To evaluate the efficiency of silymarin (SMN) in modulating metabolic parameters and redox status in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ...alloxan. The diabetic rats were administered with SMN at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight/d for 30 consecutive days. The rats were divided into the following four groups: vehicle control, diabetic (alloxan-treated), DS50 (alloxan + 50 mg/kg body weight/d of SMN), and DS100 (alloxan + 100 mg/kg body weight/d of SMN) groups. The bodyweight and food and water intake were evaluated. After 30 d, the animals were euthanized and the blood was collected for measuring the serum levels of glucose, triacylglycerol (TAG), urea, and creatinine. The liver and pancreas were collected for measuring the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the levels of carbonylated protein (PC). The pancreas sample was also used for histological analysis.
SMN reduced hepatic (P < 0.001) and pancreatic (P < 0.001) protein damage and creatinine levels (P = 0.0141) in addition to decreasing food (P < 0.001) and water intake (P < 0.001). However, treatment with SMN did not improve beta-cell function or decrease blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.
SMN improved polyphagia and polydipsia, renal function, and protected the liver and pancreas against protein damage without affecting hyperglycemia in diabetic animals.
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► Real-time PCR is a tool for monitoring parasite load in experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infections. ► Curves of parasitemia were generated by real-time PCR and fresh blood ...examination in acute phase. ► Correlation observed between parasite load in blood and in heart tissue in acute and chronic phases. ► Highest CCL2, CCL5 and NO levels were coincident with higher load of blood and tissue parasites. ► Inflammatory mediators were reduced in chronic phase proportionally to the parasites control.
The lack of an accurate diagnosis has been a serious obstacle to the advancement of the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi chemotherapy and long-term infection can result in different health risks to human. PCRs are alternative methods, more sensitive than conventional parasitological techniques, which due to their low sensitivities are considered unsuitable for these purposes. The aim of this study was to investigate a sensitive diagnostic strategy to quantify blood and cardiac tissues parasites based on real-time PCR tools during acute and chronic phases of murine Chagas disease, as well as to monitor the evolution of infection in those mice under specific treatment. In parallel, fresh blood examination, immunological analysis and quantification of cardiac inflammation were also performed to confront and improve real-time PCR data. Similar profiles of parasitemia curves were observed in both quantification techniques during the acute phase of the infection. In contrast, parasites could be quantified only by real-time PCR at 60 and 120 days of infection. In cardiac tissue, real-time PCR detected T. cruzi DNA in 100% of infected mice, and using this tool a significant Pearson correlation between parasite load in peripheral blood and in cardiac tissue during acute and chronic phases was observed. Levels of serum CCL2, CCL5 and nitric oxide were coincident with parasite load but focal and diffuse mononuclear infiltrates was observed, even with significant (p<0.05) reduction of parasitism after 60 days of infection. Later, this methodology was used to monitor the evolution of infection in animals treated with itraconazole (Itz). Itz-treatment induced a reduction of parasite load in both blood and cardiac muscle at the treatment period, but after the end of chemotherapy an increase of parasitism was detected. Interestingly, inflammatory mediators levels and heart inflammation intensity had similar evolution to the parasite load, in the group of animals treated. Taken together, our data show that real-time PCR strategy used was suitable for studies of murine T. cruzi infection and may prove useful in investigations involving experimental chemotherapy of the disease and the benefits of treatment in relation to parasitism and inflammatory response.
Infection caused by Mayaro virus (MAYV) is responsible for causing acute nonspecific fever, in which the majority of patients develop incapacitating and persistent arthritis/arthralgia. Mayaro fever ...is a neglected and underreported disease without treatment or vaccine, which has gained attention in recent years after the competence of Aedes aegypti to transmit MAYV was observed in the laboratory, coupled with the fact that cases are being increasingly reported outside of endemic forest areas, calling attention to the potential of an urban cycle arising in the near future. Thus, to mitigate the lack of information about the pathological aspects of MAYV, we previously described the involvement of oxidative stress in MAYV infection in cultured cells and in a non-lethal mouse model. Additionally, we showed that silymarin, a natural compound, attenuated MAYV-induced oxidative stress and inhibited MAYV replication in cells. The antioxidant and anti-MAYV effects prompted us to determine whether silymarin could also reduce oxidative stress and MAYV replication after infection in an immunocompetent animal model. We show that infected mice exhibited reduced weight gain, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, increased liver transaminases, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and liver inflammation, increased oxidative damage biomarkers, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity. However, in animals infected and treated with silymarin, all these parameters were reversed or significantly improved, and the detection of viral load in the liver, spleen, brain, thigh muscle, and footpad was significantly reduced. This work reinforces the potent hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects of silymarin against MAYV infection, demonstrating its potential against Mayaro fever disease.
