scholarly journals Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey

2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-31
Author(s):  
Valentín Zárate ◽  
Jesica R. Mufari ◽  
Lucía G. Abalos Luna ◽  
Daniel P. Villarreal ◽  
Juan M. Busso
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Carbohydrate Digestibility ◽  
Acromyrmex Lundi

Very little information is available to zoo managers on the nutritional preferences of the lesser anteater, a highly specialized predator. By studying lesser anteater feeding behavior, we expect to contribute to improved management decisions and individual welfare experiences. We studied the response of zoo-housed lesser anteaters (n = 7) to feeders with live ants (Acromyrmex lundi) and termites (Cortaritermes fulviceps), and we also evaluated the nutritional values of these prey. We individually evaluated each lesser anteater (3 sessions), recording activities by camera. We ground insect samples into a coarse meal and evaluated in vitro biochemical parameters (humidity, lipids proteins, ash, and carbohydrates). Lesser anteaters spent more time with termites than with ants and consumed more termites. Ant meal presented a higher protein and lipid content than termite meal (35.28 ± 0.18% vs. 18.19 ± 0.34% and 16.95 ± 0.13% vs. 6.54 ± 0.31%, respectively), and carbohydrate digestibility was higher in termites. These findings indicate an association between the level of insect consumption and nutritional and digestibility values. This is the first exploration of lesser anteater responses to the presence of social insects in feeders and may serve to guide the study of food preferences in captivity.

Investigation of Oral Subacute Toxicity and In-Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Standardized Methanolic Extract of Quercus serrata Leaves

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maibam Beebina Chanu ◽  
Biseshwori Thongam ◽  
Khumukcham Nongalleima ◽  
Hans Raj Bhat ◽  
Surajit Kumar Ghosh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Reducing Power ◽  
Quercus Serrata ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Blood Cell Count ◽  
Toxicological Profile

Background: Quercus serrata Murray leaves have been used traditionally in the treatment of diabetes, dysmenorrhoea, inflammation and urinary tract infection. So, far no study had been reported on the toxicological profile and antioxidant properties of the plant. Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the in-vivo toxicological profile and in-vitro antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract of standardized Quercus serrata leaves. Methods: Per-oral sub-acute toxicity study was performed in rats using three dose levels (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w.) of the extract for 28-days. Control group received gum acacia suspended in water. Bodyweight was measured weekly. Biochemical parameters were analysed using the serum, the blood-cell count was done using whole blood. Pathological changes were also checked in highly perfused tissues. Further, in-vitro reducing power assay, nitric oxide scavenging assay, DPPH free-radical scavenging assay were performed to check the antioxidant activity of the extract. Results: There were no significant alterations in the blood-cell count and biochemical parameters analysed in the treatment group when compared with the normal control. Histopathology study of liver, kidney, pancreas, heart and brain revealed normal cellular architecture in the treatment groups alike the control group animals. Quercus serrata also showed a significant reduction of DPPH with IC50 4.48±0.254 µg/mL, in-vitro reducing power activity with IC50121.65±0.320 µg/mL and nitric oxide scavenging activity IC50 106.43±0.338 µg/mL. Conclusion: The above study showed that standardized methanolic extract of Quercus serrata leaves was safe after subacute oral administration in rats and has good antioxidant potential.

Gallium nitrate inhibits accelerated bone turnover in patients with bone metastases.

1987 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
R P Warrell ◽  
N W Alcock ◽  
R S Bockman
Keyword(s):  
Bone Turnover ◽  
Bone Metastases ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Calcium Excretion ◽  
Gallium Nitrate ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Short Term Treatment

Bone metastases are a major source of morbidity in patients with cancer. Previously, we found that gallium nitrate was a highly effective treatment for cancer-related hypercalcemia. Laboratory studies have shown that this drug inhibits bone resorption in vitro and that short-term treatment in vivo increases the calcium content of bone. We evaluated the clinical effects of gallium nitrate on biochemical parameters of increased bone turnover in 22 patients with bone metastases. Treatment with gallium nitrate for five to seven days caused a median reduction in 24-hour urinary calcium excretion of 66% relative to baseline measurements (P less than .01). Hydroxyproline (OHP) excretion was also significantly reduced (P less than .01). The greatest reduction in hydroxyprolinuria occurred in patients with high baseline excretion. Ionized serum calcium and serum phosphorous declined significantly after treatment (P less than .01 for each). Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased significantly (P less than .01), as did serum levels of 1,25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 (P less than .05). Urinary phosphorous excretion and serum levels of 25-OH-vitamin D3 were not significantly changed. No major toxic reactions occurred as a result of this treatment. These results indicate that gallium nitrate significantly reduces biochemical parameters associated with accelerated bone turnover and that this agent may be useful for preventing pathologic conditions associated with bone metastases.

