Effects of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARɣ) agonist on fasting model applied neuron cultures

Objectives Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists used for the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), has important roles on the regulation of metabolism including ketogenesis in fasting and low glucose states. Recently PPARγ was proven to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on neuronal cells. Methods In the present study, effects of pioglitazone (PPARγ agonist) on cell survival, energy metabolism and mitochondrial functions were investigated in glucose deprived fasting model applied SH-SY5Y (ATCC/CRL 2266) cell lines. Before and after pioglitazone treatment; energy metabolites (glucose, lactate, ketone (βOHB), lactate dehydrogenase activity), mitochondrial citrate synthase activity and cell viability were investigated. Results and Conclusions PPARγ agonist addition to glucose deprived, ketone added neurons provided positive improvements in energy metabolites (p<0.01), mitochondrial functions (p<0.001) and survival rates (p<0.01). Changes in mitochondrial citrate synthase activity, lactate and LDH levels of neuronal cells treated with PPARγ agonist have not been previously shown. Our results suggest, pioglitazone as an effective alternative for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases especially with the presence of ketone bodies. By clarifying the mechanisms of PPARγ agonists, a great contribution will be made to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Effects of Subacute Exposure of Dibutyl Phthalate on the Homeostatic Model Assessment, Thyroid Function, and Redox Status in Rats

Dibutyl phthalate is an endocrine disruptor used in a wide range of industrial and agriculture applications. The present study focuses on elucidating the effect of subacute exposure (4-weeks) of DBP on insulin and its sensitivity indexes, oxidative status, thyroid function, energy metabolites, serum biochemistry, and anthropometry in rats. A total of 64 rats were divided into 4 treatment groups as mg DBP/Kg body weight per day: (a) 0 mg/Kg (control), (b) 10 mg/Kg (DBP-10), (c) 50 mg/Kg (DBP-50), and (d) 100 mg/Kg (DBP-100). The rats in each treatment ( n = 16 ) were further divided into male ( n = 8 ) and female ( n = 8 ) rats for studying treatment and gender interactions. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed on the 21st day. Anthropometry, nutritional determinants, fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), thyroid hormones, energy metabolites, and oxidative status were studied during the experimental period. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data ( p < 0.05 ). Tukey’s posthoc test was used for pair-wise comparisons. DBP increased body weight gain and feed efficiency in an inverted nonmonotonic U -shaped fashion. Hyperglycemia and increased blood glucose area under the curve were observed in DBP-100 at 120 minutes in IPGTT. The HOMA also showed a linear monotonic contrast. Thyroxin decreased significantly in the DBP-100 rats, whereas malondialdehyde, nonesterified fatty acids, and beta hydroxyl butyrate were increased with the DBP treatments. In conclusion, DBP could be attributed to the development of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in rats. Further investigations into the lipid peroxidation pathways can improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in metabolic disruption.

Recommendation of Choline Inclusion in Lambs’ Diet

Objective: To establish an inclusion recommendation for choline (herbal or synthetic) in fattening lambs’diet based on productive performance and blood metabolites.Design/Methodology/Approach: A literature review was carried out of herbal and synthetic choline supplementation in the diet of fattening lambs.Results: The addition of protected choline chloride (50% purity) in the lamb’s diet should be less than 2.5g/kg DM in order not to cause a detrimental effect on the productive performance. On the other hand, the inclusion of herbal choline in lambs’ diet should be greater than 6 g/kg DM to have positive effects on body gain and feed conversion.Study Limitations/Implications: It is necessary to establish the requirement for choline in fattening lambs because studies where choline is supplemented show that the contribution of conventional ingredients is insufficient.Findings/Conclusions: The inclusion of herbal (6 g/kg DM) and synthetic (2.5 g/kg DM) choline in lambs’ diet improves body weight gain and modifies energy metabolites

Developmental and adult acclimation impact cold and drought survival of invasive tropical Drosophila kikkawai

ABSTRACT Narrow distribution patterns of tropical Drosophila species are limited by lower resistance to cold or drought. In the invasive tropical Drosophila kikkawai, we tested whether developmental and adult acclimations at cooler temperatures could enhance its stress resistance level. Adult acclimation of winter collected body color morphs revealed a significant increase in the level of cold resistance. For light morph, its abundance during winter is not consistent with thermal-melanism hypothesis. However, higher cold acclimation capacity, as well as storage of energy metabolites could support its winter survival. In the wild-caught light and intermediate morphs, there is a lack of trade-off between cold and heat resistance but not in the case of dark morph. Developmental plasticity (15°C) resulted in the fivefold increase of cold survival at 0°C; and a twofold increase in desiccation resistance but a modest reduction (∼28–35%) in heat resistance as compared to morph strains reared at 25°C. Drought acclimation changes were significantly higher as compared with cold or heat pretreatment. We observed a trade-off between basal resistance and acclimation capacity for cold, heat, or drought resistance. For homeostatic energy balance, adult acclimation responses (cold versus drought; heat versus drought) caused compensatory plastic changes in the levels of proline or trehalose (shared patterns) but different patterns for total body lipids. In contrast, rapid cold or heat hardening-induced changes in energy metabolites were different as compared to acclimation. The ability of D. kikkawai to significantly increase stress tolerance through plasticity is likely to support its invasion potential.

Optical/electrochemical methods for detecting mitochondrial energy metabolism

This review highlights the biological importance of mitochondrial energy metabolism and the applications of multiple optical/electrochemical approaches to determine energy metabolites.

Extruded feed in different volume-concentrate ratios: in-vitro fermentation kinetics, consumption, and evaluation of lambs’ metabolic profile

This study aimed both to evaluate the metabolic profile of lambsfed with extruded forage and concentrate containing different roughageconcentrate ratios (R:C) and to evaluate in-vitro ruminal fermentationkinetics of these rations. An experiment was carried out with 20 weanling,female crossbred lambs (½Dorper x ½Santa Inês) aged 120 ± 8 days. Thetreatments were four R:C ratios of extruded forage (Foragge®) and extrudedconcentrate (Beef Total®) – 30%F:70%C, 40%F:60%C, 50%F:50%C, and60%F:40%C – distributed randomly with five replicates. The analysistargeted energy metabolites (VLDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol), hepaticmetabolites (alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase [GGT], andaspartate aminotransferase [AST]), and protein metabolites (total protein,uric acid, urea, creatinine, albumin, and globulin). In-vitro gas productionwas quantified by inoculating the extruded rations in bovine ruminal fluidwith the following forage:concentrate proportions evaluated: 30%F:70%C,40%F:60%C, 50%F:50%C, 60%F:40%C and 70%F:30%C. Fermentationkinetic values were compared using parallelism test and curve identity atthe error probability level of 5%. A regression study was used to compare themeans of the metabolites at the error probability level of 5%. Average drymatter intake data are provided descriptively. The extruded rationincreased the hepatic metabolites (GGT and AST) without compromising theliver and kept the energy metabolites stable. Similarly, the serumconcentration of protein metabolites remained at normal levelsrecommended to the ovine species. In-vitro fermentation pattern displayedhigh gas production associated with high ration digestibility. The extrudedration provides protein and energy supply to meet the animals’ nutritionalrequirements without compromising their health.