•Silymarin improves MAYV infection in BALB/c mice.•Silymarin protects mice from liver damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and virus replication after MAYV infection.•Promising potential of silymarin in the therapeutic treatment of Mayaro fever.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of iron dextran on lipid metabolism and to determine the involvement of oxidative stress. Fischer rats were divided into two groups: the ...standard group (S), which was fed the AIN-93M diet, and the standard plus iron group (SI), which was fed the same diet but also received iron dextran injections. Serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels were higher in the SI group than in the S group. Iron dextran was associated with decreased mRNA levels of pparα, and its downstream gene cpt1a, which is involved in lipid oxidation. Iron dextran also increased mRNA levels of apoB-100, MTP, and L-FABP indicating alterations in lipid secretion. Carbonyl protein and TBARS were consistently higher in the liver of the iron-treated rats. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between oxidative stress products, lfabp expression, and iron stores. In addition, a negative correlation was found between pparα expression, TBARS, carbonyl protein, and iron stores. In conclusion, our results suggest that the increase observed in the transport of lipids in the bloodstream and the decreased fatty acid oxidation in rats, which was promoted by iron dextran, might be attributed to increased oxidative stress.
•Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease.•Açai (Euterpe oleracea) fruit contains high levels of polyphenols, e.g. anthocyanins.•Mice with high-fat diet-induced ...NAFLD received oral aqueous açai extract (AAE).•AAE increased adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity and PPAR-α-mediated fatty acid oxidation, decreasing liver lipids.
Polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, have been considered promising for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated whether açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a source of anthocyanins and recognized as one of the new “superfruits”, could alleviate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD in mice. In HFD mice, aqueous açai extract (AAE) administration (3 g/kg) for six weeks improved insulin resistance index and increased adiponectin mRNA expression in adipose tissue and serum levels. Furthermore, AAE decreased the total liver triacylglycerol content and attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. This reduced hepatic lipid content was associated with AAE-mediated up-regulation of genes involved in adiponectin signaling, including adiponectin receptor 2, PPAR-α, and its target gene, carnitine palmitoyltransferase. Thus, dietary açai can protect liver from steatosis through its enhancement of adiponectin levels, improvement of insulin sensitivity, and increase in PPAR-α-mediated fatty acid oxidation.
New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
How does swimming exercise training impact hydro‐electrolytic balance, renal function, sympathetic contribution to resting blood pressure and ...cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Na+ in rats fed a high‐sodium diet from weaning?
What is the main finding and its importance?
An exercise‐dependent reduction in blood pressure was associated with decreased CSF Na+, sympathetically driven vasomotor tonus and renal fibrosis indicating that the anti‐hypertensive effects of swimming training in rats fed a high‐sodium diet might involve neurogenic mechanisms regulated by sodium levels in the CSF rather than changes in blood volume.
High sodium intake is an important factor associated with hypertension. High‐sodium intake with exercise training can modify homeostatic hydro‐electrolytic balance, but the effects of this association are mostly unknown. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of swimming training (ST) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Na+ concentration, sympathetic drive, blood pressure (BP) and renal function of rats fed a 0.9% Na+ (equivalent to 2% NaCl) diet with free access to water for 22 weeks after weaning. Male Wistar rats were assigned to two cohorts: (1) fed standard diet (SD) and (2) fed high‐sodium (HS) diet. Each cohort was further divided into trained and sedentary groups. ST normalised BP levels of HS rats as well as the higher sympathetically related pressor activity assessed by pharmacological blockade of ganglionic transmission (hexamethonium). ST preserved the renal function and attenuated the glomerular shrinkage elicited by HS. No change in blood volume was found among the groups. CSF Na+ levels were higher in sedentary HS rats but were reduced by ST. Our findings showed that ST effectively normalised BP of HS rats, independent of its effects on hydro‐electrolytic balance, which might involve neurogenic mechanisms regulated by Na+ levels in the CSF as well as renal protection.
New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Eccentric contraction exercises cause damage to muscle fibres and induce inflammatory responses. The exacerbation of this process can induce ...deposition of fibrous connective tissue, leading to decreased muscle function. The aim of this study was to examine the role of angiotensin‐(1–7) in this context.
What is the main finding and its importance?
Our results show that oral treatment with angiotensin‐(1–7) decreases muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise, reducing inflammation and fibrosis in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This study shows a potential effect of angiotensin‐(1–7) for the prevention of muscle injuries induced by physical exercise.
