scholarly journals Entomotoxic Activity of Prasiola crispa (Antarctic Algae) in Nauphoeta cinerea Cockroaches: Identification of Main Steroidal Compounds

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziela Holken Lorensi ◽  
Raquel Soares Oliveira ◽  
Allan P. Leal ◽  
Ana Paula Zanatta ◽  
Carlos Gabriel Moreira de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Isolated Heart ◽  
Neuromuscular Function ◽  
Behavioral Alterations ◽  
Muscle Twitch ◽  
Nauphoeta Cinerea ◽  
Cholinergic Pathways ◽  
Prasiola Crispa ◽  
Insecticide Activity ◽  
Antarctic Algae

Prasiola crispa is a macroscopic green algae found in abundance in Antarctica ice free areas. Prasiola crispan-hexaneextract (HPC) induced insecticidal activity in Nauphoeta cinerea cockroaches after 24 h of exposure. The chemical analysis of HPC revealed the presence of the followingphytosterols: β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. The incubation of cockroach semi-isolated heart preparations with HPC caused a significant negative chronotropic activity in the heartbeats. HPC affected the insect neuromuscular function by inducing a complete inhibition of the cockroach leg-muscle twitch tension. When the isolated phytosterols were injected at in vivo cockroach neuromuscular preparations, there was a progressive inhibition of muscle twitches on the following order of potency: β-sitosterol > campesterol > stigmasterol. HPC also provoked significant behavioral alterations, characterized by the increase or decrease of cockroach grooming activity, depending on the dose assayed. Altogether, the results presented here corroborate the insecticide potential of Prasiola crispa Antarctic algae. They also revealed the presence of phytosterols and the involvement of these steroidal compounds in the entomotoxic activity of the algae, potentially by modulating octopaminergic-cholinergic pathways. Further phytochemical-combined bioguided analysis of the HPC will unveil novel bioactive compounds that might be an accessory to the insecticide activity of the algae.

scholarly journals The Insecticidal Activity of Rhinella schneideri (Werner, 1894) Paratoid Secretion in Nauphoeta cinerea Cocroaches

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Allan Leal ◽  
Etiely Karnopp ◽  
Yuri Correia Barreto ◽  
Raquel Soares Oliveira ◽  
Maria Eduarda Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Isolated Heart ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Activity ◽  
Nauphoeta Cinerea ◽  
Rhinella Schneideri ◽  
Heart Preparation ◽  
Dose Dependent Decrease ◽  
Ld50 Value ◽  
Nerve Muscle ◽  
Dose Dependent

Rhinella schneideri is a common toad found in South America, whose paratoid toxic secretion has never been explored as an insecticide. In order to evaluate its insecticidal potential, Nauphoeta cinerea cockroaches were used as an experimental model in biochemical, physiological and behavioral procedures. Lethality assays with Rhinella schneideri paratoid secretion (RSPS) determined the LD50 value after 24 h (58.07µg/g) and 48 h exposure (44.07 µg/g) (R2 = 0.882 and 0.954, respectively). Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) after RSPS at its highest dose promoted an enzyme inhibition of 40%, a similar effect observed with neostigmine administration (p < 0.001, n= 5). Insect locomotion recordings revealed that RSPS decreased the distance traveled by up to 37% with a concomitant 85% increase in immobile episodes (p < 0.001, n = 36). RSPS added to in vivo cockroach semi-isolated heart preparation promoted an irreversible and dose dependent decrease in heart rate, showing a complete failure after 30 min recording (p < 0.001, n ≥ 6). In addition, RSPS into nerve-muscle preparations induced a dose-dependent neuromuscular blockade, reaching a total blockage at 70 min at the highest dose applied (p < 0.001, n ≥ 6). The effect of RSPS on spontaneous sensorial action potentials was characterized by an increase in the number of spikes 61% (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, there was 42% decrease in the mean area of those potentials (p < 0.05, n ≥ 6). The results obtained here highlight the potential insecticidal relevance of RSPS and its potential biotechnological application.