scholarly journals Salinity Effects on Gene Expression, Morphological, and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni In Vitro

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 820
Author(s):  
Clara Azzam ◽  
Sudad Al-Taweel ◽  
Ranya Abdel-Aziz ◽  
Karim Rabea ◽  
Alaa Abou-Sreea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stevia Rebaudiana ◽  
Multiple Shoots ◽  
High Salt ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni ◽  
Nacl Concentration

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a little bush, which is cultivated on a large scale in many countries for medicinal purposes and used as a natural sweetener in food products. The present work aims to conduct a protocol for stevia propagation in vitro to produce and introduce Stevia rebaudiana plants as a new sweetener crop to Egyptian agriculture. To efficiently maximize its propagation, it is important to study the influence of stress factors on the growth and development of Stevia rebaudiana grown in vitro. Two stevia varieties were investigated (Sugar High A3 and Spanti) against salt stress. Leaves were used as the source of explants for callus initiation, regeneration, multiplication and rooting. Some stress-related traits, i.e., photosynthetic pigments, proline contents, and enzyme activity for peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were studied. Murashig and Skoog (MS) medium was supplemented with four NaCl concentrations: 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mgL−1, while a salt-free medium was used as the control. The data revealed that salinity negatively affected all studied characters: the number of surviving calli, regeneration%, shoot length, the number of multiple shoots, number of leaf plantlets−1, number of root plantlets−1, and root length. The data also revealed that Sugar High A3 is more tolerant than Spanti. The total chlorophyll content decreased gradually with increasing NaCl concentration. However, the opposite was true for proline content. Isozyme’s fractionation exhibited high levels of variability among the two varieties. Various biochemical parameters associated with salt tolerance were detected in POD. Namely, POD4, POD6, POD 9 at an Rf of 0.34, 0.57, and 0.91 in the Sugar High A3 variety under high salt concentration conditions, as well as POD 10 at an Rf of 0.98 in both varieties under high salt concentrations. In addition, the overexpression of POD 5 and POD 10 at Rf 0.52 and 0.83 was found in both varieties at high NaCl concentrations. Biochemical parameters associated with salt tolerance were detected in PPO (PPO1, PPO2 and PPO4 at an Rf of 0.38, 0.42 and 0.62 in the Sugar High A3 variety under high salt concentrations) and MDH (MDH 3 at an Rf of 0.40 in both varieties at high salt concentrations). Therefore, these could be considered as important biochemical markers associated with salt tolerance and could be applied in stevia breeding programs (marker-assisted selection). This investigation recommends stevia variety Sugar High A3 to be cultivated under salt conditions.

In vitro and in vivo study of the enhancement of carotenoid bioavailability in vegetables using excipient nanoemulsions: Impact of lipid content

2021 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 110162
Author(s):  
Kangfei Yao ◽  
David Julian McClements ◽  
Chang Yan ◽  
Jie Xiao ◽  
Han Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Content ◽  
In Vivo Study

scholarly journals Evaluation of Indigenous Olive Biocontrol Rhizobacteria as Protectants against Drought and Salt Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1209
Author(s):  
Nuria Montes-Osuna ◽  
Carmen Gómez-Lama Cabanás ◽  
Antonio Valverde-Corredor ◽  
Garikoitz Legarda ◽  
Pilar Prieto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Stress ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Acds Gene ◽  
Drought And Salt Stress ◽  
Physiological And Biochemical

Stress caused by drought and salinity may compromise growth and productivity of olive (Olea europaea L.) tree crops. Several studies have reported the use of beneficial rhizobacteria to alleviate symptoms produced by these stresses, which is attributed in some cases to the activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACD). A collection of beneficial olive rhizobacteria was in vitro screened for ACD activity. Pseudomonas sp. PICF6 displayed this phenotype and sequencing of its genome confirmed the presence of an acdS gene. In contrast, the well-known root endophyte and biocontrol agent Pseudomonas simiae PICF7 was defective in ACD activity, even though the presence of an ACD-coding gene was earlier predicted in its genome. In this study, an unidentified deaminase was confirmed instead. Greenhouse experiments with olive ‘Picual’ plants inoculated either with PICF6 or PICF7, or co-inoculated with both strains, and subjected to drought or salt stress were carried out. Several physiological and biochemical parameters increased in stressed plants (i.e., stomatal conductance and flavonoids content), regardless of whether or not they were previously bacterized. Results showed that neither PICF6 (ACD positive) nor PICF7 (ACD negative) lessened the negative effects caused by the abiotic stresses tested, at least under our experimental conditions.

