Hepatic Subcellular Storage of Beta-Carotene in Rats Following Diet Supplementation

1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianchi-Santamaria ◽  
Stefanelli ◽  
Cembran ◽  
Gobbi ◽  
Peschiera ◽  
...  

Beta-carotene (BC) storage was measured in liver and its subcellular fractions (plasma membranes, mitochondria, microsomes and nuclei) of rats fed BC added to diet. The BC supplementation dose was about 350 mg/week/rat. After 15 weeks of this supplementation, rats were killed and their livers were immediately excised and processed to obtain total liver tissue and its subcellular fractions. Their BC contents were measured by HPLC as pmols/mg protein. Intact BC was found to be stored in all the above subcellular fractions, thus showing that BC is probably taken up by liver cell lipid moiety. Interestingly, the mean BC concentrations in plasma membranes and mitochondria were significantly higher than that in total liver tissue. Our data confirmed that rodents are a good animal model for the study of BC metabolism and its effects on several pathologies, and cancer prevention and treatment in humans in spite of the fact that rodents are classified as white-fat animals because of their poor BC absorption and storage in fat and blood plasma, whereas humans are classified as yellow-fat organisms because of their opposite behavior in BC uptake and organ distribution.

1983 ◽  
Vol 22 (05) ◽  
pp. 246-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Al-Hilli ◽  
H. M. A. Karim ◽  
M. H. S. Al-Hissoni ◽  
M. N. Jassim ◽  
N. H. Agha

Gelchromatography column scanning has been used to study the fractions of reduced hydrolyzed 99mTc, 99mTc-pertechnetate and 99mTc-chelate in a 99mTc-glucoheptonate (GH) preparation. A stable high labelling yield of 99mTc-GH complex in the radiopharmaceutical has been obtained with a concentration of 40-50 mg of glucoheptonic acid-calcium salt and not less than 0.45 mg of SnCl2 2 H2O at an optimal pH between 6.5 and 7.0. The stability of the complex has been found significantly affected when sodium hydroxide solution was used for the pH adjustment. However, an alternative procedure for final pH adjustment of the preparation has been investigated providing a stable complex for the usual period of time prior to the injection. The organ distribution and the blood clearance data of 99mTc-GH in rabbits were relatively similar to those reported earlier. The mean concentration of the radiopharmaceutical in both kidneys has been studied in normal subjects for one hour with a scintillation camera and the results were satisfactory.


2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. C. Soares-Pinheiro ◽  
W. Dasso-Pinheiro ◽  
J. M. Trindade-Bezerra ◽  
W. P. Tadei

Abstract The viability of Aedes aegypti eggs was assessed in the Amazon region. The eggs were maintained under different conditions: indoors (insectarium) and outdoors (natural environment), as well as in different storage types (plastic cup, paper envelope, plastic bag) for different days. Egg viability was measured as the mean of hatchings observed from egg-bearing sheets of filter paper immersed in water, using three sheets randomly selected from each storage type and at both sites. There were significant differences in the viability of Ae. aegypti eggs with respect to the location (F=30.40; DF=1; P<0.0001), storage type (F=17.66; DF=2; P<0.0001), and time of storage (F=49.56; DF=9; P<0.0001). The interaction between storage site versus storage type was also significant (F=15.96; DF=2; P<0.0001). A higher hatching mean was observed for the eggs kept in the insectarium than for those outdoors (32.38 versus 7.46). Hatching rates of egg batches stored for 12 to 61 days ranged between 84 and 90%. A reduction was observed between 89 and 118 days, with values of 63 and 48%, respectively. With respect to type of storage, mean egg hatching was higher for the eggs in plastic cups (44.46). It was concluded that the viability of the eggs of Ae. aegypti in the Amazon region remains high up to 4 months, after which it declines drastically, although in this study hatching occurred for up to 8 months in very low percentages.


