cause of reproductive deficiency in mice on LSF; (c) severe sodium deficiency suppressed reproduction primarily at the gestation step; (d) this deficiency could be prevented by the voluntary sodium intake of mothers with access to salt solution; and (e) pups on the LSF showed an avid innate salt appetite when offered salt solution at 12 days of age.

Morphology and enzyme activities of the small intestine are modulated by dietary protein source in the preruminant calf.

A study was undertaken to assess the impact of the protein nature and soya antigenicity on the morphology and some enzyme activities of the jejunum in preruminant calves. Twenty Holstein calves fitted with a duodenal cannula were fed a liquid diet based on skimmed milk powder (SMP) for 2 weeks. They were then switched onto diets containing a mixture of SMP and either antigenic heated soybean flour (HSF; n = 12) or hypo-antigenic soya protein concentrate (SPC; n = 8) for 8 weeks, after which they were reverted back to the SMP diet for 2 weeks. The diets contained similar amounts of digestible nitrogen and energy, and were fed at a rate of 55 g DM/kg(0.75)/d. Proximal jejunal biopsies were collected just before (week 0), during (weeks 2 and 8) and after (week 10) feeding of the soya-based diets, and were used for morphology measurements and the determination of total alkaline phosphatase, lactase, amino-peptidases A and N, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV activities. Feed intake and growth were similar between the HSF and SPC groups during the experimental period. The effects of antigenicity and the antigenicity x time interaction were never significant (P > 0.05). Villus height decreased (P < 0.01) between weeks 0 and 2, and increased (P < 0.05) between weeks 8 and 10. Villus width increased between weeks 2 and 8 (P < 0.001). Crypt depth also increased between weeks 0 and 2 (P < 0.001). Specific activities of alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.01) and amino-peptidase N (P < 0.05) decreased between weeks 0 and 2. Conversely, those of alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.0001), lactase (P < 0.01) and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (P < 0.0001) increased between weeks 8 and 10. Specific activities for lactase and amino-peptidase N decreased (P < 0.01) between weeks 2 and 8. The treatments had little effects on the amino-peptidase A activity. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated that soybean protein markedly depressed the morphology and most enzyme activities of the calf small intestine. On the contrary, the in vitro antigenicity of soybean protein had little influence on these parameters in this study.

Diet-induced obesity and Na,K transport in erythrocytes and thymocytes of Sprague Dawley rats

The hypothesis that decreased energy expenditure by the Na,K pump contributes to the development of some forms of obesity remains controversial. Our aim was to study the effects of diet-induced obesity (DIO) on Na,K transport in rat erythrocytes and thymocytes. Sixty six male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed one of three defined diets for nine weeks. The diets were high in saturated fat (HSF; 51% and 12% energy from lard and corn oil, respectively), moderately high in polyunsaturated fat (MPF; 33% energy from corn and safflower oils) or control (C; 12% energy from corn oil) and contained equal amounts of protein (20% energy). Body weights of HSF group were 29% and 23% greater than those of MPF and C groups, respectively. Total body fat as assessed by total body electrical conductivity was 79% and 60% greater in HSF group than in MPF and C groups, respectively; there were no differences in lean body mass. Metabolic efficiency (mg BWt gained per kJ dietary energy) of HSF groups was 56% and 69% greater than in MPF and C groups. We measured total (uninhibited), ouabain-sensitive (Na,K pump-mediated), bumetanide-sensitive (Na,K,CI cotransportermediated) and ouabain & bumetanide insensitive (“passive”) K [ 86Rb] influx. In both cell types Na,K pump rates were not lower in the obese HSF group compared to MPF and C groups and thus did not contribute to the increased metabolic efficiency and DIO that were observed. On the contrary, Na,K pump rates were found to be higher (P<0.05) in thymocytes from the HSF group as compared with results from the MPF group. Because brown adipose tissue is known to be an important site of diet-induced thermogenesis we also studied this tissue. Estimates of BAT thermogenic activity, including uncoupling protein content, indicated a marked stimulation of BAT in the HSF group as compared to the MPF and C groups. It is possible that the dietary stimulation of BAT and of thymic Na,K pump activity are mediated by a common mechanism such as sympathetic stimulation.