Epicatechin and quercetin exhibit in vitro antioxidant effect, improve biochemical parameters related to metabolic syndrome, and decrease cellular genotoxicity in humans

2021 ◽  
pp. 110101
Author(s):  
Aldo Leyva-Soto ◽  
Rocío Alejandra Chavez-Santoscoy ◽  
Omar Porras ◽  
Miltha Hidalgo-Ledesma ◽  
Aracely Serrano-Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Antioxidant Effect

scholarly journals Identification of the molecular regulation of differences in lipid deposition in dedifferentiated preadipocytes from different chicken tissues

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Ma ◽  
Na Luo ◽  
Lu Liu ◽  
Huanxian Cui ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Total Lipid Content ◽  
Fatty Acid Transport ◽  
Lipid Deposition ◽  
Ppar Signaling ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Background A body distribution with high intramuscular fat and low abdominal fat is the ideal goal for broiler breeding. Preadipocytes with different origins have differences in terms of metabolism and gene expression. The transcriptome analysis performed in this study of intramuscular preadipocytes (DIMFPs) and adipose tissue-derived preadipocytes (DAFPs) aimed to explore the characteristics of lipid deposition in different chicken preadipocytes by dedifferentiation in vitro. Results Compared with DAFPs, the total lipid content in DIMFPs was reduced (P < 0.05). Moreover, 72 DEGs related to lipid metabolism were screened, which were involved in adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid transport and fatty acid synthesis, lipid stabilization, and lipolysis. Among the 72 DEGs, 19 DEGs were enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway, indicating its main contribution to the regulation of the difference in lipid deposition between DAFPs and DIMFPs. Among these 19 genes, the representative APOA1, ADIPOQ, FABP3, FABP4, FABP7, HMGCS2, LPL and RXRG genes were downregulated, but the ACSL1, FABP5, PCK2, PDPK1, PPARG, SCD, SCD5, and SLC27A6 genes were upregulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the DIMFPs. In addition, the well-known pathways affecting lipid metabolism (MAPK, TGF-beta and calcium) and the pathways related to cell communication were enriched, which may also contribute to the regulation of lipid deposition. Finally, the regulatory network for the difference in lipid deposition between chicken DAFPs and DIMFPs was proposed based on the above information. Conclusions Our data suggested a difference in lipid deposition between DIMFPs and DAFPs of chickens in vitro and proposed a molecular regulatory network for the difference in lipid deposition between chicken DAFPs and DIMFPs. The lipid content was significantly increased in DAFPs by the direct mediation of PPAR signaling pathways. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of tissue-specific fat deposition and the optimization of body fat distribution in broilers.

Identification of Perilipin-2 as a lipid droplet protein regulated in oocytes during maturation

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Yang ◽  
Kylie R. Dunning ◽  
Linda L.-Y. Wu ◽  
Theresa E. Hickey ◽  
Robert J. Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Droplet ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Intracellular Lipids ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Perilipin 2 ◽  
Lipid Droplet Protein

Lipid droplet proteins regulate the storage and utilisation of intracellular lipids. Evidence is emerging that oocyte lipid utilisation impacts embryo development, but lipid droplet proteins have not been studied in oocytes. The aim of the present study was to characterise the size and localisation of lipid droplets in mouse oocytes during the periovulatory period and to identify lipid droplet proteins as potential biomarkers of oocyte lipid content. Oocyte lipid droplets, visualised using a novel method of staining cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) with BODIPY 493/503, were small and diffuse in oocytes of preovulatory COCs, but larger and more centrally located after maturation in response to ovulatory human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in vivo, or FSH + epidermal growth factor in vitro. Lipid droplet proteins Perilipin, Perilipin-2, cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor 45-like effector (CIDE)-A and CIDE-B were detected in the mouse ovary by immunohistochemistry, but only Perilipin-2 was associated with lipid droplets in the oocyte. In COCs, Perilipin-2 mRNA and protein increased in response to ovulatory hCG. IVM failed to induce Perilipin-2 mRNA, yet oocyte lipid content was increased in this context, indicating that Perilipin-2 is not necessarily reflective of relative oocyte lipid content. Thus, Perilipin-2 is a lipid droplet protein in oocytes and its induction in the COC concurrent with dynamic reorganisation of lipid droplets suggests marked changes in lipid utilisation during oocyte maturation.

Lipid content determines aggregation of neuromelanin granules in vitro

2007 ◽  
pp. 35-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. N. Dedov ◽  
F. M. Griffiths ◽  
B. Garner ◽  
G. M. Halliday ◽  
K. L. Double
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Content
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document