Metabolic Effects of CCN5/WISP2 Gene Deficiency and Transgenic Overexpression in Mice

CCN5/WISP2 is a matricellular protein, the expression of which is under the regulation of Wnt signaling and IGF-1. Our initial characterization supports the notion that CCN5 might promote the proliferation and survival of pancreatic β-cells and thus improve the metabolic profile of the animals. More recently, the roles of endogenous expression of CCN5 and its ectopic, transgenic overexpression on metabolic regulation have been revealed through two reports. Here, we attempt to compare the experimental findings from those studies, side-by-side, in order to further establish its roles in metabolic regulation. Prominent among the discoveries was that a systemic deficiency of CCN5 gene expression caused adipocyte hypertrophy, increased adipogenesis, and lipid accumulation, resulting in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which were further exacerbated upon high-fat diet feeding. On the other hand, the adipocyte-specific and systemic overexpression of CCN5 caused an increase in lean body mass, improved insulin sensitivity, hyperplasia of cardiomyocytes, and increased heart mass, but decreased fasting glucose levels. CCN5 is clearly a regulator of adipocyte proliferation and maturation, affecting lean/fat mass ratio and insulin sensitivity. Not all results from these models are consistent; moreover, several important aspects of CCN5 physiology are yet to be explored.

Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Ventilation, Metabolism, Thermal Control and Central Dopamine in Newly Hatched and Juvenile Chicks

The first third of incubation is critical for embryonic development, and environmental changes during this phase can affect the physiology and survival of the embryos. We evaluated the effects of low (LT), control (CT), and high (HT) temperatures during the first 5 days of incubation on ventilation (V.E), body temperature (Tb), oxygen consumption (V.O2), respiratory equivalent (V.E/V.O2), and brain monoamines on 3-days-old (3d) and 14-days-old (14d) male and female chickens. The body mass of LT animals of both ages and sexes was higher compared to HT and CT animals (except for 3d males). The heart mass of 14d HT animals was higher than that of CT animals. Thermal manipulation did not affect V.E, V.O2 or V.E/V.O2 of 3d animals in normoxia, except for 3d LT males V.E, which was lower than CT. Regarding 14d animals, the HT females showed a decrease in V.E and V.O2 compared to CT and LT groups, while the HT males displayed a lower V.O2 compared to CT males, but no changes in V.E/V.O2. Both sexes of 14d HT chickens presented a greater Tb compared to CT animals. Thermal manipulations increased the dopamine turnover in the brainstem of 3d females. No differences were observed in ventilatory and metabolic parameters in the 3d animals of either sexes, and 14d males under 7% CO2. The hypercapnic hyperventilation was attenuated in the 14d HT females due to changes in V.O2, without alterations in V.E. The 14d LT males showed a lower V.E, during hypercapnia, compared to CT, without changes in V.O2, resulting in an attenuation in V.E/V.O2. During hypoxia, 3d LT females showed an attenuated hyperventilation, modulated by a higher V.O2. In 14d LT and HT females, the increase in V.E was greater and the hypometabolic response was attenuated, compared to CT females, which resulted in no change in the V.E/V.O2. In conclusion, thermal manipulations affect hypercapnia-induced hyperventilation more so than hypoxic challenge, and at both ages, females are more affected by thermal manipulation than males.