Evaluation of the In Vivo Acute Toxicity and In Vitro Hemolytic and Immunomodulatory Activities of the Moringa oleifera Flower Trypsin Inhibitor (MoFTI)

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leydianne Leite de Siqueira Patriota ◽  
Dayane Kelly Dias do Nascimento Santos ◽  
Bárbara Rafaela da Silva Barros ◽  
Lethícia Maria de Souza Aguiar ◽  
Yasmym Araújo Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Trypsin Inhibitor ◽  
Hemolytic Activity ◽  
Moringa Oleifera ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Behavioral Alterations ◽  
Female Mice

Background: Protease inhibitors have been isolated from plants and present several biological activities, including immunomod-ulatory action. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate a Moringa oleifera flower trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) for acute toxicity in mice, hemolytic activity on mice erythrocytes and immunomodulatory effects on mice splenocytes. Methods: The acute toxicity was evaluated using Swiss female mice that received a single dose of the vehicle control or MoFTI (300 mg/kg, i.p.). Behavioral alterations were observed 15–240 min after administration, and survival, weight gain, and water and food consumption were analyzed daily. Organ weights and hematological parameters were analyzed after 14 days. Hemolytic activity of MoFTI was tested using Swiss female mice erythrocytes. Splenocytes obtained from BALB/c mice were cultured in the absence or presence of MoFTI for the evaluation of cell viability and proliferation. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also determined. Furthermore, the culture supernatants were analyzed for the presence of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). Results: MoFTI did not cause death or any adverse effects on the mice except for abdominal contortions at 15–30 min after administration. MoFTI did not exhibit a significant hemolytic effect. In addition, MoFTI did not induce apoptosis or necrosis in splenocytes and had no effect on cell proliferation. Increases in cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS release, as well as ΔΨm reduction, were observed in MoFTI-treated cells. MoFTI was observed to induce TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and NO release. Conclusion: These results contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the antitumor potential of MoFTI and its effects on other immunological targets.

scholarly journals EXTH-71. CYTOSTATIC HYPOTHERMIA FOR GLIOBLASTOMA

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii102-ii103
Author(s):  
Syed Faaiz Enam ◽  
Jianxi Huang ◽  
Cem Kilic ◽  
Connor Tribble ◽  
Martha Betancur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Rodent Model ◽  
Behavioral Alterations ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Car T ◽  
The Brain

Abstract As a cancer therapy, hypothermia has been used at sub-zero temperatures to cryosurgically ablate tumors. However, these temperatures can indiscriminately damage both tumorous and healthy cells. Additionally, strategies designed to kill tumor typically accelerate their evolution and recurrence can be inevitable in cancers such as glioblastoma (GBM). To bypass these limitations, here we studied the use of hypothermia as a cytostatic tool against cancer and deployed it against an aggressive rodent model of GBM. To identify the minimal dosage of ‘cytostatic hypothermia’, we cultured at least 4 GBM lines at 4 continuous or intermittent degrees of hypothermia and evaluated their growth rates through a custom imaging-based assay. This revealed cell-specific sensitivities to hypothermia. Subsequently, we examined the effects of cytostatic hypothermia on these cells by a cursory study of their cell-cycle, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis. Next, we investigated the use of cytostatic hypothermia as an adjuvant to chemotherapy and CAR T immunotherapy. Our studies demonstrated that cytostatic hypothermia did not interfere with Temozolomide in vitro and may have been synergistic against at least 1 GBM line. Interestingly, we also demonstrated that CAR T immunotherapy can function under cytostatic hypothermia. To assess the efficacy of hypothermia in vivo, we report the design of an implantable device to focally administer cytostatic hypothermia in an aggressive rodent model of F98 GBM. Cytostatic hypothermia significantly doubled the median survival of tumor-bearing rats with no obvious signs of distress. The absence of gross behavioral alterations is in concurrence with literature suggesting the brain is naturally resilient to focal hypothermia. Based on these findings, we anticipate that focally administered cytostatic hypothermia alone has the potential to delay tumor recurrence or increase progression-free survival in patients. Additionally, it could also provide more time to evaluate concomitant, curative cytotoxic treatments.