Eccentric contraction exercises cause damage to the muscle fibres and induce an inflammatory reaction. The protective effect of angiotensin‐(1–7) Ang‐(1–7) in skeletal muscle has led us to examine the role of this peptide in modifying processes associated with inflammation and fibrogenesis induced by eccentric exercise. In this study, we sought to investigate the effects of oral administration of Ang‐(1–7) formulated in hydroxypropyl β‐cyclodextrin (HPβ‐CD) in prevention and treatment of muscle damage after downhill running. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (untreated and not exercised; n = 10); treated/exercised HPβ‐CD Ang‐(1–7) (n = 40); and treated/exercised HPβ‐CD (n = 40). Exercised groups were subjected to a single eccentric contraction exercise session on a treadmill inclined to −13° at a constant speed of 20 m/min, for 60 min. Oral administration of HPβ‐CD Ang‐(1–7) and HPβ‐CD was performed 3 h before the exercise protocol and daily as a single dose, until the end of the experiment. Samples were collected 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the exercise session. The animals treated with the Ang‐(1–7) showed lower levels of creatine kinase, lower levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α in soleus muscle and increased levels of interleukin‐10 cytokines. The inflammatory cells and deposition of fibrous connective tissue in soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were lower in the group treated with Ang‐(1–7). The results of this study show that treatment with an oral formulation of Ang‐(1–7) enhances the process of repair of muscle injury induced by eccentric exercise.
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major neglected tropical disease that occurs mainly as chronic infection and systemic infection. Currently, there is no suitable and effective drug ...to treat this parasitic disease. Administration of nutrients with immunomodulatory properties, such as arginine and nitric oxide radicals, may be helpful as antiparasitic therapy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of arginine supplementation during the acute phase of infection under the development of chronic Chagas' heart disease in Swiss mice inoculated with the Berenice-78 strain of T. cruzi. The effectiveness of arginine was determined by daily detection of the parasite in the blood and long-term serum levels of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in addition to evaluation of heart tissue damage. Arginine could flatten parasitemia and prevent elevation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in T. cruzi-infected mice. Regarding chronic inflammatory myocardial derangements, similar findings were verified among T. cruzi-infected groups. Arginine promoted collagenogenesis in the heart muscle tissue of T. cruzi-infected arginine-supplemented group. These data show the paradoxical benefits of arginine in improving the outcome of Chagas chronic cardiomyopathy.
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•Arginine slightly flattened the acute parasitaemia.•Arginine did not prevent myocardial lesions for long after supplementation.•Arginine was able to avoid the elevation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.•Nitric oxide serum levels were in agreement with collagenogenesis in the myocardium.
Açai improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by fructose Carvalho, Mayara Medeiros de Freitas; Reis, Larissa Lélis Teixeira; Lopes, Juliana Márcia Macedo ...
Nutrición hospitalaria : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral,
2018-Feb-16, Letnik:
35, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
the excessive consumption of fructose can cause liver damage, characteristic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with changes in lipid metabolism and antioxidant defenses. Açai, ...the fruit of Euterpe oleraceaMart., has demonstrated numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid metabolism modulating action.
we evaluated the benefits of açai supplementation on liver damage caused by replacing starch with fructose in rats.
thirty male Fischerrats were divided into two groups, the control group (C, 10 animals), which consumed a standard diet (AIN-93M), and the fructose (F, 20 animals) group, which consumed a diet containing 60% of fructose. After eight weeks, 10 animals from the fructose group received 2% of lyophilized açai, and were called the açai fructose group (FA). The animals were fed ad libitumwith these diets for another ten weeks. Serum, hepatic and fecal lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and carbonylated protein were assessed and histopathological characterization of the liver was performed.
açai promoted the reduction of ALT activity in relation to the fructose group (F), reduced alkaline phosphatase to a level similar to that of the control group (C) in relation to the fructose group (F), and reduced catalase activity. The fruit also increased the ratio of total/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and reduced the degree of macrovesicular steatosis and the number of inflammatory cells.
the replacement of starch by fructose during this period was effective in promoting NAFLD. Açai showed attenuating effects on some markers of hepatic steatosis and inflammation.
The aim of this study was to identify the effects of swimming training on the mRNA expression and protein levels of the calcium handling proteins in the hearts of renovascular hypertensive rats ...submitted to swimming protocol during 6weeks.
Fischer rats with renovascular hypertension 2-kidney 1-clip (2K1C) and SHAM groups were divided among sedentary and exercised groups. The exercise protocol lasted for 6weeks (1h/day, 5×/week), and the mean arterial pressure, cardiomyocytes hypertrophy parameters, mRNA expression and protein levels of some calcium handling proteins in the left ventricle were evaluated.
Swimming training was able to reduce the levels of mean arterial pressure in the hypertensive group compared to 2K1C SED, and to promote cardiac hypertrophy in SHAM EX and 2K1C EX groups in comparison to the respective control groups. The mRNA levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were reduced in the 2K1C EX when compared to 2K1C SED. The mRNA and protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase increased after the swimming training in SHAM and 2K1C groups. The mRNA and protein levels of phospholamban, displayed an increase in their levels in the exercised SHAM and in hypertensive rats in comparison to their respective controls; while mRNA levels of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was reduced in the left ventricle comparing to the sedentary hypertensive rats.
Taken altogether, we provide evidence that the aerobic training may lead to cardiac remodeling, and modulate the calcium handling proteins expression in the heart of hypertensive rats.
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