1983 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-135
Author(s):  
T.J. Bradley

The Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius prolixus are divided into two regions; the upper tubule, which is the site of isosmotic secretion and haemolymph filtration, and the lower tubule where water and KCl are resorbed. In the upper tubule the microvilli are arranged in clumps consisting of several hundred microvilli lying closely parallel. The microvillar plasma membranes do not touch but are held approximately equal to 16 nm apart along the full length of the microvilli. As a consequence, the extracellular space between the microvilli consists of long narrow channels. A morphometric analysis of extracellular, cytoplasmic, endoplasmic reticular and mitochondrial volume within the clumps was conducted. Using the secretion rate of the epithelium and the channel dimensions, it was calculated that the mean residence time for secreted fluid in the intermicrovillar spaces was approximately equal to 0.4s. In view of our current knowledge of the physiology and morphology of the upper tubule, it is argued: (1) that osmotically driven water passes principally through the cells, not the junctional spaces; and (2) that the microvillar clumps are a morphological specialization, which serves to maximize solute-water coupling in the upper tubule. The microvilli in the lower tubule are free-standing, with no pattern of clumping as in the upper tubule. The axopods are about twice as long as the microvilli (10-14 micron) and are found in all regions of the lower tubule. This is in agreement with the proposal that the motile axopods serve to propel uric acid crystals through the lower tubule. No morphological difference was found between the upper and lower halves of the lower tubule, although the two portions are known to be physiologically distinct.


Author(s):  
Michelle Steicke ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Tam Nguyen Dinh ◽  
Matthew Dunster-Jones ◽  
Owen Sargisson ◽  
...  

Methanol, ethanol and formalin are commonly used as fixatives to preserve biological tissues from decay in the preparation of histological sections. Fixation of the inner layers of the tissue depends on the ability of the fixative to diffuse into the tissue. It is unknown whether methanol penetrates tissues at similar rates to other fixatives. This study aimed to compare the penetration rates of methanol, ethanol and formalin into bovine heart and liver tissues. The penetration distance and tissue shrinkage or expansion were measured by analysing the digital images of tissue before and after immersion in different fixatives for 1, 2, 6 or 10 h. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test. The penetration distance of methanol was significantly greater in both heart and liver tissues compared with that of ethanol (N=4, P<0.001). Methanol or ethanol immersion led to similar shrinkage of both tissues (P>0.05). The penetration rate of formalin was similar to that of ethanol in both tissues however it was significantly slower than methanol (N=4, P<0.005 in the heart; P<0.001 in the liver). The mean penetration coefficients of methanol, formalin and ethanol in the heart tissue were 2.609, 1.994 and 1.801, respectively, and 3.012, 2.153 and 2.113, respectively, in the liver tissue. The penetration coefficient of methanol was significantly greater than that of ethanol or formalin in both tissues (P<0.001 for each comparison). In conclusion, methanol penetrates tissue significantly faster than ethanol and formalin.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1428-1433
Author(s):  
Niranjan Kumar ◽  
Jayesh B. Solanki ◽  
Prabhakar Shil ◽  
Dharmesh C. Patel ◽  
Ramasamy Meneka ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: The most widely adopted technique to preserve the gross specimen of the parasite is immersions and storage in liquid preservatives. The present study aimed to describe the dry method of the preservation of Toxocara vitulorum using plastination technique. Materials and Methods: Acetone dehydrated parasites were incubated at –20°C for 1 month in five different plastination solutions, prepared by mixing melamine and turpentine oil with clove oil (MTCl)/chloroform (MTC)/isopropanol (MTI)/benzene (MTB)/xylene (MTX) in 1:1:1 ratio to infiltrate the polymer. Technical personnel was asked to assign weekly score for dryness, stickiness, shrinkage, glossiness, flexibility, and odor of the prepared model on a 5-point scale. Results: Overall, the plastinated parasites were dry, non-sticky, glossy, odorless, chemical-free, harmless, to some extent flexible, with detectable morphological structure including natural form but lost their natural color, and cuticle became translucent. A varying level of shrinkage was noted in all types of plastinated model, but it was least in MTCl model. One month post-plastination, the mean evaluation score for glossiness was maximum in the parasite plastinated in MTCl solution (4.50±0.17), followed by MTC (3.72±0.32), MTX (3.56±0.38), MTB (2.83±0.37), and MTI (2.31±0.33). Likewise, for flexibility, the score was maximum in the parasite plastinated in MTCl solution (4.36±0.16), followed by MTB (3.11±0.14), MTC (2.94±0.41), MTX (2.75±0.41), and MTI (1.97±0.28). The degree of dryness, stickiness, and odor of the prepared model varies non-significantly (p>0.05) with the polymer mixtures. Maximum shrinkage percentage in terms of length and width was 4.24% and 50%, respectively, in the parasites plastinated in MTB solution. Shrinkage percentage was minimal (1.81% in length and 25% in width) in the MTCl plastinated parasites. Shrinkage percentage in terms of dimension was statistically non-significant among the different polymer solutions. Plastinated models withstand the process of microbial decomposition. There were 5 and 11 odd points in favor of plastination and formalin preservation technique, respectively. Conclusion: The prepared T. vitulorum model in MTCl can be used as an adjunct to the parasite preserve in 10% formalin solution. The plastination technique can be used as an alternative method of liquid preservation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (04) ◽  
pp. 709-714
Author(s):  
FUAD AHMAD SIDDIQI ◽  
RIZWANA KITCHLEW ◽  
ASIF HASHMI