scholarly journals Genetic deletion of trkB.T1 increases neuromuscular function

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (1) ◽  
pp. C141-C153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan G. Dorsey ◽  
Richard M. Lovering ◽  
Cynthia L. Renn ◽  
Carmen C. Leitch ◽  
Xinyue Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Release ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Neuromuscular Synapse ◽  
Neuromuscular Function ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ◽  
Akt Activation

Neurotrophin-dependent activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor trkB.FL modulates neuromuscular synapse maintenance and function; however, it is unclear what role the alternative splice variant, truncated trkB ( trkB.T1), may have in the peripheral neuromuscular axis. We examined this question in trkB.T1 null mice and demonstrate that in vivo neuromuscular performance and nerve-evoked muscle tension are significantly increased. In vitro assays indicated that the gain-in-function in trkB.T1 −/− animals resulted specifically from an increased muscle contractility, and increased electrically evoked calcium release. In the trkB.T1 null muscle, we identified an increase in Akt activation in resting muscle as well as a significant increase in trkB.FL and Akt activation in response to contractile activity. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that the trkB signaling pathway might represent a novel target for intervention across diseases characterized by deficits in neuromuscular function.

scholarly journals Cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS triggers early behavioral alterations linked to cortical neuronal hyperactivity and defects in inhibitory synapses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Scekic-Zahirovic ◽  
Inmaculada Sanjuan-Ruiz ◽  
Vanessa Kan ◽  
Salim Megat ◽  
Pierre De Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Inhibitory Synapses ◽  
Behavioral Alterations ◽  
Behavioral Abnormalities ◽  
Cytoplasmic Accumulation

AbstractGene mutations causing cytoplasmic mislocalization of the RNA-binding protein FUS, lead to severe forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS is also observed in other diseases, with unknown consequences. Here, we show that cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS drives behavioral abnormalities in knock-in mice, including locomotor hyperactivity and alterations in social interactions, in the absence of widespread neuronal loss. Mechanistically, we identified a profound increase in neuronal activity in the frontal cortex of Fus knock-in mice in vivo. Importantly, RNAseq analysis suggested involvement of defects in inhibitory neurons, that was confirmed by ultrastructural and morphological defects of inhibitory synapses and increased synaptosomal levels of mRNAs involved in inhibitory neurotransmission. Thus, cytoplasmic FUS triggers inhibitory synaptic deficits, leading to increased neuronal activity and behavioral phenotypes. FUS mislocalization may trigger deleterious phenotypes beyond motor neuron impairment in ALS, but also in other neurodegenerative diseases with FUS mislocalization.

Myocardial reperfusion injury management: erythropoietin compared with postconditioning

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (6) ◽  
pp. H2035-H2043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Tamareille ◽  
Nehmat Ghaboura ◽  
Frederic Treguer ◽  
Dalia Khachman ◽  
Anne Croué ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infarct Size ◽  
Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Isolated Heart ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Myocardial Reperfusion ◽  
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Gsk 3Β ◽  
Developed Pressure

