Aysen Altiner

Protective effect of Spirulina platensis against cell damage and apoptosis in hepatic tissue caused by high fat diet.

Spirulina platensis is a microalga that may be a source of antioxidants that can reduce body fat deposition. Consumption of a high fat diet produces elevated blood lipid levels, inflammation and apoptosis. We investigated the possible effects of S. platensis on the blood lipid profile, and liver inflammation and apoptosis in rats fed a high fat diet. Sixty-four young male rats were divided into eight equal groups. The control group was fed a basic diet. The experimental groups were fed a diet for 60 days that was prepared by mixing variable amounts of 43% vegetable oil and 10% cholesterol with or without 3% S. platensis mixed with the basal diet. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected from each animal. Serum samples were used to analyze lipid parameters, total antioxidant status and total oxidant status. iNOS and eNOS were determined by immunohistochemistry. TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis to investigate a possible connection between inflammation and apoptosis in the liver tissue. The relations between fat deposition and liver degeneration were assessed by Sirius red staining and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunostaining. S. platensis reduced serum HDL-C, LDL-C and triglyceride, increased HDL-C levels in rats fed a high fat diet to near control levels, and reduced iNOS levels and increased eNOS levels in the liver tissue compared to vegetable oil and cholesterol treated groups. The apoptotic index was reduced in the groups that were fed a high fat or a basic diet when supplemented with S. platensis.

Spirulina Platensis Affects Factors Involved in Spermatogenesis and Increases Ghrelin Receptors in Testis Tissue of Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone which plays important role in maintaining growth hormone release and energy homeostasis in vertebrates. Spirulina platensis (SP) has antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects due to its ingredients. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of SP on the testicular structure and relation between ghrelin and testosterone in the testis of rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). Sixty four young adult male rats were used and divided to 8 equal groups. Experimental groups received addition of 10% cholesterol (CHL), 43% hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and 3% SP alone or in combination to basal diet while the control group received only basal diet. Serum ghrelin and testosterone levels were measured with ELISA. Receptors for ghrelin and androgen were detected with immunohistochemistry. For histomorphometric investigation, tubulus seminiferus, intertubular area, tubulus seminiferus lumen, Leydig cell nucleus, Sertoli cell nucleus, germ cell nucleus, spermatocyte nucleus and elongated spermatid volume densities were determined stereologically. Serum ghrelin level was increased especially in HVO and CHL combination group compared to the control while serum ghrelin levels were close to control levels in SP-received groups. Ghrelin receptor level was increased in tubulus seminiferus with HVO+CHL administration but this effect was, however, limited in HVO+CHL and SP challenged groups. HVO+CHL administration caused a significant decrease in Leydig cell nucleus volume density, as well as in all SP-received groups, compared to the control. Significantly increased spermatocyte nucleus volume density in cholesterol-receiving groups was decreased to control level with SP alone and its combinations.

Effects of Spirulina platensis supplementation on serum lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B levels in rats fed hydrogenated vegetable oil and/or cholesterol

Experiment A. Chronic toxicity. 140 one day-old male broiler chicks divided in four groups. Every other day: intraperitoneal (ip) L-NAME (LN, 10 mg/kg BW) ; L-arginine (LA, 100 mg/kg BW), L-arginine and a L-NAME combination (100 and 10 mg/kg BW, respectively), and physiological saline (0.90% w/v ; 0.5 mL/kg BW). Seven birds were euthanized weekly during their first five weeks of life. Experiment B. Subchronic toxicity. Equal doses of the same substances: ip every eight hours into 38 day- old birds over 36 hours. Experiment C. Acute toxicity. Thirty day-old birds: one ip dose of various concentrations of L-NAME (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg BW) ; L-arginine (100 mg/kg BW) and saline (0.5 ml/kg BW). All the birds were euthanized after six hours. The end of experiment A: the gross finding of ascites- pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) confirmed vasoconstrictory effect of L-NAME in five birds (LN). Toward the end of experiment A ; in experiment C: histopathological findings (myocardial/pulmonary oedema /LN/ ; congestion/ haemorrhages /LA/) the most prominent (higher LN-doses /100 and 150 mg/kg BW/). Irreversible myocardiolysis and hepatocellulolysis: confirmed in all three experiments (LN). Focal myocardial degeneration solely: in the L- NAME/L-arginine simultaneously treated group. Haematological and blood chemistry values ; stress index value ; and relative organ weights agreed with well-known literature data on PHS. Experiments A and C. The severity of LN- provoked hypoxic changes and plentiful haemorrhages (LA) - dose and time dependent. Mild changes in L-NAME/L-arginine group confirmed a protective role of LA.T defensive behaviors of a group of freshly-caught central Asiatic cobras, Naja oxiana, were evoked by the proximity of an experimenter. The cobras responded by hooding and holding 13-22% of their total body length in an elevated or vertical posture. From this vertical posture the cobras would launch defensive sham (closed-mouth) strikes; these strikes were typically associated with a short “burst”-like hiss and were more frequent in the smaller specimens studied. The presence of the experimenter provoked an increase in the cobra’s ventilatory rib movements as well as the tongue flick rates; the latter metric was strongly correlated with the height of vertical posturing, strike frequency and hissing frequency. Most of the observed behaviors’ results from the cobras’ visual perception are interpreted as a visual display intended as a deterrent. This interpretation raises interesting and previously unexplored, questions about intra and interspecific variation of these displays (within both Naja and the Hemibungarini), as well as the relationship between these defensive behaviors and (repeatedly evolved) ability to “spit” venom.Rūta Budreckienė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Department of Biochemistry Ruta.Budreckiene@lsmuni.lt www.lsmuni.lt Phone +370 611 57980 Contact There is visible positive influence of all three shampoos in the photos of hairs cross-section: keratin flakes of hair surface became straighter. In the photos of hair cross-section before bathing (Fig.2) keratin flakes are detached from hair surface. The maximum visible changes are conditioned after bathing with X3 shampoo (Fig 3). As expected, the influence of shampoos for ridge‘s and breast‘s hair was different: ridge‘s hair cross-section diameter of all three dogs has increased after bathing with all exploratory shampoos, except labrador retriever (his ridge‘s hairs cross-section diameter reduced after bathing with shampoos X1 and X2). Specific characteristics of breed it can influence. There were expected to reduce breast‘s hair cross. In most cases, breast‘s hair cross-section diameter of dogs reduced after bathing, except german jagdterrier: his hair‘s cross-section diameter increased after bathing with X1 shampoo. Raito of convolution is the difference of straight and convoluted speciments, expressed percentage by straight speciment lenght. It was expected increase in ratio of convolution just for german jagdterrier ridge‘s hair because coat of this breed liable to curl. Breast‘s hair is less wavy and curly because it is thin and flexible, so their ratio of convolution reduced. All forecasts in german jagdterriers breed case have proved with each shampoo (Table 1). Labrador retriever and german shepherd ridge‘s hair ratio of convolution reduced after bathing with every shampoo, because their coat is thick, hair is resilient, disobedient. However, breast‘s hair ratio of convolution increased after bathing with shampoo XBackground Natural honey (honey) is considered as a part of traditional medicine all over the world. It has both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, useful in stimulation of wounds and burns healing and gastric ulcers treatment. The aim of this study, for the first time, was to investigate the antioxidant properties and protective role of honey against carcinogen chemical aflatoxin (AF) exposure in rats, which were evaluated by histopathological changes in liver and kidney, measuring level of serum marker enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanin aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamil transpeptidase (GGT)], antioxidant defense systems [Reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT)], and lipid peroxidation content in liver, erythrocyte, brain, kidney, heart and lungs.