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of Surecut needle in obtaining the liver tissue by percutaneous liver biopsy. Design: Single centered prospective hospital based study. Place and duration of study: Department of Internal medicine (Unit-1) & Family ward, Combined military hospital Lahore for more than one year from August 2002 to March 2004. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty patients of either gender having asymptomatic hepatitis C carrier state, healthy blood donors, with positive HCV-PCR were included in study. The patients liver biopsy was done with Surecut needle 16G with patient breath suspended in expiration from the periphery of right lobe of liver. Result: Majority of patients, 135 ( 90% ) were male and 15 (10%) were female. The mean age was 30.3 years with range of 25-55years. In 146(97.31%)patients successful biopsy was done while the biopsy was non-diagnostic in 4(2.69%) patients. Mean core length of liver tissue obtained was Mean+sd(1.2+0.42cm) and histopathologic diagnosis was made in 97.31% cases. Total number of attempts were 1-2. In 99% single attempt was done. No major complications related to procedure was seen. Conclusions: liver biopsy with Surecut needle is safe and effective in establishing the diagnosis of Chronic hepatitis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mark Hodges ◽  
Gene E. Lester

The consumption of netted muskmelons (Cucumis melo L. Reticulatus group) has raised health concerns due to pathogenic bacteria attaching to sites on the netted rind inaccessible to sanitation. The purpose of this study was to compare 1) the enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidant capacity between representative cultivars of netted muskmelon and both green- and orange-fleshed honey dew muskmelons during storage for 17 days and 2) levels of non-nutrient phytochemicals between these genotypes in consideration of ultimately substituting netted orange-fleshed with non-netted orange-fleshed muskmelon. Netted muskmelon (`Cruiser'), green-fleshed (`Honey Brew'), and orange-fleshed (`Orange Dew') muskmelons were harvested in Texas at the beginning (21 May) and at the end (11 June) of the production season in 2004. Fruit were analyzed immediately (day 0) or stored simulating retail conditions for 7 or 14 days at 7 °C and 95% ± 2% relative humidity plus 3 days at 21 °C. Both `Orange Dew' and `Honey Brew' non-netted cultivars evinced similar and less lipid peroxidation, and hence postharvest senescence, during the 17-day storage period than the netted muskmelon `Cruiser'. In comparison with `Cruiser', `Orange Dew' generally exhibited higher concentrations of ß-carotene and phenolics and, with few exceptions, higher activities of the antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (AsPX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Higher AsPX and SOD activities in both `Orange Dew' and `Honey Brew' appear to confer a greater resistance to lipid peroxidation in these muskmelon genotypes than to the netted `Cruiser'. `Orange Dew' also appears to be a healthier food choice not only due to its lack of a netted rind which could potentially harbour human illness-related pathogens, but also that it is superior to both `Cruiser' and `Honey Brew' in overall beta-carotene and phenolic levels.