Ischemic postconditioning (IPost) and erythropoietin (EPO) have been shown to attenuate myocardial reperfusion injury using similar signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to examine whether EPO is as effective as IPost in decreasing postischemic myocardial injury in both Langendorff-isolated-heart and in vivo ischemia-reperfusion rat models. Rat hearts were subjected to 25 min ischemia, followed by 30 min or 2 h of reperfusion in the isolated-heart study. Rats underwent 45 min ischemia, followed by 24 h of reperfusion in the in vivo study. In both studies, the control group ( n = 12; ischemia-reperfusion only) was compared with IPost ( n = 16; 3 cycles of 10 s reperfusion/10 s ischemia) and EPO ( n = 12; 1,000 IU/kg) at the onset of reperfusion. The following resulted. First, in the isolated hearts, IPost or EPO significantly improved postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure. EPO induced better left ventricular developed pressure than IPost at 30 min of reperfusion (73.18 ± 10.23 vs. 48.11 ± 7.92 mmHg, P < 0.05). After 2 h of reperfusion, the infarct size was significantly lower in EPO-treated hearts compared with IPost and control hearts (14.36 ± 0.60%, 19.11 ± 0.84%, and 36.21 ± 4.20% of the left ventricle, respectively; P < 0.05). GSK-3β phosphorylation, at 30 min of reperfusion, was significantly higher with EPO compared with IPost hearts. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and ERK1/2 inhibitors abolished both EPO- and IPost-mediated cardioprotection. Second, in vivo, IPost and EPO induced an infarct size reduction compared with control (40.5 ± 3.6% and 28.9 ± 3.1%, respectively, vs. 53.7 ± 4.3% of the area at risk; P < 0.05). Again, EPO decreased significantly more infarct size and transmurality than IPost ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, with the use of our protocols, EPO showed better protective effects than IPost against reperfusion injury through higher phosphorylation of GSK-3β.

Cardiac-specific VEGFB overexpression reduces lipoprotein lipase activity and improves insulin action in rat heart

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Shang ◽  
Nathaniel Lal ◽  
ChaeSyng Lee ◽  
Yajie Zhai ◽  
Karanjit Puri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Lipoprotein Lipase ◽  
Insulin Action ◽  
Insulin Signalling ◽  
Isolated Heart ◽  
Cardiac Metabolism ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Flux Analysis

Cardiac muscle utilizes multiple sources of energy including glucose and fatty acid (FA). The heart cannot synthesize FA and relies on obtaining it from other sources, with lipoprotein lipase (LPL) breakdown of lipoproteins suggested to be a key source of FA for cardiac use. Recent work has indicated that cardiac vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) overexpression expands the coronary vasculature and facilitates metabolic reprogramming that favours glucose utilization. We wanted to explore whether this influence of VEGFB on cardiac metabolism involves regulation of LPL activity with consequent effects on lipotoxicity and insulin signalling. The transcriptomes of rats with and without cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of human VEGFB were compared by using RNA-sequencing. Isolated perfused hearts or cardiomyocytes incubated with heparin were used to enable measurement of LPL activity. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed for quantification of cardiac lipid metabolites. Cardiac insulin sensitivity was evaluated using fast-acting insulin. Isolated heart and cardiomyocytes were used to determine transgene-encoded VEGFB isoform secretion patterns and mitochondrial oxidative capacity using high-resolution respirometry and extracellular flux analysis. In vitro, primary transgenic cardiomyocytes incubated overnight and thus exposed to abundantly secreted VEGFB isoforms in the absence of any in vivo confounding regulators of cardiac metabolism demonstrated higher basal oxygen consumption. In the whole heart, VEGFB overexpression induced an angiogenic response that was accompanied by limited cardiac LPL activity through multiple mechanisms. This was associated with a lowered accumulation of lipid intermediates, diacylglycerols and lysophosphatidylcholine, that are known to influence insulin action. In response to exogenous insulin, transgenic hearts demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, the interrogation of VEGFB function on cardiac metabolism uncovered an intriguing and previously unappreciated effect to lower LPL activity and prevent lipid metabolite accumulation to improve insulin action. VEGFB could be a potential cardioprotective therapy to treat metabolic disorders, for example diabetes.