Internal organs and pathologies in birds in the urban environment

Врановые птицы являются наиболее многочисленными в орнитофауне городов Ивановской области. В связи с этим возрос интерес к изучению эколого-физиологических особенностей врановых птиц. Данная работа просвещена изучению относительной массы внутренних органов и заболеваний у врановых. Анализ данных показал, что наибольшая относительная масса сердца была у ворона; печени - у сойки и галки; желудка - у сойки и серой вороны; кишечника - у серой вороны и сороки; легких - у ворона; почек - у галки и серой вороны; селезенки - у серой вороны; поджелудочной железы - у ворона. Наиболее часто встречаются травмы: ампутация фаланг пальцев, колотые и рваные раны, переломы трубчатых костей ног и крыльев, гемартрозы, трещины грудной кости. Вороны часто страдают пододерматитом и панкреатитом, серые вороны - спленитом, сороки и галки - ожирением, галки и сойки - гепатозом, серые вороны - гистомонозом печени. Corvids are the most numerous birds in the avifauna of the cities of the Ivanovo Region. In this regard, interest in the study of the ecological and physiological characteristics of corvids has increased. This work is enlightened by the study of the relative mass of internal organs and diseases in corvids. Analysis of the data showed that the raven had the highest relative heart mass; jays and jackdaws have the highest relative liver mass; while the highest relative mass of stomach is recorded in jays and hooded crows. The highest relative mass of the intestines is shown in hooded crows and magpies; heaviest lungs are reported for ravens. Kidneys are heaviest at jackdaws and hooded crows; spleen has the highest relative mass in hooded crows; pancreas is heaviest in crows. The most common injuries are loss of the phalanges of toes, stab and laceration wounds, and fractures of the tubular bones of the legs and wings, hemarthrosis, cracks in the chest bone. Ravens often suffer from pododermatitis and pancreatitis, hooded crows suffer from splenitis, magpies and jackdaws shows signs of obesity, jackdaws, and jays often demonstrate hepatosis, while hooded crows are susceptible to liver histomonosis.

Effect of Musk Tongxin Dropping Pill on Myocardial Remodeling and Microcirculation Dysfunction in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Objective. To explore the effect of Musk Tongxin Dropping Pill (MTDP) on myocardial remodeling and microcirculation dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods. Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (control group, n = 10), DCM model group (DCM group, n = 10), DCM model + pioglitazone group (DCM + PLZ group, n = 10), and DCM model + MTDP group (DCM + MTDP group, n = 10). An intraperitoneal single injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) was used to establish rat model of DCM and the rats in control group were treated with the same dose of sodium citrate buffer solution. DCM + PLZ group was treated with 3 mg/kg/d PLZ by ig after modeling, DCM + MTDP group was treated with 22 mg/kg/d MTDP by ig, and DCM group was treated with 2 ml/kg/d sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) by ig. The general condition of rats was continuously observed. After intervening for 3 weeks, the random blood glucose of rats was detected by tail vein, and the echocardiography examination was performed. Blood specimens were collected from the abdominal aorta, serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected to estimate endothelial function, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected to observe the changes of inflammation and oxidative stress indexes. The heart mass index (HMI) was calculated through the ratio of heart mass (HM) to the corresponding body mass (BM). Myocardial pathological tissue staining was performed. Results. Compared with control group, blood glucose in other three groups was higher. Left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVSD) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDD) in DCM group showed a significant increase, while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart rate (HR) in this group displayed an obvious decrease P < 0.01 . BM and HM in DCM group exhibited a reduction, and HM/BM × 103 revealed an apparent increase P < 0.01 . The levels of serum NO and SOD were distinctly downregulated P < 0.01 , and the levels of ET-1, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were remarkably upregulated P < 0.01 . Compared with DCM group, a significant decrease was observed in LVSD and LVDD in DCM + MTDP group, while LVEF and HR obviously increased P < 0.05 . BM and HM indicated an apparent increase, but HM/BM ×103 reduced distinctly P < 0.01 . The levels of serum NO and SOD were markedly upregulated P < 0.05 , and the levels of ET-1, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly downregulated P < 0.05 . HE staining showed that myocardial cells arranged neatly in the control group but not in the DCM group. The intercellular space between myocardial cells in DCM group increased, accompanied by damage of myocardial fibers and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Masson staining displayed an increase in interstitial collagen fibers in DCM group. Carstairs staining showed that microembolization occurred in the myocardium in DCM group, while in DCM + MTDP and DCM + PLZ groups the corresponding myocardial pathological changes were significantly improved. Conclusions. MTDP might show a positive effect on myocardial remodeling and microcirculation dysfunction in DCM rats.