1994 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milap C. Nahata ◽  
Richard S. Morosco ◽  
Thomas F. Hipple

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of four preparation methods and extended storage on rifampin concentration in extemporaneously prepared suspensions. DESIGN: Four preparation methods were used: mixing intravenous (iv) rifampin in syrup (A); manufacturer's recommended technique of mixing capsule (Rifadin) contents in syrup (B); triturating capsule contents in syrup into a paste and adding remaining syrup while mixing (C); and triturating capsule contents in syrup into a paste, adding syrup, retriturating the slurry, and adding remaining syrup while mixing (D). Samples were drawn from each of five bottles of each of the four preparations stored at 4 °C, immediately after mixing (day 0), and on days 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 91 days during storage. Rifampin wes measured by a stability-indicating HPLC method. RESULTS: The measured mean concentrations of rifampin were nearly 100 percent of the initial concentration in the suspension prepared from iv rifampin solution (method A) during the first 56 days of storage. In contrast, the measured concentrations were substantially lower than expected in the suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D. The mean rifampin concentrations in suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D were only 14.5, 38.6, and 68 percent, respectively, of the initial concentration achieved by method A. The rifampin concentrations increased with storage time in suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D. The mean rifampin concentration was lower than 90 percent during the first 14 days with methods B and C, and the first 7 days with method D. The highest mean concentrations were observed on day 42 with method B, and on day 28 with methods C and D. All methods yielded 90% of the labeled potency (10 mg/mL) on day 56. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that preparation method can influence the dispersion, and thus the measured concentration, of rifampin in aliquots of suspensions prepared from capsules and stored in plastic bottles. Suspensions prepared from capsules led to lower-than-expected rifampin concentrations; those prepared from iv rifampin did not. Rifampin was stable in each type of suspension for 56 days at 4 °C.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Simon Oduor Ochanda ◽  
John Kanyiri Wanyoko ◽  
Abdul Kiptoo Faraj ◽  
Christine Akoth Onyango ◽  
Henrik Kipngeno Ruto

<p>Tea phytochemicals have been reported to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity. This current study reports the ability of <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em> and <em>Lactobacillus</em> <em>bulgaricus</em> to grow, survive and multiply in the presence of tea phytochemicals during development and storage of tea fortified yoghurts. Two Kenyan tea varieties clone TRFK 6/8 (standard black quality tea) and clone TRFK 306/1 (newly developed purple leafed tea clone), were processed as aerated and non-aerated teas and used to develop tea fortified yoghurt. The teas were added at concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 4 g in 250 mL volumes of milk (w/v) which was predetermined by sensory tests. The results showed that tea phytochemicals at the added ranges had no adverse effect on the growth of <em>Lactobacillus bulgaricus</em> and <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em>; however, yoghurt setting time was prolonged at a mean time of 4.11, 5.22, 7.29 and 8.26 hrs respectively for tea concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/250 mL milk. The mean microbial load for <em>Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus</em> in black, green and purple tea yoghurts were also inversely proportional to the concentration of the added teas. In the developmental stages of tea fortified yoghurts <em>Lactobacillus bulgaricus</em> range was 0.52-1.58 × 10<sup>7 </sup>CFU/mL while <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em> range was 2.53-3.51 × 10<sup>9 </sup>CFU/mL, during storage the growth patterns were different between the cultures. The recorded mean values range for <em>Lactobacillus bulgaricus</em> was 2.79-4.35 × 10<sup>7 </sup>CFU/mL while <em>Streptococcus thermophilus</em> mean range was 2.57-3.47 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/mL Phytochemicals traced in the product had concentration values below 5 × 10<sup>2</sup><sup> </sup>µgmL<sup>-1</sup>. In conclusion, it was possible to develop probiotic tea fortified yoghurt containing tea phytochemicals with unlimited health benefits using different the different tea clones.</p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 05 ◽  
pp. 638-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. ALAMOLHODA ◽  
S. HESHMATI-MANESH ◽  
A. ATAIE ◽  
A. BADIEI

In this study effect of adding various process control agents (PCAs) to powder mixtures of Al and TiO 2 which are mechanically activated so as to form TiAl - Al 2 O 3 nano-composite have been investigated. Phase constitutions and morphology of the milled powders were evaluated by XRD and SEM techniques, respectively. The mean crystallite sizes of the milled powders were calculated by Cauchy-Gaussian method. Thermal behavior of the milled powders was also studied by DTA to investigate formation of the final phases. The results showed that the mean crystallite size of the milled powders in the presence of PCAs was smaller than that of the sample milled without PCA addition. DTA traces showed that addition of PCAs retards the reduction of TiO 2 by Al . In samples milled in presence of PCA, the reductive reaction generally took place after melting of Al particles whereas the sample milled without PCA addition showed an opposite behavior. Also, in comparison with the sample milled with no PCA addition, in other samples the reductive reaction took place at relatively lower temperatures.


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