Introduction to Bioproducts and Bioseparations

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger G. Harrison ◽  
Paul W. Todd ◽  
Scott R. Rudge ◽  
Demetri P. Petrides
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Downstream Processing ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Whole Cells ◽  
Living Things ◽  
Insecticide Activity

Bioproducts—chemical substances or combinations of chemical substances that are made by living things—range from methanol to whole cells. They are derived by extraction from whole plants and animals or by synthesis in bioreactors containing cells or enzymes. Bioproducts are sold for their chemical activity: methanol for solvent activity, ethanol for its neurological activity or as a fuel, penicillin for its antibacterial activity, taxol for its anticancer activity, streptokinase (an enzyme) for its blood clot dissolving activity, hexose isomerase for its sugar-converting activity, and whole Bacillus thuringiensis cells for their insecticide activity, to name a few very different examples. The wide variety represented by this tiny list makes it clear that bioseparations must encompass a correspondingly wide variety of methods. The choice of separation method depends on the nature of the product, remembering that purity, yield, and activity are the goals, and the most important of these is activity. This first chapter therefore reviews the chemical properties of bioproducts with themes and examples chosen to heighten awareness of those properties that must be recognized in the selection of downstream processes that result in acceptably high final purity while preserving activity. The final part of this chapter is an introduction to the field of bioseparations, which includes a discussion of the stages of downstream processing, the basic principles of engineering analysis as applied to bioseparations, and the various factors involved in developing a bioproduct for the marketplace. The pharmaceutical, agrichemical, and biotechnology bioproduct industries account for many billion dollars in annual sales—neglecting, of course, commodity foods and beverages. By “bioproduct” we mean chemical substances that are produced in or by a biological process, either in vivo or ex vivo (inside or outside a living organism). Figure 1.1 indicates a clear inverse relationship between bioproduct market size and cost. Owing to intense competition, cost, price, and value are very closely related, except in the case of completely new products that are thoroughly protected by patents, difficult to copy, and of added value to the end user.

Modulation of mouse cardiac function in vivo by eNOS and ANP

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (3) ◽  
pp. H971-H981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Gyurko ◽  
Peter Kuhlencordt ◽  
Mark C. Fishman ◽  
Paul L. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Isolated Heart ◽  
Cardiac Contractility ◽  
Enos Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adrenergic Stimulation ◽  
Microvascular Endothelium ◽  
Ventricular Relaxation ◽  
Nos Inhibitors

To study the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cardiac function, we compared eNOS expression, contractility, and relaxation in the left ventricles of wild-type and eNOS-deficient mice. eNOS immunostaining is localized to the macro- and microvascular endothelium throughout the myocardium in wild-type mice and is absent in eNOS−/− mice. Whereas blood pressure is elevated in eNOS−/− mice, baseline cardiac contractility (dP/d t max) is similar in wild-type and eNOS−/− mice (9,673 ± 2,447 and 9,928 ± 1,566 mmHg/s, respectively). The β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Iso) at doses of ≥1 ng causes enhanced increases in dP/d t max in eNOS−/− mice compared with wild-type controls in vivo ( P < 0.01) as well as in Langendorff isolated heart preparations ( P < 0.02). β-Adrenergic receptor binding (Bmax) is not significantly different in the two groups of animals (Bmax = 41.4 ± 9.4 and 36.1 ± 5.1 fmol/mg for wild-type and eNOS−/−). Iso-stimulated ventricular relaxation is also enhanced in the eNOS−/− mice, as measured by dP/d t min in the isolated heart. However, baseline ventricular relaxation is normal in eNOS−/− mice (τ = 5.2 ± 1.0 and 5.6 ± 1.5 ms for wild-type and eNOS−/−, respectively), whereas it is impaired in wild-type mice after NOS inhibition (τ = 8.3 ± 2.4 ms). cGMP levels in the left ventricle are unaffected by eNOS gene deletion (wild-type: 3.1 ± 0.8 pmol/mg, eNOS−/−: 3.1 ± 0.6 pmol/mg), leading us to examine the level of another physiological regulator of cGMP. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) expression is markedly upregulated in the eNOS−/− mice, and exogenous ANP restores ventricular relaxation in wild-type mice treated with NOS inhibitors. These results suggest that eNOS attenuates both inotropic and lusitropic responses to β-adrenergic stimulation, and it also appears to regulate baseline ventricular relaxation in conjunction with ANP.

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